Aboriginal Suicide

Suicide and Healing: Aboriginals Overcoming the Hardships and Barriers Aboriginal peoples have had to endure many tragedies throughout history, which has affected them emotionally and mentally. It is no wonder that this group of people are amongst the highest suicide rates in Canada (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1995). This is a look at those tragedies and how it is tied in with suicide, also mechanisms used by Aboriginals to start the healing process. Definition of Suicide amongst Aboriginals Suicide and its roots in Aboriginal communities is said to be one of the many outcomes of colonialism and are matters of great concern.The impact of someone dying from suicide affects the family and the community. Many contributing factors of suicide and its attempts in both Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal are as followed: sexual abuse, family violence, solvent abuse, addictions, lack of proper leadership, deterioration of family structure, etc. Studies have shown that the rate of sui cide of all age groups amongst Aboriginals is 2 to 3 times higher than compared to the rate of non-Aboriginals. When it comes to the youth it is 5 to 6 times higher.This could be due to the fact that Aboriginal communities are so close knit that when one commits suicide it causes a ripple effect. That being said we must take into consideration that, â€Å"suicide is not just a problem in itself, but the symptom of deeper problems† (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1995, p. 2). Residential Schools In the early 19th century the Canadian government took it upon themselves to educate and care for the Aboriginal peoples. They thought that the best way in doing so was to assimilate Aboriginals with Christian beliefs, the English language and Canadian customs.Their idea was that Aboriginals would take their adoptive lifestyle and teach it to their children, with the notion that the native traditions and practices would be diminished or completely abolished within a few genera tions. The Canadian government felt that children were easier to mold than an adult (N. A. , 2010). They wished to minimize the amount of contact a child had with his or her parents and elders, so Aboriginal children were forced to relocate off reserve to a boarding school. Here the children would learn how to survive in mainstream society, and forget who they were and what their culture had taught them.The schools were not geared toward academics, but sought to train them in manual labour and industrial work. These Aboriginal children were forced to live, work and learn in unsafe conditions; due to the fact that facilities were not up to par, and the cheapest of supplies were used to erect the buildings (Kirmayer et al. , 2007). The church officials used punishment to humiliate, undermine and cause pain to the children. For instance, upon arriving at the residential school the children were assigned numbers that would identify them and given severe haircuts; hair has tremendous sym bolism in many Aboriginal cultures.Many of the children were sexually abused, and in most cases it did not stay closeted in the residential schools, but made its way back to the communities where the victims would then become the perpetrators (Kirmayer et al. , 2007). Indian agents saw the Aboriginals extended family living as unfit and unnatural, and sought to shape them into a ‘normal’ nuclear family. Aboriginal children were taking from their homes and placed in residential schools, which were usually located a significant distance off reserve. This made it nearly impossible for the families to visit one another.The children were allowed to write letters in order to keep in contact with their family, but the letters were looked over by the school officials to ensure no complaints were being made about their harsh treatment. This form of assimilation had a harsh impact on aboriginal community, culture and society. It also took a toll on the parenting practices amongst many of the Aboriginal peoples (Kirmayer et al. , 2007). Impacts of Residential Schools When the law that allowed government officials to take Aboriginal children out of their communities passed, the effects were tragic.Many of the surviving adults are still tremendously traumatised, that they find being a good parent and community member troublesome (Alberta Health, 1995). The amount of abuse that Aboriginal children had to endure during those dark times has been connected to the current suffering of their communities. A lot have turned to alcohol and other substances to deal with their pain; this in turn causes dysfunctional family units and communities. Many of the former students cannot speak their languages and more or less feel too ashamed to teach it to their own children.This is because the staff took it upon themselves to punish ever child who acted or spoke like an ‘Indian’. When the children returned home there was a communication failure with their elders, because they were too ashamed to speak in their language; reasons stated earlier on. Since they could not communicate to one another the opportunity to respect their elders and learn their language and culture diminished. The gap on communication also led to a rejection of their traditional values and beliefs, because the elders were the teachers of the community.While attending the school a significant amount of students were victims to sexual abuse at the hands of educators, fellow students and administrators. But, the abuse didn’t stop there the victimized students began internalizing, normalizing and even recreating the sexual abuse within their own communities. They themselves sought the power those of authority once had on them. This in turn added more dysfunction to the family ties with Aboriginal communities. The parents whose children were taken from them felt guilty, like the children blamed them for the reasons they were being taken, they no longer felt needed anym ore.Some may say this is the reason many turned to alcohol and drugs (Kirmayer et al. , 2007). Jealousy and greed were taught in the schools and missions. You fought for bread, you fought for clothes. There was no love involved. You were taken from your family and held in the missions for 10 months straight. The mothers and dads couldn’t exercise their love. Now