The Ivory Coast Essays - Economic Community Of West African States

The Ivory Coast The Ivory Coast is one of Africa's leading countries in industry and agriculture. This small country is located in West Africa on the Coast of Guinea where it is bordered by Mali and Burkina Faso on the north and by Guinea and Liberia on the west. The land itself is approximately 322,463 sq.kilometers and 124,504 sq.miles in size. With a population of around 12,600,000 people, of which 2,000,000 are foreigners from Burkina Faso and Ghana, the Ivory Coast is known for it's cultural diversity which started back in 1637 when it became a French Missionary contact. Then, in 1843-1845, it became an official proctrate of France. Thus, in 1893, the Ivory Coast became a French colony and remained part of French West Africa from 1904-1958. Finally in 1960, independence was gained from the overseas country of France. In the Ivory Coast, which is a Republic, they have a semi-democratic system. The position of president, currently being held by Felix Houphocet-Boigny, is elected to serve 5-year terms. Also, the president can run for re-election as many times as he chooses. For example, the current president was re-elected to serve a seventh term in 1990. Plus, there is a National Assembly comprised of about 120 people who help to govern the country. The nation has a tremendously stable economy because of the great amount of products that they produce for exporting. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer and the third largest coffee producer. These products alone bring in more than half of all export earnings. In addition, sugarcane, pineapples, oil palms, rubber, cotton, and bananas are also grown for export. The major problem of the country is the foreign debt which has grown extremely large due to massive amounts of loans given to the country by France. Plus, this increases taxes. The country's per capita is $ 740 and it's GNP (Gross National Product) is $ 8.59 billion.

Societys Cave essays

Society's Cave essays No matter who you ask, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau or any other great philosopher they will always tell you that Plato was and always will be the greatest philosopher. Plato is known for great thoughts and feeling about the government and the way their social and political issues are handled. He used a very effective and intelligent way of writing his thoughts. He used a technique of exoteric and esoteric writing. The exoteric level being a level that everyone could understand and the esoteric level was only comprehended by the intelligent. By doing this he protected himself from the government. He learned from Socrates whose life was ended when the government had enough of his ridicule and rebellions. Plato was much smarter and got his point across without the government ever knowing. For example, Platos "Allegory of the Cave" from The Republic, which was a childrens story about a cave, but it also had a esoteric meaning that was letting the intelligent know what the government was doin g. Platos technique has been effectively repeat many times and his messages apply to many of the current issues in todays society. The exoteric level of the story, which comprehended by most, is about an underground cave which is pitch black except for a dim fire. There are some men bound by the neck and ankles, totally restricting movement, in the bottom of the cave. They have been faced towards the wall of the cave and all they can see is the flickering light from the fire behind them. Occasionally they can see the faint shadows of other men standing in front of the fire. The men can also hear their voices echo off the wall which they are facing. The sounds and visions that the men hear and see are both false, they are not the actual thing. The echoes are reflecting off the wall as well as the shadows that they are seeing. One man finally breaks free and makes his way up the cave, it is a hard and long climb but he makes it out. ...

Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Concert - Essay Example The band consists of 80 players, using instruments like First and Second Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp, Percussion, Timpani, Tuba, Bass, Trombone, Trumpet, Horn, Contrabassoon, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet, Cor Anglais, Oboe, Piccolo and Flute. French overture means opening and indicates the formation or introduction to a performance. An overture is normally in three parts (fast-slow-fast). The 1812 Overture was about the battles between Napoleon's French Army and the Russians. Within the piece, there is therefore the inclusion of anthems, gunfire and church bells. With a number of performers, who took up the upper deck and the lower space of the venue delivered an amazing performance which was met with not only appreciation, but also applause by the listeners. 5. The JOURNEY - The 1812 Overture is a classic that takes you through emotional up's and downs. Various instruments have been used to bring out this effect, a set of violins to bring out the lower and higher moods. Bass, bass clarinet, bassoon to depict drama and gunfire, trumpets to indicate rises and emotions, flute and piccolo to bring out calmness. The use of church bells to indicate the end. The overture follows a stereotypical format which is the fast-slow-fast and the composer has managed to show both the sides of the story, 2 marching armies whose troops were brimming with enthusiasm in defeating their enemy, thus motivated. The beginning of the clash between the 2 armies, the scenario of the war accompanied by gunshots, a drop in the music depicting a low mood or defeat and the end of a war signaled by the ringing of church bells. 6. Evaluation of the performers - The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is renowned for their performances with resident composer, Guto Puw delivering mind blowing original performances and pieces by other composers with immaculate brilliance. Grant Llewellyn, who is the music director of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society is known for his exceptional charisma, energy and easy authority in music of all styles and periods. The performers who were 80 in number for this ensemble excluding the composers delivered an exceptional renderance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture deserving recognition and applause. 7. In-depth analysis of "one piece from the concert" For our analysis, we can choose the beginning of the composition. At approximately 4:00 minutes a drum roll comes on, and when

