To what extent do markets pose a threat to democracy Essay

To what extent do markets pose a threat to democracy - Essay Example While accepting that both the state and market perform indispensable functions in a dynamic society, social market strategies seek to expand and create new social sectors that belong to neither the competitive market nor the regulative state systems. Producer cooperatives take labor out f the market by removing corporate shares from the stock market and maintaining local worker ownership; community land trusts take land out f the market and place it under local democratic controls to serve the economic or cultural needs f communities; community finance corporations take democratic control over capital to finance cooperative firms, make investments in areas f social need, and fight the redlining policies f conventional banks. (Bruyn 1-7) To struggle for economic democracy is not to presume that social market strategies would work on a large scale if they were imposed next year on a political culture unprepared for them. The social vision f economic democracy can only take shape over t he course f several decades, as hard-won social gains and the cultivation f cooperative habits and knowledge build the groundwork for a better society. Such a project does not call for large-scale investments in any particular economic model; it does not rest upon illusions about human nature; it does not envision a transformed humanity. Niebuhr's epigrammatic justification f democracy will suffice for economic democracy: The human capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but the human inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. Niebuhr did not deny that the human capacity for fairness is often moved by genuine feelings f compassion and solidarity, but to him it was evident that all such feelings are mixed in human nature with more selfish motives. The crucial point was that democracy is necessary precisely because virtually everyone is selfish. Because human beings are so easily corrupted by the attainment f power, Niebuhr argued, democracy is necessary as a restraint on greed and the human proclivity to dominate others. By the time he wrote the book that elaborated this argument, Niebuhr was no longer inclined to press the argument as a case for economic democracy. The Children f Light and the Children f Darkness was written in 1944, several years after Niebuhr gave up on Marxism and only a few years before he formally rejected Christian socialism. During these few years, when he tentatively held out for a socialism stripped f its Marxist illusions, he did not explore the possibilities f a politics that democratized and decentralized economic power. For Niebuhr, socialism meant economic nationalization, state economic planning, and production for use. To him, there were only three serious possibilities: free market capitalism, state socialism, and New Deal liberalism. Throughout the 1930s, while America's welfare state was being constructed, Niebuhr ridiculed and denounced it with unqualified contempt. A decade later, having renounced his Marxism, he made his peace with Roosevelt's liberal reformism and

Virtural Organization Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Virtural Organization Employment Law - Essay Example n basis of certain characteristics like age and gender or on grounds of such as race and religion is normally considered to be discrimination in an organization. Discrimination at workplace or in an organization is nothing but unfair treatment against a person or group of persons based on prejudice. Discrimination and the effective ways to manage it are matters of serious concerns for organizations all over the world. Discrimination in an organization is normally taken place on the basis of race, gender and religion. There are other yet newer forms of biases like age, disability, migration, AIDS, sexual orientation and lifestyles. Many a management and professional team of even large companies have been subjected to severe harassment, humiliation, and injustice. Judging an individual worker by race or religion and not by performance and thus humiliating him and putting him under stress is most prevalent form of discriminating employees in the workplace. The discrimination between employees, be it on the basis of religion, caste, gender or any other factors, injure employees, foster poor morale, reduce productivity and thus loss of organization’s valuable money, time, energy, and even employees. Prejudice includes an unjustified negative attitude toward a particular cultural practice. It is some time based on negative stereotype that resists rational argument. Often, Prejudices come from unpleasant experiences or encounter with some one from another ethnic group. The managers of one group thus refuse to hire or promote people who are different from other groups. Workers cannot expect to continue with same job for longer time and thus the management philosophy even has been changed. Most businesses strongly believe that they cannot compete with others and cannot be successful if they employ older workers. This can be evidenced from many hiring and employee retention programs among the large US companies. Same time, younger workers accept less pay and benefit

Drugs and Their Effect on Society Essay Example for Free

