Thea Astley’s It’s raining in mango

A literary text often acts as a reflection of the society of the time in which it was written. The particular value systems or ideologies of the characters and character groups represented in the text inform the reader of those characters' cultural identities. In Thea Astley's it's raining in mango, the author offers many representations of cultural identity. Through the story of the Laffey's, Astley provides an alternative to the mainstream society's representation of cultural identity and challenges traditional beliefs regarding Australia. It's raining in mango is set in Australia, and follows the story of the Laffey family from 1860 to 1980. The characters endure some of the major events in Australia's history, such as the gold rush of the 1860s, the depression, both World Wars, and the horrific treatment of the Aboriginal population. From these events came the ‘Australian identity'; what mainstream society believed to be the traits and characteristics unique to the ‘typical' Australian. From the First World War sprung the legend of the heroic ANZAC, and Australians were regarded as the resilient ‘battler' with a strong sense of humour and laid-back attitude. Camaraderie and mateship were highly valued. The patriarchal ideologies of the society meant that women were expected to be submissive, and function solely in the domestic sphere, while men were the providers and â€Å"bread-winners†. Aboriginals and other minority groups were marginalised or silenced. The value systems and ideologies that inform the representation of mainstream Australian society's cultural identity are represented in Astley's text by characters such as the diggers, who believe that the Aboriginal people are â€Å"not human† and the pub owner â€Å"who hated blacks, but loved their pay checks†. Other characters who represent the patriarchal values of the society are the priests with whom Jessica Olive and Connie conflict with. However, the strongest representation of the values and ideologies of this society are reflected through the police, the figures of authority who find it â€Å"in order to blame a blackskin. The easy way out†. All these characters, along with the men looking for work during the Depression, reflect the values and ideologies of mainstream society, which inform representations of the cultural identity of Australians. However, through the Laffey family and other character groups, Astley offers an alternative representation of cultural identity. The women in Astley's text offer an alternative to the cultural identity of women in mainstream society. Unlike the women represented in the ideologies of this patriarchal society, the female characters in mango display strength and independence. Jessica Olive begins as the passive, submissive wife and mother idealised by mainstream society, however moves to challenge this notion after Cornelius leaves and she is left to become the â€Å"manageress extraordinaire†. She shows strength, passion and determination when facing hardships, or challenges to her values from characters such as the boarder at her hotel, and Father Madigan. Connie also proves her independence and strength of character throughout the text. As a child in a convent, Connie has difficulty suppressing her sexuality â€Å"and for one silly week she flattened her gently erupting breasts with a broad ribbon band†, and then as an adult she goes on to become a strong, self-reliant single mother. Connie, like Jessica Olive, displays passion and determination when she conflicts with another priest, Father Rassini. Mag is another character whose values and beliefs give an alternative to the mainstream notion of cultural identity. When she hides Nelly and her baby from the authorities, Mag displays courage and defiance, and the fact that she speaks for George, her husband, reflects power and strength of character. The prostitutes in the text also show very strong independence and courage, and their value systems and ideologies inform a representation of cultural identity that challenges the identity ascribed to prostitutes by mainstream society. The value systems and beliefs of the female characters in this text create a very different representation of women's cultural identity in Australia than that ascribed to women by the mainstream patriarchal society of the novel. They create a new cultural identity for women, that of the strong, independent woman. These women have a very strong connection to the land, and place family at the centre of their value system, as do most of the main characters in the text. The centralisation of family in the story of the Laffey's is very important in the construction of an alternative cultural identity. Unlike the characters that represent mainstream society, whose families are not mentioned, the Laffey's have a strong, profound bond. They represent values and attitudes similar to those found in Aboriginal culture, those of respect for, and reliance on, the family. Connie recognises that â€Å"only the family as she knows it has cohesion, provides a core†. She understands the unbreakable bond between her family throughout the centuries, and the fact that they are inextricably linked to each other by the knowledge that they are Laffey's. The bond between Connie and Will reminds the reader of the importance of family in a time when many families were being ripped apart by the tragedy of the Second World War. For the main characters, the family home in Mango is their place of return, a place to come back to for sanctuary and security. This emphasis on strong family values informs the reader of a cultural identity that is very different to the