Monday, January 27, 2020

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay In the twenty-first century, people have practically forgotten how important it is to connect with nature. Despite all the technological advances and scientific inventions that make us believe we have nothing in common with the rest of the animal world, we are still part of the planets fauna, whether we realize it or not. Needless to say, back when humanitys main achievements were the invention of a round wheel, or specific tools for farming agriculture, people were very dependent on nature and paid a lot of attention to the changes of its course. Now, with the technological revolutions and discoveries that made our past history, we seem to pay extremely little attention to nature, getting more and more disconnected from it every day. However, the links that were initially there, couldnt just disappear and there is a number of important reasons in favor of the statement that people should try to get back to basics and connect with nature more than they do today. First of all, nature has historically been the home for human beings, just like it remains a home for animals and plants (of course, with the exception of those that are kept in zoos and greenhouses). Nature is able to show us true beauty, without modifications, exaggerations and falseness. After all, isnt is a little ironic that people go to galleries and exhibitions to look at paintings of colorful flowers, mighty woods, green hills and fast clear streams; those simple things that they can easily observe in real life if they just get outside their urban environment that looms around them? Or the fact that people purchase recordings of calming sounds of nature, like what youd hear at night in the woods damped quavering of an owl, ringing flare of crickets and susurrus rustle of bushes. What we are in fact doing is trying to deceive our minds and make ourselves believe that we ARE in the wood, next to those owls, crickets and bushes, while we are instead trapped inside our tiny, wel l-furnished and packed-with-technology apartment. Secondly, in the era of absolute informational chaos and noise, it becomes more important than ever to be able to pause from the crazy pace of life and relax. Finding silence and peace in the global vacuum of competitiveness, haste and strain, is very challenging. We go to doctors to treat us for depression, insomnia and anxiety. We ask for prescriptions and pills, while what we should be doing instead is turning to nature for help. What can be more relaxing and stress-free, than a cup of warm herbal tea with fresh honey, on the porch of a cozy wooden country house with a view of a small natural lake, or little green forest, or beautiful mountains? Its the cheapest, simplest and most accessible treatment one can think of. We laugh at those freaks hugging trees in the park, or walking barefoot on the grass. However, these people remember something very important; something, most others have forgotten somewhere along the race to progress and prosperity: the key to being healthy, emotio nally sustained and resistant to everyday stress, is staying connected to nature and allowing ourselves to put all business on hold and take a break. Nature is about balance and harmony things we lack most living inside the swirling pit of urbanized cities. Sometimes, we escape, but so rarely and so abruptly, that such escapes can hardly help us re-establish our links with nature. People should seriously consider changing their routine and getting out into nature more regularly. When was the last time you took a walk to the nearby pond, or spent a weekend outdoors doing active sports? When was the last time you went hiking, or fishing, or took your family or friends for a picnic in the nearby park? We should try to move our weekly entertainment, as well as our holiday celebrations, parties and friendly gatherings, from homes, pubs and restaurants to lake shores, mountains, parks, forests, ponds, rivers and groves. The beautiful landscapes of America are incredibly rich and diverse and this is our true natural wealth that we unfortunately often forget about. Many parents and teachers today can remember hours spent in the great outdoors, called in only for dinner or when the last ray of summer light disappeared. Bookworm that I was, I can personally remember being told many days, Its a much too beautiful day to be inside. Go read that book in a tree! Today, childrens lives seem to be structured much differently, a world where the phrase Go play outside has been replaced by television programs, computer time, and Wii Fit. Modern humans lived in nature for most of their long history. Even once colonization into cities occurred, people were surrounded by nature in the fields and farms where they lived. And until thirty or so years ago, children still spent the bulk majority of their free time in contact with nature. Urbanization brought about parks and playgrounds to play in; fields, forests, and empty lots to explore; and even in nearby backyards. Children freely played, explored, and interacted with nature without restriction. Todays world is much different. Children no longer freely explore the world around them, and many have extremely limited contact with nature at all. Fear for safety, structured lessons and activities, and electronics are some of the