The Philippine Architecture Spanish Colonial Period

Spanish Colonial Period Chapter Review Arch 117 Abegail Imee R. Enriquez 2012-68836 Spanish Colonial Period How does Spanish Colonial architecture reflect Filipino identity? Discuss the various building types and their relationship to pre-colonial architecture in your arguments. Spanish colonial architecture reflects Filipino identity mostly through the Religious Architecture. As what the world knows, Philippines is the only Catholic country in Southeast Asia; thus, most of our structures all over the archipelago were Catholic Churches due to the influence of Catholicism. Filipino Identity was basically patterned from the Spanish; the way the Filipinos think of standards, the way Filipinos design, and the way Filipinos appreciate†¦show more content†¦Serrao is shipwrecked but struggles on to Hitu (northern Ambon) and wins the favour of the local rulers. Francisco Serrà £os letters to Ferdinand Magellan, carried to Portugal via Portuguese Malacca and describing the Spice Islands, helped Magellan persuade the King of Spain to finance his circumnavigation.[6] Before they met each other, Serrà £o mysteriously died in Ternate at almost the same time Magellan was killed in the Philippines. The Canary Islands During the 15th century, Castile and Portugal became territorial and commercial rivals in the Atlantic western zone. Portugal obtained several Papal bulls which acknowledged Portuguese control over the discovered territories, but Castile also obtained from the Pope the safeguard of its rights to the Canary Islands with the bulls Romani Pontifex and Dominatur Dominus. The Conquest of the Canary Islands, inhabited by Guanche people, began in 1402 under the reign of Henry III of Castile, authorizing under feudal agreement to Norman noblemen Jean de Bà ©thencourt. The conquest only finished when the armies of the Crown of Castille won, after long and bloody wars, the islands of Gran Canaria, La Palma and Tenerife. After the history of the Canary Islands, the first colonial war and world’s partition occur. The first colonial war and world’s partition The Portuguese tried vainly to keep secret about their discovery of the Gold Coast in the Gulf ofShow MoreRelatedResearch Paper About Rizal2146 Words   |  9 Pagesoust, the Spanish colonial government. He is best known for his controversial novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), which, though fictional, alluded to the corruption of the Spanish colonial government and the Catholic Church. He was eventually executed by a firing squad for the part he played in the Philippine Revolution. Rizal is still considered a revolutionary martyr in the Philippines. In 1887, Rizal published Noli Me Tangere. His gripping and controversial tale of Spanish colonial injusticeRead MoreHistory of the Philippine Educational System6007 Words   |  25 Pagesof the Philippine Educational System Education in the Philippines evolved from early settlers to the present. Education in the country is in great importance because it is the primary avenue for upward social and economic mobility. Philippine educational system has a very deep history from the past in which it has undergone several stage of development going to the present system of education. Education from Ancient Early Filipinos The education of pre-Spanish time in the Philippines was informalRead MoreThe Filipino Culture And Business Practices3384 Words   |  14 Pagesin the Philippines. The reader will be able to explore the country’s complex history. Knowing the Philippines’ history will set the stage in understanding the Filipino culture, which heavily transpires through the country’s business culture. Also, collectivistic values such as putting family first, respecting authority and elders, and cherishing group harmony will be discussed. These cultural values dominate the Filipino culture and business practices. Hospitality in the Philippines is secondRead MoreHistory of Philippine Trnslation in the Philippines6599 Words   |  27 PagesHISTORY OF TRANSLATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ------------------------------------------------- Languages and Translations A. Spanish Language In The Philippines Spanish was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries. It became the  lingua franca  of the Philippines in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spanish  began to be introduced in the  archipelago  after 1565 when Spanish  Conquistador  Miguel Là ³pez de Legazpi  set sail from Mexico  andRead MoreLife of Dr. Jose P. Rizal6588 Words   |  27 PagesJosà © Rizal |Date  of  birth: |June 19, 1861. | |Place  of  birth: |Calamba, Laguna, Philippines | |Date  of  death: |December 30, 1896 (aged  35) | |Place  of  death: |Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park), Manila, Philippines | |Major organizations: |La Solidaridad, La Liga Filipina | |Major monuments: |Rizal Park Read MoreIntramuros a Must See4034 Words   |  17 PagesINTRODUCTION: Less than an hour away from the hustle and bustle of hectic cities surrounding the capital of the Philippines enters a whole different world. Before knowing the place being referred too, it must be kept in mind that if every nation is like a human body then it must be right to consent that the country’s capital city is its heart. Therefore as it pulses with life, it also pups the same to other parts of the nation body and vice versa. This is especially true about Metro Manila whichRead MoreNovels and Words: Notes2094 Words   |  9 Pageswatercraft ever excavated in Southeast Asia. Also known as the Butuan boat, this artifact is evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their seamanship skills during pre-colonial times. The Balanghai Festival is also a celebration in Butuan, Agusan Del Norte to commemorate the coming of the early migrants that settled the Philippines, on board the Balangay boats.When the first Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they found the Filipin os living in well-organized independent villages called barangaysRead Moreâ€Å"Vulgarized Filipino Identity: Development of Filipino Profanity†5036 Words   |  21 Pagesteens and children. Timothy Jay (2001), a psychology professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, suggested the rise in profanity among children is not surprising, given the general rise of the use of swearing among adults during the same time period. One of the reasons for the uprising use of profanity among the youths might be due to the presence of group of friends; Angier (2005) studied and stated that a person will use these words more frequently if in a group of friends especially if it’sRead MoreIntramuros4927 Words   |  20 Pagestraditions in the world. The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental; they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures. Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots, or animals. It was only during the  Warring States period  (403–221 B.C.) that artists began to represent the world around them.  Japanese painting  is one of the oldest and most highly refined of the  Japanese arts, encompassing a wide variety of genre and styles. The history of Japanese painting is a longRead MoreThesis About English Proficiency Among Bshrm Students10781 Words   |  44 Pagesthe intellectual and social life of most Filipinos, It plays an important role in relation to all school activities s well as to life outside the school. It is in the vein that the English language is still a medium of instruction in the present Philippine educational system mandated in article XIV sec.07 of the 1987 constitution. As the country’s second language, the significance of mastering skills in English is clearly recognized by the school system. English Proficiency is considered one

Creation vs. Evolution Essay - 1147 Words

Today many scientists would have people to believe that evolution is the only reasonable explanation of the universe. Scientists, like Stephen Hawking, claim that they have proved that evolution is the correct answer to the origins of life and the universe, yet evolution is still a theory. This problem occurs because evolution is not the only answer. In fact, the creation theory offers a more feasible answer to the origins of the universe than the evolution theory does. Creation has the backings of the Bible, an extraordinarily credible book; where evolution provides a theory with many holes in it. Too frequently the Bible is considered a weak argument, but why? When using the Bible as a reference for any argument, the accuracy of the†¦show more content†¦Not only is the Old Testament historically accurate, but also the Old Testament demonstrates knowledge that is undiscovered for centuries after the Old Testament was written. Twice, in Genesis, God told Abraham that his descendants would be innumerable, just like the stars, but up until the time of Galileo, scholars still tried to count the stars. Today scientist know that there are over 100 billion stars in the universe, and counting them would require around the clock counting for 3000 years. For centuries the earth was not always thought of as spherical. Until the time of Magellan, no one was positive that the earth was round. Isaiah and David both mention the spherical shape of the earth. Recently scientists have discovered springs at the bottom of the ocean, but Job talks with God about the springs in the Ocean. The Old Testament is filled with scientific knowledge is has been proven (Pyles). There are countless examples of the Old Testament being correct scientifically, even when the knowledge of the subjects were limited. Why would the creation account be incorrect if the other accounts mentioned in the Old Testament were correct? Although scientist or philosophers did not write the Bible, God revealed this knowledge to the authors so the Bible would be indisputable. Skeptics tend to not credit the accuracy of the Bible and say that the creation narration is just not enough evidence. Evolutionists have theorized that the earthShow MoreRelatedControvery of Creation vs. Evolution in Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee624 Words   |  3 PagesIn Inherit The Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is about a big trial in a small town, and a controversial Creation versus Evolution debate. There are many characters with flamboyant and powerful personalities. Among them are: Matthew Harrison Brady, and Henry Drummond. Although all of these influential people are powerful, not all of them have the same amount of power, not only over other people, but over themselves as well. Matthew Harrison Brady is a very powerful, and revered man atRead MoreCreation Vs. Evolution : Creation Versus Evolution2016 Words   |  9 PagesCreation vs evolution Creation vs. evolution has been a very large debate for a long time. People have been debating whether or not evolution was fact or fiction ever since Charles Darwin published his theory of biological evolution in 1859 in his book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life, or as it is most commonly known On the Origin of Species. There are several different people in the world, each person having theirRead MoreEvolution Vs Creation Vs Evolution1395 Words   |  6 Pagescame first; the chicken or the egg?† Both evolution and creation make excellent counter-arguments against one another about how Earth came to be, and have also been argued against one another for many years. This paper will contain the topics of comparing evolution and creation; these topics are that they are both based on theories, Earth was one big continent, and natural selection. Along with those topics, there will be contrasts betw een evolution and creation; these topics will include chimpanzeesRead MoreEssay on Creation vs. Evolution1348 Words   |  6 PagesCreation vs. Evolution Ever since the publication of Charles Darwins The Origin of Species was published there has been an ongoing debate between science and religion. Scientists have formulated many theories as to the origins of man and to the creation of the earth, whereas religious groups have one main creation theory, based on the Genesis story of The Bible. These theories, however, are not the cause of the debate because the different theories are simply myths meantRead MoreThe Creation Vs. Evolution Debate1017 Words   |  5 PagesThe creation vs. evolution debate is a question of origins. How did we get here? Were we created or did we evolve randomly? Are we the product of purposeful intelligence or are we merely the end result of countless cosmic accidents? What does the evidence say? Well in this paper I am writing in regards to creation and what I learned and what I believe that is true evidence that God was the one that created us in his image, so here we go. In genesis 1:1 its tells us in the Beginning God created theRead MoreCreation vs Evolution Essay754 Words   |  4 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are two different beliefs of how everything came to be. One is creation. Creationalists believe in what the Bible says which is that God created everything. Another is evolution. Evolutionalists believe that there was a quot;big bangquot; which brought forth everything. In this paper, Im going to give the arguments that prove evolution wrong. