Tribal Feminism

Paula Gunn asserts in her work â€Å"Pushing up the Sky† that tribal life of Native Americans possess an acceptable and dominated element of matriarchy and female- dominance. But she also make it clear that â€Å"tribal feminism† present in the tribal life was different to the concept of feminism that surged the modern society since late 1960s. The cotemporary feminist movements consider the tribal society as lame centered in which women were subjugated and oppressed. She suppose that this misconception on the part of the new feminists are due to tampered literature that present a distorted image of women condition in the tribal societies. She provides examples from a specific narrative (that conveys a totally different meaning and context of a ritual ceremony and woman role in it in the tribal society) to prove her point. Let’s examine her point of view in details.Paula Gunn Allen has juxtaposed modern feminist approaches to that of â€Å"tribal feminism† as persisted in the Native American tribes. She further implies that pre-conceived notions of the modern feminists can not be attributed to the tribal feminism and that feminism (tribal must be observed and analyzed in its contextual framework using employing the basic tenets of feminist thought. She provides reason for this as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"[t]he contexts of Anglo-European and Keres Indian life differ so greatly in virtually every assumption about the nature of reality, society, ethics, female roles, and the sacred importance of seasonal change that simply telling a Keres tale within the an Anglo European narrative context creates a dizzying series of false impressions and unanswerable (perhaps even unoposable) questions.† (p. 238)For this purpose she takes the example of marriage. According to modern feminist approach, marriage is considered as an operational tool for masculine supremacy and dominance. (p.237)   It provides justification to every masculine act of domestic opp ression and subjugation of women in way or the other. But for Keres and for most of other American Tribes, it has no anti-feminist connotations. She says in this regard, â€Å"[P]aternity is not an issue among traditional Keres people; a child belongs to its mother’s clan, not in the sense that she or he is owned by the clan, but in the sense that she or he belongs within it.† (p. 238)Modern feminist viewpoint will consider the information that the have received through different information channels. The foremost of these channels are the narratives that are written by Anglo-European writers. For example the narrative of Gunn describe Kochinennako as cause of conflict and thus maligned the woman character in the tribal society but Paula is of the view that truth is different from what a modern feminist takes from Gunn’s narrative. She asserts that from a native point of view, Kochinnenako is serving as a social tool in the narrative and â€Å"it is through her ritual agency that the orderly, harmonious, transfer of primacy between the Summer and the Winter people accomplished.†(p. 238) So she is a dominant force according to Keres viewpoint that enables the society to create harmony and balance in the tribal life.Paula further sustains the viewpoint that a modern feminist will read a Gunn’s version of a story, will consider tribal society as patriarchal and male-centered   in which Kochinennako marries an indifferent and violent person against her will. Her will or approval is not considered necessary. So tribal society   bvdoes not take into account the feminine feelings and their ultimate right to choose. A rather radical supposition that will come out of this reading is about the abuse of power where common folk is afflicted with pathos and miseries due to Kochinennako’s â€Å"unfortunate alliance†.Paula further illustrate that these interpretations of Gunn’s story are not in align with tribal soc io-economic patterns and structure of Keres but rather it’s manifestation of Anglo-European tradition that are forcefully and/or wrongly implied to the tribal structure of Keres. She further asserts that it is the narrative structure of the Gunn’s story that is woven in a way â€Å"to confirm a feminist’s interpretation of the tale as only another example of low status of women in tribal cultures.†(p. 235) Gunn’s narrative version itself is tampered with Anglo-European sexist, classicist and racist notions and concepts.Consciously or unconsciously, these notions and other related values are immersed in the mainstream tribal thought in a subtle way that an ordinary reader can not detect them. Furthermore, the linguistic inability of one language to transmit the concepts and values of another culture is another problem that renders alteration to the cultural concepts of one culture. Paula says in this regard, â€Å"So while the problem is one of tra nslation, it is not simply one of word equivalence. The differences are perceptual and contextual as much as verbal† (p.225) Third factor that further deteriorates the situation is non-understanding of a proper contextual framework in which values, rituals and traditions operate.To understand a tribal narrative it is mandatory to comprehend its contextual framework. So Paula assumes that Gunn’s version is tampered on the same pattern and his story contains notions of â€Å"Christianization, secularization, economic dislocation† patriarchal tradition of Anglo-European life etc. together â€Å"with linguistic inequivalence and lack of contextual understanding. Or this purpose she provides the example of Hiut-cha-mun-ki-uk. Guinn has translated this as â€Å"broken prayer stick† but Paula says that it originally means â€Å"——-. Furthermore, Gunn is unable to provide cultural assumptions and orientations related to these terminologies. Thatâ⠂¬â„¢s the reason that these terminologies are perceived in wrong connotations.Paula further says that Gunn has neglected the broad contextual framework in which the whole story operates. This narrative version is related to a ritual that celebrates the seasonal change i.e. the coming of Summer. Additionally, as this story is taken from yellow woman story, and;  Ã¢â‚¬Å"[t]he themes and to a large extent the motifs of these stories are always female-centered, always told from Yellow women’s point o f view. Some older recordedVversions of yellow woman tales (as in Gunn) make yellow woman the daughter of the hocheni’s. Gunn translates Hocheni as â€Å"ruler†. But Keres notions of the hicheni’s function and positions are as cacique or Mother Chief, which differ greatly from Anglo-European idea of rulership.†(p.226)Paula further reinforces the idea that woman has a special place in the Keres of Lagua and Acoma Pueblos. Yellow woman is regarded as an ep itome of certain extra human abilities. Paula elaborates that â€Å"in many ways Kochinennako is a role model though she possesses some behaviors that are not likely to occur in many of the women who hear story†. (p.227)   Paula wants to imply that her feminine character is different not only on the chronological basis but due to a different concept of woman hood in the tribal societies of Native American. So distortions and immersion of western thought in the narrative of Gunn also blur the vision of Modern feminists who consider a different view of â€Å"women status in the tribal life† that has nothing to do with real tribal society and its feminist notions.Paula assertions seem valid about the distortion of contextual framework and its negative effects on the feminine perception of tribal women life. She thinks that incapacity of Western mind to understand and interpret the true tribal mindset and values pertaining to feminism in particular and other socio-cultur al phenomenon â€Å"because they are generally trained to perceive their (tribesmen) entire world in ways that are alien to tribal understandings.† (p. 243).Her point of view about the linguistic tampering due to various mentioned facts is also convincible. But sometime she draws upon far-fetched arguments to prove her point of view. The tribal society as depicted by her illustrations of Gunn’s narratives, clearly manifest a balanced and just society where both male and female members of the community are on equal terms. Although particularly in the domestic sphere they have dominance but they are absent from other aspects of mainstream social life. However, the arguments of Paula contain logical assumptions. But the supposition about the difference between modern feminist concepts and â€Å"tribal feminism† due to the misconception due to biases of the narrator and narrative structure is valid and authentic.   

