Saturday, November 23, 2019

Government Term Paper Topics

Government Term Paper Topics In the recent years government term paper topics are becoming more and more popular. Students all over the US need to write a good paper on a government term paper topic. In order to be able to write a good paper on government term paper topic – a student has to possess certain information on the government term paper topic he chooses. Basically, the writing a paper on government term paper topics – is conducting a quality research on the government activity and the effect it makes on modern life of an American. The research can be conducted in several ways: An experts opinion. This is the most trusted way, as if you have access to an experts opinion on a government issue – you are guaranteed to have a good term paper, and its relevance will be proved by the opinion that is generated by the expert. This way is the best, but by far not the most convenient and easy. The internet – is an easy way to find information on the topic. The great strength of this method is that you can find multiple opinions on the government term paper topic and make your own conclusions towards this issue. The weakness of this technique is that it is not always so easy to find even one opinion. You will need to browse through thousands of web pages and not even find a single relevant thing. Multiple newspaper articles and professional journals may be used a relevant source of information. These types of information usually contain professional opinions on things going on in the government, but it may be difficult to find something according to your topic as well as use it without citation and referencing. If you decide to write a paper on either of the government term paper topics – the main idea is to conduct proper research and only then – write the term paper. If you are having difficulties with writing a paper on various government term paper topics – why not consider having an expert write it for you? CustomWritings.com is eager to help you with any of your assignments. We have hired experts, who are proficient in almost all government term paper topics, and all of them can be easily assigned to your paper. If you are seeking for proper government term paper topics help – consider CustomWritings.com as your number one assistant. We will make sure you will be delivered a good paper on a government term paper topic. We provide top quality custom term papers written absolutely from scratch. Here is a list of the most popular governmental essay topics: 1. Government Monitoring the Public Right or Wrong? 2. Fascism as a form of government. 3. Principles of the American Government 4. Government Supplied Health Insurance for all Taxpayers and their Dependents 5. How effective was the provisional government? 6. Government Intervention in Individual Markets: A Look at Government Intervention and Antitrust Law via the Microsoft Case 7. Colombian Government vs. The FARC. Who are they and what are they fighting for? 8. The role of government in the economy 9. Issues Facing the New Federal Government 10. Issues in Australian Government and foreign policy 11. Presidential and parliamentary governments 12. 1984 Governmental control over the media and loss of privacy 13. Links between GDP, Consumption, Investment and Government Expenditure 14. What are the major ideas of government and society contained in the Indian Constitution? 15. History of Roman Government 16. American citizens duties and obligations to the government based on the constitution 17. How has the Australian Government and media portrayed the refugee situation? 18. The Government’s Role in a Market Economy 19. E-Government and E-Procurement 20. Outline Government 21. State Local Government Accounting 22. How do government policies influence the level of inequality in the distribution of income and wealth? 23. Government control over equality 24. Government Relations and business 25. Religions impact on US government 26. Government Censorship 27. Internet Regulation – Government Involvement 28. What is presidential government and parliamentary government? 29. US Airways and Government Aid 30. Globalisation and Government Incentives

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Sexism in Popular Culture Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sexism in Popular Culture - Dissertation Example Important here to note is there is a significant portion of the movies in Hollywood and instances in the popular culture, where one can easily find female characters, whether lead or supporting, with similar traits, whether it be film, television, theatre, drama, advertising, comic books, literature, video games, cartoons and others (Stephanie & Brabon, 2009, p. 225). The rise of feminism and the debate about the identity of women has forced many filmmakers directors and producers in the media to move away from the traditional emotionally unstable and weak concept of women and portray women in a more realistic and empowering way. This created a demand of â€Å"strong female characters† and over the past couple of decades, many strong female characters have emerged to fill this gap. However, many feminist critics and even other experts have challenged and criticised the idea and depiction of strong female characters. This paper is an attempt to explore and analyse the depiction of women in film and video games, while simultaneously exploring the concept of â€Å"strong female characters†, its ideological grounding and the criticism. ... Towards the end, the Hero would come and save them to live a life happily ever after. However, towards the mid 20th century, the rise of feminism created discontent amongst female viewers and stakeholders of Hollywood that this portrayal of women as â€Å"needy† and â€Å"weak† creatures in sexist. In order to address the same, writers came up with female characters that would be trapped by the villain only after putting up a strong fight (Hollows & Moseley, 2006, p. 58). These women, to a certain degree, had skills normally possessed by men. They could drive sport cars, use guns, had physical strength, was comfortable with her body and could outdrink any man. Even when she could put a fight, these â€Å"strong female characters†, in the end of the movie, would get themselves into trouble and that also in the sexiest way possible. Surprisingly enough, even when she could put a fight to resist the pressures of villain, she would never get a black eye or get physic ally injured probably because they same would decrease her appeal. The point here is that all the â€Å"strength† added to the female character was just an attempt to make her a better and more attractive prize for the hero at the end. (Meyers, 2008, p. 172 (Gillis, et al., 2007, p. 413). The problem with the commonly used phrase â€Å"strong female characters† or â€Å"strong females or women† is that it is ironic, paradoxical and contradictory within itself. Female characters are viewed as strong only when they are able to exhibit dominance, assertiveness, tendency for violence, boldness, rudeness and impudence that is characterised with male characters (Haase, 2004, p. 340). The point here is that in order to become â€Å"strong female characters†, women have to give up the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Process Business Integration Case Study Research Paper

