Outsiders; ‘Norm and Ahmed’, “Happy Feet” and “The Arrival”

An Outsider is a person who is excluded from, or is not a member of a group. They can be seen to be merely out of place. Other factors, however, can make a person in the ‘right place’ feel like they do not belong. This is evident when exploring Alex Buzo’s script â€Å"Norm and Ahmed†, George Miller’s animation film â€Å"Happy Feet† and the Shaun Tan’s graphic novel â€Å"The Arrival†. Through utilising a range of language features and techniques, composers are able to emphasise the idea of ‘the outsider’ in these three texts. Alex Buzo’s script â€Å"Norm and Ahmed† depicts a late-night encounter between a typical old Australian working class man and a young Pakistani undergraduate. The concept of outsiders is explored in great detail throughout the script. At first, Ahmed appears to be the clear outsider in the script, as the stage directions and choice of costume are used to convey his sense of alienation and discomfort with the situation; a dark skinned person wearing a â€Å"Nehru-styled suit† acting â€Å"edges away warily†, â€Å"taking them cautiously† suggesting Ahmed’s agitation and fear when interacting with Norm. Register is also used to demonstrate that Ahmed does not belong, for even though he speaks English fluently, his extremely formal language and perfect grammar such as â€Å"I crave your forgiveness†, reveal him to be the outsider. This contrasts with Norm’s very Australian colloquialisms and slang, â€Å"bash you†, â€Å"old piss-pots†, â€Å"poofter† showing his ease with the Australian dialect. These factors all combine to make Ahmed seem to be feeling as if he is in the wrong place. Another character who seems to be in the wrong place is the protagonist in the graphic novel â€Å"The Arrival†. Shaun Tan uses a sequence of photos showing the protagonist going through customs in a new country. The character’s gestures, such as outstretched palms and scratching his head signify confusion as well as his frustrated facial expressions all show him to be misunderstood. Finally, the picture showing his bent over with his head in his hands shows his helplessness and feeling of defeat. This character feels out of place; an outsider. This feeling is also evident in the film â€Å"Happy Feet†. Mumble’s sense of exclusion is accentuated in the graduation party scene, where the camera pans from group of penguin singing and dancing in unison to a single tap dancing penguin, Mumble, who is facing the wrong way. There is some empty space between him and the group, which also physically shows his outsider status. The following scene shows him exiled to a small dark iceberg looking up at the party in the distance. It is a low angle wide shot making him look small and lonely in comparison. This all contributes to the idea that he is an outsider, although technically he is in the right place. Mumble’s outsider status shows that being in the wrong place is only one element contributing to the notion of an outsider. Many other reasons for being an outsider have been explored through these three texts. The animated film â€Å"Happy Feet† is about a young penguin, Mumble who is expelled from his penguin community because he dances his feelings, rather than singing them. The animators highlight Mumble’s lack of belonging by making him physically different from the other penguins, he has blue eyes and keeps his baby feathers when his peers are fully developed. Mumble is initially considered part of the penguin community but his differences in appearance and ability act as barriers which prevent him from being an insider. Even though technically he is in the ‘right place’, he is still an outsider. Another character who appears to be in the ‘right place’ but reveals himself to be an outsider, is Norm. Initially Norm engineers the conversation with Ahmed by pretending not to have a lighter. Later he admits, â€Å"I get a little lonely (†¦) I like to have a nice chat with a bloke (†¦) A bloke like you, for instance†. Norm’s obvious loneliness adds to his outsider status. He doesn’t belong to a close family or social group and is compelled to talk to strangers. Norm’s age, education and social class all contribute to make him part of a dying breed, the â€Å"old school Australian†. He does not necessarily belong in the emerging multicultural Australia that Ahmed embodies. By saying â€Å"I was only thinking that if you didn’t have a dark skin you’d be alright. I mean, it’d be all right for you to stay here, like, get a job and stay in this country. †, he reveals his racism and rejection of multiculturalism. His subsequent senseless beating of Ahmed also demonstrates Norm’s instability and violence and this further reinforces his outsider status. By breaking the laws of society, he automatically becomes an outsider to the mainstream. Norm and Mumble are not the only characters who are becoming outsiders in their own place. In â€Å"The Arrival†, Tan draws with great detail, a bleak city with huge, ominous, black shadows resembling dragon’s tails suggesting evil all over the buildings and roads. A high angle long shot shows how insignificant his family is in this big, empty city. This reveals a growing sense of insecurity and uncertainty of the family’s future in their own country. They no longer feel as though they belong there. Therefore after studying the three texts, it is apparent that the sentence â€Å"An outsider is merely just a person in the wrong place† is only partially correct. Ahmed, Mumble and the persona in the Arrival are all outsiders by virtue of being in the wrong place; Ahmed with his extremely formal language, brown skin and his foreign attire, the persona in â€Å"The Arrival† with his language barrier and Mumble for his inability to sing. However, although Mumble can’t sing, he is a penguin and is therefore technically in the’right place’. He is an outsider because he looks and acts differently to the other penguins. The persona â€Å"The Arrival† leaves his homeland because he is starting to feel like an outsider in his own place, as does Norm with his racism, loneliness and violence. In conclusion; anyone, in any place can be an outsider.

Encountering conflict essay ‘A Separation’ Essay

Conflict is an integral part of human nature, in which we all experience in our daily lives. The responses to conflict determine whether a resolution takes place, or whether the conflict at hand is perpetuated and escalated, to the point where a resolution is impossible. Persistence of conflict can occur due to religion and moral values. Intrapersonal conflict may arise, as one may seek to defend their religious values and morality, which can perpetuate a situation and cause the onset of other forms of conflict to result. The influence of gender roles in society can also cause a persistence in conflict to occur. Due to these factors, conflict generally persists and escalates, as opposed to being resolved. However, in some cases, individuals can prevent the persistence of conflict by employing rational and peacemaking strategies when encountering issues. Those who hold strong religious and moral values, react in stern and desperate ways, causing an exacerbation and escalation of conflict. The religious conflict between Palestinian’s and Israelites is very much affected by the religious beliefs of the various sides. Such tension has caused territorial disputes and physical conflict to occur in the middle-east. Moreover, disputes between Jews and Palestinians has escalated and translated to other parts of the world, France in particular. Acts of conflict between Jews and Arab’s has resulted reported issues of acts of violence against Jews in France to increase from one in 1998 to nine in 1999 to 116 in 2000. This escalation of physical conflict on a broader global scale has ultimately been caused by the religious conflict initially present in the Middle-East. Similarly, Razieh’s religion causes the onset of other forms of conflict to occur and escalation to result. The internal conflict experienced by Razieh involving her religious values enforced a maintenance of her moral high ground as a religious woman. Nader’s accusation upon Razieh of theft, caused the onset of physical conflict to occur, whereby Razieh’s persistence to reason with Nader that she didn’t steal the money in order maintain her morality made him furious, as she pushes her out of his apartment. This resulted in Razieh accusing Nader of murdering her baby, which escalated their interpersonal conflict manifest into a complicating and damaging legal matter. In the midst of conflict, religion can play a vital role in the exacerbation and persistence of dispute. The characteristics of gender roles in society can result in a persistence of conflict to occur.

Libertarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Libertarianism - Essay Example Soon, these rules became laws—meant to maintain peace and order in the society. They serve as concrete guidelines on people’s actions, and as constant reminders that bad actions merit legal sanctions. As laws continue to develop in nature and content, it became more prescriptive and controlling of people’s actions. As response, numerous ideologies have emerged—primarily aiming at reviving the essence of freedom. One of these ideologies is called libertarianism. On this essay, we will examine libertarianism in terms of its conceptual implications. After which, we will provide an analysis to be able to recommend needed alterations to strengthen its position. Libertarianism, as defined in the official website called Libertarianism, posits that man fully owns himself, and in effect, has the right to determine his own happiness. Self-ownership starts with the acknowledgement of the self as a separate and self-governing entity. The recognition of this specific u niqueness leads to an understanding of one’s intrinsic worth as a person—thus, human dignity. ... In this light, through the actions taken, the ideal self-identity is slowly converted to a realistic self-image. Image is created not by the deciding self but by the judgment of other selves. It is on this logic that the core teachings of libertarianism are grounded. It underscores man’s responsibility in constructing his self-identity and in the actualization of this identity through concrete actions. In short, libertarianism places man at the center of his happiness. In order to strengthen the conceptual implications of libertarianism, freedom is infused. Libertarianism posits the right of each man to complete freedom. Complete freedom, in this sense, pertains to the absence of external control. Thus, man not only has the right over his own life, but also has the right against any unwilled external control. Willing becomes an operative word in this sense since the responsibility to control or to lose control over one’s life is determined ultimately by the self. Thus, for as long as there is consent, man may be subject to the control of other men. Slavery, in short, is approved by libertarianism if it becomes a consequence of free choice. Through this conceptual exploration of libertarianism, it is obvious that freedom is emphasized as the state of doing whatever one wants, for as long as it does not create harm on other people. However, careful analysis of its argumentation can help in spotting some of its logical fallacies. The major fallacy is grounded on the definition of the human person. Although man is defined as a free being—who is able to decide for his own happiness and must therefore be free from any unwilled imposition of other

