Abstract This paper explains that, although global positioning systems provide cartographers with the ability to pinpoint topographical features and today the ability to express relief and contours on modern maps is commonplace, it was not always this easy. The author points out that, while the history of map-making is truly ancient, the ability to communicate accurately relief features on maps began in Italy during the 15th century. The paper concludes that today's cartographer enjoys the benefits of centuries of research into different ways of communicating three-dimensional features on two-dimensional planes and that the introduction of powerful three-dimensional computer-based visualization applications represents a true milestone in cartography history. The paper includes quotations and illustrations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Rationale in Support of Study
Previous Research
Objective of the Study
Organization of the Study
Background of the Study of ReliefRepresentation Theoretical Framework
Methodology
Study Design
Theoretical Basis
Research Strategy Employed
Execution of the Study of ReliefRepresentation Results and Analysis of ReliefRepresentation Techniques
Results
Analysis
Summary and Conclusions
Summary
Conclusions
Limitations of the Study
Recommendation for Future Research
From the Paper "According to Kirschenbauer and Buchroithner (2001), although these three-dimensional techniques provide the user with a decent overall impression of the represented relief, the transmission of detailed information and precise height data as it is rendered by contour lines is not simplified to any significant degree. This is because any of the older (which is to say a couple of years) present detailed landforms with techniques that do not provide a truly comprehensive picture yet. However, these authors emphasize that new technological innovations are making strides in this direction every day."
Abstract This paper reviews the impact of debt relief on domestic social, political and economic situations. According to this paper, the external debt situation for a number of low-income countries has become extremely difficult in recent years, prompting the IMF and the World Bank to design a framework to provide special assistance to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC).
Contents:
Introduction
Challenges and Future Policies
Diagnosis and Reflections on Poverty Reduction Policies
Poverty and Recession in Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa Deprived of Its Inheritance
The Urban Dynamics: Cities Suffer Most
Policy Design Post Evaluation
Conclusions
From the Paper "As for the implementation of the strategies, the principle of participation from different members of society opens up new prospects that will have an impact on the way national affairs are led. By favouring respect for the right to information and expression, participation fulfils one objective in that it deals with one of the key factors of poverty, namely exclusion and marginalisation. But the potential impact of this precept goes way beyond this aspect. Participation will only take on its full meaning if it really helps solve the problem of the lack of democracy in poor countries. It should give extra capabilities and power to intermediate bodies (the media, trade unions, associations, etc.) in drawing up, monitoring, controlling, assessing and redirecting the policies. Information is of course of utmost importance in this respect, and its formative nature must be underlined. It makes public choices explicit and increases transparency in the management of state affairs, whilst offering the different players in society the possibility of exerting pressure, or even taking sanctions in the case of failure. In short, making the state accountable for its actions before its citizens is at stake."
Tags: bank, debt, domestic, economics, gdp, gnp, imf, implications, relief, world
A discussion regarding to what extent the functioning of political parties can explain the crisis of representation of the 'people' in modern democracies.
Abstract This paper takes an in-depth look at political parties and issues that surround representation of the people in modern democracies. According to the paper, political parties, in their organization and their functioning, display numerous problems in terms of representation. The paper focuses particularly on two of these problems, the modes of government and the modes of funding. The paper also analyzes the aftermaths of the logic of electoral competition for the representation of the membership and the electorate.
From the Paper "Political representation is quite a hard concept to grasp. It was rejected by the French during the Revolution as an impediment to the self-government of the people. Nonetheless, I will try to show that political representation is necessary for ensuring freedom in our modern democracies.
