The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 19. SELFISH

EDWARD CARRIED ME HOME IN HIS ARMS, EXPECTING that I wouldn't be able to hang on. I must have fallen asleep on the way. When I woke up, I was in my bed and the dull light coming through my windows slanted in from a strange angle. Almost like it was afternoon. I yawned and stretched, my fingers searching for him and coming up empty. â€Å"Edward?† I mumbled. My seeking fingers encountered something cool and smooth. His hand. â€Å"Are you really awake this time?† he murmured. â€Å"Mmm,† I sighed in assent. â€Å"Have there been a lot of false alarms?† â€Å"You've been very restless – talking all day.† â€Å"Allday?† I blinked and looked at the windows again. â€Å"You had a long night,† he said reassuringly. â€Å"You'd earned a day in bed.† I sat up, and my head spun. The light was coming in my window from the west. â€Å"Wow.† â€Å"Hungry?† he guessed. â€Å"Do you want breakfast in bed?† â€Å"I'll get it,† I groaned, stretching again. â€Å"I need to get up and move around.† He held my hand on the way to the kitchen, eyeing me carefully, like I might fall over. Or maybe he thought I was sleepwalking. I kept it simple, throwing a couple of Pop-Tarts in the toaster. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflective chrome. â€Å"Ugh, I'm a mess.† â€Å"It was a long night,† he said again. â€Å"You should have stayed here and slept.† â€Å"Right! And missed everything. You know, you need to start accepting the fact that I'm part of the family now.† He smiled. â€Å"I could probably get used to that idea.† I sat down with my breakfast, and he sat next to me. When I lifted the Pop-Tart to take the first bite, I noticed him staring at my hand. I looked down, and saw that I was still wearing the gift that Jacob had given me at the party. â€Å"May I?† he asked, reaching for the tiny wooden wolf. I swallowed noisily. â€Å"Um, sure.† He moved his hand under the charm bracelet and balanced the little figurine in his snowy palm. For a fleeting moment, I was afraid. Just the slightest twist of his fingers could crush it into splinters. But of course Edward wouldn't do that. I was embarrassed I'd even had the thought. He only weighed the wolf in his palm for a moment, and then let it fall. It swung lightly from my wrist. I tried to read the expression in his eyes. All I could see was thoughtfulness; he kept everything else hidden, if there was anything else. â€Å"Jacob Black can give you presents.† It wasn't a question, or an accusation. Just a statement of fact. But I knew he was referring to my last birthday and the fit I'd thrown over gifts; I hadn't wanted any. Especially not from Edward. It wasn't entirely logical, and, of course, everyone had ignored me anyway. . . . â€Å"You've given me presents,† I reminded him. â€Å"You know I like the homemade kind.† He pursed his lips for a second. â€Å"How about hand-me-downs? Are those acceptable?† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"This bracelet.† His finger traced a circle around my wrist. â€Å"You'll be wearing this a lot?† I shrugged. â€Å"Because you wouldn't want to hurt his feelings,† he suggested shrewdly. â€Å"Sure, I guess so.† â€Å"Don't you think it's fair, then,† he asked, looking down at my hand as he spoke. He turned it palm up, and ran his finger along the veins in my wrist. â€Å"If I have a little representation?† â€Å"Representation?† â€Å"A charm – something to keep me on your mind.† â€Å"You're in every thought I have. I don't need reminders.† â€Å"If I gave you something, would you wear it?† he pressed. â€Å"A hand-me-down?† I checked. â€Å"Yes, something I've had for a while.† He smiled his angel's smile. If this was the only reaction to Jacob's gift, I would take it gladly. â€Å"Whatever makes you happy.† â€Å"Have you noticed the inequality?† he asked, and his voice turned accusing. â€Å"Because I certainly have.† â€Å"What inequality?† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Everyone else is able to get away with giving you things. Everyone but me. I would have loved to get you a graduation present, but I didn't. I knew it would have upset you more than if anyone else did. That's utterly unfair. How do you explain yourself?† â€Å"Easy.† I shrugged. â€Å"You're more important than everyone else. And you've given me you. That's already more than I deserve, and anything else you give me just throws us more out of balance.† He processed that for a moment, and then rolled his eyes. â€Å"The way you regard me is ludicrous.† I chewed my breakfast calmly. I knew he wouldn't listen if I told him that he had that backward. Edward's phone buzzed. He looked at the number before he opened it. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† He listened, and I waited for his reaction, suddenly nervous. But whatever she said didn't surprise him. He sighed a few times. â€Å"I sort of guessed as much,† he told her, staring into my eyes, a disapproving arch to his brow. â€Å"She was talking in her sleep.† I flushed. What had I said now? â€Å"I'll take care of it,† he promised. He glared at me as he shut his phone. â€Å"Is there something you'd like to talk to me about?† I deliberated for a moment. Given Alice's warning last night, I could guess why she'd called. And then remembering the troubled dreams I'd had as I'd slept through the day – dreams where I chased after Jasper, trying to followhim and find the clearing in the maze-like woods, knowing I would find Edward there . . . Edward, and the monsters who wanted to kill me, but not caring about them because I'd already made my decision – I could also guess what Edward had overheard while I'd slept. I pursed my lips for a moment, not quite able to meet his gaze. He waited. â€Å"I like Jasper's idea,† I finally said. He groaned. â€Å"I want to help. I have to do something,† I insisted. â€Å"It wouldn't help to have you in danger.† â€Å"Jasper thinks it would. This is his area of expertise.† Edward glowered at me. â€Å"You can't keep me away,† I threatened. â€Å"I'm not going to hide out in the forest while you all take risks for me.† Suddenly, he was fighting a smile. â€Å"Alice doesn't see you in the clearing, Bella. She sees you stumbling around lost in the woods. You won't be able to find us; you'll just make it more time consuming for me to find you afterward.† I tried to keep as cool as he was. â€Å"That's because Alice didn't factor in Seth Clearwater,† I said politely. â€Å"If she had, of course, she wouldn't have been able to see anything at all. But it sounds like Seth wants to be there as much as I do. It shouldn't be too hard to persuade him to show me the way.† Anger flickered across his face, and then he took a deep breath and composed himself. â€Å"That might have worked . . . if you hadn't told me. Now I'll just ask Sam to give Seth certain orders. Much as he might want to, Seth won't be able to ignore that kind of injunction.† I kept my smile pleasant. â€Å"But why would Sam give those orders? If I tell him how it would help for me to be there? I'll bet Sam would rather do me a favor than you.† He had to compose himself again. â€Å"Maybe you're right. But I'm sure Jacob would be only too eager to give those same orders.† I frowned. â€Å"Jacob?† â€Å"Jacob is second in command. Did he never tell you that? His orders have to be followed, too.† He had me, and by his smile, he knew it. My forehead crumpled. Jacob would be on his side – in this one instance – I was sure. And Jacob never had told me that. Edward took advantage of the fact that I was momentarily stumped, continuing in a suspiciously smooth and soothing voice. â€Å"I got a fascinating look into the pack's mind last night. It was better than a soap opera. I had no idea how complex the dynamic is with such a large pack. The pull of the individual against the plural psyche . . . Absolutely fascinating.† He was obviously trying to distract me. I glared at him. â€Å"Jacob's been keeping a lot of secrets,† he said with a grin. I didn't answer, I just kept glaring, holding on to my argument and waiting for an opening. â€Å"For instance, did you note the smaller gray wolf there last night?† I nodded one stiff nod. He chuckled. â€Å"They take all of their legends so seriously. It turns out there are things that none of their stories prepared them for.† I sighed. â€Å"Okay, I'll bite. What are you talking about?† â€Å"They always accepted without question that it was only the direct grandsons of the original wolf who had the power to transform.† â€Å"So someone changed who wasn't a direct descendant?† â€Å"No. She's a direct descendant, all right.† I blinked, and my eyes widened. â€Å"She?† He nodded. â€Å"She knows you. Her name is Leah Clearwater.† â€Å"Leah's a werewolf!† I shrieked. â€Å"What? For how long? Why didn't Jacob tell me?† â€Å"There are things he wasn't allowed to share – their numbers, for instance. Like I said before, when Sam gives an order, the pack simply isn't able to ignore it. Jacob was very careful to think of other things when he was near me. Of course, after last night that's all out the window.† â€Å"I can't believe it. Leah Clearwater!† Suddenly, I remembered Jacob speaking of Leah and Sam, and the way he acted as if he'd said too much – after he'd said something about Sam having to look in Leah's eyes every day and know that he'd broken all his promises. . . . Leah on the cliff, a tear glistening on her cheek when Old Quil had spoken of the burden and sacrifice the Quileute sons shared. . . . And Billy, spending time with Sue because she was having trouble with her kids . . . and here the trouble actually was that both of them were werewolves now! I hadn't given much thought to Leah Clearwater, just to grieve for her loss when Harry had passed away, and then to pity her again when Jacob had told her story, about how the strange imprinting between Sam and her cousin Emily had broken Leah's heart. And now she was part of Sam's pack, hearing his thoughts . . . and unable to hide her own. I really hate that part, Jacob had said. Everything you're ashamed of, laid out for everyone to see. â€Å"Poor Leah,† I whispered. Edward snorted. â€Å"She's making life exceedingly unpleasant for the rest of them. I'm not sure she deserves your sympathy.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It's hard enough for them, having to share all their thoughts. Most of them try to cooperate, make it easier. When even one member is deliberately malicious, it's painful for everyone.† â€Å"She has reason enough,† I mumbled, still on her side. â€Å"Oh, I know,† he said. â€Å"The imprinting compulsion is one of the strangest things I've ever witnessed in my life, and I've seen some strange things.† He shook his head wonderingly. â€Å"The way Sam is tied to his Emily is impossible to describe – or I should say her Sam. Sam really had no choice. It reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream with all the chaos caused by the fairies' love spells . . . like magic.† He smiled. â€Å"It's very nearly as strong as the way I feel about you.† â€Å"Poor Leah,† I said again. â€Å"But what do you mean, malicious?† â€Å"She's constantly bringing up things they'd rather not think of,† he explained. â€Å"For example, Embry.† â€Å"What's with Embry?† I asked, surprised. â€Å"His mother moved down from the Makah reservation seventeen years ago, when she was pregnant with him. She's not Quileute. Everyone assumed she'd left his father behind with the Makahs. But then he joined the pack.† â€Å"So?† â€Å"So the prime candidates for his father are Quil Ateara Sr., Joshua Uley, or Billy Black, all of them married at that point, of course.† â€Å"No!† I gasped. Edward was right – this was exactly like a soap opera. â€Å"Now Sam, Jacob, and Quil all wonder which of them has a half-brother. They'd all like to think it's Sam, since his father was never much of a father. But the doubt is always there. Jacob's never been able to ask Billy about that.† â€Å"Wow. How did you get so much in one night?† â€Å"The pack mind is mesmerizing. All thinking together and then separately at the same time. There's so much to read!† He sounded faintly regretful, like someone who'd had to put down a good book just before the climax. I laughed. â€Å"The pack is fascinating,† I agreed. â€Å"Almost as fascinating as you are when you're trying to distract me.† His expression became polite again – a perfect poker face. â€Å"I have to be in that clearing, Edward.† â€Å"No,† he said in a very final tone. A certain path occurred to me at that moment. It wasn't so much that I had to be in the clearing. I just had to be where Edward was. Cruel, I accused myself. Selfish, selfish, selfish! Don't do it! I ignored my better instincts. I couldn't look at him while I spoke, though. The guilt had my eyes glued to the table. â€Å"Okay, look, Edward,† I whispered. â€Å"Here's the thing . . . I've already gone crazy once. I know what my limits are. And I can't stand it if you leave me again.† I didn't look up to see his reaction, afraid to know how much pain I was inflicting. I did hear his sudden intake of breath and the silence that followed. I stared at the dark wooden tabletop, wishing I could take the words back. But knowing I probably wouldn't. Not if it worked. Suddenly, his arms were around me, his hands stroking my face, my arms. He was comforting me. The guilt went into spiral mode. But the survival instinct was stronger. There was no question that he was fundamental to my survival. â€Å"You know it's not like that, Bella,† he murmured. â€Å"I won't be far, and it will be over quickly.† â€Å"I can't stand it,† I insisted, still staring down. â€Å"Not knowing whether or not you'll come back. How do I live through that, no matter how quickly it's over?† He sighed. â€Å"It's going to be easy, Bella. There's no reason for your fears.† â€Å"None at all?† â€Å"None.† â€Å"And everybody will be fine?† â€Å"Everyone,† he promised. â€Å"So there's no way at all that I need to be in the clearing?† â€Å"Of course not. Alice just told me that they're down to nineteen. We'll be able to handle it easily.† â€Å"That's right – you said it was so easy that someone could sit out,† I repeated his words from last night. â€Å"Did you really mean that?† â€Å"Yes.† It felt too simple – he had to see it coming. â€Å"So easy that you could sit out?† After a long moment of silence, I finally looked up at his expression. The poker face was back. I took a deep breath. â€Å"So it's one way or the other. Either there is more danger than you want me to know about, in which case it would be right for me to be there, to do what I can to help. Or . . . it's going to be so easy that they'll get by without you. Which way is it?† He didn't speak. I knew what he was thinking of – the same thing I was thinking of. Carlisle. Esme. Emmett. Rosalie. Jasper. And . . . I forced myself to think the last name. And Alice. I wondered if I was a monster. Not the kind that he thought he was, but the real kind. The kind that hurt people. The kind that had no limits when it came to what they wanted. What I wanted was to keep him safe, safe with me. Did I have a limit to what I would do, what I would sacrifice for that? I wasn't sure. â€Å"You ask me to let them fight without my help?† he said in a quiet voice. â€Å"Yes.† I was surprised I could keep my voice even, I felt so wretched inside. â€Å"Or to let me be there. Either way, so long as we're together.