Saturday, May 23, 2020

Whale Species That Migrate and the Distance Traveled

Whales may migrate thousands of miles between breeding and feeding grounds. In this article, you can learn about how whales migrate and the longest distance a whale has migrated. About Migration Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one place to another. Many species of whales migrate from feeding grounds to breeding grounds - some traveling long distances that may amount to thousands of miles. Some whales migrate latitudinally (north-south), some move between onshore and offshore areas, and some do both. Where Whales Migrate There are over 80 species of whales, and each has their own movement patterns, many of which are not yet fully understood. In general, whales migrate toward the colder poles in the summer and toward the more tropical waters of the equator in the winter. This pattern allows whales to take advantage of the productive feeding grounds in colder waters in the summer, and then when productivity lowers, to migrate to warmer waters and give birth to calves.   Do All Whales Migrate? All whales in a population may not migrate. For example, juvenile humpback whales may not travel as far as adults, since they are not mature enough to reproduce. They often stay in cooler waters and exploit the prey that occurs there during the winter. Some whale species with fairly well-known migration patterns include: Gray whales, which migrate between Alaska and Russia and Baja CaliforniaNorth Atlantic right whales, which appear to move between cold waters off the Northeastern US and Canada to waters off South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.Humpback whales, which move between northern feeding grounds and southern breeding grounds.  Blue whales. In the Pacific, blue whales migrate from California to Mexico and Costa Rica. What Is the Longest Whale Migration? Gray whales are thought to have the longest migrations of any marine mammal, traveling 10,000-12,000 miles round trip between their breeding grounds off Baja California to their feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas off Alaska and Russia. A gray whale reported in 2015 broke all marine mammal migration records - she traveled from Russia to Mexico and back again. this was a distance of  13,988 miles in 172 days. Humpback whales also migrate far - one humpback was sighted off the Antarctic Peninsula in April 1986 and then resighted off Colombia in August 1986, which means it traveled over 5,100 miles. Whales are a wide-ranging species, and not all migrate as close to shore as gray whales and humpbacks. So the migration routes and distances of many whale species (the fin whale, for example) are still relatively unknown. Sources Clapham, Phil. 1999. ASK Archive: Whale Migrations (Online). Note: Accessed online October 5, 2009. As of October 17, 2011, link no longer active.Geggel, L. 2015. Gray Whale Breaks Mammal Migration Record. LiveScience. Accessed June 30, 2015.Journey North. 2009. Gray Whale Migration (Online). Accessed October 5, 2009.Mead, J.G. and J.P. Gold. 2002. Whales and Dolphins in Question. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington and London.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Fairfax Media Australia’s Largest Media Companies Essay

Fairfax Media Executive Summary: Fairfax media, originally John Fairfax and Sons, was founded by John Fairfax in 1941 and for over 170 years has grown to become one of Australia’s largest media companies. The company’s operations include the distribution of newspapers, magazines, radio as well as operating digital media throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some notable figures from Fairfax Media’s current Board of Directors include company chairman Roger Corbett, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Greg Hywood and Chief Financial Officer, David Housego. This report provides a situational analysis regarding the current stage the business’s lifecycle and the internal and external influences on the business. This is followed by an†¦show more content†¦Over the past year, Fairfax Media has focused on removing unprofitable distribution channels, reduced discounting and also increasing cover pricing. This has led to a 5% increase in the metropolitan media revenue circulation . Long Term: As a key objective of the â€Å"Fairfax of the Future† program, the company is attempting to reduce its debt in order to strengthen its balance sheet. To achieve this, Fairfax Media has sold 59.4 million â€Å"Trade Me shares to reduce its interest from 66% to 51%.as well agricultural businesses based in the United States. This has enabled Fairfax Media to reduce its debt by $760 million. In 2011, Fairfax had begun procedures to effectively minimise its carbon emission, and in 2020, hopes to have reduced it by 20-25%. This is being achieved through a number of activities such as the removal of high-energy lighting to low energy alternatives at 10 of its regional printing sites, the consolidation of large-scale printing assets and moving to smaller, more energy efficient sites which will also reduce the company’s carbon emissions and the review of property assets and office accommodation to achieve effective utilisation of floor space which will also reduce e nergy requirements. As proposed in the â€Å"Fairfax of the Future† program, they will be closing Chullora and Tullamarine printing facilities in order to achieve annual cost savings of $44 million. Key financial indicators The analysis of a business’sShow MoreRelatedAustralian Financial Review And Australian Newspapers1046 Words   |  5 PagesCountry Analysis CMST 102 Jiasui Huang 6/9/15 Australia’s newspaper In Australia, there are two national and ten state or territory daily newspapers, 35 regional dailies and 470 other regional newspapers. Most of the newspapers are owned by News Limited, a subsidiary of News Corporation, or Fairfax Media. The two national daily newspapers are The Australian Financial Review and The Australian. Other famous newspapers are