one offered by mainstream society, in the text. Along with a strong family connection, the main characters also have a strong connection to the land. While the settlers in the text saw the land as something to be battled with, the Laffey's learnt to harmonise with the land, and see it as something to be protected. Reever represents the values of the Laffey family through his acting out as a conservationist, and Clytie and Harry's struggle to save their farm during the Depression displays their concern for the land. It is this connection to the family and the land, similar to Aboriginal values, that sets the Laffey family's representation of cultural identity apart from that of mainstream society. The value system and ideologies of the Aboriginal characters, and other characters, inform the reader of the cultural identity of the Aboriginal people. The mainstream society of the text views Aborigines as savage, â€Å"no-hoper(s), river-tribe layabout(s)†. This view is clearly expressed throughout the text; by the diggers who callously slaughter the â€Å"blackskins†, the pub owner, the police, and especially by the gang in the bar who beat Billy and his family. The Aboriginal population is marginalised by mainstream society. However, Astley, by privileging the point of view of some of the Aboriginal characters, and creating main characters who sympathise with, and share some beliefs and values with the Aboriginal people, has created a cultural identity that is different from that of mainstream's society's beliefs. Aboriginal culture places great emphasis on the unity of the family, and this value is evident in Astley's text. Nelly is willing to run, and risk being hunted down, to keep her child, and Billy's first concern is his father when they are attacked in a bar. The very strong Aboriginal connection to the land is also evident in it's raining in mango. The way the land is described by the Aboriginal characters is beautiful and serene, with it's â€Å"hill(s), grey scrub against blue, the long grasses dry before the big rains†, and shows an understanding of the nature of the earth. Bidiggi automatically reaches for the earth to comfort him when his tribe is slaughtered, hiding in the water grass and falling asleep under a paperbark. These Aboriginal notions of family, and their connection to the land, provide a representation of cultural identity. The attitudes of other characters also affect the representation of Aboriginal cultural identity in this text. The Laffey family, who are centralised in the text, sympathise with the plight of the Aboriginal people. Cornelius is fired because he writes an article exposing the shocking treatment of Aboriginal people, the child George believes that Aborigines are just the same as white people, Mag and George protect Nelly and her baby, and Will tries to help Billy in the bar brawl. Because these characters are all centralised, and the reader is encouraged to agree with their values and attitudes, the reader is positioned to see the Aboriginal people as humanised, which provides an alternative representation of cultural identity to that offered by mainstream society. Other character groups are also represented in it's raining in mango, and their value systems and ideologies inform the reader of their cultural identity. These groups are the soldiers, the hippies, and the cult members. The myth of the resilient, laid-back Australian soldier is destroyed in Astley's text, and replaced instead with the image of a shattered, broken man, plagued by what he has seen. Will's experience of the war, and how he deals with it, are not the same as the romanticised identity created by main stream society. Will is instead constantly disturbed by the horrific images of his experiences at the front, and though awarded for bravery, he throws the medal in the rubbish because he does not believe that he deserved it. Thus, through Will's reaction to the war, Astley again offers an alternative to the cultural identity created by mainstream society. The hippies are represented as lazy, careless, and free. They believe in love, peace, and freedom, and regularly smoke marijuana. The hippies don't have real names, and they are constructed as drifters, travelling and moving whenever the mood seizes them. The values and ideologies of the hippies create their cultural identity, however their attitudes and actions are hypocritical, and position the reader to question the validity of the hippies' cultural identity. The members of the cult are constructed as surreal, surrounded by a blue haze. The reader sees them through the point of view of Connie, and the odd characters are almost satirised. Astley uses the cult to make another attack on institutionalised religion, suggesting that they are no better than the Father Madigans or Father Rassinis of the world, as they place their absolute faith in the intangible. Their inability to act in an emergency, such as when Connie saves the drowned man, highlights the ineffectiveness of their beliefs. The cult members' representation of cultural identity is informed through their value systems and ideologies, and is used by Astley to comment on the ineffectiveness of having faith solely in the divine, and no faith in self. In Thea Astley's it's raining in mango, the author has revealed several representations of cultural identity. She has revealed the cultural identities created by the mainstream society of the text, and then offered alternatives to these assumptions through the story of the Laffey family and other surrounding characters. The value systems and ideologies of these characters are what create the cultural identities for these groups.