† He took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. He moved his hands to place them on either side of my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. He looked into my eyes for a long time. I wondered what he was looking for, and what it was that he found. Was the guilt as thick on my face as it was in my stomach – sickening me? His eyes tightened against some emotion I couldn't read, and he dropped one hand to pull out his phone again. â€Å"Alice,† he sighed. â€Å"Could you come babysit Bella for a bit?† He raised one eyebrow, daring me to object to the word. â€Å"I need to speak with Jasper.† She evidently agreed. He put the phone away and went back to staring at my face. â€Å"What are you going to say to Jasper?† I whispered. â€Å"I'm going to discuss . . . me sitting out.† It was easy to read in his face how difficult the words were for him. â€Å"I'm sorry.† I was sorry. I hated to make him do this. Not enough that I could fake a smile and tell him to go on ahead without me. Definitely not that much. â€Å"Don't apologize,† he said, smiling just a little. â€Å"Never be afraid to tell me how you feel, Bella. If this is what you need . . .† He shrugged. â€Å"You are my first priority.† â€Å"I didn't mean it that way – like you have to choose me over your family.† â€Å"I know that. Besides, that's not what you asked. You gave me two alternatives that you could live with, and I chose the one that I could live with. That's how compromise is supposed to work.† I leaned forward and rested my forehead against his chest. â€Å"Thank you,† I whispered. â€Å"Anytime,† he answered, kissing my hair. â€Å"Anything.† We didn't move for a long moment. I kept my face hidden, pressed against his shirt. Two voices struggled inside me. One that wanted to be good and brave, and one that told the good one to keep her mouth shut. â€Å"Who's the third wife?† he asked me suddenly. â€Å"Huh?† I said, stalling. I didn't remember having had that dream again. â€Å"You were mumbling something about ‘the third wife' last night. The rest made a little sense, but you lost me there.† â€Å"Oh. Um, yeah. That was just one of the stories that I heard at the bonfire the other night.† I shrugged. â€Å"I guess it stuck with me.† Edward leaned away from me and cocked his head to the side, probably confused by the uncomfortable edge to my voice. Before he could ask, Alice appeared in the kitchen doorway with a sour expression. â€Å"You're going to miss all the fun,† she grumbled. â€Å"Hello, Alice,† he greeted her. He put one finger under my chin and tilted my face up to kiss me goodbye. â€Å"I'll be back later tonight,† he promised me. â€Å"I'll go work this out with the others, rearrange things.† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"There's not much to arrange,† Alice said. â€Å"I already told them. Emmett is pleased.† Edward sighed. â€Å"Of course he is.† He walked out the door, leaving me to face Alice. She glared at me. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I apologized again. â€Å"Do you think this will make it more dangerous for you?† She snorted. â€Å"You worry too much, Bella. You're going to go prematurely gray.† â€Å"Why are you upset, then?† â€Å"Edward is such a grouch when he doesn't get his way. I'm just anticipating living with him for the next few months.† She made a face. â€Å"I suppose, if it keeps you sane, it's worth it. But I wish you could control the pessimism, Bella. It's so unnecessary.† â€Å"Would you let Jasper go without you?† I demanded. Alice grimaced. â€Å"That's different.† â€Å"Sure it is.† â€Å"Go clean yourself up,† she ordered me. â€Å"Charlie will be home in fifteen minutes, and if you look this ragged he's not going to want to let you out again.† Wow, I'd really lost the whole day. It felt like such a waste. I was glad I wouldn't always have to squander my time with sleeping. I was entirely presentable when Charlie got home – fully dressed, hair decent, and in the kitchen putting his dinner on the table. Alice sat in Edward's usual place, and this seemed to make Charlie's day. â€Å"Howdy, Alice! How are you, hon?† â€Å"I'm fine, Charlie, thanks.† â€Å"I see you finally made it out of bed, sleepyhead,† he said to me as I sat beside him, before turning back to Alice. â€Å"Everyone's talking about that party your parents threw last night. I'll bet you've got one heck of a clean-up job ahead of you.† Alice shrugged. Knowing her, it was already done. â€Å"It was worth it,† she said. â€Å"It was a great party.† â€Å"Where's Edward?† Charlie asked, a little grudgingly. â€Å"Is he helping clean up?† Alice sighed and her face turned tragic. It was probably an act, but it was too perfect for me to be positive. â€Å"No. He's off planning the weekend with Emmett and Carlisle.† â€Å"Hikingagain?† Alice nodded, her face suddenly forlorn. â€Å"Yes. They're all going, except me. We always go backpacking at the end of the school year, sort of a celebration, but this year I decided I'd rather shop than hike, and not one of them will stay behind with me. I'm abandoned.† Her face puckered, the expression so devastated that Charlie leaned toward her automatically, one hand reaching out, looking for some way to help. I glared at her suspiciously. What was she doing? â€Å"Alice, honey, why don't you come stay with us,† Charlie offered. â€Å"I hate to think of you all alone in that big house.† She sighed. Something squashed my foot under the table. â€Å"Ow!† I protested. Charlie turned to me. â€Å"What?† Alice shot me a frustrated look. I could tell she thought that I was very slow tonight. â€Å"Stubbed my toe,† I muttered. â€Å"Oh.† He looked back at Alice. â€Å"So, how 'bout it?† She stepped on my foot again, not quite so hard this time. â€Å"Er, Dad, you know, we don't really have the best accommodations here. I bet Alice doesn't want to sleep on my floor. . . .† Charlie pursed his lips. Alice pulled out the devastated expression again. â€Å"Maybe Bella should stay up there with you,† he suggested. â€Å"Just until your folks get back.† â€Å"Oh, would you, Bella?† Alice smiled at me radiantly. â€Å"You don't mind shopping with me, right?† â€Å"Sure,† I agreed. â€Å"Shopping. Okay.† â€Å"When are they leaving?† Charlie asked. Alice made another face. â€Å"Tomorrow.† â€Å"When do you want me?† I asked. â€Å"After dinner, I guess,† she said, and then put one finger to her chin, thoughtful. â€Å"You don't have anything going on Saturday, do you? I want to get out of town to shop, and it will be an all-day thing.† â€Å"Not Seattle,† Charlie interjected, his eyebrows pulling together. â€Å"Of course not,† Alice agreed at once, though we both knew Seattle would be plenty safe on Saturday. â€Å"I was thinking Olympia, maybe. . . .† â€Å"You'll like that, Bella.† Charlie was cheerful with relief. â€Å"Go get your fill of the city.† â€Å"Yeah, Dad. It'll be great.† With one easy conversation, Alice had cleared my schedule for the battle. Edward returned not much later. He accepted Charlie's wishes for a nice trip without surprise. He claimed they were leaving early in the morning, and said goodnight before the usual time. Alice left with him. I excused myself soon after they left. â€Å"You can't be tired,† Charlie protested. â€Å"A little,† I lied. â€Å"No wonder you like to skip the parties,† he muttered. â€Å"It takes you so long to recover.† Upstairs, Edward was lying across my bed. â€Å"What time are we meeting with the wolves?† I murmured as I went to join him. â€Å"In an hour.† â€Å"That's good. Jake and his friends need to get some sleep.† â€Å"They don't need as much as you do,† he pointed out. I moved to another topic, assuming he was about to try to talk me into staying home. â€Å"Did Alice tell you that she's kidnapping me again?† He grinned. â€Å"Actually, she's not.† I stared at him, confused, and he laughed quietly at my expression. â€Å"I'm the only one who has permission to hold you hostage, remember?† he said. â€Å"Alice is going hunting with the rest of them.† He sighed. â€Å"I guess I don't need to do that now.† â€Å"You're kidnapping me?† He nodded. I thought about that briefly. No Charlie listening downstairs, checking on me every so often. And no houseful of wide-awake vampires with their intrusively sensitive hearing. . . . Just him and me – really alone. â€Å"Is that all right?† he asked, concerned by my silence. â€Å"Well . . . sure, except for one thing.† â€Å"What thing?† His eyes were anxious. It was mind-boggling, but, somehow, he still seemed unsure of his hold on me. Maybe I needed to make myself more clear. â€Å"Why didn't Alice tell Charlie you were leaving tonight?† I asked. He laughed, relieved. I enjoyed the trip to the clearing more than I had last night. I still felt guilty, still afraid, but I wasn't terrified anymore. I could function. I could see past what was coming, and almost believe that maybe it would be okay. Edward was apparently fine with the idea of missing the fight . . . and that made it very hard not to believe him when he said this would be easy. He wouldn't leave his family if he didn't believe it himself. Maybe Alice was right, and I did worry too much. We got to the clearing last. Jasper and Emmett were already wrestling – just warming up from the sounds of their laughter. Alice and Rosalie lounged on the hard ground, watching. Esme and Carlisle were talking a few yards away, heads close together, fingers linked, not paying attention. It was much brighter tonight, the moon shining through the thin clouds, and I could easily see the three wolves that sat around the edge of the practice ring, spaced far apart to watch from different angles. It was also easy to recognize Jacob; I would have known him at once, even if he hadn't looked up and stared at the sound of our approach. â€Å"Where are the rest of the wolves?† I wondered. â€Å"They don't all need to be here. One would do the job, but Sam didn't trust us enough to just send Jacob, though Jacob was willing. Quil and Embry are his usual . . . I guess you could call them his wingmen.† â€Å"Jacob trusts you.† Edward nodded. â€Å"He trusts us not to try to kill him. That's about it, though.† â€Å"Are you participating tonight?† I asked, hesitant. I knew this was going to be almost as hard for him as being left behind would have been for me. Maybe harder. â€Å"I'll help Jasper when he needs it. He wants to try some unequal groupings, teach them how to deal with multiple attackers.† He shrugged. And a fresh wave of panic shattered my brief sense of confidence. They were still outnumbered. I was making that worse. I stared at the field, trying to hide my reaction. It was the wrong place to look, struggling as I was to lie to myself, to convince myself that everything would work out as I needed it to. Because when I forced my eyes away from the Cullens – away from the image of their playfighting that would be real and deadly in just a few days – Jacob caught my eyes and smiled. It was the same wolfy grin as before, his eyes scrunching the way they did when he was human. It was hard to believe that, not so long ago, I'd found the werewolves frightening – lost sleep to nightmares about them. I knew, without asking, which of the others was Embry and which was Quil. Because Embry was clearly the thinner gray wolf with the dark spots on his back, who sat so patiently watching, while Quil – deep chocolate brown, lighter over his face – twitched constantly, looking like he was dying to join in the mock fight. They weren't monsters, even like this. They were friends. Friends who didn't look nearly as indestructible as Emmett and Jasper did, moving faster than cobra strikes while the moonlight glinted off their granite-hard skin. Friends who didn't seem to understand the danger involved here. Friends who were still somewhat mortal, friends who could bleed, friends who could die. . . . Edward's confidence was reassuring, because it was plain that he wasn't truly worried about his family. But would it hurt him if something happened to the wolves? Was there any reason for him to be anxious, if that possibility didn't bother him? Edward's confidence only applied to one set of my fears. I tried to smile back at Jacob, swallowing against the lump in my throat. I didn't seem to get it right. Jacob sprang lightly to his feet, his agility at odds with his sheer mass, and trotted over to where Edward and I stood on the fringe of things. â€Å"Jacob,† Edward greeted him politely. Jacob ignored him, his dark eyes on me. He put his head down to my level, as he had yesterday, cocking it to one side. A low whimper escaped his muzzle. â€Å"I'm fine,† I answered, not needing the translation that Edward was about to give. â€Å"Just worried, you know.† Jacob continued to stare at me. â€Å"He wants to know why,† Edward murmured. Jacob growled – not a threatening sound, an annoyed sound – and Edward's lips twitched. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"He thinks my translations leave something to be desired. What he actually thought was, ‘That's really stupid. What is there to be worried about?' I edited, because I thought it was rude.† I halfway smiled, too anxious to really feel amused. â€Å"There's plenty to be worried about,† I told Jacob. â€Å"Like a bunch of really stupid wolves getting themselves hurt.† Jacob laughed his coughing bark. Edward sighed. â€Å"Jasper wants help. You'll be okay without a translator?† â€Å"I'll manage.† Edward looked at me wistfully for one minute, his expression hard to understand, then turned his back and strode over to where Jasper waited. I sat down where I was. The ground was cold and uncomfortable. Jacob took a step forward, then looked back at me, and a low whine rose in his throat. He took another half-step. â€Å"Go on without me,† I told him. â€Å"I don't want to watch.† Jacob leaned his head to the side again for a moment, and then folded himself on to the ground beside me with a rumbling sigh. â€Å"Really, you can go ahead,† I assured him. He didn't respond, he just put his head down on his paws. I stared up at the bright silver clouds, not wanting to see the fight. My imagination had more than enough fuel. A breeze blew through the clearing, and I shivered. Jacob scooted himself closer to me, pressing his warm fur against my left side. â€Å"Er, thanks,† I muttered. After a few minutes, I leaned against his wide shoulder. It was much more comfortable that way. The clouds moved slowly across the sky, dimming and brightening as thick patches crossed the moon and passed on. Absently, I began pulling my fingers through the fur on his neck. That same strange humming sound that he'd made yesterday rumbled in his throat. It was a homey kind of sound. Rougher, wilder than a cat's purr, but conveying the same sense of contentment. â€Å"You know, I never had a dog,† I mused. â€Å"I always wanted one, but Rene's allergic.† Jacob laughed; his body shook under me. â€Å"Aren't you worried about Saturday at all?† I asked. He turned his enormous head toward me, so that I could see one of his eyes roll. â€Å"I wish I could feel that positive.† He leaned his head against my leg and started humming again. And it did make me feel just a little bit better. â€Å"So we've got some hiking to do tomorrow, I guess.† He rumbled; the sound was enthusiastic. â€Å"It might be a long hike,† I warned him. â€Å"Edward doesn't judge distances the way a normal person does.† Jacob barked another laugh. I settled deeper into his warm fur, resting my head against his neck. It was strange. Even though he was in this bizarre form, this felt more like the way Jake and I used to be – the easy, effortless friendship that was as natural as breathing in and out – than the last few times I'd been with Jacob while he was human. Odd that I should find that again here, when I'd thought this wolf thing was the cause of its loss. The killing games continued in the clearing, and I stared at the hazy moon.

