Amazing Grace Essay Essay Example

Amazing Grace Essay Paper Most of us have heard the famous hymn â€Å"Amazing Grace† by John Newton. The story behind the song is quite an extraordinary one. We are reminded that it takes time to change the world. The movie captures in a most marvelous way the triumph of human spirit over centuries old mindless mindsets. It is a heart rending tale of extraordinary courage, resilience of one person fighting the system and changing the customs of his times. Wilberforce fights the system in his backdoor politics to end slavery for good. It is the victory of one man’s resolve and perseverance. The initial scene when a horse is being flogged mercilessly sets the pace for the movie by presenting to us the injustices of the times of Wilberforce. This scene not only tells of cruelty towards animals but the state of insensitivity of the society at large. The message conveyed is extrapolated to slave trade by showing the horse as being fully black. The movie portrays the helplessness, fragility, insecurity and torment in the African slave’s eyes and the callousness of the ruling class of Britain. They were selfish enough to care for no one else but themselves. Then there is this sailor of a slave ship who undergoes a transformation and starts seeing the world with Christ’s grace. A scene that leaves a lasting impact on me is the climax of the movie where the Parliament of Britain finally passes the Slavery Abolition Act by an overwhelming majority, and Wilberforce is honored by his former adversaries and is seen grappling with the gravity of his emotions as he sees his beloved’s face. The Scottish bagpipers’ marching; and their playing of the song â€Å"Amazing Grace† is the icing on the cake. The moment leaves one in a trance! We will write a custom essay sample on Amazing Grace Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Amazing Grace Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Amazing Grace Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I have also come to know and appreciate Wilberforce’s immense humanitarian interests apart from him being an abolitionist. Wilberforce was profoundly influenced by Christianity and this provided a great motivation for his work. He initially was caught up in a personal dilemma in choosing between faith and politics. One scene in the movie shows how Wilberforce found his answer†¦.†Perhaps you can do both†. Another facet of Wilberforce was his love for animals and his intent on preserving their rights and thus he pioneered efforts in the creation of the Society for Prevention of cruelty towards animals. As much about him cannot be captured as is in the Westminister Abbey’s plaque: â€Å"He added the abiding eloquence of the Christian life. Eminent as he was in every department of public labour And a leader in every work of charity.† What astonishes me is the fact that a great soul who transformed the fate of an entire generation and later is relatively unknown. He goes about as an unsung, and now mostly forgotten hero of human rights. The movie is replete with references to the power of the Christian faith. One compelling faith affirmation in the movie is: â€Å"I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior.† The movie depicts the commitment of Wilberforce to his cause and how the Lord had purposely chosen to capture his heart before He moved him into his calling. Reference: http://www.wilberforcecentral.org/wfc/Wilberforce/index.htm Most of us have heard the famous hymn â€Å"Amazing Grace† by John Newton. The story behind the song is quite an extraordinary one. We are reminded that it takes time to change the world. The movie captures in a most marvelous way the triumph of human spirit over centuries old mindless mindsets. It is a heart rending tale of extraordinary courage, resilience of one person fighting the system and changing the customs of his times. Wilberforce fights the system in his backdoor politics to end slavery for good. It is the victory of one man’s resolve and perseverance. The .

Free Essays on Of Revenge

The essay written by Francis Bacon, â€Å"Of Revenge†, spoke of something that most of us already have known about. However, what we know we should do, we don’t always do. Therefore it serves us as a reminder that revenge, although it may be sweet, may not always be the best route taken. When asked to respond to this reading as a piece of literature I would say it was well written, but hard to follow for the average person. Bacon’s inference to various topics required the reader to be equipped with background knowledge of those topics, and, if the reader was not, the essence of the piece was not fully conveyed to the reader. The writing would be inefficient in making a significant change in the behavior or thought of the modern reader. Therefore, I would say this piece is a product of its time and, even though the writer has committed himself to change the mindset of any person, it is essentially only applicable to a person who is aware of the terminology used d uring Bacon’s time. Although having a universal theme that crosses many boundaries, the writing would therefore be ineffective in today’s modern society. The theme of revenge can be applied to today’s current events on the topic of Osama Bin Ladin. He was apparently trying to get revenge on the United States for whatever it has done to him and his people. The United States, therefore is seeking revenge on Bin Laden, and his supporters. According to Francis Bacon, the US should pardon Bin Laden and be superior. Is pardoning really the superior choice? Should the United States back down and let it be attacked? Obviously, in this situation, revenge, in my opinion, and in many others, is the wisest choice. Therefore, I feel that Bacon’s advice, although virtuous, is not always applicable, and is too idealistic. In conclusion, revenge means different things to different people. To someone, it maybe used for comfort, but for others, like in the case of the United State... Free Essays on Of Revenge Free Essays on Of Revenge The essay written by Francis Bacon, â€Å"Of Revenge†, spoke of something that most of us already have known about. However, what we know we should do, we don’t always do. Therefore it serves us as a reminder that revenge, although it may be sweet, may not always be the best route taken. When asked to respond to this reading as a piece of literature I would say it was well written, but hard to follow for the average person. Bacon’s inference to various topics required the reader to be equipped with background knowledge of those topics, and, if the reader was not, the essence of the piece was not fully conveyed to the reader. The writing would be inefficient in making a significant change in the behavior or thought of the modern reader. Therefore, I would say this piece is a product of its time and, even though the writer has committed himself to change the mindset of any person, it is essentially only applicable to a person who is aware of the terminology used d uring Bacon’s time. Although having a universal theme that crosses many boundaries, the writing would therefore be ineffective in today’s modern society. The theme of revenge can be applied to today’s current events on the topic of Osama Bin Ladin. He was apparently trying to get revenge on the United States for whatever it has done to him and his people. The United States, therefore is seeking revenge on Bin Laden, and his supporters. According to Francis Bacon, the US should pardon Bin Laden and be superior. Is pardoning really the superior choice? Should the United States back down and let it be attacked? Obviously, in this situation, revenge, in my opinion, and in many others, is the wisest choice. Therefore, I feel that Bacon’s advice, although virtuous, is not always applicable, and is too idealistic. In conclusion, revenge means different things to different people. To someone, it maybe used for comfort, but for others, like in the case of the United State...

