APEC essays

APEC essays The question is "Can the Canadian government maintain its committment to globisation without comprimising its stand on human rights and why or why not?" The answer is no. Canada's committment to globalization comprimises it's stands on human rights for different reasons. The main reason being APEC. The following paper will ague just that and how Apec is causing many problems in societies all over the world. APEC is a grouping of 18 "economies" which aims to impose a "free trade" zone in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite the rhetoric, there is nothing free about "free trade." It is the forced changing of rules to benefit corporations at the expense of people, governments and the environment. As Joan Spero, the US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs said, "APEC has a customer. APEC is not for governments, it is for business. Through APEC we aim to get government out of the way, opening the way for business to do business." The Termination of our Social Safety Net In theinternational market, there are cut backs made on employment insurance, welfare, education and health care are they are made under the excuse of luring investment. Any word of increasing taxes is extinguished by corporations forewarning to withdraw for a "preferable" business environment. Regardless of the skyrocketing profits, corporate contributions to tax revenues have plumetted from 50% in the 60's, to less than 8% today. It is suspected that it'll be sooner then later that Canada will adopt the impoverished American model - no safety net, just cold concrete. APEC has nagative effects on the Environment APEC and "Free trade" agreements like it, reduces international environmental standards by making the process of moving between states easier for businesses. In order for there to be compition, countries are obliged to slacken their environmental regulations to the lowest they can be by law. Canadian mining industries, which have been know ...

The Last Day of My Life †Creative Writing Informal Essay

The Last Day of My Life – Creative Writing Informal Essay Free Online Research Papers The Last Day of My Life Creative Writing Informal Essay Everyday people come and go. There are people born into this world and there must be some leaving in the meantime. Sometimes, such coming and leaving make me think about the life. What’s the meaning of life? People always want to live a meaningful life, but how do we define a â€Å"meaningful† life? I think that everybody would have his own definition of â€Å"meaningful.† Most people work very hard day and night in search of fame and fortune. When they become millionaires eventually, they may think it is enough for their life. But if they had only one day to live, what would they do? Suddenly, their fame and fortune end up nothing at all, for they cannot take their possessions with them when they die. Therefore, they may worry about their possessions and be annoyed even on their last day. It’s not my type of life. I won’t pursue fame and fortune so that when my very last day comes, I will have nothing to worry about and can be relieved in the long run. But I cannot be sure when I will leave this world. If the answer is tomorrow, what will I do on the last day of my life? First, I will clean up my room. Some people may think, â€Å"Since I am going to die, what good will it do me?† None, actually, but it means something to me. After living my life, I may find that all my life was chaotic, and I don’t want to leave the chaos in the world. Therefore, I will clean up my room so that I can make my life neat and tidy. I want it to be perfect. Second, I want to thank people who give a lot to me, such as those who have helped me, who have loved me and who I loved, for it was they who gave me the meanings in my life. Then, I will visit many places where I was born, I grew, I studied, I worked, and I lived. Those places can evoke my precious memory. I cannot bring anything with me but my reminiscences. At last, I will find a place where nobody can find me. I will be contented if anyone can weep for my death, but it will be too sorrowful for an emotional person like me to see those once happy faces become sad. Therefore, a serene place like seasho re will be good. I can lie on the yellow sand, listening to the relaxing sound made by waves. I can see the last sunset in my life. It will be a little sentimental, though. At night, crescent moon will shine on me and the sky will glitter with the myriad stars. With the unremitting waves, sea breeze will blow lightly, brushing through my hair, as if beautiful melody resounds harmoniously. In a state of comfort, I will lose my consciousness gradually and finally lapse into deep sleep. And it will be the finale of my life. In our daily life, we take everything for granted that parents should take care of us and friends help us without return. All seems to be natural, but actually it isn’t. They devote themselves selflessly to us because we are their beloveds. However, people always treasure what they have lost. Don’t be people of that kind. Sometimes, return our favor to them and then we won’t have remorse when the last day of our life comes. Research Papers on The Last Day of My Life - Creative Writing Informal EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayMind TravelBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XTrailblazing by Eric AndersonNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Spring and AutumnThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

