Twilight Essay Example

Twilight Essay The myth of the vampire existed in a multitude of civilizations and cultures under various names such is strigoi (for the Romanian territory), Apotamkin, etc. But no matter the name, vampires will always refer to gothic creatures that drain the blood of humans, thus being monstrous. The first writer to introduce the vampire in literature was Lord Byron in the eighteenth century, but the most significant writer to develop the myth was Bram Stoker. He is the „father† of the vampire as he gave a complete description of the vampire in his most famous book† Dracula†. After the release of the book, the myth of the vampire became extremely popular amongst writers and as a consequence the books whose main characters were vampires sky-rocketed. Amongst the most famous contemporary writers which developed and modified the myth of the vampire is Stephenie Meyer with her famous „Twilight†. In her book we find a multitude of deviations from the myth but still she keeps many things as they are with the main purpose of enhancing the vampire’s romantic features. For instance, when Bella takes on the task of finding out the reason why Edward isn’t allowed to come to the La Push beach, she finds a book which describes what Edward is. When searching the camera focuses on all the key words that point to the unnatural and supernatural abilities which Edward has: „the cold one†, one who drinks† the immortal drink† , „undead†, „immortal† and so on. We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Bella confronts him she says that he is „impossibly fast and strong† that is another stereotype kept by Stephenie Meyer most definitely to put emphasis on the fact that Edward is a character that fits the pattern of romantic characters, and like all romantic characters he need features that make his special, that separate him from the crowd. Probably the greatest change that the myth of the vampire went through was the fact that it is no longer associated with the figure of „ walking cadavers† as popularised in the folklore, nor with the rich and aristocratic being as it appears in Bram Stoker’s „Dracula†. Stephenie Meyer introduces a whole new perspective on the vampire and this is reflected in the movie as well. The director of the Twilight movie makes sure that Edward keeps his „angelic† aura which the author wanted to underline and he does so in the scene of the biology class, scene in which Bella was placed by their professor next to Edward. As she is walking towards him the camera focuses on him sitting in front of an owl which has the wings wide spread. This scene is interesting from a visual point of view because of the positioning of the owl which gives the impression that Edward is actually winged, thus resembling an angel rather than a „monster†. But Stephenie Meyer isn’t so quick in erasing all the notorious mythological traits of the vampire. She introduces a few well known characteristics of the vampire unaltered. For instance vampires are „pale white and ice cold†, which is in fact the first clue Bella is given , clue which leads her to the truth of Edwards existence, to the fact that he is a vampire. All these elements give us the image of a lifeless body, as the blood no longer circulates robbing the skin of its colour and of its warmth. Another element that circulates in the Twilight book/movie is the fact that vampires drink blood. What kind of blood is the real question. Edward and all the Cullen’s call themselves „vegetarians† as they only feast on the blood of animals not humans. Stephenie Meyer uses this particularity making it a clue that shows us the kind of vampire one is. From the beginning of the movie Bella notices that Edwards’s eyes change colour. The first time she sees him his eyes were black, but after he returns form his „trip† the colour of his eyes turned golden-brown. So, the colour of their eyes are an indicative to how hungry they are for blood and how strong they are to resist the call of blood( the first time Edward didn’t even want to look at her but when his thrust was quenched he approached her rather suddenly and unexpectedly). Another particularity of the eyes of a vampire is that they show whether a vampire feeds on human or animal blood. This is best shown in the baseball scene when James and the other vampires come and disrupt the Cullen’s game. The camera focuses on the eyes of every new vampire( which , as we were previously shown, attacked humans) and we can clearly notice that their eyes are scarlet red. So the redness of the eyes is an indicative of the fact that these vampires are not† vegetarians†. The similarities stop here. There are definitely very few elements which are kept from all the previous books that present vampires, and to sum everything up we know that they have cold and pale skin, the fact that they drink blood and the fact that they are very fast and strong. The differences are way more numerous that the similarities and in this part of the essay we are going to present just that. Stephenie Meyer also introduces a lot of new elements. For instance the most important entirely new element is that blood has a distinguished smell, a smell which can trigger the vampires hunting instinct. Edward calls the smell of Bella’s blood „ a drug† and „his personal brand of heroin†. First of all there is nothing that indicates Edward as a vampire apart from his cold and white skin( and the fact that he shines like diamonds but only in the sun). But if this were a novel written by let’s say Anne Rice, the vampire would definitely have fangs. Stephenie Meyes’s vampires don’t really have fangs, but really sharp teeth and when they bite they leave a pretty clear impression on the victims body as we are shown in the scene in which James bites Bella. Another abolished myth is that vampires change their shape, and the most famous animal in which a vampire can turn into is the bat. This myth is not present in the movie as Edward like all his kin cannot fly; but Edward has the ability of running so fast that he appears to fly. When he runs at his full potential no one can even spot him doing so. To support this theory we have two scenes in which his speed is such that it actually makes him invisible to the naked eye. First of all we