Political Thought Essays (1508 words) - Republicanism,

Political Thought Political thought is only a surrogate or substitute for more genuine political action. This is one theory that has sparked much thought and when examined it may be seen quite differently. For one, an argument can be made that indeed this political thought may substitute political action. On the other hand, political thought can serve as a great inspiration or spark political action. Thirdly, political thought may not have anything to do with more genuine political action but instead it may be purely theoretical and hypothetical. Examples of these three arguments may be made out of the works of Locke, Plato, Machiavelli, as well as other historical aspects of both political thought and action. Political thought can indeed be a substitute for more genuine political action. Many writers and political thinkers offer many theories about politics that may not be intended to cause political action. Many theories are also offered but may not be implemented into the political arena directly or indirectly. For example, Machiavelli's The Prince, has been viewed as a substitute for political action. Many feel that Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a guidebook for his own prince Lorenzo de Medici, to promote himself into the political arena of Italy. Machiavelli dedicates this book to Medici, leader of the family who overthrew the government he worked for. One may argue that the book is a masterful act of political deception, filled with intentional bad advice he hoped Medici would follow. Machiavelli aimed to trip him up bad enough to make him lose power enabling a new republic to come in. Others feel that the dedication of the book and the use of flattery are used as a means of setting himself up to function as a political advisor. By using flattery, he thought Medici would be impressed enough with him to ask Machiavelli to work for him. Machiavelli hoped to ensure himself a position with the Medici government, a government that he hoped to carry out his main goal which was the elimination of the papacy and through the dedication suck Medici into Machiavelli's unraveling plans for him. Nonetheless whatever Machiavelli's intent was, his attempts to unravel the Medici government obviously did not pan out the way he thought it would. In fact, the book was not published until after his death in 1532. Even then the book provoked controversy and was quickly condemned by Pope Clement VIII. The book, with its various theories about its intent, goes to prove that Machiavelli was using it as a clear substitute for a more ?genuine? political action such as raising a real attempt to take over and promote himself high up into Italy's political arena. His theories and thought were just a substitute for something that he envisioned for himself. Aside from being a substitute political thought can serve an inspiration to more genuine political action. Works such as John Locke's Two Treatises of Government, as well as Machiavelli's The Prince, have been proven to spark revolt and revolution among other types of political action. Locke's works have exercised enormous influence in both England and America. In his Two Treatises of Government Locke set forth the view that: ?The state exists to preserve the natural rights of its citizens. When governments fail in that task, citizens have the right and sometimes duty to withdraw their support and even to rebel.? This view can clearly be seen in the act of the American Revolution against Britain and is a fundamental principal of many of society's constitutional democracies. Locke's views influenced many people especially Thomas Jefferson in America's fight for freedom and its Declaration of Independence. Drafted by Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence contained the ideas of individual liberty that had been expressed by views of John Locke. Locke maintained that: the social contract preserved the preexistent natural rights of the individual to life, liberty, and property, and the enjoyment of private rights, the pursuit of happiness led, in civil society, to the common good.? This clearly influenced the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States. Locke's notion of government was a limited one and his views on government were also deeply reflected in the US Constitution: ?The checks and balances among government and true

Forestry Jobs, Careers, and Employment

Forestry Jobs, Careers, and Employment According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of forestry personnel are the state and federal governments. However, the government is not the only source for forestry employment. The forest products industry is a very large employer and routinely hires foresters, forestry technicians and forestry workers throughout the United States and Canada. They usually hire foresters to work on company lands or to purchase wood for their mills. There are also forestry consultants. You may get your first start as an employee of a large consulting forestry firm who generally works for anyone needing forestry assistance. They do it all, either for a flat fee or a percentage of the sale of timber. Becoming a Forester A professional forester has a minimum of a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in forestry. This degree has to be earned at an accredited forestry school and is usually a minimum entry-level requirement for becoming either a registered or licensed forester in many states, or to become a Certified Forester by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Foresters are being trained and hired all over the world. Much of what a forester learns is in addition to formal training (see more on what a forester needs to know). Foresters spend considerable time outdoors the first years of their careers. Typical entry-level responsibilities might include measuring and grading trees, evaluating insect outbreaks, conducting land surveys, working in an urban park, evaluating water quality, fighting wildfires, managing prescribed fires, laying out a road system, planting seedlings, and planning  recreational use of forestlands. Duties of a Forester Many foresters manage forested property or purchase timber from timbered lands. An industrial forester may procure timber from private landowners. Doing this entails contacting local