Common Symptoms of Eye Strain

Common Symptoms of Eye Strain Vision-intensive tasks like reading or computer work can cause the muscles in the eye severe stress, ultimately resulting in a condition known as asthenopia, or eye strain. Straining your eye muscles can produce a variety of symptoms, which means  eye strain can be a debilitating repetitive stress injury. Furthermore, you may not even recognize some of these symptoms as â€Å"eye† problems as the symptoms are typically nonspecific. However, once you understand that these issues can point to  symptoms of eye strain you are well on your way to treating eye strain or preventing eye strain entirely. Symptoms of Eye Strain Due to overwork and repetitive stress, the muscles in your eyes fatigue. The primary symptom associated with early stages of eye strain typically involve the head, neck, or backaches or dizziness and lightheadedness, and although these early symptoms may point to general work-related soreness, its best to give your body a break if you begin to feel pain near or around the eyes. Prolonged, intensive use of the eyes cause their ciliary muscles to tighten, often resulting in spasms or twitches around the eyes. This is the earliest sign directly indicative of eye strain and can intensify to include heaviness of eyelids, blurred or double vision, tired or sore eyes, or even overly watery, itchy or dry eyes.   If left untreated and exposed to continued stress, the pain can intensify resulting in a burning sensation, even with eyes closed.   Other nonspecific symptoms include car sickness, nausea, reading problems, lack of concentration, and general fatigue.   Treating Eye Strain Symptoms Although many of the above symptoms do not directly point to eye strain, if you begin experiencing more than one of these symptoms while undergoing eye-intensive tasks, it is best to take a break and assess your overall well-being. Your first response should be to cease the activity causing tension, close your eyes and relax for five to ten minutes. If you are reading, especially on a computer screen, and begin to experience these symptoms, it is best to allow your eyes and the ciliary muscles to relax by focusing away from the reading material. Focus instead on an object considerably further away. This relaxes the strained muscles of your eye and interrupts the repetitive stress of continued reading. Doing this over the course of working on eye-intensive tasks may reduce your chance of straining your eyes.   If your symptoms do not lessen as a result, you may have over-stressed your eyes. In this case, the best solution is to turn out all the lights in the room and allow your eyes to fully relax in the dark. If you are experiencing a burning sensation even with your eyes closed, covering them with a cold compress (nothing too cold, like ice) should alleviate some of the tenderness. Over time of non-use, your eyes will recover on their own. If symptoms continue to occur, even after a long rest, consult your physician as this may be indicative of a larger optical issue.   Effects of Eye Strain Chronic eye strain may also be a significant factor in learning and attention problems. Without the ability to see or read without significant discomfort, you may find yourself unable to retain information due to the distraction of pain. Chronic pain, if left untreated, may cause your vision to suffer, eventually resulting in blindness. Fortunately, diagnosing eye strain is rather easy since these symptoms typically only appear during a visually intensive task. When youre undergoing such stressful work, be sure to be aware of the fatigue of your eyes. Take breaks often and desist if eye pain continues for more than 30 minutes.

Research task case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research task - Case Study Example This also affects the people around them especially children who sometimes, end up being psychologically tortured. Critically thinking, the UAE is not the solution to these maids’ financial problems as it only inflicts pain on them Foreign maids from impoverished countries account for about 23% of the United Arabs Emirates population, all of them desperate to at least to make a better living. The fact that the UAE is a country with adverse resources due to their huge oil reservoirs plays a major part in attracting these foreign maids (Mallinder, n.d). Some of these maids leave their native countries having in mind that they will help their families back home fight poverty. However, on reaching the UAE, their expectations end up being flushed in the drains as working conditions end up being so terrible. It is quite evident from the above information that foreign maids operate under very poor working conditions in the UAE. Foreign maids face a number of problems that psychologically affect them (Sabban, 2012). The major problem is torture and harassment, leading to physical pain and even deformities. The second problem emanates from the long hours of work with poor pay and lack of better food. Some of these female maids get sexually abused by their employers in front of the children, affecting these children psychologically and even leading to some of these maids committing suicide. Some maids end up committing crimes like beating up and even burning the employers’ children or worse of killing the employer. As a matter of fact, most of these foreign maids come from unprivileged backgrounds and hence need more psychological help and support than psychiatric evaluation before employment to adjust to cases of unsympathetic employers (Beasley and Thomas, 1992). Moreover, it reduces cases of crimes committed by the maids by a wider margin. Moreover, the Human Rights Watch, has called on the UAE

Disscusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Disscusion - Essay Example A name given to these social misfits is ‘berdache’. According to Devor, the tension bound by the notion of ‘me’ and ‘I’ is called self and gender identity are at the core of the development of self (89). Cofer, being both Puerto Rican and white says that, in her early years, she was referred to as blanca (white). She was lighter than her mother but darker than her father (61). Cofer narrates that while getting kicked out of a store, the storekeeper called her dirty brown, saying it was her natural color (67). She ran home to wash her hands with hot water and soap, and her skin remained the same color. Even though, the ‘I’ knew she was clean, the ‘Me’ part reminded her that she was the color of coffee with milk in it. She had big eyes, and a round face and she knew she was pretty, yet at Catholic school, the pretty white girls were especially the teachers’ favorites. The ‘I’ confided in her that she lived a well enough decent life with her parents. However, the ‘Me’ chided her about Ted’s father’s comments that, being Puerto Rican, they lived like rats. The notion of ‘I’ should surpass that of ‘Me’ because society will never be pleased. It is somewhat like a gaping black hole that sucks out most of the good about an individual and leaves emptiness. In as much as society guides in shaping the general gender norms of individuals, it should not be given too much power. An individual knows himself/herself better than anyone else, and society will be more concerned about tearing apart the negative rather than building on the positive. From Cofer’s story of her body, the issue of race and color is clearly evident, and she goes to great lengths to clarify the impact it had on her life while she was growing up. Many a times, she felt small and sorely inadequate, especially in sports and her

