Psychosocial Development Essay

The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a personal case study on the developmental transition of a 35-year-old woman from young adulthood into middle adulthood. The transition is examined in the context of Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development and the Loevinger’s Ego Development. The paper would present her current situation and future plans in accordance to her current developmental level.   TRANSITION TO MIDDLE ADULTHOOD: A PERSONAL CASE STUDY Basically, the goal of the research and study on life-span development is to describe, explain and optimize human development. Human development is interesting and highly varied that it seems at times the topic is inexhaustible. Researchers would like understand more fully human behavior and motivation as it change through age. According to the modern life-span perspective to understand the gravity of these queries one has to remember the following facts about human development. First, development is a life-long process. The life-span perspective is the study of human development from infancy to adulthood. This would include any form of development. Second, development is multidirectional. It involves all aspect of life. We have different priorities at different stages of life, for example a small child might deem it more important to be able to watch his favorite TV show rather than a good education. Third, development involves both gain and lost, to give room to new learning, priorities and experiences (Sigelman & Rider, 2010). Erik Erikson Psychosocial Development Claire is at the middle adulthood stage. By this time she had successfully resolved her concern on isolation. Crystal Miller is married and a mother of a two year old boy and a six year old daughter. She has a loving family. She has peers and friends that appreciates and support her. The middle adulthood stage is primarily characterized as a time when an individual searches for a sense of legacy to family and society. An individual needs to be affirmed of her or potential for contribution to society. Significant internal conflicts may arise pertaining to self-absorption and stagnation. This is the stage of the development where a sense of production and the ability and opportunity to express care to others is most important (Tenant, 2000) Claire aims to provide the kind of family and personal values that she had developed. Although her children are still very young, she want them to develop in an environment that they could free to express themselves learn from their own experiences. The role of mothers in the development is crucial. Early learning of young children can be accredited quality of interaction and care they receive from parents. She wants her children to be able to be become productive members of society. As Tenant (2000) explained it becomes an adamant task is to preserve culture and transmit family values. This may come in the form of establishing stable family or home environment. Strength comes through care of others and production of something that contributes to the betterment of society. This would provide meaning and purpose. Furthermore, the middle adulthood stage, aims to develop a sense of fulfillment in both the professional and personal life. At this stage, profession or work is most crucial. Thus, Erikson asserts through his study the individual in the middle adult stage tend to be focused in finding meaning with their professional life. They would like to view their jobs are more than a means for financial gain; it should have significance and contribution. As parents, they would like to feel that they had helped mold the values system of their children, as well provided for their personal needs. As a co-worker, she would like to be a source of valuable information and help them in own personal endeavors. It also, middle adulthood is when we can expect in control. (Cohen & Reese, 1994) Claire as a registered respiratory therapist and a registered nurse sees her profession as source of personal fulfillment. She had honed her professional skills through 17 years of patient care experience in the field. Field experience in the medical profession is unparalleled, through her interaction with patients and professional she had developed genuine care for patients and professional for the field. She had gained expertise acknowledged by her peers and clients. Thus, when she entered the corporate medical device industry she took the initiative to advocate better deliverance of health care by helping clinician help their patients the base care. She assists executive level from making major financial and technological decisions. It is part of her responsibility to make sure each and every clinician is fully trained on their equipment. Thus, get the full and best use of the equipment to not only benefit the hospital and clinician but also the patients. These efforts, led to the lowering the cost of healthcare is through better patient care by enabling the clinicians to provide the right care at the right time. She acknowledge that she may be luckier than some, because she in a profession that she feels she is making a significant contributions. Being a mother, she personally feels for parents whose children are under medical care due to illness. As, a parent she would like her children to learn any profession can be used to be of service to others. That is important to be in a job you are developed and appreciated. As a spouse, she aims to become her husband’s source of support as he is to her. Considerably, her family is very young and she would like to equip herself with the necessary parental skill that she would need particularly in her children’s adolescents year. At times, though she feels that the demand of family life and professional life is taking a toll of her emotional well-being. She has to sets priorities and often the things she has to give up; working in the medical instrument copy at times requires travel and hours of work. As a mother, there are times that she feels that she should spend more time with her kids. Children tend to grow up really fast. Although, she seems to manage well, this is still this dilemma she often encounters. At this point she had to acknowledge her husband’s part in taking care of the family. It helps to know that she is not alone; learning from other working mothers and how they deal helps her find her own balance. Although she has a long way to go before moving to late adulthood, she would like to make the best of it while she’s here with her family and friends. Significant relationships are within the workplace, the community and the family. Thus, Claire would like to expand her expertise to the community. She plans to get involved in community project pertaining to healthcare. Time can be an issue but she believes that it can be done. Support groups in forms of friends, family and peers can help her resolve internal conflicts and feel more competent in handling all aspects of her life. Loevinger’s Ego Development According to Loevinger’s Ego Development, the ego serves as the master trait of personality with a core organizing function. In a way it neutralizes the demands of the id and the super ego. The ego provides the direction and guidance for both the inner and outer forces (Thorne, 1993). Loevinger presented ego development in nine distinct stages. Most adults can be found from the fifth to the seventh level of ego development (Westenberg, Blasi & Lawrence, 1998). The self-aware stage, the fifth stage is the most common stage among adults in the United States. At this stage there is an increased but limited awareness of deeper issues and the inner lives of themselves and others. A personal introspection of ideas pertaining to religion, morality, mortality, love and relationships as compared to others, somewhat there seems to have resolution. Awareness, acknowledgement and acceptance of others perspective, they are appreciating themselves and others as unique. However this may bring tension between actual to what is expected. In terms what is expected is often a combination of society and the individual’s own definition. This may lead conflicts with family and peers. If let unresolved this may lead to self –criticism. This continues on the sixth stage, the conscientious stage. At this stage, the tendency towards self-evaluation and self-criticism continues. Responsibility, achievement and the pursuit of high ideals and long-term goals are highly valued. Personally-evaluated morality starts to evolve and behavior is guided by self-evaluated standards. It is at this stage as well that, shame arises from not meeting the others’ expectations; guilt arises from not meeting one’s own expectations. In a study conducted by on the personality change in women from College to Midlife. The personality scores of female college seniors studied where first measured in 1958 using the California Psychological Inventory, then again when they were 27 years old, the third time were 43. The results showed that changes in personality were largely consistent with theories of adult development. The study highlighted a major factor, sex role specialization in their late 20s and a decrease in their later years that is accompanied by increases in confidence, dominance, and coping skills. (Helson & Moane, 1986) Claire efforts to achieve professional success rather than simply focusing on her family life would have been frowned upon. Claire own ideals and priorities would have been influenced by the norms of society. The expectation of society on her would had definitely clashed with her endeavor to develop professionally. The change in the perspective of society in the role of women had definitely changed in terms professional and long term goal. However, women are still held more responsible to the welfare of the children and of the family. Often, the dilemma would arise since she is permitted to do both, but she is expected to be a complete success in family life and with her professional life. This may be easier said than done. The only solution, make it both work. She wants to have sense of control over her priorities, goals and resources. Delegation and proper time allocation are some solutions she can think of as a way to resolve some concerns. Van Hiel and Vansteenskist (2009) examined the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic goal attainment on older adults’ ego-integrity, psychological well-being, and death attitudes. Intrinsic goal attainment contributed positively to subjective well-being and ego-integrity and negatively to despair, whereas extrinsic goal attainment was unrelated to psychological health and contributed positively to despair. Intrinsic goal attainment contributed to the acceptance of one’s own death, lower ill-being, and less death anxiety, whereas extrinsic goal attainment was negatively associated with death acceptance. It is argued that the attainment of intrinsic goals is related to better psychological health, because intrinsic goals are more conducive to the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. In summary, Claire plans to revisit her priorities, goals for each aspect of her life. Claire’s intrinsic motivation of becoming a contribution to her family, work and community would provide her with the necessary drive and energy. At the same time, she would like to be realistic in terms of her expectation of herself. She believes she can define her own definition of success. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cohen, S & Reese, H. (1994)Life-span development psychology: methodological contributions. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawerence Earbaum Associates, Inc. Tenant, M. (2000) Psychology and adult learning 2nd edition. New York: Routledge Sigelman, C. K. & Rider, E. (2010) Life-span human development. Cengage Learning. Thorne, A (1993) On conceptualizing loevinger’s stages of ego development. Psychological Inquiry. 4, 1, p. 53-55. Taylor & Francis Ltd. Retrieved at August 20, 2010 at http://www. jstor. org/pss/1449596 Van Hiel, A. & Vansteenskiste, M. (2009) Ambitions Fulfilled the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic goal attainment on older adults’ ego-integrity and death attitudes. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 68, 1, 27-51 Westenberg, P. M. , Blasi, A. & Lawrence, D. C. (1998) Personality development: theoretical, empirical, and clinical investigations of Loevinger’s conception of ego development. Lawrence Mahwah, New Jersey: Erlbaum Associates, Inc. , Publishers Helson, R & Moane, G. (1986) Personality Change in Women From College to Midlife. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1, 176-186.

