Saturday, November 30, 2019

Liberty University the Significance of the Calling of Paul the Apostle Annotated Bibliography free essay sample

G. A. â€Å"Saul who also is Called Paul. † Harvard Theological Review 33, no. 1 (Ja 1940): 19–33. G. A. Harrer talks about the possibilities of the change in Paul’s name from Saul in this paper. The name change of Saul has always fascinated many. In Acts, Luke mentions twice, Saul (who is also called Paul). Before this, he is only called Saul. After this, he is only called Paul, except when referring to his past. In his letters he even calls himself Paul. What made him change his name and why? What is the significance of this change? Hedrick, Charles W. â€Å"Paul’s Conversion/Call: A Comparative Analysis of the Three Reports in Acts. † Journal of Biblical Literature 100, no. 3 (S 1981): 415–432. C. Hedrick talks about the miracle of Paul’s conversion. He compares and contrasts the three accounts and determines the story of Paul as Luke saw it. The only way to truly understand, he says, is to compare all three accounts side by side. We will write a custom essay sample on Liberty University the Significance of the Calling of Paul the Apostle Annotated Bibliography or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page McDonough, Sean M. â€Å"Small Change: Saul to Paul, Again. † Journal of Biblical Literature 125, no. 2 (Sum 2006): 390–391. S. McDonough talks about the name change of Saul. He discusses the negative view behind Saul’s name and mulls over why the name change was significant. McDonough also touches on the introduction of Saul into the New Testament. Meyer, Wendel W. â€Å"The Conversion of St. Paul. † Anglican Theological Review 85, no. 1 (Winter 2003): 13–17. â€Å"One of the most potent influences in the process of Pauls conversion,† Meyer says, â€Å"arose from his indefatigable efforts to create and sustain communities of faith. † In this paper, W. Meyer talks about the importance of Paul’s faith and why his conversion matters so much. He focuses on what happened on the road to Damascus and what impact it had on Paul. Ralston, Timothy J. â€Å"The Theological Significance of Paul’s Conversion. † Bibliotheca Sacra 147, no. 586 (Ap–Je 1990): 198–215. T. Ralston talks about the Damascus Road as the catalyst in Saul’s life. He compares the accounts of Luke and Paul himself in seeking the answers to the importance of Saul’s conversion and why such a man would change so radically. Witherup, Ronald D. â€Å"Functional Redundancy in the Acts of the Apostles: A Case Study. † Journal for the Study of the New Testament 48 (D 1992): 67-86. R. Witherup covers the three part story of Paul’s conversion, much like Charles Hedrick did in his comparative analysis. He has used the idea of â€Å"functional redundancy† as a way to show the importance of Paul’s conversion and his life. Redundancy matters. Repetition is used to help the human brain recognize and memorize things of utmost importance.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Rise and Fall of Hitler Reich Essays - Adolf Hitler, Free Essays

The Rise and Fall of Hitler Reich Essays - Adolf Hitler, Free Essays The Rise and Fall of Hitler Reich title = The Rise and Fall of Hitler Reich The Rise and Fall of Hitlers Reich Feeling that all was lost, Hitler shot himself on April 30, 1945. By orders formally given by him before his death, SS officers immersed Hitlers body in gasoline and burned it in the garden of the Chancellery. Soon after the suicide of Hitler, the German forces surrendered. The war was officially over; however, the world was only beginning to realize the extent of its horror. The rise and sudden fall of Hitler had a sensational effect on people and nations around the world. On Easter Sunday April 20, 1889, at an inn called the Gasth of Zum Pommer, the wife of an Austrian Customs official gave birth to a son, Adolf Hitler. He was the fourth child to the parents of Alois and Klara Hitler of Austria. Hitler was a good student. He took singing lessons and sang in the church choir. When he hit an adolescent age, he began to rebel. When Hitlers dad acquired a top ranking job in the military, he wanted his son to work hard so that he might become a civil servant. Hitler wanted nothing of it. He wanted to become an artist like he always dreamed. One of the teachers in his high school classified young Hitler as "notorious, cantankerous, willful, arrogant, and irascible. He has an obvious difficulty in fitting in at school." He did well enough to get by in some of his courses but had no time for subjects that did not interest him. Years later, his former school mates would remember how Adolf would taunt his teachers and draw sketches of them in his school notebooks. Forty years later, in the sessions at his headquarters which produced the record of his table talk, Hitler recalled several times the teachers of his school days with contempt. "They had no sympathy with youth. Their one object was to stuff our brains and turn us into erudite apes themselves. If any pupil showed the slightest trace of originality, they persecuted him relentlessly". Adolf saw no real reason to stay in high school. He left school at age sixteen without a leaving certificate. In September 1907, Hitler left home taking with him all the money left to him by his father, who had died a few years earlier. The money would be enough for tuition and board at the art school in Vienna. The Vienna School of Fine Arts had strict entrance requirements. After taking the preliminary examination, the applicant was asked to submit drawings. Biblical drawings were most preferred. Hitlers drawings were returned saying they were "too wooden and too lifeless." He was rejected. He tried three months later and did not get past the preliminary exam. His artist career was over. His mother died two months later on December 21st 1907. Hitler moved into an apartment with his friend in Vienna. He pretended to be a student living off his relatives money. He read many books and sat in on the Austrian government sessions . Hitler speaks of his life in Vienna as "five years in which I had to earn my daily bread, first as a casual laborer, then as a painter of little trifles." He loitered about the streets and was hungry. He painted water postcards and peddled them on the streets. He drew several advertising posters for such things as soap, cigarettes, and deodorant. In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich. Life was not much better there until the First World War started in 1914. While many people were frightened and sad at the thought of a world war, Hitler was delighted. He held the rank of corporal, and in forty-seven battles he served on the Western Front as a dispatch runner, delivering messages back and forth between the front lines and the officers in the rear. His courage during one of these missions earned him the Iron Cross, a highly prized medal for bravery that was rarely awarded to a mere corporal . On October 13th 1918, a month before Germany surrendered to the Allies, his good luck ran out. When Hitler and his fellow dispatch runners were waiting in

Friday, November 22, 2019

Marion Mahony Griffin, On the Wright Team

Marion Mahony Griffin, On the Wright Team Marion Mahony Griffin (born Marion Lucy Mahony February 14, 1871 in Chicago) was one of the first women to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the first employee of Frank Lloyd Wright, the first woman to be licensed as an architect in Illinois, and some say the collaborative strength behind many successes attributed solely to her husband, Walter Burley Griffin. Mahony Griffin, a pioneer in a male-dominated profession, stood behind the men in her life, often foregoing attention to her own brilliant designs. After graduating from Bostons MIT in 1894, Mahony (pronounced MAH-nee) returned to Chicago to work with her cousin, another MIT alumnus, Dwight Perkins (1867–1941). The 1890s was an exciting time to be in Chicago, as it was being rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871. A new building method for tall buildings was the grand experiment of the Chicago School, and the theory and practice of architectures relationship to American society was being debated. Mahony and Perkins were commissioned to design an 11-story venue for the Steinway company to sell pianos, but the upper floors became offices to social visionaries and many young architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright. Steinway Hall (1896-1970) became well-known as the place to go for discussions in design, building practices, and American social value. It was where relationships were forged and connections established. In 1895, Marion Mahony joined the Chicago studio of a young Frank Lloyd Wright  (1867-1959), where she worked for nearly 15 years. She formed a relationship with another employee named  Walter Burley Griffin, five years younger than she, and in 1911 they married to form a partnership that lasted until his death in 1937. In addition to her home and furnishing designs, Mahony is widely praised for her architectural renderings. Inspired by the style of Japanese woodblock prints, Mahony created fluid and romantic ink and watercolor drawings decorated with flowing vines. Some architectural historians say that Marion Mahonys drawings were responsible for establishing the reputations of both Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Burley Griffin. Her Wright renderings were published in Germany in 1910 and are said to have influenced the great modern architects Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. Mahonys lush drawings on 20-foot panels are credited for winning Walter Burley Griffin the prized commission to design the new capital city in Australia. Working in Australia and later in India, Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin built hundreds of Prairie-style houses and spread the style to distant parts of the world. Their unique Knitlock houses became a model for Frank Lloyd Wright when he designed his textile block houses in California. Like many other women who design buildings, Marion Mahony became lost in the shadow of her male associates. Today, her contributions to Frank Lloyd Wrights career and also to the career of her husband are being reexamined and reevaluated. Selected Independent Projects: 1902: All Souls Church in Evanston, Illinois1949: Magic of America, by Marion Mahony Griffin, and unpublished memoir with 1,400 typed pages and nearly 700 illustrations. Reproduced online by the Art Institute of Chicago. Mahonys Projects With Frank Lloyd Wright: While she worked for Frank Lloyd Wright, Marion Mahony designed furnishings, light fixtures, murals, mosaics, and leaded glass for many of his houses. After Wright left his first wife, Kitty, and moved to Europe in 1909, Mahony completed many of Wrights unfinished houses, in some cases serving as lead designer. Her credits include the 1909 David Amberg Residence, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the 1910 Adolph Mueller House in Decatur, Illinois. Mahonys Projects With Walter Burley Griffin: Marion Mahony met her husband, Walter Burley Griffin, when they both worked for Frank Lloyd Wright. Along with Wright, Griffin was a pioneer in the Prairie School of architecture. Mahony and Griffin worked together on the design of many Prairie Style houses, including the Cooley House, Monroe, Louisiana and the 1911 Niles Club Company in Niles, Michigan. Mahony Griffin drew 20-foot long watercolor perspectives for the prize-winning Town Plan for Canberra, Australia designed by her husband. In 1914, Marion and Walter moved to Australia to oversee the construction of the new capital city. Marion Mahony managed their Sydney office for over 20 years, training draftsmen and handling commissions, including these: 1924: Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, Australia1926: Ellen Mower Home, Castlecrag, New South Wales, Australia1926: Creswick Home, Castlecrag, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia1927: S.R. Salter Residence (Knitlock construction), Toorak, Victoria, Australia1927: Vaughan Griffin Home, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia The couple later practiced in India where she supervised the design of hundreds of Prairie Style houses along with university buildings and other public architecture. In 1937, Walter Burley Griffin died suddenly in an Indian hospital after gall bladder surgery, leaving his wife to complete their commissions in India and Australia. Mrs. Griffin was well-into her 60s when she returned to Chicago in 1939. She died on August 10, 1961 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. Her husbands remains are in Lucknow, northern India. Learn More: Beyond Architecture: Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin - America, Australia, India by Anne Watson, University of Illinois Press, 1999Marion Mahony Griffin - Drawing the Form of Nature, Debora Wood, ed., Block Museum, 2005Making Magic: The Marion Mahony Griffin Story by Glenda KorporaalMarion Mahony Reconsidered by David Van Zanten, University Of Chicago Press, 2011100 Women Architects in the Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright: A Girl is a Fellow Here, DVD, 2009 Sources: Press photo from the 2013 exhibition The Dream of a Century: the Griffins in Australias Capital, National Library of Australia, Exhibition Gallery; Rediscovering a Heroine of Chicago Architecture by Fred A. Bernstein, The New York Times, January 20, 2008; Marion Mahony Griffin by Anna Rubbo and Walter Burley Griffin by Adrienne Kabos and India by Professor Geoffrey Sherington on the website of the   Walter Burley Griffin Society Inc. [accessed December 11, 2016]

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gay Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Gay Marriage - Essay Example It is relevant to take into account views of both antagonists and proponents of gay marriage. For example, Laura Kipnis claims that gay marriage is a logical continuation of relations among gay couples. Their emotional and psychological conditions should be united in the name of happiness. Moreover, gay marriage is often misperceived by the society, because attention is paid to sexual and intimate relations, but this type of relations is not considered as an option of adoption. There are a lot of orphans throughout the world and if there is a chance to provide those poor children with parents, why to take this option away from them? Analysis and Evaluation Jullian Rayfield gave a prompt answer to the question of gay marriage legalization. The article of the author named â€Å"New York State Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill† (24 June, 2011) considers background information and reactions for gay marriage in the State of New York. Many years have passed since the first time g ays made an attempt to protect their rights and initiated a struggle for their love. Currently, gay marriage was legalized in the New York State Senate and this fact should be considered as victory of gays of America. This struggle occurred on the political background, though this issue is of a social and individual nature. Gay community received support from some political parties and it shows that modern politicians are open-minded and are ready for changes and blurring of limits of the modern society. Republicans supported legalization of gay marriage, because they would undermine democratic principles of their policies. It is possible to claim that harmonious society depends on harmonious members, happy individuals, which have a chance to live their lives with their beloved persons. Why not to have a child in the families of this type? As a rule, gays are loving parents and there are no objective reasons for preventing them from being parents. There are evident changes in the mo dern society and the institute of marriage reflects these changes as well. Heterosexual marriage has changed and the role of women is different from the one they had in the beginning of the 20th century. Gay marriage as a new social institution is still unstable, but it is possible to argue that this social phenomenon has a chance to survive in the modern society. Nevertheless, the fact that gay marriage is negatively accepted in the modern society cannot be denied. Thus, Bidstrup is focused on morality of gay marriage. There are many social stereotypes, which have been developed in the society for many years and gay marriage is often positioned as a morally perverted phenomenon, which is not appropriate even for the modern diverse society. This fact can be explained by considerations of gay marriage in emotional context, where the main emphasis is made on intimate and sexual relations of gays and not on their social roles (Bawr, 1994). Gays are perceived as abnormal or deviant indi viduals, which reach their satisfaction in a perverse manner. It is better to discuss an option of gay marriage as a socially beneficial phenomenon, when two beloved persons are able to contribute much to the development of the community and of the society as well. Moreover, gay marriage and adoption of children should be considered as socially favorable phenomena, because both these factors will create atmosphere of tolerance, patience and understanding in the society. It is possible to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Changes in Higher Learning Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Changes in Higher Learning - Research Proposal Example This implies that there are the great emphasis and increased focus on what specific majors translate to in terms of a job. The increased concentration on careers that follow after college education has led to an abandonment of some majors, mainly arts, which cannot be easily related to the desired careers. As a result of this abandonment, institutions have also started changing and focusing more on professional majors. According to Breneman’s research, many art colleges were shifting attention and focusing more on professional fields (Baker, Baldwin and Makker 2012, para. 4). This implies that some majors may totally be forgotten in the future if this shift continues. The shift to professional fields could be greatly be attributed to economic changes and need for more finances. Liu, et al. argued that many students are more concerned about well-paying jobs hence increased focus on a qt professional job as opposed at arts that may arguably be seen to basically provide meaningful philosophies of lift. in Baker, Baldwin and Makker 2012, para.5). Zernike echoes this basing her argument on a survey carried out by the University of California that showed a great shift of focus on comparing student’s goals in 1971 and 2009. â€Å"In 2009, 78 percent of freshmen students were more focused on wealth while only 48 percent were after meaningful philosophy as opposed to 1971 where only 37 percent were focused on wealth while 73 percent were focused on meaningful philosophy† (2009, para.7).  