Process Business Integration Case Study - Research Paper Example This report intends to identify and critically assess the key areas of business process integration linked with the modern framework of supply chain management aided with technology innovation. In accordance, two literature studies by McAdam and McCormack (2001) and Cagliano, Caniato and Spina (2006) have been referred in this report, which aimed at evaluating the linkage between the two dimensions of integrated business process and supply chain management. It has been observed from both the cases that modern organizations are generally motivated by the influential development of the present supply chain management mechanism that enables them to cope with changing business trends. Moreover, the discussion has also revealed various roles of supply chain management that facilitate organizations to achieve better alignment of the overall business process and enable them to gain competitive advantages to secure long-run sustenance. Keywords: supply chain management, integrated business p rocess, organizational performance, strategies Introduction Business process integration has long been regarded as a key to continuous organizational development. Undoubtedly, the recent challenges of the globalised world, has made the phenomenon more apparent in the dimension of organizational management. In the present era, exhibiting continuous alterations in the global business environment, organizations can be observed as highly inclined towards practicing innovative leadership strategies, in alignment with unconventional, advanced technology aided business models influencing its supply chain (Cagliano, Caniato, & Spina, 2006). Moreover, the 21st century leadership practices can also be observed to emphasize reinventing effective measures in order to establish a better communication channel between the customers, suppliers and other groups of stakeholders. This apparently advocates corporate measures to integrate the supply chain functions at almost every phase. The two most ap parent drivers of these changes in organizational leadership practices can be identified as the continuous development of global business culture and the trend of continuous expansion within the corporate world (McAdam & McCormack, 2001). Emphasizing the present transformational changes in the contemporary business environment, the primary purpose of this essay will be to critically identify the key areas of business process integration in relation to the unconventional approaches of supply chain management practiced by modern organizations. In establishing this particular aim, evidences provided by McAdam and McCormack (2001) and Cagliano, Caniato and Spina (2006) will be referred and critically reviewed with prime significance throughout the study. Brief Discussion of the Cases â€Å"Integrating business processes for global alignment and supply chain management† by Rodney McAdam and Daniel McCormack When addressing the linkage between business process integration with supp ly chain management practices in the modern era, McAdam & McCormack (2001) were able to connote few noteworthy aspects, which can be examined as the major determinants of the currently exhibited challenges and proficiencies of the corporate world. McAdam & McCormack (2001) subsequently explained that an integrated supply chain management ensures improvement of operational functions to a substantial extent offering added managerial control on organizational performance. Based on their empirical study, McAdam & McCorma

Sunday, November 17, 2019

he Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Essay Example for Free

he Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Essay Identity shows a person’s individuality. A person’s individuality can include how they dress, their beliefs, their personality traits, the way they speak, their culture, their education, etc. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and in my own life, it is evident that when exploring identity, a character must leave and return to his/her roots before truly understanding him/herself. Arnold finds out who he is by leaving and later coming back to Rowdy. In the last scene, before Arnold and Rowdy played their one-on-one basketball game, Arnold and Rowdy repair their lost friendship. It is then that Arnold thinks, â€Å"I would always love Rowdy. And I would always miss him too. † (230) This quote shows how Arnold realizes that he is different from Rowdy. To begin, he has always valued his friendship with Rowdy and so he says that he â€Å"would always love Rowdy. † Even when Arnold had a disagreement with Rowdy when heading to Reardan for a better education, he still thought of how Rowdy would defend him. However, by the end of the book, Arnold realizes that he will have to â€Å"miss† Rowdy because their dreams make them too different from each other. Therefore, Arnold discovers that his life can still include Rowdy, who has been his friend since the beginning, however, he cannot rely on Rowdy to be with him always. By the end of the book, Arnold has returned to Rowdy as a stronger and independent person. Similarly, I found my true identity after leaving and returning to my family. Growing up, I came from a home that was traditionally Chinese. We did not easily express our emotions, we were not allowed to date until after college, and being successful at school would ultimately bring honor to my family. Though these beliefs were deeply ingrained in everything I did, a rebellious side of me wanted to discover what it meant to be American as well. Why were the other families so expressive and communicative towards each other? What mattered beyond grades and doing well in school? These questions led me to leave my family and head to college eight hours away. There, I met many people who did not come from Chinese families. I noticed that some students were not as disciplined at school because their families did not stress education or some students were a little overly expressive with their feelings, which caused drama among their peers. I began to miss my house where my parents had instilled values towards having a good education and protecting our family’s privacy. When returning home, I was thankful for understanding my parent’s values and their intentions for my future. Arnold truly finds himself when he has accepted his origins and absorbed them into his perspective of himself. His reunion with Rowdy and the reservation show how he came full circle in finding himself. Even though Arnold wanted to both physically and emotionally remove himself from the reservation in order to pursue his dreams, he ultimately realizes that it is only when he acknowledges his heritage that he can move forward into adulthood.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Ethical Theory of Hedonism

