Rivers and Tides Essay Example for Free

Rivers and Tides Essay I love golf. I love playing the game. Most people, especially those belonging to the younger age bracket may snigger and say golf is very slow paced. Thus, it is a game for adults, since it requires little energy compared to other sports or games like basketball or football. To those people, I ask you to reconsider. Golf, a very old game, has endured time and has proven to be very good to a person’s health. While it does not require from its players perfect cardiovascular shape, it does demand that a player possess stamina, flexibility, and coordination, among others. It requires one to stay outdoors for long periods of time and tread the contours of a golf course for as long as the golf ball does not enter the hole or the cup. For me, however, my love affair with golf is not based on health reasons alone. I am addicted to the positive feeling of being challenged to do better every time. I take note that no two golf courses are the same; and I look forward to grabbing the opportunity to conquer each new golf course that I play on. This feeling of exhilaration, excitement and determination drives me to be a better player and a healthier person, for I know that in reality, my competitors are not those friends whom I intend to defeat every time. Rather, my real competitor is myself, for every time I play my only desire is to do better and outdo myself.

Kodak Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eastman Kodak Eastman Kodak went through a considerable transformation change since it was founded. The organization structure at Eastman Kodak was a typical classical hierarchy with the CEO overlooking the entire organization. Later in 1984, the company went through a transformation change in which it was reorganized into 29 separate business units grouped into four lines of business. It included Photography (PPG), Commercial and Imaging Group (CIG), Chemicals (EC), and Health (HG) and three international segments. Each group operated under its own general manager. Later again in 1988, Eastman Kodak launched an Information Systems Department (ISD) which was responsible for development of business applications and management of small-scale computer network operations. After going through change management organization, Eastman Kodak made alliances with IBM, DEC and Business Land. The new organization consisted of three distinct organization entities: Kodak’s Corporate IS organization; Kodak’s Business Group/ Business Unit IS organizations and the Alliance organization. The strategic stand during the transformation change at the beginning was focused on downsizing its business core units by cutting employment by 10%. Cutting costs was also a priority as they moved to outsourcing of some of its business processes, especially in the IT area if it met its core function of the company or if there was value in it. ISD was responsible for management of large data centers and voice and data communications. Eastman Kodak had its own IT management department that supported services that were not outsourced. The type of culture that existed at Eastman Kodak was also transformed significantly. The major change was when part of its business processes was outsourced to other companies because employees had to adapt to whole new environment even though it was not a total change. Employees that had worked for Eastman Kodak for years are the ones that may have been affected most because they probably were used to the hierarchical type of leadership. I think organization structure is the one that must have had an impact on other elements like IT because mainly after outsourcing some of its services. It meant that whatever decision these other element make or change, they had to consider the new allied division so to make sure its strategies a... ...asing a pc for a Kodak end user. The advice I would give Hudson concerning long-term management of Eastman Kodak’s networked IS organization is that she would want to consider automating the business processes with the Alliance organizations if they plan on outsourcing their services for over a long period of time. The benefit would be cost reduction time wise and faster service and product to customers. Some of the processes I noted are used on their websites (www.kodak.com), for example, delivering pictures to customers through email. I think, as a company grows bigger, like Eastman Kodak has, its business processes become complex, and in this case, its complexity includes outsourced services. I think Eastman Kodak can benefit from this and so can the allied partners. An example is given in the case over service deliver process in which it says, â€Å"a Kodak end user acquiring a personal computer from Business Land had to contact not only Business Land but also IBM to establish a mainframe account, and DEC to install network connections.† I think there are processes that have not been realized yet that can be supported by an automated system but can only be realized as time passes.

