Dialogue Essays - Freshly Cut Grass -- Dialogue Essays

Dialogue Essays - Freshly Cut Grass The air sings with the fragrance of freshly cut grass. As a backdrop to other things, children are at play, swinging too and fro, running and skipping; there are toddlers who toddle and mindful mothers who watch on in painful and patient distraction. The sun is everywhere: in the corners of the pavilion, bearing down on the tennis courts, caressing the flower beds, the convection of its heat pulling at the carpet-like lawns, dragging out bodily its scent. Meanwhile the park keeper potters about, the days' work done, reluctant to leave his eternal garden with its endless memories. Standing in the shade of elm he drifts away, and almost never comes back. He half-watches half-feels the bumble bees bumble from flower to flower. Else where, there is great inactivity, and everyone is busy doing it to a degree close to perfection. The park keeper, a simple man in blue overalls, T- shirt, straw hat, blue pumps and pockets full of silence, seeks out the cool of deeper shadow, retiring to the hidden security of his tool shed, where he sits in the stripy curve of a well worn deck chair. Door ajar, pipe smouldering, gazing out into the summery world through eyes bright with the light of nearly wisdom, he surveys his universe with unhurried care. A days grass cutting concluded, the park keeper presently plays part of an extra, superfluous to the tale's needs, and knowing this, he fades from focus. Over a ways, cross legged, mounted on a blanket and hiding on the inside of a book, sits the person of Doris, who, like her name, is of another age. On display, for the world to see, like a dusty exhibit in the quiet, unvisited corner of a dead museum, she aw... ...im again. She saw him everyday for the rest of her life. It was all so long ago, akin to a dream. It had been real enough though, and she is strangely thankful for it. Thankful to have known existence, and felt the terrible pain of it. She can almost feel the echo of its sorrow. Doris is all but dead, and she all but knows it. The fire of her life is fuelled by a few remaining drops of hope, but even they will soon be exhausted. She stands to leave. Walking by the park keeper in his hide-away, he gives a smile of recognition. Of his routine, she knows it well. Next Friday he will once again mow the lawns, releasing their fragrance into the air, to fill the world with sweet perfume. Doris will be there, to breathe it deeply, gasping for more, until it fills her mind, until she becomes drunk, once again, with that smell of freshly cut grass.

Comparison of the Rwanda Genocide with the Holocaust

Comparison of the Rwanda Genocide with the Holocaust The events of both Rwanda and the Holocaust were equally horrific parts of history that will never be forgotten. In the years of April and June of 1994, the Rwanda genocide occurred. The history behind this was the resentment of being inferior. When Belgium claimed Rwanda and surrounding areas for German East Africa in about 1924, there became tension between two tribes. The Belgiums favored the Tutsi (which were 12% of the population) and the Hutu (85% of population) grew angry for being considered inferior. This struggle waged on for sixty years and finally hit its peak. The catalyst of the genocide was when President Juvenal Habyarimana, the Rwandan leader and Hutu, was killed when his plane was shot down on April 6, 1994. The Hutus blamed the Tutsi for his death and with various other problems, the true battles began. When a Tutsi ruler took control, the Hutus were greatly angered. The Tutsis and their supporters were being slaughtered in anger and retribution. Most of Rwanda’s population took action in this event, spreading the genocide throughout the nation. About 800,000 people died in this tragedy. Though both events were in different time periods, the Rwanda genocide and the Holocaust are very similar to each other. Both were the killing of a specific group(s) of people. People in both genocides killed their friends and even family members, whether directly or indirectly. Hundreds of thousands and even millions of innocent people were sentenced to death just by a prejudice of others. Anyone or anything that was associated with Jews or Tutsis were completely decimated. Both groups tried to flee to safety, whether that was Sweden or Zaire. However, a difference in these two genocides is that the Jews were pulled into concentration camps, where they stayed, awaiting their deaths. In Rwanda, the Tutsis were killed outright and there was not a specific organization that led in these attacks. The genocides in both Germany and Rwanda were eventually stopped with the help of outside forces. The casualties in these events are still remembered and still have a great impact on the world. However, the casualties in Rwanda still climb over the years that have passed, but this is not part of the genocide because both Tutsis and Hutus were being killed by the opposite sides. The Holocaust and the Rwanda genocide are some of the darkest moments in history that have affected the world in ways that will never be forgotten.

