Color Me Butterfly Essay

Me Butterfly Essay In Color Me Butterfly, L. Y. Marlow describes an African American family in the 20th century. Not only does she describe the family’s experiences, she also explains events common to many African-Americans during this time. The book covers Isaac’s experience in the Great Migration. It also describes the Civil Rights movement, racial tension in America, and history from the late 1980’s through 2001. In studying this novel, the reader follows the experiences of many African Americans during the 1900s. The Great Migration was the movement of large numbers of African Americans from small southern towns and rural neighborhoods to large northern cities. Many African Americans moved up north because of the economy. Because of the lack of work, Isaac wanted to move up north to have a steady income. â€Å"Isaac convinced his parents to let him move by telling them; he’d make plenty more money in the big city than the little he earned sharecropping, and he’d be able to send them something every now and then. This proves that because of the lack of work in Kingstree, he moved up north not only for his family but himself to have a better life. The Civil Rights movement is mentioned several times throughout Marlow’s novel. People involved in the movement worked to ensure equality among African Americans and whites. In the south, it was all about segregation, but it was also segregation up north. One night, Mattie, Roy, and their friends were on their way to visit his neighbor.

Athens vs. Sparta

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of the two strongest empires 2,500 years ago? Athens and Sparta were the most powerful empire and city- states in Greece 2,500 years ago. They both shared many of their beliefs and heroes, but they were very different when it came to their government. Athens had a democracy and trade while Sparta was a military state and its focus was training the people for war. Sparta was a better place because the women had more freedom, they were prized for reproduction, and they did not have to worry about raising their hildren after age eight because they had to go off to the military.I would rather live in Sparta because women had more freedom and independence, there was a strong sense of security and theyre government was very well protected, and women were prized and their women's fitness was priority. In Sparta, the women had so much more freedom than the women in Athens. The Athenian women had to stay home and do what the man said and do all the work around the house (F). Their women were treated like children and many times the women were expected to be timid and earful (E).On the other hand, in Sparta, the women could take legal action under the supervision of a male guardian. They were prized for reproduction, women owned two-fifths of the land and they did not have to take care of their babies for long. The women only had to take care of healthy children for about 7 years then they would get taken away to the military (B). Also, they could own land and hire people to work for them. I like this way of living better than Athens because l, personally, like being ndependent and knowing that I can do things on my own.Second, Sparta was a better place to live because they had a very strong government and sense of security. The military in Sparta was very strong and they won many of their battles. Spartan women when handing their son or husband a shield would say â€Å"Come back with your shield, or on it. â⠂¬  Since the men had been trained they knew how to fight and they knew good strategies to help them fight. The two kings of Sparta led the military into battle when it was time.I would like to live ere because I know that if the city-state were attacked, the military would know how to defend the city and keep us safe. Next, Sparta was a better place to live because the women were somewhat important in society. In Sparta, the women were prized for their reproduction (B). If the women did not reproduce, they would not have any new people to go into the military. After seven years a woman would give her child to men who trained him for the military so he could grow up and serve for them (B).When the child became even or eight years they no longer had to worry about child care or the usual eighteen plus years of care that usually happens today. In addition, since women could do as much as the men, they spent time exercising and training for battle even though they could never fght. Th ey would learn battle strategies Just like the men in Sparta and they would stay fit in the process. The women also believed in staying fit because if they were fit then the chance of them having a healthy child was increased. I believe this was important because for me, I like being athletic.I don't think I could sit around and care for a child for many years and Just clean around the In conclusion, I think Athens could have been an okay place to live, but I think the women Just were not treated fairly. I would rather live in Sparta because the women were prized for their reproduction, they stayed fit, they were given more freedom, they were independent, and there was a strong sense of security and a strong and powerful government. I picked Sparta because it fits me best because I am athletic, independent, and I don't like to be treated like dirt. Athens vs. Sparta Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of the two strongest empires 2,500 years ago? Athens and Sparta were the most powerful empire and city- states in Greece 2,500 years ago. They both shared many of their beliefs and heroes, but they were very different when it came to their government. Athens had a democracy and trade while Sparta was a military state and its focus was training the people for war. Sparta was a better place because the women had more freedom, they were prized for reproduction, and they did not have to worry about raising their hildren after age eight because they had to go off to the military.I would rather live in Sparta because women had more freedom and independence, there was a strong sense of security and theyre government was very well protected, and women were prized and their women's fitness was priority. In Sparta, the women had so much more freedom than the women in Athens. The Athenian women had to stay home and do what the man said and do all the work around the house (F). Their women were treated like children and many times the women were expected to be timid and earful (E).On the other hand, in Sparta, the women could take legal action under the supervision of a male guardian. They were prized for reproduction, women owned two-fifths of the land and they did not have to take care of their babies for long. The women only had to take care of healthy children for about 7 years then they would get taken away to the military (B). Also, they could own land and hire people to work for them. I like this way of living better than Athens because l, personally, like being ndependent and knowing that I can do things on my own.Second, Sparta was a better place to live because they had a very strong government and sense of security. The military in Sparta was very strong and they won many of their battles. Spartan women when handing their son or husband a shield would say â€Å"Come back with your shield, or on it. â⠂¬  Since the men had been trained they knew how to fight and they knew good strategies to help them fight. The two kings of Sparta led the military into battle when it was time.I would like to live ere because I know that if the city-state were attacked, the military would know how to defend the city and keep us safe. Next, Sparta was a better place to live because the women were somewhat important in society. In Sparta, the women were prized for their reproduction (B). If the women did not reproduce, they would not have any new people to go into the military. After seven years a woman would give her child to men who trained him for the military so he could grow up and serve for them (B).When the child became even or eight years they no longer had to worry about child care or the usual eighteen plus years of care that usually happens today. In addition, since women could do as much as the men, they spent time exercising and training for battle even though they could never fght. Th ey would learn battle strategies Just like the men in Sparta and they would stay fit in the process. The women also believed in staying fit because if they were fit then the chance of them having a healthy child was increased. I believe this was important because for me, I like being athletic.I don't think I could sit around and care for a child for many years and Just clean around the In conclusion, I think Athens could have been an okay place to live, but I think the women Just were not treated fairly. I would rather live in Sparta because the women were prized for their reproduction, they stayed fit, they were given more freedom, they were independent, and there was a strong sense of security and a strong and powerful government. I picked Sparta because it fits me best because I am athletic, independent, and I don't like to be treated like dirt. Athens vs. Sparta Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of the two strongest empires 2,500 years ago? Athens and Sparta were the most powerful empire and city- states in Greece 2,500 years ago. They both shared many of their beliefs and heroes, but they were very different when it came to their government. Athens had a democracy and trade while Sparta was a military state and its focus was training the people for war. Sparta was a better place because the women had more freedom, they were prized for reproduction, and they did not have to worry about raising their hildren after age eight because they had to go off to the military.I would rather live in Sparta because women had more freedom and independence, there was a strong sense of security and theyre government was very well protected, and women were prized and their women's fitness was priority. In Sparta, the women had so much more freedom than the women in Athens. The Athenian women had to stay home and do what the man said and do all the work around the house (F). Their women were treated like children and many times the women were expected to be timid and earful (E).On the other hand, in Sparta, the women could take legal action under the supervision of a male guardian. They were prized for reproduction, women owned two-fifths of the land and they did not have to take care of their babies for long. The women only had to take care of healthy children for about 7 years then they would get taken away to the military (B). Also, they could own land and hire people to work for them. I like this way of living better than Athens because l, personally, like being ndependent and knowing that I can do things on my own.Second, Sparta was a better place to live because they had a very strong government and sense of security. The military in Sparta was very strong and they won many of their battles. Spartan women when handing their son or husband a shield would say â€Å"Come back with your shield, or on it. â⠂¬  Since the men had been trained they knew how to fight and they knew good strategies to help them fight. The two kings of Sparta led the military into battle when it was time.I would like to live ere because I know that if the city-state were attacked, the military would know how to defend the city and keep us safe. Next, Sparta was a better place to live because the women were somewhat important in society. In Sparta, the women were prized for their reproduction (B). If the women did not reproduce, they would not have any new people to go into the military. After seven years a woman would give her child to men who trained him for the military so he could grow up and serve for them (B).When the child became even or eight years they no longer had to worry about child care or the usual eighteen plus years of care that usually happens today. In addition, since women could do as much as the men, they spent time exercising and training for battle even though they could never fght. Th ey would learn battle strategies Just like the men in Sparta and they would stay fit in the process. The women also believed in staying fit because if they were fit then the chance of them having a healthy child was increased. I believe this was important because for me, I like being athletic.I don't think I could sit around and care for a child for many years and Just clean around the In conclusion, I think Athens could have been an okay place to live, but I think the women Just were not treated fairly. I would rather live in Sparta because the women were prized for their reproduction, they stayed fit, they were given more freedom, they were independent, and there was a strong sense of security and a strong and powerful government. I picked Sparta because it fits me best because I am athletic, independent, and I don't like to be treated like dirt.

Addressing Women Vulnerability in Refugee Camps through the Provision Dissertation

Addressing Women Vulnerability in Refugee Camps through the Provision of Household Energy - Dissertation Example This paper stresses that energy resources can be referred to as acquisitive possessions. Hence, holding a right to use such ‘valuable assets’ might help in substantially reducing the vulnerability of households based in refugee camps. The fact that energy helps in meeting several vital days to day needs of households, such as cooking, carrying and storing water, processing food etc, is undeniable. The households which receive adequate energy, for instance in the form of cooking stoves, for such activities are able to effectively manage their resources in a much better fashion and hence contribute towards poverty eradication, in a small yet substantial way. This essay makes a conclusion that Energy is acknowledged one of the most indispensable contributors for supporting the livelihood of people living in IDPs or refugee camps. At the most fundamental level, provision of energy facilitates the availability of cooked food, clean drinking water, and heat (for protection against cold weather). However, the significance of provision of energy has never been acknowledged and established extensively as a vital necessity along with food, clothing, and shelter, within the refugee camps. An in-depth evaluation of various reports in this regard, such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, for instance, reveals that a majority of needs of people living in displaced settings or in refugee camps are related to household energy including cooking, lighting, heating etc.

