Religious Tolerance in Ottoman Empire

In the Ottoman Empire, there was religious tolerance because religion played a critical role in enhancing peace and stability. Religious leaders were respected because they were depended upon during calamities and disasters. Moreover, religious leaders had a big role to play in ensuring that people lived in harmony.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Tolerance in Ottoman Empire specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Religious tolerance in the Ottoman Empire could not be compared to religious tolerance in the Roman Empire because diversity was not allowed in the Roman Empire. Non-Muslims, often referred to as dhimmis, were allowed to practice their forms of religions, but under close supervision. Christians were allowed to exist freely, as long as they accepted the fact that Islam was the supreme religion in the empire. In matters related to religion, the Ottoman Empire formulated policies that favored freedom of religion. This was because the clergy had the role to play in the running and management of public affairs. Religion was treated as an institution of government with powers to execute governmental policies. In this regard, the government formulated a number of policies aimed at regulating the performance of religious organizations. The empire had strong relationships with other empires that respected religious institutions, such as the Greek Orthodox Church (Karpat 78). Religious tolerance in the Ottoman Empire was very important in two major ways. One is that the empire was surrounded by states that practiced Christianity. In fact, it was the only state, which practiced Islam as its major religion in Europe. The neighboring states embraced Christianity meaning that it could have lost its status in case it proscribed other religions. For instance, the neighboring states, such as Greece, never tolerated Islam. It could be disastrous in case the state neglected the rights of other re ligious groups supported by major powers in Europe. To avoid political inconsistencies, the state allowed other religious groups to exercise their rights. Moreover, the state had an ambition of expanding to other regions. This ambition could not have been achieved in case religious tolerance was not adopted.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It became easy to conquer other states because conquered states could be allowed to practice their cultural beliefs. Many kingdoms and chiefdoms resisted foreign powers because they interfere with their cultural rights and freedom. By embracing religious tolerance, the empire negotiated easily with other foreign powers on matters related to cooperation and security. The millet system refers to the system of governance in which minorities are given powers to conduct their activities without interference from dominant groups. Arabs in the Ott oman Empire introduced the system after the adoption of Islamic religion. Before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire, the millet system was used to cater for the needs of the poor in society. The government would provide basic needs such as food to the needy. In the Ottoman Empire, minor religious groups were given a set of norms that would control their behavior in the empire. Their existence in society was recognized legally because they were allowed to worship their gods without interference. Under the millet system, the majority was viewed as the mainstream while the minority was expected to conform to the norms and regulations of the majority. Christians and other minority groups were supposed to follow the Islamic laws, by appreciating the fact that Islam was the main religion in the Ottoman Empire. In this case, Christians and other minorities were not supposed to act in a way that would compromise the belief system of Muslims. Individual millets in the Ottoman Empire wer e taken care of by their local leaders. The millets lived in groups and could form their own states within the larger empire. They could be allowed to establish their own taxation system. However, their agencies could only be functional after receiving approval from the Ottoman Empire officials. Moreover, the millets could have their own set of laws, which could only apply within their boundaries. In case of an inconsistency with non-millets, Islamic laws could be invoked (Imber 12).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Tolerance in Ottoman Empire specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Millets were left to enjoy their rights, but they were supposed to show loyalty by paying taxes to the main government. The millet system applied to the confessional communities only. Each community could come with its own laws, as long as the laws were not contradictory to the laws of the Ottoman Empire. In the current internation al system, the word nation is used to mean the same thing as the millet. Each person was supposed to respect the laws of his community under the millet system. The system was very effective, though a number of European states opposed it. Millet system is used by various countries, including Israel, to solve issues related to religion and culture. The millet system is used mainly because of cultural diversity among the Israeli populace. Israel is a state that was established in 1948 under the supervision of United Nations. Its population has a diverse culture, which makes it difficult for the government to use a single set of rules. The application of the millet system is aimed at enhancing Jewish identify. Moreover, the country cannot afford to apply Jewish laws to all people because it would risk being isolated by other states. Therefore, the state allows various groups to apply their private laws to resolve internal conflicts. Scholars observe that legal pluralism (millet system) in Israel has not been successful. Under the millet system, the Israeli government gives various groups the power to establish courts that would resolve issues related to the family and marriage. Moreover, each group is given the power to establish its own religious court, which is charged with the responsibility of resolving issues related to faith.