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Operation management - Essay Example LM is an entire management philosophy which is often also called Toyotism because it was actually introduced by Toyota automotive manufacturer. This essay is based on scrutinising what the modern literature has to say on the subject of LM and how different principles related to this business strategy can improve the value stream of an organisation. After discussing major concepts identified in LM research, the following discussion will include application of those concepts on a chosen area of tourism, which in this case is the accommodation sector. The accommodation sector includes luxury resorts, hotels, and bed and breakfasts which are built to accommodate tourists. The essay will conclude by evaluating the extent to which OM contributes to organisational decision making. LM is not an enemy as thought by some. It does not lead to even more serious problems because it is only incorrect lean implementation that is to be feared. This explains why it is important to analyse multiple important ways which show how lean principles can be applied in a safe manner. Basically, LM is a management principle which considers the goal of delivering value to the customers to be the most important in terms of lending strength and reputation to an organisation (Sarkar, 2012, p. 2). It stresses that the limited resources available to an organisation are critically valuable and they should be only spent on creating value for the customers. Resources spent on other goals which do not add value are wasted (Duggan, 2012, p. 3). A value stream is one of the key concepts of LM which may be either based on internal processes alone or also include external suppliers. It basically includes all processes involved in the creation, production, and delivery of goods to the market. Deep investigation into value stream should be considered a top priority by all organisations because before eliminating waste, it is important for it to be identified, which is exactly what

Article project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project - Article Example The additional hiring of 80,000 workers last month is miniscule as this job gain only just keeps pace with population growth. The gain has done little to trim down the backlog of 14 million unemployed workers, avers the article. $787 billion stimulus package: The author has linked the failure of the stimulus package, announced by the U.S government at the peak of recession to the diminished chances of Barack Obama being reelected as the President of United States. 9% unemployment rate: The rate of unemployment in the United States has been hovering around the 9% mark for most part of this year now. The author compares the present rate of joblessness to the 4.6 % unemployment rate that was prevailing in the country a year before the recession began. The comparison illustrates that reaching the pre-recession glory is still a far cry for the United States. 39.4 weeks: Average time spent looking for a job: The article brings to light the difficult time the unemployed in the country are facing. The average time that an unemployed worker pounded the pavement touched 39.4 weeks in October, pretty close to the peak of 40.5 weeks recorded in September. The article suggests that the longer a person remains out of job, the more difficult it gets, for varied reasons, for that person to land a job. 34.3 hours: Average length of workweek: There has been no change in the length of the average workweek for a year now, reveals the article. The statistic remained at 34.3 hours in October as well. The author argues that companies invariably extend the workweek and make the present employees work longer before going in for fresh hiring. Therefore, a stagnant workweek does not bode well for job growth in the United States. The news article successfully integrates all information and apprises the reader why the threat of a double dip recession still looms large. There appears no bias in the article as it also refers to the positive indicators like

Article Review of Terrorism, Airport Security, and the Private Sector Essay

Article Review of Terrorism, Airport Security, and the Private Sector - Essay Example However, subsequent to the attack, the government instituted a federalized security system. The present system characterized by tightened security is, however, more expensive and must be assessed in terms of its overall cost effectiveness compared to a public-private approach to security. This paper will provide a succinct review of Seidenstat’s article â€Å"Terrorism, Airport and the Private Sector†. The September 11, 2001 tragedy occurred when hijacked airplanes were smashed into massive buildings in the US. This attack elicited great concern for airport security, which had long been a joint initiative between the private and public sector in the US. The attack laid emphasis on pubic operations within the country’s airports, causing the reassessment of best practices with regard to airport security in order to deter terrorist attacks. The process of the airport security system included screening of passengers and luggage for explosives and weapons, checking of baggage and cargo for explosives, management of admission to secure air operations regions, clearing, as well as badging of personnel with admission to restricted areas in the aircraft of airport and deployment of air marshals on domestic flights (Seidenstat, 2004). However, these security functions were marred by major glitches that deterred effectiveness. Areas of weaknesses included controls for airport access and passenger and carry-on luggage screening. For instance, in 1987, FAA tests showed that screeners missed at least 20% of the potentially perilous objects it utilized in the tests. Some of the reasons behind the ineffective airport security system included the limitations of the stakeholders; the FAA, airports and the airlines, which made the events of September 11 quite easy. For instance, the laws were ineffectively managed deterring effective oversight of airport security. The fragmented system also failed to assign responsibility, thereby giving way for gaps in effec tive security management, for instance, enabling passengers smuggle weapons on board. Moreover, the erratic nature of communication between the FAA and the institutions under its mandate also worsened the security crisis. According to Seidenstat (2004) underinvestment in security was also to blame for the inconsistency experienced in airport security; for instance, airlines and airports considered the added costs of tightened security as unjustifiable in the business milieu. Their profit considerations hampered their adoption of tightened airport security. Even private firms that contracted airport security services were forced to keep their costs low in order to be awarded contracts; consequently, the services provided were also insufficient since tightened security typically requires hefty expenditures, which airlines and airports were unwilling to cover. However, after 9/11, the face of airport security has improved as the legislative and executive arms of the government moved sp eedily to revamp airport security systems to heighten their security level. This involved upgrading the existing system by requiring airlines to improve their security contracts with private security firms and requiring the FAA to enforce stringent screening standards. A major recommendation was altering the focal point of security control to airport managers so as to achieve a fully integrated system, but this system may not

Report on the book Great Leaders Grow by Ken Blanchard Essay

Report on the book Great Leaders Grow by Ken Blanchard - Essay Example Choosing the book was on the basis of past experiences where the authors have written other books pertaining leadership styles while sessions with the media caused their awareness. According to the book’s title, I expect to learn more ways of becoming a great leader and the different leadership styles present in the business sectors. I also expect to gain knowledge that will help me clarify the debate that argues whether a leader is born or made. The book has portrayed several objectives through character evaluation. The main purpose of the book according Blanchard is to create awareness on the strategies and procedures of becoming a great leader (Blanchard and Miller 3). It is evident through how the authors have defined the acronym GROW. It includes the four steps that should be followed by potential leaders towards growth and become great leaders. The meanings have been allocated to different chapters in the book. The letter "G" represents ‘Gaining Knowledge to help the leaders develop their skills. There are different ways that are illustrated in the book on how to help an individual obtain information at workplaces and organizations. Primarily, is to understand an individual’s personal strengths and weaknesses (Blanchard and Miller 33). The character Blake has been used to share his personal weaknesses with Debbie to help him get a job and become a leader. Once they are highlighted, the leader should seek solutions for their weaknesses to ensure there are no setbacks in the leadership process. After a personal exploration, the individual should try to understand other people in lower levels of the business (Blanchard and Miller 44). It will help in gathering knowledge on tastes and preferences of the followers in case the person is appointed as a leader. A great leader should also be open to change and at all time be a leadership student. Leadership is a continuous process and a leader should be ready to get new ideas

Relationship Between Crude Oil And Natural Gas Prices Essay

Relationship Between Crude Oil And Natural Gas Prices - Essay Example Observing the pattern of crude oil and natural gas prices generally supports the economic theory and leads to the belief that both commodities do share a relationship. However, over the past few years, a decoupling of natural gas prices from crude oil prices has been observed (refer to graph 1.1 in appendix). This has led concerns over the strength of the relationship between crude and natural gas prices. Economic factors link crude oil and natural gas prices through supply and demand. There has been a strong conviction regarding the one-way relationship between the prices of crude oil and natural gas, whereby changes in crude figures influence natural gas prices and any changes in natural gas prices have no impact on crude. This is due to the relative size of each market. Prices of crude are determined on the world market whereas natural gas valuation takes place in regionally segmented markets. As a result, any adverse event or condition is unlikely to affect the global price of oil (Villar, Joutz) This paper attempts to signify the economic and statistical relationship between crude oil and natural gas prices. The period under review is from 1985 to 2005. ... Overview of Natural Gas Industry The structure of the natural gas industry has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. In the past, the structure of this industry was simple, with limited flexibility and few options for gas delivery. Exploration and production companies explored and drilled for natural gas, selling the product to transportation pipelines. These pipelines transported the natural gas, selling it to local distribution utilities, who in turn sold the product to its customers. Pricing at the exploration, production and transportation level was federally regulated whereas state regulation monitored the price at which local distribution companies sold natural gas to customers (naturalgas.org). Prior to deregulation, the structure of the natural gas industry was very straightforward, however, it suffered from shortages in the 1970s and surpluses in the 1980s. Since deregulation, the industry is much more open to competition and choice. Prices are no longer regulated and are determined by the demand-supply forces. One of the notable differences in the revised structure of the natural gas industry is the existence of natural gas marketers. They serve to facilitate the movement of natural gas from the producers to the end users. Marketers may either own the natural gas being transferred, or simply act as facilitators for the transportation. Source : NGSA The diagram above shows the pathway of natural gas from producer to end user in a regulated environment. The diagram below shows the pathway in a deregulated environment where marketers exist and can sell directly to end users. Source : NGSA Price of natural gas is simply a function of demand and supply. When demand for gas rises,