John Donne Essay Example for Free

John Donne Essay A text is essentially a product of its context, as its prevailing values are inherently derived by the author from society. However, the emergence of post-modern theories allows for audience interpretation, thus it must be recognised that meaning in texts can be shaped and reshaped. Significantly, this may occur as connections between texts are explored. These notions are reflected in the compostion of Edson’s W;t and Donne’s poetry as their relationship is established through intertextual references, corresponding values and ideas and the use of language features. Edson particularly portrays key values surrounding the notions of the importance of loved based relationships, and death and resurrection: central themes of Donne’s Holy Sonnets and Divine Poems. The purpose of these authors distinctly correlate as each has attempted to provide fresh insight into the human condition by challenging prevalent ideals. Thus, Edson incorporates Donne’s work to illuminate both explicit and implicit themes, creating an undeniable condition. Prior to John Donnes Judeo Christian conversion he believed that life was only fulfilling if shared with another individual. He conveyed in his pre-conversion poems and stressed the power and importance of love to a persons well being and existence. Donne contrives the idea that love must not be a Dull Sublunary lovers love, rather a relationship where two souls are one, a love, he explores his conceit, so strong it can stretch like gold to aery thinness. His geometrical conceit explains that relationships Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere; This bed thy centre is, these walls, thy sphere. During the 17th century everything revolved around the sun, saying that lovers went against it was seen as going against the, thus showing how vital relationships are to human existence. The medium of a play allows us to a different view on how important love is one lifes, and what is to be lost with its absence Donnes values according to lifes meaning and relationships are reworked by Margaret Edson within W;t. Vivian Bearing is constructed to reflect the secular view point, preferring research to humanity, the motif Edson creates in Bearing as she misses the point Donne makes about relationships, seeking instead to be making a significant contribution to knowledge. Bearing does not mind the lack of relationship she has, correcting Susie she has none, to be precise, distinctively juxtaposing Donnes views on relationships and their importance. Bearing reflect the individualism of the estern culture when she is distinguishing the [herself] in illness facing the world alone. However Bearing reflects how after many years with being uncomfortable with kindness she wishes her doctor would take more interest in personal contact. The implicit connections Edison portrays between an orange two stick Popsicle shared between Bearing and Susie, and Donnes twin compass displays Bearings recognition of the importance relationships should play in life. Edison challenges secular humanists through her textual construction of dialogue and motifs to question the importance relationships play in order for a meaningful life to be attained. The existential question of what lies after death is one that writes have pondered for years. Donne explicitly demonstrates his battle with this concept and his beliefs about theology, death and afterlife after he is converted to his Judeo Christian faith. Death was not easy to ignore in the 17th century as executions and daily mortuary carts attributed to the fear and awareness of death. His compliant tone throughout his poetry clearly indicates that he feels that he feels some degree of confidence that God will accept his soul into heaven, evident when he apostrophises death to be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, that death should not be feared as it is a rest and sleep till the forgiven wake eternally. A possible passage through the American continent to the indies was earnestly being explored just as the poets body was probably being probed and prodded to seek enlightenment or a successful path. This analogy is made clear by the clever extended pun on straits as both a trade route and a personal dilemma. They are itemised so that the link is not missed for the Western Sea, to which all the straits led, also represents death and entry into the next life: So death doth touch the Resurrection Likewise to John Donne, Edison engages with the concept of death and what, if anything comes after it. While Bearing does not openly ponder what comes after death in the play, she is tangibly struggling with the fear of death. Her own feelings are mirrored by Donnes If poisnous minerals is shown through her analysis. In her analysis she says, Donne finds Gods forgiveness hard to believe, so he crawls under a rock to hide. Rather than trust Gods mercy I want to hide. I just want to curl up into a little ball. Donnes poem If Poisonous Minerals has a direction relationship to the The Runaway Bunny read by Bearing in her childhood. It provides for her an allegory for Gods mercy allowing her to find solace, No matter where it hides, God will find it. Where Donne presents this same allegory in a complex manner, the book is simple. Bearing is redeemed and able to die peacefully with this understanding of compassion. It is in the final scene that Edson reshapes Donnes ideas on eternity and resurrection of the play with bearings humanistic post-modern sight. Donne, in his Judeo Christian context, prepares himself for God to take his soul into heaven, whereas the humanistic post-modern understanding of the resurre ction that Bearing obtains brings an end to her suffering an pain when the lights out.

Use of Irony, Diction, and Imagery in My Last Duchess :: Robert Browning, My Last Duchess

In his dramatic monologue, Robert Browning uses irony, diction, and imagery to achieve a haunting effect. Robert Browning frequently wrote dramatic monologues to enhance the dark and avaricious qualities in his works. Browning's use of this particular style is to "evoke the unconstrained reaction of a person in aparticular situation or crisis" (Napierkowski 170). A poem may say one thing, but when mixed with dramatic monologue, it may "present a meaning at odds with the speaker's intention"(Napierkowski 170). This change may show the reader more insight into the poem without directly stating the underlying facts. The reader is allowed to "isolate a single moment in which the character reveals himself more starkly" (Napierkowski 171). Browning's use of dramatic monologue "disposes the reader to suspend moral judgement" (Napierkowski 171) causing a haughtiness to hover over many of his works. Browning uses irony in conjunction with dramatic monologue to produce a sinister and domineering effect. Irony, much like dramatic monologue, can make the reader question the true underlying meaning of the passage. This brief confusion causes an eeriness to be brought about in the work. In "My Last Duchess," verbal irony is demonstrated when the Duke says to his guests, "even had you skill in speech . . . which I have not"(35-36). Throughout the poem the Duke proves that he is "quite a polished speaker"(Markley 172). The Duke is not a modest man, but him making this seemingly humble statement in the midst of all his power stricken remarks establishes situational irony. Dramatic monologue can make an unforseen ironic statement have an ominous surrounding that totally encompasses the reader's attention. An individual may initially become very disturbed if an unannounced late night visitor knocked on their door, just as the Duke's unanticipated remark brought a weary feeling to the reader. Throughout "My Last Duchess," Browning uses diction to further increase the haunting effect of his dramatic monologue. His precise and scattered word choice is meant to make the reader recognize the underlying haughtiness in his speech to the Count's emissary. The Duke refers to his former wife's portraits "depth" and "passion" in order to place a cloudiness over the realism of the painting. This, along with the "faint" and "half-flush" appearance that "dies along her throat," brings about an overcast appearance to the poem. The Duke's "trifling" lack of "countenance" is evident in his jealousy of the Duchess's kindness toward others. Her benevolence "disgusts" the Duke, and causes him to "stoop" down to spouting off "commands" in her direction.