The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Age, and etc. The firstRead MoreThe Rise Of Networked Power1927 Words   |  8 Pagessociety can be understood to be driven by communicative power. The shift in instructive to ‘interactive communication’, creates new social and political communities and consequently requires new and dependable regulation. With the convergence of varying media platforms there has been a consequent erosion of technical boundaries, allowing power issues to arise such as how to regulate and to what extent. Governments often regulate to prevent freedom of speech being abused and regulation occurs through theRead MoreA Report On Woolworths Limited892 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Woolworths Limited  is a big Australian company with vast retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the second largest company in Australia by earnings and the second largest in New Zealand. furthermore, Woolworths Limited is the biggest takeaway liquor retailer in Australia and  the largest retailer in the world dated in 2008. Zerella is one of Woolworths suppliers which has been renowned as Australia’s leading producers in potatoes, onions and pumpkins. It has beenRead MoreWhat ´s Watchdog Journalism?2557 Words   |  10 Pagessuch as abuses of power and corruption to the public eye. However, with the large turnkey costs involved with opening a media company (whether is be radio, tv or print) and the relatively low profit margin it is not the most realistic idea for news outlets. Due to the many large media outlets reducing the numbers of journalists dramatically, and an increased monopolization of the media market (particularly in Australia), it is likely that watchdog journalism will continue to decrease. While watchdogRead MoreThe Media And The Global Media1859 Words   |  8 Pagesand climate of media ownership within the international realm and has greatly influenced the technological change, influence of deregulation and increase and appeal for media ownership. All three factors contribu ting greatly towards the collaboration of communication and media and the current media oligopoly. In answering the question , I agree with the statement suggesting that the world is clearly best understood as a global system controlled by an oligopoly of largely western media corporationsRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Vodafone s Service1244 Words   |  5 PagesBUISNESS ANALYSIS VODAFONE TELECOMM SERVICE IN AUSTRALIA Brief History: A global juggernaut Multinational Telecommunication company Vodafone headquartered in London, UK is the world s 2nd-largest mobile telecommunications company. Vodafone operates networks in 21 countries and has partner networks in over 40 additional countries with over 430 mil customers worldwide. This company has come a long way when it started on 1 January 1985 with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa andRead MoreBlackmores Company Analyses3608 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿ 7001MKT Corporate Communications Semester 1 2014 Assessment 1: Company Analysis Blackmores Company Analysis Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 1.1 Introduction to Blackmores 4 1.2 Industry Activities 4 1.3 Blackmores Organisational Structure 5 1.4 Media Presence 5 1.5 Stakeholder theory 6 1.6 Blackmores Stakeholders 7 1.7 Corporate Identity Theory 8 1.8 Blackmores CorporateRead MoreAnalyzing And Exploring The Global City2530 Words   |  11 PagesThus, what impact does immigration have on these two cities? In 2011, Australia’s population was 26% migrants compared to America’s, which was only 13% (4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 2014). Migration is essential to Australia’s population; in 2011, over 5 million migrants resided in Australia. Immigrants from England (over 1 million) and New Zealand (almost half a million) dominate Australia’s migrant community. Australia’s migrant population also includes large numbers of Chinese, Indian, ItalianRead MoreVirgin Australia Airline: Management Report4253 Words   |  18 Pagesexternal environment followed by its impacts to the organization as well as how management functions could help overcome the external environment for the organization to compete properly in the domestic airline market. Virgin Australia is Australia’s second largest domestic airline, commenced in operations back in 2000 as a low-cost carrier (LCC) and has successfully survived in the market. Major shareholders include Air New Zealand, Singapore Airline and Etihad Airways. The airline rebranded in 2011Read MoreBunnings Market Analysis4072 Words   |  17 PagesExecutive summary The purpose of this report is to analyse the Australia’s leading hardware store Bunnings in terms of their marketing strategies. The research methodology is based on qualitative research based on secondary sources of information (PESTEL). This helps analyse the marketing strategy and tricks in the Bunnings .The research is based on credible and academic sources which help understand how marketing strategies and tricks benefit Bunnings to obtain economies of scale, Identify market

Monday, May 11, 2020

Race and Affirmative Action Essay - 2807 Words