forest owners, quantifying the inventory, and appraising the timbers worth. A forester may have to deal with loggers, aid in road layout, and make sure the work meets landowner requirements. He also must deal with state and federal environmental specifications to qualify for types of cost-share practices or maintain appropriate site quality. Foresters who work for state and federal governments manage public forests and parks and also work with private landowners to protect and manage forest land outside of the public domain. They may also design campgrounds and recreational areas. A consulting forester hangs up his own shingle and privately assists people and organizations that need forestry help (see more on what a forester does). After several years of on-the-ground experience and crew supervision, foresters typically advance to preparing reports, public relations, and managing budgets. Many foresters become top executives in public agencies, conservation organizations, and corporations. Others become consultants offering specific forestry services and skills that they develop as they gain experience and knowledge. The Forestry Technician Generally working under the direction of a professional forester,  forestry technicians  compile data on the characteristics of forest land tracts such as size, content, and condition. These workers travel through  sections of forest to gather basic information such as species and the population of trees, disease and insect damage, tree seedling mortality, and conditions that may cause fire danger.​ A technician normally has completed a two-year degree in forest technology from a  SAF recognized forestry technical school. They generally collect the information used to make forest resource decisions. Technical career advancement and ultimate salary levels are usually less than for foresters, however, technicians often have the opportunity to work more in the field than behind a desk. Forest and Logging Workers The  BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook  defines a forestry worker as less skilled workers who perform a variety of tasks to reforest and conserve timberlands and maintain forest facilities such as roads and campsites. The forest worker is usually the hands-on employee that facilitates first-line maintenance and protecting of the forest. A sample of activities usually performed by a forest or logging worker is listed as follows: Tree planting  and reforestationPrescribed burning and fire fighting Timber stand improvement including  pesticide application Boundary  line maintenance Timber cutting  and loggingPark and trail maintenance Most forestry and logging workers develop their skills through on-the-job training. Instruction comes primarily from experienced workers. Many associations give special training, particularly for workers training to operate large, expensive machinery and equipment. Safety training is a vital part of instruction for all forestry and logging workers. Forestry and logging occupations are physically demanding. Most forestry and logging workers often do work outdoors in all kinds of weather, sometimes in isolated areas. Most logging occupations involve lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities. Loggers work under unusually hazardous conditions. Falling trees and branches are a constant threat and so are the dangers associated with log handling operations and use of sawing equipment. Over long periods of time, hearing may be impaired by high noise levels of logging and harvesting equipment. Experience, exercise of caution, and use of proper safety measures and equipment - such as hardhats, eye and hearing protection, safety clothing, boots, and  fire shelters  - are extremely important to avoid injury. The Forestry Technician Generally working under the direction of a professional forester, forestry technicians compile data on the characteristics of forest land tracts such as size, content, and condition. These workers travel through sections of forest to gather basic information such as species and the population of trees, disease and insect damage, tree seedling mortality, and conditions that may cause fire danger. A technician normally has completed a two-year degree in forest technology from a SAF recognized forestry technical school . They generally collect the information used to make forest resource decisions. Technical career advancement and ultimate salary levels are usually less than for foresters, however, technicians often have the opportunity to work more in the field than behind a desk. Forest and Logging Workers The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook defines a forestry worker as less skilled workers who perform a variety of tasks to reforest and conserve timberlands and maintain forest facilities such as roads and campsites. The forest worker is usually the hands-on employee that facilitates first-line maintenance and protecting of the forest. A sample of activities usually performed by a forest or logging worker is listed as follows: Tree planting and reforestationPrescribed burning and fire fightingTimber stand improvement including pesticide application Boundary line maintenance Timber cutting and loggingPark and trail maintenance Most forestry and logging workers develop their skills through on-the-job training. Instruction comes primarily from experienced workers. Many associations give special training, particularly for workers training to operate large, expensive machinery and equipment. Safety training is a vital part of instruction for all forestry and logging workers. Forestry and logging occupations are physically demanding. Most forestry and logging workers often do work outdoors in all kinds of weather, sometimes in isolated areas. Most logging occupations involve lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities. Loggers work under unusually hazardous conditions. Falling trees and branches are a constant threat and so are the dangers associated with log handling operations and use of sawing equipment. Over long periods of time, hearing may be impaired by high noise levels of logging and harvesting equipment. Experience, exercise of caution, and use of proper safety measures and equipment - such as hardhats, eye and hearing protection, safety clothing, boots, and fire shelters - are extremely important to avoid injury.

