When Pakistan was founded in 1947, its secular founding fathers did not speak of an Islamic state.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, recognized as Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader), clearly declared that non-Muslims would be equal citizens in the new country. Reflecting his secular views, Jinnah—himself a Shia—nominated a Hindu, several Shias and an Ahmadi to Pakistan’s first cabinet. Now, non-Muslim representation at the Cabinet level is limited to symbolic appointments, while Shias face smear campaigns from Sunni Muslims that declare them non-Muslims. And the Ahmadis—who were some of Jinnah’s most ardent supporters in his quest for a Muslim homeland on the subcontinent—are completely unrepresented; they live as virtual outcasts in modern Pakistan.
In his famous speech of 11 August 1947, Jinnah had stated that, in order to make Pakistan ‘happy and prosperous’, every person living in the country, ‘no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, [should be] first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations’. His speech advanced the case for a secular, albeit Muslim-majority, Pakistan: ‘I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community … will vanish.’
Jinnah also declared,
You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the State … We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State … Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.
The vision outlined by Pakistan’s founder remains unfulfilled. Indeed, it appears further from realization than at any time since this hopeful declaration of religious pluralism was made. At the time of partition in 1947, almost 23% of Pakistan’s population (which then included Bangladesh) comprised non-Muslim citizens. The proportion of non-Muslims has since fallen to approximately 3%.
Furthermore, the distinctions among Muslim denominations have become far more accentuated over the years. Muslim groups such as the Shias, which account for approximately 20-25% of Pakistan’s Muslim population, are often targeted by violent extremists. Ahmadis, barely 1% of the Muslim population, have been declared non-Muslim by the writ of the state. Non-Muslim minorities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs have been the victims of suicide bomb attacks on their neighbourhoods, and their community members have been converted to Islam against their will. Houses of worship of non-Muslims as well as of Muslim minority sects have been attacked and bombed while filled with worshippers.
Pakistan has descended to its current state of religious intolerance through a series of political decisions by Jinnah’s successors. The descent began in 1949 with the Constituent Assembly declaring the objective of Pakistan’s Constitution to be the creation of an Islamic state. It reached a nadir with the ‘Islamization’ drive under General Zia during the 1980s. Now, the country is dealing with armed militias and terrorist groups—many of which were sponsored by the state under the Zia regime and in the civil and military governments since—each intent on imposing its version of Islam by violent means.
Pakistan’s most prominent human rights activist, Asma Jahangir, warns that the worst is yet to come. ‘Past experience has shown that the Islamists gain space when civilian authority weakens,’ she pointed out in an article a few years ago. ‘The proliferation of arms and official sanction for jihad have made militant groups a frightening challenge for the government. Pakistan’s future remains uncertain and its will to fight against rising religious intolerance is waning.’ The purpose of examining Pakistan’s embrace of religious extremism is not revealed merely in the recognition of the country’s ill treatment of its religious minorities.
In the context of a Muslim world comprising a youthful population of somewhere in the order of 1.4 billion people, it is equally critical to note the actions of state-sponsored organizations or extremist groups against religious minorities in all Muslim countries. Attacks on religious minorities occur in several Muslim-majority nations, from Egypt to Indonesia, just as they do in Pakistan. But as Pakistan is the first country to declare itself an Islamic republic in modern times, the study of Pakistan’s handling of its minorities can be a helpful guide in understanding and anticipating the threats that would arise wherever Islamist militancy is on the ascendant.
Excerpted with permission from HarperCollins India from the book, Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan’s Religious Minorities, by Farahnaz Ispahani. We welcome your comments at firstname.lastname@example.org.


Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed (John Bacchus Dykes)
- Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2010-08-27). Score information: A4, 1 page, 17 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: From the Church Hymnary, 1927. MusicXML source file is in compressed .mxl format.
Original text and translations
1. Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender last farewell,
A Guide, a Comforter bequeathed, With us to dwell.
2. He came in tongues of living flame, To teach, convince, subdue;
All-powerful as the wind He came, As viewless too.
3. He came, sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing Guest,
While He can find one humble heart Wherein to rest.
4. And His that gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breath of even,
That checks each fault, that calms each fear, And speaks of heaven.
5. And every virtue we possess, And every victory won,
And every thought of holiness, Are His alone.
6. Spirit of purity and grace, Our weakness, pitying see;
O make our hearts Thy dwelling-place, And worthier Thee.


A teen's first job can be a liberating experience -- until he has his first encounter with the Internal Revenue Service. Filing a tax return can be confusing for both the teen and his parents. Many teens who work aren't required to file a return because they work part-time and their annual income doesn't reach the IRS filing threshold, so whether they're required to file depends on how much they make in a given year. However, some teens may benefit from filing a return even if it isn't required.
Filing as a Dependent
Most teens who work are dependents, meaning that other taxpayers -- such as their parents -- are reporting them on their tax returns. Parents who claim children as dependents on their tax returns do so becauses they benefit from certain credits and deductions. To qualify as dependents, children must be under age 19 or under age 24 if they are full-time students. Yet just because a working teen is a dependent doesn't mean that his parents automatically claim his income on their return. Anyone who earns sufficient income must file a return independently. However, if a dependent doesn't file, the parents are liable for the tax.
Not everyone who receives an income is required to file a tax return with the IRS. It depends on whether he makes above a certain amount, which varies by year. Income requirements are outlined in IRS Publication 501. As an example, a dependent child who worked during 2011 was required to file a 2012 tax return if he earned more than $5,800 during 2011. Alternatively, if he received unearned income such as interest or dividends, he had to file a return if he received more than $950. If he received both earned and unearned income, he had to look at the gross amount. If it was greater than $950 or the sum of his earned income plus $300, whichever was larger, then he had to file. For example, if he received a $500 dividend and $1,000 in wages, he had to file because his gross income of $1,500 was greater than his earned income plus $300, or $1,300.
Other Reasons to File
Even a working teen who earns less than than the amount required for filing a return may have reasons to file. The main reason is to receive a refund from the government if the teen worked for a business or organization that withheld income taxes. Another reason to file a return, even if the teen doesn't have taxes withheld, is to keep official income records. Records are useful if the teen wants to use her income for anything that requires reporting an income -- such as opening a Roth IRA. Furthermore, teaching teens the habit of filing a tax return will be very useful once they are independent.
How to File a Return
The easiest way for a teen to file a tax return is with IRS Form 1040EZ, which is for single filers with no dependents. The only reasons to file the more complicated Form 1040 are if he received interest over $1,500 or could claim tax credits besides the Earned Income Credit. These forms can be downloaded and mailed in once they are filled out, or they can be filed online. If you need assistance, hire an accountant or use a tax preparation software program.
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images


Many schools have seen the positive impact coloured overlays can have on the reading ability of children with a dyslexic profile.
However, the latest research suggests that dyslexia is not linked to eyesight and raises doubts about vision-based approaches. A study undertaken by Bristol and Newcastle Universities compare the eye test results of 172 children with severe dyslexia to 5,650 children without dyslexia.
Researchers found that those with dyslexia were no more or less likely to have sight or eye-related problems.
Authored by Anita Coleman.


Detailed analysis of in william shakespeare's julius caesar learn all about how the in julius caesar such as julius caesar and brutus contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. Julius caesar by william shakespeare in shakespeare's julius caesar, brutus emerges as an intricate character as well as the play's william shakespeare's play julius caesar works convincingly for audiences today not only because of its truthful account of history but also because. Julius caesar characters guide studies each significant player's role and motivation in this play home: (see shakespeare's antony and cleopatra) the most complex character in this play, brutus is one of the men who assassinate caesar in the senate. Julius caesar by william shakespeare paperback $599 in stock this is a copy of the famous shakespeare play--richard iii--published by signet publishing company do a character analysis of secondary characters. Julius caesar study guide contains a biography of william shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Julius a character analysis of brutus in julius caesar caesar characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in this play julius caesar - analysis of brutus: the house win a essay florida julius caesar characters covered include.
The play julius caesar, written by william shakespeare depicts various members of roman society conspiring to hire writer login home essays a rhetorical analysis of julius caesar a rhetorical analysis of julius caesar 9 in julius caesar, brutus and antony lose a prominent. Julius caesar: marcus brutus character analysis essays: julius caesar in the play the tragedy of julius caesar, by william shakespeare, brutus murdered caesar so that caesar would not change rom brutus was scared of caesar becoming king. Marcus brutus character analysis uploaded by fuzzy_pgp on jun 08, 2004 william shakespeare's play, the tragedy of julius caesar, is mainly based on the assassination of julius caesar. Free study guide-julius caesar by william shakespeare-free booknotes character analysis julius caesar portray caesar as an absolute tyrant-a characterization that would have provided unquestionable justification for brutus' participation instead, shakespeare's caesar is a. Free study guide-julius caesar by william shakespeare-character analysis/brutus-free booknotes chapter summary plot synopsis themes essay book reports study guides downloadable notes.
Free essay: character analysis: brutus william shakespeare's play, the tragedy of julius caesar, was mainly based on the assassination of julius caesar the. Run into a section in a shakespeare play you don't quite understand analysis: brutus truly feels killing caesar is just and honorable julius caesar study guide & character analysis famous quotes from julius caesar. Get everything you need to know about marcus brutus in julius caesar analysis, related quotes, timeline the character of marcus brutus in julius caesar from litcharts | the creators of sparknotes julius caesar by william shakespeare upgrade to a + tap here to download this litchart. Dramatis personae / julius caesar / calpurnia, wife of caesar / octavius, after the death of julius caesar / mark antony, after the death of.
In using julius caesar as a central figure character map william shakespeare biography critical essays major themes caesar as a viable character in the play endures beyond his assassination brutus wants to come by caesar's spirit / and not dismember caesar.
William shakespeare's play, the tragedy of julius caesar, is mainly based on the assassination of julius caesar the character who was in charge of the assassination was, ironically, marcus brutus, a servant and close friend to julius caesar but what would cause a person to kill a close friend. Mixing up the many characters in shakespeare's famous historical play get them cleared up with this character analysis and study guide slide 1 of 4 character analysis of julius caesar casca - casca appears early in the play and relates to brutus and cassius. Julius caesar by william shakespeare who do you believe is the protagonist in this play, caesar or brutus justify your answer choose four of your favorite characters from julius caesar and create a character map for each one. Antony (character analysis) brutus (character analysis) julius caesar (character analysis) cassius protagonist is one of the many engaging issues presented in the play julius caesar: william shakespeare biography the life and work of william shakespeare. Marcus brutus character analysis, from julius caesar william shakespeare's play, the tragedy of julius caesar, is mainly based on the assassination of julius caesar.