Race and Affirmative Action Race is an issue that is embedded in the nation’s history and continues to spur discussions on how the different minorities and ethnic groups must be treated fairly. Affirmative action is a recent attempt to solve the discriminations produced by racial inequality. However, affirmative action is also being scrutinized as scholars and the public debate the benefits and harms of affirmative action. A Historical View Throughout the past 30 years, affirmative action has been the answer to racial inequality. The policy began in 1965 under President Johnson. It was used to redress issues of discrimination, following the civil rights laws and constitutional guarantees on†¦show more content†¦However, by the late 1970s flaws surfaced in the affirmative action policy. Reverse discrimination became an issue, epitomized by the Bakke case of 1978. A medical school that had accepted less qualified minority applicants had rejected Allan Bakke, a white male, two consecutive years. The school had a separate admissions policy for minorities. It reserved 16 out of 100 places for minority students. The Supreme Court voted that it was unconstitutional to set inflexible quota systems in affirmative action programs. The medical school had discriminated against a white applicant. In the same ruling, however, the Court upheld the legality of affirmative action in forms other than quota sys tems. In 1979 the Supreme Court reflected the Bakke decision. The Supreme Court ruled in AFO-CIO v. Weber, 444 U.S. 889 that race-conscious affirmative action efforts designed to eliminate a conspicuous racial imbalance in an employers workforce resulting from past discrimination was permissible, as long as the actions were temporary and did not violate the rights of white employees. College admission imbalances have resurfaced as a problem for affirmative action. Recently, the Smith v. University of Washington case upheld the universitys affirmative action program, although the program could no longer be used after the passage of Initiative 200 in 1998. Initiative 200 is a controversialShow MoreRelatedRace and The Affirmative Action Policies1244 Words   |  5 PagesThe utilization of race in affirmative action policies in higher education has been a topic of contention for several decades now. Since the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we have seen some of the most heated debates over the fairness of affirmative action and the impacts on society the utilization of race creates. With such pending questions on fairness and of the constitutionality of affirmative action policies two major Supreme Court cases have arisen, University of California RegentsRead MoreThe Race Based Affirmative Action1649 Words   |  7 Pagesas race-based affirmative action. Informally called affirmative action, it is a combination of adopted policies that construct an advantage to minority groups, giving them more possibilities to succeed in jobs, education, and other aspects of daily life. The whole concept came from the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement which advocated for equalizing the rights and opportunities for minorities. John F. Kennedy, the current president at the time, accepted the challenge and formally used â€Å"affirmative action†Read MoreThe Race Based Affirmative Action966 Words   |  4 PagesRace-based affirmative action has been challen ged by a great deal of objection during the course of it duration. According to its opponents, Affirmative action proves to be inconsistent. Affirmative action based on race increases race consciousness instead of supporting color-blind justice. By giving people special consideration to ensure equality, it contributes to inequality. The constitution of the United States calls for equal treatment, therefore, allowing racial consideration poses a contradictionRead MoreRace Based Affirmative Action On Higher Education Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesRace-Based Affirmative Action in Higher Education In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which created the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, or CEEO. One purpose of the CEEO was to â€Å"recommend additional affirmative steps which should be taken by executive departments and agencies to realize more fully the national policy of nondiscrimination† (Kennedy). This executive order planted the seeds that grew into what is today known as â€Å"race-based affirmative action,†Read MoreAffirmative Action Are Effective Models For Younger Members Of Their Race1519 Words   |  7 Pagesposition that affirmative action provides young people, and really minority, with a great role model. One scholar argues: Moreover, I doubt very much that individuals who reach top positions through affirmative action are effective models for younger members of their race or sex. What, after all, do they model? A black vice president who got her job through affirmative action is not necessarily a model of how to rise through the corporate meritocracy. She may be a model of how affirmative action can workRead More Affirmative Action - The Battles Against Race-based Educational Plans2292 Words   |  10 PagesAffirmative Action - The Battles Against Race-Based Educational Plans Californias decision in 1996 to outlaw the use of race in public college admissions was widely viewed as the beginning of the end for affirmative action at public universities all over the United States. But in the four years since Californians passed Proposition 209, most states have agreed that killing affirmative action outright would deepen social inequality by denying minority citizens access to higher educationRead MoreAffirmative Action Is The Perfect Plan1173 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative Action On March 6th, 1955, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 10925 enforcing that government corporations not discriminate against anyone based off their race and skin color. This became â€Å"positive† discrimination otherwise known as affirmative action. Affirmative action is a method benefiting anyone who have experienced discrimination particular to one’s education and/ or employment (Affirmative Action). In today’s age affirmative action is creating â€Å"reverse racism† dueRead MoreAffirmative Action Should Not Be A Program1540 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern American government and yet is still very active today. Affirmative action is defined as â€Å"the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past because of their race, sex, etc† (Merriam-Webster). Affirmative action creates a blatantly unfair advantage in college and job applications to non-minority r aces and is ultimately a racist law. Affirmative action is most prominent in the College admission process, where itsRead More Affirmative Action Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Newman, affirmative