there are lots of people, who don’t know how to raise kids, because this is what they went through, and that’s what they pass on, because that’s the only thing they know (Alberta Health, 1995, p. 9). The 60’s ScoopThe term Sixties scoop refers to the adoption of Metis and First Nations children that took place during the 1960’s. The name was derived due to the fact that during that decade the number of adoptions that took place in Canada was the highest in its history, in most cases children were literally scooped up from their families and community without the consent of their pare nts and fellow band members. During this time government officials and social works saw the Aboriginal peoples as unfit and could not adequately provide the children with what they needed.One of the reasons they thought this was because their houses were not similar to the Euro-Canadian houses for example; children ate wild meat and bannock and rather than having their cupboards stocked full of food, Aboriginals simply hunted and gathered what was needed. Many of the Aboriginals who were affected saw the removal of their children as a deliberate act of cultural genocide (Sinclair, 2011). About 70% of the children taken from their families were placed in non-Aboriginal homes, many of these homes denied them of their heritage and culture.A vast majority of the foster families told the children they were of a different race such as Italian or French, rather than telling them where they had originally come from. A lot of the children suspected they were of Aboriginal decent, but could n ot confirm it. This was due to the Government policy that birth records could not be issued unless both the child and parent had given their consent. Many of the children floated from foster family to foster family and never really experienced true stability.On numerous occasions Aboriginal children went from loving, caring and well intentioned Aboriginal families; to places of slave labour and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. For, abuse of any kind was not uncommon and usually covered up, to hide just how unjust the government was (Hanson, 2009). Impacts of The 60’s Scoop Many of the children experienced marginalization, identity confusion, attachment disorders, emotional emptiness, abuse, self-hatred, racism and even substance addictions. These experiences later affected their family units and communities, because they were taught that this was right.A study done in Prince Albert penitentiary found that 95% of incarcerated Aboriginals had been in foster care as a child . Also, a vast majority of surviving children are sexually exploited or live on the streets. This tragedy was yet another blow that language and culture amongst Aboriginals peoples had to endure (Kirmayer et al. , 2007). Linking Tragedy to Suicide As stated earlier both of these tragedies have led to further cases of physical and sexual abuse, but there are links between them and the high number of suicides in Aboriginal communities as well. Studies have found hat mental illness, family breakdown and child abuse are higher in those who have experienced these tragedies than those who haven’t. Some of these mental health problems have been diagnosed as residential school syndrome or RSS, some may say that the government spends too much time trying to diagnose them rather than trying to fix the problem. Aboriginal peoples not only suffered during these times, but the long lasting effects still reside with them today. So, Aboriginal peoples are still suffering. In fact, these neg ative consequences have a substantial impact on Aboriginal families and communities.Although many have not been able to cope with their pain, some have gone on to live healthy and successful lives. The many types of abuse these children faced have been very traumatic, and studies have shown that separation from families has the severest impact on one’s mental health. Suicide itself is associated with emotional deprivation, separation of families and losses in early life. That being said, when the children were separated from their families and taken from what was familiar to them during both of these tragedies spoken of earlier, they became high risk (Kirmayer et al. 2007). There are 4 families of related factors of suicide within Aboriginal communities, they are: * Psycho-biological factors- which are the various mental disorders linked with suicide. * Life history or situational factors- which are the trauma one faces in early childhood, dysfunctional family, unable to rela te or trust both peers and members of authority, absence of spiritual and religious beliefs, imprisonment and substance abuse. * Socio-economic factors- unemployment, poverty, stability, prosperity and low class status. Culture stress- the loss of norms, values and beliefs there were originally to taught to one in their own culture (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1995). Aboriginal Healing Processes Every community and Aboriginal individuals are unique in their own way. But, the beliefs these communities and band members hold are quite similar. In these communities the care and love everyone has for one another is tremendous, they feel a sense of belonging within the larger universe. When looking at any issue within a community the Aboriginal peoples believe that ou can’t just look at one aspect of a person or community, but rather the total person, total community and total environment. In order for a person to be healthy they must take care of themselves as a Ã¢â‚¬Ë œwhole’. For Aboriginal peoples this means that the mind, body, soul and emotional spirits must all work together in order for one to be healthy. They also believe in the circle of life, that in order for the human race to progress we must follow the values of balance and harmony.Traditional healing is very important in the Aboriginal culture, in fact many traditional healers are now working within hospitals all across Canada. But, there are many hardships facing these healers such as; finances, conflict with hospital staff and even Aboriginals who do not value this approach (Alberta Health, 1995). What happens in one stage of a person’s life is interconnected with every other aspect of his or her life. Although many of the children who survived these above tragedies do not