Heineken in Cambodia

Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 Sanne van der Wal & Rob Bleijerveld April 2009 Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 Sanne van der Wal & Rob Bleijerveld Amsterdam, April 2009 Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 Colophon Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 April 2009 By: Sanne van der Wal & Rob Bleijerveld Cover Design: Annelies Vlasblom Funding This publication is made possible with co-funding from the Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling (VBDO) Published byStichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations Sarphatistraat 30 1018 GL Amsterdam The Netherlands Phone: + 31 (20) 6391291 E-mail: [email  protected] nl Website: Hwww. somo. nl This document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivateWorks 2. 5 License. 1 Introduction This company report has been prepared by SOMO (Centre for R esearch on Multinational Corporations). It provides an overview of business practices that could be regarded as unsustainable or irresponsible which occurred (or might have been addressed) in 2008.The overview below describes only controversial practices and not the positive achievements of a company in the same year. Information on positive achievements can usually be found in a company’s annual and/or sustainability report and on the company’s website. The purpose of this report is to provide additional information to shareholders and other stakeholders of a company on controversies that might or might not be detected and reported by the company itself.This report does not contain an analysis of a company’s corporate responsibility policies, operational aspects of corporate responsibility management, implementation systems, reporting and transparency, or total performance on any issue. For some controversies, it is indicated which standards or policies may hav e been violated and a brief analysis is presented. Apart from this, the report is mainly descriptive.The range of sustainability and corporate responsibility issues eligible for inclusion in this overview is relatively broad and mainly based on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. These Guidelines are used as a general frame of reference in addition to the company-specific standards. Sources of information are mentioned in footnotes throughout the report. The main sources were obtained through SOMO’s global network of civil society organisations, including reports, other documents, and unpublished information.Media and company information databases and information available via the Internet are used as secondary sources where necessary. Heineken has been informed about the research project in advance and was given two weeks to review the report and provide corrections of any factual errors in the draft version. The overview of controversial practices in this rep ort is not intended to be exhaustive. Instead, it focuses on a limited number of issues and cases that might merit further attention or reflection.Where information about the latest developments, either positive or negative, was unavailable, it is possible that situations described in the overview have recently changed. Taking into account these limitations, SOMO believes that the report can be used for improvement and for a more informed assessment of a company’s corporate responsibility performance. For more information, please contact SOMO: SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) Sarphatistraat 30, 1018 GL Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel. 31 (0)20 6391291 Fax +31 (0)20 6391391 e-mail: [email  protected] nl website: www. somo. nl 2 Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 Precarious working conditions of Heineken Beer sellers in Cambodia This short overview deals with only one issue: the continuing bad labour and health conditions of s ocalled ‘beer sellers’ in Cambodia, salaried women who wear distinctive Heineken uniforms while exclusively selling Heineken beer in bars and restaurants, alongside those working for its partly owned partner brands (e. . , Tiger, ABC, etc†¦), and for competitors.The work conditions of these women, who are hired by most of the international brewers and their distributors operating in Cambodia 1 , have been criticised for several years, by the Cambodian NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation ) Siem Reap Citizens for Health, Educational and Social Issues (SiRCHESI) 2 . In 2002 the CEO and the Boards of both Heineken Breweries Ltd and Heineken Holding N. V. from here: Heineken) were first notified by SiRCHESI of concerns about the health and welfare of their beer sellers, who continued, in 2008, to be at high risk for HIV/AIDS and alcohol- related health problems, who experience sexual harassment and violence at their workplaces, and who are not paid a ‘living wage'- a salary for a full-time job on which they can support themselves and their family dependents. Press reports going back to 1998, and particularly a story in the Wall Street Journal (2000) had already clearly described the problems before social scientists began systematic data collection. Also SOMO's overview of controversial business practices of Heineken during 2006 for VBDO of April 2007 has called attention to this critical issue. 4 Recent inquiries and research in Cambodia –as part of a longitudinal study (2004-2009) 5 – reconfirm that these bad labour and health conditions still exist. Heineken – and other brands, with whom they both compete and co-operate – have not made significant progress in 2007, nor in 2008 to reduce the high risks to the health and safety of the women beer-sellers in Cambodia nor meet their monthly financial needs.So far, industry efforts to resolve these issues – through the formation in late 2006 of â€Å"Beer Sell ing Industry Cambodia† as a professional brewers association with a code of conduct (COC) for beer sellers – have failed. 1 2 3 4 5 See e. g. â€Å"Heineken en promotiemeisjes in Cambodja – deel A,† R. Feilzer and F. P. van der Putten (p. 85-96) and F. P. van der Putten, â€Å" – deel B† (p. 109-13), in: Bedrijfsgevallen, Eds. W Dubbink and H. van Luijk (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2006). SiRCHESI website, . and ,, and . SiRCHESI’s website http://www. fairtradebeer. com press reports section. Heineken – Overview of controversial business practices in 2006,† Francis Weyzig (SOMO), April 2007 Performed by Staff, volunteers ,researchers and students located in Siem Reap with SiRCHESI, or at Siem Reap Provincial AIDS Office, of University of Guelph (CA), National Center in HIV Social Research (University of New South Wales, AU), Macquarie University (Sydney, AU), University of Melbourne (AU), Australia Volunteers International, Duke Un iversity (North Carolina, US), Oxford University (Oxford, UK), University of Technology Sydney (AU), as welll as University of Maastricht, NL, National University of Singapore, and Staffordshire University (UK).Data and analyses were provided through Ian Lubek, international advisor to SiRCHESI. The SIRCHESI interviews with beer sellers were conducted either in the workplaces or during health workshops. 213 interviews were conducted from 2004-6, and 324 from 2007-9. 