Drugs and Their Effect on Society Essay Drugs have been a long standing issue in this country from sniff and cocaine as one of the main ingredients in Coca-Cola and opium dens in much of the west coast till in recent years of prescription drugs being sold illegally. It wasn’t till the early 1900’s has drugs been addressed as habit forming and legislation being implemented to curtail addition and violence that can go hand-and-hand with the drug trade culture. The history of drugs in this country can go as far back as the Native Americans sharing the peace pipe with the Pilgrims. Drugs have taken many different forms within American society from what may have originally been used in the form of something as innocent as a soft drink (the original ingredients in Cocoa-Cola) and in forms of ailing some sort of deficiency that originally was prescribed by doctors can eventually be abused. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Chinese’s immigrants brought over opium and created opium dens in much part of the west coast where the drug itself left the user in a euphoric and mind and mood altering state. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with the hippie cultural, much part of the society was introduced to drugs like psychedelics which would be considered LSD and other drugs with heavy usage like mushrooms, marijuana and hashish and in other forms of society like the inner cities heroin pelage the communities with how highly addictive and deadly the drug came to be with heavy use. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s cocaine became the prominent drug in club the atmospheres of disco techs and later became in the form of crack cocaine that pelage major cities around the U. S. with addiction and violence over the drug trade. In the early 1990’s till recent years many perception drugs and meth have been highly addictive and have been a part of the illegal drug trade. The DEA was established in 1973 that was assisted by President Richard Nixon in its creation as a form of a task force with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States of all the drugs deemed illegally additive or dangerous. â€Å"Controlled substances are generally grouped according to both pharmacological and legal criteria into the following seven categories: stimulants, depressants, cannabis, narcotics, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids and inhalants. (Schmalleger, 2012, p. 341) By federal law these categories are deemed illegal from use or distribution; stimulants: cocaine and amphetamines; cannabis: cannabis plants, hashish, hashish oil and marijuana; narcotics: codeine, Dilaudid, heroin, methadone, morphine and opium; hallucinogens: belladonna, LSD, Ectstasy (MDMA), mescaline, MDA and PCP; anabolic steroids: nandrolene, oxandrolene, oxmetholone and stanozolol; inhalants: acetate, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, Freon, nitrous oxide and toluene. Trafficking is a form of distribution of illegal drugs through the means of either smuggling which is the illegal shipment of controlled substances across state and national boundaries in many different methods like shipment overland, direct shipments to U. S. ports concealed in containers or packed with legitimate products, flights onto United States commercial airplanes or private aircrafts and airdrops to vessels waiting offshore to smuggle drugs into the U. S. boarders. The DEA follows different routes used by traffickers and one of the methods to track the occurrences is the Heroin Signature Program (HSP) is a Drug Enforcement Administration program that employs special chemical analyses to identify and measure chemical constituents of sample of seized heroin. Border patrols have protected the boarders to ensure that traffickers are disparaged from attempting to smuggle in their products. The supply and demand has kept smugglers in business because as long as there is a need for their product by the users and suppliers; distributors of the drugs will find new and advanced methods of smuggling in drugs. Government agencies have enacted different policies to somehow impact drug abuse like the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 which required manufactures to list their ingredients and specifically targeted mood-altering chemicals. The Harrison Act was passed in 1914 which was the first federal anti-drug legislation that required anyone dealing in cocaine, heroin and morphine and other drugs to register with the federal government and pay a tax of $1 per year with the authorized the registration of only those in the medical profession and outlawing the street use and street distribution of these drugs. In 1956 the Narcotic Control Act increased penalties for drug traffickers and made the sale of heroin to anyone under the age of 18 a capital offense. In 1970 the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act established five schedules that classified psycho-activity and potential for abuse. In 1988 the Anti-Drug Abuse Act proclaimed the goal for a â€Å"drug-free America by 1995 by increased penalties for drug users and made weapon purchases by drug dealers much more difficult. The goal of drug control acts are to battle illegal drugs from use and distribution by anti-drug legislation and strict enforcement, interdiction, crop control, asset forfeiture and antidrug education and drug treatment. Conclusion Early legislation against drug abuse focused on eradicating the wide spread problem of drugs in numerous of ways like requiring companies to list their ingredients on their products if it may alter the users mood or brain chemistry, taxation on drug companies, making harsher drugs illegal for sale or distribution and harsher sentencing for those whom distribute illegal drugs. Since numerous types of legislation; the focus has been much in fact on punishment and less on rehabilitation which has caused a financial strain on society and has given a stigma upon those involved in the drug trade or an abuser of these substances.

