EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON SMOKING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON SMOKING - Essay Example Usage of tobacco in youth oriented films increased in the 1990’s and it is very common these days mainly in films which are famous with teenagers. However, is it totally a wrong thing to do to attract teenagers. The impact of smoking on the teenagers, shown in movies is mostly negative. The Office of National Drug Control Policy carried out a study in 1999 for 200 famous movies of 1996 & 1999 and found that more than 85% had usage of smoking in them. Dartmouth Medical School also carried out a study which stated that the percentage fluctuated amid 87 % to 91 % in the 25 super hit movies since 1995.1 As revealed that observed public standards and the main predictors for the usage of drugs and alcohol, it is mainly distressing that 74 % of the leading artists in the super hit movies in the year 1997 to 1998 used to smoke. Advertisements shown by the cigarette companies are appealing for teenagers. Promotions and publicity of tobacco usage by commercials and posters increases the likelihood of teenagers start smoking. Marketing is the use of the media to create clear connections or images of the products, advertisement basically is the mixture of activities designed to increase trade. There is indeed no consideration of the effect of tobacco marketing on citizens tasking up tobacco.2 Advertisers use various methods to create appeal which is socially unethical in my eye. Advertisements shown by tobacco companies encourage smoking which is wrong. Conversely, studies related to the non smoking people and their introduction to cigarette marketing discloses that nonsmoking teenagers who were aware of or receptive to cigarette advertisements had the very potential to turn into smokers later on. It has been revealed by the recent researches that cigarette manufacturing organizations are still endorsing ads that indeed have a great impact on the teenagers in comparison to ads relate to anti-smoking. People who smoke are shown as independent individuals who can take their decisions themselves. Federal Trade Commission stated that cigarette manufacturing organizations spend approximately $1.06 billion for the advertisement and promotion of their products. A big portion of this expenditure is spent at retail store level mainly aiming the youth. Teenagers who are aware of the ads associated to smoking be likely to connect smoking with recognition, relaxation and fame and such connections are powerful in contrast with any of the suspected risks and dangers gathered from anti-smoking advertisements. Tobacco manufacturing organizations mainly aim their product in a designed way making a character who smokes enormously popular and composed through the company’s campaigns.3 Cigarette ads attract the teenagers more than people who are above 30 years of age. Teenagers mainly fall upon ads of cigarettes in commercials, magazines, posters, artists smoking in movies and also by means of advertising events in restaurants and bars which make them the easy targets of the cigarette manufacturing companies. Studies have pointed out that cigarette ads attract the young adults and teenagers more as compared to persons above 30 years and peer-review studies reveal that tobacco ads affect the teenagers the most. The impact of anti-smoking and quit smoking ads has still been very less on the

Analysis of Policy of Tourism Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis of Policy of Tourism - Case Study Example Infrastructure should not be provided at the cost of disturbing the cultural and environmental phenomena of the region. It is a challenge for the government to take steps to build the infrastructure, take adequate care of the tourist attractions, and create sufficient, round-the-clock tourist facilities and all the imaginable necessities without hurting the attractions or the environment much. All these should be done by keeping the environmental impact in check on not just the eco-balance of the region, but also the possible impact on old historical buildings, precariously balanced ancient monuments and other equally endangered manuscripts, books, records, paintings, murals, scriptures, caves etc. This needs a highly strategic management and professional approach from every angle. Ritchie and Crouch's model belongs to the global (macro) environment because global forces are shaping the world of tourism. "the totality of global forces affecting destination competitiveness/sustainability is captured within what we term as onionskin taxonomy'. By this, we mean that the global forces may be viewed as consisting of different layers surrounding the destination (represented by the globe in the center)" Richie and Crouch (2003, p. 80). According to them, the environmental forces internal and external, rule the tourism of the region. The core resources and attractors are the essences of destination appeal and the climate is one of the chief issues of tourism. Even though social events could be attractive to tourists, they cannot take the place of cultural and environmental attractions. Economic environment definitely is a great encouragement of tourism, because tourism holds the potential of reducing unemployment while increasing and distributing income to the grassroots of society. It is also a multiplier of an economy in various levels of income, output, employment and the balance of payments and thus, can create a cultural, social and economic awareness in it. It can also show immense possibilities by giving more importance to the local skills, dying arts, ancient customs, social peculiarities, anthropological educations and resurrecting the historical and cultural importance of the place that could have been long forgotten. At the same time, it can create a sense of pride and belonging in the local society, and hence, tourism as an industry is absolutely essential and worth investing. Â  