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Office Equipment Company Essay Example for Free

Office Equipment Company Essay Therefore, they had to choose a suitable candidate. OEC didn’t have manufacturing facilities in El Salvador, but they had been selling there for more than 22 years at that time. The sales and profits proved to be improving every year. In 1993, OEC decided to construct a factory. The components of the machines would be imported and assembled locally as El Salvador could offer a big supply of cheap labour force. The construction would be supervised by an American technical team. The director, also American, would report to US all problems regarding the production and quality-control and to the managing director from El Salvador, all problems regarding the accounting, the finance and labour relations. The managers from foreign subsidiaries of OEC are used to being rotate among foreign and domestic locations which offered them an important international experience. II. The Problem The main problem outlined in the case study is that the committee does not know which candidate would best fit the managing director’s position. Causes for the problem Current managing director has handed in his resignation and will leave in one month * Current OEC policy only allows for promoting, not hiring from outside the company. Negative effects Long-Term * Loss of international competitiveness if new managing director isn’t capable of handling his duties. * The image of OEC in El Salvador may be affected if wrong candidate is selected. Short-Term * New appointed managing director may not prove to be competent. * Delayed operations if the candidate is not selected before the end of the one month. * Loss of clients if candidate not selected on time. Cultural-differences between new managing director and local staff which may lead to conflicts, if inappropriate US candidate is selected. Communication problems, if poor Spanish speaking candidate. III. Alternative Solutions 1. Choosing Tom Zimmerman Tom Zimmerman is an experience manager that has been working for OEC for 30 years. Therefore, he knows very well all the technical and sales aspects of the company and he was considered very competent in his managerial duties. However, Tom doesn’t speak Spanish at all and, in El Slavador, this crucial for doing business. He is married, but his wife doesn’t speak Spanish also, which would make their life very difficult in El Slavador. They have a big family, but their children live separately at their houses in US. Having a considerable age, both of them, they would likely prefer to stay in the US, closer to their children and grandchildren. Also, Tom doesn’t have any international experience as he never worked abroad. He only visited the company foreign facilities, but this would not have provided him the experience necessary to deal with the cultural differences and everyday problems. Advantages: * 30 years of experience for the OEC; * Important technical knowledge and sales aspects; * Competent in the management duties; * Used with this kind of operations; * His current post will become redundant. Disadvantages: * No international experience; * Doesn’t speak Spanish; * Retirement is planned in 4,5 years; * Married; his wife also doesn’t speak Spanish. 2. Choosing Brett Harrison Brett Harrison has an important experience of 15 years with the OEC and is viewed as a very competent employee capable of reaching a higher rank in management. He is in charge of the regional office of the Latin America and even if he had never travelled abroad, he visited frequently this region. He is married and, both he and his wife speak Spanish. However, they have two children, aged fourteen and fifteen, that are in school and could cause a problem for them by switching not only school, but also countries. Also, his wife has a stable position in marketing at a pharmaceutical company. In case of moving into another country, she could find difficulties in finding a job, or she could not be satisfied of her new job compared to the old one. Advantages: * 15 years of experience for OEC; * Highly competent; * Speaks Spanish; * His wife also speaks Spanish; Disadvantages: * Frequently travelled to Latin America, but never been based abroad; * His wife is employed at a stable workplace; * His children are in school, even if they are starting to learn Spanish; 3. Choosing Carolyn Moyer At the age of 37, Carolyn Moyer is the second oldest proposed candidate as well as the only female. Twelve years ago she attained her MBA from a prestigious university and also was an undergraduate in international affairs at the time she joined OEC. During her work at the company she has become acquainted with having responsibility as a Line authority as well as Staff authority. For the past two years she was second in charge of a product group with similar size as the one from El Salvador; which she managed â€Å"excellently†. She has shown interest in having international responsibilities since she started working for the company. She speaks Spanish well and is not currently married, which may ease her transition from the States to El Salvador. Carolyn Moyer happens to be the second oldest proposed candidate, but also has more than a decade of experience working for OEC. Currently in the Republic of El Salvador there is a strong gender role culture: men occupy the important jobs, whereas women as assistants and other clerical or support positions; only up until recently have started working as doctors, teachers and dentists. As of now women do not yet hold high ranking positions in the business sector. El Salvador ratified the International Agreement on Work Discrimination only in 1995, and the International Agreement on Equal Pay amongst men and women in 2000. Advantages: * Holds MBA from prestigious university. * Has experience at having both Line and Staff responsibilities. 2 years experience of co-managing a large product group. Interested in international responsibilities. * Undergraduate in international affairs. * Speaks Spanish well. * Not married. Disadvantages: * Second oldest candidate, 37 years of age. * Machismo is deeply rooted in the Republic of El Salvador. 4. Choosing Francisco Cabrera Francisco Cabrera, a Mexican citizen has worked for OEC for the past twelve years in the Mexican division and is at the moment one of the assistant managing directors in the Mexican operation tasked with producing and selling products on the Mexican market. After seven years when the current managing director would have normally retired, he was considered to be the next in the line to take his position. Having four young children, between the ages of two and seven, may potentially cause some problems as after seven years when he should have normally taken the position, his youngest would have been nine years old and in school. Advantages: * MBA from Mexican university. * Assistant managing director. * Possesses Mexican Citizenship. * 12 years work experience for OEC in Mexico. * Was deemed as the next managing director. Speaks English â€Å"adequately†. Disadvantages: * Third oldest candidate, 35 years of age. Married with four young children. 5. Choosing Juan Moreno Juan Moreno, the youngest candidate, has worked as the assistant to the El Salvador managing director for the past four years, after obtaining an undergraduate degree from a U. S. university. He is considered competent at what he does and helped increase the sales of OEC products, due to his many connections with potential customers. He is also capable of maintaining good relations with the employees. The biggest disadvantage is that he lacks experience, as having worked the least out of all candidates, and may not have enough knowledge or skill to be competitive with high demanding tasks. Advantages: * Youngest candidate, 27 years old. * Worked as assistant to the current managing director in El Salvador. * Holds undergraduate degree from US. * Competent. * Good employee relations. * Has successfully increase OEC’s sales. * Well connected with customers. * Not married. Disadvantages: * Lacks experience. IV. Best Solution Carolyn Moyer may not fit well in the El Salvador business environment, as just a decade ago women basically had no rights. So potential clients and local staff who she comes in contact with may ignore her and disregard what she says; which makes her competences as an authority useless. It must be a man. Anyone else but Juan Moreno (lack of experience and too young), depending on who has the best Advantages to least problematic Disadvantages. Francisco Cabrera (4) is in my opinion still the best candidate, as like I said, in El Salvador women are housekeepers, and so is his wife. So the fact that he has 4 children, has little to no affect on his job; at the most the company will have to pay him a bit extra to put his children through school, which over the years could add up, but he currently makes the equivalent of $40. 000, which compared to the US candidates is very little, so I assume that his new salary (if selected) would still be less than that of an American. So it cancels out, I suppose.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Yellow Wallpaper -- essays research papers

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story that deals with many different issues that woman in the 19th century had to deal with on a daily basis. Some of these issues were within their control, but many of them were outside of the realm of control for women. The main point that I will focus on is how restricted societal roles can cause insanity. I will do this by deciphering the meaning of the "yellow wallpaper" and its symbolism. In my opinion, I believe that once we get a better understanding of the author's interest in this subject area and get a feel for life in the 19th century, then we will have a better understanding of the story. First, let's take a look at the background of Gilman before and after she wrote The Yellow Wallpaper. Gilman lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and she definitely had her fair share of troubles. Her biggest struggle in life was living within the constraints of a society that put women in a class apart from everyone else; when in her heart she felt that she was an equal counterpart to men. She suffered depression from this problem for many years, until finally she was seem by a world-famous neurologist, Dr. Weir Mitchell, who simply prescribed her with rest. This "rest period" sent her into an even deeper state of depression, which she didn't come out of until she tried to resume her normal life, along with joining the American Woman Suffrage Association as a writer and active participant. Unfortunately, Gilman's life got so bad that her condition got worse and she fell to the insanity level, eventually causing her to commit suicide with chloroform. Now that we have a little background on the author, we can take a closer look at the actual work and its characters. The two main characters of the story a narrator and her husband, John, and the story takes place in the 19th century. Life for the two is like most other marriages in this time frame, only the narrator is not like most other wives. She has this inner desire to be free from the societal roles that confine her and to focus on her writing, while John in content with his life and thinks that his wife overreacts to everything. Traditionally, in this era, the man was responsible for taking care of the woman both financially and emotionally, while the woman was solely responsible for remaining at home. This w... ...John comes home and finds the door locked. He begs her to open it and she tells him "The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf!" (Gilman 669) When he comes back and opens the door, he sees her ripping the rest of the paper off the wall, with the rope tied around her and he faints. This is when John realizes that his wife has reached the point of hysteria and is insane. But, the narrator sees it differently. She declares that she is now free by saying: "I've got out at last,..in spite of you and Jane! And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!" (Gilman 669) The one theme that I pulled out of The Yellow Wallpaper only cracks the surface of understanding this story. The wallpaper was used by Gilman as a medium to expose the constraints that were placed upon women in the 19th century. The same constraints that she utterly despised and tried so hard to get rid of them. The narrator's overexposure to the wallpaper was just like Gilman's overexposure to societal roles. They both needed to get out in order to keep their minds intact. Eventually they both did, but it took a long time and a big toll on their mental health and psyche. The Yellow Wallpaper -- essays research papers Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story that deals with many different issues that woman in the 19th century had to deal with on a daily basis. Some of these issues were within their control, but many of them were outside of the realm of control for women. The main point that I will focus on is how restricted societal roles can cause insanity. I will do this by deciphering the meaning of the "yellow wallpaper" and its symbolism. In my opinion, I believe that once we get a better understanding of the author's interest in this subject area and get a feel for life in the 19th century, then we will have a better understanding of the story. First, let's take a look at the background of Gilman before and after she wrote The Yellow Wallpaper. Gilman lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and she definitely had her fair share of troubles. Her biggest struggle in life was living within the constraints of a society that put women in a class apart from everyone else; when in her heart she felt that she was an equal counterpart to men. She suffered depression from this problem for many years, until finally she was seem by a world-famous neurologist, Dr. Weir Mitchell, who simply prescribed her with rest. This "rest period" sent her into an even deeper state of depression, which she didn't come out of until she tried to resume her normal life, along with joining the American Woman Suffrage Association as a writer and active participant. Unfortunately, Gilman's life got so bad that her condition got worse and she fell to the insanity level, eventually causing her to commit suicide with chloroform. Now that we have a little background on the author, we can take a closer look at the actual work and its characters. The two main characters of the story a narrator and her husband, John, and the story takes place in the 19th century. Life for the two is like most other marriages in this time frame, only the narrator is not like most other wives. She has this inner desire to be free from the societal roles that confine her and to focus on her writing, while John in content with his life and thinks that his wife overreacts to everything. Traditionally, in this era, the man was responsible for taking care of the woman both financially and emotionally, while the woman was solely responsible for remaining at home. This w... ...John comes home and finds the door locked. He begs her to open it and she tells him "The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf!" (Gilman 669) When he comes back and opens the door, he sees her ripping the rest of the paper off the wall, with the rope tied around her and he faints. This is when John realizes that his wife has reached the point of hysteria and is insane. But, the narrator sees it differently. She declares that she is now free by saying: "I've got out at last,..in spite of you and Jane! And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!" (Gilman 669) The one theme that I pulled out of The Yellow Wallpaper only cracks the surface of understanding this story. The wallpaper was used by Gilman as a medium to expose the constraints that were placed upon women in the 19th century. The same constraints that she utterly despised and tried so hard to get rid of them. The narrator's overexposure to the wallpaper was just like Gilman's overexposure to societal roles. They both needed to get out in order to keep their minds intact. Eventually they both did, but it took a long time and a big toll on their mental health and psyche.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Procurement In Construction And Property Commerce Essay