Masculinity in Great Expectations

Masculinity in Great Expectations Late Victorian Masculinities are bound up with discourses of evolution and aesthetics. Analyse this statement in relation to Charles Dickens Great expectations and Oscar Wildes The Picture ofDorian Gray This essay will try to assess the validity of the abovestatement using the texts stated, and also referring to existing criticism onthe subject. In answering the question, I shall break the statement into twosections. Firstly, I will discuss masculinity in Great Expectations inrelation to evolution, looking at Pips transition from humble beginnings to amore flamboyant existence, and how this fits in with Darwins theory ofevolution. As well as this, I will look at how masculinity is represented insome of the other characters, and lastly to what extent Pips life story cantruly be said to be an evolution. Next, I will discuss masculinityin The Picture of Dorian Gray in relation to aesthetics. This part ofthe essay will focus on how the portrayals of masculinity in the novel fit inwith the idea of Art for arts sake, promoted by followers of the aestheticmovement. In particular I will examine the identity of the eponymous hero, whoembodies much of the aesthetic ideal. There will also be a consideration of theunderlying theme of homosexuality and how some criticism has suggested that theaesthetes used such themes in order to illustrate their own ideas aboutidentity and masculinity. I will then consider to what extent aesthetics arepart of the representation of masculinity in the novel. Masculinity in Great Expectations doescertainly intertwine with the idea of evolution. Pip is in many ways thearchetypal bildungsroman, progressing from a simple domestic life in ruralKent, to London and fortune (although his ending does represent a variation onthis concept). His masculinity is developed along the way. In earlier chapters,he is governed largely by fear, as in the readers first encounter with Mrs.Joe, in which he is informed that he is in trouble. At this dismal intelligence,Ilooked disconsolately at the fire. Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane. Contrast this with his behaviour later on in the book, after he has begun to make his way in the world Being on one occasion threatened with legal proceedingsI went so far as to seize the Avenger by his blue collar and shake him off his feet. By comparisons such as this, we can observe a correlation between the kind of personal evolution, common to the Victorian novel, undergone by Pip, and an increase in perceived masculine traits, such as dominance and physical aggression. However, underneath this, there is perhaps amore scientific form of evolution under discussion. No novel exists in avacuum, and being published in 1861, Great Expectations Darwinsgroundbreaking Origin of Species by only two years. Darwin mentions theStruggle for Existence, in which all life strives to be successful,identifies some key factors in this success. I should premise that I use theterm struggle for existence in a large and metaphorical sense, includingdependence of one being on another, and including, which is more important, notonly the life of the individual but the success in leaving progeny. Pips struggle is clearly dependent on others, for example Magwitch, his benefactor, and it is ultimately Joe who helps him in his time of need. Interestingly, however, he does not have an heir. Indeed, in the original ending, Pip notes in an unmistakably gloomy tone Estellas reaction to Little Pip, She supposed the child, I think, to be my child. In this sense, Pips evolution can be seen to be incomplete. But what does this mean with regard to masculinity? It is interesting to note that masculinity in GreatExpectations is not limited to the male characters. One example of this isMrs. Joe, who, as one critic notes, wore the pants in the household, while Joeserves as an effete and effeminate child like figure.Since Joessimple character evolves less than Pip, this might be seen as fitting in withDarwin, but, as has already been mentioned, Joe achieves the ultimate inevolution leaving progeny while Pip does not. Similarly, Mrs Havisham isgiven a somewhat masculine-tinted description her voice had dropped, so thatshe spoke low, and yet she is arguably the most static characterin the book, being unable to move beyond the trauma of her past. In the lightof this, it seems doubtful that Dickens intended a purely evolutionary picture. Although there is a link in the novel between masculinity and evolution, the two do not go entirely hand in hand. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, but Pips development is one of acceptance of his role in life rather than the outright triumph evolutionary theory suggests. However, I do not believe that Dickens set out to critique Darwin either. The novels discussion of masculinity sometimes coincides with evolution, and sometimes does not. I think it would be fair to say that Dickens was influenced by the effect of evolution on masculinity, but his characters successes and failures do not fit in with any definite theory. In The Picture of Dorian Gray,masculinity is linked less to evolution and more to aesthetics. This is largelya result of Wildes adherence to the principles of the aesthetic movement,particularly that of Art for Arts sake. This consists of the idea, outlinedin the novels preface, that Art is an entity in itself and that its ownbeauty, and not its meaning or purpose, is what gives it the right to exist -All art is quite useless.This idea permeates the main character,Dorian Gray, in lots of ways, not