The obstacles challenges and opportunities

IntroductionConflict is a fact of life. It surrounds us and is every bit natural as dawn and sunset harmonizing to Warner ( 1997 ) . Conflict exists at all degrees of society in all kinds of state of affairss. Conflict frequently occurs because of a deficiency of regard for one another ‘s demands and positions. It can supply an chance for new societal and political systems to be established and can assist to determine the hereafter.Structure of essayThis essay will get down to depict what the obstructions, challenges and chances confronting pedagogues are when working in societies in struggle and post-conflict state of affairss with mention to Sri Lanka as a chief instance survey and literature associating to instructions responses to conflict.Background of instance survey: Sri LankaThe civil war in Sri Lanka began because of the cultural tensenesss between the bulk Sinhalese and the Tamil minority in the nor'-east. After more than twenty five old ages of force, the struggle ap peared to be at an terminal in May 2009 when authorities forces seized the last country controlled by Tamil Tiger Rebels. It is now clip for Sri Lanka to acquire back to normal with respect to reconstructing the authorities, substructure and instruction. Since investing in cosmopolitan primary instruction, Sri Lanka has gained high rates of registration ( 98.2 % , UNICEF ) and literacy ( 92 % , UNICEF ) . Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing states. This figure is farther being invested in within the Millennium Development Goals with the purpose of holding all primary school aged kids in instruction by 2015.ChallengesTeaching of HistoryThe instruction of the history within the course of study can be a challenge for pedagogues. It was noted by Davis ( 2005 ) that merely ‘some ‘ instructors seize the chance to undertake current events whilst the others lacked assurance or were uneasy in covering with the issues of history, war or terrorist act. Research carried out by Davis ( 2005 ) found that instructors agreed in the chief that pupils wanted and needed to cognize about their states history and their engagement in the war. There was consensus that a complex attack was needed that war ‘is n't about victors and also-rans ‘ , but both sides should be presented and that options to war should be discussed. Although this is ideal for learning history in the course of study, some states and even pedagogues disagree with this attack. In some history or societal scientific discipline text editions, the enemy is described in in writing and minimizing footings and one ‘s ain state is portrayed in epic 1s. Textbooks in Sri Lanka in 1970 ‘s and 1980 ‘s declared the Tamils were the historical enemy of the Sinhalese and stylised the Buddhist Sinhalese, in denial of the historical facts, as the lone legitimate inheritors of the history of Sri Lanka. Although it was stated by Davis ( 2005 ) that both sid es of the struggle should be taught, it is clear that in Sri Lanka there is one sided instruction. Educators in Sri Lanka teach what they believe to be true and it is clear that Tamil and Sinhalese are being taught two different history lessons. For this to better, pedagogues need to experience comfy and besides learn the facts of the struggle themselves before it is taught to the kids. Having lived through the war it is indispensable that kids learn the grounds behind it. By showing kids with both sides, it gives them their ain ideas on the affair. This in bend could take to traverse community undertakings with the two different schools. With the aid and encouragement for pedagogues who teach, alteration can be seen get downing to organize in the future coevals ‘s lives. Other illustrations of the challenge of learning history are in Bosnia and Rwanda. Textbooks in Bosnia in each of the three ‘nations ‘ had portraitures of attackers and victims were ‘not helpful for peace edifice and rapprochement ‘ ( Stabback 2004:60 ) . In Rwanda, the history books portrayed the Tutsi as rich, foreign and oppressive ; kids were indoctrinated to believe in unreal differences. Mitter ( 2001 ) points out for cardinal and Eastern Europe that ‘Teachers have had to undertake exigency state of affairss in their mundane pattern ; in some states this has non yet come to an terminal at all. In all the states it started with call offing certain course of study and withdrawing, or at least choosing application of hitherto valid text editions†¦ in many schools old text editions are still used, with violative documents or transitions eliminated ‘ ( p155 ) . An illustration of where this has been the instance is in Bosnia and Herzegovina w here names and maps have been taken out in black felt tip pen.Gender inequalityOne other challenge pedagogues face is gender inequality. While school registration has increased for kids in most states, the gender spread still persists. In most low-income states, parents are more likely to direct their boies to school. If they do go to, misss are frequently obliged to drop out early. Less than one one-fourth of misss in developing states attend secondary school. It is the civilization of Sri Lanka that the kids follow in the footfalls of their parents. Yemen is an illustration of a state