Assessment within a Therapeutic Relationship Essay

Assessment within a Therapeutic Relationship - Essay Example 2011, p. S98) and anxiety disorders (Boschen, and Oei, 2008, p. 811). It serves as an integrated approach in the holistic care of a patient as it inculcates the biopsychosocial assessment of the client and the management plan designed (Williams, and Garlnad, 2002, p. 172). Assessment is usually the first stage prior to a counselling intervention on any patient. It is through assessment that valuable information about the patient is collected and aids in designing action plans for the patient. Farrington, & Telford, (1996, p. 77) defines an assessment style as involving scanning of the available information about a client, selecting the necessary and appropriate information for the case, and selecting the interventions to implement. CBT assessment is aimed at formulating problems that the patient may be going through. It involves linking the feelings, thoughts and behaviours of the patient into a congruent explanation. The counsellor during the assessment reviews the current history of the patient to determine the possible trigger to the current psychological state. Thereafter, an assessment of the personal history of the patient is conducted to determine predisposing factors to the patient that upon assessment may aid in diagnosing the patient (Marsha ll, & Turnbull, 1996, p. 31). CBT assessment approach is aimed at assessing the cognitive and behavioural patterns in the life of the client and tailoring therapies that address these inadequacies. As pertains to the cognitive, these are the thought and thinking processes of a patient that become hyperbolic following a psychiatric disorder and the patient has no control over the intriguing thoughts. Cognitive assessment is aimed at aiding the patient to deal positively with the thoughts (Williams, et al. 1997, p. 72). Behavioral assessment is aimed at finding the change in behaviour patterns of the client that alter the effective performance of activities of daily living This assessment develops a 5 figure

Company Law Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Company Law Assignment - Essay Example Non observance of this provision will attract both fine and imprisonment. (Walton & Henderson 2005:17). Under s 195(2), an interested director of a public company may vote and even present in the board meeting provided if the board passes a resolution before such matter is voted upon The nature and magnitude of the director’s interest in that business are taken into recognition by the board The board resolution should mention that director’s voting for the interested resolution are satisfied that the director’s interest should not bar the director from voting or considering on the business matter. Directors of public company are now accountable by s 191. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) can under s 196 may order that a director with a material personal interest as defined in s 195(1) can present and vote on such interested matters if there is no proper quorum is available and due to urgency of the issue or due to some other compelling re ason, that board can approve the same despite the fact of board’s conflict of interest instead of passing in Annual General Meeting. (Cassidy 2005:244). Since, the company has no constitution, replaceable rule in the Act will be applicable. In The Queen v District Council of Victor Harbour , Ex Parte Costain Australia Ltd [1983] 54 SASR 188 at 190, it was held that when a director’s interest is both material and personal ,such director is prohibited from attending and voting at the board meeting. In the Bell Group Limited (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corporation (2008) 70 ACSR I, it was held that an interest which has the potential to sway the voting by a director would be regarded as material interest. In Grand Enterprises Pty Ltd v Aurium Resources Ltd (2009) 256 ALR I , it was observed that the term â€Å" material â€Å" implied that kind of interest that requires to be of some value or substance instead of just a slight interest. (ASIC 2011:10). It is advisable th at Betty should inform her interest in the business to the all the directors and should desist from attending the board meeting and voting on the resolution in which she is interested as held in Queen v District Council of Victor Harbour except where her participation will be of more advantageous to the company due to her expert knowledge on the subject. Answer to question B (a) (ii) As regards to an interested matter by a director that is being considered by the board, directors who do not have a material personal interest in such transaction will be known as â€Å" non-interested directors.† A non-interested director should, when making a decision to offer financial advantages to a related party; To conduct proper investigation of management and should get proper advise, to the magnitude needed about the interested proposal. He should appraise the information provided to him independently As held in HIH Insurance Ltd and HIH Casualty and General Insurance Ltd , ASIC v Adler and others (2002) 41 ACSR , non-interested director should exercise â€Å" special caution â€Å" with conscientious concern to make sure that required corporate approval are received . For passing a resolution in which a director is interested, there should be adequate quorum of non-interested directors as stipulated in the constitution of the company or Corporation Act. In the absence of any valid quorum of non-int

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton 1783-1800 Essay Example for Free

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton 1783-1800 Essay The post-revolutionary war period of the Unites States saw the establishment of the first party system and an enlarging gap in viewpoints between the wealthy and the common man. One might argue that a political party develops in response to a series of controversial issues yet to a great extent the contradictory views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson over issues related to views of government, the role of government and social philosophy in foreign and domestic affairs, were primarily responsible for shaping the rise of political parties from 1783-1800. Originally feared by the forefathers, the rise of political parties emerged from intense ideological struggles over views of government between two political leaders important to President Washington’s Cabinet, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. Alexander Hamilton exerted the most influence within the newly emerging Federalist Party. He believed that only an enlightened ruling class could produce a strong, stable and effective federal government. The government therefore needed the support of wealthy men and the promotion of manufacturing interests. Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans defended more the rights of the common man and an agrarian society with limited power from the federal government. His basic principle was grounded in a belief that the people had a more honest and disinterested influence in politics than the wealthy. The Republican Party attracted more of the common people while the Federalist Party drew support from the aristocracy. Although neither side was willing to admit to it, these institutions were known as the first party system. Both parties stance on who should have more power in the government contributed to the largely diverse views of the common man and the wealthy man. Hamilton and Jefferson’s differences in social philosophy over the interpretation of the Constitution and the establishment of a national bank further strengthened the rise of established political parties. Federalists called for the national debt to be funded and hoped to create a large national bank credited by wealthy men. Hamilton defended it in a plan presented to Congress by claiming the general nature of the Constitution allowed for corporations to assist in carrying out by â€Å"all means† necessary that which is required to carry out the duties of government. If permitted, this vein of reasoning presented a broad interpretation of the Constitution, one that relied upon the â€Å"elastic clause† to justif y that which is considered  Ã¢â‚¬Å"necessary and proper†. Jefferson and the Republicans felt the bank was unconstitutional and his opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank (1791) required a strict or literal interpretation that drew upon a philosophy of government that stated powers not delegated belonged, or better, are reserved, for the people and the states. This included the incorporation of a bank which is not a delegated power given to government in the Constitution. Hamilton’s rebuttal can be seen in a letter to George Washington that argued for a broad interpretation of the Constitution on the grounds that it gave to the government delegated and implied powers. In essence, all powers deemed â€Å"necessary and proper† for the fulfillment of delegated duties are constitutional, like the incorporation of a bank. This became known as the elastic clause and would be applied in later debates over constitutional interpretation. Both parties reaction to the Constitutionality of a national bank show their contrasting beliefs in how the Constitution was to be interpreted. Proving to be a major point of contention between the developing sides, Federalists also called for an excise tax to be placed on distillers of alcohol. The Whiskey Rebellion was the inevitable consequence of the enactment of this tax. Hamilton argued in his efforts to suppress the Whiskey Boys that the people, in ratifying the Constitution, had given the central governme nt the power to tax for the purpose of paying off debts and providing for the nation’s defense. Since the Constitution had not been amended contrary to those powers Hamilton believed that President Washington had been justified in levying the tax and the Whiskey Rebellion was therefore an unjustified rebellion that needed to be put down by the central government. The Republicans, highly suspicious of taxation as the American colonists had once been, did not believe the excise tax to be constitutional and celebrated the Whiskey Rebellion as an act of protecting rights against an abusive government action. The people had to be the safeguard of the new Republic. The Federalist political cartoon Mad Tom in a Rage portrayed Thomas Jefferson as a liquor soaked anarchist aided by the devil in order to bring the government down. The reactions to the Whiskey Rebellion reflect how the Federalists and Republicans differed in their interpretation of the Constitution. In social philosophy, the two politicians articulated their party’s disagreement over foreign policy concerns regarding the â€Å"revolution† in France. When the French Revolution grew to its most radical peak the Federalists reacted with horror as citizens overthrew the aristocracy. In launching the New Ship of State Hamilton said he did not see the French Revolution as comparable to the American Revolution and doubted if a â€Å"free and good government† was likely to result from the war in France. Thomas Jefferson’s response was to stress the potential outcome of the Revolution, how it would benefit the whole of mankind, meaning the common man, and how this result could only be won with the spilling of blood, thereby justifying the excesses of violence in the name of republicanism. Many Republicans even imitated French Jacobins in dress and in speaking. As tension in Europe grew Federalists favored an alliance with Great Britain while Republicans generally favored a greater alliance to the French. Jay’s Treaty was generally seen as a Hamiltonian move to increase the likelihood of a political relationship with Britain over one with France. The difference between the Federalist and Republican social philosophies regarding foreign relations is most easily seen among Hamilton and Jefferson’s different reactions to the French Revolution. When the Federalists tried to silence the Republican opposition the result was the vastly unpopular Alien and Sedition Acts passed under the Federalist presidency of John Adams. The Alien Act ordered all foreigners considered dangerous to leave the United States. As a result many Republicans found much of its support grew within the nation. The Sedition Act Read That if any person shall write, print, utter, or publish.scandalous and malicious writings against the government of the United St atessuch person shall be punished. The Sedition Act convicted ten men most of whom were Republicans news editors criticizing the Federal government. The Republicans interpreted these laws as an attempt to destroy them and violate the principles of free speech. They fought back with the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. The Virginia Resolution pointed out how the Acts violated the rights of free speech protected in the Constitution. Jefferson’s Kentucky Resolution argued the state’s compact (or state’s right) theory that acts by the central government could be nullified by the sovereign states if deemed unconstitutional as the Resolution so deemed the Alien and Sedition Acts. The resolutions nullified the laws and contributed to the rise of Republicanism and the fall of Federalism. The controversial issue contributed largely to the Federalist party’s defeat in  the presidential election of 1800. The differing opinions on how the government in the post-Revolutionary war period should be run ultimately created the first rise in political parties. The Federalist belief in a government run by wealthy men and opposing Republican support for an agrarian society split the nations’ people in support of a government most beneficial to them. Differing reactions to the French Revolution showed the distinct difference in Federalist and Republican over foreign policy. The National Bank an d the excise tax on liquor revealed differing views on how strictly the Constitution should be interpreted and the Alien and Sedition Acts reveal an attempt of one party to dissolve another. The contrasting views of Hamilton’s Federalism and Jefferson’s Republicanism were the ultimate contributors to splitting the nation on views of government and establishing the first political parties.