Ethical Theory of Hedonism According to many scholars, to live ethically means to thinks about things that are beyond ones personal interests. When one thinks and lives ethically he or she becomes a just human being with needs and desires of his own but still living among people who also have their needs and desires. Ethics is branch of philosophy that deals with the study of right and wrong questions and therefore helps us to make the right moral judgments in the events of our daily life. This excerpt aims at discussing normative and applied ethics and in particular hedonism and its application in the criminal justice system. The modification of hedonism as a theory in ethics engrosses a number of amazing and important decisions. In this excerpt therefore two types of hedonism are also discussed. Introduction Both the criminal justice system professionals and the general public are concerned with the application of ethics in our daily lives. Everybody would like to see all the public servants and all people in the world perform their duties in the best way possible. In understanding the peoples behavior the criminal justice system uses number of ethical theories where hedonism is one of them. According to Banks (2009), hedonism has been traditionally expressed as the notion that pleasure alone is intrinsically good (p.333). In his explanations banks says that the only thing that is worth seeking just for its own sake is pleasure and that pleasure is the good. Hedonism is therefore the doctrine that pleasure is the sole good. Hedonism was first explained by Epicurus who was a great philosopher from Greek. In the English form Epicurus name appears as epicure, which means a person whose main enjoyment and satisfaction is gotten from exotic and carefully made food and wine. Epicurus advocated for the moderate and yet pleasurable living where he stated that pleasure is the good for which all human beings aim. On the other hand the pursuit of pleasure can also result to pain for instance when a person drinks to excess in his or her pursuit for pleasure and suffers stomachaches and headaches. Pain is mostly good as a means since its usually a signal that something is not right and that a change is necessary. Therefore according to the views of Epicurus the best way for one to live is to live in a pleasant manner and at the same time suffer not any of the unwanted effects of pleasant living. According to Banks (2009), the main aim of human living is tranquility of the mind and the health of the body. He did not recommend a life of endless pleasure or sensuality since by pleasure it means the absence of pain on the body as well as the absence of problem in the soul. However certain pleasures like making fun of others or taking drugs are a means of something painful and therefore would not be good. Tranquility of the mind is attained through practical wisdom and philosophical understanding. Hedonism appears in two forms which are ethical hedonism and psychological hedonism. Psychological hedonism states that human beings pursue pleasure and only pleasure in their lives and that all their activities are aimed towards attaining pleasure as well as avoiding pain (Banks 2009 p.334). Ethical hedonism on the other hand states that not only do human beings seek pleasure but they are actually supposed to seek pleasure because pleasure alone is good. In psychological hedonism all actions are motivated or driven by the search for pleasure while the ethical hedonism goes a step further and views the pursuit for pleasure as being normative. However, in its both forms hedonism is criticized by many scholars for trying to give only a single explanation for all human acts. According to Tuner (2000), pleasure is not the only thing that is desirable. Many other things like peace, money, education and liberty are desirable as means and ends but in hedonism pleasure is desirable as the eventual end. In this study we also find that human beings get pleasure in different ways. Pleasure can also be the same even when the sources of pleasure are the same. The hedonists believe that moral goodness is actually an instrumental good and not necessarily an intrinsic good. Moral goodness means doing the right thing even when it does not lead to happiness. According to hedonism, moral goodness can be an instrumental good though it does not always mean that it will result to pleasure (Larry, 2009) The idea of pleasure and happiness being a measure of ethical morality is basically limited to the western philosophy. Many people have promoted the hedonistic belief in pleasure from Aristotle and Socrates to John Mill and Jeremy Bentham as well as to others in the contemporary times. According to the proponents of hedonism all human beings are selfish by nature. These supporters argue people do good or bad to others so as to acquire a certain intrinsic pleasure (Everett 2006 p. 36). This pleasure may be overtime, in the immediate future or may even cause them pain in the immediate sense and eventually cause them pleasure. In this sense its believed that people help others because helping others gives them pleasure. Similarly people do evil because doing evil gives them pleasure. The criminal justice system therefore uses the theory of hedonism to understand the behavior of criminals and what drives them into committing crimes (Turner). This way the criminal justice system is able to give the right punishments to these law offenders. People have different ways of walking, thinking or acting. When one begins to know an individual there begins to emerge a pattern in train of thoughts. These behavioral patterns and traits are usually studied by the behavioral scientist. For instance the law enforcement uses such behavioral studies to monitor dangerous criminals like serial killers (Axelrod Antinozzi 2002 p.22). Deep inside the mind of criminals there is psychological reasoning behind the actions that they commit. A criminal will therefore leave a signature or a pattern behind which helps the investigators of the crime scene in analyzing information regarding the crime. Classical criminologists view human beings as rational and capable of making free choices. In a well organized society that has rational system of criminal justice therefore, any crime should be defined as the product of an irrational decision. According to Axelrod Antinozzi (2002), all behavior is reduced to avoidance of pain and seeking of pleasure. The main question of the criminal justice system is therefore how to make crime less pleasurable and more painful to the criminals (p.26). From the perspective of those intending to commit a crime, the pain involved should be more painful than breaking the law is worth. Only by making the punishment this way will the Criminal Justice System be able to discourage criminals and those intending to be criminals from indulging into crime. Otherwise if the pain gotten from committing a crime is equal or worth the pleasure derived from the committing it then many would go on committing the crime. The end punishment should always be meant to p revent the criminal from doing further harm to the society after refrain others from committing similar offences. The criminal justice system should therefore be able to choose punishments that will a strong and lasting impression on the mind of the criminal.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Business Statistics

QMT2033 BUSINESS STATISTICS Assignment for mid -term break 1. Most of the information technology developers claim that wireless connection would give speed of at least 11 Mbps compared to wired connection. A sample of 105 computers using wireless connection shows it gives a mean of 11. 7 Mbps and a standard deviation of 2. 3 Mbps. a) Do you think that the wireless usage should be implemented? Test at 7% significance level). b) Repeat the test by using p-value approach. 2. A jack is usually used for raising the axle of a motor so that a wheel may be changed.It is known that the weight of the vehicle that be raised by a jack is more than 100kg. a random sample of 125 jacks with a mean of 102. 2kg and standard deviation of 15. 17kg is taken. a) Do you agree that a jack can raise more than a 100 kg vehicle? (use ? = 0. 03) b) Repeat the test by using p-value approach. 3. In a normal situation, on average, a song needs a duration of at most 3. 5 minutes to be played. The duration of a ran dom sample of 11 songs is taken, and the data are as follows: 5. 32 6. 53 4. 52 3. 20 3. 39 4. 00 4. 10 3. 15 3. 47 4. 01 2. 3 a) By using the data, do you agree with the statement that a song needs a duration of at most 3. 5 minutes to be played? (use ? = 0. 05) b) Repeat the test by using p-value approach. 4. A researcher needs on average, 1. 2 years to complete his short-term research. A random sample of 12 researcher are taken, and the duration (in years) to complete their research are recorded as below: 4. 3 1. 0 1. 5 1. 6 1. 2 0. 8 2. 1 2. 4 0. 7 1. 3 0. 4 a) Do these data support the stamen that a researcher needs exactly 1. 2 years to complete his research? (use ? =0. 05) b) Repeat the test by using p-value approach. 5.Newly purchased automobile tyres of a certain type are supposed to be filled with a pressure of at most 34 psi. A random sample of 36 such tyres was selected and it gives a sample mean of 34. 66 psi and a standard deviation of 2. 14 psi. a) Does this sample pr ove that such tyres fill with a pressure of at most 34 psi? (Use 7% significance level). b) Repeat the test by using p-value approach. QMT2033 BUSINESS STATISTICS 6. In a labour-management discussion it was brought up that workers at a certain large plant, take on average at least 32. 6 minutes to get to work. If a random sample of 60 workers took on the average of 33. minutes with a standard deviation of 6. 1 minutes, what can you conclude based on the sample taken? (Use 0. 017 level of significance). Repeat the test by using p-value approach. 7. A manufacturer has developed a new fishing line, which he claims has a mean breaking strength of 15 kilograms with a standard deviation of 0. 5 kilogram. To test the eligibility of the claim, a random sample of 50 lines has been tested and it gave a mean of 14. 9 kilograms. Can you help the manufacturer to test his claim? (Use a significance level of 0. 08). Repeat the test by using p-value approach.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