22 beer sellers worked for Heineken and partner brands, 57 worked for Carlsberg brands such as Angkor; 56 sold AB-INBEV brands, 1 sold a SAB-Miller brand, and the remaining 201 sold other brands including Dutch brands Bavaria, Hollandia, as well as Corona, San Miguel, Singha, Oettinger, Asahi, etc. 3 Below, some controversial aspects of the situation in 2008, revealed by SiRCHESI, are described. More background data can be found on the SiRCHESI website dedicated to this issue www. ethicalbeer. com. On the same website mo re new details on the longitudinal study, including data for 2008-9, are published by SiRCHESI 6 as well. Low income and transparency As in 2006, SiRCHESI research 7 confirms that Heineken is not paying a â€Å"living wage† in 2008.If Heineken and its Asia Pacific Breweries partner brands (Tiger, ABC, Anchor, Cheers,etc. paid their beer sellers the current industry standard (2008) of just over 8 US dollar per beer case as commission, they would earn – based on SiRCHESI’s observations of sales of more than 3 cases per night – about 700 US dollars per month which amounts to about 10 times the current fixed salary. BSIC brand sellers are consistently paid less each month than non-BSIC brands yet increasingly sell manifold more beer each year 8 . In fact workers get less than 2. 5 percent of the sale, and face severe nightly workplace health and safety risks. Part of this profitability for Heineken is based on the sellers’ own nightly consumption of ab out 6 percent of sales, which adds harm and risk to their working situation.For a number of years, Heineken officials reported paying bonuses to the beer servers, yet SiRCHESI interviews showed that from 2002 onwards these were not being received by the beer sellers. In fact in 2008 they reported receiving monthly earnings of 71 US dollars which is considerably lower than the 84 US dollars reported by non-BSIC sellers and the 85 US dollars Heineken headquarters reports paying 9 . SiRCHESI estimates that 71 US dollar monthly is still less than half of what would be enough to provide for them and their family dependents. This situation of underpayment –first reported to Heineken executives in 2002 and unchanged ever since- puts terrible pressures on the women to support their families and to make ends meet, compelling some to sell unsafe sex to customers in desperation to supplement insufficient income.In general it is difficult for Heineken beer sellers to know to what benefit s and bonuses they are entitled because Heineken is failing to provide beer sellers copies of their work contracts specifying working conditions, benefits such as severance pay and maternity leave, and exact earnings– all, transparently. In 2008, no beer seller could show SiRCHESI a copy of their signed contract. Several Heineken beer sellers said they did have signed contracts but that these contracts had gone to the distributors' Head Quarters in Cambodia. In 2008 SiRCHESI asked the distributor and BSIC for copies of these contracts they but were told they were â€Å"proprietary† and could not be disseminated. 6 7 8 9 See for example: â€Å"Ab-Inbev, Carlsberg, Heineken and other international brewers are yet again in 2008-9 behaving badly to women beer sellers in Cambodia†, SiRECHESI, April 2009, http://www. ethicalbeer. com/read/April2009-INFO.df AND â€Å"Professor criticizes international beer companies for not being proactive enough in Cambodia (2008-9) to protect their women beer sellers from hazardous, harmful, and potentially mortal workplace health and safety risks: Citing recent research, he urges company executives, brand consumers and shareholders to implement immediate changes. †, SiRCHESI, April 2009, http://www. ethicalbeer. com/read/APRIL2009Press-info. pdf This overview builds on SiRCHESI published (see footnote directly above) and unpublished information provided/communicated directly to SOMO by As Tiger Beer seller Sophea wrote to management at Cambodian Breweries Ltd. asking for a salary increase to 100 US dollars monthly: â€Å"Our claim is absolutely justified. The quantity of our sales increased, and the price of beer increased too†¦. Now it {Tiger Beer} is sold for 2. 90 US dollars. â€Å" (Cambodge Soir, 18-25 June, 2008). â€Å"Biermeisjes bezorgen Heineken hoofdpijn,† Financiele Telegraaf (p. 27) 10 mei 2008 4 Heineken Overview of controversial business practices in 2008 Workplace health an d safety issues Heineken’s HIV/AIDS policy of 2002 has promised coverage to all its workers world-wide 10 . However the company and partner brands are still not providing free HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) for their HIV positive beer sellers as they do for their personnel in Africa.What compounds the situation is that most beer-sellers are currently excluded from Government ARVT (anti-retroviral therapy) programs due to Cambodia and the Global Fund’s inability to implement access in 2008-9 for all persons living with HIV. Simple factors such as lack of daily transportation to a distribution site mean that many beer-sellers cannot receive ARVT. In Africa Heineken has solved this problem through workplace distribution of HAART. Heineken is also not providing enough effective workplace health and safety education about HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and alcohol risks before employment begins. Although Heineken proactively developed the Selling Beer Safely ( SBS) Program in 2003 it has not been offered to every employee; moreover, the number of beneficiaries of SBS is declining markedly.Of 224 Heineken family sellers in the SiRCHESI research sample of 2004 to 2009, 31. 2 percent had received no health training at the time of the interview. It should be mentioned that this is better than the industry average of 43. 3 percent that received no health and safety training about being a beer seller. In 2004, 22 percent of Heineken or Tiger beer sellers had received SBS training. However in 2008 this share had declined to 4. 7 percent. However, when SiRCHESI asked whether they had received either the SBS or any other in-house training program 11 , BSIC beer sellers did modestly better: 27. 8 percent reported in-house training, while only 8. 3 percent non-BSIC sellers reported in-house training.But the most serious criticism is the procrastination in supplying this education. Of 224 Heineken family beer sellers interviewed, 16 (7. 1 percent) re ceived training before they started, and a further 6 (2. 7 percent) received it on the first day. 80/224 or 35. 7 percent had received it in the next 6 months, while the remainder had training in the next 18 months or not at all (122 or 54. 5 percent). Hence only 9. 8 percent had been given some early-warning training – before or on the first day of work- about the risks and harm possible for beer-sellers themselves, damage to the fetus during pregnancy, or contraction of HIV/AIDS or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).Although the BSIC COC which Heineken claims to uphold explicitly forbids workplace drinking of alcohol, SiRCHESI found that only 6% of Heineken (7. 6% of BSIC brands) beer sellers were in fact abstaining in 2008. For those who continue to drink, the mean alcohol consumed nightly by BSIC sellers in 2008 was 1. 48 litres nightly or 6 standard drinks (N=103), while 1. 53 litres (7 standard drinks) were consumed nightly by Heineken beer family servers (N=89). Al l of these levels are well above levels of national guidelines for responsible drinking as set for women by 23 countries surveyed by the International Center For Alcohol Policies (ICAP) 12 including the Netherlands.This means that these women have an increased risk for physical (raised blood pressure, stroke, and liver cirrhosis), mental, and social problems associated with alcohol abuse. While (excessive) workplace drinking continues to be a critical issue in Cambodia it has been observed by SiRCHESI to no longer exist in nearby Singapore. 10 11 12 â€Å"Heineken's HIV/AIDS Policy – contribution of a private company,† HEINEKEN COR P. COMMUNICATION ~ 02 92857455 NO. 023, by Heineken International, 18 April 2002 (at http://fairtradebeer. com/reportfiles/heinekenaidspolicy2002. pdf) SiRCHESI: â€Å"other in house-training† are mostly shorter than the 3 day SBS training some just get 1-2 hours – the â€Å"refresher courses† International Center For Al cohol Policies (ICAP) in International Drinking Guidelines Reports 14