A Divided World and a Divided Self

Synge’s Playboy of the Western World is essentially a play of opposites. The tension between tradition and individualism is the active force that drives the characters toward the comic conflict.Shawn and Christy embody the masculine half of this equation while Pegeen Mike and the widow Quinn exemplify the feminine. Interestingly, the conflicts of the characters in isolated situations throw a brighter light on their motives than when secondary characters are present in the scene.While much of the play’s actual humor derives from the chorus-like responses of subordinate characters (notably when the pub patrons question Christy about his father’s supposed murder), the inner lives of the four main characters are explored in greater detail in direct dialogue exchanges.For this reason, it is important to consider Playboy of the Western World as a psychological as well as a social inquiry into the early 20th century Irish mind.The moral, social and familial institutions at work in the lives of the characters are inseparable from the behavior of the characters themselves and their behavior, in turn, affects the ways they perceive and challenge the institutions that establish a collective social identity. Synge’s satire, then, is fundamentally subversive. By undercutting a prevalent strain of Irish romanticism Synge effectively exposes the difference between the real and the ideal in Irish opinions about their own history and customs.The influence of religion is at the heart of Synge’s concern. Shawn’s reluctance to stay with Pegeen Mike overnight testifies to his fear of the priest’s, and by extension, the community’s censure. This is confirmed when he admits, â€Å"I'm afeard of Father Reilly; and what at all would the Holy Father and the Cardinals of Rome be saying if they heard I did the like of that?† Shawn is unable to take the passionate leap in terms of his affection for Pegeen Mike, being overly con cerned with outward appearances.Though his presence at the pub overnight will not be breaching social etiquette in any way immediately revealed by the opinions of the pub house patrons, he worries about the possibility that some vague â€Å"other† will entertain harsh opinions. For this reason, Shawn is repeatedly unable to take a stand for what he purportedly desires—marriage to Pegeen Mike.While religion is key, Shawn also demonstrates a pronounced avoidance to action of any kind. He is fearful of what he perceives as Christy’s passionate and unpredictable nature. The threat of violence is abhorrent to Shawn. However, his pacifism is not the result of moral objection but rather a product of physical cowardice.Christy, in contrast, is not concerned with the price of taking extreme action. Despite his meek exterior, his story of parricide is told with earnest, and he behaves first in such a way that he seems shell shocked by committing the murder. Later, of cour se, this turns into something else, when he begins to celebrate his action as proof as his own manliness.This is an important turn in the play because he moves from a fear of the social judgment of his illegal and immoral action into a defiant assertion of his own individualism. This shift occurs because he senses the positive (and perverse) effect his reputation as a murder has on the members of the community in general and on Pegeen Mike in particular.Once Christy recognizes the advantages he has when perceived as â€Å"dangerous† he quickly adopts a romantic and celebratory posture. His pride in the matter is exactly what sets him up for his serio-comic fall when his father, the elder Mahon, appears miraculously â€Å"raised† from the dead.Another pair of characters defined by their opposing views is that of Pegeen Mike and the Widow Quin. Their pronounced division is related to domesticity. While the Widow Quin is perceived as an outsider and generally shunned by t he community, she is more of a realist. This is evidenced when Mahon arrives and the widow does not reject Christy as a potential love interest.As an older and more mature woman, the Widow Quin is not as easily swayed by the romantic appeal Christy’s story of murder offers. She is more interested in his companionship and status as a help-mate. She is eminently practical.Pegeen Mike, however, is far different. For the twenty year old barmaid, the idea of a savage killer for a husband is alluring. Shawn’s proposal disgusts her when compared to that of Christy because he lacks the essential brutishness that defines her idea of an appropriate mate.Consider the hastiness of her words when she says, â€Å"Wouldn't it be a bitter thing for a girl to go marrying the like of Shaneen, and he a middling kind of a scarecrow, with no savagery or fine words in him at all?† She is not concerned with the pragmatic reality of what it means to be married to a man who has defied t he law. Her head is full of high romance and flattered by Christy’s sentimentally poetic use of language.