Within this study I will be discoursing the current procurance scheme of the N.G. Bailey administration, a big UK broad M & A ; E edifice services company. I will besides look at ways in which the scheme can be developed and changed in line with industry believing to give the company best value, to maximize net income and to construct relationships with its` supply concatenation. The company presently spends ?300 million of it's` turnover on sub-contractors and providers for all of our undertakings. It is hence an country where a big sum of money could potentially be saved if using an appropriate scheme. Any scheme that is implemented must suit in with the overall company scheme, must besides be fit for intent and be easy to implement and turn over out to all members of the company. I will discourse current industry thought and recommendations and show a list of appropriate alterations that could be implemented to maintain the company competitory and at the head of the M & A ; E indu stry.1.2 N.G. Bailey & A ; Company background information.The NG Bailey Company started as the Bailey-Billington Partnership back in 1921 with an equal capital portion of ?50. After a twelvemonth, Noel Bailey Snr. bought his spouse out for ?100 and formed a non-limited company, NG Bailey & A ; Co ( hereto referred to as NGB ) . At around this clip Noel Bailey engaged five learners ( aged 14-15 ) . Mr Bailey was, in consequence, open uping what subsequently became the company ‘s apprenticeship preparation strategy. The company opened offices in Manchester in the early 1930 ‘s, and in 1938, the company became a PLC with an authorized capital of ?10,000 and a work force of 25. At this clip NGB were actively involved in Government work for the war attempt, including landing field lighting and aircraft mills. By the late 1950 ‘s the concern had outgrown its rented adjustment in Leeds and had to relocate to Ilkley. The company expanded with new subdivisions in Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol, followed in the early 1960 ‘s by an office in Dundee. During the 1980 ‘s farther enlargement continued, opening offices in Southampton and London, with offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow replacing the original Scottish office in Dundee. In 1990, following demand from long-standing clients, the administration entered the HVAC market, to supply the full M & A ; E services bundle. The Bailey group is made up of six independent companies: – Bailey Building Services – M & A ; E services Bailey Teswaine – Specialist telecoms Bailey Rail – Specialist rail division 4 ) Bailey Systems – Building control ( BMS ) 5 ) Bailey care – Facilities care ( FM ) 6 ) Bailey off-site – Pre-fabrication The NG Bailey current vision is to give clients a â€Å" one halt store † for M & A ; E services, and a cradle to sculpt service for all the edifices that we provide M & A ; E services to. In the hereafter, the full undertaking direction of undertakings could be an option to give clients a genuinely incorporate service. In the fiscal twelvemonth completing April 2010 the company had a turnover of ?464 million with a gross net income of ?13.5 million ( See Appendix 5.2 ) . NG Bailey presently employs around 4000 people based at 23 locations throughout the UK ( See Appendix 5.3 ) . It is the largest in private owned M & A ; E company in the UK. The chief countries of NGB`s work are as below: – Health Education Power and industrial Railing Commercial Public edifices IT services Care1.3 Company purposes and aimsThe NGB administration purposes to be at the head of the M & A ; E services industry as it has been for many old ages. To make this it must respond to the market forces and both internal and external influences. The company mission statement has been the same since 1965 and is still as relevant today as it was so. â€Å" To be the best in every facet of our concern, to the benefit of our clients, members and stockholders † – Noel Bailey, 1965 ( NGB Intranet 2010 ) . The company must utilize its place in the market place to acquire best value from its supply concatenation at all degrees both up and downstream to the benefit of both the company and its clients. This must be done in a sustainable manner through partnering and model understandings, I will be looking at these and other options for a new procurance scheme for the company, coming up with some recommendations to take the procurance map through these hard fiscal times.Current pla ce of the industryThe building industry has been seen for many old ages as adversarial and contractual with companies seeking to protect net income in any manner possible, with client, chief contractor and sub-contractors being wary of each other at best and distrustful at worst. The Latham study ( 1999 ) commented that ************ and this made the industry measure back and believe what could be done to accomplish a more harmonic attack in the building industry as a whole. Egan ( 1996 ) besides commented that ************ and this The state ‘s current economic clime and that of the building industry makes it even more of import to hold a procurance scheme that gives clients and chief contractors the comfort that they are acquiring best value and sustainable solutions, and a ground to take NGB over another contractor. The website â€Å" teachmefinance.com † defines a recognition crunch as, â€Å" A sudden decrease in the handiness of loans and other types of recognition from Bankss and capital markets at given involvement rates. The decreased handiness of recognition can ensue from many factors, including an increased perceptual experience of hazard on the portion of loaners, an infliction of recognition controls, or a crisp limitation of the money supply. † ( 2010 ) . The recognition crunch is another ground why a company ‘s procurance scheme needs to be revised and aligned to the current economic clime, to maximize turnover and protect the company in difficult times. With the vote in of the alliance authorities came the immediate and lay waste toing cuts in public disbursement on undertakings such as infirmaries and schools, NGB`s â€Å" staff of life and butter † . The company was immediately affected and took a â€Å" large hit † when undertakings that were either imminently to be secured or grapevine work for the coming old ages were immediately taken out of our concern program. There has since been a reappraisal on public disbursement which has seen some undertakings given the green visible radiation where others have been put back out to tender. However, the full list of off undertakings has truly had an consequence on the building industry as a whole. Before the company can make up one's mind on the type and construction of a scheme it must first expression at it ‘s upstream supply concatenation i.e. chief contractors and clients and besides calculate its demands and pass in the approaching months and old ages to come. With the economic system presently in a province of flux this is no average effort, but clip, money and resources must be allocated to make this at the beginning to set up the companies ‘ demands traveling frontward, otherwise there is nil to establish the scheme on! The production of a procurement scheme alteration could be outsourced to an independent company to cover with, in concurrence with company direction squad. Whether done internally or externally a facilitator should be appointed to organize the retention of meetings, workshops, development of the scheme squad, the reappraisal of past and future undertakings and most significantly to collate all the information. The function of the facilitator as discussed by Thomas et Al ( 2005 ) includes the followers: – â€Å" 1. Constructing the integrated squad 2. Helping the squad to come to determinations 3. Aligning the squads attempt towards a common set of aims 4. Developing a undertaking civilization from the separate civilizations of the assorted administrations 5. Adapting workshop and facilitation manners to accommodate squad kineticss 6. Valuing and promoting the part of all squad members 7. Keeping the impulse of the workshop and presenting the stated aims on clip 8. Acting as a accelerator, disputing the squads believing 9. Recording determinations and actions, composing and go arounding clear studies quickly † Thomas goes on to speak about the usage of an external facilitator holding both advantages and disadvantages some of which are listed below: – â€Å" Advantages Independence and deficiency of prejudice Less likely to be hindered by political considerations Greater ability or freedom to dispute the position quo The ability of the group to engage a particular accomplishment at a specific clip Experience from other sectors / relationships Disadvantages The fee may hold to be paid out of the undertaking [ Or scheme ] budget. Whilst the inhouse facilitators costs may non be charged to the undertaking there will, however, be a resort cost that should be considered. Perceived deficiency of cognition of specific administrations. † Masterman ( 2002 ) discusses the work of Harrison ( 1975 ) from his book â€Å" The managerial determination devising procedure † it inside informations seven stairss to the determination devising procedure for procurance systems, these are: – â€Å" 1. Set organizational aims 2. Search for options 3. Compare and measure options 4. Choose among the options 5. Implement the determination 6 Follow up and command by taking disciplinary action if necessary 7. Revision and update aims † The above points are as relevant today as in 1975 and simplify the procedure of taking the relevant scheme for any company. With the vote in of the alliance authorities came the immediate and lay waste toing cuts in public disbursement on undertakings such as infirmaries and schools, NGB`s â€Å" staff of life and butter † . The company was immediately affected and took a â€Å" large hit † when undertakings that were either imminently to be secured or grapevine work for the coming old ages were immediately taken out of our concern program. There has since been a reappraisal on public disbursement which has seen some undertakings given the green visible radiation where others have been put back out to tender. However, the full list of off undertakings has truly had an consequence on the building industry as a whole, state broad.Future placeNational guard bureau wants to keep and beef up its place in the M & A ; E market place and it mustProposed alterations / schemeUp and down the supply concatenationPresently adversarialCurrent province of the industryWalker et Al ( 2008 ) lists the chief b enefits of model understandings as: –Improved designLess waste and duplicateImproved bringingGreater qualityGreater certainty of costBetter whole life-cycle costingBuilding of swearing relationshipsBringing of all â€Å" undertaking cognition † together at the origin of a undertaking.Procurement dictionary definitionaˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦ .The functional Procurement squad have three cardinal functions, which are: 1 ) To supply local concern support ; AA A A AThis can typically affect pull offing the sourcing and choice procedure of 3rd party providers which NG Bailey require in the bringing of its operations. 2 ) Co-ordinate National Activities ;A A A AThis could affect pull offing national understandings, providers or merchandise classs and supplying strategic nexus between NG Bailey and its supply base. 3 ) Act as a concern control ; As a big concern we need to divide the duty for pull offing a budget and the ability to perpetrate to contract. Procurement will pull off the Sourcing procedure which provides hazard extenuation, validate understandings and will besides supply the transactional and systems support such as order arrangement.**GEOGRAPHICAL BONDARIES TO OVERCOME**CULTURAL DIFFERENCES**TEAM MENTALITY INSTEAD OF ME MENTALITY**CURRENT MARKET TRENDS / ECONOMIC DOWNTURN USE RICS 2010 CONFERENCE PAPER**MUST OFFER SOMETHING DIFFERENT**CAN DIVERSIFY BUT COULD BE RISKY IN CURRENT Climate**CONSOLIDATE AND Make WHAT YOU DO BEST, DO N'T OVERSTRETCH PEOPLE AND RESOURSES, COULD RESULT IN INSOLVENCY**DO YOU BUY WORK AT A LOSS TO KEEP TURNOVER AND PEOPLE IN WORK? ?**COMPANY STRUCTURE, LOOK AT RE-STRUCTURING / Retrenchment**REWARD Good WORK, SET TARGETS â€Å" SMART †**COLLABORATIVE Planning WITH MC`S / SUBBYS / SUPPLIERSApproved provider / subby listsORGANAGRAM FOR ROLE OUT OF STRATEGYName calling TO FACES ETC. ETC.**PEST AND SWOT ANALYSIS TO ASSES COMPETITORS AND GIVE US AN EDGE IN THE MARKET.**POSSIBILITY OF INSOLVENCY**USE TRUSTED SUPPLIERS AND SUBBYS WITRH PROVEN TRACK RECORD FOR COST, SAFETY, QUALITY, AFTERSALES NOT JUST BEST PRICE. Keep THEM TO A MIMIMUM AND HAVE A 2 TIER SYSTEM. REGULAR RE-TENDERING TO KEEP THE COMPETION UP AND THEREFORE BEST PRICE AND SERVICE.Use 4PROJECTS INTEGRATED PROJECT DATABASESell OUR OWN INTERNAL COMPANIES FOR A 1 STOP SHOP TO CLIENTSKeypointsElectronic Project Information Exchange ensures: Accuracy of information. Faster information exchange. Increased visibleness and traceability of correspondenceGive SUBBIES ACCESS SO NO EXCUSES ABOUT NOT GETTING THE INFOCURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE FORCES CHANGE AND USE OF BEST PRATICE TO GET VALUE FOR MONEYLOOK AT ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF INSTALLATIUON TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY EG. PREFAB ETCTop down and bottom up schemeWhat is our scheme for acquiring sub-contractors on board? ?What is our scheme traveling upstream? ?Old skool positions need altering to accommodate current clime and the manner frontward ( cite the ways )Strengths and failings of current schemeForm a new scheme for the BBS procurement function.Use OF SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER PROGRAMMES TO MAKE INVOICING AND THE WHOLE PROCESS EASIER.PROCUREMENT SCHEDULES AND PROGRAMMES TO LINK TOGETHER DIFFERENT PROJECTSPerformance reappraisals of subbys / providers after each undertaking to guarantee underperforming companies are non used once more.Regular battle Sessionss to do the subbies feel like portion of the squadCHOOSE 3 OF EACH TO MAINTA IN AN ELEMENT OF COMPETITION BETWEEN EACH AND CHANGE ON AN AGREED CYCLE TO GIVE OTHER COMPANIES A CHANCE.2.0 MAIN FINDINGSCurrent types of procurance paths used within the building industry. Advise which 1 is used for Bailey by their chief contractors.