African Renaissance

Introduction l. African Renaissance: A Resurrection The theory of an African Renaissance has captured the interests of a number of intellectuals, reporters and politicians. In South Africa, where the concept has come to be closely identified with the political perceptions of former President Taboo Imbibe, it has been received as a proposal for â€Å"African political renewal and economic regeneration† (July, 2001 : 87). The concept can thus be viewed as a â€Å"rebirth†; a resurrection-since it has inspired policies to address the socio-economic fallouts of apartheid.The thought, Mallow (2001:1) contends, is a dominant trait in the â€Å"outlook f the African National Congress (NC)-led government†, and has been embraced as a â€Å"key component of its ideological outlook, especially as this pertains to international matters† (Mallow, 2001:1). The view is a significant theme in the organization's policy quest, and an exclusive ‘African Renaissance Fun d', Mallow (2001:2) confirms, was vested as part of this course. According to the Strategic Plan published by the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004, the principles that underpin South Africans foreign policy include, commitments to the promotion of Human Rights and necromancy; to Justice and International Law in the conduct of relations between nations; to international peace and intentionally agreed-upon mechanisms for resolving conflict; to promoting the interests of Africa in world affairs; and to economic development through regional and international cooperation in an interdependent and globalizes world† (Nathan, 2005:366). II.Post-1994 NC-led government policies/actors In general, policy is expressed as a broad interpretation for â€Å"desired state of affairs† entailing â€Å"specific decisions† occasionally in a â€Å"rational sequence† (Nikkei, van deer Wald and Junker 2001:87). The author reasons that the term can be used in several ways, and involves â€Å"action as well as inaction† (Nikkei, van deer Wald and Junker 2001:87). An exceptionally good policy is a device that â€Å"makes organization easier† (University of Sydney, 2012), and permits the public to associate with the government's core principles more adequately.Nikkei, van deer Wald and Junker (2001:87) distinguish between three extensive classes of policy, namely â€Å"domestic, foreign and defense policies†. Nevertheless, the African Renaissance has been listed by several intellectuals, like Assiduously (2008: 110) as a â€Å"foreign-policy tragedy' (Assiduously, 2008: 110). The concept is a â€Å"South African emerging foreign policy doctrine† encompassing a â€Å"set of foreign policy goals and domestic styles, and politics entrenched in a set of political, social and economic relation† (BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce 2005: 179).The Department of Foreign Affairs (2008), notes that South Africans policy initiatives should be modest and not overly ambitious. A reactive policy is inappropriate. The country policies-both domestic and international level- in essence map out to ensure â€Å"peace, democracy, respect for human rights and sustained development† (Department Of Foreign Affairs, 2008). A range of principal policy actors â€Å"exercise varying degrees of influence to shape the outcomes of these processes† (Raptor, 2004: 3).Among these actors are â€Å"formal state institutions such as the ruling party, opposition parties, the legislature, portfolio committees and individual members of provincial legislatures. There are also external, non-state policy actors and institutions such as organized interest groups, the media, independent consultants, non-governmental organizations and ordinary citizens† (Raptor, 2004:4). Examples include â€Å"the modern social movement, Anti- Appropriation Forum (APE); the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDEAS)† amongst the many.The se organizations, posits Ranchos (2007:5) have emerged as â€Å"very strong and vociferous organizations† who bid to shape and impact the state and its operations (Ranchos 2007:7) Integrating Post-Apartheid South Africa into the African Economy The report further comments that the NC-led political framework and â€Å"methods of formal engagement made for new opportunities and challenges† (Ranchos 2007:13). Bassoon (1991: 5) declares that â€Å"post-apartheid South Africa must be able to release more resources for reinvestment in the economy to revivalist it and for dealing with social problems† (Bassoon, 1991: 5).This challenge calls for â€Å"re-modeling† existing organizations to admit a â€Å"new' South Africa. Cooperation has been an essential tool in strengthening the newly -emerged economy, and efficient in â€Å"gradually and steadily leading to the integration of the economy with the harmonistic of currencies, financial systems, and infrastructu re† (Bassoon 1991: 9) The political process has deviated from a â€Å"regime of confrontation to a regime of negotiation†, asserts Bassoon (1991:12).In addressing the problems underlying the country political, social and economic spectrum, policy response required a unified participation in eradicating and transforming the then white-rule racist and undemocratic Constitution, and implementing an effective representative political governing structure (African National Congress, 2011) African Renaissance in Historical Perspective BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 162) consider that the African Renaissance perception has a rigid heritage that traces back in the History of the African continent.They describe events like the â€Å"rebellion of slaves in the ‘new world order' n the late eighteenth century' as interpreted by Manage (2001), and other comparable events, were the early basic â€Å"breeding grounds for pan-Africans†, a term that is largely supposed as an influential â€Å"predecessor of, and source of inspiration for African Renaissance. (Lundeberg ; Hellhole 1999; BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce 2005: 162) BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 166) remarks that even though the pan-Africans objective shrunk quickly after being introduced, Julius Anywhere's image of a â€Å"United States of Africa† integrated by boundaries and united by a common language of prosperity, perished and has been kept awake by â€Å"many represents of Africans development† (BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 167) What started centuries ago in the form of â€Å"African uprisings† is â€Å"reflected in the present day struggle of the African continent to overcome hardships such as ‘unstable political systems'; ‘predatory elites'; a high ‘international debt burden' and unfavorable international trade regimes† (BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 171). The present-day use of the African Renaissance approach was pronounced for emost by former South African President, Taboo Imbibe, and is broadly understood as a ‘resurrection' of the African continent, as it stimulated Africans to seek â€Å"African lotions for African problems† BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 172). It focuses on concerns like â€Å"regional cooperation, the emancipation of disadvantaged groups, sustainable economic development and the deepening and sustenance of democracy' (BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce (2005: 173). My African Experience, My African Renaissance What does the African Renaissance notion in its current state encompass?Components of the concept, Vale and Masses (1998: 272) suggest, are intentionally kept unclear, so as to â€Å"create space for embroiling people for championing the AR concept† (Vale and Masses 1998: 272), because it is utilized by a broad spectrum of actors, from â€Å"politicians and policy-makers, to businessmen and scholars† (Vale and Masses 1998: 273) – it is almost impossi ble for the term to lose its gist. Vale and Masses (1998: 273) observe that the â€Å"visionary language of the African Renaissance was understood by five suggested areas of engagement: the encouragement of cultural exchange; the 'emancipation of African woman from patriarchy; the manipulation of youth; the broadening, deepening and sustenance of democracy; and the initiation of sustainable economic development† (Vale and Masses 1998: 273; BÃ'Ëœsheer and van Amerce 2005: 179).Apart from unveiling the core themes of the theory, it is necessary to explore the scope of the concept in the contrasting views explored by Vale and Masses (1998: 278) in order to understand whether or not the development of the African Renaissance is really necessary for South Africa- both on domestic and foreign policy levels. The authors differentiate between two explicit views of South Africa in Africa: the â€Å"globalize interpretation†- which was â€Å"cast in the modernist tradition†, and embraces a modernist approach of globalization, with fair emphasis on appropriation, liberation's and the sort. The second approach- â€Å"Africans approach†- adopts the African Renaissance to â€Å"unlock a series of complex social constructions† embodied around African status.The former suggests a â€Å"continental effort by South Africans† to attain â€Å"sustained economic growth and wealth accumulation†, the latter calls for a â€Å"more post-structural interpretation† of global affairs (Vale and Masses 1998: 278) The essence of South Africans African policy- motivated by Ember's perception of Renaissance targets escalating South Africans strategic arrangements on the continent, which apart from establishing â€Å"good provenance† , also include â€Å"introducing new economic policies† that would ensure access to good education, adequate health care, decent houses, clean water and modern sanitation† (Taylor and Will iams, 2001 : 269) Despite much criticism on the concept for having a driven vision but being nothing more than a â€Å"wish list†, the African Renaissance perspective is significant and necessary for South Africans, because it is an efficient tool for the nations' ambitions towards a peaceful, equal and democratic state from the appalling former white-rule government characterized by oppression and injustice. The theory has been relevant in re-building South Africans social, political and economic set-up, and has played a significant role in re-shaping South Africans role and recognition in international affairs.For example the country capacity and success in hosting the 2010 FIFE World Cup Just a few years ago, and the possibility of being the first African country to hold permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (Taylor and Williams, 2001 : 269). It is the very same polices shaped by the AR theory behind the progress and political and socio-economic adjustments , noted by Mislabel (2011) to have purposed with â€Å"abolishing all forms of corruption and apartheid incompetence'. The post-1994 NC led government â€Å"adopted progressive policies that sought to ensure the economic advancement† of previously deprived social-classes and races. These policies comprise of â€Å"Transformation, BEE, employment equity, affirmative action, preferential procurement† (Mislabel, 2001).They are a monument of a â€Å"shining success of democracy'- as they have indeed promoted economic growth and human rights in the democratic South Africa. This, of course, is not to overlook the negative reality concerning dishonest practices that have gathered around policies like BEE. ‘I Am an African': Contradictions and Inconsistencies The African renaissance is an inclusive concept, developed for on principles of equality and democracy for a united African society, and seeks to promote the dreams and ambitions of the African citizen irrespectiv e of race, gender, ethnicity or religion. In â€Å"African Renaissance language†, and on the â€Å"Cosmopolitan and African image† projected in Ember's ‘l am an African' speech- who is an African?It is critical to explicitly spell-out what is meant by ‘African', to examine the extent of African contribution in IR (Smith, 2008) â€Å"l know that none dare challenge me when I say- I am an African! † Taboo Imbibe. Africa is a diverse continent and â€Å"South Africa is experiencing an African Renaissance built on its diverse and fascinating cultural heritage† (South African Tourism, 2011). Consequently, these people's â€Å"worldviews and insights will be equally diverse† (Ackermann). In a similar vein, â€Å"only if African insights are significantly different from the existing ‘R, will they make a worthwhile nutrition to the field† (Karen, 2008). An African to me is anybody and everybody who resembles the wealthy and ‘ colorful mosaic' spectrum that embraces the fabric' of the African society.He needs to pride himself in the African culture and history- and reflect the â€Å"spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect† that penetrates the African society, and aid to â€Å"re-enforce the country pride in its multi-ethnic roots† (South African Tourism, 2011). Color doesn't begin to own the rich concept- African. Simply put an African is an African. Undeniably, politics still runs across race nines in South Africa, but the common vision for a stable and democratic Africa, embodied in the African Renaissance policy can erase those lines, and assist in moving forward as a ‘trailside' state built on policies that are inclusive and rooted in achieving equal opportunity for all. The policies that emanate from the African Renaissance objectives, I. E.BEE- refuted to favor only the black population- were formulated to fix the problems of the past which deprived certain groups of people ( Mislabel 2001), and should be understood in not-so extremist meaner ‘exclusionary), because they were employed to ‘make right' -to correct the country past apartheid fallouts. We have different but not contrasting cultures, and all seek a common goal: political, social and economic success. The AR policy was designed upon similar vision and objectives, and no doubt can contribute towards the advancement of the everyday ordinary South African. Conclusion â€Å"To succeed, South Africans African Renaissance will draw together widely divergent ideas on what it is to be African in the eve of the 21st century' (Vale and Masses 1998: 280).This paper has dissected Ember's sentiment of an African Renaissance as n African ‘resurrection': South Africans policy for All Africans, All South Africans. It is up to every South African to realism the common platform of interests, and pursue a shared effort to ensure the profit of the African Renaissance policy, and translate its v ision in a Just and equal democratic society without excluding the ‘African'-which is anyone and everybody. Cooperation is fundamental. Racial quarrels and conflicts are a good recipe for failure. Holding anger, I have come to realism, is no different to holding a sneeze- sooner than later you're bound to get hurt.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How the Marine Corps Prepared Me to Self-Publish Novels