Sanitary conditions in Mauritius slaughter houses

Sanitary conditions in Mauritius slaughter houses INTRODUCTION A slaughterhouse, also known as an abattoir is a place where animals are sacrificed for food. It can also be defined as any premises used for the slaughter of animals whose meat is intended for human consumption. The slaughtering of animals for community consumption is inevitable in most nations of the world and dated back to the ancient times (Bello and Oyedemi, 2009). Public slaughter houses had been traced to Roman civilization and in France by 15th and 16th centuries, and were among the public facilities. In Italy, a law from 1890 stipulated that public abattoir should be provided in all communities comprisingof more than six thousand inhabitants. Similar things were reported in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Rumania (Jode Loverdo et al. 1906). The animals most commonly killed for food are cattle, sheep (for goat and mutton), pigs (for pork), goats (for chevon), and fowl, largely chickens, turkeys, and ducks, for poultry meat. The most important issue in all meat-processing plants is maintenance of proper hygiene and adequate sanitary conditions to prevent contamination and in this way caters for a product which is safe and sound for the public. An abattoir as defined above is a building approved and registered by the controlling authority for hygienic slaughtering and inspection of animals, processing and effective preservation and storage of meat products for human consumption (Alonge, 1991), as such the sanitation line in a slaughter house must be flawless. Slaughtering animals on a large scale brings about significant technical problems and public health concerns. Furthermore, some religions insist on certain specific conditions for slaughtering practices so that slaughter within slaughter houses may change. As such abattoirs commence the chain of the meat industry, where livestock come from farms for processing and dressing and passes through markets to enter the food chain (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). The values, morals, ethics and regulations ruling slaughter houses changes significantly throughout the world. In several countries the slaughter of animals is delimited by folklore and traditions instead of the law. In the non-Western world, including Muslim countries both forms of meat are obtainable, that is product from modern mechanized slaughter houses, and the other from local meat shops. The situation in Mauritius is typically representative of the conflict between modern processes and religious practices with regards to the slaughtering of animals for the supply of meat to the population. Over the last few decades there have been important developments meat inspection systems in slaughter houses. As compared to the most highly developed countries which have taken the lead in bringing about changes in the meat inspection procedures in slaughterhouses by enacting new legislations (These new laws have been reproduced by the Codex Alimentarius in its Codes of Good Practice and this resulted in the homogenization of the world trade in foodstuffs) (Schnà ¶ller, 2006), we, on the national level, are dealing with a more pious look over the slaughtering industry which is delimited by religious practices. As per the legislation enforced in Mauritius, the Mauritius Meat Authority is the only institution empowered to deal with the slaughtering of animals. Aim The aim of the study is to carry out an assessment on the sanitary conditions prevailing in slaughter houses in Mauritius. Objectives The main purpose of this survey is to know to what extent are the workmen of slaughter houses aware of importance of sanitary practices and what it entails, to see if sanitary practices are respected and analyse the possible route by which contamination by pathogenic micro organisms may occur in slaughter houses. LITERATURE REVIEW Sanitation in the slaughter house Thewordsanitationcomesfromthelatinwordsanitas,whichmeanshealth, it has many different meanings but it can be generally defined as the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Such hazards can be physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). The slaughter house should be constructed in such a way as to respect all the norms and regulations and planned such that all processes runs smoothly without contaminating or hindering the quality of the end product. Primarily there are several key factors that a slaughter house should observe to be able to satisfy the necessary conditions which will contribute to adequate sanitation for the prevention of contamination. PROPER INFRASTRUCTURES AND PLANNING OF THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE Site of building Ideally the slaughterhouse should be located away from residential areas to prevent possible inconvenience to dwelling-places either by way of pollution from slaughter wastes or by way of nuisance from noise (FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49). There must be free access for animals to the site by road and the slaughterhouse should be situated in areas where flooding is unlikely to happen. If the slaughterhouse is of regular buildings construction the ground should be free of bushes or vegetation in the vicinity of the structure (FAO, 1985). Size The amount of animals to be slaughtered should take into account the the size of slaughter facility and the number of animals to be slaughtered is of great importance to avoid sanitary problems due to overcrowding (Tove, 1985). Building / facility The building or facility of such process has normally been described as places which stands for good sanitation and hygiene. According to the norms stipulating such process the building should normally have clean and unclean processes separated. Walls and Floors The flooring of the facility which is one of the major source of contamination must be hard, free of cracks, evenly leveld and impervious, and sloping adequately towards a drain to allow cleaning with water and disinfection. The walls as well must be smooth enough to be easily cleaned by water, and recommended materials are, for instance, stone, lava blocks, bricks or concrete. To provide shade, a good environment and finally to keep down the internal temperature in the slaughter line, a roof made up of concrete would be ideal (P.J. Eriksen, 1978). lighting system As a matter of hygiene, the slaughterhouse should have a proper lighting system inside the slaughter line to allow proper functioning and avoid accidents and moreover will act as a deterrent to insects and rodents. Ventilation system The internal temperature inside the slaughter house shall be maintained to prevent proliferation of unwanted micro organisms and also to cater for a good working environment. Equipment Equipment for undergoing such process, normally have to follow certain norm and regulation, it has been reported that such equipments have to be of non-corrosive materials, for example stainless steel and structures like tables, hooks and machines should be that they are easy to disassemble to facilitate cleaning and disinfection. The key step for the hygienic handling of carcasses is the equipment for elevating the carcass when slaughtered. In the processing line cranes are preferred to working tables due to hygienic practices. Procedures assuring continuous cleaning of hoists are recommended and should be performed on a periodical basis. However the cleaning and disinfection is usually complicated or simply impossible because of the complexity of the machines (Tove, 1985). Water supply Water is a vehicle for the transmission of several agents of disease and continues to cause significant outbreaks of disease in developed and developing countries (Kirby, 2003). A cholera epidemic in Jerusalem in 1970 was traced back to the consumption of salad vegetables which were irrigated with raw waste water (Shuval, 1986). In Canada, an outbreak of E.coli was reported (Kondro, 2000) and In the USA, Cryptosporidium affected approximately 400,000 consumers and caused 45 deaths and in 1993 due to the consumption of contaminated water (Kramer, 1996, Hoxie, 1997). Since slaughtering is a process which generates a lot of wastes, to cater for the good running of the processes and minimize contamination, there should be a good supply of water of drinking quality to allow processing and cleaning procedures which will assure hygienic quality products. Working routines should be planned in such a way as to economically use the consumption of water because of waste water disposal (Tove, 1985). Sanitary facilities Several water points, sterilizers for hand tools, hoses and cleaning equipment is the key to provide a good standard of hygiene and must be provided sufficiently. The availability of hot water in preference to chemical disinfectants should be supplied with the sterilizers where possible (Tove, 1985). Sanitary facilities must also include an adequate number of toilets and arrangements for hand-washing and even for bathing (showering). Such facilities must be clean and well kept at all times and the toilets should possess hand wash basins along with soap, disinfectants, antiseptics, nailbrushes and clean towels readily available. A mess room for resting and eating should be provided to the staff and as such be separated from the processing line to assure that the carcasses and the food for the personnel cannot be mixed (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE As in all sectors of hygiene, the external and internal environment of the slaughter house should be protected against any infestation. Insects, birds and rodents have been recognized as important carriers of pathogens and other micro organisms (Olsen and Hammack, 2000). To avoid these, a strict control should be exerted over the following: Pests Control Good Hygienic Practices (GMP) should be employed to avoid generating an environment favorable to pests (CAC, 1997). A control system for pest control must include the following: Good Hygienic Practices should be used to avoid creating an environment conducive to pests Pest control programs could include preventing access to principle site, eliminating harbourage and establishing monitoring detection and eradication systems. Physical, chemical and biological agents should be properly applied by suitably qualified personnel. Souce: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y1579E/y1579e02.htm Proper fencing The aim is to prevent access of unauthorized persons, the public in general, dogs and other animals around the slaughterhouse premises. The fencing should have direct contact with the ground and should be sufficiently high to prevent access inside the premises. Bird control The best control is to prevent them from accessing the buildings by placing nets on the openings and windows. Allowing birds to fly inside the slaughter house might cause contamination through its droppings. Bird are often attracted by food supplies, water, special vegetation around buildings, and these attractants should be removed. SLAUGHTERING PROCESSING The hallmark for hygiene principle in processing is that the procedures considered as clean and considered as unclean should be efficiently separated. This requires a well-structured plant layout, where the purpose of any structure should be the protection of the end product against accidental contamination (Tove, 1985). Transport The animals are hauled from pastures or farms to the slaughterhouse. All necessary precautions during transportation should be considered to minimize stress and injury to the animals and as such will cater for the good quality of the end product (Tove, 1985). Road transport is probably the cheaper and more convenient means for conveying animals. Below are some precautions that are worthwhile during road transporting of the animals to slaughter: The transport facility should be designed and modified to convey the stock; they should provide for sufficient ventilation and lighting; for open trucks the top should be covered with a tarpaulin to protect the animals from bad weather conditions, they should be equipped with appropriate loading and unloading mechanisms to prevent injuries, and most importantly; they should be as comfortable as possible for the animals. Source: FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49, Manual for the slaughter of small ruminants in developing countries, 1985. Lairage Lairage is a place where livestock are kept temporarily (Microsoft Encarta 2008) and in our present situation is a specific area inside the premises of a slaughter house where the animals are conveyed for rest. Rest is an important factor because when animals are stressed, carcasses of lower quality result from slaughter. There should be sufficient space for the animals and a good supply of potable water for drinking purposes. A washing system where the animals can be cleaned before passing to the slaughter house is generally recommended (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). Source: Heinz G, Abattoir development. Options and designs for hygienic basic and medium-sized abattoirs, 2009 (http://www.fao.org, Annex 7). Stunning, slaughtering and bleeding Common methods for stunning consists of: Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP) This stunning method is extensively used for all agrarian animals. Gun powder (cartridge), compressed air and spring under tension propels the bolt through the skull of animals. The name captive means that the bolt is shot out of the barrel but remains in the pistol. Concussion stunning: A mechanically operated instrument which delivers a blow to the brain. Used for cattle, sheep and calves. Another method which consisted of knocking or striking a hammer on the head of the animal is now banned with regards to humane practices in some countries. Free bullets: are generally used on animals which are difficult to handle for instance, wild pigs, bison and deer. Electric Stunning Head-Only Stunning: generally cattle, sheep, pork and are all stunned by the use of this method. The technique involves the application an electric shock using a pair of tongs on either side of the animals head. An electric current is passed through the brain and this leads to the temporary loss of consciousness. Source: The Slaughter of Livestock (part 2): Modern Techniques of Slaughtering by M.Abdulsalam (www.IslamReligion.com). Slaughtering and Bleeding After stunning, the animal is vertically hanged lifting the animal (head down) to a convenient height. The bleeding operation is made by inserting a knife through the neck behind the jaw bone and below the first neck bone. The aim is to sever the carotid artery and jugular vein (Pig slaughtering, www.Hyfoma.com) and let the blood to drain out. The exsanguination process should be as fast and complete as possible due to hygienic norms since insufficient bleeding and slow death could result in blood clotting in the deep tissues and this might be hazardous in the later stages of slaughtering. Elevation bleeding is more hygienic and is preferred other alternatives as it decreases the potential risk of contaminating the carcass (Heinz, 2008). This process is usually separated from the operations which will follow. If the blood is not intended for use it should be drained away into a separate pit and should not be allowed to drain into the waste water (Tove, 1985). Skinning /dehairing The process will vary according to animal (pigs