Essay on Traits of an Effective Counselor - 1065 Words

Counselor characteristics are also an important part of the therapeutic dynamic. As the case study demonstrates, the professional counselor began with a good rapport and empathy. I believe the session was effective because the client and the counselor worked together with re-evaluating how the client was going to improve his circumstances. In this case study, the counselor establishes a good relationship and empathy with the client, which allows him to be completely honest about his thoughts and feelings. The counselor assesses continually the relationship between what is going on in the client’s life, in the session. An effective counselor can help pinpoint the obstacles in client life. Counselors are expected to develop a professional†¦show more content†¦Experience near understanding of the clients world is accomplished through the therapists investigation of the clients relationships and life history. Communicative attunement helps the client symbolize, organiz e, and make sense of inner experiences (Clarke, 2010). As this case study demonstrates the professional counselor used open questions to encourage exploration and to help identify the client’s thoughts. These questions in the case study allow room for the client to respond in numerous different ways, which depends on the needs and intentions of the client in the here- and- now of the counseling session. Open questions allow the professional counselor to pull together the key issues to begin the collaborative process of determining a plan of action for the client. Open and closed questions are the skills used to gather information, to aid in assessment, and to provide a focus and direction to the session. The power of open questions: The client, and the counselor, has the choice to determine the content and the direction of counseling. Open questions usually elicit fuller and more meaningful responses by encouraging the client to talk at greater length. Open questions give mor e control to the client (Erford, 2010). The counselor forgets to let the client signShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of An Effective Counselor1340 Words   |  6 Pages Characteristics of an Effective Counselor Desirà ©e M. Ericksen Liberty University â€Æ' Abstract This paper reviews four published papers and/or studies that have researched the characteristics of effective counselors. Each of the papers/studies list their own set of characteristics, but share a common thread of empathy, compassion, warmth, genuineness and emotional stability. After reviewing each paper and research study, additional analysis was applied to the above five characteristics with theRead MoreWhen Mental Health Helps Mental Health: The features of an Effective counselor700 Words   |  3 PagesWhen Mental Health Helps Mental Health: The features of an Effective counselor Introduction It is known that Therapeutic counseling is an important tool for the treatment, prevention and promotion of mental health. The psychotherapeutic method contains variables that influence the progress of the emotional state of an individual. Although the techniques and methods are components of the treatment, yet there still not a robot or machine to execute the interventions, as is found on the medical fieldRead MoreCompetence in Counseling Essay1574 Words   |  7 Pagesa great deal of pain or upset for longer than a few days. Counselors hold an important position that affect many lives throughout the course of a career. A counselor serves as an advice-giving role in a wide number of areas. There are many types of counselors, including school guidance counselors, psychological counselors, counselors for victims, youth camp counselors and more. Aspects of Counseling The vast majority of counselors are extremely caring people who are dedicated to their workRead MoreEssay about Characteristics of an Effective Counselor1693 Words   |  7 Pagesthe effective counselor April R. Tessmer Liberty University Author Note I d like to acknowledge the wonderful help that I received from one of the finest professors at Liberty University Online. I am very grateful to you, Dr. McCarthy, who provided me with the much needed suggested improvements and gave me the tools to complete this research paper. Thanks! Abstract The characteristics that make up an effective counselor are the personality traits that really define the counselor. SeveralRead MoreThe Importance Of A Licensed Counselor, A College Student Working At A Summer Camp1241 Words   |  5 PagesThe title, counselor, seems to have many different meanings depending on who you are speaking with. A counselor could be a college student working at a summer camp. Another holding the title counselor might work in a local school. Moreover, counselors exist in offices and treatment centers across the world. It would make sense if every person who encounters these different counselors have different expectations of their counselor’s role. Yet, all of these different people hold the same title. AccordinglyRead MoreCharacteristics of Effective Counseling654 Words   |  3 Pagescharacteristics might enhance someones ability to be an effective individual and group counselor? Clearly, compassion, caring, and genuine concern are all prerequisites for effective counseling. Yet there are also specific subsets of characteristics, traits, attitudes, beliefs, values, behaviors, and experiences that help a counselor become more effective for their clients. These characteristics differ according to whether the counselor operates in primarily an individual or group setting. MoreoverRead MoreDeveloping A Performance Management System For A Marriage Counselor1120 Words   |  5 Pagesmethods wills be used to evaluate the information (Mello 2015). How will the system be used? Many factors have to be considered when developing a Performance Management System for a Marriage Counselor. The Mental Health field is a challenging and fast growing occupation within today’s society. A Marriage Counselor interacts with a vast variety of individuals who are seeking solutions to assist them in their daily lives as a married couple (Kluger and DeNisi 1996). The first thing that needs to beRead MoreFreud s Theory Of Psychology1683 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment of those theories either modified parts of the theory or reacted against it (Gladding, 2013). This paper will go in-depth about how psychoanalysis effects: the view of human nature, the goals of psychoanalysis, the roles and techniques of the counselor, and the strengths and limitations the theory has. Freud felt that the transformation within a person’s personality was dynamic. Freud broke the personality down into three parts which consisted of the id, ego, and superego. These three componentsRead MoreEssay on Human Resources Recruiting Helpline1695 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Recruiting Helpline Counselors: Dilemmas in Validation Human Resource Management Outline Recruiting Helpline Counselors: Dilemmas in Validation I. Identify and analyze the symptoms and problems that the ‘Carers’ face and offer recommendations for their solution. II. Based on the information given in this case study, conduct a speculative job analysis and prepare a job specification on what being an effective volunteer telephone counselor entails and which attributesRead MoreI Want For My Counselor For Academic Advisement Essay1269 Words   |  6 PagesAs a young student in high school, I came to have my very first School Counselor. The school was in an urban area and there were approximately five counselors in our guidance department. I remember vividly that some students had a lack of respect of the position, claiming that their â€Å"counselor’s did not do anything†. While I cannot speak for others I was always pleased from what I expected of my counselor at the time. I was seen once or twice a semester to discuss what classes I should enroll in

Character Building in School Essay - 2748 Words

Character Building in School In a society with a vast array of different beliefs and mediums through which these beliefs are presented, children can get lost in an overwhelming sea of influential ideas and concepts not necessarily intended for their eyes and ears. Character education is a concept that calls for teachers and school curriculums to guide students in learning what Edward F. DeRoche and Mary M. Williams (2001, p. 25) described as â€Å"core values held sacred by a democratic society.† Parents are generally considered the teachers of morals, but if values like sharing, compassion, and honesty are never enforced or addressed outside the home, these values may never be established as a stable foundation in the child’s mind.†¦show more content†¦This practice would continue for a long time until the mid-1900s. As the country’s population became more diverse, people started to shy away from teaching specific, religious values and beliefs to children. It became no longer acceptable for one set of values based on Christianity to be taught in public schools, where children of all sorts of different backgrounds attended. In 1963, the Supreme Court deemed prayer and the use of the Bible for worship in public schools unconstitutional (Hunt, 1969). Soon afterward, the concept of values clarification was developed. Howard Kirschenbaum (2000), a former values clarification supporter turned character education supporter, defined values clarification as the guiding of youths in the development of their values while not imposing the teachers’ or anyone else’s values on them. Education went from incorporating religious values to merely presenting children with information and allowing them to develop their own values. In light of taking religious influences and traditional val ue teaching out of schools, generally people had shifted to a different outlook. In an issue of the National Education Association’s journal, Today’s Education, printed in the late 1960s, the R. L. Hunt (1969) emphasized that because God is mentioned in historical governmentalShow MoreRelatedEssay on What if the Secret To Success is Failure?1083 Words   |  5 PagesMany schools today have incorporated some sort of character development program to teach the qualities of good character. The question is, what constitutes good character? How do you define character? How do you develop character? What is the affect of character on education? These are all questions that many educators struggle with as they attempt to implement these programs. Recently the word â€Å"character† was the whole reason for the disbandment of our District’s National Honor Society. As â€Å"havingRead MoreThe School Community And Families Essay1600 Words   |  7 PagesPart 1: The School Community and Families The place where I have been privileged enough to perform my fieldwork has been KIPP Washington Heights Middle School, which is a charter school located in the Mirabal Sisters School in 168th St., New York. This building has a very friendly atmosphere and feel to it. In the morning, the outside of the building tends to be very packed since there is a total of three different schools within the building. There are lots of parents who drop their children offRead MoreThe Impact Of Character Education On The Behavior And Attitude Of Middle School Students1745 Words   |  7 Pages The Impact of Character Education on the Behavior and Attitude of Middle School Students Ashley Atwood Angelo State University The Impact of Character Education on the Behavior and Attitude of Middle School Students Good character is not an inherent trait. Studies have shown that, as society continuously evolves, middle school boys and girls seem to become more out of tune with who they are and what defines respectable character. Bulach (2002) says, â€Å"Many school officials seek reasonsRead MoreThe University Of Arkansas Fort Smith815 Words   |  4 PagesGardner The University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS) was established in 1928 as an extension of the public school system in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was known originally as Fort Smith Junior College until 1950, and it initially only occupied 15 acres. Today, the UAFS campus has approximately thirteen buildings in which classes are held in. There are several buildings that are on campus that do not hold classrooms for learning such as the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, the Boreham Library, theRead MoreInstructional Speech : Teaching And Learning1049 Words   |  5 Pagesinstructional leader of Hollister High School on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. 1. How do you promote teacher and student learning in their school as the administrator of instructional programs, in effect, the principal is the instructional leader? Dr. Graham likes to keep things simple in regards creating an atmosphere that promotes teaching and learning. He believes it is his biggest role as the instructional leader is to protect all instructional time. The students are in school to learn he must always keepRead MoreThe Many Characteristics, Factors, And Style Features That Are Considered When Building And Open Doors For Higher972 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many characteristics, factors, and style features that are considered when building or adding additions to a college. Mid- nineteenth century many colleges were attacked by educators, politicians, and writers, stating that the â€Å"traditional college was irrelevant to contemporary needs† (Turner Campus, An American Planning Tradition, 129). It was established that the traditional colleges were out of date and with a democratic reform there would be changes to the traditional college thatRead MoreExtracurricular Activities Affecting the Academic Performance of Students1674 Words   |  7 Pagesmotivation, character growth, etc. In conclusion, extracurriculars always had affected academics and most turn out for the positive for the student Extracurricular activities will always be a part of the student’s life. They will one day come across the time when they would be participating in one field of extracurricular activity, whether it be in the field of sports (i.e. swimming, basketball), arts(i.e. drawing, dancing, music) or social(i.e. student organization). Genuinely, it builds character forRead MoreApplication Paper : School Climate1292 Words   |  6 PagesApplication Paper: School Climate School climate has been a popular educational issue for decades with students, families, teachers, and other educational leaders looking for ways to foster and develop the learning and achievement of students. Research has supported what teachers’ and parents have said for years; that schools should be safe and supportive environments, in which students have positive social relationships and are respected, are engaged in their work, and feel competent in their abilityRead More Segregation and Civil Rights Essay1685 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition of the term â€Å"American character†, in general, was in fact plagued during the 1950s. Instead of the believable â€Å"picture perfect† definition that American character was portrayed to be, it was really constructed of major struggles between different races. In particular, the significant struggles between blacks and whites. The 1950s was a crucial decade of change for African Americans. The results of the battle f or nine African American children to attend Central High School (Little Rock, Arkansas)Read MoreDifferences Between Minority And White Students885 Words   |  4 Pagescreated the first KIPP school in Houston, Texas to better educate and motivate low-income, minority students. Eventually, their small grassroots idea grew into a network of 183 charter schools across the United States. Levin and Feinberg’s goal to close the gap between minority and white students is reflected in the fact that 87% of their students come from lower-class families and 95% are African American or Latino (â€Å"KIPP†). The KIPP charter schools differ from public schools in the ethnic make-up