Tribal Women in Chipko Movement Essay Example for Free

Tribal Women in Chipko Movement Essay The women who participated in the Chipko meetings, processions and other programmes have become aware of their potentialities and are now demanding a share in the decision-making process at the community level. Apart from Reni, the events at Dongri Paintoli village indicated a new development in the movement. On 9th February, 1980 the women of Dongri Paintoli turned out in large numbers, held a Chipko demonstration and prevented any tree-felling. Nine days later, the Government ordered the forest-felling in that area stopped, and within a month a ban on any further cutting was effected. Subsequently, women leaders in the village were defamed and asked not to attend further meetings. The women in Reni took action only because there were no men in the village around to do so. Their â€Å"action† was to ask the tree-fellers to wait until their men returned so that some discussions could take place between the two sides (of men) as equals. Women took charge of the scene only in the absence of men, but once they did take charge, they succeeded. In Dongri Paintoli, by contrast, rather than merely taking a decision in the absence of men, the women stood up against decisions made by their own men. Although they faced opposition from men, they held to their conviction. This certainly marked a major step forward in terms of women’s role in the Chipko movement. In Gopeshwar, women have now formed a cooperative of their own, the Mahila Mangal, to ensure protection of the forest around the town. Its work is carried out regularly by watchwomen, who receive regular wages. Under this supervision, the extraction of forest produce for daily necessities is accomplished in a regular manner, so as not to harm the trees. Women or men violating these rules are fined, and these fines are deposited in a common fund. Those who do not obey the rules face the punishment of having their tools confiscated. It can only be said that the cases of Reni and Dongri Paintoli and the organization of women into the Mahila Mangal at Gopeshwar are indicative of the latent potentialities in the organization and mobilization of resources by women whose consciousness has been raised. Women’s participation in Chipko movement, however limited in numbers or in its impact on the general way of life, has implications for possible changes in gender relationships in the Garhwali tribal society. Since tribal women are the gatherers of fuel, fodder and water, it is they who feel the first impact of soil erosion. Women had repeatedly challenged administrators and politicians with their slogans: â€Å"Planning without fodder, fuel and water is one-eyed planning. † Their struggle against injustice brought them into direct confrontation with the men. Gaura Devi, the famous leader, had to tolerate continuous harassment. First the contractor tried to bribe her into letting his men enter the forest. When she refused this offer, the forest department personnel threatened to call the police and arrest her. The contractor in league with some villagers composed folk songs describing the arrest of Gaura Devi and her torture in jail. Chipko women activists are being accused of getting the villagers blacklisted. The men said that since the villages were blacklisted due to the behavior of women, the young men, most of whom were in the army, would not be given employment anywhere, and the villages would not be supplied with essential commodities like salt and kerosene. Also the villages would be deprived of a motor road, electricity, hospital. The women activists are being made the villains of the piece and rumor is being used as a weapon to isolate them. Everyday the men returned home and flinged accusations at the women. This constant harassment within the family caused the women immense mental agony. According to Gayatri Devi, the success of the Chipko movement demonstrates the intellectual superiority of the women over the men in the village. In 1980s, the Chipko movement subsided, with only a small section associated with Bahuguna continuing to protest against the construction of the Tehri dam. However, part of Chipko critique thinks that government policy in the Uttar Pradesh hills was insensitive to the region’s ecological and social specificity and was driven by the concern to maximize revenues which were appropriated by a bureaucracy based in the plains, formed the core of a movement for regional autonomy. 