Health and illness in later life, inequalities †gender, ethnicity and end of life The WritePass Journal

Health and illness in later life, inequalities – gender, ethnicity and end of life Introduction Health and illness in later life, inequalities – gender, ethnicity and end of life ; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007 ; Van Doorslaer et al., 2003).   These groups defining characteristics in include, ethnic, gender, age as well as economic status. Nonetheless, with all this definition of affected constituents by health inequality, the out come is a country where disadvantaged perish at the expense of the advantaged. This report takes a closer look at the intricacies involved with such classifications and the core issues leading to the rise in such deplorable conditions. It is in the light of these occurrences that this report aims at investigating health inequalities and health promotion taking into account gender, ethnicity and socio-economic as well as ageism and racism factors.   Methodology The information collected for this study was from two interviews. The first one was with Ms B is a 69 year old woman.   The interview took place in the front room of her home. The second interview was with Ms A is a 64 years old Black African woman; the Interview took place in her home. The subjects were referred to as Ms A and B for confidential purposes; their real names were not used, but every other detail is as was during the interview. Prior to the interviews, the interviewees had to sign consent forms issued by the institution the interviewer is affiliated. The consent form is made available by the faculty under which the interviewer belongs and is mainly a legally binding document to ensure confidentiality of the contents of the interview. The two first interviews were with elderly women and because of the generational gap; they were both handled with the utmost respect. However, there are instances that Ms A was referred to as ma’am because of her cultural background as a show of humility and respect. Results/findings A close examination of Ms A and Ms B interview reveal information relevant to the aims and objectives of this study. First, Ms B has a GP, who is 8 minutes walk from her residence and has been useful for medical issues such as surgery and other medical advice (12) while Ms A claims she does not need a GP. Ms A believes that her spirituality is an alternative to the help she can get from a GP (8) and does not even remember the last time she visited a GP(9). Ms B has a male Doctor (66) and has been with him for a long time. She claims that he is elder-ish and avoids women issue by referring to her to other female consultants (69). Despite having received several invitations, Ms A has never consulted a GP and claims she is fine (12). She does not remember the last time she visited a GP for any medical issue or advice (15). On the other hand, Ms B claims she has received much information from her local GP; there was a time she had trouble emptying her bowel freely (20) and she sort for a dvice from her GP, who asked her to take plenty of fruits and vegetables (21). She gets helpful information on other medical conditions freely such as Flu and Diabetes from pamphlets (24) as well as the nurse (25). Ms B receives helpful information from her doctor, such as, where to purchase blood pressure kits and how best to use it(27). Both Ms A and B are very active and have plenty of activities to do around their houses. Ms B spends much of her time around the house re-arranging her kitchen cupboard (32). She cooks (39), prepares her skirting board and also spends time relaxing, watching TV while eating her lamb chops (40). Ms A also finds time to arrange her things though she does not seem to devote most of her time in household work as compared to her ministry, she is still yet to arrange the things that she move in with since she was re-housed in October(19). Ms A is very busy with ministry work and does not sit to rest (26). Ms B gets good nutritional advice from her GP and eats right, Weetabix and dry raisins for breakfast (47) and a cup of tea and crackers for lunch with 2 fruits (48). For dinner, she prefers lamb chops, broad beans and carrots (50). Ms B, on the other hand, claims she is a light eater with her diet consisting of predominantly fruits (30). She also goes sometimes without food during her fas ting periods (31). Ms B enjoys quality time with her children and grand children often (52); she also picks up her granddaughter from school (53). Ms A finds pleasure in God, her family both biological and spiritual (33). She is a spiritual person and delights in serving and worshiping all the time (36).   Ms B finds time in her schedule to go shopping (56) when it’s quiet (57) and avoids shopping on Saturdays (58). In addition, she still drives, but does not do long distance (60), she only drives to the supermarket, and when there is no traffic (62), she avoids using the road because it is tiring and keeps her away from reckless drivers (63). Compared to Ms A, Ms B enjoys meeting people as part of her ministry than shopping (39) and uses public transportation, as opposed to private means (42). She enjoys bus rides regardless of whether it is school rush hour or not (45). Ms B has friends she spends time with from time to time, they go shopping have snacks together (72). She also has a good neighbour at the end of the street that she spends time with visiting a local Nursing home (74). Ms B’s friends are good companions (80) they talk about family and engage in other activities such as making tea (82). She does not engage in community activities (85) as she used to in 2008(86). Ms A, on the other hand, socializes with everyone she meets in the course of her ministry (51); however she claims that her social life is in the church where she does volunteer work (52). She gets spiritual support from her ministry (55) and many refer to her as mummy (56). Unlike Ms A, she engages in community activities such as the Easter love fest (59) where she brings drinks and snacks and distributes leaflets to neighbours (60). Discussion Woodwarda and Kawachib (2000), reiterate a well known fact that health inequalities are socially, culturally and economically instigated. This paper aims at exposing evidence in health inequalities and the need for health promotion, as well as highlight gender,, ethnicity and socio-economic factors, Ageism and racism in the healthcare sector. Adequate access to healthcare has been cited as a key factor determining a country’s commitment to reducing health inequalities and promotion. Devaux and de Looper (2012), explain that the need for General Practitioners can be analysed using variables such as age, gender and health status.   