Argument of Jonestown Death as a Mass Suicide Essay

The Jonestown Massacre, which had a death toll of 918 people (Rosenberg, 2003), can in the main, be regarded as mass suicide or what in the words of the founder Jim Jones was termed â€Å"revolutionary suicide†. This is because all but one of temple members, Christine Miller, supported Jones’ suggestion of â€Å"revolutionary suicide† (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Jim McElvane, a former therapist, assisted Jones by arguing against Miller’s resistance to suicide, stating â€Å"Let’s make it a beautiful day†. This statement was followed by applause from Temple members. In addition to Jim McElvane, several other temple members gave speeches praising Jones and his decision for the community to commit suicide (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Some instances that preceded the ugly event and suggest it as mass suicide include; i. White Nights: â€Å"revolutionary suicide† rehearsals A Temple defector Deborah Layton recalled that after work, when purported emergencies arose, the Temple sometimes conducted what Rev. Jones referred to as â€Å"White Nights†. During such events, Jones would sometimes give the Jonestown members four choices: (i) attempt to flee to the Soviet Union; (ii) commit â€Å"revolutionary suicide†; (iii) stay in Jonestown and fight the purported attackers or (iv) flee into the jungle. On at least two occasions during White Nights, after a â€Å"revolutionary suicide† vote was reached, a simulated mass suicide was rehearsed (Layton, 1998). Deborah Layton described the event in an affidavit: â€Å"Everyone, including the children, was told to line up. As we passed through the line, we were given a small glass of red liquid to drink. We were told that the liquid contained poison and that we would die within 45 minutes. We all did as we were told. When the time came when we should have dropped dead, Rev. Jones explained that the poison was not real and that we had just been through a loyalty test. He warned us that the time was not far off when it would become necessary for us to die by our own hands† (Affidavit of Deborah Layton, 1998). From the above statement culled from Affidavit of Deborah Layton, it is evidently clear that Temple members are fully aware that a time will come when it will become necessary for them to die by their own hands. Although, they were not told when or how the â€Å"suicide† will occur (Rosenberg, 2003). ii. Notes from non-surviving residents of Peoples Temple Notes from the non-surviving residents of the Peoples Temple suggest that the event at Jonestown was a mass suicide. Similar to the â€Å"suicide note† usually written by individuals that commit the anti-social act, notes found at the scene of the event in Jonestown suggest it was mass suicide. Found near the body of Marceline Jones (wife of Jim Jones) was a typewritten note, dated November 18, 1978, signed by Marceline Jones and witnessed by Annie Moore and Maria Katsaris, stating: I, Marceline Jones, leave all bank assets in my name to the Communist Party of the USSR. The above bank accounts are located in the Bank of Nova Scotia, Nassau, Bahamas. Please be sure that these assets do get to the USSR. I especially request that none of these are allowed to get into the hands of my adopted daughter, Suzanne Jones Cartmell. For anyone who finds this letter, please honor this request as it is most important to myself and my husband, James W. Jones (Letter from Marceline Jones, 1978). Annie Moore left a note, which in part stated: â€Å"I am at a point right now so embittered against the world that I don’t know why I am writing this. Someone who finds it will believe I am crazy or believe in the barbed wire that does NOT exist in Jonestown.† Moore also wrote, â€Å"JONESTOWN—the most peaceful, loving community that ever existed.† The children loved it. So did everyone else.† The last line, Moore wrote â€Å"We died because you would not let us live in peace.† in different color ink (Last words – Annie Moore, 1978). iii. Leo Ryan Delegation’s Report Another evidence that characterized the death at Jonestown as mass suicide is the U.S congressman Leo Ryan’s report of his visit to Jonestown. Ryan stated that none of the sixty (60) relatives Ryan had targeted for interviews wanted to leave Jonestown, the 14 defectors constituted a very small portion of Jonestown’s residents, that any sense of imprisonment the defectors had was likely because of peer pressure and a lack of physical transportation, and even if 200 of the 900+ wanted to leave â€Å"I’d still say you have a beautiful place here† (Hall, 1989). Similarly, Washington Post reporter Charles Krause stated that, on the way back to the airstrip, he was unconvinced that Jonestown was as bad as defectors had claimed because there were no signs of malnutrition or physical abuse, while many members appeared to enjoy Jonestown and only a small number of the over 900 residents expressed willingness to leave (Layton, 1999). Lastly, in 1978, officials from the United States Embassy in Guyana interviewed Social Security recipients on multiple occasions to make sure they were not being held against their will (Pear, 1978). None of the 75 people interviewed by the Embassy stated that they were being held against their will, were forced to sign over welfare checks, or wanted to leave Jonestown (Wessinger, 2000). Jonestown as a Religio-political Movement Vs Collective Action Founded in 1956 by Reverend Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple (known also as Jonestown) was a racially integrated church purported to practice what it called â€Å"apostolic socialism† (Dawson, 2003, Time Magazine, 2008) that focused on helping people in need. Jones had a vision of a communist community, one in which everyone lived together in harmony and worked for the common good (Rosenberg, 2003). This is similar to the communist movement proposed by Karl Marx and Marx followers. Thus, distinct from various scholarly views on collective behavior, Jones aligned this religious cum political ideology with the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, World’s renowned socialist movement. Unlike any routine or non-routine collective action, Jones purported to establish Jonestown as a benevolent communist community, stating: â€Å"I believe we’re the purest communists there are† (Pear, 1978). Marceline Jones (wife of Jim Jones) described Jonestown as â€Å"dedicated to live for socialism, total economic and racial and social equality. We are here living communally† (Dawson, 2003). After the day’s work ended, Temple members would attend several hours of activities in a pavilion structure, including classes on socialism (Layton, 1998). Discussions around the topics raised often took the form of Jones usually portraying the United States as a â€Å"capitalist† and â€Å"imperialist† villain, while casting â€Å"socialist† leaders, such as North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Joseph Stalin, in a positive light (Hall, 1987). Another factor that distinguished Jonestown from collective action is that it lacked some elements of collective actions identified by Useem (1998) such as riots, rebellion, and civil violence, planned and unplanned protests, destructive barricades, peaceful and violent demonstrations, aggressive display of grievances, and so forth. Furthermore, unlikely of collective actions, Jonestown participated actively in politics. Founder Jim Jones was appointed as the Chairman San Francisco Housing Authority Commission (Reiterman and John, 1982). Both in theory and practice, Jonestown is a religio-political movement. Jonestown strongly supported communist movement of the Soviet Union and identified with them. Prior to their eventual death, Jones wrote a letter, on behalf of Peoples Temple (‘apostolic socialism’ church) , to the Embassy of the Soviet Union in Guyana in which he instructed that all their assets be given to the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. However, it is intellectually instructive to conclude by bringing to mind that Jonestown ended as a collective action sequel to their â€Å"revolutionary suicide† which has been severally argued as a collective decision of the Peoples Temple resident members at the time of the event. Theoretical Explanations of Jonestown Event i. Social identity theory: One theoretical tradition that provides sufficient explanation to the Jonestown event is social identity theory. Developed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in 1979, the theory was originally developed to understand the psychological basis of intergroup discrimination, and to identify the minimal conditions that would lead members of one group to discriminate in favor of the in-group to which they belonged and against another out-group (Tajfel et al., 1986). Generally, a social identity is the portion of an individual’s self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. Social identity theory asserts that group membership creates ingroup/ self-categorization and enhancement in ways that favor the in-group at the expense of the out-group. This quest for positive distinctiveness means that people’s sense of who they are is defined in terms of ‘we’ rather than ‘I’. This is exactly what transpired in Jonestown. In application, it is obvious that at various forums, statements like â€Å"I believe we’re the purest communists there are† (Pear, 1978), â€Å"We are here living communally†, â€Å"Let’s make it a beautiful day† (Dawson, 2003), dominated Jones, Marceline and other Temple members’ discussions. ii. Social Solidarity Theory: Another theoretical paradigm that dominated the terrain of the study of movements and collective actions in the 1960s is social solidarity theory. The theory is an off-shoot of Emile Durkheim’s functionalist theory on 1938. According to Durkheim, collective conscience and social solidarity constitute common belief and sentiments. â€Å"solidarity, rather than insufficient integration, provides the necessary conditions of collective action, and rebellions, protest, collective violence, and related forms of action result from rational pursuit of shared interests†(Useem, 1984). Without this common sentiment or agreement, solidarity would be impossible. Citing Tilly and others, Useem (1998) opined that solidarity refers to dense social networks and a strong collective identity. This shared sentiment, solidarity and group consciousness characterized the underlying principles for the formation of Jonestown. Members see themselves as the same and they stood pungently against the U.S capitalism and imperialism. As such, Rev Jim Jones and Temple members moved to establish a community where communalism, egalitarianism and equality will dominates. References Catherine Wessinger (2000) â€Å"How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate† ISBN 978-1-889119-24-3, p. 31-34. Dawson, Lorne L. (2003). Cults and new religious movements: a reader. Wiley Blackwell. pp. 194. ISBN 1-4051-0181-4. Annie Moore (1978) â€Å"Last Words from Annie Moore† Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Layton, Deborah (1998) Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1998. ISBN 0-385-48984-6. p. 53. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Layton, Deborah (1999). Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-385-48984-6. p. xix (Krause forward) Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Marceline Jones (1978).†Letter from Marceline Jones† Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University. Pear, Richard. â€Å"State Explains Respo nse to Cult Letters.† Washington Star News. November 26, 1978. Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 485. Rosenberg Jennifer (2003) â€Å"The Jonestown Massacre† retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/1970s/p/jonestown.htm on 24th October, 2012. Tajfel, H. and Turner, J. C. (1986). The social identity theory of inter-group behavior. In S. Worchel and L. W. Austin (eds.), Psychology of Intergroup Relations. Chigago: Nelson-Hall Time Magazine, â€Å"Mass Suicide at Jonestown: 30 Years Later†, 2008. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Useem Bert (1998) â€Å"Breakdown Theories of Collective Action† Annual Review Sociology 1998. 24:215. Useem B. (1997). â€Å"The state and collective disorders: The Los Angeles riot/protest of April, 1992. Sociology Forces 76:357 -77