– KAIZEN THEORY AND PRACTICE– Use NGB PROCUREMENT POWERPOINT AS A GUIDE– Expression FOR PREVIOUS STRATEGY DETAILS– Supplier / SUBBY ASSESMENTS AND PRE-QUALIFICATIONS TO PREVENT WASTED TIME / RESOURSE AND MONEY.– Early INVOLVEMENT IN PROJECTS– Front END WORK A MUST– Sap ALLIANCE / DISCUSS– Bulletin board system PRELIMS QUITE HEAVY– Cut YOUR CLOTH TO SUIT ETC ETC– REGIONAL STRATEGIES AT THE MOMENT NEED TO BE NATIONAL– National AGREEMENTS ON BREAD AND BUTTER ITEMS– Ball TOGETHER PROJECTS FOR MAXIMUM DISCOUNT ACROSS THE COMPANY– Regular LIASON WITH REGIONAL HEADS OF PROCUREMENT– Sector LEADERS FOR LARGE KIT WITH EXPERIENCE IN THAT FIELD AND WI TH BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE– Use THE Engineers TO VET QUOTATIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS, THE PEOPLE WITH THE CORRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT AND THE CLIENTS REQUIREMENTS.– Procurement STAFF SOMETIMES INTERFERE AND THINK THAT BEST PRICE IS THE BEST OPTION, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS PROJECTS, RELATIONBSHIPS ET ETC– AGREE / NEGOTIATE DISCOUNTS AND RE-BATES FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPENDITURE– Driver FOR CHANGEgoing more demanding. Fiscal Drivers – industry shifting to seek more sustainable returns. Industrywide changes – consolidation, perpendicular integrating and foreign participants come ining UK market. Legislation -A the impact of the Energy Performance of Builidings Directive ( EPBD ) . Sustainability – UK Plc ‘s looking for replies. Technological alteration – Information science convergence. Customer focused administration Develop and purchase strategic relationships Develop strong ‘managed services ‘ proposition Diversification Enhanced Construction Proposition One NG Bailey Leading the manner by working together Leading the manner by being focused on our clients Leading the manner by ever bettering Leading the manner by being committed to the long term Leading the manner by presenting sustainable solutions Leading the manner by maximizing the potency of our people Staff need to be made cognizant of the new company ‘s vision at the early phases of the acquisition and this needs to be re-iterated on a regular basis to guarantee that no-one loses focal point of where the company is heading. Once staff morale is affected, profitableness and efficiency start to diminish dramatically, this needs to be avoided at all costs. Larkin ( 1996 ) recommended four rules of pass oning alteration in an article published in the Harvard concern Review these are as follow: – â€Å" When pass oning major alteration to employees, maintain it simple and avoid mission statements and direction announcements – most of import, give them the facts ; be straight. Introduce the planned alteration face to face, non through pictures, publications or huge, impersonal public meetings. Target supervisors: acquire senior directors who are involved in the alteration to brief little groups of supervisors face to face. Make the briefings in two unit of ammunitions – foremost, to explicate the alteration and acquire supervisors` reactions and recommendations, 2nd, to explicate any alterations of the planned alteration based on supervisors` feedback. † In Fig. 2 below, a typical cultural web can be seen ; this shows the manner that the symbolic, behavioral and physical manifestations of a company civilization are interlinked with the paradigm or â€Å" taken-for-granted † premises that staff clasp. As can be seen from the theoretical account, all countries are interlinked. It is hence easy to see how little alterations in one country can impact all the other countries of the web. If you change peoples` believing about procedures and systems of a company original â€Å" learned † behavior can be overwritten and replaced with new thoughts and beliefs.Fig 2 – The cultural web of an administration. – Johnson et.al. ( 2008 )Higher direction demand to be seeable and must be seen to be actively advancing the new scheme, staff chosen to take the acquisition should hold good people and leading accomplishments, staff need inspirational people to look up to, and need to cognize that the direction support the acquis ition and are non merely paying lip service to the companies ends and aims. This once more can impact morale and productiveness if people are non purchasing in to the company scheme. Nicky Hayes ( 1997 ) remarks in his Successful Team Management book that, â€Å" Peoples are speedy to observe the difference between existent regard and lip-service and they will react suitably. Trying to prosecute in successful squad direction without regard for the people who make up the squads is every bit unpointed as seeking to ski in fins †Use OF E-AUCTIONS AND `E` TENDERING TO GET BEST PRICE / VALUE FOR MONEY AND SERVICEKeypointse-business is an chance, non a menace. engineering is non a barrier. develop an e-business scheme based on your concern scheme. CitationKeypointse-Trading leads to: Simpler sourcing of merchandises. Reduced costs. Faster processes. The electronic exchange of these paperss offers three cardinal benefits: Printing and posting costs can be reduced. Information can be circulated and returned in less clip. Standard formats allows applications to utilize the informations without manual re-keying.Keypointse-Tendering ensures: Accuracy from undertaking beginning. Decreased volume of undertaking certification? Reduced costs. A better controlled procedure.DTI REPORT ( QUOTE )The Construction Industry Computing Association ( CICA ) The Construction Industry Trading Electronically ( CITE ) Concept IT E-Centre UK Information Technology Construction Best Practice programme ( ITCBP )Need to develop SMART PEST SWOT ETEC ETC procurance scheme to travel with the timesKPI`s and measureable / simple non complex methods.COLLABORATIVE WorkingVisual perception STRATEGIES THOUGH TO THE ENDENGAGE EVERYONE INVOLVED SO PEOPLE DON`T JUST PAY LIP SERVICE, MANY STRATEGIES COME AND GO, THE KEY IS TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM SOMNE KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OWBERSHIP OF THE PROCESSENGAGEMENT SESSIONSREGULAR REVIEWS AND BENCHMARKING / KPI`SSAFETY PLAYS A LARGE PART, REGULAR REVIEWS OF SAFETYMUST DO IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF EACH SUPPLIER AND SUBBY AND COME UP WITH A REDUCED LIST. AN â€Å" APPROVED LIST †Reduce THE NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS AND SUBBYS USED.Regular REVIEWS TO ENSURE BEST PRICES AND TOO KEEP SUPPLIERS / SUBBYS ON THEIR ToeSIGN UP TO 1 CONTRACT AND USE THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY TO SAVE ON PAPERWORKAGREED SCHEDULE OF RATES FOR COMPANY / BRANCH WORKBring REGIONS TOGETHER INSTEAD OF RUNNING INDEPENDANTLY, USE OF VC CONFERENCING AND REGULAR GET TOGETHERS, TO PUT NAMES TO FACES.GET RID OF ABORTIVE WORKING BY EARLY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SUBBY AND SUPPLIERS.ENGAGING WITH OUR SUPPLIERS AND SUBBYS ON A REGULAR BASISUse THEIR RESOURSES TO OUR ADVANTAGE, EG TAKE OFFS ETC.Move WITH THE TIMES GET AWAY FROM THE OLD BOY NETWORK.REGULAR Training SESSIONS ON NEW METHODS AND PROCESSES.Beryllium AT THE FRONT TO PREVENT GETTING LEFT BEHIND UR COMPETITORS.CULTURE SHIFT FOR PEOPLE AND PROCESSESNational AGREEMENTS WITH SUPPLIERS FOR BEST PRICES.AGREED DISCOUNT LEVELS AS MORE MONEY IS SPENTGet AWAY FROM â€Å" FAVORITES † , BOTH SUPPLIERS AND SUBBYS.MUST GATE BEST PRICE / VALUE AND KEEP THE QUALITY / SAFETYREGULAR REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK SESSIONS / KPI`S ETC ETCCLEAR AND CONSISE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD WITH OWNERSHIP BY DRFINED PEOPLEREVIEW AND CHANGE IF THINGS ARE NOT WORKINGClass Directors FOR DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS / SUBBYSExpression AT USING SUBBYS / SUPPLIERS THAT HAVE NOT B EEN USED FOR A WHILE, OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.COLLABORATIVE WORKING WITH SUPPLIERS AND SUBBYS/ STRATEGIC ALLIANCESCURRENT CLIMATE MEANS PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON PRICE RATHER THAN QUALITY AND AFTERSALESEarly INVOLVEMENT WITH CLIENT AND MC TO OFFER VE SAVINGS THAT ARE ACHEIVABLE GIVEN EARLY INVOLVEMENTOpen BOOK TENDERING / BUILD UP RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS AND M/C`SUse OF IN HOUSE CAPABILITY INSTEAD OF OUTSOURCINGUse OF SUBBYS INSTEAD OF OWN LABOUR FOR COST CERTANTYLATHAM AND EGAN REPORTS MUST BE MENTIONED AS WELL AS OGCIPHONEIntegration of all procedures company broadSort diaries use latest issuesTalk about recession and the consequence cut downing of authorities disbursement on schools infirmaries etc Look at supply concatenation web sitesMention SAP confederation and how it worked with upstream chief contractors and our ain supply concatenationMention Latham and EganMUST RICS 2010 ( usage )usage supply concatenation booksExpression at through subby & A ; supplier positionsOne scheme, c lear and concise Logos, strap lines clear ends / aimsPower point in appendices? ?Programme for alteration execution see ChicoRegular meetings with providers to estimate feedbackBenchmarking of all bombers / supp Kpi ‘s for all facets to guarantee things are come oning Timelines for accomplishing set aims / programmeOwnership of all facets by personsRegular reappraisals of policy / objectives in line with industry believing and market conditions Use of outside company to organize scheme impartial and have industry cognition, good overviewDevelopment of logos / strap linesMust all buy in to scheme Top down bottom up policyEngagement SessionssRegular reappraisals of policy and subbys/ providersIt is now a purchasers market, value for money without a decrease in qualityProven path records of allContract reappraisals to find satisfactionUse subbys / providers to make take-offs / design etc etcPest / grind analysisProcurement agendas sub & amp ; suppCross company procurance schemeFi eld supply concatenation leadersUse peoples strengths in the industry to the scheme advantageUse of VC to convey people together across the companyGet people believing nationally non regionallyTocopherol auctions for stuffsBulk bargain price reductionsUse of bomber / swallow warehousing / logisticsAgreed net income bordersOpen book policy? ? ?Ringing fencing net income borders use con. Exc. PaperGet rid of hazard portion between hazard registry talk about itHave hazard pot for unknown pointsProv amounts for known pointsTransparent costs across concatenationNet income borders keptLess clip wasted tendering by subs / providersBuild relationships societal capital! !Must maintain competitoryMay need to convey in expertnessUse of internal companies, eg prefab to maintain money in houseMentoring of staffReward staffRegular preparation of staffReinforcement of policy regularlyNational understandings for providersEmail through bend it in web siteHistorical information for sanctioned provide rs / subbysNeed to be solvent and good path records, capable of making the occupation, adequate staff / technology capableness.Currently regional, needs to be national understandings between providers / subbys although non ever possible with more regional houses like ductworkersMore interaction between regional caputs of sectionFit for intent schemeRegular reappraisals of schemeKaizen theoryProcedure functionCheck word count! ! ! ! ! ! ! !Diversification is hazardous in a recession but can pay off if done rightLess duplicate and blackholes of duty6000 word countSilos presently, need holistic positionFragmented attackClient focal pointEarly engagementBlasted civilization, acquire rid of itUse of BIM in procurement inquiry whether this will work people are inauspicious to alter, who pays for it? ? MC or contractors? ? ?Must b an industry broad displacement in civilization and attitude otherwise it will non work.Short term attitudes need to alter to long term endsMass sum of waste in b uildingAssorted scheme depending on the Market or type of goods/ servicesDownload speed uping alteration! ! ! !PestSwotSome companies may non be able to work in the new theoretical account but may still necessitate to be used as they are of import to the bringing if undertakings and services.Feedback to companies non selected, and grounds why non selected, give feedback as the wanderer theoretical account3 tier attack to approved providers / list out the typesDescribe our upstream relationships before speaking about downstream and how it is affected Look at the turnitin web site! !Dr. Deming reference the rhythm3.0 CONCLUSION AND COMPANY RECCOMENDATIONS-MUST MOVE WITH THE TIMES AND CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS-MUST BE ABLE TO ADAPT QUICKLY-CLEAR STRATEGY GOING FORWARD AND REGULAR REVIEWS / BENCHMARKING & A ; KPI`S-MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE THE STRATEGY IF IT IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, DO N'T Be Afraid TO SAY WE DID SOMETHING WRONG– BRING IN THE CORRECT PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGYà ¢â‚¬â€œ Peoples WHO ARE Unwilling TO CHANGE CREATE BARRIERS, THESE PEOPLE NEED EDUCATING.– DON`T Talk AT PEOPLE, ENGAGE THEM IN THE PROCESS– CREATE INITIATIVES AND REWARDS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM– Sociable EVENTS AND GET TOGETHERS TO PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE WORKING /– Culture SHIFT FOR ALL PARTIED INVOLVED– Protection OF PROFIT MARGINS AND REPEAT BUSINESS– Make WHAT YOU DO BEST, DIVERSIFICATION CAN BE REISKY ESPECIALLY IN MARKETS WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT, A LITTLE KNOWLEDSE CAN BE DANGEROUS.