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One of the main things that evolutionalists have a problem with is time. They say thatRead MoreEvolution Vs. Creation Essay1654 Words   |  7 PagesEvolution! The theory that every living organism has come from a lesser organism. A theory that claims humans have come from monkeys. This theory, is what’s being taught to our children in school. If a child asks a teacher about the theory of Creation, they are sure to get a response like, I’m not allowed to answer that question, or something along those lines, because schools are not allowed to teach on religious subjects. I guess schools think that evolution is the next best thing. I believeRead More Creation vs. Evolution Essay3066 Words   |  13 PagesCreation vs. Evolution Since the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species in 1859, there has been a continuous debate in the United States regarding evolution and creation. Recently, this debate has intensified throughout America over the issue of whether or not to include creationism in the public school curriculum either in conjunction with evolution or as a replacement for the theory. With such a volatile subject being argued, there are other issues that are brought up at theRead MoreThe Creation Vs. Evolution Debate1017 Words   |  5 PagesThe creation vs. evolution debate is a question of origins. How did we get here? Were we created or did we evolve randomly? Are we the product of purposeful intelligence or are we merely the end result of countless cosmic accidents? What does the evidence say? Well in this paper I am writing in regards to creation and what I learned and what I believe that is true evidence that God was the one that created us in his image, so here we go. In gen esis 1:1 its tells us in the Beginning God created theRead MoreCreation vs. Evolution Essay2251 Words   |  10 PagesCreation vs. Evolution There has always been a conflict between the religious world and the scientific world. Whether it be when science first challenged that the earth was not the center of the universe as dictated by the Church, or when it was discovered that the earth was round rather than flat. Both these theories today are widely accepted and the rest of society generally ridicules any persons that believe the earth is the center of the universe or that the world

Ban on Lawn Darts in the United States Essay Example For Students

Ban on Lawn Darts in the United States Essay Poor over 30 years, one of the most popular adult recreational activities has also been one of the most dangerous. Lawn darts, or carts, were one of the best selling outdoor recreational activities since the inception in the late sasss (rob carts). All of that changed when on December 19, 1988, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CUPS, all lawn darts were banned from sale and manufacturing in the United States. The ajar was 3 scaled up version Of the typical pub dart. It was about 13 inches long and weighed about half a pound. Similar to a pub dart, the ajar had three lactic fins protruding from the base, aluminum or plastic shaft, and a plastic or metal nose in the shape off point. As result of the design and weight distribution, the ajar had the tendency to land nose. First when lobbed into the air. A set of carts included four carts and two targets (rob carts). The rules for carts were simple. Ajar was to be grasped by the nose and lobbed underhand so as to form an arch, and then land upright in a circular plastic ring. The ring was to be placed anywhere from 15 to AS feet away from the opposing player, depending on such circumstances as age, skill level, and availability of land. Because of the design tot ajar, the potential tort injury was great. Even though the ajar was manufactured and sold beginning in the late 19505, the first reported injury was in 1967. The first official notice from the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, concerning the ajar was a letter from the Buffalo, New York district dated October 20, 1970. The letter revealed that a number of injuries related to carts had come to the agencys notice. The letter also asked that a labeling be revised to clearly caution purchasers and users that this game should not be used by children unless supervised by adults (rob ajar). In November 1 970, despite the cooperation of the ajar manufacturers, the FDA mulled over a proposal of a regulation that would classify carts as a banned hazardous substance. At a conference in late November of that same year, attended by representatives Of the ajar manufacturers and the DEAD, the agency circulated a letter summarizing the results of an investigation of injuries caused by carts. The evidence reported some injuries were due to careless behavior Of adults, while there were quite a few sustained by children in the course of unsupervised actions. rob ajar) From that point on the only restrictions placed on the lawn dart manufacturers were limited to the warnings placed on the packaging. An estimated 12-15 companies produced and distributed these lawn darts from the mid 1 asss through 1989, Lawn darts were sold under the names as lawn darts, warts, yard dart, yard darts, Sears Lawn Darts; model #3210, model #3283, three game combination set model #3284, three game combination set model #3287, and five game combination set. Then on December 19, 1988 the CUPS banned all carts from being sold and manufactured in the United States, Hospital records indicate that an estimated 6,100 people have been treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries involving lawn darts from 1978 through present. At least 80 percent of the victims were punier than 15 years old, and more than SO percent were ten years old or younger _ More than half of the victims had injuries to the skull, eye, ear or face. In many cases children have lost the use of an eye. Among the injuries were also many cases of cranial punctures, facial lacerations and skull fractures. In many cases the victims were often bystanders. SC) While the ban on carts has had a major impact on the eradication of the game, there are still many individuals who still illegally partake in the activity. Throughout the year there are various ajar tournaments, some with almost 100 participants competing for a substantial cash prize. There are also many website devoted to carts, some With the petitions to resume production and sale. The following four cases show the extent t o which carts can harm. While three deal with injuries themselves, one revolves around a ajar manufacturer who faced restrictions during the early sasss.