with the lowest female pupils go toing secondary school ( 20 % ) . Many international understandings such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ( 1979 ) and the Millennium Development Goals ( 2000 ) have highlighted the demand for states to take action against prejudiced patterns. The increased focal point on adult females and misss since the International Year for Women ( 1975 ) has led to many betterments in the lives of adult females and misss. In Sri Lanka it was found that most pedagogues are female. This is interesting to observe as it is common for misss to drop out of school before university degree. It is a challenge for pedagogues to seek and maintain misss in school. Although most misss do non go to school in distant rural countries, they do still hold the chance for instruction. As Sri Lanka is now a post-conflict state, it is now clip for all kids to derive some instruction so they can alter the lives of future coevalss. Not merely does gender inequality exist in Sri Lanka, it is really common throughout the universe. There is an old Arab Proverb which says ‘a adult male loves foremost his boy, so his camel and so his married woman. ‘ As portion of the forenoon supplication of an Orthodox Jew, it states ‘Lord, I thank thee that I was non born a adult female. ‘ Another quotation mark from Confucius, China ‘It is the jurisprudence of nature that adult females should non be allowed any will of her ain. ‘ From these three quotation marks from around the universe, it is clear to see gender inequality is non uncommon. Although these quotation marks do non straight associate to instruction, it is utile to hold some background information and what other states think or perceive of adult females. For adult females to derive something in life, for illustration a good calling, it takes a batch of difficult work and finding to go something other people do n't believe is possib le.ObstaclesResources availableAn obstruction for pedagogues in struggle state of affairss is the sum of resources there are available. In Sri Lanka in 2004 there was a lay waste toing tsunami which hit the state. This alone left 1000s of kids and instructors in danger and wholly destroyed school edifices and everything in them including books, kids ‘s work and pupil records. Apart from the tsunami there is still a deficiency of resources available for pedagogues to utilize. In schoolrooms in Sri Lanka there is small proviso for Information Communication Technology ( ICT ) . The chief instruction methods pedagogues use is a chalkboard, pen and paper. This is an obstruction that needs to be addressed. It is clear that school registration has non reached 100 % yet so initiatives need to be taken to acquire kids more involved in the school community and promoting them to fall in. If pedagogues overcome this obstruction so the authorities reference this issue, greater proviso for ICT can be made. An enterprise like this one is already being put in topographic point. This will be discussed further in the chances subdivision.Child soldiersEducators besides face the obstruction of kid soldiers. Child soldiers are deprived of their childhood, normal societal interaction and educational chances. The injury they experience frequently leave them with long-run guilt, shame, low self-pride, incubuss and depression. Sudan is recognised as holding one of the worst records of kid soldiers, forcibly enrolling many 1000s every bit immature as 12 old ages old. One-third of kid soldiers in El Salvador, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda are misss. So are 30-40 % of kid battlers in Angola and Sierra Leone. In Sri Lanka, immature Tamil misss, frequently orphans have been consistently conscripted by Tamil Tiger resistance combatants since the mid 1980 ‘s. Their most recent enlisting thrusts in schools have focused on misss. In February 2002 the Optional Protocol to the UN Conv ention on the Rights of the Child in armed struggle came into force. The pact rose the age of mandatory engagement in armed struggles from 15 to eighteen. This represents a important progress in the protection of kids ‘s rights. Child soldiers are a challenge for pedagogues. New enterprises are now put in topographic point in Sri Lanka which attempt and convey back the kids to instruction. Once they are back in school, it is so the pedagogue ‘s occupation to pull off them in a category. As already stated they experience traumas and this has an consequence on their behavior and their attitude towards their equals. Educators need farther preparation on how to get by, promote and manage kids who have gone through injury. This is one obstruction that the Sri Lanka instruction system needs to turn to.OpportunitiesAfter violent struggle, it is frequently hard to see chances for a better hereafter due to widespread devastation of substructures, instruction and supports.Developi ng the course of study for a positive acquisition environmentAn chance that can come from states in struggle or states that are coming out of struggle is the development of the course of study for a positive acquisition environment. This in bend can hold a positive impact on schools, authoritiess, kids and pedagogues themselves for the hereafter. Having contacted a worker in Sri Lanka it was