remember what happened or do not wish to think about it, they must try to heal and explore in order to keep on surviving.As children, there are limited options, but as an adult we have choices to ov ercome these hardships, whether we choose to or not is totally up to oneself. In order to survive one must follow a positive path and take the following steps into consideration: * Acknowledge that they have been hurt * They must ‘own’ these feelings of hurt and pain. * Explore and try to remember what happened to them. * Learn to share these feelings with people who care and are not judgemental. * Make choices that will help you live in a more positive lifestyle (Mussell et al. 1993). Some may say that the government succeeded in bringing down the Aboriginal peoples, but they are wrong to think that they will stay down. Many Aboriginal peoples have gone on to live happy healthy lives and will continue to teach their children these ways. But, in order for the people to survive we must help and try to live balanced lives free of racism and hate (Alberta Health, 1995). Healthy communities are our greatest resource. But there are barriers that prevent us from experiencing good health and they are often as a result of our own lifestyles.Most of us have the knowledge of how to enhance our own health but knowing does not always translate into doing. Enhancing our health may require lifestyle change and habit changes, and that is difficult. It is easier to do things that make us feel good if we have resources available and support from those around us and our community (Alberta Health, 1995, p. 68). References Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. (1995). Choosing life: Special report on suicide among Aboriginal people. Ottawa, ON: Canada Communication Group.Alberta Health. (1995). Strengthening the circle: What Aboriginal Albertans say about their health. Edmonton, AB: Aboriginal Health Unit Alberta Health. Kirmayer, L. J. , Brass, G. M. , Holton, T. , Paul, K. , Simpson, C. , & Tait, C. (2007). Suicide among Aboriginal people in Canada. Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Mussell, W. J. , Nicholls, W. M. , & Adler, M. T. (1993). Making meaning of mental health challenges in First Nations: A Freirean perspective. Chilliwack, B. C. : Sal’I’Shan Institute Society.Sinclair, R. (2011). Origins Canada: Supporting those separated by adoption; The 60’s scoop. Retrieved from http://www. originscanada. org/the-stolen-generation/ N. A. (2008, May, 16). Residential schools: A history of residential schools in Canada. Retrieved from http://www. cbc. ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-residential-schools. html Hanson, E. (2009). Sixties Scoop: The sixties scoop & Aboriginal child welfare. Retrieved from http://indigenousfoundations. arts. ubc. ca/home/government-policy/sixties-scoop. html

Australian Precious Stones and Jewelry market exported to Japan Essay Example

Australian Precious Stones and Jewelry market exported to Japan Essay Example Australian Precious Stones and Jewelry market exported to Japan Paper Australian Precious Stones and Jewelry market exported to Japan Paper 1.0 Executive Summary The Australian jewelry industry is somewhat unique when compared to various others. One of the primary factors is that it enjoys a large natural resource base from which it can draw from to produce and manufacture its products. This is particularly true when it concerns precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds, opals and pearls. As things stand, the Japanese market is one that appears to be significantly lucrative to enter for an Australian jeweler. In spite of the economic downturns facing the country, its economy is many times larger than the Australian economy thus ensuring that trade opportunities will continue to exist even in the face of the economic stagnation. Additionally, the changing status of jewelry to little more than just another fashion trend means that jewelers who are able to bypass the many steps in the distribution channel and/or have access to raw materials without additional import charges will be able to catch the shift in market layout as more importance is placed on affordability and fashion. Furthermore, statistics has shown that there continues to be a steady demand for jewelry thus providing an opportunity to adaptable businesses as specialist stores suffer a withdrawal of customers who appear to frequent the supermarkets for jewelry. 2.0 Background The Australian jewelry industry has a variety of raw materials to draw from for its production of jewelry. First and foremost of all is the supply of diamonds from the Argyle mines which fall into the three categories of pink, champagne and white diamonds. Being the not only the sole mine in Australia to produce diamonds, but among the largest in the world, the Argyle diamond mine is responsible for more than a third of the worlds supply of diamonds and thus is one of the most technologically advanced mines in existence. Since its conception in 1986, the Argyle mine has produced diamonds in an increasing number from the 29 million carats in the first year of production to steadying out at an average of 35 million carats from 1994 onwards. Not only are Argyle diamonds unique to other diamonds due to their hardness, the fact that the rare, highly valued pink diamonds can be steadily sourced from the mines means that Australian jewelers have a monopoly on the sale of such rare stones th rough an exclusive network set up by Argyle. Australia also enjoys significant natural deposits of high quality opal which totaled at $120 million for the year 1996-1997 alone. In fact, the deposits are so large that Australia accounts for almost 100% of the worlds top quality opal since natural deposits elsewhere are situated near volcanic regions with the exception of Brazilian opal and are generally of inferior quality. The only downside to this particular industry is the fact that mining is usually carried out on an individual business and thereby resistant to vertical integration and more efficient large scale mining operations. 