Power Equipment Engine Technology

Questions: Task 1 E-business has introduced new opportunities for small and large organisations to compete in the global marketplace. Discuss the global impact of e-Commerce on society: Online sales, Communication with customers, Greater choices, lower prices, Global markets and online advertising. [P2.2] Task 2 Case Study: Utility Utility firm, Npower, is to face an investigation by the energy regulator, Ofgem, over allegations about sales tactics. Following an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times, it is alleged that some door-to-door sales staff in London misled potential customers. Householders thought they are asking for more information about changing power suppliers when in fact the sales staff were switching them without their consent from their existing suppliers to Npower. The company issued a statement in which it said: Npower management will of course co-operate fully with Ofgem in its investigation. We were very concerned at the actions of a small number of individuals in a London sales team as reported in the Sunday Times. We took swift action to take the team off the road and investigate the problem. Following an in-depth investigation by our audit team, disciplinary hearing will be schedules shortly. We cannot prejudge the outcome of these meetings but the penalty for fraudulent activity is dismissal. We have also taken steps to confirm that the systems in place currently are working effectively and we taken the entire Npower sales force off the road to reinforce the standards that we require. Where appropriate we have introduced additional procedures to ensure we operate to the highest standards across all our sales teams. Adam Scorer of consumer watching Energywatch said: More than 100 consumers contact us each month complain about Npowers marketing tactics. No consumer should be subjected to such bully boy bahaviour and such poor service. An Ofgem spokesperson said it had the power to fine Npower up to ten per cent of its global income if it upheld the allegations. In the last case of mis-selling in 2002, Ofgem fined London Electricity, now part of EDF, 2 million. a- Explain, using the data, why regulators are needed in industries such as power and telecommunications. b- Discuss whether the actions of regulators like Ofgem are likely to make markets more competitive and improve consumer choice. Answers: Global impact of e-Commerce on society E-commerce has had a great impact on the society over the past few years. These impacts include both positive and negative effects on the business on a global scale as well as on the consumers. The traditional bricks and mortar method had some serious drawbacks that the introduction of e-commerce helps to overcome (Zhong, 2013). Online sales E-commerce has given the consumers the opportunity to go online and choose from a large variety of products. Moreover the products are available online 24 hours and the customer is able to order a large number of items at a go with just a click. Previously, the aged and disabled customers had trouble whenever they wanted to shop from a store located in some distant place. But now the items are delivered directly to the customers home without the need to be physically present in the store in order to shop (Abdo, 2011). This method saves lot of time for both the business and the consumers. Another positive aspect brought to light by e-commerce is: the customers are able to view in advance the rating and feedbacks about the quality and value of certain product given by previous customers who bought the same product before. But when there are so many facilities and advantages of carrying out online sales through the use of e-commerce, there has to be certain negative aspects of it. There are chances of leakage of confidential information that belong to the customers such as bank account number, credit card number etc (Krishna Gopal Gokhle and Taehwang Kim, 2013). A number of frauds and hackers can hack in to customer accounts to steal such valuable information or jeopardise a transaction. Other drawbacks include, existence of wrong information in the particular website of an online store, handling and managing customer complaints etc. With these threats included, e-commerce also brings a large amount of positive impacts on the business and the consumers which in turn bring positive changes in society (Liang and Turban, 2011). Communication with customers Another aspect of online purchasing is that, the customers do not get a chance to be face-to face with the sales representatives while buying a product. This often turns certain customers away from making a decision to shop online. It is true especially for the older generation of people who are not so used-to with the internet and digital world. Shopping online also takes away the facility to try, touch or feel a product before making a decision to buy it. Moreover, if a particular product does not suit the needs of the customer and he or she wants to return it, there are not much scope to communicate with a representative about it directly (Mohanapriya.T, 2011). On the contrary, the reviews and comments from the past customers help making decisions. Generally it has been seen that the younger and more digital or technology-savvy people uses the internet and web to make orders and purchase products online as they are not much dependent on face-to-face communication and it saves cert ain amount of time for the busy people. Greater choices, lower prices E-commerce introduces a global market place where buyers can choose from a wide range and variety of products. By online web access consumers are now able to view and choose items in a national and international scale buy large items with just a click and add to their carts without worrying about overflowing the items. Additionally, in online shopping sites often times there are discounts and free deliveries going on based on some specific terms and conditions. There are products available online in cheaper prices than traditional markets (Soopramanien, 2010). The payment method has become much easier, simpler, convenient and fast. Lot of payment options are available such as debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, cash on delivery etc. There are schemes for customer loyalty where they give products in lower prices to the consistent and trusted customers. News about new and special offers going on in a store are also communicated to the customers regularly through emails and text messages. It encourages the customers to spend certain amount and indulge in online shopping. Global markets and online advertising E-commerce enables people to buy products from a global marketplace. The international shopping sites sell products which are available everywhere around the world. The business of import and export is established with international traders (Zhong, 2013). Thus the customers have the facilities of choosing new products from international marketplace. Online advertising is a brilliant approach and becoming more and more successful these days. Publishing ads in websites using banners, videos etc have become common for almost all the e-commerce sites. It