Virtual Reality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Virtual Reality - Essay Example The virtual reality systems play an important role in education and training. It provides a solution to some of the challenges that the students may be facing. Virtonomics is one of the existing systems that are widely used by the students during training. It enables the students to test their knowledge and skills in the virtual economy. This has played an important role in providing solutions to the challenges that the students are likely to face in the real world. Virtual reality systems are widely used for military combat training. It enables the recruits to carry out their training under a controlled environment where they can respond to different situations. Head mounted display together with virtual reality weapon is used during the training of the recruits. Virtual reality enables the solders to train under different terrains without necessarily visiting such terrains physically. The existing virtual reality is also used widely for the training of combat pilots. This enables t hem to obtain the skills required in the battle field. Virtual reality systems are also used during the tank drivers. The existing systems, therefore, play an important role in ensuring that different personnel can obtain the required experience. Virtual reality is also used in some of the countries for train firemen. In other countries, it is used for training the doctors to respond to a different live threatening situation of the patients. Virtual reality is also used for gaming. The head mounted display is usually used for gaming.

Similarities and differences between monopolies and oligopolies Essay Example for Free

Similarities and differences between monopolies and oligopolies Essay According to Mankiw, N. G. (2004) monopolies and oligopolies can be defined as: Monopolies are based on a market where there are several buyers but only one seller of a product or service whereby the seller sets the price for products and services provided. Oligopolies are based on a market where there a few companies own or control the production of a product or service whereby the few companies control the market of products and services provided. Differences: Monopolies have only one seller. Oligopolies have at least two or more sellers. Monopolies offer only one product or service. Oligopolies offer more than one good or service. In monopolies the seller can set the price without competition. In oligopolies the sellers set prices based on competitor prices. Monopolies usually exceed marginal profits. Oligopolies usually meet marginal profits. Monopolies are unable to achieve any level of profit they want due to high prices that reduce consumer purchases. Oligopolies have a better chance of achieving the level of profit desired because prices are lowered to raise consumer purchases. Monopolies usually have no close substitute for products or services offered. Oligopolies usually have a small number of close substitutes for products or services offered. Similarities: Both monopolies and oligopolies consist of large organizations Both monopolies and oligopolies hold considerable market control over specific products and services. Both monopolies and oligopolies hold specific copyrights for products and services provided. Both monopolies and oligopolies are affected by increased production in the fact that higher production reduces the price of products and services. Both monopolies and oligopolies are able to achieve a monopoly on production id specific products or services under copyright. Both monopolies and oligopolies impact the production and sale of products and services. HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY MICROSOFTÂ ©? I would consider Microsoft to be an oligopoly company because there are several other companies that offer similar products. However, given that Microsoft holds copyrights to specific software such as Microsoft word, Microsoft Visio, and so forth O do believe that they are moving closet to becoming a monopoly company. HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY THE POWER INDUSTRY IN YOUR AREA? EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING. My first thought was that the power company in my area (Hampton, Virginia) would be a monopoly. However, after some research I believe that the power industry in Hampton, Virginia would be considered an oligopoly because there are several different companies offering the same services. According to Google (n. d. ) some examples of local companies offering similar services include but are not limited to: Dominion Virginia Power www. dom. com Jacqui Electric Company www. jacquie. com. au Bay Electric Co. Inc. www. bayelectricco. com. References Mankiw, N. G. (2004). _Principles of economics_ (3rd ed. ). Chicago, IL: Thomson South-Western. Google (n. d. ). Local business results for electric company near Hampton, VA. Retrieved February 6, 2008, form http://www. google. com/search? sourceid=navclientie=UTF-8rlz=1T4ADBR_enUS207US207q=electric+company+hampton+VA.