and cattle). Such process consists of removing the skin of animals. Cutting of the skin is made around the leg with the perspective of exposing and loosen the tendon of the animals lower leg joint to be used for hanging the carcass, following which the entire skin is removed and the body is prepared for evisceration (Heinz, 2008). This process is usually meant for cattle, goat, deer and sheep. Whereas dehairing is a process normally done in the slaughter of pigs which consists of releasing the bled animal into a pool of boiling water for a couple of minutes and then pulling it out for removal of the hairs before proceeding for evisceration. Evisceration Evisceration is the process which consists of removing the internal organs of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The internal organs are also known as offal and they falls into two categories: Red offal such as the heart, liver and lungs (pluck). Grey offal such as the stomach or intestine (paunch). To avoid contamination of the carcass through accidental punctures of the intestines and stomach, it is important that the carcass is placed in the hanging position. The body cavity is severed and the intestinal mass and the stomach (the paunch) are pushed slightly out. The liver is held out care is taken not to spill its bitter contents onto the carcass and as such spoil the taste of the meat. The last stage in evisceration is the removal of the contents from the chest cavity. By cutting the diaphragm which separates the thoracic cavity from the belly, the pluck can be pulled out as a unit (Heinz, 2008). Leakage from the rectum is prevented by tying the anus with a process called bagging. Splitting and trimming The carcass is cut down along the backbone and split into two sides using a brisket saw and is then subjected to inspection from an authorized officer for detection of diseases . Trimming is a process that should be performed by trained employees and consists of the removal of visible contamination. All equipment (hooks and knives) should be sanitized between each use to reduce cross-contamination between areas. Carcasses which have been railed out for visible contamination, such as fecal contamination, should be re-conditioned as quickly as possible to get the carcass through the process and back into the system (Harris and Savell et al., 2003). Delivery After undergoing all processes in the slaughter line, the carcass is weighed and finally labeled for identification and send for delivery on the local markets. PRECAUTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE SLAUGHTERING PROCESS AS PER HEINZ (2008) INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING: Disinfection on entering the premises Every time an authorized officer or member of the staff is to enter the slaughter house, he should undergo a process of disinfection by dipping his boots in a footbath, which is a basin situated at each entrance of the slaughter line, to avoid carrying infectious agents that might stick to the boots via soil particles. Bleeding and exsanguinations The knife used to slaughter each animal should be cleaned and rinsed in hot water. It is known that a contaminated knife can pass on bacteria into the animal tissues during the initial stages of bleeding, that is, when the heart is still in pumping. Skinning Knife skinning and the use of bare hands can similarly hosts contaminating organisms on the surface of the carcass. As such washing of the hands is a must after the passage of each carcass to avoid contamination of same. Evisceration Extreme care should be emphasized on not to puncture the intestines. The slaughtermen should follow the procedure of tying the end part of the intestine and the severed end of the esophagus, then removing intestine and stomach first, followed by the pluck ( heart, liver, and lungs of an animal used as meat, Microsoft Encarta, 2008). The pluck should be hung on a hook while the paunch (stomach) should be dropped in a paunch container. As a matter of hygiene, the stomach and intestines should not be processed while carcass dressing is in operation as any minor splash from same can easily cause contamination of the meat. Washing Is a process by which the carcasses undergoes washing with clean potable water. If water is a problem then a dry slaughter process by trained slaughtermen should be used as alternative as it is more appropriate as a safety measure for carcasses to be dry clean than to contaminate them with polluted water. Offal handling The offals (stomach and intestines) are the organs from the carcass which contains the greatest load of infectious organisms and for preventive measure must be moved to a separated chamber provided for them. At first they should be emptied of their contents, dried, then cleansed with water. Personnel The personal hygiene of the workmen is a primordial factor in slaughtering operations, the reason is simply that contamination of food and disease transmission as such depend equivalently upon the human factor as well as on the tools and mode of operation. Transfer of microorganisms by personnel particularly from hands is of vital importance (Chen et al.2001, Montville, 2001, Bloomfield, 2003). During handling, bacteria are transferred from contaminated hands of workers to the food and subsequently to other surfaces (Montville, 2002). Low infectious doses of organisms such as shigella and pathogenic Escherichia coli have been linked to hands as a source of contamination (Snyder, 1998). Poor hygiene, particularly deficient or absence of hand washing has been identified as the causative mode of transmission (Reji, 2003). Proper hand washing and disinfection has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to control the spread of pathogens, especially when considered along with th e restriction of sick workers (Alder, 1999, Montville, 2001). Moreover persons with unhygienic habits like spitting, coughing and nose-blowing should not be under umployment. As such it is important to allow access only to the staff into the premises at the time of slaughter and they should be wearing the proper attire, e.g. clean trousers and wearing appropriate waterproof aprons. Boots as well should be worn with the trousers neatly folded inside. And the hallmark is that the workers must strictly abide to a formal code of hygiene. Hand-washing As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): It is well-documented that one of the most important measures for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective hand washing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_washing). Fundamentally the good habit of careful and frequent hand-washing will definitely reduce contamination. Therefore hand-washing facilities with sufficient water supply is a must in such a delicate process of this kind. Basically the mess room and the working area is where there should be several hand-washing points. If it is situated away from working places, the risk that they will not be used is higher and would probably result in contamination of the meat (Tove, 1985). Hand-washing should be done by all members if the working staff: before starting slaughter after being to the toilets after being into contact with dirty objects and materials after smoking and eating The staff should understand that hands is prone to contamination if used for scratching the skin, the hair, clothes and picking the nose. Such acts may cause bacteria to be transmitted to the hands and thereafter infect the meat which is handled by the same hands. The management of slaughter house should provide antiseptic soap or germicidal, coupled with the use of brush for washing of hands since bacteria are often under the nails (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). Cleaning Operations For the purpose of sanitation clean water is usually required for the cleaning of equipment, tools floors and walls. Such operation normally starts with removal of solid waste of meat and fat trimmings, pieces of bones, blood clots by scrubbing them off the floor. High pressure water cleaning begins from the walls and finally ends with the floors. Hot water hosing under pressure would be ideal for removing sticky waste from corners and drains. For scrubbing of other surfaces such as tables, and tools, the use of hard fibre brushes and detergents is suggested. Liquid detergents are more effectual than ordinary soaps, since they dissolve easily in water while absorbing dirt, which is finally removed by flushing. Powdered soap may also be dissolved in water and used. Knives also should be sterilized or boiled in water. Source: FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49, Manual for the slaughter of small ruminants in developing countries, 1985. DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH UNHYGIENIC SLAUGHTERING There are many different ways by which an infectious organism can make its way through the slaughtering process of animals and cause very subsequent diseases. Below is some of the common diseases related to slaughter houses: Anthrax is a naturally-occurring bacterial disease of animals caused by Bacillus anthracis, which forms spores that generally survive for years in the environment. Cattle, sheep, and goats are at the highest risk but humans can also contract the disease. Most animals are infected by oral ingestion of soil contaminated with the spores. People may acquire anthrax when in contact with infected hides or hair of animals. The organism is inhaled from contaminated dust, or is eaten in undercooked meat from infected animals, or even penetrates a wound in the skin. Animals that died of anthrax may have blood secreted from the mouth, nose, and anus (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). In slaughtering process, the bacteria can be transferred from hides of infected animals to the hides of the healthy ones during the immediate pre-slaughter phase in lairage (Small and Buncic, 2009). As such if no particular precaution is taken when removing the hides, the probability of contaminating the carcass is very high. Brucellosis Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by contact with animals carrying bacteria called Brucella which affects a wide variety of animals including dogs, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. The disease has been known as Malta fever, Bangs disease, Mediterranean fever, rock fever, and goat fever (Microsoft Encarta, 2008). Humans can be infected if in contact with infected meat or placenta of infected animals. The slaughter of undetected a diseased animal is a threat since contamination may result if, for instance, blood from the infected carcass came into contact with the knife of the slaughterman and the same knife is being used for processing another uninfected carcass during the slaughtering. In case of ingestion of infected meat, symptoms in humans are undulating fever, headache, joint pain, weakness, and night sweats (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). People who handle meat should wear PPE such as protective glasses and clothing for protection of wounds from infection. Detecting infected animals prior to slaughter controls the infection at its source. Vaccination is actually available for cattle, but not humans (Franco et al, Goldman et al. 2007). Escherichia coli Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria which is normally found as a normal flora in the intestines of people and animals. One can get infected after handling or being exposed to feces of a carrier animal (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Animals usually carry it without causing disease however when humans are infected, the toxins causes serious illness which ranges from diarrhoea to kidney failure. Personal hygiene is very important, particularly after contact with animal feces, since very few organisms are required to cause infection in humans (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). E-coli can be easily contaminate the carcass in the slaughtering process if ; for instance the worker does not wash his hands after being to the toilet, the bacteria will be transferred when handling the meat. care is not taken at the evisceration step when disemboweling the carcass, as such if the intestines get perforated and intestinal matter comes into contact with the meat ( Heinz, 2008) Prevention focuses on hand washing and proper hygiene. Hands and all equipments should be properly disinfected after touching or handling raw meat (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Salmonellosis (Gastroenteritis) Salmonella sp. are bacteria that live in the intestinal tract of carrier animals. The bacteria are shed into the faeces of animals which are particularly stressed during steps such as being yarded and transported (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). As in E-coli contamination, salmonella can be transferred to the carcass in the slaughtering line by: slaughtermen who are handling meat after being to the toilet without proper hand washing, fecal matter being in contact with the meat at the evisceration process, if the anus is not bagged properly, and also if the intestines get punctured upon removal and intestinal matter is in contact with the meat. If hands are not properly washed after contact with infected feces, the accidental ingestion of bacteria may occur (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Infection also occurs as a result of equipments that are unsanitary. Symptoms generally includes fever, foul smelling diarrhea, and severe dehydration, especially in young children and infants. Life-threatening diseases like meningitis and septicemia may also occur (Montes and DuPont, 2004). Q-fever (Query fever) Q fever is a bacterial infection that can affect the lungs, liver, heart, and other parts of the body. It is found around the world and is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The bacteria affects sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, birds and rodents as well as some other animals (Goldman and Ausiello, 2007). Humans normally acquire fever, night sweats, and pneumonia and hepatitis in the worst cases (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Abattoir workers (particularly those dealing with foetuses), veterinarians and farm workers ) are the people who are most at risk of contracting this disease (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). In slaughtering meat can be contaminated in the process of evisceration whereby feces of contaminated animals have been transferred to the hands of the slaughterman which in turn contaminates other healthy carcasses. To prevent further spread of Q fever, dead fetuses and reproductive tissues should be buried or burned. Wearing of protective equipment such as gloves and eyewear (PPE) when assisting in birthings and washing of hands thoroughly afterward are highly recommended (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). LAWS PERTAINING TO THE SLAUGHTERING INDUSTRY IN MAURITIUS Nowadays not all people are entitled to slaughter animals as it used to be in the past. There are norms and standard which have been set up by the necessary authority to guarantee the safety of the end product to the public. As such in each country there is an institution which is responsible for maintaining this hallmark. In our present situation the regulating body responsible for slaughtering in Mauritius is the MAURITIUS MEAT AUTHORITY (MMA). The main lines of the re