have the episode in which he save Bella from the car crash, running from the other side of the parking lot without being noticed. The second time we witness this capacity of his to „disappear† in the scene in which Bella wake up in the middle of the night and sees him standing in a corner; but when she turns to turn on the lights and looks up at him again he isn’t there anymore. In fact he is so fast that he doesn’t even need to fly. This last scene is linked to another myth, or rather with the absence of a myth, the one according to which a vampire can only enter the house of someone only after he is invited. It is obvious that Bella didn’t invite Edward in her room, but still he entered and this isn’t the only example which indicates this. Another feature of the vampire myth that Stephenie Meyer didn’t include in her book is the fact that her vampires have a reflection in the mirror. I could not demonstrate properly this theory because of the lack of mirrors in the movie but in the scene in which Bella first sees Edward, the camera focuses on him and we see, as he opens the door to enter the cafeteria, that he has a reflection in the glass (even through a glass is not a mirror it can show ones reflection). In the same day when Bella confronts Edward and tells him that she knows what he is, he takes her to the top of the mountain to show her what he looks like in the sun. When a ray of light hits his skin Bella sees that his skin appears to be made out of diamonds. When she says that he is beautiful he answers† this is the skin of a killer†, „ you believe a lie, in a camouflage† ,† everything about me invites you in, my voice, my face even my smell†. The fact that his skin shines in the sun is another novelty which Stephenie Meyer presents as all authors before her present vampires as creatures which are very vulnerably to the sun, as it can turn a vampire into ashes. All these elements that point to a perfect being; they are all part of their „weapons† as they ca attract their victims which find their irresistible charm. The fact that girls gravitate around Edward like moths around the light bulb is best shown in the scene in which he takes Bella to restaurant, when the waitress simply can’t take her eyes of him. This is all part of their hunting strategy, and this is why Edward compares their relationship to that of a hunter and the hunted by saying that† the lion feel in love with the lamb†. When Bella enters Edward’s house for the first time we can see how the setting, the way in which they chose to decorate their house, a lot of myths are pulverised. When Bella came in the house she is astonished of how light and open the house is and Edward ironically asks† What did you expect? Coffins and dungeons? ; from his attitude we can conclude that they do not live in dark places and sleep in coffins as the myth states. Further more, when she gets to see his bedroom she does not spot a bed because Edward doesn’t ever sleep, so elements linked to sleep( whether it is the eternal sleepcoffins, or just regular sleepbeds) are entirely missing from the decor of the place. Another element that is in the house but that totally contradicts the myth of the vampire is the pr esence of a wooden cross, a big and ancient cross placed on the wall. So, in Stephenie Meyer’s vision vampires do not have any fears concerning the cross, unlike previous authors that made the cross an object that can kill a vampire. This is interesting because of two things. First of all Meyer’s vampires cannot be killed by humans, they are too strong so they can only kill each other. Secondly because the cross symbolises God, the supreme power, the holy power that protects us; the fact that Meyer’s vampires do not dodge the cross means that they are no longer the creatures of demonic origin, no longer creatures from hell. The fact that only vampires can kill vampires has already been established. But how is the question. We find that out in the scene in which James in killed by Edwards brothers. They do not use wooden stakes or a silver bullet to kill him as the only way of killing a vampire is to teat him apart and burn the pieces. To conclude it is safe to say that the vampire myth has undergone a number of important changes through the centuries which shows how „alive† these myths are, through the imagination of writers.

napster controversy essays

napster controversy essays What is the big deal with the whole napster controversy? All it is is a network, which allows millions of people to share files, which are already available on the Internet. People say things like, its a form of stealing, because you are taking something from an artist that cost time and money to create. But honestly, if napster wasnt there people would have gotten these songs from another source. I personally use napster all the time for about a year and a half now, but before napster, I would get songs from mp3 chats or websites. Napster was just a quicker and more convenient way to get those same songs. And another thing about napster is the kind of artist that disagree with it. For instance, Dr. Dre and Metallica both hate napster. Now, you say what could those two artists possibly have in common. The answer is their age. They both have been around for a while and arent with the new wave of the future. Dont get me wrong, I love Dr. Dre, and I used to like metallica until they discontinued my napster, but someone really needs to help them realize, that they need to either get with the new generation or get left behind in the dust. They should be happy, there are so many Dr. Dre songs that I didnt t know existed until I looked in Napster for them. Also Justin Timberlake of NSYNC says its like stealing hot dogs from a hotdog vendor when that is his only livelihood. Funny how Justin Timberlake has enough money to buy out a thousand hotdog vendors. And Justin Timberlake is also the same person who said that he makes music, not for the money but because he loves it. I dont think so. And I personally bought the NSYNC CD after I heard some of the songs off napster. I think napster enhances CD sales. Studies have shown that CD sales have not dropped since Napster became mainstream. Also true artists have nothing to worry about from Napster. Its the little 15 mi ...

