Lipids Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lipids - Essay Example Many of these important molecules are vital to our very existence, and without them we would not be able to survive. At the same time however, to many lipids has recently been proven to give rise to bad health conditions, so it is important to keep a proper balance of these molecules, as to few or to many of these vital molecules can be extremely harmful, even deadly. Our bodies need these fats in their system, and we also need them in our diet. Without these important fats, our body would not be able to function; our cells would not have the right layers needed for most of their processes, and we would eventually die. Lipids are extremely important molecules, that are vital to our existence, and we need to make sure to keep a proper amount of them in our body. Lipids are just one of the many molecules that help our body tick. Often unseen or unknown by the majority of the community, most people take these highly important molecules for granted, not even knowing what they are as they keep their body working properly. The lipid molecule is vital to human life, and without it we would not be able to function. Understanding this complex molecule is also important, so one can know exactly how this versatile molecule helps keep our body working, and how they help our body partake in many of its important life functions and reactions. By a scientific definition, lipids are â€Å"an amphiphilic class of hydrocarbon-containing organic compounds†( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipids). They have several important qualities that give rise to their importance in the human body and cellular construction. One of these qualities is the importance of the structure of lipids. Lipids have a long hydrocarbon tail, which is hydrophobic and does not like water. On the other end of the lipids however, is a hydrophilic head, which does like water.

The Outlook for the US Printing Businesses in 2007 Essay Example for Free

The Outlook for the US Printing Businesses in 2007 Essay The printing industry encompasses a wide range of products for commercial and retail use. Printing is involved in the production of magazines, newspapers and books, as well as brochures, maps, postcards, business forms, stamps, manuals, packaging and so on and so forth. It also includes various related pre- as well as post-press occupations such as lay-outing, graphic designing, binding and finishing. There are different methods of printing using plates or an image carrier. Among the most common of these are: lithography invented in 1798, the modern process makes use of a photosensitive emulsion placed onto smooth surfaces, either using a platesetter for computer-to-plate (CTP) technology or on flexible aluminum or plastic printing plates; it’s most commonly used for credit cards, packaging, CDs, books and newspapers. flexography – most commonly used for packaging, it makes use of a 3-dimensional negative impression of the image to be printed produced on polymer or rubber and rotated on the surface to be printed. It was originally used for printing on corrugated boards. The flexibility of the material enables the print to be impressed on uneven surfaces. gravure – used mainly for food packaging, wallpaper, furniture laminates, paneling and magazines, gravure printing uses depressed, as opposed to raised, surfaces, where the image areas are etched into copper cylinders. It produces high quality print but the costs involved in the necessary equipment are prohibitive compared to other methods used in high volume runs. screen printing – can be used to print on almost any material, using a screen prepared with a stencil, a squeegee and ink. It is highly versatile and simple to use. The best known application for this method of printing is for T-shirt printing, letterpress printing – the method involves the use of movable type where the ink is smeared on raised surfaces and then placed on a suitable material such as paper or cloth for transferring impressions. The invention of reusable, individual letters for use in this type of printing in the 1400s is credited to Johann Gutenberg; offset printing – modern techniques make use of film negatives where the image is transferred onto photoelectric plates, similar to the printing of photographs. It is the most commonly used method for high-volume printing. Non-impact or plateless printing includes electrostatic, electronic, toner-based and inkjet printing. With the advent of computers, there has been a further diversification of the industry; namely, traditional or manual printing and quick or digital printing. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005) Together   with the computer, the ready availability of the Internet has inspired fears that the printed word was in danger of being phased out as the most widely spread form of communication and information.   The impact on the growth and profitability of the printing industry was of significant concern, as the rising financial and environmental costs of paper printing made the move into a paperless society seem inevitable. In the US, especially after the recession of 1990-91, the most pessimistic forecasts had been made regarding the future of the printing industry in an increasingly digital world. A 2004 study of the findings and forecast of the US Department of Labor on the employment and compensation of workers leads to the conclusion that fewer workers working fewer hours will be required overall in the printing industry against a projected increase in all other industries, due mainly to the increased use of automation and digital prepress technology. However, there is a concurrent requirement for workers with knowledge in digital prepress and post-printing technologies. There also seems to be a perceived increase in companies specializing in commercial flexographic and digital printing. More companies will be employing fewer than 10 non-supervisory workers at higher or equal hourly compensation as compared to other industries. There also seems to be a trend towards increased employment of workers with knowledge or education in operation of computer-related equipment. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005) There are varied opinions among businesspeople in the industry. Some maintain that the level of capital investment needed for quality, high-volume printing precludes all but a few to make a reasonable profit. (Paul, 1998) Others maintain that while a small profit margin may be discouraging, the printing industry is alive and booming, in part because of growing expenditure in advertising and promotions, as well as the proliferation of direct selling companies. (Dolbeck, 2005) Most agree that the advent of digital technology has helped lower costs and increase efficiency, thus improving profit margin. Some studies have shown that an increasing number of people are tuning into the Internet rather than newspapers or magazines. However, it is projected that it will be at least 10 years before those who get their news from the internet will outnumber those who read the newspaper. That is, if those who had earlier converted revert back to printed media. It is maintained that despite the many innovations in digital technology, it is not as portable as printed material, and the cost of attaining some portability is still beyond many consumers. Moreover, many companies maintain that the retention and pass-on potential of the printed brochure or pamphlet has a greater marketing impact than a website. For educational and scholarly products, the process of transferring the information from print to screen is a long and laborious process, and while audio books and CD-ROMs are enjoying growing popularity in many libraries, it is still a long way from replacing the books as a means of providing in-depth information and education. (Heger, 1994) According to C. Barnes and Co.’s report â€Å"2005 Market in Print,† a survey of printing companies revealed that the majority of companies surveyed with non-printing operations (NPO) were small companies. These NPOs included graphic design, fulfillment and mailing. The chief complaints from printing business owners include stiff competition, the cost of technology that have shorter depreciation, shortage of skilled workers and price increase of consumables. The transition from manual to partly digital technology has caught some companies flat-footed, jumping on the bandwagon too late or without enough knowledge and research to buy the right equipment at the right time. The segment of the industry that is particularly enjoying popularity is digital or quick printing.   Small print shops that specialize in desktop value-added services abound because of the ease of acquiring the necessary equipment and consumables and the relatively low capital requirements.   These services include calling cards, invitations, letterheads for small businesses, leaflets, flyers and marketing materials such as promotional mugs and magnets. Digital cameras and mobile phones with high resolution cameras have also resulted in a rising demand for digital photo printing. Also an interesting development in the industry is large format printing, in which digital images are transferred directly from a digital image to tarpaulin or paper, much like a large inkjet printer.   This is especially handy for low-volume printing requirements such as a banner a garage sale or posters for a school recital. Digital print shops have a unique relationship with its customers. All preprinting requirements may be provided by the client directly, usually already in a digital file.   The print shop ascertains that form and layout of the file is up to standards for proper printing and provides the medium for the actual process.   Or the client may come in bare-handed and state the requirements. The print shop then provides the services required: scan, lay-out, proof, color correct, edit then print. Many a party or small social event, small business and school have taken advantage of this while-you-wait service in fulfilling their collateral needs at comparatively low cost considering the volume involved. Paper companies make the process even easier by producing products especially designed for toner-based or inkjet printers ranging from pre-formatted labels in different configurations to scented board paper for calling cards, all available in retail at neighborhood bookstores at reasonable prices. The trend for digital printing is towards faster, cheaper and higher quality of printed product. However, high volume requirements cannot be fulfilled by even the best equipped digital print shop simply because the cost escalates per piece produced, unlike traditional printing methods, where fixed costs such as plates and film enable the producer to run prints at lower cost when volume goes up. These same fixed costs, however, cannot provide the service at competitive prices if the volume is low. The relationship of the plated and digital print businesses is largely symbiotic.   