Mesmerism and Spirituality free essay sample

Though very few remember him, Masers interpretation of animal magnetism marked the beginning of mental therapy as we understand It today. At a time when methods reminiscent of medieval superstitions were being viewed with suspicion. His theories bridged the gap between ancient superstitions and modern psychotherapy. Franz Anton Messes (1733-1815) was born on the 23rd of May 1733 at the village of Gazing near Switzerland, on the German side of Bodies (Lake Constance).He was originally intended for the church and studied at Jesuit University f Dillinger, Bavaria where he studied philosophy and theology. During his studies, he came Into contact with the works of Christian Wolff, who gave him scientific method and Descartes, which convinced him that heavenly bodies affected the lives of men. Wolff had published an essay on the practical philosophy of the Chinese, one of the earliest of such works in the West.The interrelationship of Heaven, Earth and Man, implicit in this philosophy, deeply impressed young Anton and affected his whole worldview. We will write a custom essay sample on Mesmerism and Spirituality or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He later embarked on medical studies in the University of Vienna. He was the student of some the most famous physicians at the time, such as Gerard De Swelter (Empress Merle Threshers physically Anton De Hahn and Anton von Stock. His thesis De influx planetarium in corpus human (Influence of the Planets on the Human Body. ) showed his growing interest in Paralegals theories.He wrote on the influence of the planets and their possible effect on human bodies by ways of and the element fluid. He declared human bodies harbored a magnetic curative fluid that people could use to heal each other, thus a doctor could heal a tenant by touching them. However, stayed well away from any astrological theories or any other supernatural explanations. One of his goals was to have his method and theories accepted by the scientific institution of the day, this proved to be a very frustrating goal that reached no fruition and brought him misfortune.He married a very wealthy widow (Anna Maria Von Pooch) and established himself as a physician in the Austrian capital Vienna. He was very passionate about music and was a patron of musicians Including Mozart and Haydn. At that time, the orthodox treatment of various DOLS-or deer was Limited to such things as bloodletting, blistering and various medicinal concoctions. Magnets the recommend medium to carry this fluid (according to Paralegals) was readily available and was being used by some practitioners as a curative medium. Messes was influenced by the work of (the unfortunately named) astronomer and priest Maximally Hell, who was already using magnets to relieve pain, and studied under him as an assistant. Francs first personal attempt In magnetism was with a young reined of his wifes called Franz Sororities, who suffered from hysteria with symptoms including convulsions, vomiting, depression, blindness, lameness, fainting fits. His treatment was very successful and she went on to live a normal life and even had children. In time.Messes did not mention a very therapeutic factor- her confidence in him and her complete faith In his ability to cure her. However In time, he came to realize that he was unable to cure people who had no faith In him. Messes also using them. In 1775, He called this form of treatment (the quality in animals which dad them sensitive to the universe) animal magnetism. Majority of his patients suffered from nervous conditions and he refused to treat organic illnesses. Most of his patients exhibited symptoms of being healed.However this idea of faith in the healer was experimented on before. For ages, man has tried to cure diseases without drugs through some invisible power and believed that the soul had an influence on the body. These miraculous cures were often brought about by rites and rituals. The Greeks came closer to modern methods and they dimly understood that to influence patients soul (which will in tune affect an improvement in their physical condition), the healer must gain the patients complete confidence. This was often done through physical contact> Plutarch records that Porphyry of Pipers cured illness by touching the sufferer with his big toe. Apart from laying of hands they also believed that a patient must have a serene and hopeful attitude to be cured. For example in Temples of Healing, priests prescribed sleep for patients. However before they slept, they were told that they will definitely be healed, thus exerting a strong suggestive influence on them.Another ancient example of this will be the miracles of Jesus Christ, who healed people merely by touching them or proclaiming that they will be healed. He wept aside common belief that only powerful people were capable of healing and stated that any man could be a successful physician, given that he believed. (An example of this being the woman with the issue of blood who got healed simply by touching his garments). Up till a three centuries ago, people believed that by being touched by a monarch, they could be cured of certain illnesses including tuberculosis.In 1784, King Louis XVI appointed four members of the Faculty of Medicine as commissioners to investigate animal magnetism as practiced by doesnt. At the request of these commissioners the King appointed five additional commissioners from the Royal Academy of Sciences. These included Dry Antoine Lavisher, De Jessie of the famous French botanists, Dry Joseph-Ignite Guillotine, the astronomer Jean Sylvan Bailey, and the American ambassador Benjamin Franklin. With the exception of De Jessie, the members of the commission proved to be very narrow- indeed and unimaginative.