least in the identity of his masculinity.This can be seen in Lord Henrys description of him in the first chapter -this young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose leaves.Whyhe is a Narcissus.With its classical references and focus onphysical attributes rather than personality characteristics, this represents aquite different masculine ideal from that which the evolutionists favoured.Masculinity here is perhaps closer to the Platonic ideal, and there is noparticular empha sis on such traits as physical strength and courage, eitherphysical or moral, with which the bildungsroman might be associated. Moreover, some of the most fundamental aspectsof masculinity are challenged. Wilde was, of course, a homosexual, and thistheme is implicitly covered in The Picture of Dorian Gray. For instance,although all of the main characters have heterosexual relationships, such asDorians love for Sybil Vane, there is a suggestion of homosexuality as well.The men are certainly homosocial, and there are implications in therelationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. The former talks very dotingly tohis protÃÆ'Â ©gÃÆ'Â ©, right up to the end of the book, My dear boy, You are much toodelightful, and so forth, and perhaps more significantly, it isDorians good looks that first attract him. This affects the way masculinity isdealt with in the novel in the respect that it removes the element of trying towin the female love interest that we see in Great Expectations. DespiteDorians brief fixation with Sybil, women seem largely incidental to the livesof the principal male characters. This is arguably b ecause they are onlyrequired when they are of aesthetic value, not for their emotional input.Dorian does not ultimately let Sybils suicide interfere with thepseudo-homosexual, and more aesthetic, relationship he has with Lord Henry. Critics have suggested that thisis part of a movement in society in which Wilde and others brought forwardidentity politics, the concept that individuals can view themselves in thelight of their deviations from the norms of society, often enjoying aspects ofthemselves that some might consider abnormal or even immoral. As Audrey Jaffenotes, the contrast between beautiful and ugly images of Dorian Grayreproduces the aesthetics of contemporary identity politics, in which identitytakes shape as the difference between negative and positive culturalprojections.This is perhaps the biggest contrast with GreatExpectations. Whereas Pips manhood is seen as complete when he has learned to accept his place in the world, Dorians masculinity is defined by his unwillingness to conform. It is his aesthetic makeup that makes him a man. The implied homosexuality is part of that, since it involves breaking the taboos of society. According to Jaffe, we may catch the early strains of an identity politics whose anthem will eventually become loud enough to make itself heard even on St Patricks Day.In this respect, aesthetics are central to the novels portrayal of masculinity, although characters like James Vane do represent a more traditional viewpoint, showing such traits as confrontation, family loyalty and defence of ones honour. In conclusion, the representationof masculinity in Great Expectations does nod to a discourse onevolution. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, and there is a genuine senseof progression, and with it, the rise of masculinity. In some respects,Darwinian theory is supported, as in Pips dependence on others in thestruggle for existence. However, his failure to sire offspring and hissomewhat humbled ending conflict with theories of evolution. As well as this,there is the consideration that masculine characteristics are often given tocharacters that do not evolve, such as Miss Havisham, while the hen-pecked Joeachieves the ultimate evolutionary success in reproducing. This would seem tolead to the conclusion that Dickens was aware of evolution, and to some extentinfluenced by it, but did not use it as the sole basis for portrayingmasculinity. By contrast, The Picture ofDorian Gray shows a direct link to the principles of the aestheticmovement. With his looks and his sensual approach to life, Dorian embodies muchof the movements ethos, and his masculinity is defined in terms of his charmand visual appeal. The undercurrent of homosexuality in the book reinforcesthis. By failing to conform to the ideals of Victorian society, Dorian isrepresentative of a form of masculinity that relates to identity politics.Rather than taking the moralistic route to manhood, he celebrates the beauty ofhis deviance. In this respect, his masculinity is entirely aesthetic, as it isdefined by his individual beauty, and the contrast between positive andnegative views of him. However, Wild does portray other, more traditional formsof masculinity, albeit marginally, in the character of James Vane. Evolution and aesthetics,therefore, do play a major part in late Victorian masculinity. Thebildungsroman is an evolutionary figure, while aesthetic portrayals of men werebeginning to come to the fore in this period. However, it is important toremember that these ideas do not govern masculinity entirely, mainly becausewriters are artists and not merely theorists. Although Wilde does adhere to aprincipal more closely than Dickens, both authors show a willingness to breakaway from theory when it is necessary for artistic purposes. References Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 2, pg. 7) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 34, pg. 223) Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859, (Ch 3 The Struggle for Existence) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (original ending) Wayne Huang, Problems of autobiography and fictional biography in Great Expectations, www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/huangcd.html (1997) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 8, pg. 50) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Preface, pg. 4) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 1,pg 5) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 19, pg. 147) Audrey Jaffe, The Aesthetics of Cultural Identity: Embodying Culture, www.victorianweb.org/authors/wilde/jaffe2.html (No date) Audrey Jaffe, Sympathy and the Embodiment of Culture in Wildes Portrait of Dorian Gray, Cornell University Press, 2000 (pg. 167)