Intercultural communication issue Essay

Intercultural Communication Issue: Electronic Mail Meanings reside in people, not in words (Littlejohn, 2001, 39). This basic precept of language can be deemed a positive axiom for successful communication. Whenever possible, both parties should seek a common code and/or attempt to understand cultural differences in coding systems. Admittedly, it is difficult to arrive at a common code if a person and his communication partner speak different languages. The English language contains countless subcodes. Even nonverbal cues shift from culture to culture. Much like in the case of this electronic message sent by a hypothetical boss to a representative of a department flocked with Hongkong-based Chinese nationals: â€Å"I wanted to welcome you ASAP to our little family here in the States. It’s high time we shook hands in person and not just across the sea. I’m pleased as punch about getting to know you all, and I for one will do my level best to sell you on America. † The statement above is a blend of American vernacular and idiomatic expression. It appears to be a simple salutatory message that turns embedded in unnecessary verbosity. This communication style takes risks in seeking suitable interpretation on the part of the message recipients. The words or phrases ASAP, across the sea, punch, and sell for Americans are easy to understand and can even cause no outstanding remarks from them. But to use these words in a message meant for relatively new employees with a relatively different linguistic background, startling and even violent reactions might be elicited. In fairness to Hongkongers, they are officially bilingual between Chinese and English. After the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China in 1997, both Chinese and English remained the official language of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. English is the major working language in Hong Kong, and is widely used in commercial activities and legal matters (Flores, et al. , 1991, 246). However, this gift of bilingualism may likewise yield confusion, as British idioms are different from Americans’. Moreover, code-switching between Cantonese and English may not help them fathom best the message above. Some purist scholars consider Cantonese speakers who incorporate too much English are even dubbed language-handicapped (Flores, et al. , 1991, 245). And because the message was delivered through a virtual channel, the importance of nonverbal aspect of the communication is overlooked. This could have done the job of exhibiting the context most especially should the weight of the message comes to such portions as punch or sell you. The boss should have noted that communication is defined more by behavior than the communication event itself (Kale and Luke, 1991, 7). Nonverbal behaviors also shift from culture to culture and bilingualism may provide little help if the communicators had not developed code sensitivity toward the culture-specific message systems. With simplicity, neutrality and cordiality in mind, Hence, the message to be conveyed to the migrant employees should more or less look like this: â€Å"Good day! We welcome you once again to Will and Hung Company! May you find your new home over here in the United States as we are as earnest to make this company a place for you to work with satisfaction. † From this takes off a working atmosphere that encourages these new people to feed back in order for them to adjust their behavior to the relatively new environment. The boss must indeed shake their hands in person because it is indeed high time to use nonverbal actions as a way of inspiring them to respond to him in all honesty. He must think for a moment of all the positive attitudes and images he associates with smiling, head nodding, leaning forward, and laughing. ough these behaviors seem very Western, they often produce positive reactions in other cultures. Furthermore, interesting research findings suggest that communication changes encroach on how people relate to one another in organizations. Computer-mediated communications differ from face-to-face and telephone interactions in three important respects: there is a greater sense of anonymity; there is creation of new groups; and there is also susceptibility to computer addiction (Sullivan, 2003). Many executives become less social and less available for face-to-face conversations (Braun, 2002). Adjustment efforts must also manifest on the part of the host culture. Because much of the world speaks English, many of Americans have a tendency to assume we need not learn a foreign language. The very fact that others have made an attempt to learn our language should motivate us to reciprocate. There is more to language than vocabulary, syntax, and dialects. Language is more than a vehicle of communication; it teaches one a culture’s lifestyle, ways of thinking, and different patterns of interacting. References Braun, Patrice. (2002). â€Å"Digital Knowledge Networks: Linking Communities of Practice with Innovation.† Journal of Business Strategies. Flores, B. , Cousin, P. T. & Diaz, E. (1991). Transforming Deficit Myths About Learning, Language, And Culture. Language Arts (pp. 245-246). Littlejohn, Stephen W. (2001). â€Å"Theories of Signs and Language. † Theories of Human Communication (p. 39). Wadsworth Publishing. Kale, J. & Luke, A. (1991). Doing Things With Words: Early Language Socialization. The Literacy Agenda: Issues for the Nineties (p. 7). Victoria: Eleanor Curtain. Sullivan, Daniel. (2003). â€Å"International Business: An Emerging Vision. † Journal of International Business Studies.