How has Globalization shaped Energy Systems in Emerging Economies and Essay

How has Globalization shaped Energy Systems in Emerging Economies and the Global South Illustrate your answer in reference to y - Essay Example History Though no consensus exists in the emergence of globalization, many historians, and social scientists have come up with different views of globalization history (Lule, 2012:22). Nevertheless, the majority of these scholars agree that globalization emerged during the first movement of people out of Africa into other parts of the world (Young and Kent, 2013:443). This is the case because the immigration caused interaction, exchange, and adaptation of customs, ideas, and products. The term globalization emerged in the 1960s, but it first appeared in the Merriam website dictionary in 1944.The term later became popular in the 1990s and the first article containing globalization content became published in 1983. Definition A general definition that befits globalization is that it is a process, which encompasses several aspects like route, origin, and outcomes of both intercultural and international combinations involving human and non-human activities. However, there still lies a he ated debate on the real definition of globalization. Diverse authors’ argue that globalization cannot undergo definitions; neither can it be encompassed within a set period simply because it is not a single concept. This means that globalization involves and encompasses vast aspects like economic incorporation, transmission of knowledge, inter-border transfer of policies, cultural stability, and discourse of power among many others. Therefore, globalization covers a multitude of disciplines, cultures and communities, which allows a range of viewpoints. This has resulted to various definitions from vast scholars who base their interpretation on the background of different disciplines. For instance, peter dicken argues on the economic perspective by claiming that globalization is an intricate and advanced form of internationalization that fosters a level of functional incorporation between internationally dispersed economic activities (Anderson, 2000:6-7). Other authors chip in and argue on cultural basis where he suggests that globalization is another image that influences cultural forms and patterns as well as drawing attention to the union of cultural styles as western forms of consumption that spreads all over the globe. Additionally, Amin and Thrift 1997, add up political definition by arguing that globalization is essentially about changes in the way the world performs its governance (Hennis, 2005:14). Another definition emerges from sociology whereby Robertson 1992 claims that globalization is a process where the constraints of geography on cultural and social arrangements withdraw, and that it's also a process where people become increasingly aware that they are withdrawing or receding (Robertson, 1992:10). Nevertheless, in spite of the vast globalization definitions offered by different authors, globalization is inherently geographical in its scope and impacts because it the physical expansion of the geographical domain of the globe, which means that it is an increase in scale and volume of global flows. How Globalization shaped Energy Systems in South Africa South African energy overview Before analyzing the impact of globalization in South Africa’s energy system, it is crucial to review the country's energy system. South Africa is among the largest and most developed countries in Africa. It also has

Globalization and Training Document Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Globalization and Training Document - Essay Example The onset of globalization has made managing supply chains complicated and critical than it was in the past years. No business area is affected more by the style to worldwide business situation within the supply chain. The need for companies like Riordan Manufacturing to use best strategies in international management of supply chain has increased because of globalization. Riordan Manufacturing is a worldwide company as it supplies its products globally. Recently, Riordan ventured into China where it discovered it had a bigger market base. As Riordan’s customers expand around the world, they expect the company to go with them. Therefore, it is important to improve their products and sell them at a cheaper price. For example, Riordan Manufacturing has a large customer base in the German plastic market, which has opening facilities in China. We have the option of continuing to supply our products to China from Germany, or find a way to interact with our customer base in China. Decisions made will ensure our customers receive quality products. To maintain the loyalty of our consumers in China, Riordan has to transfer its production expertise to China and offer those functions at a confined level (Riordan, 2014). Supply chain complexity continues to increase with globalization. The manufacturing process has become extremely complicated and is no longer a simple assembly line. Manufacturers are now forced to manage several product lines, each one assembled from parts taken from different suppliers. The same manufacturers are also needed to manage logistics, to know where and when products need to be to satisfy demand across the globe. The huge numbers of global markets where products are now being sold continues to expand drastically (Fawcett, Ellram & Ojden, 2007). With this increase in growth, there has been a rise in the number of