– Regular REVIEWS TO ENSURE STRATEGY IS WORKING– ADAPT TO CURRENT MARKET TRENDS– Trading ON OLD RELATIONSHIPS– KEENER Pricing DUE TO CURRENT ECONOMIC Climate– LATHAM AND EGAN– Holocene INDUSTRY Thinking– STREAMLINING OF PROCESSES AND PAPERWORK ( E-AUCTIONS ETC )– Post MORTEM OF PROJECTS AND PROCESS ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THAT THE STRATEGY CAN BE RE-ALIGNED AND REVISED IF REQUIRED– EVALUATE Hazard AND IDENTIFY SECTORS OF THE BUSINESS AND RE-ALIGN THE STRATEGY TO SUIT( RISK MATRIX / SCHEDULE. ALWAYS A WINNER! ! ! )When restructuring or explicating a alteration direction program there are a figure of tools which can be used to give an index of where the company is at a minute in clip and give indicants of its strengths and failings in the market place due to both internal and external factors. Two of the most popular methods used are the S.W.O.T analysis and the P.E.S.T.L.E analysis. The end product from these analyses can so be used to see where the company needs to better ; these can so be used as drivers within the alteration direction proposals. Detailss of what S.W.O.T and P.E.S.T.L.E represent are described below. S.W.O.T analysis Strengths – Identifies countries where the company is strong and leads the several market. Failings – Identifies where the company is missing in some countries and has room for betterment. Opportunities – Identifies future markets / undertakings that the company may be able to take advantage of. Menaces. – Identifies rivals and possible alterations to market tendencies An illustration of a S.W.O.T analysis templet can be found in Appendix 5.5. P.E.S.T.L.E. analysis Political – Identifies outward forces such as authorities, revenue enhancement, environmental jurisprudence and trade limitations. Economic – Identifies forces such as economic growing, involvement rates, rising prices etc. Social – Identifies cultural facets, labour handiness, tendencies in societal development etc Technological – Identifies ecological and environmental alterations and invention. Legal – Identifies forces such as consumer jurisprudence, favoritism jurisprudence, employment jurisprudence and wellness and safety Torahs. Environmental – Identifies factors such as conditions, clime alteration, touristry and altering markets. An illustration of a P.E.S.T.L.E. analysis templet can be found in Appendix 5.6. Another acronym that is used when make up one's minding on new scheme is S.M.A.R.T, this is a method that has been used for many old ages now but is still relevant in concern life every bit good as for puting personal ends. Detailss of what S.M.A.R.T. bases for can be seen below. S.M.A.R.T Specific – Means that the aim is a defined or fixed end. Measurable – If an aim is mensurable, it means that the measuring beginning can be identified and consequences can be tracked. Accomplishable – Aims need to be accomplishable, i.e. in the close hereafter. if it is excessively far in the hereafter acquiring motivated may be hard. Realistic – Aims that are accomplishable may non be realistic, a alteration in wont or working may be required. Time-Bound – Time-bound means puting distinguishable deadlines for the accomplishment of the aim. Staff morale, perceptual experience and motive should be a cardinal factor when covering with a new scheme, the usage of Herzberg ‘s Motivation-Hygiene theory can be considered when make up one's minding how to actuate staff, the theoretical account looks at facets of the work environment that motivate workers. From his findings Herzberg concluded that â€Å" there were two different classs of factors that affect how employees feel about their occupations. † ( CEM Motivation at Work Paper 6002, p.6 ) . The first class is hygiene or care and the 2nd class is termed incentives. An illustration of Herzberg ‘s theory can be seen below in Fig. 5.Fig. 5 – Herzberg ‘s Two Factor Theory – ( CEM Motivation at Work Paper 6002, p.7 ) .Herzberg farther discusses that â€Å" by keeping the occupation environment at an acceptable degree, feelings of dissatisfaction can be avoided. † ( Motivation at work ) . His theory besides suggests that it is of imp ort to look at factors termed incentives â€Å" because they efficaciously motivate people to superior occupation public presentation. † Herzberg goes on to explicate that â€Å" employers should concentrate on the incentives in order to increase productiveness and efficiency. † ( CEM Motivation at Work Paper 6002, p.7 ) . Contrasting to Herzberg ‘s theory is McGregor ‘s Ten and Y theory ; this examines the manner workers are managed in relation to their motive. The theory describes â€Å" people inside the administration can be managed in two ways. † The first is negative, known as class Ten and the 2nd manner is positive, known as class Y. McGregor concludes that â€Å" a director ‘s position of the nature of human existences is based on a certain grouping of premises and that he or she tends to model his or her behaviour towards subordinates harmonizing to these premises. † ( CEM Motivation at Work Paper 6002, p.8 ) . An illustration of McGregor ‘s theory can be seen below in Fig. 6.Fig. 6 – McGregor ‘s Ten and Y theory – ( CEM Motivation at Work Paper 6002, p.7 ) .Another point to see as portion of any alteration direction program is the constitution of preparation demands for all staff members. We ne'er stop larning from the twenty-four hou rs we are born to the twenty-four hours we die, it is of import in concern to give your staff the tools to enable so to transport out their occupation every bit expeditiously as they can to maximize productiveness and profitableness for the company. Training in any company should be an on-going procedure, and should be given a high precedence along with financess to guarantee that the work force is adequately equipped to transport out their functions. An administration with a strong and healthy preparation programme is sometimes referred to as a â€Å" learning administration † , Mayo ( 1993 ) gives a figure of features that define a learning administration, and these are: – 1. â€Å" People ‘s development assumes a high precedence among directors. 2. Consultation of employees at operational degree occurs as a affair of class. 3. The methods of acquisition that are used are decided upon by employees instead than directors. 4. Mistakes or accidents are treated as chances to larn instead than being used as a agency to fault and penalize ; retrieve that some of the greatest innovations that have been discovered occurred as a consequence of accident instead than design. 5. Information is shared by everyone. 6. Openness and honestness among members is accepted as â€Å" normal † 7. Spontaneity and informality are encouraged. Sadler ( 1995 ) was besides an advocator of the learning administration and produced the following â€Å" procedures and influences † diagram to demo the interaction of larning types within an administration. It is interesting to observe that acquisition is present in many of the daily activities we carry out ; we all take in cognition and larning without sometimes even gaining it. Sadler`s â€Å" procedure and influences † diagram can be seen below in Fig. 7.Fig. 7 – Procedures and influences that create a learning administration – Sadler ( 1995 )One of the most common schemes or visions used and quoted by companies is that of â€Å" uninterrupted betterment † . This term comes from the Nipponese word â€Å" Kaizen † which means alteration ( Kai ) and Better ( Zen ) . The Nipponese see that life and concern are ever germinating and bettering, they are non fixed and house but ever in a province of flux. Kaizen theory besides focuses on the us age of squads within administrations but besides on persons within those squads. The battle of staff in the visions and ends of the company is besides recognised in the theory. Kaizen seeks to extinguish waste by authorising people and besides looks at doing betterment in all facets of concern to do procedures more streamlined and efficient. The theory besides recognises that little alterations can do a large difference in administrations. Kaizen theory was developed after World War Two by the Toyota Corporation. It implemented the uninterrupted betterment of quality, engineering, procedures and company civilization. An off shoot of Kaizen theory was the â€Å" just-in-time † methods of working which reduced waste and the demand for storage of stuffs. The term â€Å" The Toyota Way † was coined after the new working methods had been so successful, and it is a method that many Western companies have adopted. The 10 chief rules of Kaizen along with an illustration of the â€Å" Kaizen umbrella † can be seen below, and in Fig. 8.10 Principle of KaizenSay â€Å" No † to position quo, implement new methods and assume they will work. If something is incorrect. Correct it. Accept no alibis and do things go on. Improve everything continuously. Abolish old, traditional constructs. Be economical. Salvage money through little betterments and spend the saved money on farther betterments. Empower everyone to take portion in job resolution Get information and sentiments form multiple people Before doing determinations, inquire â€Å" Why † five times to acquire to the root cause. Remember that betterment has no bounds. Never stop seeking to better.Fig. 8 – The Kaizen Theory Umbrella Diagram – Masaaki Imai ( 1986 )Peoples are the basis of any administration and without the buy-in of staff for any new amalgamation or vision it is doomed to failure. Peoples must be treated with regard and compassion when one company merges with another. Inevitably, there may be occupation losingss as the new company is formed, and this can impact morale and productiveness, nevertheless the company must hammer in front with its new vision or scheme for the benefit of the company. The civilization of the merged company besides needs to be addressed, staff ‘s beliefs, attitudes, work moralss and spiritual orientation should be considered when explicating the scheme. Staff should be consulted at all phases of the amalgamation, feedback should be sought to measure morale and how the company vision is being delivered. Management construction and attitude will travel a long manner to successfully implementing the new procurance scheme of the company. Directors and caputs of section should take by illustration ; this will promote staff to fall in in on the journey to accomplish the new scheme. The direction construction and methods of working will be paramount to the success of the procurance map traveling frontward. Staff must be selected for their strengths and developing provided to assist out with any failings they may hold, and if the capableness is non within the company so it should be sourced from exterior. Finally, the company must accommodate to alterations from both internal and external forces. The current market is invariably altering and we must travel and accommodate to forestall acquiring left buttocks. The procurement direction scheme should be seen as of all time altering and non a house and fixed procedure. It should besides be noted that regular reappraisals and engagement Sessionss should be carried out to guarantee the scheme ‘s impulse does non fire out. This is paramount to the success of any scheme.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Traditional Healing System

A PROPOSED APPLICATION OF ETHNOMEDICAL MODELS TO TRADITIONAL HEALING SYSTEMS Stanley Kipper Ethnomedicine has become a topic of intensive study in recent years due, in part, to the work of the World Health Organization and other groups attempting to facilitate cooperation between indigenous practitioners and those trained in Western allopathic biomedicine.This chapter describes two ethnomedical systems (the North American Navajo tradition and the South American Peruvian Pachakuti curanderismo) in terms of two different models, one designed by Siegler and Osmond (1974), and one designed by a task force of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Each of these indigenous systems are found to be comprehensive, covering each facet of the models, and pointing the way for possible collaboration between allopathic biomedicine and various indigenous systems of healing, a project that has accelerated due to public demand (Iljas, 2006, p. 90). The term â€Å"ethnomedicine† refers to the comparative study of indigenous (or traditional) medical systems. Typical ethnomedical topics include causes of sickness, medical practitioners and their roles, and specific treatments utilized. The explosion of ethnomedical literature has been stimulated by an increased awareness of the consequences of the forced displacement and/or acculturation of indigenous peoples, the recognition of indigenous health concepts as a means of maintaining ethnic identities, and the search for new medical treatments and technologies.In addition, Kleinman (1995) finds ethnographic studies an â€Å"appropriate means of representing pluralism†¦ and of drawing upon those aspects of health and suffering to resist the positivism, the reductionism, and the naturalism that biomedicine and, regrettably, the wider society privilege†(p. 195). In his exhaustive study of cross-cultural practices, Torrey (1986) concluded that effective treatment inevitably contains one or more of four fundame ntal principles: 1. A shared world view that makes the diagnosis or naming process possible; 2.Certain personal qualities of the practitioner that appear to facilitate the patient's recovery; 3. Positive patient expectations that assist recovery; 4. A sense of mastery that empowers the patient. If a traditional medical system yields treatment outcomes that its society deems effective, it is worthy of consideration by allopathic biomedical investigators, especially those who are aware of the fact that less than 20 percent of the world’s population are serviced by allopathic biomedicine (Mahler, 1977; Freeman, 2004; O’Connor, 1995).However, what is considered to be â€Å"effective† varies from society to society (Krippner, 2002). Allopathic biomedicine places its emphasis upon â€Å"curing† (removing the symptoms of an ailment and restoring a patient to health), while traditional medicine focuses upon â€Å"healing† (attaining wholeness of body, mind , emotions, and/or spirit). Some patients might be incapable of being â€Å"cured† because their sickness is terminal. Yet those same patients could be â€Å"healed† mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually as a result of the practitioner’s encouragement to review their life, to find meaning in it, and to become reconciled to death.Those who have been â€Å"cured,† on the other hand, may be taught procedures that will prevent a relapse or recurrence of their symptoms. An emphasis upon prevention is a standard aspect of traditional medicine, and is becoming an important part of biomedicine as well (Freeman, 2004; Krippner & Welch, 1992). A differentiation can also be made between â€Å"disease† and â€Å"illness. † From either the biomedical or the ethnomedical point of view, one can conceptualize â€Å"disease† as a mechanical difficulty of the body resulting from injury or infection, or from an organism’s imbalance with its e nvironment. Illness,† however, is a broader term implying dysfunctional behavior, mood disorders, or inappropriate thoughts and feelings. These behaviors, moods, thoughts, and feelings can accompany an injury, infection, or imbalance—or can exist without them. Thus, one may refer to a â€Å"diseased brain† rather than an â€Å"ill brain,† but use the phrase of â€Å"mental illness† rather than of â€Å"mental disease. † Cassell (1979) goes so far as to claim that allopathic biomedicine treats disease but not illness; â€Å"physicians are trained to practice a technological medicine in which disease is their sole concern and in which technology is their only weapon† (p. 8). Healing models The Siegler-Osmond Model