from the communist manifesto, 1888 mark and engels
Answers 5Add Yours
quote:"The equals had believed that popular sovereignty and a virtuous republic could never be secured while inequality remained
Sorry I don't have that book. Perhaps you can quote a bit of it? I can probably find the whole thing then.
need help interpreting
quote on paper copied from school
can anyone help with this
Okay I'm no expert on this but I think it means that the people (popular sovereignty) could never decide on a government while inequality (differences in wealth, socio-economic status, power...) remained. This is to say that democracy can't work while rich people control the message. Disparities in class prevents people from having fair representation.


The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has issued an evacuation order downstream of Oroville dam. According to an alert by KRCTV.com,
A hazardous situation has developed with the Oroville Dam auxiliary spillway. Officials say that operation of the auxiliary spillway has lead to severe erosion that could lead to a fa
Failure of the auxiliary spillway structure will result in an uncontrolled release of flood waters from Lake Oroville.
In response to this developing situation, DWR is increasing water releases to 100,000 cubic feet per second. Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream has been ordered.
The Department of Water Resources is now anticipating failure of the auxiliary spillway within the hour.
This is a tragic development, even more so because the possibility of failure of the Oroville auxiliary spillway due to severe erosion was raised repeatedly by environmental groups and local agencies during relicensing of Oroville Dam by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
California Water Research examined a 2005 legal filing in the FERC relicensing by Friends of the River and Sierra Club California which clearly described the risks of the unarmored spillway:
A single operational use or multiple operational uses (with failure to repair any preceding or cumulative damage) of the ungated spillway could result in a loss of crest control of Oroville Dam. A loss of crest control could not only cause additional damage to project lands and facilities but also cause damages and threaten lives in the protected floodplain downstream. An unarmored spillway is not in conformance with current FERC engineering regulations. (emphasis added.)
In response, the Department of Water Resources reportedly denied there was a risk of loss of crest control if the auxiliary spillway was used, but did not provide any geotechnical information for the environmental groups to examine. The Department of Water Resources also argued that a feasibility study of armoring the auxiliary spillway with concrete should be financed as a flood control project by the US Army Corps of Engineers. DWR never requested a feasibility study by the Corps for armoring the spillway. The armoring project was also likely ineligible for funding as an Army Corps of Engineers flood control project because DWR has the obligation of controlling releases from the dam.
2 thoughts on “Enviro groups warned of possible loss of crest control at Oroville auxiliary spillway in 2005”
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Sondi has some good replys to your interesting and valid reports on Oroville Dam failure possiblities, and repairs that have taken place. These show that DWR has been open to that degree, and we need more reports like this. I have hopes that the dam failure options for leaving downstream areas in reports to the people (in case this happens) are available. This is important, possibly not reproduced here, but are sure to be there when communicating to them in the future.


Living with pain is stressful, but a surprisingly short investment of time in mental training can help you cope.
A new study examining the perception of pain and the effects of various mental training techniques has found that relatively short and simple mindfulness meditation training can have a significant positive effect on pain management.
Though pain research during the past decade has shown that extensive meditation training can have a positive effect in reducing a person's awareness and sensitivity to pain, the effort, time commitment, and financial obligations required has made the treatment not practical for many patients. Now, a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte shows that a single hour of training spread out over a three day period can produce the same kind of analgesic effect.
The research appears in an article by UNC Charlotte psychologists Fadel Zeidan, Nakia S. Gordon, Junaid Merchant and Paula Goolkasian, in the current issue of The Journal of Pain.
"This study is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of such a brief intervention on the perception of pain," noted Fadel Zeidan, a doctoral candidate in psychology at UNC Charlotte and the paper's lead author. "Not only did the meditation subjects feel less pain than the control group while meditating but they also experienced less pain sensitivity while not meditating."
Over the course of three experiments employing harmless electrical shocks administered in gradual increments, the researchers measured the effect of brief sessions of mindfulness meditation training on pain awareness measuring responses that were carefully calibrated to insure reporting accuracy. Subjects who received the meditation training were compared to controls and to groups using relaxation and distraction techniques. The researchers measured changes in the subjects' rating of pain at "low" and "high" levels during the different activities, and also changes in their general sensitivity to pain through the process of calibrating responses before the activities.
While the distraction activity -- which used a rigorous math task to distract subjects from the effects of the stimulus -- was effective in reducing the subject's perception of "high" pain, the meditation activity had an even stronger reducing effect on high pain, and reduced the perception of "low" pain levels as well.
Further, the meditation training appeared to have an effect that continued to influence the patients after the activity was concluded, resulting in a general lowering of pain sensitivity in the subjects -- a result that indicated that the effect of the meditation was substantially different from the effect of the distraction activity.
The finding follows earlier research studies that found differences in pain awareness and other mental activities among long-time practitioners of mindfulness meditation techniques.
"We knew already that meditation has significant effects on pain perception in long-term practitioners whose brains seem to have been completely changed -- we didn't know that you could do this in just three days, with just 20 minutes a day," Zeidan said.
In assessing the first experiment, the researchers were not terribly surprised to discover that meditation activity appeared to be affecting the experimental subjects' perception of pain because the researchers assumed that the change was mainly due to distraction, a well-known effect. However, subsequent findings began to indicate that the effect continued outside of the periods of meditation.
" When we re-calibrated their pain thresholds after the training had started and we found that they felt less pain, compared to the control subjects," Zeidan noted. "This was totally surprising because a change in general sensitivity was not part of our hypothesis at all.
"We were so surprised after the first experiment that we did two more. We thought that no one was going to listen to us because no one had done this before… and we got a robust finding across the three experiments."
Zeidan stresses that the effect the researchers measured in the meditation subjects was a lessening of pain but not a lessening of sensation. The calibration results showed little change in the meditation subjects' sensitivity to the sensation of electricity, but a significant change in what level of shock was perceived to be painful.
"The short course of meditation was very effective on pain perception," Zeidan said. "We got a very high effect size for the periods when they were meditating.
"In fact, it was kind of freaky for me. I was ramping at 400-500 milliamps and their arms would be jolting back and forth because the current was stimulating a motor nerve. Yet they would still be asking, 'A 2?' ('2' being the level of electrical shock that designates low pain) It was really surprising," he said.
Zeidan suspects that the mindfulness training lessens the awareness of and sensitivity to pain because it trains subjects' brains to pay attention to sensations at the present moment rather than anticipating future pain or dwelling on the emotions caused by pain, and thus reduces anxiety.
"The mindfulness training taught them that distractions, feelings, emotions are momentary, don't require a label or judgment because the moment is already over," Zeidan noted. "With the meditation training they would acknowledge the pain, they realize what it is, but just let it go. They learn to bring their attention back to the present."
Though the results are in line with past findings regarding mindfulness practitioners, Zeidan says that the findings are important because they show that meditation is much easier to use for pain management than it was previously believed to be because a very short, simple course of training is all that is required in order to achieve a significant effect. Even self-administered training might be effective, according to Zeidan.
"What's neat here is that this is the briefest known way to promote a meditation state and yet it has an effect in pain management. People who want to make use of the technique might not need a meditation facilitator -- they might be able to get the necessary training off the internet, " Zeidan said. "All you have to do is use your mind, change the way you look at the perception of pain and that, ultimately, might help alleviate the feeling of that pain."
The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
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WHMIS: What You Need to Know
|> Environmental Health and Safety > Resources > WHMIS: What You Need to Know|
WHMIS: What You Need to KnowA publication of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, University of Toronto
printed 1989, reprinted September 1992
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTIONThe Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS for short) is a comprehensive national system for safe management of hazardous chemicals which is legislated by both the federal and provincial jurisdictions. WHMIS is a tripartite effort of labour, industry, and government which took several years to develop; it is unique in that it represents a consensus of these three groups.
The WHMIS legislation provides that workers must be informed about the hazards in the workplace and receive appropriate training to enable them to work safely. To accomplish this, WHMIS requires all suppliers (manufacturers, importers, packagers and processors) to label and prepare Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for products they make, import, package, or process that meet the hazard criteria set out in the Controlled Product Regulations under the federal Hazardous Products Act.. The buyers of these controlled products must make sure that these products are correctly labelled and that MSDSs are available. Employers must set up worker education programs that instruct workers about the contents and significance of labels and MSDSs and how to work safely with hazardous materials.
In summary, WHMIS delivers the necessary information by means of:-
The ultimate goal is to create a safer workplace by providing workers with the knowledge and tools to enable them to work safely.
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German inventor and industrialist of the 19th century, Werner von Siemens was the pioneer of the electro industry and brought about a great technological advancement with many of his important discoveries. He earned a prominent position among the multitude of awards for achievements in science and technology.
Early Life, Education and Career:
Ernst Werner von Siemens was born at Lenthe, Hanover, Germany, on 13 December 1816, the oldest of four brothers. Siemens did not complete his schooling and joined the army to undertake training in engineering. For three years he was a pupil in the Military Academy at Berlin. In 1838 he earned his living as lieutenant in the artillery, and six years later he accepted the post of supervisor of the artillery workshops. In 1848 he had the task of defending the port of Kiel against the Danish fleet, and as commandant of Friedrichsort built the fortifications for the defense of Eckernforde harbor. The same year he was entrusted with the laying of the first telegraph line in Germany, which between Berlin and Frankfort-on-Main, and with that work his military career came to an end. His invention of the telegraph that used a needle to point to the right letter, instead of using Morse code led to formation of the electrical and telecommunications company Siemens as we know today.
In 1847, Siemens accompanied by mechanic Johann Georg Halske, established Siemens & Halske, a company that manufactured and repaired telegraphs. The company built offices in Berlin, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and other major cities, and in due course emerged as one of the major electrical manufacturing companies in Europe.
Besides the telegraph Siemens made outstanding contributions to the expansion of electrical engineering and is therefore known as the founding father of the discipline in Germany. In 1880 he designed the world’s first electric elevator. In 1866 he independently discovered the dynamo-electrical principle and developed interest in the growth of the self-excited dynamo and electric-traction. In 1867 he delivered an important paper on electric generators before the Royal Society. During late 1877 Siemens received German patent No. 2355 for an electromechanical “dynamic” or moving-coil transducer, which was adapted by A. L. Thuras and E. C. Wente for the Bell System in the late 1920s for use as a loudspeaker.
Siemens married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Mathilde Duman in 1852 and had two children, Arnold von Siemens and Georg Wilhelm von Siemens. Almost two years after the death of his first wife, he remarried Antonie Siemens, a distant cousin in 1869. Children from second marriage were Hertha von Siemens and Carl Friedrich von Siemens.
Werner von Siemens died on December 13, 1892, a week before his seventy-sixth birthday, at Charlottenburg, Germany.