3.0 Business Environment 3.1 PEST Analysis Political In terms of political factors influencing the exporting of gemstone decorated jewelry, there are several in effect. The first of these factors would be the tariffs that effect gold silver and platinum jewelry. Any silver and platinum jewelry would be subject to a general tax of 6.2% while jewelry using other precious metals would be subject to a 6.6% tariff (JETRO, 1998). Additionally, the tariff rates for each type of jewelry depends on whether it receives preferential, WTO, temporary or general rates (Appendix 12). Preferential rates have no tax whatsoever and are applied only imports meet conditions stipulated by statute and the administration. WTO rates are applied if and when its rates are lower than temporary and general rates. There are no legal restrictions regarding the importation of jewelry to Japan save for its Customs Tariff Law which prohibits counterfeit coins and designs which infringe trademark and design rights as well as the Washington Convention ratified in 1980 prohibiting trade of materials containing ivory or coal (Jewelry Trade Commission). Although there are no official regulations in regards to the sale of jewelry, there is however an identification program established voluntarily by the industry known as the Whole Mark and Quality Mark Program. The Whole Mark is used as proof of pure precious metal content in products stated to have them and usually consists of symbols indicating home country and level of quality. The Quality Mark on the other hand is almost the same but has the added measure where the mark is created and registered by the Japan Jewelry Association and is used to establish the responsibility of the labeler and guaranteeing the quality of the jewelry (JETRO, 1998). One example of this quality mark can be found on Appendix 13. Economic In the recent years, Japan has noted a distinct slowdown in its economy and is becoming somewhat stagnant despite several hundred trillion yen being spent on economic stimulus packages by the government. Despite this trend, some changes are occurring which could possibly contain news of benefit to the Australian gemstones/jewelry industry. One of the first factors of note is that the Japanese economy is 12 times larger than the Australian economy (Austrade). As such, despite the economic growth stagnation that Japan is facing, its sheer size means that an opportunity for Australia will continue to exist barring any catastrophic occurrences. Social One of the interesting things to note in regards to the social perception to jewelry is the effects that it has had on the market share that various distribution channels have. In this aspect, it should be noted that supermarkets have gained an increase in jewelry sales while those of department stores remain mostly flat (JETRO, 1998). This would appear to be a direct consequence of reducing prices of jewelry and its increasing acceptance as just another fashion good. Based on the popularity of the royal family of Japan, it would appear that their usage of cultured pearls as apparel has significantly increased its popularity among the Japanese consumers (Austrade). As such, demand exists for South Sea pearls as well especially of the pinkish and naturally golden ones Another trend to note is the changing demand for jewelry types. As shown in Appendix 3, there was a 10% increase demand in volume for earrings and a minor increase of 1% in demand for pendants at the expense of demand for rings with the exception of engagement rings between the years 1992 to 1996. Additionally, Appendix 4 shows that there is a significant jump in spending on ornamental wear among certain age groups especially in the 25-29 years and 50-54 years age group. Technology Much of the technological concern in regards to the jewelry industry falls into two categories. One is the actual production of jewelry and the other would be the post sales service in terms of modifications and maintenance of jewelry with mechanical parts (i.e. watches). Almost all retail stores in Japan involved in the sale of jewelry devote considerable resources to after sales services which involve cleaning, repair, reworking and resizing and redesign services as part of an effort to maintain and expand their customer base (JETRO). However, certain repair operations simply cannot be carried out in Japan due to technical/logistical issues and require a return to the parent country before repairs can be carried out thus necessitating the need for foreign suppliers to maintain repair facilities for just such an occurrence. 3.2 SWOT Strengths One of the primary strengths that the Australian jewelry market has over others is that in terms of supply, Australia is among the largest suppliers of natural diamonds across a wide variety of stones as well as being the undisputed primary supplier of high quality commercial opals. As such, Australian jewelry utilizing locally acquired natural precious stones will be able to cover wide range of markets due to their extensive range of raw gemstones to draw from. Additionally, with the exception of Brazil, all non-Australian opals are located in or near volcanic regions (Costellos). Australian opals and are typically mined by individuals and small groups and are located in comparatively more hospitable areas. This fact of heavy competition, combined with the factor that Australia is reputed to supply 95% of the worlds opals, means that there is significant pressure to provide and to corner as much of the possible market share as possible. As a result, prices for raw opals cannot command a high rate since the market structure would resemble a near perfect-competition market. With pearls, the Australian industry has an advantage over other producers as the Australian Cultured Pearl is of such high quality at harvesting that it requires no bleaching, tinting, dying or skinning in order to prepare it for setting (Costellos). Since these steps are not required, the net price of the pearls would be lower in comparison to other competitors offerings. Weaknesses One of the primary weaknesses of the industry is that its primary diamond mining operations in Australia is solely dependent on a single diamond mine known as the Argyle diamond mine located in the Kimberley region (Costellos). In the event that unforeseen circumstances curtail or disrupt the mining operations and adversely affects the supply, the regular supply of local diamonds for the entire Australian jewelry industry would be halted. As a result, the entire chain of production and