main inhibitors to natural discovery that involve children today. Spontaneous interaction with nature is most often limited, at best. Free play in nature encourages children to create games with their own invented rules, conduct experiments with nature, and learn lessons that arent taught by anyone. These types of no rules situations promote inventive play and give children a deeper understanding of nature. While playground equipment is a perk of modern urbanization, its uses are more finite than those nature provides. Although equipment can be open-ended, imagined as a castle one day and a boat the next, nature is ever changing. Crossing a stream one day might become searching for treasures under river stones another day as the stream dries up. Tactile outdoor experiences teach children differently than a lesson or even reading about a subject can. Besides the educational benefits, connecting with nature has more benefits than might be obvious. Research shows that children who are allowed to explore outdoors are socially and emotionally happier and healthier. Unstructured outdoor play is also touted as one of the most direct ways to combat childhood obesity, a very real and prominent problem for children. Vitamin D exposure from the sun is known to help prevent a host of diseases, as well as treat and prevent depression. Richard Louv, author of  Last Child in the Woods, has coined a phrase to sum up the current state of the modern child: nature deficit disorder. He believes that contact with nature can aid in preventing and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that children need regular contact with nature to stay physically and emotionally healthy. I highly recommend his book if you are interested in learning more about these ideas. Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Here are a few ideas for incorporating natural play into childrens everyday lives: * Find a nature trail (or any place in nature, really) and encourage children to play, rather than just hike. Help children make up a game or collect bugs or leaves * Allow children a small patch of land as their own. This can be in a backyard or a school yard. One school where I worked had a childrens garden in the strip of land that ran right next to the side of the school building. Let them use their imagination to dig, garden, build, etc. * Invest in a few inexpensive outdoor exploration tools: bug box, magnifying glass, butterfly net, shovel, spade, and compass * Rather than working indoors, take lessons outdoors. Learn about water cycles from the true source, use nature to teach about categorization, or compose a symphony of nature sounds. Even a language or math lesson is more fun when done outside on a beautiful day Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Images used during study Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits, says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at theUniversity of Rochester. While the salubrious effects of nature are well documented, from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress, this study shows that the benefits extend to a persons values and actions. Exposure to natural as opposed to man-made environments leads people to value community and close relationships and to be more generous with money, find Ryan and his team of researchers at the University of Rochester. The paper includes four experiments in which 370 participants were exposed to either natural or man-made settings. Participants were encouraged to attend to their environments by noticing colors and textures and imagining sounds and smells. In three of the studies, participants were shown a selection of four images on a 19 inch computer screen for two minutes each. Half of the subject viewed buildings, roads, and other cityscapes; the other half observed landscapes, lakes, and deserts. The urban and nature images were matched for color, complexity, layout, and lighting. In a fourth study, participants were simply assigned at random to work in a lab with or without plants. Participants then answered a questionnaire assessing the importance of four life aspirations: wealth and fame (to be financially successful and to be admired by many people) and connectedness and community (to have deep enduring relationships and to work toward the betterment of society). Across all four studies, people exposed to natural elements rated close relationships and community higher than they had previously. The questionnaire also measured how immersed viewers were in their environments and found that the more deeply engaged subjects were with natural settings, the more they valued community and closeness. By contrast, the more intensely participants focused on artificial elements, the higher they rated wealth and fame. To test generosity, two of the studies gave participants a $5 prize with the instructions that the money could be kept or given to a second anonymous participant, who would then be given an additional $5. The second participant could choose to return the prize money or keep it. Thus, subjects had nothing to gain if they chose to trust the other participant, and risked losing their money. The result? People who were in contact with nature were more willing to open their wallets and share. As with aspirations, the higher the immersion in nature, the more likely subjects were to be generous