action is a â€Å"program designed to seek out members of minority groups for positions from which they had previously been excluded, thereby seeking to overcome some institutional racism† (Newman, 536). Affirmative action made its debut with a piece of legislature passed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and continues to this day. However, the concept of affirmative action is a controversial issue that continues to be hotly debated. Affirmative action policies are passionatelyRead MoreThe Precedency: Supporting the Affrimative Action Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action is a government policy that gives opportunities to minorities, women, and any group who has been the victim of discrimination in the past. Affirmative action is the outcome of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement, growing out of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or gender. It was the 1978 Supreme Court decision, The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which allowed for the use of race-based preferences as a means of

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

My Goals On My Development Plan - 821 Words

This part of my action plan must be designed while keeping the company’s best interest in mind so I can transfer the knowledge to the new group in the best manner possible, to minimize any issues of product quality in maintained during the transitional phase. This transition is one of the biggest goals on my development plan for 2016. My company really depends on me to smoothly transfer these skills to the contract group in the most efficient way possible. To accomplish this goal, I will need to meticulously plan out all training with the appropriate personnel to ensure that I am setting clear, concise and attainable goals for the analysts. Once the training curricula has been established, it will be up to me to effectively communicate the learning plan to the group, while answering any questions before we move to the hands-on part of the training. During this training process, it will be of paramount importance for me to keep giving them updates on what is going well and what is not going so well, which will ensure sure that we all stay on track with the training program and we will be able to clearly present the progress to upper management. A big hurdle for me will be in keeping a positive attitude and engaging body language throughout the entire process, to ensure that the analysts are not fearful of asking questions if there is something they do not understand. The last part in ensuring this goal is a success is considering the entire group as equal partners andShow MoreRelatedSample Resume : Early Childhood Development926 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood Development Teacher In accordance with Section 648A Staff Qualifications and Development of the Head Start Act, â€Å"each Head Start agency and program shall create, in consultation with each employee, a professional development plan. This plan shall include all employees who provide direct services to children and shall ensure that such plans are regularly evaluated for their impact on te acher and staff effectiveness.† 1. What is my plan for achieving the educational requirements of my positionRead MoreThe Planning Phase Of A Annual Expectation818 Words   |  4 PagesPlan The planning phase to accomplish the goals is to organize workshops, this will allow the group or individual to focus on their important issues. These workshops can place the followers and the leaders on the right track, and engaging in these workshop activities can even improve or life, the morale and restore a commitment to the groups and the organization. The timeline would be set to a yearly expectation, but will be available to everyone year around (Responsible Conduct in Research MentoringRead MoreMy Professional Development Plan Essay1081 Words   |  5 PagesMy Professional Development Plan Tracie Johnson NUR/391 July 26, 2010 Andrea M. Abt My Professional Development Plan My professional development plan is to grow as a nurse by obtaining knowledge through school and daily life and work experiences. In five to 10 years, I will be able care for patients and their families as a nurse practitioner. Setting short-term and long-term goals will help guide through the journey to transition into the role of professional nursing and provide new opportunitiesRead MorePrinciples of Leadership in Nursing1692 Words   |  7 PagesA pattern of personal success begins with a plan. Planning is, in fact, one of the core principles of leadership in any field. In Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey (1992) states, careful planning helps us maintain a sense of perspective, purpose, and ordered priorities, (p. 77). Without perspective, purpose, and ordered priorities, one can become distracted, discouraged, and dismayed when their goals have yet to be met. Coveys flagship book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective PeopleRead MorePersonal Development Plan For A Suc cessful Health Care Administrator Essay872 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"If the plan doesn’t work change the plan but never the goal.