found that ‘Civic Education ‘ has late been introduced to the school course of study. This new enterprise has been provided by the authorities with financess for developing the instruction course of study. Educators now have the chance for heighten their ain personal experiences for reconstructing the hereafter with the aid of the authorities. While implementing new enterprises it gives pedagogues the chance to affect kids in the schoolroom which provides a sense of ownership in their acquisition. It is easier to maintain most kids engaged in a lesson when they are actively a portion of it through treatment, undertakings and other pupil centred activities. Once engaged, kids so begin to make their ain regard for the remainder of the kids in the category. Respect is something which is a possible influence to convey into any schoolroom but particularly of import to convey into a schoolroom where kids have been involved in struggle or are populating in conflict countries. Andrew ( 2008 ) quoted ‘A schoolroom environment that promotes respect starts with pupil engagement, clear outlooks and asperity. ‘ What a great chance for Sri Lankan instructors to acquire involved in. Northern Ireland can be said to hold created a positive acquisition environment in the schoolroom. Educators here have taken the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum and implemented it into their mundane instruction where interaction is the chief focal point in the kids ‘s development and acquisition. Like Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland provides the chance to learn regard to kids in all Key Stages. In the course of study it states that in Personal Development and Mutual Understanding ( PDMU ) helps kids to go cognizant of the universe beyond their immediate environment and to larn about others from a footing of tolerance, regard and open-mindedness. As stated in the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum, communicating is besides a focal point in deriving this regard ‘Communication is cardinal to the whole course of study. Students should be able to pass on in order to develop as persons, to show themselves socially, emotionally and physically to prosecute with others and to len d as members of society. Students should be given chances to prosecute with and show the accomplishment of communicating and to reassign their cognition about communicating constructs and accomplishments to existent life and meaningful contexts across the course of study. ‘New engineerings for pedagogues and kidsNot merely are pedagogues implementing new enterprises, the World Bank is besides conveying in new chances which pedagogues can utilize to assist maintain kids interested and focused on their instruction. A new engineering which has been introduced in Northern Ireland over the last five old ages is the Synergistic Whiteboard. Sri Lanka has been donated ten of these Interactive Whiteboards by SMART Technologies in Canada. This is a great chance for farther develop pedagogues and kids ‘s potency. Sri Lanka ‘s pedagogues have been trained to utilize the Interactive Whiteboards by Indian pedagogues who have late implemented this new manner of larning in their s choolroom. Not merely does this supply new engineerings for pedagogues and kids but besides links in India. The World Bank provided the bulk of the support for the One Laptop Per Child Initiative. In December 2009, the Sri Lankan President launched the pilot programme. This programme benefited over four 100 primary schools. The mission of this programme is to guarantee that all school-aged kids are able to prosecute efficaciously with their ain personal laptop networked to the universe. It has been found that these laptops have given kids the chance to larn, accomplish and transform their communities. It has besides been found that wherever the laptop goes, school attending additions dramatically as the kids begin to open their heads and research their ain potency. This is a great chance in which pedagogues can promote kids and immature people to pass on with other communities. Cross-community undertakings can be a portion of this. Educators can construct relationships with other sc hools and gives the chance for larning about other communities in a impersonal environment.DecisionFrom discoursing challenges, obstructions and chances, it is clear that instruction has a cardinal function in the development of kids ‘s personality. The nexus between instruction and struggle is now forthrightly on the Education for All ( EFA ) docket of international educationalists ( Tawil et al, 2004 ) . The EFA motion is a planetary committedness to supply quality basic instruction for all kids, young person and grownups. The motion was launched at the World Conference on EFA in 1990 by UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and the World Bank. Participants endorsed an ‘expanded vision of larning ‘ and pledged to universalize primary instruction and massively cut down illiteracy by the terminal of the decennary. It is through EFA and aid from other administrations that pedagogues can get down learning kids in struggle and post-conflict state of affairss. Finally, ‘Ed ucation is the most powerful arm which you can utilize to alter the universe ‘ , Nelson Mandela.