distribution would be disrupted, possibly causing loss in market share as competitors step in to fill up the gaps. Another weakness facing the industry is that due to the fragmented nature of opal mining operations, the existence of a coordinated and well organized supply structure is virtually non-existent. Just as the fragmented nature of the opal mining operations prevents a monopoly or dominant supplier from existing; it also prevents producers from utilizing vertical integration. Added to this problem is the fact that the opal fields are beginning to run out indicating that prices will begin to rise as supply dwindles (Costellos). Opportunities Japan is completely dependent on foreign sources for all of its precious stones and metals with the exception of quartz, onyx and pearls (Austrade). As matters stand, the combined economic size and sheer dependence on foreign sources for materials, the Australian jewelry industry will find a more than receptive market for its products. Additionally, Appendix 1 indicates that although there is some fluctuating in the sale of jewelry with precious stones during the years 1988 to 1996, the overall sales volume is stable and does not appear to be susceptible to any drastic fluctuations in the near future. As shown in Appendix 6, despite the reduced average price that was indicated during the years 1992 and 1996, overall volume of sales for all types of jewelry (gold, silver and platinum) increased. Despite the economic downturn of 1991, the increase in volume and value of jewelry sold is a good indicator that the market for jewelry is still active and demonstrates significant growth potential. Threats Major threats facing the Australian jewelry industry is the existence of rival competitors from various other countries. Already, market leaders in terms of volume exported exist among various countries such as Thailand with its export of 23.1% in the year 1996 (Appendix 7, Appendix 8) and the United States coming in at 2nd place with a total export amounting to 17.6% of the total jewelry exports to Japan. 3.3 Market Analysis Entering the Japanese market is not a simple matter. Corporate networks in Japan are closely knit and in some ways, similar to the traditional communal family structures found there. As such, finding a good importer to purchase the products will require at least an introduction into the network by an intermediary of some prominence and influence. Without such an introduction, entry into the market by exporting alone would be difficult since distributors would be likely to be more wary about a new exporter who acks endorsement unless the company already enjoys an international reputation. However, this difficulty of entering the market is somewhat lessened by the fact that there are no tariffs or quotas to the import of the colored stones. With the economic prospects for Japan still uncertain, high priced products have begun to lose market share as lower priced jewelry takes the center stage. As such, consumers have begun to be more price-sensitive and are far more likely to choose an alternate source of jewelry in the event that they find it to be too highly priced for their tastes. At the moment, there are several leading exporters of jewelry and precious stones to Japan. Among them are brands such as Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari and other well known brand names (Appendix 10). However, these companies are on the high end range of the market and usually position their products as top quality fashion items thus allowing them to place premium prices on their products and target the richer segment of the populace. However, medium and low cost jewelry suppliers who utilize retailers such as supermarkets also have a portion of the market and with the current growth in total sales of jewelry in supermarkets (Appendix 11), it is likely that their particular segment has significant growth potential. In fact, despite its small market share compared to other distributors, it is the only retailer to have experienced such a high growth in sales (22.9%) in the year 1992 indicating that market trends are shifting to increase demand for fashionable, yet affordable jewelry.

USS Nevada (BB-36) in World War II

USS Nevada (BB-36) in World War II USS Nevada (BB-36) was the lead ship of the Nevada-class of battleships which were built for the US Navy between 1912 and 1916. The Nevada-class was the first to incorporate a set of design characteristics that would be employed in a series of American battleship classes during the years around World War I (1914-1918). Entering service in 1916, Nevada briefly served overseas during the final months of World War I. The interwar period saw the battleship take part in various training exercises in both the Atlantic and Pacific. On December 7, 1941, Nevada was moored in Pearl Harbor when the  Japanese attacked. The only battleship to get underway during the attack, it sustained some damage before beaching on Hospital Point. Repaired and heavily modernized, Nevada took part in the campaign in the Aleutians before returning to the Atlantic. Serving in Europe, it provided naval gunfire support during the  invasions of Normandy and Southern France. Returning to the Pacific, Nevada participated in the final campaigns against Japan and was later used as a target ship during the atomic testing at Bikini Atoll. Design Authorized by Congress on March 4, 1911, the contract for constructing USS Nevada (BB-36) was issued to the Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, MA. Laid down on November 4 of the following year, the battleship’s design was revolutionary for the US Navy as it incorporated several key characteristics that would become standard on future ships of the type. Among these was the inclusion of oil-fired boilers instead of coal, the elimination of amidships turrets, and the use of an â€Å"all or nothing† armor scheme. These features became sufficiently common on future vessels that Nevada was considered the first of the Standard-type of US battleship. Of these changes, the shift to oil was made with the goal of increasing the ship’s range as the US Navy felt that would be critical in any potential naval conflict with Japan. In designing Nevada’s armor protection, naval architects pursued an â€Å"all or nothing† approach which meant that