Auer waffeln an austrian company's tale of growth,globalization and Essay

Auer waffeln an austrian company's tale of growth,globalization and decline - Essay Example Business organizations rely on the effectiveness of their marketing strategies, which should always determine the potential of the market thereby informing the subsequent production process of the organization. An effective marketing process should inform the production thereby preventing the organization from incurring losses (Solomon et al, 2009). SWOT analysis The marketing process relies on a number of organizational analyses key among which is the SWOT analysis. This is a business tool used in analyzing the potential of the business organization in sustaining the market demands. The first two components of the analysis are the Strengths and weaknesses of the business organization while the last two are opportunities and threats of the business. The first two elements are therefore within the organization and the organization can manipulate them to ensure it sustains its profitability. The last two on the other hand exist externally; they are part of the market forces implying th at the business organization cannon manipulate them. They therefore determine the profitability of the business. ... The growth if the business portrays a number of management success resulting from bold management strategies. However, the business later stifled away following a number of management lapses and the inability to maintain its market share. The success of the business depends on the effectiveness of the business idea and the nature of the execution of the idea. Guenter Auer identified a potential need for the foodstuff in the Austrian market. The business later flourished following the effectiveness of the business idea. Apparently, the Austrian market had lacked such a business thereby creating a loud that the Waffeln business seamlessly filled. Market entry strategies After identifying an effective business idea, the nature of executing the idea becomes essential in safeguarding the success of the business. Auer identified a gap within the market and therefore decided to fill it thereby developing a market of its own. The idea was unique and therefore took the market by surprise. The business therefore developed a sizable market for itself. However, Auer knew the nature of the market and the amount of potential it had. He therefore began by operating his business in a small scale within the small local market. This did not only provide adequate profitability but also provided the organization with an effective market research opportunity (Ghauri & Cateora, 2010). Through the small local market, he determined that the business could grow to become a national and progressively an international business. He therefore realized the need for a more qualified manager for the business a factor which compelled him to send his son to some of the best schools from where he studied manage net among other operational courses related to production.

How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight Article

How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight - Article Example In particular, they studied the interplay of conflict, politics, and pace of strategic decision making by top-management teams (273-274). According to Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois, top executives are aware that conflict over issues is natural and honest disagreement lead the company towards best decision. Team members who challenge each other's ideas have more understanding of the issue at hand; they have more alternatives that clear the path towards effective decision. On the other hand, an honest disagreement can turn to be unproductive or even more conflicting. Here, the challenge is to keep the conflict constructive. Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois studied 12 companies for their research project. Four of these companies were suffering due to top executives' intense animosity. Top management was failed to cooperate with each other, and they rarely had conversation with each other. They socialize in specific cliques rather than having good relation with most of the individuals. More over, they only displayed frustration and anger about their competing executive. These companies failed to avoid interpersonal conflicts. On the other hand, companies with minimal interpersonal conflict not only managed a healthy conflict but also kept it professional (274). Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois observed that these companies maintained constructive conflict by six tactics which include: focus on facts; multiple alternatives; common goals; enlightened environment by using humor; balance in power structure; and to seek consensus by qualification. First tactic, focus on fact refers to maximum data collection in order to make informed decision. When executives are equipped with more facts and figures, the decisions will be based on facts rather than opinions. Extensive knowledge of happenings in the corporation, such as, in Star Electronics, gives strong controls. It is evident that there is a direct relation between reliance on updated facts and lesser interpersonal conflicts. Facts let the management to reach the core issues rather than arguing and guessing the facts (Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois 275). Contrary to common belief, companies with less interpersonal conflicts deliberately generate multiple alternatives. Research evidence proves that multiple alternatives lower the probability of interpersonal conflict. It is because ambiguity of multiple options divides the conflict and its solution into more than just black and white. This approach provides people with varying options and avoids rival group formation. In the process of generating alternatives, managers involve in a shared and stimulating task. Managers don't stop on just one solution; rather they keep on finding more creative and original options. The benefit is twofold: the process creates an overall substantive instead of conflicting tone, and company gets the original solution (Kathleen, Jean, and Bourgeois 275-276). Third tactic is to create strategic alternatives in an environment th at fosters collaborative rather than competitive spirit in the team. It leads to the best possible solution for collective gain, rather than anyone's personal ambitions. Research on group decision making and intergroup conflict reveals that common goals foster coherence by emphasizing common interests. In the absence of common goals, executives didn't share a vision. They were

