The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 19. SELFISH

EDWARD CARRIED ME HOME IN HIS ARMS, EXPECTING that I wouldn't be able to hang on. I must have fallen asleep on the way. When I woke up, I was in my bed and the dull light coming through my windows slanted in from a strange angle. Almost like it was afternoon. I yawned and stretched, my fingers searching for him and coming up empty. â€Å"Edward?† I mumbled. My seeking fingers encountered something cool and smooth. His hand. â€Å"Are you really awake this time?† he murmured. â€Å"Mmm,† I sighed in assent. â€Å"Have there been a lot of false alarms?† â€Å"You've been very restless – talking all day.† â€Å"Allday?† I blinked and looked at the windows again. â€Å"You had a long night,† he said reassuringly. â€Å"You'd earned a day in bed.† I sat up, and my head spun. The light was coming in my window from the west. â€Å"Wow.† â€Å"Hungry?† he guessed. â€Å"Do you want breakfast in bed?† â€Å"I'll get it,† I groaned, stretching again. â€Å"I need to get up and move around.† He held my hand on the way to the kitchen, eyeing me carefully, like I might fall over. Or maybe he thought I was sleepwalking. I kept it simple, throwing a couple of Pop-Tarts in the toaster. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflective chrome. â€Å"Ugh, I'm a mess.† â€Å"It was a long night,† he said again. â€Å"You should have stayed here and slept.† â€Å"Right! And missed everything. You know, you need to start accepting the fact that I'm part of the family now.† He smiled. â€Å"I could probably get used to that idea.† I sat down with my breakfast, and he sat next to me. When I lifted the Pop-Tart to take the first bite, I noticed him staring at my hand. I looked down, and saw that I was still wearing the gift that Jacob had given me at the party. â€Å"May I?† he asked, reaching for the tiny wooden wolf. I swallowed noisily. â€Å"Um, sure.† He moved his hand under the charm bracelet and balanced the little figurine in his snowy palm. For a fleeting moment, I was afraid. Just the slightest twist of his fingers could crush it into splinters. But of course Edward wouldn't do that. I was embarrassed I'd even had the thought. He only weighed the wolf in his palm for a moment, and then let it fall. It swung lightly from my wrist. I tried to read the expression in his eyes. All I could see was thoughtfulness; he kept everything else hidden, if there was anything else. â€Å"Jacob Black can give you presents.† It wasn't a question, or an accusation. Just a statement of fact. But I knew he was referring to my last birthday and the fit I'd thrown over gifts; I hadn't wanted any. Especially not from Edward. It wasn't entirely logical, and, of course, everyone had ignored me anyway. . . . â€Å"You've given me presents,† I reminded him. â€Å"You know I like the homemade kind.† He pursed his lips for a second. â€Å"How about hand-me-downs? Are those acceptable?† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"This bracelet.† His finger traced a circle around my wrist. â€Å"You'll be wearing this a lot?† I shrugged. â€Å"Because you wouldn't want to hurt his feelings,† he suggested shrewdly. â€Å"Sure, I guess so.† â€Å"Don't you think it's fair, then,† he asked, looking down at my hand as he spoke. He turned it palm up, and ran his finger along the veins in my wrist. â€Å"If I have a little representation?† â€Å"Representation?† â€Å"A charm – something to keep me on your mind.† â€Å"You're in every thought I have. I don't need reminders.† â€Å"If I gave you something, would you wear it?† he pressed. â€Å"A hand-me-down?† I checked. â€Å"Yes, something I've had for a while.† He smiled his angel's smile. If this was the only reaction to Jacob's gift, I would take it gladly. â€Å"Whatever makes you happy.† â€Å"Have you noticed the inequality?† he asked, and his voice turned accusing. â€Å"Because I certainly have.† â€Å"What inequality?† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Everyone else is able to get away with giving you things. Everyone but me. I would have loved to get you a graduation present, but I didn't. I knew it would have upset you more than if anyone else did. That's utterly unfair. How do you explain yourself?† â€Å"Easy.† I shrugged. â€Å"You're more important than everyone else. And you've given me you. That's already more than I deserve, and anything else you give me just throws us more out of balance.† He processed that for a moment, and then rolled his eyes. â€Å"The way you regard me is ludicrous.† I chewed my breakfast calmly. I knew he wouldn't listen if I told him that he had that backward. Edward's phone buzzed. He looked at the number before he opened it. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† He listened, and I waited for his reaction, suddenly nervous. But whatever she said didn't surprise him. He sighed a few times. â€Å"I sort of guessed as much,† he told her, staring into my eyes, a disapproving arch to his brow. â€Å"She was talking in her sleep.† I flushed. What had I said now? â€Å"I'll take care of it,† he promised. He glared at me as he shut his phone. â€Å"Is there something you'd like to talk to me about?† I deliberated for a moment. Given Alice's warning last night, I could guess why she'd called. And then remembering the troubled dreams I'd had as I'd slept through the day – dreams where I chased after Jasper, trying to followhim and find the clearing in the maze-like woods, knowing I would find Edward there . . . Edward, and the monsters who wanted to kill me, but not caring about them because I'd already made my decision – I could also guess what Edward had overheard while I'd slept. I pursed my lips for a moment, not quite able to meet his gaze. He waited. â€Å"I like Jasper's idea,† I finally said. He groaned. â€Å"I want to help. I have to do something,† I insisted. â€Å"It wouldn't help to have you in danger.† â€Å"Jasper thinks it would. This is his area of expertise.† Edward glowered at me. â€Å"You can't keep me away,† I threatened. â€Å"I'm not going to hide out in the forest while you all take risks for me.† Suddenly, he was fighting a smile. â€Å"Alice doesn't see you in the clearing, Bella. She sees you stumbling around lost in the woods. You won't be able to find us; you'll just make it more time consuming for me to find you afterward.† I tried to keep as cool as he was. â€Å"That's because Alice didn't factor in Seth Clearwater,† I said politely. â€Å"If she had, of course, she wouldn't have been able to see anything at all. But it sounds like Seth wants to be there as much as I do. It shouldn't be too hard to persuade him to show me the way.† Anger flickered across his face, and then he took a deep breath and composed himself. â€Å"That might have worked . . . if you hadn't told me. Now I'll just ask Sam to give Seth certain orders. Much as he might want to, Seth won't be able to ignore that kind of injunction.† I kept my smile pleasant. â€Å"But why would Sam give those orders? If I tell him how it would help for me to be there? I'll bet Sam would rather do me a favor than you.† He had to compose himself again. â€Å"Maybe you're right. But I'm sure Jacob would be only too eager to give those same orders.† I frowned. â€Å"Jacob?† â€Å"Jacob is second in command. Did he never tell you that? His orders have to be followed, too.† He had me, and by his smile, he knew it. My forehead crumpled. Jacob would be on his side – in this one instance – I was sure. And Jacob never had told me that. Edward took advantage of the fact that I was momentarily stumped, continuing in a suspiciously smooth and soothing voice. â€Å"I got a fascinating look into the pack's mind last night. It was better than a soap opera. I had no idea how complex the dynamic is with such a large pack. The pull of the individual against the plural psyche . . . Absolutely fascinating.† He was obviously trying to distract me. I glared at him. â€Å"Jacob's been keeping a lot of secrets,† he said with a grin. I didn't answer, I just kept glaring, holding on to my argument and waiting for an opening. â€Å"For instance, did you note the smaller gray wolf there last night?† I nodded one stiff nod. He chuckled. â€Å"They take all of their legends so seriously. It turns out there are things that none of their stories prepared them for.† I sighed. â€Å"Okay, I'll bite. What are you talking about?† â€Å"They always accepted without question that it was only the direct grandsons of the original wolf who had the power to transform.† â€Å"So someone changed who wasn't a direct descendant?† â€Å"No. She's a direct descendant, all right.† I blinked, and my eyes widened. â€Å"She?† He nodded. â€Å"She knows you. Her name is Leah Clearwater.† â€Å"Leah's a werewolf!† I shrieked. â€Å"What? For how long? Why didn't Jacob tell me?† â€Å"There are things he wasn't allowed to share – their numbers, for instance. Like I said before, when Sam gives an order, the pack simply isn't able to ignore it. Jacob was very careful to think of other things when he was near me. Of course, after last night that's all out the window.† â€Å"I can't believe it. Leah Clearwater!† Suddenly, I remembered Jacob speaking of Leah and Sam, and the way he acted as if he'd said too much – after he'd said something about Sam having to look in Leah's eyes every day and know that he'd broken all his promises. . . . Leah on the cliff, a tear glistening on her cheek when Old Quil had spoken of the burden and sacrifice the Quileute sons shared. . . . And Billy, spending time with Sue because she was having trouble with her kids . . . and here the trouble actually was that both of them were werewolves now! I hadn't given much thought to Leah Clearwater, just to grieve for her loss when Harry had passed away, and then to pity her again when Jacob had told her story, about how the strange imprinting between Sam and her cousin Emily had broken Leah's heart. And now she was part of Sam's pack, hearing his thoughts . . . and unable to hide her own. I really hate that part, Jacob had said. Everything you're ashamed of, laid out for everyone to see. â€Å"Poor Leah,† I whispered. Edward snorted. â€Å"She's making life exceedingly unpleasant for the rest of them. I'm not sure she deserves your sympathy.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It's hard enough for them, having to share all their thoughts. Most of them try to cooperate, make it easier. When even one member is deliberately malicious, it's painful for everyone.