† A personal development plan is an attack plan for your life, whether it changes or remains the same having a precise plan allows an individual to focus their activities in the right direction. I’m currently a Talent Development Specialist working with the supplemental assistance for needy families’ program (SNAP), in which I engage with many individuals on a daily basis. My job consists of making sure they are eligible to receive foodRead MoreDevelopment Plan For The Professional And The Academic Field1521 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment Needs Analysis Introduction Why a development planning is important to a learner who wants to succeed in the professional and the academic field? A development plan is defined as a structured and supported process commenced by learners to consider their own learning, performance and achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development. In another words, a development plan is an inclusive process, which is opened to all learners, in all higher education provisionRead MoreCareer Plan For A Career Development Plan1228 Words   |  5 Pages Career Development Plan Vivian Morgan A career development plan will help you improve or maintain your current level of success and prepare for future opportunities. The career development plan will aid in enhancing my personal growth and heighten my career development. Goals or plans give you the push to move forward in life and to seek better skills that lead to top jobs and positions. This plan includes sections for the following process: 1. Assess my current state. Identify goals and objectivesRead MorePredominantly Male Industry ( Nagesh, 2015 )1272 Words   |  6 Pagesyears (Nagesh, 2015). Personal Leadership Development Plan - My Leadership Goals As part of my leadership development plan, it is one of my primary goals to highlight the skills that I’m strong in, and subsequently improve the skills that I’m weak in. As previously discussed, a primary strength is my â€Å"Self-motivation,† and my tenacity to continuously pursue the highest performance out of myself and others. Like Ms. Barra, I will use my â€Å"Achiever† mentality to work hard, improve myselfRead MorePersonal Development Review and Plan1519 Words   |  7 PagesPersonal Development Stage 1 Review and Development Plan Table of Contents Page Introduction My Personal Development Review My Personal Development Plan 3 4-5 6-7 2 Introduction At the Introduction to PD workshop I identified two broad reasons why I decided to pursue my MBA. The first was to develop my competence as a manager. The second and more important reason was to advance my career by making myself more marketable. The job market today is undoubtedly very competitive and I realisedRead MoreCmi Leadership and Management Level 5 Mod 11394 Words   |  6 Pages 5001 Personal development as a manager and leader | 1. Be able to assess and plan for personal professional development | 1.1 Explain the importance of continual self-development in achieving organisational objectives1.2 Assess current skills and competencies against defined role requirements and organisational objectives1.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs1.4 Construct a personal development plan with achievable but challenging goals | It is important

Mate Selection Free Essays

It is not uncommon for individuals to bargain with themselves in an effort to create motivation where none exists: If I get the lawn mowed before noon, I’ll spend the rest of the day watching football; if I lose five pounds, I’ll buy that new dress.   Sometimes, when individuals bargain, it isn’t as much for motivation as it is for justification: If my boss won’t give me that raise, I’ll stop working those extra hours; I had every right to flip that guy off because he cut right in front of me. These are instances in which the bargaining is self-motivated, self-serving, and self-indulgent, and while effective and perhaps necessary, the stakes in most of these circumstances isn’t necessarily high. We will write a custom essay sample on Mate Selection or any similar topic only for you Order Now    After all, who’s going to know or care if a yard goes unmowed, a dress is prematurely purchased, an extra hour isn’t spent at one’s desk, or a flip-off wasn’t honestly deserved?   However, when it comes to choosing a mate in a relationship, the role played by bargaining carries a much higher stake, and the consequences of poor judgment while bargaining and/or poor bargaining tactics can be devastating. The degree to which bargaining occurs during the mate selection process varies from person to person as do the focal point(s) of the bargain; however, there are a number of areas that are particularly intriguing. â€Å"The Necessities and Luxuries of Mate Preferences: Testing the Tradeoffs† (2002)  focuses on the degree to which â€Å"women and men first ensure sufficient levels of necessities in  potential mates before considering many other characteristics† (Li, Bailey, Kenrick,   Linsenmeier).   Factors such as a potential mate’s attractiveness and social status are essential  according to Li, et al. (2002); however, because their research placed greater emphasis on  realistic economic potential as opposed to that of previous research (which allowed for  speculation regarding â€Å"how to spend imaginary lottery winnings†), a pattern that had not  previously emerged became clear: the sexes do not always agree on what constitutes a  Ã¢â‚¬Å"necessity† versus what constitutes a â€Å"luxury† (Li, et al., 2002). American social construct is partially responsible for this difference.   Men are far more likely to have access to â€Å"status, power, and resources†; therefore, these are deemed â€Å"necessary† traits by women who seek a mate.   On the other hand, men view women as the means by which offspring can be produced, and based on this, they see physical attractiveness and age as â€Å"necessary† factors in mate selection (Li, et al., 2002).   Obviously, this requires a great degree of bargaining as the two subjects are (at least initially) focused on absolutely different traits while evaluating a potential mate Where Li, et al. conclude that much of the bargaining that occurs in mate selection is based on the differences between what men and women consider â€Å"necessary,† â€Å"Gender Socialization: How Bargaining Power Shapes Social Norms and Political Attitudes,† (2005) examines the social dynamics that might be responsible for creating the basis for the differences between the sexes regarding what is â€Å"necessary† (Iversen Rosenbluth). Iversen and Rosenbluth (2005) focus on the issue of patriarchy â€Å"and explore its effects on female social, economic, and political status† in order to evaluate â€Å"mate choice preferences between agricultural, industrial, and post-industrial societies.