4 This movement for a separate state raged throughout the 1980s and 1990s and was marked by a series of public protest rallies and demonstrations, some of which were violently suppressed by the state (most notably the brutal assault on women protestors at Muzaffarnagar in 1994). The state of Uttaranchal was finally carved out of the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. The Chipko movement inspired Vandana Shiva for the development of a new theory called as ‘Ecofeminism’ which specifically explains the link between the ‘women and ecology’ which were in great demand in the market. To be clearer, Vandana Shiva’s Ecofeminist Movement brought imperialism inscribed in the colonial practices, into the centre of the Environmentalist debate. Vandana Shiva’s narratives of Chipko centre on women. She draws the village women of Garhwal into her narratives by binding them to Himalayan forests and nature, not because they are their birthright but through the ‘feminine principle’ which exists in both Women and Nature. She has presented the village women of Garhwal as exploited by colonialism and threatened by modernization and economic development. Chipko is, for Shiva, a women’s ecology movement, a resurgence of women’s power. Chipko women were in against of exploiting forest for timber because they valued forests for providing their simple subsistence; they did not care for economic gain. Forests, for them, provide soil, water and pure air. In 1977, she states, the two paradigms of forestry, one life-destroying (commerce-oriented and masculine) and the other life-enhancing (subsistence-oriented and embodying the feminine principle), clashed, following which Chipko became â€Å"explicitly an ecological and feminist movement†. Shiva asserts that Chipko women are against development, modernization, and economic rationality. According to her, they expect nothing from so called ‘development’ or from the money economy. They only wanted to preserve their autonomous control over their subsistence base, their common property resources: the land, water, forests, and hills. Chipko movement is thus very much a feminist movement. It not only has brought forth in a dramatic manner greatly increased understanding of the divergent interests of local communities and state bureaucracies in the management of local resources; it is now finding that the interests of men and women within the same community can differ greatly. As long as the Chipko movement remains sensitive to this learning process, it is bound to grow in strength. Ramchandra Guha is widely regarded as one of India’s leading environmental historians. In his well known book5 he argues that while Chipko may have involved women, adopted Gandhian non-violent strategies, and raised popular awareness towards environmental problems in the Himalayas, it is neither an environmental, nor Gandhian, nor feminist movement. He holds that, in Uttarakhand the participation of women in popular movements dates from the anti alcohol agitations led by Sarvodaya workers in the 1960s. However, despite the important role played by women, it would be simplistic to characterize Chipko as a feminist movement. In several instances, especially the early mobilizations at Mandal and at Phata, it was men who took the initiative in protecting forests. Women came to the fore in Reni, when in the contrived absence of men folk they unexpectedly came forward to thwart forest felling. In other agitations, such as Badyargarh men, women, children have all participated equally. Dongri-Paintoli is the only instance of an overt conflict between men and women over the management and control of forest resources. As such, even at level of participation Chipko can hardly be said to constitute a women’s movement. Undoubtedly, the hill women have traditionally borne an extraordinarily high share of family labour –and their participation in Chipko may be read as an outcome of the increasing difficulty with which these tasks have been accomplished in the deteriorating environment. Interestingly, Chandi Prasad Bhatt does believe that women are capable of playing a more dynamic role than the men who, in the face of growing commercialization, are apt to lose sight of the long-term interests of the village economy. On the other hand, it has been suggested that which they are the beasts of burden as viewed through the prism of an outside observer, hill women are in fact aware that they are the repository of local tradition. In the orbit of the household women often take decisions which are rarely challenged by the men. In the act of embracing the trees, therefore, they are acting not merely as women but as bearers of continuity with the past in a community threatened with fragmentation. Chipko movement as a constructive resistance to ecological struggle is played out in Nina Sibal’s Yatra: The Journey. The protagonist, Krishna Kaur, embarks on a pilgrimage for environmental justice that takes her through the area where the Chipko movement is active; there she received the secret of angwaltha from the Chipko women, their spirit of love reaching her as she walked through the Deva Bhumi of Uttarakhand and her padyatra. The novel begins with Krishna’s return to India from an activist-business trip to London: her short visit had been useful in terms of the contact she had made in the Forestry Commission and an international environmental foundation has committed funds for an important river project in the Garhwal hills. But environmental concerns are rarely mentioned by the author. The novel foregrounds gender issues in the Chipko movement. It says –â€Å"After all, at its heart, the Chipko Movement is very feminist. It consists essentially of a string of spontaneous confrontations triggered and managed by women of the region, in which none of the so-called leaders were present. In some cases they were struggling against their own men who saw their immediate economic interests tied up with the decisions of the district administration†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..