In the current study, Ms B has a General Practitioner, who is 8 minutes walk from her residence, while, on the other hand Ms, A sees no need for one. Devaux and de Looper (2012) reveal in their study that people who are financially stable are more likely to visit a GP than those in the lower income level. Ms B in the interview is presented as more stable than Ms A financially. Ms B has time for shopping, cafes with friends, and she can also afford a healthy meal at the end of the day. She even has access to private transportation. Compared to Ms A, who is housed by the council (Shelter, 2013). Van Doorslaer et al. (2003) assert that income related health inequalities are persistent in Eu rope regardless of the fact that many countries have established easy access to physician services. They further posit that there is unequal opportunity in accessing health services across income groups. Ms A seems to be in the lower income category and much marginalized in regard to access to health services. This is a common trend in most developed economies especially in North America and Europe. In an examination of such inequalities, in self reported health and their impact on individual risk factors in the United States and Canada, McGrail et al.(2009), found that income distribution was responsible for more than 50 percent of income-related health inequalities.   The same can be said of the United Kingdom where life expectancy is as high as in both the USA and Canada as a result of great preventive measures against killer diseases, yet the ubiquity of health inequality is constant (Graham Kelly, 2004).   They reveal that while the health of the general population seems t o improve, those in the lower income bracket are far from this reality, and this has been a point of challenge to policy makers. In addition, gender is one of the key causes of health inequalities.Ostrowska (2012), explains that notable differences between male and female health status is a common topic and has become a subject of increasing interest of researchers. According to them, researchers have recorded these differences in a bid to understand them within a bio-medical framework. Health inequalities in regard to gender divergence are indicative of the differences in social roles and status engraved in culturally created perception of femininity and masculinity. It is most likely that Ms A has continually ignored invitations to GP because of cost. It is most likely possible that she could be fine now, but the future is uncertain and more so in regard to her age. Health insurance coverage has become one of the key issues as far as women access to healthcare is concern.   According to Kaiser Family Foundation (2013), health insurance coverage is a motivational factor for women and is effective in improvi ng their health status by enabling access to preventive, primary, as well as, speciality healthcare. This could represent the case with Ms A, with medical cover; she would most likely at least visit her GP for a check up. Racism has been one of the key issues associated with health inequality. Generally, it is said that Native and African American, as well as Pacific Islanders, have a shorter lifespan and dismal health outcomes including high infant mortality rates, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, stroke, deteriorating life expectancy compared to their white and Asian American counterparts (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). The United Kingdom is also faced with this challenge as explains Nazroo (2003 ), who posit that there is high health inequality across ethnic groups in the US and UK, and this has been documented. Woolf et al.(2004), in reference to a study by Dr. David Satcher and Dr. Adelwale Troutman, close to 900, 000 of the deaths of African Americans would have been prevented if their health matched that of their white counterparts. Racial identity is not pathogenic, but is a social issue in many countries that are the basis of profiling. While it is true that not all people from these minority groups both in the US and UK are poor, most of them are and according to Smedley et al. (2003), health follows a pattern that the more the wealth, the better the health. Most of them work in jobs that are in the   lower status and are also less educated than their   white counterparts. This is a key reason why this population   is persistent in the lower socio-economic strata compared to the other ethnic groups. Ms A is a black woman who is more concern with her spiritual condition than her health condition. She seems not to take cognizance of the fact that one she might need medical attention given her age, â€Å"health by choice.