RURAL PARADISE OR A CONCRETE JUNGLE? :: essays papers

RURAL PARADISE OR A CONCRETE JUNGLE? Over the course of the semester we have watched numerous movies (Heartland Reggae, The Harder They Come, Countryman, Dancehall Queen, Third World Cop, Rockers, and Land of Look Behind) that depict Rastafarians living in both the country and the city. Not knowing much about either Jamaican setting, I decided to take a closer look at both the urban and rural areas in which Rastafarians live and practice their beliefs. I wanted to see if the different settings had much influence on Rastafarians. Is this a personal choice they have or are they forced out of rural paradise and into the concrete jungle of Babylon? According to the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary the definition for urban is 1)a: of, relating to, characteristic of, or taking place in a city, b: constituting or including and centered on a city, c: of, relating to, or concerned with an urban and specifically a densely populated area. The definition for rural is: 1) living in country areas: engaged in agricultural pursuits, 2): characterized by simplicity: lacking sophistication: uncomplicated, 3): of, relating to, or characteristic of people who live in the country, 4): of, relating to, associated with, or typical of the country, 5): of, relating to, or constituting a tenement in land adapted and used for agricultural or pastoral purpose-opposed to urban. Many rural and urban areas exist in the United States. Depending on where you live definitely affects who you are, how you think, dress, eat etc. Is this true for the Rastafarians? GENERAL JAMAICA INFORMATION Located in the West Indian Islands, Jamaica represents the third largest island. Jamaica is 150 miles long and 52 miles wide. The subtropical climate does not produce the extremes related to climate found in the United States. The island of Jamaica is described as being very beautiful with its rivers, harbors, and many mountains. The population of Jamaica has not quite reached three million with the majority of people living in the city of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica (Barrett 3). The difference in wage earnings among Jamaican people is alarming. Those who have a profession make around thirty times as much as those who do not. Nearly half of all Jamaicans make less than twenty-five dollars per week (Barrett 12). There has been a tradition of migration from Jamaican rural areas since the nineteenth century.