Marx, Durkheim, Weber essays

Marx, Durkheim, Weber essays Karl Marx considered one of the worlds greatest thinkers by the Wall Street Journal thought that people should try to change society. Exiled from his native country of Germany for trying to ignite a revolution believed the main struggle in human life was class conflict. One of the lasting impressions of his work Manifest der kommunistischen Partei (Communist Manifesto) (1848) was written in the explicit hope of precipitating social revolution. And although Modern day Communism, widely attributed to him, is very different from his Marxism; the founders of modern day communism drew from his ideas so much so that he was disgusted at some of the debates on his insights into sociolism. Although Marx did not consider himself a sociologist, many sociologist consider his work, especially his work in the class stuggles and his introduction of one of the major perspectives in sociology, conflict theory, to have propelled him as one of the most significant early sociologist. Emile Durkheim is considered by many to be the father of sociology. He is credited with making sociology a science, and having made it part of the French academic curriculum. During his lifetime, Emile Durkheim gave many lectures, and published an impressive number of sociological studies, to prove his one of his greatest contributions to science, his view on social integration, on subjects such as religion, suicide, and all aspects of society. A hundred years after his genius his studies are still quoted and studied all over the world. Max Weber is best known as one of the leading scholars and founders of modern sociology and like Marx and Durkheim is one of the most influential of all sociologists. With his most famous economic work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), Weber disagreed with Marx in that economics was the central force in social change. He believed that it was r ...

What Is The 10x Marketing Formula - CoSchedule Blog

What Is The 10x Marketing Formula Blog If you’ve ever been disappointed in your content marketing results- or lack thereof- you’re not alone. Less than 50% of North American B2B marketers  rate their content as successful. For many, it’s failed to live up to the hype. I’m on a mission to change that. Let me introduce you to The 10x Marketing Formula.What Is The 10x Marketing Formula?Tenfold Growth In 3 Months The formula is all about achieving tenfold growth rather than incremental improvements. And it’s a system for creating explosive results in short timeframes. Consider this scenario. Imagine your boss saying to you: â€Å"You have three months to grow our email list from 10,000 subscribers to 100,000, or I have to let you go.† Would you know what to do if your job was contingent on achieving 10x growth? Now, before you roll your eyes at such a dramatic scenario, I want to share part of our story with you. Here’s an excerpt from my upcoming book  to explain: We were going to build and launch a product in just three months. Launching meant we made the coveted transition from a service-based company to a product-based company. This was great. But it also meant we literally had three months to live. We were betting it all on with just a few months of runway. At launch day, we had one quarter to go from zero revenue, zero customers, and a small following to a minimum of 300 paying customers and a flourishing audience. It was 10x growth or lights out. When you’re staring at zeroes across the board and you have both a team and your family counting on you, the stakes are as high as they possibly can be. Failure is a real possibility. It becomes tangible, constantly nipping at your heels. So, you either make it happen and generate revenue fast, or you and your entire team are out. When you do this, there’s no fallback system. There’s no one to pick up the slack. And minimal returns on sales and marketing activities aren’t simply a disappointing quarter, they’re doom. In a large company, growing revenues, audience, or a similar metric by 10 percent may be acceptable. But in a startup, numbers like that are your death writ The marketing abyss stared us right in the face and everything was on the line. It was results, or die! The marketing abyss stared us right in the face and everything was on the line. It was results, orFour Phases To 10x Growth As a startup, our marketing simply had to work. And the truth is, so does yours. At a high level, The 10x Marketing Formula is a system of frameworks that work together to produce tenfold growth in any marketing capacity. And it’s a revolution in both methodology and mindset. The formula unfolds in four phases that can move anyone in any industry from â€Å"meh† results to 9,360% growth  like we’ve experienced. I’ve talked about why I’m revealing this formula. Now, I want to show you what it’s actually made of. The 10x Marketing Formula presents four phases to content marketing mastery: planning, execution, publishing, and analysis. It isn’t simply a variant of a marketing to-do list, it’s a set of methodologies and principles that will work in any context. Here’s how it works. Phase One: Plan In the first phase, you will learn how to create content so good, so powerful, and so effective that it makes your competition look like they didn’t even try. You will learn to find your unique niche where your content will stand out and get results. Key to creating this kind of stuff is finding what I call your content core. Your content core will be made of topics that directly intersect with two things: what your audience cares about, and the value your product or service provides. Here’s the deal, it’s not enough to simply drive traffic. You have to be able to convert that traffic into customers. I also interview the brilliant growth expert Noah Kagan  on how to use content for growth hacking. In this conversation, we went way beyond buzzwords In the first phase, you will dial in your content to attract incredible traffic and drive conversions. In the first phase of the 10X marketing process, you will dial in your #content to attractPhase Two: Execute In phase two, you will learn to get sh*t done†¦ And growth-critical stuff at that. If you’re going to get best in class results, you have to execute world-class 10x projects. These are the ideas, campaigns, and launches that will multiply your results tenfold rather than a measly 10 percent. Now, even the best marketing projects in the world won’t be worth the pixels on the screen if they don’t get done! That’s why you loop a badass editorial calendar, the 10x Calendar. It becomes your one source of truth to keep everyone organized and focused on your singular growth goal. To execute your 10x projects master plan, you will document processes with 10x Workflows. This is a system to ensure your team can methodically complete mission-critical tasks on an aggressive timeline. 