† Nonetheless, this could be none of her fault, as an African American, she is disadvantaged, she might not be able to afford the cost or even fail to take on appropriate medical cover (Nazroo, 2003 ). It has been noted in Britain that immediate action is needed to reform the pension plans to match in regard to the disparity between the rich and the poor, a state that could lead to thousands of poor people dying before they reach retirement (Copper, 2013). Just as the ethnic minorities in the developed countries, the older generation is currently one of the constituencies with rising health challenges. It is a population that is experiencing health inequalities (Grundy Sloggett, 2003 ). In England alone, there are 10 million people aged 65 and over (Thorpe, 2011). In this population, most of the are either sick or with some disability, thy account for 60 percent of hospital admissions (Thorpe, 2011). Grundy and Sloggett (2003 ), in their research used information from three rounds of the English Health Survey to understand the variations in wellbeing of those aged between 65-84 years. In their study, they used indicators based on self reports and data collected by a medical practitioner. The study revealed that socio-economic indicator and most prominent, income, was related to the increasing odds of diminishing health outcomes (Grundy Sloggett, 2003 ). Ms B in the current study has already started experiencing the effects of aging a nd conscious of what is expected of her. She is 69 years and seeks regular medical advice from her GP and takes every precaution in order to live a healthy and rewarding life. Ms A, on the other hand, is 5 years younger than Ms B, she might not feel the impact of age on her, but as seen in the above paragraphs, she is bound to feel some of these effects, it is just a matter of time (Grundy Sloggett, 2003 ). The examination of   gender, ethnicity, socio-economic, as well as ageism and racism variables as factors associated with health inequalities,, it is important also to consider the promotional aspect. Health promotion empowers people to consider and sustain healthy lifestyles thereby becoming better health managers (Family Health Teams, 2006). There needs to be promotion strategies that when implemented uses structural solutions that support change in behaviour.   One of the areas needing work is for governments to focus on closing narrowing of the gap between the rich and the poor. However, it is not just the closing of the gap, but making available services that would positively impact the poor. Such remedies include; empowering and mobilizing the people to resort to healthier choices, such as making available healthy food for the masses (Shircore, 2009).   In addition, the vulnerable populations need to be supported to change their behaviour, Shircore (2009), explain an impo rtant point that both physical and mental health are integral parts of quality of life and that evidence is clear that a healthy diets are beneficial to the both. On the other hand, poor housing coupled with poor income adversely affect physical and mental health. In this regard, the need for effective social marketing is imperative in achieving the desired change with both the public and with decision-makers. To achieve this, one of the most effective ways as seen in the current study is to involve the GP in health promotion strategies (Family Health Teams, 2006).   Ms B compared to Ms A had been receiving critically needed useful medical procedures because of her awareness of her health status. While Ms A, claimed, she did not need a GP and did not even remember the last time she visited a GP (9). Ms B had a Doctor (66) and had been with him for a long time. On the other hand, Ms B claims she has received much information from her local GP; there was a time she had trouble emptying her bowel freely (20) and she sort for advice from her GP, who asked her to take plenty of fruits and vegetables (21). She gets helpful information on other med ical conditions freely such as Flu and Diabetes from pamphlets (24) as well as the nurse (25). Ms B receives helpful information from her doctor, such as where to purchase blood pressure kits and how to use of it in checking her blood pressure (27). The focus on patient education, counselling and support is an important health promotion strategy and should be given to every vulnerable person in the categories examined in this study. Conclusion and recommendation As explained by Ms A and Ms B’s economic and health conditions, there are wide disparities between minority groups and dominant populations, more so in developed countries. As an African woman, Ms A was oblivious to the fact that she would need medical at one point in life; such is the attitude that some people in minority groups face life. Nonetheless, there are others who regardless of what they know, are restricted by their economic state. As a matter of fact the common denominator across all this classification whether ethnic, gender, age, is economic stability or sustainability. It is the responsibility of the government and the entire stakeholder to ensure that necessary steps are taken to provide for the needs of these vulnerable groups so as to reduce the effects of such health inequalities. As seen above, certain subsidies can be given to the vulnerable groups to mitigate the effects of health inequalities as discussed. The current study used two case studies to explain several variables. Further research is needed to zero in on specific details as it fails to do justice to all the variables presented, for depth and breadth of the issues investigated, the case studies fail to examine fully within the real-life context all the variables presented. On the gender issue, it would have been helpful if one of the interviewees was a male or in that case have more than two interviewees, the third of a different gender. Bibliography Copper, C., 2013. Britains poor will die before they retire if pension reforms arent matched by health improvements. The Independent , 06 December. Devaux, M. de Looper, M., 2012. Income-Related Inequalities in Health Service Utilisation in 19 OECD Countries, 2008-2009†. OECD Health Working Papers. Family Health Teams, 2006. Guide to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. [Online] Ministry of Health Available at:   HYPERLINK health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/fht/docs/fht_health_promotion2.pdf health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/fht/docs/fht_health_promotion2.pdf   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Graham, H. Kelly, M.P., 2004. Health inequalities: concepts,frameworks and policy. [Online] Health Development Agency Available at:   HYPERLINK nice.org.uk/niceMedia/documents/health_inequalities_concepts.pdf nice.org.uk/niceMedia/documents/health_inequalities_concepts.pdf   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Grundy, E. Sloggett, A., 2003. Health inequalities in the older population: the role of personal capital, social resources and socio-economic. Social Science Med, 56(5), pp.935-47. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013. Women’s Health Insurance Coverage. [Online] Kaiser Family Foundation Available at:   HYPERLINK http://kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/womens-health-insurance-coverage-fact-sheet/ \l footnote-89006-14 http://kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/womens-health-insurance-coverage-fact-sheet/#footnote-89006-14   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. McGrail, K.M., Van Doorslaer, E., Ross, N.A. Sanmartin, C., 2009. Income-Related Health Inequalities in Canada and the United States: A Decomposition Analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 99(10), pp.1856–63. Nazroo, J.Y., 2003. The Structuring of Ethnic Inequalities in Health: Economic Position, Racial Discrimination, and Racism. American Journal of Public Health, 93(2), pp.277–84. Ostrowska, A., 2012. Health inequalitiesgender perspective. Przegl Lek., 69(2), pp.61-6. Shelter, 2013. Who gets priority for council housing. [Online] Available at:   HYPERLINK http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/finding_a_place_to_live/council_housing/who_gets_priority http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/finding_a_place_to_live/council_housing/who_gets_priority   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Shircore, R., 2009. Guide for World Class Commissioners Promoting Health and Well-Being: Reducing Inequalities. London: RSPH RSPH. Smedley, B., Jeffries, M., Adelman, L. Cheng, J., 2003. Race, Racial Inequality and Health Inequities: Separating Myth from Fact. [Online] Available at:   HYPERLINK unnaturalcauses.org/assets/uploads/file/Race_Racial_Inequality_Health.pdf unnaturalcauses.org/assets/uploads/file/Race_Racial_Inequality_Health.pdf   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Thorpe, T., 2011. Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England. [Online] Available at:   HYPERLINK bgs.org.uk/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1443:healthylivesstrategycatid=14:consultationsItemid=110 bgs.org.uk/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1443:healthylivesstrategycatid=14:consultationsItemid=110   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007. Health Inequalities. [Online] Available at:   HYPERLINK http://search.hhs.gov/search?q=African+Americans%2C+Native+Americans+and+Pacific++Islanders+live+shorter+lives+and+have+poorer+health+outcomesbtnG=Searchentqr=3ud=1sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1output=xml_no_dtdoe=UTF-8ie=UTF-8lr=lang_enclient=HHSproxys http://search.hhs.gov/search?q=African+Americans%2C+Native+Americans+and+Pacific++Islanders+live+shorter+lives+and+have+poorer+health+outcomesbtnG=Searchentqr=3ud=1sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1output=xml_no_dtdoe=UTF-8ie=UTF-8lr=lang_enclient=HHSproxys   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Va Doorslaer, E., Koolman, X. Jones, A.M., 2003. Explaining income-related inequalities in doctor utilisation in Europe:a decomposition approach. [Online] Available at:   HYPERLINK http://www2.eur.nl/ecuity/public_papers/WP5v4.pdf http://www2.eur.nl/ecuity/public_papers/WP5v4.pdf   [Accessed 10 December 2013]. Woodwarda, A. Kawachib, I., 2000. Why reduce health inequalities? Journal of Epidemiol Community Health, 54, pp.923-929. Woolf, S.H. et al., 2004. The health impact of resolving racial disparities: An analysis of US mortality data. American Journal of Public Health, 94(12), pp.2078-81.

The Freelance Writing Jobs I Avoid

The Freelance Writing Jobs I Avoid The Freelance Writing Jobs I Avoid The Freelance Writing Jobs I Avoid By Michael The convenience of the Web has made freelance writing more convenient. Jobs are easier to find, but rejection letters can arrive much more quickly! The Web also has opened up a new range of business practices, some good, some bad. Here are the types of freelance writing jobs that I steer away from, if possible, having tried most of them: Revenue sharing. The Web counterpart of straight commission sales, theyll pay you, if they ever make any money from what you write. If not, they may not care. Usually these companies want you to promote their website in hopes of increasing the ad revenue youre hoping to share. Subsidy publishing: a very old industry, where companies pretend to be regular publishing houses or literary agents, but want you to pay them to get published. If youre willing to spend money to get a few copies of your book, you might do better with print on demand companies such as Lulu or Booklocker. Web content writing: The Web counterpart to water pollution (I was going to say counterfeiting). Often their goal is not to produce literature that people will want to read, but web pages designed to fool the search engines into thinking that people actually want to read them. Sometimes these articles are not much more than keywords artfully strung together. Software has been developed to do this work more cheaply than humans. Article directories: Usually a collection of web content for revenue sharing. They invite publishers to buy articles at very low prices. Writing for these directories is not something you should put on your resume. Academic writing: You get paid to write papers for students. They are advised not to pretend that they wrote these papers themselves, but to use them as models. But you know better. Freelance job banks: The Web counterpart to a slave auction: when you offer to write for two cents a word, someone in India offers to write for one cent. A common source for low-paying Web content writing jobs. Pay-per-comment: Junior high school students in India earn half a cent a word to write comments on neglected forums and discussion boards so that visitors will think they are active. Pay-per-post: Bloggers devote a post to review the company thats paying them to do it. But it makes me wonder if anything they say is really from their hearts. Sample writing: Sometimes a company will advertise a job opening, insist that every applicant send a sample article on a particular subject, sell all the articles, and hire no one. On the other hand, the reputable companies will pay you for any articles they use. Contingency payment: Stay away from start-up businesses who apologize that they cant pay anything now, but just think of how rich youll be when we hit the big time. If they dont have money to pay their writers, what else dont they have money for? My advice: look for people youd be proud to write for, more than for people who are willing to let you write for them. If you follow the money, you may find there isnt any. But if you follow your sensibilities, you can look at yourself in the mirror and feel proud of what youve written. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should KnowTime Words: Era, Epoch, and EonTitled versus Entitled

The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Hospital Settings Research Paper

The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Hospital Settings - Research Paper Example From the study it was evident that the factor which was strongly associated with fall was medication. Other risk factors determined by the study were level of activity, age of the patient,confusion, depression, history of fall in the past. staff vigilance and number of inpatients in the ward. According to Blair and Gruman (p. 353), it is very important for the staff of the hospital to know that risk assessment for falls in elderly patients must be continuous because the status of risk can change quickly, especially if the patient is on some psychotropic medication. They opined that a fall prevention program must be present in all hospitals admitting elderly patients and nurses and other staff must be educated about strategies to prevent falls in that population. Another important aspect of medication is the inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication which can increase the risk of falls. This aspect was studied by Peterson et al (p.802). The researchers studied the association be tween appropriateness of psychotropic medication and in-hospital fall rate. From the study, it was evident that inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication is strongly associated with falls. As such, psychotropic medications are associated with several side effects including falls leading to hip fractures, over sedation and delirium. Geriatric patients who are vulnerable may suffer from various injuries disproportionate to the fall when on psychotropic agents because; these medications are used frequently, slow the rate of metabolism and decrease physiologic reserve (Peterson, p.803). According to a meta-analysis by Leipzig et al (cited in Riefkohl, p.726), psychotropic drugs are strongly associated with falls. The data for... From this paper it is clear that several medicines have been attributed to cause falls in the elderly population. In this regard, psychotropic medicines which are frequently administered for older people for various psychiatic and cognitive problems are studied widely and are known to increase the risk of falls. Medicines, especially psychotropic ones, cause orthostatic hypotension, confusion, oversedation, delirium, dizziness, cognitive changes and psychomotor impairment and thus contribute to falls. Other medications which can increase the risk of falls are diuretics, antihypertensives and cardiovascular medicines. In this research article, the association between use of psychotropic medications and falls in elderly people admitted to hospital settings will be studied through review of suitable literature.As the discussion highlights  inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication is strongly associated with falls. As such, psychotropic medications are associated with several si de effects including falls leading to hip fractures, over sedation and delirium. Geriatric patients who are vulnerable may suffer from various injuries disproportionate to the fall when on psychotropic agents because; these medications are used frequently, slow the rate of metabolism and decrease physiologic reserve.  Falls are a major source of concern among elderly patients admitted to hospital. Several risk factors are present which can be assessed using risk assessment scales.

Travel and Tourism in Sri Lanka Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Travel and Tourism in Sri Lanka - Essay Example This "Travel and Tourism in Sri Lanka" essay outlines the recommendations what the travel organization of Sri Lanka should do to succeed on the international market and contains detailed and effective marketing strategy and action plan. Marketing strategy should be associated to the corporate and business strategies and should be consistent in directing competitive thrust on superior management level. As marketing has a large number of activities it has to decide on how it will serve its targeted customers. The marketing strategies should be a guide to achieve goals and objectives in an organisation. It is the base on which marketing decisions are made. These strategies are to be mixed appropriately which helps to achieve the goals in an easier way in an organisation. This mix is known as ‘Marketing Mix’. Marketing mix consists of four primary components. These are: Product: Product refers to the goods as well as services which an organisation offers to the consumers of the product and in return it charges certain amount of price. The buyer pays not for the product but for the satisfaction the product will give. The Sri Lankan company may place its travel packages as their product in the UK market. Price: Price refers to the amount that is charged against the products and the services the organisation offers. Pricing mix is an important element as it influences the demand of a product and the profitability of the organisation. An organisation has to keep the demand, buyers’ capability to pay for the product and etc.

