The History of Jamaican Music in the 20th Century and its Influence on Essay

The History of Jamaican Music in the 20th Century and its Influence on 20th Century Music in the West - Essay Example The emergence of sound system dances allowed for the spread of Jamaican music throughout the Western world. Jamaican music evolved through commercialization, starting from a point of trying to appeal through human emotional issues, but eventually taking on the role as a central part of the political evolution of Jamaica during the latter 20th Century. As Bob Marley took on an international presence, he and others who followed brought reggae to the United States where it influenced the evolution of politically volatile rap music. The influences of Jamaican music on the Western world evolved from an island that was undergoing social and political change. Jamaican Music Development History of the Jamaican Sound The history of Jamaica is mixed between the African heritage and the colonialism of Europe. The main language of Jamaica of the island is English, but the traditional history of the region is that evolved from small villages on the island from the roots of an African heritage whi ch was untouched by European influence. From the evidence of the primarily European influences on daily life, it can be concluded that Jamaica is primarily a European influenced culture but has retained the flavor of Africa in its arts. According to Chang and Chen, â€Å"the performance style of authentic folk music in Jamaica is African, no matter what the origins of the music†.1 The proof of this is seen in Rastafarian renditions of European Bible hymns in which complicated percussive expressions and the insertion of syncopations not in the original music are decidedly African influenced. Additionally, the use of relaxed vocal timbre which obtains the sound from the face rather than from the head expresses an African style as opposed to a European influence.2 One of the more prevalent techniques that can be seen in Jamaica that is directly influenced from Africa is the call and answer group vocal technique. Most music in both the African and Jamaican format is conceived voc ally. This is so important that there exists a ‘sing-talk’ format that can be considered the precursor to rap. The call and answer form, which is fairly self-explanatory, is a core of African and Jamaican musical performance. Rural Jamaican music is rife with this format and it has been translated as an influential factor into ska, rocksteady, and reggae.3 The belief is that most of the African influences are from the period of time of colonial slavery, but this may not be the case. The theory that African influence is based solely on this time of slavery can be refuted when taken into consideration with the addition of indentured servants who came outside of slavery during the period between 1841 and 1865. The Rastafarians are defined by Ethiopian origins, by the Bongo Nation are influenced from ancestry in the Congo-Angola region of West Africa. What is now known by Rastafarians as Nyabinghi can be shown to be a direct result of the combination of theses traditions.4 According to Chang and Chen â€Å"Jamaican popular music has always mixed the rhythm of Africa and the melody of Europe†5 During the early 20th century Jamaica was beginning to create a post-colonialism world with a distinct national identity. In the 1930s music that was specific to Jamaica began to emerge as a defining element of the culture. As development workers began to work towards improving conditions of villages and towns, organizing a network in order to gain control over distribution of resources and to

Atmospheric Conditions Compared to Indoor Air Pollution Essay Example for Free

Atmospheric Conditions Compared to Indoor Air Pollution Essay There are many different air pollution problems that exist today. Ozone depletion, climate change conditions, volcanic eruptions, acid rains, and motor vehicle exhaust to name a few. One particular problem that is wide spread is â€Å"acid rain†. Acid rain is an effect caused by natural as well as man-made pollution, with a mixture of wet and dry deposited materials in our atmosphere containing nitric and sulfuric acids higher than normal amounts. Increase of these chemical compounds is caused from exhaust from burning of fossil fuels such as automobiles, electric power generation as well as volcanic eruptions and activity and natural plant decay. www. epa. gov). Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides are emitted from power generation and other sources where acid rain is created when these gases react with other components of the atmosphere, water, oxygen, and other acid compounds resulting in creation of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Prevailing winds cause these particulates to spread out over long distances over wide spread regions. These acid rains are of environmental and quality of living concerns. Water vapors from acid rain can enter into the homes through open windows, poor insulation around doors and windows, ventilation systems and vent pipes that can affect air quality of the home as well as outside environments. Some of the environmental effects of acid rain can cause paint to peel, steal corrosion of bridges and structures, erosion of stone buildings and statues affecting the quality of air and life in residential and commercial areas. (http://en. wikipedia. org). Ground water supply sources can become contaminated and affects everything the water is