critical areas of the ship, such as magazines and engineering, were heavily protected while less vital spaces were left unarmored. This type of armor arrangement later became commonplace in both the US Navy and those abroad. While previous American battleships had featured turrets located fore, aft, and amidships, Nevada’s design placed the armament at the bow and stern and was first to include the use of triple turrets. Mounting a total of ten 14-inch guns, Nevada’s armament was placed in four turrets (two twin and two triple) with five guns at each end of the ship. In an experiment, the ship’s propulsion system included new Curtis turbines while its sister ship, USS Oklahoma (BB-37), was given older triple-expansion steam engines. USS Nevada (BB-36) Overview Nation: United StatesType: BattleshipShipyard: Fore River Shipbuilding CompanyLaid Down: November 4, 1912Launched: July 11, 1914Commissioned: March 11, 1916Fate: Sunk as target on July 31, 1948 Specifications (as built) Displacement: 27,500 tonsLength: 583 ft.Beam: 95 ft., 3 in.Draft: 28 ft., 6 in.Propulsion: Geared Curtis turbines turning 2 x propellersSpeed: 20.5 knotsRange: 9,206 miles at 10 knotsComplement: 864 men Armament Guns 10 Ãâ€" 14 in. gun (2 Ãâ€" 3, 2 Ãâ€" 2 superfiring)21 Ãâ€" 5 in. guns2 or 4 Ãâ€" 21 in. torpedo tubes Aircraft 3 x aircraft Construction Entering the water on July 11, 1914 with Eleanor Seibert, the niece of the Governor of Nevada, as sponsor, Nevada’s launch was attended by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt. Though Fore River completed work on the ship in late 1915, the US Navy required an extensive series of sea trials before commissioning due to the revolutionary nature of many of the ship’s systems. These commenced on November 4 and saw the ship conduct numerous runs along the New England coast. Passing these tests, Nevada put into Boston where it received additional equipment before being commissioned on March 11, 1916, with Captain William S. Sims in command. World War I Joining the US Atlantic Fleet at Newport, RI, Nevada conducted training exercises along the East Coast and Caribbean during 1916. Based at Norfolk, VA, the battleship was initially retained in American waters following the United States’ entrance into World War I in April 1917. This was due to a shortage of fuel oil in Britain. As a result, the coal-fired battleships of Battleship Division Nine were dispatched to augment the British Grand Fleet instead. In August 1918, Nevada received orders to cross the Atlantic. Joining USS Utah (BB-31) and Oklahoma at Berehaven, Ireland, the three ships formed Rear Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers’ Battleship Division 6. Operating from Bantry Bay, they served as convoy escorts in the approaches to the British Isles. Remaining in this duty until the end of the war, Nevada never fired a shot in anger. That December, the battleship escorted the liner George Washington, with President Woodrow Wilson aboard, into Brest, France. Sailing for New York on December 14, Nevada and its compatriots arrived twelve days later and were greeted by victory parades and celebrations. Interwar Years Serving in the Atlantic during the next few years Nevada traveled to Brazil in September 1922 for the centennial of that nation’s independence. Later transferring to the Pacific, the battleship conducted a goodwill tour of New Zealand and Australia in late summer 1925. In addition to the US Navy’s desire to accomplish diplomatic goals, the cruise was intended to show the Japanese that the US Pacific Fleet was capable of conducting operations far from its bases. Arriving at Norfolk in August 1927, Nevada began a massive modernization program. While in the yard, engineers added torpedo bulges as well as increased Nevada’s horizontal armor. To compensate for the added weight, the ship’s old boilers were removed and fewer new, but more efficient, ones installed along with new turbines. The program also saw Nevada’s torpedo tubes removed, anti-aircraft defenses increased, and a rearrangement of its secondary armament. Topside, the bridge structure was altered, new tripod masts replaced the older lattice ones, and modern fire control equipment installed. Work on the ship was completed in January 1930 and it soon rejoined the US Pacific Fleet. Remaining with that unit for the next decade, it forward deployed to Pearl Harbor in 1940 as tensions with Japan increased. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Nevada was single-moored off Ford Island when the Japanese attacked. Pearl Harbor Granted a degree of maneuverability due to its location that its compatriots on Battleship Row lacked, Nevada was the only American battleship to get underway as Japanese struck. Working its way down the harbor, the ship’s anti-aircraft gunners fought valiantly but the ship quickly sustained a torpedo hit followed by five bomb strikes. The last of these occurred as it neared the channel to open water. Fearing that Nevada might sink and obstruct the channel, its crew beached the battleship on Hospital Point. With the end of the attack, the ship had suffered 50 killed and 109 wounded. In the weeks after, salvage crews commenced repairs on Nevada and on February 12, 1942, the battleship was refloated. After additional repairs were made at Pearl Harbor, the battleship moved to Puget Sound Navy Yard for additional work and modernization. Modernization Remaining in the yard until October 1942, Nevada’s appearance was dramatically altered and when it emerged it looked similar to the newer South Dakota-class. Gone were ship’s tripod masts and its anti-aircraft defenses had been dramatically upgraded to include new dual-purpose 5-inch guns, 40 mm guns, and 20 mm guns. After shakedown and training cruises, Nevada took part in Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid’s campaign in the Aleutians and supported the liberation of Attu. With the end the fighting, the battleship detached and steamed for further modernization at Norfolk. That fall, Nevada began escorting convoys to Britain during the Battle of the Atlantic. The inclusion of capital ships such as Nevada was intended to provide protection against German surface raiders such as Tirpitz. Europe Serving in this role into April 1944, Nevada then joined Allied naval forces in Britain