A midsummer nights dream By william shakespeare

Midsummer night's dream is one of the classic romantic comedy plays of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare is the one of the best writer who ever lived.He deeply looks at the society with a very different perspective. In his play midsummer night’s dream he has depicted the feelings of love and desire with a very different point of view. Exact year when Midsummer night's dream was written is not known but it is supposed that is written around 1595 or 1596. (William Shakespeare biography and works, 1)In A Midsummer-Night's Dream, for the first time, Shakespeare uses an ‘outside force' which interferes in and controls the affairs of men. Oberon moves unseen, unheard, and unsuspected to the solution of the sole problem of the play (so far as the mortals are concerned) — that of restoring Demetrius's love to Helena.Although he differs in form and nature from Shakespeare's later notable forces of control as markedly as they differ from one another, the fairy king i s like them all both in his essential dramatic function and in the attributes which enable him to perform this function — superior power and superior awareness.Like the Fate that operates throughout Romeo and Juliet (according to the Prologue) and the Fate of which the witches are the visible figureheads in Macbeth, but unlike Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure and Prospero in The Tempest, Oberon is supernatural and immortal. Like Vincentio and Prospero, and unlike Fate in the tragedies, he is benevolent. Like Fate itself and unlike the others, he remains always invisible to the mortal participants — but, unlike Fate, he is visible to us. Like all the others except the Fate of Romeo and Juliet, he makes observable contact with mortals, either directly or through an intermediary.Also like all the others except the Fate of Romeo and Juliet, he requires special aids or ‘props' in wielding his power.Unlike all the others, he is concerned quite incidentally with th e affairs of mortals. And, finally, he fell a little short of the others' omniscience and omnipotence: under his direction things can temporarily get out of hand.The play is a light entertainment comedy that has three main plots interlinked with each other firstly the celebrations of the wedding of Theseus the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, secondly the mishap created between the couples and the involvement of the fairies in the scenario.The story mainly revolves around the two couples who are in love with each other but a little mistake creates chaos and comedy in the story. (A midsummer nights dream- Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 1)The play starts with the scene in Athens when four days left in the wedding and the celebrations and preparations are at their peak when Egeus arrives complaining about his daughter Hermia. With him Egeus brings two men Demetrius and Lysander. His problem is that he wants Hermia to marry Demetrius but Hermia is in deep love with Lysander and refuses to marry Demetrius.Her father continuously forces her for the marriage and also threatens her to marry Demetrius or either he will kill her or banish her according to the ancient law for a disobedient daughter.The Duke reminds Hermia of her duty as an obedient daughter to respect her father's wish and marry Demetrius and that she has time till the new moon to make up her mind regarding this matter otherwise the Duke will have to forcefully enforce the ancient law.Hearing this Hermia and Lysander decided to save their love by escaping from Athens into the nearby woods and then getting married in nearby town away from the ancient law. Hermia tells her plan to her best friend Helena who is a babble mouth and had been in love with Demetrius and can do anything to get his affection and love. She spills the plan of Hermia's escape in front of Demetrius and hope that they can catch Hermia and Lysander in the forest. (A midsummer night's dream, 1)In the forest the King of Fairies Oberon and the Queen of fairies Titania are having a quarrel about an Indian orphan boy that who will have the boy. The king wants the boy as his servant where as the queen is not allowing him demanding that she will keep the boy. (A midsummer night's dream, 1)Desperate to have the boy the king orders his most faithful fairy Puck to go and search for the magic flower, whose juice when dropped on some one’s eyes the person will fall in love immediately with the first person he sees after waking.Oberon had the plans in his mind that Titania will fall in love with anybody she sees and in return he will get the boy for himself. Puck brings the flower and puts the juice in the eyes of the sleeping Queen. The tradesmen in Athens plan to perform a crude play about Pyramus and Thisbe at the wedding of The DukeThe troupe of the players that are going to perform the play includes Nick Bottom who is a weaver and thinks he is very much clever and efficient that the role heâ₠¬â„¢s playing will make the play a big hit but his fellows do not think so they decide to go and rehearse in the woods.