used for. Acid rain can have harmful effects on animals, aquatic life, plants and their ecosystems. The effects are greater lakes, streams, wetlands and aquatic environments. Acid rain causes waters to become acidic and absorb aluminum deposits from runoff from the soils around them. The combination of this and the results of the chemical reaction make the water toxic to shell fish, crayfish and other aquatic species. Even though some species tolerate acidic waters, interconnected ecosystems that impact certain species will eventually impact others along the food chain. The damaging effects of acid rain on plant life are quite dramatic. Damage to forests in higher elevations is more apparent than lower lying regions. The acid content is at a higher level and leaches the soil nutrients and releasing aluminum making it harder for trees and plant life to absorb water. In lower lying areas the effects of acid rain, environmental stressors, and poor soil quality on plant life and trees cause them to become weaker where they cannot tolerate temperatures too cold or too hot, resist infestation of insects and susceptible to disease, and inhibit the ability to reproduce. Some areas the soil is better equipped to neutralize the acids in a â€Å"buffering capacity† that varies from region to region. (www. environment. nationalgeographic). By curbing the use of fossil fuel burning will decrease the forming of acid rains and conservation efforts of individuals. Not only is acid rain damaging to the outside environment, but also on inside air quality of the home. Physical contact of acid rain from rain droplets or swimming in acidic recreational waterways has little effect on human health. However, the pollutants that cause acid rain are associated with increasing the risks of health problems including respiratory and other illnesses. These pollutants infiltrate into indoor living spaces and cause many respiratory illnesses, breathing disorders including asthma and can even cause death. By improving ventilation systems and air purification techniques of the home, using better insulation and installing energy efficient windows and doors will greatly improve air quality of the home and diminish the risk factors from outside air pollution. http://greenliving. nationlageographic. com). Laws, such as the Clean Air Act has improved greatly the air quality. The EPA, through monitoring, and imposing strict guidelines on release of toxins in fossil fuel burning industries. The EPA has reported that from 1980 and 2009, the national average of sulfur dioxide content in the air has decreased by 76 percent, and the amount of nitrogen dioxide decreased by 48 percent. Congress has also created the Acid Rain Program Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment. Some of the EPA’s initiatives are the SO2 Reductions and Allowances Trading under the Acid Rain Program involves Phase 1, which imposed tightened annual emission limits of higher emitting plants by installing pollution control devices. Allowance trading systems contributes the low-cost rules of exchange minimizing government intrusions and allowance trading to prepare for a viable compliance tool in reduction of SO2. (www. epa. gov). Another asset implemented by the EPA and Congress in the Clean Air Act Amendment is the reduction of NOx beginning in 1995 through 2000 as a two phase program concerning coal-fired electric electricity utility boilers. Phase 1 covered Group 1 Boilers and Phase 2 covered Group 1 and 2 boilers. Group 1 boilers are tangentially dry bottom fired boilers which has a tendency to give off higher NOx concentrations than Group 2 wet bottom wall fired boilers. Although the NOx reduction program incorporates many of the same characteristics as the SO2 program, it does not include allowance trading or caps the NOx emissions. www. epa. gov). The EPA also requires participants of programs to install, monitor and report data so tracking of the progress can be compiled on quarterly, semi-annually, and yearly bases. Monitoring devices known as CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring System) are required to be installed and maintained by the participants. In the event that data is not compiled or not reported during a reporting period, the applicants will be considered non-compliant and the units deemed out of control for that period and fines incurred to the applicants. (www. epa. gov). The EPA requires any new or upgraded boilers or generating plants to install pollution control devices to capture, or remove sulfur before burning the fuel, and stack collectors for NOx particulates. There are several types of pollution control devices in use, and, depending on the fuels burned, amount of fuel burned, boiler types, amount of electricity produced and type of â€Å"stacks† used for venting on which device will meet the appropriate application. With the aide of the EPA and other government and private pollution control departments involved our air quality has improved greatly in the past few decades. With contributions of these departments and each individual persons working together to improve air quality of our open spaces and within businesses and homes will bring us that much closer to improving our world air quality for the new generation growing now, and even better for future generations. Keeping due diligence in our efforts ensures the planets recovery not only in air pollution, not only, but also our environment as a whole improving quality of life for all organisms large and small.