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCo

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCo PepsiCo, Incorporated is a Fortune 500, American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, with interests in manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, as well as salty, sweet and cereal-based snacks, and other foods. Besides the Pepsi brands, the company owns the brands Quaker Oats, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, SoBe, Naked, Tropicana, Copella, Mountain Dew, Mirinda and 7 Up (outside the USA). The various strategic plans for managing and developing the growth of PepsiCo are as follows:- INTENSIVE GROWTH (Identifying the opportunities to achieve further growth within the current business) Product -market expansion grid is useful framework for detecting new intensive growth opportunities Market penetration strategy(The company first considers whether it could gain more market share with its current products in the current markets): Headquartered in Purchase, New York, with Research and Development Headquarters in Valhalla, The Pepsi Cola Company began in 1898 by a NC Pharmacist and Industrialist Caleb Brad ham, but it only became known as PepsiCo when it merged with Frito Lay in 1965.Major products of both the companies were before they got merged were- Pepsi-Cola Company Pepsi-Cola was formulated in 1898, Diet Pepsi (1964) and Mountain Dew (introduced by Tip Corporation in 1948). Frito-Lay, Inc. Fritos brand corn chips (created by Elmer Doolin in 1932), Lays brand potato chips (created by Herman W. Lay in 1938), Cheetos brand cheese flavored snacks (1948), Ruffles brand potato chips (1958) and Rold Gold brand pretzels (acquired 1961). So, the Pepsi -cola and Frito-Lay both were amongst the renowned and best sellers till they got merged. Market development strategy (next it considers whether it can find or develop new markets for its current products)-Pepsi-Cola was considered a takeover target not only because it ran a distant second in the soft drink sector to industry giant Coca-Cola Company, but also because little of the companys stock was in the hands of management. Following the creation of PepsiCo, however, the new companys directors held a much larger proportion of shares, with Lay holding a 2.5 percent stake himself. A second force behind the merger was Frito-Lays desire to more aggressively pursue overseas markets. The companys sales had largely been restricted to the United States and Canada, but it could now take advantage of Pepsis strong international operations, through which Pepsi products were sold in 108 countries. Product development strategy A third force was the perceived synergy between salty snacks and soft drinks. As Kendall succinctly related to Forbes in 1968, Potato chips make you thirsty; Pepsi satisfies thirst. The plan was to jointly market PepsiCos snacks and soft drinks, thereby giving Pepsi a potential advantage in its ongoing battle with Coke. Unfortunately, these plans were eventually scuttled by the resolution of a Federal Trade Commission antitrust suit brought against Frito-Lay in 1963. The FTC ruled in late 1968 that PepsiCo could not create tie-ins between Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola products in most of its advertising. PepsiCo was also barred from acquiring any snack or soft drink maker for a period of ten years. integrative growth INTEGRATIVE GROWTH (Identifying opportunities to build or acquire business that are related to current business) Each company faces challenge of selection between different marketing strategies of growth. PepsiCo has a bunch of strategies called integrated growth strategies to: Expand Global Leadership Position of the Snacks Business. PepsiCo is global snacks leader of the world, with No. 1 savory category of the share position in the virtually each key region around the globe. They have advantaged position for entire value chain in over more than 40 developing and developed regions in which they operate as the capitalization on the local manufacturing and the optimized go-to-the-market capabilities in every region, thus also the ability to have introduced the relevant products locally by using the global capabilities. Ensure Sustainable, Profitable Growth in Global Beverages. When combined with actions they are taking to refresh their brands across the entire beverage category, they believe this game-changing transaction will enable them to accelerate their top-line growth and also improve their profitability. They continue to view the significant areas of the global beverage growth, specifically in the developing markets or in the evolving categories. They will thus invest in the attractive opportunities and concentrating in the geographies and the categories in which they the leader or the close second and where competitive game thus remains widely open. Unleash the Power of Power of One. Combination of the snacks and the beverages-with the global high-demand and the local brands thus makes the company an essential and needful partner for the small-format as well as the large-format retailers. Rapidly Expand Our Good-for-You Portfolio. By investing to thus accelerate growth of the platforms, and they are using the knowledge from the initiatives to improve their beverage offerings and the core snack and thus also developing high nutritious products for the undernourished people around the world. Continue to deliver the commitments and the Environmental Sustainability Goals. They actively work with their farmers to promote sustainable agriculture and thus developing the packaging alternatives in both the beverages and snacks to thus reduce impact on environment. Cherish the Associates and Developing Leadership to thus sustain the Growth. By implementing tailored training programs to provide managers and the senior executives with leadership and strategic capabilities that are required in the rapidly changing environment. diversification growth DIVERSIFICATION GROWTH (identifying opportunities to add attractive business unrelated to current business) the US based company thus conducted the restructuring exercise in the year 1997-98 by thus spinning-off the restaurants and the bottling businesses. Restructuring was thus aimed to achieve the improved and increased focus on companys snack food operations (Frito-Lay) and core beverage (Pepsi-Cola). By thus successfully adopting new focus strategy since the year 1997, the company has thus emerged as second largest packaged consumer goods company (terms of the revenues) in world. By thus acquiring the leading beverages companies like the Tropicana (July 1998), the South Beach Beverage (October 2000) and the Quaker Oats company (December 2000), company has thus significantly strengthened the competitive position in beverages segment.