Environmentally Friendly Garden Booklet (Word Document)
Healthy plants are a direct result of a healthy soil. It
is that simple; feed the soil and it will feed the plant.
Soil is alive. One cup of healthy soil contains more microbes
than there are people on Earth. The microorganisms in the
soil are an essential component of the web of life because
plants depend on them for their survival, and we and other
living creatures depend on plants.
Without plants we would have no food or oxygen; terrestrial
life would cease. Plant roots release nutrients to the soil
to nourish the billions of microorganisms that in turn will
convert mineral and organic material into a form that the
plant can absorb. These organisms also protect the plant from
pathogens and pests.
Through the process of digesting and assimilating the remains
of dead plants and animals, soil microbes release carbon back
into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide that plants need to
conduct photosynthesis. This is an integral part of the life
cycle. Synthetic chemicals, improper watering and compaction
destroy microbes and macro organisms like earthworms, arthropods
and mammals that all live in the soil, breaking the soil food
web cycle. Read more to learn about the structure of soil,
the organisms it contains, and the practices that can help
or harm it.
Select the right plants for the location. For example, plants
that thrive in dry, sunny conditions will not thrive in a
damp, shady location. Plants native or adapted to your area
are disease and pest resistant, drought tolerant, generally
cold hardy and attract beneficial insects. Plant diversity
attracts diverse wildlife and creates a healthier ecosystem.
What steps should you take to plant trees, shrubs, flowers,
vegetables and grasses?
Maintenance of your Garden
Visit this website for a wealth of information on gardening without toxic chemicals. Short "How To" videos will educate you about numerous subjects ranging from how to make compost tea, to soil testing, to controlling weeds. http://www.safelawns.org
Once your garden is up and growing, it's not so much digging in the dirt that's going to keep you busy as much as the daily maintenance. Here are some helpful hints for maintaining your garden.
Irrigation: Over-watering weakens plants, increasing
chances of disease and promoting runoff that pollutes
our waterways. Conserve water whenever possible. Earth
is 70% water with only 2.5% fit for human consumption.
Much of that is threatened. When soil contains 4–5% organic
matter, it holds more than 4 times the amount of water than
soil with only 1½–2% organic matter, conserving
water, thereby reducing erosion and runoff.
Fertilization: Remember healthy soil feeds the
plant. Avoid artificial, high-nitrogen, water-soluble
fertilizers because they can harm the soil and the ground
water with the salts that they leave behind. Large doses
of soluble Nitrogen create succulent growth. The abnormally
thin plant cell walls are easily penetrated by pathogens
and become a magnet for insects. Root development is diminished
and forced shoot growth raises water requirements. As
Howard Garrett says,
"Feeding your plants nothing
but nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K)
like feeding your kids nothing but white bread."
Plants need at least 18–20 elements, not just three. Apply
high quality compost, seaweed extracts, alfalfa meal,
organic fertilizers like Microlife, rock powders and more.
Sending your bags of leaves to the dump is equivalent
to throwing fertilizer away. Leave grass clippings on
your lawn. Deep feeding your trees does not make sense
because the top 4" of the soil contains the microbes
that feed the tree.
Organic Treatment for Turf and Beds in Houston (Word Document)
Fertilization, Pests, Weeds, Trees (Word Document)
- Organic Fertilizers Suggested (Word Document)
- Disease, Pest and Weed Control: Stressed plants
are disease prone and attract insects. Stress can be the
result of poor plant selection, compaction, nutrient-deprived
soil, poor irrigation practices, poor pruning, and poor
mulching. The so-called bad bugs account for only 1–2% of
all insects; the rest are the beneficial insects that will
keep the bad bugs in balance. Artificial chemical pesticides
don't discriminate. They harm the good guys along with the
bad and also kill other forms of wildlife that are essential
to a balanced eco-system, such as lizards, frogs, turtles,
birds. Often they are very unhealthy for humans as well.
Controlling diseases and pests organically is not difficult
or expensive. An application of high quality compost will
solve many of your problems. Cornmeal is an excellent fungicide
for diseases like brown patch. Weeds are messengers telling
you that something is wrong with your soil. Vinegar is an
Mowing, Trimming, Pruning: Raise the cut of the
grass to allow more root mass and deeper roots that consume
less energy. Higher cutting creates a denser canopy that
shades the soil and reduces soil temperature and moisture
evaporation. Removing more than 1/3 of the grass blades
during mowing can arrest root growth for more than a month.
Prune trees in the winter while they are dormant. Pruning
should preserve the natural character of a tree or shrub.
Heavy thinning should be avoided because it will weaken
the root system. Removal of lower limbs will stress the
tree by making it less stable in high winds. When removing
branches, avoid flush cuts and long stubs that slow healing.
Preserve the small stub called the "branch collar."
Mulch and Compost: All mulches and composts are
not alike and names can be misleading. They should smell
sweet, reminding you of the smell of a damp forest floor.
Beware of mulches and composts that contain pieces of
shredded pallets and chemicals that are often added to
give them a black color. Composting turns the material
into a dark chocolate brown; no dyes or chemical are required
to achieve this color. When selecting a mulch, steer clear
of those that contain bark, but be aware that almost any
mulch is better than bare soil. Bark robs plants of nitrogen
and creates nutrient tie-up problems. Consider adding
an inch of finished compost before you add mulch because
it contains a huge number of beneficial microbes.
An excellent choice of mulch for gardens, flower beds
and potting mix is "Aged Native Hardwood Mulch"
(Aged means composted - this is key). The feedstock
for this wonderful mulch is "Native Hardwood Mulch"
which consists of ground fresh green tree and brush material,
not bark. Composting kills pathogens and weed seeds
and allows the beneficial microbes to multiply. Native
Hardwood Mulch that is not aged is used as a special purpose
mulch to break up gumbo clay. It works well over a layer
of compost and its lighter color is beneficial for some
plants and can brighten shady areas. While Pine Bark is
cheap, it is a poor choice because it contains turpentine
that kills microbes, floats out of beds, attracts fire
ants, and depletes nitrogen. "Hardwood Mulch"
is made primarily from the bark of any hardwood tree like
hickory, elm, pecan, mesquite, oak, etc. In the Houston
area, Hardwood Mulch is usually oak bark. Hardwood barks
contain tannic acid that kill microbes and attract termites.
John Ferguson, owner of Nature's Way Resources
in Conroe, Texas, offers this ranking of different mulches:
aged native mulch (excellent); pine straw (very good);
aged leaves (good), but they should be shredded and partially
composted and they can blow away; cedar flakes (good),
but should be composted to break down growth suppressing
oils; cypress bark (medium to good); shredded hardwood
mulch (fair to good), but it can form a tight mat which
is resistant to water; shredded pine bark (poor). Living
mulches are low growing plants such as grasses, groundcovers
and shrubs that keep the soil covered, shading and cooling
it in summer and keeping it warm in winter. To mulch your
trees correctly, extend the mulch to the drip line. Do
not allow the mulch to touch to trunk of the tree. You
should be able to see the root flare. When you apply mulch
to other plants, leave a gap of 1–2" from the trunks
Further Reading on Mulch and Compost
A satisfactory plan is a realistic plan. Gardens don't stand
still as there are always shrubs to prune, grass to mow and
leaves to rake. First, consider the purpose of your garden
and the type of garden you want. Then study the these principles
- Balance of shape, size and colors
- Proportion and unity
- Contrast of textures
- Focus of views
- Safety and convenience
- Ease of maintenance
Be sure to group your plants according to similar water needs.