The History Of Italian Cuisine History Essay

The History Of Italian Cuisine History Essay The ingredients and dishes vary from region to region. There are significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional. Cheese and wine are also form a major part of the cuisine, serving different purpose both regionally and nationally. Coffee, and more specifically espresso, has become important to the cultural cuisine of Italy. The famous italian dessert Tiramisu is a coffee flavoured dessert. Italian cuisine has evolved extensively over the centuries. This is a very astonoshing fact that the country called Italy today was not officially formed until the 19th century, thus the Italian cuisine can claim its roots going back to 4th century BC. Italian cuisine is a result of various influences throughout the centuries, which include- neighbor regions, conquerors, high-profile chefs, and political upheavals led to the formation of, a concrete cuisine today known as one of the premiere cuisines in the world called the Italian cuisine. The Romans of the early ages did not appreciate high quality ingredients. Thus they employed the best bakers from Greek to produce their breads, imported pecorini from Sicily as the Sicilians were considered as the best cheese makers. They were also known as being excellent rearer of goats for butchering and gardening of artichokes and leeks. In the medieval ages the Muslims invaded Sicily during the 9th century, what is known today as Northern Europe was attacked by Viking raiders. Sicily had already attained a lot of the culinary traditions from the culinary traditions of Rome and Athens, the highly civilized culture combined with the Sicilian cuisine to bring the first real Italian cuisine. The Arabs introduced spinach,almonds and rice. The Romans were considered to be the masters of preservation techniques which were a necessity as refrigeration had not been invented. The two types of preservation were either chemical or physical. Meats and fish would be smoked, dried or kept on ice.Brine and salt were used to preserve items like pickles,herring and to cure pork meat. Root vegetables were also preserved in brine after they had been parboiled. Other items which were used to preserve foods included oil and vinegar for immersing animal proteins in their own congealed, rendered fat. Liquor, honey and sugar were used for the preservation of fruits. The northern regions of Italy started to show a mix of German and Roman culture while the southern portion reflected the influences of Arab culture as the Arabs controlled much of the Mediterranean trade routes, as such much of the Mediterranean cuisine has been as a result of Arab trade. During the 16th century the macaroni was cooked in a capon stock which was flavoured with saffron, showing the Arab influence on the Italian cuisine. The early modern era of Italian Cuisine was affected by the courts of Florence, Rome, Venice and Ferrara which were integral factors which led to the creation of the fine cooking in Italy. Italian cuisine took a great diversification in the modern age, what was known as Italy today was governed by France, Spain and Austria during the 18th century. In the beginning of the 18th century that the culinary books of Italy began to show the real regioanalism of Italian cuisine in order for Italian chefs to better show the pride of their regions instead of the high cuisine of France, Spain and Austria . As the century progressed the cuisine increased in size, popularity and frequency, During 18th century peasants lived on a diet which consisted of heavy foods. Taken more as a step toward the high cuisine of the Italy which was more refined and delicate, this diet gave the peasants their own identity.Many peasants had to survive by eating rotten foods and moldy breads to survive. REGIONAL CUISINES OF ITALY. Each region of Italy has their own proud specialties, not primarily at regional level only, but even at provincial level. These regional differences come from the influence of a bordering country (such as France or Austria), close proximity to the sea or mountains. Italian cuisine is not only highly regional, but is also distinguished by being very seasonal with high priority placed on the use of fresh, season. IMPORTANT FOOD INGREDIENTS Rice is a popular ingredient in often used in soups as well as risotto. Cheese is a popular course with rabiola or gorgonzala being particularly important (the vast plains of central and southern Lombardy allowing for intensive cattle-raising). Butter is a popular ingredient over oil, and cream in generous amounts COURSES IN ITALIAN CUISINE Aperitivo APPERTIF usually enjoyed as an appetizer before a large meal. Popular drinks include Campari, Cinzano and Vermouth are served to stimulate the appetite. Antipasto Literally means before (the) meal, hot or cold appetizers are served before the pasta dish. In italy patsa is considered to be the main dish an antipasto as the name suggest means before the pasta dish. Primo It is the first course, which usually consists of a lot of hot dish like pasta, risotto,gnocchi, polenta and soup. Secondo The second course, consist of the main dish, which usually comprises of fish or meat. Traditionally veal, pork and chicken are the most commonly used meat, at least in the North, though beef has become more popular now. Games are very popular, particularly in Tuscany. Contorno It is a side dish, whixh basically assist the main dish, it may consist of a salad or cooked vegetables. A traditional menu features salad along with the main course. Mashed potatoes, grilled eggplant and tomatoes are also served. Formaggio e frutta These course comprise of cheese and fruits. Dolce It refers to dessert, where delicacies such as cakes and cookies are served. Caffà ¨ It is the second last course where a cup of a hot black coffee or espresso coffee is served. Digestivo Its the last course where digestives are served for smooth digestion of food, the italians serve liquors/liqueurs such as grappa, amarro and limenello. These course if sometimes referred to as ammazzcaffe literally meaning(coffee killer) IMPORTANT ITALAIN FOOD HABITS. The italians