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this case, groups can only endorse marriages that their cultures support. In the Islamic culture, Muslim men can marry Christian women, but a Muslim woman cannot marry a Christian man because it is against the Arabic culture. In matters related to divorce, each religion has its laws and regulations. The millet system allows each group to apply the set of laws that are recognized culturally. In the Israeli society, a Muslim should not marry a Jewish because it is unconstitutional (Turchin 14). This rule is in the constitution implying that the millet system cannot be used in such cases. In some parts of France, the millet system is applied effectively. For instance, women are expected to wear hijab while men are expected to keep long hair. In such regions, there are tight laws regarding the sale of certain commodities. For instance, alcohol is not sold to certain age groups while pork is prohibited. Moreover, there is a public order regulating the licensing of clubs, cinemas, and theaters. Social places are termed places of sin because they do not conform to the provisions of the Islamic religion. In the Ottoman Empire, the regime tolerated religious diversity because of the factors discussed in the previous sections. However, religious tolerance was weak because it favored one religious group. The political elites observed that Islam was the supreme religion and other religious groups had to obey it. This was unacceptable because favoring one religious denomination amounted to discrimination. Religious toleration emerged from Islamic teachings, not the constitution. This meant that Islam would be applied in interpreting major religious issues. For instance, it was against religious codes to practice homosexuality and abortion because Islam was against it. Moreover, Islam never allowed Muslims to interact with other groups socially. Religious tolerance in the empire was weak because Muslims were not allowed to convert to other religious denominations. Moreov er, leadership was supposed to be offered by religious leaders from Islamic religion only. In public places, all non- Muslims were expected to wear clothes that would distinguish them from Muslims. In fact, no-Muslims were restricted from participating in key political processes such as voting and applying for senior positions in government. Other religious groupings were supposed to pay a special tax referred to as jizya. This was a tax paid by all non-Muslims for them to be allowed to practice their cultures peacefully. In other words, non-Muslims were allowed to buy their freedom, unlike Muslims who could be allowed to exercise their freedom without restriction. All adults living in the Islamic states were supposed to pay taxes as a sign of loyalty to the government. Christians who never showed loyalty to Islam were often persecuted and oppressed. Ottoman tolerance was based on goodwill and cleverness because it only benefited Turkish Muslims. Works Cited Imber, Colin. The Ottoma n Empire, 1300–1650: The Structure of Power. Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. Print. Karpat, Kemal. The Ottoman state and its place in world history. Leiden: Brill, 1974. Print. Turchin, Thomas, and J. Adams. â€Å"East-West Orientation of Historical Empires†. Journal of World-Systems Research 12.2 (2006): 219–229. Print. This essay on Religious Tolerance in Ottoman Empire was written and submitted by user Logan Chan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Phases of Preclinical Trials in Drug Development

Phases of Preclinical Trials in Drug Development Introduction The developments of drugs often undergo various processes before being introduced into the market. One of the processes is the preclinical trials. Preclinical trials are conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of the drug on the treatment of the targeted disease (Mulay, 2001). According to the procedures and regulations governing drug development, preclinical trials are conducted in various stages ranging from the first stage to the third stage of phase.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Phases of Preclinical Trials in Drug Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Each phase has distinct characteristics, activities and requirements as defined by the regulatory bodies. Apart from determining the effectiveness of the drug, pre-clinical trials are conducted to establish any side effects of the new drugs that may cause harm to individuals (Mulay, 2001). In other words, pre-clinical trials are con ducted to ascertain the effectiveness, mode of application as well as other clinical aspects of the drug before its administration. Preclinical trial phases in drug development In most countries, pre-clinical trials are conducted in three stages or phases. In the first phase, clinical trials are conducted in order to observe the behavior of the new drug in a small sample. In essence, the experiments are conducted using a small population to prove various assertions as well as to establish some aspects of clinical practices during the administration of the drug (Hackshaw, 2011). In addition, the findings in the first phase inform the procedures as well as activities in the subsequent phases. In other words, some aspects in phase two and three are based on the findings of the first phase. In the second phase, further trials are conducted to provide more data particularly on the safety of the new drug and the way it work to treat the target disease (Mulay, 2001). The second phase estab lishes the pharmacological processes as well as the side effects of the drug. In the final phase, the pre-clinical trials are conducted in a larger sample and compare the effects of the drug on the experiment and the standard effect or treatment. The procedure and activities in the third phase is almost a repetition of the first phase. However, the population used for the trials in the third phase is large. In fact, the researchers and medical practitioners conduct the pre-clinical trials through elaborate experimental processes designed to examine the effect of the drug on the subjects as well as the changes in the behavior due to the effects of the new drug (Hackshaw, 2011). Every phase in the preclinical trials is intended to give diverse data concerning the treatment process of the new drug. The information required includes, safety, working processes as well as the doses (Spilker, 2000). In essence, preclinical trials are intended to provide more information on the laboratory p roof of the underlying hypothesis concerning the application of new drug and treatment processes.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, before the preclinical trials, the new drug is subjected to the laboratory tests to prove the underlying hypothesis. The laboratory experiments involve testing of theoretical hypothesis on the drug formulation (Mulay, 2001). The laboratory process is always an elaborate process and takes several years to turn theoretical concept into practical treatment. The laboratory experimentations confirm the effectiveness of the new drug. The pre-clinical trials are based on the results from the laboratory experimentations. Similarities and differences in the first and the third phases in the preclinical trials As indicated, the first and the third phase are similar in many cases. However, the differences also exist in many fronts. T he main aim in the first phase of preclinical trial involves establishing the safety of consumption of new drug (Spilker, 2000). The first phase follows the laboratory experimentation process. Therefore, the first phase in the preclinical trials is conducted on individuals. The procedures in establishing the effectiveness of the drug in the first phase are similar to the procedures in the third phase. In proving such drugs or treatment, the doctors carry out activities ranging from amassing statistics on the dose, timing as well as the wellbeing of the treatment. The involvements of people in the first phase of preclinical trials enable first-hand treatment or the amalgamation of various therapies (Spilker, 2000). The activities involved in the first phase of preclinical