Art History Paper Essay

Define the transformations that have taken place between the sculpture of the late archaic period and that of the early Classical period. Note how these imply a change in relationship of the viewer to the work of art. Throughout history, sculptures have developed significantly. The Western tradition of sculptures began in Ancient Greece along with Egypt and many other ancient civilizations around the world. Greece is widely seen as producing great masterpieces in the archaic period and as time evolved into the classical period more detailed and sensible artwork developed. During the archaic period (c.660-480 B.C.) sculpture emerged as a principal form of artistic expression. The beginning of this period marks posh and elegant statues of nude walking youths, the Kouroi, which suggest Egyptian prototypes but which are distinctive in stylization and force of movement. These sculptures were luxurious and prominent during this period of time. In the early classical, or transitional, period (c.480-450 B.C.) a new humanism started to find its artistic expression in terms of a perfect balance between authenticity and abstraction of form. By humanism I mean, a new culture of work developed. This work of art brought forward a greater amount of human qualities. For example, The Anavysos Kouros sculpture from century 540 – 515 B.C. and Kritios Boy from century 480 B.C. These two sculptures convey drastically different messages to the viewer while still portraying similar representations. The Kroisos Kouros is a statue of an Athenian solider that functioned as a grave marker, located in Anavysos in Attica. The marble Kritios Boy belongs to the Early Classical period of ancient Greek sculpture. Two similar sculptures can portray extremely different messages to the viewer by the sculptures body language and the amount of detail put into the sculpture. The way the sculpture is portrayed can impact the viewer’s emotion toward the selected art. The sculpture of Anavysos Kouros during century 540 – 515 B.C. was constructed with an inorganic semblance. The Anavysos Kouros is thought to represent the ideal image of a person rather than an actual portrayal of what Kroisos looked like. This makes Anavysos Kouros understood to be as an abstract figure due to the fact that it’s related to the function of a statue while still representing a hero of Greek culture. The pose of the Kouros, a clear and simple formula, derives from Egyptian art and was used by Greek sculptors for more than a hundred years. The formula consists of the statue frontal fixed with the left food leading slightly. His arms are held next to the body, and the fists are grasped with the thumbs forward. The Greek sculptor rendered the human body in a far more naturalistic manner. For example, the head is no longer too large for the body, and the face is more rounded, with puffy cheeks replacing the flat planes of the earlier work. The long hair does not form an inflexible backdrop to the head but falls naturally over the back. His knees are locked, hips are in axis with shoulders which convey that they body’s muscles are independent from the body’s movement. This statue for example is frozen in time. Rounded hips replace the V-shaped ridges of the earlier work. Anavysos Kouros is extremely stiff even though the statue is free from a block that some statues are attached to from behind. Statues like this replaced the large vases of Geometric times as the favored form of grave marker in the sixth century BCE. This Greek statue from the archaic period, Anavysos Kouros, is produced in frontal view, which is common in regard to this period. Typical Archaic sculptures are produced to be very frontal and have the archaic smile on its face. Anavysos Kouros has both of these descriptions. The art work’s body language would portray the sculpture to convey no emotion but with the archaic smile represented on it’s face the viewer may become confused due to the inconsistent body language. The body looks as if it is very light but still has extremely large muscles that are tensed which also back up the argument that it’s unnatural. The statue should be in motion due to the one leg in front of the other but the statue is portrayed as frozen which makes it extremely mechanical. On the other hand, the Kritios Boy Statue from century 480 B.C. is much more organic with a more fluid body stance. Never before had a sculptor been concerned with depicting how a human being, as opposed to a stone image, actually stands. Real people do not stand in the stiff form of the kouroi and korai. Humans shift their weight and the region of the main body parts around the vertical but flexible axis of the spine. The muscular and skeletal structures are depicted with freely lifelike accuracy, with the rib cage naturally expanded as if in the act of breathing, with a collected and calm demeanor and hips, which are distinctly narrower. The artist of this image was the first to grasp this fact and represent it in statuary. The head also turns slightly to the right and tilts, breaking the unwritten rule of frontality dictating the form of virtually all-earlier statues. As a final forebear of the classical period, the â€Å"smile† of archaic statues has been completely replaced by the accurate delivery of the lips and the formal expression that characterized the transitional austere style. The function of this statue is to recognize accomplishment not from a specific person but represents the ideal type. This statue shows contrapposto with his knee popped and bent showing some type of motion, which is the introduction of weight shift in a statue. Contrapposto separates Classical from Archaic Greek statuary. Kritios Boy’s muscles work interdependently with the axis of his body, he looks as if he is in motion due to the muscles being engaged, as there is a potential of movement. After comparing both artworks in the archaic time period and the classical, most viewers are likely to be able to connect with the classical artwork rather than early time periods’. People today show favoritism to sculptures that resemble the human body and it’s characteristics. Kritios Boy shows more humanistic concepts than the sculpture of Anavysos Kouros. The sculpture’s time period changes the relationship of the sculpture to the viewer. Viewers make emotional connections with statues due to their body language. Kritios Boy has interdependent muscles and is more matter-of-fact. Transformations of a sculpture and time periods have a great deal of impact on the viewer.