Fashion Designing and the Global Fashion Industry

Fashion Designing Until the mid 19th century, most of the clothing at men and women wore was custom made. There were present dress makers and tailors who stitched clothing and sold it to individual. With the advent of technologies like the sewing machine, global capitalism grew and the fashion industry spread throughout the world. Starting initially from America and Europe, the fashion industry quickly spread throughout the world. With the globalization of fashion, different ideas and trends are accessible to people all over the world. Apart from allowing better trends to settler, a global fashion industry paves way for the production of more jobs and flow of cash in the developing countries. Due to this industry being globalized, it is possible that an American company can attain fabric from China, get them manufactured in Vietnam, completed in Italy for instance and then delivered back to the United States for sale. Apart from flow of revenue, it is paved way for countries to enhance their trade an d thus make profit from this industry. Where the Fashion Industry goes on to promote Fashion as a means of globalization and an industry without regulation, racism is quite prevalent in the industry as well. Different genders and races have been targeted either it is through modeling or through the production of different brands. Even after years of struggles to end discrimination against African Americans many African American still feel as if they are being victimized inShow MoreRelatedFootwear Design Of Shoes And Shoes1223 Words   |  5 Pagesis the name of this career field. Footwear designing is another form of fashion designing but with shoes. Footwear design includes the design of shoes and creation of shoes and several other types and styles. Footwear designing allows people to show and express their creativity through shoes. Footwear designers use art and creativity through shoes to influence the world. I believe that I have new ideas that would make an impact on the wor ld through fashion. ​ According to Shoe History and Facts, â€Å"AdvancementsRead MoreMarketing Plan: ZARA1571 Words   |  7 PagesJastine Eugenio Ms. Angelica May Ignacio Ms. Mary Christine Agojo Ms. Shenna Mae Reyes Mr. Eric Balaoro I. Executive Summary Zara is the largest retail company owned and run by Inditex, largest Spanish corporation and the world’s largest fashion group. The way Zara has runs its company is by following a vertical integrated operation that has the advantage to shorten the time in making decisions. Inventories in the stores depend on the geographic area in which the store is located; and theRead MoreAnalysis of the Fashion Industry1301 Words   |  6 PagesFashion is one of the world’s most important creative industries. It has provided economic thought with a canonical example in theorizing about consumption and conformity. Social thinkers have long treated fashion as a window upon social class and social change. Cultural theorists have focused on fashion to reflect on symbolic meaning and social ideals. Fashion has also been seen to embody representative characteristics of modernity, and even of culture itself. Everyone wears clothing and inevitablyRead MoreElie Saab s Influence On Fashion Starting From Early Ages Essay1349 Words   |  6 Pages1. INTRODUCTION Elie Saab developed an interest on fashion starting from early ages. Built his first atelier only at the age of 18. His passion for fashion and haute couture grew in the following years and has dedicated himself to his brand from design to brand and customer communications .According to him :â€Å"Couture was a creative engine for the entire brand, a marketing tool for foundation of an image on a profound long term level.† 2. BACKGROUND 2.1. Core Product-Total Product View 1.Read MoreCharacterisitics of Business Leadership: Vera Wang1697 Words   |  7 PagesDescribe the business leader’s primary business or businesses, highlighting how the leader got started and analyze the leader’s three (3) major business challenges in establishing and/or running the company. Vera Wang began her career in the fashion industry in 1971, working her way up the corporate ladder to Senior Editor for Vogue. In 1987, she began working for Ralph Lauren, dealing primarily with accessories. In 1987, out of frustration with the lack of options to suit her sophisticated tasteRead MoreQuestions On The Business Opportunity Essay1678 Words   |  7 Pages1.0 The Business Opportunity 1.1 The Marketplace Problem The fashion industry especially the retail business has not received full exploitation and therefore an opportunity exists in the bringing affordable quality products to the proximity of customers. Many retail shops stock women only fashion products excluding other sensitive groups such as children. Therefore, Trendy Fashions will house a chain of products that cater for the needs of both women and children. The reason why this class of peopleRead MoreFashion : The Window Of The Soul Essay1639 Words   |  7 Pages Fashion: The Window to the Soul Fashion is a combination of Art, love and History. It gives a person a voice without speaking and a purpose. Fashion has been around for decades before it was given a name. In Queen Elizabeth I Era one s clothing showed social status, individuality, and grace. Women were mostly into fashion, their clothes were unrealistic ; wide hips and small waist (corset). Another glamorizing or disfiguring tool used by fashion-conscious womenRead MoreThe Retail Giant Of Zara Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesThe retail giant Zara have proven that utilizing all resources and different management techniques branded the store as a fashion empire. However, Zara has been named one of the most profitable retailers in the world. Zara has expanded and is operating stores all over the world which makes the retailer global. The philosophy behind the retail giant is immersing new fashion fast. Furthermore, Zara focus is producing high-end quality clothes through creativity. The retail giant u ses a rapid responseRead MoreThe Marketing Strategy Of Zara1394 Words   |  6 Pagesbecome necessary for businesses