From market research to proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

From market research to proposal - Assignment Example The taxi business within the surroundings of Lessos is strong and growing. The population is cosmopolitan of approximately 400,000 people and the community is dynamic. The area has low unemployment rates partly because the economy is diversified. In addition Lessos has world renowned museum that attracts tourists and people to the region. The taxi will target both direct consumer business and commercial business. Consumer accounts are usually cub accounts and payable immediately. All taxis are dispatched to the customers’ place of business and their trademark will be cleanliness of the taxi and driver as well as their quick response to customers. Currently there are only two taxi cabs in Lessos area.Bekiro taxi is the largest one and could be considered potential competitor. This is mainly because they are skilful and experienced in handling large numbers of clients. In addition they have a fleet of 52 vehicles and have most of the prestigious accounts in town. The other taxi company manages to generate profits yet they have a small income base and driving outdated equipment in poor condition. Prices are fixed by the city using regulated meters. Increases are usually annual as a result meter errata is usually high in Lessos area. The only metered challenge that can pose as a problem is the metered waiting time which can be adjusted. Most taxi companies do not offer to take credit cards hence locking out potential customers. If this challenge is eradicated a wide range of people would consider taxi as a better substitute to bus services. Riverroad taxi will carry out its operations in a unique way. The concept will be drivers to own their own vehicles and operate in accordance to the company’s policies and procedures. This concept will allow the company to make savings by avoiding costs associated in operating a fleet of vehicles such as maintenance costs. The revenue from the taxi operations is based on one factor; operations fees.

Differences Between the Disease Model and the Harm Reduction Model Research Paper

Differences Between the Disease Model and the Harm Reduction Model - Research Paper Example Sheff) and his father’s perspective. Both books (Beautiful Boy by David Sheff and Tweak, by Nick Sheff) avail a fascinating perspective on addiction, and how it is a family disease affecting afflicted member, as well as all who interact with the person. The disease model of addiction stipulates that individuals addicted to alcohol and other drugs possess a chronic disease that can never be cured, although it can be contained. The model holds that the ideal outcome for individuals with addiction is total abstinence, since anyone who still uses any quantity of drugs continues to activate the strong cravings for drugs of choice. The disease model defines alcoholism and any other drug addiction as a biogenetic disease in need of treatment. Disease model is less stigmatizing compared to moral model and, thus, represents an advantage. Nevertheless, both models perceive the user as powerless over consumption and emphasize abstinence as the only feasible means of recovery. According to the disease model, chemical dependency represents a psychosocial phenomenon (Wormer, 1999). The disease model comes out as scientifically and morally correct and effective with motivated clients. Disease model perceives alcoholism or any other drug use as irreversible and the drug user as a person having an abnormal condition. Disease model holds that addiction is a biologically-based syndrome embracing psychological and social components that influence its expression. The model holds that predisposition to addiction is invisible and can be inherited. Other assumptions of the model include the premise that addiction remains dormant (in remission) unless reactivated by alcohol/drug use. The model stipulates that if left unattended, the disease becomes progressively worse, leading to disability and death. Disease model holds that disease is generic to all psychoactive substances regardless of the distinct substances that the individual may happen to choose (Marlatt &

Ss Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ss - Assignment Example This defect reduction means a substantial reduction in: 10. A call center for processing book orders is investigating their error rate. The procedure calls for the customer service representatives throughout the distributed system network to gather the following information for each order (those marked with an asterisk were determined to be critical to the processing of the order) Note that the annual ‘rolling error rate’ is shown in , as computed on a monthly basis: 12. Two critical characteristics were inspected in a sample of 500 orders. Fifty errors were found on 25 of the orders, but 20 of these orders were reprocessed to correct the errors. The Throughput Yield is: 18. The non-conformance records for the Painting Dept. are as follows, where the number reported is the number of defective units for each non-conformance type (cracked, chipped, off-color, wrong color, other): 21. If the optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely times for step 1 of a process is (2 days, 9 days, 5 days) and for step 2 is (4 days, 13 days, 8 days), then the best estimate for the total cycle time for the two steps is: 51. When a one way ANOVA is computed, the results can tell you that at least two means are different but it cannot tell you which ones are different? If you were testing three treatment groups, which test could you use to discern specific differences? 60. Peter’s project seemed to be going along well until the project team started to implement the solution. At that point, a department that hadnt been involved, but will be affected, starting raising objections and pointing out problems to the proposed solution. 61. Phebe, a team leader, is having trouble getting buy-in from various members of the team. In one particular problem-solving meeting, these team members didnt seem to listen to any of Phebe’s ideas, and were insistent that their ideas were more credible. Some reasonable advice to Phebe would be: 64. Jill is

English composition Writing Skills and Techniques db 1 Essay

English composition Writing Skills and Techniques db 1 - Essay Example This point will also address why police officer consider areas outside major urban areas as safe havens. I will also address the effects of police misconduct to both the police force and the public. Finally, I will address the future of the police force in relation to the ongoing misconduct. In this juncture, I will tackle possible consequences to the police force and relevant reforms that needs to be made in order to create a balanced police force in the United States. The purpose of this essay will depend on the interest of the reader or audience. Firstly, the essay will be an informative essay. This is because it will inform the public and relevant authorities that, police misconduct is rife despite the cover-up measures taken to conceal information. Secondly, the essay will act as a cause an effect essay since it will analyze factors that promote police misconduct and the resultant consequences (Silverman, 2009). Analyzing the cause and effects of the problem will be aimed at finding solution for the