Plated printers are the main source of income of paper companies that also produce the specialty paper needed by digital printers, but only as sub-business. These paper companies deal in volume as well, and will not survive on the sales from digital shops alone. Digital printers at the neighborhood level provides potential clients an accessible point in which they can bring their initial printing requirements to be then referred to a plated printer after graphic design, scanning and/or lay outing for volume printing. There is very little actual overlap for the two sub-industries, providing services for different needs of the same customer. A new player in the field that promotes the marriage of digital and traditional printing processes is print-on-demand (POD) publishers. More of a publishing rather than printing method, it nonetheless uses digital imagery and letterpress printing to produce books and posters in small runs. (Wikipedia) Would-be authors are able to have their work published, albeit they pay for it themselves. The method is also often used for limited circulation publications, as a stopgap for materials with high demand that are in the process of being re-run and for books in print with only a trickle of demand which makes a full re-run impractical. What is the forecast for the printing industry in the US?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, the prospects of the printing industry for 2007 are good. Perhaps it is not as rosy as some projections from 1999, when printers enjoyed a boom, but neither is it as black as it is being painted by some trend watchers. The average projections for the industry overall is 5. The need of those in the printing industry to reinvent itself in order to overcome aggressive competition, smaller markets, and increasing cost of materials, especially paper. The changes in the market are considered by 20% of a representative slice of print and prepress firms as a call to arms in the war of doing business in a changing world. (Youngblood Communications, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the second quarter of 2006, Xerox Corporation spearheaded a free seminar series entitled â€Å"Innovate ’06.† It is a worldwide series with concurrent offerings within the United States that focused primarily on educating those in the printing business, or who are thinking of getting into it, on their options regarding industry trends, technological advances and how to boost profit and efficiency in the workflow of an increasingly digital industry. (Presswire, 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While there is some pessimism among some of those in the industry regarding the viability of the printing business of turning over a reasonable profit, the prognosis of manufacturers of the equipment and consumables is positive. In a survey of U.S. companies reports show and increase of expenditure from 2004 of 23% on new plants and equipment. The spending spree is attributed to appreciable profit-earning in 2004, enabling companies to make improvements and begin projects that have been put off during the leaner years. (Min, etal, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   TrendWatch Graphic Arts, in its report entitled â€Å"Printing Forecast 2005: The TrendWatch Graphic Arts Perspectives on the Challenges and Opportunities for Printing in the Next 12 Months and Beyond†, also reported that a survey of American and some Canadian commercial printers are hopeful about their companies’ futures. There was an increased sale of printing presses in 2004 and a projected 6% increase of sales of 6-color sheetfed offset presses over the following months. (Youngblood Communications, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Advertising expenditures has also increased, according to TNS Media Intelligence, a strategic advertising and marketing information provider. In the 1st Quarter of 2006, total advertising expenditure rose by 5.2 percent against the same period of the previous year. However, impact of this expenditure did not quite favor newspapers and business to business (B2B) magazines. Of those in the publishing industry, only consumer magazines posted an increase in income. (TNS Media Intelligence, 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Such reports tend to focus on the large companies spending the big bucks in advertising. Growth in the industry is not as high as projected, mostly because of a not altogether unexpected shift to online media, with a worldwide growth of 40% expected, according to Carat. (Khan, 2006) But earnings from advertising and marketing expenditures by top companies are not the only opportunities for those in the printing industry today. There has been a healthy growth in the quick print industry that to print for the ordinary citizen with a family picture Christmas card to send to the folks back home. (Youngblood Communications, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The grudging admission by most existing, large printing companies is that business is good, if not great. This could be because they are reluctant to encourage other players to get into the business and cut into an ever decreasing wedge of the market. Environmental issues are also a big consideration in the woes of these big companies, requiring expenditures on cleaner, more efficient machines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For those about to plunge into the pool, start small seems to be the way to go. The neighborhood print shop, the POD publisher, the offshoot value-added service provider does not require much capital expenditure. There is always someone wanting to print something, the important thing is to research the intended site of enterprise and provide whatever is needed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shift to digital has been widely accepted as a good thing, even by those who had watched its advent into the market askance. The growing dependence on the microchip driven hardware is felt across all industries, and most especially in the printing and publishing industry, spawning a greater demand for the technology. And software and hardware companies are quick to take full advantage of this trend. Almost every six months, the newest, fastest, cheapest, most efficient, most environment friendly, most accurate, most user-friendly and other â€Å"new, improved† models and programs are being touted.   For those wishing to get into the business in a big way, big ticket items are the ones that need to be most researched. True, the Internet and online media are the new toys, and everybody wants to have a go at it. Gone are the days that for research, you go to the trusty 20-volume Merit Student’s Encyclopedia, and for the latest Hollywood gossip you go over to your neighbor’s house and borrow the supermarket tabloid. The Internet is easier to use when searching for a school project, music to download, movies to preview or things to buy However, very few people enjoy reading a suspense thriller or a romance novel from a glowing screen hunched over a computer, and it is highly unlikely that some type of digital media would become affordable enough to be left in mailboxes in lieu of flyers, leaflets, pamphlets and brochures. Sharing photos and sending virtual greeting cards are also a good thing, but there is no replacement for actual photographs you can frame or actual greeting cards you can frame. In essence, one media does not necessarily compete with the other. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, and given most circumstances, print and digital complement each other. Some publications have even found that a good Web-based counterpart was a good way to get circulation going as well as a source of income via advertisements. Furthermore, since Web content can be updated instantaneously, the publication can keep its readers up-to-date with the latest news and trends in between issues. For those in the printing industry, the computer has been much like the electric bulb. It is faster, easier to use and produce better results. The ones who could not keep up with the technology have turned in their shingles and closed up shop. The smart ones got with the program and grew even better. The well-researched, carefully-planned production structure with prerequisite training and upgrades in equipment and workflow has generated significant earnings for the enlightened business owner.   Rather than ranting at the changes and trying to outlast the new technology, many companies began spending on upgrades or outright replacements of obsolete equipment that was keeping the productivity of the company at pre-digital levels. This willingness of printing companies to invest in new technologies sends a crystal clear signal that the industry is healthy and responsive to changes.   The outlook for 2007 for US printing industry is looking well. References Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2005 Printing Career Guide to Industries, 2006-07 Edition retrieved December 15, 2006 from at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs050.htm Paul, P. 1998 Everything thats fit to print: printers struggle with changing technology and stiff competition New Mexicos printing industry Industry Overview New Mexico Business Journal retrieved Dec 15, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5092/is_7_22/ai_54370066 Heger, K. Oct, 1994,  Print: a road kill on the information superhighway? impact of information superhighway on printing industry Communication World,    retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4422/is_n9_v11/ai_16358776 Dolbeck, A. 2005, Valuation of the Paper and Publishing IndustryWeekly Corporate Growth Report NVST retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3755/is_200502/ai_n12412452 Min, et al, June 2005, U.S. industry unlocks budget box Pulp Paper retrieved December 15, 2006   http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3636/is_200506/ai_n14687790 Youngblood Communications Co., Ltd., Jan 2005 Printing Forecast 2005 Print Action retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4088/is_200501/ai_n9485742 Patrick, M. Nov 2000, The Web Effect on magazine publishing industry Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management,   retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_14_29/ai_67718962 Wikipedia, Flexography retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexography Khan, M. December 12, 2006 Online drives Carat’s revised ad spend forecast DM News retrieved December 15th, 2006 from http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/research-studies/39350.html TNS Media Intelligence 2006 TNS Media Intelligence Reports U.S. Advertising Expenditures Advanced 5.2 Percent in First Quarter 2006 retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.tns-mi.com/news/05312006.htm M2 PressWIRE, 2006 Print Industry Experts to Help Companies Worldwide Profit and Grow retrieved December 15, 2006 from http://www.imaginginfo.com/article/article.jsp?id=1575siteSection=33