Fallen Souls In the Inferno :: essays research papers fc

Fallen Souls in "The Inferno" Thesis Statement: In each Circle and Canto there are different penalties to pay but it is for sure that each forbidden soul in the Inferno will live forever in eternal suffering. I. Introduction II. Medea and Jason A. Jason's love affair. B. Medea and the three children exiled. C. Medea's slaying of the three children and Glauce. D. Jason's penalties. III. O. J. Simpson A. His Crime. B. His Penalties in the Inferno and in life. IV. Benedict Arnold A. His Crime. B. His Penalties in Hell. V. Conclusion Cantos III, V, and XXXIV are only three of the Cantos of the fallen souls of the Inferno. The Inferno is the place we call Hell. It reeks with bad smells and bugs and fire along with the many other hideous things. The Inferno has many Cantos and Circles, each for a different sin or wrong doing towards another. In each circle and Canto there are different penalties to pay but it is for sure that each forbidden soul in the Inferno will live forever in eternal suffering. Our first soul to discuss is eternally locked in Canto V, Circle Two: The Carnal. This man, Jason, became king of Cornith by committing adultery against his wife, Medea, with the king of Cornith's daughter, Glauce. Jason returns to Medea and tells her that she and their three children are to leave his home immediately so he and Glauce can move in. The following day Medea sends Glauce a poisoned robe which kills her. This causes Jason to come to Medea for revenge, where he finds his three children murdered by their mother's hand. Jason grief stricken falls upon his own sword and dies there with his sons. Jason is reputed to the Carnal a place where souls who give up there own life for passion â€Å"are swept forever in the tempest of Hell, forever denied the light of reason and of God,† (Literature 635). He is forever with the judge of Hell, Minos. The Caina is â€Å"the first ring of the last circle where those who performed acts of treachery against their kin,† (Literature 638). One destined for the Caina is O. J. Simpson. This man committed a sin that would send him to Canto XXXII. Simpson killed his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in a jealous rage. Simpson will surely be judged by Minos to go to Caina were his soul will forever have to live in retribution and think about what he had done against his wife, Nicole. O. J. will also have to live the rest of his life on earth and pay cash sums to the Brown's and Goldman's.

Stem Cell Research :: Controversy, Debate, Politics

Stem cells are cells that can form into any type of cell, they are found in bone marrow, embryos, fetuses, and blood from the umbilical cord. Early in development, a human embryo is made up of a hollow ball of cells called a â€Å"blastocyst†. Blastocyst cells divide and eventually develop into all of the tissues and organs of a human being, a process called â€Å"differentiation†. Embryonic stem cells can be grown in the laboratory from blastocysts and made to differentiate into nerve, liver, muscle, blood, and other cells. Scientists hope to control the differentiation of the cells to replace cells in diseased organs in human beings. Embryonic stem cells can also be used to test the effects of new drugs without harming animals or people. In adult human beings, stem cells are found in many places in the body, including the skin, liver, bone marrow, and muscles. In the organs, stem cells remain inactive until they are needed. The stem cells supply each organ with cells needed to replace damaged or dead cells. Bone marrow stem cells divide to produce more stem cells, additional cells called â€Å"precursor cells†, and all of the different cells that make up the blood and immune system. Precursor cells have the ability to form many different types of cells, but they cannot produce more stem cells. Scientists can isolate bone marrow stem cells to use as donor cells in transplants. Adult stem cells, however, are rare and more difficult to detect and isolate. The discovery and isolation of embryonic stem cells has led to debate over whether it is right to use cells taken from human embryos for research. People have expressed concern about using human embryos and collecting some of their cells. Some people consider embryos already to be human beings. The embryos are destroyed in the process of isolating the stem cells. Once removed from an embryo, stem cells alone cannot form another embryo or develop into a human being. Many people consider it wrong to destroy human embryos, but other people believe that the potential medical benefits of stem cells justify their use. Scientists have found that stem cells can grow into 210 types of cells in the human body. Scientists believe that these cells can be used to cure many diseases that they have tried to find a cure for. Stem Cell Research :: Controversy, Debate, Politics Stem cells are cells that can form into any type of cell, they are found in bone marrow, embryos, fetuses, and blood from the umbilical cord. Early in development, a human embryo is made up of a hollow ball of cells called a â€Å"blastocyst†. Blastocyst cells divide and eventually develop into all of the tissues and organs of a human being, a process called â€Å"differentiation†. Embryonic stem cells can be grown in the laboratory from blastocysts and made to differentiate into nerve, liver, muscle, blood, and other cells. Scientists hope to control the differentiation of the cells to replace cells in diseased organs in human beings. Embryonic stem cells can also be used to test the effects of new drugs without harming animals or people. In adult human beings, stem cells are found in many places in the body, including the skin, liver, bone marrow, and muscles. In the organs, stem cells remain inactive until they are needed. The stem cells supply each organ with cells needed to replace damaged or dead cells. Bone marrow stem cells divide to produce more stem cells, additional cells called â€Å"precursor cells†, and all of the different cells that make up the blood and immune system. Precursor cells have the ability to form many different types of cells, but they cannot produce more stem cells. Scientists can isolate bone marrow stem cells to use as donor cells in transplants. Adult stem cells, however, are rare and more difficult to detect and isolate. The discovery and isolation of embryonic stem cells has led to debate over whether it is right to use cells taken from human embryos for research. People have expressed concern about using human embryos and collecting some of their cells. Some people consider embryos already to be human beings. The embryos are destroyed in the process of isolating the stem cells. Once removed from an embryo, stem cells alone cannot form another embryo or develop into a human being. Many people consider it wrong to destroy human embryos, but other people believe that the potential medical benefits of stem cells justify their use. Scientists have found that stem cells can grow into 210 types of cells in the human body. Scientists believe that these cells can be used to cure many diseases that they have tried to find a cure for.

Modes of Power for Women Essay -- Theogony Females Birth Greek Essays

Modes of Power for Women The struggle for control over birth transcends centuries and continents. Gloria Steinem, a women’s rights advocate of the 1990s describes how â€Å"the traditional design of most patriarchal buildings of worship imitates the female body† in order that â€Å"men [can] take over the yoni-power of creation by giving birth symbolically† (Steinem XV). The struggle for control over the power of procreation between the sexes existed in Ancient Greece. It is apparent in the Theogony, an account of the creation of Greek deities, composed by Hesiod sometime between the eighth and seventh centuries. The Theogony depicts how males attempted to subvert control of procreation by monitoring the womb, through force, and by undermining mother-child relationships. The Theogony also describes how women combated the subversion through willpower, deceit, and forming mother-child bonds to preserve the female power of birth, the unique power to control what is created and influenc e the actions of that creation. In the Theogony, creation starts with two powerful initial goddesses: Chaos and Gaia. These goddesses give birth to a plethora of children, all of them born â€Å"without [the goddesses] mating in sweet love† (line 132). Because they give birth through self-procreation the goddesses have absolute control over their wombs. As other deities are born self-procreation is replaced by births of dual parentage. With gods and dual parentage, subversion of the female womb begins. Absolute control of birth is replaced by the struggle between genders for control of birth. Gods gain access to the womb three ways: limiting or monitoring the offspring that the womb releases, using sexual force against women, an... ...by unabating trouble in his heart and in his mind, and there is no cure for his plight† (611-612), indicates men are unable to conquer the female womb. Through desire, deceit, and offspring mortal women and goddesses preserve autonomy over birth. Birth is an amazing ability. It is a uniquely female power. The Theogony provides a portrait of the struggle between the sexes for control of the womb. Men attempt to gain access to birth by monitoring and grasping control over what leaves the womb, through sexual force, and by destroying the powerful mother-child bonds. Nonetheless, women retain autonomy. Sheer force of will, as Hera’s birth illustrates, deceit, and strong mother-child bonds preserve female power of procreation. Through birth women influence and control the course of human (or deities) destiny. Through their wombs women gain powerful agency.

Context reflects values Essay

Context is a clear reflection of the values of any era, especially in Shakespeare’s canonical play Hamlet. The events and characters in Hamlet embodies the historical context of shifting religions and political uncertainty that lead to a society imploding. Composed in the 1600s, the murder of a king and the encroachment of foreign power would have had particular resonance for the audience as there was an innate failed invasion of Britain by Spain and an attempted assassination in the Court of Queen Elizabeth I. Additionally, the character Hamlet in this Elizabethan era represents the uncertainty of Christian values and the Renaissance need for restoring the ordained hierarchy. Hamlet was composed in a time of great political uncertainty in English history in which the Queen Elizabeth I had withstood an assassination attempt, a foiled uprising and a failed invasion by Spain. The events of Hamlet , in which a King is murdered and a country ultimately forfeited to foreign power, would have had particular resonance for an Elizabethan audience. This disorder can be seen through the garden imagery woven through the play: â€Å"unweeded garden in two months dead†. The disorder of the country is also seen through the incongruity of Gertrude and Claudius’s reunion: â€Å"Funeral bak’t meals are coldly furnished forth the marriage tables† The period in which Shakespeare wrote was one of explosive growth in knowledge. The Renaissance has seen a revival of Classical learning (reflected in references to Vigil in Hamlet), world exploration was challenged and revolutionising peoples’ conceptions of the universe with Ptolemaic heliocentric (sun-centered) model. Though Hamlet is an appropriation of a story told by Saxo Grammaticus, the ‘Revenge Tragedy’ prototype of Thomas Kyd and the Senecan Tragedy, Shakespeare transcends other tragedies by creating a protagonist that is more complex as Hamlet is a revenge hero that is reluctant to avenge. Through his inner conflict arising from his tragic flaw- procrastination, Hamlet represents the dichotomy of Christian values and the Renaissance need for order in the Elizabethan era. This conflict is crystallised in the Prayer Scene (III,iii)  when Hamlet is passing through to his mother’s room when he comes upon the kneeling Claudius and recognises that he has an opportunity to kill him. He decides not to since, he reasons, if he kills his uncle at prayer Claudius will go to heaven and not to hell – that would be poor revenge. However, according to A.C. Bradley, this is Hamlet’s fatal flaw – procrastination as Hamlet tries to convince himself that this is his duty: â€Å"Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge†, yet is moral code prevents him from avenging. To this point, the audience is convinced that even if Hamlet was to kill Claudius at prayer, Claudius would not go to heaven like what Hamlet had thought because of Claudius’s ironic couplet: â€Å"My words fly up, my thought remain below/ Words without thought never to heaven go†. Hamlet’s conflict is also caused by his humanitarian self, denoted through his soliloquies and paralleling the age of enlightenment. In his soliloquy, he debates the medieval doctrines that demand for a son to absolve his father’s ‘murder’ with conflicting Christianity. In a bitter tone, his despair is denoted through self-laceration: â€Å"lecherous, kindles villain†. Yet this is again an excuse for procrastinating as his frustration at ‘thought’ prevails over any kind of ‘resolution’. In conclusion, it is obvious that the values of any era are reflected through its context. The events and characters in Hamlet mirrors the innate instability and religious upheaval of the 1600s.