Facts About the Olympian God Hermes

Facts About the Olympian God Hermes There are 12 canonical Olympian gods  in Greek mythology. ​Hermes  is one of the gods who live on Mount Olympus and ruled over parts of the mortal world. Lets delve into the role of Hermes in Greek mythology regarding his relationships with other gods and what he was a god of. To learn more about the other 11 Greek gods,  check out  Fast Facts About the Olympians. Name Hermes is the name of a god in Greek mythology. When the Romans adopted aspects of the Ancient Greek belief system, Hermess was renamed, Mercury.   Family Zeus and Maia are the parents of Hermes. All the children of Zeus are his siblings, but Hermes has a special younger-brotherly relationship with Apollo. Greek gods were far from perfect. In fact, they were known to be flawed and to have many sexual affairs with gods, nymphs, and mortals alike. The list of Hermess mates include Agraulos, Akalle, Antianeira, Alkidameia, Aphrodite, Aptale, Carmentis, Chthonophyle, Creusa, Daeira, Erytheia, Eupolemeia, Khione, Iphthime, Libya, Okyrrhoe, Penelopeia, Phylodameia, Polymele, Rhene, Sose, Theoboula, and  Thronia. Hermes fathered many children, who are Angelia, Eleusis, Hermaphroditos, Oreiades, Palaistra, Pan, Agreus, Nomios, Priapos, Pherespondos, Lykos, Pronomos, Abderos, Aithalides, Arabos, Autolycus, Bounos, Daphnis, Ekhion, Eleusis, Euandros, Eudoros, Eurestos, Eurytos, Kaikos, Kephalos, Keryx, Kydon, Libys, Myrtilos, Norax, Orion, Pharis, Phaunos, Polybos, and Saon. Role of Hermes For human mortals, Hermes is the god of eloquence, commerce, cunning, astronomy, music, and the art of fighting. As a god of commerce, Hermes is also known as the inventor of the alphabet, numbers, measures, and weights. As the god of the art of fighting, Hermes is a patron of gymnastics. According to Greek mythology, Hermes also cultivated the olive tree and provides refreshing sleep as well as dreams. Additionally, he is the herdsman of the dead, the protector of travelers, the giver of wealth and luck, and he protector of sacrificial animals, among other things. For gods, Hermes is credited with inventing divine worship and sacrifice. Hermes is the herald of the gods.

