Indigenous knowledge Essay Example for Free

Indigenous knowledge Essay The project is the instrument for supporting, collecting and storing indigenous knowledge provided by the diverse community population. As long as the project is aimed at creating neighbourhood portals to store oral, pictorial and other creations of community members (Vancouver Community Network, 2001), the use of this tool will lead to effective sharing and transferring the indigenous knowledge among different community members. Funding issues Funding remains one of the most problematic areas in any non-profit community-based project. (Baum, HS 2001, p. 21) As a result, the current project does not provide the readers with sufficient financial information. It is understandable, that Vancouver Community Network is a stable developing organisation with financial issues professionally addressed (brief information is provided on the system of organization’s revenues, membership fees and similar financial data). (Vancouver Community Network, 2001) It is yet unclear, what the exact resources of project financing would be and how they would comply with the community project requirements. Organizational challenges and dilemmas The major challenge faced by project organisers is in dealing with diverse community populations. Diversity has traditionally been admitted as a serious barrier to the development of technological tools. (Vancouver Community Network, 2001) Though project initiators recognise diversity as one of the organizational issues, there is still vast area of research to be conducted, whether the project will lead to equal access and outcomes for all layers of community population. Traditional and non-traditional project approaches The traditional striving towards provision of the vulnerable communities with the opportunities to learn and interact has been supplemented by the new idea of using Internet to enhance community resources. (Vancouver Community Network, 2001) It has become an essential aspect of the project development. This is why the project is expected to be successful in promoting community interactions, indigenous knowledge transfers, discussions of the local issues and learning opportunities on the equity bases. Conclusion. Despite the fact that the project contains several ‘weak’ aspects to be re-considered, its initial idea will prove to be a success in case the discussed problematic areas are properly addressed. Otherwise, the existing social issues and related problems may become a serious organisational obstacle on the way of project development and implementation. Bibliography Atherton, JS 2005, Learning and teaching: Reflection and reflective practices. Retrieved September 30, 2007 from http://www. learningandteaching. info/learning/reflecti. htm Baum, HS 2001, ‘How should we evaluate community initiatives?’, Journal of the American Planning Association, vol. 67, pp. 19-22 Day, P Schuler, D 2004, Community practice in the network society: Local action, global interaction, Routledge, London. Messinger, L 2004, ‘Comprehensive community initiatives’, Social Work, vol. 94, pp. 39-41 Vancouver Community Network 2001, Vancouver Community Learning Network. Retrieved September 30, 2007 from http://www2. vcn. bc. ca/ Wack, P 2006, ‘Planning for sustainability: Creating livable, equitable, and ecological communities’, Journal of the American Planning Association, vol. 72, pp. 123-131 \.

Barriers Faced By Pakistani SMEs in Raising Bank Finance :: Business, Banks

1. Introduction The SMEs globally, are recognized as engines of economic growth and play a pivotal role in boosting the economy. The importance of the SMEs sector is well recognized and its Contribution is relevant in achieving several socio-economic objectives, such as employment generation, contribution to national output and exports, and fostering new entrepreneurship. SMEs contribute in economic growth of both developed and developing countries, as they: Provide low cost employment since the unit cost of persons employed is lower for SMEs than for large-size units (Sadaquat and Sheikh, 2010). The SMEs sector’s growth of output trend to decrease in recent years since liberalization and adjustment policies (Bari and Haque, 2008). So, it is important to specially address the policy issues regarding lending toward the SME sector. This sector is facing severe problem in financing, regulatory aspects, access to non-financial inputs. Some recent trend shows that Government policies have discriminated against small-scale enterprises (Raza and Murad, 2010). There is nothing wrong with a situation in which inexperienced entrepreneurs are unable to get institutional credit. In the same study he shows that, the relative decline of small-scale enterprises in most developing countries has been accelerated by the industrialization policies adopted in these countries (Bari and Haque, 2008). Protection, regulatory constraint, investment incentives, credit control, and the promotion of industry in the public sector have all discriminated against the small. Especially, facilities reg arding small groups like female were poor and create adverse impact on the growth of SMEs (Sadaquat and Sheikh, 2010). The common idea that the cost of capital is very high for small enterprises is overly simple (Basu, 1998). A research of World Bank suggests the existence of financial constraint because formal banks do not lend to the smallest firms in most countries. It has also severe impact on the smallest firms. Access to equity and formal debt financing has repeatedly been identified as a recurring constraint to SME growth and development. Commercial banks apply conservative policies in lending to SME. More, importantly the existing structure of financial sector was developed to serve medium to large enterprises which are organized as a formal business (Kon and Storey, 2003). Most banks prefer to hold risk free-income generating assets and lending to SME is unattractive due to a range of objective and subjective factors. These include high transaction costs, inability to do away with tangible collateral requirement, no linkage of financial products with sector needs and the inability to structure/ offer and manage risk-prone SME specific medium to long term financing options.