The repeated heavy rainfall in Germany and Austria, which has resulted in severe flooding in some areas, is not unusual for the time of year, according to Prof. Peter Höppe, head of Munich Re’s Geo Risks Research unit. The storms, which have brought chaos to Munich Re’s home state of Bavaria, are due to an upper low pressure zone.
The same weather system brought large-scale floods at the end of May/beginning of June 2013, Höppe told Reactions . However, this time they are concurrent with almost stationary shower and storm activity.
“The scientific community has not yet been able to provide clear answers as to whether climate change is influencing the frequency and intensity of the kind of weather conditions we are currently seeing, Höppe said. “Independently of these conditions, our damage data shows an increase in both the number of and damage resulting from severe weather events in Europe that are prone to cause damage.”
Throughout the period from 1980 to 2015, thunderstorms – often involving hail and heavy rainfall that caused flash floods – have been a frequent cause of damage in Germany. Depending on the value of the properties concerned, some individual loss events have very costly. Most recently the severe hailstorms of July 27–28 2013 in southwestern and northern Germany left total losses €3.6bn and storm damage in North Rhine-Westphalia on June 9 2014 caused damage totalling €0.9bn.
In Germany, damage from wind and hailstorms is often covered by buildings and contents insurance. Nearly 90% of building owners have taken out such a policy. It is different for water-related damage caused by heavy rainfall and only about 38% of homeowners in Germany purchase this type of coverage.
Also, insurance density differs greatly region by region (e.g. 27% in Bavaria compared with 95% in Baden-Württemberg).
“As has been clear over recent days, events of this type can occur almost anywhere, regardless of the location of large rivers – highlighting the importance of insurance protection covering against the dangers of the elements,” Höppe said. “The locations that have most recently been particularly affected – Simbach, Triftern and Braunsbach – are almost exclusively in areas classified as lowest-risk (risk category 1), making them very easily insurable.
“Although preventive measures such as sealed cellars and retention basins are certainly useful, they cannot prevent local extreme events such as those we have seen over recent days.”
Reliable estimates for the overall economic and insured losses from the most recent storms will take weeks to compile.
Besides regions in Germany the Seine catchment in France has been struck by torrential rainfall.
“A tributary, the Loing River, experienced the worst flood since 1910 forcing 5,000 people to leave their homes, while Paris seems to be spared from a catastrophe like 106 years ago,” said Hoppe.
“The flood stage will exceed the 6m mark, which will be the highest since 1982, but still well below the record of 8,60m in 1910. Some metro stations and many museums and other touristic locations had to be closed,” he said.
"It is still too early to give a reliable loss estimate for the most recent storms. Such estimates of overall economic and insured losses can only be obtained some weeks after an event of this kind,” Hoppe added.


Natural gas is one of the most popular energy sources in the U.S., and it is only a given considering how it is clean, reliable, comfortable, efficient, and more. The already high stats of 49% of the total American households that rely on natural gas as their prime heating source goes even higher to a whopping 69% of households in the colder regions of the country, as per reports by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
But the high consumption of natural gas is not as warm and cozy as utility bills as it is for homes. Several people come across high bill amounts in the winter months, if not year-round, making natural gas a not so affordable and alluring option. But, there is a solution.
Following is the list of most plausible reasons for high natural gas bills, followed by ways to save money on them. So, let’s get started –
- 1 Why Is Your Bill Higher Than Expected?
- 2 Smart Thermostat
- 3 Gradually Lower The Thermostat
- 4 Check Gas Equipment To See If It Is Running Efficiently
- 5 Ensure Proper Insulation
- 6 Turn Down The Water Heater
- 7 Wear Appropriately
- 8 Limit Fireplace Use
- 9 Conduct A Home Energy Audit
- 10 Diversify Energy Usage
- 11 Switch Supplier Or Lock Rates
- 12 CONCLUSION
Why Is Your Bill Higher Than Expected?
Not one but many factors can result in spiked natural gas bills, overlooked easily amid the day-to-day activities by many. Some of these include –
- Poor insulation – An improperly insulated house provides an easy exit for the hot air your natural gas heating system produces through doors, windows, cracks, tiny openings, attic, and garage, etc. And as apparent as it is, the heat loss leads to more natural gas consumption and higher bills.
- The size of your home and weather conditions – A big house, in general, naturally has more natural gas demand for even heating, besides other factors affecting its energy efficiency. Similarly, if you happen to live in regions with long winters or sub-zero temperatures, getting high bills is standard unless you have weatherproofed the place.
- Types of equipment in use – From the number of natural gas appliances to their usage, type, wear and tear loss over the years, efficiency, etc., all play an essential role in dictating its contribution in increasing your bill amounts.
- Restricted airflow – The setup of your house with the arrangement of appliances and furniture can easily block vents and restrict heat airflow without your knowledge. This restriction will then increase the usage and heating costs as a result.
- Water temperature settings – Many people are unaware of the range of settings a water heater comes in. Therefore, the one that’s set on high becomes a steady source of excessive consumption of natural gas and spiked bills.
- Local supplier rates and supply issues – Different energy supply companies price the natural gas fuel rates differently. Therefore, if you are not so certain of the local rates, high heating bills have more to do with high-priced fuel than your usage pattern. But, again, high prices or a sudden spike might also be connected to reduced natural gas supply or high demand in the region.
Investing in a smart thermostat might seem contradictory to what one is trying to achieve with reduced costs; however, there is no better option when considering long-term benefits and cost savings.
A smart thermostat will not only replace your old equipment but reduce the energy loss due to it. It will also assist your schedule in automatically adjusting the heat, so the bills won’t spike even if you forget.
Gradually Lower The Thermostat
If investing in a smart thermostat is not an option at the moment, do not worry, as you can still save a lot by turning down the thermostat by even a degree a day, if not more. Adjusting the thermostat to reduce heating when least needed is an excellent way to save cash, and as trivial as it may sound, each degree makes a difference. What’s more, a degree a day will also gradually get your body in the habit of a slightly cooler temperature.
Check Gas Equipment To See If It Is Running Efficiently
Maintenance of your heating system and equipment can make a significant difference on your bills simply by reducing energy loss and maintaining energy efficiency. Inspection and maintenance to regularly keep track of leaky or faulty parts will also save you from sudden high damage costs besides heating bills.
Ensure Proper Insulation
Losing the system’s heat and warmth to improper insulation is as good as paying double the money for the exact heating requirements. Apart from avoiding drafty windows, simple things like using window blinds or curtains during winters can also increase the house’s insulation level. Other spaces that must be well insulated include doors, water heater, attic, garage, etc.
Turn Down The Water Heater
Most people do not require water as hot as the temperature settings on their water heater, and without realizing it, they continue to pay for the hike in the bill the water heater brings. Comfortable showers and water warm enough for the dishes are all one needs. Therefore, acknowledging the temperature accordingly and turning down the heating will help you manage the costs better.
The heating systems are not so that one may roam around the house in a t-shirt pretending to be summer. Well, if bills are not an issue, one may perhaps do that as well. However, this is not the case here, and therefore bundling up accordingly both inside and outside the house will reduce your dependency on the heating system to keep you warm.
A jacket or an extra blanket will not let you feel a thing even when the thermostat is turned down by a couple of degrees, eventually affecting your bills.
Limit Fireplace Use
The fireplace may seem like a safe haven during winters and also effective to most, but what it does is the exact opposite of keeping the surroundings warm. A good amount of heat produced by an in-house fireplace escapes through the chimney on top, leaving behind nothing but a vacuum of air which then the air sucked through cracks and gaps from the outside fills.
This cold air entering the vacuum forces your heating system to work harder to maintain a steady warm temperature, directly linking energy consumption and costs.
Conduct A Home Energy Audit
If you are unsure of where the energy loss is happening inside your home or what’s causing the high energy bills, you may as well go for a home energy audit. It will act as the maintenance routine for your home as well as help you understand and strategize better for efficiency under professional advice and guidance.
Diversify Energy Usage
If a particular energy source seems to fit your routine and consumption patterns better economically and requirement-wise, it is better to switch to it. For example, electric heat pumps and solar panels to assist electricity usage are an excellent way to boost efficiency compared to natural gas.
Switch Supplier Or Lock Rates
If nothing works out, switching suppliers or locking rates are the last two resorts that can help you plan better without having to give up on your comfort. Nonetheless, fluctuations in the natural gas rates are only a typical response to supply and demand; therefore, look into what’s causing it before deciding.
High natural gas bills are a matter of concern for many individuals, but that does not necessarily mean that one must cut down their basic heating requirements to accommodate it. Simple changes in the lifestyle and being cautious of utilizing the energy efficiently not to waste any are good enough in cutting down costs.
If, however, the problem with high natural gas bills persists, consult the energy supply company for more information and discuss matters to resolve any. Happy Scrolling!