to invest heavily in marketing to have chances of succeeding in the market. Zara, just like any other big business organization employs unique marketing model to help it achieve its targets. This paper examines the fashion marketing strategy and brand development strategies of Zara. Company Background Zara is a Spanish chain store of Inditex Group, one of the world’s biggest retail store in the world. Founded by Amancio Ortega in 1975 in Spain, where its still homeRead MoreCase Study : Zaras Success1299 Words   |  6 Pagesprocess (slack et al, 2010). This is an essay on Zara (a fashion retailer) and how its approach to operation management makes it a successful company. OVERVIEW OF ZARA Zara employs one of the greatest and most successful operations strategy in the retail industry is the strategy employed by Zara. Zara being the flagship brand of a Spanish fashion retail giant, Inditex, (Industrias de Deseno Texti S.A.), was founded in 1975 and is engaged in designing textiles, manufacturing and distribution (Dutta. D

The Rising Costs Of Higher Education - 1187 Words

There is no doubt that pricing of higher education has increased, changing the number and groups of people that are able to receive it, often being those with a high socioeconomic status. The rising costs of many colleges cause many people to wonder whether or not a pricier education really results in a better life (including better/more job opportunities in the area studied). As a result, many prospective American students are examining alternatives in hopes of reducing their debt load. One of the ways in which they are attempting to do so is by pursuing a degree from an institution in another country. The trends within education has changed a lot, increasing prices, and increasing demand. There is much controversy over whether or not students seeking further education should increase their debt load from a tens of thousands of dollars, to hundreds, for a well-known college name and degree. Post-World War II, schools in America during the 1950s were suffering with teacher and buil ding shortages due to increased enrollment. With increasing demand, that also meant that there were more things that could be influenced, especially by the government. In the 1960s, the shortage continued, including a lot of desegregation with both K-12 schools, and colleges. The call for more schools resulted in the opening of community colleges; institutions that are primarily focused on students from a particular area, often associated with a lower price-tag than Ivy Leagues or otherShow MoreRelatedRising Cost Of Higher Education1345 Words   |  6 PagesI have selected to write about the rising cost of higher education in the United States. In mass media we see discussions of how expensive it is for students to afford admission to a four-year college, student debt being higher than it ever has in previous years, and how these consequences make it difficult for graduating students to attain social mobility. As a student, it is within my best interest to discover the social facto rs that influence the cost of attaining a college degree. Many of myRead MoreThe Rising Cost Of Higher Education2468 Words   |  10 PagesThe rising cost of higher education is a topic of large concern today. As tuition prices continue to grow at a quicker pace than housing prices, consumer prices and average hourly wages, it is becoming harder and harder for the average American family to afford going to college. What factors have been driving this large rise in tuition prices? This thesis aims to set up a supply and demand framework to analyze the various forces that may be driving the price of higher education to rise above theRead MoreThe Rising Cost of Higher Education Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagesprestigious Yale University will cost an average of $38,300 (collegeboard.com). Many students who deserve to go to this school may miss out because of the cost and lack of financial aid. The rising cost of college may put higher education out of reach for the average American. T his paper will look into the reasons behind the steady rise in prices, the legitimacy of a college education, and why recent graduates are struggling to find jobs in this tough economy. A college education is now as necessary forRead MoreImportance of Higher Education1525 Words   |  6 PagesHigher education is the foundation for growth within our global economy. Students who properly utilized the system to its fullest extent, garner life altering skills and abilities. These skills, which are often transferable from industry to industry further, enhance the quality of life for society. Many of the worlds brightest students help create, lead, and establish many of the worlds dominant organizations. These organizations, in turn, create goods and services that provide a compelling valueRead MoreWhat are the Problems of Rising Cost in College Tuition?1323 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the Problems of Rising Cost in College Tuition? College fee is the main factor that depends on which institution of higher learning that a student is likely to join unless awarded a scholarship. It directly depends on one’s financial capability. The poor afford the cheap and less desirable intuitions that they can be able to afford while the rich can get access to high class type of education. Policies exist that govern the ability of institutions increasing their fees and at the sameRead MoreThe Effects Of Rising Tuition On Students Choice Of Future Career Field1308 Words   |  6 Pages The Effects of Rising Tuition Costs on Ferrum Students’ choice of future career field Christin C Hyslop Ferrum College Fall 2014 The Effects of Rising Tuition Costs on Ferrum Students’ choice of future career field Introduction Do rising tuition costs affect Ferrum College students’ choice of major? Descriptive research will be done to determine if there is a relationship between rising tuition costs and Ferrum College students’ choice in major. A sample set of students attendingRead MoreCost Of Higher Learning At College1491 Words   |  6 PagesCost of Higher Learning In order to have a better life and a better job