Geddes Garden City Essay Example for Free

Geddes Garden City Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The American Political Economist who authored   the best read book titled Progress and Poverty (Lause) defined urbanization as â€Å"This life of great cities is not the natural life of man.   He must, under such conditions, deteriorate, physically, mentally, and morally â€Å".   To consider his point, the author view that life must be maintained in a serene atmosphere and not in a busy city just like those old good days that red beans or the cocoa is enough to send every household child to a good school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Henry George began musing on this concept when the new railroad transport was developed in California that made an influence on high land values and influx of ordinary people to city life.   That development in one place brought about overcrowding and had wayward implications on the sustainability of the natural environment.   However, his idea provided economic reforms that made improvements of the life of the working classes possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cities are indications of developments and of the visible civilizations of the history of man.   It takes a process of transformation that is unique and at the same time diverse.   This work is aimed at explaining the town concepts during the period of industrialization from the beginning of mass transportation and birth of new cities in particular on how Geddes observed and analyze these processes. Sustainability of the Man-built Environment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was concluded by Henry George that the man-built environment is something that will not last. However, Patrick Geddes the Leonardo da Vinci of the 20th century teaches and reaffirms that our world environment could be sustained provided that man cooperates in the process.   It has to be sustained in order that the life cycle of the young generation’s continues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   His statement is not a contradiction to George’s philosophy but a possible solution to man’s current problems.   His reaffirmation brought to the world a new hope that even though life cycle is limited, this world is still something worthy to be cared for and it can endure. The positive attitude of George influences not only his neighbors but the human settlement at large during his time to the present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are issues on industrialization which brings wealth but at the same time destroys the natural environment caused by pollutants. For this reason, Geddes made it clear that man do not live by the jingling of his coins.   There is always a chain effect if one resource is used in accordingly.   He provided a solution written in the Evergreen book that a sustainable world is as simple as making it comfortably green.   His conviction reminded even planners that if developments are unchecked it would create more disaster than improvements.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Globally, everyone breathe the same air that a poor or a developed nation breathes.   The current concern do not deals alone with affordability but also sustainability. With the pressing trend of modernization, comfortable living is expensive and value for money is usually a rare find. The problem of overcrowding in the cities and the lack of economic growth in the rural areas still remains to be a problem on poorly planned cities.   The increase of deteriorating cities will lead to the decline of the global sustainability.   The idea here is to provide developmental options that are definitely relevant to every cities of the world. His mottos â€Å"by creating we think and by living we learn was made to good use by educating people about their environment (Grewar).† The new housing design for workers, organizing his neighbors to renovate houses and build gardens made an indelible mark in his works which can still be seen in every postcard of the city’s Royal Mile that even Albert Einstein admired and has honored him (Grewar). The Garden City Movement Patrick Geddes three dimensional thinking (geography, economics and anthropology) places social sciences above math and logic, biology, chemistry and physics.   His belief that† the earth as a cooperative planet must teach people on how to treat properly their environment and is aimed specifically on educating children, improving the physical quality of life through biological knowledge by producing better medicines, and understanding human influence on ecology (Killiecrankie).† Geddes bridging social sciences with biology even influenced his biographer Lewis Mumford on the simple idea that man just like plants and animals thrived in healthy conditions which are expressed in one of the extracts of Geddes writings; â€Å"The world is mainly vast leaf-colony, growing on and forming a leafy soil, not a mere mineral mass, and we live not by the jingling of our coins, but by the fullness of our harvest. This is green world, with animals comparatively small, and all independent upon leaves.   By leaves we live (Grewar).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mumford an architectural critic and is particularly noted for his study on urbanization of the environment regarded technology as the destroyer of environment even if he qualifies that electricity could lead to the improvements of the social spheres (University).   His works are indications that technology must be regulated. During the late 18th century Garden Cities began to evolve through the works of city and town planners particularly the works of Ebenezer Howard in UK influenced by the philosophy of Geddes new approach in urban planning called the garden city movement.   Howard began to build self-sustaining towns that combines convenience and industries located on agricultural sites (Sir Ebenezer Howard).