can target customers and influence them to visit their websites. Business can allow other companies to publish ads which in turn earn revenues to the business. Case study: Need of regulators in power and telecommunications industry The main objective of regulators in telecom and power sectors is to protect public interest and ensure a legal electricity policy (Qinghe, 2013). Regulator is needed to manage the emerging risks and help promote an energy secure power service sector. They design the electricity tariff plans for the customers. Regulatory works are to co-ordinate with the operator and other standard bodies to develop and enforce a safe and properly executing power system. Regulators take care of the technical safety, system reliability. Expanding access to the underprivileged customers, improve monitoring is also a mandatory job for regulators (Mohanapriya.T, 2011). Thus in order to run a power sector successfully employing regulators is compulsory as regulators help to take up and handle the challenges regarding regulation of tariffs, compliance and consumer service. The need to have an independent regulatory body in industries like telecommunications and power sector is greatly felt with the emerging incidents and risks such as the one regarding Npower mentioned in the case study. To manage the telecom or power service, settling any dispute, avoid market failure or foster effective competition it is mandatory to follow the guidelines and have the presence of a regulatory body (Liang and Turban, 2011). Effects of the regulatory actions taken by Ofgem Ofgem fined Npower up to 10% of its global income. The overall objective of the regulators such as Ofgem includes fostering effective competition in the market by enforcing the standards and rules which were required (Soopramanien, 2010). The tariff is decided by the regulator in a competitive basis as and when the regulator will decide to introduce competition. Thus it will naturally make markets more competitive with the help of regulator as it has the responsibility of promoting competition and efficiency in the power industry. The actions taken by Ofgem will necessarily improve and influence the consumers choice as it was based on the consumers interest. It deals with the compliance and improving the operation of monitoring and customer service. The objective was to provide electricity or power at reasonable and justifiable rates. Reference List Abdo, E. (2011). Power equipment engine technology. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar/Cengage Learning. Krishna Gopal Gokhle, and Taehwang Kim, (2013). Impacts of Economic Reforms on Small - Scale Industries in India. thejournalofinternationaltradecommerce, 9(5), pp.143-168. Liang, T. and Turban, E. (2011). Introduction to the Special Issue Social Commerce: A Research Framework for Social Commerce. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 16(2), pp.5-14. Mohanapriya.T, M. (2011). A Feasibility Study on Online Sales of Two Wheeler Among Retailers with Special Reference to Chennai. IJAR, 3(6), pp.330-332. Soopramanien, D. (2010). Conflicting attitudes and scepticism towards online shopping: the role of experience. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 35(3), pp.338-347. Zhong, W. (2013). The Analysis of Mobile Internet Impacts on Electronic Commerce System Construction. AMR, 765-767, pp.1349-1354. Qinghe, Y. (2013). The online shopping change the retail business model: A survey of the people use online shopping in China. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 15(5), pp.77-110.

The KGB A Historical Review

Abstract The KGB was a Russian secret police agency that played a significant role in the totalitarian Soviet Union. This paper engages in an informative discussion of the KGB to highlight the agency’s evolution and its role in Communist Russia. The paper begins by tracing the formation of the KGB to the establishment of the Extraordinary Commission to Combat Counterrevolution in 1917.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The KGB: A Historical Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It then traces the numerous evolutions of the organization; from the State Political Directorate (GPU) in 1922, the OGPU in 1923, the NKVD in 1934, and eventually the KGB in 1953. Efforts to decrease the power of the KGB after 1953 proved effective for only a short while. Under the leadership of Andropov, the agency was able to regain its previous prestige and autonomy. The discussion provided clearly reveals that the KGB was a highly penetrative agency that had vast amounts of power over the state and the society. The paper concludes by discussing the activities that led to the collapse of the powerful KGB. Introduction The Russian Komitet Gosudarstvennoi Bezopasnosti (KGB) was the Russian secret political police that gained worldwide repute for its efficiency in covert affairs. The KGB is regarded as the â€Å"most efficient political police system in modern history† (Waller 333). Historians record that the KGB system was so effective that other totalitarian states structured their own political police systems after it in order to enhance their grasp of power. This security agency was able to survive for decades and play an instrumental part in reinforcing the position of Communism in Russia. White and Kryshtanovskaya assert that the KGB acted as a guarantor of a system of single-party dominance in Russia (170). Up until its dissolution, the KGB was used as a tool for countering internal and exte rnal threats to the state. To effectively execute its directives, the KGB possessed exceptional powers, which were often abused leading to a repression of individual freedoms and violation of human rights both in Russia and abroad. Considering the huge significance that the KGB had in Russian life for over 8 decades, this paper will endeavor to provide an informative discussion on the KGB. It will discuss the creation and evolution of these security apparatus and highlight the role that it played in Communist Russia. The paper will conclude by highlighting the downfall of this once mighty security apparatus.Advertising Looking for term paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Origins of the KGB The birth of the KGB can be traced to December 1917 when the newly empowered Bolshevik regime in Russia created a police system that was to act as the party’s machine for destroying all opposition (Waller 334). A numb er of the prominent factors in Russia at the time made the formation of a secret political police necessary. To begin with, the Bolshevik party came to power following a coup against the Tsar. During its reign, the Tsar made use of a security service that constantly infiltrated the Bolshevik Party. The Bolshevik party therefore took power in an atmosphere of conspiracy and mistrust with factions being formed and the leadership undermined by party members and non-members. A means for consolidating the Bolshevik’s supremacy was needed and the secret political police provided a solution. Thus, the KGB was founded in 1917 as the Extraordinary Commission to Combat Counterrevolution (Cheka) and the commission was required to fulfill a