Aquinas's Five Proofs for the existence of God Essay

Aquinas's Five Proofs for the existence of God - Essay Example The first proof as often called the Argument of the Unmoved Mover. According to it, there are many things in the world that are in motion; yet, the latter is always cased by a mover1. Keeping in mind that the infinite regress of mover is not possible, one will have to agree that ultimately there will be the mover that was not moved by the outside force. In other words, the above mentioned mover is unique since it was unmoved and yet became moved all other things in the Universe. It is quite understandable that this peculiar mover is God. The next proof is referred to as the Argument of the First Cause. It is somewhat similar to the previously mentioned one; however, it places emphasis on a different aspect of reality. According to it, there is a net of causes which connects things in the Universe. In other words, everything is causes by something else2. However, it is absolutely impossible to regress this process infinitely. In other words, there will ultimately be a cause which wasn’t caused by something else. One would make no mistake that this definition fits the idea of God as the supreme cause that is not caused by anything. The third proof it called the Argument from Contingency. As it has already been pointed out, this is another form of the cosmological argument since it involves a logic that is similar to the previous two arguments. According to it, the key aspect of proof of existence of God is contingency of things. Aquinas points out that that everything in the Universe is contingent that would mean that there would be time when no thing exists and, consequentially, no thing would appear3. That is why God is surely a being that is not contingent on other beings. As a result, the very existence of the Universe should be seen as proof of His existence. The fourth argument employs a completely different approach towards the procedure of proving

Trokosi As Modern-Day Slavery in Africa Research Paper

Trokosi As Modern-Day Slavery in Africa - Research Paper Example he definition of slavery under the supplementary convention since the families are bound to the conviction that they are subjected to suffering from a disease and deaths until they offer the virgin girl to please the gods. On the other hand, they decide to offer the virgins for acquiring luck and fortune. In fact, there are estimates of more than five thousand trokosi slaves in Ghana, and other twenty nine thousand and thirty five thousand slaves estimated to be in other countries. Therefore, trokosi is a practice that has become a component of traditional obsession associated with gods and spirits in sacrament things and shrines priests. In Ghana, trokosi practice is originated from Ewe ethnic groups since seventieth century in Togo and Benin, whereby trokosi was considered a ritual in 1600s. In fact, they offered used offer virgin girls the war gods in order to please them and in return, they would acquire victory. Therefore, the warriors visited the religious shrine in order to of fer these girls as sacrifices while the priests of trokosi shrines had a conviction that this would communicate to the gods. Modern Trokosi Practice Trokosi in the modern day is has taken a slight which is depicted through the of story a nine-year old girl named Abla Kotor, whereby she is forced to go to southern Ghana in concurrence due to a crime that was committed by her father (Aird, 2012). Abla was born as a result of a crime committed by her father is raping his niece; thus, Abla was bound to pay for her father’s crime. In this case, she is forced to be a savant to Ewe priest in a way of appeasing the gods. Therefore, her parents decide to offer her as a slave, and she is subjected to a lot of tribulation such as physical and sexual abuse. Nevertheless, she decides to humiliate... Trokosi" As Modern-Day Slavery in Africa However, the girls are mistreated, and there are restricted to interact with others, thereby providing sex and labor to the priest. On the other hand, they are denied to access education, ample food and health services. In fact, they live in a harsh condition in a way that defines the slavery under the constitution of Ghana and slavery convention. Nevertheless, the paper will focus on exploring the issues associated to Trokosi as a modern form of slavery in Africa, whereby various issues associated with this form of slavery will be explored. The paper will also discuss effort made through reforms in order to alleviate the problem faced by these girls. Therefore, the paper will begin by discussing Trokosi practice based on the data gathered from different literatures in order to offer a basis of understanding the issue. The paper proceeds by offering relevant background information on the issue in order to facilitate the understanding the issues in a reliable way. In the next section, the paper will focus on exploring the reforms and challenges faced in the process of alleviating the problem. Moreover, the paper will focus on exploring the practice of trokosi in the Ghanaian context since it is one of the African countries severely been affected by this problem. Another form of opposition to the process eliminating trokosi practice emanates from people with the perception of the process being an attack to against their religious beliefs.

Contract Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contract Law - Essay Example Since Standard Contracts display an inherent certainty, they leave no scope for ambiguity. The Supplier who has made the Standard Contract (Employers, Banks, Investors and other such people) can impose their own clauses. They impose their own clauses and are adamant about any proposed change by the client. What makes provisions in agreements â€Å"standard† is the failure of the client to negotiate them and the willingness of those artists to accept such an off-putting reply that something is â€Å"standard.† ( IVAN HOFFMAN, B.A., J.D.) There are of course many provisions that should be included in any thorough agreement even though many of those provisions and their internal components remain fully negotiable. But at the very least, money points, royalties, advances, reserves should be considered as fully fair game in all deals. Other agreed terms, whilst not mandatory, have been subject to agreement between the negotiating parties nationally and should not therefore n eed amending in any way at local level. There are only a small number of terms which will be particular to each practice and which will need to be tailored to reflect the agreement. In the present scenario there is precious little that the client can do. There are not too many legal instruments could be provided to the client against the supplier, who has prepared the Standard Contract. As a rule, the standard conditions are valid in most circumstances.

Derby Castles Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Derby Castles Management - Assignment Example The succeeding part of the document will delve directly on presenting these problems. Robin Hood can develop a SMART Goals by making a comprehensive, actionable, flexible, and goals that could be able to shift together with the shifting market demands. It should be based on perceived reality and possibilities of change in the future. Before the goals are set, Robin Hood should first identify the real essence and purpose of the organization. "Develop a long-term relationship with the customers through providing value-based services, hassle free transaction processing through the use of information wise systems of customer accommodation in order to gain customer loyalty, which will lead to profitability." Poor Marketing Strategy - Marion Montgomery, the marketing manager shared the marketing strategy they had utilized as one of the secrets behind the success of attracting diverse types of visitors-customers. She is to some extent confident that their main line in their advert which says "Derby Castle - the finest mediaeval castle in England" is a full package description of the castles features. But she does not discount the Castle's unique state of preservation, the breadth of attractions it offers, its location on the banks of the River Trent or its thousand-year span of history. In general, the advert is ineffective in the sense that it has only served lesser information than what is needed. The management is ignoring the fact that different people would have different reaction to what we can consider a poetic line, and each have different preferences in based on their expectations of the overall performance in exchange for their payment. Historical Values against Financial Values - This talks about the real value of the site. Montgomery said that "Coca-Cola have offered us a sponsorship deal. They will give us money for a particular project which will increase our revenue and also the number of visitors we are getting. The problem is that Coca-Cola is the epitome of youth and fizz while the Castle's target market is adults ABC 1, average age

Modernist And Postmodernist Interior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Modernist And Postmodernist Interior - Essay Example Most importantly, this paper will show the connection between culture and interior designs. It will do so by analyzing the changes in different cultures currently experiencing change. As a global village, there is increased cultural interaction that has seen a lot of borrowing between cultures. These kinds of interactions are some of the forces that are responsible for shaping modernism and post-modernism development. The most visible progress from modernism to post modernism is not only exhibited through technology but also through architecture and interior designs (Piotrowsky, 2008, p.116). Withal, in the comparison of the two designs, this paper will also elaborate on the close links that tie together interior design and socio-cultural aspects of the society. It will also assess the interdependence between the two broad dynamics of each of these aspects (Tangaza, 2006, p. 80). It will sustain this by analyzing how a change in one aspect directly or indirectly prompts the other to change. In order to bring a clear understanding on the interconnectivity between these two major contexts, this paper will bases its assessment and comparison on relevant theories of modernism and post modernism. These are theories that explain the concepts of modernism and post-modernism in the context of the society and its culture. ... Some of these actors may be hard to achieve or attain for some regions more than it may be for some regions. Perhaps the best question on should be asking now is what exactly modernism and post modernism mean. After that it will be easier to understand the concept of modern interior designs and postmodern interior designs in architecture. The Concept of Modernism and Post-Modernism Some scholars are of the opinion that the concept of postmodernism is one that has arisen out of a desire and endeavor to move away from the eighteenth century enlightment philosophy. They claim that there was a need for man to come with present and more current ways of defining the present times and living by those standards that befit the current age. While this may be true, there is however a clear attempt or omission that skips one step. Postmodernity cannot come ahead of modernity. This brings us to the debate on whether one can clearly distinguish whether the concept of modernity and postmodernity is actually one thing. Can one sufficiently argue that postmodernity concept is one that man coined to celebrate his immense achievements although these achievements are just slightly above modernism? This may not presents clear distinction. Nevertheless, one can be bold enough to say that postmodernity exist side by side like two faces of the same coin. However, postmodernity presents an understanding of man’s response to humanity and making of great strides in his quest to make life better. Postmodernity therefore appears to be a new way of doing things in the best way possible. One can also say that postmodernism is movement towards decentralizing and dispersing of aspects about life. Call it a great shift to make modernity even better. Other scholars argue that postmodernity is