Miller comments Essay

During ‘The Crucible’ the acts which unfold able some characters to empower themselves: most notably Abigail Williams, Mary Warren and even John Proctor. Some characters begin with little or no power, then abuse the situations to gain power, whereas others begin with power and lose it, sometimes justly and other times unjustly. This could be seen as a moral message for the audiences of the play, warning of power abuse which could lead to devastating consequences. In the introductory comments, Miller comments before the events begin to unfold how â€Å"†¦the children were anything but thankful for being permitted to walk straight† which shows before the witchcraft trials and accusations had begun, children were powerless under the authority of the male dominated society -children had no power to roam freely. One of the people that gained power in the play is Mary Warren, who is a servant and so is one of the lowest ranks of the Puritan society- much like the children of Salem. At first she does not have any power at all as she is taught that she has to follow orders from the Proctors, who she works for. This is seen when she â€Å"lept† with â€Å"fright† upon Proctors entrance. Yet, she manages to turn from a â€Å"mouse† to a â€Å"daughter of a prince† as she suddenly gains power from working in the court, trying possible witches. Her increasing power is also shown from her defiance of Proctor when she refuses his order of not going to â€Å"court again†, and responds that she â€Å"must† and â€Å"will be gone everyday†. It also shown through stage directions, when Mary is â€Å"terrified† of Proctor but quickly becomes â€Å"erect†, which highlights her ability to overcome her fear of Proctor because of her growing confidence and power. Mary even manages to intimidate Proctor in this part of the play. When threatened with the â€Å"whip† from Proctor, she manages to threaten him further by responding â€Å"I would have you speak civilly to me, from this out. † Mary, filled with this newly found power, is able to threaten Procter to stop beating her or she will not speak so highly of his family next time. By using the phrase â€Å"from this out† shows that Mary doesn’t usually expect that kind of treatment from the Proctor, yet now she is able to demand it because of the power gain. Again, further on in the play Mary is also able to â€Å"numb† Proctor when she overthrows his â€Å"grip† on her to tell the truth about the accusations, and instead turns on him. When pressured by Abigail and the other girls, once they start accusing Mary to save themselves, she is not able to stand her ground – which highlights her feebleness and weakness which was seen at the very start of the play. This is seen as she even admits she has â€Å"no power†. This links to her inferior position in the society and even within her social group, she is not popular, and respected. This is shown when Abigail tells Mary to â€Å"shut it† and Mercy Lewis starts â€Å"pointing† and â€Å"looking† at Mary as if she were to blame. However, the fact that Mary was able to then accuse Proctor of being â€Å"devil’s man†, who is a highly respected in the village, shows that she does have more power than she started with. But she is abusing her power, to save herself and because of her lack of power on her social circle. So, this once ‘innocent’ girl who thought they â€Å"must tell the truth† took advantage of the situation so she and her friends would not be â€Å"whipped†. Overall, Mary arguably, has the most progressive power of all the girls and possibly all of the characters in ‘The Crucible’, but that’s not to say she has the most power overall. Another character like Mary Warren who gains power throughout the play is Abigail Williams. Once shunned and scorned by the inhabitants of the village because of her â€Å"blackened name†, Abigail becomes a domineering power, and is treated like a â€Å"saint†. A mere accusation from Abigail or one of her girls is enough to convict even a well-respected inhabitant of Salem like Rebecca Nurse who does â€Å"great charities†. Even though in present day we would associate â€Å"saint† with good Samaritans, which would seem absurd to see Abigail called this in present day, she was seen in this way because in puritan society if you went against god, you went against the law. So Abigail’s act of bringing Salem’s attention to the presence of the devil, and then through the court eradicating it was seen as an act of greatness. Abigail starts off as a scared young girl which is seen through Millers stage directions, as she â€Å"quavers† when being questioned by Parris about Betty’s mysterious illness. However, soon she is able to assert her power of the girls by â€Å"smashing† Betty round the face and threatening all the girls not to tell anyone about the events of the previous night, or she will â€Å"come† to them at the â€Å"black of one terrible night†. This implies they could be her prey, and if they make a wrong move she could pounce on them, which again puts her in a domineering position. This characteristic allows her to control within the group which creates more tension because Abigail also seems to be possessive which is seen when she says â€Å"Now look you. All of you†. The repetition of â€Å"you† makes the phrase quite aggressive and short commanding sentences have a strong impact, and make Abigail seem hostile but ultimately powerful. Her empowerment is also documented as the inhabitants of Salem think the â€Å"sea parts like Israel† for Abigail, so her sins are overlooked, as people take her word to be an expression of â€Å"God’s will. † This allowed Abigail to control and manipulate even the most powerful men in Salem, which is seen when Abigail threatens that Danforth- a high court official. So, Abigail Williams, who was once powerless in general society, is a perfect example of someone who became empowered by deciding the fate of other people and, by controlling and threatening people. Although, Abigail did have a powerful status among her social group from the outset and throughout which is shown when she starts â€Å"pointing with fear† and accusing Mary of â€Å"hurting her†, and quickly all the girls chime in with her. The third character who is subtly empowered is John Proctor. Despite his prideful ways, John Proctor describes himself as a â€Å"sinner. † His conversation with Elizabeth in act two where he exclaims for Elizabeth to â€Å"judge him not† demonstrated his internal conflict and his own unwillingness to forgive himself for his act of lechery. There are moments when his anger and disgust towards himself burst forth, such as when he exclaims to Judge Danforth: â€Å"I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours. † So, although it is not clear from the outset that John Proctor has been empowered, he has. He is able for the first time to â€Å"see some shred of goodness† in himself- his relief from his constant guilt- when he decides to deny his confession. In conclusion, all three characters were empowered through the play, which led to the unjust killing of numerous inhabitants of Salem through the false allegations of witchcraft. So, Miller uses this to show the audience the consequence of abuse of power. Abigail is the best example because she falls from her position of high power, and resorts to boarding a â€Å"ship†, in order to escape.