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Anuradhapura, is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. The city now a UNESCO world heritage site.
Anuradhapura lies 205 km north of Colombo in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya.
Anuradhapura is an archeological delight as it contains monuments and structures of historical importance. The city is the abode of the largest Dagobas in the country and is considered as sacred by the Buddhist.
We can offer 2 - 5 days tours of Anuradhapura from Colombo shortest tour will be 2 days Anuradhapura Excursion from Colombo. Contact us for tour suggestion and planning of your tour
Various places of attraction near Anuradhapura
Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
Anuradhapura was founded by King Pandukhabaya in 437BC. It was the royal seat of more than 250 Buddhist and Hindu kings. Anuradhapura lies in close proximity to the southern India.
Founded in the 4th century BC it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom till the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. It was also a wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, considered sacred to the Buddhist world is surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km?). It is widely considered one of the world's major archaeological sites. This city is significant in Hinduism too. Legend has it that it was the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana.
Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC. very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i.e. the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.
Further excavations in Anuradhapura have uncovered information about the existence of a protohistoric habitation of humans in the citadel. The protohistoric Iron Age which spans from 900 - 600 BC, marked the appearance of iron technology, pottery, the horse, domestic cattle and paddy cultivation. In the time period 700 -600 BC the settlement in Anuradhapura had grown over an area of at least 50 ha. The city was strategically situated of major ports northwest and northeast, it was surrounded by irrigable and fertile land. The city was also buried deep in the jungle providing natural defence from invaders.
The Lower Early Historic period spanning from 500 - 250 BC, is studied on the lines of the chronicles. During this time King Pandukabhaya formally planned the city, with gates, quarters for traders etc. The city at the time would have covered an area of 1 square kilometre which makes it one of the largest in the continent at the time.
The layout of Anuradhapura as described in the Mahavamsa:
"He laid out four suburbs as well as the Abhaya-tank, the common cemetery, the
place of execution, and the chapel of the Queens of the West, the banyan-tree of
Vessavana and the Palmyra-palm of the Demon of Maladies, the ground set apart
for the Yonas and the house of the Great Sacrifice; all these he laid out near
the west gate." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger
"A hermitage was made for many ascetics; eastward of that same cemetery the ruler built a house for the nigantha Jotiya.(...) On the further side of Jotiya's house and on this side of the Gamani tank he likewise built a monastery for wandering mendicant monks, and a dwelling for the ajivakas and a residence for the brahmans, and in this place and that he built a lying-in shelter and a hall for those recovering from sickness." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger
It is said that King Pandukabhaya made it his capital in the 4th century BC, and that he also laid out the town and its suburbs according to a well organised plan. He constructed a reservoir named Abhayavapi. He established shrines for yakkhas such as Kalawela and Cittaraja. He housed the Yaksini-Cetiya in the form of a mare within the royal precincts and offerings were made to all these demi-gods every year. He chose the sites for the cemetery and for the place of execution, the Chapel of the Western Queen, the Pacchimarajini, the Vessavana Banyan Tree, the Palm of the Vyadhadeva, the Yona Quarter and the House of the Great Sacrifice. The slaves or Candalas were assigned their duties and a village was set apart for them. They build dwellings for Niganthas, for wandering ascetics and for Ajivakas and Brahmanas. He established, the village boundaries. The tradition that King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital city of Sri Lanka as early as the fourth century BC had been very important.
The administrative and sanitary arrangements be made for the city and the shrines he provided indicate that over the years the city developed according to an original master plan. His son Mutasiva, succeeded to the throne. During his reign of sixty years, he maintained Anuradhapura as his capital and further laid out the Mahameghavana Garden which was to play an important role in the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was in the period of his successor, his son Devanam piya Tissa, that Buddhism was first introduced this island 236 years after the passing away of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka in India was a contemporary of Devanam piya Tissa. Historically this period is considered to extend from 250 to 210 BC. This is the point at which a kingship began and a civilization developed based on one of the greatest religions of South Asia, Buddhism.
The capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Hindu epic Ramayana (The Epic of Lord Rama) is said to be situated in Anuradhapura. The capital was burnt down by legendary Rama devotee Lord Hanuman before the epic war. A popular legend among the Hindus says that a layer of ash is still to be found anywhere that you dig in Anuradhapura.
With the introduction of Buddhism, the city gained more prominence and the great building era began. The Mahavamsa states that King Kutakannatissa built the first city wall to a height of seven cubits with a moat in front of the wall. This fortification was further enlarged by raising the wall a further 11 cubits to 18 cubits by King Vasabha. The king also added fortified gatehouses at the entrances of which the ruins can be seen to date. The Mahavamsa also states that soothsayers and architects were consulted in the construction.
Fa-Hsien the Chinese pilgrim who visited the city was impressed by the city and its planning. Fa-Hsien mentioned that there were two major segments of people living in the city, one segment being merchants whose houses were richly adorned. Studying some other chronicles gives light to the merchants which who were living in the city. It is noted that some of these merchants were of foreign origins. ie south Indian, Mediterraneans and Persians. The other segment consisted of city dwellers whose income came through agricultural production.
The Mahavamsa states that King Devanam piya Tissa recognized the importance of establishing Sima or Concecrated boundaries for the Uposatha and other acts of the Sangha. The king expresses his view that he himself and the inhabitants could live within the vision of Lord Buddha. King Devanmpiya Tissa then marked the boundaries of a specified area, the work commenced to build edifices in the Mahamegha Gardens.
The great building era
The Ruwanveli Saya Stupa in AnuradhapuraThe great building era was when vast monastery complexes and some of the tallest buildings in the ancient world were built. The Jetavanaramaya dagoba of the city is still the highest brick structure in the world.
The Maha Vihara was centered around the orthodox Theravadins. This was founded by King Devanampiya Tissa in 249 BC. The heterdox Mahayanists founded the Abhayagiri Vihara. King Mahasena (275-310 BC) built the Jetavanaramaya located in between the Maha Vihara and the Abhayagiri Monasteries.
In the suburbs of the city major monasteries with their gigantic stupas were constructed, The Maha Thupa, the Bodhi Tree and Thuparama of the Maha Vihara stood to the south of the city. The Abhayagiri to the north, the Pubbarama to the east, the Tanovana to the north-west and the Jetavanaramaya to the south-east.
The Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to the city in the reign of King Kirtisri Meghavana. The relic was deposited in a building named Dhammacakka. Since then annually it was carried in a procession to the Abhayagiri monastery after which an exposition was held.
The city's popularity grew both as a ritual centre and as the administrative centre, a large population was attracted to the city for permanent settlement. Thus the living facilities were improved to accommodate the expanding population. King Vasabha constructed many ponds which were fed by a network of subterranean channels which were constructed to supply water to the city. Tissa and Abhayavapi tanks were built, the Nuwara weva was built and the Malwatu Oya was dammed to build the Maccaduwa wewa which was 4408 acres (17.84 km?) in size.
Parks were also provided in the city. The Ranmasu Uyana below the bund of Tissavapi or Tisa weva was one such, but it was strictly reserved for the members of the royal family. Health care and education were two other aspects to which the authorities paid attention. There were several hospitals in the city. In the forth century King Upatissa II provided quarters and homes for the crippled and the blind. King Buddhadasa (337-365 AD), himself a physician of great repute, appointed a physician to be in charge of every ten villages. For the maintenance of these physicians, one tenth of the income from the fields was set apart. He also set up refuges for the sick in every village. Physicians were also appointed to look after the animals. Kassapa V (914-923 AD) founded a hospital close to the southern gate of Anuradhapura. General Sena in the tenth century is believed to have built a hospital close to the ceremonial street (Managala Veediya). The history of medical care began early, for in the fourth century BC King Pandukhabaya, in the course of sanitizing the town constructed a hospital. A large workforce was entrusted with the task of keeping the city clean.
Large lakes were also constructed by the city's rulers to irrigate paddy lands and also to supply water to the city. Nuwara wewa and Tissa wewa are among the best known lakes in the city.
Anuradhapura attained its highest magnificence about the commencement of the Christian era. In its prime it ranked beside Nineveh and Babylon in its colossal proportions?its four walls, each 16 miles (26 km) long, enclosing an area of 256 square miles (663 km?) ?in the number of its inhabitants, and the splendour of its shrines and public edifices. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world, situated in the dry zone of the country the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. Most of these tanks still survive. To date, it is believed that some of these tanks are the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world today.
The city suffered much during the earlier South Indian invasions, and was finally abandoned by AD 1017.
The city was the capital of the country continuously from the 5th century BC to AD 1017. Its decline began with continuous wars with the invading South Indians which made the kingdom economically poor. The city was sacked by a Chola invasion forces in 1017 and the governing capital was shifted to the relative safety of Polonnaruwa. The destruction caused to the city and its complex irrigation system was so great that the city was totally abandoned, and fell into decay for nearly a thousand years
It was not until the 19th century that the jungle was cleared away, the ruins laid bare, and some measure of prosperity brought back to the surrounding country by the restoration of hundreds of village tanks by the British.
The ruins consist of three classes of buildings, dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokunas. The dagobas are bell-shaped masses of masonry, varying from a few feet to over 1100 ft (340 m) in circumference. Some of them contain enough masonry to build a town for twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Remains of the monastic buildings are to be found in every direction in the shape of raised stone platforms, foundations and stone pillars. The most famous is the Brazen Palace erected by King Dutugamunu about 164 BC. The pokunas are bathing-tanks or tanks for the supply of drinking water, which are scattered everywhere through the jungle. The city also contains a sacred Bo-Tree, which is said to date back to the year 245 BC. The railway was extended from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura in 1905
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100+ Unique Racism Information for Your Exceptional Essay
100+ Unique Racism Information for Your Exceptional Essay
‘Know your enemy’ is a widely recognized expression. Attitudes faces many enemies currently: wars, food craving, pollution, in addition to global warming. The fact is, racism nevertheless remains one of the largest problems within society. Lack of edcuation is the cause of misunderstanding as well as intolerance. Because of our racism topics, then you can definitely learn more about this serious matter. Your knowledge will assist you to dispel any sort of myth regarding ethnic blacks and defend your belief.
Racism Essay Topics: Story
Although racism is a uncomfortable problem from the modern age, it had been built a long time ago. Why ‘built’? Racism is really a creation associated with human beings, since it will not exist biologically. Learn more about the very origins associated with racism as well as the first fight it with our historical racism essay subject areas:
- How did often the politics of colonialism condition aboriginal racism in Sydney?
- Did often the women’s mobility of the 1960s manage to join forces white and also black most women? Why or perhaps why not?
- So why did Philippine American racism in the US increase in the 20th century?
- Can anthropological studies help or maybe hinder slowing racism?
- The way in which did etnico prejudice have an effect on black laborers in the 50s?
- Was the Harlem Renaissance a good social rebel ? rise ? mutiny against racism or an art form movement?
- Seemed to be Malcolm X racist?
- The best influential historical figures who have fought against racism.
- Black Capability movement: backdrop, history, and even leaders.
- The main consequences within the civil privileges movement.
- Interconnection between racism and african american poverty inside the 20th a single.
- From a famous point of view, will be racism accountable for the lack of social progress?
- Just what exactly historical occasions caused the creation from the original as well as second Ku Klux Klans?
- Was Western european colonialism the key reason why for the spread of racism?
- Anti-discrimination rules by Fidel Castro in Cuba.
- Do we call often the ancient Greeks racists?
- Were being antislavery thoughts the main reason in the Civil Battle?
- How would apartheid effect the development in the Republic of South Africa?
- Did Charles Darwin acquire racist concepts in his functions?
- The doubts on the shooting of Frank Luther Cal king, Jr.
Argumentative Racism Paper Topics
Racism generally becomes a area of interest of debate and differences. If you want to take part in such conversations, you had better ready yourself. The following forty questions are debatable and want to be learnt thoroughly.
- What was the key reason why for making racism?
- The reason why racism immoral?
- Is the issue of racism painful even today?
- Why are the movements enjoy Black Everyday life Matter of importance to the fight against racism?
- Is the escalate of racism connected with loathe crimes in the united states?
- Does the racism against females differ from typically the racism against men?
- Can racism get regarded as the mental disease?
- Will racism ever vanish?
- Can a homeowner fight against racism in reading books?
- Should Islamophobia be considered since racism?
- Is definitely the expression ‘third world’ beginning in racism?
- Do religions cause racism?
- Does antisemitism still exist in the nation?
- Does kind serve every purpose within society?
- Some reasons why racism a strong artificial principle?
- Is racism similar to homophobia?
- For to whom was racism beneficial previously?
- Is it possible to often be truly post-racial?
- Why is racism irrational?
- Performed the surge of racism in the USA assist Trump to win the presidential election?
- Why should ‘Irishness’ be considered a present of racism?
- Can Confucianism solve the issue of racism?
- Is the difference of national identities consistently racist?
- Will racism end up being justified quite often?
- Is damage towards gals in hijabs baseless?
- Will the US crook justice technique treat the very representatives of all the so-called races both equally?
- Is racism rooted in fear?
- Precisely what countries are the most racist and how come?
- Are guidelines against peculiar discrimination consistently applicable so that you can sports?
- Are actually prejudice in addition to stereotypes the same things?
Hypothetical Racism Pieces of paper Topics
‘Why? ‘ ‘How? ‘ as well as ‘What’s upcoming? ‘ simply curious as well as thoughtful individuals tend to question these issues. To understand the size of racism, you need to dig profound. What are the influences and consequences of discrimination? Find out with these analytical racism paper issues:
- Tips on how to decrease peculiar discrimination while in the educational method?
- Racial prejudices in Movie and the Oscars boycott.
- The way did racism influence often the formation of your English expressions?
- Why conduct people favor same-race companions for affectionate relationships?
- So why is educators eliminate myths concerning ethnic groups?
- Racial elegance among love-making workers.
- Precisely what educational and career obstacles does racism cause?
- So how does racism affect the life regarding prisoners in the usa?
- What problems does Islamophobia have within the Arab-American human population in the USA?
- Just what exactly forms of racism exist within Latin U . s?
- How does racism affect the mind health of racial blacks?
- The consequences for aboriginal racism in Down under.
- The interconnection between racial discrimination together with police violence.
- How does racism affect the activities industry?
- The effects of institutional racism in the health care system.
- The use of anti-racist ideas around commercials.
- How does ageism differ from racism?
- The exact portrayal of racism along with racists inside American pop-culture.
- Positive as well as negative effects involving social media within the fight against racism.
- How can administrators deal with racism in the workplace?
Racism Go Topics: Classifications
Improving your speech is essential for composing well crafted papers. Applying terms allows you to be exact, concise, plus sound more intelligent! Check out the following racism themes ideas:
- What kinds of racism exist?
- Exactly what is national interpersonal identity? The best way is it associated with racism?
- Just what is a conflict theory concerning racial discrimination?
- What is institutional racism and why is it difficult to fight it?
- Are usually scapegoat theory about? Would it always demonstrate racism?
- How does personality hypothesis explain racism?
- What is a lifestyle theory in the interests of racism?
- What’s environmental racism and how may society combat it?
- So why is internalized racism be outlined?
- Explicit together with implicit etnico biases.
- Exacting, rigorous theory associated with prejudice.
- What is the social range scale?
- Express the concept of ‘cultural racism. ‘
- Four styles of racial group interactions: pluralism, assimilation, segregation, and genocide.
- What does ‘post-racial’ mean?
Racism Issue Ideas: Literature, Art, and flicks
Artists together with writers dislike aside from general human difficulties. They internalize sufferings and troubles and then create the masterpieces that will amaze audience, listeners, in addition to spectators. Every human being features every to certainly express his / her personal opinion and to end up being heard. But artists get it done in such a gorgeous and elegant fashion that it is unattainable to dismiss their concepts. Take a magnified look at the novels, movies, takes on, and brief stories which will develop typically the theme of etnografico discrimination. In the event racism niche ideas usually are enough to suit your needs, you can choose a work of art on the list whole our report.
- The main moral edge between finance discrimination as well as genocide while in the movie ‘Schindler’s List. ‘
- Black nationalism in the fresh ‘Invisible Man’ by Ron Ellison.
- Segregation in the epic saga ‘Sula’ simply by Tula Morrison.
- How are racism and the Usa Dream connected in the have fun with ‘A Pampre in the Sun’ by Lorraine Hansberry?
- How come was the story ‘To Eliminate a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee important for the know-how about racism?
- How does the movie ‘The Shape of Water’ directed by simply Guillermo de Toro exhibit the problem with racism?
- What exactly ideas does indeed Lee Mun Wah publish in his skin flick ‘The Color of Fear’?
- Ethnic prejudices one of the Afghan people in the world wide ‘The Kite Runner’ by just Khaled Hosseini.
- Can we phone call the Shakespearean play ‘Othello’ racist?
- Will the movie ‘Hidden Figures’ guided by Theodore Melfi alter the attitude in the direction of black women if it was published in the 1960s?
- How might the perform ‘Fences’ by just August Milson represent the situation of racism in sporting events? Does this challenge exist right now?
- Do Ernest Hemingway’s literary works advocate racism?
- Institutional racism within the novel ‘The Hate One Give’ just by Angie Youngsters.
- How did Kate Chopin depict miscegenation in her short scenario ‘Desiree’s Baby’?
- How does Doctor Suess’ arrange ‘The Sneetches’ teach fly tolerance?
- Are generally detective fictional stereotypes frequently racist?
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- Racial inequality in the fresh ‘Their Vision Were Reviewing God’ by simply Zora Neale Hurston.
- The way in which is racism depicted inside literature about colonialism?
- Can be art capable to fight against racism?
- Internalized racism in the film ‘Crash’ sent by Robert Haggis.
- Assess the movies ‘Guess Who’s Traveling to Dinner’ plus ‘Driving Neglect Daisy’ remember how all these films exhibit racism.
- The main conflict of affection and racism in the film ‘Snow Becoming on Cedars’ directed just by Scott Hicks.
- Is the epic saga ‘The Activities of Huckleberry Finn’ just by Mark Twain racist as well as anti-racist?
- Really does racial individuality affect the life of the important hero during the novel ‘Trumpet’ by Cassie Kay?
- Xenophobia in the epic saga ‘Heart for Darkness’ by just Joseph Conrad.
- ‘Gangster’ rep as a sort of institutionalized racism in the favorite songs industry.
- Several points of take on racial inequality in the book ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett.
- Why is Derek Vinyard change her beliefs inside the movie ‘American History X’?
- Can comic book heroes be considered discriminatory towards men and women of colour?