Eschools as Organisations Post 16 Options for Young People and Adults Essay

1. 2 Explain the post 16 options for young people and adults: – Once a young person has reached year 11 there are a number of choices to make about their future, this could be choosing a new course at school or college or entering employment and training. These options will give them a good base on building a future career. Post 16:- Continue in full time education either sixth form or at a local college. Depending on their results they can choose from the list below:- Post 17:- If they have just completed a one-year course, following Year 12, they may decide to continue their studies full time or look for jobs and training:- Post 18:- Following Year 13, they will have a number of choices to make about their future. They may decide to continue their studies full time or look for jobs or training. List of options for post 16, 17 and 18. Course at entry level- Entry level courses do not require any exam passes and usually take one or two years to complete, a course at this level is an – Entry Level Certificate. Course at Level 1(foundation Level) – Foundation level courses do not usually require any exam passes. Depending on which course they do it usually takes either one or two years to complete. Examples of courses at this level are: -Introductory Certificates/Diplomas -National First Award (level 1) -National certificate/Award (level 1) -GCSEs -NVQ Level 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (foundation Level) All foundation Level courses can lead to higher level courses or work and training. Courses at level 2 (intermediate level) – Intermediate Level courses may require two or three passes at grades D–G and they usually take two years to complete. Examples of courses at this level are: – GCSEs – First Certificates/Diplomas – National Certificates/Awards (Level 2) – NVQ Level 2 – Foundation Apprenticeship – Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (Intermediate) All Intermediate Level courses can lead to higher level course or jobs with training. (Providing they get the grades required). Courses at level 3 (advanced level) Four or five GCSEs at grades A*- C or equivalents are usually required for entry. Depending on the type of course, they generally take either one or two years to complete. Examples of courses at this level are: – AS/A levels, including applied A levels – National Diploma – International Baccalaureate – Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (Advanced) †¢ NVQ Level 3 – Apprenticeship. All Advanced Level courses can lead to higher education or jobs and training (providing they get the grades required in the appropriate subjects). Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification:- The Welsh Bac is now becoming available to more learners throughout Wales in schools, colleges and work-based settings. It allows for more flexibility in their studies. They will also develop skills and learning styles that prepare you for further and higher education, as well as the world of work. The Welsh Bac consists of two parts: Core – consisting of five components: – An Individual Investigation (which is like a project) into a subject of their own choice. – Wales, Europe and the World – Key Skills – Work-related education – Personal and social education. Options – where they choose from course/programmes that are currently offered, for example: – GCSE – AS/A levels – VCE (Vocational A levels) – NVQ – BTEC – OCR-*- New Principal Learning and Project Qualification will also be available as option within the Welsh Bac. Apprenticeships: Apprenticeships bring them formal qualifications and highly specific work skills. They must be employed so they will be earning while they learn. They can also use Apprenticeship as a stepping stone to higher qualifications. As an Apprentice, their skills and role are respected, many top managers started out by learning a trade and understanding how the organisation works from the ground up. To gain access to an apprenticeship applicants would need: — Four or five GCSEs at grade C or above are usually needed. – They’d be paid while they learn the skills that employers are looking for. – They’d gain an NVQ Level 3 qualification as an Apprentice or a Level 2 qualification as a foundation Apprentice. Higher Apprenticeships are also available at a Level 4 or above. Traineeships: If the student was leaving school or college a Traineeship could help them get the skills needed to get a job or progress to further learning at a higher level, for example Apprenticeships or further education. In most cases they can start on a Traineeship at any point during the year and they don’t need any formal qualifications to access the programme. There are different levels of Traineeship. (Post 18) †¢ Engagement: If they are finding it difficult to find the right job, get into work or develop their skills and learning, this level will help prepare them for the world of work or full time learning. This level can include work placements, community projects or training. Level 1: If they know what career they want to follow and are ready for full-time learning at Level 1, this level will allow them to progress their skills further in their chosen subject and can also include work placements and community projects. If they have successfully completed a Level 1 and are still out of work, they maybe eligible to start learning at Level 2. Voluntary work: As well as doing something worthwhile and rewarding in its own right, voluntary work can also be a good way of gaining skills and experience, especially if they don’t find a job or training right away. It also looks good on a CV. Youth Gateway: If they need some extra help and support before applying for a course, job or training, Youth Gateway is a short programme run by Careers Wales to help them with identifying and developing skills, job search, making applications and choosing suitable courses. Information on this can found at the local Careers Wales Centre. Direct. Gov [15 April 2012] www. education. gov. uk [1 April 2012 wales. gov. uk [ 1 April 2012].