Word Handycap Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Word Handycap - Essay Example Everyone is physically challenged - some to a small extend, some others to a larger extend. When a person is unable to do the normal duties and routines with respect to his age, sex etc he is considered to be in the awkward condition of 'handicapped". That is, he has limitation in performing an activity or function. In other words, there is mental or physical disability. One kind of disability will result in multiple disablements. Physical dependence and immobility will mean that the person is handicapped. The word is actually refers to a relation or comparison. The so called handicapped person will have no problem in working as a telephone operator. But he may find difficulty if his job involves traveling in public transport. He will experience a handicap in the second case but not in the first. It is not that no handicapped can do normal work. They may not be able to do as fast as the normal person but still they can do useful productive work. For example, they can work on the computer as efficiently or even more than a normal person. They can teach or do running commentary much better than a common person. Handicap means restriction of activity. It amounts to limitation in participation. As already said the word handicap is not an absolute concept, but a related one. It is linked to the current condition of the individual, that is to say, the reality in which he is placed. Initially the Initially the word was meant only for crippled children. Later it included adults and mentally retarded as well. The word has nothing to do with 'cap in hand'. In the past it referred to beggars. There was a time when the handicapped were looked down with hate and disgust. The current society consider the common person as able, whereas the disabled as one with shortcomings. 'Handicapped' is seen as negative offence. The term 'disabled' seemed to be better and more neutral than negative. The people with mental and physical disabilities prefer the term 'disabled' than being characterized as handicapped. Handicapped is mild in comparison with disabled which is somewhat a blunt term. There are misconceptions that disabled and handicapped are one and the same. Strictly speaking, they are not. Disability is the functional limitation due to illness or injury. The handicapped are not suitable for activities involving mobility or sports and game, but there are trades where they can even out beat the normal persons. However, those having problem in seeing, hearing and talking would do well to avoid the type of duties where these actions are important. It is heartening to note disability has been replaced by activity and handicap by participation. This is indeed a positive transformation in the outlook of the society. It must be understood that the gifts gained from Justice are far valuable than those received from Charity. Do not allow the people to pity the handicapped. Instead they must build up awareness, confidence and ability in them. They should be able to develop self control and independent living in them. In other words they must be brought on par with others of the society. That should be their objective. The word originated from a lottery game of 1600s.The players would put money in a cap, the ownership of which would be based on the result of the game. Gradually the game was called 'hand-in-cap' and finally it reduced to 'handicap.' As time passed, the word found place in the

Organizational culture Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10500 words

Organizational culture - Dissertation Example The research also studied the past researches and studies on the subject. According to one study of global consulting firm, KPMG ( can be accessed at:http://www.imaa-institute.org/docs/m&a/kpmg_01_Unlocking%20Shareholder%20Value%20-%20The%20Keys%20to%20Success.pdf) (what is a KPMG Study?), 83% of all mergers and acquisitions failed to create shareholder value and 50% of them actually ended up destroying shareholder value. The majority of these mergers and acquisitions failed because of cultural and people differences. Kraft paid a very good price for the acquisition of Cadbury. It didn’t overpay and considering the worth of the Cadbury brand in its portfolio, it can be said that the deal was a very good bargain for Kraft. Kraft also believes that it will realize synergies or cost savings of $ 675 million annually by the end of the third year. It also wanted Cadbury because of its high market share in the high growth markets of emerging economies like India and Latin America. C adbury enjoys a strong presence in these markets because it entered these markets much before they started emerging. It enjoys a kind of first mover advantage in markets like India. (expand on this). According to the Boston Consulting Group Matrix analysis, Cadbury is a star in emerging markets like India and Latin America i.e. it has a high market share in a market that has a very high growth rate. The likelihood that this acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft will succeed is high. This likelihood will, however, depend on the ability of Kraft to achieve the most important critical factor of success which is the successful integration of the organizational culture of the two companies. The Human Resources... Kraft paid a very good price for the acquisition of Cadbury. It didn’t overpay and considering the worth of the Cadbury brand in its portfolio, it can be said that the deal was a very good bargain for Kraft.Kraft also believes that it will realize synergies or cost savings of $ 675 million annually by the end of the third year. It also wanted Cadbury because of its high market share in the high growth markets of emerging economies like India and Latin America. Cadbury enjoys a strong presence in these markets because it entered these markets much before they started emerging. It enjoys a kind of first mover advantage in markets like India. According to the Boston Consulting Group Matrix analysis, Cadbury is a star in emerging markets like India and Latin America.The likelihood that this acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft will succeed is high. This likelihood will, however, depend on the ability of Kraft to achieve the most important critical factor of success which is the success ful integration of the organizational culture of the two companies. The Human Resources Management will play a very critical role in this.As has been already recommended, the strategy of the management and Human Resources management should create such conditions where the two much different cultures of Cadbury and Kraft can productively coexist. Cadbury has a very strong organizational culture of its own. Any attempt by Kraft to impose its culture on this organizational culture of Cadbury may have disastrous results.

Throughout Ken Keseys tremendous novel Essay Example for Free

Throughout Ken Keseys tremendous novel Essay It is another meeting though with McMurphy which causes the most drastic and evident change to Chief Bromdens character. In the midst of a bed time conversation with the Chief, McMurphy gives him a packet of chewing gum, the Chief replies Thank you. The chief then goes on to state this again. This comment from the Chief can be taken in two separate ways; metaphorically the Chief has said thank you to McMurphy, but, on the other hand he has thanked McMurphy for the allowing him to open up and talk and realise that he is not, in fact, insane. As well as that, it also shows how all along McMurphys inclination about the Chief was right. During that night time conversation with McMurphy the Chief talks about how small he is, demonstrating how the combine has affected him. Youre lot bigger, toughern I am. McMurphy then replies, You stand a head tallern any man on the ward. There aint a man here you couldnt turn every way but loose, and thats a fact! The Chief then dismisses this comment No. Im way too little. I used to be big, but not no more. Youre twice the size of me. This repetitive negative, Not no more, illustrates how he feels negative towards himself too, and how broken a man he is due to his time spent in the combine. McMurphy realises that, with the size of the Chief, he could use him to lift the control panel which he hadnt been able to lift at the beginning of the novel. He begins to build up the chiefs morale by complementing him in a descriptive metaphor, giving an image of how life will change for the good, Oh man I tell you, youll have women trippin you and beatin you to the floor. He offers him a free place in his special body-buildin course, and as McMurphy walks down the hall to sign the Chief up for the fishing trip he pulls the covers off him and states Look there, Chief. Haw what did a tell ya? You growed a half foot already. This again is used by McMurphy to build Chief Bromdens self image. Due to the character building of McMurphy and the Chiefs ability to find the cause of his illness he grows into a new man, a man able to be rebellious and able to pull away from the tight grasp which the combine has upon him. This point of rebellion expresses the Chiefs refusal to mop the hall. They stuck a broom out for me to do their work up the hall, I turned around and walked back to the dorm, telling myself, the hell with that. This emphasises the change in Chief Bromdens character as he is now confident enough to refuse duties from the black boys. This alliteration in the description of the boys is used extensively throughout the novel, emphasisng there colour, in 1962 (when it was first published) there was a lot of racism, white people were far more superior, and also their age, showing how even boys are running the institute, telling the white men what to do. But the main change to the Chief is his ability to laugh. I could look down and see myself with the rest of the guys and watch them, us, swinging in laughter. This is an effective use of imagery, as this metaphor emphasises how the Chief has grown mentally stronger as a man, as earlier on in the novel he states, You cant really be strong until you can see the funny side to things. His mental strength is illustrated through his physical strength in the shower room. So I picked him off and threw him in the shower. He was full of tubes; he didnt weigh moren ten or fifteen pounds. Demonstrating how McMurphys plan of making the Chief grow back to his real size is working. The character of Chief Bromden develops even further as when he notices a fog being produced by the combine and refuses to, slip off and hide in it. No never again, as he knows, this time I had them beat, thus emphasising how he has nearly recovered from his sickness. Finally the Chiefs transformation is complete, when McMurphy comes back down to the ward after his lobotomy the chief kills him out of compassion and escapes by throwing the control panel at the screened window. After the lobotomy, McMurphy states that he cannot do things like he used to, hobbled like this, the metaphor highlights that the institute has now got total control over McMurphy, even though he is not literally hobbled, as in cannot walk properly, he cannot think for himself, is a vegetable, he is hobbled. However though, the path the Chief ventures out on after escaping from the hospital is the same as the ill fated dog took earlier on in the novel when chasing a goose as it met the oncoming headlights of a vehicle, thus emphasising the battle between animals and machinery and how machinery will always win. In conclusion Chief Bromdens character develops extensively through out the novel from being a fully fledged member of the chronics to conversing with McMurphy and even going on a fishing trip with the other patients. As the novel develops the Chief grows back to his original size, commits an empathy killing on McMurphy to save him from the life of a chronic and escapes from the grasp of the combine. However, the reader is left in a state of uncertainty at the end of the novel as they are unsure whether the story is being told by the Chief as a free man out with the hospital or if the combine have taken him back into their tight grasp and he is telling the story from recollection to another inmate. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Ken Kesey section.