† â€Å"She has reason enough,† I mumbled, still on her side. â€Å"Oh, I know,† he said. â€Å"The imprinting compulsion is one of the strangest things I've ever witnessed in my life, and I've seen some strange things.† He shook his head wonderingly. â€Å"The way Sam is tied to his Emily is impossible to describe – or I should say her Sam. Sam really had no choice. It reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream with all the chaos caused by the fairies' love spells . . . like magic.† He smiled. â€Å"It's very nearly as strong as the way I feel about you.† â€Å"Poor Leah,† I said again. â€Å"But what do you mean, malicious?† â€Å"She's constantly bringing up things they'd rather not think of,† he explained. â€Å"For example, Embry.† â€Å"What's with Embry?† I asked, surprised. â€Å"His mother moved down from the Makah reservation seventeen years ago, when she was pregnant with him. She's not Quileute. Everyone assumed she'd left his father behind with the Makahs. But then he joined the pack.† â€Å"So?† â€Å"So the prime candidates for his father are Quil Ateara Sr., Joshua Uley, or Billy Black, all of them married at that point, of course.† â€Å"No!† I gasped. Edward was right – this was exactly like a soap opera. â€Å"Now Sam, Jacob, and Quil all wonder which of them has a half-brother. They'd all like to think it's Sam, since his father was never much of a father. But the doubt is always there. Jacob's never been able to ask Billy about that.† â€Å"Wow. How did you get so much in one night?† â€Å"The pack mind is mesmerizing. All thinking together and then separately at the same time. There's so much to read!† He sounded faintly regretful, like someone who'd had to put down a good book just before the climax. I laughed. â€Å"The pack is fascinating,† I agreed. â€Å"Almost as fascinating as you are when you're trying to distract me.† His expression became polite again – a perfect poker face. â€Å"I have to be in that clearing, Edward.† â€Å"No,† he said in a very final tone. A certain path occurred to me at that moment. It wasn't so much that I had to be in the clearing. I just had to be where Edward was. Cruel, I accused myself. Selfish, selfish, selfish! Don't do it! I ignored my better instincts. I couldn't look at him while I spoke, though. The guilt had my eyes glued to the table. â€Å"Okay, look, Edward,† I whispered. â€Å"Here's the thing . . . I've already gone crazy once. I know what my limits are. And I can't stand it if you leave me again.† I didn't look up to see his reaction, afraid to know how much pain I was inflicting. I did hear his sudden intake of breath and the silence that followed. I stared at the dark wooden tabletop, wishing I could take the words back. But knowing I probably wouldn't. Not if it worked. Suddenly, his arms were around me, his hands stroking my face, my arms. He was comforting me. The guilt went into spiral mode. But the survival instinct was stronger. There was no question that he was fundamental to my survival. â€Å"You know it's not like that, Bella,† he murmured. â€Å"I won't be far, and it will be over quickly.† â€Å"I can't stand it,† I insisted, still staring down. â€Å"Not knowing whether or not you'll come back. How do I live through that, no matter how quickly it's over?† He sighed. â€Å"It's going to be easy, Bella. There's no reason for your fears.† â€Å"None at all?† â€Å"None.† â€Å"And everybody will be fine?† â€Å"Everyone,† he promised. â€Å"So there's no way at all that I need to be in the clearing?† â€Å"Of course not. Alice just told me that they're down to nineteen. We'll be able to handle it easily.† â€Å"That's right – you said it was so easy that someone could sit out,† I repeated his words from last night. â€Å"Did you really mean that?† â€Å"Yes.† It felt too simple – he had to see it coming. â€Å"So easy that you could sit out?† After a long moment of silence, I finally looked up at his expression. The poker face was back. I took a deep breath. â€Å"So it's one way or the other. Either there is more danger than you want me to know about, in which case it would be right for me to be there, to do what I can to help. Or . . . it's going to be so easy that they'll get by without you. Which way is it?† He didn't speak. I knew what he was thinking of – the same thing I was thinking of. Carlisle. Esme. Emmett. Rosalie. Jasper. And . . . I forced myself to think the last name. And Alice. I wondered if I was a monster. Not the kind that he thought he was, but the real kind. The kind that hurt people. The kind that had no limits when it came to what they wanted. What I wanted was to keep him safe, safe with me. Did I have a limit to what I would do, what I would sacrifice for that? I wasn't sure. â€Å"You ask me to let them fight without my help?† he said in a quiet voice. â€Å"Yes.† I was surprised I could keep my voice even, I felt so wretched inside. â€Å"Or to let me be there. Either way, so long as we're together.† He took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. He moved his hands to place them on either side of my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. He looked into my eyes for a long time. I wondered what he was looking for, and what it was that he found. Was the guilt as thick on my face as it was in my stomach – sickening me? His eyes tightened against some emotion I couldn't read, and he dropped one hand to pull out his phone again. â€Å"Alice,† he sighed. â€Å"Could you come babysit Bella for a bit?† He raised one eyebrow, daring me to object to the word. â€Å"I need to speak with Jasper.† She evidently agreed. He put the phone away and went back to staring at my face. â€Å"What are you going to say to Jasper?† I whispered. â€Å"I'm going to discuss . . . me sitting out.† It was easy to read in his face how difficult the words were for him. â€Å"I'm sorry.† I was sorry. I hated to make him do this. Not enough that I could fake a smile and tell him to go on ahead without me. Definitely not that much. â€Å"Don't apologize,† he said, smiling just a little. â€Å"Never be afraid to tell me how you feel, Bella. If this is what you need . . .† He shrugged. â€Å"You are my first priority.† â€Å"I didn't mean it that way – like you have to choose me over your family.† â€Å"I know that. Besides, that's not what you asked. You gave me two alternatives that you could live with, and I chose the one that I could live with. That's how compromise is supposed to work.† I leaned forward and rested my forehead against his chest. â€Å"Thank you,† I whispered. â€Å"Anytime,† he answered, kissing my hair. â€Å"Anything.† We didn't move for a long moment. I kept my face hidden, pressed against his shirt. Two voices struggled inside me. One that wanted to be good and brave, and one that told the good one to keep her mouth shut. â€Å"Who's the third wife?† he asked me suddenly. â€Å"Huh?† I said, stalling. I didn't remember having had that dream again. â€Å"You were mumbling something about ‘the third wife' last night. The rest made a little sense, but you lost me there.† â€Å"Oh. Um, yeah. That was just one of the stories that I heard at the bonfire the other night.† I shrugged. â€Å"I guess it stuck with me.† Edward leaned away from me and cocked his head to the side, probably confused by the uncomfortable edge to my voice. Before he could ask, Alice appeared in the kitchen doorway with a sour expression. â€Å"You're going to miss all the fun,† she grumbled. â€Å"Hello, Alice,† he greeted her. He put one finger under my chin and tilted my face up to kiss me goodbye. â€Å"I'll be back later tonight,† he promised me. â€Å"I'll go work this out with the others, rearrange things.† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"There's not much to arrange,† Alice said. â€Å"I already told them. Emmett is pleased.† Edward sighed. â€Å"Of course he is.† He walked out the door, leaving me to face Alice. She glared at me. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I apologized again. â€Å"Do you think this will make it more dangerous for you?† She snorted. â€Å"You worry too much, Bella. You're going to go prematurely gray.† â€Å"Why are you upset, then?† â€Å"Edward is such a grouch when he doesn't get his way. I'm just anticipating living with him for the next few months.† She made a face. â€Å"I suppose, if it keeps you sane, it's worth it. But I wish you could control the pessimism, Bella. It's so unnecessary.† â€Å"Would you let Jasper go without you?† I demanded. Alice grimaced. â€Å"That's different.† â€Å"Sure it is.† â€Å"Go clean yourself up,† she ordered me. â€Å"Charlie will be home in fifteen minutes, and if you look this ragged he's not going to want to let you out again.† Wow, I'd really lost the whole day. It felt like such a waste. I was glad I wouldn't always have to squander my time with sleeping. I was entirely presentable when Charlie got home – fully dressed, hair decent, and in the kitchen putting his dinner on the table. Alice sat in Edward's usual place, and this seemed to make Charlie's day. â€Å"Howdy, Alice! How are you, hon?† â€Å"I'm fine, Charlie, thanks.† â€Å"I see you finally made it out of bed, sleepyhead,† he said to me as I sat beside him, before turning back to Alice. â€Å"Everyone's talking about that party your parents threw last night. I'll bet you've got one heck of a clean-up job ahead of you.† Alice shrugged. Knowing her, it was already done. â€Å"It was worth it,† she said. â€Å"It was a great party.† â€Å"Where's Edward?† Charlie asked, a little grudgingly. â€Å"Is he helping clean up?† Alice sighed and her face turned tragic. It was probably an act, but it was too perfect for me to be positive. â€Å"No. He's off planning the weekend with Emmett and Carlisle.† â€Å"Hikingagain?† Alice nodded, her face suddenly forlorn. â€Å"Yes. They're all going, except me. We always go backpacking at the end of the school year, sort of a celebration, but this year I decided I'd rather shop than hike, and not one of them will stay behind with me. I'm abandoned.† Her face puckered, the expression so devastated that Charlie leaned toward her automatically, one hand reaching out, looking for some way to help. I glared at her suspiciously. What was she doing? â€Å"Alice, honey, why don't you come stay with us,† Charlie offered. â€Å"I hate to think of you all alone in that big house.† She sighed. Something squashed my foot under the table. â€Å"Ow!