10x workflows marry time and quality- but are only possible if you build or become a 10x team. 10x workflows marry time and quality- but are only possible if you build or become a 10x team.A 10x Team commits to processes that: acknowledge guessing, embrace failure, thrive on learning, and consistently pursue the best results over activity. You will also learn how to create the best content on the Internet from industry from seasoned vets like Pat Flynn, Jeff Goins, and Brian Dean. And how to adapt agile methodologies  for marketing teams with Andrea Fryrear. In phase two, you will dramatically elevate your team’s output, learn to generate the best ideas of your career, uncover a system that magically prioritizes these ideas, and keep laser-focused on growing the key metrics to growth. In phase two of the 10X marketing formula, youll dramatically elevate your teams output.Phase Three: Publish Phase three is packed with moments of truth. You’re publishing big marketing projects and then learning to wildly promote them. If you need to sharpen, or totally replace, your social media strategy  or build a massive email list, this phase is your ticket. You will also learn how to run a lean and hyper-efficient marketing team from Ash Maurya  and how to use visuals for 10x social promotion from John T. Meyer. In phase three, you will learn to ship the most impactful projects and then promote them with frameworks for social media and email. In phase three of the 10X marketing formula, youll ship the most impactful projects and thenPhase Four: Analyze Finally, phase four is all about analyzing and optimizing your results. But you’re going to go beyond Google Analytics, here. It’s not simply about the right marketing tool stack, it’s about driving growth with the â€Å"One Metric That Matters† framework. In modern marketing we don’t have a data problem- we have a data filtering. So, what is the single most important metric to indicate success or failure? How do you benchmark your work? And how do you show your boss your newfound marketing genius? In addition, you will learn how to write irresistible calls-to-action (CTA) and calls-to-value (CTV). Are you able to convert traffic into prospects, leads, and then customers? Not only do I peel back the curtain on conversion psychology, but I also interview master conversion copywriter Joanna Wiebe  on her framework for getting thousands to click, try, and buy. emIn phase four, you will learn to convert traffic and cut through the clutter of irrelevant data so you can measure what matters most.

The role of Science and Non renewable energy PowerPoint Presentation

The role of Science and Non renewable energy - PowerPoint Presentation Example The Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been among the world’s great wildlife areas. The area was considered as one of the worlds’ remaining wildlife and wilderness frontiers because of its variety in vegetation and topography. The area has proved to be significant ecological dependability as it provides critical habitats for many world species including but limited to porcupine, caribou and polar bears. Despite this, the area is found in the Alaskan land where oil and gas is available for exploration and other development activities. This area has been the bone of contention since it also functions as the habitat for some of the world threatened wildlife species (Staudinger, 2002). As for the case of oil exploration in this area, scientist have stood their ground in opposing the commissioning of the oil and gas exploration project despite the forces from various divides such as political, economical and even social. In order to back their opposition for the oil and gas exploration, scientists argued that, cumulative biological penalties that comprises, blocking, deflecting or troubling wildlife, loss of subsistence hunting grounds, contamination of water and soil from oil spillage, alteration of the drainage system which results into changes in the vegetation cover, increased predation by fox, ravens and gulls on nesting bird because of the food availability from garbage introduced would be the results (Yankelovich, 2011). Despite the fact that exploration takes place during the winter season when most of the common wildlife such as caribou and birds are absent, other species such as muskoxen and polar bears that remain in the area are likely to be affected. The active tundra plant life will also be impacted negatively. During exploration, large rivers are used for gravel removal and transportation corridors. This will lead into disturbances and displacements, exposure to predators and reduced calf production by the females and general su rvival of these animals. A part from winter exploration, year round affects seasonal migrant bird species and wild animals that comes to nest and calve in this region respectively (Yankelovich, 2011). For a long time, controversy as regards the development of this area has been directed on the possible impacts on the biological resources. It is worth noting that in case development is commissioned, impacts on the physical environment and resources e.g. water, air and land would be realized. So far, the areas’ physical environment has been described as conducive since most of it is not occupied or affected by human activities. This would mean that any development and oil or gas exploration activity in this area will result into emission of pollutants into the air. Industrial and domestic wastes resulting from exploration and development sites will need proper disposal. In case of improper disposal of these wastes, clarity on the individual or cumulative environmental effects o f this alteration will be missing (Staudinger, 2002). On an ecological perspective, Yankelovich (2011), the area is said to be sensitive to the harsh climate on the Alaskan plains. It is quite clear that the plain will be disrupted by any slight attempt to explore oil and gas in the region. The disruption

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is Thesis