Dr Martin Luther Kings I have a Dream Speech Assignment

Dr Martin Luther Kings I have a Dream Speech - Assignment Example It seeks to redeem the promise for the Negroes of America to also equally enjoy the â€Å"riches of freedom and the security of justice†. The speech became very effective that it became one of the greatest speech of all time because it effectively used the rhetorical devices of pathos, ethos and logos. The speech began by agitating the audience through the use of ethos or emotion by first mentioning the broken promise of the Emancipation Proclamation which should have freed the Negro slaves and yet the Negro is still enslaved. They are still being discriminated against not only in the buses and restaurants but also in opportunities which America had promised to give everybody an equal access. He elaborated the plight of the Negro as he languished in poverty and misery which his audience could relate. Further, he fanned this flamed emotion (ethos) by appealing to their desires to be free and equal by the speech’s main theme of his dream which is also the dream of every Negro. As Dr Martin Luther King enunciates his dream, he called for restraint and unity as they struggle for equality with everybody. This sobriet y despite mass support reinforced his ethos or integrity of character. He could have called for a revolution and with his popularity, his supporters and people would have heeded. But Reverend King chose to protest and air his grievance peacefully. It has to be remembered that Luther King is a Pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Being such, Dr King is highly respected and embodied the ethos of his speech. His speech, while it calls for activism when he mentioned â€Å"now is the time† supports the loftiness of his character as he pursue that dream of his saying â€Å"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places plains and the crooked places will be made straight, and before the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together†.  The Logos or the logic of the speech is undeniable.  