The Ethics of Violence in Computer Games :: Technology Essays

The Ethics of Violence in Computer Games Violence in video games was never a hot topic until April 20th, 1999. After the Columbine High School shooting rocked the nation with its unbelievable random brutality, a shocked nation searched for answers. There must have been some reason for Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s bloody rampage. The nation needed a scapegoat for this horrible event, something to take the blame. A lot of the blame landed on the media, the music industry, and violent video games. The debate over how video games influence kids still continues. There are many opinions on how harmful or harmless video games really are. Recently, many legislators seem to have decided that video games are, in fact, very harmful to kids. Legislation is currently being created to restrict and censor violent video games. Traditionally, parents have been the ones responsible and in control of what their children were exposed to on the computer. Now legislators want to govern what kids are exposed to rather than trust this jo b to the parents. This is a departure from how other forms of media are governed. Kids are legally allowed to buy any kind of music regardless of parental advisories and to view any kind of violence on TV. It is the parents’ job to determine if their kids are allowed to listen to that music or watch that TV. It should remain the same way with video games. It is unethical to take these choices out of the parents’ hands. It is the parents’ responsibility and right to raise their children how they see fit. However, the industry also has an important role to play. The music industry puts parental advisories on music content parents may find inappropriate and parents are informed of channel content when they sign up for cable. Likewise, the game industry needs to improve upon their methods of informing parents of the content in their games. Parents should be responsible for regulating the types of games their kids are exposed to, however, the video game industry has a responsibility to accurately and honestly communicate the level of violence depicted in their games. The effects of video games on kids is a relatively new topic of research. Initial studies have resulted in inconclusive and conflicting results. Most researchers have simply decided that video games should have the same negative effect on children as TV does, since the two mediums appear to be so similar.

A Comparison of East of Eden and Candide :: compare and contrast essay examples

East of Eden and Candide In the midst of 80s nostalgia and remembering the greatness that was this decade, I don't want readers to think that "children of the 80s," are oblivious to great, classic literature and today's current events. Recently, I have read two incredibly amazing books. Furthermore, I have noticed some interesting parallels. The first is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. This novel is an unbelievably grandiose recreation of the Book of Genesis. Salinas County is depicted as a place of incredible purity and innocence, in which people have simple values and work hard to sustain them. In contrast, there is Monterrey, a seedy, dirty, yet attractive town filled with brothels, bars, factories, and ports. Some sort of warped destiny once joined Mr. Trask to Kate, the union of good and evil. As a result, she gives birth to twins, Aaron and Caleb. Both Mr. Trask and Aaron embody all that is good, whereas Kate and Cal embody all that is evil. Cal often goes to Monterrey, and upon finding out that his mother is still alive as well as being the head of the most prestigious brothel in town, he seeks her out. After repeatedly being underestimated and rejected by his father, Cal decides that the ultimate revenge will be to take his brother Aaron to meet his mother. He was right? Upon hearing the news, Mr. Trask has a stroke, and Cal feels incredibly guilty. The last few chapters of this book compose the most intense writing or probably even the most intense experiences that I have ever had. Lee, the family's loyal servant, repeatedly notes a passage in the Bible, in which it is made clear that any individual, regardless of past experiences or trauma, has a choice in life. The fact that humans have the ability to always make this crucial choice and use a superior rational is what sets us apart from other species. Even though Mr. Trask is virtually a vegetable and at the brink of death, Lee begs that he show some sign that he has forgiven his son Cal or the cycle will not be broken. Cal will continue to be a resentful rogue, who feels unloved and has no direction. This simple idea is extended through and endless number of pages. I have never read so fast and understood so much in my entire life, not that my life is really that long yet.