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is arbitrary - Thesis Example Nye supports science by citing evolution theory to prove that creationism or naturalism is not connected to science. Scientists based their evidence on evolution theory that explains the origin of flora and fauna. Nye also confirms the arbitrary connection between science and naturalism when he says in the debate that creationism should not be offered in school alongside the scientific theory coursework. While Nye argues that the scientific theory is false, Ham arguments are based on religious beliefs that have been captured in the book of Genesis. Additionally, Ham’s interpretation about the creationism in Genesis shows that the earth was created 6,000 years ago through supernatural powers. On the other hand, Nye describes the earth that was formed 4.5 billion years ago by using proof such as homologies, fossil, and distribution of time and space. The disparities in Earth’s age brought forward by Ham and Nye confirms further that the link between naturalism and science is a random occurrence (Etchells). Scientific theories are essential because they are used to explain the historical origin of the phenomena under study. The criteria debunk myths when they provide consistent results to the public. Scientific theory is used in creating awareness through education about the essence of science as a whole. Students use the theories as point of reference when they are given scientific-based prompts. Additionally, scientific theories promote lessons of intelligence and research. Observations that are made are based on theories brought forward by ancient scientists. There would be limited knowledge about natural phenomena if there were no existing theories such as evolution. Ham makes his remarks by quoting importance of science and creationism in school. He reveals that researchers such as Stuart Burgess have embraced both science and creationism as separate entities. However, the professor uses scientific

Ilisu Dam Project Development

Ilisu Dam Project Development The proposed Ilisu Dam is a single project under the umbrella of the massive Southeastern Anatolian Project (Guneydogu Anadolu Proje) or GAP. The GAP was a major development endeavour for Turkey and aimed to develop projects using the power of the two largest rivers in Asia, the Tigris and Euphrates, that run begin in Turkey and run through to the Arabic Gulf. GAP was conceived to meet Turkey’s rising energy needs by the construction of 22 irrigation dams and 19 hydroelectric plants, harnessing the hydroelectric potential energy contained in these two massive rivers (Stern, 2004). The GAP attracted international attention due to its focus on the human effects of the project and attention to sustainability. International credit agencies from the Canada, USA Japan, UK and other European governments along with the World Bank stepped forward to fund the project which they see as one being integral to the socio-economic development of Turkey which is an important US partner and is aspiring to join the EU. Certain aspects of the GAP, specifically the Ilisu Dam, have come under attack from citizens groups concerned about the social and political ramifications of the dam and the project is currently on hold after major sponsors pulled out and completion date has been pushed from early 2000 to 2010. This paper will examine the proposed dam and the issues that surround it. Turkey was once part of the Ottoman Empire emerged from the demise of that empire and was inaugurated as a nation in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal who was later honoured as the â€Å"Father of the Turks†. Under his authoritarian leadership the Anatolians of the region saw improvements in social and economic status. The nation enjoyed a peaceful transfer to democracy in the 1950s though has since seen several military coups but always with a peaceful transfer back to democracy (CIA World Factbook. 2005). The nation borders the Black and Mediterranean Seas and its neighbours include Bulgaria, Greece to the West and Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria to the East. The country is a member of the UN and NATO since the 1950s and is seen as a leading nation in the Asia region. There have been recent conflicts with separatist Kurds in the South Eastern portion of the nation. The Kurdish separatist movement is known as Congress of Kurdistan (KGK) or the communist PKK and have links with Kurds in bordering Iraq and Syria (CIA World Factbook. 2005). The nation has been adopting major environmental and social reform in hopes of being admitted to the rapidly expanding EU. The GAP is aimed at developing the south eastern 8 Anatolian provinces which are home to the majority of the Kurdish population of the nation. The project is the largest ever development project Turkey has ever undertaken and seeks to improve the lives of nearly 10% of the Turkish population (Ilisu Engineering Group, 2001; Stern, 2004). The south eastern part of Turkey is a poverty stricken area plagued by low income, violent instability and inequality (Morvaridi, 2002). The area’s faming consists of low-mechanization with few cash crops and the region suffers from aridity despite the presence of major rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates. The region also suffers from the Kurdish separatist movement which has attracted the attention of the Turkish and this has been compounded by the militants fleeing Iraq due to the recent US and UK invasion. The focus of the GAP is to develop the energy potential of the region while providing irrigation for crop growing to the region. Historically most of the development in Turkey was concentrated on the North and Western regions of the nation, leaving the South and East to languish in obscurity. This lack of investment in the region could be a driving reason behind the Kurdish separatist movement. It is Turkey’s national interest to tap the resources of this region and hopefully quell the separatist movement by funnelling development funds into the area to improve the lives of its inhabitants. The GAP has already begun to pay off as other projects other than the Ilisu Dam have already been completed. GAP related dams already account for more than 15% of Turkey’s energy needs and has potential to reach 22% (Kaygusuz, K, 1999). The final goal for land irrigation is 20% of Turkey’s total irrigable land which is nearly 1.7 million hectares of land United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, 2005). In the region of Sanliurfa – Harran, agricultural benefits are being seen with huge increases in cash crop production (mainly cotton), the establishment of new industries such as beef along with development of textile industry which is raising the standard of living in the region (Northwest Texas International Trade Center, 2004). Energy production is the other prong of the pitchfork of progress that is GAP. In 2002 Turkey’s energy consumption peaked at 126.9 billion KWh. Due to industrialization, development and