Sentence and Verbal Communication

3. 1 Work File ReviewDetour for Effective Verbal CommunicationDirections: Review the sentences below. Practice writing the sentences into â€Å"I† statements by using the â€Å"I† statement patterns provided below. After you feel confident you understand the concept of â€Å"I† statements, proceed to the assignment area and take the 3. 1 Effect Verbal Communication online quiz. Please use black ink. â€Å"I† Statement Patterns I feel†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ when you†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. because I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. when you†¦. because II need†¦. for you†¦. because IExample:A. â€Å"You† had better not cheat on that test! † (â€Å"You† statement)B. I feel angry when you cheat because I have to work hard for my grades. (â€Å"I† statement)1. â€Å"You always interrupt me! † I feel ____________________when you interrupt me, because I_________________.2. â€Å"You won't listen to me, because you are always talking on the phone with her! † I think ______________when you are always talking on the phone with her, because I ______________________________.3. â€Å"You'd better straighten up or you'll be looking for someone else to date! † I feel ________________________________when you act that way because I ________________.4. â€Å"You are always telling me that I never clean my room, but I do clean it! † I need for you to ________________________because I____________________.5. â€Å"You never let me go out with my friends, Mom! † I think __________________when you won’t allow me to go with my friends, because I ___________________.6. â€Å"You never seem to listen to me. I'm trying to tell you about my day in school and all you do is watch TV. Why can't you ever pay any attention to me? † I feel ________________when you watch TV, because I ______________________.7. â€Å"You are always late for practice. † I need for you to ______________________, because I ______________________.8. â€Å"You must let me use the car Saturday night, Dad! † I need __________________, because I___________________.

Culture of Soccer in Uruguay, and how Uruguay Gained Independence Research Paper

Culture of Soccer in Uruguay, and how Uruguay Gained Independence - Research Paper Example The struggle for independence of Uruguay began in February 1811, when Buenos Aires was about to face an offensive by Elio. Buenos Aires, which was the interior of Banda Oriental, was headed by the captain of Blandengues Corps, Josà © Gervasio Artigas. Artigas was annoyed by this move and announced his offering of services to Buenos Aires (Burford 15). Artigas had been profoundly influenced by federalism; he always had had an issue with Elio regarding its discriminatory commercial policies against Montevideo. Artigas led an army that scored the most important victory against the Spaniards who played a decisive role in the independence of Uruguay on May 18, 1811through what is known as the â€Å"Battle of Las Piedras†. He then moved on to besiege Montevideo from May 1811 to October 1811. Elio was able to save Montevideo by inviting forces from Brazil, which was under Portuguese occupation, which entered the Uruguay and governed most of the country by July of 1811. In the Octobe r of that month Elio, signed a peace treaty with Buenos Aires which state that all the forces including that of Artigas, Portuguese and Brazilian will evacuate Uruguay and provide an airlift to the cordon of Montevideo. 13,000 civilian evacuated Salto and on the Rio Uruguay and moved to Argentinean town of Ayui, where they lived as refugees for quite some time. The series of steps marked the beginning of Uruguayan independence even though the Spanish and Portuguese troops did not withdraw until 1812. In 1813, after the return of Artigas to Banda Oriental, where he was hailed as immortal campaigner for the cause of federalism and unitary centralism of Buenos Aires; a constituent assembly was called upon in Buenos Aires by the new government. Delegates from Banda Oriental’s started to elect assembly representatives congregated and under orders issued by Artigas, propositioned a series of political directives, which were later to be called as "Instructions of the Year Thirteen; these directives included of the colonies' independence and the formation of a confederation of the provinces (the United Provinces of the Rio de a Plata) from the former Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata (dissolved in 1810 when independence was declared). This political formula was based upon the constitution of ‘United States of America that would have led to political and economic freedom of for every area including Buenos Aires. Nevertheless, the assembly refused to let this happen, Buenos Aires pursue a form of government who ruled on the basis of Unitary Centralism which resulted in Artigas breaking with Buenos Aires for a second time besieged Montevideo. In 1814, Artigas lifted his siege but a civil war type situation rose in which resulted in massive casualties among the Uruguayans, Spaniards, and Argentines, until he capitulated to the troops of Buenos Aires, while his army was controlling the countryside after which he remerged and took the city again in 1815. The B anda Oriental appointed its first autonomous government after the troops left the city. Artigas then moved on establish an executive center in the northwest of the realm, where he managed a federal league under his authority. The new country consisted of six states including Rio Parana, Rio Uruguay, and Rio de la Plata with Montevideo as its overseas port. In the same year, Artigas attempted to put into practice agrarian reform in the Banda Oriental by allocating sequestered from his enemies of the revolution that included Mestizos (people of mixed Indian and Europe descent) and Indians. In 1816, Portuguese troops again took control of Banda Oriental from Brazil and took Montevideo the next year (Andrien 282). Artigas was defeated after 4 years of struggle and went into exile in to Paraguay and died there in 1850. Portuguese Brazil then appropriated the Banda Oriental as its Southern most Cisplatine province. After Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822, Brazil was faced b y the strife in the Banda

HOW WAS THE TRIPARTITE FINANCIAL SYSTEM CREATED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Essay

HOW WAS THE TRIPARTITE FINANCIAL SYSTEM CREATED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IT'S ROLE IF ANY IN THE CREDIT CRUNCH (BUSINESS AND LAW SUBJECTS) - Essay Example In fact it is found that the credit crisis is actually the result of poor regulatory process of these countries’ financial systems. This research is all about the Tripartite Financial System which was developed in UK in 1997. Prior to the period of recent financial crisis, it was apparently seemed that the system is quite effective in maintaining the stability in the UK financial system. However once the credit crisis started the actual effectiveness of the tripartite system came out. This research is started with a proper plan. A specific research statement is developed. Aims and objectives of the research are then properly identified. Precise research strategy and philosophy have been followed throughout the research. Data are collected in the pre-defined ways. A well structured literature review includes the detailed description of the topic. Finally the research ends with a proper conclusion. This research mainly focuses on the Tripartite Financial System and its role in the recent credit crunch in UK. The specific research statement is â€Å"how tripartite financial system was created in UK and its part in credit crunch†. The major aim and objective of this research is to identify all those processes and incidents that led to the formation of tripartite financial system. Furthermore the research also aims to find out the significance of this system in the recent credit crisis situation in United Kingdom. Each and every research is based on certain philosophy. In fact researches can be categorized into different types according to their philosophy. There are mainly two philosophical paradigm – phenomenological and positivist. In the first type of research, world is considered as an external object. Furthermore he/she should be independent. Most importantly in this type of research focus should be on facts. Furthermore the researcher should also focus on

Chemical KInetics Chemistry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chemical KInetics Chemistry - Assignment Example The theory states that when appropriate molecules of a reactant collide against each other, it is only a definite proportion of the collisions that result in a perceptible chemical change (Goldberger and Watson, 2004). These collisions are termed successful collisions, and possess activation energy. The idea of activation energy was introduced by Svante Arrhenius in 1889, and is the amount of energy needed to be gained by the reactant molecules to form the product. During the exact instant of collision, the pre-existing bonds are broken and new bonds formed. This results in the formation of the products of the reaction. The higher the temperature the higher the rate at which its constituent particles move. This increased particular motion increases the chances of the particles colliding, resulting in more successful collisions that lead to bonds being broken and new ones forming, resulting in the formation of new products, and thereby increasing the reaction rate. This is proven in the graph above, which shows that the molecules that have higher kinetic energies resulting from high temperatures have higher reaction rates, since the increased motion between the molecules results in increased molecular collisions that raises the reaction rates. Pressure has an effect on the rate of various chemical reactions, only involving gases. Raising it leads to a corresponding increase in the rate of the reaction. Raising or lowering the pressure of a reaction system involving liquids or solids leads to no change in the rate of the reaction. For a specific amount of gas, to raise the pressure of the gas one would have to compress the gas so that it would be contained in a lesser volume. Doing so would mean the same amount of gas is found in a much smaller volume, resulting in a higher concentration. Since the gas particles are closer to each other, their random motions result in more frequent collisions. These