Goals After Graduation †Essay Essay

When I found out I was going to be a mother for the first time I had feelings wash over me that I never knew you could feel all at once. Some feelings I suddenly felt I didn’t even know existed until that very moment. Sitting there thinking about having a life inside me to care for and love, yet at the same time thinking I am to young, not ready, under educated, and just plain scared to death. All I knew is I wanted nothing more than to have a child that I have waited for, for so long. While I was expecting I had such dreams of what that blessed event would be like, could be like. I was very guilty of setting my expectations too high for something I knew absolutely nothing about. Being a first time mother who had read every conceivable magazine, book, and internet web site on the subject of giving birth I considered myself to be an expert. It was about the same time as the first labor pains started that I forgot everything I had ever read in my entire life; not just everything I had ever read about giving birth. During the lulls between the hours of labor pains I would still imagine what my child would be like. At that very moment when I went into labor (August 4, 1995) with my daughter Kaitylyn, all that seemed unimportant. The only thing that matter was seeing my daughter and holding her for the very first time! I first saw her face while I was delivering her and I remember her little lip quivering right before she cried her first cry. At that very moment I felt a peace with her and I wash over me and all I wanted was to take my daughter and hold her forever. When they took and placed my daughter in my arms I could not speak nor could I do anything, but look into that little face and be amazed at the miracle lying in my arms. Then the feelings started washing over me all at once fast and fleetingly. First came love which never went away and I know never will! After came fear which, was quickly replaced by determination. Determination that I would make the best life for her that I could. Then came joy! Joy that my little girl had all ten toes and fingers and was doing great. Then came overwhelming feelings that even now I can’t find the one term to categorize them in. Feelings of pure wonderment, pride, and motherly love are the only way I can ever explain. Looking into those little brown eyes knowing we  would be just fine that life had just begun, for not just her, but also for me. I was a mother and her life depended on mine. I was unafraid. I knew deep in my heart this child was a fresh start in life and that I was strong enough, determined enough to make sure we could take on life. Now sixteen years later I know that becoming a mother for the first time can be the hardest thing in the world. Now at thirty eight years old I have three children and it is clear to me that not all the feelings of becoming a mother for the first time go away after the first time! I still have feelings that I had then like fear, hope, and yes the second guessing my choices. However, seeing the young adult my daughter has become lets me know WE WOULD BE FINE!

Driving While Black Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Driving While Black - Essay Example Recent well-publicized miscarriages of justice have caused embarrassment to the police, government and judiciary, and increased public concern about the quality of police functions (Weitzer, 1999). Similar misgivings are also felt about the expense and operation of the civil law system. A federal lawsuit United States v. Weaver has given police more freedom for racial profiling. Although, it stipulates certain patterns and norms when "blackness" can be regarded as "a signal" for that could be legitimately relied upon in the decision to approach and ultimately detain the suspect" Kennedy, 1999). Taking into account facts presented by Weitzer (1999) and Harris (1987), it is possible to say that use of "Driving While Black" may be regarded as quite reasonable under certain circumstances. These researchers underline that the main crime patterns that are deemphasized include murders, sex offenders and gang activity. These crime patterns are influenced by behavior patterns of black offenders and could be reduced in all groups mentioned above. Also, police intervention activities are directed against gang activity and drug dealing as "driven forces" to criminal behavior typical for black population. To be effective police should employ different range of activities and cover different groups of potential offenders, and black people represents a big group of suspects. In any case, it is important to emphasize that "blackness" is not regarded as "a signal" of criminal behavior. Studies found that: "Residents of both the white and the black middle-class neighborhoods were less likely to perceive or experience police abuse in their... Taking into account facts presented by Weitzer (1999) and Harris (1987), it is possible to say that use of â€Å"Driving While Black† may be regarded as quite reasonable under certain circumstances. These researchers underline that the main crime patterns that are deemphasized include murders, sex offenders and gang activity. These crime patterns are influenced by behavior patterns of black offenders and could be reduced in all groups mentioned above. Also, police intervention activities are directed against gang activity and drug dealing as â€Å"driven forces† to criminal behavior typical for black population. To be effective police should employ different range of activities and cover different groups of potential offenders, and black people represents a big group of suspects. In any case, it is important to emphasize that â€Å"blackness† is not regarded as â€Å"a signal† of criminal behavior. Studies found that: â€Å"Residents of both the white and the black middle-class neighborhoods were less likely to perceive or experience police abuse in their neighborhoods than were residents of the black lower-class neighborhood† (Weitzer, 1999). These facts show that class location is more important for police then racial differences and it is impossible to say about â€Å"blackness† as the only cause for illegal stops. On the other hand, rights are particularly difficult to operationalize in legal politics if the object of these rights is to protect indigenous identity. Since rights language is usually attached to the idea that individuals should be protected.

In what ways was the Ottoman Empire different to its West European Essay

In what ways was the Ottoman Empire different to its West European counterparts - Essay Example During the reign of Muhammad II that lasted between 1451 and 1481, Ottoman Empire was actively involved in absorbing other states. Within this period Ottoman Empire was able to end all the other local Turkish dynasties hence becoming the superpowers of the region. With such a heavy backing from the fact that they had no dynasties to compete with, Ottoman Empire’s expansion started under Osman I, Orkhan, Murad I, and Beyazid I, which happened at the expense of numerous other empires such as Byzantine, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Due to pressure from Ottoman, another active and strong empire, Bursa fell in 1326, which was followed by the fall of Adrianople in 1261 (Said, 1978). Amazing, besides ensuring that these two (Bursa and Adrianople) empires fell, Ottoman Empire mocked them by making them the capital of the empire in turns that is, when Bursa fell it was made the capital and later on Adrianople was made the capital of the empire after its fall (Dale, 2010). This marked the begi nning of expansion for Ottoman Empire, which continuously grew and developed through taking over other Turkish dynasties or empires. Period of Great Expansion Through Muhammad I, Ottoman Empire was united against other empires. Muhammad I strongly believed that the only way of expanding of the empire was to take over other empires that surrounded Ottoman Empire. Consequently, many empires were victims of such strategy thus marking the initial stage of the â€Å"Great Expansion† (Dale, 2010). Amongst the taking over that occurred during the period of Great Expansion include victory at Varna and the 1453 capture of Constantinople. It is amazing how Ottomans changed from nomads to being the heirs of most ancient existing empire within Europe (Palmer, 1992). The weakness and disunity of the adversaries that competed and surrounded Ottoman Empire was a great step in enhancing the empire’s success. In addition, Ottoman through Muhammad I created a well-organized military gro up, which ensured that all the captures and take over was successfully done (Dale, 2010). Their military organization was considered superior to all the other surrounding dynasties (Said, 1978). Surprisingly, such military organizations consisted of mainly Christians who were not only corps of Janissaries but also volunteers who were ready to fight for their empire (Dale, 2010). With such beautifully organized military organization, Ottoman was able to continuously expand until the 16th century where the expansion and growth of the empire reached its peak. Defeating the Hungarian in 1526 gave Ottoman Empire a boost and confidence in more capture and take-over especially the 1541 capture of Buda as well as taking in of major part of Hungary that form Ottoman’s empire. Continuous capturing and taking over of different dynasties led to the opening up of the empire’s boundaries into Persia and Arabia; a factor that enhanced the strength within the region. During the reign of Selim I, more dynasties were defeated giving opportunity and strength for the expansion and growth of Ottoman Empire. In 1535 when Sulayman I started his reign, the empire continued to capture and take over more empires in a bid to being the heir

Chapter 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter 2 - Essay Example o is expected to do promotional activities or fieldwork that may necessitate stamina or to be on toes all the time, than the best fit would be a good ability-job fit (Robbins, Judge and Campbell). 3) Working with older people helps one to learn better since one can learn from the experience they have gained over the years to which in turn would be of great benefit. One is better able to analyze the organizational situations that may otherwise have taken longer to reach any decisions (Robbins, Judge and Campbell). 4) I have been given the opportunity to choose for myself. Similarly, I will give a chance to my children to choose for themselves too. The reason behind this is that it allows people to be satisfied with what they are doing and this job satisfaction is important for an employee in order to perform well (Robbins, Judge and Campbell). 5). One of the important factors for job satisfaction is to have a job that is secure. Similarly, it is also important that the flow of communication with senior management is satisfying. The job benefits and contingency to use the abilities and skills that I have developed adds to job satisfaction (Robbins, Judge and Campbell

Analysis film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis film - Essay Example It is the male that is expected to go to school to provide for the family which is very common among patriarchal families. The female gaze in the film Real Women Have Curves may not have a sexual connotation of looking down at women as mere sex objects but it still bore traditional thinking and relegation of women to be subjects of their family, husband and community. It is imposed on women albeit in the film it was not imposed by a male figure but Ana’s mother played a surrogate male figure of subjecting Ana to gender roles of being domesticated and not to aspire too much. This kind of female gaze that is associated with gender oppression is Laura Mulvey in her work "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† where the concept of gaze and its dynamics is said to be a manifestation of imbalance of power between the male and the female where the male dominates the female. There may be no dominant male figure in the film but gender oppression was imposed on Ana by making her work in a sweatshop instead of pursuing her dream of going to college. In the film, Ana’s mother played a substitute â€Å"male gaze† because she imposes on Ana the traditional male oriented patriarchal values of not getting an education. This is evident in Mulvey’s theory which Freudian in origin where she â€Å"breaks scopophilia down into an active part, which is always  male, and a passive part, which is always female. Women are the objects that are looked† (Finzsch). In Mulvey’s male gaze, the male’s patriarchal role is extended to the film where the male imposes a hegemonic gaze to Ana as a subject of family to do their wishes even against her will or own ambition. This produces an imbalance relationship as women are reduced to an object of two distinct modes of male gaze where they became Madonna’s in male perspective (voyeuristic) or whores (fetishistic) or in this case, a