But first let us turn back to our French Revolution and the establishment of what could be considered as a quasi-totalitarian regime. In France, traditional feudal aristocratic society was undermined by an absolutist and centralist state. When the French Revolution broke out, the remaining feudal instances were destroyed even further (loi Le Chapelier), so that in fact only the individuals and the state remained without the traditional feudal corporations to mediate between them. The question then is how a society can be held together when it has been dismembered and robbed of the intermediary associations that had given it its concrete form and reality. Most revolutionaries followed republicans like Rousseau or Sieyes. The only way for them to bring about a post-feudal democratic order was by converting particular interests to the common good. Individuals were now called upon to set aside their particular preferences and to identify fully with the common will of the people in order to establish real popular sovereignty and equality. The Jacobin revolutionaries thus assumed that a true democracy could only be established if abstract democratic principles like formal equality, popular sovereignty or the unitary will of the people were indeed completely "turned into reality" (i.e. "actualized" or "materialized"), rather than merely respected (Weymans: 263-282). This is characteristic of totalitarian regimes. More so, to Claude Lefort totalitarianism represents a society's attempt to fully "materialize" or "actualize" democratic principles by making the people really one, equal, free or sovereign. That is also what distinguishes them from democratic regimes. While the totalitarian state tries to realize the principles (by embodying them), a democratic state prevents a society from realizing these (through representation), thus remaining distinct from and dependent on society. This distinction or alienation of the state from society is indeed necessary."
Abstract This essay outlines the way in which popular representations of sexuality (i.e., masculinity) must reproduce a specific kind of 'normal' in order to appeal to the masses. It establishes the definitions and 'appearance' of the differing types of masculinity, highlighting the nature of these as social constructs, but also the continual need and perpetuation of such constructs as natural or 'fact'. The essay highlights, through the use of two modern representations, the movie, "The Siege", and the series, "Ally McBeal", the way in which differing masculinities are unconsciously propagated in modern culture. NOTE: Hilarious use of Ally McBeal material, dialogue included in appendix.
From the Paper "The mass media is produced and consumed in a commercial context. To reap the most financial gain it is therefore imperative that the material to be consumed is comprehensible for the intended audience. The more comprehensible and recognisable the material, the higher chances of consumption and subsequently, profit. This often means that representations of masculinity will continually reproduce the established conventions of masculine behaviour and norms (Bignell 1997:196). As a result, hegemonic masculinity, which can be defined as the dominant masculinity performed at any given time, is continually reinforced as dominant and therefore reasserted as normative in society (Cheng 1999:297-301). Subsequently, marginalised masculinities, which are perceived as lacking in relation to the supremacy of hegemonic masculinity, are continually presented as subordinate and therefore remain oppressed (Buchbinder 1994: 33). In the following examination of masculine representations, two dramatisations have been analysed for the extent to which their characters reproduce or challenge conventional masculine behaviour and norms."
Abstract This paper analyzes Plato's conception of what representation is and what its role in society is. The paper is a review of the work of Plato, "Republic", in which he works to justify the role of the philosopher-king as the ruler of an ideal state. The paper concludes that representational poetry has no place in the Republic and discusses its negative aspects.
From the Paper "The elaborate argument of Plato's Republic works to justify the role of Philosopher-King as ruler in an ideal state. The citizens of this state have "the calibre not to be distracted by prestige, wealth, political power, or even poetry from applying [themselves] to morality," and they must strive towards knowledge of the Ideal and away from the illusions of representation (80). Citizens must embody self-discipline, "obedience to those in authority - and authority over the pleasures of drink, sex, and food" (59). The Guardians of the Republic - those puts in charge of managing the rest of society - have loftier goals: they must be "as godlike themselves as is humanly possible" (56). Plato seeks to develop his Republic through an authoritarian control on what the citizens may be exposed to, and one of society's traditional arts - representational poetry as found in the epics and tragedies of Homer - finds itself threatened."
Abstract This essay analyzes Canadian newspaper headlines and articles as a way to examine the role of the media in constructing the content of public perceptions of violent crime. This essay argues that the media produce public fear of racial, ethnic, and youth-identified males through an over-representation of isolated incidents. Sensationalization of violent crime has the effect of narrating violence into stories, ignoring the value of news information. As such, the media invents public personae of gang-related violence, immigrant offenders, and violent youth, all of which are based on bias, not fact.
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of sacred representation, particularly those that are Christian in nature, in modern film using the movies. The paper uses the films, "Seven," "The Green Mile" and "Dogma" as examples. The paper also includes an annotated bibliography.
From the Paper "Chris Arthur stated that there are some important questions as yet unanswered as to where film intersects or should intersect with religion in contemporary society Arthur believes that popular film can be an important ..."