The Cost of Capital; Financial Leverage; Which Counts Most Term Paper

The Cost of Capital; Financial Leverage; Which Counts Most - Term Paper Example The high sale will result in higher profits and a reduction in variable costs signifies that the organization does not have to incur any extra expenses for each unit sold. An increased volume of sales will enable to company to save gain benefits from its fixed costs. The idea of operating leverage was initially developed for utilizing in capital budgeting. Operating leverage is a significant concept as it affects how responsive profits are to transforms into sales volume. â€Å"The Degree of Operating leverage is a function of the cost structure of a firm and is usually defined in terms of the relationship between fixed cost and total costs. A firm that has high fixed costs relative to total costs is said to have operating leverage. A firm with high operating leverage will also have higher variability in operating income than would a firm producing a similar product with low operating leverage† (Choi 20). Other things remaining the same, the high difference in operating income will guide to a high beta for the industry with higher operating leverage. It is helpful to recognize how operating profit will vary with a given change in units formed; operating leverage is helpful to decide the business risks. Operating leverage can also be understood as the degree to which an organization utilizes fixed costs in creating its goods or offering its facilities. A fixed cost contains advertising expenses, equipment and technology, administrative costs, taxes, and depreciation. However, it excludes interest on debt, which is an element of financial leverage. By using fixed production costs, an organization can raise its earnings. If an organization has a high amount of fixed costs, it has a high level of operating leverage. High-tech and automated companies, airlines, utility companies etc commonly have high amounts of operating leverage. The difference between variable and fixed costs is an old idea. This separation of costs by behavior is the basis for breakeven a nalysis. â€Å"The idea of â€Å"break even analysis† is based on the simple question of how many units of product or service a business must sell in order to cover its fixed costs before beginning to make a profit. Presumably, unit prices are set at a level high enough to recoup all direct unit costs and leave a margin of contribution toward fixed cost and profit† (Helfert 193). Once adequate units have been sold to accrue the total contribution required to offset every fixed costs, the margin from any extra units sold will become revenue unless a latest layer of fixed expenses has to be added at any future point to support the high volume. Understanding this attitude will enhance the insight into how operational features of a business involve the elements of financial projections and planning. This information is also useful in setting operational strategies, which, particularly in an unstable business setting might, for instance, focus on reducing fixed costs during outsourcing certain operations. Cost of Capital: The cost of capital means the required rate of return for making capital budgeting. Cost of capital comprises the cost of debt and the cost of equity acquired through different sources. Cost of capital is the average rate of return required by the investors for their long term investments such as equity fund, preference fund and long term capital. When the firm makes long term investm

Sales Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Sales Management - Research Paper Example For the past fourteen year I have been a real estate and sears maintenance agreements sales person. I understand the needs of my consumers, thus providing appropriate products that match their desires. Due to the diversified behaviors of my consumers, I have initiated effective marketing strategies that take into account the language and culture of my clients. During my experience as a sales person, I learned that social, cultural as well as emotional forces are vital especially when consumers are buying a particular product. During my working experience in Memphis, I have realized that consumers are not only influenced by their culture and learning but also their perception and attitude. For example, the real estate that depicts modern designs is highly demanded by younger consumers while old clients are indifferent to the design of the property. In this regard, I take into account the implication of the consumer’s perception on their buying patterns. Additionally, the belief possessed by consumers has an effect on the sales of a particular product. For example, there is a strong belief that Memphis real estate is of good quality. In this way, I am focused on expanding my operations to cover a huge area of Memphis. As a real estate as well as sears maintenance agreements sales person for 14 years, I have a vital responsibility of setting up the marketing goals that include determination of the appropriate marketing mix. For instance, during establishment of operations in new markets, I put in place effective promotional strategies to ensure adequate measures to face off my competitors in the real estate industry. In the same way, as a real estate sales person, I have made myself responsible for estimating the sales and marketing potential of my organization. To comply with this principle and succeed in the Memphis real estate market, my marketing strategies involved setting up monthly and annual goals. In this way, I use all the necessary measures to me et my targets. In addition, I make sales forecast that encompasses estimating the products units that I sell on a monthly basis. In my efforts to set organizational goals that are related to distribution, as a marketer, I emulate market potential and estimation of sales. Major factors that I consider during the making of sales estimation and forecasting include economic conditions, stages of business maturity, regulatory environment and market expectations. In order to be successful in the real estate industry as well as in selling of sears maintenance agreements, I have been very keen in undertaking sales planning. This entails making weekly and monthly goals that guide me in my marketing strategies. One of my strategies that I emulate to match with the principle of sales planning includes leading my sales teams in a way that they met the objectives outlined by a sales plan. Some of the major aspects that I consider during the formulation of a sales plan include product types, sale s quotas and customer requirements (Spiro et al., 2008). Even though I am responsible for making the entire sales plan, I encourage other sales people to make their own plans based on my sales plan. In this way, it is possible for individuals to make their own plans that are compatible with my plans and that are not necessarily followed by other team mates. In my

Unit 9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Unit 9 - Assignment Example There is a basic difference between management accounting and financial accounting. While the former provides necessary information to the management so that they can make right decisions for the company, the latter provides financial data to the shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders so that they can get information about past and present conditions of the company. Management accounting provides information about future trend of the company as managers need this information to make long term decisions while financial accounting provides factual data to shareholders and creditors so that they assess the performance of the company as their funds are in stake. One major purpose of management accounting is to provide cost information about products and services. Costs are classified into five broad groups – behavior, traceability, controllability, relevance, and function. Behavior costs can be fixed, variable or mixed. Fixed costs do not change with increase in the volume of production like rent, variable costs can increase with increase in the volume of production like wages and cost of raw materials, and mixed costs are combination of both fixed and variable costs. Traceability costs can be direct costs that are incurred specifically for production like wages of factory workers, and indirect costs that cannot be specified as specific cost of production like salaries of office employees. Controllability costs can be controllable like wages of workers since number of labors can be reduced with proper management, and uncontrollable costs like house rent has to be paid irrespective of the volume of production. Costs of relevance can be sunk, out-of-pocket, and opportunity costs. Sunk costs are those expenses that have been made and cannot be recovered like costs incurred in installing a machinery which turns out to be unproductive.

Developing Retail and Promotion Strategies Essay

Developing Retail and Promotion Strategies - Essay Example A regional shopping Center is expected to have high customer traffic and hence implementing a promotion strategy would help convince large numbers of people to purchase a product. The firm requires coming up with a mission statement that will help their customers understand why the product suits their needs. The location of the regional shopping center should also be strategic such that many customers have easy access to it (Rogers, 2001). Customers may decide to purchase commodities in a certain shop just because it closer to them even if other factors such as price are no favorable. A convincing mission statement will lure customers into purchasing a certain product over another. The shopping center should focus more on product organization in their shelves and stores. A customer may decide to purchase a commodity just because they saw it in the shelves. Product organization may also convince window shoppers on purchasing a product they saw(Voss & Seiders, 2003). It is therefore im portant to ensure that the products catch the eye of the target market. The shop may also use modern strategies such as internet marketing to convince them to purchase a product at a certain retail center. However the cost consideration of such a method should be well evaluated so that it does not affect the profit percentages. Direct marketing could also be very effective in a regional shopping center. The firm may decide to employ people in the shop who will talk to the customers and convince them to purchase a certain product. This method has an advantage over the others since there will be a direct response from the customers and hence adjusting to fit the market will be very easy for the manufacturer (Bhatia, 2008). A new restaurant will obviously be experiencing low numbers of customers and will require critical retail and promotion strategies in order to

International Marketing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Marketing Strategy - Essay Example Winning back customers is the most intelligent approach to marketing. It is this very important group of customers who will spur the company to great heights. Categorization of customers is important to developing a list of genuine customers. Basically, not all customers should be treated the same because some may not bring any importance to the firm. Having done the proper analysis on the customer list and identifying the best and strong candidates to win back, labor costs associated to this mechanism is then evaluated to define the best line of approach.   Some customers may have left the company because of lack of varying selection of books on the shelves. Ensuring product differentiation is very critical, hence stocking up of the store with all kinds of available books will help boost customer confidence to the company. This comes in hand with the right selling concept mechanism. The bookstore will be aggressive by promoting its products to the market. Adequately informing lost customers of the new services in the store will immensely lure them back.The bookstore will keep abreast its societal responsibilities. Promoting knowledge in local schools will give the store an upper hand and recognition. Above all, customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of marketing. I will ensure feedback collection and review customer views on our services. This will go a long way to adjust our services to suit our customers. With customer satisfaction achieved then wooing back the customers will be easy.

Personal Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Personal Responsibility Essay Personal responsible is linked to college success. There are two reasons for practicing personal responsibility. First, setting aside study time, but most importantly, increase ability to focus in classroom. Informal Outline: When enrolling in college, students need to practice personal responsibility. First they must be able to define personal responsibility and what meaning it will have on them during their college semesters. Personal responsibility involves an individual being held accountable for their own actions upon themselves and others. Further, personal responsibility being when you can cease placing blame upon others for your mistakes and when you quit blaming yourself. By achieving this you become honest with yourself, thus allowing yourself to move forward with your education. To be successful in college a key element is personal responsibility. Personal responsibility can be viewed as a key element because there are moments during college where students are or believe themselves to be failing and by taking personal responsibility for their actions they will build their self-esteem and accountability for their actions. The connection with personal responsibility and college success is dependent upon accounting for your own choices and actions. To ensure success in college, students need to establish guidelines. You must be able to stay focused during class time. By allowing yourself enough sleep the night prior to class, your ability to remain focused during class remains intact. Sleeplessness leads to your being inattentive and this can cause you to miss issues of importance during class time. Another element that can affect being focused is eating habits. Lack of food can affect your ability to focus during class time. Being focused in class allows you to hone your listening skills and take good notes during class. Another guideline which would allow success in college is setting aside study time. An example would be allowing yourself 30 minute breaks throughout the day. The location of where you study is of importance also. An example would be if you study in a crowded area, there would be too much confusion and interference which would affect your ability to establish good study habits. It would be preferable to set up study in a quiet and isolated area, thus allowing you to concentrate and focus on your studies. The above guidelines will help increase a students level of personal responsibility. It will also increase the students ability to achieve success throughout their college years.