COMPANY STRATEGIC ANALYSIS- Starbuck Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

COMPANY STRATEGIC ANALYSIS- Starbuck - Essay Example An enterprise needs, at the very least, to define its role in the value chains based on its unique mix of strengths and weaknesses and design its processes, supporting assets and organizational structure and decision making. Firms create value for their customers by establishing a value chain within the organization. When customers recognize these values as being superior to the firm's competitors, the firm has established competitive advantage within its marketplace. Porter describes two broad ways in which firms can deliver this value: lower cost and differentiation. A lower cost emphasis is one where the firm can provide a good or service more efficiently than either the client or other competing firms; a differentiation emphasis is one where firms create superior value in the form of product or service quality. Starbucks Coffee is the leading coffee shop globally. It manages over thousands of branches across United Kingdom, Ireland, Central Europe and Asia. This study explored the competition inside the coffee shop industry. Starbucks Coffee is the most competitive company in the coffee shop industry. ... The study arrived to the conclusion that Starbucks Coffee is continuing to be the most competitive coffee company, however, since there are some competitors in the industry, Starbucks still needs the aid of Michael Porter's five forces, generic studies and cost leadership in order to stay on the top in the retail industry Company Background Starbucks, the coffee company, is the perfect example of a product that could have gone the route of a shallow brand. After all, what is so special about serving coffee As the Starbucks brand proves, this is a question that other retailers would have benefited from asking. Starbucks is full of warm, rich colors and shapes and is set up so customers have a lot to look at while waiting for their order. It is visually stimulating in a way that is pleasant to most people. Compare this to a typical coffee shop, where the customer is often subjected to bright, harsh lighting and is often in the way of traffic flow, making him or her feel vaguely uncomfortable. Accommodating fast growth also meant putting in systems to recruit, hire, and train baristas and store managers. (Student Resources:2005) Starbucks' is simply looking for passionate people who love coffee, diverse workforce which reflects their community and who enjoys what they're doing and for whom work is an extension of themselves. 16 Some 80 percent of Starbucks employees were white, 85 percent had some education beyond high school, and the average age was 26. All positions are filled internally about 60-70%. Automated staffing services between hiring managers and staffing teams and Starbucks has a user friendly field sourcing and selection tools in place. Internal movement processes and systems in place and broadly understood. (Student Resources:2005)

Successful Marketing in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Successful Marketing in Japan - Essay Example This piece of paper addresses major factors that are to be considered by foreign businesses that intend to launch their lucrative business in Japan and explain what they should do to respond to the cultural myopia that prevails in Japan. Mastering the marketing in Japan Japan, being the second largest economy of the world, occupies a significant position in almost all industries and business activities worldwide. From the 1940s onwards, the country has been able to build a dominant, modern and internationally-oriented industrial economy which was based on innovative product designs, high quality production, advanced services, increased domestic consumption etc (Genzberger, 1994, p. 1). Japan is not only a strong economy in terms of production, exports, innovation, advanced services etc, but also a powerful market that large numbers of businesses from other countries seek opportunities in Japan. But, administering and mastering the marketing in Japan is considered to be a difficult ta sk. There are different barriers to marketing in Japan. Some of the major barriers to selling to Japan are import barriers, obstructive bureaucrats, non-transparent regulations, huge language barrier, conglomerate monopolies etc (Genzberger, 1994, p. 175). For any businessman from other countries to launch, run, operate and succeed in Japan’s market is therefore a difficult task, but there are many lucrative businesses that have strategically approached the market and found success in its path. As Reid (1999, p. 41) observed, even though Japanese market has long been considered to be obstructive to penetrate, experts on business in Japan have found that this is quite misleading. Various business strategies have been found to have helped foreign businesses in Japan’s market. Goodnow and Kosenko (1993) identified key strategies that North American companies used for marketing in Japan. Management philosophy, high technological capability, acceptance of Japanese subsidiar y etc are some of such effective strategies. Reid (1999, p. 41) pointed that foreign companies have not only succeeded in marketing in Japan, but also established leadership positions mainly in Japanese consumer products market. Many foreign players have turned to be established leaders in the Japanese market. For instance, Coca-Cola generates around 30 percent of its total profits from Japan, 70 percent of Dunhill’s sales are from Japanese people and IBM employs around 20,000 Japanese people. Factors to be considered by foreign corporations to conduct business in Japan Cost element While comparing the relative costs that may incur in marketing in different countries, it can be found that marketing in Japan is more costly than marketing in many other countries (Genzberger, 1994, p. 175). When it comes to various business expenditures, almost every thing including rent, salary, transportation, advertising, banking etc are highly expensive than that of other countries. Cost has been accounted to be 50 percent of all the reasons behind the failure of companies in marketing in Japan. For those corporate who have a quality product, advanced technology, innovations and more importantly those who are willing to undertake the high initial costs for market entry in the

Environmental Protection In India