Escalation of Vietnam essays

Escalation of Vietnam essays It is my observation that at this point in your administration you are enjoying considerable latitude with the American public. Your overwhelming victory in the recent election has illustrated your popularity. The platform on which you ran promised the American public that our boys would not be sent to die in Vietnam. If you are going to act on your word, and end the war in Vietnam, the time is now. It is also my observation that your top aides having been overwhelming you with advice in the opposite direction. Your beloved Robert McNamara, whose opinion you value deeply, has made this war his personal project. He is guaranteeing that the war can be won within two and a half years. He has stated that there is no risk of a catastrophe. He and General Westmoreland feel confident that the war can be won. However, they have continually been asking for more and more troops since mid-1964. You have already agreed to send more marines and authorize offensive operations. If there is no limit set on the number of troops, it becomes easier and easier to keep sending them. What is our clear military objective? Do our military leaders have a strategic plan for victory? Again in June, General Westmoreland has asked for more troops. After McNamara was sent in July to assess the situation in Saigon, he returned with the request to raise the American presence from 75,000 to 175,000 with a possible 100,000 more to follow. Does this sound like the promises you have made to the American public? The goals of your administration, the Great Society, will have to be halted and perhaps never completed should you lose the support of the public and Congress. In your recent meeting on July 21st with your top aides, it is evident that you feel you are continuing down the right path towards escalation. George Bundy has become militant in his stance, and is urging you to escalate and not to be deterred by the risk of a ground war with Chin...

Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers

Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers Introduction Global warming is one of the most important issues affecting the world today. Most of the worlds climatologists agree that the planet is warming and will continue to do so as more greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) declares that while global warming has been happening naturally for centuries, most of the global warming experienced since the 1950s can be attributed to the greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by human activities (Webb, Whetton, Barlow, 2008). Over the last three decades, scientists, policy makers, and governments have acknowledged that this phenomenon has many adverse effects on the Earth. These effects include a rise in sea levels, heat waves, flooding, droughts, proliferation of diseases, and the destruction of biodiver sity. Global warming has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector since plants are affected by environmental conditions. One of the plants that have been significantly affected by this phenomenon is wine grapes, which are the raw material for wine production. Researchers reveal that grapes are some of the most climate sensitive fruits in the agricultural industry (Smart, 2006). Wine makers have come to the realization that they must acknowledge the impacts that climate change has on their industry and proceed to react appropriately to these changes. This paper will consider the ways in which the wine industry can adjust to the global warming phenomenon and continue producing high quality wines for the market. The paper will also discuss ways in which wine makers can reduce their own contributions to global warming. Wine Grapes and the Climate All agricultural products thrive under certain ideal climatic conditions that might be unique to the particular product. Jones (201 2) reiterates that climate is a pervasive factor in the success of all agricultural systems and it influences aspects such as the suitability of certain crops to certain regions (p.284). Wine grapes are unique from most agricultural products in that they require very precise climate conditions to produce optimally.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To begin with, vineyards are able to thrive in very limited geographical regions with most vineyards being found within the narrow latitude range of 300 to 500 on both sides of the equator. Outside of this range, vineyards do not flourish and it is uneconomical to engage in commercial cultivation of wine grapes. In addition to this, vineyards are susceptible to weather changes. Unlike many plants, which are equipped to adapt to a wide range of weather conditions, grapes have a low threshold for extreme weather. Extremes su ch as frost, freeze, or heat wave have a negative impact on the plants. Smart (2006) explains that the wine sector will be affected by changing weather conditions more than other crops since there is only a small average temperature difference between the present day wine regions making even slight shifts in global temperatures important for the sector. The weather changes caused by global warming therefore have an impact on the life cycle of grape development. Possible Issues Arising due to Global Warming Wine makers face a number of issues because of global warming. The number of wine varieties available today is significantly reduced because of global warming. The varieties of grapes used for winemaking influence the quality and taste of wine produced. Various wine makers therefore specialize in certain varieties to produce high quality wine. Changes in average temperatures will restrict the varieties of grapes that can be produced in vineyards in specific geographical regions. S pecifically, global warming may lead to the destruction of certain premium wines found in specific geographical locations. Lasink (2004) notes that there are concerns that it the global temperatures continue to rise, the wine industry will be adversely affected. Wine makers will be forced to plant grape varieties that can withstand the higher temperatures or otherwise move their vineyards to higher latitudes where the temperatures are cooler. The various flavours of wine are formed within the final weeks before the grapes are harvested. In these crucial weeks, the flavouring compounds in the grapes emerge and the sugars develop fully.