Media Education Of Debates Education Essay

Media instruction is the procedure of instruction and larning about media, the chief purposes are to develop a critical apprehension and an active engagement. Media instruction has for many old ages been in hunt of a infinite within the course of study, I hope in this assignment to look at how media instruction and media literacy have now found a topographic point within the course of study and have been translated by media instructors into pedagogical pattern. Children and grownups spend a big sum of their clip interacting with media of different types, from electronic mail, Internet, movies, newspapers and nomadic phones. These signifiers of media act as gateways to information, this information can frequently be filled with mass media messages, from advertizements to stereotypes. These messages are subconsciously taken in they have a monolithic impact on single consciousness and determinations ; they affect society as a whole. Media literacy helps to supply pupils with the tools that are necessary to enable them to read and entree information and to inquire inquiries. Media instruction can non entirely consist of production, pupils will non automatically get the critical cognition needed the media needs to be taught and challenged, the practical work does non by itself does non make an independent apprehension for the media. Media literacy should non be defined as a certain set of accomplishments or cognition, it should be looked at as the cardinal constructs of production, linguistic communication, representation and audience. â€Å" It is of import for media pedagogues to ever place unfavorable judgment at the head of our pattern, when incorporating production into the acquisition environment. †[ 1 ] Burn and Durran ( 2007 ) argue that media literacy has societal maps, and they prefer to see it as cardinal to the ‘3-Cs'model of media literacy. They province that audience can be studied in footings of their societal utilizations of the media even though as opposite numbers of manufacturers they have been traditionally seen as consumers of media texts. Social uses of the media average engagement and battle. They besides see the battle with the media as portion of wider cultural composites of gustatory sensation, involvement, pleasance, cognition and expertness which contribute to selfhood. Ofcom uses the undermentioned definition of media literacy ; ‘the ability to entree, understand and create communications in a assortment of contexts ‘[ 2 ]. The above quotation mark has parallels with Burn and Durran ( 2007 ) 3 C ‘s theoretical account. Henry Jenkins looks at the definitions of media literacy and looks at how it must non let pupils to disregard the accomplishments and cognition they already have to derive new cognition, that they must spread out their cognition. Culture in media instruction, the civilization is the values and ideals that are set by the pupils. â€Å" At least in the UK, research suggests that kids are now much more likely to be confined to their places, and much less independently mobile, than they were twenty old ages ago ; and while parents now spend much less clip with their kids, they are trying to counterbalance for this by giving increasing economic resources to child-rearing †[ 3 ] Buckingham ‘s point of position on media literacy is one of that it does non give the right replies but it allows the right inquiries to be asked. Throughout this assignment I am traveling to utilize my work with KS4 pupils making life as portion of the Gold Standard intercession programme. The pupils I work with have the ability to take advantage of an out of school experience. The pupils are welcomed into an educational environment but treated like grownups ; they become responsible for big sums of their ain acquisition. We do non anticipate pupils to walk through the door and go immediately engaged with what we are making, but we endeavour to set them in a place where they want to go occupied. Media instruction offers a new attack that looks at what pupils already know, non merely presuming that it is invalid. â€Å" develop a more automatic manner of instruction and acquisition, in which pupils can reflect on their ain activity both as ‘readers ‘ and as ‘writers ‘ of media texts †[ 4 ] The manner that Buckingham looks at how pupils have the ability to go ‘readers ‘ and ‘writers ‘ of media texts follows many analogues to my ain work with pupils. We get them to make an life and so discourse it, to understand why they have made the picks that they have. Burn and Durran look at how media instruction can be continued through the patterned advance of secondary school and how it can be taught across the course of study. Media instruction is non entirely a topic by itself ; media instruction can be used in many different capable countries. For case utilizing movie doing installations to make an reading of a Shakespeare drama, pupils would non merely be larning Shakespeare but besides larning by making.Hull City Learning CentresFacilitiesThe installations that are on offer at Hull City Learning Centres are as follows, at our East Centre, we have a intent built installation which houses, five instruction suites, each of these suites serves a different intent, each room has been specially designed to run into the demands of the pupils that require them. I am non traveling to travel into excessively much item about the suites as I am traveling to concentrate on the usage of merely one of the suites, but we have a grownup instruction room, a primary room ( which is geared up to KS2 pupils ) , and two KS4 suites, we so have a intent built media suite, which is the room that is used the most. This room has 26 iMac computing machines that double boot Windows and Mac OSX. Green screen shooting installation, HD cameras with illuming rig and sound equipment, it besides has an synergistic white board. The package we have on offer is the ‘free ‘ package bundled with the iMacs including iMovie and the iLife suite, we besides use a piece of life package called I Can Inspire or Pro Animate, I Can Animate is besides available on the Windows side of the machines.FunctionsHull City Learning Centres offer a broad scope of maps ; the chief one being KS4 intercession, working with schools to assist them accomplish the ‘Gold Standard ‘ which is accomplishing 5 A*-C classs at GCSE including Maths and English. The intercession courses that we run are ICT, Maths and English functional accomplishments, OCR subjects, multimedia, picture and life unit. However the chief intercession we offer is NCFE Animation which is the equivalent to 2 GCSE class Bs. We besides offer big instruction categories and KS2 intercession. We have two Centres across Hull, one Centre chiefly deals with the bringing of the Diplomas and the other focal points on intercession. The bringing of the Diplomas has become a large portion of what the