with their winnings. Why should nature make us more charitable and concerned about others? One answer, says coauthor Andrew Przybylski, is that nature helps to connect people to their authentic selves. For example, study participants who focused on landscapes and plants reported a greater sense of personal autonomy (Right now, I feel like I can be myself). For humans, says Przybylski, our authentic selves are inherently communal because humans evolved in hunter and gatherer societies that depended on mutuality for survival. In addition, write the authors, the richness and complexity of natural environments may encourage introspection and the lack of man-made structures provide a safe haven from the man-made pressures of society. Nature in a way strips away the artifices of society that alienate us from one another, says Przybylski. Lead author Netta Weinstein says that the findings highlight the importance of creating green spaces in cities and have implication for planners and architects. Incorporating parks and other representations of nature into urban environments may help build a stronger sense of community among residents, she explains. By contrast, to the extent that our links with nature are disrupted, we may also lose some connection with each other, the authors warn. This alienation may help explain other research showing that urban as compared to rural dwellers show more reservation, indifference, and estrangement from others. On a personal level, Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of, she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit, she says.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

The author certainly

Joe Penhall’s â€Å"Dumb Show†, created to demonstrate the sleazy underbelly of the world of television and its cousin, tabloid journalism, is certainly a professionally written play. It is fast, witty, and with juts the right amount of sarcasm. The author certainly knows what he is talking about – the story of two journalists, Liz and Greg, going undercover to reveal the secret life of a TV comic named Barry is totally believable, as is Barry’s reaction to this event.It is even set in a very particular and very correct setting, as the hotel room seems to have a life of its own, making the viewers feel the impersonality of the situation. The actors work well, creating the atmosphere of a real verbal duel. However, the play leaves one with a strange feeling of incompleteness, of both not understanding what the play is about and understanding too well, making it a memorable play in a bad sense of the word. It is difficult to say why this effect is obtained. Perhaps it is because the author clearly shows that he sympathizes with none of the characters.They are demonstrated, indeed, from an insider’s point of view, and an evil-meaning insider’s at that: suitably sleazy, with that peculiar professional sense of black, almost sadistic humor that only people of the profession understand. Even good intentions are depicted in such a way that they seem false and egoistic. When the journalists talk of information being free, it is so obvious that they speak of this noble concept only for getting their money’s worth, that any person that values this virtue to some extent is forced to cringe from the falsehood of it all.When the comic speaks of the right to privacy, we hear of the right to remain silent at arrest. It is the dirt of lives, dug up and shown to the public: gray, vile, and incredibly banal. Such things, for some reason, are always seen as incredibly realistic, no matter how well they are executed. I do not see th e reason for this. Plays that work with the lows of life are necessary and, naturally, realistic. However, life isn’t a zebra, divided into black and white.It is more like a peacock with too many colors, demonstrating different things, but all too proud of itself. There is never such a thing as a real black color in life, nor a real gray. Everything has its silver lining, and this play, showing only the lows – for, even the last scene where Liz tries to redeem Barry is not pretty – is not nearly positive. Such single-mindedness, while admirable, does not make for the realism that the author was trying to create. It is actually the actors that liven up the show somewhat.The stereotypical jokes put into their mouths come to life because of their talent. Their reactions to one another are shifting, living. The little points of their acting – such as Dippold’s ambiguous reactions to the duo of men, or Barry’s acting in the jokes he is given â₠¬â€œ imply much deeper characters, which are so much the styrofoam stereotypes. They were meant to be that way: the situations are supposed to play out on the archetypical level, reaching within. However, the archetypes chosen are too shallow for that.They are things everyone can relate to on a merely superficial level, just enough to sympathize a bit – which is not nearly enough for a play. Thus, to make the point, the characters should have been created alive by the author, with somewhat more character. They should have been anchor points for personal interest in the play – even if mere tools in the conflict between professions, they should have been good tools. Instead, we see mostly the interaction of the stereotypes of the respective professions, much like trying to saw with a cardboard saw.The