Salmonella free essay sample

Salmonella Salmonella is a rod shaped, gram-negative bacteria, which infects humans and other mammals. It is the most common cause of food poisoning and the leading cause of Salmonellosis. Salmonella infects more than 40,000 people a year in the US and causes 400 deaths a year. It is caused by consuming raw or undercooked food, having contact with a person or animal that is infected by salmonella, and poor kitchen hygiene. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Researchers have yet to come up with a vaccine to help prevent salmonella oisoning. Citations: 1. Salmonella. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/salmonella 2. T. S. Desin, W. KÂ ¶ster, and A. A Potter Salmonella vaccines in poultry: past, present and future Expert Review of Vaccines, January 2013, Vol. 12, No. l, Pages 87-96 3. Kelland, Kate. Scientists Use Salmonella Bug to Kill Cancer Cells. Reuters. Thomson Reuters . 4. Gast, R. Research to Understand and Control Salmonella Eggs. We will write a custom essay sample on Salmonella or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Research to Understand and Control Salmonella Enteritidis in Chickens and Eggs.. 5. Locchead, Carolyn. Warnings as Salmonella Strains Resist Antibiotics. *Gate.. Methods: Motile, Gram-negative bacteria Lactose negative; acid and gas from glucose, mannitol, maltose, and sorbitol; no Acid from adonitol, sucrose, salicin, lactose ONPG test negative (lactose negative) Indole test negative Methyl red test positive Voges-Proskauer test negative Citrate positive (growth on Simmons citrate agar) Lysine decarboxylase positive Urease negative Ornithine decarboxylase positive H2S produced from thiosulfate Do not grow with KCN Phenylalanine and tryptophan deaminase negative Gelatin hydrolysis negative Once the bacteria enter the body, if it is able to survive the harsh environment of the stomach, it causes a massive inflammatory response, which has a negative impact on the existing normal tlora. The nontypnoidal species ot Salmonella tocuses i ts disease process in the gut and causes the diarrheal symptoms. But if the bacteria passes through the stomach lining and enters into organs or the central nervous system, it becomes Typhoid Fever. Our bodies do have defenses against Salmonella. The extreme acidity of our stomach many times kills the bacteria before it can reach the intestine. If it passes through the stomach then the motility of the GI will push it through the system as quickly as possible. Mucus protect the lining of our intestines and the intestinal flora may try to crowd out the bacteria while the flushing or motility is occurring, so the bacteria does not get a chance to irritate the lining and cause harm [9]. A recent outbreak of the Salmonella Saintpaul strain (a fairly uncommon serotype) occurred throughout much of the United States during the summer months of 2008. Ultimately 1442 people were infected with the bacteria, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) narrowed down the contaminate to Jalapeno and serrano peppers, grown and packed in Mexico and possibly tomatoes from Mexico earlier in the summer. People in 43 states were affected with Texas and New Mexico having the most number of cases [12]. Reported cases of nontyphoidal Salmonella have been stable in the US for the past several years at about 13. 4 cases for every 100K people. Adding to that number all the people who do not report much milder cases of Salmonellosis, it is estimated that there are 520 cases for every 100K people nnually in the US. In 2007 the reported cases were a little higher; at 14. 9 cases per 100K. However, worldwide estimates of nontyphoidal Salmonella range from 200 million to 1. 3 billion, with an estimated death toll of 3 million each year [13]. There is a vaccine that is effective against Typhoid fever but none for nontyphoidal salmonella [9]. To prevent the diarrheal illness it is important to not cross contaminate foods; that is, to keep uncooked food from touching raw or other previously foods, and keep cooking surfaces and utensils clean.

Makeup Cosmetics and Women free essay sample

Running Head: Makeup Makeup 1 5TH JULY 2009 Today, makeup has become a hot topic among society. Almost everyone applies make-up on their faces. Everyone knows that women apply makeup the most, but not men. Do really only females can do make-up or apply makeup? No! The era is changing now. In order to enhance physical appearance, men apply make-up on their faces too. They apply make-up more than any females which are most of the males or mens purchasing cosmetics more than females. But, women apply make-up in a same way too. They apply make-up Just to change the appearance of the current outlook. They Just want to show more confidence without the shallow eyes after make-up was apply. Besides that, men apply make-up due to the rise of the metro- sexual; make-up is the right of men, too, and no longer the sole right of women. Metro-sexual is a term referring to a man who is meticulous about his appearance. We will write a custom essay sample on Makeup: Cosmetics and Women or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He is always in fashion and very well groomed. Therefore, there are six reasons why women and men apply make-up to their faces: women love putting on make-up in order to enhance their physical appearance; putting make-up can increase the confidence of women; women should be able to apply make-up due to it is a social anner; men love make-up because they have started to become concerned about their physical outlook; in todays world, most of the cosmetic products contain skin protections which enable men or women to use them, and men use makeup in order to cover the pores or scars on their faces. Normally, most of the women would love putting make-up in order to enhance their physical appearance. According to Hazel Leong (2007), people looking good with their physical appearance does anything also will feel easy because people will react to them more optimistically. People always tend to deal with them better because eople do Judge others by their poise and contentment shown in their total outlook. (Leong, H. 2007. 3 secret Makeover tips to Enhance Your Appearance! ). Hence, makeup is a necessary tool for women, apply the right makeup can improve any womens physical appearance. In order to apply the right makeup and techniques could be learn from reading a books or asking a friend. (Dating Advice About Physical Attractiveness, 30th June 2009). It is so easy to understand why women love putting make-up. The women want to be attractive and beautiful among the people through putting different kind of make-up products on their faces. By ascara, eyeliner, and so on apply on their faces to make them look more attractive and alluring. Besides that, the women want to catch someones attention that they admired. So, women apply make-up to make them become more beautiful and pretty. Moreover, makeup becomes a habit for some women since they were applying the make-up too often. At the end, these women were relying on makeup, without makeup they rather not going out in front the door because they feel not comfortable without putting make-up on their faces. Furthermore, women love people praise them beautiful so they apply makeup to cover the blemish, freckles or acne scars on heir faces to make them look more charming and spirit. Therefore, women love putting make-up since it can enhance their appearance, making them more attractive, catch someones attention that they admire, feel comfort after applying make-up, and get people praise them up. Not everyone is perfect in the world; one may have some weakness on their physical outlook. In the past thousands of years still todays world, women are so mind their physical outlook, by the way women putting make-up to increase their confidence. This is because physical appearances are generic and are not going to change. No one can grow second time; people cannot grow two more inches and cannot change the shape of our face. By then, create a variety of amazing looks by how people style and apply make-up. (Mason, Linda. 1994. Makeup: The Art of Beauty). Hence, makeup can help those women who look not nice or have some skin problems that they probably lack of confidence. The reason why they lack of confidence is it is so imperative to make a great first impression due to the world is so cruel and superficial. People do Judge a book by its cover. (Adrian Sullivan, K. 0th June 2009, Why Wear Make-up). So, they use make-up to cover their blemish or scar n their faces to make their appearance look good and more confidence. Moreover, properly applied foundation and blush can give a youthful glow and brighten our face. The women look youth after make-up was apply. Besides that, not only ugly women need makeup, good looking women need too! This is because some may look no spirit due to their eyes are not big enough or attract and this will properly make them look like no confidence and no spirit.

buy custom Colonization of America essay

buy custom Colonization of America essay America was colonized during the early period of imperialism by Britain. The process of colonization of America began with the exploration activities, which were conducted by the European explorers. The explorers always informed their governments about the resources in America. This encouraged the Europeans to have much interest in commercial and agricultural activities in America (Frank, 1998, p. 89). Native Americans were among the early people who lived in America. Their population was seriously affected by wars and epidemic diseases, which were prevalent during the 16th century. Migration facilitated the emergence of other societies in America. For example, Afro-Americans emerged as an outcome of slavery (Frank, 1998, p. 90). American Indians also formed a part of this society. The arrival of the British colonials in America led to oppression and exploitation of the Americans. In order to protect their interest, the Americans had to resist the British rule through all the possible means. This led to the American Revolution, which facilitated the independence of America. In 1607, the British brought many drastic changes in the American society. They interfered with the American civilization. Apart from Britain, other European powers such Sweden and France also attempted to obtain colonies in America. The major aim behind colonization was the need to gain resources from America (Guevara, 2009, p. 231). During the British rule in the American colonies many changes occurred, and they were not in favor of the Americans interests. Slavery which had begun during the ancient period now became worse. The American society became increasingly stratified during the British rule. This led to the development of inequalities, which really affected many inhabitants of the American colony. These social injustices prepared the ground for the American Revolution. The American Revolution The revolution started in 1763 when the French and Indian war came to an end. The British government wanted the Americans to provide the financial resources for maintaining the colonies. The British colonialists wielded their power by charging high taxes on their subjects. The Americans did not accept those policies. Many Americans also felt that the British rule was illegal since they were not having representatives in the British government (Guevara, 2009, p. 215). They, therefore, protested against the British. Causes of the American Revolution American Enlightenment This was a lobby group that facilitated the spread of ideas such as republicanism and democracy. These ideologies enabled them to gain political consciousness. Republicanism inspired many people, and it was instrumental in advancing the course of the revolution (Middlekauff, 2007, p. 107). According to this ideology, the national interest should come first. They were, therefore, committed to fighting for self governance. Religion Religion was very significant during the American Revolution because it gave the citizens moral encouragement to resist colonialism. During the Revolution, church leaders took leadership roles in political organizations (Middlekauff, 2007, p. 112). For instance, they engaged in committees of correspondence. Some of them even participated in armies of resistance. Controversial British Legislation The Americans rejected most of the punitive acts that were enacted by the British government. For example, they enacted navigation acts. Through these acts, the colonial government was able to dominate the economic system and the Americans really suffered (Brinkley, 2009, p. 304). This made them fight against oppression. American Political Opposition Opposition of the British rule was also done through correspondent committees, which served in various capacities in the colonial government (Doyle, 2009, p. 76). Members of these committees also led the Americans during the protests. Role of Women Even though women were not a part of the major political activities throughout the revolution, they also played a role in facilitating the revolution. They provided intelligence by simply spying on the British activities (Doyle, 2009, p. 90). Women also provided food and other logistics to the soldiers. Economic Reasons During the colonial period in America, Britain was much preoccupied with advancing its economy (Henretta Dmenil, 2007, p. 113). For example, it was undergoing industrial revolution. In this regard, Britain enacted colonial policies that would favor its maximum exploitation of its colonies. The following economic factors, therefore, partly contributed to the onset of the American Revolution. The British government came up with a number of land policies in America after the end of the war between it and France. This war lasted for seven years, and it was mainly caused by the desire of the two powers to have colonial possessions in the western part of America. Britain which emerged victorious after the war annexed all the land that had been contested (Brinkley, 2009, p. 230). Soon after the war, Britain started enforcing major changes in land policies especially in its western colonies. The main importance of this policy was to facilitate British control over the Western colonies. In this respect, three other polices also emerged after the enactment of the new policy, and they included the following (Frank, 1998, p. 178). The exclusion policy was the first one, and it was meant to remove the Americans from the western region. Secondly, we had the implementation of the exclusion policy. Thirdly, the British set up modalities of financing the exclusion program, which was to be achieved through a series of taxation policies (Doyle, 2009, p. 123). In this case, it was the American citizens that were supposed to pay for the cost of removing their colleagues from the West. Thus, unfair taxation was one of the main economic factors that were responsible for the onset of the revolution in America. Even though the British government could device other mechanisms for raising funds, they saw the Americans as the most viable source of finance for accomplishment of the exclusion plan (Henretta Dumenil, 2007, p. 145). This was because the British government had incurred much expense during the war with France. Moreover, the taxes were relatively high in Britain compared to the colonies. The legislators also had their constituencies in Britain and not in the colonies. With all these issues put into consideration, the British parliament saw taxation of the colonies as the most suitable way of raising funds for the exclusion program (Guevara, 2009, p. 114). Accordingly, many taxation acts were implemented in order to generate revenue for the British army in America. The Sugar Act was implemented in 1764 and it was meant to reduce tariffs charged on non British products sourced from West Indies. It was also supposed to facilitate the collection of those goods (Doyle, 2009, p. 321). This act was followed by the first Stamp Act, which was implemented in order to provide income for the army. Soon after the enforcement of this act, the Quartering Act was also put in place, and it was meant to enable the British army to have access to social amenities from the Americans. More taxes were also levied on goods that were imported through the enforcement of the Townshend Act that was introduced in 1767. In addition to these acts, the British government also implemented the Navigation Acts, which further strained the economy of the Americans (Middlekauff, 2007, p. 145). The Americans could not do much to eliminate the British army occupation of the west. However, they resisted the new taxes imposed on them through a series of peaceful methods. For example, they refused to buy goods that were imported from Britain. This boycott affected trading activities to an extent that the British government removed most of the taxes mentioned above (Guevara, 2009, p. 210). Even after the elimination of these taxes, the British still had the feeling that it was important to continue taxing the Americans. This saw the implementation of new taxes after a few years. The Americans had no choice but to react violently. The harsh economic policies led to a serious economic decline among the Americans. Therefore, the economic issues together with other factors led to the outbreak of the revolution. Majority of historians have given much attention to the revolutionary leaders, in most of their analysis of the revolutionary period. For instance, most of them link the success of the American Revolution to individuals such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and others(Philip, 1962, p. 556). Although that attention is merited, it has somehow given a false impression of how the American Revolution was conducted. As pointed out by historians such as Breen, it is clear that the idea of the revolution emerged among the ordinary people, and not the leaders. John Adams was right when he mentioned that there was a division among colonies on how to approach the idea of gaining independence. For example, some individuals advocated for peaceful negotiations for their rights, while other favored milittary campaigns. The local initiative by commissions that spread in various colonies further indicates that the revolution was driven through a concerted effort and not solely by the officials we link with nationalist cause. Indeed, the ordinary individuals willingly and vigorously engaged in the nationalist cause. This clearly indicates that ordinary Americans had the capacity to wield political authority in their territory with a sense of reason. It is also worth mentioning that by 1774, only few Americans could think of independence. In 1774, George Washington actually informed a friend of his that sovereignty was along term dream for the Americans. However, with great determination and focus the Americans managed to dislodge the British from their territory. Declaration of Independence According to many historians the Declaration of Independence is one of the most significant manuscripts that provide a chronological account of various events that facilitated the achievement of American independence. Several nations and organizations have also embraced its structures and tone in their own manuscripts and declarations. For instance, the Womens Movement employed a similar strategy in writing their Declaration of Sentiments(Philip, 1962, p. 523). The Declaration of Independence refers to the proclamation which the Continental Congress made in 1776. According to the provisions of this proclamation, the thirteen American Colonies that had resented the British rule were to be granted their autonomy. This meant that the Americans could have the chance to govern themselves without seeking guidance from Britain. The role of drafting the document was bestowed on Thomas Jefferson, and the Congress made necessary adjustment before it produced the final version. The declaration acted as an official statement that justified the voting of the Congress in favor of the decolonization. The voting took place on July, 2, 1776. On July 4, the final manuscript was produced. This was followed by the declaration of the Independence, which the congress issued in various forms. Nevertheless, the Declaration of Independence was in fact not in principle essential in declaring independence from Great Britain(Boyd, 1976, p. 439). Many scholars have adopted different analysis of the Declaration. For instance, some them argue that the information of the Declaration is similar to 'Lawyer's Brief'(Jayne, 2000, p. 444). In my view, the declaration acted as justification for the decolonization of the colonies in America. Indeed, the colonial grievances highlighted in the Declaration revealed that the Americans were really in need of independence. After independence, the Declaration did not receive much attention. However, it gained prominence over the years as the question of human rights became more significant. According to Abraham Lincoln, the Declaration of Independence laid the foundation for democracy in America. Therefore, he argues that the principles entrenched in Declaration can be used as guidelines for interpreting the American Constitution. Conclusion The above discussion indicates that there were several factors that led to the American Revolution. As discussed above, the British rule in America interfered with the both political and economic systems of America (Brinkley, 2009, p. 45). However, destroying the Americans economic system had the greatest effect on their lives. It is the harsh economic conditions that motivated the Americans to resist British rule in their territories. It is apparent that the non-economic factors helped in implementing the Revolution rather than causing it. For instance, the American Enlightment was responsible for the spread of ideas such as republicanism, which enabled the citizens to resist colonization with an aim of eliminating their oppression (Middlekauff, 2007, p. 90). Likewise, religion was more of a source of inspiration for the citizens to resist colonization rather than a cause of the revolution. Achieving political independence by the Americans was not only meant to enable them to rule themselves, but also to enable them to manage their resources in order to achieve economic prosperity. This leads to the conclusion that economic constraints were the main causes of American Revolution, because they caused much suffering among the Americans, thereby prompting them to resist colonization. The Americans finally regained their freedom after a serious struggle through military protests. Independence was finally granted to the American colonies in 1776. After independence the people of America started making constitutional changes that would enable them to develop their country. Buy custom Colonization of America essay