El Nio and La Nia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

El Nio and La Nia - Research Paper Example It is for this reason that during the El Nià ±o events, the easterly trade winds are intense and the global weather patterns are often the opposite of those of La Nià ±a. Based on theory, the competing and ocean feedbacks are the responsible elemental forces that are said to drive the direction of the warming (Goddard and Dilley 651). If this theory holds true, then scientists are looking forward to the point by which the La Nià ±a will have to be propagated in the same course or direction, but there are scientific findings that reveal that it did not (Dong 3373). This was even made clear when Dong argued that there are existing anomalies in the asymmetric nature of El Nià ±o and La Nià ±a sea surface temperature (SST). On the other hand, modern technology and understanding in climatology reveal the concept or idea about Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). This measurement is based on the idea linked to the surface water pressure. The negative SOI reveals that El Nià ±o takes place when the surface pressure is higher somewhere in Darwin and Low at Tahiti, but La Nià ±a occurs when the SOI is higher or positive, and this is the moment when the normal equatorial water is found to be cooler and in a wide spread across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Dong 3373). The SOI was found to be a cycle, within the period of at least three to five years. On the other hand, some scientists are convinced with the idea that El Nià ±o and La Nià ±a are significant components of the natural process prior to the evolution of life on earth. For this reason, these phenomena are considered to take place in the cycle as evolutionary part for the continuing existence of life. Another theory remarkably suggests that the sun, which is the major source of energy and life on earth is the main reason as to why there exist cold and warm energy that produce wind. This turbulence caused by the wind, both cold and hot,

Syrian Refugee Assistance Project Development

Syrian Refugee Assistance Project Development Development Project: Assistance for Syrian Refugees Abstract Syria is a country that has been ravaged by war. The residents have lost their livelihood and many people have fled due to the unfortunate state of the country. For prosperity or some mere sense of peacefulness to return, significant changes must occur. By establishing a central development plan, USAID and other participants can aid returning citizens in regaining a life surrounded by peaceful conditions. As part of this plan, resettlement and compensation must occur. Equally important, retraining, economic integration, and transportation assistance will be needed. Without these vital steps, an area that has experienced the devastation caused by civil war will continue to be a land that not only creates strife for its residents, but globally.   Keywords:   Syria, Civil War, Central Development Plan Introduction Sun Tzu said, â€Å"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.† This process is not reflected through civil wars that have ravaged different countries around the world. With interior battles and people fighting their own neighbors, a lot of devastation has occurred. For Syrians, the illustration of war is all too real. The desolation that has occurred has a result of interior battling will require a lot of development and rehabilitation. These processes will only be successful if peaceful treaties can be reached to stop the battles that have led to such tragedy. The changes that must occur are vast and will have to encompass the entire country’s population. Through these changes, a central plan is needed to address resettlement and compensation, as well as retraining, economic integration, and transportation assistance.   Background During the brutal Syrian civil war (2011-present), greater than 300,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million wounded to date, leading to a refugee crisis which has been without parallel, as those who survived that conflict have increasingly sought to flee from that besieged nation and begin their lives elsewhere. This has prompted a refugee crisis which has been unprecedented in world history, and one which has placed considerable stress upon ‘host’ nations, especially in Europe, to take in those displaced by this war. However, in recent months, this seven year-long conflict has received ample international attention of a sort which has stressed the likelihood that the war may be soon coming to an end. As announced by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and endorsed Steffan de Mistyra, United Nations ‘Special Envoy’ to Syria, the conflict – which witnessed the inclusion not just of Assad’s forces and the ‘rebels,’ but the Islamic State, U.S., Israel, and Russia, as well – may have been â€Å"won† by Assad, especially following â€Å"critical military gains made by government forces† throughout 2017 (Al-Doumy, 2017, p. 1). In particular, as of September 2017, after the Syrian capital of Aleppo was captured by Assad’s government regime, ad only the â€Å"Idlib province† was still under the control of the opposition, meaning that such control – and a final ‘victory’ for the Syrian state – may be close at hand (Al-Doumy, p. 1). Current ‘facts on the ground,’ though they are dour, represent a critical point of controversy among international aid agencies. In particular, the United Nations has reported that despite â€Å"reduced violence† in Syria throughout 2017, the warring parties in that nation have continued to perpetrate â€Å"unthinkable crimes† against the Syrian civilian population, including – per the UN report – the Syrian government’s use of â€Å"chemical weapons† against civilians (UN, 2017, p. 1). A report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (2017), has mounted strident criticism against the Syrian state, particularly for its use of â€Å"sarin [gas]† as part of an aerial bombardment in northern Hama and southern Idlib, in April 2017, which led to the deaths of over eighty civilians (UNHCR, 2017, p. 1). This campaign –notable for the brutal tactics employed by the Assad government – specif ically targeted â€Å"medical facilities† in this ‘rebel’-held area, leading to a â€Å"severe weakening† in these areas’ ability to provide assistance to the victims, a point which the report stressed led to a â€Å"consequent