population growth this figure is projected to rise to 265 billion KWh by 2010 and to 528 billion KWh by 2020 (Stern, 2004). Turkey has scarce fossil fuels so a major source of energy for the nation is hydroelectricity which accounts for 40% of Turkey’s energy needs (Stern, 2004). GAP was conceived to help meet these rapidly increasing energy demands and if GAP does not relieve some of the energy strain put on the nation then other sources of energy must be found. The politics of the GAP are tricky as other nations lie down stream of Turkey on the Tigris and Euphrates. Iraq and Syria are dependent on the flows from the two rivers and by Turkey assuming control of these cross-border water resources tension has been created due to rights to access of the water. Turkey has to be sure to manage the water resources of these rivers in such a way as to not disadvantage the residents of these nations lest they risk war. The GAP falls into the realm of sustainable development as it aims to use a renewable energy source for a long term benefit to the people of the region. The standard definition for sustainable development was generated by a report produced by a United Nations commission in 1987 entitled Our Common Future which is better known as the Brundtland Report after the head of the commission. The definition of the phrase sustainable development is wide ranging and open to subjective interpretation but Our Common Future (1987) defined it as: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. From Our Common Future (Bruntland, 1987) This report generated much response as world leaders began to respond to the issues tackled in the report. The environmental movement began in earnest with the 1960s with the publication of Rachel Carson’s landmark book Silent Spring. (Carson, 1962). The emergence of a demand of environmental responsibility from global citizens was often at odds with economic development planning and a compromise was necessary. Development in 3rd world nations was unchecked and often at the expense of environmental resources. Companies, unable to dispose of environmentally hazardous waste in 1st world nations, looked to pawn it off on 3rd world nations. Economic development was at the forefront of 3rd world nation’s development policies as deforestation, overfishing, herbicide and pesticide application raged rampant with little thought paid to environmental ramifications. An example of this was the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment which was held in Stockholm, Sweden. At this conference the goal was to tackle the problem of acid rain problems of northern Europe. The nations pushing for a solution that addressed the industrial development roots of the problem were strongly opposed by the Soviet-led Block of 77 which accused the nations of pushing an eco-agenda and refused to cooperate (WSSD, 2000). However a positive outcome from this conference was birth of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Through the 1970s and 1980s the UN began to fund more initiatives focused on conservation and human environment issues (IISD, 2002). Public initiatives began to spawn environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) such as the Environmental Defence Fund in 1967, International Institute for Environment and Development in 1971 and the Worldwatch Institute in 1984. These major environmental policy groups are still active and important today. Major environmental disasters such as Bhopal, India and Africa’s starvation in the 1980s brought further attention to human and environmental development (IISD, 2002). In 1992 the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Rio, Brazil. This marked a major effort by the world’s nations to tackle human development in the context of environmental issues and try to develop a model of development that was sustainable. Sustainability can only come about without the degradation of natural capital that provides the necessary requirements for human life. It has been determined that a healthy population is dependent on a healthy environment. Links are often drawn between human health and environmental health outside the realm of needs production as poisons in the environment negatively affect human health as evidenced by historical use of pesticides and their effects. Further conferences on sustainable development in 1997 (Rio+5) and most recently Rio +10 in Johannesburg 2002 has further developed the notion of sustainable development. Due to public pressure corporate social responsibility has become a focus for corporations based in the developed world and this is further evidenced by the emergence of ethical investment funds which critically screen the companies they invest in. Dam construction was a popular activity in the first half of the 20th century and experienced a peak in building activity in the 1970s (WCD, 2000). It is not that the usefulness of the dam in providing energy, irrigation and flood control has passed; it is that there are fewer rivers that are left to be damned and social and environmental awareness of issues surrounding dam construction has increased. However dam construction continues as it is an important source of energy and nations are forced to meet the energy requirements of their citizens. More than 20% of the world’s energy supply comes from dams and more than 60 countries depend on hydroelectricity for greater than 50% of their total energy needs (WCD, 2000). The World Bank still funds dam construction but less than in the past with 1.3% of the bank’s funds going toward dam-related projects and 0.9% being spent on the construction of new dams (The World Bank, 2000). In 2000 the World Commission on Dams (WCD), a United Nations research body, released a landmark report entitled Dams and Development – A New Framework for Decision-Making. This research was undertaken in response to the new realizations on the effects of dams and the role they could play in sustainable development. The report noted that nearly 1/5th of the world’s energy was generated through hydroelectricity and that 1/6th of the global agriculture was dependent on irrigation from dammed rivers. It has been estimated that global levels of hydroelectric generation, which is largely carbon-neutral, precludes the need of an extra 4.4 million barrels of oil a day (WCD, 2000). If all dams were decommissioned and destroyed the damage to humankind would have enormous and alternatives would have to quickly be found to provide the benefits that we glean from dams. There are several high profile dams being constructed globally today. The larger projects like the Three Gorges Dam project in China and the Narmada