CLC ‘s bash now, we deliver certain faculties on IT sheepskin and supply support and installations for the Creative and Media sheepskin. We besides have a conference room which can be used for picture conferencing and meetings, we are the host for a bulk of Local Authority enterprises and we besides support YHGFL ( Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning ) . Adult instruction categories are besides on offer a scope from the advanced CISCO networking to the most basic text processing degree 1. We work with the complete novice to the proficient experts, we offer class for grownups to accommodate their demands. We encourage household acquisition, and work with societal services and surrogate carers.ClientelesHull CLC is unfastened to all, we have on offer computing machines for people from the local community to come and utilize, we offer drawn-out installations for the host schools, we encourage schools to utilize as an out of the schoolroom experience. We deal on a twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours footing with people from all societal backgrounds, from primary school kids to our ‘silver surfboarders ‘ .AnimationI would wish to utilize my work with pupils in life as a instance survey in which to research a signifier of media instruction. The types of pupils that I work with tend to be pupils that do n't accomplish good in the normal schoolroom, nevertheless through the procedure of doing and making these pupils normally excel, they find that they can finish work to a high criterion and accomplish GCSE classs by making something that is fun. We find that media literacy has been a powerful tool for us to utilize, it has been noted that pupils that would usually be detached from reading and composing in school become engaged with it, this may be because there is a intent to what they are reading and composing.How we do itWe run the NCFE Animation class on a tight deadline, we have compressed 150 guided acquisition hours into 36 hours. This has been done to enable us to assist as many schools as possible, with every bit small break to the pupils ‘ clip tabular array. It besides helps us to guarantee that pupils attend, a just sum of our pupils have attending issues in school. The pupils that I work with semen to me with a image in their caputs, they are told by school that they are coming to derive an ICT making, when in fact this is n't the instance, pupils come and they complete an life making. To most of the pupils that I work with ICT agencies, databases and spreadsheets. â€Å" Yet, if media instruction is to assist bridge the widening spread between the school and the universe of kids ‘s out-of-school experience, it must certainly get down with the cognition kids already possess †[ 5 ] Buckingham discusses how pupils already have knowledge, through the procedure of this class we use pupils already bing cognition, we show them that they really know a just sum about life and they did n't gain. Once the pupils are introduced to life they instantly have a preconceived thought of what it is. They instantly think of The Simpsons and Family Guy but so few of them see computing machine games as life, they do n't see how life surrounds them. During treatments with the pupils about life, we open their eyes to merely how much it surrounds us, from advertizements to instruction. We get pupils to discourse their different sentiments and thoughts ; we get them to believe about how different groups of pupils may construe a certain piece of life We get pupils to look at lifes that are British, American, European and Asian. We get pupils to discourse how other civilizations use life for amusement and the differences between them. Media analysis is an of import portion of the class it enables us to assist pupils develop critical thought accomplishments, by working on their observations and readings. Students begin to look at how lifes challenge stereotypes and concealed motivations. Students begin to understand some of the ‘hidden messages ‘ in lifes. We do concentrate a batch of clip analyzing alive advertizements looking at who they are aimed at and how different types of life entreaty to different demographics. Before pupils begin believing about what they are traveling to inspire we present them to a assortment of lifes, we show them illustrations of professional work and what other pupils have produced, we get the pupils involved in group treatments about good and bad characteristics of the lifes, we get them to look non merely at the techniques used in the lifes, but we get them to look and believe about how music and sound have been used, we look at the usage of particular effects in station production.What the pupils learnWe spend more clip acquiring the pupils to understand life than bogging them down with complex life and redacting package, we opt for iMovie that comes bundled with the iMacs as our redacting package and Pro Animate as out life package, the package is simple and intuitive, it allows pupils to concentrate on the existent life and non acquire worried about the package. This is frequently a concern of our pupils, they frequently lack in assurance and a nervous about non merely utilizing an unfamiliar operating system ( most of our pupils are merely Windows literate ) but utilizing new package, so we demonstrate the package right at the beginning and show pupils that the package is nice and simple to utilize. We have now started to offer this intercession class to pupils that have particular educational demands and larning jobs, we do n't offer it as a speedy hole for GCSE classs, we offer them it as an experience as something that they can walk off holding made, we focus less on the theory facets of the class and dressed ore on the practical, acquiring pupils to seek different stuffs and techniques. These pupils have frequently been segregated at school and do n't frequently hold the same chances as the chief watercourse pupils. Even though few of these pupils had the ability to read or compose they made and life and instead than compose about what they have done a why, we record them. They are prompted with the same inquiries that other pupils have to compose about, it is clear from the responses that we get from the pupils that they have understood a huge sum of what has been discussed with them. They are able to explicate different signifiers of life and occupations that are available in the life industry. The rules of life are demonstrated through acquiring pupils to make a flipbooks, this introduces them to how life works, how much work goes into it. It is besides utilizing something that the bulk of pupils are familiar ; this enables pupils to larn through making. The custodies on manner of making it assist them to retrieve the procedure, instead than standing and stating pupils how to make it. Students are able to pull on their ain experiences and go engaged in the schoolroom. Surveies