†Ã‚   This research was an intriguing undertaking, and what it revealed was the effect that social structure had on the bargaining that took place in mate selection. Social settings that required brawn (i.e. the agricultural and industrial periods) required women willingly bargain to find a mate who was physically capable of performing basic household and wage-earning duties (Iverson Rosenbluth).   Women often bargained for a mate with physical strength by giving up living arrangements, locations, and circumstances.   Because women of the agricultural and industrial periods were not physically capable of performing some tasks and legally barred from others, there was little choice but for them to put aside almost everything but sheer physical strength when undertaking bargaining during mate selection (Iversen Rosenbluth). When the post-industrial period was examined, two significant differences were seen.   First, because the need for physical prowess to survive at home and at work had diminished, women were far less likely to bargain away everything simply to secure a strong man.   â€Å"Once employment opportunities for women [began to approach] those of men in quantity and quality, socialization [began] to shift away from [women’s] ‘playing the marriage market’ † (Iversen Rosenbluth). No longer would women willingly pack up and move hundreds of miles away from all family and all friends, nor would they automatically settle for a man of lower social and economic status in order to marry brawn—women could consider themselves wage-earners and be more choosey when it came to potential mates (Iversen Rosenbluth). The second phenomenon that was revealed was â€Å"the declining importance of virginity† that factored into the bargaining (Iversen Rosenbluth).   Where women of the agricultural and industrial periods had to secure their virginity absolutely, women of the post-industrial period were not as likely to be dismissed as ineligible brides by the men of the era simply because they were no longer virgins.   This degree of personal control had a freeing effect on women who began to see themselves as capable of autonomy (Iversen Rosenbluth). Much of this seems to indicate a breaking away on the part of women, and Iversen and Rosenbluth (2005) conclude that â€Å"while mate preferences in agrarian societies seemed to reflect an inevitable female resignation to their subordination, modern mate preferences are more egalitarian, and the gender gap in policy preferences suggest that many women are hoping to use the democratic state to make them more egalitarian still.† Given the number of times a day an individual is likely to bargain with him/herself over routine actions or mundane decisions, it seems reasonable that a great deal of bargaining go into something as significant as the selection of one’s mate.   Research seems to indicate that like other acknowledged differences that exist between the sexes, the degree to which certain factors influence bargaining with and selection of a potential mate may depend on the gender of the evaluator. Further, it seems that as time passes and the more independent women become, the more the evaluative items regarding what is â€Å"necessary† may change in the minds of both males and females. References Iversen, T. Rosenbluth, F.   (2005).   Gender socialization: How bargaining power shapes social norms and political attitudes.   Retrieved October 22, 2006. Li, N. P., Bailey, J. M., Kenrick, D. T., Linsenmeier, J. A. W.   (2002).   The necessities and luxuries of mate preferences: Testing and tradeoffs.   Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6). Retrieved October 22, 2006                How to cite Mate Selection, Essay examples

Explain the Causes and Consequences of the Iraq War free essay sample

On the 20th of March 2003, US cruise missiles and bombs were dropped on Baghdad, Iraq’s capital city. The target was the then Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein’s and his closest aides, who were believed to be in a meeting. It would be the start of a conflict that would still be going strong seven years later. Even after so many years of US-led invasion, the reasons for invading Iraq are still debated worldwide. As Allawi (2007) argues ‘in the history of conflicts and wars, there are few instances that match the invasion and occupation for complexity of motive and ambiguity of purpose’[1]. As a result, the Iraq War or otherwise known as ‘Operation Iraqi freedom’ was to become one of the most controversial wars to date especially because of the overwhelming international hostility. It is one of the most important events that affected the world, radically changing 21st century international relations. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain the Causes and Consequences of the Iraq War or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This essay will be structured as follows the first section will explore the causes of the war. It argues that the main cause of the war was the perceived threat of Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction. This study further argues an attempt to bring democracy to the country and getting rid of the country’s authoritarian leader was another cause of the Iraq war. The second section will explore the consequences such of the war from four different perspectives: the humanitarian consequences, the military consequences, the political consequences and finally the economic consequences. This will be followed by a conclusion. Hallenbery and Karlsson (2005) argue that the September 11th attacks on the twin towers in 2001 to some extent led to the Iraq invasion. The attack on the twin towers is one of the events that changed the world forever. Soon after the attacks, the then president, George Bush Jr, publically televised America’s War on Terror. The first of America’s target was Afghanistan, in particular the Taliban ‘who openly supported the Al-Qaeda’[2]and ‘allowed Afghani territory to be used for training camps and bases’[3]. However even after the invasion of