Majority decision in a democracy Research Paper

Majority decision in a democracy - Research Paper Example This paper looks at how decisions are reached in a democratic state and argues that a decision by the majority does not necessarily always yield optimal results. This is because the majority of people may not have access to crucial information for making informed decisions. This conundrum of how best to govern people has confounded sages for ages going back to the times of the ancient Greek philosophers. Various types of government styles were tried in order to find the ideal and perfect form of governance that will give the best results in terms of stability, peace and contentment for all citizens. Governance can be considered as a social experiment in which various governance structures are tried to see which works best. Governmental forms are part of the larger political systems of a country. Among the various forms that were quite common before (with some still existing today in hybrid forms) are monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy, timocracy, autocracy, anarchy, democracy, socialism and republicanism, among many others. The most common form of political system prevailing in the world today is democracy. However, its being common does not necessarily confer it is a superior political system; all that can be said about democracy is that it is the best option until a better alternative can be found that best fits the objectives of a country when it comes to the issue of governance. The ideal form of government must achieve the triple purposes of peace, stability and contentment where issues and concerns of all citizens are adequately answered. This paper attempts to point out the defects and deficiencies of a democracy and also offers an exciting alternative form of rule which is the elitist type of rule. The word elitist often invites a derisive connotation but it actually offers a better prospective form of governance. Elitism is not bad per se as it envisions a rule by people best qualified to govern the rest of the people. It does not imply exclusivity as any one who qualifies to be a member can become one. Discussion Plato (427-347 B.C.) during his time had already seen the weaknesses of democracy. This was the reason why he advocated for a different form of government – that of the rule by the chosen few, the aristocracy. His version of aristocracy is not what we think of it today that is based on owning vast tracts of land or being fabulously wealthy; rather, an aristocrat is the person who had been educated in philosophy and therefore knows a lot about virtues and in the exercise thereof, will lead people into wealth and happiness. The classical definition of the word aristocracy, as far as Plato was concerned, is a rule by the best persons of a society. This idealistic state of government is rather very utopian in aspirations, though. Plato had given up on democracy as virtually chaotic as he had seen some of its effects on Athenian society in his time, such as some occasions of mob rule and how the electorate or the general populace put into office during an election people who were not well qualified. A fairly strong dislike of democracy led to his criticisms that it will eventually lead to tyranny. In a sense, he was right on this aspect, as democracy can be considered as a form of tyranny, that is, tyranny by the majority on the minority. Further, Plato had only seen the nascent forms of democracy during his time in which it would still naturally and expectedly be chaotic. He had not seen how modern democracy works today in which safeguards are in place. He had regarded democracy as a poor form of government, much inferior than monarchy itself. What Plato instead argued for strongly was aristocracy, in order to put the best people into government positions and let them make all the important policy decisions. He thought that aristocrats are the best people to govern because they

Oscilloscope and Function Generator Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Oscilloscope and Function Generator - Lab Report Example nd in trying to understand the fundamental functioning of the two, the variables that were measured include the period (in seconds), the frequency (in Hz), and the peak-to-peak voltage (in volts). This experiment verifies the relation between frequency and time as F = 1/T as evidenced by the results. in the functioning of these machines, these variables are used in varied ways. With frequency and time being reciprocals of one another, and this relationship is fundamental when displaying a current waveform or an AC voltage on the screen of an oscilloscope (Witte, 2002). This, in a nutshell, brings out the functions, as well as the difference of the function generator and the oscilloscope. Having understood the basic functioning of the function generator and the oscilloscope by using the numerical values of the time, period, and voltage variables, this experiment demonstrated the difference between these two machines, but also practically demonstrated each variable as an independent variable in different mathematical contexts. The functional difference, as well as the functional similarity of the function generator and the oscilloscope shed light on the practical functioning of the machines and the different variables they