to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. Sailing as Rear Admiral Morton Deyo’s flagship, the battleship’s guns pounded German targets on June 6 as Allied troops began landing. Remaining offshore for most of the month, Nevada’s guns provided fire support for forces ashore and the ship earned praise for the accuracy of its fire. After reducing the coastal defenses around Cherbourg, the battleship transferred to the Mediterranean where it provided fire support for the Operation Dragoon landings in August. Striking German targets in southern France, Nevada reprised its performance in Normandy. During the course of operations, it famously dueled the batteries defending Toulon. Steaming for New York in September, Nevada entered port and had its 14-inch guns relined. In addition, the guns in Turret 1 were replaced with tubes taken from the wreck of USS Arizona (BB-39.) Pacific Resuming operations in early 1945, Nevada transited the Panama Canal and joined Allied forces off Iwo Jima on February 16. Taking part in the invasion of the island, the ship’s guns contributed to the pre-invasion bombardment and later provided direct support ashore. On March 24, Nevada joined Task Force 54 for the invasion of Okinawa. Opening fire, it attacked Japanese targets ashore in the days before the Allied landings. On March 27, Nevada sustained damage when a kamikaze struck the main deck near Turret 3. Remaining on station, the battleship continued to operate off Okinawa until June 30 when it departed to join Admiral William â€Å"Bull† Halsey’s Third Fleet which was operating off Japan. Though near the Japanese mainland, Nevada did not strike targets ashore. Later Career With the end of World War II on September 2, Nevada returned to Pearl Harbor after brief occupation duty in Tokyo Bay. One of the oldest battleships in the US Navy’s inventory, it was not retained for use postwar. Instead, Nevada received orders to proceed Bikini Atoll in 1946 for use as a target ship during the Operation Crossroads atomic testing. Painted bright orange, the battleship survived both Able and Baker tests that July. Damaged and radioactive, Nevada was towed back to Pearl Harbor and decommissioned on August 29, 1946. Two years later, it was sunk off Hawaii on July 31, when USS Iowa (BB-61) and two other vessels used it gunnery practice.

Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns

Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns By Mark Nichol How do you decide which form of a pronoun to use, as in the choices of the wording in â€Å"John is as fast as him† and â€Å"John is as fast as he†? Knowing the varieties of pronouns will help you choose the correct form. A subject pronoun is one used as the subject of a sentence, as in â€Å"He is right† or â€Å"I am amazed.† (Subject pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.) Subject pronouns may also rename the subject, following a copular verb (one that is a form of â€Å"to be†): â€Å"It is I who left the chair there.† A subject pronoun should also be used for such sentences as â€Å"It might have been she,† though an object pronoun is used in its place almost invariably in casual speech and often in writing. Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, and them), by contrast, are used to identify the object of a sentence, as in â€Å"Mary gave it to her† and â€Å"The tourists went to see them.† (Notice that you and it can serve as both subject and object pronouns.) Object nouns are used with all the three types of objects: â€Å"The Smiths invited us† (direct object), â€Å"The Smiths gave us our dish back† (indirect object), and â€Å"The Smiths gave a party for us† (object of a preposition). Should a sentence read, â€Å"I am older than her† or â€Å"I am older than she†? In a statement of comparison that uses as or than and does not end with a copular verb, temporarily add one to test the correct type of pronoun: â€Å"I am older than her is† does not sound right, but â€Å"I am older than she is† does, so the correct word in this sentence is she. (Therefore, the correct sentence in the pair of examples in the first paragraph of this post in formal writing, at least is â€Å"John is as fast as he.†) Note, however, that what appears to be a sentence with an incorrect form of a pronoun can be correct when it means something else. For example, â€Å"She fell asleep before him† could mean that the woman fell asleep in front of someone, not earlier than someone, in which case the statement is correct. What if the sentence refers to more than one person? Several factors come into play. The pronoun in â€Å"Joe and I were invited to the party† is correct because I is part of the subject (â€Å"Joe and I†). But â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and I† is not, because â€Å"Joe and I† is now the object, and the correct personal pronoun for an object is me: â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and me.† (Test for the correct form of the pronoun by removing the other person from the object: â€Å"John went to the party with me,† not â€Å"John went to the party with I,† is correct, so â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and me† is correct.) But an exception is made when the reference to Joe and the writer is preceded by a copular, or linking, verb (a form of â€Å"to be†), as in â€Å"The last people at the party were Joe and I.† In this sentence, â€Å"Joe and I† are predicate nominatives, meaning that they rename or describe the subject: â€Å"Joe and I† equals â€Å"the last people at the party.† A pronoun in a predicate nominative takes the subjective, not objective, case: â€Å"The last people at the party were Joe and I† is correct. It may seem wrong, but that’s because the rule is ignored in most spoken English and in much written English as well, so we’re accustomed to hearing and reading the error. It should be observed, however at least in formal English. (Some comments on this post refer to a previous version of this discussion.) Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs) signal possession or relationship and, unlike nouns in possessive form, never include apostrophes. They take the same form whether in the subjective position or the objective position: â€Å"That is hers. Yours is here.† Reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves, yourself, and yourselves) refer to something already mentioned (â€Å"The machine appeared to start by itself†) or implied (Suit yourselves†). â€Å"The directions applied only to myself† is wrong because the person indicated by myself is not explicitly or implicitly referred to. (The correct wording is â€Å"The directions applied only to me.†) However, â€Å"I followed the directions myself† is correct because myself refers to the subject I. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing a Reference Letter (With Examples)"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?Treatment of Words That Include â€Å"Self†