buy custom Computer Forensics and Cybercrime essay

buy custom Computer Forensics and Cybercrime essay A computer crime is any crime involving a computer and a network. Computer crimes have posed dangers of theft of identity in the cyber technology whose cost estimation is difficult. There are four general categories of computer crimes that can lead to theft of identity. The four main categories of computer crimes are theft of hardware and software, internal computer crime, telecommunication crimes, and computer hacking. Each of these computer crimes has varied examples depending on how it is used to perform identity theft. This paper portrays the examples in which the four categories of computer crimes are used in identity theft and the difficulties of estimating its cost. First, computer crime can take the form of theft of hardware and software. When the hardware and software in a computer, are stolen, from their rightful owners, the owners personal identification information can be stolen. Additionally, a computer crime can be targeted to the internal system of computer, thereby interfering with the internal system of the computer and network. The important examples to the internal computer system crime are worms and viruses, which compromise its internal settings. Additionally, some computer crimes such as hacking and freaking are directed to the telecommunication net works. Examples of are, in which case the hackers gain access to the computer network and can steal identity information. Lastly, computer crimes can be achieved through computer manipulation. In the computer manipulation crimes, the computer offenders operate the computer system and contravene its intended output to match their sinister plans. Criminals can manipulate the computers, and network system to present themselves in other peoples identity. The costs of theft of identity to individuals through computer crimes can have tremendous costs to their owners. It is, however, difficult to estimate the cost of identity theft because of definition problems and lack of data. Buy custom Computer Forensics and Cybercrime essay

Strength Training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strength Training - Essay Example ing my understanding that muscles have to develop with relaxation from the training schedule, I have opted to alternate the training regularly, is this case; I do train four times in a week. In the four session of the week, I take a standardized time for each training day- one and a half hours. Evaluating the training session, I can gauge my training intensity in a scale of 1-10 to be 8 out of the possible 10. I carry out my training in a public gym facility with the motivation to develop the power to make stronger service and hit during plays. I decided to read the article, â€Å"How Weight training Improves Your Body†, as it i addresses some of the fundemetals of training that are overlooked by the trainees of which I found very educative on the issues relating to strength training and how to train without harm or exhaustion of the body. The information from this article informs my fitness regime on the various types of weight training exercise and what they signify, which made my training goal-oriented avoiding the random training with no target. In conclusion, I have learnt that there are several factors that determines muclses development and thattraining gains are reversible, if one opts using weight that are below the usual capacity. In this regard, I have come to realise that there is the tolerance level even in weight

International trade Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International trade - Research Paper Example However like every theory this connection between trade and economic growth and between trade and poverty might be empirically verified. If such a relation holds true then it will automatically provide a ground for the stagnant economies and the developing nations to remove trade barriers and introduce incentives to facilitate the same. Even the developed countries pursue protectionist policies on products related to agriculture, textiles and steel, which are, imported from the less developed nations. Initially the international organizations were pressuring the developing nations to liberalize their economies on the basis of structural adjustment loans. Currently their policies are changing as their attention shifts more towards the developed nations with respect to the removal of trade barriers in nations like Canada, EU and Japan. (Spanu, May 2003, p.1) The basis of all these lie in the theory of trade as an engine of growth and as a step towards reduction of poverty. Most of the literatures studied are in the context of developing or emerging economies. It will be interesting to study the impact of trade in the context of a developed nation like USA, which has recently undergone a vulnerable state of its economy. Hence it is important to empirically verify this theory through the study. Next the theory of trade as an engine of growth might be considered at the background of our research as already mentioned before. According to Adam Smith, David Ricardo and their followers, the secret of England’s wealth lay in trade related activities carried out by the ancient sailors. Without the occurrence of trade, the economy would have remained a closed one with poor living standards, which could gradually lead to the downfall of the economy. According to Smith, â€Å"trade extended the size of the market, promoted specialization and generated prosperity through its gains.† (Mehmet, 44) In

Victims Of Society Essay Example for Free

Victims Of Society Essay Often literature is used to underline some social problems, to criticize and to some extent eliminate certain defects of social system. For example, fictional characters may be depicted as victims of society. Thus, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen focuses upon this dilemma in society during Victorian epoch. Ibsen raises much controversy on the roles of males and females in society and tires to attract attention to hypocrisy and use of public opinion to suppress individuality. A number of literary critics treated Ibsen’s play as a means for infringing social norms and rules, for instance, Bjorn Hemmer, literary critic and researcher, in his article in The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen, observed: â€Å"The people who live in such a society know the weight of ‘public opinion’ and of all those agencies which keep watch over society’s ‘law and order’: the norms, the conventions and the traditions which in essence belong to the past but which continue into the present and there thwart individual liberty in a variety of ways† (Hemmer, 83). Almost every key personage of A Dolls’ House is presented as a victim of society. Torvald is a victim of society, because he is forced by the need to fit into society’s standards and to be treated as a representative of a high social status. Torvald knows very well about the pressures, produced by the society upon him and shows his willingness to get adjusted to them. Though Torvald is a victim of social circumstances, Ibsen makes it absolutely clear that he is quite comfortable and satisfied with the idea. Torvald has reached everything he may have wanted, and everything he may have been expected by society to have, in life. He established a family, with a beautiful wife and three children, a big comfortable house, a respectable job, which provided him with a higher status in society, he supervises other people in his business, and enough money so that he can spoil his pet, Nora. Probably, due to all these achievements Torvald does not want to do anything such as â€Å"touch any case that isn’t well nice† if it can affect his image and make him bad reputation. Torvald is ready to do whatever is required to prevent the need to â€Å"cut costs to an absolute minimum† and â€Å"save every cent† again, in other words he is not ready to lose what he has earned at any cost. The last scene makes it apparent when he wants to conceal Nora’s misdeeds, only to prevent it leaving a bad mark on his name: â€Å"I must try to buy him off somehow. This thing must be hushed up at any price. † (Ibsen, Act 3) Torvald would do everything to keep up to any expectation set by society for people. He created his own social image as someone who must maintain an important and influential role in the family. He is confident that maintaining such an image will make him become similar to everybody else, in society. Being the male and husband Torvald believes that it is his responsibility to be the family supporter the head of the household: â€Å"you will not find me lacking in strength or courage. I am a man enough to bear the burden for us both. † (Ibsen, Act 2) The implications of social impact on Torvalds moral convictions appear in Act 3. The realization that society may get to know about Nora’s actions almost kills Torvald. He cannot go through the fact that his wife tried to give support to him and save his life: â€Å"he’s so proud of being a man- it’d be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me (Nora). † (Ibsen, Act 1) Social tradition claims the opposite the man is to support the family and to protect them. Another critic of Ibsen’s works Gail Finney in the same book The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen says that in the notes for A Doll’s House, Ibsen comments that a mother in modern society is â€Å"like certain insects who go away and die when she has done her duty in the propagation of the race. † (Finney, 91) The evidence for this opinion one can find in Torvald’s rejection of his wife as soon as he discovers her secret; he insists that she is not good for bringing up their children if her good name is disgraced. The importance for being accepted into society for Torvald is also evident when Torvald reveals about Nora’s agreement with Krogstad. It becomes obvious that Nora and Torvald’s ideal marriage had been a falsification made for society’s sake. Torvald introduces society’s views and destroys Nora’s belief that he truly loved her: â€Å"As regards to our relationship- we must appear to be living together just as before. Only appear of course. † (Ibsen, Act 3) He appears as an absolute hypocrite and cares how her actions may harm his reputation. Torvald’s wife Nora is also a victim of society because of Torvald’s wish for being a perfect family, in order to fit in into social stereotype. As a consequence, Nora is convinced that it is her responsibility as a wife to live up to Torvald’s expectations and play the established role, in order to satisfy the society. At the beginning of A Doll’s House a reader perceives Nora as a doll controlled by her husband. She relies on him in everything. At first Nora enjoys playing the role of Torvald’s obedient wife. She finds it appropriate to be comfortable in society. The Christmas presents bought for the children prove that she follows the stereotypical views of society. She makes her children to respond to the different treatment by feeling different and behaving differently. She reinforces the stereotypical gender roles that keep her in subordination to her husband. Nora treats her daughter the same way she seems to be treated all of her life – that is, as a doll: â€Å"A trumpet for Bob. And a doll and a cradle for Emmy. ’ (Ibsen, Act 1) Nora protests against society’s morals that â€Å"a wife can’t borrow money without the husband consent. † (Ibsen, Act 1) but as she realizes it is not proper and wrong thing to do, nevertheless, she finds it â€Å"great fun, though, sitting there working and earning money. Almost like being a man. † (Ibsen, Act 1) As the play proceeds Nora becomes aware that she has been disillusioned that it is her duty to act as the ornament and prize to her husband, the role which society has given to her. The moment in A Dolls’ House where Nora takes off her fancy dress, symbolizes her refusal to remain the same person as she was: â€Å"Taking off my fancy dress†¦I’ve changed. † (Ibsen, Act3). Finally she finds courage to reject playing the role to please society. The example of a person who once being a victim of society changes as soon as the whole situation changes is Mrs. Linde. The social circumstances made her marry the man who she did not love, but could support her ill mother and two brothers. But after her husband’s death she behaves as an independent woman. She must work to support herself and become self-sufficient. Torvald in this case again reveals his biases in relation to women’s proper roles in society: â€Å"Well, it is not altogether impossible. I presume you are a widow, Mrs. Linde? †¦ Ah! well, its very likely I may be able to find something for you† (Ibsen, Act 1) The analysis of the choices the characters from the play make in society, either to follow the social convention or be a social outcast, like Dr. Rank, reveals characters readiness to be a victim of society. Dr Rank while being a respectable man with important profession of doctor and supposed to be an important and honorable member of society he is a victim of both his father’s mistake and social conviction that he deserved such fate. Through Torvald’s words it becomes evident that Dr. Rank was always an eyesore for perfect social circle: â€Å"He with his sufferings and loneliness was like a cloudy background to our sunlit happiness. Well, perhaps it is best so. † (Ibsen, Act 3) No matter, whether major or minor, most of the characters throughout the whole play are presented as victims because of their wish to be accepted into society. A Doll’s House openly declares the need for a renewed society’s understanding of males and females role. Works Cited list: Goldman, Emma, The Social Significance of the Modern Drama.The Gorham Press, Boston, 1914 Retrieved on 18 Nov. 2005 from http://sunsite3. berkeley. edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/doll. html Hemmer, Bjorn. Ibsen and the Realistic Problem Drama. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Ed. James McFarlane, Cambridge University Press, 1994, 68-88. Ibsen, Henrik. A Dolls House. 1879. Trans. James McFarlane and Jens Arup. 1981. Retrieved on 07 Nov. 2005 http://www. classicreader. com/booktoc. php/sid. 7/bookid. 2011/ Finney, Gail. Ibsen and Feminism. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Ed. James McFarlane, Cambridge University Press, 1994, 89-105.