Personal experience of God

Personal experience of God 1. Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derived from biblical, theological, and historical sources. Throughout history, people developed the idea of a higher being, who is referred to as god in general. Some people simply deny the existence of god or any other spiritual being. And other people who accepted the existence of god explained the identity of god in various ways. Deism sees the cosmos as a closed system with its maker outside it; so denies Gods direct control of events and his miraculous intrusions into this world. Pantheism recognizes no creator-creature distinction, but sees everything, including good and evil, as a direct form of God. Christianity joins with the Jewish and the Muslim faiths in proclaiming radical monotheism, which states that God is One and that God is the God of all. Distinctive to Christian theism is the belief that the personal creator is as truly three as he is one. God is a single being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a communion of three persons: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three Godhead are eternal which means they coexist from past through future. In Matthews account of Christs baptism, as Jesus the Son went up from the water, the Spirit of God descended upon Him as a dove and the Father testified from the heaven of His beloved Son (Mt 3:16-17). This scene clearly portrays the simultaneous existence of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Christian understanding of God is specific in that Christians believe that God has been, and continues to be, historically involved with the people of Israel and has made a new covenant with all people in Jesus Christ.   In other words, we believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments bear witness to Gods active love for creation as revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. God revealed himself through various channels including the Scripture, experiences and nature. Although there are many ways in which God reveals Gods self, the best place to find out about God is through the Scripture that God gave us. In the book of Exodus, I personally found Gods character and the qualities that are ascribed to him. Exodus 3:7-8 says that The LORD said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honeythe home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV) These are the words that God said to Moses from the burning bush. I believe that in this communication with Moses, God revealed who he was. God whom I believe in is the God who has seen the misery of his people, heard them crying out and has been concerned about their suffering. In another translation, it is said that God knew their suffering (NRSV). In the context of this chapter, my people indicate Israel people in Egypt. Israel people at that time in Egypt were slaves under the Pharaoh. They were ignored people in bondage to the Egyptians. There must have been other nations considered much higher and nobler than the Israelites but the bible said that God who is the creator of the whole world saw slaves with his own eyes and heard them crying out. Hebrew word for to know in Exodus 3:8 is yada` {yaw-dah} and it implies to know by experience (Bible Work 7). In other words, God who created the whole world attentively observed and listened to slaves who were disregarded in this world and he knew of their suffering by experience. The God whom I believe in is not one who just sits on a throne in heaven and is not concerned about what happens in this world. But God in Christianity is the God who knows his people and has a close relationship with them. Exodus story indicates that God is purposeful, powerful, and sovereign in relation to this world. He has a plan for the history of the universe, which is to save his people from sins, and in executing it he governs and controls all created world. He is all powerful so he cannot be bound by any of the limitations of space or time that apply to us and he is always present everywhere. Personally, God has been there in many forms for me.   All of these attributes can be found in many parts of my personal experience with God. I have experienced God of Immanuel, who has been with me always. Jesus came to this world as Immanuel (Mt. 1:23) and his last words before he ascended into heaven was also Immanuel, I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Mt. 28:20). When I decided to go to seminary in Korea to be a pastor, I rejoiced in confidence because God was there with me. When I went to Korean Army, I endured the difficult time because God was there with me. When I came to America alone for further study, I did not fear to live in a strange land because God was there with me always. Throughout my life, the one thing that I am sure is that God has been always with me and loves me, who am the weakest among all. 2. What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world? First of all, as Augustine said in his article, On the nature of good, I believe that God is good and every creation is good (Augustine, Chapter 34). And every creature came to exist by God without exception. Then how do we explain the origin of evil from the perfect good Creator? In regard to the matter of the origin of evil, I am of the same opinion with Augustine. Evil is lack of some good things. As it throws a shadow over us when we turn against the Sun, evil originate from a lack of goodness of God. I believe that God is the perfect Creator. One of the perfect things God created was man. Adam and Eve who were the perfect creature of God had a choice to follow God or to go against God. Without free will to choose, neither good nor evil could have been chosen. If man is ever to choose good, he must have the freedom to choose evil as well. Therefore, God did not create evil but perfect freedom to choose and human freely chose evil. After Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, evil became a reality in this world. In his Book, the City of God, Augustine recognized that evil in this world and goodness of Gods Kingdom co-exist on the earth throughout its history. However, Augustine believed that God would finally turn evil in this world into goodness of Gods Kingdom (Augustine, Chapter 13.4). By the original sin, I believe, all of us fell down from the image of God and evil came to prevail in us. However God also prepared the way through which we can be restored to Gods Image and be saved from our sins. The only way of salvation is Jesus Christ. 3. What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace? On the last day of creation, God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen. 1:26). The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. We were created to be set apart for God (Gen 1:28). He enabled us to commune with God. We were created in likeness mentally, morally, and socially. When we were created in Gods image, we were intended to become Gods agent so that we can take care of the world (Gen. 1:26,28). However, Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God. And they became alienated from the Creator. That historic event brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Human nature became corrupt, and therefore, totally unable to please God. Before Adam and Eve sinned, they both had direct contact and fellowship with God. But as a result of transgressing against God, Adam and Eve lost it all. They were both banished out of the garden, God pronounced a curse on them and their descendants and on the earth in general. Death entered into the big picture and all of us are born into this world with sinful nature. In his love and grace, God made a plan to save us. In Ephesians 2:4-7, Apostle Paul tells us that God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.   We cannot overcome our sinful nature and death but, through Jesus Christ, God had already made provision for us to be saved. By faith through grace, we can be saved (Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus Christ is the grace of God who showed us the way of salvation. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the full and complete price for our sins so that we do not have to pay for it. The only way of salvation is by faith through Jesus Christ. And even the faith we have comes from God. Thus our salvation is entirely the work of God. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ will be saved by the grace of God. 4. How do you interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord? Jesus is our Lords human and personal name, meaning savior. Christ is our Lords official title. It is the Greek synonym for the Hebrew Messiah, meaning the Anointed One. The statement Jesus Christ is Lord implies the belief that Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary is our savior who redeems us from our sins. In other words, to accept Jesus Christ as Lord means to accept two natures in Jesus Christ; the nature of divinity and the nature humanity. Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God at the same time. Existence of these two different natures in Jesus Christ is crucial because that matters to salvation. The doctrine of the virgin birth is very important (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:27, 34). Jesus birth was the result of the Holy Spirit working within Marys body. Mary was a vessel God used to perform the miracle of the Incarnation. Denying a physical connection between Mary and Jesus would imply that Jesus was not truly human. Scripture teaches us that Jesus was fully human with a physical body like ours. Jesus was fully God as well as he is fully human with an eternal and sinless nature (John 1:14, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 2:14-17). Jesus was not born with sinful nature. The virgin birth circumvented the transmission of the sinful nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man. The deity of Christ is the central belief of Christianity as well as Jesus humanity. The bible clearly claimed that Jesus had the right to forgive sins, which is something only God can do (Mark 2:5-7, Acts 5:31, Colossians 3:13). Jesus was also said to be the one who will judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) as an ultimate judge of this world. Apostle Paul called Jesus great God and Savior (Titus 2:13), and pointed out Jesus existence in the form of God prior to his incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8). In John 1:1, deity of Christ is clarified as the same God with Father, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). John here affirms both the deity of Christ and the Trinity. Jesus is God who incarnated in human flesh, the living Word of God. 5. What is your conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?   