increase† in the number of civilian casualties this unconscionable government attack caused (UNHCR, p. 1). The United Nations report also criticized the Assad regime for using â€Å"weaponized chlorine,† in Hamah and Damascus, which when combined with the use of sarin, represent multiple and flagrant violations of both â€Å"international humanitarian law and the Convention on Chemical Weapons,† which was signed by Syria in 2013 (UNHCR, 2017, p. 1). That said, the Assad government is not the only group to blame in this ongoing disaster. The report also points to â€Å"international coalition airstrikes,† as by the United States and Israel, to repel Islamic State (ISIL) forces from this country, which have led to an â€Å"increasingly alarming number of [civilian] casualties,† and internally displaced hundreds of thousands of Syrians (UNHCR, p. 1). The U.S., in particular, is criticized for its failure to â€Å"take all feasible precautions to protect civilians† in its incursion (p. 1). The prolonged and brutal nature of this conflict, when combined with the recency of such war crimes, have resulted in the United Nations seeking a â€Å"political solution† which would result in an end to â€Å"grave violations of human rights and the laws of war† (p. 1). However, it appears that the international community – especially among the nations of Europe, which have taken in an unprecedented number of Syrian refugees – is now taking reports of the pending ‘end’ of the Syrian conflict at face value. In Germany, which took in more than a half-million Syrian refugees, its interior ministry has begun to discuss (and vote upon) proposals to begin â€Å"forcibly repatriating Syrian refugees once their asylum status lapses,† as early as June 2018 (Traub, 2017, p. 1). Given the relatively â€Å"muted† international response to the scathing UNHCR report (2017), is apparent that international authorities (especially nations which have taken in Syrian refugees), are willing to overlook the crimes and abuses of the Assad regime, and ultimately, to â€Å"accept,† while heinous, â€Å"the devil they know† (Al-Doumy, 2017, p. 1). In Germany and other nations which have been hard-hit by the Syrian Refugee Crisis, especially as has manifest in â€Å"political pressure,† while the UNHCR guidelines which stipulate the changes required for â€Å"safe return† and repatriation may â€Å"not occur for a generation,† these nations are increasingly looking to treat the â€Å"end of hostilities† as sufficient standard upon which to justify mass repatriation (Traub, p. 1). Given the ongoing military presence of the United States in this nation, America’s responsibility to this region may be great. In advance of mass repatriation of Syrian refugees, especially from Europe, it is necessary to craft a development proposal upon which such American assistance to ‘returning’ Syrian civilians may be formed. Such goals, however, must be in ‘alignment’ with the goals of the U.S. State Department, as well as with the current White House, and will be implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an relief organization which is typically tasked with disaster relief efforts. In essence, any plan taken by the United States must be sufficient in scope to prevent further humanitarian disaster in Syria, but is likely to not carry military mandate, nor will it be conducted for a period of longer than two years, given the low ‘appetite’ of the American people to engage in prolonged relief efforts. However, as has been considered, there is an eminent need for the implementation of this program; The United States has played a pivotal role in this conflict, and while it has not perpetrated the same flagrant human rights abuses as the Assad government, it is critical for the U.S. – through USAID – to adhere to two core ‘tenets’ of its international aid mission, in Syria, by (1) Providing â€Å"life-saving humanitarian assistance to save lives and alleviate suffering,† and (2) Accelerating a â€Å"rapid [and] and durable recovery by supporting livelihoods, markets and the provision of basic services† (USAID, 2017, p. 1). To this end, the following section will present a core ‘treatment’ of a future project, to be implemented in Syria, as contingent upon a likely German decision (anticipated for June 2018) to mandate the repatriation of their 600,000 Syrian refugees. The following section will present the core aspects of this development plan. Central Development Plan The central purpose of this development plan is to provide assistance to Syrians who will return to Syria after the crisis, likely as soon as June 2018, when Germany is anticipated to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Syrians to this nation, contingent upon the anticipated end to eight years of hostilities. The core vector for such development will be dedicated rehabilitation centers, which will be established in conjunction with (and under the protection of) the U.S. military base in northern Syria (Davison, 2017. In addition, such aid presence will also be established within (or close to) centers of population, where repatriated refugees will likely return. The following sections will consider the goals which will be sought at these rehabilitation centers, which will primarily focus upon providing post-return assistance to the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who are anticipated to be repatriated. The intended methodology which will be employed at these rehabilitation centers is of a curative nature, by which individuals who have been repatriated to Syria will be better-prepared to reengage in their lives in a safe and productive manner, following their return. Guidelines established by relief agencies UNHCR and USAID will be used to inform this development plan Sub-Purpose 1: Resettlement and Compensation A primary goal which must be achieved is of resettlement. Though resettlement plans are often undertaken in conjunction with refugee assistance (as in a ‘third party’ country which provides asylum), the UNHCR stipulations regarding such resettlement in the context of repatriation are relevant to this consideration. In particular, one UNHCR report (2016) argues that such measures are often established under a ‘banner’ of international solidarity, through which ‘destination’ countries are party to negotiations through which the â€Å"parameters† of resettlement programs are established, as through â€Å"multi-year agreements,† the likelihood of which will be improved through establishing long-term aid relationships with such nations (UNHCR, 