trials involve the steady amplification of the prescribed amount of drug under study. The gradual increase in the dosage known as dose escalation enables the dosage that produces optimal results without causing hars h side effects. In the process, the patients are initially administered with smaller amounts of the drug dosage (Hackshaw, 2011). In most cases, side effects are not observed in the first administration of the drug to a patient. The drug has to be applied to several patients in order to establish the side effects. Also included in the first phase of preclinical trials is the method of administering the drug. Investigators establish if the drug is administered orally or injected into the bloodstream. In addition, the fisrt phase establishes the reactions of the drug in the body including the way the drug spread into the body. The prescribed procedures are similar to the third phase and the only difference is the population of the patients being used. The performances of the first phase of preclinical trials are estimated to last for about a year. In addition, the first phase of preclinical trials often encompasses a minimal number of participants ranging from ten to twenty a distinct ive difference with other phases. Further, the first phase offer treatment to individuals’ diseases working against the preceding therapies (Mulay, 2001). In contrast, the third phase of preclinical trials aims are to undertake comparison measures between the latest therapies portraying potential outcomes when administered to a small number of patients exhibiting a particular ailment and the contemporary care standards of the explicit malady (Hackshaw, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Phases of Preclinical Trials in Drug Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, the third phase involves gathering of data from a large figure of patients. As a result, the doctors are capable of establishing the effectiveness of the new drug as well as the extent of its side effects on the patients compared to the current standards. Another important aspect of the third phase of preclinical trials is that the experiments are often carried out as random trials. In essence, investigations on the standard application of the drug are conducted unevenly. Further, the third phase of clinical trials not only focus on the patients with a specific malady, but also encompass patients of diverse ages, ethnicities and both sexes thereby producing results applicable for a large population sample (Hackshaw, 2011). Given the long timeline in the third phase of clinical trials, large sample or population is required to complete the investigation. In most cases, the sample range between seven hundred to two thousand participants. Moreover, the success of the drug in the third phase preclinical trial leads to the application to the approval of the drug by the authorized bodies such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The approval of the drug due the successes in the preclinical trials shows that the drug can be administered for a precise use. Investigator brochure The IB (Investigatorâ€⠄¢s Brochure) is an all-inclusive document in drug development. Actually, during the drug preclinical trials, the manuscript sums up the body of info acquired in the study. Once the IB is obtained, it is modernized with fresh information. Throughout the entire procedure of drug development, the document (IB) is critically significant (Hackshaw, 2011). The human areas under discussion gathered in preclinical and clinical trials in study of drugs gets Investigator’s Brochure relevant when compiling data. All through the clinical trials, the investigators obtain essential insights from the IB for the administration of study subjects and study conducts (Hackshaw, 2011). The clinical trial protocol with protection measures and key aspects are set up by the investigator’s brochure. The key aspects may encompass, safety-monitoring procedures, techniques of administration, frequency and dosing intervals, as well as study of drugs. On the other hand, an IB helps the investigato r to clearly comprehend the safety measures, observations, specified examination, adverse reactions, and any possible risks accruing during the clinical trials (Mulay, 2001). In brief, the brochure is a guide and an abstract for the segment of the investigator.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The background knowledge in pharmaceuticals is critical in the investigation process during the third phase of preclinical trials. Moreover, based on the pharmacology and previous human experience of the investigational products, a clinical investigator should be in custody of the guidance (Mulay, 2001). The guide should consider treatment and identification of undesirable drug reaction and probable overdose. The information on the IB must be kept updated through a responsible sponsor. Contents of the investigator brochure in stage one of the product developments The investigator brochure explains all the activities taking place in the first phase of the product development. The brochure explains in details the required insights for the management and conduct of the investigators at the preclinical trials (Spilker, 2000). In addition, the brochure explains the study subjects as well as the effects of the drug throughout the first phase of the preclinical process. The information inc ludes the name of the drug, the development process, the way it works as well as the formula (Spilker, 2000). The specified data regarding the drug are obtained from the results of the laboratory tests. In essence, the investigator brochure in phase one will contain more information about the product. Further, the investigator brochure provides the investigator a summary of the information that guides the trials as well as possible risks and uncertainties that may be encountered during the study (Mulay, 2001). In fact, the brochure will provide the dose development procedure and the characteristics of the subjects that were used in the first phase of preclinical trial. In addition, the brochure will have detailed information regarding the potential risks or the adverse effects of the drug (Spilker, 2000). Moreover, the information concerning the use of the drug, whether in combination or applied singly will also be contained in the first phase investigator brochure. In the dose data , the brochure will provide more information on dose escalations and the observed side effects. Since the first phase is critical in the product development, the investigator brochure will contain more information that provides insights in the application of the drug (Hackshaw, 2011). Moreover, information concerning the drug administration will also be contained on the brochure. In addition, the investigator brochure also indicates how the side effects should be treated. In other words, the investigator brochure contains details on the possible side effects and the manner in which such adverse effects should be countered (Hackshaw, 2011). All the information in the brochure is based on the procedure provided and the results obtained from the trials. In the first phase of the product development, the