Darwin as the New Mythology Essay Example for Free

Darwin as the New Mythology Essay It has been a major struggle for the scientific community to understand the persistence of religious belief. After centuries of writing by rationalist thinkers, it remains a mystery why so many continue to believe in the old gods. The survival of religion has been though revolution, political and economic change and every conceivable alteration of consciousness throughout the ages. â€Å"Common sense† would then say that religion, in some very real sense, is true, is righteous and factual if it has survived so many changes. Buckert, however, holds that the only way to explain this persistence, short of admitting there is much truth behind it, is that it assists humanity in adapting to changing environments: in short, making religion part of the Darwinian universe. This review will revolve around the methods used by the author in deriving his conclusion, really on the basis that his treatments of the specific cases are so lacking in detail as to be purely superficial. Hence, the real meat of the book lies in methodology, the â€Å"suggestion† of alternate ways of looking at religion. Buckert begins by making the claim that nearly all researchers on religion hold: that there are undeniable similarities among all religions, regardless of their background or geographical origin (4-6). There is the ubiquity of prayer and sacrifice, the saturation of symbol and other forms of communication within groups, and ultimately, the creation and maintenance of group solidarity, itself an important ingredient in winning the struggle for survival (13). Ultimately, the book makes a single argument: religion makes sense because it assists in the struggle for survival. Even institutions such as self sacrifice and the rejection of competition among certain religions are in fact adaptive behaviors that maintain the solidarity necessary to function in a hostile world. There is no specific reason who religion and religious ideas specifically are necessary for this, nor does this explain the persistence of belief, though it may offer a suggestion as to its ancient origin–which are two different arguments. One interesting (and irritating) feature of this book is that there is no real â€Å"argument† given in the standard sense, rather than a series of suggestions loosely held together by what might be called â€Å"popular Darwinism. † This singular suggestion, that religion â€Å"works† for maintaining solidarity is certainly nothing new, and offers such a superficial view of disparate religions that it remains merely a suggestion, a means of planting doubts among readers who are followers of a certain religious system. Religions such as Christianity or Islam are described in one or two sentence snippets, clearly â€Å"sacrificing† detail for the sake of a smoothly running argument, the ultimate drawback of this work. Giving this thesis in more detail, the author brings this thesis to bear on such objects as guilt, hierarchy, meaning and gift giving–all of these exist in the realm of biology and the world of problem solving within the context of group solidarity, itself a biological mechanism. Again, all of these are described in a few lines, providing a superficial context for the generalizations upon which the book is based. Guilt, for example (cf 103-105), is the beginning of problem solving. Natural disasters, disease, etc. are inevitably met by questions such as â€Å"why us? † Hence, guilt fixes blame so that the group can then go about the business of reinforcing its solidarity to fix the problem. Uses of guilt and shame are constant to punish deviants and maintain solidarity, not to mention reinforcing the world of hierarchy and authority relations. â€Å"Meaning† is offered, on the most general level possible, as finding a purpose in a universe of â€Å"infinite complexity† (26). Of course, Darwin himself could also serve these ends. â€Å"Sacrifice† is treated in an interesting, yet radically general way, as the utilitarian doctrine as sacrificing the part for the whole. In other words, the author uses the example of an animal chewing off its own foot to get out of a trap. Human sacrifice is something like that. This is the basic structure of the book and the method of generalization. â€Å"Generalization† here is deliberately called a method because the argument only works (or at least works smoothly) when it functions at a high level of generality. A specialized study of religious systems will bring out so many deviations from this general scheme as to render it useless. Hence, it must remain at a superficial level. What is the most significant element of the book, however, is the methodology itself. The best way to understand the flow and structure of this work is to grasp the methodological assumptions that are inherent in it. None of these assumptions are argued for, and it is assumed that readers will agree a priori. a. Objects in the natural world create the consciousness not just of peoples, but of communities. Consciousness is not considered an autonomous object and free will is rejected implicitly, consciousness is created by the existence of objects in space and time, and hence, is controlled by them. b. Putting this differently, Buckert assumes that consciousness is a material object, itself part and parcel of the world of cause and effect. This is tantamount to holding that the religious objects of worship or fetish are not actually real, but are artifacts, in fact, residual categories, of the enslavement of consciousness to the world of matter and competition. Even more, that all religions are like this and have the same root, regardless of the background, geography or time period in which they develop. c. The beliefs and methods of the modern scientific mind and their conclusions are assumed to be true, and hence, any treatment of religion (or any social phenomenon whatever) must conform to their demands. In other words, instead of couching his phrases in terms of religion according to â€Å"natural selection,† Buckert phrases his approach in terms of â€Å"facts† and â€Å"truth† about the world of material bodies and cause and effect, within which consciousness develops and takes its course. Needless to say, this approach undercuts his own claim to objectivity and scientific rationalism. d. Another major methodological assumption here is that all thought patterns, or patterns of consciousness require a cause, and this cause is provided by group solidarity and the struggle for survival. Putting this differently, each pattern of consciousness, that is, any systematized belief system must have its roots in evolutionary biology to be made sense of. This is to say that any thought pattern that can be traced throughout time in some superficially similar pattern must have a cause with roots in biology. Of course, this means that group solidarity is itself a biological function and hence, all forms of thought that reinforce such solidarity. e. A striking claim made implicitly throughout the book (and made the bedrock of the argument) is that religious claims are ultimately false. Better, not so much false or true but beyond such evaluations because the purpose is survival and competition, rather than claims of truth or falsity. Of course, religious devotees regularly make truth claims, and many of these claims are directly detrimental to their survival or flourishing. The answer to these claims can be found in the â€Å"Escape and Offerings† chapter (chapter two), where the author holds that when one can see sacrifice as beneficial (cutting off an arm that could infect the whole body, for example), the personal sacrifices of martyrs, etc, can be explained (34-38). This is the â€Å"fallacy of equivocation,† since one is using the word â€Å"sacrifice† in two very different senses and contexts. One might see the utility in sacrificing one to save the whole, but this has nothing to do with explaining the desire for martyrdom or the sacrifice of millions in persecutions of religion. â€Å"Sacrifice† is here used in two different senses. f. States of consciousness such as guilt or reciprocation make no sense unless placed in a Darwinian context. This is merely the thesis restated. But implicitly, this argues that states such as guilt are residual categories of the evolutionary process, and hence, are not real, they are epi-phenomena at best. The argument comes down to justifying one’s own feelings of guilt by claiming that these guilt feelings assist in the development of group solidarity, and hence, it is acceptable that I feel them. Again, this is equivocation, making the jump from the collective to the individual within the same argument. In fact, equivocation is just as much central to Buckert as anything else, since the entire structure of the book is a regular back and forth between the animal world and the development of human religion. Hence if it can be justified in the animal kingdom, it is justified in human society, and if in human society, then the individual. g. Finally, Buckert fails to see the self-referential argument involved. If thought processes are part of the biological process and creative of social solidarity (or are derivative from it), then the Darwinian consensus of the modern scientific establishment also then falls into this category. Such a consensus assists biology in developing its rhetorical weapons, its receipt of grant money and its social prestige. How are these not nearly identical to the present argument concerning religion? In conclusion, the Buckert book here under review is a series of logical equivocations and false parallelisms. Ultimately, the book might have worked if the field of ancient religion had been its specific base (and it the author’s field, after all), rather than seeking to answer the question of the persistence of religion over time. Religion in its primitive, polytheistic sense might fit Buckert’s thesis. However, the existence of a sophisticated Christianity in the High Middle Ages, on the other hand, does not so fit. Developed, literate religions such as Islam have created as many barriers to group solidarity as catalysts, and hence, the argument breaks down. One might conclude that since modern societies have developed new means of reinforcing group solidarity, this method of explanation then fails (a priori) to explain why billions still believe.