Career and developing assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Career and developing assignment - Essay Example 18,700 per annum, On Target Earnings (OTE), monthly incentive scheme plus benefits. 3.0 Personal Specification Barclays Bank plc requires the services of a permanent banker in the Greater Manchester area. The position needs young, energetic minds with a college degree in management or business. The person must hold excellent communication and analytical skills and should be willing to work full time. The person should also be a quick learner as the job entails learning about new products, services and processes. It will be highly preferred if he is already exposed to a banking background but fresh graduates are also encouraged to apply. The applicant must possess obvious leadership qualities and the ability to deliver under stringent deadlines. The job will greatly challenge the diligence, analysis and the intelligence of the person as it requires understanding the customer's needs, recommending products and processing the required paperwork. The person must be confident in his abili ties and highly motivated to improve the financial condition of their clients. Last but not the least, possession of adequate computer skills is a prerequisite for the job. 4.0 Interview preparation The first step towards interview preparation is the company and job research. I should find more on the company background and the job skills required. The second step is my personal self assessment and evaluation and finding out about my own strengths and weaknesses. The last step is relating my skills, personality and qualifications with those required by the employer. Thus my CV and resume should match with the job description and personal specifications. 5.0 Summary of Organisation Barclays is a premier international bank which provides a range of financial services. Its main strategy for growth is to achieve growth by both diversification and market penetration. Since its basic aim is to be a global leader in the provision of financial services by helping customers and turning them into satisfied clients, it needs the service of highly motivated and committed individuals who are efficient in both working as teams and individually. The four main priorities of the Barclay group are Build the best bank in the UK Accelerate the growth of global businesses Develop retail and commercial banking activities in selected countries outside the UK For these services Barclay needs both collective and individual success which can be achieved by developing talented colleagues to reach their full potential. It is also achieved by clear customer focus and the pioneering of new ideas and the adding of diverse skills to its portfolio. . Key Competitors: In the UK market, the key competitors of Barclays PLC are HSBC Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Deutsche Bank AG. According to Yahoo Finance research the direct competitor comparison is given in below table. Table 1.0 Competitors Source: Yahoo Finance Stakeholders: Barclays accepts that listening, learning, responding and w orking in partnership with their stakeholders is important to the way they do business. Its stakeholders include both its shareholders and investors but those of primary importance are its customers. This is so because without developing a loyal and large customer base, Barclays cannot generate revenues to satisfy its investors and shareholders. Thus the need of communication and analytical skills is of primary importance for any Barclay's employee since it is essential for getting and retaining

Reaction Writing #1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reaction Writing #1 - Assignment Example nized as one of the principal contributors to workplace management’s behaviorism movement due to the fact that she presented employees as being much more than mere cogs, or even machines that functioned in the work environment. In her understanding of human relations, Mary Parker Follet sought to propose the importance of creating ‘win-win’ situations that would consolidate the unique abilities of each member of the workforce for the good of the company (Follet, 81). Application in a Modern Workplace Setting. One of Mary Parker Follet’s most revolutionary ideas was in the subject of conflict resolution in the workplace. She supported the notion of reframing an issue in such a way that the result would take into consideration the needs of all principles involved (Follet 83). There could be a situation, in an organization today, where an employee feels that she deserved a promotion that was given to another colleague. The supervisor, instead of giving her a dressing down, will invite her to express her feelings as he practices ‘active listening’. This is an acknowledgement, on his part, of the emotions she is experiencing, and draws attention to the subject of concern and not conflicts between any of the people involved. The supervisor may then encourage the worker to give suggestions about what would be the best benchmark to use in considering workers for promotions. These methods diffuse a potentially explosive situation, whi le considering the interests of both the distressed worker and objectives of the company in

Writing a Rabbi Sermon Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Writing a Rabbi Sermon - Research Paper Example The word Hanukkah signifies re-dedication and celebrates the Jews fight for religious sovereignty. Hanukkah is the celebration of Lights for the Jews, and it goes back to more than two thousand years before the start of Christianity. The Jews light the Menorah to commemorate the time when the Maccabees regained back the control of the Holy Temple from their captors. The conquerors had done nasty things to taint the Temple, including bringing gods; the Maccabees re-established the cleanliness and the service of the house of G-d. The Maccabees had only one small flask of the special olive oil in their possession which they used for lighting the large golden Menorah. Unbelievably, the little bottle was used for eight days. Three different blessings are recited before lighting on the first night of Chanukah; the modern day Rabbis can also recite the blessings in their families. The three blessings are: The Chanukah menorah is put on after nightfall; it implies that every Jewish role is to light the darkness of the world. It can be hard for rabbis to identify with godliness in their daily lives, but Chanukah reminds everyone that the light of understanding can shine brightly. The Chanukah light can be lit in the doorway or front window in order for it to be seen by people passing on the street. It teaches all believers that it is not sufficient to bring light into their private domain; they must spread the light of Torah to other people as well, to the degree that their influence can go. For every night of Chanukah, participants added light to the menorah, till the lamps shone on the last night. It symbolizes that in issues concerning holiness; every person should always be increasing. Each additional flame must signify added strength in solidifying our dedication to the significances and customs of the Jewish way of life. Every day must be used to rededicate our lives to a noble course that signifies our faith. As Chanukah is a holiday of re-dedication, we

Writing the result section of a research paper Statistics Project

Writing the result section of a research paper - Statistics Project Example With regard to the distance walked without an assistive device, the mean distance covered in meters was 283.3 while the mean of the distance covered with an assistive device being 296.63.The mean for VAS 1 was 55.3 while the mean for VAS 2 was 43.43 The question relates to the use of paired sample T-Test and aims to answer the question â€Å"Is walking with the device less fatiguing than walking without the device? .This is achieved by comparing the VAS instead of 6 MWT distance. Chart 1 shows the mean differences of VAS. As shown in chart 1, the mean fatigue for the 6MWT distance for subjects without an assistive device is higher (55.0) compared to the one for those with an assistive device (43.43).This result points out that it is less fatiguing to walk with the assistive device because the p value following the paired sample T-test for VAS is significant at 0.00.Again this is below the 0.05 significance level. The second question to be answered is â€Å"Did the subjects walk further with assistive device? and the task also requires the use of a paired sample T-test. A paired sample T-test comparison points out that the mean distance covered with an assistive device is higher compared to that covered with a non assistive device(as shown in table 1). The P value got from the paired sample T-test is 0.03 and it is considered significant for it is below the 0.05 level. The means for distance 1(without an assistive device) and distance 2 (with an assistive device) are 283.30 and 296.63 respectively. The percentage difference of these means is shown in chart 2

Tonight I Can Write Essay Example for Free

Tonight I Can Write Essay The theme of distance is introduced in the opening line. When the speaker informs the reader, â€Å"Tonight I can write the saddest lines,† he suggests that he could not previously. We later learn that his overwhelming sorrow over a lost lover has prevented him from writing about their relationship and its demise. The speaker’s constant juxtaposition of past and present illustrate his inability to come to terms with his present isolated state. Neruda’s language here, as in the rest of the poem, is simple and to the point, suggesting the sincerity of the speaker’s emotions. The sense of distance is again addressed in the second and third lines as he notes the stars shivering â€Å"in the distance. † These lines also contain images of nature, which will become a central link to his memories and to his present state. The speaker contemplates the natural world, focusing on those aspects of it that remind him of his lost love and the cosmic nature of their relationship. He begins writing at night, a time when darkness will match his mood. The night sky filled with stars offers him no comfort since they â€Å"are blue and shiver. Their distance from him reinforces the fact that he is alone. However, he can appreciate the night wind that â€Å"sings† as his verses will, describing the woman he loved. Lines 5–10: Neruda repeats the first line in the fifth and follows it with a declaration of the speaker’s love for an unnamed woman. The staggered repetitions Neruda employs throughout the poem provide thematic unity. The speaker intr oduces the first detail of their relationship and points to a possible reason for its demise when he admits â€Å"sometimes she loved me too. He then reminisces about being with her in â€Å"nights like this one. † The juxtaposition of nights from the past with this night reveals Lines 11–14: In line eleven Neruda again repeats his opening line, which becomes a plaintive refrain. The repetition of that line shows how the speaker is struggling to maintain distance, to convince himself that enough time has passed for him to have the strength to think about his lost love. But these lines are â€Å"the saddest. † He cannot yet escape the pain of remembering. It becomes almost unbearable â€Å"to think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. † His loneliness is reinforced by â€Å"the immense night, still more immense without her. † Yet the poetry that he creates helps replenish his soul, â€Å"like dew to the pasture. † Lines 15–18: In line fifteen the speaker refuses to analyze their relationship. What is important to him is that â€Å"the night is starry and she is not with me† as she used to be on similar starry nights. â€Å"This is all† that is now central to him. When the speaker hears someone singing in the distance and repeats â€Å"in the distance,† he reinforces the fact that he is alone. No one is singing to him. As a result, he admits â€Å"my soul is not satisfied. † Lines 19–26: In these lines the speaker expresses his longing to reunite with his love. His sight and his heart try to find her, but he notes, â€Å"she is not with me. † He again remembers that this night is so similar to the ones they shared together. Yet he understands that they â€Å"are no longer the same. † He declares that he no longer loves her, â€Å"that’s certain,† in an effort to relieve his pain, and admits he loved her greatly in the past. Again linking their relationship to nature, he explains that he had â€Å"tried to find the wind to touch her hearing† but failed. Now he must face the fact that â€Å"she will be another’s. † He remembers her â€Å"bright† body that he knows will be touched by another and her â€Å"infinite eyes† that will look upon a new lover. Lines 27–32: The speaker reiterates, â€Å"I no longer love her, that’s certain,† but immediately contradicts himself, uncovering his efforts at self deception when he admits, â€Å"but maybe I love her. With a worldweary tone of resignation, he concludes, â€Å"love is so short, forgetting is so long. † His poem has become a painful exercise in forgetting. In line twenty-nine he explains that because this night is so similar to the nights in his memory when he held her in his arms, he cannot forget. Thus he repeats, â€Å"my soul is not satisfied. † In the final two lines, however, the s peaker is determined to erase the memory of her and so ease his pain, insisting that his verses (this poem) will be â€Å"the last verses that I write for her. †