Tags: Film, sacred representation, Seven, The Green Mile, Dogma
Abstract The paper argues that even with the overwhelming popularity of African debt relief among policymakers and the public, debt relief is a bad deal for the world's poor. The paper discusses the IMF's initiative and the G8's debt relief plan and shows how they are effectively making African economies choose between trade liberalization policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or insurmountable debt and economic collapse. The paper contends that instead of supporting independence and development, WTO mandates foster increased dependence and perpetual underdevelopment. The paper also notes that foreign aid sent to developing countries rarely reaches the people who need it since the real problem is not high debt burdens, but rather corrupt governments. The paper concludes that ultimately, debt relief will only help reduce debt burdens if government policies make a true shift away from redistributive politics and toward a focus on economic development.
From the Paper "The continent of Africa is filled with some of the poorest nations in the world. Desperate poverty and unimaginable debt levels are due in part to previous acts of corrupt governments, inability of leaders to properly handle money and spending, and simple bad economic planning. Weak economies, unwise spending, huge amounts of borrowing and mishandling of natural resources have all but crippled a large number of African nations. And finally economic shock, "poorly designed reform programs and the [shady] action of creditors have all played a decisive part in the debt crisis," (Raceandhistory.com)."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the Utilitarian and Kantian ethical views of famine relief and then defends Singer's claims. The writer, first, lays out a spectrum of the amount of aid that is thought to be appropriate, and then places Kantians and Utilitarians on this scale. It examines Singer's approach and defends Singer from critics; relates Utilitarian and Kantian ethics on famine relief to the issues of whether there's a distinction between killing and letting die and to the Doctrine of Double Effect, taking the side that one should in fact recognize the associated effects of one's actions; provides a related reason why Singer's more moderate claim can be held as opposed to his stronger claim; and, finally, defends large-scale famine relief from "more practical than philosophical" problems.
From the Paper "To the question of how much one ought give to help famine relief efforts, let us say there are four possible general answers. 1) One could give everything one has; 2) one could give what I?ll call ?all one can*?, different from giving everything one has in that it is only giving to the level of marginal utility, leaving some amount for other pressing concerns; 3) one could give some amount less than all one can* but above nothing; or, 4) one could give nothing. Practically speaking, few would want to hold to the belief that one should give everything one has. It is also the case that few hold the belief that one should give nothing, keeping in mind that "that one should give nothing" is not the same as "that one is not obliged to give anything"; the first says that one morally must not give anything, whereas by the second one may morally give something but it is not required. Many Kantians would hold that one is not obliged to give anything, but that it is good, nonetheless, to be to some degree beneficent in some area. So, generally speaking, most people fall between (2) and (3) in their belief as to the level of aid one ought give to famine relief efforts, with Utilitarians like Singer on the (2) side and Kantians more on the (3) side."
Abstract This paper relates that the policy mandates of rebuilding efforts, proper financial monitoring in accounting practices for charitable organizations and disease control are the most important aspects of relief for tsunami relief efforts. The author points out that, by building homes cheaply yet with a solid foundation, there can be shelter for the homeless. The paper stresses that the proper control of donated money needs to be addressed through ethical accounting practices and making sure the money t gets to relief sites across India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
From the Paper "This international policy analysis will reflect the goals of for disaster relief that should be implemented to help the thousands of people who perished in the tsunami. By analyzing rebuilding efforts, financial cost evaluation for relief, and the serious health issues that have arisen since the tsunami are the main goals to attend to at this critical point. In realizing how money is being spent for the relief of people stricken by the tsunami, one can develop policy suggestions that will help rebuild the nations destroyed in this natural disaster."
Abstract The paper discusses the policy of providing debt relief for poor countries, especially African countries. The paper explains how many believe that as wealthy countries hand out vast sums of foreign aid, they also put up enormous barriers to trade. Moreover, poor countries must take the lead in their own development and it is not beneficial for rich and powerful countries to control the environment in which poorer countries operate. The paper describes how finance ministers from the Group of Eight nations met to advance a G-8 debt relief initiative for poor countries. The paper maintains that the issue of aid and debt relief for the world's poorest nations will be on the G-8 agenda for years to come and will undoubtedly remain an issue of debate among politicians and economists.