The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God. The Holy Spirit is God in the same way that the Father is God and the Son is God. Scripture and the church tradition, including Nicene Creed (We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified), indicates that the Holy Spirit, known also as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus Christ, is of the same essence as the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit worked at the beginning of a church. Apostle Paul indicated an organism of a church as the Spirit baptized body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). And the one who leads us to become a new creation in Christ through worship is the Spirit of God (Eph. 2:18, Phil. 3:3). Each local gathering is a part of this one universal believing community as a body of Christ, and as Christs agent the Holy Spirit leads and guide us to grow into Christlike maturity   and fulfill Gods mission (Eph. 4:11-16).   The Spirit also works in a life of an individual believer. The Holy Spirit convicts lost people with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment and by Gods power repentant and believing souls are saved. In sanctification, Holy Spirit indwells the Christian as one grows in the likeness of Christ and in his service. Scriptures tells us the Spirit who works throughout our journey of salvation. The Spirit leads us to repent our sins (John 16:7), makes us born again (John 3:3-5). And the Spirit empowers us to bring holiness in our life and helps us to bear fruits in our life (Galatians 5:22-23). 6. What is your understanding of the kingdom of God; the Resurrection; eternal life? As the Psalmist confessed, Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations (Ps. 145:13), I believe that God is the king of his covenant people. And as Apostles Creed (from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead) and the Nicene Creed (He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead) said, I believe that Christ will be our ultimate judge at the last day and God will reign over the whole world. As the Nicene Creed stated coming of Gods Kingdom (his kingdom will have no end), there must be the coming kingdom of God in the future in which Gods reign affects the whole world. However, the Kingdom of God is more than a vision of coming Gods reign in the future. The kingdom of God speaks of a present reality though not in entirety and a future result where the reign of God over all of creation will be perfected and made whole. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus responds to a Pharisee who asked when the kingdom of God would come, The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say here it is or there it is because the kingdom of God is within you. As well as we experience coming of Gods reign over the world in the future, we will experience the Kingdom of God here and now although it is a foretastes of the fullness of Gods Kingdom. The resurrection of Christ on the third day after his crucifixion and his ascension to be with God until He comes again for the final time of judgment also marks the path of all those who claim faith in Christ. At the time when the Good News of Jesus Christ spreads to the whole nations, he will surely come to the world again (Mt. 24:14) from the heaven in a cloud with power and glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16). At that time people who accepted Jesus Christ as their savior will be risen from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). Christs resurrection marked Christs victory over sin and death both physically and spiritually, we too as Christians who bear the marks of Christ gain the right to have the same victory both physically and spiritually. Eternal life is the end product of our resurrected souls. As the Apostles Creed (the life everlasting) and the Nicene Creed (the life of the world to come) insisted, I believe that those who have been saved by Christ will share the joy of eternal fellowship with Christ. Heaven means eternal joy in Christ and those who reject Christ will be judged to the eternal condemnation. 7. Explain the role and significance of baptism in the ministry to which you have been called. Sacraments are acts instituted by Christ and administered by a church having an outward form and conveying Gods grace. Baptism is one of two United Methodist sacraments the other is the Lords Supper. These sacraments are means of grace within the covenant community. They are visible signs and seals of something internal and invisible and the means by which God works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. The scriptural mode of baptism is found in the New Testament. It records that Jesus was baptized by John (Mt. 3:13-17), and he commanded his disciples to teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). Whoever accepts Jesus Christ as their savior is eligible to be baptized. Baptism conveys Gods grace that redeems us from our sins through the atonement of Christ. Therefore, baptizing of a person, whether as an infant or an adult, is a sign of Gods saving grace. In baptism, we witness that Gods grace is poured upon everybody regardless of their condition. Even though baptism is the special channel through which we experience Gods grace of the atonement of Christ, baptism does not guarantee our salvation. As John Wesley insisted in his sermon, Scripture Way of Salvation, salvation is a lifelong process of responding to Gods grace. By being baptized, we become a covenant people of God who have a promise that the Holy Spirit will work in our lives. However, salvation is not automatically obtained by baptism but by accepting Christ as our savior, trust in Christ and grow in holiness to be near unto God. Baptism represents an act of initiation for Christian believers into the Church. By being baptized, we make a covenant of relationship between God and also between congregations in a church. As baptized Christians, we join the universal church and make a promise our loyalty as the body of Christ. 8. Explain the role and significance of the Lords Supper in the ministry to which you have been called. God provides us various ways in which we can grow in Gods grace. The Lords Supper, also known as Communion, or Eucharist, is one of the Christs gifts to the church, in which we experience Gods grace. Following Jesus example and instruction, when the church celebrates the Lords Supper we receive gifts of bread and wine. In this sacrament, we celebrate our fellowship with Christ and with each other. The invitation to the Table comes from the risen and present Christ. In United Methodist, whoever loves him, repents their sins, and seeks to live as a Christian disciple is invited to participate in the Lords Supper. By responding to this invitation we affirm and deepen our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is not easy to understand how bread and wine become Jesus body and blood in the Lords Supper. So it is mystery. Some churches insist that the Lords Supper is merely a memorial of Christs sacrifice and a sign of Christian fellowship. Some churches including historic Reformed churches insist that bread and wine in Communion conveys a unique spiritual power although Christs body ascended into heaven. Lutheran churches insist that Christs actual body is present with the elements of bread and wine. And the Roman Catholic churches insist that even the essence of bread and wine are changed into Christs true body and blood, with maintaining their physical reality persisting (transubstantiation). United Methodist believes that the real presence of Christ is communicated to the believers. To participate in the Lords Supper is not merely to recall the event 2000 years ago. But when we receive bread and wine with faith, it becomes dynamic action within us and we experience the grace of body and blood of Christ which is re-presented to us in the Lords Supper. The past event of our Lords death, resurrection and ascension comes into the present so that its power once again touches us, changes us, and heals us. We gather at the table with joy. Our eating and drinking is a celebration of our risen Lord. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is present with us at the table and so we give joyful thanks for what God has done and is doing in our lives and in the world. We come to the table in hope. We look forward with joyful anticipation to the coming reign of God.   9. How do you intend to affirm, teach and apply Part II of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task) in your work in the ministry to which you have been called? What we believe as Christians matters. What we believe tells us who we are. Part II of the Book of Discipline contains Methodist heritage in faith and theology and heart of Methodist doctrines. In other words, Part II of the Book of Discipline tells us who we are as Christians, particularly Methodists. It is important for Methodists to study this in order for us to have a clear understanding of our heritage, doctrine, and the faith we profess together. Our Christian faith is built on tradition which fathers in faith handed over to us. We will also add our profession of faith upon it and turn it over to the next generation. Therefore, as a pastor, to lead people into right direction to Christian faith by affirming and teaching what we believe and who we are is crucial. In order to fulfill this mission, I will preach the gospel verified in our tradition and theology. A pastor should not preach the gospel according to his or her own theology but we should profess communal faith built upon tradition. Through preaching and small group study, I will teach Methodist heritage. To learn who our fathers of faith were and what they believed will help us to know our identity and to understand the place where I am now. On the basis of our tradition, we should do our best to leave our footmarks so that our children can see and follow faith of their parents and go in the right direction. To leave footmarks of our faith is to teach our children and show them how to live out what we profess in our lives. I will teach our children the Methodist heritage and doctrine in Sunday School at a level they can understand. 10. The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church? The scripture is the primary source of Christian faith.   It is clear that the Scripture is the primary vehicle by which we grow in faith. The scripture has great authority in teaching and guiding us in faithful living and right understanding as to the nature of God and humanity. All the scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). When we read the bible, the Holy Spirit guides us to find the truth which illuminates our life.   