Mubai Flooding Case Study Environmental Sciences Essay

Mubai Flooding Case Study Environmental Sciences Essay The metropolis of Mumbai that include suburbs and city region of Mumbai received 39.1 inch (994mm) rainfall in single day on 26th July 2005. This is a case of natural disaster in a single metro city where in flood situation happened because of heavy on spot rain and not because of typical reasons of flood in any area due to over flooding of rivers. Justification of selection of case This case is selected because it is being a flood situation in commercial capital of India which is claimed to be progressing toward becoming city like shanghai in terms of infrastructure and facilities. The financial capital of India grown from 10 lakhs to 128 lakhs of population in a decade but the system waterways, drains, rivers have not been upgraded and updated accordingly. In Mumbai water logging is a decade old problem and we are accustomed to it. In 21st century every year on an average 5 days are lost when educational institutions and offices (Mumbai is the financial capital of India) remain shutting due to heavy rain and flooding during monsoon. The severity of 26th July2005 heavy rainfall and water logging was the situation when thousands of people died, lakhs were injured and uncountable were affected economically and physically. It raises the immediate need for action from multiple agencies. It gives chance to analyse emergency preparedness of government agencies, private bodies, NGOs and individual. To solve the problem various forums and agencies are continuously talking since 1991,but till now nothing has happened as central and state government have not allotted sufficient money to materialize the issue even after the shocking event of 26th July 2005. During water logging and flooding substantial amount of damage caused. Disrupt transportation cause hampering of economic and financial activities. This hurt industry and service sector tremendously .GDP and GNP growth of country rises to 8.5% where Mumbai growth rate falls 2.1%.Mumbai loses more than 800 crore rupees due to this problem. 3000 crore rupees treated as capital investment. Mumbai has given 80,000crore rupees as revenue to government of India in the year 2005-06 and 22,000 crore rupees earned by government of Maharashtra as duties, taxes, cess in the same year. Objectives of Case Study The collection of data related to damage to human life and assets by this flood. Systematic compilation of relevant data to come to the stage of making action plans, policies and procedures for removing water logging and flooding in Mumbai. To identify factors responsible for 26 July 2005 flood in Mumbai. Lessons we learn from this disaster and efforts we are doing to reduce such disasters in future. Developments of an efficient methodology which is economical, easy to interpret by charts and maps related to such severe situation very rapidly and start responding quickly. Review of work done so far on this issue. Area under study Areas badly affected by flood Lower parts of Southern Mumbai Sea shore areas of Western Mumbai Densely populated areas of Central parts of Mumbai Lower area of Kurla and Kalina Roads and Railways were badly affected by this flood. Responsible reasons The sewage system of Mumbai can carry only 25 millimeters of rain water per hour which was extremely inadequate when rainfall was 994 mm. The drainage system was clogged at several places. Heavy rain and High tide time was same that day due to which 103 outlet gates that connected drainages that directly open to sea get overflowed. The situation became worse because drainages were not clean and filled with garbage that blocked the outflow of rain water and it got accumulated on the roads. The severity of situation worsened because warning about heavy rainfall and high tide was not given on time on Radio and Television stations by the civic agencies. The Meteorological department was not having sophisticated weather radars which can give 3 hour prior warning. Massive encroachment on mouth of major nallas and heavy diversions and encroachment of Mithi and other rivers acted as blockage to rain water running towards river. Development by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) without proper environmental clearance increase the pressure on existing drainage system which is already poor and old fashioned Old fashioned and poor drainage system. Bandra Kurla complex which is constructed by replacing swampy areas; the Environment Ministry of the Government of India was informed about its potential disaster and appeal not to sanction it but no action has been taken on time. Destruction of mangroves ecosystem for construction and encroachment. This ecosystem exists along the Mithi River and Mahim Creek. This swampy area acts as a buffer between land and sea. Sewage and garbage dumps have also destroyed mangroves. The most acclaimed Mindspace (INORBIT MALL) in Goregaon Malad has been built by destroying a large patch of Mangrooves in Maharashtra.1 ^ http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/Flood/statusreport.pdf Recorded data from government offices Parameter Recorded loss Actual loss Human life loss 1094 2500 Spoilt Rickshaw 25000 370000 Taxis Damaged 3250 4000 BEST Buses Damaged 745 900 Trucks and tempo grounded 6900 10000 Local Trains damaged 43 52 Preparedness expectation from government Loopholes in preparedness in actual system Clean and clear drainage Household waste filled drainages join major nallas and river banks 20 Active out flow gates Only 4 working channel gates 1000 trained volunteers for quick response Appointed procedure and training is pending Result and Recommendations Strategic Planning First is the requirement of suitable methods to make decisions when criteria to choose are too many. Information Analysis System (IAS): A process that systematically access, integrate and analyze the information fragmented in various dependents and independent variables by arranging them in proper hierarchy. To present a new method of calculating risk probability of flood hazard by analyzing data gathered from census, land use mapping, geomorphic details of land cover. Using the above analyzed and integrated data in software like GIS for Hazard mapping. This flood vulnerability risk probability will give the probability of being flooded when certain level of rainfall occur as well as other decision factors of different level and sub factors are also present like high tide, distance of active water gates from sea. It will also suggest methods to nullify some decision factors or level of sub factors at appropriate time so that loss of life and assets can be reduced. To calculate flood vulnerability probability (FVP) there are set of primary data collected from topographic maps, population data of the regional divisions of Mumbai, Atlas Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO), and Statistical Offices respectively. The FVP is calculated for possible inundated areas of Mumbai. FVP is divided into five category very low, low, medium, high and very high. The categories are based on histogram distribution and the Flood Hazard Maps. Higher the FVP, higher the risk of inundation and water logging threat. The flood hazard map presents relevant and accurate analysis through GIS environment. Flood vulnerability probability (FVP) FVP= à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (Pab-RIWab) RIWabj Where, FVP = Flood vulnerability probability Pab = probability of level a of decision factor b, RIWab = relative importance weight of level a decision factor b. RIW abj = relative importance weight of sub-factor j of level a decision factor b. Level Decision factor Sub factor Overflowed nallahas Blocked nallahas Distance from connecting nallahas Low lying area Lower than average standard of low lying above sea level(ASL) Distance from sea High tide Outfalls are narrow sized Rainfall Unavailable pumping facility Flood mapping and zoning Flood hazard zoning will help in regulating flood hazard areas minimize the loss of life and assets in future. Flood management and control will help in land planning, controlling and management of water that is a scarce resource. Water needed areas of the countries will get benefitted when flood water will diverted to these areas through proper channeling. Economy of India will move to prosperity when agricultural land and densely populated areas will get sufficient water for farming and drinking Drainage modeling Population of Mumbai has risen by 60% in last 25 years. Migration to Mumbai is the main cause of increase in population. This caused pressure on existing land for housing and infrastructure and resulted in encroachment of land, Nallas, and Mithi river and other river banks and on drainage system. Drainage modeling requires: Emphasis on proper land use planning This is the best method for achieving the goal of Freeing Mumbai from Flood. It requires systematic data collection on the work done in this area and them compiling relevant data to make an action plan. After discussing plan of action with concerned authorities testing it in small area , if it work effectively then apply it in all areas of Mumbai in phases. Mumbai suffers from flood situation when there is heavy rain (or not so heavy rain) and the water does not dispose off in reasonable time. The well known reasons are increasing population, scarcity of land, use of no development zones, without increasing capacity of nallahs constructions are done there, diversion of Mithi river to make airport, disappearance of small lakes and ponds increase in slums whose waste directly goes in water ways. Flood in every monsoon season is become severe in low lying areas of Mumbai which become more dangerous in high tide situation because nallahs width in those areas in narrow and natural drainage is restricted due to new developments like in SV road and LBS marg. The present drainage system in the city consists of underground single water drainages discharging into the sea through short outfalls. The present drainage system in the suburban areas consists of creeks so rainwater runoff towards there. A system of open surface drain consists here. Massive infrastructure development along with cementing of roads and increasing their heights effects water absorbing capacity. To expedite projects that could curb flooding in Mumbai, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee increased the allocation for the Brihanmumbai storm water drain (Brimstowad) project in the current fiscal year from Rs200 crore, earmarked during the interim budget, to Rs500 crore (source DNA ). The project will help the BMC increase the water retention capacity of existing storm water drains. A fact-finding committee appointed to look into reasons for the July 26, 2005, deluge had suggested this as an immediate measure. The Manmohan Singh government, which was at the helm even then, had then agreed to completely fund the Rs1, 200-crore project. Statistics of Mumbais drainage system network: Length of nallahs and drain Type Island city Eastern suburb Western Suburb Total Major Nallah(km) Width >1.5m 9 90 101 200 Minor nallah(km) Width 21 66 42 129 Drain (km) 59 40 51 150 Road side open drain 20 669 1297 1986 Closed pipe drain 443 36 86 565 No. of water entrances 27893 609 1706 30208 System of Rainwater disposal in Mumbai Outfall Island city Eastern suburb Western suburb Total Discharge in Arabian sea 107 29 136 Mahim creek 4 8 14 26 Mahul creek 4 6 10 Thane creek 14 14 Total 186 Outfalls which are below sea level are 45, outfalls which are above sea level but below high tide level are 135 and outfalls above high tide levels are 6. Maintenance of natural drainage There are many natural drainage in Mumbai. Maintaining them is also one efficient method to reduce emergencies like 26th July 2005 flood. Tulsi lake: Its dam have 2 spillways which discharge into Dahisar river and Vihar lake. Vihar lake: Its spillways discharge into Mithi river. Powai lake: Its discharge also meets Mithi river Mahul and Vakola lake, two branches of Mithi River which were existed till 1976 in the map of Mumbai now disappeared on the cost of development. Developing a new action plan for these holding rivers by developing new drain in city and suburbs, and installing new gates and pumping stations is under progress. Management of local disposal and waste: One effective and sustainable solution is to use efficient, cost effective and automated waste collection and processing technology specifically in metro cities is using effective piping system like shown below: Figure 5.: Management of local disposal and waste CAD software gives an integrated drainage design suite that facilitates engineers with powerful but easy to use system convert digital surveyed data into a detailed digital model on ground very quickly. The model can be used to design roadmaps, their alignments and design drainage system, long-sections and cross-sections with the help of CAD software. These ground models can be used for many other applications like land fill management, mineral extraction. Modified Rational Method used for Drainage designs and Foul drainage networks and can be tested for flood conditions using a Powerful Simulation module. Typical flood prevention methods and techniques with sustainable systems such as ingress pavements, paver blocks, parkings and pedestrian walkways shall be used. Research undertaken to examine local governments capacity to manage recovery activities after Mumbai 26th July 2005 flood has shown that their overall performance in conclusion is, in-consistent and problematic(Mehta Report 2006). The reason was lack of resources and poor planning (K B Singh et al. 2007); the difficulty local officials faced was lack of proper planning between pre and post disaster period; Resource dependence on the state government; lack of adequate numbers of professionalized staff; poor leadership and bureaucratic and legal constraints; and the lack of awareness among powerful citizen and business groups that overshadow local government officials efforts. The locally based reconstruction efforts, such as aid that does not meet the needs of the victims and the possibility to delegate all responsibility on local involvement. On the basis of a study of the recovery processes after the flood of 26 July 2005 in Mumbai, public opinion clearly indicates that government j urisdictions, especially local governments, have little guidance to direct their recovery activities. Overcoming recovery implementation problems Is it possible to overcome the problem of local government capacity to manage the disaster recovery process? Researchers showed successful local recovery by communities at their own level. I studied 14 municipal Wards (Chembur, Malad, Borivali, Juhu, Goregaon,Vile Parle, Mahalaxmi, Kurla, Bandra, Kandivali, Tardeo, Sion, Matunga, Wadala) recovery processes and found that the speed and quality of recovery appeared . That was the function of three factors: (1) productive intergovernmental relationships, (2) effective competition for scarce resources, and (3) effective management of CBO decision making. Pre disaster planning was not there because nobody at