Oil And Ghee Industry Pollution

Oil And Ghee Industry Pollution Environmental degradation by the industrial sector is a matter of serious concern not only in Pakistan, but also all over the world. Steps have to be taken to initiate measures to combat pollution, thereby, enabling the industries to comply with the international local standards, e.g., National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) and the ISO 14000 certification. In Pakistan, there are 20 industrial sectors which are of the most concern. One of which is the edible oil and ghee sector. This report aims to address the environmental pollution problems of the Edible Oil sector. It has been compiled on the basis of the statistical data available on the sector both at global and national level and the information related to the case study from both primary and secondary data sources. The objective of this report is to assess the nature and extent of environmental problems caused by an edible oil industry, to quantify the pollution loads, water reuse and recycling, process modifications and recommendations. Many technological processes are carried out in order to obtain refined vegetable oils from seeds. The main processes include refining, degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization and winterization. During these processes by-products and wastes are formed. The operating conditions and processes carried out influence the amount and characteristics of the by-products and wastes formed. The wastewater varies both in quantity and characteristics from one oil industry to another. The composition of wastewater from the same industry also varies widely from day to day. However, despite the use of these methods, disposal and waste treatment still remain major challenges in the fats and oils industries. One of the contributing factors as to why such wastewaters are difficult to treat is the complexity of their sources. Sources, among others, include heat exchangers, barometric condensers, gas scrubbers, cleaning of greasy floors and equipment, leakages, process water from the refining plant and soap stock splitting effluents. Moreover, vegetable oil refinery wastewater is known to contain chemical compounds like phenol, heavy metals from bleaching earth, catalysts used in the hydrogenation process, oxidizable substances and fats and oils. Because of quantity and characteristic variations and complexity, wastewater treatment to meet the desired effluent standards is complicated, and the choice of methods of wastewater treatment depends on many local conditions and, therefore, cannot be standardized. Water use minimization and wastewater reuse and recycling is a far better option to go for, especially when there are limited finances for end of pipe treatment methods. This could also involve process modifications for the oil and ghee industry. Research Objectives:- Air emission: Emissions are generally generated from the generators, boiler, and vegetable oil processing and oil extraction solvents. Level of effluents in an industry. Waste Water: Effluents are produced mainly from deodorization, boiler blow down, refinery section, neutralization, degumming etc. On average 12,600 m3/day of wastewater is generated having considerably high BOD (mg/L), COD (mg/L), TDS, TSS, etc. level of waste water produced in industry. Solid Waste: Effluents are produced mainly from deodorization, boiler blow down, refinery section, neutralization, degumming etc. On average 12,600 m3/day of wastewater is generated having considerably high BOD (mg/L), COD (mg/L), TDS, TSS, etc. Solid waste produced in industry. Theoretical frame work:- To formulate theoretical framework, first we need to enlist all the variables in our study and state the weather its independent or dependent. List Variables Air emission Independent variable Waste Water Independent variable Solid Waste Independent variable pollution Dependent variable The variable Pollution is dependent and it is the main focus of our research. All the other variables influence it. Increasing or decreasing Air emission caused by the production of edible oil and ghee directly affects air pollution. Likewise, any change in the amount of water waste or solid waste produced will also directly affect water pollution. As a result, if we minimize the air emissions, water and solid wastes than we will be able to bring pollution to a minimum level. This can be done by maximizing recycling and disposing off the wastes properly and safely. Literature Review:- Industrial pollution is also a major health risk in Faisalabad. According to Dr Amjad Ali Rana, a senior teacher at Community Medicine department of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad: Here the diseases have some connection or the other with environmental pollution like skin diseases, asthma, TB, heart diseases, hepatitis and even cancer. They are found in greater ratio than any other city in Punjab. (By Dr. Amjad Ali Rana) He also reveals some terrifying consequences of industrial pollution in Faisalabad. According to findings of different studies, industrial pollution in Faisalabad is not only disturbing the Ozone layer in atmosphere, it is also becoming a source of its production on ground. On ground level ozone simply works as a poison. In winter it forms smog (smoke+fog) along with many other hazardous emissions of industries. This is why the death rate among infants and elderly people is more in four winter months in Faisalabad as compares to other eight months of the year. (By A. Sahi) In a survey conducted by PPI, revealed that presently almost five hundred factories were currently operating in the I-9 and I-10 industrial estates which were causing water and air pollution in the area. Out of the existing 500 plants, there were 204 manufacturing units in the area. Complaints of diseases like chest congestion and asthma, which were directly linked to air pollution, are frequent among I-9 and I-10 residents. The quality of air in these areas was never tested due to the non-availability of adequate facilities. Experts say that commissioning 500 more industrial plants in the area would increase pollution levels considerably. (By A Survey conducted by PPI) Environmental damage and pollution created by the oil industry have caused violations of the rights to good health and a clean environment, the right to an sufficient standard of living (including the right to clean drinking water and unpolluted food) and the right to have a livelihood through work for thousands of people. (By Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Oil