have shown that pupils whom are actively engaged in a subject can more actively associate it to the existent universe. ( Hobbs, 2006 ) .Bing originativeWe try and acquire our pupils to be every bit originative as possible when it comes to the practical component, we try and acquire them to look outside the box and off from the norm. This is sometimes difficult as these pupils have a preconceived thought of what ICT is and this is what they have been told they are analyzing, they do n't see how creativeness comes into it. â€Å" The word ‘creativity ‘ is used with many different significances in different contexts†¦ ..In peculiar, it carries a instead different significance in art instruction and media instruction, and in many ways life undertakings cross the boundary between these districts. †[ 6 ] We have to look at the discourses which make up the cultural contexts of these lifes this is outlined by Burn and Durran 2007. When a pupil comes up with a rubric for their life, the thoughts that spring to my head as a instructor and the thoughts that they have are really different, this comes from our difference in cognition. Students frequently look at making an alive piece for portion of a vocal, they print wordss off and make props to fit, and one case that springs to mind is a pupil that was making an life for a vocal that included wordss about returning with no weaponries, this pupil took the actual significance a drew an armless character, when in fact the context was weaponries as in arms and guns. Recently we decided to give the pupils a subject for their lifes the subject was ‘technology ‘ we mentioned iPods, phones, and MP3 participants, when the pupils returned the undermentioned twenty-four hours to get down inspiring the fluctuation of props collected from place for an life about engineering varied significantly from pupil to pupil, some brought in their nomadic phone boxes whilst other brought in patterning clay. I gave the full group the forenoon to work out how they were traveling to utilize their props to make an life advertisement engineering or a piece of engineering. I was nevertheless slightly concerned about how modelling clay could be used, but I allowed the pupil to continue. Once the group began inspiring in the afternoon it became clear the pupil with the modeling clay had great thoughts, she had made an iPod out of patterning clay, created some earphones. This pupil did n't experience the demand to utilize the existent artifact to inspire she fel t it would be better if she created it from abrasion ; she wanted to make her ain original piece of life.Researching and affinity infinitesWhilst pupils are on the life class they are expected to research a assortment of elements to make with the life industry, what is interesting is how reliant pupils are on the cyberspace, pupils take the information presented to them at face value, it is merely when you enter into treatments with pupils about how dependable the information they are is. Many pupils are cognizant that Wikipedia can be altered by anyone with an history but really few realise that this can intend the information is wrong and untrue. Henry Jenkins looks at this farther, he looks at how pupils need to ability to research, take notes, read books, understand and merge secondary beginnings. â€Å" to hold on what kinds of information are being conveyed by assorted systems of representation ; to separate between fact and fiction, fact and sentiment †[ 7 ] An affinity infinite is a topographic point practical or physical that ties people together, based around a shared involvement. I ‘m traveling to utilize Wikipedia as an illustration of an affinity infinite, and the manner that it is used for instruction. Wikipedia enables registered users to upload and redact information about a peculiar subject. Wikipedia like many other affinity infinites allows namelessness therefore it bridges a barrier that is frequently produced by age, sex, instruction, and race to call a few. Although Wikipedia could be filled with inaccurate information, which was a point I made earlier, within in affinity infinites there is normally unwritten regulations that you should merely do remark on things you know about, you should do certain that any quotation marks are accurately referenced. Wikipedia has created like many other affinity infinites an out of school topographic point to larn, it appears to be someplace that pupils feel comfy with. Affinity spaces let informal acquisition to take topographic point harmonizing to James Gee 2004, the usage of affinity infinites does nevertheless necessitate a pupil to be slightly self motivated. Affinity infinites are going far more huge for pupils they now have entree to a wealth of information on the Internet, they besides have the ability to inquire inquiries and articulation forums based around a topic that they are interested in. For case pupils I have worked with have created Facebook groups that they can all pass on about a joint undertaking, the ‘wall ‘ allows pupils post their thoughts and for them to acquire feedback. From my personal point of position and my engagement with the bringing of ICT/IT in an informal instruction scene, I have noted how classs have now slightly changed. The debut of the Diplomas has been a method of making this, what would hold been conventionally taught by ICT instructors in schools, pupils now have a mix of staff, staff like myself that originate from industry, I lead the multimedia unit of the IT sheepskin and give pupils an penetration into how a existent web design undertaking would work. We have staff that runs their ain concerns, we drag our technicians in and acquire them to assist us when it comes to the bringing of networking, we show the pupils the waiter room, they get to see it existent life non merely in images. Burn and Durran 2007 discuss how ICT has changed and now non merely allows pupils to make spreadsheets and databases, but now allows them to make artifacts that were one time merely created by extremely skilled experts. Affinity infinites are portion of informal instruction and tantrum in good with the manner of instruction and larning on offer at the CLC. Informal instruction has the ability to be advanced whereas formal instruction does n't be given to be. Affinity infinites are taking to a more originative manner of instruction and acquisition.Participatory civilizationHarmonizing to the five points of definition outlined by Jenkins 2006, is where cognition can be cascaded down from those that are experts down to those that are novitiates. â€Å" And yet kids — peculiarly younger children-are progressively take parting in cultural and societal universes that are unaccessible, even inexplicable to their parents. †[ 8 ] Childs are far stand outing their parents in their cognition of computing machines, as a instructor of ICT I have become quite cognizant of how of import