authority level had imagined such terrific flood situation so post flood recovery was slow and unsatisfactory, which encouraged communities in these wards to organize processes for more timely and efficient action at their own level, clarify key recovery roles and responsibilities, identify and secure  ¬Ã‚ nancing, and avoid repeti tion of such emergencies again in future. Many plans are dif ¬Ã‚ cult to implement; they at least draw our attention to some important features of the recovery process. In particular, they highlight the importance of collective action involving multiple organizations-from both the public and private sectors-which cross governmental jurisdictions. One promising  ¬Ã‚ nding from the Emergency preparedness recovery plans comes from an assessment of the Mumbais roads, railways, drainage system, waste disposal system, municipality proactiveness in future. The citizens and local of ¬Ã‚ cials improvised a successful adaptive strategy that should implemented in the city directly for managing the recovery process. Inter and intra-community network and the local recovery process I found that the degree of integration among organizations that comprise the emergency response network prior to flood in Mumbai is a reliable predictor of readiness and response effectiveness in future. In this regard I conveyed the idea to the Disaster Research Center, the stronger and more well de ¬Ã‚ ned the inter-organizational linkages are prior to an event, the smoother subsequent rescue related activities will go. CBO preparedness is synonymous to Emergency preparedness which requires response effectiveness, and strong structural inter-organizational relations. The role of self-evident natural networks and self-organization in emergency preparedness is necessary and required very much. After 5 years Wards of Mumbai are very considerable in their capacity to respond to 26th July 2005 type emergencies. Emergency groups are now aware about recovery and redevelopment processes. This is a particularly important problem in the reconstruction and recovery phase, where competition over resources and CBO redevelopment goals often replaces the immediate post event spirit of cooperation. Conceptual model of the local recovery process The response phase of emergency management of flood like situations in Mumbai, some of the lessons learned in that context may be transferable to the recovery and reconstruction phases. A variety of studies suggesting that the capacity of citizens and organizations involved in recovery to adapt to changing conditions is higher and inter-organizational aid delivery systems are more capable of meeting the needs and capacities of disaster stricken citizens when intra-CBO and inter-governmental ties are strong. The importance of three key variables related to CBO problem-solving capacity: horizontal integration, vertical integration, and network centralization. Horizontal integration refers to relations among the individuals and organizations within a community. Thus, a CBO with a high degree of horizontal integration is characterized by a tightly knit social network with relatively equal power distributions and features frequent, sustained interactions and communications. Conversely, communities with a low degree of horizontal integration have a weakly knit social fabric. Vertical integration de-scribes a CBOs relations with extra CBO systems. A CBOs ties with larger political, social, and economic institutions may explain resource and information transfers and in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence the extent to which these institutions are dependent on their environment. Network centralization refers to the power and control structure of the network, and whether network links and activities are organized around any particular one or small group of organizations. Integration and centralization are important complementary measures. Integration is a measure of the extent to which organizations in a system are interconnected; centralization describes the extent to which horizontal and vertical cohesion is organized around particular focal points. Horizontal and Vertical Integration and the Role of Focal Organizations The potential relationships between horizontal and vertical integration and depicts four types of communities. The dominant recovery strategies that characterize each type of CBO. A type I CBO is ideally suited for an effective recovery effort. Communities of this type have well-developed ties to external resources and programs as well as viable horizontal networks that enable it to exert in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence over CBO recovery activities. Such type of communities rely on preexisting stores of social capacity and cohesion are formed in Mumbai they are showing self-organizing behavior. CBO types by degree of horizontal and vertical integration and disaster recovery strategies. Horizontal integration was high owing to the high degree of interest in and experience with political activities on the part of the citizen ship. The local government develops new partnerships and capabilities with its citizens. A cooperative association of households known as the Neighborhood Survival Network (NSN) was established to facilitate citizen self-help in future disasters. The high degree of horizontal integration played a vital role in aiding overlooked minority and low-income populations in rural mountain neighborhoods and in providing a basis for increasing vertical integration. The central Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) utilized the well-established ties developed by the NSN to assess needs and distribute assistance. Emergency experienced by the people of Mumbai that day stimulated local horizontal integration. Subsequently, local problem-solving capacity was expanded by ve rtical integration between federal relief efforts and local CBO organizations. A type II CBO is an autonomous, relatively isolated CBO with few vertical ties. These types of communities are also formed in Mumbai they have viable horizontal social networks; they suffer from a lack of knowledge about and interaction with important external resources. Communities of this type will adopt a strategy of cooperation with potential resources providers, such as the state or federal government. In type II CBO they have a highly active network of, social clubs, and CBO groups. Owing to the high degree of horizontal integration, the CBO rapidly mobilized its limited resources to set up evacuation centers, provide food and safe drinking water, and establish communication channels to disseminate recovery information. But the scale of the disaster, coupled with the inexperience of local public officials with central governmental disaster aid programs. The city received assurances from FEMA that they would be helped every step of the way. Corruption and bureaucracy is a part o ur system that had eaten up a large share of the relief package. Despite the public pleadings of civic leaders, governments aid was delayed for several weeks. Meanwhile, people discovered that the governments monies would cover only a small portion of the damages. A type III CBO is in a classic state of dependency. They also involved in number in Mumbai lacking a viable horizontal network, it is less likely to take into account local needs, concerns, or values in the recovery effort. A type III CBO does have the advantage of strong vertical ties and channels to facilitate the delivery external aid. They have disproportionate share of disaster-related resources are allocated by the central government. These types of communities will adopt a dual strategy of recovery. Because horizontal cohesion is weak, local policy makers must engage in a strategy based on the cooptation of important constituencies within the CBO. However, owing to strong vertical linkages, these communities will be able to make claims on external resources. In Mumbai such communities are politically powerful communities can bypass normal relief channels and, in effect, coerce the central government into providing massive aid. Overall horizontal integration in such communities is low. Its vertical ties, particularly with corporators and relief and emergency management agencies, are quite strong. As a consequence, these type of communities bypass many of the intergovernmental aid hurdles that other jurisdictions  ¬Ã‚ nd so difficult. Indeed, owing to corporators intervention and the high level of government interest, the aid was mobilized with speed. The main point is to ensure that large amounts of government aid poured into the city and to placate affected groups in the communities. Despite the rapid government response, weak horizontal linkages slowed reconstruction efforts as private property owners and local officials squabbled over the details of CBO recovery. A type IV type of CBO is in large number in Mumbai. They face signi ¬Ã‚ cant obstacles in undertaking successful recovery efforts because it lacks access to external resources. Even if these vertical channels are activated, the lack of intra CBO integration severely limits the ability to man-age the aid process or to in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence the direction of recovery efforts. CBO leaders in this situation will  ¬Ã‚ nd their strategic options limited to attempting to mediate con ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ict. They had a much lower capacity to cope with the demands of disaster recovery than the communities. Many nongovernmental organization operating in Mumbai after the disaster, with good administrative staff residing in the CBO. A low degree of horizontal and vertical integration was that disaster recovery initiatives were, for the most part, organized outside of the CBO, with little input from the local people. A disaster recovery board was created to oversee recovery and reconstruction. Sometimes committee suffers from internal politics and social resistance. The ability or inability of a CBO to activate horizontal and vertical networks to engage in reconstruction activities is likely related to the presence or absence of focal organizations in the CBO. The focal organizations may or may not governmental entities. Cooperative CBO groups are perfectly capable of taking on this role. The importance of centralized, coordinating mechanisms in disaster response networks are significant. The key actors at the focal points of emergency response networks tend to play a critical role in the formation and maintenance of inter organizational relationships. It is not yet known precisely what role centralized personnel play in the recovery and reconstruction processes. Conclusion: Studies of communities suffering through the aftermath of large-scale disasters consistently  ¬Ã‚ nd that local government of ¬Ã‚ cials play the critical role in shaping the path of recovery and reconstruction. Strategic choices made by local decision makers both before and after an event determine the success of both the immediate and long-term recovery processes. Communities effective as local decision makers increased and also their ability to act, reason to act, and knowledge of what to do. These  ¬Ã‚ ndings highlight the importance of training local government of ¬Ã‚ cials to cope with CBO needs in the disaster recovery phase has increased. After this flood in Mumbai CBO leaders and local government of ¬Ã‚ cials take steps before and after such event to enhance the likelihood of achieving successful recovery and reconstruction outcomes analysis. 1. Develop a recovery plan based on the strengths and weaknesses of your particular CBO. Local of ¬Ã‚ cials are proactive in areas prone to such floods and developing a disaster recovery plans that incorporate speci ¬Ã‚ c information about the strengths and weaknesses of the area. Although emergency response plans are mandated in most jurisdictions, strategic choices in the recovery phase are often made without prior planning. The recovery plan should incorporate with anticipation and re-silience . Anticipation attempts to avoid hypothesized hazards before the fact (planning); resilience is concerned with dealing with events after they have occurred (learning). The recovery plan should be both realistic and  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exible. 2. Utilize preexisting areas organizations in the recovery process whenever possible. In the recovery model, there are numerous local organizational and citizen capabilities that can be integrated into the recovery process. For instance, horizontal integration can involve organizational collaboration between CBO-based groups and local government. Furthermore, the experience documented by the limited research on disaster recovery shows that vertical integration can be more effective at meeting local needs when activities that strengthen horizontal integration before and during recovery are present. Local government need to know how to use the potentially relevant organizations and policy tools. 3. Designate a focal organization or create a recovery response team with representatives of the multiple organizations that will play a leadership role during the recovery process. It is difficult to convince local governments to place a high priority on planning for low-probability of flood. Emergent recovery networks operate more effectively if they are managed by a central actor. The focal organization or the recovery team should not attempt to control resources or centralize decision making. Rather, their role will be to facilitate information processing for the other stakeholders in the process. 4. Develop and maintain intergovernmental relationships. Successful recovery depends on the timely provision of resources from the state and cental governments. In large-scale disasters, a relatively large number of countries and cities are often competing for the aid and the attention of the same group of relief administrators. The ability to obtain the necessary resources without serious delays depends on the extent to which local of ¬Ã‚ cials understand the intergovernmental relationships in which the CBO is embedded. Nearly all emergency preparedness plans and programmes prepared by various levels of governments have preexisting relationships with state and central agencies. These relationships will be the starting point for developing intergovernmental partnerships in times of emergency. 5. Learn from other parts of country experiences. Although 26th July 2005 Mumbai flood was unique, there are lessons that can be learned by examining the successes and failures of other parts of country that have been visited by same type of emergency. Local government officials should develop relationships with their counterparts in communities that have been through disasters to share information about the recovery process. Lesson learned Unplanned urbanization should be stopped immediately especially when ecological balancing element mangroves are destructed. Improving inadequate capacity of existing drainage system by new drainage designs and ensuring there will be no possibility of drainage congestion. Traffic situation should also need modification. RTO should be