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Essay -- essays research papers

Gatsby Essay Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. For example, a dove is usually used to represent peace. In the novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald uses a lot of symbolism to connect the characters with each other or to other objects. Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism helps advance his thematic interest in his novel of The Great Gatsby. In the Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses various colors, objects, and gestures as symbols to portray the lack of moral and spiritual values of people and the different aspects of society in the 1920's. One use of symbolism Fitzgerald uses is the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. He uses it to represent Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. In chapter one, Gatsby associates the light with Daisy when he reached toward it in the darkness, using it as his guide to lead him to his goal. The light also symbolizes the more generalized idea of the American dream since Gatsby’s quest for Daisy is associated with the American dream of love. Nick compares the green light to how America may have looked to the first people on the country. Another symbol representing Daisy are flowers. â€Å"At his lip’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.†(117) Flowers are a symbol for grace, beauty, and love, and coincidentally is the name of the girl whom Gatsby loves. Another thing about the light and symbolism is its color, green. Green is representing money in this novel. It could represent money, or the struggle Gatsby has between his wealth and his dreams. Fitzgerald uses quite a few colors as symbolism other than green. He uses blue to represent the dreams and t... ...ere and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns."(68) The Great Gatsby is a novel full of symbolism. Fitzgerald uses symbolism to represent many different ideas, and to link the character together in some sort of way. He uses colors, cars, and houses to the valley of ashes and a doctor’s eyes. They all play a significant part in the novel, and not only portray symbols for the novel, but also in real life as well. For example, the color green is used to represent money in the novel, where as in life it does as well. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows us how society acted during the 1920’s. He provides us with views into worlds of love, money, power, and the morality of the time by using symbols with everyday objects and occurrences.

Sociology. Davis Moore Thesis Essay

Davis-Moore thesis Introduction            Davis-Moore thesis discusses and analyzes the social equality and inequality and explains why different people obtain different rewards for the jobs that they do (Macionis, 2009). The general topic of the thesis is social stratification, which according to Davis-Moore, is present in every society due to the reason that it has some consequential benefits for the operation and the growth of the society. According to Davis-Moore, more reward is given to people that hold positions in the society that are considered to have some functional importance, such as that of a medical doctor (Macionis, 2009). The result of the reward system in the society implies equality in opportunities while promoting inequality in terms of the outcome that people receive. Social stratification, according to Davis-Moore thesis, makes the society more productive as well as efficient.            The functional consequence of inequality for society helps in ensuring that the various roles that are considered to be important in the society are filled by the relevant and skilled people (Macionis, 2009). Talented people in the society are supplied with the necessary opportunities and motivation that enables them to undertake training that result in filling of the important roles in the society (Macionis, 2009). The important functions are performed by people who are most talented. The greatest rewards are also offered to the position that require a lot of training and are of importance in the maintenance of the order and system of the society (Macionis, 2009). For example, doctors train for many years and, therefore, are expected to receive higher perks due to the kind of role they play in the society.            Engineers and pilots also take a lot of time to train hence the notion that they should receive higher rewards for their jobs. Melvin Tumin criticized Davis-Moore’s thesis of social stratification by saying that there has been no demonstration of functional importance of the varying positions in the society (Macionis, 2009). Melvin also notes that such a demonstration has not been made. Reference Macionis, J. J. (2009). Sociology. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education. Source document

Marriage is a private affair; Sequel Essay

As Oekeke awoke, he shifted in his bed with a pain coming from his chest. It wasn’t a pain that made you clench up and scream, he knew from that moment something was very wrong. He tried to open his at last, from when he awoke his eyes were still weary but it seemed as though he was stuck in time. His heart pumped faster and his mind was propelling from left to right to across the back and back. All he could think of was his family, but with such confusion he could hardly focus on the realty of his situation. It was a sensation he’d never felt ever before, and as he saw his life flash by him he knew the only thing he could do was to wait it out. The old man finally grasped control of his life covered in sweat and disorientation. He asked himself if it could have been a near death experience or just a really vivid and messed up dream that only comes around every couple of years. He knew one thing for sure and that was to get to his sons house right away and end the path of negativity. His body was weak but his mind was made up and with that he left all that had just happened behind and left. Just as Okeke rushed to his vehicle, the rain started to pour down as if it were trying to stop him. In the back of his mind he was still left with questions that would once in a while come up. It was too late now as his mind was set on seeing his family. The dark, gloomy sky filled his pain with even more remorse. He couldn’t tell where it was coming from exactly, it wasn’t leaving anytime now. The storm brewed as Okeke drove without any intent of stopping and slow his speed. A sudden sharp pain hit his heart like thunder to ground. His face grew weary and tense and the ever growing pain made the man’s vision sluggish like the fog. He was broken, still his left hand on the wheel. A sudden faint object leapt over the front of his hood, nearly colliding with the car, startling Okeke to gain control and pass his pain for the time being. As the hours passed he finally arrived to Nene’s and Nnaemako’s, crawling out and nearly breaking into their house. Nene helped him in, while in tears Okeke explained his sorrow and experience he had and while all this was happening his pain slowly started to fade away. Okeke finished by saying that everything will be alright and even if they do have their different mind and culture, there will always be a way to solve the issue through choice and absolute strength. The man, finally relaxed in his sons arms, slowly slept back into his nightmare. His son, wife and kid all shared a final breath with him. Okeke slowly lifted his right fingers to his  left ring finger and took his ring and opening his son’s pam and placing it in. Their eyes filled with tears and they were all at peace now a real family. A faint vision appeared flashing in quickly and Okeke was left in a bed which seemed to be in a hospital, from what he could tell. There was mirror hanging on the wall to his right and he looked at it and jumped out of bed seeing how old he looked. He started screaming and ran out but two nurses stopped him and brought him back to his bed. With the confusion and everything he was lead to believe, the nurses told him that he has Alzheimer’s and that once every couple of years he remember everything for a while. This was the first time in 10 years that it’s happened, he was short of breath and asked them what his visions and dreams were all about. They told him that his body is trying to fight the disease. He asked if he had kids and that part was true and they just finished visiting him a few hours ago. They told him that it seemed like a very deep and emotional moment they spent with him and it was like the world was at peace. Okeke laid back in his bed and told them that, that was enough and he said he was ready to go. He knew he was ready and that moment made him re-evaluate everything, like he’d encountered it before, but he was having a hard time remembering it.

Darren Aronofsky essays

Darren Aronofsky essays Darren Aronofsky, director of the indie sensation Pi was in town to screen his latest, last years Oscar-nominated Requiem for a Dream as part Southern Methodist Universitys film festival. I had the privilege of getting to know Mr. Aronofsky at the Amstrom Gallery after party. As a kid in Brooklyn, Aronofsky took the D train to Manhattan so that he could sneak into such films as A Clockwork Orange and Eraserhead. The films were, at that time, X-rated (they are both now rated R). They were films, he says with a smirk, you werent supposed to see. Fifteen years later, Aronofsky finds himself making controversial, provocative movies for the same restless young people. Mr. Aronofsky first wooed critics with his 1998 debut Pi. The film was a Sundance hit, managing, of all things, to add some suspense to the ever-dull world of a mathematician. The film became a small triumph for Aronofsky (and Artisan Entertainment, its theatrical distributor), a no-budget science fiction drama that was financed by Aronofskys credit cards, his friends, and complete strangers that populated Brooklyn. Aronofsky promised friends and strangers alike that if they put up $100, he would pay them that same amount plus interest, if the film made any money. With a budget of $60,000, it did. Aronofsky discovered an untapped passion for the art of filmmaking as a student of Edward R. Murrow High. With one of his friends in tow, Aronofsky traveled to Brooklyns only mall, Kings Plaza, to see a movie that he now cant remember. They got there late and the movie was sold out. Aronofsky was determined to see something, however. I saw a poster with a goofy guy with a Brooklyn hat, went in, and it turned out to be Shes Gotta Have It (a 1986 Spike Lee film; his debut). And I remember being just blown away. It spoke to me partly because Im from Brooklyn, and I really re...

Levels of Measurement Worksheet With Solutions

Levels of Measurement Worksheet With Solutions Data can be classified into one of four levels of measurement.   These levels are nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio. Each of these levels of measurement indicates a different feature that the data is showing. Read the full description of these levels, then practice sorting through the following. You can also look at a version without answers, then come back here to check your work. Worksheet Problems Indicate which level of measurement is being used in the given scenario: SOLUTION: This is the nominal level of measurement. Eye color is not a number, and so the lowest level of measurement is used. SOLUTION: This is the ordinal level of measurement. The letter grades can be ordered with A as high and F as low, however, differences between these grades are meaningless. An A and a B grade could be separated by a few or several points, and there is no way of telling if we are simply given a list of letter grades. SOLUTION: This is the ratio level of measurement. The numbers have a range from 0% to 100% and it makes sense to say that one score is a multiple of another. SOLUTION: This is the interval level of measurement. The temperatures can be ordered and we can look at differences in the temperatures. However, a statement such as A 10-degree day is half as hot as a 20-degree day is not correct. Thus this is not at the ratio level. SOLUTION: This is also the interval level of measurement, for the same reasons as the last problem. SOLUTION: Careful! Even though this is another situation involving temperatures as data, this is the ratio level of measurement. The reason why is that the Kelvin scale does have an absolute zero point from which we can reference all other temperatures. The zero for the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales is not the same, as we can have negative temperatures with these scales. SOLUTION: This is the ordinal level of measurement. The rankings are ordered from 1 to 50, but there is no way to compare the differences in rankings. Movie #1 could beat #2 by only a little, or it could be vastly superior (in the critics eye). There is no way to know from rankings alone. SOLUTION: Prices can be compared at the ratio level of measurement. SOLUTION: Even though there are numbers associated with this data set, the numbers serve as alternate forms of names for the players and the data is at the nominal level of measurement. Ordering the jersey numbers makes no sense, and there is no reason to do any arithmetic with these numbers. SOLUTION: This is the nominal level due to the fact that dog breeds are not numeric. SOLUTION: This is the ratio level of measurement. Zero pounds is the starting point for all weights and it makes sense to say The 5-pound dog is one quarter the weight of the 20-pound dog. The teacher of a class of third graders records the height of each student.The teacher of a class of third graders records the eye color of each student.The teacher of a class of third graders records the letter grade for mathematics for each student.The teacher of a class of third graders records the percentage that each student got correct on the last science test.A meteorologist compiles a list of temperatures in degrees Celsius for the month of MayA meteorologist compiles a list of temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit for the month of MayA meteorologist compiles a list of temperatures in degrees Kelvin for the month of MayA film critic lists the top 50 greatest movies of all time.A car magazine lists the most expensive cars for 2012.The roster of a basketball team lists the jersey numbers for each of the players.A local animal shelter keeps track of the breeds of dogs that come in.A local animal shelter keeps track of the weights of dogs that come in.