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lasink (2004) reveals that this process is highly weather-dependent; if the weather is too hot, the wine will not be well flavoured and if the weather is not hot enough, the grape w ill not ripen completely. As global warming occurs, the ideal weather conditions for ripening will not be present. This will result in reduced production as most grapes will not ripen sufficiently. Many wine makers specialize in certain brand of wines, which have a unique taste that is recognizable to the consumers. The close relationship between quality wine production and climate is based on the concept of terroir. Webb et al. (2008) explain that the concept of terroir involves matching premium winegrape varieties to particular combinations of climate, landscape, and soils to produce unique wines of particular styles. The terroirs will be affected if there is a change in the local climate of a particular wine growing region. Subsequently, this alteration in terroirs will affect the grape quality. The climatic changes are likely to change the vegetative cycle of the grapevine. This could affect the organoleptic properties of grapes leading to the production of wines with new tastes (Sampedro Sanchez, 2010). Such a phenomenon would have a negative impact on vintage wines that have a distinctive taste. Studies indicate that traditional wine producing areas such as Bordeaus in France and Tuscany in Italy will experience sharp declines in grape production in thirty years due to global warming (Goldenberg, 2013). Wine makers highlight that grape varieties such as gewurztraminer, noir, and pinot prefer cool temperatures while blanc, merlot, sauvignon and chardonnay flourish in intermediate to warm temperatures (Lasink, 2004). A few varieties including cabernet, zinfandel and sauvignon like hot temperatures. For each grape variety, the climatic conditions have to be within a narrow range in order for superb crops to be harvested. The rising temperatures are already making it hard for some wine regions to produce their vintage wines using the traditional grapes. There is an intrinsic link between wine quality and the specific climatic conditions of a geographical re gion (Webb, et al., 2008). While defining wine quality is an inherently subjective concept, it can be quantified using vintage ratings used by renowned global wine publications such as Sothebys or regional vicultural organization quality scales (Holland Barry, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The wines that score highly on this quality scales are generally associated with low frost damage in mild winters, early budburst, and development during warm springs. Results from a contemporary Australian study on the impact of projected climate changes on different wine growing regions and varieties indicated that in most regions, wine grapes are grown at either optimum or above optimum temperatures (Webb et al., 2008). Global warming will therefore have a negative impact on wine grape quality on these regions as it will make the regions too warm for the production of high-quality wines of any type. Climate change may favour the production of low quality wine varieties. Temperature rises caused by global warming may encourage the production of high quality grapes that have a relatively high sugar levels. Lower temperatures during the ripening stage may encourage relatively high acid level grapes, which are or a lower quality. Wine makers will not obtain the premium price for thes e wines since the highest quality wines are produced from grapes that have an ideal balance between sugar levels and acid levels (Holland Barry, 2010). There will be a decline in the industry as some wine makers will move out of wine production due to reduced profits. Global warming might lead to the destruction of some of the distinctive wine styles attributed to some specific geographical regions in the world. These specific characteristics of wines are a factor of the season duration experienced by the wine grapes. Global warming will compress the duration between budburst and harvesting therefore leading to earlier harvest days. A long study on phenology in the France region of Bordeaux found that the harvest in 1997 was 13 days earlier than in 1952 (Holland Barry, 2010). This phenomenon was attributed to the warming trends experienced in the region over the previous 5 decades. As this warming trend continues, it can be expected that ripening will occur under increasingly warm er conditions. This will lead to a distortion in the specific characteristics of wines produced in some regions, which are well known for their distinctive wine styles. There is a possibility that global warming will lead to the destruction of certain varieties of wine grapes. As has been noted, different varieties of grapes thrive best under certain weather conditions. In most cases, warmer temperatures are ideal for winegrape cultivation. Lasink (2004) explains that at the present, some wine makers are experiencing great harvests and outstanding wine qualities. This phenomenon is attributed to the rising temperatures, which increase the quality of premium wines. However, while warm weather has led to the increase in production for some wine grapes, it might have an adverse effect on other varieties. Galbreath (2011) warns that if temperatures increase beyond a certain threshold level, some entire vintages will be wiped out. Global warming will result in the scarcity of water in so me areas. As a result of the warming of the climate system there have been increases in the frequency of warm spells, heavy rainfall, and heat waves in many regions on the planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the average rainfall levels will decrease in the coming years and there will be a rise in the number of droughts in some geographical locations (Sampedro Sanchez, 2010). As it currently stands, the wine