actors save the day here, livening up the characters and giving them more depth than Penhall seemed to intend. The play is a good example of a professional skit, yet nothin g more. It is made all too clear what the point is supposed to be – the conflict of freedom and privacy – however, it is not deep enough, nor controversial enough for such a topic. The author attempted to work at the golden middle, and failed – professionally, thus, non-abysmally, but he didn’t make it anything great, either.It is a story about archetypes, not an archetypical story. Nor is it a personal story, showing how people get affected by this sort of conflict. It attempts to be both, but is neither, and thus leaves the viewer puzzled as to where the true point is. One wants to look for hidden meaning, for the simplicity is unbearable, but there is nowhere to look for hidden meaning. To create a piece with only one meaning and have it still be a work of art is the work of a genius. Penhall is not one.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Personal Ethics Essay

â€Å"Sound personal ethics are typically those that positively impact the experience of others when used to govern an individual’s social or business related behavior, and at the very least, such ethics should not have a negative impact on others† (BusinessDictionary, 2014). In this paper I will discuss how my personal ethical system and ground rules were developed. What my influences were in shaping my values and the principles I live by. I will also discuss how the importance of ethics in business. EARLY ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT To understand how my ethics developed I think it would be best if I provided a quick background of my childhood. My parents were divorce by the time I was two. My mom moved to Montana while my dad, brother, and I stayed in Colorado. My mom remarried when I was five to a great man. My dad moved us to Tennessee around when I was seven. My father began dating a woman with two children shortly after and a year or two later they married.   A couple years after my father remarried, the atmosphere in my home was very stressful. My step mom was very southern, with a strict upbringing. Her philosophy was â€Å"This was how I was raised, so this is how I am going to raise you.† There was no thought put into her actions, they were only reactions. Although I get along with her fine now she still has to justify her behavior from the past. At the age of eight I was doing my own laundry, cooking meals for the entire family twice a week, and extreme cleaning every weekend; not much time to be a kid. On my 12th birthday I was grounded for not dusting behind a picture in the corner of my desk. I have many stories like this, but the greatest thing about these experiences is that I learned from them. These memories are what motivated me to be different when it comes to parenting and how I treat people. My step father was the opposite.  He was the strong, silent type. When he spoke every one listened. He and my mom had a very large impact on my life. They owned a restaurant/bar and a log home building company for over 25 years, in Montana. In the summers I would work for them. They taught me strong work ethic and what it meant to earn a dollar. During my teen years I was not sure who I was and desperately trying to figure it out. At the time, I thought I had it all figured out, but looking back I was clueless. I used derogatory remarks towards different ethnic groups not realizing how wrong it was and I was very homophobic. I knew it was wrong and no one else in my family acted lik e that. This type of behavior is still very common in the south, but I was determined to change my life. REVISED ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT Because I joined the Navy straight out of high school, I was given the opportunity to learn the true meaning of diversity and how important it is to our society. The stereotypes I was surrounded by growing up were cruel, unfair, and untrue. My time in the Navy taught me that everyone is different and that everyone’s culture is what makes them who they are. I love learning about different cultures and what makes each person diverse. Another event that shaped my principles and values is when my step father passed in 2006. This changed mine and my family’s life forever. It motivated me to love and be the best person I can be. At the time I was in a bad marriage and had to make the decision that my happiness and my children’s future depended on our surroundings. I do not have time for resentment, anger, hatred, and negative behavior. We only live this life once and I want my legacy to live on after I’m gone. I had to make the toughest decision of my life and t his was the beginning of the new me. PRINCIPLES AND VALUES My ethical system comes from every experience and interaction I have ever had. Whether I remember them all, it still branded an emotion at the time and I learned from it. My ethical system is filled with the idea to always have respect, strength, integrity, honor, courage, and will power to do what is right even if it is the harder decision. Respect is a very strong fiber of my being. My childhood made me realize that treating people the way you would like to be treated is not just something we heard in school, it should be lived by. Everyone starts off with the same level of respect from me. It does not matter one’s title, sex, race, religion, or sexual preference. If you are a living, breathing, human being I will treat you as I would like to be treated. Everyone starts off  with 100% respect and then how much respect I give you in the future depends on your actions. ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE My upbringing and personal experiences are what shaped my character of who I am today. I cannot compare the inequality I faced to others, but it was enough for me to realize that fair treatment and respect is very important to who I am and my character. When I see others being mistreated I have a deep seated urge to stand beside them and show them they are not alone. It does not matter to me if I am the only one that feels this way; I will stand up for what I believe in. I was the only straight male that joined the Pride Affinity Group where I work. This group was started at the beginning of the equal rights movement for the LGBT community a couple years ago. I was accused of being gay and I was asked why I was part of the group if I was not gay. This only motivated me more to show others that equal rights are not a privilege. I gave 9 years of my life to defending this country’s freedoms. I did not fight for one group’s freedoms, but all, foreign and domestic. Although I am no longer in the military I still live by this code of ethics and moral standard; in my personal and professional life. IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS IN BUSINESS Businesses were around before ethics and will continue to be around, but it is how we choose to evolve as human beings. Society could have remained racist and sexist. This was not what was best for business or society though. We as people and businesses need to evolve, to grow, and to learn to be better. Ethical standards in the workplace ensures all feel comfortable coming to work and can do their job without feeling threatened. This provides businesses the opportunity to get the best out of all employees with a safe work environment. CONCLUSION I think it is safe to say I am the opposite of everything I disliked about my childhood. My personal values are who I am regardless of whether I am in a personal or professional setting. My decisions are based on what I have learned through life experiences and how I perceive the most appropriate way to handle each situation. References Business Dictionary (2014). Personal Ethics. Retrieved from: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/personal-ethics.html

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Policy Making and the Federal System Essay - 841 Words

Short Essay: Policy-Making in the Federal System Obama’s Care â€Å"Medicaid – not Medicare Frances Johnson POL: 201 American National Government Instructor, Carol Parker July 12th, 2012 During the 2008 federal campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama placed comprehensive health care reform at the centre of his platform. In the light of the growing problems facing the US health care system, the time seemed ripe for another attempt to control health costs while expanding insurance coverage. Elected in the context of the deepest recession since World War II, President Obama nonetheless decided to reform the U S health care system at the beginning of his presidency( proquest.com). While†¦show more content†¦Under the ObamaCare, the federal government now imposes Medicaid on the states as a federal mandate to meet the federal requirements of the individual mandate for the entire below- age- 65 population with incomes under 138 percent of the poverty level (Forbes.com). That includes mandatory coverage for the first time of all non-elderly, childless adults within the income limits. The states, consequently, no longer retain substantial discretion to determine eligibility or scope and duration of coverage for the program within their respective jurisdictions, which makes the program unacceptably coercive. ObamaCare is the individual mandate requiring every citizen to obtain health- insurance coverage with benefits and provisions specified by the federal government (Forbes.com). The way ObamaCare provides for lower- income individuals and families to obtain that required coverage is by forcing the states to offer expanded coverage under Medicaid as a condition of continuing to participate in the rest of the program. Under the ObamaCare, the federal government now imposes Medicaid on the states as a federal mandate to meet the federal requirements of the individual mandate for the entire below- age- 65 population with incomes under 138 percent of the poverty level (Forbes.com). That includes mandatory coverage for the first time of all non-elderly, childless adults within the income limits. The states,Show MoreRelatedPolicy Making Of The Federal System897 Words   |  4 PagesPolicy-making in the Federal System The federal system of government in the United States of America has a three-tier system where the policy-making function cuts across the federal, state and local government. The responsibility of government is divided across the three tiers in different proportions depending on the need being served (Gerston, 2007). Public policy in matters like health care is very sensitive when laws or amendments are passed. 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