How the Marine Corps Prepared Me to Self-Publish Novels How the US Marine Corps Prepared Me to Self-Publish Matt Leatherwood is a former United States Marine and two-time self-published author. In this guest post, Matt shares how his experience in the Marine Corps inspired him to self-publish novels,  and how returning to the publishing industry after more than a decade-long hiatus has shaped him as an author.Growing up, I recognized I had a unique ability to capture people’s imaginations through the written word. Teachers in middle school and high school called it a â€Å"gift.† I just thought of it as a way to pass the time during boring classes. Once the bell rung, I couldn’t wait to share my latest creation with others. Mr. Bennett, my science teacher, recognized my talent and began reading my work out loud during study halls.For years, I was content with scribbling stuff down on paper, passing it around and getting a reaction. This habit followed me through high school, into college and eventually the Marines.Journaling my experiences in IraqI never wanted to be a writer. That changed on January 13th, 2003, the day my battalion commander stood before me and announced that the Secretary of Defense, acting on orders from the president, had issued our unit a deployment order for the Middle East. My initial thought was, â€Å"I’m going to war, and I’m gonna die.† My next thought was about how I had squandered my writing talent.A majority of my fellow Marines were disturbed by the news. The last time the United States deployed for an armed conflict on a mass scale was slightly over a decade ago (1991). Fear of the unknown was rampant whether anybody wanted to admit it or not. I resolved at that moment to keep a day-to-day journal of things as they unfolded on the ground. This journal tracked my movements from the U.S. to Kuwait into Iraq and back again.My motivation for the journal was to provide my family with a written record of what was going on as I experienced it should I perish - my mother would be most comforted for an in-depth explanation beyond the generic â€Å"killed in action† touted by the military.How the battlefield turned me into a writerI returned back to the U.S. on July 4th, 2003 and was honorably discharged several months later. I still had all the journals I had written but didn’t know what to do with them. It then dawned on me to turn them into a book that my family and others could read to understand the plight of the combat soldier. Those journals became Train to Baghdad, my first book.I had officially become a writer through extenuating circumstances. I can honestly say, if I had never gone to war, I would’ve never taken up writing. So, it is my contention that I was â€Å"drafted† into writing. "I  was drafted to war.  I was also drafted into writing." @M_LeatherwoodJr Why I gave up writing after my first attempt to self-publish novelsI worked daily for eight months, shaping my journals into the book "Train to Baghdad". Because the war was still being fought and I did not obtain clearance from the Department of Defense, I was forced into writing the book as a fictional memoir.Not knowing anything about fiction, apart from what I had learned by reading it myself, I enrolled in the novel-writing program at Winghill Writing School and spent thirteen months learning the craft from the bottom up. I was assigned an instructor, Canadian author Michael Crawley, who had some commercial success and we began working on the first ten chapters of what is now Complicity in Heels.Why self-publishing works for meWorking with Reedsy editor, Angela Brown was a joy. I followed her editorial letter religiously as I revised the manuscript of "Complicity in Heels". There were times when I realized my story had more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. She brought up poin ts I had never even considered when constructing my story. I found myself often asking, "How could I have missed that?" She pushed me past my comfort zone as a writer.Despite my initial, challenging experience with self-publishing, the decision to self-publish my second book was quite easy. The choice felt right because of how it coincided with my Marine background. Self-reliance, discipline, and responsibility are in my blood. I thrive on challenge and adversity, both of which are involved when you self-publish. "I thrive on challenge and adversity, both of which are involved in self-publishing." For others, the traditional publishing route provides security and industry validation. However, both avenues come with a laundry list of pros and cons, so anybody just starting out would be best served to do their due diligence.Looking back on war and the importance of readingContrary to popular belief, there is a lot of dead time during a  war. I too held this misconception of nonstop action, until I found myself in a combat zone - I thought it would be constant engagement with the enemy. After all, that’s what all the movies show: firefight after firefight.   Not so. There are long stretches of action-less time, depending on where you are on the battlefield. Books and mail from loved ones at home are much-desired staples that get you through those times.Often, you don’t know where you are, how long you’re going to be there, or what tomorrow looks like. Orson Scott Card’s  Ender’s Game series got me through those doldrums. I kept a fresh co py of his paperback in the cargo pocket of my uniform and toted that book wherever I went.On the battlefield, books and letters are lifelines. Back home, writing has given me a new path and self-publishing has allowed me to open a new chapter in life. "On the battlefield, books and letters are lifelines." @M_LeatherwoodJr "Complicity in Heels" is available on Amazon for Kindle and paperback. Find out more on Matt’s website!  What has inspired you to be a writer? How has self-publishing influenced you as an author? Leave your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Matt  in the comments below.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher

Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher Outline International Corporation has led to assimilation and integration of different cultures into other countries. It is currently normal to find a non-resident working comfortably in a foreign nation. This is motivated by different experiences and skills that may be helpful in a certain organisation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, one area has not appreciated the services of non-natives. Despite their commendable services in other employment sectors, non-native speakers have not been preferred to teach English language especially to the natives. This is mainly due to their accent that may interfere with the communication skills of the learners. Apart from influence of accent, other qualities possessed by these teachers qualify them to offer commendable services to students. Introduction Teaching languages in institutions is a critica l issue that has been a source of debate on the choice of an English teacher. In selecting a teacher for a particular subject, the administration mainly considers qualifications and experience of the teacher and his or her capability to handle the subject. Other issues like race and cultural background are insignificant matters. However, when it comes to choice of a language teacher, rules are re-examined to determine whether the teacher is a native speaker or not. Employing a native speaker is a rule applied in many schools whenever they want to recruit an English teacher. Apart from the necessary academic qualifications, school administration will want to know who among the applicants is a native speaker, and who is not. From there the non-native speakers are eliminated even if their academic qualifications are better than those of the native applicants.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to, Phan (2008 pp 24-26), these applicants are not given a chance to express their ability; ‘it is assumed that because of their mother tongues influence they will not be able to deliver quality services to students’ A non-native speaker being denied an opportunity does not only involve the school administration, some administrations who have allowed non-native teachers to handle language classes have received negative response from students who prefer to be taught by a native speaker. Such an attitude is planted in their minds and they feel that a non-native teacher may not understand their language needs. Some of these students are not ready to listen to the teacher not because of the quality of his or her services but simply because he is non-native speaker. The discussion below is a critical analysis of both the advantages and disadvantages of a native and non-native language teacher. Native teacher advantages disadvantages Schools and studen ts may prefer a native teacher because he has a deep understanding of the language. Compared to the non-natives who had to learn the language at later stage, a native teacher is used to the language because they have been learning it since they were borne. Ellis (2002 pp 75-78) enumerates that being native also gives a teacher an advantage of knowing students’ weak areas when learning a language. They will integrate what they went through as they grew up learning the language and the acquired skills about the language that puts them in a better position to handle the real learning issues of their students. Native teachers are not affected by the accent. Accent is an important aspect of communication that no parent, school or student will desire to compromise. A native teacher will ensure that his or her students are identified by their accent.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A non-native is likely to interfere with it through the pronunciation of words for example; an Italian can easily be distinguished from an American by their accent. A native teacher provides a conducive learning environment for the students who look at him or her as a person they can easily identify with which gives them confidence. A native teacher will be able to handle a beginner’s class by giving necessary translations to pupils who may not be familiar with some difficult words. Despite the preferences of a native teacher above, he or she may not always be the best choice for the students due to some reasons. A native teacher takes many things that students are supposed to be taught for granted. This is because; he or she has mastered the language so much, that it may not be easy to deliver the best services to the students. Some native teachers who are preferred because of their background may not necessarily have teaching skills. The re is a difference between written and spoken English that consideration when teaching. A native teacher may be eloquent yet weak when it comes to the written language. Native teachers may rely on their experience of speaking the language to teach students rather than using their technical skills. This makes it hard for the students to learn the basic rules of the language that form its foundation. Non-native advantages disadvantages Despite the discrimination that has existed for long against a non-native teacher, he or she is a choice that should be given priority. First, a non-native teacher who has interest in a foreign language reveals how much passion he has for it that he decided to pursue it as a career.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More His career is not primarily based on earning a living but also on passion. He will therefore deliver the best services as he encourages the students to love the language passionately. A non-native teacher has a better understanding of the challenges that learners of a language go through due to similar experience he has had, Llurda, (2006 pp 22-25). Therefore, non-native teacher understands the real areas that learners will face difficulty and help them accordingly. Despite their challenges in accent, non-native teachers are endowed with basic skills required for learning and teaching the language that places them in a better position to teach it effectively. Students who have difficulty in grasping the language can always be inspired and motivated by their non-native teacher. He will be an example they can look up to and get assurance that if he made it despite his or her background they can also make it. However, a non-native teacher may not be able to deliver quality services to the students due to a number of weaknesses. His accent may affect the spoken language of students that may make them to loose their identity. For instance, there is a difference between German and American English. If a pupil of American origin interacts so much with a German English teacher, the pupil will tend to acquire such an accent that may make other people mistake him to be a German. Non-native teachers have a direct influence on the cultural beliefs of the students, in citing examples for sentence construction; a teacher of German origin will site examples as per his background. This is because of the integration of cultural aspect to the learning process that may make the students learn more of a foreign culture than their own. A non-native teacher may not be preferred for a beginner’s class because; he or she may not be able to translate some English words to the native language for proper understanding. Most students hold a certain negative attitude towards non-na tive teachers. Such students may not be convinced that he or she is qualified to teach them properly. Non-native teachers are at times discriminated because of their background, for instance some African Americans may be despised because of their skin colour. This may intimidate them hence affect the quality of their services to students. Argument for non-native superiority When a line is drawn between the qualities of a language teacher, it is clear that a non-native teacher is simply discriminated on attitude ground. A non-native teacher has the skills, knowledge, experience and passion for the language. When all this attributes are combined together and appreciated in schools, the students are able to get the best learning services of a language, Ellis (2002 pp 93-97). Most schools are afraid of employing non-native teachers because of the response the students will have against them. This small issue can be solved by the school administration. Denying the teacher chance to teach in a school due to resistance from the students is a factor that has contributed to such discrimination. It shows the inability of an administration to take control of school affairs and instead giving students such authority. This also shows their weakness in administration by suggesting that they made a wrong choice in their selection procedure. The school administration should not entertain such resistance of a non-native teacher from their students. Once the teacher has been gauged for quality, students have to be assured that he or she is the best choice that will deliver quality-teaching services. Most students will resist them because the administration has not given them an assurance of his qualifications. It is the role of the administration to clear such kind of attitudes among students by encouraging them to value a teacher according to his capability. Despite their background, non-native teachers are trained and qualified to