Neoliberal Policies in the development of the International Economy since the early 1980s Essay Example for Free

Neoliberal Policies in the development of the International Economy since the early 1980s Essay International Economy has always been volatile as it is subject to the activities of the market itself and the market players. Since global in composition, all countries constituting the international arena have a significant effect in the economy as a whole. Neoliberalism is a school of thought that traces its beginnings in Neoliberal Manifesto; it believes that social progress can be attained through economic liberalism. Therefore, it believes that social aggrandizement can be made through transferring the control of the economy from the public (government) to the private sector. It advocates that since the private sector is more adept in handling the economy it is righteous to have them control it so that results will be favourable for all, economy-wise. While this move dismantles competition and espouses oligarchy and monopoly, John Williamson (one of the premier minds behind Neoliberalism) argues that it is for the best interest of the nation as more business and firms will be built. It embraces ten points of contention. The first being the Fiscal policy where deficits are seen to be used only under occasional stabilization purposes, it therefore believes that large deficits should not be run by the government as it will only be paid later on by the citizens. It has a great tendency to lead to low productivity and inflation. And no country would like to experience inflation as it is tantamount to economic suicide. Second is the redirection of subsidies to public spending; while subsidies has is purpose, the truth is there are more people in need of more services and it is the responsibility of the government to aid them. The government spending will focus on education, health care and infrastructure development. This espouses emphasis and control of the government to social sectors. Social Welfare should be one of the key priorities of the government. Third is Tax reform which aims to adopt moderate marginal tax so that citizens will be encouraged to innovate and be efficient. This means that people are actually encouraged to be active participants of the market and not mere observers. Fourth is floating exchange rates which imply that the value of the money is volatile, it can go down or up depending on the performance of the currency. This only means that there are many rooms for development as the exchange rate is not fixed, only it has its equivalent risks. Fifth is trade liberalization which affirms the dismantling of quantitative restrictions in order that competition will be encouraged and the quality of products that will be produced will grow more and more. This does not only motivate people and firms to work hard but also to innovate, to invent new things and develop new ideas so that the buyers will purchase their products. Sixth is Liberalization, while the fifth focuses on trade, this one embraces monetary trade that opens the doors for people to invest their resources overseas and in turn to attract foreign investors as well. It works both ways, letting the market run from one country to another thus strengthening trading tie between and among nations. Privatization of state enterprises is one of the most interesting points of Williamson as it gives more power to the people. It battles monopoly by opening to the private sector the opportunity to create firms and companies that will provide services similar to that provided by governments, it brings about venues for competition and more importantly choices for the people. Deregulation is basically removing market restrictions. As market restrictions tend to limit competition it also promotes standards both for quality and security. Deregulation removes the market restrictions but retains those with lawful justifications and phyto-sanitary standards. Legal security for property rights is the 9th point and is seen as protection for the public as they are given exclusivity to their rights. No one from the government or the government itself can claim ownership over one’s property, which again empowers the people economically and politically. And finally the Financialization of capital. This promotes more power to the economy. Neoliberalism inspired the many changes in the International Economy in the 1980s. As more and more people understand and see the benefits of having an economy that operates on its own more and more people supported and adopted it. The 1980s was a time of Economics transformation. It was the inspiration for the collapse of Communism, countries like Yugoslavia and China freed themselves from the Communist ideology as they embrace liberal policies in economics. Democratic countries further supported the cause of neoliberalism as they focused on economics individual right where not only firms and institutions get to be play and participate in the market but people as well. Governments also prioritized free trade. Since neoliberalism is a rather new idea, nations cannot abruptly turn 360 degrees to embrace it, therefore the changes were implemented in moderation but created great impact in several of the most stable and prolific economies of the world. Two of the most important people in the 1980s were greatly influenced by economic liberalism, they are Margaret Thatcher, United Kingdom’s Iron Lady and United States’ 41st President, Ronald Reagan. Both of them had the same understanding and view with regards to economy, they were determined to propagate neoliberalism as they see it very efficient and effective for majority of the markets. Reagonomics, the term used to refer to the economic policies of then US President Ronald Reagan was anchored greatly in neoliberalism. Its four pillars were close to the ideas promoted by neoliberalism. The four pillars were to reduce government spending, to reduce income and capital marginal taxes, to reduce government regulation of the economy and control money supply to reduce inflation. The four pillars can be found in Williamson’s 10 points of contention as well, only re-affirming that Reagonomics was inspired by neoliberalism. Historically, the United States faced inflation and massive unemployment before Reagan’s presidency. His strategy of reinventing the approaches to the American economy was greatly different from the Presidents before him as they embraced monopoly and state governance instead of free market. Margaret Thatcher worked to the best of her ability to dismantle trade barriers and limit the intervention of the government in the market. This may sound ironic as the n Prime Minister Thatcher is the head of government but she is actually reducing the power of her office. This only tells us that the leadership of Thatcher wanted so badly to rebuild the status quo when it comes to economic policies. This also suggests that the Margaret Thatcher paid emphasis to the importance of economic stability in achieving political stability. At that time, neoliberalism was the key to advancement both socially and more importantly politically. In turn, industries increase its shift from locally to globally. Therefore integrating the different and varied economies of the world to arrive at a compromise and a common ground to negotiate and maximize the utilization of the world’s resources. Not only are the tangible resources shared but the intangible ones as well. Research and development was able to advance because of the collaboration of various minds giving different perspectives to a specific subject. The effects and influence of neoliberalism were vast, not only was it seen and accepted in the West but in all other parts of the world. In key countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, Scandinavian countries, United Kingdom and United States, neoliberalism was greatly accepted even in striving countries like Chile and South Africa. Even Latin American countries which embraced and adopted neoliberalism achieved economic gains as they became less dependent on imports from foreign countries and achieved urbanization. Neoliberalisms’ effects can be summarized in several points. First is the growth in international trade and cross – border capital flow. Since neoliberalism espouses freedom in economy, therefore eliminating and limiting trade barriers nations are given the lee way to trade with whoever they want as long as legal standards are respected. This way, the capitals are maximized and other opportunities for business are explored not only locally but internationally as well. In relation with the first, the elimination of trade barriers is one of the major legacies of neoliberalism. It is perhaps its essential value; people and firms are no longer under the role of government standards. The rules made are made essentially and specifically for economic purposes and aims in mind, unlike the trade barriers which is more government – serving. And last, privatization of public owned companies. Among all the many legacies neoliberalism left us, the privatization of government operated companies is probably the most beneficial for the public. As the private sector handle the previously government owned companies (example: telecommunication, television and water systems) the buyers and purchasers are given more choices, more quality and more products. Since the market is now open and anyone can put up a telephone or television company, the present business owners will be driven and pressured to keep on improving their services as competitors are everywhere, next they need to constantly modernize and innovate so as consumers will have something to look forward to, in the same way that it makes them ahead of the competitors. And lastly, the market is controlled by people who are focused on economy, unlike when a company is controlled by the government the focus of the company is torn between economic purposes and government aims. It is also believed that economic freedom brings about better standards of living, it attracts investors and finally pushes technology to do and achieve more. Political Scientist Thomas Friedman said that political freedom can be achieved when there is economic freedom. As politics and economics are gravely intertwined with another, when the economic composition of a nation is controlled by a certain sector of the society, the political control is on its side. While, if there is economic liberalism, the economic sector and political sector can serve as checks and balances of one another, therefore securing that both sectors are doing what they are supposed to do. Friedman also noted that economic power should be separated from political power as the tendency to abuse and be abused is so vast. However, critics of neoliberalism believe that economic liberalism bastardizes the concept of a nation’s right to self – determination as the government loses its hand over one of the most important divisions, the economy, it assumes that the once a government has limited access over its economy the state itself becomes weaker. Capitalism is also viewed as a tool to exploit; because everything is market and results – driven critics say that the poor will only get poorer and the rich richer because the market is controlled by the rich. However, proponents of neoliberalism that Capitalism only maximizes the resources and provides limitless opportunities for people who are willing to grab them. In summary, the effects of neoliberalism in the movement of the international economy is incomparable. It is one of the few schools of thought that was accepted and supported worldwide and later on became the model of how economies should function. Although perceived by some to be exploitative and conflicting with the government, the benefits it had done to countries and nations which have adopted its policies are clear and surviving, from the 1980s to this day. And more and more economies continue to grow and strengthen as the further enhance the legacies left behind by neoliberalism.