maintaining my accomplishments up has become, many pupils arrive with a surprisingly huge cognition of many package applications and to enable me to trouble-shoot these package applications I have to cognize how they work, nevertheless, this is n't ever possible. Technology is traveling so rapidly that as staff we frequently become bogged down with what we have to cognize instead than looking at what we should cognize. â€Å" Participatory civilization shifts the focal point of literacy from single look to community engagement. †[ 9 ] The above quotation mark by Jenkins suggests how media operates in specific contexts that lead to the how and why they are being used. A computing machine does non bring forth an result without a user, intending engagement is necessary, the sum of engagement does depend on the user. Some users will merely touch the surface of what the computing machine can make and other will delve right down into the nucleus, some will even come on to go experts. Most immature people are active participants of computing machines through the undermentioned outlined by Jenkins 2006 ; Affiliations, many immature people are members of formal and informal online communities based around a specific subject. For case many immature people will be utilizing facebook, Myspace and bet oning forums. These societal sites allow users with the same involvement to pass on at the same degree, it allows experts to go through on cognition and novitiates to derive cognition. These types of associations are now going more evident in the schoolroom, with pupils making ‘groups ‘ to assist each other with class work. Expressions, this is the production of new originative signifiers, such as mash ups, picture devising, fan fictions. Users are able to entree these via web sites such as youtube.com, many students/young people when presented with a challenge now look it up on youtube. Youtube enable users to see and upload pictures, many videos that have been uploaded have been uploaded to demo how to make something, there is a wealth of information available on youtube. Many of the pupils that I work with when they have produced movies or lifes want to upload them to the cyberspace for the universe to see. Collaborative job resolution, this allows users to work together as a squad ; this allows jobs to be solved in a formal and informal manner. This method allows immature people to finish undertakings and develop new cognition. As discussed antecedently many pupils use Wikipedia which allows them to collaboratively work out jobs, even to a certain extent Facebook allows this with the map of being able to make groups. Circulations, determining the flow of media, this is frequently done through web provenders, web logs, podcast and on Facebook ‘statuses ‘ . Many immature people broadcast the media they wish to portion by updating their positions or posting to their walls. Participatory civilization is now going the head of instruction and the schoolroom, the accomplishments that are acquired through the legion signifiers of participatory civilization will help immature people in the development of accomplishments and the comprehension of the encompassing universe.The engagement spreadWith this in head, I sometime have a cognition spread, to increase my cognition and assist other pupils I get the pupils that know the package to sit and demo me how they did something, this is n't merely reenforcing their cognition but it is besides leting me to larn on the occupation. As mentioned antecedently as a CLC we work with everyone from the most basic of users to the most advanced. We try and encourage household acquisition, this is to assist cut down the engagement spread, most families have a computing machine that is normally monopolised by the adolescents, the parents frequently do n't acquire a expression in, which frequently means they do n't cognize what their kids are making or even how they are making this. We try and bridge this spread we invite KS3 and 4 pupils to the CLC for 10 categories in which we teach parents how to supervise and protect their kids when they are utilizing a computing machine, we besides teach the pupils how to utilize different package to finish different undertakings, we so spend six hebdomads working with them together to make a combined piece of work, frequently this takes the signifier of a picture, which they have filmed, edited and rendered to harrow. We show the parents how they can assist their kids how they can a cquire involved and we besides show them that they can make it. However, when these parents/carers arrive they are frequently daunted by the fact that their kid knows more than they do. We as a CLC are seeking to cut down the engagement spread farther by going involved with the Governments Home Access strategy, we are besides flying a strategy to supply wireless internet entree to all secondary age pupils, and we are flying it with one school and the environing country. Through surveies that have been carried out, it indicates that if a pupil has entree to a computing machine in their first twelvemonth of secondary school they are more likely to go through English and maths at GCSE.DecisionThe alterations in the civilization of instruction over the past few old ages have affected the methods of instruction. Media instruction and all of what comes with it is still developing and happening its topographic point within the course of study, it is get downing to stand out and is going something that instructor have to believe about. Media instruction is being used in all capable countries but how and why it is being used demands to be defined merely utilizing it for the interest of utilizing it, is n't a good usage of clip and resources. Students all need to be made cognizant of why they are doing the determinations that they are and how they impact their ain acquisition. There are nevertheless from my ain observations learning staffs that refuse to believe that media instruction is of import, they do non implant their lessons to utilize media of any description, even though the installations are on offer. There is off class the teaching staff that see media instruction as the ability to bring forth a ill formed PowerPoint presentation about the consequence of planetary heating. These members of staff demand to be educated in what is media literacy and media instruction and shown how to utilize it efficaciously within their lessons. We must go on to believe about whether media instruction can be used as a model for all media. Media instruction should let pupils and learning staff to develop accomplishments and apprehension of how they are take parting. Media instruction is n't a speedy hole to a deadening lesson program nor should it be used a method merely to jazz up a category. Students should go engaged in what they are making because they understand why they are making it, and how they are traveling to make it.