† Howard realizes that no matter from what nation a man belongs, there is but one social issue which is difficult to solve and that is problems on housing and labor. This propelled many to advocate the new movement and increases the awareness on the concept of â€Å"decency of surroundings† and that includes, ample spaces, clean housing with gardens, and preservation of landscapes (Letchworth). The First Garden City   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Letchworth City is founded by Howard and is the first garden city of the world; in 1905 the garden city movement became involved in the exhibits of new housing called the workers cottage or housing for the working class in which some of it still stood today. Those cheap but strong and functional residences can be affordable to workers.   Some of these cottages made of wood or concrete can still be found in Letchworth streets and is now being conserved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some of the prototype housing called the workers cottages influences the human settlement design of this century.   This new housing designed sprawled even to the west for instance the workers cottages of Architect Maybeck of California and to the whole world at least giving man an accommodation that he humanly deserves. Mass Transportation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fast developments are due to improved transportation and communications.   The streets affect the life of all its inhabitants and this vision is very much encouraged in order to serve a huge population.   This is indeed very necessary but at the same time may lead to a city decline.   This entails thorough planning on how to maintain a good life in a cellular metropolis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Victor Gruen a planning practitioner, mentioned in his last publicized works that â€Å"auto sprawl would cripple the global ecosystem and brings about physical and psychological starvation of the urbanized man (Hill).†Ã‚   Today, some cities plants a good number of trees for every parking slots or spaces created.   Planning theories must be integrated to transit that is useful to automobile cities and providing more mass transit and more freeways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Automobile cities, needs more spaces unlike the old horse tracks during the colonial times.   Human settlement today cannot tolerate a waste of space in places where living condition is dense.   Somehow, these dense spaces are capable of providing the maximum comfort for man by means of mechanical equipments in buildings. In this cities life is fast and expensive.   Technology is a provision for man’s comfort and not a means to enslave but more often than not it is the other way around.   However, there are many fast developing cities that is capable of coping with the new technology because work is valued in congruent with the dignity of man.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gruen proposes a plan that could justify economic productivity of big cities and at the same time create sub cities that would adapt to what he calls â€Å"megalopolitan sprawl†.   However, globalization could also mean going beyond ones land area.   There is still vast area of lands wanting to be developed. There are many nations that are in need to cope with the present dynamics of the new world technology.   And while there are other places where overpopulation is a problem there are affluent cities in the second millennium that the inverted population growth also presupposes danger. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the abstract written by Dr. Mervyn Miller, he mentioned the book written by the founder of Letchworth, â€Å"Tomorrow a Peaceful Path to Real Reform† written in 1898 is very much true to our society of today. He recalls that the garden city is a potent concept in the emergence of the 20th century cities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Contemporary planners addressed the issue by following the course of people like Geddes.   However, due to the increase in the demand on the lease to life, those familiar workers cottages are considered mini-mansions of many career oriented people of today.   Ample spaces are defined as functional spaces due to the ever increasing cost per area of construction in square foot or in meters.   Coping with life that is becoming unsustainable is becoming a depressing problem even more than how George views it in his time. The internationalist who believes that nothing is gained by overcrowding still support the issue on the green environment that is very relevant today.   However, there are trends that are still needed to be discovered and be rediscovered especially within the new technology along on how this new ideas can be within the reach of everyone.   The key here is what kind of technology should be provided to sustain the ordinary man of the streets. The approach that Geddes concept has provided in his time is for the working class of the industrialized period.   That became the reason why today’s environmentalist regarded Geddes a steward in land use and its sustainability. Today, a number of men with the same aspirations of those Internationalist described is very much needed.   This fast growing old planet needs people who are a hundred percent human beings in the middle of the electro- mechanical world. Works Cited Grewar, Mindy. Vivendo Discimus: Everything in the Garden Is Magnifique for the Anniversary Celebrations of a Great Scot.   (2004). 11 April 2008 http://www.scotland.org/about/history-tradition-and-roots/features/education/geddes.html. Hill, David R. Sustainability, Victor Gruen, and the Cellular Metropolis.   (2008). 11 April 2008 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=H1TcfmZ4RRyJKG06dF94gjTT9hyHh99GrVvwdzytZzVnn6Lq771Y!-798756091?docId=5001677813. Killiecrankie. Patrick Geddes 1854-1932.   (2008). 11 April 2008 http://www.visitkilliecrankie.com/patrick-geddes.htm. Lause, Mark. Henry George. 11 April 2008 http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Quad/6460/bio/G/eorge.html. Letchworth. Letchworth the First Garden City   (2007). 11 April 2008 http://lgc.amolad.net/heritage/index-3.htm. Sir Ebenezer Howard.   (2007). 11 April 2008 http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HowardEb.html. University, Regent. Lewis Mumford (1895-1988).   (2007). 11 April 2008 http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/mumford.html.