External Analysis: PESTEL Analysis of Cafe Coral Essay

External Analysis: PESTEL Each and every industries may it be small or large companies are subject to different elements that affect the firm’s function as a whole. These elements are considered as the driving forces for the success or even the downturn of a business. One of the factors that must be considered by any company is the external environment and the underlying aspects that must be given emphasis by any business organisation. As mentioned, the case was about the changes that must be implemented by Cafà © de Coral and how the company had been able to adjust to the stiff competition of this kind of business. In this regard, the environment of the group will be analysed using the PESTEL model. PESTEL model evaluates the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, physical (environmental) and the legal factors. 1. Political Sector In terms of political sector, the company sees to it that they follow the rules and regulations imposed by the government. In the case of Cafà © de Coral, the company sees to it that they always adhere to the policies imposed and that their organizational goals are achieved without disobeying such policies. In addition, whenever the company is having changes, they make sure that all rules and regulations are set and they are always ready to follow it. In addition, the company also imposed corporate governance to be followed in all levels of the organisation. 2. Economic Sector Economically speaking, it can be said that Cafà © de Coral being known as the largest Chinese fast food restaurant has been able to help the economy China as well as in Hong Kong, by providing some financial needs to boost the economy of both countries. In doing so, the company is also benefited to become more economically stable in spite of the challenges it faced. In addition, it can be said that the company has been able to cope with the global competition that it become financially stable. Social Aspect Society e is an important factor that must be given emphasis by any business,nspecifically those who are operating in the global arena. It is important that the company must operate in compliance with the social systems in order to gain good reputation and effective public image. In the case of Cafà © de Coral, the company has been able to consider social aspects by giving emphasis to the international market and the context of globalization. With this ideology, the company has been able to give importance not only with the Chinese market but most especially to stakeholders in the international level. 3. Technological Sector The complexities of achieving business success through increased efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness, combined with innovative applications of modern technology, has heightened the awareness of both the industry and a foreign country to ensure quality products and service(Luftman, Lewis & Oldach, 1993). In line with the technological capacity of the company, it can be said that Cafà © de Coral is using advanced technology to ensure that they provide quality and excellent products and services with their target market. Their technology is built upon the highest quality and functions in order to provide customer’s demands in global market. Herein, the physical resources of the company were being monitored to maintain its efficiency to further enhance the organization’s position to become competitive in the industry. Furthermore, the company has been able to use information technology as part of their strategy in order to be more innovative and gain more in term s of productivity and profit. 4. Environmental Factors Cafà © de Coral will also be evaluated in terms of environmental aspects. The environmental resources of the Cafà © de Coral ensure that they would always have a facility and technology that would be able to carry out products and services that would eventually satisfy all their customers. The company has been able to consider all its environmental resources to enhance their competitiveness. Further, the joint ventures and mergers of the group have expanded the resources of the company to become more stable and become one of the leaders in the steel industry. 5. Legal Aspects A company will not be able to gain success if they will not consider legal sector as part of their strategy in entering an international marketplace. Legally speaking, Cafà © de Coral has been able to abide laws of the regions where it is operating. In addition, the company has also been able to follow the law in terms of environmental protection, and other health concerned specifically with the field of their business which is food production. The company always sees to it that all the operations locally and internationally would be legal. In addition, the company has seen to it that they abide by the law by paying their taxes annually.