industry relies on vast quantities of water to operate. Grapes require a large amount of water and Colman and Paster (2007) document that these plants can consume between 1.2 and 2.5 megalitres per hectare. For this large water demand to be met, the local aquifers should have substantial amounts of water in their reserve. Alternatively, there should be adequate rainfall in the area. As global warming becomes for severe over the years, it is possible that some wine growing regions will experience prolonged drought. This will lead to a scarcity of water leading to poor yields. Wine production in Australia is currently being affected by the extreme climate conditions caused by global warming. Galbreath (2011) reveals that most of the premium wines in Australia have been sourced from northern European grape varieties such as Shiraz, Blanc, and Chardonnay. These grape varieties are intolerant to prolonged dry spells. They have therefore been deleteriously impacted on by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and prolonged droughts in many grape-growing regions in the country attributed to global warming. Wine grape vines are prone to the negative effects of global warming since these plants are perennial. As perennial plants with a productive life of more than 50 years, they will be exposed to the climate changes that occur during their lifespan. Most varieties of grape vines will be unable to cope with the significant climate variations that occur to them (Jones, 2012). Wine makers will therefore suffer since the y will have to make adjustments that might involve getting rid of entire vineyards before the capital investments made on the plants has been recovered. The chemical fertilizers used in vineyards are a main contributor to climate change. Currently, grapes require significant amounts of agrichemicals (between 50 and 100kg per ton) (Colman Paster, 2007). This agrichemical usage can be expected to increase as global warming, which is accompanied by the increase in pest and diseases, continues to occur. With the increase in global temperatures, vineyards will suffer from more pest and disease attacks. Global warming will increase the quantity of chemicals needed to prevent diseases and pests from overwhelming the vineyards. The overuse of agrichemicals will lead to greater environmental degradation. Pesticides and other chemical fertilizers will contaminate the subterranean waters leading to further greater pollution. Possible Responses and Recommendations Energy uses Traditionally, th e greenhouse gas emissions from the production and distribution of wine have occurred with little restrictions. However, the global warming phenomenon has forced wine makers to consider their carbon footprints. Research shows that grapes yield a relatively low output of greenhouse gases per hectare compared to many other crops (Colman Paster, 2007). While the wine industry has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other crops, there are still ways through which the carbon emissions can be lowered. Wineries can reduce their GHG emissions by shifting to renewable energy sources. Energy consumption currently contributes 60-75% of the overall GHG emissions in wineries (Galbreath, 2011). Most wine makers use fossil fuel based energy sources to power their operations. Fossil fuels are the greatest contributors to the global warming problem facing the world. Any reduction in fossil fuel usage will have a positive impact on the climatic conditions. Galbreath (2011) suggests that wi neries should use alternative energy supplies such as solar, geothermal, and wind to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Transportation makes the greatest contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the wine supply chain. Colman and Paster (2007) illustrate that the transportation impact begins with the delivery of agrichemicals, barrels, and bottles. However, this impact is highest during the transportation of the finished wine product to the consumers. The mode of transportation used determines the level of GHG emissions produced by a unit of wine. Container shipping is the most efficient since it has an emission factor of 13.17 grams of CO2 per ton of cargo per km transported. On the other hand, air cargo produces 570 grams of CO2 per ton of cargo per km, which means it has an emission factor of over 43 times that of container shipping. Utilizing a mode of transportation that has a low emission factor is therefore key to reducing the greenhouse emiss ions caused by wine transportation. Winemakers should therefore refrain from using air cargo, even though this transportation mode is able to deliver the product to any destination within a matter of hours. The carbon emission level is also impacted by whether the wine is bottled at the source or near the consumer. Colman and Paster (2007) reveal that the climate impact of transporting the bottles to the customer from the source is higher than if the wineries ship in bulk and bottle the wine closer to the consumer. If this technique is implemented, the quantity of non-product being moved from source to destination will be significantly reduced. This will effectively reduce the emissions caused by transportation by between 33 and 50%. Vine Selection Some of the effects of climate change cannot be avoided and wine makers will have to adapt themselves to the new climatic conditions. Wine makers can engage in variety substitution as an adaptation strategy for the climate change being ex perienced. The shift based on viticulture suitability will ensure that the wine makers are able to preserve their current infrastructure and continue making wine in the current locations even as the climate changes. This method is viable in cooler climates where the current grape varieties used for wine production can be substituted with varieties that do well in warmer temperatures. If this is done, Webb et al. (2006) predict that a positive impact from global warming could be realized for some wine-grape varieties. Some wine makers in countries such as Australia and Italy have started planting new varieties to accommodate the changing weather conditions. In Australia, wine