Afghanistan, America was still concerned about possible threats. The US concluded that the September 11th attacks showed that ‘some countries could ally themselves with terrorist movements’[4] and most importantly provide them with weapons of mass destruction. Bush was especially concerned by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. It was well known that during the 1980/90’s, Saddam had access to weapons of mass destruction. He had used them on his own people, killing thousands of innocent Kurds during the attack on Halabja[5]. Furthermore Saddam showed persistent hatred towards the west, especially America. The perceived threat of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction was the main cause of the Iraq War. As already mentioned, soon after the September 11th attacks and the invasion of Afghanistan, Bush placed is attentions onto Iraq. Both the US government and the UK government argued that the invasion of Iraq was necessary for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was seen as part of the axis of evil, alongside Iran and North Korea, accused of seeking weapons of mass destruction and helping terrorism. Secondly, Saddam’s regime was linked to Al-Qaeda. It was feared that he might pass the weapons of mass destruction to Al-Qaeda who could potentially use them against western democracys. Thirdly, Iraq was accused of not only possessing WMD’s but was developing more deadly ones[6]. During 2002, speech after speech, Bush argued that world faced a common problem; Iraq. He pledged to work with the United Nations to deal with the issues posed by Iraq. By the end of 2002 the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1441; they gave their final opportunity to Saddam to comply with its disarmament obligations of face serious actions. However, by 2003, the US, UK and Spain introduced the ‘second resolution’ arguing that Iraq failed to take the final opportunity provided by the UN Security Council to disarm. The second resolution meant the authorisation of immediate force to disarm Saddam’s Iraq. [8] However, France’s president Jack Chiroc argued that they would veto the resolution. Crisis talks were held with the leaders of the US, UK and Spain resulting in the withdrawal of the resolution. The very same evening, President Bush televised a live conference warning that if Saddam Hussein did not leave Iraq in 48 hours the result would be ‘military conflict commenced at the time of our choosing’[9]. Therefore the main cause of the Iraq War was the threat of Saddam Hussein’s claimed WMDs. Prior to the invasion, American policy makers also emphasised ‘the broad benefits likely to result from the removal of Saddam Hussein’s authoritarian regime into a ‘cultivation of a democratic regime’[10]. They argued that democratization of Iraq would improve the well being of Iraqi citizens, politically and economically. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, the democratization of Iraq would help stimulate greater economic prosperity and promote further democracy in the rest of the middle east a region historically characterised by authoritarian governments where there is a wide spread of conflict, instability and widespread poverty[11]. Moreover it was claimed that the democratization of Iraq would set the stage for the settlement of conflicts that had plagued the Middle Eastern region for decades which would mean the chance to create lasting peace. [12] This next section will examine the consequences of the Iraq war. Soon after the US entered Iraq, the Ba’ath party quickly crumbled. Many of the key members were killed soon after the invasion began. Saddam Hussein on the other hand, went on the run. This left the the country without a leader. Nine months after the war had begun, on the 14th of December, Saddam was finally captured. His capture would be the biggest, and some say only, accomplishment of the Iraq War. Shortly After his rise to power, Saddam’s ruthless tendencies came to light. For example he would often use violence to achieve his political goal, murdering any of his rivals. He invaded neighbours Iran in 1990 and Kuwait in 1991. He also created a secret police. The most disturbing of his actions could be seen in the events in small Kurdish town, in northern Iraq, called Halabja. As a result of Kurdish opposition, ‘Iraqi aircraft dropped canisters believed to contain a lethal cocktail of the nerve agents sarin, tabun, VX and mustard gas on the town’[13]. Over 5,000 civilians died, most to be believed women and children. Thousands of more were permanently affected[14]. Time and time again, Saddam showed no remorse about killing his own people. It is also believed he was also responsible for the deaths of his own daughter’s husbands. Altogether, although there is no official count of how many deaths Saddam caused, it is estimated to be around the region of 400, 00 to 50,000. Soon after his capture, Saddam was put on trial for crimes against humanity. He was found guilty killed and sentenced to death by hanging. He was hanged on the 30th December 2006. The removal of the brutal, ruthless, remorseless and genocidal leader is therefore seen a positive consequence of the Iraq War. Another consequence of the Iraq war is the failure to bring stability and democracy into the country. As already mentioned previously in this study, one of the causes of the war were to democratize the country which would in turn result into stability of not only the country but the whole region. The US led coalition were able to take Iraq within a matter of weeks as the Iraqi army proved weak. Instead the coalition forces faced a guerrilla style war. Insurgency intensified shortly after the war began. It seemed that almost, everyday there was a new story about some type of suicide bomber attack. However even after seven years, such attacks in Iraq are still are nearly an everyday occurrence. For example, the latest attack which happened on the August 17th 2010, 57 Iraqi recruits and soldiers were killed in Baghdad, while 123 were seriously wounded