Todds Metamorphosis essays

Todd's Metamorphosis essays The Todds beautiful metamorphose. The life is like a big highway. We, as cars, go forward and see different things, explore something. But as we live, we take different turns and exits from the highway. Every exit has its own people, things we would never see in any other exit. Every turn is different and its very important to choose the right one, where one can explore the things he wants. People are different and each take his own path, the street he wants to drive on. And what are the signs that make people decide where to go? They can be anything: people, news, words or thoughts. Furthermore, its just important to understand what is good and what is bad at the right moment. Directed by Peter Weir Dr. Nolan, the movie Dead poets society fully follows the life is a highway concept. Mr. Keating, the new English teacher at Welton Academy, plays the role of that sign. He is the main cause of everything that happened. All positive, interesting and brave, Mr. Keating had a big influence on boys. And it dramatically changed the lives of each one of them. The story is dominantly viewed through the eyes of Todd Anderson, a newcomer to Welton, and his roommate Neil Perry: two totally opposite kinds of people. Todd is painfully shy and terrified that what he might say is insignificant and meaningless. Since he is being repeatedly told that he has big shoes to fill being the younger brother of a former valedictorian, this is disturbing to him. Bright and full of ambition Neil appears to be a leader. Nevertheless, the only student who actually gasped Keatings teachings and discovered his verse, was Todd Anderson. According to it, we can say that he was the actual main character, and he is going to be our car on the highway that dramatically changed the lanes at the tight moment and took the right turn. Carpe diem - Todd write...

Ix Chel - Mayan Goddess(es) of Fertility and Death

Ix Chel - Mayan Goddess(es) of Fertility and Death Ix Chel (sometimes spelled Ixchel) is, according to longstanding archaeological tradition, the Mayan moon goddess, one of the most important and ancient of Maya deities, connected to fertility and procreation. Her name Ix Chel has been translated as â€Å"Lady Rainbow† or as â€Å"She of the Pale Face,† an allusion to the moons surface. Fast Facts: Ix Chel Known For: Goddess of the Moon, fertility, physical love, weaving.Religion: Classic and Late Post Classic period Maya.  Also Known As: Lady Rainbow, She of the Pale Face, Goddess I, and Goddess O.  Appearance: Two aspects: a young, sensual woman and an old crone.  Shrines: Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, Mexico.Appearances: Madrid and Dresden codexes. According to Spanish colonial records, the Maya thought the moon goddess wandered the sky, and when she wasnt in the sky she was said to live in the cenotes (natural sinkholes filled with water). When the waning moon appeared again in the east, people made pilgrimages to the Ix Chel shrine on Cozumel. In the traditional pantheon of Maya gods and goddesses, Ix Chel has two aspects, that of a young sensual woman and an aged crone. However, that pantheon was built by archaeologists and historians based on a wide variety of sources, including iconography, oral history, and historical records. Over the decades of research, Mayanists have often debated whether they have incorrectly combined two female deities (Goddess I and Goddess O)  into one Moon Goddess. Goddess I The primary aspect of Goddess I is as a youthful wife, beautiful and downright sexy, and she is occasionally associated with references to the lunar crescent and rabbits, a pan-Mesoamerican reference to the moon. (In fact, many cultures see a rabbit in the moons face, but thats another story). She often appears with a beak-like appendage protruding from her upper lip. Goddess I is known as Ixik Kab (Lady Earth) or Ixik Uh (Lady Moon) in the Maya books known as the Madrid and Dresden codices,  and in the Madrid codex she appears as both a young and aged version. Goddess I presides over marriage, human fertility and physical love. Her other names include Ix Kanab (Child of Lady of the Seas) and Ix Tan Dzonot (Child of She in the Middle of the Cenote). Ixik Kab is associated with weaving in the post-classic period, and the aged form of Ixik Kab is often shown weaving and/or wearing a pair of horn-like elements on her head which likely represent spindles. Goddess O Goddess O, on the other hand, is a powerful aged woman identified not just with birth and creation but with death and world destruction. If these are different goddesses and not aspects of the same goddess, Goddess O is most likely