Church tradition is an important practice for theological reflection and interpretation of the Scripture. Christian faith has built upon our ancestors confessions of faith for a long period of time, and that formed church tradition. Tradition is a source of authority and a lens through which Scripture is interpreted inside it. Experience is an important practice for Christian faith because the scripture and theology must be understood on the basis of our experiences. Communal experience within a faith community helps us to understand Gods word toward us here and now. Reason is used to examine authenticity of theological reflection and an interpretation of the scripture. By reason we ask questions of faith and seek to understand Gods action and will. However, reason as a practice for Christian faith does not mean to have a speculative thought but it indicates to conceive under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Wesleys quadrilateral indicates the importance of checks and balances between four practices. To focus upon one practice brings danger to a church to lose its balance and have a radical view on Christian faith. Thus, to keep the balance between these four practices, with holding primacy of the scripture, is crucial. 11. Describe the nature and mission of the Church.   What are its primary tasks today? In regard to the nature of the church, I agree with the Nicene Creed which describes the church as one holy catholic and apostolic. The church, in this case, meaning universal Christian church, is one in Christ. The church is holy so it is called apart from the secular world.   Although only the part of holiness is seen at the church in the present time, we will see the fullness of holiness at the time of coming of Christ in the end. The Church is universal for all people. As it is written in 1 Cor. 12:27, Church is likened to the Body of Christ whereby the coming together of the various parts form one perfect and organic body with Christ as the head. This analogy means that the church will embrace both the fullness of Christian teaching and the diversity of people who make up the church and function as the each parts of the body. The church is apostolic so it stands in continuity with the apostolic witness. I believe that the mission of the church can be found at the Twenty-five Articles of Religion which indicates three necessary elements of the church: faith(congregation of faithful men), preaching(in which the pure Word of God is preached) and sacrament(and the Sacrament duly administered) (13th Article of Religion, 1784). The church is the gathering of people of faith, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, and administers sacraments. The ultimate goal of the church should be to make people disciples of Jesus Christ. Through preaching, teaching, worship, and nurturing, the Church is Gods ordained vehicle whereby others can be disciplined and experience the grace in which we stand as the body of Christ. The primary task of the Church today is to be a true mission church. As the body of Christ, bound to God and to one another through Christ, church always lives in a community. To lose dynamic organism of a church means to lose its vital power. A part which is not united with the whole is useless. For that reason, a local church should be connected with people and groups around it and be united with the universal church spiritually. If a church is connected and united, it should be transformative. If a church has a vital organic power, it will transform the world in which they live as a living plant bears fruits. God being connected to us came down in the form of flesh to dwell among us. Jesus ministry was to preach the Good News and to live out the message of love with people around him. The church that truly impacts peoples life is the church that knows people around her, shares joys and sorrows of the people, and give them hope in Jesus Christ. 12. Describe your understanding of the primary characteristics of United Methodist polity. First, the system, known as itinerancy, is the most distinguishing feature of Methodism. In many polities ministers are called, but in Methodist polity they are sent. One consequence of this system is that local congregations are generally receptive to whoever minister is sent. This gives ministry an objective quality that is not dependent on the personal characters of individuals or the expectations of parishes. One of the most valuable consequences of this polity is the relative success that United Methodist Church has had in placing women and minorities in parish situation. Second, United Methodist Church determines church policy in conferences, which function as deliberative bodies. There are several levels of such conferences. The annual conference is the basic corporate body of which the primary function is to connect local churches to one another. All ordinations take place at the annual conference. The highest deliberative body in Methodism is the General Conference. The conference legislates general policy for the church as a whole. The annual conferences are grouped geographically into the jurisdictional conference, of which there are presently five in the US. Central conferences are concerned with the work of the church outside the US. Churches within a specific area of an annual conference may assemble in district conferences. Annual meetings among local congregations or groups of contingent congregations, to which a member of an annual conference is assigned, are known as charge conference. Third, one of the unique features of Methodist governance is a structure of official leadership through which the supervisory function takes place. The executive function of the bishop includes a number of powers-particularly associated with the appointment of clergy to charges. The bishop works through district superintendents. They act as liaisons between the local parishes and the bishop. The several district superintendents in a conference are called the bishops cabinet. The district superintendent presides at the charge conferences. Fourth, an involvement of lay people in the deliberative and legislative bodies of the church has been important. Governance in contemporary Methodism is a shared responsibility of clergy and lay people. Lay preachers and lay leaders continue to work in local churches.

World Economy :: Consumer Confidence

Matsusaka & Sbordone (1995) used quarterly data from 1953 to 1988 to empirically investigate the relationship between consumer confidence and Gross National Product in the United States. Using vector auto regressions Matsusaka ( 1995) & Afshar, Arabian, Zomorrodian (2007) examined the effect of pure confidence on GNP by implementing control variables such as the Index of leading indicators & Consumer price index respectively; finding that confidence granger caused GNP for 1, 2, 3 & 4 quarter lag models. Through forecast error variance decompositions they concluded that 12%-26% & 8-23% of the variation in GNP can be attributed to consumer confidence. The slight variations in the decompositions can b accounted for by variable orderings and differing time periods. Similarly Utaka (2003) applied the same methodology used by Matsusaka & Sbordone(1995) to empirically investigate this relationship in the case of Japan. By using not only quarterly data, but monthly and semi annual data from 1980q1- 2000q3 they reconfirmed the consumer confidence- GDP relationship for Japan and found that it accounted for 9%-11% of variation in GNP. This showed smaller variation for Japan illustrating that confidence indicators influence on GDP movements are country dependent making it unwise to assume uniform relationship strength across countries. Golinelli & Parigi (2004) investigated this matter by analysing the consumer confidence relationship in eight country’s from 1970-2002. They modelled the CCI-GDP relationship using a co-integrated vector auto regression using a common set of macroeconomic variables that were country specific to control for correlation being driven by other variables; therefore avoiding the limits of the single equation approach found in previous literature. They tested the forecasting power by comparing the RMSE for unrestricted and restricted models for 1, 2 & 4 steps horizons. Golinelli (2004), Mourougane & Roma (2002), Taylor & Mcnab (2007) find that RMSE was generally lower in the unrestricted model at short term horizons (1-2 steps) for EU countries, illustrating its importance in short term forecasting. Much of previous literature has aimed at establishing whether consumer confidence indexes provide additional information in comparison to macroeconomic variables and not its forecasting power. However, these have received mixed results in most cases, yet it is acknowledged they maintained an autonomous role in forecasting, (see â€Å"Mueller 1963, Adams 1964, Suits &sparks 1965, fair 1971 a & 1971b, Adams & Klein 1972†). Opinion now acknowledges that the index can help predict economic activity (see â€Å"Garner 1991, Fuhrer 1993; Carol et al 1994, Kumar et al 1995, Bran & Ludvigson 1998, Eppright et al 1998†)

Challenges Faced by Pvos in Effective Mobilization of Communities in Rural Agriculture Projects in Kirinyaga District

CHALLENGES FACED BY PVOS IN EFFECTIVE MOBILIZATION OF COMMUNITIES IN RURAL AGRICULTURE PROJECTS IN KIRINYAGA DISTRICT Name: PATRICK KARIMI Adm No: EMB/0088 COURSE: DIPLOMA IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT Subject: Project Research Methods (DPM 5) Lecturer: Mr. J. Ndukanio Due Date: 15th Aug 2009 A Research Proposal Presented In Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Diploma in Project Management Kenya Institute of Management AUG, 2009 DECLARATION Declaration by Student I do here declare this is my original work and has not been presented for exams before. Signature†¦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‚¬ ¦Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Patrick Karimi Adm No: EMB/0088 Declaration by Supervisor LETURER: Mr. Ndukanio Signature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ DEDICATION To My wife and friend. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thanks to my lecturers at KIM and class mates. Thanks also to my workmates and friends TABLE OF CONTENTS Title pagei Declarationii Dedication iii Acknowledgementiv Table of contentsvii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction 1. 1 Background of the study 1. 2 Statement of the problem . 3 Objective of the study 1. 4 Research questions 1. 5 Significance of the study 1. 6 Limitations of the study 1. 7 Scope of the study 1. 8 Conceptual framework CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 0 Introductionâ⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 2. 1 Empirical review 2. 2 Critical review 2. 3 Research gaps CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3. Introduction 3. 1 Research design 3. 2 Target population 3. 3 Accessible population 3. 4 Sampling technique 3. 5 Data collection method and procedures 3. Data analysis technique References APPENDICES APPENDIX 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Questionnaire APPENDIX II†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Time line APPENDIX III†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Budget CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction This chapter will cover the background of the study, purpose of the study, problem statement, objectives of the study, research questions, importance of the study, limitations of the study, scope of the study and the conceptual framework 1. 