investigator brochure provides direction on the identification and management on the negative effects of the drug. Conclusion The development of new drug undergoes various stages before being authorized to be used. The phase includes preclinical trials, which are conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of the drug. The preclinical trials are in phases. The first phase of preclinical trials tests the effectiveness and behavior differences of the subjects due to the administration of the new drug in a small sample. Similar aims and procedures are conducted in phase three. However, the third phase requires a large population. The major difference between phase one and phase three is the sample population where the third phase applies the larger sample population. The investigator brochure is critical in the provision of information during the preclinical trials. Specific to first phase of the preclinical trial, the investigator brochure provide the information concerning the new drug. Besides the product information and the investigation procedures, the first phase investigator brochure contains the information concerning the doses, timings as well as the safety of the product. References Hackshaw, A. (2011). A concise guide to clinical trials. Malden, MA: John Wiley Sons. Mulay, M. (2001). A step-by-step guide to clinical trials. Burlington, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Spilker, B. (2000). Guide to clinical trials. Philadelphia: Raven Press.

Compare and contrast Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Compare and contrast - Research Paper Example For example, in a car petrol/gas (energy) is the forward movement. Without it, the vehicle cannot move, may be the best model, with the ablest chauffeur behind the wheel! It has been pre-ordained that the car will move only with the source of energy. The driver at the wheel forms part of the lateral movement. He can drive the vehicle, fast, slow, he can choose the ideal route as per his choice, if the vehicle unfortunately hits the divider he is responsible—meaning thereby, he has the free choice as for movements of the car. In the present story, Oedipus executes his actions of his free will. He makes the independent choices.†To what extent can anybody enjoy freewill? To what extents are we too the children of chance?†Ã¢â‚¬â€all these questions are analyzed in this drama. (Knox, 1994, Back Matter) Take one such example of freewill in the play regarding the punishment proposed to be meted out to King Laiaus’s killer. Oedipus asserts that he curses the killer to live in exile. This shows how he exercises his free will. He could have as well put the killer to death or ordered his imprisonment. Another example when Oedipus exercises his free will is when he inflicts self-punishment of blinding himself. The reason for this action is he comes to know that Jocasta is his mother and the individual he killed long ago, Lauis, is his father. He kills his father and marries his mother! When he realizes his cruel folly, it is too much for him to bear. He decides to punish himself severely. In the exercise of his free will he doesn’t care for the consequences. Instead of stabbing his eyes, he could have owned responsibility for his evil actions but he exercises his free will for self-punishment. Exercising free will doesn’t mean, one is assured of success in life always. We are told by Bernard Knox, â€Å"At the center of drama is Oedipus with his absolute determination to know the truth. He dominates from beginning to end. The paradox which divides interpreters and

Freedom in Various Aspects of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Freedom in Various Aspects of Life - Essay Example This volume consists of over 274 authors and works that offer a variety of issues for analysis ranging from freedom to democracy to the changing times and everything in between! To begin with, the paper will define freedom. From there, it will take random features that have been strongly asserted in individual works of literature from the said volume in order to meet various objectives. The first of these will be to see the changing character of freedom and what it has meant at different time periods throughout history. This volume assists the author in doing so by presenting the works of authors and writers from various periods throughout history. Another objective will be to study the parameters within which the ways of defining and obtaining freedom have been portrayed by the various authors and their work within this volume. Further, this paper will seek to draw of the conclusion of how important freedom really is in the context of the works that have been studied from the volume . The interesting part about defining freedom is the fact that it has no definition per se. Freedom means different things to different people as well as different periods of time and history. In modern times it has meant freedom of expression and before that, for many people and their countries, freedom from oppression, colonization and various other such factors. In today's world, it depicts the freedom to choose peace and your own leader. Freedom, in a nutshell, is an expression of what a person, a nation, a society and other such entities, really want from life. The French Revolution was an upheaval that was marked by the formal birth of what we call nationalism. This has been demonstrated by the work contained on the Romantic Period within the volume. The authors here have used a variety of themes to showcase the period including the French Revolution, Women's Rights in the 18th century, the Gothic and many others. Spanning over a decade (1789 to 1799), this Revolution had a strong socio-political dimension to it as far as writing goes. This may be seen in the work titled "Democracy" by Thomas Carlyle. In this work, the embodiment of nationalism in various revolutions arose as a matter of its ability to define the elements that would support the construction of a democratic society free of feudal patterns. This was described in context of the citizens from every quarter of the French society, who wanted to break free of the double standards that were being imposed on their way of life in the form of the Church's intervention and the dictato rship of the aristocratic class. In the book, the revolution was an eye opener for the rest of world as regards rights and duties that must be equally distributed among the citizens of a nation irrespective of religion or socio-economic standing. This in itself was a new definition of nationalism and freedom, where earlier the same concept had been seen as a word that was used to describe the national character through its history and artistic work. By virtue of being a social movement, the French Revolution contributed greatly to the formation of a systematic body of knowledge known as nationalism. This is owing to the fact that a social movement is one that is punctuated with a highly idealistic environment with realistic parameters that set the stage for immediate results and the emergence of future trends that will go onto dominate the structure and functioning of that particular society for generations to come.  