makers areas experiencing higher temperatures have started planting heat resistant varieties such as the Spanish Tempranillo, which is suited to hot climates (Galbreath, 2011). Vineyards Location Wine makers can avoid the adverse effects of global warming by shifting production to regions with the suitable weath er conditions. In Spain, some of the major wine companies have already started to prepare for the effects of global warming on their current vineyards by purchasing land at elevated and cooler regions so that they can shift production in the future (Holland Barry, 2010). While such a solution might work for a few wine makers, it is unfeasible for most players in the industry. The capital requirements of such a response make it inappropriate for most vineyard owners. It will therefore be necessary to include responses that mitigate global changes or ensure that the wine grapes are able to withstand the climatic changes being experienced. Water Uses Controlling water usage in vineyards will have an impact on the GHG emissions of the wine industry. Efficient water usage will reduce the carbon emissions by wine makers since as it currently stands, a significant amount of energy is used for pumping water to the crops in most vineyards which do not rely on natural rainfall for their wate r. A number of innovative techniques have been used to try minimizing the water usage of vineyards. Many wine grape producers have employed irrigation methods that minimize water loss (Galbreath, 2011). By using methods such as drip irrigation, vineyards have ensured that the available water is used in the optimal way. In addition to this, some vineyards have built shades to shield the plants from intense heat. This method reduces water usage by limiting transpiration levels. Another adaptation technique will be shifting to grape varieties that do not require high volumes of water. As the effects of global warming become more prevalent, it will be desirable to use grape varieties that can survive with limited water supplies. Varieties such as Aglianico and Fiano, which thrive in warmer climates such as those, found in northern Africa and southern Italy could be used as substitutes when cooler regions begin to warm (Whetton Webb, 2007). This approach will ensure that the vineyards a re able to survive with limited water supplies. Organic growing practices Organic viticulture can be used to reduce the carbon emissions of vineyards. One implementation of organic agriculture in wine grape production is biodynamic viticulture, which involves maintaining a small number of different animals on the property to provide natural fertilizers and turn the soil (Colman Paster, 2007). This natural method ensures that the vineyard is free from pests without using chemicals. When organic viticulture is implemented, fertilizer used in the vineyard is drastically reduced. The pollution and GHG emissions associated with agrichemical use are dramatically reduced when organic farming is practiced. Conclusion There is a general acceptance that global warming is happening and it is having some impacts all over the world. This paper set out to address the impacts of global warming on the wine industry and highlight how wine makers can react to this phenomenon in order to continue pro ducing high quality wines. The paper began by noting that wine grapes are prone to the effects of global warming since they are some of the most climate sensitive fruits. It then proceeded to discuss the various problems that wine makers will face because of global warming. The paper noted that climate change will reduce the optimum harvest window for high quality wines, shift the suitable locations for some varieties of wine grapes, and impose greater challenges in managing water resources. Global warming will also lead to the destruction of some wine grape varieties and this will be detrimental to the wine industry. While climate change mitigation strategies are preferable, adaptive actions may be necessary where the climate changes have already begun to affect wine production. The paper has declared that wine makers will have to be prepared for all potential impacts of global warming to the industry. Some of the ways in which they can respond to climate change is by shifting to g eographical locations that have conducive weather for grape production, using wine grape varieties that are suited for the new climatic conditions, and looking for more efficient ways to utilize the available water resources. If the responses articulated in this paper are followed by the wine industry, wine makers will be able to continue producing consistently high quality wines into the future and reduce the rate of climate change by reducing the carbon emissions by the industry. References Colman, T., Paster, P. (2007). Red, White, and Green: The Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Global Wine Trade. Journal of Wine Research, 20 (1), 15–26. Galbreath, J. (2011). To What Extent is Business Responding to Climate Change? Evidence from a Global Wine Producer. J Bus Ethics, 104 (1), 421–432. Goldenberg, S. (2013). Climate change will threaten wine production, study shows. Web. Holland, T., Barry, S. (2010). Climate Change and the Wine Industry: Current Research The mes and New Directions. Journal of Wine Research, 21 (2), 125–136. Jones, G. (2012). Impact of climate change on wine production: a global overview and regional assessment in the Douro Valley of Portugal. Int. J. Global Warming, 4(3), 383-406. Lasink, D. (2004). Grape Expectations. Weatherwise, 57(5), 22-27. Sampedro, E., Sanchez, M. (2010). The Environment as a Critical Success Factor in the Wine Industry: Implications for Management Control Systems. Journal of Wine Research, 21(2), 179-195. Smart, R. (2006). Global warming: the biggest challenge to face the Australian wine sector. Australian New Zealand Wine Industry Journal, 21(4), 14-15. Webb, L.B., Whetton, P.H., Barlow, W.R. (2008) Modelling the relationship between climate, winegrape price and winegrape quality in Australia, Climate Research, 36(1), 89–98. Whetton, P. Webb, L. (2007). Future Climate Change Impacts on Australian Viticulture. Web.