Lg India Core Competencies Marketing Essay

Lg India Core Competencies Marketing Essay Indian telecommunication industry is considered one of the biggest markets worldwide. LG Electronics entered the Indian telecom market in 1997 as a subsidiary named LG Electronics Pvt. Ltd. The entering strategy was just to create a company presence in India (Tolputt, 1999). LG faced many difficulties in developing a market share in mobile sector but later somehow managed to achieve 4.6% while the leading company Nokia was ranking at 64%. Quickly thereafter, LG was able to attain a position of 14.4% in urban market due to adoption of CDMA technology. In the year 2007-2008 only it generated revenue of above $30 billion which went up to about $54 billion in 2012. Great company, great people is the philosophy of LG. This philosophy indicates the LGs vision to provision and adopt innovative technology. Technology has the power to alter consumers expectations. LG has achieved remarkable success due to its core competencies, availability and exploitation of resources. Promotion of LG mobile phone is mostly celebrity endorsed or cricket sponsored to increase public visibility of the brand. Other forms of advertising are also adopted to boost the sales and electronic media has proved to be the most effective of all for LG in the recent years (Gulati and Jain, 2010). LG India Core Competencies Network Capabilities Previously Indian market was crowded with GSM enabled phones and LG came up with CDMA technology focused on urban populations requirements of fast mobile data availability. This was a positive move and resulted in developing the brand name for LG in India. Moreover, LG smartphones began to attain public attention embedded with HSDPA compatibility and 3G data interface thus video calling was introduced to the people. LG Electronics has also registered itself as a patent to operate in latest LTE technology standard and working hard to boost its hardware / software capabilities (Levi and Jeyaseeli, 2011). Innovative Product Development So far LG has launched more than 50 mobile handset models in a couple of years most of these fall in the smartphone category. LG Optimus series has become among the most popular mobile series in India due to feature rich Android platform and latest hardware specifications. This series is easily catering several entry level smartphones for design conscious consumers. Android OS has become the largest smartphone platform recently and it has more than 20% market share in Indian telecom market last year. Pricing policy of LG has always focused low to mid range customers while features offered are always great as offered in pro devices of other companies. In order to satisfy the growing economies, LG has always paid attention to keep its handsets affordable for masses (Mukherjee, 2011). All the LG registered phone models are prepared in Korea and these handsets are customized according to Indian standards prior to their launch in the subcontinent. The batteries provided with these handsets are made of high quality material that is durable and efficient to withstand extensive operating conditions. All the batteries meet the minimum 10 hours talk time limit and on standby can hold charge for at least a whole month. LG phones offer young consumers a great fun and entertainment platform with fully supported multimedia capabilities. LG handsets are very stylish and sleek either these are QWERTY phones or touch sensitive phones. For music lovers, KS360 delivers the beats while KM710 is an elegant phone for fashion loving people featuring crispy LCD display. LG shine series is also very popular with metallic body and perfect finish (Verma, 2007). Multi-Sourcing Company has adopted a multi-sourcing strategy based on human resource for developing chipsets thus adding efficiency to the overall product development process. So, production staff works side by side with chipset producers for accessing the technical capabilities of phones based on these chipsets (Venkatesh and Chaudhuri, 2004). Marketing and branding teams also work alongside during designing of the handsets and launching model based ideal promotion strategies. After that the quality checking team for vigorous testing of the phones hardware efficiency, durability and reliability. Software compatibility issues are also addressed by the quality check team before approving any device (Chong, 2003). Distribution Network LG has developed an extensive distribution chain targeting retail outlets in an organized way to build the brand value. Distribution network of LG has spread nationwide and once a product is launched, it becomes available countrywide in the entire major and tier 2/3 cities simultaneously. Thus distribution network is among the sole competencies of LG Electronics and is a useful tool that plays its role in generating revenues. There are about 80,000 retails outlets in India operating at present and above 70% outlets of the country feature and sell LG mobile phones. LG Electronics offers its Indian distributors much higher percentage for a better display and promotion of their mobiles to lure their customers (Levi and Jeyaseeli, 2011). Strategic Alliances Over the years, LG is known to develop by making collaborations and acquisitions in the Electronics market. Every company has its strengths and weaknesses so realizing this fact LG has partnered strategically with other organizations to meet the customer expectations and delivering premium quality mobile phones. Some of the companies that are working alongside with LG and providing technical assistance in different fields are; Skype, Sun, Intel, Qualcomm, Yahoo, Google, Adobe and Dolby etc. These companies provide their registered software/hardware solutions for certain features of LG marked mobile handsets (Levi and Jeyaseeli, 2011). Research and Development In order to achieve the status of worlds leading phone manufacturer, LG has invested heavily in the research and development. The company believes that without research and development of technology success can not be achieved in telecom industry due to ever changing standards and innovations. LG Electronics has achieved expertise in all modern cellular technology ranging from GSM, CDMA and WCDMA. Moreover the company is preparing itself to introduce LTE technology is upcoming range of cell phones. LTE is the fastest data standard in mobile technology that can transfer data at ultra speeds that exceed ten times as compared to regular ADSL connections. There is a recent report published by the Taurus Investment that recognizes LG as the registered 3rd largest patient in LTE segment (Levi and Jeyaseeli, 2011).