Introduction To Slavery In America History Essay

Introduction To Slavery In America History Essay Slavery in America developed its roots way back to when American explorers discovered the new world. As a result, the whites started to use the African folks as workers in their plantations and homes as slaves. The African natives that were taken back to America as slaves were of various ages and sex. The women would work in the homes as cooks and cleaners while the men spent their days in the plantation tending to the crops. The young girls helped with minor house works and the boys were tasked with the duties of bailing the hay and loading goods and crops on wagons. During the civil war, most of the Black men were recruited into the army to aid in the fight. After the fight, the thirteenth amendment was enacted on December 18th 1865 under the proclamation of the then secretary of state. It aimed at abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude of the Blacks. It was the first of the reconstruction acts enacted post the civil war. This amendment was soon after improved by the 14th ame ndment which gave the African Americans citizenship but little constitution rights. This was abridged by the 15th amendment which gave the African American males right to vote in the general elections during the reconstruction era The term reconstruction era refers to the period between 1865 and 1877 after the great American civil war. It is the time in the US history whereby the governments of the various states put in motion efforts in a bid to solve the social, economic and political problems that came about due to the establishment of the 11 confederate states union that had disintegrated before or during the war. It was during this period that the Pres. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (April 1865) due to his lenient policies and proposed passing of the 14th amendment (1866) which aimed at granting the black Americans full citizenship. This move was called for by the fact that there were newly established states that required governance and the in economic, social and political recovery aspects required that all people work together irrespective of their differences in a bid to achieve growth and development. However, these propositions were met with high disregards from the public; majority of whom belie ved that the blacks were meant to be slaves and had no rights. Consequently there developed riots and black codes which were meant to restrict blacks from their rights especially in the south. The 14th amendment was passed during the reign of President Andrew Johnson. However, the southern states established the Black Codes which refers to the laws passed by these governments in order to limit the rights given to the freed African Americans. The 14th amendment gave the slaves a right to citizenship but the Black Codes prohibited them from voting, jury duty, possessing weapons, testifying against the whites and even working in certain positions secured for the white folks  [1]  . As a result of this, the radical republicans supported the passing of the civil rights bill which was intended to protect the African Americans from these Black Codes. However in April 1866, Pres. Andrew Johnson banned this bill claiming that America was a land for the Whites and should be governed by the white folks. Additionally, he claimed that the whites are a superior race to the blacks in terms of abilities and intellect. These statements clearly showed the extent of racism and inequality that existed between the two races. The radical republicans were able to yet again pass the civil rights bill in 1867. This move led to the rise of organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) whose main aim was to frighten and terrorize the African Americans from exercising their rights (voting). The civil right bill did not suffice in protecting the African Americans from the Black Codes and other forms of racial injustices and inequalities. In a bid to justify these racial tendencies, governments in the US enacted the Jim Crow laws between 1876 and 1965. These were state and local laws in the US that supported racial segregation in public places such as public schools, transportation, restaurants and entertainment venues as well as restrooms for Whites and Blacks  [2]  . These laws by default resulted in inferior treatment of the Blacks in terms of accommodations, resource allocation, quality of products and services and even prices. Consequently the Black community in the States experienced a number of economic and social disadvantages due to the enactment of these laws in comparison to the Whites. Despite all these hardships, the African Americans still increased in numbers and managed to survive under these conditions. To counter this, the segregation worsened to a p oint where the Blacks were not allowed in some premises owned by whites, localities (residential estates occupied by whites), or even churches. This means that the Blacks lived in different areas away from the White communities and had their own religious and economic systems different from that of the White folks. In addition to this, interracial relationships were prohibited and if realized; punishable by death (blacks). In 1896, the Supreme Court decided that the Louisiana law supporting racial segregation under the doctrine of separate but equal was constitutional. This ruling was brought about in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. According to the Jim Crow laws, transportation of the Blacks was also segregated and as such, they had their own railway cars different from the ones used by the whites. In this case, Plessy a 1/8th black American citizen, was arrested in 1892 for boarding a car designated for the whites. Under the Louisiana laws, he was considered as a black person and as such was arrested for civil disobedience. The case managed to get to the Supreme Court and after a while a vote of 7 to1 majority won the case. In 1879, Plessy pleaded guilty to the crime. This case sealed the foundation of the segregation laws and was used to further justify the segregation of color practiced thereafter  [3]  . In fact, it clarified the fact that segregation was legal as long as the facilities provided to both races were of the same quality. The southern States however did not provide the Blacks with quality facilities or even equal resources. This case actually justified the separation of race and inequalities in the States up to 1954 when it was overturned by the ruling made by the Supreme Court as pertaining to the Brown v. Board of Education case. In addition to this, the congress passed the freedman act post civil war in March 1865. This act was established in order to punish the confederates who refused to surrender 60 days after the civil war  [4]  . The act stipulated that the slaves of such people would be freed. The congress therefore established this bureau to help the refugees and slaves left destitute due to the civil war. The main aim of this bureau was to assist these people settle, acquire land and to protect them from their former masters. Additionally, this bureau helped in developing schools, hospitals and other social amenities for the slaves and the citizens who had participated in the war but were displaced or otherwise left penniless by the whole ordeal. However, the Jim Crow laws to a large extent prohibited the effectiveness of this act through the limitations pertaining to land ownership and segregations. These laws had adverse effects on the social lives of the blacks in the United States. They all seemed to fuel racism among the people. Collectively, these laws were designed to oppress the blacks and restrict their rights. As such, there were wide spread inequalities based on color (race). For example, the Jim Crow laws advocated for racial segregation under the cloak of separate but equal doctrine. However, there was no equality especially since the facilities offered to the whites were far more superior as compared to those afforded to the Blacks. Also the fact that the Blacks went to different schools, restaurants, restrooms and even used different transport systems clearly showed increased racism in the United States. In addition to this, they also facilitated the presence of second class status among the races. This situation was mostly brought about by the Black Codes. Despite the fact that the 14th amendment gave the Blacks freedom and a right to citizenship, the Black Codes restricted them to exercise certain rights awarded to citizens such as voting, working in some positions, carrying firearms or even testifying against the whites. Consequently, the Blacks were inferior to the whites and their opinions carried no weight towards the political and social development and growth of the US. The fact that the 14th and 15th amendments seemed to favor the Blacks and abolish slavery did not auger well with most states in the south. As a result, some faction groups and organizations were formed in order to terrorize and oppress the Blacks. One such group was the Ku Klux Klan which was established in 1866 in Tennessee with a set goal to ensure that the Blacks who had won the right to vote in the 1867 elections did not exercise this right. It was a racist group that claimed to undo what the civil war and the voting commissions had done to the US. In 1915, the organization diverted its wrath to the immigrants and Catholic Church who they claimed were anti US activists by supporting the Blacks. The rise of such factions brought about various human injustices like lynching of the Blacks, brutalities some leading to death and various forms of intimidation. For example, if a Black person went into the wrong restaurant owned by whites or was seen talking to a white person, this constituted to a thorough beating or even imprisonment. These acts of lawlessness were further fueled by the fact that even the law enforcement agencies were not fond of the Black communities. Many cases were reported where crosses were burnt in the Black communities by members of the KKK as an intimidation technique used to scare the Blacks from voting or interacting with the whites. In addition to this, the whites used signs and symbols to separate the places that these races were allowed to visit. Consequently, this led to regional segregation whereby markets and entertainment venues as well as residential areas for the blacks were isolated far from those of the whites. In some states, the use of sign s was supported by the laws to further dictate and enforce the segregation laws. After the civil war, most of the blacks demanded for repatriations for the slavery. However these pleas fell into deaf ears and as such, poverty loomed among the Black community. This situation was worsened by the establishment of the Black code laws which prohibited the Blacks from property ownership including land and housing  [5]  . In addition to this, Blacks under these laws were not allowed to work in certain positions and were left with very few options such as working in the white farms and other odd jobs which attracted very low salaries and wages. On the same note, their businesses could not thrive due to the fact that the whites could not buy from the blacks or even supply them with the products to sell. All these factors led to an increase in poverty amongst the Black community. In addition to this, the Jim Crow laws prohibited the blacks from owning land. As a result, they had no choice but to rent out pieces of land from the whites a fact that led to the rise of sharecropping. This system seemed to thrive since most white farmers had large chunks of land and little money to pay laborers especially after the war. Consequently, they struck a bargain with the black laborers entailing that they attend to the land for a small fee, shelter and basic provisions a factor that seemed to cater for the immediate needs of both races under the prevailing circumstances. To further ensure that the Blacks were occupied at all times, the governments and local states put in place vagrancy laws. These were among the black code laws and dictated that all unemployed or wandering Blacks be arrested. These laws were specifically designed to arrest the Blacks since the penalty fees were too high and most of them could not foot the bill. As a result, they could be sent to county labor or be hired as workers for private people. As such, the laws ensured that there was enough labor to go around for the white farmers. As mentioned earlier, these laws seemed to advocate for racism and segregation against the blacks. As a result, they affected the cultural bearing of the African Americans in all aspects. For example, the racism and segregation led to the establishment of black churches. Since the Blacks were not allowed to attend white churches, they had to establish their own religious foundations. These protestant churches focused on developing hope for the blacks who experienced hardships and oppression for the whites  [6]  . Eventually, as the churches grew larger, they offered education to their members in a bid to improve their status and chances of bettering their lives. The music developed by the Blacks during this era was mainly of blues and jazz nature. These were somber songs sang to provide hope to the Blacks through the hardships that they faced. In addition to this, the rhythms were thought to have originated from the African continent and were perfected in the states. The Blacks were known to sing as they worked in the fields. These songs were later modified and improved over the years to form the now known Blues and jazz. As per the sports, the African Americans were still segregated and discriminated upon. However, there were some exceptions such as Moses Fleetwood who was known as the first Black player to play the baseball major leagues with the whites despite his race, or other athletes who showed exceptional talent in the sporting arenas. In addition to this, the Blacks also developed their own Negro league which they used to facilitate communication and interactions amongst themselves since visiting each other was risky under the vagrancy laws. The food common to the African Americans was called soul food. The term originated from the fact that the term soul referred to the Black culture for example soul music or soul train. The origin of the food traces its roots back to the African continent and was introduced to America through the transatlantic slave trade in the late 1870s. The cuisine included meals made of sorghum, rice, cassavas and turnips. As such, these meals became the dietary staples common to the enslaved Africans. During the Jim Crow era, education to the African Americans was viewed as a source of inspiration to fight for change against the oppression that prevailed for a very long time. In as much as the Blacks faced various challenges in accessing educational facilities, the church played a pivotal role in providing access to such amenities. The Blacks were realized to be high academic achievers due to their motivation and persistence in a bid to get a better life and to fight for a better future for the generations to come. Due to the oppressive state that the blacks were experiencing in the states, most of them opted to find ways to migrate back to their mother land. The whites on the other hand oppressed and harassed the Black folks with an aim of pushing them back to Africa. As such, the Blacks believed that the whites were superior to them and figured that there would be more chances and opportunities for them back in Africa. Consequently, this led to an increase in migration of the Blacks to other countries such as Liberia where they felt less intimidated by the whites and at the same time got a feeling of belonging after the hard and struggle full life  [7]  . Conclusion Slavery and segregation tormented the lives of the Africans at the wake of the 19th century. In as much as the 14th and the 15th amendments made attempts to protect and reward the blacks for their efforts, many a white folks still felt superior to them. This led to the establishment of archaic laws and policies formulated to justify the racism and other forms of injustice targeting the Black folks. However, the African Americans surprised the whole world by persisting through it all until such a time that they would realize true freedom and equality among the various races.