NMDA Receptor Pathways as Drug Targets in CNS Therapeutics

NMDA Receptor Pathways as Drug Targets in CNS Therapeutics 1. Introduction: Glutamate is the king of excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (SNC) and acts on receptors located at the presynaptic terminal and in the postsynaptic membrane at synapses in the brain and spinal cord (Ghasemi and Schachter, 2011). Although glutamate was known to have central nervous system effects for more than 75 years, it was not until 1984 that it was truly acknowledged as fulfilling the criteria of a neurotransmitter. (Niciu et al., 2012). Glutamate receptors are divided into two broad categorizations: ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Ionotropic glutamate receptors are ion channels that flux cations (Ca2+, Na+) and open the channels in response to agonist binding. On the other hand, metabotropic receptors activate or inhibit second messenger systems via interactions with cognate G-proteins. (Niciu et al., 2012). Ionotropic glutamate receptors can be subdivided into three large families: AMPA receptors (AMPARs), kainate receptors and NMDA receptors (NMD ARs). Since three decades ago, the discovery NMDARs have kept fascinating neuroscientists while their dysfunctions are also involved in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including stroke, pathological pain, neurodegenerative diseases and schizophrenia. (Paoletti et al., 2013) Fortunately, the NMDA receptor complex is composed with modulatory sites, and the late 1970s and 1980s saw the development of agonists, antagonists and modulators acting at different binding sites. In the last decade, the molecular biology of the NMDA receptors has been defined, and now it is known that these receptors are formed of an NR1 subunit in combination with one or more NR2 or less commonly an NR3 subunit. (Kemp and McKernan, 2002). 2. Molecular mechanisms NMDA receptors are named after their selective agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate. The receptors are multisubunit complexes associating NR1, NR2 and, more rarely, NR3 subunits. NR2 and NR3 subunits exist as four and two subtypes, respectively (NR2A-D and NR3A-B). NR1 exists as seven subtypes (NR1a–g) (Mony et al., 2009) The receptors are heterotetramers comprising a combination of NR1, NR2A-D and  NR3A-B subunits. The main agonists are glutamate and NMDA, with their binding site on NR2 subunits, while the binding site for the co-agonists D-serine and glycine is located on NR1 and NR3 subunits and the T most common composition of NMDA receptors includes two NR1 and two NR2 subunits, or two NR1, one NR2 and one NR3 subunits (Dzamba et al., 2013). A common structure for glutamate receptors contains an extracellular amino-terminal domain (ATD) for various modulatory functions, extracellular S1S2 domains for agonist binding, an ion channel domain with four transmembrane segments (M1â⠂¬â€œ4) for gating and ion permeation, and a carboxy-terminal domain for communicating with intracellular milieu Fig 1 (Majdi and Chen, 2009). Pharmacological regulation of the NMDAR depends on effects on unique combinations of subunit-specific binding sites. Once glycine coagonist attaches to its site, the glutamate can activate the ion channel and the Na+ and Ca2+ rush in. The Mg2+ blocks channel pore and the blockade is relieved by cellular depolarization, which has implications for synaptic plasticity, especially long-term potentiation (LTP). (Ghasemi and Schachter, 2011) Most compounds that act at NMDA receptors interact with one of 4 drug binding sites on the NMDA receptor complex, the glutamate or glycine binding sites, the ion channel pore, or a binding site on the regulatory NTD. The first compounds identified were agonists and antagonists of the glutamate like D-ÃŽ ±-aminoadipic acid and D-2-amino-5phosphonopentanoic  acid (D-AP5) then glycine competitive antagonists like 7-chloro-5-iodokynurenic acid and partial agonists were identified. It was also soon recognized that some dissociative anesthetics (e.g. ketam ine and phencyclidine) were NMDA receptor blockers and the widely used inhibitor MK-801 was shown to be a potent NMDA receptor channel blocker Fig 2 (Monaghan et al., 2012). Another important aspect of NMDA receptor pharmacology is modulation by posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation of the intracellular C-terminal of NR2 subunits. NMDA receptor-mediated calcium increases activate many downstream targets like protein kinase C (PKC) and the Modulation by protein kinase C (PKC) depends on NMDA receptor subunit composition; NR2A- and NR2B-containing receptors are potentiated by PKC activation, whereas NR2Cand NR2D containing receptors are unaffected or inhibited by PKC. PKC phosphorylates the NR1 subunit at serine 890 (S890) in the C1 cassette. The potentiatory effects of PKC are not dependent on phosphorylation of NR1, but inhibitory effects are blocked by mutation of S890 or removal of the C1 domain. The NMDA receptor function is also modulated by MAGUK protein fami ly which controls the NMDA receptor localization, the binding to the scaffolding proteins plays a major role in the control of downstream signals resulting from receptor activation. It thought that synaptic NMDA receptors are retained at the synapse by an attachment to PSD-95 through a PDZ interaction with the NR2 subunits.