The Straight Path, by John Esposito Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Straight Path, by John Esposito - Essay Example Subsequent chapters deal with various themes, from the political and religious structure of Muslim communities in history, to the theological interpretations and disagreements between the religions's leading jurists, to the nineteenth and twentieth century reformists and neo-reformists and, finally, contemporary issues and trends within the religion. Through a critical analysis of Islam: The Straight Path, this review shall seek to determine whether or not Esposito satisfied his expressed aim in writing this book and if, indeed, he has provided the non-academic, introductory reader with a non-biased and solid understanding of Islam. The first three chapters focus on the earlier historical aspects of Islam, from the rise of the religion to the evolution of divisions within the Muslim community. The first chapter is particularly informative and understandable. Not only does it provide a historical account of the Quranic revelations and the life of Mohammed within that context but it explains the interrelationship between Mohammed and the Quran. ... Interestingly, and in an attempt to make the teachings of the Quran more understandable and accessible to his Western, non-academic audience, Esposito draws upon contrasts between Islam and Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The second and third chapters present an overview of the political, social and sectarian history of Islam. The rise of the Islamic empires, the development of the caliphate system of governance and the spread of the religion beyond Arabia are all discussed within the context of an accessible historical capsule. Primarily dealing with Islam following the death of Mohammed, these chapters also explain the emergence of divisions within Islamic theology, eventually leading to the evolution of various sects, from the Shia to the Mutazila to the Kharijites. In addition, the development of the various schools of theological and legal interpretation is discussed and differences between them are clarified. The second and third chapters, even though they are a continuation of the first, contrast with it in a very important way. In brief, while the first chapter gave readers a sense of Islam as a unifying force and presented it as a religion whose interpretation, as exemplified by Mohammed's lifestyle and words, was relatively clear cut, the second and third chapters indirectly dispute this assumption. The rise of sects and the different schools of theological interpretation lead the reader to believe that the unifying force was the Prophet of Islam, himself and upon his death, unification died as well. This belief is further confirmed by Esposito's statement that the Murjia "position provided a justification for Umayyad legitimacy and rule" (Esposito, 1991, 70). The implication here is that while earlier theological interpretations, as in

Intervention letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intervention letter - Essay Example It helped. You were my strength then and so many other times, too many to count. At home, you would usually take the blame for me knowing I would be more severely punished. My life would have been much more difficult without you. 3) It was me who wasnt there for you when your baby died, when your husband beat you, when you spent time in the homeless shelter. Each step of the way alcohol and drugs became your escape, your only friend, because you have no one else to lean on like I did in you. These crutches have made your life worse nut the downward steps into addiction can be reversed by taking steps upward. 4) Drugs and alcohol have taken your strength and is preventing you from being the magnificent person you were before. They prevent you from going back to school, finding someone who really loves you and having the family you wanted and deserved. 6) We have located a women-only drug and alcohol treatment center. It specializes in womens specific issues such as abuse and grief. Its comfortable, clean place that provides room and board and it already paid

Workplace mediations in cyberspace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Workplace mediations in cyberspace - Essay Example Bandwidth and connectivity speeds have been increasing. Parties in disputes are using technology to bypass the legal mechanisms or institutions (Armbrust 2000). The virtual platform is not only private but decentralized. This has enabled organizations develop a decentralized environment in the quest to develop dispute resolution mechanisms using cyberspace (Barrett and Barrett 2012). The participants of the cyberspace mediation are expected to develop a decision without involving the judges. The representation of multiparty disputes and other parties is not affected. Internet offers a platform for glass root information and development of information from the pluralistic nature of its architecture (Wang 2010). The applications within cyberspace make it possible to use enormous information from a variety of sources during the mediation process. The dispute resolution professionals are optimistic about the cyberspace mediation and the potential thereof (Hawk, Rieder, and Oviedo 2008). The development of a virtual dispute resolution mechanism is perceived to be the modern organizations’ highest aspirations (Barrett and Barrett 2004). The virtual architecture is expected to prove that mediators can use technology to resolve organizational issues within a short period (Armbrust 2000). This cyberspace mediation saves time and space. Research shows that virtual mediation shall cause organizations to invest in enhanced technology. This shall benefit other aspects about the operations of an organization (Breslow and Mousoutzanis 2012). Virtual negotiations eliminate travel costs and save money for the parties (Barrett and Barrett 2004). The mediators are said to be more effective in the digital platform given that the temperatures of the disputes appear to be low because of the geographical barriers. Numerous mediators argue that cyberspace mediations pose straightforward challenges (Doherty and Guyler 2008). However, the challenges are be overcome as a growing n umber of internet users get acquainted to online settings (Barrett and Barrett 2004). Critics argue that online communication and dispute resolutions cannot be a substitute to solving challenges while physically present (Breslow and Mousoutzanis 2012). This is linked to the values and attributes of communication during mediation. Many mediators argue that the fact that disputants are incapable of speaking is the reason for mediation (Armbrust 2000). The choice of using a digital platform which is perceived as slow and prone to breakdown is questionable (Hawk, Rieder, and Oviedo 2008). However, a growing number of organizations are targeting the global market and opening branches across the world (Gonc?alves 2008). The process of dispute resolution between to international branches or employees working in different continents has necessitated the use of technology (Barrett and Barrett 2004). The process of online mediation is said to ensure organizations or multinational operate as u nits despite the geographical barriers (Breslow and Mousoutzanis 2012). Online mediation offers better safeguards for caution and sensitivity compared to the conventional mediation (Breslow and Mousoutzanis 2012). The online mediums of mediation are lessening as a growing number of organizational or workplace activities become founded on technology (Armbrust 2000). The demands of the online platforms and the mediation process have advanced to the place of accepting online communications for exclusive transactions (Barrett and Barrett 2004). Technology has developed to an extent of replicating face-to-face interactions in comprehensive and inexpensive ways (Hartley 2007). Majority of participants in the online understand the dynamics and