number of key responsibilities on behalf of the regime. The core responsibility was to stop all attempts and acts of counterrevolution in the motherland and execute judgment over any counterrevolutionary elements without involving the judicial system. The agency was also to work out ways of stopping any rebellious elements and make investigations to help in their suppression. The organization was also mandated to set up surveillance over potential saboteurs and impose sanctions against these enemies of the people. From the initial goal of suppressing the few counterrevolutionary elements in the state, the Cheka expanded its mandate and went into killing political and military opponents of the Bolshevik party. The Cheka operated with total impunity and citizens were publicly executed for minor violations of the rigid laws set in place by the Party (Waller 335). Such atrocities were allowed to happen since they assisted the Bolshevik party in its power consolidation campaign. These actions led to a popular opposition to the Bolshevik party and ordinary citizens expressed resistance to the authoritarian rule. This deep resentment to the Bolshevik party rule across the Russian society led to random attack on party officials by ordin ary citizens and counterrevolutionaries.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The KGB: A Historical Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In retaliation to such attacks, the political police apparatus engaged in mass executions and a myriad of terror tactics against innocent civilians. Under Lenin’s rule, the agency carried out executions of entire classes of the population. Population categories such as clergymen, ethnic groups, socialist rivals, and farmers were targeted and killed within a short duration (Waller 335). At the end of the Civil War, the Cheka began to be viewed as a liability. The terrorization that the commission had engaged in during the Civil War made many Russians hate the commission. In addition to his, many Bolshevik leaders were horrified by the actions of the Cheka and they sought to bind its actions in any form of legality. There was therefore an intention to reform the securit y police force and make it more agreeable to the public. The Cheka was therefore abolished and in its place, the State Political Directorate (GPU) was created. This new organization continued carrying out the work of the Cheka albeit under a different name. Knight documents that while the GPU purported to have less power than the Cheka and was actually under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the organization still answered to the Party and maintained all the powers of its predecessor, the Cheka (14). The GPU was separated from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1923 and renamed OGPU. A year later, Lenin died and the new leader Stalin started using the OGPU as a weapon against his political rivals. The status of the agency rose with Stalin giving it power above the party apparatus. By giving the agency such great power, Stalin was able to perpetrate great terror on the citizens and an estimated 14.5 million peasants died between 1930 and 1933 (Dziak 38). Stalin continued to use the OGPU to eliminate prominent party figures and Army officials whom he perceived as threats. The OGPU was further restructured by merging it with the interior ministry to create the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD). The NKVD wielded enormous power and Stalin’s dominance of these police apparatus gave him near absolute power in Russia.Advertising Looking for term paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The KGB The death of Stalin on March 1953 necessitated a change in the security organization. The new leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, embarked on a mission to de-Stalinize the country and one of his goals was to diminish the power of the security organs. These reforms were backed by Party leaders who were keen to ensure that the security organization would never again be at the command of one man as it had been under Stalin. The political police system was therefore split and renamed the Committee for State Security (KGB) with loyal communists appointed to run it in order to bring the agency under strict party control (Sakwa 125). The Russian secret political police maintained its new name from 1954 until its final disbanding by Boris Yeltsin in 1991. The KGB was veiled in secrecy and its protocols and budget were kept secret. There was no oversight from the legislative arm of the government and control of the organization rested with top party officials. The deep rel ationship between the KGB and the Party can be seen from the fact that the heads of the KGB top organs were highly placed members of the Party. A significant difference between the KGB and its predecessor the NKVD was that the surveillance abilities of the KGB were curtailed. Specifically, the KGB was forbidden from spying on Party officers or carrying out operations against them. The Party officials enforced these restrictions since they wanted to remove the danger to themselves that the police system had presented under Stalin’s reign. The powers of the agency were also reduced and government officials such as judges and the State procurators were placed out of KGB reach. During Khrushchev’s rule, the KGB was placed under strict party control. Even so, the agency was still used as a tool by Khrushchev to gain control within the party. Without support from the KGB, Khrushchev was successfully deposed in 1964 and Brezhnev took his post as Party Secretary. After Brezhne v took over, KGB leadership was reshuffled with some of the agency’s responsibilities being given to the Party. The KGB was placed under even firmer Party control leading to a period of relative tranquility and stability for the party and the KGB. The KGB was not only responsible for domestic security intelligence but also foreign intelligence. As such, this agency was involved in numerous intelligence and counterintelligence activities. Fleron and Hoffmann contend that the KGB operated the world’s largest and most far-reaching foreign intelligence apparatus with numerous intelligence officers being placed in most Western nations (467). The KGB did not have trouble recruiting personnel for its foreign missions since the high salaries acted as adequate incentives for the vast pool of eligible Russian youths. The US was the target of most of the KGB’s intelligence gathering efforts and up to 40% of Soviet officials engage in intelligence gathering were placed in t he US (Fleron and Hoffmann 467). The Andropov Era A new era for the KGB emerged under the leadership of Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov from 1964 to 1982. Dziak documents that the agency experienced a remarkable transformation during the leadership of Andropov (52). The KGB’s power had been significantly weakened in the years following the death of Stalin. The agency no longer commanded the authority and influence that it had exerted from its formation in 1917. Albats and Fitzpatrick articulate the revolutionary nature of Andropov’s leadership by noting that â€Å"it was precisely with