Why is financial reporting important to small business Essay

Why is financial reporting important to small business - Essay Example The financial reporting involves making a summary of financial information in accordance with accounting standards for the users of such information. Financial reporting involves preparing various financial statements for easier understanding by respective users of such information (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc. 2013). The three financial statements have different uses to the business and its stakeholders. However small a business entity may be they all require the financial statements namely statement of cash flows, income statement and statement of financial position of the company (Tracy, T &Â  Tracy, J., 2011). These documents are essential to a small business various ways. Statement of cash flows is an essential financial report to a small business because it shows cash inflows and outflows of the business (Revees, 2011). It provides summary information on the balance sheet and income statement so that the users of such information can obtain information about business activities and profitability of the business activities. It gives an overview of how well the business out is carrying out its activities. It shows the solvency of the business. According to Lynch (2000), statement of financial position or balance sheet is a financial statement that demonstrates the financial position of the business at a given time, usually at the end or the trading period. It can be shown in the form of the equation as follows. Assets = Liabilities + owner’s equity. This statement provides the users of such statement with a snapshot of the business resources or assets. Liabilities represent what business owner external financiers while owner’s equity represents what business owes shareholders or individual investor in case of a sole proprietorship. The equation must balance at all times. Therefore, statement of financial statement is essential for the small business because it shows the total worth of the business

Outline President Kennedys foreign policy problems as they related to Essay

Outline President Kennedys foreign policy problems as they related to Cuba - Essay Example This was intended to spur a rebellion to overthrow the then communist leader Fidel Castro. However, the mission was a failure and led to great embarrassment to the president (Haney & Vanderbush 45). Kennedy’s foreign policy was heavily influenced by the cold war, the continuing conflict of the Soviet Union as well as conflicts in Cuba. From 1960 until after the 1962 Missile crisis, the American objective was to get rid of Cubans leader, President Castro. Subsequently, during the years of the cold war the U.S foreign policy objectives were to get Cuba to halt its aid to revolutionaries, reduce its military ties to the Soviet Union and to show greater respect for human rights (Haney & Vanderbush 185). The United States trade embargo and other sanctions against Cuba have been in place for some 36 years, and the U.S policy towards the island has changed a little in that time. In the absence of full access to the diplomatic records in this country and abroad, it is not possible to resolve this debate on Kennedy fully, but certain studies by analysts on the Cuban missile crisis, lend support to the more friendly view of Kennedy. The president certainly made mistakes in foreign policy, and he raised more hopes than he fulfilled. However, he demonstrated a relatively cosmopolitan and sophisticated view of the world, grew in office, and had a feel for diplomacy, which for some time had been lacking in American

The Annuciation in Gothic and Early Renaissance Art Essay

The Annuciation in Gothic and Early Renaissance Art - Essay Example Overall, the painters act as the societal mirror with emphasis in interpretation of complex issues. Vyssi Brod Cycle was a painting done by Master/Cycle of Vyssi Brod and is dated 1350. The 14th century was manifested with the urge to represent the Annunciation by several painters as observed in the above art showing an angel communicating to Virgin Mary. Master/Cycle of Vyssi Brod, an artist of German descent, use tempera on wood panel to smoothen the linen coating of his painting now located in the National Gallery in Prague (Janson & Janson 123). This painting is called Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus and was done by two artists namely Lippo Memmi and Simone Martini. These were Italian Gothic artists fascinated with the Annunciation concept prompting them to complete the painting in 1333. On the other hand, they used gold on panel and Tempera to exquisitely paint the Cathedral of Siena as dedication to the patron saints of the city such as St. Ansanus and St. Victor. Therefore, because of its brilliant nature, the painting is presently located in Florence, Italy and mostly displayed at Uffizi Gallery. It means the Annunciation of this painting is determined by the entry of Archangel Gabriel into the house of Virgin Mary to bear the message of the son to be born called Jesus. In terms of Annunciation, the two artists easily compare to original biblical text found in Luke 1:26-38. For example, Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus by Lippo Memmi and Simone Martini actually depict the moment Archangel Gabriel has descended from heaven to impart the good message of a son to be born. This is complimented by extras that include the background setting where Mary is seated in a holy place flanked by companions carrying crosses. Alternatively, the props that include the flower in Gabriel’s hand enable the two artists to elaborate the story because it is a representation of a gift (Janson & Janson 128). Additionally, the two