Descriptive Names

THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEAS During the early ages, many Filipinos use pearls for accessories. The Philippines as we all know is really surrounded by different bodies of water because of these, many sea divers dive in seas just to get big and beautiful pearls. The Philippines is also rich in natural resources containing beautiful places because to these, they export different sizes of pearls in the different parts of the country. With all its grandeur and magnificence, the Pearl of the Orient Seas lays claim to its naturally abundant environment with beautiful beaches and enthralling panoramic sights.In the past few decades the Philippines have been frequented by tourists for countless reasons. The Philippine sunset is one of the most breathtaking views one could ever see. You would love to feel that fleeting bliss when you see the sky tinted with scarlet, the scarcely diffused light of the setting sun as twilight unfolds. VOCABULARY: GRANDUER – the quality or condition of bei ng grand magnificent ENTHRALLING – something you enjoy and give your complete attention and interestFLEETING – used to describe something which only last for a very short time REFLECTION: Philippines is a beautiful place which is abundant with natural resources especially different kind of pearls. The Philippine sunset is the most beautiful creation that God has given. With these abundance tourist love to come in the Philippines. The Philippines was named the The Pearl of the Orient Seas because of its abundance of pearls which is located in the Philippine Sea Jean Aeriel Marie A. Manansala Gr. 4 – CourtesyTHE LAND OF THE RISING SUN The Japanese called their country, Nihon, which means â€Å"the source of the sun† or â€Å"the land of the rising sun†, because it is so far east. It is a land of mountains and lakes, of great cities and skyscrapers. And it is one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries of the world. The Japanese built their national and cultural heritage on a chain of volcanic islands. The transition from a closed society to one that opened to the outside world had a profound effect on Japan.Even today, when Japan is super-modern and technological, it retains a stark conservativeness and guards its unique tradition very closely. Our tour provides a wonderful opportunity to visit this amazing country where the ancient and the innovative are wonderfully interwoven; contemporary and traditional architecture embrace one another; amazing scenery and bustling cities; and polite, welcoming people everywhere. VOCABULARY: SKYCRAPERS – a very tall buildings INTERWOVEN – very closely connected or are combined with each otherBUSTLING – a place with people with very busy or lively activities REFLECTION: Japan is one of the most polite country in the world. The Japanese are so hospitable with tourist. Japan is one of the most advance country. Japan is a place where people will be ama zed because of its ancient and heritage living. Jean Aeriel Marie A. Manansala Gr. 4 – Courtesy THE LAND OF GOLDEN PAGODAS Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is recognized by the world as the Golden Land. It is one of the earliest homes of mankind, where one can have exclusive experiences of a life-time.You have to find out why. Myanmar, officially Union Of Myanmar, also called Burma, Burmese Myanmar, or Pyidaungzu Myanmar Naingngandaw, is a country lying along the eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in southeast Asia. It is a land of hills and valleys and is rimmed in the north, east and west by mountain ranges forming a giant horseshoe. Enclosed within the mountain barriers are the flat lands of Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin and Sittaung River valleys where most of the country's agricultural land and population are concentrated.Myanmar is endowed with a rich diversity of habitat types arising largely from its unusual ecological diversity. It is home to nearly 300 known mammal species, 300 reptiles and about 100 birds species, and a haven for about 7,000 species of plant life. Since Myanmar considers such a rich pool of bio diversity as an important national asset, the Government has drawn up strict regulations to protect its biological resources. As some folktales have said, the map of the country itself resembles the figure of a dancing lady. VOCABULARY:RIMMED – has color or substance around its border BARRIERS – something that makes it difficult or impossible for something to happen or be achieved. ENDOWED – desirable ability, characteristic, or possession that ones have which they have by birth or by chance. REFLECTION: Myanmar is a place of mankind where we can experience in a life time. Myanmar is a beautiful place where we can find different kinds of animals. It is a place where one should go and experience the beauty of nature. Jean Aeriel Marie A. Manansala Gr. 4 – Courtesy THE TINY DRAGON OF ASIALying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter â€Å"S†. China borders it to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the east and south. Vietnam is considered one of the most popular destinations in the south-east of Asia. Hanoi, the capital of the country, is an ancient city, the political, economic and cultural center. The city began its rapid development in the 11th century, when the Emperor Wan Li Kong, moved his capital to the citadel of Thang-Long.Today it is one of the most interesting cities in Asia, with its wide avenues and European-style skyscrapers, numerous lakes, parks and fountains interspersed with hundreds of colonial houses and pagodas. VOCABULARY: RAPID – fast or quick CITADEL – a strong building where people could shelter for safety INTERSPERSED – the second thing happen or occur between or among the first thing REFLECTION: Vietnam is a land which is shaped like a letter â€Å"S†. Vietnam has a lot of ancient cities where tourist are fun of. With Vietnam’s development it is now one of the most exciting place in Asia because of its wide avenues and tall buildings.Jean Aeriel Marie A. Manansala Gr. 4 – Courtesy RICHEST NATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA From the 14th to the 16th century, Brunei was the center of a powerful native sultanate occupying what are now Sabah and Sarawak and extending northward through the Philippines almost to Manila. By the 19th century, much of this empire had been whittled away by war, piracy, and the colonial expansion of European nations. During the 1970s, Brunei emerged as the richest state in Southeast Asia, profiting from its oil wealth and the steep increases in international oil prices.Much of this vast oil income has been expended by the state on modernization and social services. VOCABULARY: WHITTED – having wits or understanding, intelligence as specified C OLONIAL – controlled by powerful countries VAST – extremely large REFLECTION: Brunei is one of the most richest country in the world. Brunei is lead by a sultan. Brunei uses its own natural resource to develop their country most especially their oil wealth. This is why Brunei was named as the richest nation in Southeast Asia. Jean Aeriel Marie A. Manansala Gr. 4 – Courtesy THE LAND OF JEWELSSri Lanka – the teardrop shaped nation, said to be the jewel of the Orient has always attracted travelers to its shores because of its white beaches, beautiful historic ruins and fascinating culture. The land of spices, nature and history. Floating like an emerald jewel in the dreamy Indian Ocean, the captivating isle of Sri Lanka stands as testament to the beauty of Mother Nature’s handiwork. One of Asia's most biologically diverse countries, Sri Lanka is home to elephants, leopards, buffalo, deer, monkeys, squirrels, snakes, chameleons as well as hundreds of b ird species.The island of Sri Lanka, also known as â€Å"Ceylon† has a long heritage for gem-mining and trading that dates back some 2,000 years. Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern tip of India. Sri Lanka has earned its namesake as the â€Å"Island of Gems,† or â€Å"Gem Island† (Ratna Dweepa), with its abundance of corundum gems, chrysoberyl and alexandrite, garnet, moonstone, peridot, spinel, topaz, tourmaline, and zircon. Sri Lanka has been known by many different names. Due to the rich gem stone deposits, the Arabs named it ‘Serendip' meaning â€Å"Island of Jewels'.VOCABULARY: RUINS – a part or remains after it has been damaged or destroyed HERITAGE – qualities, traditions or features of life that have been continued over many years and have been passed on from one generation to another CORUNDUM – an extremely hard mineral REFLECTION: Sri Lanka attracts its tourist because of the bea uty of its white beaches, historic places and fascinating cultures. Sri Lanka proves the beauty of Mother Nature’s handworks. Sri Lanka is abundant with gems this is why it was called the land of jewels.