Nehemiah’s Leadership Skills

Nehemiah was the son of Hacaliah and he was also the cupbearer of the Persian king Artaxerxes. He was putting on a sad face and the king did not like that and asked him why he was sad, though afraid he answered that the city in which his fathers had been buried was a ruin so then he asked permission to go and rebuild the it. He played a decisive role in the rebuilding of Judah. In 444 B. C. the king appointed Nehemiah governor of Judah under the Persian Empire and permitted him to go to Jerusalem in order to help his fellow Jews. Upon his arrival Nehemiah secretly inspected the city walls which were still in ruins. This became known to his two arch-enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, who repeatedly acted to foil his plans for rebuilding the walls (Neh 2:17-20); but despite their active opposition, Nehemiah succeeded in his building project, completing the work in 52 days (Neh chaps. 3-4), and stationed guards at the city gates and also enforced several of the laws, such as the payment due to the Levites, the observance of the Sabbath and the abolition of mixed marriages. He concluded his memoirs with a prayer to God to remember to his credit all of his efforts to strengthen divine law within Jerusalem . In order to repopulate Jerusalem, the number of whose inhabitants had dwindled greatly, he ordered that one out of every ten Jews should take up residence in the capital. He also instituted a series of religious and social reforms including the commitment to avoid intermarriage, the cancellation of debts owed by the poor, the support of the Temple cult, and the payment of tithes drawn up and sealed in a covenant (Neh chap. 10) and he then returned to Persia. After Nehemiah was given the permission to go and rebuild the city we see that he had some leadership qualities which helped him in the rebuilding process. Let us look at some few leadership skills which helped to navigate Nehemiah in the rebuilding of the city. Firstly and foremost, Nehemiah put God first and let Him lead him through prayer: The Book of Nehemiah starts and ends with prayer. And in between, Nehemiah often sends up quick prayers to heaven and asks for God’s help. â€Å"Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers,† said Phillips Brooks. â€Å"Pray for powers equal to your tasks. One mark of true spiritual leaders is their honest acknowledgment of their own inadequacy and their humble trust in the power of God He had courage: We can see that Nehemiah had courage firstly when he courageously told the king why he was sad and the king did not like to see sad faces and also he also took that opportunity to ask the king permission to go and rebuild the city and finally taking on the task of rebuilding the city shows that he had courage. Also . After the Israelites had begun rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, some opposition arose from other occupants within the Palestine area. Nehemiah remained steadfast and courageous and rallied his people to continue the work He was determined: Nehemiah was determined because the work he was doing was a great work and he was serving a great God. He was determined because the city was in great reproach, and he wanted it to bring great glory to God. He was determined because he was part of a great plan that God had for the world as He worked through the Jewish nation. So, the next time you feel like quitting, remember Nehemiah and stay on the job until the work is finished to the glory of God. He had vision and saw the greatness of the work: No matter what God has called you to do, it’s a great work because it’s part of the building of His church; and that’s the greatest work in the world. If you lose the greatness of a vision, you will begin to cut corners in your work, stop making sacrifices, and start looking for something else to challenge you. Nehemiah realized that what he was doing was far bigger than simply repairing gates and rebuilding walls. He was serving the Lord God of heaven and getting the holy city ready for the coming of the Messiah! He submitted to authority: The call of God is not an invitation to become independent and ignore authority. Nehemiah respected the king and submitted his plans to him for his approval before he went to Jerusalem. Even more, Nehemiah submitted to the authority of the Word of God. He invited Ezra to teach the Law to the people so that they too would obey the will of God. It is a basic rule of life that those who exercise authority must themselves be under authority. Nehemiah was a man who was dependable because he was accountable. He was organized in his work: He planned his work and worked his plan, and God blessed him. We can see this when the king asked him how he would do it, he asked the king if he could have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates so that he would be provided for protection. Also, he wanted the kings approval to go to Asaph (the keeper of the king’s forest) so that he would be given timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and the residence he would occupy, this shows that he had planned how he would start the building of the temple. He had passion: An important leadership principle displayed by Nehemiah was a deep passion for his God, his people, and his homeland. He heard of the destruction of the wall in Jerusalem and became overwhelmed with grief for the disgrace of God and his countrymen. This grief ignited a passion within Nehemiah to ask permission from his master to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall of the city. He was evaluative: Another important leadership principle shown by Nehemiah was that an effective leader evaluates a situation before acting. Nehemiah had received permission from his master to return to Jerusalem. When he arrived the first thing he did was to quietly take a private tour around the city wall to assess the damage and formulate a plan for rebuilding it. He enlisted others to work: An aspect of leadership principle displayed by Nehemiah was that effective leaders recruit and delegate responsibility to others. After Nehemiah had assessed the situation and formulated a plan of attack, he shared his plan with others and allowed them to help him with the work. Effective managers realize their need for others and that it takes many hands to accomplish a great task. He knew how to handle bad news: Life is full of bad news. It could be a small disappointment to a catastrophic occurrence, but when bad news comes your way, how do you respond? A strong leader is not only able to take the bad news, but wants to know it. Sticking your head in the sand is a sure sign of immaturity and lack of trust in God. He inspired camaraderie to people: One of the main leadership principles shown by Nehemiah was that effective leaders inspire camaraderie among his people. As mentioned above, Nehemiah led his people in the face of intense opposition; yet, by his leadership, the people did not run away, but continued the work until it was finished. They worked together with one person rebuilding his section of the wall, while his partner stood guard to protect him from attack. He shared what he had: Another leadership tenet displayed by Nehemiah was that top level managers share the rewards of success with their people. Effective leaders are kind and generous. Nehemiah demonstrated this trait by standing up for the poor against extortion and inviting large parties of people to eat at his table each meal. He stood fast on core values: We can see that Nehemiah stood fast in core values in that after the wall had been rebuilt, the Israelite people began to do things that were not pleasing to God. Nehemiah was deeply upset by this and called his people to account. References Henrietta C. Mears, What the bible is all about, Gospel Light Publications, U. S. A, 1998. Holy bible, New Revised Standard, U. S. A, 1989 The Holy Bible, New International Version, The Bible Society in Australia Inc Publishers, 1984. Richard H. Seume, Nehemiah, God’s Builder, Moody Press, Chicago, U. S. A, 1978 HOW I WOULD APPLY NEHEMIAH’S LEADRSHIP SKILLS IN MY OWN LIFE Firstly the most important leadership skill Nehemiah had according to me is that he put God first and let him lead him through prayer so I would use this skill by talking to God before facin g any situation and the reason I say this is an important leadership skill is because it is through this skill that we may get every other skill that follows. This way God will help you to do the task at hand. Also we see that also had something important and that was courage, so this helps me because I know courage is an important quality in a leader so I ask God for courage when tackling my tasks. Another thing is that I have to be determined to complete the task so that incase there as may occur any push back determination will lead you into completing the task and to do it well too. Something else that had was his vision we should also have vision in the work we are doing and we should like Nehemiah notice that the work we are doing has a higher purpose that what we look at directly, we can see that Nehemiah was not only rebuilding the walls but in depth was serving the lord and getting it ready for the messiah Jesus Christ. Another aspect in Nehemiah’s leadership qualities is his submitting to authority this shows we should respect and follow authority and not act like we are above it. We should also look at Nehemiah’s quality of self organization this shows me that in order for me to be a good leader or perform a task at my level best I should plan for my work as this will help you in accomplishing your goal. Another quality that Nehemiah displayed was passion, we should this to make us also have passion and this means we should have heart on what we do and do it with satisfaction. Again we see that Nehemiah was evaluative this means we should also follow this example by evaluating situation before jumping into conclusions and fully assessing them doing this will help you to perform the job effectively. Another thing is that like Nehemiah we should also entrust others with work this is done by delegating jobs to others tis shows that you trust them and this improves relation among workers. In many times there are always bad news so we need to know how to handle the bad news and we should talk to God to help us cope with them. As leaders we should inspire camaraderie among people this will strengthen our bonds and be able to look out for each other. To better ourselves using Nehemiah’s leadership quality of sharing what we have with others makes us better people and we should not look down upon people but treat them equally. In motivating others, we must always present the challenge and the benefit. I find that people really love to be challenged, to push the envelope and do what looks difficult or impossible. Presented in the right way, it will motivate people to join. And lastly as Nehemiah did, we should stand firm on core values and not be swayed to do the wrong things that would not please God but do God’s will.