2016, p. 197). Though these rehabilitation centers will be tasked with the resettlement of repatriated Syrian refugees, it will nonetheless be necessary for the U.S. to establish an aid relationsh ip with Syria, through which such resettlement may be facilitated, both through the establishment of ‘short-term’ housing – as in ‘disaster’ trailers – but negotiations with that government, which will likely wish to improve its international reputation through aid to repatriates, will form the basis for the resettlement of repatriated Syrians throughout this nation. Under the USAID guidelines for resettlement (2017a), further considerations which must inform this policy are addressed. USAID policy in this regard pertains particularly to â€Å"compulsory displacement and resettlement,† a signifier which ably represents the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have been displaced by that country’s civil war (USAID, 2017a, p. 2). As contextualized to the efforts undertaken in any nation where USAID is present, especially those where there is a severe need for ‘refugee’ housing, this document stipulates that is critical to ensure that resettlement goals will â€Å"avoid, minimize, and mitigate† risks of â€Å"impoverishment of affected legitimate landholders,† (USAID, p. 2). The devastation wrought by the Syrian Civil War, especially in urban areas and former centers of population where most refugees originated, has been vast. As a result, this rehabilitation policy will be undertaken with the assumption that most of those whom it serves have suffered either â€Å"total physical displacement,† as through complete loss of land, shelter, or â€Å"other assets,† or â€Å"partial†¦displacement,† as when ‘landholders’ retain their land and assets, but have been removed from the use of such resources due to circumstances out of their control (USAID, p. 3). Given the extraordinary number of repatriated Syrians likely to move through the rehabilitation center, it will be necessary to employ a policy which emphasizes resettlement, in tandem with those by policy by which rote â€Å"compensation† is provided, and to pair such compensation – as to â€Å"improve livelihoods and living standards† – with robust development assistance in the context of a robust resettlement plan (USAID, 2017a, p. 6). As the majority of repatriated Syrians moving through this facility will require permanent resettlement, it will be necessary to produce a resettlement action plan (RAP), per the USAID guidelines for refugees. Because former centers of Syrian population have witnessed such extraordinary destruction, such a plan will be predicated upon the construction of a dedicated resettlement site, which for purposes of convenience, will be located in rural communities near the rehabilitation center. The RAP to be implemented will serve to ensure the following: (1) All â€Å"affected legitimate landholders† – that is, those Syrians who have been forcibly repatriated, yet whose homes are likely still in ruins – are resettled in a manner which serves to protect the â€Å"social and cultural identity† as well as â€Å"cohesion† of their communities (USAID, 2017a, p. 11). In addition, it will also be necessary to provide (2) Receiving communities, those rural areas (which have emerged relatively ‘unscathed’ from the Civil War) with opportunities for â€Å"informed and meaningful engagement† in order to â€Å"avoid, minimize, or mitigate† potential disputes which may arise† (USAID, 2017a, p. 11). Finally, (3) this RAP must be predicated upon all repatriated Syrians having access to a body of â€Å"affordable, accessible, and independent† grievance procedures, to be employed in the event that resettlement disputes arise (p. 11). In addition, the â€Å"fair calculation† of compensation measures must also be incorporated into an effective RAP (USAID, 2017a, p. 14). These would include compensation provided to those who have been displaced (and in this instance, repatriated), in order to facilitate their livelihood, as a factor of the following measures: Individual compensation would be based upon the value of lost (1) Land, as well as â€Å"naturally-occurring resources associated with the land,† (2) Structures on land, such as houses, (3) Legal or professional costs, as well as (4) Loss of earnings, and (5) Intangible losses, as those which hold a particular â€Å"cultural or spiritual value† (USAID, 2017a, p. 14). Moreover, such compensation would also be provided to Syrians so repatriated in order to offset the cost of â€Å"moving and finding alternative housing,† provided that such new housing is not provided as part of resettlement (p. 14). Sub-Purpose 1: Indicators and Outcomes. The establishment of a robust program of housing and resettlement represents the core of this rehabilitation program. As the majority of repatriated Syrians entering this program are likely to have had their homes destroyed during this prolonged period of Civil War, it will be necessary to mount a major course of economic assistance to each individual, to meet their eminent need for shelter. As a result, this rehabilitation center will establish a robust and comprehensive auditing process, in order to address key indicators among these repatriated Syrians, including their need for shelter, but also reflecting the key losses which these individuals suffered. Though all repatriated individuals will be provided with ‘temporary’ shelter – as in an ‘in-country’ facility with disaster accommodations – they will be resettled into (predominantly rural, and local) communities near the shelter in as expedient a manner as possible. Their losses will be compensated in accordance with demonstrable need, meaning that key outcomes pertain to the ability of all individuals who come through this rehabilitation facility to find resettlement in accordance with the RAP, with respect to their expedient delivery to ‘receiving communities.’ Finally, any legal and economic grievances which arise will be settled by authorities at the rehabilitation facility. Sub-Purpose 2: Retraining and Economic Integration Though resettlement and compensation arrangements provided to this vast population of repatriated Syrians will comprise the majority of the rehabilitative ‘burden’ undertaken by this center, it will also seek to aid this population with their employment and reintegration into the Syrian economy. However, the likelihood of such aid policies being effective is somewhat ‘muddied,’ by the serious economic shock that has been wrought by the Syrian Civil War. As presented by Crisp (1996), regarding the UNHCR’s repatriation operations in Mozambique in the 1990s, many individuals so repatriated will express â€Å"apprehension over socio-economic conditions† in their areas of return, a sentiment which â€Å"underlined the need for [establishing] emergency infrastructures† in places of â€Å"actual returnee settlement† (Crisp, 1996, p. 8). However, this report includes little precise information regarding how such ‘infrastructuresâ₠¬â„¢ were to be established. To this end, it is likely that the establishment of some ‘economic infrastructure’ to benefit the vast number of repatriated Syrians anticipated to use this resettlement service would require outsized assistance to Syria, which might result in considerable political antipathy for this plan, by U.S. citizens likely to view such measures as far greater than ‘aid,’ or as falling under the direct responsibility of the Syrian government. An alternative plan by which the economic ‘integration’ of these individuals may be effectuated is through coordinating efforts with the Syrian government, as modeled after measures implemented in other nations. As presented by Beusse (2009), for the European Commission, effective repatriation programs often include â€Å"loan programs,† through which returnees are aided in their achieving meaningful â€Å"livelihood, self-employment opportunities,† and opportunities for â€Å"entrepreneurial development,† and can often be mounted in conjunction with direct educational support (Beusse, 2009, p. 44). Such education is often also primarily economic in nature, and can include support in â€Å"financial literacy, financial planning and management, savings†¦remittance schemes,† as well as in regard to investment opportunity and business counseling, under a broader â€Å"mentoring† framework (Beusse, p. 44). These same methods are emphas ized under the USAID model, which denotes critical methods of â€Å"knowledge and skills training† to be provided to repatriates, to include (1) Short-term technical training, (2) Long-term academic education (or assistance in obtaining such education), (3) Entrepreneurial training, to include â€Å"peer learning,† and (4) Assistance in accessing to â€Å"distance learning,† from which marketable skills can be gained (USAID, 2010, p. 8). Retraining is often unnecessary for populations who are being repatriated, as many members of this Syrian population may present with marketable skills and job histories, and merely lack for employment. To this end, in conjunction with local Syrian businesses – and with its government – this rehabilitation center will also attempt to â€Å"[assist] with job placement† for qualified job candidates, as well as assist with providing â€Å"seed money† to help repatriated Syrians to start businesses (USAID, 2005, p. 17). Sub-Purpose 2: Indicators and Outcomes. Leading indicators of the success of this program will depend on the qualifications of each applicant. In particular, it will be necessary to conduct interviews and audits of the individuals who enter the rehabilitation center, in order to determine their level of skill, and the degree to which they might appreciate inclusion into the locally-provided educational and training programs. In the event that such individuals have a high level of skill, they will be ‘routed’ to Syrian job placement programs, or will be provided with direct grants to aid in their establishment of an independent business. Key outcomes upon which the success of this program will be predicated include the level of interest by the repatriated individuals in these education programs, especially those which concern issues of skills development. Such interest will be used to inform the establishment of educational programs in the rehabilitation center (as to ensure the efficient use of resources), but if there is a low level of interest, this might be interpreted as a failure of the center to ‘craft’ tenable options for all those engaged with this program, and an audit of policies and training deliverables will be implemented, to ensure that such lack of interest is not based on poor ‘fit.’ Sub-Purpose 3: Transportation Assistance In conjunction with the second sub-purpose, it will also be highly beneficial to the wellbeing of these repatriated individuals to provide them with transportation assistance grants, in order to reach their final ‘resettlement’ destination, or to facilitate their ‘re-entry’ into Syrian society, especially if they have achieved employment but cannot reach their new place of employment. In conjunction with other aid project guidelines, this policy will be provided alongside a range of other ‘grant’ programs, to include the resettlement and economic integration plans, but will be provided in a ‘direct’ manner, as alongside â€Å"food†¦health assistance,† and other key requirements (UNHCR, 2016a, p. 15). Transportation aid will also be provided if any repatriated individual at the rehabilitation center requires access to intensive healthcare of a sort (such as surgical or long-term inpatient medical care) which cannot be pro vided ‘on-site.’ Sub-Purpose 3:Indicators and Outcomes.   Such assistance will be provided in the form of ‘block’ grants to be disbursed on a monthly basis, which will be based upon need and ‘tacked’ to both the price of transportation and availability thereof. Following an estimation of key indicators of transportation cost, such payments will be provided to each qualified repatriated individual based on their day-to-day need. PURPOSE SUMMARY There is no question that this development and ‘rehabilitation’-focused project will require a considerable sum of money, both from American authorities, and from Syria itself. However, as this work has considered, Syria now occupies a ‘precarious’ place within the global sphere, as reflective of its government’s reprehensible actions during the Civil War. Though the Assad government was willing to mount terrible attacks against its civilian population, Syria’s ‘re-gaining’ of international reputation – if it is not to include a war crimes tribunal – may well result from their actions, moving forward, with respect to their own people. As Germany and other nations have shown themselves likely to forcibly repatriate their huge populations of Syrian refugees, and the U.S. (and other nations) are likely to remain in Syria in a military capacity for years to come, it follows that the rehabilitation of these repatriates wou ld follow a ‘tandem’ model effectuated by USAID and Syrian government collaboration. Such ‘collaboration’ will