today, a high school degree is usually not enough. Many people dream about having a college degree, but the costs of education being too high, could turn those dreams into a nightmare. It is no secret that a college education is expensive, and in the past few years, it has hit an all-time high with no signs of slowing down. The average college tuition cost in America universities and colleges continues to rise yearly. Many studentsRead MoreDriving The Cost Of Higher Education1063 Words   |  5 PagesDriving the Cost of Higher Education It seems as though the correct step for young people to follow after high school is college. We are constantly told that if we wish to be successful, then we must get a degree. However, with the rising costs, it’s seeming like fewer people are willing or able to take the next step into higher education. Cries about the sheer insanity of the rising costs blur into a cacophony of anger and frustration. The discussion of whether it’s even worth the cost have alsoRead MoreShould College Be A College Education?1614 Words   |  7 Pagesmine is access to higher education. College is an incredibly integral step into adult-hood, and while there have been those that have seen large amounts of success without a college education, statistically speaking, you’ll be hard pressed to find a position in the field of work you prefer. Ironically, in today’s economy, you’ll be hard to pressed to find a job in your desired profession even with a college education. Ov er the years, college has seen unending rising tuition costs, largely in partRead MoreThe Cost Of A College Education1265 Words   |  6 PagesIt is obvious to anyone who looks that the cost of a college education is rising at an alarming rate. Increased tuitions, decreased government funding, and increased institutional debt contribute to a $1 trillion student debt crises. These factors, along with critical mismanagement of funds on the part of Universities create an environment where education has risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. By examining educational institutions finances, we can begin to understand the problem, and

Gender Stereotypes in Fairy Tales - 1307 Words

Fairy Tales have been around for generations and generations. Our parents have told us these stories and we will eventually pass them down to ours. In this time of age the most common fairytales are Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and The Beast and many more. Children idolize their favorite character and pretend to be them by mimicking everything they do in the stories. The character’s behavior is what is viewed as appropriate in society. These fairy tales show a girl and a boy fall in love and live â€Å"happily ever after†. The tales in many people’s eyes resemble a dream life that they would want to have of their own. However, have you ever really looked at what makes up a fairy tale? Many things are unrealistic but the†¦show more content†¦These stories, for example, The Little Mermaid, Arial wants to drastically change her body to be with a man she does not even know or has ever talked to yet she is in love with him. That story gives the wrong impression to young girls and gives them the idea that if they do not look like these princesses or look a certain way that they are not accepted in today’s society. Another example of this is the Victoria Secret Fashion show for two hours women who are size 0 with so much make up on who have spray tans and wear next to nothing and our society thinks it is acceptable and appropriate. Young girls watch the fashion show idolizing these â€Å"perfect women† just by the way they look but it is not their fault it is how we as a society have taught them to be like to be accepted. In addition to having to look like a model what comes next in these fairy tales? Of course it’s their knight in shining armor. In every one of these fairy tales, a man which most of the time does not come in until the very end of the story is the women’s savior. The men are often characterized as a prince and described as being handsome and brave. However, the attractiveness often comes second to their actions. Implying that even if they weren’t the most handsome man that it was okay because they are heroic for their actions. In most cases, the prince has to save hisShow MoreRelatedYoung Children And Adults Alike1515 Words   |  7 Pagesgenerations. Along with these stories come morals, values, and stereotypes. A prevalent stereotype found in fairy tales deals with genders and their norms and children in their early developmental years are exposed to these gender stereotypes. These are used as a tool to help children develop their gender identity. As they endure over time, fairy tales continue to teach gender stereotypes and this perpetuates our society’s current beliefs of gender. Children develop their sense of identity and gainRead MoreCorrelation Between Sales Of Fairy Tales917 Words   |  4 PagesAn in depth study orchestrated by Lori Baker-Sperry and Liz Grauerholz analyzed the correlation between sales of fairy tales and the emphasis the story placed on traditional feminine beauty standards in their essay â€Å"The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal in Children’s Fairy Tales†. The study followed the sales of fairy tales from the 1900’s to the 2000’s to determine if feminine beauty in the stories was more common in times of â€Å"normative constraint† ( Baker-Sperry and GrauerholzRead MoreThe Tale Of Snow White1586 Words   |  7 Pagesback to his kingdom. Furthermore, earlier in the tale when Snow White is initially discovered and presumed dead, because of her beauty, the dwarves could not bring themselves to bury her and thus they persevered her in a crystal clear casket. Therefore, it i s because of her beauty that Snow White is not buried alive and this teaches the reader, particularly young girls, that possessing beauty can be protective and save their lives. To add, fairy tales, although perhaps unintentionally, depict thatRead MoreThe As A Girl s Self Esteem1514 Words   |  7 Pagesthe emphasis that fairy tales place on physical appearance can be very detrimental to a child (particularly a