Training for Statesmanship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Training for Statesmanship - Essay Example However, the base-superstructure parameter of the Marxian precept is not what exactly Kennan talks about. In his opinion, the American people are in general conscious of the need to accept a multicultural environment, without a state centre having to exert power on them to think on terms of the greater common good. This innate accommodative sense of the American public that leads to progress is the most interesting point Kennan makes in this passage. The generalization that the American sentiments regarding national progress and general peace can be related to the concept of the American Dream where all those who came to the land and considered themselves as Americans were willing to work towards the common goal of building a paradise on the face of the earth. However, this common mission that Kennan tries to talk about had already been challenged during the World Wars and the Cold War years, due to the uncontrollable dimensions of ethnic diversity that made the America that we talk about now. Years of legal and illegal migration from many parts of the world to the American mainland has made many cultural collisions inevitable. The various ethnic and religious communities that settled in America for various reasons made it impossible to have a shared viewpoint on progress and peace. The fact that America gained immense amount of power in the international scenario through economic development has in fact led to a situation where the opinion of Kennan would seem like a joke. America is now seen by many other nations as exerting power even outside its administrative boundaries to gain and sustain more power. Its interference in the Palestinian issue and the the antagonistic relations with Iran and other Muslim nations have in fact made America notorious for using its military force for its selfish gains. Similarly, the American internal affairs are also much beyond the comprehensive and cooperative attitudes that Kennan talks

Write an essay in which you identify a person who has been a positive

Write an in which you identify a person who has been a positive influence in your life - Essay Example my strengths and good habits, through that she cured me to be a nice person as I don’t have a big family. My family comprises just one brother and my dad. So there is no one who knows me in person as Kristen. I first met her in my school class in the higher school and since then we are truly good friends. She helped me in my studies and in my personal life. She helped and assisted me in taking most important decision in my life. Whenever I was in problem, she was the first person to stand with me. I trust her a lot. In most cases in life I was wrong; she helped me in getting out of it, by directing me towards right option. She have always been with me in every walk of life, therefore she has a great impact on my life. She has helped me in many things, which I would have not been able to do it alone. I have a very high temper because of which mostly I put myself in trouble. She was the one who guided me to be kind and generous and I should try to be calm and happy always. I am a very polite and kind person in nature, therefore, some people did endeavor to make wrong use of my kindness, and she taught me that I should not let other people make wrong use of my care and friendship. She made me believe on my dreams and compelled me to have faith in those and struggle for it. She always encouraged me to study more and to have a profession. A friend is a person with whom we can share anything and in case of girls: best friend is the second person after mother with whom we share our secrets and relish our life to the fullest. She is a kind of person to whom every girl want to do friendship with, but her friends circle is very limited, in which I have a top priority, because she considers me her best friend. She is a very kind and helpful person. She has a short height, fair and thin hair. She is little skinny, same as me. We both friends are quite alike, which is a plus point of our friendship. She wears normal traditional Pakistani dress, but she looks very

Prostitution in Dutch Flemish Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Prostitution in Dutch Flemish Art - Essay Example They captured each emotion and took care of every little detail that could change the subject of the painting. These artists were meticulous enough when it came down to the choice of color palette and how to convey the message they bear in mind in a stabilized yet innovative manner. The different themes that represent the most notable era for the world of art and culture were historical paintings, portraiture (both group and single entity), genre paintings, landscapes and still life paintings. Historical paintings presented the real heroic scenes from the history with a touch of religious and national background. Portrait paintings included famous groups of people and their luxurious lifestyle and royal structures of various landmarks. Genre paintings on the other hand, gave a visionary meaning to mundane life along with an illustration of many Dutch quotes, proverbs and moralistic messages. Landscape paintings beautified the Dutch landscapes with the innovative imagination that made these artists produce such classic works of art. Still life paintings provided the Dutch painters to experiment with different textures and surfaces along with a merit of creating magic by the help of lighting effects. The socio-economical, political and religious position of the Netherlands helped in the emergence of a lucrative environment for the sphere of art. A great number of pictures and artists emerged during the 'Dutch golden age'. The popularity of genre paintings increased in between the span of 1600 to 1650 that well-preserved the scenes from everyday life while capturing the rhythm and thought provoking life back in the sixteenth century. Dutch genre paintings particularly in the sixteenth century were an excellent source of inspiration when it comes to the portrayal of family values, gratitude, social and moral responsibilities and duties. The mid-century genre paintings mostly portrayed women busy in indoor activities and taking care of the household. However, paintings which had depictions in them of women who were busy in any of the outdoor activities were often questioned and strongly criticized on moral grounds, specifically indicating towards the provocative character of a woma n. Dutch Culture and Prostitution: It is believed strongly that prostitution as per the Dutch culture is an expression of art and ingenuity which clearly predicts the existence of prostitution as a part of their culture and custom. Amsterdam, the Dutch capital is using prostitution as an instance to make way for artistic excellence along with cultural values and a representation of the Dutch people since it became a part of the global map. The Dutch culture and the candidness to prostitution within it has compelled the Dutch people to accept it as a legal part of their constitution which distinctly states that prostitutes can pursue their profession legally along with the payment of mandatory taxes. This quite evidently means that prostitution is acknowledged as standard and treated just like any other job that provides an individual with a monetary outcome. Therefore, the Dutch society who always fairly accepted the notion of prostitution because of its evident existence in their antiquity now has accepted prostitute s as legal workers having a legal job moreover, a contributing part of the society. In the

Paper on the Impact of Workplace Diversity in Team Dynamics Essay Example for Free

Paper on the Impact of Workplace Diversity in Team Dynamics Essay Every individual who is in the job force or in a school environment faces the inevitable fact that at some point they may have to work in a group or team composed of individuals that they may not like. This paper will try to shed some light on the subtle differences between a workgroup and a team and how it relates the team dynamics in the workplace. According to The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology (2000), â€Å"A group is a social system involving regular interaction among members and a common group identity† (para. , this means that a group is composed of individuals who would maintain a constant communication with each other to create and share a common identity. The existence of the group identity is mostly only recognized by the group members of the particular group and not by the outsiders. The togetherness or the cohesion of the group tends to vary from one group to the next because it is not always clear if a group has enough communication or interaction to qualify as a group. To explain this further, The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology (2000) explains that groups should not be seen a one distinct category, but instead a group should be perceived as a social system that has varying interactions that could range form the intense involvement and intense identity mostly associated in social structures like families and close friends. On the other hand, people who ride and see each other on a daily while riding a bus could not be considered as a group because there is no sense of involvement among the individuals. In addition, The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology (2000) also states the groups tends to vary on the amount of interactions that the individuals have among the group, the longevity or life span of the group, and the reasons of the individuals in joining or participating in the group. According to Bales (1950), a group is a very important sociological concept because it has a complex and very important part in the development of an individuals’ social life. Bales (1950), mentions that â€Å"a group is a key agent of social control over individuals, for it is the group that social pressures toward conformity can be most directly applies, especially when those who deviate risk their membership as a result. † A group can be perceived as a controlling agent in the way individual conform to society and how he or she reacts to certain stimuli because if he or she deviates form the groups norms, he of she risks losing their membership with that particular group. Furthermore, according to Bales (1950), groups are important because of the impact of the social consequences the individuals learn in a group. Many individuals learn the benefits and consequences of their actions and decisions that they make in life in a group and that most of the social activities that an individual may take occurs within the membership in a group. Other the other hand, the definition of a team is somewhat different from the definitions given to a group. According the Weiss (1998), a team would consist of a few individuals who possess complimentary skills and are equally commits to a common goal, a purpose, and share a common working method in which they hold themselves mutually accountable for their actions. Sears (1998), states that teams must have a set of necessary elements to be defined as such. The elements to be considered as a team includes: there should be no more that 20 individuals in a team; individuals must possess adequate levels of complementary skills; individuals must possess a common team purpose; possess specific goal or goals; and possess a clear approach in the team working progress. Sears (1998) goes on to mention that teams tend to be risky, disruptive, and elusive. Sears (1998) states that even though after the members are chosen and the schedules and duties are set, very little constructive work comes out of it and eventually nothing is accomplished and work progress fails to emerge. Sears (1998) mentions that teams are disruptive because most organizations prefer individual accountability over team accountability especially in regard to performance and the reward structures of the organization. Sears (1998), states that most of the components needed to accomplish a task is mostly performed by an individual and that very little teamwork is needed to accomplish most of the work. Sears (1998) also identifies teams as elusive because teams are spontaneous. Sears (1998), states the teams do not just immediately become a team just because it is called a team, it needs so much work, nurturing, and team building exercises and sometimes that does not even work to make the members of the teamwork cohesively. On the other hand, Weiss (1998) gives insight into why teams are relatively popular. First, projects that are assigned to teams are more likely to be accomplished than those assigned to a specific individual. Second, teams make practical and reasonable decisions as long as the team is given specific and measurable goals to measure the team performance, and the teams are given meaningful and timely feedback. Third, the rewards and punishment are more effective in swaying ndividual performance when it is given by a workgroup rather by a single supervisor or manager. Fourth, working in a team is preferred by many individual employees, especially by those who hate being bossed around. Fifth, teams can effectively handle inventory, scheduling, quality assurance and other duties that are typically reserved for members of the upper management. Last, teams often lower the cost of management because of the lower ratio of supervisors to employees which is 1 to 50 employees. According to Cornell University (2010), Workplace diversity is a people issue, focused on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. It is usually defined broadly to include dimensions beyond those specified legally in equal opportunity and affirmative action non-discrimination statutes. Diversity is often interpreted to include dimensions which influence the identities and perspectives that people bring, such as profession, education, parental status and geographic location† (Workplace Diversity, para). Workplace diversity could bring many benefits to an organization when it is nurtured and given the time to be understood. The organization’s competitiveness and ultimate success relies on its ability to realize the multitude of benefits that workplace diversity brings. According to Greenberg (2005), â€Å"when organization actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as increased adaptability† (Diversity in the Workplace, para). Greenberg (2005) continues to state that organizations that employ a very diverse workforce will be able to provide different solutions to problems that arise in service, in sourcing, and allocation of the resources faced by the company. This states that in employing individuals from different backgrounds, an organization could utilize the different talents, abilities, and experiences that these individuals may have to come up with a possible solution to a problem. Furthermore, Greenberg (2005) also states that if an organization that acquires a workplace that has collection of a very diverse skills and experiences (such a different languages, national and cultural customs), an organization could potentially provide a better service to customers in a global scale. It could also provide better communication in relaying varying viewpoints and ideas to meet the organizations business strategy and more importantly, the needs of the customers. Workplace diversity also provides benefits to team dynamics. The Ehow. om (1999-2010) websites states workplace diversity brings vibrancy to the workplace that increases the camaraderie and the humanitarian spirit in each employee. In addition, according to Ehow. com (1999-2010), â€Å"teams working on complex and expansive projects can draw on the varied experiences of fellow workers from diverse backgrounds, learn new languages, understand new markets and execute tasks efficiently† (para). Last, the Ehow. com (1999-2010) website also mentions that in achieving increased diversity comes an equal increase in perspective. Many individuals in an organization comes from different cultural groups, practice different religions, have different racial and national backgrounds that may give an insight into how to solve a particular problem that could potentially attract potential customers with that same background. Many advantages, disadvantages, and differences between a group and a team exist. One might think that the words group and team could be used in exchange for the other, but they cannot because of the words’ ultimate definition. The word group is defined by scholars as a social group that involves a regular interaction between its members who has a common group identity. On the other hand, the word team is defined as a group of people who possesses complimentary skills committed to a single purpose and a common goal. This paper also introduced the benefits that could be achieved by an organization that promotes workplace diversity. These benefits include the increases adaptability, wider range of service, and variety of viewpoints, better execution, higher production, and better return on investment.

Civil War Essay -- American History Civil War

The election of Lincoln, secession of the southern states and the Confederate States of America Constitution set the stage for the bloodiest and saddest war in American history. Before the Civil War even began the nation was divided into four very distinct regions; Northeast, Northwest, Upper south and the Southwest. With two fundamentally different labor systems, slavery in the south and wage labor in the North, the political, economic and social changes across the nation would show the views of the North and the South. The civil war was based on the abolitionists' ideas of emancipation and liberation of slavery the North wanted the war in order to create a society without slavery. The North's aggression to control the south lead to the where were it was no longer tolerable for the South. With the election of the anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln, the southern states decided they had to take drastic action in order to protect their own interests. The south had been waiting fo r an excuse to secede form the union, the election of Lincoln by the North was their chance. The Northern abolitionists' states were mainly responsible for the Civil war in many political, social and economic aspects. Politically, the Northerners contributed immensely to the opening of the Civil War. John Brown's Raid at Harpers Ferry made the south believe the Northerners had a whole scheme to ban slavery. The South wondered how or why they would remain in the Union when a "murderous gang of abolitionists" were running around. Southerners also believed that this violent abolitionist's view was a common one shared by the entire North. This act of the North made the South resent the North's pushy ways and begin to think of leaving the Union. The Dred... ...nt to the south to free the slaves from their masters and the Underground Railroad that secretly moved slaves from safe house to safe house until they were in Canada, tremendously angered the South. They realized that they needed to fight in order to get the independence they wished for, so then there could therefore do what they wished. Politically, the North further split the views on issues and developed more laws against slavery in the South. Socially the North strengthened their own cause in the because of things like Uncle Tom's cabin; that lead to Northerners forming the Underground Railroad. Economically, the South was crushed with protection tariffs that emptied out southern pockets. The North most definitely contributed to the Political, Social and Economic issues that divided and angered the country in the time before 1861; eventually leading to Civil War.