Sustainability of Singapore as a Sports Tourism Hub Essay Example for Free

Sustainability of Singapore as a Sports Tourism Hub Essay 1.Introduction 1.1.Purpose To present an overview of the latest sporting developments in Singapore and evaluate Singapore’s sustainability in enhancing Singapore’s position as a sports tourism hub in Asia. 1.2.Objectives -Discuss the recent infrastructures constructed for Singapore’s sporting industry -Identify recent initiatives by the Singapore Sports Council -Highlight key inaugural sporting events held recently -Discuss the advantages of having Singapore as a sports tourism hub -Discuss limitations faced in the long run and some measures being taken -Determine Singapore’s sustainability in the long run 1.3.Definition 1.3.1.Sports Tourism (Higham, 2004) All forms of active and passive involvement in sporting activity, participated in casually or in an organized way for non-commercial or business/ commercial reasons, that necessitate travel away from the home and work locality. 1.3.2.Sustainable Tourism (Higham, 2004) Tourism which is in a form which can be maintained its viability in an area for an indefinite period of time. 1.4.Overview of Sports in Singapore Singapore’s position in the regional sporting arena has been an area of consistent improvements over the years. The outstanding performance from our aspiring young athletes during the Asian Youth Games in 2009, clinching a 4th on the medal tally further proved Singapore’s prowess in sports in this region. With several state-of-the-art sports facilities and structures being constructed in the region, Singapore has been keeping itself up to date with the sports in the region and providing venues for such activities. The upcoming major summer games, Youth Olympic Games 2010 (YOG 2010) will be  held in Singapore as well, with examples of infrastructural and government support examined in the report. 1.5.Method of Investigation This report is an assessment of research gathered through magazines, official and government websites, annual reports, news articles and books on sports tourism till 9th February 2010. An email correspondence had also been established with Ms Rachel Chan, a staff of HiVelocity who are the organisers for local events like Sundown Marathon, Aviva Ironman 70.3 and Men’s Health Urbanathlon. 2.Local Sports Tourism 2.1.Latest Infrastructure Developments 2.1.1.Tampines Bike Trail Constructed in 2007, the 60-hectare trail will be used for BMX and Mountain Bike (MTB) during the Youth Olympic Games. It has been recently upgraded to make it more technically challenging. Since then, it has hosted several regional MTB events like the Phat Tyre Sunday Mountain Bike Race, Bike Asia 100 and the Eneloop Mountain Bike Carnival. 2.1.2.Singapore Turf Club (STC) At its new location next to Kranji MRT Station, the STC is an exemplary architectural centrepiece of a racecourse, with a roof structure inspired by a horse in motion. It houses several grandstands with exclusive and unobstructed viewing for public, privileged cardholders and invited guests. With a range of FB, viewing galleries and event rooms, the STC is capable of holding large scale equestrian events. 2.1.3.Marina Reservoir The Marina Reservoir, opened in Nov 1 2008, was part of Singapore’s plan in diversifying its water supply by recycling waste water and desalinating sea-water. Being the largest reservoir, it is able to host a variety of water sports including rowing and canoe-kayaking with the Gardens by the Bay; a new park next to the reservoir providing an excellent vantage point. 2.2.Recent Initiatives SSC has recently launched a nationwide movement called â€Å"Let’s Play†. It encourages all Singaporeans to be involved in sports in all ways, emphasizing on increasing the ease of involving oneself in sports through playing, cheering or volunteering. The SSC had also launched collaborated with the URA to construct more public parks, park connectors, open communal areas and exercise corners to encourage exercise locally. The implementation of the Dual-Use Scheme, which opens school fields to the public and the opening of Singapore’s largest integrated complex in Jurong West with sports facilities and instructional courses complete with retail and food outlets are also part of SSC’s efforts to go all out in making citizens live healthily. The establishment of an online lifestyle interactive portal; singaporesports.sg on 6th May 2008 aims to entertain, inform and educates. With a calendar of sporting events, forums, blogs, news on the local and international sports scene, volunteering opportunities as well as a membership system to enjoy discounts and offers at partner establishments. 2.3.Sporting Events 2.3.1.Asian Youth Games The inaugural Asian Youth Games was held in Singapore between 29 June 2009 and 7 July 2009. It has attracted about 1,300 top juniors, aged 14-17 from 45 National Olympic Councils competing in 9 sports with the aims to build good relations within the Asian community. 1,100 participants were housed in the Games Village at Swissotel The Stamford which is centrally located. Organised by Singapore Sports Council and Ministry of Education, there is indeed strong funding and support from the government for this event. The event venues for the 9 sports have also been selectively chosen for their standards. However, the Games were impended by the cloud of the H1N1 influenza which had infected members of the Hong Kong and Philippines football team. Stringent measures were taken by the Olympic Council Asia to  ensure early identification and isolation. 2.3.2.Aviva Ironman Triathlon 70.3 The Ironman triathlon was founded in 1978, with the half-ironman distance of 70.3 miles introduced in 2006. The Singapore version was formed in 2007 which was also a qualifying event for the Foster Grant Ironman World Championships in Clearwater Florida USA. This was an incentive for elite and aspiring elites to come to compete in this race. Since then, several veteran and uprising world champions have been featured in Singapore’s version. In the recent 2009 series, 45% of the 1,500 participants were foreigners with high spending power as proven by the race fees of about $375 per registration. 