(Gardoni and Di Luca, 2006) 3. Therapeutics A high number of central nervous system disease states in which neuronal cell death is associated to glutamate induced excitotoxicity could be treated by blocking NMDA receptors such as neurological disorders including ischemia, epilepsy, brain trauma, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Ischemia : it has been shown that loss of calcium homeostasis may be an important mechanism of ischemic brain damage. Ischemia also resulted in a decrease in the size of protein complexes containing PSD-95. In addition, transient cerebral ischemia increases tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B. Recent studies suggested to treat stroke transducing neurons with peptides able to disrupt the interaction of NMDA receptor NR2B subunits with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95. This procedure dissociated NMDA receptors from downstream neurotoxic signaling without blocking synaptic activity or calcium influx and protected cultured neurons from excitotoxi city. .( Gardoni and Di Luca, 2006). Many NR1/NR2B antagonists, including ifenprodil, eliprodil and the selective and potent congeners, Ro 25,6981 and CP-101,606, offer promise in preclinical models of ischaemia (Chazot, 2004) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Epilepsy: Recent work has suggested that hyper-phosphorylation of NR2B may results in hypersensitivity to the endogenous transmitter, and induction of neuronal hyperexcitability and epilepsy. Furthermore, kainic acid-induced alters tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A and NR2B receptors. Interestingly, the high affinity NR2B compound, Ro 63-1908 was shown to be active versus acoustic-induced convulsions and NMDA-induced seizures at 4.5 mg/kg ip and 2.31 mg/kg iv, respectively and no adverse cardiovascular, motor deficits or other CNS sideeffects were observed at these active. (Chazot, 2004). à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Huntingtons disease: The normal huntingtin binds to PSD-95 scaffold protein which inhibit the NMDA receptor Overexpression of the normal huntin gtin N terminus significantly attenuates neuronal toxicity induced by both NMDA receptors and the mutated huntingtin. This suggests that PSD-95 is a mediator of neuronal toxicity induced by NMDA receptors and mutated huntingtin. In addition, in a transgenic model of Huntington disease. Other studies show that expression of mutant htt (but not wild-type htt) in combination with NR1/NR2B increases cell death compared to  transfection of only NMDA receptor subunits, suggesting a role for NR1/NR2B NMDA receptors in cell death mediated by mutant htt .As NR2B antagonists block most of the NMDA receptor mediated currents in neuronal models of Huntington, the selective localization of NR2B in the striatum may also play a role in the efficacy of NR2B antagonists against cell death in models of Huntington.( Gardoni and Di Luca, 2006). à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Alzheimers disease : In animal models, NR2B subunit expression decreases with age, which correlates well withreduced Long Term Potentiation (L TP) and inferior cognitive performance. The NR1/NR2B subtype decreases, in comparison to other subtypes, in the frontal cortex of aged humans while overexpression of the forebrain NR2B subunit in transgenic mice has been shown to have profound beneficial effects upon cognitive performance. Such information suggests that controlled potentiation of the NR2B may offer a novel strategy for treating cognitive disabilities. (Chazot, 2004). à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Parkinsons disease: At the molecular level, alterations of NMDA receptor subunits localization in striatum have been described in Dopamine-denervated rats as well as in L-DOPA-treated dyskinetic monkeys. In particular, NR2B subcellular redistribution from synaptic to extrasynaptic sites represents the key element in the complex modifications of the glutamatergic synapse in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. On the other hand, recent studies in primates suggested that upregulation of NR2A abundance in synaptosomal membranesmay be an important pla yer in L-DOPA induced dyskinesias. And recently, two studies described results on the effects of NR2B selective NMDA receptor antagonist CP-101,606 on L-DOPA induced dyskinesia in two different models of experimental parkinsonism.