Social Institutions of the Family(Notes) Essay Example

Social Institutions of the Family(Notes) Essay Example Social Institutions of the Family(Notes) Essay Social Institutions of the Family(Notes) Essay The Social institution of the family There are various types of Caribbean family forms. The emergence of the different types was largely due to historical influences that shape Caribbean civilization. Caribbean society has grown into a cosmopolitan mixture of different races and ethnic groups that construct their reality in the Caribbean. This mixture has resulted in a unique social system; plural, polarized, politicised, problematic, but still some what plantation society. This has impacted the type of family units that emerged in the region. The roles expectations by Caribbean society of mother and father coupled with the different socialization of boys and girls have influenced the many structural ways in which families are built and maintained in the Caribbean. This also affects issues related to gender construction in the family. The ever increasing proportion of matrifocal and common law unions are products of history as well as other social trends that are both local and international in scope. Family forms in the Caribbean A family can be defined as a social unit of common residence involving two adults who are in a sexual relationship. Children of either of the adults, from both, or who have been adopted also form part of this family unit. The most popular family forms in the Caribbean are: The family based on common-law union (consensual cohabitation) The nuclear family The family based on a visiting union (extra-residential) The matrifocal family The extended family The East Indian family Other family types are sibling families due largely to migration of parents, and grandparent-headed families. What are the reasons for the existence of the various family forms in the region? Some theorists such as Melville  Herskovits (1958) attribute the prevalence of certain types of Caribbean family forms to African society and some of the social institutions and social dynamics of those societies. The nuclear family The domestic unit of husband, wife, and child or children is regarded by many people in the Caribbean as the ideal family structure that comes into being ith the marriage of the partners. However where the nuclear family was established in the Caribbean, its existence as a small domestic unit did not always last very long, even among the middle and upper classes in these societies. The family based a common-law union The common law union is another type of domestic unit with the same basic relationships as those in the nuclear family, that is, adults are united in an ongoing bond but the bond is not based on the family as faithful concubinage (T. S Simey, 1946). To all intents and purposes the spouses are committed to each other sexually, they raise children in a stable relationship and the family functions as an economic unit. Because of the prevalence of this type of union and the existence of the relationship that it brings into being on the birth of children, several Caribbean governments have given legal recognition to these unions. Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua have passed legislation that affords the children of such union legitimate status as heirs to family property. Common law unions have also been known to exist for many years without persons in the community being aware that the union has not been made legal with a wedding ceremony. The family based on a visiting union A frequent occurrence in the Caribbean is the domestic unit of a woman and her child or children. In this family form, the mother and her child or children live separately but may be visited from time to time by a man with whom she shares a relationship similar to that of a spouse. The man may or may not be the father of the child or children. Quite often such a visiting union begins with a young woman being impregnated while still living in the household of her mother or parents. RT. Smith (1956) in his work on low income black families in Guyana noted the following: â€Å"It does nor by any means follow that a man will be expected to marry the girl. He will certainly be expected to support the child if he is able, and he may continue his attachment to the girl and other children be born. † R. T. Smith (1956), The Negro Family in British Guiana p. 138. Smith further stated that the relationship may eventually lead to the establishment of a common-law union. The woman, in order to take care of herself and her children, may then start a sexual relationship with another man and thus may end up having several children with different men. Financial burden and emotional strain of raising children arising from such unions can be quite overwhelming. The Matrifocal family In Caribbean society, the matrifocal family is the term used to describe unit in which women are the focal point. You may also see this form of family referred to as the ‘female headed household’ in some literature. In this form of family adult males are absent from the family unit or if they are present their role in domestic routines is marginal. A woman is usually the head of the household or family unit. This type of family structure is so armed because power and authority tend to reside in the female head. However, there, are some domestic units in which females are responsible only for a day-to-day running of the affairs of the family. Males as lovers or brothers, or fathers of the children may be the ones who make the crucial decisions about major financial undertakings or schooling for the children. Thus, absence of a male head may not necessarily mean absence of male authority. The East Indian Family The East Indian family units which  are prevalent in Guyana and Trinidad  and Tobago are also the result of plantation society and the introduction of indentureship  at the end of the slavery period. These family units are horizontally extended  as the East Indians seek to maintain their sense of community and kinship bonds that are influenced by their religion. East Indians maintained, initially, most of their family traditions. Over time, some of these traditions have been creolized while some have changed alongside social changes being pursued in post-colonial Indian societies. Endogamy still persists as well as some forms of horizontal family forms. However, these are changing as the strong traditions of colonial India lose their grip on some Indo-Caribbean social institutions. The movement away from the extended family household by the younger generation of East Indians will also affect other Indian institutions over time. Why the diversity? Researchers have offered a wide range of arguments concerning diversity within the family in the Caribbean. Three viewpoints put forward: cultural retention, plantation system of slavery and socioeconomic factors and the culture of poverty Cultural retention and family diversity Melville Herskovits (1958) in The Myth of the Negro Past, was one of the first to trace the development of Caribbean families to the African origins of the slaves who to the Americas. Herskovits believed that despite attempts to strip African slaves of their cultural heritage, the practice of polygyny was retained from African culture. Where polygyny existed, the basic unit for affective bonding and closeness was the mother and child or children. The husband/ father were somewhat marginal in this unit. Herskovits maintained that this pattern has persisted Caribbean society and culture, especially among lower class people of African descent in the Caribbean. Plantation system of slavery M. G Smith (1962) wrote that under plantation slavery, stable families were not give a chance to develop. Unions of whatever sort were often broken up as slaves and were sold. The unit of mother and child or children was less likely to be torn apart than the man/wife/children unit. Male slaves were also denied property and family rights, and a system of female centeredness emerged and developed. Males therefore tended to be marginal to family units and this marginalization from family meant that slave children were property of white slave masters. Socio-economic factors and the culture of poverty The proponents of this approach including Oscar Lewis argue that poverty of low in come families of African origin in the Caribbean and the Americas prevents the males from making the financial contributions that they ought to and as a consequence the find it difficult to meet their family responsibilities as husbands and fathers. Overtime, matrifocality becomes an accepted pattern of family living and family relationships. It becomes a feature of the subculture of poverty. Lewis conducted his study in the urban areas of Puerto Rico and Mexico. He argued that the presence of matrifocality is transmitted from one generation to the next. Further, the urban environment encourages unstable family unions due to a number of socioeconomic factors such as unemployment and poverty. Males tend to desert the home because of inability to effectively carry out the bread winner role. The absence of regular employment that women are forced to enter successive relationships with a number of different males in order to subsist. Each male may father a child or two before deserting the woman and her family. Edith Clarke in her study ‘My Mother Who Fathered Me’ illustrates the combined effects of class and region/locality on family forms. Clarke’s comparative study of three towns in Jamaica suggests that families in affluent urban areas are more likely to be nuclear. Those in rural and urban slums are more prone to be visiting union, common-law or matrifocal. The primary reason noted is wealth and statusnstitutions of the