Global Thematic: Technology Essay

History has seen its fair share of technological innovations that were significant and impactful to the people and society of that time period. These advancements in technology brought about monumental changes, for good and for worse. An example of a noteworthy innovation was Johann Gutenberg’s printing press. During the Renaissance, the printing press played a key role in the spreading of new ideas. The use of roads was a technological innovation as well. During the reign of the Roman Empire, roads impacted humankind in multiple aspects of life, such as trade and transportation. After the study of the printing press during the Renaissance, and roads of the Roman Empire, one could make an argument that each was a significant technological innovation and had effects on their respective time periods. The printing press, invented by Johannes Guttenberg, was a technological advancement that had effects on humankind throughout history. Specifically, during the Renaissance, the printing press was impactful on society through the spreading of ideas. The Renaissance, literally â€Å"rebirth,† was a time period in which Europe flourished culturally and economically. In this golden age, philosophers, writers, and other thinkers expressed ideas that were revolutionary to society. Humanism and individualism were big parts of Renaissance thinking. A positive effect of the printing press, these ideas were spread to the public. Martin Luther expressed revolutionary ideas in his 95 Theses, thanks to the printing press. Furthermore, books became plentiful. The printing press catalyzed literacy, since works of literature were no longer a scarcity. Knowledge exploded as every corner of realms of thinking were explored and documented. The printing press, without a doubt, was an innovation of technology that impacted humankind during the Renaissance. An additional advancement in technology was the use of roads. The Roman Empire, a vast kingdom of lands including Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, all located around the Mediterranean, was connected through a network of roads. Covering thousands of miles, dirt trails wouldn’t work. The Romans engineered road by laying down large sheets of rock or bricks,  fitting them together like puzzle pieces to form a flat surface for trade and transportation. Wheel ruts wouldn’t be present, so travel was possible all year round no matter the weather. During a time period under Augustus Caesar known as Pax Romana, the Romans experienced 200 years of peace, in which trade flourished, cultural aspects of Rome thrived. The entire Mediterranean region was united and stable, thanks to an unwavering road system. A strong central government was able to protect its people and spread its ways to lands far from the center. The Twelve Tables were able to influence people from Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia, all because of perfectly engineered roads. A prosperous Roman Empire was able to provide a high standard of living to its people through booming trade, security provided by Roman legions, and a uniform law code. Roads in the Roman Empire were most certainly a crucial technological advancement to its time period. Technological innovations have marked their spots in history, two being the printing press and roads. Humankind and society alike have been impacted by these advancements. The printing press was a driving force in the Renaissance, spreading ideas. Renaissance thinking such as humanism and individualism were spread, and literacy boomed. Roads were also a huge technological innovation. In the Roman Empire, roads were the network connecting the empire, making Pax Romana possible. Roman culture spread, and economies boomed. Following the study of the printing press and roads, and their effects on their respective time periods, one could verify the fact that technological advancements have had effects on humankind and society.