Assessing The Usefulness Of An Ecological Approach Social Work Essay

Assessing The Usefulness Of An Ecological Approach Social Work Essay Social work theories represent sets of ideas that assist in explaining the reasons for occurrence of events or why specific events happened in particular ways and are used to predict likely future actions of present outcomes. It is important to appreciate that theories, whilst based on reasoning and evidence, are not conclusively proved. In social work practice they provide alternative frameworks for understanding issues by the linkage of sets of ideas, and help people to make sense of specific situations or circumstances. Their application helps social workers in guiding practice and in achieving direction in their efforts. This study takes up the ecological approach for discussion and assesses its usefulness for social work practice. The ecological approach is also compared with humanism and existentialism and its various aspects are critically analysed with respect to achievement of managerialism and accountability in social work practice. Discussion Overview of Ecological Approach Kurt Lewin, (Plas, 1981), states that good theory is essentially practical. It provides a way to look at the world and guides action for the achievement of vision of the way things should be. Ecological theory, many experts feel, fits with Lewins maxim and has the potential to give social workers, both a practical perspective for effective social intervention, and a larger perspective for viewing and assessing the social world (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Whilst Roger Barker, (1968), initiated the application of ecological concepts to analysis of human behaviour, the application of such ecological perspectives to social work practice did not occur until it was taken up by Carel Germain in the mid 1970s (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The ecological approach has since then become progressively popular among social workers and is now commonly used as a practice approach for intervention (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The approach, despite becoming more commonly used, does have some major limitati ons, chief among which is the lack of (a) clearly defined procedures for engagement in assessment, and (b) specific sets of techniques and strategies for intervention (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The adoption of the ecological approach enables social work practitioners to understand the significance of the adaptive fit between the environment and organisms (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). An appreciation of such a fit in turn enables the emergence of a practice model that essentially focuses on the importance of locating ways and means to first assist individuals in adapting to their environments and second in the formulation of strategies for changing environmental elements that could cause problems for service users (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). It is important to understand three concepts, namely (a) behaviour settings, (b) the ecosystem and (c) definition of client problems, in order to understand and appreciate the fit between organisms and their environment (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). An understanding of these concepts helps in understanding the significantly unconventional and different approach of the ecological perspective (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The concept of behaviour settings provides fresh insights in the relationship that exists between individual behaviour and environmental setting. Barker and Gum (1964), found that individuals react differently to different types of environment. Analysis of behaviour setting helps social workers to conceptualise the problems of service users and is considered to be a basic unit of analysis for the application of the ecological approach to social work practice. The behaviour setting, it must however be clarified, represents more than the traditional concept of behaviour as the response to a stimulus and is perceived to be a complex relationship of people, setting, time and individual behaviour. A conglomerate of such behaviour settings forms ecology (Germain Bloom, 1999, p 16-22). Specific individuals function in more than one specific ecology. The ecosystem of individuals consists of the various inter-relationships and the conglomeration of such ecologies (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The ecosystem of a child, for example comprises of the self, the family, the school and the larger community (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). It is important to understand that the client, in such a concept of ecosystem is an integral component of the ecological system and cannot be juxtaposed with the larger environment (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The ecosystem of an individual consists of four distinct levels, namely the micro-system, the meso-system, the exo-system, and the macro-system. The micro-system represents the immediate environment, viz. the impact of personality characteristics of an individual on other family members (Jones, 2010, p 67). The meso-system is more complex and refers to the interactional processes that occur between multiple micro-systems (Jones, 2010, p 67). Th e exo-system and macro-system likewise refer to more generalised levels and represent more extensive interaction of ecologies (Jones, 2010, p 67). Â  The service user in such circumstances becomes the defining and primary member of the eco system that in turn comprises of various overlapping subsistence like the family, the work place and the larger community (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The psychosocial development and adjustment of individuals are perceived to be the consequence of transactions between individuals and their environments. The ecological perspective suggests the occurrence of cyclic and bidirectional activities between individuals and their environments (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The environment in the first place affects the development and adjustment of individuals. The behaviours of individuals lead to responses inside the environment and the altered environment thereafter exerts a different pressure on the individual (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Social workers can view this process as sequential or simultaneous mutual influence, for example X affects Y, which again affects X or X and Y come together to form a unity that defines the situation (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). This concept and these view points are important because they lead to the formulation of new ways for conducting of assessment and carrying out of intervention in social work practice (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The adoption of the ecological view point leads to the shifting of focus from individual personality and behavioural characteristics to relationships between individuals, their families, their communities and other ecologies that are included in their eco systems (Pardeck, 1 988, p 92-100). Most people do operate in social ecologies that are adaptive or congruent and where people are in harmony with the social norms of their environments (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). The requirement for social work intervention comes about when such adaptive fits cease to exist and lead to mal adjustments (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). The ecological perspective differs significantly from traditional social work view points on definition of problems of service users (Tew, 2005, p 31-36). Most conventional perspectives concentrate on individuals for definition of problems of service users and perceive such service users to be deviant, behaviourally troubled or emotionally disturbed (Tew, 2005, p 31-36). The ecological approach very importantly does not perceive the symptoms of service users kin terms of individual pathologies but looks at such symptoms to be indicative of malfunctioning eco systems (Tew, 2005, p 31-36). Advocates of the ecological approach are likely to perceive emotional disturbances to be comprehensive problems that are occurring in the continuous adaptation that is taking place between organisms and their environments (Wilson, 1999, p 4-11). Mal-adoptions are thus felt to reside not just in the activity of individuals upon their environments but also of the environments upon individuals (Wilson, 1999, p 4-11). Individual problems and difficulties in social functioning are thus perceived to stem from interactive, dynamic and reciprocal sets of forces that work between individuals and their eco systems (Wilson, 1999, p 4-11). The relationship between problematic social functioning and ecology has been studied in various relationships between (a) social class and hospitalisation for psychiatric causes, (b) probability of specific types of mental ailments and spatial community patterns and (c) suicide rates and social organisation of communities (Peters Marshall, 1996, p 17-32). It is evident that the adoption of the ecological perspective requires a radical shift of approach by social workers, who must move away from individuals and try to understand a unit that is termed as individual-in-ecology (Peters Marshall, 1996, p 17-32). Such an approach requires the viewing of individual problems in terms of mal adaptive systems and even differences in labelling of clients, who for example should be termed as disturbing clients rather than emotionally disturbed (Peters Marshall, 1996, p 17-32). Application of Ecological Approach for Intervention The ecological strategy for intervention obviously calls for an ecological assessment of the problems of service users (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). Such ecological assessment essentially involves two important issues, namely (a) the identification of reasons for discord in eco systems and sources of strength, which can be utilised to enhance the level of fit between service users and important people in the lives, and (b) specification of the services that will be needed to allow service users to progress towards achievement of desired goals (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). Traditional models of social work, it is easy to understand, are far more simplistic than the ecological assessment approach (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Such methods are narrower and perceive individual service users to be the only focus of the assessment procedure (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). The intervention model in the ecological approach comprises of specific steps that assist in translation of such assessment into appropriate strategies for intervention (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Such an intervention approach consists of seven specific stages and can be applied in a number of practice areas (Nash, et al, 2005, p 32-41). The intervention model in the ecological approach is similar to other traditional approaches with regard to gathering of data but deviates significantly in the ways in which social work practitioners conceptualise and organise the processes of assessment and intervention (Nash, et al, 2005, p 32-41). The seven important stages in the intervention process comprise of (a) entering the system, (b) mapping the ecology, (c) assessing the ecology, (d) creating a vision for change, (e) coordinating and communicating, (f) reassessing and (g) evaluating (Nash, et al, 2005, p 32-41). These steps are significantly different from traditional methods of assessment and intervention and plays far greater responsibilities on the shoulders of social work practitioners (Nash, et al, 2005, p 32-41). The first step of the social work practitioner concerns entering the exo-system of the world of the service user, such a process involves assessment of various relationships in the life of the service user and identification of an entry point into the world of the service user (Kerson, 2002, p 8-14). Assessment of relationships in such circumstances involves examination of the various sub systems like the immediate family, the workplace and the community that shape the world of the service user (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). The social work practitioner can obtain significant information from examination of such sub systems for the formulation of intervention strategies (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). Assessment of various subsystems is thereafter followed by entry into the world of the client (Norman, 2000, p 11-17). This is largely done through an interview involving the social worker, the service user and people in his or her immediate family (Kerson, 2002, p 8-14). The social worker, after en tering the world of the service user commences ecological mapping (Kerson, 2002, p 8-14). Such mapping involves analysis of various sub systems and identification of people and events that are relevant to the challenges confronting the service user (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Such mapping involves interaction with representatives of different sub systems like spouse, parents or immediate friends and leads to obtaining of very important information (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The mapping of ecology is followed by interpretation and assessment. Social workers, at this stage of the process search for important problems and sources of strength in the eco system of service users (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). The description of relationships and recurring themes in the lives of service users forms an important aspect of this stage and helps in identifying problems as well as sources of strength that can help the service users in achieving a better fit with the environment (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Assessment of ecology is followed by locating the areas that require to be altered to enhance the social functioning of service users (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Social workers whilst focusing on the required change need to consider the service users total eco system and use all available strengths in the ecology (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Practitioners should be open to different change possibilities and implement proposed plans of action after obtaining the agreement of service users (Meinert, et al, 1994, p 26-33). Social workers must communicate and coordinate with people in the eco system during much of the intervention process (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). A significant part of the change process lies in the hands of important people in the eco systems of service users and practitioners need to offer support and facilitate change efforts through home visits and telephone calls (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Reassessment and evaluation also form important components of the ecological intervention process (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Social workers should be open on remapping the ecology and working through subsequent stages if the intervention efforts do not appear to be achieving their stated objectives (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The final stage of intervention that is the comprehensive evaluation of the process concerns the gathering of information through informal meetings and the use of structure questionnaires (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). The evaluation process is important for practitioners becaus e it enables them to enhance the quality of their ecological approach based treatment procedure (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Advantages and Disadvantages of the Ecological Approach It is important to understand that ecological perspectives help social workers significantly in understanding human problems to essentially be outcomes of continuous transactions of different types between environments and people (Ginsburg, 1990, p 12-21). The conceptualising of human problems in this way helps social workers in understanding that discord between people and their environment can lead specifically to adverse physical, emotional and social effects upon people (Ginsburg, 1990, p 12-21). Such a focus is also a unifying feature of social work practice. The adoption of this approach helps social workers in taking away their focus from individuals as deviants with emotional and mental difficulties and helps in placing them simply as individuals who have mal-adaption with their environments (Henderson, 1994, p 38-45). The investigation and assessment process under this approach also allows social workers to interact with various people who are important to the service user a nd build an intervention plan that involves not just the social worker and the service user but also other people who are close to the service user, understand his or her problems and are able to help the service user in achieving the desired objectives (Henderson, 1994, p 38-45). Whilst the ecological approach helps social workers significantly in conceptualising the essential concerns of social work practice, the approach continues to have some inherent difficulties and problems (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). It does not for example provide clearly laid down sets of procedures and processes for assessment and intervention, as well as strategies and reasoning for their use (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Social workers thus use the approach for understanding the basic relationships between service users and their environments but have to thereafter devise and formulate their own assessment and intervention procedures (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). It has also disturbingly been found that when social workers intervene in the eco systems of service users by opening up communication channels with other people in the eco system, such interventions often do not have clarity in terms of outcomes and can lead to negative consequences (Pardeck, 1988, p 92-100). Critics of the eco logical approach also argue that its application leads practitioners to perceive problems with such broad perspectives that practitioners attempt to plan so comprehensively that actual effectiveness of practice gets jeopardised (Henderson, 1994, p 38-45). Whilst such disadvantages and criticisms do have merit and must be considered by workers who opt to use the ecological approach, its adoption and application does enable social workers to obtain much larger perspectives and greater and more dynamic understanding of individuals and their social, cultural and physical environments (Henderson, 1994, p 38-45). The adoption of such perspectives results in avoidance of blaming of victims and in location of assessment and intervention of the issue in the ecosystem of service users (Henderson, 1994, p 38-45). References Barker, R., 1968, Ecological Psychology: Concepts and Methods for Studying the Environment of Human Behaviour, Stanford, California: Stanford University. Barker, R., Gump, P., 1964, Big School, Small School, Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. Germain, C., 1973, An Ecological Perspective in Casework, Social Casework, 54, 323-330. Germain, C. B., Bloom, M., 1999, Human Behavior in the Social Environment: An Ecological View (2nd ed.), New York: Columbia University Press. Ginsburg, E. H., 1990, Effective Interventions: Applying Learning Theory to School Social Work, New York: Greenwood Press. Henderson, G., 1994, Social Work Interventions: Helping People of Color, Westport, CT: Bergin Garvey. Jones, P., 2010, Responding to the Ecological Crisis: Transformative Pathways for Social Work Education, Journal of Social Work Education, 46(1), 67. Kerson, T. S., 2002, Boundary Spanning: An Ecological Reinterpretation of Social Work Practice in Health and Mental Health Systems, New York: Columbia University Press. Meinert, R. G., Pardeck, J. T., Sullivan, W. P. (Eds.), 1994, Issues in Social Work: A Critical Analysis, Westport, CT: Auburn House. Nash, M., Munford, R., ODonoghue, K. (Eds.), 2005, Social Work Theories in Action, London: Jessica Kingsley. Norman, E. (Ed.), 2000, Resiliency Enhancement: Putting the Strengths Perspective into Social Work Practice, New York: Columbia University Press. Pardeck, T. J., 1988, Social Treatment through an Ecological Approach, Clinical Social Work Journal, Vol 16, No 1. Peters, M., Marshall, J., 1996, Individualism and Community: Education and Social Policy in the Postmodern Condition, London: Falmer Press. Plas, J., 1981, The Psychologist in the School Community: A Liaison Role, School Psychology Review, 10, 72-81. Tew, J. (Ed.)., 2005, Social Perspectives in Mental Health: Developing Social Models to Understand and Work with Mental Distress, London: Jessica Kingsley. Wilson, D. J., 1999, Indigenous South Americans of the Past and Present: An Ecological Perspective, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Michael C. C. Adams Book, The Best War Ever: America and World War II :: Adams Best War Ever World War II Essays