A Study On Becks Theory Psychology Essay

A Study On Becks Theory Psychology Essay Beck’s theory states that Individuals with dysfunctional attitudes are likely to show increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events. From the cognitive perspective, we can say that depression is caused by one’s thinking. Someone with dysfunctional attitudes tends to think negatively toward themselves. When a negative event occurs which relates to that person, it triggers the negative thoughts over and over again which can lead to depression. Beck believed that the cognitive symptoms of depression actually precede the affective and mood symptoms of depression, rather than vice versa. Beck’s main argument was that depression was instituted by one’s view of oneself, instead of one having a negative view of oneself due to depression. For example, Abela and D’Alessandro’s (2002) found that the student’s negative views about their future strongly controlled the interaction between dysfunctional attitudes and the increase in depressed mood. The research clearly backed up Beck’s claim that those at risk for depression due to dysfunctional attitudes who did not get into their college of choice then doubted their futures, and these thoughts lead to symptoms of depression. The other cause of depression would be a person’s interpersonal relationship with their surroundings and the people around them. Hammen and Brennan (2001) found that 13% of the sons and 23.6 % of the daughters who were depressed had depressed mothers as compared to 3.9% of the sons and 15.9% of the daughters who were depressed lacked a depressed mother. From the social perspective, we see that the child becomes depressed because of the interpersonal relationship with his or her mother which shows how the social environment around someone can influence the behaviour or thinking of the person. The depressed adolescents of depressed mothers were also more likely to evidence dysfunctional cognitions about their s ocial selves and worlds. (Hammen & Brennan, 2001, p. 8) This clearly contradicts beck’s argument that depression is cause by dysfunctional cognition but not vice versa. Hammen and Brennan (2001) discussed that adolescents gets depressed because of the interpersonal relationship with their mothers which then later lead them into dysfunctional cognitions. Whereas, beck states that dysfunctional attitudes comes first which then later on lead the person into depression. Another contradiction of these two concepts is that one states that depression is caused by the inner thinking without the influence of another person and on the contrary, the other is cause by the surrounding people and how they behave. Second Section Cognitive Theory Individuals with dysfunctional attitudes are likely to show increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events which is stated in Beck`s theory. We can say that depression is caused by one’s thinking from the cognitiv e perspective. Someone with dysfunctional attitudes tends to think negatively toward themselves. When a negative event shows up, it triggers the negative thoughts over and over again which can lead to depression. The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events is caused by negative views of the future . Beck’s cognitive theory of depression has generated a vast body of empirical research.Central to Beck’s theory is the construct of schemas(Beck’s (1967, 1983). Beck defines schemas as stored bodies of knowledge that affect the encoding, comprehension and retrieval of information. The content and organization of different individuals’ schemas vary according to their particular experiences. Once activated, depressogenic schemas provide access to a complex system of negative themes and cognitions which will lead to ‘negative cognitive triad'(Beck’s (1967, 1983). Beck de fines the negative cognitive triad as a negative view of the self, the world and the future. Beck hypothesizes that the negative cognitive triad is a sufficient cause of depression and will start showing some depressive symptoms such as deficits in affective, motivational, behavioural and physiological functioning(John R. Z. Abela,2000). Beck also states that there are three main dysfunctional belief themes (or â€Å"schemas†) that dominate depressed people’s thinking (Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D, 2007):

Oil Exploration And Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Oil Exploration And Development - Essay Example Political, legal and economic conditions need to be researched in depth before deciding whether or not to join forces with the oil industry. Ruritania, considered a developing country, has been under the same dictatorship for over thirty years and their internal political asylum is very stable. However, neighboring countries that have Ruritania land-locked from large bodies of water, are not so predictable. Known as ‘the axis of evil’ by several peaceful governments, Urbania and Translavia border both sides of Ruritania, blocking export opportunities for the inland country. Creative negotiations will have to take place with one or both of these countries in order to work out land rights if a pipeline were considered. Intense study of oil exploration is a first step in realizing the right conditions for an oil trap. The right source rock and reservoir rock entrapment can only be done by an experienced team of geologists. The project/asset lifecycle that normally includes Field Development Planning, Conceptual/Feasibility, FEED, Detailed Design, Procurement, Construction Support and Commissioning can run into the tens or hundreds of billions of Dollars. Actual costs depend on such factors as the location of possible oil reserves, how large the oil field is expected to be, how detailed the exploration information must be and the type and structure of the rock below the ground.