2. The Background of the study Agricultural production and productivity in the EAC is largely constrained by natural factors, policy and adoption of technologies. The reasons for poor performance of the agricultural sector include:   Policy related factors, Technology related factors, Nature related factors, Cross cutting and cross-sectorial related factors. The above constraints have inhibited the rural economy’s potential to: alleviate poverty through employment creation and income generation, meet growing food needs driven by rapid population growth and urbanization; stimulate overall economic growth, given that agriculture is the most potential lead sector for growth and development; and conserve natural resources. The main challenge facing the rural sector is to increase productivity and economic growth in order to halt the worsening food security and to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2015. This is at a time when East Africa faces declining financial resource base, HIV and AIDS pandemic, globalization and declining natural resources, which reduce availability of investment funds. East Africa has a significant irrigation potential that remains unexploited. Irrigation can play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity, expanding area under production and stabilizing agricultural production in situations of adverse weather conditions. Opportunity to expand irrigated agriculture exists. Utilization of this opportunity would boost agricultural production. From past studies in community projects, it is clear that meaningfully involving communities at all phases of a development project are determinant to ensuring development. Only in such a manner can people become leading actors in and generators of their own development, rather than being passive recipients of external support (Bessette, 1996). 1. 3. The Problem Statement The Community is faced with a number of challenges: harmonizing various policies and legislations; increasing involvement of local communities in planning and decision making; increasing production and economic growth; elimination of trans boundary pests and diseases including wildlife diseases; expanding irrigated agriculture; reducing poverty levels; combating the HIV and AIDS pandemic; slowing down the environmental egradation and desertification process; sustaining utilization of natural resources; establishing an effective early warning system and improving governance, security and political stability Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in Kenya have of late been exerting great efforts to increase communities’ access to sanitati on and hygiene facilities and to promote safe hygienic behavior, especially in rural areas. However, their efforts have not been able to bring about the desired output. Underlying reasons for this failure are that most of the projects were supply-driven; top-down interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions rather than agreed-upon involvements. There has been more emphasis on the construction of latrines than on the promotion of their proper use and usage and technologies employed were, by and large, expensive. Thus, coverage, access and usage of sanitation are still inadequate. In other words, with regard to safe hygienic behavior, much remains to be desired. Consequently, diarrhea morbidity and mortality originating from fecal contamination, especially among under-five children, are still high. Demographic health statistics show that 46% of childhood deaths in Ethiopia are caused by diarrhea, and 80% of the diarrhea is attributable to unsafe water supply and poor sanitation and hygiene. These suggest the need for a development approach that empowers communities mentally and psychologically; and promotes self-respect and self-reliance for communities to properly plan and act. Programs designed should center on needs-based and community-led panning and implementation of projects to create a strong sense of ownership on the part of the user communities. This study therefore seeks to address the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District. . 4 Research Objectives: 1. 4. 1 General Objective The research Project aims to improve the mobilization approaches to community agriculture productivity and sustainability of existing small and medium farmer-managed irrigation systems suffering from low productivity and poverty in Central Kenya and thereby enhancing the livelihoods of the poor. 1. 4. 2 Specific Objectives 1. To examine the challenges caused by incidence of poverty in effective mobil ization of community participation in rural agricultural project 2. To investigate the challenges caused by social infrastructure in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project 3. To find out the challenges caused by Gender balancing in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project 1. 5. Research Questions 1. To what extent does incidence of poverty a challenge in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? 2. What challenges are caused by social infrastructure in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? . Are there challenges caused by Gender balancing in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? 1. 7. Significance of the Study †¢ To community workers and stake holders: The research project will enhance the livelihood of rural smallholders by improving the performance of the existing farmer-managed irrigation systems. †¢ By establishing sound evidence on se rvice delivery mechanisms and community institutions to support such initiatives To future researchers; As this research study is limited to the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District, it can be used as a platform for further research studies to identify additional challenges and also explore how these challenges can be overcome. 1. 8. Limitations of the Study ? Collection of data: Lack of extensive data in some aspects of the study will be overcomed by making use of a diverse range of sources for the data including the internet, newspapers, magazines, books, business journals, and any other available material. Questionnaire responses So that respondents would not find it time consuming to complete the questionnaire, the researcher attempted to simplify the questionnaire as much as possible so as to make it easier to complete without it being time consuming. 1. 9. Scope of the Study The study covers agricultural based irrigation projects in Kirinyaga District. The study will cover the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District. The study duration will be October-December 2009. . 10. Conceptual Frame Independent variables Dependent variable CHAPTER TWO 2. 0. LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1Introduction The Chapter reviews literature related to agriculture based project and its impact on community mobilization done by different writers and researchers. 2. 2. Main Review The main challenge facing the rural sector is to increase productivity and economic growth in order to halt the worsening food security and to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2015. This is at a time when East Africa faces declining financial resource base, HIV and AIDS pandemic, globalization and declining natural resources, which reduce availability of investment funds. East Africa has a significant irrigation potential that remains unexploited. Irrigation can play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity, expanding area under production and stabilizing agricultural production in situations of adverse weather conditions. Opportunity to expand irrigated agriculture exists. Utilization of this opportunity would boost agricultural production. The Community is faced with a number of challenges: harmonizing various policies and legislations; increasing involvement of local communities in planning and decision making; increasing production and economic growth; elimination of trans boundary pests and diseases including wildlife diseases; expanding irrigated agriculture; reducing poverty levels; combating the HIV and AIDS pandemic; slowing down the environmental degradation and desertification process; sustaining utilization of natural resources; establishing an effective early warning system and improving governance, security and political stability Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in Ethiopia have of late been exerting great efforts to increase communities’ access to sanitation and hygiene facilities and to promote safe hygienic behavior, especially in rural areas. However, their efforts have not been able to bring about the desired output. Underlying reasons for this f ailure are that most of the projects were supply-driven; top-down interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions rather than agreed-upon involvements. There has been more emphasis on the construction of latrines than on the promotion of their proper use and usage and technologies employed were, by and large, expensive. Thus, coverage, access and usage of sanitation are still inadequate. In other words, with regard to safe hygienic behavior, much remains to be desired. Consequently, diarrhea morbidity and mortality originating from fecal contamination, especially among under-five children, are still high. Demographic health statistics show that 46% of childhood deaths in Ethiopia are caused by diarrhea, and 80% of the diarrhea is attributable to unsafe water supply and poor sanitation and hygiene. These suggest the need for a development approach that empowers communities mentally and psychologically; and promotes self-respect and self-reliance for communities to properly plan and act. Programs designed should enter on needs-based and community-led panning and implementation of projects to create a strong sense of ownership on the part of the user communities. Accordingly, in early 2007, plan Ethiopia and Plan Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (RESA) learned that the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach proved successful in countries of Southeast Asia and Latin America in producing desired outcomes. Thus, inviting the pioneer of CLTS, Dr. Kamal Kar it introduced the approach in eight kebeles in Shbedino District of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples’ Region (SNNPR). CLTS works by encouraging communities to â€Å"call a spade a spade,† thereby creating an element of shame, of disgust, and of fear as triggering elements. Dr. Kar also admonishes facilitators, or experts, not to dictate communities but, instead, to encourage them to identify their problems and come up with solutions. He also recommends close follow-up and periodic monitoring. In March 2007, Plan Ethiopia’s Shebedino program