( Gardoni and Di Luca, 2006). à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Psychosis : Studies have suggested that the NR2B has role in psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The mRNA encoding the NR2B subunit and NR1/NR2B-type binding sites have been shown to be selectively increased in hippocampal and cortical regions, Recent work has identified a novel T200G variant located in the NR2B promoter, which endows dysfunction of the NR2B subunit. The frequency of this variant was significantly up-regulated in a schizophrenia group compared to a control group. The possible link between these observations is yet to be investigated. (Chazot, 2004). à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Pain: Studies suggest that the NR2B subunit plays distinct roles in acute and chronic pain states, re cently NR2B antagonists were developped, including Ro 25,6981, CP -101,606, PD 174494 and PD 196860, are effective in a range of animal chronic pain models with a wide separation between anti-hyperalgesic and side-effect doses . . (Chazot, 2004). 4. References Chazot, P. L. (2004). The NMDA receptor NR2B subunit: A valid therapeutic target for  multiple CNS pathologies. Curr. Med. Chem. 11, 389-396. Dzamba, D., Honsa, P. and Anderova, M. (2013). NMDA receptors in glial cells: Pending  questions. Current Neuropharmacology 11, 250-262. Gardoni, F. and Di Luca, M. (2006). New targets for pharmacological intervention in the  glutamatergic synapse. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 545, 2-10. Ghasemi, M. and Schachter, S. C. (2011). The NMDA receptor complex as a therapeutic  target in epilepsy: A review. Epilepsy Behavior 22, 617-640. Kemp, J. A. and McKernan, R. M. (2002). NMDA receptor pathways as drug targets. Nat.  Neurosci. 5, 1039-1042. Majdi, M. and Chen, H. V. (2009). NMDA-gated ion channel research and its therapeutic  potentials in neurodegenerative diseases: A review. Journal of Receptor, Ligand and Channel Research 2, 59-73. Monaghan, D. T., Irvine, M. W., Costa, B. M., Fang, G. and Jane, D. E. (2012).  Pharmacological modulation of NMDA receptor activity and the advent of negative and  positive allosteric modulators. Neurochem. Int. 61, 581-592. Mony, L., Kew, J. N., Gunthorpe, M. J. and Paoletti, P. (2009). Allosteric modulators of  NR2Bà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ containing NMDA receptors: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Br. J.  Pharmacol. 157, 1301-1317 Niciu, M. J., Kelmendi, B. and Sanacora, G. (2012). Overview of glutamatergic  neurotransmission in the nervous system. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 100,  656-664. Paoletti, P., Bellone, C. and Zhou, Q. (2013). NMDA receptor subunit diversity: Impact on  receptor properties, synaptic plasticity and disease. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 383-400.

Comparing Letters from an American Farmer and Thoreaus Various Essays

Comparing Crà ¨vecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer and Thoreau's Various Essays  Ã‚   St. Jean De Crà ¨vecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer and Henry David Thoreau's various essays and journal entries present opposing views of what it means to be an American. To somewhat simplify, both writers agree that there are two kinds of Americans: those who are farmers and those who are not. Crà ¨vecoeur views farmers as the true Americans, and those who are not farmers, such as frontier men, as lawless, idle, inebriated wretches (266). Sixty years later, Thoreau believes the opposite: farmers are doomed and bound to their land, and free men who own nothing posses the only true liberty (9). Both Crà ¨vecoeur and Thoreau judge men and their professions on industry, use of nature, freedom, and lawfulness. As America grew during these six decades, industrialization and higher education created more compact communities unable to economically provide the land needs of farmers. In Crà ¨vecoeur's America, "some few towns excepted, we are all tillers of the earth"(263). In 1850, Thoreau's Concord was among the many towns allowing people to leave their farms for a more urban setting to house their law practices, shoe stores, or surveying businesses. The separation of farmers from the rest of society leads to intellectualizations of the profession by thinkers like Thoreau. Removed from the simple, hard labor of farming, it is easy for urbanized society to forget the farmer's purpose and importance in Western civilization. Crà ¨vecoeur states that "industry, which to me who am but a farmer, is the criterion of everything"(264). Indeed, a lack of industry in any vocation eventually leads to failure. Thoreau, however, sees little value in indu... ...d as Thoreau was from self-supporting agriculture, modern America is light years away. Thoreau's ideal lifestyle is now an impossibility. Many Americans would settle for an unadorned life on a small farm, and a clean, dry home. Possibly the day will come when [the land] will be partitioned off into so-called pleasure-grounds, in which a few will take a narrow and exclusive pleasure only-when fences shall be multiplied, and man-traps and other engines invented to confine men to the public road, and walking over the surface of God's earth shall be construed to mean trespassing on some gentleman's grounds. ... Let us improve our opportunities, then, before the evil days come. (Thoreau 667) Works Cited: Crà ¨vecoeur, J. Hector St. John de. Letters from an American Farmer and Sketches of Eighteenth-Century America. Ed. Albert E. Stone. New York: Penguin, 1981.