From the Paper "The total African debt, excluding South Africa, reached $285.5 billion more than a decade ago, in 1993 (Sonko). This total comprised $118.9 billion for North Africa and $166.5 billion for Sub-Saharan Africa, SSA, and these figures represented changes of 3 percent in the total regional debt, a decline of 0.5 percent in that of North Africa and a 6 percent increase in that of SSA, since 1990 (Sonko). The total debt in 1993 represented only 16 percent of total developing country debt (Sonko). However, the magnitude of what is generally recognized as the "African debt burden" becomes clearer from the ratios that express the debt in relation to certain key economic variables (Sonko). Thus, in 1993 the debt/GDP ratio, which measures the debt in relation to the total economic output of a nation, equaled 73.3 percent for North Africa and 123.1 percent for Sub-Saharan Africa (Sonko). This means, for example in the case of SSA, the debt owed far exceeds the total value of goods and services of the entire region (Sonko). Therefore, as Dr. Karamo Sonko reported in the October 01, 1994 issue of African Business, that the "entire economy of Africa can be correctly regarded as less than adequate collateral for current and future debt"."
Abstract This paper discusses techniques and the chemical considerations required for making relief and intaglio prints. The paper covers the two main techniques used for relief printing (woodcutting and line cutting) and discusses the differences between the two. It shows that all intaglio processes share a common fundamental method, that of the incision of lines or images into a metal surface.
From the Paper "The same block printing principle applies to both woodcutting and linocutting. In other words, the artist first transfers the sketch to the block of linoleum and then cuts away all the unnecessary parts to a depth of about 1/16 of the inch. When the relief is complete, he dabs heavy ink on its surface and then the lino block is ready to be used for printing. The pressure that must be applied minimal and for this reason the artist may choose to transfer his lino block either to a printing press or even produce prints by hand. The printing methods described above for woodcutting can also be used for printing a linocut."
Abstract This paper discusses pain management for the terminally ill and how dying with dignity and the importance of hospice care have become part of mainstream medicine and mainstream society. It looks at how it has become increasingly acceptable to acknowledge that the most important service that medicine can offer to some patients (and especially those who are terminally ill) is the relief of pain. It focuses on the different ways that nurses can help people not only die with dignity but also how to provide the quality of life that all people deserve, regardless of how much time that they may have remaining.
From the Paper "One of the issues important in addressing the treatment of pain in the dying seems almost absurd from the outside but is in fact a serious one: Often doctors have worried about giving the most effective pain relievers to patients because of possible toxicity, possible side effects or ? and this is the absurd part ? possible addiction. While it does seem absurd for a doctor to withhold morphine from a cancer patient who has a few weeks to live on the grounds that the person might become addicted, such instances do occur, and it has been one of the foci of the hospice movement to remove such doubts from the minds of physicians (Danto in DeBellis etal, 1992, p. 305)."
Abstract This paper presents both sides of the hurricane Katrina debate. It then provides a plethora of evidence to suggest that the federal government (rather than state and local government) is responsible for the delays in rescue and relief following hurricane Katrina. It cites the mistakes of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, FEMA and FEMA director Michael Brown and the President of the United States.
From the Paper "There is evidence to suggest that the federal government understood the serious threat hurricane Katrina posed on the low-lying Gulf region, and that they did make some effort to convey this danger and urge people out of harm's way. On Saturday August, 27th, President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana and encouraged people to evacuate the New Orleans area before the storm made landfall. Prior to the storm, flood and storm surge predictions were made by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. At least 200 buses were sent to aid in evacuations before the event. The federal government did express concerns over the levee system's ability to weather the storm and operate under such difficult conditions."
Abstract This paper details the efforts of a U.S. search and rescue team that left for Turkey immediately following the news of a devastating earthquake that shook the western region of Turkey. The paper outlines the different aspects of disaster relief and how the U.S. responded to those aspects as well as the lessons learned from the aftermath.
From the Paper "At 3:02AM, on Tuesday, August 17, an earthquake shook western Turkey that measured 7.4 on the Richter scale. "The ground shook violently for 45 seconds...entombing thousands of sleeping families....The densely populated industrial heartland of the country lay in ruin, some 40,000 buildings smashed by nature's power into mountains or shattered concrete and sharp mangled steel.""