unit, together with the Shebedino District Health Office, Water Action, Kebele health extension workers, health messengers, community leaders, and communities themselves began exercising the CLTS approach. Members of Fura’s community ere highly triggered and they promised to proactively involve in sanitation activities: dig pit latrines and put an end to open defecation in their kebeles by mid-April 2007. Their motto was â€Å"No to open defecation! † â€Å"No to eating and drinking shit! † They then made good on their promise. With only some facilitation and follow-up by plan Ethiopia’s Shebedino Program Unit, the Shebedino Wereda Health Office, the health extension workers, the health messengers, and the community leaders, the communities in many of these kebeles registered impressive achievements. For instance, 465 of the 1265 households in the Fura kebele constructed household pit latrines after introduction of CLTS. That was about one-hundred-percent pit latrine coverage in the kebele. Furthermore, determined to make their kebele open-defecation-free (ODF), the residents of Fura built nine communal pit latrines for passers-by and for the pupils of the Fura Elementary School. They did it all on their own initiative, and with no subsidy, using only locally available materials. The pit latrine construction has accelerated in many her keeles, too. Monitoring reports indicate the communities in Taremessa, Midre Genet, Morancho Negash kebeles as well have constructed pit latrines and reached almost one hundred percent coverage, as compared to 28%, 25%, and 65% coverage respectively. Plan Ethiopia supported this initiative at negligible cost: around US$ 2,000 to train community leaders and other facilitators in Fura and other kebeles as well as staff members from partner institutions.. In the past, plan Ethiopia spent about US$ 25 per household for san plat provision alone. Thus, to support the construction of 465 pit latrines in Fura would have, therefore, cost plan Ethiopia more than US$ 11,625. Children, women and men are involved not only in construction pit latrines but also in keeping a watchful eye to make sure that passers-by do not defecate out in the open in Fura. They have set rules for penalizing offenders: offenders scoop their feces into nearby toilets and penalize and amount of US$ 0. 5-1. 00. Data from clinics operating in these areas indicate that the number of diarrhea cases is continuously declining. The residents of the Fura kebele designated September 02, 2007 as Open-Defecation- Free Environment Day. Around 500 people, including community members of the Fura keble, various government officials, health extension workers of the 35 kebles in the Woreda, staff members of Water Action and staff members of plan Ethiopia attended the celebration. Success recorded was however, not without challenges. Lack of efficiency and commitment on the part of the community leaders in some areas or among stakeholders was one of the problems. The fact that the various beneficiaries of the CLTS approach did not always reach a consensus also posed challenges. At times there have been problems of regressing to the old, unhygienic practice. From this project it is clear that meaningfully involving communities at all phases of a development project are determinant to ensuring development. Only in such a manner can people become leading actors in and generators of their own development, rather than being passive recipients of external support (Bessette, 1996). CHAPTER THREE 3. 0 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3. 1 Introduction This chapter outlines the process the researcher uses to identify the target population, research design, sampling design, data collection methods and data analysis methods. 3. 2 Research Design The research design that will be adopted in this research study is the descriptive survey research design. Descriptive case study is a method of collecting information by interviewing or administering a questionnaire to a sample of individuals (Orodho, 2003). It can be used when collecting information about people’s attitudes, opinions, habits or any of the variety of education or social issues (Orodho and Kombo, 2002). The design adopted is an investigative design since it will be easy and efficient to use and is an accurate counter and indicator to measure (Pamela, 2003). The researcher chose this research design because the study aims at collecting information from respondents on their experiences, perceptions and opinions in relation to the challenges of marketing the credit card services to teachers. Both primary and secondary data will be colleted. Primary data will be obtained using questionnaires while secondary data will be from the internet, newspapers, magazines, journals, government publications, published company records and reports. 3. 3. Study population The target population will be all PVOs involved in community agriculture projects in Kirinyaga district. The accessible population is 12 PVOs. 3. 4. Sample Size The researcher selected 32 respondents on whom to conduct the survey. The choice of 32respondents will be based on Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) recommendation. The accessible population consisted of 32 respondents and so the sample size of 32respondents will be 100% as recommended by Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). 3. 5 Sampling design The research will be use a Stratified random sampling method to ensure that all categories are equitably represented in the sample. Then the researcher adopted case study census. 3. 6. Data collection instrument The researcher will be use a questionnaire for the teachers and an interview guide for the Bankers as the data collection instruments. The interview guide will be enable collection of in-depth information and they are appropriate where the population size is not large (Kothari 2007). The questionnaire is made up of both structured and unstructured questions so that qualitative and quantitative data is collected for the study. The researcher chose to use a questionnaire because of the following benefits. First, the questionnaire enables the researcher to ask structured or closed-ended questions which are easier to analyses as well as to administer since each question is followed by alternative answers. Secondly, the questionnaire also enables the researcher to use open-ended questions thus permitting a greater in-depth response from the respondents. These particular responses enable the researcher to get greater insight into the feelings, decisions and thinking of the respondents (Fraenkel, 2000). 3. 6 Data collection procedure Questionnaires were self administered as all respondents are literate enough to for purpose of the questionnaire items. The questionnaires will be conveyed to the respondents by use of the drop and pick method. An introductory letter from the KIM authorizing the research to be undertaken will be used by the researcher to assure the authenticity of the study. 3. 7. Reliability and validity Data reliability and validation will be done to maintain accuracy. Data reliability is the degree to which research instrument yield consistent results or data after repeated trials Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). To achieve this, the questionnaire has been designed with systematic and comprehensive questions to enable respondents to answer them without much reference. Data validity refers to the degree to which results obtained from analysis of data actually represents phenomenon under study, Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). To achieve content validity the researcher will seek assistance from the experts (supervisor) on various sections in the questionnaire as instruments for data collection. 3. 7 Data Analysis Procedure Analysis of raw data collected will enable the researcher to generate information. Data analysis will involve reducing accumulated data looking for patterns and applying statistical techniques. Data analysis will be done using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, because it is important to obtain data on the study by trying to establish trends. Patterns and relationships from the data gathered. The procedure included recording results from respondents and, evaluating the accuracy and relevance of data. Quantitative analysis will be used since the distribution of measures or scores need to be extensively described using descriptive statistical analysis as these are suitable in giving accurate findings revealed by research. Data will be presented in form of tables, graphs, charts, figures, to give meaning to the responses. APPENDIX I REFRENCES Thomas F. Patterson (1987) (HTML). Refining Performance Appraisal. http://www. joe. org/joe/1987winter/a5. html. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. Joyce Margulies (2004-03-24) (PDF). Performance Appraisals. http://www. bnabooks. com/ababna/eeo/2004/eeo55. pdf. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. Archer North & Associatiates (1998), Introduction to Performance Appraisal, http://www. performance-appraisal. com/intro. htm U. S. Department of the Interior, Performance Appraisal Handbook Mugenda A & Mugenda, O. 2003). Research Methods. Nairobi: Focus Hashemi, S. , Scholar, S & Riley, A. (1996). Rural Credit Programmes and Women Empowerment in Bangladesh. World Developm ent 24(4). Pgs 635-653. Wall JA Jr, Callister RR. Conflict and its management. Journal of Management(21:3), 1995, pp 515-558 APENDIX II Questionnaire for Respondents Name †¦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‚¬ ¦.. (optional) Organization/ NGO†¦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‚¬ ¦. Designation†¦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‚¬ ¦. 2. (a) How did you come to learn about PVOs In Embu? i. Founder member ii. Through a friend iii. Through the radio/TV iv. From church / chief (b) To what extend do the following motivate membership? |Very much |Much |Not much |Not very much |Not at all | |To get an income | | | | | | |To keep you busy | | | | | | |To help your relatives | | | | | | |T o help community | | | | | | |Because your friends were members | | | | | | 2 (i) Are you involved in formulating the activities of your organization? Yes No (ii) If no, who formulates the activities of the organization / group? The chairman The donors The committee All the members 3 (i) Are there benefits for success in the activities of the group? Yes No (ii) If yes, kindly rate the nature of the relationships of each stakeholder using the scale below. a) Committee of the group 12345 b) Donors to the activity 12345 c) Other group members 12345 ) The non participating group members 12345 e) Other CBOs 12345 Key 1= very supportive 2=supportive 3= just supportive 4= not supportive 5=not at al supportive 4 (i) Are your activities competitive in nature? Yes No (ii) If yes, answer question (a-b) and if no skip question (c-d) start at question e. (a) Briefly state, two recent activities of the organization. 1. —————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ 2. ——————————————————————————————————— (b) Kindly rate the involvement of the groups in the following issues involved. |Very much involved |Involved |It depends |Not very involved|Not at all | | | | | | |involved | |Group management | | | | | | |Group reconcile | | | | | | |Selection of group team members | | | | | | |Group activity selection | | | | | | (c) State two recent activities of the organization. 1. ———————————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ 2. ——————————————————————————————————– (d) Briefly state two methods used to accomplish organization activities. 1. ——————————————————————————————————— 2. —————————————————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ 6 (i) How does the group choose the activities engage in In a meeting Informed by chairman Through lettersInformed by committee (ii) Do you always agree on the priorities of the group activities? Yes No (iii) If no, what causes most conflict disagreement? Kindly rate the following Determining the activity| | | | | |Choosing participants | | | | | |Allocating resources for | | | | | |activity | | | | | |Planning the activity | | | | | |Determining how much to | | | | | |do. | | | | | 7 (i) As group members what three issues about group leadership don’t your like? a) b) c) (ii) What two things about the group have made you feel appreciated? a) b) ‘ASANTE SANA’ ———————– Gender imbalances High incidence of poverty