are said to be the masters of delicacies and producing dishes with simplicity and great nutritional value and natural taste of the ingredient is maintain at all the times. They are said the founders of cheese, and all their delicacies uses cheese somehow or the other. Italians are said to be very health conscious and believe in natural herbal food, thus we found a great dominance of medicinal herbs such as rosemary, thyme, celery etc used prominently in almost all their dish. Another characteristic feature of these cuisine is the use of olive oil which is very safe for the health and olive is found in abundance over here thus we find extensive use of olive oil in Italian cuisne. Italian cuisine impact on the world. Italian cuisine is the birthplace of various delicacies which are now famous and in great demand all over the world. The famous PIZZA which people all over the ion which comes world enjoy originated first in Italy where people just love to play with dough and master various types of bread preparation. Foccacia the famous Italian bread along with pita bread is in great demand by people all over Another gift to the world cookery by Italy is what we all know as PASTA today, Almost every house in Italy produces its own pasta and has secret recipes for it, each style and ingredients used differ from other, the dishes made from durham wheat is famous and has affected the diet of people all over the world. Rissotto is another preparation which comes to our mind when we talk of Italian cuisine, the famous arborio rice which is high in starch content is a staple diet of Italians and enjoyed by people all over the world. The culinary history of Italy is incomplete until we talk about cheese, Italians are produced over here. Thus Italian cuisine which has originated over the centuries has now constituted to form an integral part of world cuisine with the fact that its food habits and ingredients are accepted by people all over the world be it cheese, wine, pasta or pizza. SPANISH CUISINE. The country of Spain is surrounded by sea contributes nicely to the world and consists of a variety of dishes which differ according to, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the seas and ocean that surround the country, the extensive history of Spain with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine with literally thousands of recipes and flavors. There are two major diets in the Spanish peninsula. One was found in the northwest part of the peninsula, where more animal fats that correspond to the villages in the north are used extensively. The other could be considered the successor of the Mediterranean diet and was found in the Iberian part of the peninsula. Foods found in historical monuments and sites include diverse types of legumes,onions and garlic.The olive which was introduced by the Spanish has become an integral part of Spanish cuisine. The other major components of a Spanish meal are tomatoes, potatoes and peppers all of which were introduced by the Americans after the Spanish colonialization. In the early era of Spanish cuisine , cabbages were well known and appreciated, and considered a panacea for various aliments. Other popular vegetables of that time were thistle such as artichokes and onions. In Spain the hams of Pomeipolis had great taste and a quality and a class that suits the rich aristocrats. The export of pork products served the basis of a strong local economy. In certain areas of spain lentils were consumed, because of the fact that they formed a staple food for the army and because they were easy to preserve and transport. The famous Fava Beans were known from antiquity and were considered sacred by the Spanish. Mushrooms were common and popular in the northern part of the country. Spain being a mediterranean country is very rich in citrus fruits and the Spanish people have mastered the science of grafting. Viticulture which already was practiced by the Romans was modifies and used in a better way by the Spanish, but it were the Greeks who extended the Vine across theMediterranean countries. During the second era the wealthy people used to dine while lying on a couch (a custom acquired from the Greeks) and using their hands, because fork were not used for eating. Tableclothes were introduced in the 1st century. Knives were known, but not particularly needed at table because the dishes were cut up by slaves into bit slice pieces. The Spanish mode of flavoring and cooking in past is quite distinct from what is found in modern times. IMPORTANT AND FAMOUS SPANISH DELICAICIES Arroz ala Cubana Arroz con Leche(rice pudding) Calameres(Fried squid) Cocido(a chickpea and meat stew of sorts) Chorizo(spicy sausage) Chuletillas(grilled chops of milk fed lamb) Gazpacillaho(cold bread and tomato soup) Fabada Asturiana(bean stew) Jamon Serrano(cured ham) Paella(saffron rice) Everyone doesnt agrees with the fact that there is one common definition for Spanish cuisine. Some typically assume that Spanish dishes (paella, serrano ham, etc) are consumed outside of Spain, while the regions which comprising of the Basque Country share dishes which are non-existent. It is quiet obvious that Spanish cuisine is the food eaten in Spain, but there are equally well-defined Basque and Catalan cuisines which offer significant differences with the cuisine of Spain. SPAIN CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD Spanish food is in great demand by people all over the world, their food habits with use of olive oil, citrus fruits has fascinated people all over the world, various varieties of arroz produced over here has affected the diet of people all over the world. The famous Gazpacho soup a cold soup is famous all over the world, spain is considered as the best producers of sausages, hams and salamis, which have affected cuisines all over the world. The famous hot dog which people all over enjoy is a result of the sausages produced in spain, moreover spain gift to the world are wines being a Mediterranean county citrus fruits grow extensively and various varieties of grapes are found producing the best wines, thus Spanish cuisine uses loads of wine and citrus fruits and vegetables.