Environmental Protection In India Over the years, together with a spreading of environmental consciousness, there has been a change in the traditionally-held perception that there is a trade-off between environmental quality and economic growth as people have come to believe that the two are necessarily complementary. The current focus on environment is not new-environmental considerations have been an integral part of the Indian culture. The need for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources has been expressed in Indian scriptures, more than three thousand years old and is reflected in the constitutional, legislative and policy framework as also in the international commitments of the country. Section 1: Legislations for environmental protection in India, Section 2: Indigenous Peoples, Section 3: Indigenous Peoples and Scientific Legislations Legislations for environmental protection in India Even before Indias independence in 1947, several environmental legislation existed but the real impetus for bringing about a well-developed framework came only after the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972). Under the influence of this declaration, the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning within the Department of Science and Technology was set up in 1972. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985 which today is the apex administrative body in the country for regulating and ensuring environmental protection. After the Stockholm Conference, in 1976, constitutional sanction was given to environmental concerns through the 42nd Amendment, which incorporated them into the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights and Duties. Since the 1970s an extensive network of environmental legislation has grown in the country. The MoEF and the pollution control boards (CPCB i.e. Central Pollution Control Board and SPCBs i.e. State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and administrative core of the sector. A policy framework has also been developed to complement the legislative provisions. The Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution and the National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development were brought out by the MoEF in 1992, to develop and promote initiatives for the protection and improvement of the environment. The EAP (Environmental Action Programme) was formulated in 1993 with the objective of improving environmental services and integrating environmental considerations in to development programmes. Other measures have also been taken by the government to protect and preserve the environment. Several sector-specific policies have evolved, which are discussed at length in the concerned chapters. This chapter attempts to highlight only legislative initiatives towards the protection of the environment. Forests and wildlife The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Amendment 1991 The WPA (Wildlife Protection Act), 1972, provides for protection to listed species of flora and fauna and establishes a network of ecologically-important protected areas. The WPA empowers the central and state governments to declare any area a wildlife sanctuary, national park or closed area. There is a blanket ban on carrying out any industrial activity inside these protected areas. It provides for authorities to administer and implement the Act; regulate the hunting of wild animals; protect specified plants, sanctuaries, national parks and closed areas; restrict trade or commerce in wild animals or animal articles; and miscellaneous matters. The Act prohibits hunting of animals except with permission of authorized officer when an animal has become dangerous to human life or property or so disabled or diseased as to be beyond recovery (WWF-India, 1999). The near-total prohibition on hunting was made more effective by the Amendment Act of 1991. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 This Act was adopted to protect and conserve forests. The Act restricts the powers of the state in respect of de-reservation of forests and use of forestland for non-forest purposes (the term non-forest purpose includes clearing any forestland for cultivation of cash crops, plantation crops, horticulture or any purpose other than re-afforestation). Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) This Act is an umbrella legislation designed to provide a framework for the co-ordination of central and state authorities established under the Water (Prevention and Control) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control) Act, 1981. Under this Act, the central government is empowered to take measures necessary to protect and improve the quality of the environment by setting standards for emissions and discharges; regulating the location of industries; management of hazardous wastes, and protection of public health and welfare. From time to time the central government issues notifications under the EPA for the protection of ecologically-sensitive areas or issues guidelines for matters under the EPA. The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 These rules lay down the procedures for setting standards of emission or discharge of environmental pollutants. The Rules prescribe the parameters for the Central Government, under which it can issue orders of prohibition and restrictions on the location and operation of industries in different areas. The Rules lay down the procedure for taking samples, serving notice, submitting samples for analysis and laboratory reports. The functions of the laboratories are also described under the Rules along with the qualifications of the concerned analysts. The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 This Act provided for the establishment of a National Environment Appellate Authority to hear appeals with respect to restriction of areas in which any industry operation or process or class of industries, operations or processes could not carry out or would be allowed to carry out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. International agreements on environmental issues India has signed several multilateral environment agreements (MEA) and conventions, such as: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), 1973, to regulate and inhibit international commercial trade of endangered species or derivative products. Its aims to counter the economic incentives of poaching endangered species and destroying their habitat by closing off the international market. India became a party to the CITES in 1976. International trade in all wild flora and fauna in general and species covered under CITES is regulated jointly through the provisions of The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the Import/Export policy of Government of India and the Customs Act 1962 (Bajaj, 1996). Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992 is a legally binding treaty. It deals with conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their sustainable use. It addresses several concerns such as including habitat preservation, intellectual property rights, and indigenous peoples rights. Indias initiatives under the Convention include the promulgation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, amended in 1991; and participation in several international conventions such as CITES. An assessment of the legal and regulatory framework for environmental protection in India The extent of the environmental legislation network is evident from the above discussion but the enforcement of the laws has been a matter of concern. One commonly cited reason is the prevailing command and control nature of the environmental regime. Coupled with this is the prevalence of the all-or-nothing approach of the law; they do not consider the extent of violation. Fines are levied on a flat basis and in addition, there are no incentives to lower the discharges below prescribed levels. In 1995, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) constituted a task force which strongly advocated the use of market-based instruments for the control of environmental pollution. Various economic incentives have been used to supplement the command-and-control policies. Depreciation allowances, exemptions from excise or customs duty payment, and arrangement of soft loans for the adoption of clean technologies are instances of such incentives. Another aspect that is evident is the shift in the focus from end-of-pipe treatment of pollution to treatment at source. The role of remote sensing and geographical information systems in natural resource management and environmental protection has also gained importance over time. An important recent development is the rise of judicial activism in the enforcement of environmental legislation. This is reflected in the growth of environment-related public litigation cases that have led the courts to take major steps such as ordering the shut-down of polluting factories. Agenda 21 highlights the need for integration of environmental concerns at all stages of policy, planning and decision-making processes including the use of an effective legal and regulatory framework, economic instruments and other incentives. These very principles were fundamental to guiding environmental protection in the country well before Rio and will be reinforced, drawing on Indias own experiences and those of other countries. The Indigenous Peoples In India, the indigenous peoples are predominantly composed of the large and diverse tribal populations scattered across several states. Anthropological literature suggests that the tribal designation arose as a colonial construct, in which all those living on the margins of mainstream agrarian society but within the structure of the Hindu caste system were delineated as primitive and tribal. In Indian languages, there is no exact equivalent for the word tribal, but close synonyms are vanavasis (forest dwellers) or adivasi (original inhabitants). The 1891 Census Report arranged different castes according to their traditional occupations, and forest tribes were assigned a separate category from that of agricultural and pastoral castes. Thus, both etymologically as well as spatially, the lives and livelihoods of tribal communities in India are intrinsically linked with forests. It has been argued that the definition of indigenous peoples as original settlers is problematic in the Indian context. Sociologists like Dube (1977) and Beteille (1998) have pointed out that tribal traditions themselves make re ­peated mention of migration of their ancestors. There is considerable evidence to suggest that several groups were pushed out of the areas that they were first settled and had to seek shelter elsewhere. Today more than 50 million of tribal people live in and around forests. There is a clear overlap between the forest and the tribal maps of the country, as well as an overlap with poverty (Poffenberger and McGean 1996) At present, about 95% of the total forest area belongs to the govern ­ment, and the tribal population of India has been divested of much of its legal communal rights. This is a major practical concern, because the rural economy of India is largely biomass-based. People are directly depen ­dent on forests and common lands for a variety of non-commercial-timber forest products for food and fuel, small timber for housing, and herbs and medicinal plants for meeting their subsistence livelihood needs. In the absence of alternative sources of livelihoods or an ability to eke out sustenance from marginal landholdings, there is a continued high level of dependence on forests for survival. The widely used state right of eminent domain allows the state to acquire private and common property for public purposes. The eminent domain right has remained supreme, overriding all other policies, laws, and regulations. It is under the right of eminent domain that the state acquires land to build infrastructure, mines, dams, and other projects. With an estimated $30 billion proposed as investment in mining-related projects in the next decade, communal land will continue to be a site of intense conflict between tribal people and the state. The encroachment of the state on forests and customary tenure rights of tribal forest-dwelling communities did not go unchallenged during the colonial and postcolonial periods. Undeterred by the provisions of the Indian Forest Act of 1927, many tribal groups have mounted a sustained challenge to the continued denial of their communal rights over forests. The example of the van panchayats (forest councils) demonstrates this point. In response to agita ­tions, the colonial government gradually recognized the existence of some local community rights over forests and their resources, and these were incorporated in the Indian Forest Act of 1927. The act provides for consti ­tuting village forests to meet local needs, and this led to the creation of forest councils in Uttar Pradesh through a new state law passed