Wallis Simpson Essay -- essays research papers fc

American socialite Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom Edward VIII gave up the throne in 1936, is variously portrayed as a greedy snob, a sexual predator or part of the romance of the century. A complex figure emerges: a strong-willed woman, hungry for independence, but caught up in a situation she could not control. Mrs. Wallis Simpson has become an emotional figure in history. Along with this, many descriptions of her personality and motives for being with Edward have caused some extremely negative descriptions; the nicer ones range from witch to seductress. So who really was Mrs. Wallis Simpson? Bessie Wallis Warfield, named after her aunt and her father, as she was born in Baltimore, Maryland, was something of a misfit from the start. Her arrival in June 19,1896 came just seven months after the marriage of her parents, causing some embarrassment to Warfield relatives for whom moral propriety was essential as the elite of Baltimore society. Bessie's father died when she was five months old and throughout her formative years, she and her mother had to rely on irregular handouts from a wealthy relative. Because her father left them with no money so they relied charity from her mother’s husband’s late brother. As Wallis grew into a young woman, she was not necessarily considered pretty. Yet Wallis had a sense of style and poses that made her distinguished and attractive. She had radiant eyes, good complexion and fine, smooth black hair, which she kept parted down the middle for most of her life. Bessie discarded her first name - because "so many cows are called Bessie" - and learned how to flirt. But she was still shut out of the world she regarded as her birthright. Soon after the humiliation of "coming out" without the usual debutante's celebration ball, she grasped the first means of escape from Baltimore by becoming engaged. On November 8 1916 she was married to her first husband, at the age of 20 was to a Navy pilot Earl Winfield Spencer. The marriage was reasonably good until the end of World War I when many ex-soldiers became bitter at the inconclusiveness of the war and the difficulty in adapting back to civilian life. After the Armistice, Win began to drink heavily and also became abusive. Wallis eventually left Win and lived six years by herself in Washington. Win and Wallis weren't yet divorced a... ...buried alongside Edward in the royal burial ground at Windsor. Bibliography 1.Agate, James. Ego 8: Continuing the Autobiography of†¦ London, 1948. Illusts. 8vo. or.cl. (272pp). 2. Bloch, Michael. The Duke of Windsor's War. London, 1982. Illusts. Royal 8vo. or.cl. (398pp). 3. Bloch, Michael (ed). Wallis & Edward: Letters 1931-1937. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1986. 4. Broad, Lewis. Queens, Crowns and Coronations. London, 1952. Illusts. 8vo. or.cl. (184pp). 5. Bryan, J.B. and, C.J.V. Murphy. The Windsor Story. London, 1979. Illusts. 8vo. or.cl. (640pp). 6. Buchan, John. Memory Hold the Door. London, 1940. Illusts. 8vo. or.cl. (328pp). 7. King, Greg; The Duchess of Windsor: The Uncommon Life of Wallis Simpson; Kensington Pub Corp: April 2003 8. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright  © 2003 Columbia University Press. 9. Encyclopedia, â€Å"Love Stories of the Century†, Jan. 16, ‘04; www.encyclopedia.com 10. The History Channel, Search; Jan. 16, ‘04, www.historychannel.com 11. Warwick, Christopher. Abdication. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1986. 12. Ziegler, Paul, King Edward VIII: The Official Biography (London: Collins. 1990) 224.

Harriet Jacobs, Slavery, The South, and the Civil War Essay

Harriet Jacobs remains one of the most important anti-slavery figures in American history. As a former slave turned author, Jacobs was very influential in shaping public opinion towards an anti-slavery sentiment. Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813. She would eventually escape into freedom in 1835. Her escape route would eventually lead her to Philadelphia where she would not have to worry about being returned to the south. (Most northern cities were sympathetic to escaped slaves) Upon moving to New York City, Jacobs would develop a personal relationship with a publisher named Nathaniel Parker Willis. Perhaps it was this relationship that inspired her to write her seminal work Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl detailed the horrible conditions that women faced in slavery. The stories were first published in the newspaper the New York Tribune. While the articles were well received at first, the graphic depictions of sexual abuse proved controversial and the serial was discontinued. Eventually, Jacobs work was published in book form. The book became an immediate sensation and significantly shaped an anti-slavery sentiment that surely fueled the abolitionist movement. While the north understood slavery was evil, the pure brutality of it was unknown to most. Jacobs work raised a much needed awareness. But why did the south embrace slavery in the way it did? There were a number of reasons why the south was a huge proponent of slavery. The most obvious reason centers on the enormous profits that the southern states were able to amass due to having free labor. In time, the south was eventually overly reliant on  slavery since it was a non-industrialized society. Without the presence of factories, modern machinery, and an industrialized production center, the southern states were reliant on human labor more than the north. And as previously mentioned, free labor in the form of slavery provided the mechanism for this backwards infrastructure. There were many issues that drove the notion of the south succeeding from the union. If there was a â€Å"final straw† that drove the southern states to succeed from the union, it was the election of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln had campaigned on an anti-slavery platform. When he was elected, he professed his assertion that no new states entered into the union would be allowed to be slave states. This led to several southern states succeeding from the union and to form the Confederacy. Obviously, President Lincoln sought to quell this succession as soon as possible. However, the tensions exploded on April 12, 1861 when the Confederacy launched an all out assault on the military base Fort Sumter in South Carolina. More than anything else, this was the inciting incident that led to an all out Civil War.   During the initial years of the Civil War, the south was seriously â€Å"hammering† the north as the north could not find a proper strategy to win the war. This situation nearly led to Lincoln’s defeat in re-election. However, Lincoln did win re-election and eventually found the right general in Ulysses S. Grant. Under Grant, the south was defeated and the Emancipation Proclamation was upheld. Slavery was no more in the United States. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the reconstruction of the devastated south began. One goal of reconstruction was to integrate the now freed slaves into society.  However, Lincoln’s assassination undermined reconstruction and African-Americans would remain disenfranchised in the south for an additional 100 years.