by a suicide bomber who blew himself up at an army recruitment centre[15]. The consequence of this latest attacks is that even after seven years, coalition forces have failed to stabilize the country. Interestingly, Wehrey et al (2010) argues that the removal of Saddam upset a traditional balance of power in the region'[16], bringing further instability into the country. Traditionally, the balance of power in the region involved Iran and Arab nations. However with the Iraq war, the balance of power has now shifted towards Iran. Wehrey et al (2010) further argues that this shift in the balance of power has led to widespread concern amongst Arab states because of how easily Iran can manoeuvre in the core of the Middle East, from Lebanon to Gaza'[17]. Therefore one of the consequences of the war and the removal of Saddam has created the perception of increased vulnerability on the Arab side. [18] The attempts to bring democracy have also failed. Iraq is no more democratised then before. This can be proven by the recent election results. Although elections were successfully held in 2005 to create a transitional national assembly whose main purpose was to create a constitution. As a result Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was able to formulate a government. However the recent election results have so far not been so successful, as six after Iraqi’s went to the polls, no winner has been declared due to delays and claims of vote rigging. The importance of the 2010 elections was great as the party who one would be the first to rule over a fully sovereign Iraq since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. [19] However the months of political instability has brought about fears of insurgency violence arising to levels seen between 2003-2006, where violence was at its highest. One of the major consequences of the war has been the huge loss of life. The BBC estimate that over 90,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in since the beginning of the war. It estimated that nearly 5,000 casualties from the coalition forces[20]. However the number of causalities, both civilian and military, have been falling in the last few years. The loss of creditability of both the US and UK governments have been another consequence of the war. Mitchell argues that a number of policy errors were made by both governments. He argues that opinions were not debated, intelligence was selectively used, the invasion lacked sufficient force, there was a failure to anticipate on insurgency and postwar planning was poorly devised. There has been widespread anger that the reasons for war were found true, therefore as some claim, making the war unjust and illegal. In the case of the British Government, the then prime minster, Tony Blair, popularity had fallen hugely as many believed he had led the country into war under false pretences. Wehrey et al (2010) make an interesting point. They argue that once consequence of the Iraq war is that is ‘has provided an anti-Western motivational focus and consolidated pre-existing grievances’[21]. The beginning stages of the war particularly from 2003 to 2006, presented a narrative of resistance to the US led invasion that proved powerfully ttractive to people across the region ‘whose immediate local grievances may have been unrelated to Iraq itself but who nonetheless may have been inspired toward violence by the war’[22]. Furthermore Al-Qaeda, successfully portrayed Iraq as the most striking example of an infidel invasion of an Arab Muslim land[23]. The economic consequences of the Iraq war have also been great. Reports have suggested that the cost of the war for the US is over three trillion dollars. Before the war, Iraq’s economy was weak due to decades of economic mismanagement by Saddam. Although Iraq was oil rich- it had huge debts due to Saddam’s wars in Iran and Kuwait. Furthermore economic sanctions from the UN during the 1990’s heavily affected Iraq’s economy. The country was never quite able to bounce back from the sanctions despite the large oil reserves. The impact of the war has worsened the situation. Unemployment it at an all time high and rebuilding infrastructure that was destroyed by the war, has been slow. The war has also brought about the problems of refugees. The United Nations commissioner for refugees argues that there are nearly one million refugees as a result of the war and roughly about 1. 5 million internally displaced person ‘a third of who are living in settlements or camp-like situations in extremely poor conditions’[24]. In conclusion, the main cause of the Iraq was the belief that Saddam Hussein was in possessions of weapons of mass destruction. Although it was no secret that Saddam had access to WMDs in the past, UN inspections would later find no evidence of them. Another cause for war was the belief that the overthrow of Saddams brutal regime would allow the democraztisation of the country which would improve Iraqi lives and lead to economic prosperity. Futhermore it would enable peace in a region which was riddled by conflict and instability. The toppling of saddams authoraitive rule and then eventual capture of the ruler was one of the rare success stories of the war. However this seems to be the only one. An attempt to bring democracy to the country has yet to be achieved; the casualities of the war have been high, people have lost confidence in governments and some have argued that the war has led to increased terror levels and consolidated an increased anti-western focus. Only time will tell the full extent of the wars further impacts. With America preparing to end its combat mission and end the number of American troops in Iraq, Iraq’s future looks dim. Even after six months of Iraqi’s going to the polls, a government has still not been formed. Fears are growing that Iraq still may not have the ability to provide security for itself or to be able to govern. Although Iraq may have got rid of their despot leader, the already weak country may have become even weaker as a result of the war.