primarily be monetary in nature, and include the sharing of the considerable costs of resettlement, job placement, re-training, and grants for aid and transportation provided to this vast ‘returning’ population. However, in the event that this plan leads to the revitalization of Syria, these two nations will have taken a strong step toward reducing the long-term impact of Syria’s past crimes against its people. Even if there is no true ‘reckoning’ for the horrific crimes which the Assad regime perpetrated against its people, it may come ‘together,’ with USAID, to provide returning citizens a better life. ANNEX A: CHART OF RECENT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (Source: USAID 12.08.17) ANNEX: B REFFERENCE MAP OF SYRIA, TURKEY AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES (SOURCE: USAID MAP OF SYRIA AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES FACTSHEET #5 2017) (SOURCE: USAID MAP OF SYRIA AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES FACTSHEET #5 2017) ANNEX C: REFERENCE MAP OF SYRIAN REFUGEES (2014) (SOURCE: UNHCR 08.29.14 ANNEX D: WORLD DATA BANK SYRIAS GDP (SOURCE: DATA WORLD BANK 12.17.17) ANNEX E: EMPLOYMENT INDICATORS GRAPH (SOURCE: WORLD DATA BANK ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT INDICATORS) ANNEX F: LOGICAL FRAMEWORK CHART Works Cited Al-Doumy, S. (2017). Syria’s civil war is over and Assad has won, says the UN. The Week. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.theweek.co.uk/syrian-civil-war/88268/syria-s-civil-war-is-over-and-assad-has-won-says-the-un Beusse, M. (2009). Repatriation policies and practices. European Commission. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/index.cfm?action=media.download&uuid=299ECC14-A0B0-774C-D3A44B5898CECD11 Crisp, J. (1996). Evaluation of UNHCRs Repatriation Operation to Mozambique. UNHCR. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/research/evalreports/3ae6bcf90/evaluation-unhcrs-repatriation-operation-mozambique.html Davison, J. (2017). Exclusive: U.S. forces to stay in Syria for decades, say militia allies. Reuters. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-forces-to-stay-in-syria-for-decades-say-militia-allies-idUSKCN1AX1RI Global Migration Data Analysis Center (2016). Migration, asylum and refugees in Germany. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/country/docs/Germany/Germany-Data-Briefing-1Jan2016.pdf Traub, J. (2017). Germany Is Preparing to Send Refugees Back to Syria. Foreign Policy. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/12/06/germany-is-preparing-to-send-refugees-back-to-syria/ United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2017). UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22030&LangID=E (2016). Solutions for Refugees. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.unhcr.org/50a4c17f9.pdf (2016a). Yemen situation regional refugee and migrant response plan. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.unhcr.org/561cf4239.pdf UN News Center (2017). Syria: UN probe documents use of chemical weapons and other crimes against civilians. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57468#.WjFquUqnGUk United States Agency for International Development (USAID, 2017). Working in Crises and Conflict. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict (2017a) Guidelines on Compulsory Displacement and Resettlement in USAID Programming. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAE440.pdf (2010). Participant Training for Capacity Development. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from https://trainethelp.usaid.gov/Documents/rawmedia_repository/ads253january2010.pdf (2005). The rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in group residential facilities in foreign countries. Retrieved December 13, 2017 from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnadk471.pdf

Heroes of Celtic and Germanic Mythology Essay -- Celtic Germanic Mytho

Heroes of Celtic and Germanic Mythology Throughout the myths of the Celtic and Germanic peoples of northern Europe tales of epic heroes and their extraordinary deeds abound. These tales depict heroes performing a variety of incredible feats; many of which appear to be magical, superhuman, and, quite honestly, utterly impossible (e.g., wading across oceans, defeating armies virtually single-handedly, and other astounding exploits). Since the Celtic and Germanic tribes of antiquity inhabited neighboring lands and lived in close proximity to one another (as many of their modern descendants continue to do: i.e., in Great Britain), it is not surprising that they often established intimate relationships with each other via commerce, conquest, and the spread of religious beliefs. In light of this intimate association, it is not astonishing that the cultural and consequent poetic traditions of these ethnic groups were often remarkably analogous. Frequently, the archetypical champions of Celtic and Germanic mythology exhibited similar characteristics regardless of whether or not they were Anglo-Saxon, Rhenish, or Irish. Indeed, there are many parallels between the behaviors demonstrated by the heroes of Beowulf, the Nibelungenlied, and the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Some of the most striking of these parallels are: the noble and divine lineage of the hero; the hero’s increased endurance and his exceptional combat abilities (including the use of powerful weapons and berserker behavior); the hero’s ability to attain victory against seemingly insurmountable odds or indestructible creatures; and the ritual practices of the taking of heads and the giving of rings. The epic poem Beowulf may be considered unique in the context of mythol... ...kely exception being Cuchulainn). Interestingly, as a result of the parallels between these champions, one can gain important insights regarding the values of ancient Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, or Rhenish culture by examining any one of them. Bibliography Beowulf. Translated by Chickering, Jr., Howell D. New York: Random House, Inc. 1977. Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Norse Myths. New York: Random House, Inc. 1980. Davidson, H.R. Ellis. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. 1988. The Nibelungenlied. Translated by Hatto, A.T. London: The Penguin Group. 1969. Powell, T.G.E. The Celts. New York: Thames and Hudson, Inc. 1980. The Tain: From the Irish Epic Tain Bo Cuailnge. Translated by Kinsella, Thomas. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 1969.