† I protested. Charlie turned to me. â€Å"What?† Alice shot me a frustrated look. I could tell she thought that I was very slow tonight. â€Å"Stubbed my toe,† I muttered. â€Å"Oh.† He looked back at Alice. â€Å"So, how 'bout it?† She stepped on my foot again, not quite so hard this time. â€Å"Er, Dad, you know, we don't really have the best accommodations here. I bet Alice doesn't want to sleep on my floor. . . .† Charlie pursed his lips. Alice pulled out the devastated expression again. â€Å"Maybe Bella should stay up there with you,† he suggested. â€Å"Just until your folks get back.† â€Å"Oh, would you, Bella?† Alice smiled at me radiantly. â€Å"You don't mind shopping with me, right?† â€Å"Sure,† I agreed. â€Å"Shopping. Okay.† â€Å"When are they leaving?† Charlie asked. Alice made another face. â€Å"Tomorrow.† â€Å"When do you want me?† I asked. â€Å"After dinner, I guess,† she said, and then put one finger to her chin, thoughtful. â€Å"You don't have anything going on Saturday, do you? I want to get out of town to shop, and it will be an all-day thing.† â€Å"Not Seattle,† Charlie interjected, his eyebrows pulling together. â€Å"Of course not,† Alice agreed at once, though we both knew Seattle would be plenty safe on Saturday. â€Å"I was thinking Olympia, maybe. . . .† â€Å"You'll like that, Bella.† Charlie was cheerful with relief. â€Å"Go get your fill of the city.† â€Å"Yeah, Dad. It'll be great.† With one easy conversation, Alice had cleared my schedule for the battle. Edward returned not much later. He accepted Charlie's wishes for a nice trip without surprise. He claimed they were leaving early in the morning, and said goodnight before the usual time. Alice left with him. I excused myself soon after they left. â€Å"You can't be tired,† Charlie protested. â€Å"A little,† I lied. â€Å"No wonder you like to skip the parties,† he muttered. â€Å"It takes you so long to recover.† Upstairs, Edward was lying across my bed. â€Å"What time are we meeting with the wolves?† I murmured as I went to join him. â€Å"In an hour.† â€Å"That's good. Jake and his friends need to get some sleep.† â€Å"They don't need as much as you do,† he pointed out. I moved to another topic, assuming he was about to try to talk me into staying home. â€Å"Did Alice tell you that she's kidnapping me again?† He grinned. â€Å"Actually, she's not.† I stared at him, confused, and he laughed quietly at my expression. â€Å"I'm the only one who has permission to hold you hostage, remember?† he said. â€Å"Alice is going hunting with the rest of them.† He sighed. â€Å"I guess I don't need to do that now.† â€Å"You're kidnapping me?† He nodded. I thought about that briefly. No Charlie listening downstairs, checking on me every so often. And no houseful of wide-awake vampires with their intrusively sensitive hearing. . . . Just him and me – really alone. â€Å"Is that all right?† he asked, concerned by my silence. â€Å"Well . . . sure, except for one thing.† â€Å"What thing?† His eyes were anxious. It was mind-boggling, but, somehow, he still seemed unsure of his hold on me. Maybe I needed to make myself more clear. â€Å"Why didn't Alice tell Charlie you were leaving tonight?† I asked. He laughed, relieved. I enjoyed the trip to the clearing more than I had last night. I still felt guilty, still afraid, but I wasn't terrified anymore. I could function. I could see past what was coming, and almost believe that maybe it would be okay. Edward was apparently fine with the idea of missing the fight . . . and that made it very hard not to believe him when he said this would be easy. He wouldn't leave his family if he didn't believe it himself. Maybe Alice was right, and I did worry too much. We got to the clearing last. Jasper and Emmett were already wrestling – just warming up from the sounds of their laughter. Alice and Rosalie lounged on the hard ground, watching. Esme and Carlisle were talking a few yards away, heads close together, fingers linked, not paying attention. It was much brighter tonight, the moon shining through the thin clouds, and I could easily see the three wolves that sat around the edge of the practice ring, spaced far apart to watch from different angles. It was also easy to recognize Jacob; I would have known him at once, even if he hadn't looked up and stared at the sound of our approach. â€Å"Where are the rest of the wolves?† I wondered. â€Å"They don't all need to be here. One would do the job, but Sam didn't trust us enough to just send Jacob, though Jacob was willing. Quil and Embry are his usual . . . I guess you could call them his wingmen.† â€Å"Jacob trusts you.† Edward nodded. â€Å"He trusts us not to try to kill him. That's about it, though.† â€Å"Are you participating tonight?† I asked, hesitant. I knew this was going to be almost as hard for him as being left behind would have been for me. Maybe harder. â€Å"I'll help Jasper when he needs it. He wants to try some unequal groupings, teach them how to deal with multiple attackers.† He shrugged. And a fresh wave of panic shattered my brief sense of confidence. They were still outnumbered. I was making that worse. I stared at the field, trying to hide my reaction. It was the wrong place to look, struggling as I was to lie to myself, to convince myself that everything would work out as I needed it to. Because when I forced my eyes away from the Cullens – away from the image of their playfighting that would be real and deadly in just a few days – Jacob caught my eyes and smiled. It was the same wolfy grin as before, his eyes scrunching the way they did when he was human. It was hard to believe that, not so long ago, I'd found the werewolves frightening – lost sleep to nightmares about them. I knew, without asking, which of the others was Embry and which was Quil. Because Embry was clearly the thinner gray wolf with the dark spots on his back, who sat so patiently watching, while Quil – deep chocolate brown, lighter over his face – twitched constantly, looking like he was dying to join in the mock fight. They weren't monsters, even like this. They were friends. Friends who didn't look nearly as indestructible as Emmett and Jasper did, moving faster than cobra strikes while the moonlight glinted off their granite-hard skin. Friends who didn't seem to understand the danger involved here. Friends who were still somewhat mortal, friends who could bleed, friends who could die. . . . Edward's confidence was reassuring, because it was plain that he wasn't truly worried about his family. But would it hurt him if something happened to the wolves? Was there any reason for him to be anxious, if that possibility didn't bother him? Edward's confidence only applied to one set of my fears. I tried to smile back at Jacob, swallowing against the lump in my throat. I didn't seem to get it right. Jacob sprang lightly to his feet, his agility at odds with his sheer mass, and trotted over to where Edward and I stood on the fringe of things. â€Å"Jacob,† Edward greeted him politely. Jacob ignored him, his dark eyes on me. He put his head down to my level, as he had yesterday, cocking it to one side. A low whimper escaped his muzzle. â€Å"I'm fine,† I answered, not needing the translation that Edward was about to give. â€Å"Just worried, you know.† Jacob continued to stare at me. â€Å"He wants to know why,† Edward murmured. Jacob growled – not a threatening sound, an annoyed sound – and Edward's lips twitched. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"He thinks my translations leave something to be desired. What he actually thought was, ‘That's really stupid. What is there to be worried about?' I edited, because I thought it was rude.† I halfway smiled, too anxious to really feel amused. â€Å"There's plenty to be worried about,† I told Jacob. â€Å"Like a bunch of really stupid wolves getting themselves hurt.† Jacob laughed his coughing bark. Edward sighed. â€Å"Jasper wants help. You'll be okay without a translator?† â€Å"I'll manage.† Edward looked at me wistfully for one minute, his expression hard to understand, then turned his back and strode over to where Jasper waited. I sat down where I was. The ground was cold and uncomfortable. Jacob took a step forward, then looked back at me, and a low whine rose in his throat. He took another half-step. â€Å"Go on without me,† I told him. â€Å"I don't want to watch.† Jacob leaned his head to the side again for a moment, and then folded himself on to the ground beside me with a rumbling sigh. â€Å"Really, you can go ahead,† I assured him. He didn't respond, he just put his head down on his paws. I stared up at the bright silver clouds, not wanting to see the fight. My imagination had more than enough fuel. A breeze blew through the clearing, and I shivered. Jacob scooted himself closer to me, pressing his warm fur against my left side. â€Å"Er, thanks,† I muttered. After a few minutes, I leaned against his wide shoulder. It was much more comfortable that way. The clouds moved slowly across the sky, dimming and brightening as thick patches crossed the moon and passed on. Absently, I began pulling my fingers through the fur on his neck. That same strange humming sound that he'd made yesterday rumbled in his throat. It was a homey kind of sound. Rougher, wilder than a cat's purr, but conveying the same sense of contentment. â€Å"You know, I never had a dog,† I mused. â€Å"I always wanted one, but Rene's allergic.† Jacob laughed; his body shook under me. â€Å"Aren't you worried about Saturday at all?† I asked. He turned his enormous head toward me, so that I could see one of his eyes roll. â€Å"I wish I could feel that positive.† He leaned his head against my leg and started humming again. And it did make me feel just a little bit better. â€Å"So we've got some hiking to do tomorrow, I guess.† He rumbled; the sound was enthusiastic. â€Å"It might be a long hike,† I warned him. â€Å"Edward doesn't judge distances the way a normal person does.† Jacob barked another laugh. I settled deeper into his warm fur, resting my head against his neck. It was strange. Even though he was in this bizarre form, this felt more like the way Jake and I used to be – the easy, effortless friendship that was as natural as breathing in and out – than the last few times I'd been with Jacob while he was human. Odd that I should find that again here, when I'd thought this wolf thing was the cause of its loss. The killing games continued in the clearing, and I stared at the hazy moon.