Assessing Books in Line with the Greenaway Medal Criteria Essay

The Kate Greenaway Medal is one of the most prestigious awards given in the UK. It is awarded annually for distinguished illustration in children’s books. Awarded along with the Carnegie Award (given for distinguished writing in children’s books), the Greenaway Medal is given by the Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP). For more than half a century now, the Greenaway Medal has been regarded as one of the most aspired recognitions by illustrators. Since it was first awarded in the year 1956, hundreds of prominent British book artists like Lauren Child, Anthony Browne, Shirley Hughes, and John Burningham have already received the award. The criteria Books which are nominated for CILIP’s Kate Greenaway medal must be of exceptional artistic quality. Focusing on the visual experience, the illustrated book must be stimulating and engaging. Although the graphic elements are prioritized, the texts must be properly coordinated with the images. Among the most important factors which must be assessed are the creative style, format, harmonization between illustration and text, and the visual experience. â€Å"The Baby Who Wouldn’t Go to Bed† by Helen Cooper The book tackles the story of a boy who simply refuses to go to sleep. When his mother calls for Bedtime, the boy drives away in his car and travel on to the night in search for a companion for his night quest. However, he constantly fails at his attempts to find the perfect comrade in the magical world full of characters from his toys. In the end, he realizes that nighttime is truly bedtime. He is then reunited with his mother, who like also cannot sleep as she was in search for him. To start with, the medium used for the book â€Å"The baby who wouldn’t go to bed† is quite suitable for its purpose. The visual images were not just appropriate – but rather very crucial to promote a general idea of the story. Although the concept presented in the book can also be delivered successfully through audio-visual mediums, the printed one is also equally fitting. Readers cannot help but notice that the visual images presented in the book follows the central theme that the story diverges on – a dreamy night. The images on the book well deliver the story from the sun setting to an overwhelming darkness all on its own as the readers go over the story page by page. As the story progresses, the shades and colors go darker and more looming with every page. Basically, the style of presentation of the texts and images vary. Some texts are matched with images much like groups of idea clumped together to present a segment of the story. In this style, the texts and images complement each other much like a painting with a written description. In other pages, the texts are separated from the visual images, thereby promoting the idea that the images only serve as a supplementary backdrop of the story. In some cases, the texts act as mere subtitles or captions for the graphics. Consistent throughout the whole book however is the dreamy style of illustration that is distinctively unique. Focusing on the typography, readers will find the book a pleasant read as its texts come in bold roman prints offered in the right sizes fit for kid’s reading. To a certain extent, the texts which are sparingly arranged in no more than five lines a paragraph heightens the reading appeal of the book. The spacing of the fonts and lines also makes each page pleasing to the eye. The lay-out of the book varies from page to page and that lack of a uniform presentation style adds up to the surprise element of the story. The texts do not appear intrusive. However, there are some pages where the texts are not placed in successive orders. This lack of order prompts a reader to ignore some texts so as to focus more on the highly important texts. A particular example is on page eight, where texts â€Å"The little car went slower†¦ and slower†¦ and slower† will probably be ignored as the more integral content (â€Å"The musicians played such a sweet tune†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) attracts the reader’s whole attention. (Cooper) Among the most notable characteristics of the book was the fact that the images and the texts were complementing with each other. Both were much needed for the presentation of the story and both of which enhanced the effect of one towards the full comprehension of the story. Another positive aspect of the book is the fact that the illustration were all very clear as to what message that they wanted to deliver – it even seems that the pictures/ graphics alone can tell the story without the texts. In general, this book gives young ones (twelve months to six years) a good reading experience as it combines reality with imagination by merging a typical night time scenario with a magical and dreamy presentation. It plays out a pre-existing experience into a dreamy adventure that is packed with much imagination left to be unveiled by the reader. It serves well as a nighttime book that’s meant to be read just before naptime – and its whole significantly proves that it is in line with that theme. â€Å"Jethro Byrd Fairy Child† by Bob Graham The book â€Å"Jethro Byrd fairy Child† explores an age-old theme – the need to enjoy the small wonders of life and keep oneself imaginative despite an adult’s tendency to formulate a very preoccupied life as he welcomes maturity. In the book, Annabelle spends most of her time trying to find fairies. Fortunately, she discovers that they are really true as she meets the fairy child by the name of Jethro Byrd in her own backyard. She also meets the rest of the Byrd family and invites them for tea. Unfortunately, her parents cannot see the fairies and Annabelle wonders what would happen if she would just go with the fairies and leave her family behind. Just like any good fairytale book that is jam-packed with lots of creative juices, this book is an appropriate medium for the story. A book that’s full of illustrations is probably the best way of delivering a story with a fairy plot like this. However, although the theme and the plot of the story are both cliches, the illustrations are not. The graphics and the artist’s style are very distinguishing as it almost focuses only on a single setting – a backyard in a suburban area. Although the whole story seems is full of magical elements, what’s good about the illustrations is that they tone down the imaginations. The graphic images do not offer the same magical bluff that most fairy stories deliver. Instead, they create a more casual and simple theme that allows the readers to dwell on a balanced storytelling style – one wherein both the texts and the images are telling the story. In addition to that, the quality of the washed-out illustrations was consistently appealing all throughout the book. The simple style works well with the theme which is also straightforward and easy to follow. As for the typography, the book also rated well. The typeface and size were fit for the reading requirements of young ones four to seven years old. Another good thing about the book is that there was no uniform style of placing the texts. The texts were placed on the top, bottom, left, or right side of the page, depending on the demands of the graphical elements for every page. Such made the layout more appealing. Moreover, since the texts were properly placed, they did not appear intrusive in each page despite the fact that they were a bit too many lines for every page. Instead, the texts took on a very integral role to fully comprehend the flow of the story. Unlike other books with illustrations however, this one would probably fail to tell the story based on the graphical elements alone. Fortunately, the need for texts was met fully in a creatively appealing manner. The illustrations and the texts were also very much in synch. The artist made use of recurring visual images – the fence and the backyard setting – to normalize the magical theme and keep the readers abreast with the values and the theme that the story wanted to portray and develop. To set the normal setting of the story, the illustrations on the covers and title page of the book were used as an introductory element showing a casual metropolitan/suburban scenario. Unlike other graphical books which appear as picture mosaics, this one is more organized and fit for a child. The book’s use of images is not merely for decorative purposes. Rather, the images harmonize one’s imagination and reality. It merges the idea of fairy existence to normal day-to-day experiences, therefore engaging more young readers. With these illustrations, young readers cannot help but think of their own backyard and their own probable adventures with the fairies that they might find. Overall, the visual experience that this book offers is simple but overwhelmingly clear and engaging. The story which revolved around a simple plot with a spice of magical elements requires just these plain illustrative elements. As the illustrations normalize Annabelle’s adventure, the book becomes more engaging and pleasing to read. The colors used and the water-color style of the graphics also gave the book a very heartwarming appeal. Conclusions The two books fit the criteria of the Kate Greenaway Medal on the following grounds: the artistic style portrayed in the books were unique and distinctive; the illustrations were in sync with texts; the illustrations were clear; the illustrations did not appear like picture upholsteries, rather, they increased one’s understanding of the story. In general, the visual experiences offered by the books were engaging, enhancing the book’s ability to attract and retain the young reader’s interest in literary works. WORKS CITED: Helen Cooper. â€Å"The Baby who wouldn’t Go to Bed. † Toronto, ON: Doubleday Canada, 1996. Bob Graham. â€Å"Jethro Byrd Fairy Child. † Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2005, c2002