Ethics of the USA PATRIOT Act Essay -- Foreign Intelligence Essays

Ethics of the USA PATRIOT Act Another week, another series of patches to download from Microsoft. It seems like every week, Microsoft is under siege from one virus or another. The complexity in the billions of lines of code embedded in its products make it impossible to be error-free. If it is this easy for hot-headed M$ haters to breach the world’s largest software maker, one has to ask: how hard would it be to expose vulnerabilities in the most sophisticated and technologically dependent country in the world? That is exactly what the US government is mulling about. The Information Age has brought unparallel speed of communication plus an immeasurable breadth of information to our fingertips. On the same token, it is also seeing the birth of newer and cleverer ways to create weapons that are too small to detect, too easy to produce, and too widespread to catch them all. For years, the government tried expanding its powers, first in the Reagan Administration, then the Bush (I) Administration, only to be rejected in the Legislature time after time. However, after the 1996 Oklahoma Bombing, the executive branch received some powers. But not until 9/11 did the government win unprecedented expansion of powers from the USA PATRIOT Act (Incidentally, Congress was going to pass a law to repeal those won in 1996 prior to 9/11). [1] The USA PATRIOT Act stands for â€Å"Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act† (USAPA). It entrusts government agents to a whole new arsenal of weapons to counter terrorism. Besides fully upgrading many watered down surveillance laws, it also promotes the use of the pen register, trap and trace devices, carnivore, sneak and pea... ...p because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, but by that time, no one was left to speak up." 2 [1] http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/MiddleEast/TerrorInUSA/USAPA.asp [2] http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/ [3] http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=444 [4] http://www.aclu.org/Files/OpenFile.cfm?id=14799 [5] http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism/PATRIOT/safe_act_analysis.php [6] http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/q_support.htm [7] http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/s_articles.htm [8] http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/ [9] http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/p_congress.htm [10] http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/33106.html

Ethical Issues in film Erin Brockovich Essay example -- Ethics Movie M

Ethical Issues in film Erin Brockovich There are many ethical issues in the movie Erin Brockovich. This movie is about a mother of three who uncovers a water poisoning case by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in southern California. Once it was proved that the company had knowingly dumped hexavalent chromium into the ground water, the utility company was found liable for a $330 million dollar verdict. Erin has the responsibility to feed and educate her three children and she has a general distrust of people. She begins by forcing her lawyer Ed Masry to give her a secretarial job after he failed to get her a settlement from an auto accident. She makes him feel guilty for the way that she is currently living and blames it on him. She figures this would square things away. However, she doesn't exactly fit in at the firm. Other female co-workers do not approve of her attire and the cleavage that she shows. Women in the office don't include Erin in going out to lunch and even helping her out when she asks for assistance. Once when she asked for assistance, the women refused to help her stating that if she doesn't know the job yet, that is her problem. The women treat her poorly, but I think that they are surprised at the person she really is and what a dedicated hard worker she is. Erin fights for respect and acceptance from a world, which tends to judge from appearance only. Ed accuses her of extortion when she attempts to get raises out of him every time he approves her doing another job with the PG&E case. She asks for increase in salary and at one-point event benefits. Ed ends up giving it to her maybe because he knows that she is on to something and it could end up being really big. However, sh... ...y were living in. They instead chose to protect their corporation by creating a plan to purchase these homes and cover up any evidence that would be around. The company lawyers choose to sacrifice the lives of the neighbors to protect the company assets even though PG&E is a 28 billion-dollar company. It was believed that it would be cheaper for PG&E to dispose of the chemicals illegally since the company officials were more concerned with the profits than about people's lives. The hiding of this critical information had tragic consequences for the people involved. PG&E must have realized that they were guilty since they settled the case for $330 million in private arbitration. All in all, it probably ended up costing PG&E more money than it would have if they had properly lined the water pools and taken care of things the correct way in the beginning.