Boko Haram is winning so far in Nigeria Essay

Nigeria has ever faced series of security threatening challenges, but Boko haram is the most powerful sect so far. The sect claims responsibility for several bombings and snip activities in the northern and central Nigeria, thereby placing the nation at the threshold of disintegration this paper describes briefly how the Terrorists use murder, kidnapping, and bombings to pursue a political agenda. Then will introduce the rise of Boko Haram, a radical Islamist sect who is fighting to overthrow the government in Nigeria and create an Islamic state. Many questions in mind like who are this group? Who’s funding it? How they treat their prisoners? The government has been unable to put an end to it, will see at the end if he gets any help from other nations? In past years, most people thought terrorism is only happening in the Middle East countries but now terrorism is every were, even in the most powerful countries. Terrorism is more like terrible and brutal violence with only one purpose of terrified the people. It has two main purposes, to put pressure on the authorities, to spread fear and uncertainty first between the people; their action involves serious violence against a person or serious damage to property, endangers a person’s life. Second, they interfere to disrupt an electronic system, influence the government, advancing a political, religious or ideological cause. According to Rotberg, nation-states fail because they are convulsed by internal violence, and as a result are unable to provide security and positive political goods to their citizens. (2003:1). The Religion Terrorism is one of the most violent they think that dying in a terrorist act is sacred and holy; they see it as divinely commanded. Boko haram is Nigeria’s militant Islamist group which has caused havoc in Africa’s. It seems that the sect may prefer to be called â€Å"Jama’atu Ahlissunnah lidda’ awati wal Jihad† , which can be glossed â€Å"Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad† (Mu’azu 2011:17).They believe that anyone who is not governed by what Allah has revealed is among the transgressors. They killed around six hundred people in various attacks in 2011, and the number of casualties doubled in the first four months of 2012 (Pothuraju 2012:1) Because they regards at the Nigerian state as being run by non-believers, even when the country had a Muslim president. Boko Haram members are fully convinced that moral and social decadence has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society and are resolved to rid the society of corruption and moral bankruptcy by establishing an ideal Islamic society, devoid of political corruption and moral deprivation (Akanji 2009:60) One of the most powerful factors that contribute the Boko haram is that the Islamic Republics, donations from members who links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, During the interview, on 14 June 2010, Droukdel the leader of AQIM claimed that his â€Å"group would provide Boko Haram with weapons, training, and other support in order to expand its own reach into Sub-Saharan Africa not only to gain ‘strategic depth,’ but also to defend Muslims in Nigeria and stop the advance of a minority of Crusaders† (cited in Pham 2012:3). With funding from government, they are able to buy and train more men than most other terrorist organizations. In effect, with their financial support, Boko Haram backers have become—covertly or overtly—a part of the conspiracy to instigate war against the Nigerian state, civilians, Christians, students, and public institutions (Adesoji 2011:107). Leaders of many Christian organizations in Nigeria have out in support of the government’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the country’s northern states, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Many of their peoples live in a terror because of the group targets the religious minority for some of its most brutal attacks. Also, the government in Nigeria has asked its northern neighbor Niger for help in an offensive against Boko Haram insurgents. Plus, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned Boko Haram during her testimony before Congressional committees. She called it part of the same global jihadist movement as al-Qaida and Ansar al-Sharia. Finally, Boko Haram has killed thousands as it seeks to spread conservative Islamic law across Nigeria. Its frequent bombing targets include police, soldiers and Christian churches. Nigeria’s military have been involved in heavy fighting against this sect and hopefully with the help of the other nations, the government gets back the control on Nigeria. Works Cited Adesoji, Abimbola, O. 2011. Between Maitatsine and Boko Haram: Islamic Fundamentalism and the Response of the Nigerian State. Africa Today 57(4):99-119 Akanji, Olajide, 0. 2009. The Politics of Combating Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria. In Domestic Terrorism in Africa: Defining, Addressing and Understanding its impact on Human Security, edited by W. Okumu and A. Botha. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies Mu’azu, Abubakar. 2011. Understanding the Emerging Trend of Terrorism in Nigeria: A Case Study of Boko Haram and Similar Groups. Monograph series, 16. Lagos, Nigeria: CLEEN Foundation. Pham, Peter. 2012. Boko Haram’s Evolving Threat. Africa’s Security Brief 30:1 -8 Pothurju, Babjee. 2012. Boko Haram’s Persistent Threat in Nigeria. Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis. http://www.idsa.in/system/files/ThreatlnNigeria_BabjePothuraju.pdf Rotberg, Robert. 2002. The New Nature of Nation-State Failure. The Washington Quarterly 25(3):85-96. 2003. State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press

AVIATION LAW

AVIATION LAW This highly specialized field of law encompasses most facets of air travel, as well as the operation and regulation of business issues relating to air travel, which requires a comprehensive knowledge of FAA regulations, specific laws regarding flight, and an in depth understanding of aviation. It governs the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of aviation facilities. Aviation law pertains to nearly all individuals connected to the operation and maintenance of aircraft. Air traffic regulation polices, in both federal and state government, has created laws and administrative agencies with certain restrictions preventing states from regulating routes, services, or the rates of all air carriers authorized to provide interstate air transportation by the Federal Aviation Acts. Through Laws, aviation industry been organized in terms of their activities and professionalism prohibiting all acts that may endanger airplanes, airports or any facility related to aviation services. The law obligates aviation workers to obtain permit or license from recognized bodies, with penalties and fines to be imposed for violations. The law has been utilized to assess and screen all aviation exercises and aeronautics specialists, and may additionally characterize any demonstrations that constitute hazard on aviation facilities, air operations, aeroplanes, air travellers and air traffic. To cut it short, the law that has to do with aviation is Aviation law and this is the branch of law that governs the legalities and business aspects of flight and air transport, such as air traffic rights, aviation safety and security, economic regulations of airlines, and the operation of airports. 2.1 Aviation Safety A remarkable means of mobility is one of the skeletal make up of a modern society. Every means of transportation connects with each other. They perform a same function at different dimensions. Out of all the means of transportation, air transport is the safest in regards to the ratio between the number of accidents and that of passenger/kilometers. Another issue is that when incidents or accidents occur such as plane crash, with casualties, all ears are aware about it and this gets the attention of the government. It is therefore not new or surprising that every State government priorities and give attention to it more than other means of transportation. One of the key elements to increase the public confidence in air transport is put in place a standard impeccable level of safety in the Aviation Sector through law. Aviation safety is not an agenda of a group or a sect of people; it s a universal concern that needs an international attention and enforcement. It is just simply the very important issues on a world stage. Being able to critically interpret the word safety in the aviation is very important. What does safety means? According to Merriam-Webster definition, safety itself means the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss. This definition, if applied to the aviation world, would totally picture the idea of do not go against the fundamental principle of nature since the law of gravity is universal and machines (which is prone to technical fault) are not human. Another definition made it clear that safety is a mechanical device designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operations. This could mean that if we go against the laws of nature, devices with high technological concepts can be used to carry out operations of high risk with the tendencies of circumventing inevitable catastrophes. A source gave another definition of safety as a complete understanding of your work and knowledge of every step that must be taken and the realization that mistakes could be costly to yourself and to the company. This in actual sense could mean that every personnel in the (aviation) industry must be completely learned and adequately trained always towards every operation going on in the industry and not having believe in luck but having the right mind to handle any sudden hitches that may come up briskly. More so, safety could mean remembering the safety rules set up by a company and applying them every minute when on the job. It can be finally concluded, with the understanding of air transportation, according to the definition given by ICAO Air Navigation Commission that aviation safety is a state of freedom from unacceptable risk of injury to persons or damage to aircraft and property . This meaning is very comprehending as it indicates that mistake(s) that lead to fatal accidents would become an intolerable hazard, for lessons must be learnt and since safety is not a rigid concept, it has to be flexibly and exposed to changes in synchronism with technological and innovative advancement. What caused power failure, wire sparks, o r technical problem in last year s crash must not repeat itself in the present year. According to the ICAO definition of aviation safety, everything must be put or set right and there must be a zero or insignificant risk before operations. However, marriage between safety and security cannot be sundered. No matter the highest precautions put in place to ascertain safety in a situation, such situation must be secured. The September 11, 2001 attack on US was not as a result of default in safety, it was the ability of the terrorists to bye-pass the security instruments, which nullified the effective safety mechanisms that was put in place. To make aviation safety at its optimal level, aviation security must be kept and treated as a subset to it. Every airline company has a duty to comply with the rules and regulations of the States Aviation Regulatory Bodies. Likewise, no State Aviation Authority is autonomous, they must be under the international body, which gives and determines rules that all aircrafts and airlines must comply with before flying. The role of aviation safety is but not limited to prevention of accidents but covers all scopes but this study will focus on just the legal dimensional aspect of it. It has been noted that safety is not limited to accident prevention, but should be considered in a broader term as risk management. Keeping the aviation industry safe is just the law, which sets right the right things to put in place to ensure safety. For example, the Federal Aviation Agency which is saddled with the responsibility to regulate airlines in US has embraced safety as its core mission with the statement Our mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world and our mantra is to improve the safety and efficiency of aviation, while being responsive to our customers and accountable to the public . Equally in, the EU, the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, which is the centrepiece of the European Union’s strategy for aviation safety has its mission, which states that t o promote the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. They mainly draft legislation that centres on aviation safety and works hand in hand with the national authorities, which continue to carry out many operational tasks, such as certification of individual aircraft or licensing of pilots. Additionally, in Nigeria, the most populated black nation in the world, has Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, as its highest aviation regulatory body that ensures that all stakeholders in the sector comply with the aviation safety regulations. Where safety rules are breeched, the NCAA takes strong corrective actions to enforce compliance which may include sanctions. As it is conspicuous that every democratic government must have a 3-arm component, which constitute of the executive, legislature and judiciary, it is also not new that they must function as a sovereign entity. They can make laws that would solely affect them and form ties with friendly nations with treaties of economic and political importance. As it is extremely pertinent for states to be free of any form of external aggression, its will be disturbing and dangerous to leave some issues in the hands of States to regulate fully without some international bodies influencing them. In as much that citizens of State A can have the freedom to chose another State of interests to visit for any good reasons, then safety doctrines that is regimented by international bodies would save State B from the possible safety negligence from State A s aviation sector. Since law is a product of drafting of bills, passing the bills and giving assent to it and implementing it, it can be seen that when laws dealing with aviation industry, having in mind that there are rules of international standards which binds all, every legislative arm of a State have the duty to marry the national laws with the international rules such that the world will have a safe air transport system. 