Female Foeticide in India

What is female foeticide?The act of aborting or terminating a foetus while it’s still in the womb, because it is female, is known as female foeticide. This can be done after determining the sex of the child before it’s born, through ultrasound scans. Although, sex determination in India is illegal, the practice is rampant and has become a multi-million dollar industry. Coupled with prospective parents desperate for a boy child, and physicians who are carrying out these abortions, female foeticide has become a shameful and shocking reality of our nation. What is the main cause of female foeticide?For centuries, families across many parts of India have regarded a male child as the preferred of the two sexes. There have been many social, financial, emotional and religious reasons for this preference and while times have changed, many of these reasons and beliefs continue to remain. Today, some of the key reasons that exist for the preference of a male child are as follows: The tradition of paying dowry at the time of a daughter’s marriage is alive and kicking. This amount can be so huge that many parents will go to extreme lengths to avoid having a daughter in the first place. A son is seen as someone who can earn and care for his parents in their later years, while a daughter will get married and go away.A son can carry on the family name, while a daughter becomes part of her husband’s family. Girls are seen as consumers, whereas boys are seen as producers. Many families consider it a status symbol to have a son, and a point of shame to have a daughter. Often, the pressure to bear a male child on the woman is so great that she herself might choose to get sex determination done and abort the baby if it’s a girl. Illiteracy, poverty and the tag of ‘burden’ that is assigned to a girl child, makes the desire for a male child even stronger.Modern technology has made it very easy to determine the sex of the child while it ’s still in the womb, giving parents-to-be the option of aborting the foetus and continuing to try to conceive till they get a male child. While sex determination has been banned by the Indian government, it does not stop families from going to great lengths to find out anyway. Not only are there plenty of scanning centres that reveal this information, many of the wealthier families fly the pregnant mother to neighbouring countries  where sex determination is legal, to find out the gender of the baby. Once the gender of the baby is known, families that are keen to have a baby boy choose to abort the female foetus. The law on aborting is also strict, and the Indian government allows it only under certain circumstances.Therefore, by determining the sex of the baby and aborting it because it’s a girl, the parents as well as the participating physicians are breaking two major laws.What impact does female foeticide have on the sex ratio?Sex ratio refers to ratio of female s to males in a given region. Practices like female foeticide and female infanticide (killing a baby girl after she is born) have had an adverse effect on the sex ratio of a nation and gives rise to further social evils. As per the Indian Census 2011 report, the sex ratio of India (females per 1000 males) is as follows: Average India sex ratio – 933Rural sex ratio – 946 Urban sex ratio – 900 State with highest female sex ratio – Kerala – 1058 State with lowest female sex ratio – Haryana – 861 What are the long-term impacts of female foeticide?The most important impact of female foeticide is the skewed ratio it gives rise to. The dearth of females leads to other complications like female trafficking, kidnappings and in increase in assault and rape against women. Female foeticide is a horrific and illegal practice that has got to be stopped. The way to do this is by implementation of stronger laws and bringing about a change in the mind -set of our countrymen – uphill tasks, but absolutely crucial nevertheless.

Houyhnhnms In Action

Houyhnhnms In Action Free Online Research Papers In Jonathon Swift’s Gulliver’s travels, part four introduces the Houyhnhnm race. The Houyhnhnms are the leaders of their land, which the main character, Lemuel Gulliver, finds shocking since they are horses. What Gulliver sees in this group and what Swift was actually portraying are opposite. On the surface the race seems to follow a Utopian like lifestyle, yet underneath they are far from perfect. There seemingly noble creatures follower a strict lifestyle that they say does not involve any type of evil. The hypocrisy in this is how uncivilized they treat the less superior race, Yahoos, who have striking similarities to humans. Some suggest they are the biggest example of satire in Swift’s entire work. Other’s suggests their downfalls represent why humans do not live the Utopian lifestyle. While there are many good, noble qualities in their land, some necessary privileges as an individual are stripped. In Houyhnhnms, the good of the individual is nullified for the good of the race as a whole. The Houyhnhnms represent an ideal of rationality. Their lifestyle is based on simplicity and their rules all work towards the common goal of bettering the race. The â€Å"ideal† plan that each individual follows tells how each one will love, communicate, breed, and, in simpler terms, live. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of their culture is the lack of any lies, deceit, jealousy, hatred, or anything else considered â€Å"evil†. These ideas do not even exist in their world; there is no word for â€Å"lie† in the language. Another huge appeal in their lifestyle is how everything is thought through in order to benefit from it. Instead of jumping to certain conclusions, the Houyhnhnms take the good out of situations. When dealing with Gulliver, they observe him in the beginning enough to understand he is unlike any Yahoo they have ever encountered. The Houyhnhnm master even goes as far as communicating with Gulliver to learn more about his life. E. Sullivan compares Houyhnhnms to men saying, â€Å"Houyhnhnms are more rational than men†¦ man ought to be swayed by reason†¦clean†¦decent-but†¦ they have to refer to our world.† (Sullivan) Another distinct difference between this race and man’s is their strict practice of family planning. The word â€Å"love† seems to have a completely one-sided meaning. They love everyone equally, therefore no one individual is loved more than another. This practice not only prevents jealousy, it restricts forming relationships to a breeding purpose. Mary P. Nichols states, â€Å"Just as they are free from envy and malice, so are they free from sexual passions.† (Nichols) She also goes on to discuss the many reasons for their mating based relationships that are found in part four. Rather than finding mates on a mental compatibility, they search for a perfect blend of genetics. The Houyhnhnms choose others that will make well-blinded colors in their offspring. They also, â€Å"[†¦] value the strength in the male and comeliness in the female [†¦]† (Nichols) These relations were not based on love so they could preserve their race from degenerating. Extending what they will do, families will actually swap children to keep the ratio of one female offspring to one male offspring. This concept reflects on a time much later than the piece was written; this family dynamic relates to a more modern yet classic idea of the perfect four-piece family. Reflecting on this race being based on reason, they believe marriage is a necessary act of a reasonable being. Another paradox in the Houyhnhnms and the Utopian idea is with Eden itself. The race itself shares certain ignorance towards anything malice just as Adam and Eve did. Swift includes many references throughout the final journey but leaves out religion. Perhaps this was done on purpose to see if readers would wonder what was missing. Although religion as a subject is missing there are various similarities that push the underlying theme of religion anyway. Margarot Thickstun suggests that Swift presents Houyhnhnmland as a somewhat Eden-like place because, â€Å" [†¦] the reason with which he endows the Houyhnhnms is not a philosophical concept but an example of the ‘erect Reason’ of Adam and Eve in Paradise.† (Thickstun) Perhaps Swift was suggesting that by nullifying evil in their society, grave saves them. Thickstun discusses many powerful points that describe the Houyhnhnms as â€Å"prelapsarian† beings, they are comfortable in their bodies as w ell as their environments; Just as Adam and Ever were before their expulsion from Eden. Better stated, â€Å"They do not require clothes for warmth, they do not become ill†¦they do not understand the meaning of shame.† (Thickstun) The connection between the two on the Eden level is only one part of the paradox. The Houyhnhnm master argues that, â€Å"Nature and Reason were guides for a reasonable animal, as we pretended to be, in showing us what we ought to do, and what to avoid.† While much good stems from the Utopian/ Eden lifestyle, some unintended betrayal of personality come hand in hand. For a land so concentrated with peace and well-being, they seem infatuated with disgust for the Yahoo people. The idea of enslaving a creature to the extent of what they do seem out of the ordinary. With the humanlike Yahoos answering their every beck and call, even pulling their wagons. They are symbolized by sin, greed, lust, and everything else the society does not participate in. Gulliver notices the similarities in figures but does not identify with the Yahoos on any other level. Thickstun points out, â€Å"He sees a connection, but he does not yet see it with conviction.† (Thickstun) The Yahoos seem to represent a dramatized and over emphasized version of Europeans, what Gulliver is, and the Houyhnhnms represent what Gulliver is working for so the world will be fixed. Swift also seemed to have taken two roles and reversed them to confuse people on what they truly believe is right and wrong. The cruelty to the Yahoos seems unlawful because readers can relate to the m on a human bases, yet if Swift had the Yahoo’s be the civilized colony and the horses were the ones pulling them around it would not seem unsettling. This parallel entertains the mind into reorganizing ones morals. The Houyhnhnms are perceived by Gulliver as a righteous, virtuous, and as an all around good race. Yet due to the certain ways they govern themselves, the evil seeps through. Although it seeps sparingly, it is still present. Human nature does not naturally fit the mold for the simple morals of this race, for regular mankind is extremely complex with emotion and intuitions. These feelings are was created Gulliver’s initial reaction. Yet in time, the Houyhnhnms manipulate Gulliver’s thoughts to push him away from his normal identity and more into their thought process. Nichols explains, â€Å"In his love of the Houyhnhnm, Gulliver accepts an idea of perfection which makes it impossible for him either to understand or to participate in human life.