companies have been exploiting weak regulatory system for much long. They do not effectively prevent environmental damage and they repeatedly fail to properly address the overwhelming impact that their dreadful practice has on peoples lives. (By Audrey Gaughran of Amnesty International.) More than half of the people in the region rely on the natural environment for their livelihood but pollution by the oil producing factories are destroying their essential resource. (By Audrey Gaughran) The Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has asked owners of the industrial units in the Industrial Estate Islamabad to install efficient devices to control pollution in the federal capital. INTRODUCTION Industry overview: The selected Shan Oil and Ghee Industry is one of the biggest manufactures of oil and ghee in Lahore. In 1982, the unit of production is 30M tons per day. After the installation of new units in 1995, the production reaches 150M tons per day. The major product includes cooking oil, ghee and soap. The total area of Shan Oil and Ghee industry is around 10 Acre and covered area is 70% of the total area which make approximately 7 acre. Main departments include Office Block, refining section, boiler section oil storage section, Storage area, Hydrogen cracking plant, oil and ghee filling and storage section and CO2 filling section and solid scrap storage area. Location and Surrounding: Shan oil and ghee industry is located in Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat Lahore. Other prominent industry around the ABC oil and ghee industry is Hamdard Factory. Drainage Disposal The total area of Shan Oil and Ghee industry is around 10 Acre and covered area is 70% of the total area which make approximately 7 acre. Main departments include Office Block, refining section, boiler section oil storage section, Storage area, Hydrogen cracking plant, oil and ghee filling and storage section and CO2 filling section and solid scrap storage area. Importance of Oil and Ghee Industry: Consumers use it widely in commercial as well as in home applications. The oil is used in stir-fry dishes, snack foods, seafood, vegetables and different foods around the globe. It can be used in place of any vegetable oil. Generally it is used to make mayonnaise, sauces, salad dressing and marinades etc. It can be used for baked goods as well as for spreads on foods such as bread and muffins. In refined shape, cottonseed oil is nearly clear and provides very little taste, serving mainly as a catalyst for holding ingredients together. SECTORAL INFORMATION: Role of Oil and Ghee Industry in the National Economy: The number of small and medium enterprises producing Vegetable oil and ghee amounts to 160 presently. The total capacity of these plants is approximately 2 million tons per annum. An additional advantage of vegetable oil production is that one of its by product is soap which is sold separately and it also has a very good role on our economy. The total number of solvent extraction plants is nearly 50 at the moment. The net worth of oil production by these plants in rupee terms is 17 billion. According to the latest research the average Pakistani consumes 16- 18 kg in a year. The actual demand increase at the rate 4.4 % from 1988 to 2000 whereas the domestic production increased by 7.3% during the same period. Role of oil and Ghee Industry in the Global Economy: The production of oil depends on the large scale industries as far as the production in Pakistan is concerned its total quantity cost. The cooking oil and vegetable ghee industry is a large manufacturing sector. In Pakistan its production was 4000 tons in 1950s, it has grown to about 60,500 tons in 2000. However, the actual demand is approximately 117,000 tons; a shortfall has been witnessed over the last two decades. This shortfall is made up through the import of cooking oils, which are added to the local production. Pakistan imported edible oil worth Rs. 11,500 million in 2001-02 and it is still increasing. In 1976, the Ghee Corporation of Pakistan was established to manage the affairs of this industry. Edible oil consumption has been increasing at an annual rate of 9% over the past 10 years, and countrys production has risen only 2% per annum. At present indigenous production of cotton seed oil, and other edible oils meet only 35%, of the total requirement of the country and the rest 65% is imported. There are 160 units producing ghee and cooking oil with an installed capacity of around 2.5 million tonnes and 1.7 million tonnes to meet annual national requirements of about 14 million tonnes. The total installed capacity of Ghee/ Edible Oil is about 3.3 million tons. The total annual domestic demand of edible oil in the country is around 2.9 million tons (including 0.2 Million tons export to Afghanistan), however the local production of edible oil is around 1.3 million tons per annum. The rest of the demand is being met through imports. Imported palm oil constitutes around 56-58 % of all oil used for production of edible oil/ghee in Pakistan. Questionnaire (customer sample):- Dear participants, I am the student of business administration in the university of central Punjab (UCP) are conducting survey on the comparative study on oil and ghee industry pollution and its effects on human lifes. I am delighted to select you as participant and your contribution in this effort will be highly appreciated select the suitable choice by marking or encircling. 1Q. How far is your home situated to the nearest oil and ghee manufacturing company? 2Q. Do the industry dispose off its gaseous waste directly into air? 3Q. Have you noticed any changes in the flavor or color of the water supplied to you? 4Q. Have you experienced any foul smells near the oil and ghee industrial area? 5Q. What percentage of your daily diet is composed of oil and ghee products? 6Q. Do you recommend the shan oil and ghee products? 7Q. Does the pollution from the oil and ghee industries cause thermal pollution? 8Q. Does the industrial pollutants contain health hazardous substances? 9Q. Does the environment pollution caused by the oil industries increase the incidence of asthma, chest congestions, cough etc in the population? 10Q. Is the increase in pollution contributed by these industries linked with increased appearance of cancer? 11Q. Does this type of pollution assist in the spread of any lethal diseases e.g. tuberculosis, cholera, malaria, dengue etc? 12Q. Do you drain your waste water directly into the sea or ocean or is it detoxified and uncontaminated first?