in 1931. All the de-reserved marginal reserved forests were reclassified into Class 1 forests and placed under the jurisdiction of the van panchayats, in which local tribal communities play a key role in forest administration. More than 4,000 van panchayats were created, although the area under their control did not exceed 8% of the total forest area of India. Nonetheless, they represent an example of a forest tenure system in which communal ten ­ure is recognized by law (Sarin 2003). Indigenous people and their communities represent a significant percentage of global population. They have developed over many generations, a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦In view of the inter ­relationship between the natural environment and its sustainable development and the cultural, social, economic and physical well-being of indigenous people, national and international efforts to implement environmentally sound and sustainable development should recognise, accommodate, promote and strengthen the role of indigenous people and their communities. The above extract from Agenda 21 (UNCED, 1992), aptly captures the need for increased recognition of indigenous people and their knowledge of natural resource management and its use in sustainable development. Integration of indigenous people and scientific forest management Indigenous forest management activities may originate in specific areas in response to specific pressures, but this does not prevent them from adopting and transforming appropriate components of scientific forest management systems through interaction and shared experience. Indeed there is a need to promote equity of forest management systems between indigenous communities and formal forestry scientists around the world (Agarwal, 1995). This process of integrating two forest management systems is essential to achieving sustainable forest management. There is no fixed method of addressing the bottlenecks in integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge, instead the methods chosen will vary according to what is appropriate and feasible within the institutional, ecological, and social environments in which they operate. The Indian Forest Policy of 1988 (MoEF, 1988) and the subsequent Government resolution on participatory forest management (MoEF, 1990) emphasise the need for peoples participation in forest management. The policy document asserts that local people should be actively involved in protection, conservation and management of forests. Hence the policy envisages a process of joint management of forests by the state government (professional foresters) and the local people. So far, out of 25 state governments, 23 states have adopted Joint Forest Management (JFM). As on the 1st January 2000, 10.24 million ha of forestlands were managed under the JFM programme through 36 075 forest protection committees (MoEF, 2000). Evidence of long standing local forest management practices can be found in various parts of India particularly in eastern and north-eastern regions. Despite increasing pressures with the increased population, regulations regarding resource use and harvest assist in managing forests in a sustainable way. As the JFM programme has evolved, there are clear indications that the programme has had considerable impact on local ecology, economics, and the people (Yadav et al., 1997). Initially the relationship between the local people and forest department was strained and lacked trust. Regular interaction and participatory learning and planning activities has facilitated an open dialogue and removed mutual distrust between officials of forest department and local people. Viewed in the light of the adaptive learning model, it was found that exchange and interaction of scientific and indigenous aspects of forest management within the context of JFM have resulted in ecological improvement and increase in average household income after four-five years of strong JFM activities. ETFRN Publication Series Local people as well as foresters identify with the JFM programme. They take pride in being part of the programme and are recognising its benefits. Based on the successful experience of JFM, irrigation, health, and agriculture sectors are also now placing an emphasis on integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge through peoples participation in resource management. However real integration of scientific and indigenous management systems is still rarely achieved, and in presenting the model I aim to make more explicit the opportunities for doing so, and highlight ways forward for the continuous process of adaptive learning. Conclusion There is a need to strengthen indigenous community institutions to allow them to function effectively and interact with outside actors. Appropriate policy reforms are required to include these institutions in government programs and schemes, and provide support for capacity building to enable them to function in a democratic and transparent manner, ensuring social and gender equity. It is necessary to identify common parameters among different indigenous community institutions and develop guiding principles, processes, and mechanisms that allow better interface between the institutions, local government, and technical agencies. To encourage sustainably productive forest management by communities, there is a need to eliminate harvesting and transport permit requirements where possible and create free forest trade zones for community enterprises in upland areas of the Northeast. Community networks should be established or strengthened to self-monitor environmental impacts of small-scale forestry enterprises. As a result of carrying colonial baggage, the Indian Forest Act and the environmental law in general still caters to the British policies with respect to Indian forests . This law is ideal tool for furthering the cause of revenue generation.Conservation and involving the people in the management of forests were not the British approach. Newer legislations such as the Forest (Conservation) Act, Wildlife Protoection Act, The Biological Diversity Act, and most recently the Scheduled Tribes Bill have made attempts to bridge this gap, with ample support from the Courts. It is time though to take up all the laws and combine them to come up with a composite and comprehensive Environmental Law that reflects the change in approach towards the environment and the indigenous people who live most integrated with it.