Determinants of Health Insurance Choices

Determinants of Health Insurance Choices CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the Problem Health care financing in developing countries remain a policy issue with few countries able to spend the $34 per capita recommended by the World Health Organisation as minimum requirement for basic health care. Lack of financial resources to adequately meet the increasing demand for health care needs of the African population remain a persistent problem, and is becoming more critical in the context of increasing incidences of non- communicable diseases. Consequently, there have been attempts by African governments to explore different methods of health care financing. The 2005 World Health Assembly encouraged its member states to move towards achieving universal coverage. Universal coverage does not only relate to generation of health care funds but implies equity in access and guaranteed financial risk protection. As it is the desire of all countries to move towards a system of universal coverage,6 it is argued that irrespective of the source of financing for the health system selected, prepayment and pooling of resources and risks arbasic principles in financial-risk protection. Further recognition of the importance of universal coverage for countries led to the WHO proposing the 2010 World Health Report to address financing for universal health coverage (UHC). Since independence, one of the overall objectives of the government of Kenya has been to promote and improve the health status of Kenyans. This objective is motivated by the evidence that investing in health produces positive outcomes in human capital that have long term impacts in the overall socio-economic development of a country (World Bank 1993; Mwabu 1998). In a number of government policy documents and in successive National Development Plans, the government has set forth that the provision of health services should be available, accessible and affordable to those in most need of healthcare (sessional paper No. 10 of 1965; KHPFP, various Development Plans). Different health financing policy initiatives have been undertaken in Kenya, all aimed largely at addressing affordability and access to health care services. Universalist free health for all policy saw a rapid expansion of the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, and advances in health and social indicators. During this period, health financing system was supported primarily via general tax revenue. With the growing population and worsening socio-economic and political factors, a severe crisis of health and social development unraveled in the 1990s (UNDP 2002). As a result of the crisis, the governments objectives and commitments to free healthcare provision for all eroded dramatically forcing it to implement a cost-sharing scheme in 1989. User fees were abolished for outpatient care in 1990, inspired by concerns about social justice, but re-introduced in 1992 because of budgetary constraints. Today, these fees have remained, with their impact on access to health care the subject of several empirical studies. The user fee system was significantly altered in June 2004, when the Ministry of Health stipulated that health care at dispensary and health centre level be free for all citizens, except for a minimal registration fee in government health facilities. Health financing in Kenya is characterized by a high out of pocket expenditure. The Annual Health Sector Statistics Report (2008), indicate that the out of pocket expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure stands at 36% while public expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure is 29% per cent. 31 per cent of the total health expenditure comes from the development partners while the private companies contribute 3%. This kind of scenario makes access to health a big problem for the majority of the people below the poverty line that constitute about 45.9 per cent of the population. According to the 2007 Kenya Household Expenditure Survey, 37.7% of Kenyans who were ill and did not seek care were hindered by cost. Health insurance is emerging as the most preferred form of health financing mechanism in situations where private out-of-pocket expenditures on health are significantly high and cost recovery strategies affect the access to healthcare. The need for health insura nce in Kenya has been recognized by policymakers for quite some time now, as exemplified by the establishment of NHIF in 1966 through an Act of Parliament. The most significant event in the recent past has been the governments interest in social health insurance as a health financing method and its possible implementation in Kenya. The aim is to ensure equity and access to healthcare services by all Kenyans. Despite the recognition of the importance of health insurance by the government, the number of people in Kenya enrolled in health insurance schemes is low (KNBS, 2009). In view of this, there is need to carry out a study on factors determining choice of health insurance. Overview of Health Insurance in Kenya Kimani et al (2004) put forward that health insurance in Kenya has been provided by both private and public systems. The main objective of the health systems has been to insure Kenyans against health risks that they may encounter in future. The broad categories of health insurance in Kenya are as discussed below: Private Healthcare Insurance Health insurance is considered private when the third party (insurer) is a profit organisation (Republic of Kenya, 2003a). In private insurance, people pay premiums related to the expected cost of providing services to them, that is, people who are in high health risk groups pay more, and those at low risk pay less. Cross-subsidy between people with different risks of ill health is limited. Membership of a private insurance scheme is usually voluntary. Private health insurance has been offered by general insurance firms, which offer healthcare insurance as one of their portfolio of products. Therefore, their intention may be driven by the profit motive as business enterprises rather that the pursuit to promote the general health of Kenyans. Wangombe et al (1994) identify two categories of private health insurance in Kenya: direct private health insurance and, employment based insurance. Nderitu (2002) notes that direct private health insurance is very expensive and only the middle and high-income groups afford it In the employment-based plans, the employer provides care directly through employer-owned on site health facility, or through employer contracts with health facilities or healthcare organisations. These are both voluntary health schemes and are not legislated by the government. According to Techlink International Report (1999), few firms provide healthcare insurance in the strict sense of insurance in private healthcare insurance in Kenya. The general insurance firms offering healthcare insurance as one of their portfolio of products include American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), Apollo Insurance, GMD Kenya, Kenya Alliance Insurance Company Ltd, and UAP Provincial Insurance. Other firms run medical schemes and they are in two categories: the first category provides healthcare through own clinics and hospitals (these include AAR Health Services, Avenue Healthcare Ltd, Comprehensive Medical Services, Health Plan Services), while the other category provides healthcare through third party facilities (examples are Bupa International, Health Management Services and Health First International). These medical schemes are also known as Health Management Organisations (HMOs). HMOs are registered as companies under the Companies Act. The concept originated in the US , where HMOs also help the government to disseminate preventive messages to the public. They were introduced in Kenya a decade ago in response to a 1994 Government call on the private sector to assist in medical care. HMOs are filling a vacuum left by the public health insurance scheme. In HMOs, the patient pays a fixed annual fee, called a capitation fee, to cover the medical costs. Members of a HMO must go to the doctors of that HMO. In addition, to see a specialist, their HMO family doctor must refer them. HMOs have grown rapidly especially in the last few years, especially among those who are covered by employer-provided health plans, mainly because they have helped contain cost increases. National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) The NHIF was established by an Act of Parliament in 1966 as a department in the Ministry of Health, which oversaw its operations, but responsible to the government Treasury for fiscal matters. The Fund was set up to provide for a national contributory hospital insurance scheme for all residents in Kenya. The Act establishing the NHIF provided for the enrolment in the NHIF of all Kenyans between the ages of 18 and 65 and mandates employers to deduct premium from wages and salaries. Contributions and membership are compulsory for all salaried employees earning a net salary of Kshs. 1000 per month and above. The level of contribution is graduated according to income, ranging from Ksh 30 to Ksh 320 per month. The Fund covers up to 180 inpatient hospital days per member and his/her beneficiaries per year. Besides being self-financing and self-administering, the Fund monitors its own collections and distributes benefits to providers. The NHIF Act also provides for the Fund to make loans from its reserves to hospitals for service improvement. Over the years, the original Act of Parliament has been reviewed to accommodate the changing healthcare needs of the Kenyan population, employment and restructuring in the health sector. The government restructured the NHIF Act in 1998 to make the Fund an autonomous parastatal. The apex of NHIF is no longer the Ministry but a Board of Directors. The Fund was given the task of enabling as many Kenyans as possible to have access to quality and affordable healthcare against a background of rising medical costs and a dwindling share of resources. According to the amended NHIF Act, beneficiaries are both in-patients and outpatients (section 22 of NHIF Act, 1998), but outpatient services are not yet operational. NHIF Management Board pays benefits to declared hospitals for expenses incurred at those hospitals by any contributor, his/her named spouse, child or other named dependant. According to the NHIF Act, the benefits payable from the Fund are limited to expenses incurred in respect of drugs, laboratory tests and diagnostic services, surgical, dental, or medical procedures or equipment, physiotherapy care and doctors fees, food and boarding costs (Republic of Kenya, 1999). Though the NHIF is meant to be a health insurance scheme after the amendment of the NHIF Act in 1998, it is still a hospital insurance scheme since it only pays for inpatient services only. Currently, NHIF pays more than half of a typical inpatient bill in private-for-profit sector in urban areas. Although benefit rates have been increased since the onset of the cost-sharing programme, the Funds reimbursement levels remain a small proportion of the total costs of care in many for-profit facilities The relevance of NHIF has been questioned in the light of access and affordability of healthcare for the poor, together with its coverage. It is for this reason that the Kenyan Government has proposed a scheme that is supposed to address fundamental concerns regarding equity, access, affordability and quality in the provision of health services in Kenya. National Social Health Insurance Fund The proposed mandatory social health insurance scheme, seeks to transform the NHIF into a National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF) to provide health insurance cover to both outpatients and inpatients. The main objective of the Fund is to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services to all its members irrespective of their age, economic or social status (Republic of Kenya, 2003b). It will be compulsory for every Kenyan and every permanent resident to become a member through enrolment and payment of a subscription either monthly or annually, or as may be deemed convenient to different socio-economic groups. Subscriptions for the poor will be paid for with funds from the government and other sources. The current cost sharing fees will be replaced by pre-paid contribution into the new scheme. Some of the services that the members will enjoy under the new outpatient cover include: general consultation with general practitioners; prescribed laboratory tests/investigations; drugs/medicines; prescribed X-rays and ultra sound diagnosis; treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); Treatment, dressing or diagnostic testing; family planning; ante-natal and post-natal care; clinical counseling services; health and wellness education (Ministry of Health, 2004a) Statement of the Problem Health insurance is an institutional and financial mechanism which is seen as one option of obtaining additional resources for the financing of health care without deterring the poor and the vulnerable group from seeking care when they need it. It has the potential of generating substantial funds for equitable health care. Governments funds so saved could then be diverted to the development and expansion of primary health care services and other infrastructure. It is a way of improving quality and access to health care as well as managing resources more efficiently. Health insurance helps households and private individuals to set aside financial resources to meet costs of medical care in event of illness. It is based on the principle of pooling funds and entrusting management of such funds to a third party (government, employer or insurance company or a provider) that pays for healthcare costs of members who contribute to the pool. Lack of health insurance promotes deferment in seeking care, non-compliance of the treatment regime and results in an overall poor health outcome (Hadley, 2002). Tropical diseases, especially malaria and tuberculosis have long been a public problem in Kenya. However, Beyond grappling with a persistent high burden of infectious disease, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, Kenya faces an emerging chronic diseases problem characterized by increasing rates of cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes.   Since the 1990s some of Kenyas early achievements in health have begun to reverse: Over the past two decades life expectancy has declined to 53 years, and mortality among children under the age of five has risen slightly. In Kenya, only about 10% of the population has some form of health insurance (KNBS, 2010; Republic of Kenya, 2009; Kinuthia, 2002). Coverage has remained the same since 2003. This implies that a huge segment of Kenyans are still not covered hence the burden of paying bills lies with themselves or through fund raising. In addition, most of the insurance firms are located in urban areas where a substantial number of population can afford as compared to rural areas. With the current debate on the introduction of National Social Health insurance, there is need to examine the factors which affect individuals decisions of enrolling in health insurance scheme. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence choice of health insurance among Kenyans. Specific Objectives To evaluate socio-economic factors influencing choice of health insurance in Kenya. To determine the role of information on the choice factors of health insurance in Kenya. To determine how location factor influences the choice of health insurance in Kenya. Make policy recommendations Chapter two LITERATURE REVIEW Theoretical framework The theory of demand for health insurance is based on expected utility theory of The standard economic theory of behavior under uncertainty is well known; risk  averse individuals will pay to avoid severe financial consequences of the unfortunate  state of the world. In some markets, that willingness to pay to avoid risk leads to the  existence of contingent contracts, or insurance markets. In the health insurance context,  the unfortunate state of the world can be described as the event of illness or fear of  illness serious enough to require an individual or family to pay the full cost of necessary  and efficacious medical care solely out of current income or wealth. Risk averse  individuals facing actuarially fair prices will fully insure, but with unavoidable loading  costs in the real world, individuals prefer incomplete insurance. The optimal degree of  coverage in the face of loading costs is increasing in the degree of risk aversion. Ones degree or intensity of risk aversion to not having health insurance can be  reasonably posited to depend upon wealth (W), because the potential financial loss from  catastrophic illness is increasing in wealth, although after a very high threshold level of  wealth is reached, risk aversion may decline again; education (ED), because more  educated people know the consequences of not having insurance, they know the  likelihood of appropriate health care being efficacious, and they also may have more  confidence that they can obtain efficacious care within any insurance and delivery  system; income (Y), because financial protection both of wealth and of current income or consumption streams is a normal good; family status (FS), since parents and  married partners may be more likely to seek coverage for family members whom they  care about and/or for whom they feel responsible; other access to insurance  (OTHER_ESI, ELIG), since the value placed on any particul ar insurance option may be  different if one is married to a worker whose employer offers coverage, or if some family  member(s) is(are) eligible for public insurance; health status (HS) of everyone in the  family; perceived risk (RISK) to health status, increasing in age and other sometimes  observable clinical factors which we summarize with _, so that RISK = RISK(age,_);  gender (SEX), since men and women have different health use profiles; and then,  contingent on a health shock that requires an intervention, ones aversion to the risk of  illness also depends upon expected expenditures (EX) and the variance of possible  expenditures (_EX). These expenditure functions depend upon the quantity (C) and  quality (q) of medical care that may be necessary (and efficacious) as well as the  expected price of each unit of that medical care (PC). Note, when it comes to risk  aversion and demand for health insurance, the expected value of necessary medical care  is not more important than the variance of that potential demand or need for medical care,  i.e., the upper bound of potentially required medical care affects demand. In other words,  the first two moments of the health services utilization and expenditure distribution  matter, a priori, to insurance demand. We find it useful to think about an individuals demand for health insurance  having two classes of arguments: those that reflect influences on the subjective value of  insurance coverage per se, and those that determine the net price to the consumer. From  the above, one may summarize the value of a particular package of health benefits, V(Bi),  ERIU Working Paper 3 6 as: V(Bi) = V(W, ED, Y, FS, OTHER_ESI, ELIG, HS, RISK, SEX, EX(C,q,PC), _EX). Let the price of health insurance (to the individual) be P*. Health insurance demand for a  particular package of benefits is then: HId = 0 if V(Bi) HId > 0 if V(Bi) _ P*. Thus we have the truism, people will be uninsured if the value to them of the insurance  benefit package they can buy is less than the price they have to pay. We also note the  obvious that those which value health insurance the most are likely to buy the most of it,  conditional on a given price. This concept of V(B) is similar to Pauly and Herrings  notion of reservation price for health insurance (Pauly and Herring, 2002, forthcoming),  and V(B) P* is similar to consumer surplus. An interesting feature of health insurance markets is that some of those with the  highest V(B) are also those most likely to make choices such as seeking jobs from  employers that offer health insurance that lead them to find the lowest prices of health  insurance (P*). Thus purchasers of insurance are likely to obtain substantial consumer  surplus. Other people with high demand say those who expect to be very sick are  unable to work. They often either qualify for public programs or end up facing very high  prices in the private non-group insurance market, and sometimes can find no one willing  to sell insurance to them at any actuarially fair price.3 Therefore, it is difficult to sustain  the interpretation that observed prices paid in health insurance markets reflect  equilibrium marginal subjective values of having health insurance.{my argument is that  3Pollitz K, R Sorian, and K Thomas, How Accessible is Individual Health Insurance for Consumers in  L ess-Than-Perfect Health? Report to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, June 2001.  buyers have CS, so nobodys marginal utility is revealed in these markets. I inserted a  new CS sentence above}. The arguments in our expressions of health insurance demand are useful for  general expressions of demand, but we also need to make clear that some eligible people  do not enroll in insurance even though the monetary cost is zero . This would not seem  possible from our characterization of health insurance demand. The important point is  that P* in our framework represents more than just monetary cost. P* includes time cost  and any disutility from an enrollment process that is perceived as burdensome or  embarrassing (e.g. some say a kind of stigma is associated with Medicaid since it was for  so long associated with people on cash assistance). We explain more in section 4 what is  known about the ways P* exceeds zero for various public insurance programs with zero  nominal fees. 2.2 Socially Empirical Literature Kirigia et al (2005), using data from the 1994 South African Health Inequalities Survey (SANHIS) examined the relationship between health insurance ownership and the demographic, economic and educational characteristics of South African women. Applying binary logistic regression technique, they found out that environmental rating, residence, smoking and marital status variables determined health insurance coverage. The 2002 Jamaican Survey of Living Conditions was used to model the determinants of private health insurance coverage. Bourne and Kerr-Campbell (2010), using logistic regression to estimate the determinants of health insurance coverage, found out that social standing, durable goods, income, marital status, area of residence, education, social support, crowding, psychological conditions, retirement benefits, living arrangements, the number of males in the household and good health determined health insurance coverage. Nketiah-Amponsah (2009) investigated the determinants of public health insurance among women aged 15-49 in Ghana using primary data collected in three districts in Ghana in 2008. Using the logit model the paper concludes that marital status, income, age, religion and access to television and newspapers are the most significant determinants of womens insurance coverage. In addition, health inputs like medical personnel and health infrastructure increase demand for health insurance and health care. Another study using primary data was conducted in Ghana by Sarpong et al (2010) to explore the association between socio-economic status and subscription to the Ghanaian National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Applying logistic regression, they concluded that economic well being and distance to the closest health facility were important determinants of National health insurance coverage. Gius (2010), using data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) estimated the logistic model for determinants of health insurance coverage for young adults. They posit that socioeconomic factors among them, age, sex, race, employment, area of residence, cost of insurance and beliefs held about health insurance are important in determining the health insurance coverage. In Malawi, Makoka et al (2007), based on a logistic regression found income and education as significant determinants of private health care where public health services are free. This study used primary data collected from Blantyre and Zomba cities in 2003. A working paper study by Bhat and Jain (2006) examined factors affecting the demand for health insurance in a micro health insurance scheme setting. Estimating Takeuchi et al (1998) estimating the logistic model for factors associated with health insurance coverage among Chinese Americans in Los Angeles county found out that marital status, length of stay in the United States, education, employment and household income were important factors determining health insurance coverage. Hopkins and Kidd (1992), utilizing data from the 1989-90 National Health Survey examined the socio-economic variables which influence the demand for health insurance under medicare in Australia using the binary logit model. They conclude that age, income, health status, material wellbeing and geographical location are important determinants of decision to purchase insurance. Owando (2006) carried out a study on factors influencing the demand for health insurance in Kenya. Using the probit model, they found out that age, self evaluated health status, marital status, income, level of educational attainment, household size, risk behavior and employment status were important determinants of health insurance ownership in Kenya. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY Theoretical Framework This study borrows heavily from the demand theory. Health Insurance is treated just like any other good. Hence, demand for health insurance should be affected by variables such as price of the commodity, price of related commodities, income, tastes and preferences among others. The demand equation for health insurance is modeled as follows: Model Specification The decision to buy health insurance will be formulated in two interrelated choices. First, the choice is related to the decision to buy or not the health insurance. Since the dependent variable takes two forms, will use binary logit model to study this choice. Theory and previous empirical work (Kirigia et al ,2005; Bourne and Kerr-Campbell, 2010) suggest that the probability that an individual owns a health insurance is conditional on several socio economic variables including age, education, area of residence, household size, occupation, marital status, health status among others. In this study, the relationship between the binary status variable and its determinants is specified as follows: Where are the following independent variables: age, sex, marital status, area of residence, level of education, proxy measures for economic welfare (land ownership availability of electricity, characteristics of dwelling place), knowledge (access to radio, television and newspaper), household size, occupation, health status (HIV and Tuberclosis), cigarette smoking. The second step, if the decision to buy insurance is positive is to focus attention to the types of health insurance, that is, community based health insurance, health insurance trough employer, social security and private health insurance. This can be handled by applying a polychotomous model, more in particular a multinomial logit model. This approach is justifiable because the categories refer to choices being made that are mutually exclusive. The regression model is expressed as follows: Data Sources and Variables The study will utilize survey methodology in which secondary data relating to the issue under investigation will be obtained from the 2008-09 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS). This is a nationally representative sample survey of 8,444 women aged between 18-44 years and 3465 men aged between 15 and 54 years of age selected from 400 sample points (clusters) throughout Kenya. Data collection was done from the month of November, 2008 and February, 2009. Dependent and Independent variable The dependent variable will be health insurance ownership. For purposes of coding the health insurance ownership outcome