How To Write An Evaluation Essay, with Topics and Structure Elements

How To Write An Evaluation Essay, with Topics and Structure Elements Writing an Evaluation Essay Outline example Topics list When defining an evaluation essay, some people think of it as a review while others think of it as a type of a critical essay. Both sets of definitions are not wrong, but lack the key attributes of what an evaluation essay is. An evaluation essay encompasses some attributes of critical essays as well as reviews, but tends to be specific and follows a different method of writing. Evaluation essays are written to help demonstrate the qualities or lack thereof of a specific product such as qualities of a famous restaurant in town, a vacation site, a book, a film, etc. An author’s stance on something needs to be clearly established and backed by enough evidence to sway the mind of the readers. Evaluation essay writing often comes out as opinionated, and to a large extent, some authors think that they are supposed to be like that. However, contrary to popular belief, evaluation essays should not come across as opinionated in whichever instance. Authors need to ensure that their pie ces or articles are well-reasoned, unbiased and help readers to evaluate the options before them objectively. The main difference between a critical essay or review and an evaluation essay is the one which is supposed to develop or have criteria when writing an evaluation paper. Developing a criterion is indeed of the essence because it ensures that one’s paper is not opinionated but delivers an unbiased account. A criterion can be defined as the ideal property of a product or place or even a service, and having this means that the writer has a basis for their comparison. For example, if one is writing an evaluation essay on a famous restaurant in town, it would be important to establish a criterion first. Such a criteria would involve things like the quality of service offered, the quality of food offered, the restaurant’s cleanliness, waiters, and waitress’s attitude as well as time taken to get an order after placing one. Having such a basic and public criteria upon which comparisons are drawn ensures that the final paper will only entail an objective account. Structure Elements When writing an evaluation essay, it is important to remember that there are three important and necessary parts. They include the criteria, the judgment, and finally the evidence. For a student’s essay to be termed as complete, these parts must be included and clearly established independently. The criteria as stated above is the ideal picture of what the product should be. The criteria should be something that the audience relates to and can agree with. The judgment is the author’s opinion on the product. Whatever that one says here must be supported by sufficient evidence and hence the third and final part. These three parts, if approached and tackled well, will indeed ensure that paper is not only objective but credible enough. In some occasions, writers have let their feelings get a hold of them, and the results have been devastatingly bad. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that each part is accurately and impartially developed. When looking at most evaluation essay writing guides, the most common thing one notices is the fact that evaluation essays use the five-paragraph essay format. An evaluation essay outline should hence have an introduction, the main body section, and finally a conclusion. As always in the introduction, the writer is expected to include a thesis statement which is the writer’s judgment or evaluation of the product or subject. The criteria should also be included in the introduction. In the main body, the writer is expected to include points that best describe or support their judgment while referencing their criterion. Finally, the conclusion paragraph, first of all, must give the indication that the writer has come to an end and then close the discussion. Evaluation essay outlining is essential because it gifts one with the opportunity of having their points delineated first and then discussed while maintaining the writer’s main point. Below is an example of an outline for an evaluation essay with the title being KFC – good or awful fast-food restaurant. KFC – good or awful fast-food restaurant Introduction Topic sentence – introduces KFC and gives a brief background information about the restaurant. Thesis statement – the paper’s premise or author’s stance will be declared here, and in this case, it will entail supporting the fact that KFC is indeed a good fast-food restaurant. The last bit of the introduction will involve a list of the criteria that should be used as a yardstick to help cement the position of KFC being a good fast-food restaurant. (Food quality, cleanliness, time taken to order and be served staff’s attitude) Main Body Paragraph 1 – The quality of the food is either the best or top five in town. Paragraph 2 – Cleanliness of KFC’s fast-food joints is also a plus or the restaurant. Paragraph 3 – Staff’s attitude has been a point of discussion for quite a while, and KFC’s staff has been touted as warm, welcoming, and courteous. Paragraph 4 – Time taken to order and to be served is not long. In some occasions, depending on the number of orders, one might wait longer, but they always notify their customers. Conclusion A summary of the essay as well as the main points, including the thesis statement must be included. When writing an evaluation essay introduction, it is important to remember the clichà © terms of brief, concise, and direct. In some occasions, writers forget and end up including a lot of information in their introduction. On such occasions, duplication of points as a result of getting stuck becomes the order of the entire essay. It is, therefore, essential to remember to be brief, concise, and direct at all times. A thesis statement is a part of the introduction. In the thesis statement, the author’s stance or the article’s premise must be clearly outlined. Readers need to know the writer’s focus or line of thought as early as possible. It is hence important to include a clearly defined thesis statement. When writing the body paragraphs, it is crucial to remember that they are only building upon the author’s thesis statement and one should hence avoid drifting. As already stated, evaluation essays take after the five-paragraph essays and will on most occasions have five to six sentences in a paragraph. Transition words, for example, firstly, secondly, additionally, moreover, subsequently, etc. must be used to usher in the next point. An evaluation essay conclusion paragraph sums up the entire essay. Here, some of the transitional words that are used include lastly, in conclusion, ultimately, finally, etc. These help when writing a conclusion for an evaluation essay because they make it clear to the readers that the essay has indeed come to an end. A summary of the essay’s thesis statement as well as the essay’s main points should be included. Finalizing Essay When writing a  perfect essay, regardless of the type, starting with a draft is necessary. Preparing an evaluation essay draft is easy because one does not need to be thorough but only create something that will help complete the task. Human is to make errors, and everyone makes some mistakes when writing. The above makes essay revision and proofreading the necessary steps before submission. Submitting an essay with grammatical or contextual errors is indeed planning to fail. Once complete, it is hard not to find grammatical, punctuational, and style errors. To correct these, one can involve their friends and ask them to identify any errors or ask their family members to read and give their genuine opinion. Evaluation Essay Topics List Evaluation essay topics vary and can easily be found online. First of all, topic selection is an important part that must be taken seriously. When selecting a topic, students should ensure that they are selecting topics that are interesting to them. The above is because it will give them an easy time to find the content and also allow them to make a value judgment on the product/service/place. Below are examples of good evaluation essay topics: Evaluate your favorite movie. Evaluate your favorite sport. Evaluate your favorite satirical news show. Evaluate the services offered by Netflix. Evaluate Bitcoin and the prospect of it being the future of money. Evaluate the role of African Americans during the American Civil war. Evaluate the US’s foreign policy. Evaluate Russia’s response to Obama’s administration of suspending Russian delegates. Examine how media affects the minds of children. Examine the effects of social media on physical relationships. Evaluate your favorite music band. Examine the Shakespeare’s contribution to literature. Evaluate the movie Mission Impossible 3. Evaluate the current educational system in South Korea. Examine the current EU agenda towards reducing the issue of refugees. Evaluate the world’s preparedness to dealing with nuclear warfare. Evaluate the actions being taken to encourage cohesion among the different religions. Evaluate the actions being taken by the US government to ensure that all races co-exist peacefully. Evaluate the US government’s actions to counter and fight terrorism. Examine the US government’s justification of the use of surveillance systems. Evaluate money laundering and its effect on a country’s economy. Examine Chicago’s policies on the homeless.