† (Nichols) They take him out of his normal comfort zone and present their own outlooks in life, not giving him any of their downfalls. Thickstun ties Gulliver’s actions to the underlying religious aspects of t he story, â€Å" Gulliver’s decision mirrors a Puritan impulse to withdraw, or separate, into ‘pure’ communities.† (Thickstun) After Gulliver becomes completely devoted to the Houyhnhnms lifestyle, they turn on him. In the start they judge him as a superior to the regular filthy, malicious Yahoos, but in the end they kick him out. The decision to eject Gulliver from their Paradise is evidence of how fallible they truly are. Gulliver being kicked out also related to Adam and Eve’s decent from Eden. When he returns to Europe he is faced with all the evils that infiltrated the world long, long ago. It was his love for the simple society that he struggled to find for so long, yet even this perfect world ended up hurting him in the end. After all his journey’s to find a society that he felt more in place with, this was the one, yet it took the opposite by actually rejecting him as not good enough. Though the Houyhnhnms seem to have an extremely virtuous lifestyle, there are crucial elements mankind possesses that their race did not have. Sullivan suggests, â€Å"The ‘horses’†¦ obviously represent the rationality and natural virtue that only a ‘modern’ fool†¦would presume mankind to be possessed of.† (Sullivan) The lack of individuality seriously depletes from their characters. By erasing certain words in their language, they are erasing the emotions that form personalities. Emotions like envy and passion have life lessons that go along with them. Love is also a major difference. If one feels only an even amount of love for everyone, there is a lack of intimate relationships between individuals. No one individual really knows another on an extremely personal level. This falls back into the idea of mating for a strictly breeding purpose. Nichols explain, â€Å"The Houyhnhnms†¦seem to have nothing of their own to which they are attached.† (Nichols) They do not even love their offspring enough due to their practice of trading out one offspring for another if it is of the same sex as the first offspring. Another situation that suggests the race is detached from any persons is if a couple that is past the age of childbearing loses an offspring, another is donated to them. It is seen more as a trade off than the human type of adoption programs. â€Å"The Houyhnhnms neither feel nor offer compassion [†¦]†, states Thickstun. Only appearing to be, â€Å"representatives of admirable and attainable qualities.† (Sullivan) They were void of humor, creativity, and passion; yet still seem to come off a bit arrogant at times. Aside from personality traits that are lacking, there are the simplest of individuality aspects they do not possess. There are references to the difference characters, yet none of them have proper names. Even their language is basic, used solely to communicate their needs. With all of these aspects, the race itself is interchangeable, owning no individual identities. In a seemingly black and white situation, the Houyhnhnms are both the simplest and the most complex of Swift’s characters. They are an incredibly stagnant society with no extreme ups and downs; In short, they lack dynamic. Their daily life is predictable, leaving no room for experiencing life. The Utopian lifestyle they portray seems enjoyable to an onlooker at first glance, even Gulliver fell for the charade. However, in the end, he felt more emotion than they understood by getting expelled from their society. Through the ideas of the community, they end up representing the most rational aspects of humankind. Swift insists his reader question what love was if there was no jealously or passion. Without sad how would one know they were happy? Swift causes his readers to question if a â€Å"perfect† life really could be perfect. Although one may find versions of  "Gulliver’s Travels† in the children’s section of the library, the book questions the very morals of mankind, and is a moving and high impact piece of literature that forces its reader to do some soul searching and deep thinking. Nichols, Mary P. â€Å"Rationality and Community: Swift’s Criticism of the Houyhnhnms.† Studies in English Literature (Rice) 34.3 (Summer 1981): 318. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Burlington County Library, Burlington, NJ. 1 December 2007. Sullivan, E.E. Houyhnhnms and Yahoos: From Technique to Meaning. Studies in English Literature (Rice) 24.3 (Summer 1984): 497. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Burlington County Library, Burlington, NJ. 1 December 2007.. Thickstun, Margaret Olofso. The puritan origins of Gullivers conversion in Houyhnhnmland. Studies in English Literature (Rice) 37.3 (Summer 1997): 517. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Burlington County Library, Burlington, NJ. 1 December 2007.. Jennifer Buckley Jennifermbuckley@yahoo.com Research Papers on Houyhnhnms In ActionHonest Iagos Truth through Deception19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraWhere Wild and West MeetHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementThree Concepts of PsychodynamicHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andGenetic Engineering