Story of Saint Patrick's Day
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- Sales Rank:314,545
- Languages:English (Unknown), English (Original Language), English (Published)
- Media:Board book
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- Shipping Weight (lbs):4900
- Dimensions (in):5.4 x 5.6 x 0.8
- Publication Date:January 2002
Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
The story begins with the traditional symbols of the day that are often found in schoolrooms, such as shamrocks, harps, and leprechauns. Then the narrative moves to a short biography of Saint Patrick himself: as a shepherd, as a missionary, and as a teacher. This colorfull boardbook ties together the live of Patrick with the traditional images of Ireland.
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By Richard Brody | Submitted On September 18, 2020
How can we, make the way, this nation, operates, and how, our citizens, are served, and represented, better, unless/ until, we prioritize, bi – partisan government officials, who, instead of making their personal/ political agenda, and, self – interest, their priority, emphasize, seeking common – ground, and bringing us, together, for the greater good, and resulting, in, a meeting – of – the – MINDS? Although, we have always, witnessed, some degree of partisan, political behavior, it seems, the last decade, or – so, this has, reached, a concerning, disturbing level, where there seems to be, little, to, no effort, made, to, reach – across – the – aisle, in order to better serve and represent, our nation, and all its citizens! Never before, have we witnessed, an America President, who, seemed to strive, to divide, and oppose, rather than unite us, especially, when it involved the most significant needs. How much better, might, we have proceeding, during this horrific pandemic, if, our elected officials, worked together, rather than, putting, politics, first? With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and represents, and why it matters.
1. Make mark; matters; metrics: Instead of playing – politics, with our lives, we deserve elected officials, ready, and willing, to make their mark, for the better! Instead of denying, and creating an alternative narrative, we must acknowledge, data, and science matters, and the associated metrics, help guide, smarter decisions, etc!
2. Integrity; imagination; innovate; ideas/ issues; inspire: A leader’s integrity, must be absolute, or constituents, lose! Combining this essential asset, with a relevant imagination, the willingness to innovate, for the common good, and introduce quality ideas, and address issues, which inspire and motivate, the vast majority of Americans!
3. Needs; nuances: Always, ask, whose needs, are being considered, addressed, and prioritized! Is the individual, a, one – trick – pony, only ready and willing to recycle the same – old, same – old, or, will he be able, to adjust, and recognize necessary, nuances, etc?
4. Delve deeply; discover: Instead of behaving as if, they, know – it – all, and are smarter than the specific experts, as our present, so – called, stable genius, claims, to believe, we would be, far, better – served, by someone, who would delve deeply, and discover various options, and alternatives, in the quest, for the best path – forward!
5. Stronger; strengths; service; solutions; sustainable: If we hope to have a stronger nation, into the future, our leaders must use all our strengths, together, to make us stronger, provide finer service, and proceed, with well – considered, viable, relevant, and sustainable solutions!
How does dividing us, help bring – us, together, and take advantage of a much – needed, meeting of the MINDS? Wake up, America, and carefully, consider, the essential quality of character, of future public, elected officials!
Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands, conducted personal development seminars, and worked on political campaigns, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. Website: http://plan2lead.net and LIKE the Facebook page for common sense: http://facebook.com/commonsense4all