How to Use the Spanish Verb Faltar to Indicate Absence or Lack

How to Use the Spanish Verb Faltar to Indicate Absence or Lack Faltar carries with it the idea of lacking. But it is used in a variety of ways where to lack isnt the best translation. Here are some of its most common uses. Fast Facts Faltar typically is used to state that something is missing, lacking, nonexistent, or not available.An indirect object can be used to indicate who is affected by the lack or absence.Faltar is used much more flexibly than lack and other English equivalents, so a wide variety of translations is possible depending on the context. Faltar to Indicate Absence or Nonexistence Possible translations of faltar include to be absent and to be missing as well as a simple statement of nonexistence: A la reunià ³n faltaron los representantes de Ecuador. (The representatives of Ecuador were absent from the meeting. The representatives of Ecuador were not at the meeting.)La mujer faltaba de su hogar desde hace cuatro dà ­as y era buscada intensamente por sus familiares. (The woman was missing from her home since four days ago and was intensively searched for by her relatives.)El martes de la semana pasada, Sabrina faltà ³ a la escuela sin avisar a sus padres. (On Tuesday of last week, Sabrina missed school without telling her parents.) Faltar With Indirect Pronouns In many situations, faltar is used with an indirect-object pronoun to state who or what is affected by the lack or absence of something. In this usage, faltar functions much like gustar. The indirect-object pronoun is in boldface in the following examples. Although lack can almost always be used in translation, other possibilities include need, to be short and so on. As is the case with gustar, the noun represented by the indirect-object pronoun often serves as the subject of the sentence in translation. A esta receta le falta un ingrediente principal. (This recipe lacks a main ingredient.)Nos faltan dos personas para reservar el cuarto de hotel. (We need two more people to reserve the hotel room.)A este pobre le falta una pierna. (This poor man is missing a leg.)Sà ³lo me falta el telà ©fono. (Im missing only my telephone. I have everything I need except for my telephone.) ¿Cuntos puntos me faltan para llegar al nivel segundo? (How many points do I need to arrive at the second level?)Te falta estudiarlo un poco ms. (You need to study it a little more.)Hay 10 secretos que te faltarn saber de Guatemala. (There are 10 secrets you will need to know about Guatemala.)Me falta agua en el radiador. (I need water in the radiator.) Faltar to Indicate What Remains Somewhat paradoxically for English speakers, faltar is often used to indicate what remains in anticipation of an event or situation. The construction used in these instances typically is optional pronoun faltar what remains para the goal. Faltan cinco dà ­as para Navidad. (Five days remain until Christmas. There are five days to go until Christmas.)Faltaban dos segundos para terminar el juego. (There were two seconds to go to end the game.)Te faltan 100 pesos para comprarlo. (You need 100 pesos more to buy it.)A à ©l le faltaban tres horas para la medianoche. (He had three hours remaining until midnight.) Faltar A to Indicate Lack of Heed The phrase faltar a can be used to indicate the lack of attention or respect to the object of the preposition a. Es una promesa,  ¡y nunca falto a mis promesas! (Thats a promise, and I never break my promises!)Es tonto pensar que ella faltarà ­a a un evento como ese. (Its silly to think that she would not attend an event such as that.)La escritora jams faltaba a las reuniones de lunes. (The writer never missed the Monday meetings.) Expressions Using Faltar Expressions and phrases that use faltar include: Faltar al respeto, to be disrespectful. ¡Lo que faltaba! Its all I needed! ¡No faltarà ­a ms! Of course! Obviously! Dont mention it!Faltar a la verdad, to be dishonest.Faltar tiempo, to be short of time. Conjugation of Faltar Faltar is conjugated regularly, following the pattern of hablar. Etymology of Faltar As you might have guessed, is etymologically related to the English word fault. Both fault and faltar come from the Latin verb fallere, which meant to deceive or disappoint. Other Spanish words derived from fallere include fallar (to fail or disappoint), falla (defect), and falso (false). Related English words include fail, failure, and false.

Impact of First World War on Russia and Germany Essay

Impact of First World War on Russia and Germany - Essay Example This was also the result of Russia being isolating itself and sending belligerent messages to the rest of the astounded world that was aghast with the termination of Tsars that led to their cold-blooded killing. The direct impact of world war started with the vast mobilisation of military and Russian population even in the farthest corners of Russia started dreading the outbreak of war with most of the able bodied men disappearing into the defence forces. Social impact of the military disasters between 1914 and 1915 was terrible for Russian population, who, till then, lived a rather deprived, but peaceful existence and most of the Russians were peasants in the far-flung areas of Russia1.There were war refugees accompanied by vast displacement of population as a result of Russian retreats in the first two years of war. It is said that more than one fifth of Russia's railway wagons were involved only in the work of evacuating people and other equipments in the summer of 1915. This had become very important to save the population from perishing in the hands of advancing Germany. More than half a million peasant households were displaced with disastrous effects. It was not easy to provide eithe r employment or basic necessities to these displaced people and rehabilitation when the country was losing the war was extremely difficult. Military reverses as in any other country, had direct impact on ordinary people of Russia. Farmers had to leave their land and livelihood and farm machinery and this means they had no ways of continuing farming. They were unsuitable for any other life and living without a roof over their heads in Russian winter was another major problem. There was widespread chaos and confusion combined with acute shortage of food and shelter almost leading to starvation. Naturally the government was unable to meet the expenses of refugees and running a full-blooded military campaign against Germany who had prepared for this war for years. Different sections of Russian society reacted in different ways, no doubt. But all of them showed understandable desperation of not knowing when the war would end. Refugees had no idea when they would be able to return home. Educated sections of the society and the intellectuals were getting more and more alienated from the government. From hindsight it is difficul t not to sympathise with the government which was under enormous stress and strain of protecting the land from the enemy attack, facing the weather conditions, clothing and keeping the soldiers armed and happy and facing the internal upheaval of a ruined economy, though the Russian elite remained committed to somehow achieving victory in the ongoing war. There are also indications that other than the military, civil administration was uncooperative in the war efforts and this slowly created rift in the ranks and lines of educated society. Government had been unable to mobilise public opinion in favour of the war it had been fighting. People were more concerned about losing their homes and hearths and were worried about their livelihoods than about the real war. Their minds were full of the hardships and difficulties they were facing with their families and ideologies did not worry them much, faced with enormous problems which did not seem to end.