girl’s) development and ideas of reality. To add, fairy tales, although perhaps unintentionally, depict that attractiveness determines who is good and who is evil. The protagonist is often the princess, who is described as the prettiest in the land. The antagonist on the other hand is often less attractive and more than likely labeled ugly (Schussler). Because fairy tales often depict goodRead MoreGender Stereotypes In Disneys Mulan1172 Words   |  5 Pagesis born the division between genders is placed. The phrases â€Å"act like a lady† or â€Å"be a man† become everyday practices and lifelong slogans. Fairy tales are always focused on women who play the beautiful damsel in distress persona and on men who play the handsome k night coming in to save them. Whether you are female or male, it is important to remember that these fixed characteristics placed on genders are never to be reinforced. In a world full of gender stereotypes, the Disney movie Mulan challengesRead MoreHeroes And Heroines Essay1015 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Heroes and Heroines: A study of Gender Roles in Historical Folklore Historically, fairy tales and other folklore have followed relatively strict gender role profiles. The heroes or heroines of the story all tend to be handsome or beautiful, compassionate and kind, which always wins out. Meanwhile the villains and antagonists are almost directly opposite in physicality, are ugly or brooding in nature, which shows a clear contrast between themselves and the hero or heroine, and an ever-impendingRead MoreSociological Perspectives of Shrek966 Words   |  4 Pagesand segregates citizens based on their human and fairy tale attributes. He persecutes fairy tale characters without regard for their well-being. 4. When Princess Fiona is rescued, she is the embodiment of a damsel-in-distress who was waiting for her prince to come rescue her. Later on in the film, she stands up for herself and does not wait to be rescued, breaking stereotypes based on sex and gender. 5. There are several dragon stereotypes that are shown in the film, which include guardingRead MoreGender Roles In Cinderella In The Classroom By Ella Westland1717 Words   |  7 Pagesfeaturing distressed and docile princesses relying on a princely savior, fairy tales have recently prompted discussions on the gender roles being instilled in children with each â€Å"once upon a time.† In a world where women are still underrepresented in traditionally â€Å"masculine† environments, it is vital that young girls are empowered and inspired by capable female role models. Attempting to determine the extent to which fairy tale gender roles are instilled in children, Ella Westland organized an experimentRead More Gender Issues within Fairy Tales Essay1006 Words   |  5 PagesGender Issues within Fairy Tales    Why is it that in a time when women were considered an inferior gender, they would become the main characters in fairy tales? One reason could be that fairy tales are one of the few genres created by women. The fairy tale originates in the seventeenth century when aristocratic women would gather in salons and play a game of who could make up the best story. This gave women a chance to demonstrate their intelligence and education, and to picture themselvesRead MoreCharles Perrault’s Cinderella1326 Words   |  6 PagesIn Cinderella by Charles Perrault, the story depicts an imaginative fairytale through the hardships of a mistreated daughter and the magic of a fairy; in essence, Cinderella demonstrates that focusing on materialism is more important and more effective other than working up the path to majesty. Cinderella is a character who is often mistreated by her stepmother and god sisters. Bearing unsuitable personalities, they treat her harshly, leaving all of the cho res to her. However, she admits that her

What different tactics were used by both sides in an attempt to win the conflict in Vietnam between 1956 and 1968 Free Essays

During the Vietnam War, there were many different tactics used by American and Vietcong in order to win the war. These tactics had an influence over the opposition’s use and the choice of tactics. From the beginning of the war the Vietcong realised that in order to win they must win the â€Å"hearts and the minds† of the peasants. We will write a custom essay sample on What different tactics were used by both sides in an attempt to win the conflict in Vietnam between 1956 and 1968? or any similar topic only for you Order Now This way they could be provided with shelter, food and such like, also they would be able to enlist more fighters for their cause and above all else the peasants would see that communism was the war which their country should be heading. In order to do this they operated by a special code dealing with the peasants, they brought up rules such, not to damage the land and crops or spoil the houses, not to insist on buying or borrowing land, never break the rule, to help them with their daily work. These rules ensured that the peasants would support the Vietcong and help them at any opportunity. As well as these gestures of kindness towards the peasants, they would also educate them as to why they were so poor and, explain how much better communism would be to them. The American on the other hand although realising to some extent that the war was only going to be won with the support of the peasants were far less active in their approach to helping, and indoctrinating them. On the news and publicly they were seen to be helping them but the soldiers were far willing as well as the peasants were already prejudice against the US involvement in the war. An example of the American focussing on the peasants was the â€Å"Strategic Hamlet†. Under the guidance of the CIA they uprooted whole villages and took the peasants to an enclosed area and kept them under guard. The idea was to stop the peasants influenced by Vietcong, however, this was an understandably very unpopular tactic, and moreover it turned more peasants against the Americans than it did win the support. American used high technology weapons that were capable of destroying practically anything. They were particularly keen on using their