2.2 Civil Aviation It is among the most widely controlled sector in the world. Every single technical personnel, equipment and airport must be certified and monitored by competent regulatory agencies known as Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs). Indeed, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other global bodies thus evaluate even the CAAs themselves. The working standards, rules and measures used in civil aviation have Standards And Recommended Practices (SARP) of ICAO and stipulated National laws and regulations as there working template. 2.3 History of Aviation Safety It is very important to always have a fine connection between the past, present and the future. Aviation safety did not just become an issue of concern today. It can be dated back to when humans began to add air to the means of transportation. History of airplane can be traced to the age of the Wright Brothers who went against all odds to air-control an aircraft that was engine-powered for 12 seconds in 1903. However, the ideas of these brothers were tailored to meet the aims of victory that spelt doom to the generations in the World War I (1914 – 1918). This ushered in a new era of flight. There came into existence the invention of flights instruments, airplanes were equipped with radar, the first jet engine was already in production. Technological advancement bringing about improved aerodynamics, high-powered engines and aircraft (fabric) metals enabled these flying machines to go on high cruising altitudes and bringing about transoceanic flights. After the ending of the World War II, jet airliners began. Airline companies such as Pan Am and airplane manufacturers, for example, Boeing are into air transporting meeting the fast mobility need of uncountable number of passengers all over the world. Fear was an element that gripped people in regards to their safety. In course of making sure that public confidence is buffered, aviation safety became the channel by which the establishment of ICAO came into being. Regulations were put in place, which happens to be the earliest form of legislation, to make sure that everyone on the ground not aboard is safe from the aircraft impact on the ground. This however became or was seen as a biased legislation, which did not consider those on-board. Aviation Law that has to do with safety got a new face when in 1819, France enacted a law which required that man-flight balloons be equipped with parachutes which can be seen as to incorporate not only safety on the ground but also safety on board aircraft. In Paris, the year 1889 gave birth to first international aeronautical congress in which Brazil, Mexico, France, United Kingdom and United States were in attendance. In this convention, issues such as aeronauts certificates; liability of aeronauts towards passenger, the public and landowners; salvage; and the use of aircraft in war were discussed. Another conference was held in 1910 in France attended by nineteen states but suffered no adoption of a single convention due to the fact that the participants could not agree on the kind of treatment to be extended to foreign and national aircraft in regards to over flight freedom. This convention happens to be the first international air law conference that displayed the very much eagerness to make provision for a regulatory regime of global standard for civil aviation. However, in 1913, precisely, July 26 1913, France and Germany signed the first bilateral agreement, which allowed for airships from Germany to enter French airspace and remained in France. The first legal instrument to enter into force in the world of aviation was the Paris Convention of 1919, which is enclosed with a recognised comprehensive and exclusive sovereignty of states over the airspace. This convention enjoyed a ratification by 32 nations. Few of the features of this convention was the generally acceptable definition of aircraft; CINA, the Commission Internationale de la Navigation Aerienne , was established in Article 34, which got a far-reaching regulatory powers chiefly directed towards technical matter. ICAN, the International Commission for Air Navigation was established by this Paris Convention, which dealt exclusively with the regulation of international air navigation and in particular public international air law. In law the ICAN was placed, and remained, under the direction of League of Nations, in practice direction was replaced by friendly cooperation. The League never attempted to exercise any authority on the ICAN, and the ICAN never attempted t o break away from the League; cooperation was mostly carried on through the League s Committee on Transit and Communications. This Committee and the ICAN were represented at each other s meetings, when any question of common interest was under discussion. It also provided for innocent passage of the aircraft of other jurisdictions in times of peace and prohibited aircraft from carrying explosives or weapons. The Paris Convention was starved with universal acceptance, which should have been the desired goal that coloured aviation safety. Like it was said above that this Convention got a 32-state-ratification, however, giant states; Russia, Germany, China, United States were absent in this States ratification of the Convention. In Madrid, the Ibero-American Convention on Air Navigation (which is also referred to as Convenio Ibero Americano de Navegaci n AÃÆ' ©rea, or CIANA, also called the Madrid Convention) was formed which seems to succeed the Paris Convention. This Convention came up due to the growth of aviation activity between Spain and South-America and as a result of the failure by the USA and most Central and South American States to adhere to the Paris Convention, Spain decided to initiate a diplomatic counteraction and invited all Latin American and Caribbean States and Portugal to the Ibero-American Conference to be held in Madrid from 25 to 30 October 1926. This Convention suffered neglect because at no point in time was it registered with any international body. It was labelled unsuccessful; reason being that at the time it was being formed, aircraft of the period were not sufficiently developed to tie together Iberia and Latin America. Another factor that made this Convention to lack succe ss was Spain s political environment during the period was very unsettled, deteriorating into Civil War and the change of focus of Latin America energies on North America keeping them distracted away from Iberia. 1927 marked the year when the United States commenced the drafting of an air navigation Convention for the Americas identified as Pan-American Convention. It was not signed until 1928 at Havana. It can be said that the modelling of the Pan-American Convention was after Paris Convention being applicable to not government aircraft but only Private aircraft. Mutual freedom of air passage was orchestrated by this Convention with stone-rules for aerial traffic as the principal structures lacking technical standards of uniformity and Annexes. This Convention however did not help ICAN but weakened it. Unfortunately, after the World War II, it became out-dated due to the mammoth improvement of aerial transport in the period of war. On 7th of December 1944, some 50 states signed the Chicago Convention couple with two agreements annexed to it, which are the International Air Services Transit Agreement, and the International Air Transport Agreement. This Convention was a replacement for the Paris Convention and became an heir to the safety framework set by the Paris Convention, in fact, Chicago Convention would not have been what it claimed to be if not for the residues of previous conventions, conferences and all-important statement of aerospace sovereignty. Even though there is no such Convention that is stable and universally accepted, Chicago Convention seems to be a package of agreements that is use today. It is widely known formally as Convention on International Civil Aviation (CICA). Without mincing words, it created an independent agency known as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which succeeded International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN). This Convention is pregnant with sub-ag reements listed below: The right to fly across another’s territory without landing; 1. The right to put down passengers and cargo taken on in the territory of the aircraft’s nationality; 2. The right to take passengers and cargo destined for the territory of the aircraft’s nationality; and 3. The right to take on passengers and cargo, and to drop-off passengers and cargo destined for, or coming from the territory of any state signatory to the Chicago Convention The right to land for non-traffic purposes (such as to re-fuel). 2.4 Aviation safety Regulatory agencies With a specific end goal to meet the prerequisites for safe air transport benefits, various organisations and foundations have been set up at worldwide, regional and national levels to create basic guidelines, regulations, benchmarks and methods on safety and administer their execution over all aviation jurisdictions. The administrative system and safety necessities have been developed over decades and are persistently being changed or amended and upgraded to accomplish a perpetually expanding safety execution and to meet future difficulties postured by the usage of new air navigation ideas and the need to guarantee manageable advancement of civil aviation. Before distinguishing the three basic layers of safety regulations, it is important to state that all administrative regulatory agencies perform the functions of making of rules, enforcement of the rules, or adjudication. The rulemaking function is very much like the legislative process performed by the Congress; enforcement is the same sort of process performed by the executive branch of government and adjudication is essentially the function performed by the judiciary. The three basic levels of aviation safety regulations are: 1. International regulatory arrangements and requirements, established and promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), 2. Regional regulatory arrangements and requirements, 3. National regulatory arrangements and requirements, promulgated in national legislations and other normative acts by the designated State authorities. 2.4.1 International Regulatory Arrangements The standard global aviation regulatory organ is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO is an agency of the United Nations and was set up in 1944 through the Convention on International Civil Aviation, identified as the Chicago Convention. Through the cooperation of complying states, ICAO creates Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) that cover all parts of aviation, incorporating safety. SARPs give the establishment of all safety organizational administrations at a worldwide scale. There are currently over 10,000 SARPs reflected in the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention which ICAO oversees, and it is through these provisions † as well as ICAO s complementary policy, auditing and capacity-building efforts † that today s global air transport network is able to operate close to 100,000 daily flights, safely, efficiently and securely in every region of the world. By being a signatory to the Chicago Convention, a state concurs that the entrenched standards will be effected in its own constitutional domains, and if there is any conflict or variance, ICAO must be aware of it. As a matter of fact, ICAO does not concern itself with military aviation, which embodies combatant and non-combatants aircraft and facilities, which are solely operated by member States military force. As of late the aviation service provider organ and aircraft administrators have stretched the ICAO provisions out to necessitate usage of a formal safety management. ICAO directs the advancement of safety regulatory structures by Member States through the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) that was set up in 1999 to guarantee the uniform use of ICAO standards. These safety regulatory structures are the International Standards and Practices which stands to be of advantage and profit to member States. According to the United Nations Charter Articles 57 and 63, through the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ICAO was declared an autonomous Intergovernmental organisational. Members States who are having membership in ICAO are 191 at present. Based on the institutional structures, ICAO consist of a plenary body, the Assembly; a permanent body responsible to the Assembly, the Council; and the Secretariat headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Organization, the Secretary General. The Council has 36 member States, which is responsible to the assembly. One of the required functions of the Council in connection to safety is the selection and correction of the Annexes to the Chicago Convention, which contain inter-national standards and recommended practices. The Annexes are continually looked into and corrected to keep pace with new improvement and propelled innovation. At the flip side of the range, ICAO has seen solid regional and national activities to re-uphold the safety administration for civil aviation. 