Dam project in India. These dams are large and multi-purpose aiming to help these nations meet development needs of energy and irrigation. Though dams have been integral to social and economic development there are costs as well. Large dam projects typically involve the displacement of people living near the river upstream of the dam. The WCD (2000) estimated that between 40 and 80 million people have been displaced by dam building often with little or no compensation. Water and Conflict Fresh water is a requirement for life as we know it. Humans are made up of more than 70% water and can live only days without a source of drinkable water. Clean water is needed for drinking as well as for farming, industry, sanitation and household uses. Unfortunately fresh water is scarce on Earth and its distribution uneven. With the majority of fresh water resources concentrated in a few nations the need for shared management of water resources is obvious. Turkey is a water poor nation as are its neighbours Syria and Iraq (WCD, 2000; Stern, 2004). The Tigris and Euphrates are two of the main sources of water for these two nations and they have their sources in Turkey. In a river system such as this the actions of the users upstream have an impact on those downstream. Since rivers do not follow nationally contrived boundaries this can cause conflicts between nation-states as one nation, acting within its own borders, can have significant impact on other nations. It was just this sort of trans-boundary environmental issues that incensed the UN to act and create bodies to help manage and resolve such issues. Acid rain, smog, ozone and pollution are all similar in that though no national borders are trespassed, damage it still felt by other nations. New solutions and methods are needed, and are being develo ped by ENGOS, industry and government, to tackle problems such as these The Ilisu dam project was approved in 1982 and because of the date of approval the project is not automatically subject to the Regulation on Environmental Impact Assessment which is current Turkish environmental policy (Ilisu Engineering Group, 2001). However due to the scope of the project and the international attention it attracted an Environmental Impact Assessment Report produced by a consortium of international experts under the moniker of the Ilisu Engineering Group was commissioned by the Turkish authorities and firms involved in construction of the dam. The Ilisu Dam will consist of a reservoir with a surface area of 313 km and a volume of 10.4 billion cubic meters. The power station will have a capacity of 1,200 MW and is expected to be capable of producing 3,800 GWh of power per year (Ilisu Engineering Group. 2001; Stern, 2004). The dam will transform the local environment, inundating land that is typically arid, causing a shift in the ecology of the area. Resettlement of the Kurdish people in the Anatolian regions is the main source of resistance to the construction of the dam. It was determined that approximately 183 settlements will be affected, 82 would be inundated entirely and 101 would be affected by flooding (Stern, 2004; Morvaridi, 2002). Exact numbers of people are unavailable because conflicts in the region have driven people out of their villages and have encumbered census takers from obtaining accurate estimates of population. The estimates range from 30,000 to 70,000 people, mostly Kurds, losing homes or land or both. Under Turkish law these people would be allotted cash compensation or an offer of resettlement under Turkish law (Morvaridi, 2002). This compensation plan becomes much more complicated when it is realized that many of the people living in the region do not hold deeds to their land and many have expanded their land without government planning permission (Morvaridi, 2002). Determining who would be eligible for compensation would be a long and painful bureaucratic process that would undoubtedly leave many people unsatisfied. Some have claimed that this project is part of a Turkish plot to expatriate the Kurdish people from their native lands. Human rights NGOs mobilized on behalf of these groups and were able to influence the international financiers into relenting on their backing. However the dam’s constructors and the Turkish government point to the social and economic benefits to the people of Turkey and the direct benefits to the people of the Anatolian provinces. The construction of the dam will bring jobs, training and an influx of money to a previously impoverished region. The availability of ample fresh water for irrigation, possibility of a fishery and tourism opportunities also bear consideration. The possibility exists for real economic and social benefit to the region if the project is handled properly with attention paid to women’s rights and economic opportunities, education and investment in long term planning (Ilisu Engineering Group. 2001). Cultural Issues A second major objection to the dam is archaeological potential of the area. The proposed site has seen much history pass through the area. Mesopotamia was centered here, the Romans conquered the area and the Silk Road wove through what is now South Eastern Turkey. Access to the area was previously restricted due violent conflicts between the Turks and the Kurds but in the lull archaeologists have began excavating the area. One site in particular is Hasankeyf which has visible archaeological evidence dating to 2000 years ago and the ruins may evidence a settlement dating back to 7th century B.C.E (Young, 2000). The excavation of Hasankeyf began in 1986, was stopped in 1991 due to civil strife, and excavation resumed only recently with a laughable grant from the Turkish government of  £15,000 from the Ministry of Culture. The government is spending only  £76,000 in exploring the area agriculturally before the dam is built, a meagre effort at best. Even the Ilisu Engineering Group revealed that some of the worst damage of the dam would be in the loss of untold archaeological treasures (Ilisu Engineering Group. 