Comparisons between biomedicine and ethnomedicine can be made utilizing hypothetical structures such as the 12-faceted model proposed by Siegler and Osmond (1974). In the social and behavioral sciences, a â€Å"model† is an explicit or implicit explanatory structure that underlies a set of organized group behaviors. Their use in science attempts to improve understanding of the process they represent. Models have been constructed to describe human conflict, competition, and cooperation.Models have been proposed to explain mental illness, personality dynamics, and family interactions. I have modified the Siegler-Osmond model, making it applicable to both â€Å"physical† and â€Å"mental† disorders, although traditional practitioners usually do not differentiate between the two. The utility of the Siegler-Osmond model can be demonstrated by comparing a shamanic medical model, an eclectic folk healing model, and the allopathic biomedical model on 12 dimensions: 1. Diagnosis 2. Etiology 3. Patient’s behaviour 4. Treatment 5. Prognosis . Death and suicide 7. Function of the institution 8. Personnel 9. Rights and duties of the patient 10. Rights and duties of the family 11. Rights and duties of the society 12. Goal of the model. The Navaho Indian healing model The Navaho healing system serves as an example of the application of the Siegler and Osmond model. The term â€Å"Navaho† (or â€Å"Navajo†) is used by anthropologists to refer to the largest Native American tribe in the United States; the Navaho reservation in the south west part of the country comprises 16 million acres.The word â€Å"Navaho† is derived from the Spanish term for â€Å"people with big fields,† but in their own language, they call themselves the Dineh people. They are members of the southern Athapaskan linguistic group and occupy plateau areas of north eastern Arizona, overlapping into New Mexico and Utah. Geertz (1973) points out that the entire lifestyle of a culture is built upon its mythic view of â€Å"reality. † The Navaho ethic values â€Å"calm deliberativeness, untiring persistence, and dignified caution† and the Navahos view nature as â⠂¬Å"tremendously powerful, mechanically regular, and highly dangerous† (p. 30). While the dominant U. S. culture attempts to â€Å"tame nature,† the Navaho worldview seeks to live in respectful harmony with it. Theories of sickness and methods of healing make up a large part of this great counterpoint focused on harmony: The stricken patient is given a vocabulary in terms of which to grasp the nature of his or her distress and relate it to the wider world (Geertz, 1973), providing an explanation, and converting energy into a form that can heal.Sandner (1979) has identified the most important values in Navaho mythology as the acquisition of supernatural power (notably for the maintenance of health), the preservation of harmony in family relationships, and the achievement of adult status. However, this status operates in tandem with cooperation with and respect for other family, clan, and community members. The diagnosis is made by the Navaho diagnostician in consultation with the patient and the patient's family, all of whom work together in determining the cause of sickness.The role of the medicine man in diagnosis is usually limited, as he later carries out instructions given by the diviner (Sandner, 1979). Navahos have constructed three major diagnostic categories of mental illness. â€Å"Moth craziness† is characterized by fits of uncontrolled behavior (e. g. , jumping into the fire like a moth), rage, violence, and convulsions; it is attributed to incestual activities. â€Å"Crazy violence† has some of the same external manifestations as â€Å"moth craziness† but is due to alcoholism. â€Å"Ghost sickness,† ascribed to sorcery, manifests in nightmares, loss of appetite, dizziness, confusion, panic, and extreme anxiety.When someone knowingly or accidentally breaches taboos or offends dangerous powers, the natural order of the universe is ruptured and â€Å"contamination† or â€Å"infection† occurs that must be redressed. Etiology is seen as the intrusion of a harmful agent that destroys the natural harmony between individuals and their surroundings, especially in circumstances of exposure to lightning, whirlwinds, or such animals as bear, deer, coyotes, porcupines, snakes, and eagles that are inappropriately trapped, killed, or eaten.Sometimes these harmful agents appear in frightening, ominous dreams. Contact with spirits of the dead is especially hazardous, as is sorcery. The diviner, the medicine man, the patient, and the patient’s family work together in determining the cause of sickness (Sander, 1979). The patient's behavior determines what type of â€Å"Chant Way† will be utilized in his or her treatment. A person who is unable to resolve grief, who harbors fears of accidents, and who speaks of chest pains usually will be told to have an â€Å"Evil Way† ceremony.The patient's dreams are important as a diagnostic aid; the most ominous dreams are those of being burned, falling off a cliff, and drowning; dreams of dead relatives are especially portentous. During treatment, the Navaho hataalii (or â€Å"singing† shaman) utilizes a number of therapeutic procedures, most notably one or more of the 10 basic â€Å"Chant Ways† and their accompanying sand paintings. These are complex rituals that center on cultural myths in which heroes or heroines once journeyed to spiritual realms to acquire special knowledge. The symptoms for which a given chant is prescribed are based on connections with the specific chant myth.For example, the â€Å"Hail Way† is prescribed for muscular tiredness and soreness because the hero, Rain Boy, suffered from these symptoms when he was attacked by his enemies; the â€Å"Big Star Way† protects the patient against the powerful influences of the stars and the dangers of the night. The â€Å"Night Way† is said to be useful for blindness, deafness, and mental illness because the â₠¬Å"Night Way† hero confronted each of these dangers. The â€Å"Beauty Way† is used for rheumatism, sore throats, digestive and urinary problems, and skin diseases—difficulties faced by the chant hero.Ritual chanting takes a multi-modal approach that contributes to its effectiveness. The repetitive nature and mythic content is easily deciphered and often repeated at appropriate times by those patients well-versed in tribal mythology. According to Sandner (1979): â€Å"The visual images of the sand paintings and the body painting, the audible recitation of prayers and songs, the touch of the prayer sticks and the hands of the medicine man, the taste of the ceremonial musk and herbal medicines, and the smell of the chant incense—all combine to convey the power of the chant to the patient† (p. 15). The hataalii, among the Navahos a male practitioner, usually displays a highly developed dramatic sense in carrying out the chant but generally avoids the cl ever sleight of hand effects used by many other cultural healing practitioners to demonstrate their abilities to the community. The chant is considered by Sandner to facilitate suggestibility. It shifts attention through repetitive singing and the use of culture-specific mythic themes.These activities prepare participants for a lengthy healing ceremony that may involve mythic images and narratives enacted in purification rites or executed in â€Å"sand paintings† composed of sand, seeds, charcoal, and flowers. Some paintings, such as those used in a â€Å"Blessing Way,† are crafted from such ingredients as corn meal, flower petals, and charcoal. From a psychological perspective, the patients â€Å"translate† these â€Å"symbols† and â€Å"metaphors† as they sit on the painting, but from their own perspective, they are interacting with some of the basic forces and energies of nature.Six steps comprise the typical â€Å"Chant Way† ritual: prep aration (in which the patient is â€Å"purified†), presentation of the patient to the healing spirits, evocation of these spirits to the place of the ceremony, identification of the patients with a positive mythic theme, transformation of the patients into a condition where ordinary and mythic time and space merge, and release from the mythic world and return to the everyday world where past transgressions are confessed, where new learnings are assimilated, and where life changes are brought to fruition.The hataalii’s performance empowers the patient by creating an alternative domain of consciousness—a â€Å"mythic reality†Ã¢â‚¬â€through the use of chants, dances, and songs (often accompanied by drums and rattles), masked dancers, purifications (e. g. , sweat baths, emetics, fumigants, lotions, herbal medicines, ritual bathing, sexual abstinence), and sand paintings. Within the context of this â€Å"mythic reality,† especially as made visible in t he designs constructed in sand by the hataalii, the patient is taken into â€Å"sacred time† and is able to bring a total attentiveness to the healing ritual.The patient follows a specific regimen for the next four days to protect members of the community from his or her newly acquired powers. The role of the community is important in another way; the chants are attended by large numbers of people, many of whom might be asked to participate. This type of participation appears to increase the patients’ sense of personal power, magnify their imagination as they attend to the chants, providing social reinforcement and increased motivation. The mentation of the practitioner, the patient, and the community may all be affected by the ceremony.The hataalii is dusted with the decorated sand, and his patients claim to feel the power emanating from the painting. This procedure resembles the enhancement of imagination common to several hypnotic procedures, and is probably further augmented by the repetitive chanting. In addition to the â€Å"Chant Way,† there are other rituals used by the hataalii, one of which is a prayer session. For example, sacred corn pollen may be sacrificed during a time of prayer in an attempt to please the spirits needed to heal the patient: This ritual must be performed perfectly and behind locked doors, often at the patient’s home.The setting for treatment usually is the Hogan, a specially constructed octagon with log walls, sealed with mud adobe. The door opens to the East, and a hole in the center of the domed ceiling lets the smoke out. Men sit on the North, women and children on the South; the sand painting occupies most of the floor, and the patient sits in the center with family and friends nearby. The door to the darkened Hogan is fastened to prevent the prayer from escaping. Sharpened flints are used to expel the evil from both the patient and the Hogan.These procedures reduce the patient's symptoms at the s ame time as they stabilize the social and emotional condition of the community. For example, the hataalii instructs the family to make elaborate preparations for their forthcoming â€Å"house call. † Upon arriving, the patients are told that the prognosis is excellent, thus fostering positive expectations (Torrey, 1986). The most important people in the patient's life often join in the prayers, reaffirming the belief that the patient will recover.Prognosis, to a large degree, depends upon the attitude of the patient. A Navaho practitioner told Sandner (1979): â€Å"If the patient really has confidence in me, then he gets cured†¦. If a person gets bitten by a snake, for example, certain prayers and songs can be used, but if the patient doesn’t have enough confidence, then the cure won't work† (pp. 17 – 18). Premature death and suicide are attributed to sorcery, the return of the dead, or to the presence of outsiders.Kluckhohn (Kluckhohn & Leighton, 19 62) noted that funeral rituals are designed to prevent or discourage dead persons from returning to threaten their relatives. The fear of spirit possession is connected with the fear of ghosts, spirits, and the dead. High suicide rates are associated with Navaho communities marked by loss of tribal identity. When a sick person's family has determined that a practitioner is necessary, a hataalii is called in, frequently accompanied by an herbalist and/or a diagnostician (both of whom are of lower status).There are some 200 plants in the Navaho pharmacopoeia and the herbalists gather these plants and make medicines, some of which are used directly, and some of which are used ceremonially by the hataalii. The diagnosticians, or â€Å"diviners,† are usually women who â€Å"listen† to the spirits and typically provide a statement of the problem. This procedure may be accompanied by such diagnostic procedures as hand trembling, star gazing, candle gazing, and crystal gazingà ¢â‚¬â€all of which involve the inward focusing of the practitioner's attention, with the purpose of facilitating insight as to the nature of the problem.Every hataalii must go through a long and arduous period of training and apprenticeship; they must earn the approval of their teachers and their community by demonstrating that they can perform successfully (Sandner, 1979). The â€Å"singing shaman’s† memory must be impeccable; the effort required to learn one major chant has been compared to that of obtaining a university degree (Sandner, 1979). A patient with a break or fracture is usually sent to an allopathic practitioner, although Sandner observed a Navaho specialist set broken bones â€Å"in a true scientific manner† (p. 8). In the Navaho system, the patients' first priority is that of treatment, and they assume the role of cooperating with the practitioner by taking an active part in their diagnosis and treatment. The major priority of the patient's fami ly is to seek diagnosis and treatment for its indisposed family members, seeking qualified personnel. It is the family’s role to determine payment, an important responsibility because some Chant Ways last for several days and the fee may exceed several months’ salary.The major priority of the patient's community is to support the sick patient. This is done by attending the Chant Way and facilitating his or her treatment. The community plays the role of preserving traditions and training new practitioners. This latter task is difficult, given the high cost of apprenticeships, especially for the hataalii. The goal of this healing model is integration within the framework of cosmic harmony, and the rejection of the effects of sorcery which are seen as alien to this harmony (Sandner, 1979).According to Kluckhohn (1962), the Navahos are â€Å"generations ahead† of U. S. physicians in treating the whole person. The goal of Navaho healing is to restore the patient's ha rmony with his or her family, clan and universe. The U. S. office of alternative medicine model In April 1995, the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) of the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a conference on research methodology (O'Connor, Calabrese, Cardena, Eisenberg, Fincher, Hufford, Jonas, Kaptchuck, Martin, Scott, & Zhang, 1997).The charge of this conference was to evaluate research needs in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and several working groups were created to produce consensus statements on a variety of essential topics. The panel on definition and description accepted a dual charge: to establish a definition of the field of complementary and alternative medicine for purposes of identification and research; to identify factors critical to a thorough and unbiased description of CAM systems, one that would be applicable to both quantitative and qualitative research.The panel defined CAM as follows: Complementary and alternat ive medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and the domain of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed. O'Connor et al. , 1997) The second charge of the panel was to establish a list of parameters for obtaining thorough descriptions of CAM systems. The list was constructed on 14 categories first conceptualized by Hufford (1995, p. 54ff): 1. Lexicon. What are the specialized terms in the system? 