2.4.2 Regional regulatory arrangements Considering the topography, environmental conditions, climatic situations, natural disturbances and other salient factors, there must be needs to be flexible with measures to ensure safety. ICAO as the international body that regulates all aviation industry of all States Aviation Sectors has delegated responsibilities to regions, which allows or gives room for regions to come up with regulations in accordance with ICAO doctrines that would facilitate safety in the air and on the land. These regional regulatory organizations are directly under ICAO and they are: (1) African Civil Aviation Commission This is an ICAO African branch, which was set up by the Constitutive Conference, convened by the ICAO and the Organization of African Unity, OAU, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1969. It was established primarily to handle Civil Aviation matters in Africa in collaboration with ICAO. The OAU itself is a body that embodies African States. They are made up of Head of States/Governments, which occupies the highest decision making component of the organization. It also has Council of Minsters, which constitutes Ministers responsible for Civil Aviation. They predominantly recommend high profile policies for the OAU Summit. They have a commission named African Civil Aviation Commission , (AFCAC) which is a specialized agency of the AU responsible for coordinating aviation activities in Africa and is also the Executing Agency of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD). The Commission understands that to boost business capacity of Africa, influx of tourists, cultural and social structures of Africa, there must be a need for a save aviation sector. One of the most remarkable objectives of this body has to do with adopting or and promoting the implementation of ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices for safety, security, environmental protection and regularity of aviation sector. They make this happen by marrying and sustaining the harmony between ICAO rules and regulations couple with the States in areas that has to do with safety, security and other areas clustering around the integrity of the aviation sector. They do not give less attention to the balancing of advocacy and defenses of common locus of member States at international levels when the agendum revolves round civil aviation. This body has been known to examine specific challenges that can destabilize the growth and optimal functioning of African Civil Aviation sector with the ever-prompt actions to correct and or prevent any member State going out of the recommended standards. Africa has been known for higher accident rates due to the fact that, upon placing safety as a paramount issue, they still have an oversight mechanism, which is very ineffective for safety. This is one of the biggest problems in Africa s aviation sector. To ensure that aviation industry is coloured with safe operations, AFCAC have come up with cooperative and collaborative mechanisms that will orchestrate safety oversight which is however inline with the vision statement of the African Civil Aviation which states that to foster a safe, secure, efficient, cost effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly civil aviation industry in Africa . It is imperative to state that not only humans need to be the potential victims of ineffective safety in the aviation industry; the natural environment can be affected as well. Environmental degradation takes diverse forms, ranging from pollution and destruction of ecosystems to degraded fresh water supplies and arable land. The Aviation sector has contributed to global warming and depletion of the ozone layer in its own capacity through pollution. The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development adopted Agenda 21 that called States/governments to work together with appropriate UN bodies to solve this environmental problem posed towards the aviation industry. In fact, one of the relevant UN bodies, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCC, gave recognition to ICAO as a primary body responsible for the regulation of aviation-related environmental issues on aircraft engine emission, and which calls upon developed countries to pursue limitation or re duction of greenhouse gases from aviation bunker fuels working through ICAO. In other words, under the guidance of ICAO, all African States have a duty to have contribution to the protection of the environment via a safe aviation industry. It has been clearly stated that all aviation laws, regulations and practices shall be based on the Chicago Convention and its Annexes that make up the bedrock of international air law which regulates the conduct of international civil aviation, coupled with the air law instruments and guidance provided by ICAO. It is however expected that every Member State must ratify her key aviation legislation such that it would empower the civil aviation activities, which involves conducting, and over sighting within the jurisdictions of the State which must not fall outside the provisions of the Chicago Convention. States shall also adopt adequate regulations to address, at a minimum, national requirements emanating from the primary aviation legislation and providing for standardized operational procedures, equipment and infrastructures including safety management and training systems as well as enforcement mechanisms, in accordance with ICAO SARPs (Standards and Recommended Practices). These R egulations in standard terms cover all instructions, rules, edicts, directives, and sets of laws, requirements, policies, and orders. To further enhance safety in Africa, member States are allowed through the legislative system to make aviation safety laws, which must be in consonance with international aviation laws, rule and regulations. These laws must be appraised and modified to accommodate existing ICAO SARPs. When these are done, the Civil Aviation Authorities, CAAs, are authorized by their member States to implement and put to force all the international Conventions, protocols and resolutions. Meanwhile, each CAAs of member States must be autonomous with legitimate power and devoid of interference when carrying out enforcement of safety laws and over sighting over the aviation industry so as to easily realize safe air transportation in all the African regions involved in aviation. The oversight in aviation safety actually means adequately putting in place safety measures via the effective implementation of the safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in civil aviation. The CAAs exercise there oversight obligations on aircraft operators, maintenance and repair organisations, Airports/Aerodrome and Air Navigation Service Providers, Aeronautical Meteorology, Aviation Training Organisations, handling companies, aviation fuel suppliers, among others. All licences issued to personnel involved in the aviation sector are under the logistical approach of CAAs in ensuring safety as well. The member States also have the role of conducting training and orientation programmes for all safety inspectors. Such programmes includes ICAO s Train the Trainers courses, seminars, workshop, conferences and so on which help to update aviation stakeholders towards embracing all the safety cultures and practices. The AFCAC under the discretion of OAU allows Member State to create Regional/Sub-Regional Aviation Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs), which helps the involved Member States to improve the regulatory, and oversight proficiencies. Examples of the RSOOs include Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) of the East African Community (EAC) and the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO). (2) Federal Aviation Administration The F.A.A. (Federal Aviation Administration), is an aviation authority of the United States of America, which was founded in 1958. It concerns itself with the airspace glitches; most of the glitches they are concerned with are on the runways of aerodromes coupled with extra-terrestrial life. Since the year this body was established, regulation of air commerce for the promotion of Aviation safety and development had been a centerpiece of their duty. FAA rules are known as Federal Aviation Regulations ( FAR ), and are published annually in the Code of Federal Regulations ( CFR ). FAA regulations are extensive, comprising many thousands of separate sections, which touches areas of both commercial and general aviation. This includes design of aircraft and certification, airspace design, procedures involved in air traffic control, rules involved in carriers operations, implementation of administrative rules and so on. The agency, established as an independent authority with a civilian administrator, is combined with the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the Airways Modernization Board, and the Civil Aeronautics Board to carry out their functions. It was made a division of the Transportation Department in 1967. One of the responsibilities of FAA which is stated under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C.A.  § 106) is to regulating air commerce to promote its development and safety and to meet national defense requirements and also in addition to their responsibility is the development and implementation of programs and regulations to control aircraft noise, sonic booms, and other environmental effects of civil aviation. According to the mission, vision and values of FAA, safety seems to be the core key of there existence. Between 2001 and 2007, with the influence of FAA, aviation industry has witnessed one of its safest periods for scheduled air carriers. According to statistics, rate of accidents has dropped drastically. In the world today, FAA has delivered the safest and reliable transport system in this industry. In the civil aviation, not only FAA is involved, there are other federal entities that are worth noting. It includes National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This body has safety programmes that emphasize not only accident reduction, but also a decrease in injuries when accidents do occur. The program has to do with research to reduce human-error-caused accidents and incidents, predict and prevent mechanical and software malfunctions, and eliminate accidents involving hazardous weather and controlled flight into terrain. These programmes additionally will utilize information technology to set a more safe aviation framework to bolster pilots and air traffic controller. Another entity is National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which basically support FAA as regards making provision for research and operations for the forecasting of weather. Also, is Transportation Security Administration in the Department of Homeland Security, which exercise authority over civil a viation security and consequently, the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates aviation accidents and makes safety recommendations to FAA and proposals for additional regulations. In addition, the Transport Security Administration (TSA) is saddled with the responsibility of aviation security. The FAA is additionally actualizing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), a progression of technological and system abilities to propel air carrier operations by improving safety, lessening travel delays, saving fuel and diminishing flight’s ecological effect. The FAA Office of Aviation Safety (AVS) governs compliance with FAA safety regulations and directives. Perhaps a FAR violation is conveyed or noticed, the FAA will conduct an investigation and may introduce prosecution action. In the shape the violation takes, the FAA might enforce civil fine charges or suggest the issue to be prosecuted criminally. The FAA Office of Aviation Safety (AVS) oversees compliance with FAA safety regulations and orders. On the off chance that a FAR infringement is accounted for or found, the FAA may carry out investigation and may lay down enforcement action. Depending on the infringement, the FAA may force a common fine or elude the matter for criminal indictment. The immediate and precise reporting of mishaps and occurrences in the field is a vital part of safety and accident preventive actions. Keeping in mind the end goal to assemble this data, the FAA has initiated the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), which