teach English as their second language, in fa ct most of them have passed through reputable institutions that offer quality skills in the teaching profession. Denying them the chance to teach due to their background is a suggestion that the teaching skills they acquired did not amount to anything. Gass (2001 pp 20-25) describes a non-native speaker as a person that understands the difficulty of learning a second language yet appreciated it by facing the challenges that came with it. It is therefore clear that a non-native appreciates a language more than the natives who may take it for granted. This will also reflect on the attitude they will display when teaching it. A non-native speaker is eager to know more about a language. He or she will therefore not only rely on the skills acquired during training but also have a desire to explore and find out more about certain language commands. The extra knowledge they acquire will be transmitted to their students. Such privileges may not be granted to students who are taught by nativ e teachers who rely on what they have previously acquired. It is important for school administrators to understand that there was nobody who was born to teach a language, professionalism is acquired through the skills that have been acquired through education. A person being born a native does not guarantee them quality teaching skills because; it is the technical knowledge received in their education system that qualifies them for the profession. Experiences of learning a second language Learning English as a second language has never been an easy task. The experiences that one may go through in their efforts to be fluent in it are challenging. Most people who had a passion for foreign language gave up on their way because they could not handle the challenges. Those who managed to pursue it further like non-native speakers were inspired by the passion they had for it. They went through challenges of grasping the very first common words like greetings to complex stages where they ha d to learn vocabularies, Ellis (2002 pp 88-90). Non-native speakers have a clear understanding of their second language more than their first one. They not only had to learn the words one by one but also had to practice and express themselves in an accent that is foreign to them. The most challenging part of it is that they are not only supposed to verbally communicate the language but also know how to express it in writing. Spoken language may be easier to learn when such an association is maintained but the skills of writing it require a lot of dedication and commitment on the part of the learner. The challenges that learners may face especially when they have to communicate in the language with native speakers may be unbearable to them. It takes courage for one to fumble with words in order to construct a sentence. Such experiences that non-natives go through makes them appreciate the language even more. As they pursue a teaching career in English as their second language, they d o so with the knowledge of the difficulties that a learner may face. They will integrate those challenges with teaching skills they acquired to give students the best, Rubdy (2006 pp33-36). If students and school administrators knew what such teachers went through and still purposed to pursue the subject to such a level, then they would understand how much experience they have in a language they are not connected to because of their background. Conclusion The above analysis shows a different form of discrimination practiced in the education sector. It was a trend practiced and not seen as a big issue in the past. However, in the recent years, choice of a language teacher has been a debated topic where most people doubt the effectiveness of a non-native teacher. With a clear analysis of the subject, it is realized that it is simply an attitude in the mind of school administrators and students that causes such a resistance. It may be caused by variety of applicants that school adminis trators receive for an advertised English language position. They use it as a first elimination procedure when short listings applicants who are supposed to be interviewed. Considering the other hidden qualities of non-native teacher, it is clear that they will produce comparatively higher results for the students than non-native ones. Most schools will also give preference to citizens in their appointments. This is usually because of the assumption that if they do not employ their own people then nobody will employ them. However, this is an attitude of the past that should no longer be a basis of employing people. Ellis (2002 pp 99-102) Liberalisation and Multinational Corporation encourages the free interaction of all nationalities. Different ideas can only be shared when such people as non-natives are allowed to teach English language to the natives. References Ellis, L 2002, ‘Teaching from Experience: A New Perspective on the Non-Native Teacher in Adult ESL Australian†™, Review of Applied Linguistics, vol. 25, no. 1, pp71 – 107 Gass, SM Selinker, L 2001, Second Language Acquisition, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, London. Llurda, E 2006, Non-Native Language Teachers: Perceptions, Challenges and Contributions to the Profession, Springer, New York. Phan, LH 2008, Teaching English as an International Language, Multilingual Matters, Bristol. Rubdy, R 2006, English in the World: Global Roles, Global Rules, Continuum International Publishing Group, London.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Worplestrop Case Study Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Worplestrop Case Study Report - Essay Example Cost accounting method of accounting is employed in this to achieve the aims. In doing this planning as a measure of review is established, in this case budgets will always be developed to show the stakeholder the progress level reached. The reports produced and provided will be of utmost importance in that they are employed in the evaluation of the performance of the business in place and as well to motivate the workers. Total production costs in any industry are the total cost incurred in both manufacturing and service provision. In the production process, various cost elements are normally involved: - These are material, labor and overhead costs including other relevant expenses (Polimeni, 2000). When all these costs are summed up, we arrive at the production cost of a product. The determination of material and labor cost is easy and quite simple since such costs are direct. While material costs are read directly from the receipts, labor costs are determined from the payroll sheet s of the employees (Davis, 2005). The payroll indicates both the salaries and the expenses of the company employees in all the ranks. The challenging aspect of cost to determine involves those for the overhead and other expenses, the determination and valuation has posed a serious challenge to cost accountants (Polimeni, 2000). They have though employed various cost accounting methods to allocate such costs to the products to help in the product cost determination. Cost of products are fundamental for decision making purposes hence the need to find for the means of costing products. The following methods have therefore been devised to help determine costs of products:- First, cost of a product can be calculated using the marginal costing system (Davis, 2005). In determining costs using this system, variable costs are given a major weight to help in valuing products for decision making. Both the fixed and sunk costs are not integrated in this case since they do not affect the future decisions made given they are already incurred in the past. The reports formed based on this measure are only for use internally and not for external decision making purposes. Secondly, absorption or total costing method can also be used to value and determine the costs of products. Here as opposed to marginal costing, all the costs are summed up including the fixed costs and the sunk overhead costs. In the process of manufacturing, the products all these costs were incurred hence deemed valuable in product cost determination (Davis, 2005). This method is the mostly preferred even when determining selling prices of goods and services since it entails all the costs incurred and would give a fair selling price. The method aids the organization achieve a desired profit margin as they simply add it up on the selling price set. Additionally, activity based costing can be used to determine costs as well. This form of costing is used in the allocation of overheads, which are in turn summed up together with the variable costs to lead us to the cost of the product. Here, various cost drivers are use to allocate the overheads to their respective cost centers hence the method is important in charging costs to their respective activities. With decisions involving activities that should be done and those that need to be done away with in an organization, this method has been instrumental for managers of manufacturing companies (Davis, 2005). This realizes effectiveness and efficiency in an organization by the management through elimination and replacement of non-useful activities in an organization. Lastly, throughout costing can also be employed in cost determinatio