2001). Political Issues The construction of the Ilisu dam would require the water flow to be suppressed in the construction of the dam. Even the slowing of the flow of the river has consequences for the downstream inhabitants in Syria and Iraq. The people of these countries rely on the river for sanitation, industry and personal use and as the rivers are already over taxed any further reduction will surely have negative consequences on the people of these regions. With the construction of the Ilisu dam reservoir there is the potential that Turkey can fully cut Iraq and Syria off from the flows of these vital rivers. In the coming years when the crisis over water deepens this could be an ill-advised political tactic for Turkey to dominate these nations. Due to the volatile nature of the region it is hoped that it does not come to this. However in 1997 the UN approved the Convention on the Non-Navigational Uses of Transboundary Waterways with a vote of 103: 3. The convention was aimed at preventing damage to international waterways with emphasis on peaceful resolution and prior notification between nations. China, Burundi and Turkey all rejected the treaty (Bosshard, 1998). Dam Alternatives The main focus of the dam is to meet Turkey’s energy needs. In the way of natural energy resources Turkey is scarce. To match the 1,200 MW output of the dam numerous coal, lignite or oil plants would need to be constructed which will have a negative impact on the environment of the region and the globe. In the Ilisu Engineering Group’s 2001 Environmental Impact Assessment the group concluded that it would be necessary to import and consume over 2,500 tons of oil per day, releasing 3 million tons of CO2 per year. A coal plant would do much the same. Photovoltaic technology is not advanced or cost-effective enough to possibly take the place of such a large MW project with the costs being three times per kilowatt what hydroelectricity would cost (Ilisu Engineering Group. 2001). Wind projects are under consideration in Turkey but it will take the construction of wind farms as well as the GAP to meet Turkey’s energy needs in the coming decade. The major avenue for reducing the need to build the dam is in increasing energy efficiency. The Ilisu Engineering Group’s report pointed to this avenue as a necessary one for exploration as Turkey’s energy needs continue to grow. Current Status and Future The Ilisu dam’s future is uncertain as major international funding fell apart over concerns of the dam’s social and ecological impact. In November 2001 the British construction firm Balfour Beatty backed out of the deal as the UK export credit agency pulled its support due to public pressure. Another construction company, Impregilo of Italy, also pulled shortly afterwards and the Swiss bank UBS did the same less than 6 months later (BBC, 2002) Through Turkish government still plans on carrying on the project the lack of financial backing makes it impossible to go forward. For the time being the project is on hold. Recommendations A baseline study of wildlife and ecology with the intention of creating reserves nearby for displaced species. Adequate funding and time for proper exploration of Hasankeyf and investigation of other potential sites. Negotiation with Syria and Iraq on the use of the river. Finding a solution that benefits these nations is vital to the dam’s construction. A plan for compensation of people displaced by the dam. Compensation will need to be based on more than proof of land ownership and a census of the area will be necessary to determine the scope of the compensation plan. Negotiation with the Kurdish people of the region, guaranteeing them a greater say in the compensation funds from the dam and in the monetary benefits to be gained from its construction. Moves to further improve the existing energy infrastructure to ensure maximum benefits are garnered from the dam. Development of industry and agriculture in the area to aid in the development of the region. The Ilisu dam is a highly controversial project is a necessary part of Turkish development, providing energy for tens of thousands of people. Dams, though notorious for displacement of people and conversion of landscapes, are a multi-purpose high energy yielding alternative to fossil or nuclear power generation. In terms of sustainable development they are a much better option than fossil fuel and provide the best energy option until wind and photovoltaic energy technology improves. The dam is controversial and for good reason. The Turkish government must take into account the many parties that will be affected by the dam and work to mitigate their concerns. However without this dam Turkey will be hard pressed to meet energy needs and be able to develop for the social and economic benefits of their people. The Ilisu dam may not be an ideal solution to Turkey’s energy needs but it seems to be the best currently available. Bibliography BBC. 2002. Swiss bank quits Turkish dam project. Available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1844465.stm>. Last accessed April 25th, 2005. Bosshard, P. 1998. Ilisu a Test Case of International Policy Coherence. Berne Declaration, November 1998. Available from http://www.rivernet.org/turquie/ilisu.htm>. Last accessed April 25th, 2005.  © Copyright of European Rivers Network Bruntland, G. (ed.), 1987. Our common future: The World Commission on Environment and Development, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Carson, R. 1962. Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. Ilisu Engineering Group. 2001. Ilisu Dam and HEPP Environmental Impact Assessment Report. IISD. 2002. Sustainable Development Timeline. Available from http://www.iisd.org/rio+5/timeline/sdtimeline.htm>. Last accessed April 25th, 2005. Kaygusuz, K. 1999. Energy and water potential of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Energy Sources ; Vol. 21 ; Iss: 10 ; PBD: Dec 1999. Morvaridi, B. 2002. Social Review of the Ilisu Dam Resettlement Action Plan. UK Export Credit Guarantee Department. Northwest Texas International Trade Center. 2004. Gap Irrigation Project In Turkey.  © Northwest Texas International Trade Center 2000-2004. Available from http://www.nwtitc.org/gapturkey.htm>. Last accessed April 24th, 2005. Last Updated 02/06/2004. Stern, S. 2004. International Project Finance: The Ilisu Dam Project in 2004 and the Development of Common Guidelines and Standards for Export Credit Agencies. Journal of Structured and Project Finance. New York: Spring 2004.Vol. 10, Iss. 1; p. 46. The World Bank. 2000. Statistics on the World Banks Dam Portfolio. Available from http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/pb/dams/factsheet.htm>. Last accessed April 25th, 2005. United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. 2005. Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP). Available from http://www.fas.usda.gov/remote/mideast_pecad/turkey/turkey.htm>. Last accessed April 24th, 2005. WSSD. 2000. Towards Sustainable Development: A Guide To The Process Towards The U.N. World Summit For Sustainable Development. Johannesburg, 2002 WCD. 2000. Dams and Development – A New Framework for Decision-Making. Young, P. 2000. Hasankeyf: A city in Peril. History Today; Nov 2000; Vol. 50 Iss 1. pg. 3.