Free Essays on The Handmaids Tale Review

from Genesis 30:1-3. And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. (Genesis 30:1-3) These three verses are the basis for the Republic of Gilead – once the United States. The Handmaids have no rights, no powers and no freedoms, and every movement they make is controlled by the government and all laws are justified by the Bible. The story of the Handmaids is made becomes a more personal experience because it is told in the first person by a woman we come to know as Offred. The Handmaid’s Tale creates a society that seems unimaginable, a society of oppression and fear, where society is a prison. It is a future that seems unimaginable by contemporary standards. The Handmaid's Tale poses many philosophical questions in regard to romantic and forbidden relationships and/ or friendships. The book itself is frightening and powerful. Against everything, Offred is determined to survive in this world, aided only be her memories of the past and her will to live again in that world again. The Handmaids support each other throughout their ordeals; they speak secretly to each other, sharing bits of news from outside Gilead. However, this is illegal. Only men are allowed the privilege of conversation in public. The setting in the book is strange and horrifyi... Free Essays on The Handmaid's Tale Review Free Essays on The Handmaid's Tale Review Written in 1986 by Margaret Atwood, the novel The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story of a near-future dystopia in which the United States no longer exists. A religious faction forces all fertile women to become handmaids. These once independent women must now live by Old Testament values and live a life of bearing children based on the words from Genesis 30:1-3. And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. (Genesis 30:1-3) These three verses are the basis for the Republic of Gilead – once the United States. The Handmaids have no rights, no powers and no freedoms, and every movement they make is controlled by the government and all laws are justified by the Bible. The story of the Handmaids is made becomes a more personal experience because it is told in the first person by a woman we come to know as Offred. The Handmaid’s Tale creates a society that seems unimaginable, a society of oppression and fear, where society is a prison. It is a future that seems unimaginable by contemporary standards. The Handmaid's Tale poses many philosophical questions in regard to romantic and forbidden relationships and/ or friendships. The book itself is frightening and powerful. Against everything, Offred is determined to survive in this world, aided only be her memories of the past and her will to live again in that world again. The Handmaids support each other throughout their ordeals; they speak secretly to each other, sharing bits of news from outside Gilead. However, this is illegal. Only men are allowed the privilege of conversation in public. The setting in the book is strange and horrifyi...