is a voluntary reporting system of safety issues and occasions that is intended to improve safety and avert accidents. The FAA likewise obliges carriers, owners, operators and others to make available report that has to do with failures, technical malfunctions or anomalies to a Service Difficulty Reporting System. These reports, which are freely accessible through the FAA’s website, are implied to recognize patterns or issues with administration, and alarm the FAA and relevant unit of the aviation sector. FAA has issued new necessities with respect to qualification standards for first officers, for the most part obliging that they meet the same certification minimum training and experience prerequisites as airline captains. FAA is revamping regulations regarding airline-training programs for flight crews and dispatchers, and air carrier safety management systems to provide comprehensive, process-oriented programs for managing safety throughout an airline organization. It additionally plans to put up some adjustments to air carrier training programmes to address mentoring, leadership, and expert improvement of less experienced pilots. (3) European Aviation Safety Agency EASA is an Agency of the European Union. As a Community Agency, EASA is a body governed by European public law; it is distinct from the Community Institutions (Council, Parliament, Commission, and so on.) and has its own legitimate identity. EASA was set up by a Council and Parliament (Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 cancelled by Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and corrected by Regulation (EC) 1108/2009) and was given particular to ensure a high and uniform level of safety in civil aviation, by the implementation of common safety rules and measures. EASA has assumed control over the obligations of the previous Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) framework, which ended on 30 June 2009. On the other hand, it is not a successor body in lawful terms since it works straightforwardly under EU statute. The primary distinction between EASA and the JAA is that EASA is Regulatory Authority, which uses NAAs to actualize its Regulations while the JAA depended upon the active involvement of NAAs to apply its orchestrated regulations without having any intensity of law at source. Since it is self apparently difficult to make another Regulatory System â€Å"overnight† EASA has needed to acknowledge expansive parts of the JAA framework as its own particular whilst it builds up the new blended framework needed under EU statute. EASA is, in addition, actually responsible to giving of advice to the EU when new laws that concern aviation are drafted. The entire safety rule, which does not exempt inspecting EU member States, are developed, implemented and monitored by the EASA. They are known for Certification of organisations located outside the territory subject to the EC law and responsible for providing ATM/ANS services or ATCO training in the Member States where EC law applies; and the Safety analysis and research, including publication of an Annual Safety Review. EASA is also an agency that helps the Community legislature to design common standards to guarantee the most elevated conceivable levels of safety and protection of the environment. They guarantee that all the standards are complied with in Europe and that any important safety measures are all carried out and it ensures the adoption of these standards around the world. Since the inception and operation of the Basic Regulation, EASA is the equipped and eligible Community Aviation Authority to see into the safety in air transport. Aftereffects or outcome of air incidents and accidents investigation is to be treated and followed up on as an issue of direness, specifically when they have connection with inadequate aircraft design or plan and/or operational matters, keeping in mind the end goal to guarantee public confidence in air transport without ill reference to the Community law; consequently, EASA is the beneficiary of safety suggestions within its remit. Under international and community law, all safety recommendations must be given full acknowledgement by the element to which they are directed to. At whatever point the investigation is carried out in an EU Member State, EASA displays an advisory role to guide the Investigator in control. Outside an EU Member State, EASA also advise the European Accredited Representative delegated by the State where the vital spot of business of the aircraft producer is. 2.4.3 National regulatory arrangements and requirements A national safety regulatory capacity is built up in every state. There is an extensive variety in the execution of the international safety regulations at the national level. This takes into consideration flexibility at all regional levels but it as well amounts to some irregularities. Numerous safety regulatory requirements seem hard to execute, both in states with restricted pre-existing safety regulation and those with well-grounded regulatory systems. Making sure that national regulatory structures are consistently in line with each other is difficult to achieve most times. Despite all this, there is still broad consensus that the matter of safety is global in nature, and that ICAO should remain the world regulatory authority for the safety of civil aviation. It is also noteworthy to say that before there can be in existence an international service airline operation to a destinated State, the State with the airline must enter into treaty with the government of the destinated State. This type of treaty is termed as Bilateral Air Service Agreements. 2.5 Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) This treaty facilitates cooperation between States, standardization of regulations and harmonization of these regulations on matters that has to do with aviation safety. Under the Chicago Convention, it was clearly stated that no scheduled international air service may be operated over or into the territory of a contracting state without their permission. Since the need for movement across borders is just too inevitable, and destination country would want a situation whereby there standards for safety is not compromised, there came up the need for States to enter into agreements with each other which appeared in the form of bilateral air service. Under the Appendix 5 ICAO Template Air Service Agreement (TASA), which is an ICAO guidance material for agreement negotiation with parties entering into agreement, it was stated that each party grants to the other party the right to fly without landing across the territory of the other party and the right to make stops in the territory of the other party for non-traffic purposes. The selected airlines of each party can take on board, in the territory of the other party, passengers, cargo, mail and still go on operating for other reasons within the territory of the party. For safety reasons, each party, according to this Appendix, have the right to, in written, select the appropriate airlines that is worth operating and also the right to withdraw or change the airline if the part designating the airline fails to comply with the safety provisions. Any designated airlines for operation within the territories of each party has the discretionary right to reject or accept this designation.

Analysis of Thin Client Article Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Thin Client Article - Assignment Example 7 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8 Summary The article, Quantifying Interactive User Experience on Thin Clients, espouses the importance of thin client computer environment in a less costly management information system. Using an unbiased approach, the article vividly studies the nuances of implementing the thin client computer environment. The article is reliable because the theories are grounded on academic resources espousing the usefulness of incorporating the thin client computer network in the company’s computerized information system. The article enumerates some satisfied thin client customers like Time-Warner, Wal-Mart, and the Pentagon to ensure its reliability. In addition, the same article insists on an unbiased stand in explaining the rudiments as well as the complexities of the thin client issues. By using survey data and other references, the company offers an unbiased stand. The bandwidth issue indicates unbiased journalistic and academic discussions. The discussion on network latency adds an unbiased discussion on the computer’s information transfer speed. Lastly, the article is out of date. Published in 2006, the article should be revised to include the current trends, and theories on the thin client topic. The thin client computer set up includes JAVA in its electronic information transfer system. Clearly, the thin client is defined as a network computer that is maximized as a remote screen visual of the software application’s output that is grounded on a working central computer network server. INTRODUCTION The thin client is characterized as a network computer that is harnessed as a remote screen visual of the software applicati on’s output with data processing done within the central computer network server. The thin client software environment cost less than the usual computer terminals. In the normal thick client computer environment, the terminals are installed with licensed computer programs. The company installs one licensed computer programs for each computer terminal. On the other hand, the thin client situation is described as the company installing software in the central server alone. There are no computer programs installed in the thin client network computers strategically located in several points within the company. The company saves on software license expenses (Pras 87). The company will only pay for one software license even though the company has two, four, 50, or 100 computers installed using remote computers. However, the thin client computer network has some disadvantages. For example, the increase in the number of thin client computer networks reduces the information transfer s peed of each computer due to unresolved bottlenecks. Likewise, if the network server bogs down, all the remote thin client network computers monitors will malfunction simultaneously. The focus the research is to examine the thin client article using three tests. The article vividly shows an unbiased approach in explaining the financial advantage of implementing the thin client computer environment. TESTS Reliability Test The article is reliable. The article uses valid references to support its statements. The article offers convincing examples of companies favoring a thin client environment. The article indicates that Time-Warner, Wal-Mart, and the

Classic Hollywood Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Classic Hollywood Cinema - Essay Example This essay explores the interaction between the message and medium in a scene from Casablanca. The scene that will be analyzed is the scene when Annina Brandel (Joy Page), a refugee who is desperately looking for exit visas for her and her husband Jan Viereck (Helmut Dantine), converses with Rick and asks for guidance regarding her dealing with Renault. This scene demonstrates the themes of nationalism and sentimentalism; it uses the cinematic elements to complicate the portrayal of the themes, by showing how Rick fights his inner emotions, values, and goals, and these elements also reinforce the themes through expressing them through symbolisms and motifs, as well as the actions and words of the characters. Rick embodies his contradictions as an empty and â€Å"filled† man, which manifests more in the form of sentimentalism. He seems to not care for the idea of true love. French bargirl Yvonne (Madeleine LeBeau), in the beginning of the film, pleads for Ricks attention. She drinks heavily, showing her confusion with her feelings and Ricks feelings for her. She asks Rick for a date that night, but all he says is: â€Å"I never make plans that far ahead.† During this time, through a middle shot, Ricks back is on the audience as he busily writes on something on the bars desk. It shows his indifference to Yvonne. As he pulls Yvonne out, shadows fall on Rick. These shadows symbolize the darkness inside his heart. He seems to have no feelings for anyone. He does not believe in â€Å"love† or â€Å"passion,† which can be inferred as he brusquely shoves Yvonne out of his bar. This woman evidently likes him, but he does not care for her. His actions demonstrate how h e also brushes aside love and passion away from his life. He has an emptiness inside him and the scene sends the first impression of Rick as a lonely introvert. Nonetheless, when he speaks with Annina, the scene reveals the complication between the