to be the Ix Chel of the ethnographic reports. Goddess O is married to Itzamna and thus is one of the two creator gods of Maya origin myths. Goddess O has a raft of phonetic names including Chac Chel (Red Rainbow or Great End). Goddess O is depicted with a red body, and sometimes with feline aspects such as jaguar claws and fangs; sometimes she wears a skirt marked with crossed bones and other death symbols. She is closely identified with the Mayan rain god Chaac (God B) and often seen illustrated with pouring water or flood images. The fact that Goddess Os name means both rainbows and destruction may come as a surprise, but unlike in our Western society rainbows are not good omens for the Maya but are bad ones, the flatulence of the demons which arise from dry wells. Chac Chel is associated with weaving, cloth production, and spiders; with water, curing, divination, and destruction; and with making children and childbirth. Four Goddesses? The Moon Goddess of the Maya mythology may actually have many more aspects. The earliest Spanish travelers in the early 16th century recognized that there was a flourishing religious practice among the Maya dedicated to aixchel or yschel. The local men denied knowing the meaning of the goddess; but she was a deity of the Chontal, Manche Chol, Yucatec, and Pocomchi groups in the early colonial period. Ix Chel was one of four related goddesses worshiped on the islands of Cozumel and Isla de Mujeres: Ix Chel, Ix Chebal Yax, Ix Hunie, and Ix Hunieta. Mayan women made pilgrimages to their temples on the island of Cozumel and placed her idols underneath their beds, asking for help. The Oracle of Ix Chel According to several historical records, during the Spanish colonial period, there was a life-sized ceramic statue known as the Oracle of Ix Chel located on Cozumel Island. The oracle at Cozumel is said to have been consulted during the foundation of new settlements and in times of warfare. Pilgrims were said to have followed sacbe (the prepared Maya causeways) from as far away as Tabasco, Xicalango, Champoton, and Campeche to venerate the goddess. The Mayan pilgrimage route crossed the Yucatan from west to east, mirroring the pathway of the moon through the sky. Colonial dictionaries report that the pilgrims were known as hula and the priests were Aj Kin. The Aj Kin posed the pilgrims questions to the statue and, in exchange for offerings of copal incense, fruit, and bird and dog sacrifices, reported the answers in the voice of the oracle. Francisco de Lopez de Gomara (Hernan Cortes chaplain) described the shrine on Cozumel island as a square tower, wide at the base and stepped all around. The upper half was erect and at the top was a niche with a thatched roof and four openings or windows. Inside this space was a large, hollow, kiln-fired clay image fastened to the wall with lime plaster: this was the image of the moon goddess Ix Chel. Finding the Oracle There are several temples located near the cenotes at the Maya sites of San Gervasio, Miramar, and El Caracol on Cozumel Island. One which has been identified as a plausible location for the oracle-shrine is the Kana Nah or High House at San Gervasio. San Gervasio was an administrative and ceremonial center on Cozumel, and it had three complexes of five groups of buildings all connected by sacbe. Kana Nah (Structure C22-41) was part of one of those complexes, consisting of a small pyramid, five meters (16 feet) in height with a square plan of four stepped tiers and a main stairway bordered by a railing. Mexican archaeologist Jesus Galindo Trejo argues that the Kana Nah pyramid appears to be aligned with the major lunar standstill when the moon sets at its extreme point on the horizon. The connection of C22-41 as a contender for the Ixchel Oracle was first put forward by American archaeologists David Freidel and Jeremy Sabloff in 1984. So, Who Was Ix Chel? American archaeologist Traci Ardren (2015) has argued that the identification of Ix Chel as a single moon goddess combining female sexuality and traditional gender roles of fertility comes straight from the minds of the earliest scholars studying her. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, says Ardren, male western scholars brought their own biases about women and their roles in society into their theories about Maya myths. These days, Ix Chels reputed fertility and beauty have been appropriated by several non-specialists, commercial properties, and new age religions, but as Ardren quotes Stephanie Moser, it is dangerous for archaeologists to assume we are the only people who can create meaning out of the past. Selected Sources Ardren, Traci. Mending the Past: Ix Chel and the Invention of a Modern Pop Goddess. Antiquity 80.307 (2015): 25–37. Print.Boskovic, Aleksandar. The Meaning of Maya Myths. Anthropos 84.1/3 (1989): 203–12. Print.Colas, Pierre Robert, Katja Christiane  Stengert, and Urlich Wolfel. The Mapping of Ix Chel: A Terminal Classic Secondary Maya Site on the Northern Vaca Plateau, Belize, Central America. Northern Vaca Plateau Geoarchaeology Project, 2006. Print.Galindo Trejo, Jesus. Calendric-Astronomical Alignment of Architectural Structures in Mesoamerica: An Ancestral Cultural Practice. The Role of Archaeoastronomy in the Maya World: The Case Study of the Island of Cozumel. Eds. Sanz, Nuria, et al. Paris, France: UNESCO, 2016. 21–36. Print.Iwaniszewski, Stanislaw. Time and the Moon in Maya Culture: The Case of Cozumel. The Role of Archaeoastronomy in the Maya World: The Case Study of the Island of Cozumel. Eds. Sanz, Nuria, et al. Paris, France: UNESCO, 2016. 39 œ55. Print.Polk, Jason S., Philip E. van Beynen, and Philip P. Reeder. Late Holocene Environmental Reconstruction Using Cave Sediments from Belize. Quaternary Research 68.1 (2007): 53–63. Print. Ã…  prajc, Ivan. Archaeological Sites on the Island of Cozumel: The Role of Astronomy in Architectural and Urban Planning. The Role of Archaeoastronomy in the Maya World: The Case Study of the Island of Cozumel. Eds. Sanz, Nuria, et al. Paris, France: UNESCO, 2016. 57–83. Print.

Stateless nation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stateless nation - Research Paper Example In this paper, much focus will be on the stateless nation of Kurds (Natali 70). The Kurds hence are a group of ancient non-Arabs that are mostly Sunni Muslims. In terms of geographical distribution, they are sparsely distributed across several states in Turkey, Iran and Iraq, while a few others exist in Syria, Armenia, and Azerbaijan (Koohzad 180). Therefore, an annotated bibliography of the Kurds will be summarized in this paper to provide a clear picture of the stateless nation of Kurds. Aristova, T. and David Testen. "Kurds." Encyclopedia of World Cultures (1996): 234-260. In the Encyclopedia of world cultures, an overview of Kurds is provided. The paper clearly provides the population statistics of the Kurds back then in 1989 (Aristove 235). It goes forth and provides their distribution in the various regions which they occupy: USSR, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova (Aristove 245). The article also provides a brief overview of their linguistic affiliation. It continues father to give a discussion of their history plus their cultural relations. Furthermore, the encyclopedia also provides a brief yet detailed overview of their language, literacy, settlements, economy, religion and finally their culture (Aristove 256). Koohzad, M. "Kurds." The International Journal of Kurdish Studies (2008): 22 (1), 173-192. In this journal article, Koohzad provides an overview of the Kurdish culture and society. From various researches conducted by various people, the journal article manages to provide evidenced information in regard to the Kurds fiasco (Koohzad 183). It encompasses a detailed overview of the Kurdish language, the society and its history. In addition, much interest is drawn to it in regard to their anthropology. Furthermore, it provides an overview in regard to its stateless nature and some of the efforts put forth by Kurds in regard to nation building (Koohzad 191). Natali, Den ise. The Kurds And the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, And Iran. New York: Syracuse University Press, 2005. Print. This book provides an evolutionary explanation of the Kurdish nationalism, showing that contrary to the popular beliefs and theories in regard to the Kurds, as it supports the fact that their nothing fixed or natural in regard to Kurdish identity or whatever nationalism they assume (Natali 67). The author of this book argues that the given nationalism of the Kurdish people might have been shaped through the existence of other nation states and the need to have their own. it goes further to explain the political, and cultural aspects of the Kurds in detail (Natali 69). Reynolds, James. "Defiance in Turkey's Kurdish heartland." 11 October 2012. bbc.co.uk. 1 April 2013 . In this article written by Reynolds James, an overview of the stateless region of Kurdish and its inhabitants it’s provided and a detailed explanation provided on why they were be ing defiant to the existing Turkish government. The article starts by the editor enquiring the identity of a certain child, of which refuted as saying he was not Turkish, and insisted he was Kurdish (Reynolds). It continues by providing a history into the birth of the stateless nation Kurds and