2.3.3.Men’s Health Urbanathlon (MHU) On the 31st January 2010, 1,500 participants gathered at Marina Square for the inaugural Singapore edition of MHU which saw participants completing 8 obstacles over a distance of 12.5km. First held in Chicago and in Britain, the novelty of this race emphasises on the one of a kind obstacles in an urban setting. 19% of the participants were foreigners. 3.Singapore as a Sports hub 3.1.Advantages 3.1.1.Increased arrivals The direct beneficiaries of this effect include airlines, hotels, food and beverage establishments, tour agencies and the organisers of the race itself. In addition to this, the accompanying families of participants generate revenue through shopping and spending leisure time at tourist attractions. Overseas sponsors and media representatives are also invited to grace the event with their presence and more money would be spent attending to their comfort and enjoyment. Maintenance and repairs of equipment are in demand, with foreigners more willing to spend on purchasing of spare parts and quick fixes. 3.1.2.Increase direct media presence and popularity During major events like the Youth Olympic Games 2010 and Formula 1 Grand Prix, there would be increased media coverage and international focus. Live or replayed telecasts would show emphasis on the race in progress, with the skyline and background infrastructure gaining attention apart from the race. During the 2008 F1 Grand Prix, the line up in the circuit park included entertainment from Zouk DJs, Bob Marley’s Wailers, Dim Sum Dollies and the Coyote Ugly girls, accompanied by established FB food stalls. Trees around the circuit park were used as part of a visual art project called Humanature. All these were done to maximise spectator experience, in turn projecting Singapore in a positive light on the world stage, with the skyscrapers of the city in the background, and eye catching structures like the Esplanade standing out. All these would invigorate the viewers’ senses whether watching overseas or on site and might increase interest to visit Singapore to see these attractions. 3.2.Limitations 3.2.1.Land Scarcity Scarcity of land and other resources has been a constant challenge faced by Singapore. Therefore Singapore has always placed emphasis on sustainable development and land-use. Ways of optimising the use of natural resources include sourcing for alternative usages for materials or facilities. An example of the land with multiple uses would be the International Convention Centre at Suntec City Singapore. This multi-purpose indoor convention and exhibition centre has hosted the many huge events and meetings. It would also be used for several sports like boxing, fencing, handball, judo, taekwondo and wrestling during the Youth Olympic Games. However, the challenge would be maximising the potential of land space for multiple land-use in the future, to enhance the potential for larger events to take place in Singapore. 3.2.2.Lack of manpower Volunteers, performers, cheerleaders, referees are some of the essential roles needed to be filled for a sporting event on a big scale to be successful. In Singapore, the Ministry of Education is supporting schools to change curriculum times or test schedules during the Youth Olympic Games. A twinning programme has also been created to pair schools up with the different countries participating in the Games, to learn more about the country and hosting them when they arrive. These activities and initiatives would definitely ease the organisers’ job in integrating the overseas participants into the community and give students a chance of making new friends and learning about different cultures. Students would also be encouraged to volunteer themselves in the event and be excited of being part of it. 3.2.3.Global Financial Crisis The recent economy crisis had caught the world by surprise and resulted in the weakening of economies, Singapore was affected as well. However, good corporate governance and foresightedness had led to the quick rebound of the economy. However as construction costs had surged during the crisis, SSC’s plan of building a sports hub by 2010 to 2015. As such, Singapore is unable to host the 2013 Southeast Asian Games as initially planned. 3.3.Sustainability Sports tourism has been identified as a fast growing industry, with new sports and games being created and flourishing over the recent years. With its current collection of world class sporting venues, Singapore is indeed suitable for hosting large sporting events, logistically and socially providing support. The government has been supportive throughout the organisation of sporting events, with the Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports being particularly involved in events like Asian Youth Games and Youth YOG 2010. He has been a part of several initiatives, like the collaboration with ITE to provide customised volunteer training for YOG  2010, the MindChamps Youth Athlete 3- Days Programme sponsored by Singapore Sports Council for the 100 local athletes at $2,800 per student. Sponsorship has been very successful for the Youth Olympic Games 2010, with Samsung recently announcing its sponsorship of 5,000 smart phones for athletes and officials. With 21 domestic sponsors and 9 international sponsors as of 6th Feb 2010, Singapore has proven its reliability and capability and gained the sponsors trust. More importantly, Singapore has been able to foresee challenges faced ahead and plan for its future. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has successfully planned for the use of the city as a circuit for the Formula 1 Grand Prix race track. This feat would not be possible without dedicated research and continuous improvement after each year. Since then, the track has been used for events like Run Singapore 2009 and the upcoming Chingay Parade Singapore 2010. The Marina Reservoir has further proven URA†s capability and commitment to sustainable development. With the construction of the barrage, the Marina Reservoir is now the 15th water catchment area and the largest thus far. Not only will Singapore be less reliant on other countries for water, more activities like dragon boating and power boating previously unsuitable could now be conducted there. However, the Singapore Sports Council has not fulfilled some of its promises made, like the construction of the Sports Hub and Changi Race Track , initially scheduled to be completed, had been delayed due to rising construction costs and lack of finance. This inconsistency on the government’s part had led to losing the chance of hosting the 2013 SEA Games. As the sporting scene evolves with speciality and novelty events like the Aviva Ironman 70.3 and Men’s Health Urbanathlon, space and support has to be given to encourage organisers to increase its capacity. The past 3 editions of Aviva Ironman 70.3 had their registrations capped at 1,500 and a full participation for all years, with 45% of participants being foreigners in the 2009 edition. More locations has been added to the list, with the approval of more road closures like the East Coast Parkway Expressway and the Ayer Rajah Expressway during the cycling leg of Aviva Ironman 70.3 in 2008 and the usage of the urban setting in the city for the Urbanathlon. 4.Conclusion Singapore, strategically located within South-East Asia and surrounded by sea, has established a good reputation as being easily accessible and suitable for business dealings and trade. With a high standard of living and a socially responsible government, Singapore has managed to remain competitive through changing times and braved though health threats and economic crisis. The government has been keeping the nation increasingly involved in sporting events and keeping the infrastructure in Singapore suited to the needs of specific sports and with multiple uses. The recent events hosted in Singapore include the F1 Grand Prix, Asian Youth Games 2009, Singapore Marathon and Aviva Ironman 70.3. Each successful event held in Singapore, the publicity and exposure to the global stage would propel Singapore as the destination to be for sports, business and leisure. Singapore’s position would be enhanced as a tourism hub, with world class athletes gathering for major events as well, attracting supporters from different countries. This would definitely enhance Singapore as a tourism destination with multiple offerings, with sports tourism adding on to the long list of available options. The sustainability of Singapore’s sports tourism has thus far been successful with the efforts from the government and public sector, with various ministries working hand in hand through health threats and compromising with school’s schedules to make the students available during the YOG period. With the continuous effort and improved consistency of relevant agencies, sports tourism would be a potential market which would flourish in the near future.

The Information Environment During the Making of a Bob Dylan Album :: Media Recording Music

The Information Environment During the Making of a Bob Dylan Album In analyzing any of Bob Dylan's albums and lyrics, one might receive very powerful, timely, political and social messages from the artist. Perhaps it is the way in which he influences or responds to his fans which allows him to always seem a step ahead of the public. Take, for instance, his addition of electric instruments to his music in 1964 (Bob Dylan: Desire - Ink Blot Magazine). Dylan's use of these instruments, which are indicative of the growing information environment of the time, outraged folk fans. Nevertheless, "Dylan had merely created the most influential folk-rock ever recorded" (Bob Dylan: Desire). In essence, he moved forward from the mentality, in which a large part of the public during the 1960's still remained, in order to be better able to speak to his fans. He simply tried a new invention for the purpose of making his music sound better and holding on to his listeners. At the same time, though, when bands such as the Beatles had followed Bob's lead by creating bl ues and "psychadelic-influenced" music, Dylan retreated to his country forms (Bob Dylan: Desire). In other words, he spoke to the modern world, by progressing with the new, electric instruments, while still reaching his older, perhaps more traditional fans, with his alternated use of country forms. He composes music about betrayal, paranoia, fear and desire, and influentially ties in larger issues of the time, such as racial consciousness. Dylan's album entitled Desire is indicative of the artist's sense of and connection to the world around him. Perhaps the most influential song on the album, and indeed one of Bob's most politically and socially meaningful compositions, is "Hurricane." The interesting chain of events which lead to the making of this song indicate the information society of the time, as well as Dylan's contribution to his information culture and influence in the public. Rubin Carter, the former champion African-American boxer, would simply never have known to contact Dylan had he not first listened to his lyrics of oppression and class differences. Thus, Dylan's music is a powerful form of communication, a kind which would give a man such as Carter a glimpse of hope and justice. Without Carter's book, The Sixteenth Round (Social Conscience Rubin Hurricane Carter), the song would never have been made, and a greater public knowledge of the Ruben Carter case would never have been reached.