Biography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biography - Essay Example It was just training and waiting for any war that would erupt. However, I wished there wouldnt be any more wars until I was proven wrong. World War II began, and we were sent to combat. It was scare scary since I have never been in a battlefront. Furthermore, I was in charge of a battalion that was destined to win, so I was subject to minimal mistakes. As a military leader, I had to come up with various strategies for the survival of the whole team. My father, who is your great grandfather, had taught me skills on how to keep strong and never give up since the battalion depended on me for survival. Questions: Which war/wars did you serve in? What was the battles location and what was the battalions mission? Did you in any chance become a war captive? Since you were a leader, were you rewarded for the leadership skills and completion of the mission? Answers: I served in the Second World War as an American soldier. We had to overcome our enemies who at the time were axis powers. We had to support the allies and make sure they won the war. The battle took place in Europe and Asia where most of the enemies were found. However, my team was allocated the European region where we had to support our friendly combatants in the war against the axis powers. During the war, I did not become a captive since I had an extra duty of keeping my battalion safe as a sergeant major. Many soldiers were held captive as a strategy to make us surrender, but I guess I was lucky I did not fall in that category. According to rewards and promotions, I was rewarded after coming back to my home country back in1946. The Sergeant Major of the American army at the time issued me a medal to congratulate my work in the field as both a leader and a fighter. I had completed my mission despite losing 15 army officers in the field. At the time, other agents were al so offered medals and promotions for their continued support and struggle in the field. Questions:

The Prohibition of Horizontal Direct Effect of Directives Essay

The Prohibition of Horizontal Direct Effect of Directives - Essay Example In order to fully implement its policies, pieces of legislation are enacted by the European Parliament, European Commission and the Council of the European Union. On the other hand, the European Court of Justice plays an important role in the interpretation of European Union laws which consist of treaties, regulations and directives among others. Its interpretation aids the member states in the proper implementation of the European Union laws. In its case law, the European Court of Justice has introduced the principle of direct effect of European Union laws in the member states. The principle of direct effect was designed to ensure the effectiveness of the European laws, enabling the citizens to use it before their respective national courts. Correspondingly, the doctrine of direct effect have a substantial effect on the legal systems of the member states, because it paved the way for individuals to enforce rights which originates from community legislation before their national courts. And as such, the principle has become a distinctive aspect of the European Union. The landmark case of Van Gend and Loos v. ... ven though the treaty did not state that it was directly effective, it was in consonance with the nature of the treaty that the provision on the abolition of custom duties should be directly effective. Significantly, the court enumerated the guidelines for establishing direct effect to wit: The provision must be sufficiently clear and precisely stated, it must be unconditional or non-dependent and provision must confer a specific right for the citizen to base his or her claim (Van Gend and Loos v. Netherlands Inland Revenue Administration, 1963). Conformity with the aforementioned guidelines will enable European citizens to enforce their rights and to rely directly on the provisions of Community law before their national courts. Similarly, the court states that the direct effect confers the company a direct assurance of its rights under Community law before its national courts. The principle of direct effect goes after the principle of primacy of community laws developed by the Europ ean Court of Justice in the case of Costa v. ENEL. In the case of Costa v. ENEL, (1964) the court likewise pointed out in paragraph seven of the case, that a member state's obligation under the European Economic Community Treaty, in the execution, effect or adoption of any measures either by States or by Commission is legally complete and consequently producing direct effects on the relations between member states and individuals. Correspondingly, it becomes an integral part of the legal system of the member state, and as such, national courts are duty bound to protect it. The principle of direct effect, basically deals with the enforceability of European Union laws by citizens of member states. The Doctrine of Direct effect can be classified into two. The vertical direct effect and the

Cross-culture management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cross-culture management - Essay Example Some of the major economic indicators of internationalization such as FDIs, international sales and overseas profits have been showing steady rise over the years. Enhanced multinational operations have led to increased multiculturalism in the organization. This has subsequently led to greater interaction and cohesiveness among employees and managers coming from different cultures and backgrounds. The study of cross cultural management necessarily focuses on studying behavioural aspects of individuals in the organizations located in different cultures and nations in the world. These studies essentially focus on the description and comparison of organizational behaviours across nations and cultures. More importantly it focuses on the interaction between people coming from different cultures and working in the same organization. These studies are found to be extremely useful for organizations while devising their strategies. Multinational organizations pay particular attention to the st udy of these literatures as it helps them devise international strategies. These literatures depicts past circumstances and puts forth evidence of different multi-cultural situations and their implications at the workplace which essentially contributes relevant and crucial factors based on which organizations devise international strategies and policies (Adler, 1983 p.1). The project seeks to bring forth usefulness of these academic literatures on national cultures which help MNCs devise their strategies. In this context, it brings forth the major cultural differences between the developed, underdeveloped and developing nations and also the typical differences existing between the western and eastern cultures of nations. Those aspects are essentially focused on which influences international strategies of organizations. Usefulness of the academic literature on national culture for helping a MNC devise its strategy Team working and functioning Multinational organizations are commonly characterized for conducting transnational projects. They are also conducted with the purpose of saving the cost of double parallel works in subsidiaries and making the maximum use of complementary resources. For more than 20 years, researchers have focused and shown that management practices necessarily remain embedded in national cultures and they have also regarded that the search for an effective and universal management style is meaningless. According to the views of Alderfer & Smith, (1982) individuals embedded in a particular culture tend to have and share certain common world views (Chevrier, 2003, p.142). These include particular ways of cooperating, conflict management, authority acceptance, or simple communication techniques. According to d’Iribarne, Henry, Segal, Chevrier, & Globokar, 1998; Triandis, (1994) researchers conducted on cross cultures depicts that national cultures can explain variations in attitude between 25% and 50%. However, there has not been any clear establishment of the fact that variety of world views affects team functioning positively or negatively. The conclusion derived from empirical research brings forth mixed views on the subject (Chevrier, 2003, p.142). On one hand it is advocated that the diversity of worldviews

Literary History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literary History - Assignment Example America was founded largely by Protestant dissenters where most of them had some form of experience with religious persecution. The founders strived not to make that same mistake again. The separated the church from the state so that everybody will be able to seek justice under the law. Regular religious fellowship sustainably benefits family and the general life of people in America. It is evident that frequent attendance of services and religious meetings is associated with a good and happy life. It can also be related to good parent child relationship. In addition, cases of divorce, children born out of wedlock and extramarital sex are significantly reduced among families that worship regularly. Given the fact that the family is the rock of the society, the benefit of religion are extremely significant. The strong families who have a solid foundation in their religion will resonate the good attribute to the society. This will also benefit the community as well as they will be able to build a strong connection with their neighbour and help to improve the life status of each other in many ways. The fact that the church and the state are recognized as separate states has helped to protect the uprightness in the United States. If there are any lessons that countries that have merged the state and religion is hypocrisy, coercion, and violence (Fraker 90). A classical example is what took place in Pennsylvania that led to the holy experiment. Forced religion is not advisable. America model of freedom of religion, in which no religion or religious group gets any form of favouritism or government support has proved to show the real essence of religion. It is a clear indication that the religious organization must solely rely on their own resources to meet their needs. The religious ideals and institutions have been a key factor to the social reform and movement throughout the American history. Catholics, Orthodox believers and Evangelicals have always been on the fo re front at every major decision or social movement that took place in America. For example, the Catholics and the Evangelicals have fought for the abolition of child labour, welfare reforms and women suffrage. These religious groups have been recognized as one of the most influential among various human right communities. They have also formed a coalition with other lobby groups like global Aids to offer support for both affected and infected. Religious groups have also been on the forefront to condemn social injustices like genocide and women and child trafficking. Charity in America has been closely linked with religion. Research has shown a strong connection between religious organization and charitable offerings. From time in memorial, religious institutions in America have been the main source of aid or social service in the community. Examples of religious organization that have offered constant assistance to the less fortunate, provided medical assistance to the sick include World Vision and Mother Teresa Foundation. Over 3000,000 churches in American have at least one program or strategy that they have put in place by contributing money each year to help the needy and poor. Religion has played a major part in liberty and appreciation of human rights in America. The numerous christen ideas have played a major role in making this country a liberal state. The American founders can

FGM and Vulvas With a Difference Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FGM and Vulvas With a Difference - Coursework Example Over 90% of females residing in Somalia, Eritrea and the Sudan have been exposed to this inhumane practice. (Toubia & Susan 2009) Type IV – perforating, piercing or slitting of the clitoris and the labia; elongating of the clitoris and the labia; sealing by smoldering the clitoris and adjacent tissues; scraping off tissues neighboring the vaginal opening or whole removal of the vagina; institution of eroding elements or parsleys into the vagina to bring about hemorrhage or for the tenacity of narrowing or contracting it; alongside any other process that is categorized under the explanations mentioned above. (Toubia & Susan 2009) The Modern approach of FGM has made many women go crazy about their sexual organs in the belief that they are modernizing their vaginas and discovering new and elaborate ways of making their sexual organs unique. Websites like â€Å"Designer Vagina† are offering women services and cosmetic surgeries like vaginal constriction and labiaplasty. All this are just FGM albeit in a more contemporary manner. The practice may be done at any time during the lifespan of the victim, from initial stages of life to the period which the victim is getting married or during the death of the husband depending on the local traditions, but happens most over and over again during puberty stage. The exercise is most commonly executed by inexperienced midwives by use of tools like the kitchen knives, glass shards or razor blades. The impression of the archaic form of FGM on the well-being of the individual is reliant on the magnitude and type of method, the expertise of the practitioner, the hygiene levels of the tools and the settings of the operation, and the physical situation of the lady in question. This is unlike in the present times whereby the medical levels are of high standards and the operation tools and procedures are developed to ensure the patient’s safety is paramount. The instant or interim health problems communal to