Government Intervention at Boeing and Airbus Case Study

Government Intervention at Boeing and Airbus - Case Study Example Globalization led to the cross-border free flow of capital, labor, information and other resources. Countries began to realize that the only way to reap the fruits of comparative advantage was to compete internationally. FDIs and generation of government revenues were common results of international business in technology intensive areas (page 33) (Cavusgil, Knight, & Reisenberger, 2012) and, thus, the collaboration of various European governments in this respect can be attributed to this reasoning. The major reason behind Boeing’s complains is that the provision of subsidies by the EU government to its competitor Airbus is preventing both the companies to compete on equal footing. It is seen as an unfair trade practice by the U.S, although, the case reflects that the country itself is offering protection to its airline Boeing, albeit, in a different way. Thus, although the U.S government is not providing outright subsidies to Boeing, it is still protecting its business by bes towing it with military contracts. The key elements highlighted in the case are those of intervention through provision of subsidies, development of infrastructure, tax rebates and strategic national contracts. Part of the explanation underlying government support for Airbus is grounded in the democratic socialism political system of the EU. As learnt in the text, this form of system called social democracy is characterized by government intervention in private enterprises and in business activities.... To this extent, as pointed out in the case study, the governments of various EU countries including the French, German, Spanish and British governments have embarked on a mission to enhance the international competitiveness of its national airline, Airbus, through the provision of subsidies primarily. A major implication of globalization has been that in the midst of cut-throat competition, companies often find themselves competing on costs. The text also supports the fact that the costs of doing business are relatively higher in the EU which is largely because of high corporate taxes (page 178) (Cavusgil, Knight, & Reisenberger, 2012). This is a major reason behind the government rationale to support Airbus financially. To this extent that the cost of capital in EU is higher than that in U.S, the government’s intervention in Airbus’s operations is justified. The defensive rationale of government intervention manifests itself along these lines of thinking by claiming th at protection of the national economy is a major factor behind government intervention (page 204) (Cavusgil, Knight, & Reisenberger, 2012). The offensive rationale is also applicable here, since one of the major reasons for government intervention in the case of Airbus was to protect the infant industry that could not compete effectively with the two giants (Mac Douglas and Boeing) and the creation of tax revenues. Also one of the fundamental justifications for the same was the generation of jobs and employment opportunities that were created once Airbus had its operations all over Europe (Cavusgil, Knight, & Reisenberger, 2012). Furthermore, this move of European governments to support Airbus and make it

Bill Cosby legal allegations and laws that apply to and affect this Term Paper

Bill Cosby legal allegations and laws that apply to and affect this situation - Term Paper Example Several women have accused Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting them by use of drugs. The list has grown to13 plaintiffs with the latest being the two plaintiffs interviewed in Philadelphia and People magazines. The women that have claimed to be sexually assaulted by Cosby have grown to be more than 20 in number. The right to privacy holds that no person should experience not logical interference in his life. This right protects one’s privacy, correspondence, home, reputation, and honor. The law, therefore, should ensure the protection against such attacks or interferences. Bill Cosby has made efforts to see that his right to privacy is protected (Noorani 802). Bill Cosby has used his right of expression to protect his privacy in the cases of sexual assault. He has used this right to react to the accusers’ allegations by showing that they are liars. Bill Cosby’s act has aimed to gain and control the sympathy of the public and judicial process. He has painted the accusers as individuals who have hidden agendas of defaming him. This is by spoiling his reputation and honor that he has worked for long to gain. His act of doing this in the media is a technique that he uses to amplify his voice (Scocca). Bill Cosby has also used his right of self-defense to protect his privacy in the sexual assault accusation cases. For example, his lawyers’ call for dismissal of the defamation cases filed by the three women is an act of privacy protection. The lawyers argue the Cosby branding the women liars does not meet the defamation threshold. Bill’s statements were of self-defense, which is a privilege that should be provided to all the accused. In contrary, it is in Cosby’s rights to make self- defense utterances. According to his lawyers, the defamation claim on the act of self-defense will be a set of double standards. Hobson’s Choice supports the right of publicly denying the