2. Taxonomy. What classes of health and sickness does the system recognize and address? 3. Epistemology. How was the body of knowledge derived? 4 . Theories. What are the key mechanisms understood to be? 5. Goals for Interventions. What are the primary goals of the system? 6.Outcome Measures. What constitutes a successful intervention? 7. Social Organization. Who uses and who practices the system? 8. Specific Activities. What do the practitioners do? What do they use? 9. Responsibilities. What are the responsibilities of the practitioners, patients, families, and community members? 10. Scope. How extensive are the system’s applications? 11. Analysis of Benefits and Barriers. What are the risks and costs of the system? 12. Views of Suffering and Death. How does the system view suffering and death? 13. Comparison and Interaction with Dominant System.What does this system provide that the dominant system does not provide? How does this system interact with the dominant system? The 14th category regards research methods and it not appropriate for this essay, one which focuses on descriptions. Peruvian Curanderismo The OAM categories can be illustrated with an Andean ethnomedical system, namely Pachakuti (i. e. , â€Å"world reversal† or â€Å"transformation†) Mesa Curanderismo, a tradition deeply rooted in the Huachuma and Paqokuna traditions and blended with aspects of Paqokuna Curanderismo. They have been adapted to become accessible to the industrialized world by OscarMiro-Quesada of the Pachakuti Mesa tradition. I have discussed this system with two of its leading English-speaking practitioners, Oscar Miro-Quesada (2002) and his student Matthew Magee (2002). In addition, I have observed Magee perform two ritualistic Mesa ceremonies. Because of its complexity and sophistication, this system can be described in terms of the OAM categories (O'Connor et al. , 1997): 1. Lexicon. Specialized terms come from Spanish, Aymara (an Andean language), and two forms of assimilated Quechua language, the â€Å"rural† form (i. e. , Runasimi) and the â€Å"high† form (i. . , Khapaqsimi) —the latter spoken by royalty or people in positions of power. In describing the ethnomedical and social communitary function of Peruvian Curanderismo, however, it is important to note that several terms have changed over time. For example, the contemporary terms used to describe the shaman and the sorcerer are maestro and brujo, respectively. However, if one traces the lineage of the Pachakuti Mesa tradition, one would find the terms curandero and malero (post-Conquest), hampiq and layqa (Inca pre-Conquest), and kamasqa and sonqoyog (pre-Inca) as well.There are also variations between charismatic and non-charismatic healers and, most recently, between Pachakuti Mesa practitioners and neo-shamanic practitioners. 2. Taxonomy. The Pachakuti Mesa tradition recognizes and addresses a wide variety of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual classes of health and sickness (Magee, 2002). Within this system, there are several types of ailments, and Spanish words are used to describ e them: enfermedad de dano (a sickness caused by human intention), enfermedad de Dios (a God-given sickness), contagio (contagious sickness), and encantos (sickness caused by enchantment).Examples of the most common, enfermedad de dano, include harmful intention directed toward the ears (por oreja), through the mouth (por boca), through the air (por aire), or by loss of one's â€Å"etheric body† or soul (sombra). The latter is typically brought about by susto or espanto (i. e. , magical shock or fright). More extreme is shucaque, or fright by trauma. In addition, there are sicknesses caused by envy and the â€Å"evil eye† (por mal de ojo) and by an â€Å"evil wind† (mal aire). The ritual encounter between the patient and the practitioner can be viewed as a dialogue about dano in which the shaman (i. . , curandero or curandera) uses a persuasive rhetoric (in speech and in song) in conjunction with ritualized activities to transform the patient's self-understandin g, hence his or her well-being. Most physical ailments fall into the category, enfermedad de Dios. In many traditions, practitioners do not deal with these conditions, but Pachakuti Mesa shamans are an exception. The visual symptoms of a God-given sickness are similar to the vista en virtud (â€Å"sight in virtue and power†) that practitioners manifest after ingesting the San Pedro cactus, a mind-altering substance.As a result these symptoms rarely show up in the campo medio, the â€Å"middle field† of the practitioner's healing altar, when he or she is performing a diagnostic rastero (i. e. , divination or â€Å"tracking†). 3. Epistemology. When tracing the origins of the Pachakuti Mesa tradition back through its oral lineage within Peruvian shamanism, one must go back to the Sechin culture, as well as the later Chavin, Tiahuanacu, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Lambayeque, Chimu, Wari, Inca (or Inka), Aymara, Runa (or Quechua), and Mestiso traditions.Although archeolo gical discoveries in the 1980s suggest that Peru’s central highlands were inhabited from 8,000 BCE and the origins of Peru’s shamanic technology can be traced back at least to 2,000 BCE, many practitioners believe that Mesa-related healing practices were utilized far earlier. 4. Theories. When working with a Mesa, a practitioner's healing altar, the key mechanisms are believed to be his or her ability to control and direct unseen forces and entities.This is accomplished through proper utilization of the â€Å"field of the magician† (campo ganadero) as well as the â€Å"field of the mystic† (campo justiciero). Mastery of these two skills allows the practitioner to surrender his or her personal will or agenda, becoming an open, transparent vessel for Spirit to flow through, unhindered. The mastery of these â€Å"fields† is symbolized on either side of the Mesa, while the practitioner, as Master Healer or maestro, resides in the middle (campo medio). The healer also works with a supernatural hierarchy through a process of co-creation with Spirit.This hierarchy is believed to be a unified, interdependent system that provides practitioners with limitless sources of guidance and power. These sources include the Apukuna (Sacred Mountains), Huaringas (Sacred Highland Lagoons), Pachamama (Mother Earth), Mama Killa (Grandmother Moon), Inti Tayta (Father Sun), Auquis (Nature Spirits), Tirakuna (the â€Å"Watchers†Ã¢â‚¬ ), Mallquis (Tree Spirits), Machukuna (Ancestors), Machula Aulanchis (Benevolent â€Å"Old Ones†), tutelary animal allies, the elements of nature (e. g. , unu, wayra, nina, allpa), and various Roman Catholic saints (e. . , San Cipriano of Antioch, Brother Martin de Porres). Working with these sources requires a delicate balance, not only through the practitioner's negotiation of control and surrender, but through living a lifestyle that reflects this balance (ayni or â€Å"sacred reciprocity†). Train ing involves a culturally sanctioned â€Å"calling† into the tradition. When a maestro passes on his or her knowledge or bequeaths one's practice to an initiate, there is an initiatory phenomenon (karpays) and a â€Å"magical contract† (pacto magico). . Goals for Interventions. Healing is a spiritual phenomenon. Sickness is considered to have its origin in, and gain its meaning from, the Spirit world. The purpose of life itself is to be initiated into the visionary regions of Spirit and to maintain oneself in concert with all creation (Achterberg, 1985). Hence, the goal for intervention in Pachakuti Mesa Curanderismo is a successful florecimiento (â€Å"flowering of fortune† healing ritual) that is used to strengthen a person's physical and spiritual systems.Strengthening a patient's runa kurku k'anchay (â€Å"luminous body†), as opposed to suppressing the symptom, empowers the patient to remove the sickness-causing intrusion with his or her own innate he aling capacities. Once the patient's personal power has been augmented, there is often a need to go further. This is especially true if the problem is extreme, as in â€Å"soul loss,† â€Å"possession,† â€Å"enchantments,† and potent acts of dano (e. g. , curses, certain types of contagion).In these cases, there is often a need to intervene on behalf of a patient with specific techniques for removal in the form of extraction (chupa), or counteracting the attack through ritual battle (volteando, volteada, or botando in which the curse is thrown back to its sender). Successful interventions of this kind usually completely disperse the patient's negative condition and symptoms, and generate sickness in the person who initiated the curse. Depending on the original severity of the curse, death of the sorcerer has been known to occur. 6. Outcome Measures.A successful intervention is gauged primarily by the quality of the florecimiento, which brings about the energeti c restoration or supplementation of a person's potentials. This â€Å"flowering† of dormant potentialities brings forth qualities in the person necessary to maintain a sustainable livelihood. 7. Social Organization. Depending on the level of shamanic mastery attained, practitioners will be assigned various civic units of geographical space in which to work, ranging from the ayllu (extended family or community), to the llaqta (village or town), and finally the suyu (region).A curandero (or curandera) performs shamanic functions in this system. They include working with sicknesses brought about by sorcery, imbalance, envy, etc. , providing insight into conditions of the harvest, resolving interpersonal conflicts, influencing the weather, finding lost items (as well as lost persons or souls), and attending to a variety of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical conditions. These healing sessions are primarily conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays.The curandero (or curandera) also performs specific ceremonial services for the community, such as providing ritual feedings (offrendas, despachos, or haywarikuys) for Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Apukuna (Sacred Mountains), and various supernatural beings (such as the â€Å"Watchers,† Nature Spirits, Tree Spirits, the Ancestors, the Benevolent â€Å"Old Ones†). A despacho or haywarikuy is a ritual offering used to promote a reciprocal exchange of thanks between human communities and the natural world.In the Paqokuna tradition, the pampa misayoq (ritual specialist) may learn to create and perform several hundred different types of despacho or haywarikuy ceremonial rituals. The performances are quite diverse and comprise 24 basic elements (recados) in the form of plant, animal, mineral, and human made products. All of these elements are reverently arranged on a square sheet of paper and either burned or buried as a way to promote the lifestyle of ayna (sacred reciprocity). There are offerings for birt hs, deaths, marriages, good luck, prosperity, longevity, and harvests, to name a few.It is also common for practitioners to use despachos to bless certain spaces, such as living quarters, work places, and sacred sites. There are various types of curanderos and curanderas, e. g. , the alto misayoq (herbalists), the pampa misayoq (ritual specialists), and the kuraq akulleq (literally, â€Å"master chewers of coca†). The latter is considered to have attained the highest level of mastery and rank within the shamanic hierarchy. Both males (curanderos) and females (curanderas) are employed as healing practitioners in this tradition.The services of a brujo (or sorcerer) can be purchased to adversely affect the health of a rival, or to assure success in business, love, and other aspects of personal gain. The person who has â€Å"hired† a brujo may reveal this fact to an ally, who will subsequently pass the news along a network that eventually leads to the intended target. Simi larly, the curandero’s or curandera's analysis of the source of a patient’s suffering is often a topic of subsequent conversation between social intimates of the patient; this is also true of the countermeasures (e. g. , the volteada or ritual in which sorcery is reversed) often used by the shaman.Potential patients for both the curandero and brujo include most of the members of the community, but when seeking medical assistance from the curandero, patients also commonly see both a curandero and an allopathic physician, often not openly discussing their visit to the former. This reluctance to reveal utilization of the indigenous healing system applies to any member of the social system, from the wealthy business executive to the poor farmer. Patients of curanderos and brujos include owners of businesses, political office holders, educators, military officers, and even a few medical professionals.These persons are willing to spend significant amounts of money and subjec t themselves to physically exhausting ritual treatments because they have shared with curanderos the belief that sorcery can be the cause of sickness. The majority of patients for both the curandero and brujo are women. This may be due to the inferior role of the female as a subordinate within the public transcript of male privileged society (e. g. , the values of machismo which support gender-based hierarchies, and the subsequent psychological and social conflicts that arise as a result).Through the sorcerer, women can gain access to powers that guarantee spousal fidelity (e. g. , â€Å"love magic†), thus eliminating the competition (e. g. , dano). Even the apprehension that a woman might pursue this alternative can act as an effective sanction. The curandero, on the other hand, provides women with the means to redress wrongs and to hold men accountable for their actions. 