The Water Droplets Journey :: Water Cycle Essays

Day 1 Once upon a time high above the earth, fluffy white clouds drifted through the atmosphere. In the clouds lived a family Droplet of water, round and content with life. For as long as I could remember, I spent my days lying on my back, relaxing and soaking up the sun's warm rays. One day, I took my usual place in the sun but the light didn't seem to be as bright. In fact, as the day went on, it grew darker and darker, loud claps of thunder shook the cloud, and the Droplet felt as if he were getting so heavy he could hardly move. This is called precipitation. Suddenly, I felt myself falling from the cloud. Down, down, down he fell, farther and father from home. At last I landed on the earth, in the dark green foliage of the rainforest. Around me as far as I could see were tall trees, dense green leaves, red mushrooms and multicolored insects of every shape and size. Strange creatures surrounded him, and the sounds and sights were like nothing I had ever seen or heard before. All I was sure of was that I wanted to go back home. But how? Day 2 It is now day 2 3:00 am and I am going to be out of the ocean at 12:00 pm. I have changed from an infant into a primary. I am having so much fun sailing across the ocean. It is now 12: am and I am 12hrs away from being on land. It is now 3:00 pm and I am tired of sailing but I have to keep pushing. I am having so much fun. It is now 5:00 pm and I?m rushing hoping I will get finish early I can see the land and I?m almost there. All I have to do is reach the land. I?m there finally all sweaty and wet. Day 3 I?m on the step to soaking in the ground and I?m draining in the ground. I?m waiting to get cleaned all of a sudden a worm comes and eat me. I guest the worm didn?t see me there so I bang on his yelling ?Hey you umm wormy can I get out of here pl-ease?

George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 :: Free Essays on 1984

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Totalitarianism is a word that has many definitions that are true to their own time and their own society. One of the most common definitions used world wide is very complex, but very understandable when you are done reading the book 1984 by George Orwell. Totalitarianism is a system of government and ideology in which all social, political, economic, intellectual, cultural and spiritual activities are subordinated to the purpose of the rules of the rulers of a state. Several important features distinguish totalitarianism, a form of autocracy peculiar to the 20th century, from suck order forms as despotism, absolutism, and tyranny. In the older forms of totalitarianism, people could work and live on their own as long as they didn’t try to enter the political state of the society in any way. In the newer forms of totalitarianism, the people of the society are dependent on other people that are higher then them in every thing they do in everyday life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Oceania, the world or society in the book 1984, the life of the state was very different from everything that we are used to in everyday life in this time. In Oceania the state life was all by a man that they called â€Å"Big Brother† that everyone worked for, lived for, and did all of their everyday things just to make him happy. The sate would say just what and when they could do. In the form of the society, the people really didn’t get to live in any true type of society. They weren’t a loud to talk to others about what was   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Knight 2 really on their minds, they couldn’t thing about the past or what is really the history, and they couldn’t have any kind of love life or sexual activity with anyone. In the form of daily life, the people had to go to work and do whatever the â€Å"Big Brother† said they had to do. In many instances they had to go around and change the newspapers so that the true history of the world wouldn’t be revealed to anyone but the top people of the society. No personal life was a loud to take place. The thought police had to know and did know everything that the people did or even thought of doing.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oceania compares to the totalitarian state of the 20th century very well.