Faith in the Things They Carried

Henry Dobbins wears his girlfriend's pantyhose around his neck for protection and comfort. He is much more confident when he equips the stockings, therefore they act as a talisman that shield him from the evils of war. â€Å"Dobbins was invulnerable. Never wounded, never a scratch†¦ No cover at all, but he just slipped the pantyhose over his nose and breathed deep and let the magic do its work† (O' Brine 112). O'Brien uses Dobbins as an example to show the implementation of faith and hope. Through Dobbins and his close relationship with the pantyhose, It Is shown how mentality can affect reality.The stockings not only display the importance of faith and a positive attitude, but also a yearning for femininity, revealing the softer side of Dobbins. They express his longing for love and home. With the stockings, Dobbins journeys through the war untouched and fearless. â€Å"It turned us into a platoon of believers†¦ ‘No sweat,' he said. The magic doesn't go awayà ¢â‚¬  (O'Brien 112). The leggings give Dobbins a of the other platoon members. They began to make the soldiers rely on superstition rather than rationality because the twists of the Jungle were unpredictable.Even after his girlfriend dumped him, Dobbins remained immaculately brave which means hat the power of the stockings did not come from love or his memories, but Dobbin's himself. â€Å"A heroic warrior whose victories†¦ Affirm the country fundamental goodness and power† (Gibson 510). He was able to find hope more than anyone else in the platoon and because of that, Dobbins is singled out as a simple, yet unique individual who can take on the obstructions and terrors of war by simply remaining himself. Throughout the war Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the platoon leader, can't resist reminiscing about his hungering love for Martha.His anticipation for returning home after the war only grows heavier as his thoughts overrun his mind. This uncontrollability leads to Lavender's death on which Cross can't ever forgive himself for letting happen. â€Å"Lavender was dead. You couldn't burn the blame† (O'Brien 22). His guilt and remorse builds up too point where he tries to rid his mind of the tragedy by burning his memories of Martha, changing nothing. This is essential to understanding Cross' character because no matter what harm comes his way, he ties it back to Martha.Several years after the war, Lieutenant Cross visits O'Brien house ND tells him about how Martha gave him another photo at a college reunion. When O'Brien tells Cross that he wants to write a story about Martha and Cross, Cross replies, â€Å"Why not? Maybe she'll read it and come begging. There's always hope, right? † (O'Brien 28). In the war, Lieutenant Cross puts his faith in returning to Martha because it gives him something worth fighting for. He is completely broken when he finds out she doesn't love him, yet still loves her and wants to be with her.Likewise, O'Brien teac hes through Cross that many soldier's would have the high expectations f coming home after war to find their dreams come true, clearly that is not always the case. Even though Cross isn't fully satisfied, he still believes that there is a possibility that Martha will come back to him after O'Brien writes a story of him as brave, handsome and heroic. Muff need to persist, to listen, and to give them something to hold on to, something that gives them a sense of possibility' (Kowtowing 206). Both Martha and O'Brien offer Cross something to look forward to, a reason to keep his hopes up and remain positive.