the coming of Andropov, that the KGB once again became the state within a state it had been in the pre-Khrushchev era† (176). Steps were taken to professionalize the KGB by raising educational standards among recruits and establishing numerous scientific and research facilities. Andropov’s era in the KGB was marked by a greater orientation towards electronic espionage. Because of this, the KGB played a role in the technological advancement of Russia’s military during the 1980s. Through its intelligence network, the agency collected significant Western military technology and this was passed on to the relevant military entities who used it to improve the soviet military. The success of these collection efforts lightened the burden on Soviet research and improved the technical performance of Soviet military equipment (Fleron and Hoffmann 469). Because of these professionalization efforts, the KGB took on additional roles within the Communist party. In addition to the security roles fulfilled by the organization, it started to perform ideological, governance, and economic roles. Intensified crackdown on dissidents was also carried out through an expansive labor camp system and increased surveillance of Soviet society (Dziak 159). The KGB developed a countrywide system of secret informants completely infiltrated the society. These informants reported i ncidents of even the slightest dissent and retaliatory action was taken against the offenders. To create an atmosphere of unease and apprehension, the KGB encouraged voluntary informers in every segment of Russian society. The voluntary informers proved to be a valuable asset since they gave the impression that the organization possessed an all-seeing eye. In this way, the KGB was able to isolate the individual to the extent that people could not trust each other. The KGB had been demoted in 1956 but through Andropov’s efforts, the KGB was once again elevated to ministry status in 1978 and this gave the agency jurisdiction all over the USSR. In addition to this, the Soviet Constitution was amended which made cooperation with the KGB a duty of all Soviet citizens. Failing to comply with the KGB was a crime against the state and severe penalties were served to offenders. These new powers allowed Andropov to instigate a highly sophisticated system of control within the USSR. And ropov was able to reinvent the KGB as an uncorrupt institution that was necessary for the stability of the state. By the late 1970s, the KGB began an intensive crackdown on corruption in the country. Many investigations were carried out and party officials were implicated in scandals. Deriabin and Bagley report that these ambitious crackdowns against corrupt party officials signaled the height of the KGB’s power with its leader, Andropov, being seen as a likely candidate for Party leadership (85). Andropov’s death in 1984 marked an end to the recreation of the counterintelligence state that Andropov had successfully achieved in less than two decades. The KGB during Gorbachev’s Leadership Following Andropov’s death, the KGB remained instrumental in Party affairs and it played a role in the appointment of Chernenko as the new General Secretary. When Chernenko died in 1985, the KGB backed Gorbachev who took the position of General Secretary. Ebon documents t hat Gorbachev came to power with KGB backing and in his first years in power, his policies were but fresh implementations of Andropov’s blueprint (39). Considering the relationship between Gorbachev and the KGB, Gorbachev tried to make use of the secret police while avoiding the danger of being used by it. Gorbachev and the KGB chief Chebriko fell out in 1988 owing to a difference in opinion between the two. Gorbachev wanted to reform the state and the KGB to adhere to liberal principles. Chebriko considered liberal principles an attack on the state and felt that authoritarian control from the top was necessary to stabilize the country (Ebon 40). Chebriko disapproved of some of Gorbachev’s actions including the freeing of the distinguished dissident Andrei Sakharov who had been under KGB house arrest. These differences led to the replacement of Chebriko by Kryuchkov who would remain hold the position of KGB chief until 1991. Kryuchkov did not hinder the political and l egal reforms that Gorbachev embarked on. Demise of the KGB The KGB’s demise was initiated by the series of changes initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev to reform the USSR. Before the creation of a standing parliament by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989, few people dared to challenge the KGB. Individuals who called for change in the KGB were mostly dissidents and the international human rights community. White and Kryshtanovskaya observe that these changes saw the KGB placed under the scrutiny of a parliamentary committee. The agency’s finances were placed under the control of the state auditor with an official budget of the KGB being made public (169). The KGB began to adopt a more public oriented approach and it even opened a public relations office in 1991. By late 1991, the surveillance capabilities of the KGB were curtailed and the agency made a public announcement that it would no longer engage in the invasive practice of monitoring conversations of private citizens. In spite of these changes to fit in with the times, the KGB was heavily implicated in the attempted coup of August 1991. The Chairman of the agency, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kryuchkov, was a prominent member of the abortive coup and he was accused of organizing a crime against the state (White and Kryshtanovskaya 170). Because of this, the KGB was placed under the jurisdiction of the Russian presidency and by October, the agency had altogether disappeared. It was replaced by a group of new security agencies that were headed by reformers. Conclusion This paper set out to provide an in-depth discussion of the infamous political enforcement system, the KGB. The paper began by providing a historical overview of the agency. It traced the agency’s history with a detailed review of the KGB’s predecessors. The paper has outlined how KGB officials on orders from party leadership engaged in the murder of innocent people, deprived citizens of basic freedoms and created a society of spies a nd informers. Through these activities, the KGB was able to play the role of guarantor of single-party dominance in Russia. In addition to the intelligence services in the country, the KGB was also reputed for its espionage abroad. The paper has also discussed how the KGB was able to engage in internal and external changes to remain important in Russian leadership. It concluded by highlighting the events that led to the eventual demise of the once powerful secret political police organization. From the discussions presented in the paper, it is clear that the KGB did not serve society; rather it served the ruling party and its leaders. The Russian leaders were able to successfully keep the KGB powerful and effective while at the same time maintaining its loyalty and subservience. Works Cited Albats, Yevgenia and Catherine A. Fitzpatrick. The state within a state: The KGB and its hold on Russia – Past, Present, and Future. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. Print. Deria bin, Peter, and Bagley Tahid. The KGB: Masters of the Soviet Union. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1990. Print. Dziak, John. Chekistry: A history of the KGB. Lexington: Lexington Books, 1988. Print. Ebon, Martin. KGB: Death and Rebirth. NY: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. Print. Fleron, Fredric and Erik Hoffmann. Soviet Foreign Policy, 1917-1991: Classic and Contemporary Issues. Boston: Transaction Publishers, 1991. Print. Knight, Amy. The KGB: Police and Politics in the Soviet Union. Boston: Unwin Hyman, 1990. Print. Sakwa, Richard. Soviet Politics: In Perspective. NY: Routledge, 1998. Print. Waller, Michael. â€Å"Russia: Death and Resurrection of the KGB†. Demokratizatsiya 12.3 (2004): 333-355. EBSCOHost.com. Web. White, Stephen and Ol’ga Kryshtanovskaya. â€Å"Public attitudes to the KGB: A research note†. Europe-Asia Studies 45.1 (1993): 169-176. Print. This term paper on The KGB: A Historical Review was written and submitted by user Christina Wagner to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Helicoprion Facts and Figures

Helicoprion Facts and Figures Name: Helicoprion (Greek for spiral saw); pronounced HEH-lih-COPE-ree-on Habitat: Oceans worldwide Historical Period: Early Permian-Early Triassic (290-250 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 13-25 feet long and 500-1,000 pounds Diet: Marine animals; possibly specialized in squids Distinguishing Characteristics: Shark-like appearance; rolled-up teeth in front of jaw About Helicoprion The only surviving evidence of the prehistoric shark Helicoprion is a tight, curled-up coil of triangular teeth, a bit like a fruit roll-up, but considerably deadlier. As far as paleontologists can tell, this bizarre structure was attached to the bottom part of Helicoprions jaw, but exactly how it was used, and on what prey, remains a mystery. Some experts think the coil was used to grind away the shells of swallowed mollusks, while others (perhaps influenced by the movie Alien) think Helicoprion unfurled the coil explosively like a whip, spearing any unfortunate creatures in its path. Whatever the case, the existence of this coil is proof that the natural world can be stranger than (or at least as strange as) fiction! A recent fossil analysis, conducted with the aid of a high-resolution CT scanner, appears to have solved the Helicoprion enigma. Apparently, this creatures whirled teeth were actually housed inside the bone of its lower jaw; the new teeth gradually unfurled into Helicoprions mouth and pushed the older ones further away (indicating either that Helicoprion replaced its teeth unusually rapidly, or that it subsisted on soft-bodied prey like squids). In addition, when Helicoprion closed its mouth, its distinctive tooth whorl pushed food further into the back of its throat. In this same article, the authors argue that Helicoprion was not, in fact, a shark, but a prehistoric relative of the cartilaginous fish known as ratfish. Part of what makes Helicoprion such an exotic creature is when it lived: all the way from the early Permian period, about 290 million years ago, to the early Triassic, 40 million years later, at a time when sharks were only beginning to obtain a tentative toehold (or finhold) on the undersea food chain, competing as they did with comparably fierce marine reptiles. Amazingly, the early Triassic fossil specimens of Helicoprion indicate that this ancient shark somehow managed to survive the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event, which killed a whopping 95 percent of marine animals (though, to be fair, Helicoprion only managed to struggle on for a million years or so before succumbing to extinction itself).

Debt Financing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Debt Financing - Essay Example The debt finance concept and its relevance will be explained in detail to understand its importance and develop the knowledge. Along with this, the cost of agency will be focused with the conflicts that rise during the structuring of debt finance. Subsequently, the benefits of debt financing over the agency conflicts will be discussed to know its relevance in financing in recent times. There are several arguments related to the firms’ debt financing that reflects whether the capital market is imperfect or not. There are other factors within the firms such as managers try to avoid high debt ratios to safeguard their interests in the firm (Myers, 1976). Every firm needs to borrow money for the business in short or long run and there are options such as equity, debt and others. It is important for the firms to decide the structure of finance that provides benefit. Conceptual Relevance Debt Financing Debt financing is one of the strategies which the firms employ for borrowing from the investors or lenders with a contract that the repayment will be made within a stipulated time period with certain interest (Reference for Business, 2011). The firms borrow money for raising funds for working capital or for the motive of capital expenditure through the financial instrument such as selling bonds, notes bills and others to institutional and individual investors and lenders. The institutional and individual investors and lenders become the creditors of the firms and promise that the amount and interest on the debt will be paid by the firms within the specified future date (Investopedia, 2011). The payment of debts and dividend are different. The interest and the principal amount/payments upon the debts are firm’s obligations, whereas the dividend payments are not obligations for the firms. The shareholders of the firms are not entitled legally for the dividends but the bondholders, bill holders and other financial debt instrument holders are entitled legally for the principal and interest amount from the firms (Lecture 3). According to the trade-off model the firms should issue debts as long as the marginal benefit is greater than the marginal cost. In the general financing structuring of the firms the high-tax rate firms should apply more debt than low-tax rate firms (Graham, 2008). Relationship among bankruptcy costs, agency costs and taxes is illustrated below: Source: (Pearson Education, 2004). Through the debt financing, the principal and interest that are paid are treated as expenses and thus get deducted from the business income taxes in certain cases. This allows reducing the cost through the debt financing option. Cost of Agency The agency cost is an increase of cost of debt. This happens when there are conflicts between the management and shareholders. Due to the increase in the agency-cost problems, the bondholders and other financial debt instrument holders impose certain restrictions on the firms through bond indentures. T he investors and lenders of the debt financing are aware of the fact that management is controlling their money and there are high probabilities of ‘principal-agent’ problems in the firms. Due to these two reasons the debt holders put certain restrictions or financial constrains upon the use of their money (Investopedia, 20