English Literature Essay

Gender as reflected in literature gives readers pictures that apply, illustrate and reinforce norms and values accepted by society. Authors, whether they are aware of it or not, are themselves socialized into gender systems that are reflected in the themes, characters and plots of their texts. Toni Morrison’s â€Å"The Bluest Eye† presents gender as a theme that cuts across many social constructions in society. She does not stop at the conventional and surface definition of gender as a social construction of the roles and norms of male and female, but shows how class, race and even gender subgroups deepen the hierarchies and power relations between different people in society. Though the main focus of her novel is the concept of beauty, the writer posits that beauty is determined by gender subgroups, race and class. In this essay, it is proposed that the concept beauty is a tool used by Morrison to illustrate the hierarchies and values created by race, class and gender. To show the impact of race, class and gender on both the psyche of the individual and the collective consciousness of society, Morrison uses young black girls as protagonists and narrates their family experiences, making sure to highlight experiences which involve discrimination and oppression by gender, class and race. Though her narratives constantly switch personas, the writer notes that the first person narrative belongs to Claudia, who is often seen to defy the norms and values that Morrison presents. The former is seen to defy the socialization of young girls into motherhood through the gifting of dolls, â€Å"I had no interest in babies or the concept of motherhood† (Morrison 15). Claudia also defies the convention of beauty, of fair-skinned girls with curly blond hair and blue eyes such as Shirley Temple, often despising the latter with a cruel and furious hatred, as seen in her treatment of the doll she received as a gift. Through this, a gender subgroup is shown, or perhaps, even a category which cuts across gender, which is race. The novel illustrates the presence of gender and class hierarchies that may be structured on the basis of race or gender. Distinctions of white male, white female, black male, black female, white child and black child are presented. Hierarchies are illustrated and the relationships these subgroups have to one another are presented. Seen through the eyes of Pauline Breedlove, the black female is shown to serve almost all of them, â€Å"‘White women said, â€Å"Do this. † White children said, â€Å"Give me that. White men said, â€Å"Come here. † Black men said, â€Å"Lay down. † (Morrison 93). The character continued to infer black women’s only power, which is as a parent to a child, â€Å"The only people they need not take orders from were black children and each other† (Morrison 93). Gender systems and hierarchies denote a set of norms and values that all these subgroups adhere to. For women, roles are the embodiment of these norms and valu es. Age, class and race are the determinants of such roles. A young girl is expected to protect her virtue and help her mother. A housewife is expected to be faithful to her husband, perform domestic work, responsible for child-rearing, able to earn additional income for the family and continue the virtues she learned as a young girl. If a female would somehow not fit within the previously-stated norms, such as the case of Frieda, Claudia’s sister, she would be labeled deviant or, in Morrison’s work, ruined. Frieda relates the stigma and fear this label entails in her conversation with Claudia: Miss Dunion came in after everybody was quiet, and Mama and Daddy was fussing about who let Mr. Henry in anyway, and she said that Mama should take me to the doctor, because I might be ruined, and Mama started screaming all over again†¦But why were you crying? I don’t want to be ruined. (Morrison 67) The image of ‘ruined’ in Morrison’s work is a source of so much anxiety for Frieda because of their perception of a ‘ruined’ woman, where here, Claudia shares the anxiety and fear in an image of her own, â€Å" An image of Frieda, big and fat, came to mind. Her thin legs swollen, her face surrounded by layers of rouged skin† (Morrison 67). Frieda is so terribly distressed at being ‘ruined’ that she and her sister strive to find ways to counteract this status or perhaps medicate it. She and Claudia urgently think, â€Å"But Frieda, you could exercise and not eat†¦Besides what about China and Poland, They’re ruined too, aren’t they? And they ain’t fat. That’s because they drink whiskey. Mama says whiskey are them up. You could drink whiskey† (Morrison 67). In Morrison’s novel, being ‘ruined’ is equivalent to being a whore or prostitute, a woman generally frowned upon by society because of her type of work and her non-adherence to the values of virtue and chastity expected of women. This is illustrated through a reference to the character the Maginot Line, Poland and China, or to Pecola’s ignorance of their true profession, Miss Marie, Miss Poland and Miss China. The value of virtue and chastity that women are prescribed to is embodied in the role of a virgin or legitimate wife, which the previously-mentioned women are most certainly not and are consequently stigmatized by the community. However, these women are aware and accept the stigma and fully understand their role prescription and label of ‘ruined’ as a choice they made, characterizing themselves as â€Å"whores in whores’ clothing, whores who had never been young and had no word for innocence† (Morrison 42). Despite their self-prescription, stigma and community perceptions, these women are aware of their deviance and accept it, implying that they are aware and accept what is proper and appropriate, Their only respect was for what they would have described as ‘good Christian colored women. ’ The woman whose reputation was spotless, and who tended to her family, who didn’t drink or smoke or run around. These women had their undying, if covert, affection. † (Morrison 41-42) Other works by female authors present this image of ‘good women’. Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman’s â€Å"A New England Nun† shows Louisa Ellis, who waits for Joe Dagget for 15 years to marry him and stays at home, sews and does housework all day and performs domestic work. She is characterized as meek, stiff, peaceful and virtuous (Freeman). Here, Louisa Ellis performs all the roles and tasks ascribed to a single woman. â€Å"A White Heron† also shows an image of a ‘good girl’ in the character of Sylvia, who follows her grandmother’s instructions, is quiet and complacent towards older men and keeps a secret within her girl’s heart (Jewett). It must be noted however, that this image uses only gender as a category for prescription. This image is elevated to the level of race as a gender subgroup through Pecola Breedlove who alludes to her fondest dream of blue eyes (Morrison). The dimensions of this dream and how it is shaped by the previously-mentioned gender systems to the point of oppression and revulsion for oneself is almost horrific and pitiful. Langston Hughes’ â€Å"Harlem† may describe Pecola’s dream as one that: â€Å"Fester(s) like a sore— / and then run? (4-5), showing how much pain Pecola feels and experiences because of her unfulfilled dream. She considers her brown eyes a sore, for the absence of her fulfilled dream of blue eyes is the presence of her brown eyes. The horror of her wish and the desperation of her yearning is expressed at the end of Morrison’s work, when all these gender systems, roles and values bear down upon her because of her father’s impregnating her. Her split personality or other voice in her head accompanies her new perception of having blue eyes, the bluest eyes, which makes her feel that she is above everyone else. She no longer hides behind her ugliness as she did before (Morrison 28), but sees people unable to bear their own in the presence of the ultimate symbol and sign of beauty, that she alone possesses, the bluest eyes. Essay 1 Reflection When I gave into my emotions and intellect for this essay, I found myself to feel very strongly about Pecola’s situation and her perception of her own appearance and beauty. To think that she conceives the disdain and disgust that other feel for her and is able to project it within herself is almost traumatizing for me especially since I know how young she is. Compounded oppression, bad family situation and victimization are features of her life that may make one almost think that her fate was horribly inescapable and her desire for blue eyes one that elicits deep sympathy. Discussing this with others and presenting my ideas on gender and how deep the scars of gender-based violence may run has given me insight on the historical and cultural relevance of Morrison’s work and how others’ works like Kate Chopin, Jewett and Freeman reflect this type violence. I would consider Pecola’s perception as an effect of violence. Thinking about the story, I would think that Pecola’s innocence was still intact even after she was raped by her father perhaps through her own mind’s fierce denial, but her psyche was totally shattered when she received her wish of blue eyes. Relating this text to my courses on women studies and feminism, a deeper analysis would have shown the intricacies of race, class and gender and how the hierarchies created by these three based solely on oppressive social constructions can destroy whole countries, whole peoples of color and at the individual level, complete psyches and perceptions. The scope and range of feminism tends to question everything and I wanted to do that but felt limited by the number of pages allowed. When someone would read my essay, I would hope that it would spark a little interest in re-examining texts and even his/her own perceptions on race, class and gender. I would say that my essay’s goal would be to spark insight in my reader about the world and society in terms of the three social constructions I mentioned.