advance and bombs. At first they bombed specific targets but when they realized that this had a little effect, then they began to use blanket bombing, this was known as â€Å"Operation Rolling Thunder†. It was a bombing campaign that was put over the North of Vietnam in 1964. It was originally set up to last about eight weeks but in actual fact it continued for over three years. The Vietcong had no such armaments and technology compared to USA, so they relied on using Guerrilla warfare. This was originally adapted by Mao Zedong for use by China; Ho Chi Minh exploited Chinas tactics very carefully. The Guerrilla warfare made it almost impossible for the US to know who was their â€Å"friend or foe†. Also, they used Ambush techniques to attack enemy and isolated units. The â€Å"Hit and Run† tactics were designed to put small holes in the enemy that eventually amounted to winning the war. The Vietcong resource from the beginning were stretched, not necessarily manpower but weapons and other resources were scarce. So the Vietcong used unexploded bombs to produce Traps such as â€Å"Bouncing Bettys†, mines that one triggered would jump up and explode around main victim that stands on it. â€Å"Booby Traps† such as concealed holes in the ground usually covered by leaves and just deep enough so someone cannot get out. Also such traps as the â€Å"Punji Trap† which is similar to the concealed hole, but with spikes in the bottom. There was also the grenade attached to a trip wire, which meant that when a soldier walked through the wire, the grenade would spring out and explode on them. The idea of these traps was not actually meant to kill the enemy but to maim them. The important point of this was that if someone is dead then they only needed a body bag, but if they are injured the enemy has to spend time and resources healing them instead and the other troops had to hear their comrades scream with pain, which is very draining on morale. When fighting the Guerrillas would go out in groups and only engage in ambush situations. This meant that they used their knowledge of the area they were fighting in to hinder the USA. This led the American to develop chemical weapons that were used to make the Vietcong more visible. Agent Orange was a chemical defoliant that was used to clear areas of terrain where the Vietcong was suspected to be, but it also caused birth defects among women. Another favourite weapon used by the USA was Napalm. It was a mixture of petroleum jelly with phosphorous that was dropped from fighter – bombers over suspected Vietcong inhabited areas. All that needed was one drop and then it would burn through to the bone and this caused the victims would die of phosphorous poisoning. America would use a combination of troops that were closely supported by planes and helicopters. The planes would be mounted with a gun known as â€Å"Puff the magic dragon†, a devastating 30mm cannon that could rip up any thing with a â€Å"wall of lead†. The Vietcong were ill – equipped compared to the Americans but they had an establish route called the â€Å"Ho Chi Minh Trail† that was a complex web of jungle tracks which ran from North Vietnam to Saigon carrying about 60 tons of aid per day. In the beginning of the war it took six months for a soldier to navigate his way the trial but as the route became to used more often the experienced soldiers was able to get through in six weeks. The Americans was desperately try to bomb the route but it was invisible from the air so it was impossible to hit with any accuracy. As the war progressed the USA became more and more frustrated because of the increasing number of soldiers they were getting, and the tactics they used became more aggressive. They started to use policies of â€Å"Search and Destroy†, where groups of troops would go out with the aim of killing any members of the Vietcong they find. They sent small platoons into areas where the tunnels had opening and send men into there with grenade to blow up the Vietcong and shoot any survivors. The troops were trained to think of the Vietcong as scum and had no problem in slaughtering them, and any Vietcong supporters were also killed. Jets, boats tanks and helicopters would support all of these patrols if they found a suspect target. Whole villages were often raised to the ground to stop a couple of Vietcong members or supporters. The Vietcong used a similar tactic called ‘Find and Kill’, although this was conceptually the same as ‘search and destroy’ it was much more successful. One reason for this was that the USA soldiers wore uniforms, therefore it was easier to recognize who the troops was. Another reason was that the USA soldiers had to contend with Vietcong mines and traps. America also used â€Å"Fire Zones†, where a village was warned that they were going to be destroyed by leaflet drops or by word of mouth etc. anyone then found on the area after a specific time was either shot, napalmed, or pineapple bombed which is a single bomb that would explode into thousands of tiny fibreglass balls, so they couldn’t be picked up by x – ray. In another attempt to stop the Vietcong Operation Ranch Hand was used, planes would drop chemicals (agent blue) that would destroy crops, the idea being to starve the Vietcong but unfortunately it just turned more of the peasants against the USA. One USA success was the Tet Offensive. The Vietcong used conventional warfare. It was a disaster and was the closest the US ever came to victory. However it was nowhere near enough to win the war for the US. The USA campaign suffered further after the ‘My Lai’ massacre. This was when the USA attacked a small village in Vietnam. Its 700 inhabitants were made up mostly of the elderly people, women and children. The soldiers were ordered to kill all the inhabitants in cold blood and burn the village to the ground. The USA appeared cold and heartless with no regard for human life. When the USA press got hold of the story the American public was shocked and the war became even less popular. Particularly so as it was revealed that most of the inhabitants of My Lai were not in fact Vietcong. By the late 60’s America became desperate, and decided to employ a much-feared