Torture and Fear in the Handmaids Tale

The action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain. The handmaids tale is a novel by Margaret Atwood, It describes the life of a woman who is documenting her life as it goes on, As the book progresses we are able to see the amount of torture (physical and mental) that the woman of Gilead receive. Offred and other women in Gilead are well aware of Gilead’s rules and Offred acknowledges the punishments and the torture she will endure if she does not obey.Throughout the novel we can begin to see Offred disobey the rules and begin fighting the totalitarian regime. Gilead’s rules are enforced by ‘god’ which makes adds guilt to whoever breaks them as you are technically disobeying god. People are very likely to do things when religion is involved and Gilead uses that to its advantage especially when they add the fear and punishment of death. Ser ena joy, the wife of the commander was a strong advocate for submissive female roles before the war and before the formation of Gilead.The creation of Gilead has lead Serena Joy to become a housewife. Before the Formation of Gilead, Serena joy used to be a preacher, She emphasized how woman should stay home and how they belong at home. After the totalitarian regime began, Serena Joy quickly realized how she preaches where misdirected, As Offred quotes â€Å"She doesn’t make speeches anymore; she has become speechless (pg 56) this is a clear demonstration of how Gilead took her words and twisted them to their advantage and to have power over her and other woman, and with power comes fear.Serena joy was once a very powerful woman but due to the fact that she cannot reproduce she has very little purpose in society, which begins to create jealousy over Offred who is fertile. Serena feels very resentful over Offred as she has the chance to reproduce and that she is having a sexua l relationship with her husband. Serena is forbidden to show any resentful behaviour and must show only gratitude and acceptance towards Offred otherwise her actions would be punishable.The effect of negativity towards someone else is highly forbidden as it creates conflict and any social interaction is illegal and will result in severe consequences. The amount of fear the Gilead produces over its society is the key factor to keeping control over them. In Gilead, Women are stripped of their pride. They are taken away and isolated from their families and loved ones. Gilead uses this method as a strong method of torture as it leaves women with scared thoughts and broken hearts; inevitably this makes women very weak and desperate.Offred explains how her husband Luke and her child where taken away from her when they tried escaping the new society. We learn how effective this method of torture is by how Offred is haunted by the thoughts of her daughter and Gilead strictly forbids her to feel any form of emotion; this puts Offred in constant risk especially due to the fact that she suffers throughout the whole novel. In Gilead you are forbidden to be seen in public unsupervised, thus you are forced to be paired with a stranger. You are refused to see your partners face and create unnecessary discussion.Gilead enforces a physiological fear that a group called the ‘Eye’. The name the ‘Eye’ comes from the all foreseeing eye which means you are being watching you all the time. This builds a fear that no matter what you do you are going to be judged and evaluate it and if you are seen crossing limits you will be punished. This causes Women (and men) to be narrowed down and remain quiet. The Eye is a very effective mechanism of fear as it strips women from their individuality and eventually causes them to stop thinking. The fear it generates is very immense and it deals a torture.If one is being unlawful and disobedient, you are required by law t o report them. Trust is exceptionally hard to build in the new society. Gilead takes this to its advantage as if trust cannot be sustained, that means communication will be cut off; without communication people will eventually fall into depression and feel utterly lonely. Physiological torture is very effective in a society such as Gilead as it allows 100% control over what the people do. Gilead also portrays torture by placing disobedient women on the jail wall, hung by their necks. They are placed in public so that everyone is able to see them.The government officials keep control by forcing women attend ‘salvaging’s’ in which they are forced to view the execution of woman who’s crimes are not announced. Religion plays a major role in fear. It is used to ensure people fear breaking rules as they would be breaking something that god set them out to do. They are in fear that if they do something in which can result in a consequence, or the fact that they a re doing something illegal, they are breaking Gods trust; The Gilead uses that to their advantage as they have greater control if the society is influenced by religion.Gilead follows an obligatory rule in which woman are forced to have a male counterpart, Gilead is a male controlled society but no matter how much woman are disregarded, they are essential for the successors of the society. Being fertile in Gilead is the only form of power a woman receives, infertile woman are often quickly disregarded. Gilead creates an atmosphere in which if you are capable of producing life, you are granted the chance to live. Women who are infertile are usually disposed of in outskirts of the city cleaning radioactive material or hung.