Compliance Between The Patient And Medication

Compliance Between The Patient And Medication Introduction Medication compliance is a significant issue in the care of people with mental health conditions, particularly if the mental health condition is of an enduring and severe nature. The reason for this is that there is an increased likelihood of symptoms returning without the individual maintaining adherence to a prescribed medication regime. Conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis and bi polar disorder fall under the remit of severe and enduring mental illness and it is reported that medication non compliance is likely to have severe implications to an individuals psychological health and wellbeing (Le Page, 2010). Leahy (2006) estimates that up to 70% of recurrent depression patients and around one half of schizophrenia patients are noncompliant with their prescribed medication and there is also a direct relation between medication noncompliance and an increased need for hospitalisation. This in turn has a whole range of implications in terms of the impact this has on employment, relationships, income, and parental responsibility and of course the impact on resources provided by health providers such as the NHS should also be acknowledged. This assignment will examine and reflect on the case of a 40 year old gentleman with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The gentleman, who shall be referred to as Mr Smith for the purpose of this assignment (names have been changed to ensure client confidentiality as per NMC guidelines) has been receiving neuroleptic depot medication (Flupenthixol) to treat the symptoms of a schizophrenic condition, however Mr Smith has stated that he no longer was willing to accept the administration of the depot injection because he felt better. The assignment will start by briefly exploring the concept of compliance and the consequences of Mr Smith declining to take the prescribed medication and the potential impact this will have on his mental health. The second part of this assignment will reflect on how the practitioner responsible for the care of Mr Smith addressed the issue of facilitating the ongoing adherence to prescribed medication by focusing on theoretical frameworks that supported and encouraged Mr Smith to review his decision and continue to accept his depot injection. Consideration will also be made to legal and ethical frameworks that should be adopted in clinical practice when addressing the issue of medication compliance. Defining Compliance in Mental Health Care The term compliance is defined by the Cambridge dictionary (2010) as being a process where people obey an order, rule or request and that individuals become willing to do what others want, particularly if the other person is a figure of authority. A core definition of compliance provided by Harvey (2004-09) suggests that compliance is the undertaking of activities or establishing practices or policies in accordance with the requirements or expectations of an external authority. Compliance has been defined as the extent to which a persons behaviour coincides with medical or health advice (Haynes, 1974) and although this is an outdated definition the term compliance persists in mental health care today. In contemporary mental health care there are suggestions that the term compliance has negative connotations and it infers that an individual who does not comply is not doing as they are told by the mental health professional (Gray, 2002). Language and communication is an important tool in mental health and it is important to place the individual with mental health problems first by using terminology that is widely acceptable to both service providers and service users (Manzi, 2008). Repper Perkins (1998) support this point of view and indicate that the use of words like compliance infers that patients are passive recipients of health care who should obey instructions from professionals. As modern mental health care is concerned with developing therapeutic alliances to improve outcomes (Hakan and Jan-Ake, 2010) consequently it has been proposed that the term concordance (Gray, 2002) or the phrase medication adherence (Velligan et al., 2009) should replace the use of the word compliance in an attempt to remove the unequal and passive tone the word compliance has. For the purpose of this assignment the word compliance will be substituted by the term adherence as this implies a more collaborative approach between service providers and service users to approach the issue of medication and treatment. Consequences of Medication Non Adherence in Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a complex condition and diagnosis is made on the evidence of an individuals reported experiences (symptoms) and observable behaviours (signs) which commonly may include; delusional thinking; hallucinations, thought interference; ideas of reference, thought disorder; social withdrawal; anxiety and depression (Keen, 2003). Psychiatric treatment for individuals almost always involves drug therapy to stabilise psychotic symptoms and to reduce the individuals risk of relapse (Barker, 2003). There are many different pharmacological preparations available for the treatment of symptoms experienced by an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia and they may include preparations that are taken orally or delivered by intramuscular depot injection. Our Client Mr Smith had been having a depot injection called Flupenthixol to treat the symptoms he experienced following his diagnosis of schizophrenia; as a result it is reported that he had felt better and therefore did not want to have the depot any more. Mr Smith had made a decision not to accept his depot medication any longer however it is well documented in the research and evidence base that this course of action and decision will have a significant impact on his health and global well being. Novick et al. (2010) indicates that non adherence with anti psychotic medications, such as Flupenthixol for patients with schizophrenia and psychosis, is significantly associated with an increased risk of relapse, hospitalization and suicide attempts. There is a significant body of evidence that highlights that the symptoms of schizophrenia return without pharmacological treatment and medication adherence and that there are potentially devastating consequences to the individual with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia if this behaviour of non adherence is adopted (Velligan et al., 2010). Therapeutic Interventions to Promote Adherence As a mental health practitioner it would not be uncommon at some point to experience a clinical interaction with a patient who has made a decision not to continue with their prescribed medication, however the practitioner has the responsibility to understand the reasons behind the patients decision making process and to provide the patient with the biggest opportunity to make an informed and educated decision about declining treatment for a chronic and enduring mental health condition such as schizophrenia. It is important for the mental health practitioner to obtain an understanding of the reasons behind Mr Smiths decision to discontinue his depot medication and to do this the modality of cognitive behavioural therapy can be implemented. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological therapy and aims to help understand the link between thoughts, emotions and behaviour. It teaches individuals skills to overcome problematic thoughts, emotions and behaviour and to find ways of overcoming negative thinking and challenging unhelpful and inaccurate thoughts or beliefs (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008). The most favourable outcome from CBT is for the individual to develop skills and techniques that enables them to approach situations in a more reasoned and balanced manner which supports problem solving and increases the feelings of being in more control (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008). An important consideration in relation to implementing CBT and for that matter other therapeutic interventions is that there needs to be an established therapeutic relationship between the client and the mental health practitioner to increase the opportunity for success and for both parties to engage in working towards a common goal; for example for Mr Smith and the mental health practitioner to work towards exploring the issues surrounding medication adherence. NICE (2010) recommends that managing the process of engagement requires professionals to have sensitivity to the perspective of the individual and to understand that the condition can have a profound effect on the persons judgment, their capacity to understand their situation and their capacity to consent to specific interventions. The process of engaging successfully with individuals with schizophrenia may at times require considerable persistence and flexibility from professionals and the establishment of trust is crucial. Both parties may have differing views on what the main problem is and how it should be addressed, however the professional can help with finding common ground and this common ground can establish trust and collaboration (NICE, 2010). To address the issue regarding Mr Smiths decision to no longer adhere to his treatment plan and accept his depot medication for the symptoms of schizophrenia the mental health professional will need to enter into conversations to gain understanding of the patients perspective. One way of achieving this is for the mental health practitioner to adopt motivational interviewing so that the two parties can explore the decision (stopping of the depot injection) and negotiate behaviour change (acceptance of the depot) through the individual (Mr Smith) being able to identify, understand and articulate the benefits (remaining mentally well and symptom free) and costs involved (physical, emotional, family, employment for example will all be impacted upon greatly if symptoms return). Rollnick et al. (2010) indicate that simply giving patients advice to change decisions or behaviour is often unrewarding and ineffective and by adopting motivational interviewing a guiding style helps to engage with patients, helps clarify strengths and aspirations, evoke their own motivations for change and promote autonomy of decision making. The four central principles of motivational interviewing are described by Treasure (2004) as being; the use of reflective listening in an empathetic manner to convey understanding of the patients point of view; tease out ways the behaviour or choice conflicts with the wish to be good or viewed as good; respond with empathy and understanding rather that confrontation and finally support the patient in confidence building to understand change is possible. For Mr Smith and his decision to decline any further depot injections of Flupenthixol it may be very easy for the mental health practitioner and Mr Smith to become embroiled in conflict as the practitioner has the evidence base and clinical knowledge to know that a relapse is somewhat inevitable and the impact on Mr Smiths global wellbeing and function would be significant; however Mr Smith believes that he is now well and therefore no longer needs treatment. By using motivational interviewing techniques the mental health practitioner can actively listen to Mr Smiths reasoning behind the decision he has made in relation to medication adherence; support Mr Smith to see the pros and cons of his decision; assess his confidence and elicit a view on his feelings fears and aspirations; exchange information; support with decision making and goal setting. To give an example of how motivational interviewing may be implemented the practitioner may ask questions such as; I want to try and understand Mr Smith about your decision not to have your depot anymore; can you give me your perspective on why you want to stop taking it? So Mr Smith if you were to stop taking your depot, where do you think that would leave you in terms of remaining well? How important is taking this medication for you right now? Would you mind if I shared with you some information and evidence I have about how the depot injection helps people with schizophrenia remain well and symptom free? And; Okay, can I check with you your understanding of the risks of not accepting the depot anymore? This approach to supporting adherence to medication is reported to be beneficial and it is suggested that the body of evidence continues to grow in support of its effectiveness (Rollnick et al., 2010) and with the many applications in psychiatry it is particularly helpful for use in settings where there is resistance to change (Treasure, 2004). However there are some considerations that need to be identified that may impact on the efficacy of motivational interviewing as a technique to support medication adherence. Firstly one issue to consider is that motivational interviewing is a skill that mental health practitioners need to develop and practice and although the principles are described as easy (Treasure, 2004) putting these principles into practice may not be that simple. There potentially could be many different variables as to why adopting motivational interviewing may not be effective in supporting medication adherence. Barriers that may impact on the success of motivational interviewing in supporting Mr Smith to maintain his medication adherence may include; there not being a therapeutic alliance established between the mental health practitioner and Mr Smith. The reasons for this can be numerous, for example Mr Smith may only recently have been discharged from hospital and the mental health practitioner is his new community psychiatric nurse that he has only met a couple of times; Mr Smith may prefer male workers to female workers and vice versa or even Mr Smith may not feel comfortable having mental health practitioners come to his home and feel unable to engage or discuss issues of importance. Another reason that may impact on the efficacy of the motivational interviewing process to support Mr Smiths adherence to medication is that the mental h ealth practitioner may be constrained by time and resources and therefore not able to deliver the therapeutic process accurately or in a timely. Another issue to consider is that Mr Smiths adherence to medication and decision not to continue to accept the depot may actually be based on the schizophrenic condition relapsing and the decision to withdraw from treatment is being made due to reduced insight and understanding. It is suggested that there are potentially a large range of risk factors that can be present and that are related to the patients individual behaviour and understanding of the impact of schizophrenia and psychosis. These variables are classified as patient related and include poor insight, negative attitude towards medication, symptom severity, history of previous non adherence, substance misuse and cognitive impairment. Other variables may also include treatment, environmental and societal issues such as side effects and complexity of medication regimes family support, side effects, financial problems and lack of access to treatment (Citrome, 2010). Legal and Ethical Considerations It is important for mental health practitioners to understand that there are occasions where more assertive and restrictive approaches such as treatment orders or inpatient hospital care are the only way for adherence to medication to be sustained (Chaplin, 2007). The Mental Capacity Act (2005) provides a framework for the making of decisions for people who lack capacity in England and Wales. Under the Capacity Act healthcare professionals are advised that they must work on the presumption that every adult patient has the capacity to make decisions about their care, and to decide whether to agree to, or refuse, an examination, and investigation or in this instance treatment. A patient is regarded as lacking capacity once it is clear that, having been given all appropriate help and support, they cannot understand, retain, use or weigh-up the information needed to make that decision, or communicate their wishes. Therefore in this instance Mr Smith must be presumed to have capacity to make the decision not to adhere to the treatment plan unless there is evidence that he is no longer able to provide reasoned information to support his decision due to the presence of severe mental illness. It would be at this juncture that the mental health practitioner would look to ensuring Mr Smiths best interests are explored and this may result in an assessment under the Mental Health Act (1983), however until this time the mental health practitioner may continue to use the therapeutic alliance and CBT and motivational interviewing techniques to support the adherence process. The success of a therapeutic alliance is often based on trust and to establish trust the mental health practitioner must respect the patients ethical right to autonomy. Autonomy for Mr Smith would be the right to decide and determine whether or not to accept or decline his depot injection even if the refusal meant that his mental health would deteriorate and the consequences to his global wellbeing become severely impaired. It would be unethical for the mental health practitioner to coerce, threaten or manipulate Mr Smith into having the depot injection particularly if he has the mental capacity to make the decision to decline further treatment. For the mental health practitioner to behave in this manner would not only be a breach of professional and ethical conduct it would also potentially jeopardize any therapeutic alliance that had been developed. Addressing Risk Mr Smiths decision to become non adherent to prescribed medication presents a requirement for detailed risk planning and assessment to ensure the well being of Mr Smith, his family and friends and those providing care to him is sustained. Mental health practitioners have a duty of care to assess risk using a formulated tool that has been adopted by their employer and mental health service. The calculation of risk must be based on the practitioners knowledge, skills and competence and value should be placed on the process of risk taking, following assessment and in the context of appropriate management, as it will increase the practitioners ability to help clients to achieve their potential. However, there should be awareness that there may be conflicts between professional accountability and the autonomy of the client (UKCC, 1998). Risk issues that may be identified for Mr Smith are individual and related to the course and nature of his experience of Schizophrenia, this is why it is important for the practitioner to have established a therapeutic alliance with him so that discussions can be held about risk issues and care planning can be done collaboratively to reduce the risk impact. Conclusion Medication adherence in schizophrenia is a complex issue with the consequences of non adherence impacting significantly on the global function and mental well being of individuals who make the decision to not adhere to their medication treatment plan. Through the process of collaboration and the development of therapeutic alliances between mental health professionals and patients it is suggested that adherence can be improved and sustained and that interventions such as CBT and motivational interviewing makes psychoeducation a cornerstone of many adherence interventions (Zygmunt et al., 2002). Mental health practitioners should have an understanding that medication adherence is less likely to occur in patients with severe mental illness who are not engaged with mental health services and who are not exposed to a good therapeutic relationship. One of the most common themes that have been identified throughout this assignment and in the evidence base is that the therapeutic alliance between a patient and mental health professional should never be underestimated particularly when it comes to supporting medication adherence in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Rescuing the Everglades Essays -- Geology