Organ Transplant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organ Transplant - Research Paper Example In the U.S alone over 28,000 patients under transplant surgeries and over half of these surgeries are kidneys transplants while a quarter are liver transplants. Process of Organ Transplantation Organ transplantation calls for therapeutic usage of organs to replace a non-functional organ. However, the medical process is quite complex since organ transplantation comes with its own bag of complications and challenges. Keeping aside the legal issues and paperwork involved, the first step i.e. procurement of a healthy donor is a mammoth task since it care should be taken that the blood types of the recipient as well as the donor matches since â€Å"fate of a graft depends not only on excellent surgery with avoidance of damage to the organ in the process, but, as indicated above, the degree of HLA matching of donor and recipient is crucial in any approach to tolerance† (Calne, 2005, p1979). One a suitable candidate is found the healthy organ is harvested carefully and the damaged or gan in the recipient’s body is surgically replaced with the new healthy organ. Post-surgery, the newly replaced organ is kept under observation to detect rejection by the recipient’s body. Immunosuppressant drugs are administered to help the body accept the new organ and gradually integrate it in the patient’s body as its own. ... Such phenomena lead to organ rejection or blood transfusion reaction. Heavy immunosuppressant drugs are therefore administered after a transplant surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to match the donor and receiver’s blood so that the organ acceptation by the receiver’s body is smoother. The rejection mechanism of allograft kidney transplantation was studies and it was seen that â€Å"the most common form of acute allograft rejection is initiated when donor alloantigens are presented to the T lymphocytes of the recipient by antigen-presenting cell (APC’s) â€Å"(Schwartz, 2010, p1453). A new study shows that Jagged2 plays an important role in accelerating heart transplants or cardiac tissue grafts since its signaling affects the acceptation rate of graft by regulating interleukin-6 (Riella et al, 2013, 1449). Ethics and Importance of Organ Donation Becoming a donor is a tough choice for many. There are 2 types of donor-living donor and deceased donor. Organ dona tion is an important choice that can save a lot of lives however, organ donation, in many parts of the world, has rapidly emerged into a trade. For example, poor people sell one of their kidneys to the rich and since The risk involved in nephrectomy is not in itself high, and most people regard it as acceptable for living related donors (Radcliffe, 1998, p1951). However some people find the procedure too invasive and thereby refuse the whole idea of organ transplantation (NHMRC,1997,P12). Brain death and organ donation Organs are procured from cadavers however brain dead individuals provide fresher organs for harvest. This, stirs up an ethical issue since complete loss of brain function needs to

Linking pedagogy and assesment practices Research Paper

Linking pedagogy and assesment practices - Research Paper Example These skills also enhance the students’ ability to arrive at judgments and decisions as well as giving them the ability to transfer skills to novel situations (Chun, 2010). The best way to assess these skills is by use of Collegiate Learning Assessments. According to Pike (2011), Collegiate Learning Assessment requires students to produce artifacts that are evaluated using a set of scoring rubrics. These assessments make use of performance tasks in making the students to produce these artifacts. This assessment also involves creating of rubrics that assist in assigning scores to the artifacts produced by students and helps the students in the production of these artifacts. So far, this method has been proven effective in testing and developing these skills by the learning institutions that have already started to practice it. In evaluating the effectiveness of Collegiate Learning Assessment, we have to consider what it has achieved and what it has failed to achieve. According to Chun (2010), the performance tasks used in these assessment are of high quality since a good level of expertise and time investment are employed while building each one of them. This ensures that they are in line with the set assessment goals and that they are shaped to deriver sufficient information about the skills they assess. Moreover, according to Chun (2010), the performance tasks are based on the learning outcomes that students are expected to attain. Thus, this assessment reveals these learning outcomes. based on the students artifacts rather than test scores. Artifacts are more effective due to their ability to incorporate high level thinking as compared to test scores and hence they make this assessment to be more effective. The process of making Collegiate Learning Assessment tests involves numerous rounds of field testing, revision and calibration (Chun, 2010). This makes this assessment perfectly suited to deliver the best outcome possible for the skills assessed. It also helped in ensuring that this assessment is tailored towards ensuring that the artifacts can measure the level if the skills assessed are in the most accurate way possible. This has actually made this kind of assessment to be very effective in the achieving of assessment goals. However, the responses obtained from Collegiate Learning Assessments are long and complex with a wide range of possible scores (Hardison & Vilamovska, 2009). This makes them very complicated to administer and very difficult to analyze. As a result, they require a high degree of skills and proficiency among the assessors. It also requires high degree of commitment and dedication of both the assessors and the students. If it lacks this it can fail to achieve the objectives intended thus becoming ineffective. Another way in which pedagogical practice can be aligned with assessment tools is through involving students in the designing of those assessment tools. Some of the tools in which students can