This function is used to approximate the equation
y = if x > 0 then y1 else y2;
by a smooth characteristic, so that the expression is continuous and differentiable:
y = smooth(1, if x > x_small then y1 else if x < -x_small then y2 else f(y1, y2));
In the region -x_small < x < x_small a 2nd order polynomial is used for a smooth transition from y1 to y2.
If mass fractions X[:] are approximated with this function then this can be performed for all nX mass fractions, instead of applying it for nX-1 mass fractions and computing the last one by the mass fraction constraint sum(X)=1. The reason is that the approximating function has the property that sum(X) = 1, provided sum(X_a) = sum(X_b) = 1 (and y1=X_a[i], y2=X_b[i]). This can be shown by evaluating the approximating function in the abs(x) < x_small region (otherwise X is either X_a or X_b):
X = smoothStep(x, X_a , X_b , x_small); X = smoothStep(x, X_a , X_b , x_small); ... X[nX] = smoothStep(x, X_a[nX], X_b[nX], x_small);
X = c*(X_a - X_b) + (X_a + X_b)/2 X = c*(X_a - X_b) + (X_a + X_b)/2; ... X[nX] = c*(X_a[nX] - X_b[nX]) + (X_a[nX] + X_b[nX])/2; c = (x/x_small)*((x/x_small)^2 - 3)/4
Summing all mass fractions together results in
sum(X) = c*(sum(X_a) - sum(X_b)) + (sum(X_a) + sum(X_b))/2 = c*(1 - 1) + (1 + 1)/2 = 1
function smoothStep extends Modelica.Icons.Function; input Real x "Abscissa value"; input Real y1 "Ordinate value for x > 0"; input Real y2 "Ordinate value for x < 0"; input Real x_small(min = 0) = 1e-5 "Approximation of step for -x_small <= x <= x_small; x_small > 0 required"; output Real y "Ordinate value to approximate y = if x > 0 then y1 else y2"; end smoothStep;
x_small -> 0without division by zero.


Frequently Asked Questions
What is a shuffle/transposition cipher?
Transposition systems are fundamentally different to substitution systems in that they do not change the characters in the plain text for other characters, but they change the actual position of the characters in the message. Sometimes they are called shuffling ciphers.
Most transposition systems make use of a matrix. For example, the message CAN YOU READ THIS, which contains 14 letters, could be arranged in a grid measuring 7×2 and written across the rows:
Then the cipher text CEAANDYTOHUIRS is formed by reading down the columns. The message is decoded by placing the cipher text in the same sized grid, but writing it in columns rather than rows.
If the message contains an awkward number of letters, for example a prime number or a number that does not factor easily, random characters can be added they will be identified and removed once the text has been decoded. We could have added a letter to our message so as to form a 5×3 grid.
A similar, but slightly more secure system, makes use of keywords. As will be seen, it is an extension of the matrix method, but it allows columns to be read in a less predictable order. For example, using the keyword, ZEBRA, we create the following grid.
The numbers, below ZEBRA, represent the alphabetical order of the letters in our keyword and becomes our numerical key. That is, A is the first letter, B is the 2nd letter, E is the 3rd letter, R is the 4th and Z is the 5th. The message is then written below this and, if necessary, random (null) letters are added at the end to fill the grid. Always select commonly used letters when inserting nulls, as the use of X, Q and Z would be a giveaway to a code breaker.
Finally we use the numberical key, 53241, to provide the order in which we read down columns: ODF, NEI, ARH, YAS and CUT. To add depth to this method, and confuse a potential code breaker, we could write the cipher in three groups of five, ODFNE IARHY ASCUT.
The message is decoded by simply dividing the number of letters in the cipher text by the number of letters in the keyword, as this tells us how many characters are in each column. We then write the keyword, with its numerical key below it, and fill in the columns in the order determined by the numerical key.
Generally, transposition systems offer endless possibilities and can create quite a headache for a code breaker. However, they will eventually work it out, as they are dealing with nothing more than an anagram of the original message powerful computers could make easy work of your most elaborate system. If transposition systems are used at all, they are normally used alongside a substitution cipher.