Friday, November 1, 2019

Brown Fields Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Brown Fields - Essay Example The Brownfield Program by the EPA was put in practice 1995. It has grown into a results-oriented program which has changed the way contaminated property is often taken to be. The Program was intended to empower communities, states, and other stakeholders in redevelopment of the economy to work together in an appropriate manner in order to assess, prevent, sustainably reuse, and safely clean up Brownfields (EPA). The Brownfields Program offers monetary and technical backing for activities in Brownfields through approaches that are based on four major goals. One goal is to protect the environment and address Brownfields in order to sustain safety. The second goal is to promote partnerships, enhance partnership and communication important to ease cleanup and reuse of Brownfields. Thirdly, the program aims to strengthen the marketplace, provide monetary and technical support to boost the private market. Finally, they program aims at sustaining the reuse and redevelopment of Brownfields to improve communities’ long-term quality of living (EPA). It is projected that there are over 450,000 Brownfields within the U.S (EPA). Reinvesting in these Brownfields and Cleaning up the properties increases home and neighboring tax bases, aids growth of jobs, makes use of existing infrastructure, takes off development pressures, and also protects and improves the environment (Hersh, Morley and Schwab). At first, EPA offered little amounts of money to the local governments that started many two-year Brownfield steering projects. The Brownfields Law has extended EPAs support by offering new tools for the private and public segments so as to encourage sustainable cleanup and reuse of Brownfields. There are a number of Brownfields grants that serve as the basis of Brownfields Program by the EPA (Hersh, Morley and Schwab). The grants support recovery efforts by backing environmental assessments, clean-up, and training activities for