Examine the Characteristics of Mystical and Conversion Experiences Essay

wo well-known categories of religious experience are Conversion and Mystical experiences. Throughout history there have been many reports of people having these religious experiences, and not all of the recipients are necessarily Christian in belief. Famous examples of conversion experiences include St Paul on the road to Damascus, and an example of a mystical experience could be the story of Theresa of Avila. Firstly I am going to look at the characteristics of mystical experiences, followed by an example of a mystical experience that I shall analyse before moving on to doing the same for conversion experiences. A philosopher called William James has designed a series of tests to see if a mystical experience conforms to a pattern that has arisen through the history of these experiences. William James said that the receiver of the religious experience should be passive, i.e. does not go out of his or her way to trigger the experience, it happens to them without their provoking it. The experience should be ineffable in that in the aftermath the receiver finds it very difficult to describe what had happened and how they had felt in normal communication, thirdly that there is a noetic quality to these experiences, meaning that some truth or great fact is revealed to the recipient of the experience. Finally the experience should be transient, this means that the actual experience should not take very long at all, perhaps a few hours, but afterwards it has a very long, if not lifelong impact on the person who had the experience. Mystical experiences often have an example of the defying of the laws of nature and physics, for example the hearing of voices or seeing of visions, or receiving of the wounds of Christ, the Stigmata, that came from nowhere and have no rational explanation. An example of a mystical experience, as I mentioned earlier, is the story of Theresa of Avila. Theresa was a Carmelite nun who had been raised as being deeply religious; when her mother died she turned to the Virgin Mary and became a nun. Throughout her life she was often seriously ill and during these bouts of illness she claimed to have experienced religious ecstasy, in which she saw a cherub repeatedly stabbing her in the stomach with a fiery spear, and where he stabbed her she felt bliss and pain equally. In one bout of sickness she lost the use of her legs for three years, and during this time she stopped praying until she was convinced by a priest to start again. Not long after she began praying again she experienced holy delights from God, which were moments when her senses were overwhelmed by the presence of God. Alongside this she experienced the levitation, meaning that she claimed to have had her body raised off of the ground by the Holy Spirit. The levitation is the main mystical experience of Theresa’s life; this is a very clear example of how the laws of nature are defied by the power of God. The experience is passive as she was ill in bed at the time, it wasn’t ineffable however as she could clearly explain what had happened, however the experiences of having her senses overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that accompany the levitation certainly were ineffable. There was no great truth revealed directly but there is a lesson in her story. And that is that the Lord will watch over and take care of us when we are sick. It is hard to tell whether or not the experience was transient, as while the levitation took place over just a few minutes, we cannot know how deep an impact it had on Theresa, as she was already deeply religious, we cannot easily see how she changed as a person. Now we move onto conversion experiences, the most key characteristic of a conversion experience is that the recipient of the experience has a complete switch around of their religious beliefs, they are converted. This conversion stays in place for the rest of the experiencer’s life, the religious experience is transient. Conversion experiences can be either gradual or sudden, meaning that a person’s beliefs can change over time due to different stimuli or events, or they can change swiftly as a result of an undeniably holy action. An important fact to remember when discussing conversion experiences is that they can occur not just in regards to an individual’s religious beliefs, they can also impact on political and social ideals as well, and these kinds of conversions follow the same pattern as that of religious experiences. The example of a conversion experience I am going to talk about is the conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus. Before his conversion Paul, or Saul as he was known, was a Pharisee who harshly persecuted the early Christians and was not in any way inclined to believe in the teachings of Jesus. One day Paul was riding down the road to Damascus, as he drew near to the city a light shone down from heaven and Paul was cast down to the ground, then he heard a voice saying â€Å"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me†? The voice identified itself as Jesus and instructed Paul to go to the city where he will be instructed further. The men accompanying Paul were amazed, as they had heard the voice, but had seen no man or any vision as Paul had. Paul opened his eyes, but found that he had been blinded, perhaps by the brilliant light, his men led him to the city and there he stayed, blind, not eating or drinking for three days. After the three days his sight returned, and he was convinced that he had seen the resurrected Christ. After the experience Paul could be found in the company of the disciples that were in Damascus, which shows a very large turn around in his ideals, because before the experience he would have arrested and persecuted those men. This story is a good example of a conversion experience as it shows a very big contrast in the subject before and after the experience, which is as I said previously, the main characteristic of a religious experience. To conclude the essay I would just like to summarise the characteristics of both mystical and conversion experiences, mystical experiences are most easily identified when evidence of supernatural even ts take place, such as the levitation, while conversion experiences are clearly shown in the change of the recipients religious or political ideals.