Climate change is one of the most significant issues faced by mankind today, and tackling it is the key to preserving the earth for future humans and species.
As governments work on policies to make the world greener, many positive strides were made in 2023. Last year saw not only international politicians and industry stakeholders gather in Dubai for COP28 but also the emergence of many new climate tech innovations.
From sustainable aviation fuels to smart farming solutions, recent advancements in climate tech innovation are easing the path to Net Zero and helping to ensure a more sustainable planet for us all. We explore some of the innovations of 2023.
Climate Tech Innovations of the Last 12 Months
4. Sustainable Aviation Fuel
With the aviation industry making up 13.9% of transport-related emissions, improving the sustainability of airplanes is crucial. One way this is happening is through creating and using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is based on recycled oil, city waste, and other elements. According to the International Air Transport Association, SAF has the potential to decrease emissions by as much as 80% in the commercial aviation industry.
While SAF has existed for several years, 2023 saw Virgin Atlantic complete the world’s first international flight using only this form of fuel. In November, the transatlantic flight was made from London’s Heathrow Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. It’s widely accepted that transition to SAF is the key to achieving net zero status in the airline industry by 2050.
Matt Briggs, key account lead at Metta, which supports startups during their growth phase, described Virgin Atlantic’s Fight100 as “an indication of the beginning of a crucial shift in the attitude of industry stakeholders”. He believes that using SAF to power airplanes is the “only viable solution” to reducing their carbon emissions in the next few years.
“A rapid shift towards SAF decarbonizes the operation of existing aircraft fleets, and it decarbonizes the operation of new planes being sold today,” he says.
“When you consider the 20-30-year lifecycle of a commercial airliner, you see how important that distinction is versus the promise of electric or hydrogen flight at some point in the future.”
Despite Virgin Atlantic’s recent strides in proving the effectiveness of SAF, Briggs argues that widespread adoption is currently affected by “a lack of joined-up policy-making” globally.
He explains: “SAF is currently about twice as expensive as traditional jet fuels, but a large reason is the lack of scale in production. In 2022, SAF represented just 0.1% of all aviation fuel sold.”
3. EV Solid-state Batteries
Another area of transport that has benefited from clever climate tech innovations in recent times is the electric vehicle industry, with the emergence of solid-state batteries. These differ from lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries as they use solid, non-flowing elements rather than liquids or gels.
John Ellmore, editor of Electric Car Guide, called the emergence of solid-state batteries in 2023 a “huge advancement” that promises to transform the storage and efficiency of EVs.
He explains that using a solid material like ceramics in EV batteries instead of liquid electrolyte will deliver “higher energy density, faster charging, enhanced safety, and greater longevity”.
Additionally, Ellmore believes that advancing solid-state batteries will solve EV challenges such as “range anxiety, charging infrastructure, safety concerns, and environmental impact.”
He adds: “As these batteries move closer to commercialization, they could play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and making them a more viable and attractive option for the mainstream market.”
2. Smart Farming
Looking to help farmers make more environmentally friendly decisions is a German agriculture technology startup called Nerit’e.
The company has developed a smart farming solution that enables farmers to track soil nutrients to reduce fertilizer usage and ultimately improve the sustainability of their farms.
Humberto Martinez Barron, CEO and founder of Nerit’e, says: “This is achieved through utilizing a patented filtering system coupled with electrochemical sensors. Acquiring this high-quality data enables machine learning to learn how to optimize soil management practices.”
Since its launch in 2022, Humberto and his team have tested this technology in Mexico, Germany, Ireland, and the US. And they are planning to deploy the solution in more than 3000 farms globally. He said this represents “a turning point in how we manage greenhouse gas emissions from farms.”
1. The Power of AI
With governments continuing to introduce new environmental regulations and consumers looking to make more sustainable purchasing decisions, implementing an ESG strategy has become a critical priority for businesses of all industries.
But how can they do this successfully? Peter Schelstraete, co-founder of Ubuntoo, believes that artificial intelligence (AI) offers the best solution. In November, his company launched an AI-driven platform that provides companies with customized information to help them improve sustainability across their operations.
Positioned as the “green ChatGPT,” the solution is already used by corporations like Coca-Cola, Target, and Subway as part of their ESG strategies. It covers topics such as reducing plastic usage, recycling, food, improving the efficiency of supply chains, transitioning to clean energy, and more.
“AI technology can draw from the highly technical and specialized knowledge of cutting-edge science and help that knowledge find its way into the hands of those who need it the most,” says Schelstraete.
“In the future, those companies and governments who are most able to harness AI technology, working in harmony with it to achieve their goals, will be those who can progress the furthest with their environmental targets.”
Other Climate Tech Innovations and Trends
Matt Cranfield, founder of Your Simple Hosting, has witnessed a “shift toward green data centers” over the past 12 months. He says: “These centers now use clever cooling techniques, renewable energy sources, and AI to wisely use electricity.”
Christoph Cemper, founder and CEO of AIPRM, views the production of green hydrogen as an exciting climate tech innovation to emerge in 2023. He comments: “Electrolyzers that use renewable electricity to turn water into green hydrogen got better at what they did, and costs went down. This led to more investment in building hydrogen infrastructure as a clean energy source.”
Nicole LeBlanc, partner at Woven Capital, stresses the importance of increasing talent and investment in the climate technology space. She concludes: “More smart people are choosing a career in climate, and more investors, including many generalist VCs, are making climate investments. When people and capital enter an industry consistently, it can begin to truly scale and have an impact.”
It is a bumpy road to a greener planet after hundreds of years of using oil, gas, and other non-renewables without caution.
As new innovations emerge, the key thing is economies of scale — starting the ball rolling in a new sector is expensive.
But as speed picks up, infrastructure gets established, and inefficiencies get removed, the cost of producing reduces, and it begins to make economic sense to the end-user to ‘go green’.
Hopefully, this trend will continue for both existing and emerging technology as the years go by.
- Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) (IATA)
- Flight100: Virgin Atlantic flies its first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight (Virgin)
- Metta Partners Official Website (Metta)
- Supercharge Your EV Knowledge (Electric Car guide)
- Nerit’e Official Website (Nerit’e)
- 2050accelerator Official Website (2050accelerator)
- Ubuntoo Official Website (Ubuntoo)
- Your Simple Hosting Official Website (Your Simple Hosting)
- AIPRM Official Website (AIPRM)
- Woven Capital Official Website (Woven Capital)


What is the EYFS?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework supports an integrated approach to early learning and care. It gives all professionals a set of common principles and commitments to deliver quality early education and childcare experiences to all children.
As well as being the core document for all professionals working in the foundation years, the EYFS framework gives parents confidence that regardless of where they choose for their child’s early education, they can be assured that the same statutory commitments and principles will underpin their child’s learning and development experience.
The EYFS details the 7 areas of learning and development, which are used to plan activities that the children can do at Playgroup and Preschool. This is a curriculum suitable for very young children, and it's designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside, all of which are actively explored at Overton Preschool Playgroup.
The stages of development are grouped and named by the age range a typical child might display this ability, and the 7 areas of learning each are coded by different letters.
For example PD 11 – 26 months refers to Physical Development expected between 11 and 26 months. This example includes :
Moving and handling
• I can walk upstairs when a grown up holds my hand.
• I come downstairs backwards on my knees, holding on to the steps and come down one step at a time.
• I know that when I move a chunky crayon or pen round, up and down and across, the marks I make on the paper look the same as the way I moved my hand.
When a child’s keyperson observes the child displaying the activity confidently, this is recorded, and these are the observations that are included in the 2 year review when a child joins playgroup and in the Learning Journey shared with parents each term. If you would like more information about this and the terms used, please speak to your keyperson or visit https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/eyfs-statutory-framework/
'What to Expect, When' is a document for parents to help them understand the EYFS. It details the 7 areas of learning and development referred to in the EYFS, and also contains suggestions of what you as a parent can do to support this development.


Gender is one of the central organizing principles around which social life revolves. Gender imbalance in education is linked with social, cultural, historical, economic and political factors. Although there are a set of laws to protect women’s rights and the Chinese government has been improving the social status of women, emphasizing the equality of men and women in both public and domestic sphere, China is no exception in terms of gender inequality in education field and labor market. For example, some academic or career fields are highly dominated by one gender. Compared to higher education, vocational education is at a lower level in Chinese education system. Gender research in this field could shed light on gender equality in Chinese society. This study explores the factors which could have contributed to the gender imbalance in a vocational school in China. I investigated the influence from four aspects: family background, cultural factors, Chinese higher education expansion, and labor market, using the qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews.
The study concludes that the four aspects are inter- related and interact with each other. The family SES background and higher education expansion influence the attitudes of students and parents towards education and education return, especially in rural areas. Furthermore, the rural families seem to be influenced by traditional culture factors more than urban families. Gender stereotypes, gender inequity in culture and gender bias in labor market lead to the gender imbalance.