and unpopular tactic, the use of chemical weapons. These weapons included napalm and Agent Orange, which stripped the land bare, making guerrilla tactics harder to carry out. However the use of such weapons produced some horrific injuries and pictures, which the press thrived upon, there were already several active peace movements in America. The US made a terrible mistake in allowing them to be covered by the press. The Vietcong were party to some terrible atrocities, but because they never allowed themselves to be followed into battle these were never seen. The media portrayal of the war was a major factor, as it is n any modern war. Already horrific stories and pictures are sensationalized, and can influence people almost totally. By 1967 the career soldiers had almost all been used and so the government introduced conscription. This meant that many soldiers were there against their will and wanted only to finish their tour of duty. They started to care less and less about winning the war as they were more occupied with staying alive. Consequently the morale suffered, ragging occurred more often for unpopular commands. The Vietcong on the other hand were highly motivated, they were fighting for a cause they believed in, and were there on their own free will, even women were allowed and willing to fight. As the war went on they became more confident, better armed and trained. This led to the â€Å"Tet Offensive†. On the January 31st, 1968, more than 70, 000 Vietcong launched an attack on more than a hundred cities and towns. I Saigon they managed to enter the US Embassy building and kill 5 marines, and take over a local radio station. In military terms the Americans won, an estimated 37,000 Vietcong soldiers were killed compared to the 2,500 American troops, but it proved to the soldiers and the American public that the Vietcong had an inexhaustible supply of people and that the Americans would not win the war. How to cite What different tactics were used by both sides in an attempt to win the conflict in Vietnam between 1956 and 1968?, Papers

How Do We Change Health Related Behaviour free essay sample

Health related behaviour, brief intervention, alcohol, stages of change, intervention mapping. ABSTRACT The health of people depends widely on their behaviour. Targeting unhealthy behaviours depends upon a number of factors since the health practitioner needs to take into account the beliefs, the intensity of the unhealthy behaviour, an individual’s readiness to change in order to design an appropriate intervention to help the individuals understand the risks of that particular behaviour thereby inducing change. Using alcohol consumption as a health related behavior, brief interventions for this behaviour have been explained, this is mainly due to the large success of brief interventions. Thus this essay critically discusses examples of brief interventions in order determine what contributes to a successful intervention. INTRODUCTION Every human’s health and well being is affected by health related behaviour often regarded as the foremost important element or factor. With the rapid advancement in science, diseases that were incurable, today can be treated and prevented easily. It is a well understood phenomenon that individuals are unique and are characterized by multidimensional behaviours. So in order to achieve positive outcomes in improving one’s health, appropriate behaviour needs to be promoted. There are variations in health-related behaviours in terms of duration, frequency and manner of impact on one’s health. Health-related behaviours can be single actions involving only a primary decision such as taking part in a screening examination for example, mammography and other health-related behaviours which are long-term habits or patterns of behaviour which involve many decisions since they continue over an extended period of time. For example, smoking and dietary habits Health-related behaviours could have a positive or a negative effect on one’s health. Health-related behaviours that have a positive effect are referred to as Health-protective behaviours such as using sunscreen, regular exercise, eating a low fat diet, whereas, some can have a negative effect such as substance abuse and stress-inducing behaviours. This essay aims to discuss the various effects that alcohol has on individuals and evaluate using studies with evidence as to how interventions can refrain people from alcohol abuse. â€Å"Drinking is interlinked into the fabric of many societies such as sharing a bottle of wine over a meal, celebrating special occasions and going out for drinks with friends†. Because alcohol has become such a popular element in several activities, individuals find it difficult to function socially without having alcohol failing to realise that their behaviour could become problematic. Alcohol consumption as behaviour is therefore a result of complex group of genetic, psychological and environmental factors which facilitate this kind of behaviour. The short term effects of alcohol include dizziness and talkativeness and the immediate effects of a large amount of alcohol include slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea and vomiting. Even low doses of alcohol impair judgement and coordination whereas moderate levels of alcohol increases instances of aggressive behaviour. Consequently long term effects of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism), where an individual consumes large amounts of alcohol which is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, hallucinations, mood swings, memory loss and blackouts, inability to concentrate, personality breakdown, infertility, alcohol poisoning, cancer of the liver, strokes, high blood pressure as well as severe anxiety. This when combined with poor nutrition can lead to permanent damage to vital organs in the body. Alcohol consumption often depends not only on the quantity and frequency of the consumption behaviour but also personal characteristics of an individual such as age, gender and weight. Although not quite believable that alcohol might have any beneficial aspect towards health, studies have revealed that moderate