Rural Tourism

A BRIEF ANALYSIS ON THE STATUS OF RURAL TOURISM IN INDIA REFERENCE: GIMRM024 Table of Contents Abstract2 Initiatives6 Issues Faced8 Infrastructure10 Finance 11 Impact12 The Way Forward13 Bibligography14 ABSTRACT Tourism is one of the primary catalysts in generating sustainable livelihood in India. India’s vast rural diversity and heritage offers tremendous opportunity for rural tourism. The idea of rural tourism was born out of the need to provide first-hand experience of living in rural areas to the urban population and also as supplementary income for the local population. The Ministry of Tourism in its Outcome Budget for 2011-2012 has emphasized on the need of giving greater focus to rural tourism with the objective of creating employment, with specific emphasis on the upliftment of the status of women and to encourage local arts and handicraft. Rural tourism has the potential of carrying the additional burden of uplifting poverty and reducing migration towards urban areas. This research paper aims at studying the status of rural tourism in India, looking into some initiatives that have already been undertaken, both by the Ministry (The Choti Haldwani Project at the foothills of Nainital) and by organisations (NGO ViaDesh, Delhi and Himalayan Homestays, Ladakh) in different parts of India and the way forward. The paper concentrates on the following major areas: 1) Initiatives undertaken 2) Problems faced while trying to establish such initiatives 3) Infrastructure developed for this purpose ) The finances involved 5) The impact of such initiatives 6) Its co-relation with eco-tourism and agri-tourism 7) Future plans The government of India along with UN Development Programme (UNDP) has drafted policies and implemented some on the same lines by associating and granting funds to NGOs. Rural tourism will go a long way in realising some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) laid out by the UNDP, to be achieved by 2015. â€Å"The air is soft and balmy. The wild flowers are in full bloom, and the butterfly is on the wing. The grasshopper is singing his ceaseless song, and the bees are humming a chorus thereto. † These are excerpts from Ruskin Bond’s novel â€Å"Mussoorie & Landour, Days of Wine and Roses†. Such is the beauty of the Indian landscape. Tourism in India is the biggest service industry contributing 6. 23% to GDP and providing a host of employment opportunities. With 5. 58 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2010 and a provisional number of 2. 92 million during the first half of 2011, the tourism industry is pegged to grow at a rate of 9. 4% annually over the next decade. It’s linkages with a myriad of sectors in the economy, like transport, construction, handicrafts, manufacturing, horticulture, agriculture, etc. , makes it a potential economy driver, while also becoming an effective tool for poverty alleviation and ensuring growth with equality. The focus, thus, is now on rural tourism, an avenue that provides immense possibilities and opportunities for inclusive growth and equality in rural India. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have collaborated in an initiative named the Endogenous Tourism Project – Rural Tourism Scheme (ETP-RTS) on rural tourism. Initiated in 2003, the project identified 36 sites across India, where a number of pilot projects have been initiated to assess the impact of this kind of tourism in these areas. The principal objective of the project is to focus on sustainable livelihoods and at the same time aims at the convergence of issues such as gender equality, empowerment of women, youth and other disadvantaged sections and working towards cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability. This paper will look into one such government initiative, Choti Haldwani, which is a community based tourism project. Apart from government initiatives, numerous NGOs have been involved in different forms of rural tourism, be it agri-tourism, treks, homestays, workshops with locals etc. In the NGO space, this paper cites the example of ViaDesh, a social enterprise, based out of Delhi that arranges expeditions and treks in Uttarakhand, the Himalayan Belt (Kargil, Leh, Ladakh etc) and Rajasthan. This paper also briefly looks at Himalayan Homestays, an initiative by the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), The Mountain Institute, local tour operators and villagers living in important snow leopard areas. Traditional tourism, concentrated in coastal and mountain resorts, urban and cultural centres, has proven that tourism can bring enormous benefits to the economy, society and environment of a certain area. However at the same time there is a realization that certain parts of the country have been left behind in development. Rural tourism could be the harbinger of change in such a scenario. In recent years demands for holidays in small villages and the countryside has increased significantly in many rural regions of the world. The challenge for rural tourism then is to focus on providing sustainable livelihoods in rural areas all while preserving the traditions, cultures and values that exist in these areas, instead of trying to â€Å"urbanise† the area. INITIATIVES Choti Haldwani Choti Haldwani, better known as Jim Corbett’s village, is located in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand. Bought by Corbett in the early 1900s, this was the last village he stayed in before migrating to Kenya after Independence, donating the land to the 40 families residing in Choti Haldwani at that time. The village has now grown in population with 138 families making Choti Haldwani their home, and earning their livelihood mainly from agriculture. In 2001, Choti Haldwani was one of the four villages chosen to implement a community-based tourism (CBT) project. The CBN (Corbett National Park, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nainital) Tourism Initiative was designed to develop a framework for conservation and tourism by making use participatory processes that seek to engage stakeholder groups for planning, to help develop a common vision, build ownership, and buy in from various stakeholder groups for plans and projects. Many consultations and deliberations later, the USP of the village was discovered. This led to the formation of the Corbett Heritage Trail (which included historical sites like Corbett’s house, the historical gun of Tejsingh and Moti’s House to name a few). ViaDesh ViaDesh (established in 2010) is a social enterprise based out of Delhi. Its philosophy is engrained in its name – ViaDesh literally translates to â€Å"by way of country†. Founded by Jamal Mohammad and aimed at promoting village life and providing sustainable livelihood options, Viadesh promotes itself as a unique holiday planner committed to giving a transformative experience to both the tourist and the host. ViaDesh works towards building partnerships with villagers, and forging relationships with them through community interaction. The expeditions and treks give the tourist a first-hand experience of rural living. They are exposed to the unique and rich village culture that every village brings with it. Villagers turn into guides, narrating stories from the village and sharing their own experiences with the tourists. Tourists also bear witness to the different folk songs and dances, gathering together with the village folk. Home-stays are arranged for tourists in some of the houses within the village itself. By doing this, ViaDesh ensures that the tourist is involved, from early morning, in every facet of village life. Starting from collection and preparation of fodder for animals to cooking food, to even plucking apples and apricots from plantations and planting herbs like oregano, tourists get hands-on experience of rural living. Rural locations offer an idealized release from stress and the opportunity to re-engage with a simpler, quieter way of life that offers rest and relaxation. Himalayan Homestays Himalayan Homestays is an Initiative by Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), The Mountain Institute, local tour operators and villagers living in important snow leopard areas. The need for this initiative was felt due to the rising disparity between the rural and the urban communities due to the fact that the tourism boom in Ladakh offered little opportunities to the rural people. The rural community was also facing the problem of diminishing livestock population due to Snow leopards. Hence they offered tourism as a solution to promote conservation as well as to combat livestock loss. Villagers defined the Himalayan Homestays in the following way: â€Å"A traditional village based Ladakhi Homestay would share their traditional way of life and values with visitors provide traditional food, in an eco-friendly environment that requires little initial investment. (Source – Redefining Tourism: Experiences and Insights from Rural Tourism Projects in India) The project was implemented with various guidelines for selecting locations to setting minimal facilities such as a separate room for tourist to a toilet (with door). Also 10% of the money generated was to be divulged into the conservation fund for village activities. Initially, for setting up, they assessed the demand and preferences of the tourist by conducting a survey for the location choice, food and accommodation option as well. Interestingly, the choice was local food was rated highly. Capacity building measures such as training the youth as nature guides. To avoid hygiene issues, community members were trained on cooking and cuisine as well. The main aim of SLC was community empowerment and hence it was decided that the tourists would be shared on rotation basis. For the homestays, which were far off, and where the tourists were unwilling to go, they were trained for additional services such as Parachute cafes, Guides etc. ISSUES FACED Rural tourism as a whole is a sensitive issue to deal with since it deals with people and also their livelihoods. The rural people are skeptical about the kind of invasion that happens due to rural tourism. While implementing rural tourism many issues have cropped up. It is necessary to understand that the issues faced by the government are different from private and non-governmental entities. a)Finance: It deals with arranging as well as managing finances for any project. This aspect is prevalent in all initiatives from the government. Here the government has struggled to route funds flow whereas private players have found it difficult to arrange funds for the project. If the funds flow issues crops up at the beginning of the project then it becomes difficult to keep the local community engaged as they tend to lose interest as well as trust in the initiative. b)Pace of the Project: It is an important issue that needs to be addressed. It has been observed that private entities have tried to build upon strong finances. This has resulted in very little time for institutions as well as the local community to reflect on their performance and also absorb this transition. In a fast paced project, the players fail to understand that this is a sensitive issue where resources and money are of equal importance. The pace of project should be best decided by the local communities involved as it would be help them adapt to their role. c)Partner Agencies: This issue is predominantly associated with the government where the implementing agencies differ in vision and also their work ethics. The government needs to understand that different agencies behave differently and hence the outcome of the projects would also vary. )Local Community: The basic motto of this project was to eradicate poverty and envisage an empowerment campaign. Many a time it has been observed that the richer community in the village gets all the control while the poorer sections takes a backseat, as they are deprived of minimum requirements for a tourist such as separate homestays or even proper education. Here the government needs to ensure that these people are involved in group activiti es where they could learn and also contribute. Also, conscious measures should be taken to incorporate the marginalized communities into the success story. Government as well as private players should make sure that inclusive growth takes place and hence the beneficiary is the entire village and not select individuals. e)Hygiene: Hygiene is an issue which has made foreign as well as domestic tourists hesitate in turning an eye to rural tourism. Basic facilities such as bathroom and sanitation have been a cause of concern for tourists. The players should make sure that proper training should be given to handle these things so that the village does not lose out. )Issues from Tourists: Tourists, many a time, tend to compare rural tourism with general tourist spots and hence get bogged down by the results. Tourists are not able to connect with the rural theme which results in loss of interest. Also, sometimes issues like food and lifestyle tend to be a hindrance in the project. Sometimes, the traditional and cultural beliefs of the rural people prevent them from catering to the needs of the tourists. g)Cultural and Environmental Pollution: Tourism is a phenomenon which also brings with itself the ill effects. If not implemented properly, it can lead to destruction of the very basic cause of rural tourism i. e. the cultural heritage. Also, with hordes of tourists pouring in, the environment is at risk. Moreover, sometimes there should be strict control at some places because there are traditions and cultural beliefs of people that will prevent them from catering to all that the tourists may require and even the tourist would know that this is what he can expect in a village and accordingly will prepare them before coming to that village. The major issue faced by the Choti Haldwani community was visibility. It gets lost in the mad rush of tourists from Corbett to Nainital. With the Himalayan Homestays initiative gaining popularity, many other institutions have also tried to tap into the market. But in the process, the focus has shifted from community development to profit making. It also did not consider the capacity of the community, hence impacting the social structure. Also, the influx of many tourists eventually led to negative influence on the environment. With the difficult terrain, many of the homestays would not get sufficient number of tourists. This led to disparity between the villagers. INFRASTRUCTURE A key aspect in setting up different facilities was the formation of the Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti that coordinated with the project team (mainly from Forest Department and consultants) and took up implementation of work at the village. This ensured that the inhabitants of the village had a say in the development of the village as a tourist site. Proper footpaths were organised, information signboards were set up, an entry gate set up and renovations at the various heritage sites carried out. To support the Heritage Trail, the following activities were carried out 1)Training of guides: Interested people were asked to register for training as guides, but since not many tourists opted for the walk, the number of guides is dwindling, but there still is hope with a number of women interested in undergoing training as guides. 2)Identifying homestays: Presently only two families provide homestays. Although the concept of homestays is fast catching up with the community, the facilities within the homes is a hurdle, as these houses are installed with the traditional Indian toilets. Unlike ViaDesh, new houses are thus being built with better facilities for the tourist. Homestays rents and dining are very nominal at the rate of Rs 250/- a day with Rs. 60/- per person for 3 meals. 