Learning Disabilities and the Classroom Essay

Learning Disabilities and the Classroom With every classroom you are able to see a dynamic between students and their teacher. It takes a strong teacher to really make everything accessible to all students including student with learning disabilities. The class that I watched was Christina Hilliker’s second grade. The disabilities that were part of this great dynamic were Downs, Autism, ADHD, auditory processing and behavior issues that cause learning difficulties. Within the classroom I was able to see many ways that Ms. Hilliker was maintaining her classroom. For general classroom behavior she used a stop light method (red, green yellow). Each student had a Popsicle stick with their name for individual reprimands. For the students that have ADHD or behavior issues there is a behavior chart with daily goals, these goals last the week but are checked daily for each subject. The student with Downs has a paraprofessional that keeps track of her daily behavior goals to connect with her IEP. The student with Autism also has a paraprofessional that maintains the guidelines for behaviors for this student. He is also on a behavior intervention plan that allows for him to maintain control of his by allowing him to pick three activities to complete before his break. During my visit I noticed that table grouping was strategically placed to help lower level students engage with peers that are at a higher learning level. This works with shoulder partners, face to face and there were no more than four in a ground so it is not overwhelming for students with the learning disability. I also noticed that she placed the more encouraging and higher level students with O.D. the student with Downs and C.S. the student with Autism. M.M and B.S. both were split between the tables that did not have Para’s so Ms. Hilliker was able to monitor their needs as she taught. They were both placed facing the board and away from the door and window to reduce distraction. Ms .Hilliker planned her lesson around the student with the disabilities, during reading the teacher made it a point to meet with the red group (below readers) and explain to them what was expected during this time. This meeting allowed for the students and the  paraprofessionals to hear exspectations and allow for the Para have to review the directions for the red group students. C.S. and O.D. both had Ipads that allowed them to work independently on Prologo allowing the Para’s to work with the other students. Math time was planned around the special education teacher, this was to allow for the students who were in need of flex grouping to work on the activity to have this and she was then able to monitor the correct use of the math titles. In science there was little planning needed because C.S. and B.S. (B.S. has ADHD as well as behavior problems) were always read a social story to prepare them for the openness of science class and the expectations that they were to follow. For purpose of inclusion I did not like the stop light discipline, I felt that it held the students who were already on plans for behavior to too many behavior expectations. This seemed overwhelming for me as a visitor to comprehend so I am sure it was for the students with learning difficulties. I think that the behavior plans that were for the individual students worked well to meet their academic abilities and behavior goals. I would use the stop light for the students that were not on BIP’s. During reading I thought that meeting with the red group was great idea because it allows the students to get that one on one time with the teacher in flex group setting and allows for the other students to show independence in the classroom. While meeting I thought that the Para’s should have been introduced to the directions earlier so they could have in the IPad’s and written down for a check list for B.S and M.M. It was nice to see that Ms. Hilliker and Mrs. Mester worked together during math because it seemed that the students really struggled in math and reading and the flex grouping seemed to help. I found it very strange to find out that the student with Downs was not labeled as a learning disability but was put into this category to access what she needed academically. I did not like the fact that due to funding most of the students like this were not on an alternative curriculum in all cases. I would however use Ms. Hilliker’s seating ideas because it seemed to help B.S. maintain his behavior and compete is work with minimal distractions and M.M. was close to the teacher at all times to ask for clarification. I did notice that M.M. was labeled as auditory processing disorder and there were few accommodations to help this student as an individual. While watching B.S. it was clear that there was the need to have  some type of social skills expectations that should be worked with, this student was very immature and inappropri ate at times. M.M. on the other hand had no social interaction with his classmates unless the teacher essential made him do it. I also saw that students that were higher sometimes made B.S. and C.S. get off task when they thought it would be funny for them to get negative attention from the teacher, this was normally right after the Para or teacher paid one on one attention to these two particular students. It was clear that Ms. Hilliker was familiar with this behavior as well because she was able to stop most of this behavior before it got out of hand and was actually able to address the students that where essentially picking on B.S. and C.S. and explain the bully type behavior that they were displaying towards their classmates. In this one classroom there were many things that jumped out at me maybe because they looked overwhelming or maybe because they really worked but one thing is for sure and that is it takes everything a teacher has to keep students learning and without the support from her students and Para’s Ms. Hillikers class would not run like it does. They are a class community working to gether to create lifelong learners.