Gang Violence Essay

No one attempts to see the factors such as poverty, homelessness, lack of opportunity are a major contributor to crime and the forming of delinquents in our community. Delinquency is defined as a failure to what law or duty requires. It is a behavior that is often times a result of poverty and inopportunity in youth’s life. Often time those who can obtain what they need through conventional means will use unconventional means such as crimes to obtain necessities due to having no job, no money, and lack of education. Gang members age from 13-18 years of age. However everyone knows a person who has lost a life due to gang violence or gang related activities. The biggest ethic groups involved in gangs are Latinos and Spanish. Although there trying to pass a law that states any gang related activity will serve from 2-3 years whether he or she is a minor or not. In my conclusion I came across that young men and women don’t wake up and decide to be this way, from the lack of love, care and attention at home, so they feel like an outcast and doesn’t have a positive role model to look up to and lean on in times of need. So when they join a gang they get the attention they being feeding for. â€Å"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear for failure.† –Bill Cosby There were 9% of females involved in gangs in year 2000 as of today there are 15% of females affiliated in gangs. Females are generally classified to four types of ways to join a gang. They can be violated or jumped in meaning a physical beating so she can prove her toughness, loyalty, and her commitment but women who choose to get sexed in a gang gets the least respect. Usually getting sexed in a gang is uncommon for females due to not having any respect and majority of the reason is to get respect from everyone. Children in a house hold that doesn’t have a male role model is mostly to be  a behavior child and if he or she isn’t getting enough attention they need it will cause them to find that attention in a gang or a group of people where they feel they will be cared for and loved. Most children join gangs because of peer pressure but majority is because of girls and money. For a little percent of children they become a part of a gang because of the things they don’t have and becoming a member of a gang it will be quick money but a lot of risk along with it. Usually they are only trying to help out there house hold but because of where there from they have no other choices, it’s almost like force. Gang related actives is most common in urban areas like Chicago they are the number 1 ranked in cities with the most gang violence, Detroit is not far behind it is ranked as number 5. Been said Gang Violence is an act from children who is crying out for attention and others who can’t help it because its where there from and is almost as if they have no choice. Due to low income homes and no jobs children go to the streets for help as a comfort zone.

Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough

Introduction:Take that part of the history, when the first interactions between the native Indians and the British settlers. Mostly, it began with the initial hesitation, mutual distrust, pitched battles ensued, lots of bloodshed resulted with loss of human lives on either side, the true and noble emotions of the human beings played their part, love episodes between the white man and black beauties happened. Did it help to smooth the relations between then tribes and the settlers, or worsened the situation resulting in more mistrust and bloodshed. Many constrains come in the path of writing the history of the sixteenth century and what really happened in Jamestown, in the absence of authentic historical records   as for the conditions and contributions of the native Indians. British historians have sidetracked many facts, according to Helen Rountree and she has tendered archeological evidences to prove her findings.The Lives Changed:Pocahontas is regarded as the most famous Native American who ever lived, hailed from the native tribes. But as documented by the historians, during the process of settlement of Jamestown and for two subsequent centuries, the great Tribal Chiefs, Powhatan and Opechancanough took the front seats. Pocahontas demanded lots of attention for different reasons. Opechancanough captured the British captain John Smith. To save his skin and perhaps his life from his unpredictable captor, John Smith came out with certain original ideas to impress his captors in that land of uncertainties for the early adventurous settlers.He gave his captor a compass, and told him the details about a spherical earth which revolved around the sun. He had apprehensions whether his captor was a cannibal in which case Smith’s life was in danger. That was a wrong assumption– he was no cannibal but he ‘knew’ that the earth was flat. John Smith was duly presented before the paramount chief Powhatan. The meeting had positive results as for John Smith. He got an opportunity to meet Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas. Thinking him to be a good individual and believing that he had a firm ally, he released Smith from captivity. Within the next few decades his people were the subjects of the British Crown.The 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding:Helen Rountree is a nationally renowned scholar of Native Americans. Historians could not get much of the events that shaped the lives of Powhatan or Opechancanough, but Rountree’s book fills up this lacuna.  Ã‚   Pocahontas steals the limelight as for the remarkable life that she lived. All the three historical figures have been adequately covered in the book. The initial introduction, the interaction period and the final confrontation between the natives with the English settlers have been taken into account. An interesting turn to the events of the era was the intriguing diplomacy following     the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. This personal event was against the social traditions then practiced by the tribal. During Opechancanough’s reign the native sovereignty came to an end.The essential difference between the writing and recordings of the British Historians and Helen Rountree:The book written from the ethno-historical angle, Rountree has utilized two important tools required for honestly constructing historical facts—anthropology and written records. The writers among the white settles did their own job. Their writings remained unchallenged, whether right or wrong, because there was not another writer, who could tell facts. By no account English can be termed as heroes. They were Tassantassas (strangers), squatters and invaders. The truth must be told, feels Rountree and she has constructed her recordings in an authentic manner on the basis of facts and evidences.When romance scores over history:History is an interesting subject; history with romance is very interesting. Historical fiction novels are good playing ground for the imaginative movies to sprout. For one thing, the historical characters lay quietly in their graves and they are not likely to challenge your version of their romance. John Smith, known in his day as a bad boy, would not have done anything good for the fifteen years young Princess Pocahonas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan. Did she play a role to save John Smith’s who was imprisoned by the Tribal Chief—can’t say but her contribution to lessen the tension between the colonists and the natives was noticeable and mentioned prominently by the historians. She married Jon Rolfe, a British nobleman. She learned to speak English. She adopted the Christian religion.She moved to London and became a lady. In the meantime, Powhatan tried and did his best for unity between the natives and colonists. He seemed to have succeeded for a while but later the conflicts resumed.The systematic and scientific approach to writing by Helen Rountree:Rountree wri tes without any prejudice, and calls spade a spade. She has termed the British settlers as invaders and rightly so. The book intensely covers the period from 1607 to 1644.She has highlighted three important points, a) Virginia Company’s settlement in Jamestown, b) deterioration of relations between colonists and natives and c) the wars of 1622 and 1644. She has given detailed description about the pre-invasion life of the tribes, highlighting the importance of  Ã‚   rituals in their life. She has mentioned the different lifestyles and environments, and shown how values were entirely different. The contents of the book give the overall picture of the founding of Jamestown from the Indian point of view.â€Å"Jamestown's founding approaches, nationally renowned scholar of Native Americans, Helen Rountree, provides in a single book the definitive biographies of these three important figures. In their lives we see the whole arc of Indian experience with the English settlers â⠂¬â€ from the wary initial encounters presided over by Powhatan, to the uneasy diplomacy characterized by the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, to the warfare and eventual loss of native sovereignty that came during Opechancanough's reign.† (Three†¦.)  Rountree, with her scholarly approach gives facts about seventeenth-century Powhatan culture. It is being appreciated by the scholars for the wealth of understanding it brings.   The lay readers like it for the personable prose and lively narrative structure. Her interpretations are backed up by careful, acceptable research-based reasoning and extensive knowledge.To get the truth, sieving the biased and none-sided approach of the British historians is a tough task and Rountree has managed her job well, despite hard constrains. Powhatan lacked a written language. She has relied upon evidence derived from archaeology. She has highlighted Powhatan’s own vocabulary of seasons linked to different forms of food g etting. One feels of getting the other side of the story—the real story! â€Å"In particular, the three main subjects of the book all begin to emerge—Powhatan and Openchancanough from their relative obscurity, and Pocahontas from the myths that have surrounded her since at least the nineteenth century. Just in time for 2007, they appear with all of the complexity of character and motivation that the history books have typically reserved for only a few of the â€Å"strangers† like John Smith.† (Virginia†¦.)Hollywood portrayals:â€Å"When Disney Studios released the 1995 movie, Pocahontas, Dr. Rountree subsequently devoted many interviews to debunking the myths surrounding the young girl who, today, plays such a pivotal role in the American imagination.† Recently Hollywood movie â€Å"The New World† is released. This movie is an adult version of the Pocahontas and John Smith romance.  Ã‚   The four hundredth anniversary of Jamestownâ₠¬â„¢s founding was inaugurated, May 2006, that will last for 18 months.Conclusion:Helen Rountree’s credits and achievements through this book can be summed up thus. She has thrown fresh light on the life and culture of the native Indians. One is able to understand Jamestown in a better perspective. The indigenous voices are heard. She has shown how important are the lives of Pocahonas, Powhatan and Openchancanough to understand what happened in and to Jamestown in the sixteenth century.References Cited:Rountree, Helan C. Book: Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown. Publisher: University of Virginia Press; Edition (June 15, 2006) ISBN-10: 0813925967: ISBN-13: 978-0813925967Article: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown. Target.comwww.target.com/gp/product/0813925967) Retrieved on 17th September 2007.Virginia Magazine of History and Biography: Article: Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown...www.vahistorical. org/publications/review_rountree.htm – 9k – Retrieved on 17th September 17, 2007