3)Establishing a souvenir shop: The Moti Souvenir Shop, run by the village committee, ran into trouble initially with very little funds and limited knowledge on how to run and what to sell at the shop. Eventually, with the aid of the committee, Haldi (turmeric) was bought from a lady, which was powdered and sold at the shop. The profits are given out to the lady, which has resulted in other items like pulses and spices being sold at the shop. Also, with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), three self-help ladies groups were started, who supply products like jam, jellies and pickles to the shops. In addition to this, handmade hankies , scarves, bed sheets, dupattas and sweaters from Ranikhet were sold at the shop. 4)Information kiosks: In a small section of the souvenir shop, a computer with internet connection has been set up, with a trained person manning it. Although introduced for the tourists, this has benefitted children more, as they are provided computer education with a fee of Rs. 200/-. ViaDesh’s policy is simple – no construction of new structures and the promotion of indigenous lifestyle. In an attempt to preserve the natural environment of the village and to inhibit urbanization of villages, ViaDesh, in partnership with the villagers, arrange for homestays within the village. One room in selected houses is refurbished to cater to the tourist lifestyle, which is taken care of by the residents. ViaDesh has installed eastern-style toilets in all homestays to give tourists the actual feel of rural life. Apart from this, hosts are trained about hygiene and cleanliness standards that need to be adopted. They are also trained to follow hygiene while cutting vegetables and preparing food. ViaDesh has tried to work around the available resources and provide a comfortable experience for the tourist. As such physical infrastructure was not built for the Himalayan Homestays project unlike mud houses in other places. The trust had decided on tourists sharing the rooms with the villagers. Hence, there was a need for virtual infrastructure to attract tourists and spread awareness. The trust tied up with local operators to market Himalayan homestays. It was a conscious effort that the local operators chosen would think as well as work in parallel towards the community. This move also helped in briefing the tourists about the norms to avoid confrontation at the later stages. The trust also developed a website to tap the tourist seeking a similar experience on the internet. To tap walk-in clients, the trust had designed posters and maps as well. It was decided that 10% of the fund would be shared with the conservation fund. Conservation fund was used for various community works such as preserving wildlife, tree plantation etc. FINANCE ViaDesh, being a fledgling organisation, is a self-financed enterprise. Initial investment for setting up rooms, toilets etc. was made by Jamal. Participants' project donations also help to ensure that funds are available throughout the year to maintain the work done by the teams. These funds are either channelled through ViaDesh’s own charity, Sustainable Tourism Trust, or partner charities. ViaDesh donates 10% of its profits from travel to community development projects in host areas, with a focus on health and education. The investment involved at Himalayan Homestays was only Rs. 500/- for one home as the people would be thoroughly trained in various aspects of tourism (as guides and drivers). Also, the tour operator charged Rs. 50/- for spreading awareness about the homestays. The villagers would get Rs. 300/- per tourist per night, which would be directly paid to the homestay provider, to avoid clashes with agents or guides. IMPACT The Choti Haldwani project has managed t o keep alive the history and legacy of Corbett. For the tourists visiting the National Park, Choti Haldwani adds another dimension to understanding Corbett. Even though the benefits (economics of it) are limited the motivation is very high. The interest & enthusiasm shown, the coming and working together of the community in a cohesive manner is another critical aspect of this initiative which is a significant reason why the community has been able to sustain this engagement. New jobs and supplementary sources of income have been created, with more opportunities in the offing. There has also been active participation from women in the SHGs that were formed in collaboration with WWF. While ViaDesh is still trying to evaluate its impact on villages, the potential impact of this venture and such ventures like this are enormous. It gives the locals an alternate source of income, from homestays, guides, drivers, porters and trekking activities. This in turn prevents the migration (which is rampant in rural areas for lack of better opportunities) of people to cities. ViaDesh ensures that the money earned from homestays etc. is given to the female member of the household, thus promoting woman empowerment. ViaDesh aims for these communities to build their capacity to make things, from handicrafts to eatables like jams, and for them to be able to sell such quality items in the city market. Initiatives like this also squash the myth that rural community is not open to change. With tourists coming in and staying with the locals, there is mutual benefit from such initiatives. It’s a mutually enriching experience. ViaDesh also aims at setting up quality education and health centres within the area from the funds set aside from profit for such a purpose. Himalayan Homestays has had a positive impact on the villagers. The additional income from the homestays was helpful in buying ration in lean season and even sending children to the school. It also helped villagers in protecting their livestock and build predator-proof pens. The income gave much deprived decision power to the women community of the villages. The tourism activity increased local participation with the fact that many parachute cafes and local businesses propped up. The flow of tourists also instilled a sense of pride in the local people for their culture and lifestyle. In a way, this activity also helped preserve Ladhaki culture as people can now take pride in displaying the distinct Ladhaki decor and cuisine. The community on a whole has had an increased awareness of hygiene. The tourism activity also helped in checking migration of youth towards city. Homestays helped in the overall personality development of the villagers as the interaction with foreign tourists increased. Some of the added benefits for the villagers were the utilization of conservation fund, adoption of waste management practices and tree plantation activities. A change of attitude was seen in the villagers towards the snow leopards as they are now the attractions for the tourists to visit this place. The homestay experience for the tourists helped in learning about Ladakhi cultures through nature treks and its cuisines. THE WAY FORWARD The way ahead for the Samiti at Choti Haldwani is now to work and continue development on the initiatives already undertaken, and also start new programmes like organic farming and bullock cart rides to further expand and provide different sustainable employment opportunities for the locals. ViaDesh intends to move further into different villages and start similar projects like the ones already established. At the same time, ViaDesh aims at phasing its operations out of the existing locations, thus making these villages self-sustainable, with a well-established education and health system running. The idea of converting a livelihood problem into tourism initiative has worked well for the community based around the Himalayan Homestays initiative. Also, this project shows how rural tourism is related to eco-tourism and agri-tourism. This project has helped the community in its economic upliftment through measures such as these, while keeping the local culture intact. This project has also helped in protecting snow leopards and generating an alternative source of income through it. It shows how a balance can be maintained between tourism and ecology. Rural tourism has immense potential in the overall development of the economy, while preserving the rural structure, cultures and keeping traditions intact. Government initiatives should constantly monitor the progress of the projects that have already been initiated, continuously identifying bottlenecks and obstacles, to ensure the smooth functioning of such initiatives. Rural Tourism can help achieve some of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at ending poverty by 2015. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1)Redefining Tourism – Experiences and Insights from Rural Tourism Projects in India ( © Ministry of Tourism, Government of India / UNDP India 2008) 2)www. viadesh. com 3)www. himalayan-homestays. com 4)Performance of Tourism Sector during July 2011, Ministry of Tourism 5)Annual Report 2011 Ministry of Tourism 6)Equations Annual Report, 2009-2010 Rural Tourism A BRIEF ANALYSIS ON THE STATUS OF RURAL TOURISM IN INDIA REFERENCE: GIMRM024 Table of Contents Abstract2 Initiatives6 Issues Faced8 Infrastructure10 Finance 11 Impact12 The Way Forward13 Bibligography14 ABSTRACT Tourism is one of the primary catalysts in generating sustainable livelihood in India. India’s vast rural diversity and heritage offers tremendous opportunity for rural tourism. The idea of rural tourism was born out of the need to provide first-hand experience of living in rural areas to the urban population and also as supplementary income for the local population. The Ministry of Tourism in its Outcome Budget for 2011-2012 has emphasized on the need of giving greater focus to rural tourism with the objective of creating employment, with specific emphasis on the upliftment of the status of women and to encourage local arts and handicraft. Rural tourism has the potential of carrying the additional burden of uplifting poverty and reducing migration towards urban areas. This research paper aims at studying the status of rural tourism in India, looking into some initiatives that have already been undertaken, both by the Ministry (The Choti Haldwani Project at the foothills of Nainital) and by organisations (NGO ViaDesh, Delhi and Himalayan Homestays, Ladakh) in different parts of India and the way forward. The paper concentrates on the following major areas: 1) Initiatives undertaken 2) Problems faced while trying to establish such initiatives 3) Infrastructure developed for this purpose ) The finances involved 5) The impact of such initiatives 6) Its co-relation with eco-tourism and agri-tourism 7) Future plans The government of India along with UN Development Programme (UNDP) has drafted policies and implemented some on the same lines by associating and granting funds to NGOs. Rural tourism will go a long way in realising some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) laid out by the UNDP, to be achieved by 2015. â€Å"The air is soft and balmy. The wild flowers are in full bloom, and the butterfly is on the wing. The grasshopper is singing his ceaseless song, and the bees are humming a chorus thereto. † These are excerpts from Ruskin Bond’s novel â€Å"Mussoorie & Landour, Days of Wine and Roses†. Such is the beauty of the Indian landscape. Tourism in India is the biggest service industry contributing 6. 23% to GDP and providing a host of employment opportunities. With 5. 58 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2010 and a provisional number of 2. 92 million during the first half of 2011, the tourism industry is pegged to grow at a rate of 9. 4% annually over the next decade. It’s linkages with a myriad of sectors in the economy, like transport, construction, handicrafts, manufacturing, horticulture, agriculture, etc. , makes it a potential economy driver, while also becoming an effective tool for poverty alleviation and ensuring growth with equality. The focus, thus, is now on rural tourism, an avenue that provides immense possibilities and opportunities for inclusive growth and equality in rural India. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have collaborated in an initiative named the Endogenous Tourism Project – Rural Tourism Scheme (ETP-RTS) on rural tourism. Initiated in 2003, the project identified 36 sites across India, where a number of pilot projects have been initiated to assess the impact of this kind of tourism in these areas. The principal objective of the project is to focus on sustainable livelihoods and at the same time aims at the convergence of issues such as gender equality, empowerment of women, youth and other disadvantaged sections and working towards cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability. This paper will look into one such government initiative, Choti Haldwani, which is a community based tourism project. Apart from government initiatives, numerous NGOs have been involved in different forms of rural tourism, be it agri-tourism, treks, homestays, workshops with locals etc. In the NGO space, this paper cites the example of ViaDesh, a social enterprise, based out of Delhi that arranges expeditions and treks in Uttarakhand, the Himalayan Belt (Kargil, Leh, Ladakh etc) and Rajasthan. This paper also briefly looks at Himalayan Homestays, an initiative by the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), The Mountain Institute, local tour operators and villagers living in important snow leopard areas. Traditional tourism, concentrated in coastal and mountain resorts, urban and cultural centres, has proven that tourism can bring enormous benefits to the economy, society and environment of a certain area. However at the same time there is a realization that certain parts of the country have been left behind in development. Rural tourism could be the harbinger of change in such a scenario. In recent years demands for holidays in small villages and the countryside has increased significantly in many rural regions of the world. The challenge for rural tourism then is to focus on providing sustainable livelihoods in rural areas all while preserving the traditions, cultures and values that exist in these areas, instead of trying to â€Å"urbanise† the area. INITIATIVES Choti Haldwani Choti Haldwani, better known as Jim Corbett’s village, is located in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand. Bought by Corbett in the early 1900s, this was the last village he stayed in before migrating to Kenya after Independence, donating the land to the 40 families residing in Choti Haldwani at that time. The village has now grown in population with 138 families making Choti Haldwani their home, and earning their livelihood mainly from agriculture. In 2001, Choti Haldwani was one of the four villages chosen to implement a community-based tourism (CBT) project. The CBN (Corbett National Park, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nainital) Tourism Initiative was designed to develop a framework for conservation and tourism by making use participatory processes that seek to engage stakeholder groups for planning, to help develop a common vision, build ownership, and buy in from various stakeholder groups for plans and projects. Many consultations and deliberations later, the USP of the village was discovered. This led to the formation of the Corbett Heritage Trail (which included historical sites like Corbett’s house, the historical gun of Tejsingh and Moti’s House to name a few). ViaDesh ViaDesh (established in 2010) is a social enterprise based out of Delhi. Its philosophy is engrained in its name – ViaDesh literally translates to â€Å"by way of country†. Founded by Jamal Mohammad and aimed at promoting village life and providing sustainable livelihood options, Viadesh promotes itself as a unique holiday planner committed to giving a transformative experience to both the tourist and the host. ViaDesh works towards building partnerships with villagers, and forging relationships with them through community interaction. The expeditions and treks give the tourist a first-hand experience of rural living. They are exposed to the unique and rich village culture that every village brings with it. Villagers turn into guides, narrating stories from the village and sharing their own experiences with the tourists. Tourists also bear witness to the different folk songs and dances, gathering together with the village folk. Home-stays are arranged for tourists in some of the houses within the village itself. By doing this, ViaDesh ensures that the tourist is involved, from early morning, in every facet of village life. Starting from collection and preparation of fodder for animals to cooking food, to even plucking apples and apricots from plantations and planting herbs like oregano, tourists get hands-on experience of rural living. Rural locations offer an idealized release from stress and the opportunity to re-engage with a simpler, quieter way of life that offers rest and relaxation. Himalayan Homestays Himalayan Homestays is an Initiative by Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), The Mountain Institute, local tour operators and villagers living in important snow leopard areas. The need for this initiative was felt due to the rising disparity between the rural and the