8. Specific Activities. a. Diagnosis: Diagnosis can be carried out through a variety of activities, for example, a rastreo (divining and tracking), coca leaf divination, reading the entrails of a guinea pig, or casting shells, etc.However, the source of diagnosis most commonly utilized in healing situations by Huachuma curanderos is the San Pedro cactus. The entheogenic San Pedro imbues the healer with vista en virtud (virtue, vision, and insight), which enables him or her to diagnose not only the illness, aliment, or disease of a patient, but often the source of said illness, aliment, or disease and specific ways to cure it. The curandero’s mesa (personal healing altar) also plays a vital role in the divinatory process of diagnosis, e. g. , by speaking to the curandero through the cuenta (the history, story, narrative, or â€Å"account†) of a specific piece or pieces.There are also practitioners who will â€Å"read† the energy of a person’s poq’po or wayrari (so-called â€Å"electromagnetic energy field†) to detect imbalances or deficiencies within that energy field and as a means for diagnosis. Ultimately, the above forms of diagnosis are highly effective and are commonly referred to by anthropologists because of the mystical flavor of shamanic healing arts. However, one must not overlook the curandero’s keen ability to observe with his or her senses (e. g. , simply observing how a person looks, smells, feels, interacts with the world).Curanderos will also often check a person’s tongue, nose, eyes, ears, glands, etc. , as a means for diagnosis. The combination of practical and mystical forms of diagnosis have availed the curandero with a high degree of accuracy regarding diagnosis. b. Treatment: The various modes of treatment employed by the curandero are as diverse as the conditions requiring treatment. However, nearly all treatments involve the use of a mesa (healing altar). A mesa is the sacred healing altar of a curandero, one that works in mediation with spiritual and cosmic forces for ritual healing .It is a microcosmic embodiment of a macrocosmic reality. This shamanic altar contains ritually empowered objects, which are aesthetically arranged on a sacred textile (unkhunas) to reflect the system of medicine employed by its carrier, e. g. , his or her lineage, cosmological background, animal allies, spirit guides, personal apukuna and huaringas (sacred mountains and lagoons). There are four kinds of objects primarily incorporated into a Pachakuti Mesa: khuyas (sacred stones), sepkas (power objects), estrellas (gifts from the spirits of the mountains), and enqas (totem fetishes).Among these, it is also common to find batas, palos, and espadas (staffs, sticks, and swords used for protection), florecimientos, (extractions, infusions, ritual battle), pututus (conch shells used to â€Å"call in† spiritual assistance and loosen blocks in an person’s body), seguros (good luck charms, protection pieces), rumikuna or khuyas (stones used for healing), condor feathers (used for directing energy and cleansing a person’s poq’po or energy field), huacos (objects and artifacts from Colonial and pre-Columbian times used to anchor specific energies into the medicine ground, often that of the ancestors), agua de Florida or agua de Kananga (colognes and perfumes, which are spayed through the mouth for cleansing and purification), rattles and whistles (to balance or bring in energy, commonly used when singing tarjos or medicine songs).It is also common to find candles, crosses, images of Roman Catholic saints, meteorites, ceremonially woven belts (chunpis), crystals, holy water, water from the melting ice of glaciers, San Pedro cactus, tobacco, coca leaves, singha (a combination of coca, tobacco, cane alcohol, and such perfumes as agua de florida, taboo, and siete poderes (which is imbibed through the nose), and incenses such as palo santo or copal. An herbal pharmacopoeia can occasionally be found as well. These objects (as well as the items spec ific to the individual mesa carrier) are arranged in a spatial configuration on the sacred textiles (unkhunas) and worked with to assist in the attainment of physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental integration and balance for the patient in the healing session.When a Pachakuti Mesa is used in ritual healing the distinction between the symbol and that which the symbol represents is dissolved. The objects arranged upon the mesa become the mountains, the rivers, the puma, or the empowered representation of the curandero’s own healing. Within this state of non-ordinary consciousness the line that delineates subject and object blurs, and the curandero is able to work with the mesa to bring about healing for the patient on an energetic level, which working at the source of the condition rather than through medicating the symptoms. Treatment also commonly involves incorporating the family members of the patient in the healing ceremony.This helps ensure that the patient will not o nly return to his or her community transformed, but he or she will return to a transformed community as well. Curanderos often find themselves acting simultaneously as apologists for, and avengers of, social injustices. 9. Responsibilities. a. Practitioner responsibilities: To attain a competent level of mastery through apprenticeship and experiential training, the aspiring practitioner must complete a series of rites of passage (karpays) governed by his or her teacher, elders and peers in the tradition, and the spiritual hierarchy. An example of the latter would be a demonstration of using coca leaves for diagnostic purposes.Once an apprentice is deemed qualified by his or her community, he or she may begin seeing patients on a small scale, but must build a solid reputation as a competent healer. This requires that the curandero consistently provide accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for the patients in need of healing. The curandero is also responsible to recommend alterna tive means for healing if he or she is not capable or does not specialize in the condition presented by the patient. In addition to being a qualified and capable healer, the curandero must also live a lifestyle of ayni, which reflects not the qualities of the tradition, but the living example of balance mirrored by nature and the living cosmos.This requires one to exist in uninterrupted communion with the spiritual hierarchy, to live as a perpetual student of life, and to continually deepen one’s relationship with the phenomenal world, with one’s internal world, and with the living universe around one. b. Patient responsibility: To be open and willing to participate in the healing being offered, as well as to be willing to implement the advice or prescription suggested by the curandero. The patient is also responsible to provide some form of reciprocal exchange for the healing service provided, either monetarily or through some form of barter or trade. c. Family respon sibility: To be present for the healing ceremony if possible, and to provide support with the information gained from the healing session to ensure the patient is able to recover in an environment that supports this new, transformed paradigm.The family is also responsible for communicating this information to pertinent community members who can further reinforce the transformed living environment for the patient. The family is often responsible to help compensate the curandero, either through monetary means or through trade if the patient is unable to do so. d. Community responsibility: To be a supplemental presence of support for the patient and to reinforce the transformed living environment for the person in transition. 10. Scope. This type of Peruvian shamanism has been practiced over the millennium in remote, northern areas of Peru. This isolation has helped Pachakuti practitioners preserve their independence and their prerogatives.The apparent success of the Pachakuti system i n its place of origin is an additional reason for its longevity. The scope of this healing system is comprehensive, as it is used for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual problems. However, there are allopathic treatments and technologies that would bolster traditional medicine, and well-meaning curanderos and curanderas often endeavor to make referrals to a clinic or hospital (typically, at a distance) if that would help their patient. 11. Analysis of benefits and barriers. What are the risks and costs of the system? Due to the recent advances in allopathic medical technology, competition between biomedical organizations and indigenous systems is becoming more common.The boundaries that delineate these two systems, and the conditions they address, are often blurred. Poor people often turn to indigenous healers because biomedical treatments are too expensive. However, curanderos are not part of a recognized profession and therefore operate in legal and social marginality. Many curanderos experience harassment from local police, who use rarely enforced legal restrictions on non-licensed medical practitioners to extort protection payments. Church and civic officials have also been party to repressive measures against curanderos. Curanderos certainly recognize the tenuous position that they occupy in the Peruvian medical system.Some prefer to maintain a very low profile to avoid the notice of local officials, for example, by performing their ritual sessions in remote agricultural fields. Other curanderos bank on the support of well-connected patients to keep them out of trouble. 12. Views of suffering and death. This system holds that there is a basic continuity between life and death. When the physical body dies, life and death are not seen as separate, for life cannot exist without death. When the physical body dies it goes into the Earth and feeds it, giving life to the plants and trees. The plants feed the animals, who feed the Earth, ad infinitum, in a self-regulating interdependent relationship seen as the great web of life.All things are born from Pachamama (Mother Earth) and all things shall return to her. Views of the afterlife vary from practitioner to practitioner but most believe in life after the physical body dies. All in all, death is seen as a natural process, inseparable from life. Anthropologists have long noted that life’s transitions (i. e. , birth, death) are commonly marked by elaborate rituals, the purpose of which is to smooth the disruption to the social order that such status changes can cause. The body of the person undergoing the transition is often the target of symbolic manipulations: special decorations (e. g. , burial costumes) and purification (e. g. , cleansing).A particularly frequent symbolic message conveyed by these rituals is death and rebirth; the person is dying from the social status previously held and being born into a new identity. Indigenous rituals are reminiscent of hospital patie nts who put on the standardized garb required by the institution, as well as the strict fasting enforced before surgery, the cleansing processes requested of the patient as well as surgical staff, the process by which the patient’s vital signs and consciousness are taken to a death-like state, and the patient's frequently cited post-surgery sense of being reborn. The fact that all these features have medical justifications and explanations does not diminish their potential symbolic impact. Much of the suffering experienced by Peruvians is attributed to acts of dano, or sorcery.This is especially potent in a society like that of Peru where personal relationships are critical to economic survival and where the powers of the sorcerer and the curandero are assumed to have empirically verifiable effects. Dano, as a threat or as an accepted diagnosis, can have serious social repercussions no matter how outsiders to the tradition might view the forces that the sorcerers claim to con trol. Peruvian society’s rigid social hierarchies make people increasingly dependent upon personal networks in order to survive. The resulting burden of economic self-interest loaded onto personal relationships has contributed to a social world in which mistrust inevitably accompanies interdependence.It should not be surprising, therefore, that social relations would be the assumed source of misfortune and suffering for rural Peruvians. This stands in contrast with traditional Andean attributions of sickness to natural forces and supernatural transgressions. 12. Comparison and Interaction with Dominant System. What does this system provide that the dominant system does not provide and how does this system interact with the dominant system? On the one hand, Miro-Quesada (2002) believes that global shamanism is an emerging phenomenon of the 21st century. The Pachakuti teachings are intended to empower all interested persons, allowing them to work with unseen forces in order to promote healing and balance through spiritual mediation.But on the other hand, the dominant role being played by allopathic biomedicine often rules out people’s interest and participation in an indigenous healing system (e. g. , Levi-Strauss, 1955). Conclusion On July 14, 2003, Matthew Magee performed a ritualistic ceremony on the top of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California, in the spirit of Kamasqa Curanderismo, one of the components of the Pachakuti Mesa tradition. This ceremony waves together several themes that expressed the participants' reverence for the Earth as teacher and mother. Together, the group created a consecrated Earth offering (despacho) to foster a lifestyle of sacred reciprocity (ayni) and an awareness of life's interdependence, calling upon participants to live harmoniously with oneself, with others, and with the planet as a whole.There are ecopsychologists who believe that healing the planet is basically a shamanic journey; if so, traditional medi cal systems can play a vital role in this endeavor. However, while herbal medicines, indigenous treatments, and shamanism are becoming faddish in the West, indigenous systems in their original contexts are becoming increasingly endangered. It is crucial to support indigenous cultures and learn what shamanism and related systems of healing have to offer the postmodern world before archival research in libraries replaces field research as the best available method for investigating these healing systems. Their longevity indicates that they have served many groups of eople quite well over the millennia. The question remains as to what they can offer a world where allopathic biomedicine is not only revered but also powerful, a world in which reality is constricted to measurable physical dimensions and alternative perspectives are dismissed as â€Å"folk psychology† (Kelly, Kelly, Crabtree, Gauld, Grosso, & Gordon, 2007, p. 54). This discussion of Pachakuti and Navaho healing mode ls has demonstrated the adaptability of many traditional healing systems to conditions in the contemporary world. The eclectic nature of the system bodes well not only for its survival but its compatibility with collegial practitioners of allopathic medicine.Finally, the ecological emphasis of the two systems provide inspiration for ecologists and their colleagues who agree with indigenous practitioners that the Earth is at risk, and that collaborative efforts are needed to redress the natural balance. References Achterberg, J. (1985). Imagery in healing: Shamanism and modern medicine. Boston: Shambhala. 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