consumption of alcohol can reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases. This link between alcohol consumption and risk of heart disease is because ethanol in the alcohol increases the serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Hence individuals especially over and above the age of 45 who are largely prone to risk of heart diseases could benefit from such moderate consumption. Why is there need and importance to change health-related behaviour? The health of individuals and societies at large is dependent extensively on their behaviour; therefore it is logical to say that behaviour is an important determinant of the health outcome of people. It is estimated that life expectancies through such behavioural changes could increase by 9 years and if a person could get rid of all unhealthy personal habits he would stand to gain a further 2. years (Bunker, 2001). The interaction levels of social, psychological, biological and environmental factors are said to have a significant influence in the commencement stage and maintenance stage of change in health behaviour of people (National Aceademy of Sciences, 2001). In order to further explicate this need and importance of change in health-related behaviour, few risky behaviours have been taken, there consequences detail and try to predict what would happen if behaviour did not change. For instance, smoking causes thousands of deaths from numerous diseases and it has been estimated that 25 million Americans living today and 5 million people younger than 18 years will suffer a premature death from smoking related illnesses. According to NHS statistics, approximately 114,000 people die of smoking related diseases. People smoke because nicotine is a severe addiction which weaves its way into their lives, attaching itself to everything they do. Irrespective of the beliefs that exist with respect to the risks of smoking, it does not really motivate people to avoid or quit the behaviour. There is a need for individuals to attach certain amount of personal importance to the health effects of their smoking behaviour otherwise even having complete knowledge that smoking poses health problems would have no impact on the behaviour of the individual (Jon A. Krosnick et al 2006). Due to the reasons stated above, it can be noted that there is a need to change behaviour so that people can lead healthier stress-free lives. Another example could be dietary habits. Dietary habits are based on topographical landscapes and culture. Cultural differences can bring about an immense change in the food habits that people follow. In order to lead a healthy life, people should develop and maintain a healthy diet which is a significant and controllable risk factor for several leading causes of death. Unhealthy dietary habits as per studies have shown that more than 300,000 deaths occur per year as dietary factors contribute to a wide range of diseases. In order to prevent people suffering from these diseases and to reduce mortality rates that rise out of unhealthy habits it is important and essential that these behaviours are changed (Taylor). The stated above are just a few types of health related behaviours that could be risky if not taken care of or checked on regularly. Several other health related risk behaviours include, condom use among students, use of oral contraceptives, breast self examination in older women, mammography participation, AIDS risk related behaviour, testicular self examination, safety belt non use and many more. But in the event of possession of such risky behaviours how do we reduce or abstain from such behaviour. Researchers along with psychologists and medical practitioners have extensively studied and developed various frameworks and models that could facilitate change in health related behaviours of people. These models have been proven successful. It also depends on whether the objective is to influence change amongst general public or just individuals. Different strategies, tools and methodology would be needed to be adopted to determine the change in health behaviours. Some of the widely and commonly used models to change behaviour are, the Transtheoritical Behaviour Change Model, Health-belief model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Social Cognitive Theory, Motivational Interviewing and FRAMES model. These are briefly explained below; The Transtheoritical Model of Behaviour Change, developed by (Prochaska J, 1992) provides a useful framework by analysing the stages and processes that people go through to change their behaviours. The model consists of 4 stages, pre-contemplation stage, contemplation stage, action stage and maintenance stage. The model was developed initially to treat addiction to alcohol, smoking and drug use, but has now been used in several other behaviours as well. According to the Health Belief Model, an individual’s practice of particular health behaviour can be understood by knowing the extent to which the person perceives the health threat and his/her perception of the practice that could reduce the threat. The person’s perception of health threat are influenced by general health values that are concerned with interest and concern about health, special beliefs associated with the possibility of resulting disorders and their consequences. The persons perceived threat reduction is composed of two components, the first being whether the individual thinks health behaviour will be effective and whether the cost of adopting the measure is offset by the benefits that the measure could offer. Social Cognitive Theory lays emphasis on the interaction between a person’s thoughts and perceptions on ne hand, and his/her behaviour on the other. The emphasis is usually through processes such as self-efficacy and outcome expectancies. In order to change health related behaviour the application of theories has echoed wide significance. These theories are applied to strategies and action plans to change health behaviour in the form of interventions. Discussion with relation to interventions explaining its significance, its relevancy and effectiveness to change health behaviour is what constitutes the next stage.