urban communities due to the fact that the tourism boom in Ladakh offered little opportunities to the rural people. The rural community was also facing the problem of diminishing livestock population due to Snow leopards. Hence they offered tourism as a solution to promote conservation as well as to combat livestock loss. Villagers defined the Himalayan Homestays in the following way: â€Å"A traditional village based Ladakhi Homestay would share their traditional way of life and values with visitors provide traditional food, in an eco-friendly environment that requires little initial investment. (Source – Redefining Tourism: Experiences and Insights from Rural Tourism Projects in India) The project was implemented with various guidelines for selecting locations to setting minimal facilities such as a separate room for tourist to a toilet (with door). Also 10% of the money generated was to be divulged into the conservation fund for village activities. Initially, for setting up, they assessed the demand and preferences of the tourist by conducting a survey for the location choice, food and accommodation option as well. Interestingly, the choice was local food was rated highly. Capacity building measures such as training the youth as nature guides. To avoid hygiene issues, community members were trained on cooking and cuisine as well. The main aim of SLC was community empowerment and hence it was decided that the tourists would be shared on rotation basis. For the homestays, which were far off, and where the tourists were unwilling to go, they were trained for additional services such as Parachute cafes, Guides etc. ISSUES FACED Rural tourism as a whole is a sensitive issue to deal with since it deals with people and also their livelihoods. The rural people are skeptical about the kind of invasion that happens due to rural tourism. While implementing rural tourism many issues have cropped up. It is necessary to understand that the issues faced by the government are different from private and non-governmental entities. a)Finance: It deals with arranging as well as managing finances for any project. This aspect is prevalent in all initiatives from the government. Here the government has struggled to route funds flow whereas private players have found it difficult to arrange funds for the project. If the funds flow issues crops up at the beginning of the project then it becomes difficult to keep the local community engaged as they tend to lose interest as well as trust in the initiative. b)Pace of the Project: It is an important issue that needs to be addressed. It has been observed that private entities have tried to build upon strong finances. This has resulted in very little time for institutions as well as the local community to reflect on their performance and also absorb this transition. In a fast paced project, the players fail to understand that this is a sensitive issue where resources and money are of equal importance. The pace of project should be best decided by the local communities involved as it would be help them adapt to their role. c)Partner Agencies: This issue is predominantly associated with the government where the implementing agencies differ in vision and also their work ethics. The government needs to understand that different agencies behave differently and hence the outcome of the projects would also vary. )Local Community: The basic motto of this project was to eradicate poverty and envisage an empowerment campaign. Many a time it has been observed that the richer community in the village gets all the control while the poorer sections takes a backseat, as they are deprived of minimum requirements for a tourist such as separate homestays or even proper education. Here the government needs to ensure that these people are involved in group activiti es where they could learn and also contribute. Also, conscious measures should be taken to incorporate the marginalized communities into the success story. Government as well as private players should make sure that inclusive growth takes place and hence the beneficiary is the entire village and not select individuals. e)Hygiene: Hygiene is an issue which has made foreign as well as domestic tourists hesitate in turning an eye to rural tourism. Basic facilities such as bathroom and sanitation have been a cause of concern for tourists. The players should make sure that proper training should be given to handle these things so that the village does not lose out. )Issues from Tourists: Tourists, many a time, tend to compare rural tourism with general tourist spots and hence get bogged down by the results. Tourists are not able to connect with the rural theme which results in loss of interest. Also, sometimes issues like food and lifestyle tend to be a hindrance in the project. Sometimes, the traditional and cultural beliefs of the rural people prevent them from catering to the needs of the tourists. g)Cultural and Environmental Pollution: Tourism is a phenomenon which also brings with itself the ill effects. If not implemented properly, it can lead to destruction of the very basic cause of rural tourism i. e. the cultural heritage. Also, with hordes of tourists pouring in, the environment is at risk. Moreover, sometimes there should be strict control at some places because there are traditions and cultural beliefs of people that will prevent them from catering to all that the tourists may require and even the tourist would know that this is what he can expect in a village and accordingly will prepare them before coming to that village. The major issue faced by the Choti Haldwani community was visibility. It gets lost in the mad rush of tourists from Corbett to Nainital. With the Himalayan Homestays initiative gaining popularity, many other institutions have also tried to tap into the market. But in the process, the focus has shifted from community development to profit making. It also did not consider the capacity of the community, hence impacting the social structure. Also, the influx of many tourists eventually led to negative influence on the environment. With the difficult terrain, many of the homestays would not get sufficient number of tourists. This led to disparity between the villagers. INFRASTRUCTURE A key aspect in setting up different facilities was the formation of the Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti that coordinated with the project team (mainly from Forest Department and consultants) and took up implementation of work at the village. This ensured that the inhabitants of the village had a say in the development of the village as a tourist site. Proper footpaths were organised, information signboards were set up, an entry gate set up and renovations at the various heritage sites carried out. To support the Heritage Trail, the following activities were carried out 1)Training of guides: Interested people were asked to register for training as guides, but since not many tourists opted for the walk, the number of guides is dwindling, but there still is hope with a number of women interested in undergoing training as guides. 2)Identifying homestays: Presently only two families provide homestays. Although the concept of homestays is fast catching up with the community, the facilities within the homes is a hurdle, as these houses are installed with the traditional Indian toilets. Unlike ViaDesh, new houses are thus being built with better facilities for the tourist. Homestays rents and dining are very nominal at the rate of Rs 250/- a day with Rs. 60/- per person for 3 meals. 3)Establishing a souvenir shop: The Moti Souvenir Shop, run by the village committee, ran into trouble initially with very little funds and limited knowledge on how to run and what to sell at the shop. Eventually, with the aid of the committee, Haldi (turmeric) was bought from a lady, which was powdered and sold at the shop. The profits are given out to the lady, which has resulted in other items like pulses and spices being sold at the shop. Also, with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), three self-help ladies groups were started, who supply products like jam, jellies and pickles to the shops. In addition to this, handmade hankies , scarves, bed sheets, dupattas and sweaters from Ranikhet were sold at the shop. 4)Information kiosks: In a small section of the souvenir shop, a computer with internet connection has been set up, with a trained person manning it. Although introduced for the tourists, this has benefitted children more, as they are provided computer education with a fee of Rs. 200/-. ViaDesh’s policy is simple – no construction of new structures and the promotion of indigenous lifestyle. In an attempt to preserve the natural environment of the village and to inhibit urbanization of villages, ViaDesh, in partnership with the villagers, arrange for homestays within the village. One room in selected houses is refurbished to cater to the tourist lifestyle, which is taken care of by the residents. ViaDesh has installed eastern-style toilets in all homestays to give tourists the actual feel of rural life. Apart from this, hosts are trained about hygiene and cleanliness standards that need to be adopted. They are also trained to follow hygiene while cutting vegetables and preparing food. ViaDesh has tried to work around the available resources and provide a comfortable experience for the tourist. As such physical infrastructure was not built for the Himalayan Homestays project unlike mud houses in other places. The trust had decided on tourists sharing the rooms with the villagers. Hence, there was a need for virtual infrastructure to attract tourists and spread awareness. The trust tied up with local operators to market Himalayan homestays. It was a conscious effort that the local operators chosen would think as well as work in parallel towards the community. This move also helped in briefing the tourists about the norms to avoid confrontation at the later stages. The trust also developed a website to tap the tourist seeking a similar experience on the internet. To tap walk-in clients, the trust had designed posters and maps as well. It was decided that 10% of the fund would be shared with the conservation fund. Conservation fund was used for various community works such as preserving wildlife, tree plantation etc. FINANCE ViaDesh, being a fledgling organisation, is a self-financed enterprise. Initial investment for setting up rooms, toilets etc. was made by Jamal. Participants' project donations also help to ensure that funds are available throughout the year to maintain the work done by the teams. These funds are either channelled through ViaDesh’s own charity, Sustainable Tourism Trust, or partner charities. ViaDesh donates 10% of its profits from travel to community development projects in host areas, with a focus on health and education. The investment involved at Himalayan Homestays was only Rs. 500/- for one home as the people would be thoroughly trained in various aspects of tourism (as guides and drivers). Also, the tour operator charged Rs. 50/- for spreading awareness about the homestays. The villagers would get Rs. 300/- per tourist per night, which would be directly paid to the homestay provider, to avoid clashes with agents or guides. IMPACT The Choti Haldwani project has managed t o keep alive the history and legacy of Corbett. For the tourists visiting the National Park, Choti Haldwani adds another dimension to understanding Corbett. Even though the benefits (economics of it) are limited the motivation is very high. The interest & enthusiasm shown, the coming and working together of the community in a cohesive manner is another critical aspect of this initiative which is a significant reason why the community has been able to sustain this engagement. New jobs and supplementary sources of income have been created, with more opportunities in the offing. There has also been active participation from women in the SHGs that were formed in collaboration with WWF. While ViaDesh is still trying to evaluate its impact on villages, the potential impact of this venture and such ventures like this are enormous. It gives the locals an alternate source of income, from homestays, guides, drivers, porters and trekking activities. This in turn prevents the migration (which is rampant in rural areas for lack of better opportunities) of people to cities. ViaDesh ensures that the money earned from homestays etc. is given to the female member of the household, thus promoting woman empowerment. ViaDesh aims for these communities to build their capacity to make things, from handicrafts to eatables like jams, and for them to be able to sell such quality items in the city market. Initiatives like this also squash the myth that rural community is not open to change. With tourists coming in and staying with the locals, there is mutual benefit from such initiatives. It’s a mutually enriching experience. ViaDesh also aims at setting up quality education and health centres within the area from the funds set aside from profit for such a purpose. Himalayan Homestays has had a positive impact on the villagers. The additional income from the homestays was helpful in buying ration in lean season and even sending children to the school. It also helped villagers in protecting their livestock and build predator-proof pens. The income gave much deprived decision power to the women community of the villages. The tourism activity increased local participation with the fact that many parachute cafes and local businesses propped up. The flow of tourists also instilled a sense of pride in the local people for their culture and lifestyle. In a way, this activity also helped preserve Ladhaki culture as people can now take pride in displaying the distinct Ladhaki decor and cuisine. The community on a whole has had an increased awareness of hygiene. The tourism activity also helped in checking migration of youth towards city. Homestays helped in the overall personality development of the villagers as the interaction with foreign tourists increased. Some of the added benefits for the villagers were the utilization of conservation fund, adoption of waste management practices and tree plantation activities. A change of attitude was seen in the villagers towards the snow leopards as they are now the attractions for the tourists to visit this place. The homestay experience for the tourists helped in learning about Ladakhi cultures through nature treks and its cuisines. THE WAY FORWARD The way ahead for the Samiti at Choti Haldwani is now to work and continue development on the initiatives already undertaken, and also start new programmes like organic farming and bullock cart rides to further expand and provide different sustainable employment opportunities for the locals. ViaDesh intends to move further into different villages and start similar projects like the ones already established. At the same time, ViaDesh aims at phasing its operations out of the existing locations, thus making these villages self-sustainable, with a well-established education and health system running. The idea of converting a livelihood problem into tourism initiative has worked well for the community based around the Himalayan Homestays initiative. Also, this project shows how rural tourism is related to eco-tourism and agri-tourism. This project has helped the community in its economic upliftment through measures such as these, while keeping the local culture intact. This project has also helped in protecting snow leopards and generating an alternative source of income through it. It shows how a balance can be maintained between tourism and ecology. Rural tourism has immense potential in the overall development of the economy, while preserving the rural structure, cultures and keeping traditions intact. Government initiatives should constantly monitor the progress of the projects that have already been initiated, continuously identifying bottlenecks and obstacles, to ensure the smooth functioning of such initiatives. Rural Tourism can help achieve some of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aims at ending poverty by 2015. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1)Redefining Tourism – Experiences and Insights from Rural Tourism Projects in India ( © Ministry of Tourism, Government of India / UNDP India 2008) 2)www. viadesh. com 3)www. himalayan-homestays. com 4)Performance of Tourism Sector during July 2011, Ministry of Tourism 5)Annual Report 2011 Ministry of Tourism 6)Equations Annual Report, 2009-2010