Rescuing the Everglades INTRODUCTION The Everglades, commonly referred to as the "River of Grass," is the largest remaining sub-tropical wilderness in the lower 48 states. It contains both fresh and saltwater areas, open Everglades prairies, pine rocklands, tropical hardwood forests, offshore coral reefs, and mangrove forests. The broad spectrum of wildlife living in the Everglades includes aquatic birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, of which fifty-six species are endangered or threatened. Twenty-two of these species reside in two National Parks, four National Wildlife Refuges, and one National Marine Sanctuary which draw 1.6 million visitors every year.... Previously, it was thought, islands of land could be preserved forever by simply drawing national park boundaries. Today, it is clear that this is untrue. National parks are not islands. They are greatly impacted by what happens outside their boundaries. The Everglades is "a Park in Danger." Water management, water quality, non-native species, loss of species, and explosive regional population growth all present challenges for the Everglades; however, there are attempts being made to save the Everglades against these apparent dangers. Return to Top WATER MANAGEMENT Water management is one of the most critical environmental issues facing the Florida Everglades at this point in time. The everglades watershed originates in the central Florida Kissimmee River basin north of Lake Okeechobee. Summer thunderstorms would flood this region, the big lake, and extensive areas of everglades marsh. This created a shallow, wide river which flowed slowly south through the everglades to the mangrove estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. The summer rains would then give way to a ... ... water pollution cleanup in the Everglades, and Amendment 6, establishing an Everglades Trust Fund. However, there are numerous things that you, as an individual, can do to help the Everglades along with the rest of nature. First and foremost, you must try to conserve water, by methods as easy as turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth or taking shorter showers. Second, use soap instead of detergents since using soaps with low phosphates and nitrates will keep the water table cleaner. Protecting the Everglades is as easy as spreading the word. Tell friends about the concerns you may have, tell them what they can do to help. Contact environmentally active organizations for more information. Be sure to keep these environmental issues in mind when voting, and go ahead and make your concerns known to your legislature. Try your hardest to make a difference! Rescuing the Everglades Essays -- Geology Rescuing the Everglades INTRODUCTION The Everglades, commonly referred to as the "River of Grass," is the largest remaining sub-tropical wilderness in the lower 48 states. It contains both fresh and saltwater areas, open Everglades prairies, pine rocklands, tropical hardwood forests, offshore coral reefs, and mangrove forests. The broad spectrum of wildlife living in the Everglades includes aquatic birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, of which fifty-six species are endangered or threatened. Twenty-two of these species reside in two National Parks, four National Wildlife Refuges, and one National Marine Sanctuary which draw 1.6 million visitors every year.... Previously, it was thought, islands of land could be preserved forever by simply drawing national park boundaries. Today, it is clear that this is untrue. National parks are not islands. They are greatly impacted by what happens outside their boundaries. The Everglades is "a Park in Danger." Water management, water quality, non-native species, loss of species, and explosive regional population growth all present challenges for the Everglades; however, there are attempts being made to save the Everglades against these apparent dangers. Return to Top WATER MANAGEMENT Water management is one of the most critical environmental issues facing the Florida Everglades at this point in time. The everglades watershed originates in the central Florida Kissimmee River basin north of Lake Okeechobee. Summer thunderstorms would flood this region, the big lake, and extensive areas of everglades marsh. This created a shallow, wide river which flowed slowly south through the everglades to the mangrove estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. The summer rains would then give way to a ... ... water pollution cleanup in the Everglades, and Amendment 6, establishing an Everglades Trust Fund. However, there are numerous things that you, as an individual, can do to help the Everglades along with the rest of nature. First and foremost, you must try to conserve water, by methods as easy as turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth or taking shorter showers. Second, use soap instead of detergents since using soaps with low phosphates and nitrates will keep the water table cleaner. Protecting the Everglades is as easy as spreading the word. Tell friends about the concerns you may have, tell them what they can do to help. Contact environmentally active organizations for more information. Be sure to keep these environmental issues in mind when voting, and go ahead and make your concerns known to your legislature. Try your hardest to make a difference!

Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan Essay -- Human Rights Society Sudan Essays

Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan The government of Sudan is responsible for 'ethnic cleansing' and crimes against humanity in Darfur, which is located on Sudan's western border with Chad (. The Sudanese government, along with the Arab 'Janjaweed' militias they arm and support, have attacked the civilians of the African Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups. These attacks involved massacres, summary executions of civilians, burnings of towns and villages, and the forceful depopulation of Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa land. The militia, Muslim like the African groups, have destroyed many religious artifacts including the desecrated Qorans that belong to their enemies (Human Rights Watch, 2004, p. 5). The Sudanese government is breaching at least two articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); Article 3, 'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person', (General Assembly Resolution, 1948, Article 3) and Article 5, 'No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'. (General Assembly Resolution, 1948, Article 5) The government has not only killed thousands of Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa civilians - they have, with the help of their Janjaweed allies, raped women, destroyed food supplies, and forced over one million civilians into camps and settlements in Darfur where they are ?on the very edge of survival? (Human Rights Watch, 2004, p. 5) and subject to regular Janjaweed abuses. These breaches are very serious and need to be addressed appropriately. The conflicts that lead to the human rights breaches were a recent escalation of a long-standing disagreement. In February 2003, the rebel groups SLA/M (Sudan Liberation Army/Movement) and JEM (Justice and Equality Movement) demanded an end to chronic economic marginalisation and sought to share power within the Sudanese state. The government responded to this threat by targeting the civilian population from which members of these movements were drawn - the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa ethnic groups. To help their cause, the Sudanese government formed a military and political partnership with some Arab nomads (now known as the Janjaweed) by arming them, training them and offering impunity for all their crimes. At the present time (22.5.2004) some action has taken place to address the result of the UDHR breaches. On the 28th of April the W... .../news/story.asp?NewsID=10793&Cr=sudan&Cr1= ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sudan: Government commits ?ethic cleansing? in Darfur. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from Human Rights Watch Web site: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/05/07/darfur8549_txt.htm ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sudan High-Level Humanitarian Mission Continues. (2004). Press release retrieved May 20, 2004, from http://www0.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/afr916.doc.htm ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  UN agency plans for repatriating Sudanese refugees to the south. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from UN News Center Web site: http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10728&Cr=sudan&Cr1 ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henderson, Ann. (1999). Can ethnic cleansing be stopped? Retrieved May 23, 2004, from The Star News Article Archive Web site: ? ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  UN estimates 2 million Sudanese in Darfur area now affected by conflict. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from UN News Center Web site: http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10758&Cr=sudan&Cr1 ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Rights Watch. (2004). Darfur Destroyed: Ethnic cleansing by government and militia forces in western Sudan (Vol. 16, No. 6(A). Retrieved May 22, 2004, from Human Rights Watch Web site: http://hrw.org/reports/2004/sudan0504/sudan0504full.pdf Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan Essay -- Human Rights Society Sudan Essays Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan The government of Sudan is responsible for 'ethnic cleansing' and crimes against humanity in Darfur, which is located on Sudan's western border with Chad (. The Sudanese government, along with the Arab 'Janjaweed' militias they arm and support, have attacked the civilians of the African Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups. These attacks involved massacres, summary executions of civilians, burnings of towns and villages, and the forceful depopulation of Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa land. The militia, Muslim like the African groups, have destroyed many religious artifacts including the desecrated Qorans that belong to their enemies (Human Rights Watch, 2004, p. 5). The Sudanese government is breaching at least two articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); Article 3, 'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person', (General Assembly Resolution, 1948, Article 3) and Article 5, 'No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'. (General Assembly Resolution, 1948, Article 5) The government has not only killed thousands of Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa civilians - they have, with the help of their Janjaweed allies, raped women, destroyed food supplies, and forced over one million civilians into camps and settlements in Darfur where they are ?on the very edge of survival? (Human Rights Watch, 2004, p. 5) and subject to regular Janjaweed abuses. These breaches are very serious and need to be addressed appropriately. The conflicts that lead to the human rights breaches were a recent escalation of a long-standing disagreement. In February 2003, the rebel groups SLA/M (Sudan Liberation Army/Movement) and JEM (Justice and Equality Movement) demanded an end to chronic economic marginalisation and sought to share power within the Sudanese state. The government responded to this threat by targeting the civilian population from which members of these movements were drawn - the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa ethnic groups. To help their cause, the Sudanese government formed a military and political partnership with some Arab nomads (now known as the Janjaweed) by arming them, training them and offering impunity for all their crimes. At the present time (22.5.2004) some action has taken place to address the result of the UDHR breaches. On the 28th of April the W... .../news/story.asp?NewsID=10793&Cr=sudan&Cr1= ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sudan: Government commits ?ethic cleansing? in Darfur. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from Human Rights Watch Web site: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/05/07/darfur8549_txt.htm ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sudan High-Level Humanitarian Mission Continues. (2004). Press release retrieved May 20, 2004, from http://www0.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/afr916.doc.htm ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  UN agency plans for repatriating Sudanese refugees to the south. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from UN News Center Web site: http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10728&Cr=sudan&Cr1 ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henderson, Ann. (1999). Can ethnic cleansing be stopped? Retrieved May 23, 2004, from The Star News Article Archive Web site: ? ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  UN estimates 2 million Sudanese in Darfur area now affected by conflict. (2004). Retrieved May 20, 2004, from UN News Center Web site: http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10758&Cr=sudan&Cr1 ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Rights Watch. (2004). Darfur Destroyed: Ethnic cleansing by government and militia forces in western Sudan (Vol. 16, No. 6(A). Retrieved May 22, 2004, from Human Rights Watch Web site: http://hrw.org/reports/2004/sudan0504/sudan0504full.pdf

The Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation Essay -- Resea

The Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation All mammals exhibit Rapid-Eye-Movement, or REM, sleep, and yet on certain levels this type of sleep would seem to be disadvantageous. During REM sleep, which is when most dreams occur, the brain uses much more energy than during non-REM (NREM) sleep. (1) This "waste" of energy coupled with the increased vulnerability of this state on account of the body's paralysis at this time suggests that there must be a very important reason, or reasons, for the existence of REM sleep and in extension of dreams. Determining the function of dreams, however, has proved very problematic with many arguments which directly oppose each other. Some of the primary functions of dreaming have been tied to is role in development, its production of neuro-proteins, and also to how it may allow for the "rehearsal" of neurons and neuronal pathways. The influence of dreaming on learning is one of the hottest debates. Some argue that dreams aid in learning, others that dreams aid in forgetting, and yet other s that dreams have no effect on learning or memory. That REM sleep seems to aid in development might argue that REM sleep may be connected to learning. It seems that most scientists believe that REM sleep aids in certain memory consolidations although some argue that it actually leads to "reverse learning. Before discussing the role of NREM and REM in learning, it is necessary to clarify the identity of and differences between the two. This type of sleep is marked by different stages based on different the different brainwaves exhibited. REM sleep differs from NREM in that most dreams occur during REM sleep although the two activities are not synonymous. REM is also marked by an incre... ...ource http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web1/alippman.html 3)The REM Sleep-Memory Consolidation Hypothesis," article on Center for Sleep Research's homepage, Interesting site for sleep disorders http://www.nrip.ucla.edu/sleepresearch/science/1058full.html 4)Nature website, good for scientific articles http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/news020218/020218-20 5)MIT News website, interesting articles http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/dreams.html 6); TALK ABOUT SLEEP, Inc., basics answers about sleep http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web2/)%20http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/basics/Sleep_Understanding_NINDS.htm 7)Harvard Undergraduate Society for Neuroscience, connected to Computer Science Program http://hcs.harvard.edu/~husn/BRAIN/vol1/sleep.html 8)UCSC Psych Website, http://psych.ucsc.edu/dreams/Articles/purpose.html