Michael C. C. Adams' Book, The Best War Ever: America and World War II Michael C. C. Adams' book, The Best War Ever: America and World War II, attempts to dispel the numerous misconceptions of the Second World War. As the title suggests, Americans came out of the war with a positive view of the preceding five turbulent years. This myth was born from several factors. Due to the overseas setting of both theaters of the war, intense government propaganda, Hollywood's glamorization, and widespread economic prosperity, Americans were largely sheltered form the brutal truth of World War II. Even to this day, the generation of World War II is viewed as being superior in morality and unity. The popular illusion held that 'there were no ethnic or gender problems, families were happy and united, and children worked hard in school and read a great number of books.' (115) It was a golden era when all Americans set aside their differences and united for a common cause which everyone put above all other priorities. The United States Army was thought of as more advanced in fighting ability, weapons, and supposedly held to a higher standard of ethics on the front. Americans that did die, died in ?an antiseptic, clean, neat way . . . gloriously.? (100) Soldiers weren?t blown apart into pieces, they died honorably and nobly. Many factors had to be in place for such a distorted myth to come about. The central one being that the entire war was fought on foreign land with the exception of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. With the conflicts on the other sides of the oceans, Americans would not witness the brutality, destruction, and suffering of civilians and soldiers alike. ?Only the United States was not both a destroyer and a victim of the destruction in the war.? (73) The civilians of the United States, therefore, relied on other sources to shape their view of World War II. ?Ads implied that if you bought a war bond your sacrifice was on par with that of the man in the front lines.? (74) The US government and industry played on Americans? sense of patriotism in order to get them to support the war or buy their products. However, ?it [advertising] is by nature emotional, rather than intellectual; it sells feelings rather than ideas.? (73) Government propaganda and business advertising were not the only factors in forming the inaccurate myth of the Second World War.