Spirit Bound Chapter Fifteen

IN MY PANICKED MIND RIGHT then, getting up and running on foot to Lehigh–despite it being miles and miles away–seemed like a totally solid plan. A heartbeat later, I knew this was out of my league. Way, way out of my league. As I shot up from my table and tore out of the room, I felt a sudden longing for Alberta. I'd seen her jump into action at St. Vladimir's and knew she could take charge of any situation. At this point in our relationship, she would respond to any threat I brought to her. The guardians at Court were still strangers to me. Who could I go to? Hans? The guy who hated me? He wouldn't believe me, not like Alberta or my mother would. Running down the quiet hallways, I dismissed all such worries. It didn't matter. I would make him believe. I would find anyone I could. Anyone who could get Lissa and Christian out of this. Only you can, a voice hissed in my head. You're the one Dimitri wants. I ignored that thought too, largely because in my distraction, I collided into someone rounding a corner. I gave a muffled cry that sounded like â€Å"Oomph† as my face slammed into someone's chest. I looked up. Mikhail. I would have been relieved, except I was too pumped full of adrenaline and worry. I grabbed his sleeve and began tugging him toward the stairs. â€Å"Come on! We have to get help!† Mikhail remained were he was, not budging against my pull. He frowned, face calm. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Lissa! Lissa and Christian. They've been taken by Strigoi–by Dimitri. We can find them. I can find them. But we have to hurry.† Mikhail's confusion grew. â€Å"Rose†¦ how long have you been down here?† I didn't have time for this. Leaving him, I fled up the stairs to the main levels of the complex. A moment later I heard his footsteps behind me. When I reached the main office, I expected someone to chastise me for leaving my punishment, except†¦ no one seemed to even notice me. The office was in chaos. Guardians were running around, calls were being made, and voices rose to frantic levels. They knew, I realized. They already knew. â€Å"Hans!† I called, pushing my way through the crowd. He was on the other side of the room and had just hung up on a cell call. â€Å"Hans, I know where they are. Where the Strigoi took Lissa and Christian.† â€Å"Hathaway, I don't have time for your–† His scowl faltered. â€Å"You have that bond.† I stared in astonishment. I'd been ready for him to dismiss me as a nuisance. I'd been ready for a long fight to convince him. I gave him a hasty nod. â€Å"I saw it. I saw everything that happened.† Now I frowned. â€Å"How do you know already?† â€Å"Serena,† he said grimly. â€Å"Serena's dead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shook his head. â€Å"No, not yet. Though she certainly sounded like it on the phone. Whatever happened, it took everything she had to make that call. We have Alchemists coming to get her, and†¦ clean up.† I replayed the events, remembering how Serena had been slammed against the asphalt. It had been a hard blow, and when she didn't move, I'd assumed the worst. Yet if she'd survived–and apparently she must have–I could just barely form a mental image of her dragging her cell phone out of her pocket with bloody hands†¦. Please, please let her be alive, I thought, not sure who I was praying to. â€Å"Come on,† said Hans. â€Å"We need you. There are teams already forming.† There was another surprise. I hadn't expected him to bring me on so quickly. A new respect for Hans settled over me. He might act like an asshole, but he was a leader. When he saw an asset, he used it. In one swift motion, he was hurrying out the door, several guardians following him. I struggled to keep up with their longer strides and saw Mikhail coming as well. â€Å"You're doing a rescue,† I told Hans. â€Å"That's†¦ rare.† I hesitated to even speak the words. I certainly didn't want to discourage this. But Moroi rescues weren't normal. When Strigoi took them, they were often regarded as dead. The rescue we'd done after the Academy attack had been an oddity, one that had taken a lot of persuasion. Hans gave me a wry look. â€Å"So is the Dragomir princess.† Lissa was precious to me, worth more than anything else in the world. And for the Moroi, I realized, she was precious too. Most Moroi captured by Strigoi might be regarded as dead, but she wasn't most Moroi. She was the last in her line, the last of one of twelve ancient families. Losing her wouldn't just be a hit to Moroi culture. It would be a sign, an omen that the Strigoi were truly defeating us. For her, the guardians would risk a rescue mission. In fact, it appeared they would risk a lot of things. As we arrived at the garages where the Court's vehicles were stored, I saw masses of other guardians arriving–along with Moroi. I recognized a few. Tasha Ozera was among them, and like her, the others were fire users. If we'd learned anything, it was how valuable they were in a fight. It appeared the controversy of Moroi going to battle was being ignored right now, and I was amazed at how quickly this group had been summoned. Tasha's eyes met mine, her face grave and drawn. She said nothing to me. She didn't need to. Hans was barking orders, splitting people into groups and vehicles. With every bit of self-control I could muster, I waited patiently near him. My restless nature made me want to jump in and start demanding to know what I could do. He would get to me, I assured myself. He had a role for me; I just had to wait. My self-control was also being tested with Lissa. After Dimitri had taken her and Christian away, I'd left her mind. I couldn't go back, not yet. I couldn't stand to see them–to see Dimitri. I knew I'd have to once I began directing the guardians, but for now, I held off. I knew Lissa was alive. That was all that mattered for the time being. Still, I was so wound up and filled with tension that when someone touched my arm, I nearly turned on them with my stake. â€Å"Adrian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I breathed. â€Å"What are you doing here?† He stood there looking down at me, and his hand gently brushed my cheek. I had only ever seen such a serious, grim look on his face a couple of times. As usual, I didn't like it. Adrian was one of those people who should always be smiling. â€Å"As soon as I heard the news, I knew where you'd be.† I shook my head. â€Å"It happened like†¦ I don't know, ten minutes ago?† Time had blurred for me. â€Å"How could everyone know so soon?† â€Å"It was radioed across the Court as soon as they found out. They've got an instant alert system. In fact, the queen's kind of in lockdown.† â€Å"What? Why?† Somehow that annoyed me. Tatiana wasn't the one in danger. â€Å"Why waste resources on her?† A nearby guardian gave me a critical look over that. Adrian shrugged. â€Å"Strigoi attack relatively close by? They take it as a pretty serious security threat for us.† Relatively was the key word. Lehigh was about an hour and a half from Court. Guardians were always on alert, though with each passing second, I wished they'd move faster and be on alert. If Adrian hadn't shown up, I was pretty sure I would have lost my patience and told Hans to hurry. â€Å"It's Dimitri,† I said in a low voice. I hadn't been sure if I should tell anyone else that. â€Å"He's the one who took them. He's using them to lure me there.† Adrian's face grew darker. â€Å"Rose, you can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off, but I knew his meaning. â€Å"What choice do I have?† I exclaimed. â€Å"I have to go. She's my best friend, and I'm the only one who can lead them to her.† â€Å"It's a trap.† â€Å"I know. And he knows I know.† â€Å"What will you do?† Again, I knew exactly what Adrian meant. I glanced down at the stake I'd unconsciously pulled out earlier. â€Å"What I have to. I have to†¦ I have to kill him.† â€Å"Good,† said Adrian, relief flooding his features. â€Å"I'm glad.† For some reason, that irritated me. â€Å"God,† I snapped. â€Å"Are you that eager to get rid of any competition?† Adrian's face stayed serious. â€Å"No. I just know that as long as he's still alive–or, well, kind of alive–then you're in danger. And I can't stand that. I can't stand knowing that your life is in the balance. And it is, Rose. You'll never be safe until he's gone. I want you safe. I need you to be safe. I can't†¦ I can't have anything happen to you.† My flare of anger vanished as quickly as it had come. â€Å"Oh, Adrian, I'm sorry†¦.† I let him draw me into his arms. Resting my head against his chest, I felt his heartbeat and the softness of his shirt, I allowed myself a brief and fleeting moment of comfort. I just wanted to sink into him then and there. I didn't want to be consumed by these feelings of fear: fear for Lissa and fear of Dimitri. I went cold all over as a sudden realization slipped over me. No matter what happened, I would lose one of them tonight. If we rescued Lissa, Dimitri would die. If he survived, she would die. There was no happy ending for this story, nothing that could save my heart from being crushed into pieces. Adrian brushed my forehead with his lips and then leaned down toward my mouth. â€Å"Be careful, Rose. No matter what happens, please, please be careful. I can't lose you.† I didn't know what to say to that, how to respond to all that emotion pouring from him. My own mind and heart were flooded with so many mixed feelings that I could barely form a coherent thought. Instead, I drew my lips to his and kissed him. In the midst of all the death tonight–the death that already had happened and that which was still to come–that kiss seemed more powerful than any he and I had ever shared. It was alive. I was alive, and I wanted to stay that way. I wanted to bring Lissa back, and I wanted to return to Adrian's arms again, return to his lips and all this life†¦. â€Å"Hathaway! Good God, do I need to hose you down?† I broke abruptly from Adrian and saw Hans glaring at me. Most of the SUVs were loaded up. Now it was my turn to act. I gave Adrian a look of farewell, and he forced a small smile that I think was supposed to be brave. â€Å"Be careful,† he repeated. â€Å"Bring them back–and bring yourself back too.† I gave him a quick nod and then followed an impatient Hans into one of the SUVs. The most bizarre sense of deja vu settled over me as I slid into the backseat. This was so like the time Victor had kidnapped Lissa that I nearly froze up. Then, too, I had ridden in a similar black SUV, directing guardians toward Lissa's location. Only it had been Dimitri sitting beside me–the wonderful, brave Dimitri I'd known so long ago. Yet those memories were so etched into my mind and heart that I could picture every detail: the way he'd tucked his hair behind his ears, the fierce look in his brown eyes as he'd stepped on the gas to get us to Lissa faster. He'd been so determined, so ready to do what was right. This Dimitri–Dimitri the Strigoi–was also determined. But in a very different way. â€Å"You gonna be able to do this?† asked Hans from the front seat. A hand gently squeezed my arm, and I was startled to see Tasha beside me. I hadn't even noticed she was riding with us. â€Å"We're counting on you.† I nodded, wanting to be worthy of his respect. In best guardian fashion, I kept my emotions off my face, trying not to feel that conflict between the two Dimitris. Trying not to remember that the night we'd gone after Lissa and Victor had been the same night Dimitri and I had fallen prey to the lust charm†¦. â€Å"Head toward Lehigh,† I said in a cool voice. I was a guardian now. â€Å"I'll direct you when we get closer.† We'd only been on the road for about twenty minutes when I sensed Lissa's group coming to a halt. Dimitri had apparently chosen a hideout not too far from the university, which would make it easier for us to find than if they'd kept moving. Of course, I had to remind myself that Dimitri wanted to be found. Knowing that the guardians with me wouldn't need my directions until we were closer to Lehigh, I steeled myself and jumped into Lissa's head to see what was going on. Lissa and Christian hadn't been harmed or attacked, aside from being pushed and dragged around. They sat in what looked like a storage room–a storage room that hadn't been used in a very long time. Dust coated everything in a heavy layer, so much that it was hard to make out some of the objects piled on the rickety shelves. Some tools, maybe. Paper here and there, as well as the occasional box. A bare lightbulb was the only light in the room, giving everything a harsh and dingy feel. Lissa and Christian sat in straight-backed wooden chairs, their hands bound behind their backs with rope. For a moment, deja vu hit again. I remembered last winter when I too, along with my friends, had been bound to chairs and held captive by Strigoi. They'd drunk from Eddie, and Mason had died†¦. No. Don't think like that, Rose. Lissa and Christian are alive. Nothing's happened to them yet. Nothing will happen to them. Lissa's mind was on the here and now, but a little probing let me see what the overall building had looked like when she'd been brought in. It had seemed to be a warehouse–an old, abandoned one–which made it a nice place for the Strigoi to hole up with their prisoners. There were four Strigoi in the room, but as far as Lissa was concerned, only one really mattered. Dimitri. I understood her reaction. Seeing him as a Strigoi had been hard for me. Surreal, even. I'd adapted somewhat, simply because of all the time I'd spent with him. Still, even I was caught by surprise sometimes at seeing him like that. Lissa hadn't been prepared at all and was in total shock. Dimitri's dark brown hair was worn loose around his chin today, a look I'd always loved on him, and he was pacing rapidly, causing his duster to swirl around him. A lot of the time, his back was to Lissa and Christian, which made it that much more troubling for her. Without seeing his face, she could almost believe it was the Dimitri she'd always known. He was arguing with the other three as he walked back and forth across the small space, agitation radiating off him in an almost palpable wave. â€Å"If the guardians really are coming,† snarled one Strigoi, â€Å"then we should be posted outside.† She was a tall, gangly redhead who appeared to have been Moroi when turned. Her tone implied that she did not think guardians were actually coming, though. â€Å"They're coming,† said Dimitri in a low voice, that lovely accent making my heart ache. â€Å"I know they are.† â€Å"Then let me get out there and be useful!† she snapped. â€Å"You don't need us to babysit these two.† Her tone was dismissive. Scornful, even. It was understandable. Everyone in the vampire world knew Moroi didn't fight back, and Lissa and Christian were firmly bound. â€Å"You don't know them,† said Dimitri. â€Å"They're dangerous. I'm not even sure this is enough protection.† â€Å"That's ridiculous!† In one smooth motion, Dimitri turned and backhanded her. The hit knocked her back a few feet, her eyes widening in fury and shock. He resumed his pacing as though nothing had happened. â€Å"You will stay here, and you will guard them as long as I tell you to, do you understand?† She glared back and gingerly touched her face but said nothing. Dimitri glanced at the others. â€Å"And you'll stay too. If the guardians actually make it this far inside, you'll be needed for more than just guard duty.† â€Å"How do you know?† demanded another Strigoi, a black-haired one who might have been human once. A rarity among Strigoi. â€Å"How do you know they'll come?† Strigoi had amazing hearing, but with their bickering, Lissa had a brief opportunity to speak undetected to Christian. â€Å"Can you burn my ropes?† she murmured in a nearly inaudible voice. â€Å"Like with Rose?† Christian frowned. When he and I had been captured, it was what he'd done to free me. It had hurt like hell and left blisters on my hands and wrists. â€Å"They'll notice,† he breathed back. The conversation went no further because Dimitri came to an abrupt halt and turned toward Lissa. She gasped at the sudden and unexpected movement. Swiftly approaching her, he knelt down before her and peered into her eyes. She trembled in spite of her best efforts. She had never been this close to a Strigoi, and the fact that it was Dimitri was that much worse. The red rings around his pupils seemed to burn into her. His fangs looked poised to attack. His hand snaked out and gripped her neck, tilting her face up so he could get an even better look into her eyes. His fingers dug into her skin, not enough to cut off her air but enough that she would have bruises later. If there was a later. â€Å"I know the guardians will come because Rose is watching,† said Dimitri. â€Å"Aren't you, Rose?† Loosening his hold a little, he ran his fingertips over the skin of Lissa's throat, so gently†¦ yet there was no question he had the power to snap her neck. It was like he was looking into my eyes at the moment. My soul. I even felt like he was stroking my neck. I knew it was impossible. The bond existed between Lissa and me. No one else could see it. Yet, just then, it was like no one else existed but him and me. It was like there was no Lissa between us. â€Å"You're in there, Rose.† A pitiless half smile played over his mouth. â€Å"And you won't abandon either of them. You also aren't foolish enough to come alone, are you? Maybe once you would have–but not anymore.† I jerked out of her head, unable to stare into those eyes–and see them staring back at me. Whether it was my own fear or a mirroring of Lissa's, I discovered my body was also trembling. I forced it to stop and tried to slow my racing heart. Swallowing, I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed, but they were all preoccupied with discussing strategy–except for Tasha. Her cool blue gaze studied me, her face drawn with concern. â€Å"What did you see?† I shook my head, unable to look at her either. â€Å"A nightmare,† I murmured. â€Å"My worst nightmare coming true.†