The Maryknoll Missioners Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Maryknoll Missioners - Research Paper Example His mission on earth was full of love and compassion for people. He dedicated his life to protect the weak and stand for the truth. From this, one can articulate that, mission work began with Jesus Christ. Since then, Jesus followers received a mission of spreading love and compassion to all people as a vital aspect of making disciples of all nations. To this point, it stands out that, the work of a missioner entails a lot such as, teaching and preaching the word of God, protecting the weak, leading the captives free, and giving gifts to men among others. In a way, missionary work is referred to as the great commission described in Matthew 28:18-20 of going forth and making men disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them the word of God. Throughout history, Maryknoll has emphasized missionary and ministry work particularly in Korea, China, Africa, East Asia, and Latin America. Up-to-date, these missioners have played a significant role in the Catholic Church, in allev iating poverty, and enhancing constructive changes to many lives. With this regard, the following paper seeks to discuss the Maryknoll missioners as well as their impact on people’s lives. MARYKNOLL MISSIONARIES A brief history As mentioned earlier, Maryknoll was founded as a Catholic mission society. It was established in 1911 with most men being skilled tradesmen. The group was led by bishops from the United States, and its development fell into two diocesan priests namely Father Thomas Fredrick and James Anthony of Boston. Just like Jesus, the two individuals had the commission, to encourage U.S missioners to set their lives apart for helping the community. Studies outline that, one year after its founding, three men joined who were fully dedicated to the mission work (Gollock, 2010). During this time, the number of brothers increased in that, by 1921, the community comprised of twenty priests, dozen brothers, and almost sixty five seminaries students. Men played a vital r ole at Maryknoll to the extent that they formed a movement of the â€Å"Fields A far Staff â€Å". In 1920, the church recognized Maryknoll sisters who led the community into service as they recognize the needs in the community. In essence, the Maryknoll missionaries have served all over the world, as they become influential in regards to missionary activities. As of 2009, there were over 560 Maryknoll brothers and priests serving all over the world, mainly in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In the 20th Century, they played a vital role in the Catholic Church of East Asia, and also extended into Latin American countries. Their aspect of mission For years, the Maryknoll Missioners have imposed love and compassion for people, as they work diligently to protect the weak and poor. For instance, they have had extensive connections with Latin American countries whereby, they have worked hard to eradicate poverty and improve lives of many Latin American. Poverty is a core issue affectin g Latin Americans in the sense that, some live below the poverty line. With this in mind, Maryknoll Missioners have worked to help the needy in such communities as they renewed call to their membership in campaigning for justice for the poor. These efforts have been supported by donations from U.S as many unite to help the needy in the community. With no doubt; this has helped to alleviate poverty as they bring constructive changes to the Latin Americans. Typically,

General Information on Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

General Information on Marketing - Essay Example Importance in Marketing The world, today, is a global marketplace. The emergence and strong penetration of internet all over the world, has facilitated the evolution of the virtual marketplace through the popularization of sites like Amazon.com, eBay. The big and small enterprises, which are catering to the needs of the customers on an individual or a business level, are trying to beat each other in the global market place, by competing with each other in various markets all around the globe, while using technology as the primary tool for marketing. So, as a matter of fact, today’s consumer has the power of information, using which they can access or source the product or service of their preference from anywhere around the globe. As a matter of fact, the companies have to understand the customer’s or client’s requirements in a more effective manner in order to cater to their needs and to estimate the forecasted demand from their products or services in a more ef fective manner. Analyzing consumer behaviour helps the organizations to identify and idealize, how consumers are supposed to behave in the market with relation to a particular product or service (Haynes, et. al, 2007, p.4). ... The most common form of promotional strategy employed by companies to popularize their product is advertising. Companies use various kinds of advertising techniques using various media like the radio, television, and internet as well as the print media like newspapers, magazine etc (Pride & Ferell, 2011, p.514). Advertising in today’s date has taken up various advanced forms and mediums. Today’s consumers are increasingly becoming internet savvy and as a result are most of the time logged on to the internet based networking sites. The networking sites, acts as a strong platform for social communications for the internet users, and companies want to make the most of this online boom by popularizing the product using this platform. Marketing a product targeted mostly towards the teenage and young consumers can be very effective in the market while the cost per contact is comparatively low. The electronic media like the radio or the television can also be considered a chea p mode of promotion as the cost per contact is relatively low with regards to the exposure provided to the products or services. The maintenance of an individual sales force for the purpose of promotion and selling of services and products to organizational clients in the case of business to business marketing is the most expensive mode of promotion. Promotion of services and products to the organizational clients needs the expertise of technology, knowledge of the feature of the products in details as well as relationship building which makes the process all the more expensive. Question 3 Distribution is the process of efficient delivery of value to the customer by making the product or service available to the customer or the client. It is essentially an important part of

Why There Would Be No People Without Plants Essay - 2

Why There Would Be No People Without Plants - Essay Example Since humans exhale carbon dioxide, plants use that to create oxygen that enables humans to live. This makes life possible for all living forms on earth. This paper will review the importance of plants, and how their existence orchestrates the existence of other life forms. Plants have the task of cleaning the air. This implies that they take up all the carbon dioxide that humans exhale, and turn it into oxygen. They are a primary source of energy. This is because some individuals somewhere in the world do not have electricity as a form of energy. They provide basic heat energy in the form of charcoal and wood. It is a known fact that, without this heat source, many lives would perish (Balick & Cox, 1997). Through plants, the soil pH and acidity is maintained. It is through the existence of shrubs and grasses that the top soil is stabilised and held in place. Through any form of erosion, soil would be rendered useless. The growth of anything on earth depends on how the soil tends to behave. Supporting life form on earth is based on the ability to grow and sustain food (Balick & Cox, 1997). This can only be possible if rich, top soil is maintained. Through plants, it is possible for human beings to get treatment for certain diseases. Some plant species aid in the excretion of chemicals that help combat diseases. Without some of these plants, it would be next to impossible for humans to exist for long (Chiras, 2011). Isolating plant proteins is responsible for this, and through technology; many scientific breakthroughs in medicine are made possible. These proteins are synthesised in plants. Through cellular respiration, the conversion of these nutrients into biochemical energy occurs. This further leads to the breakdown of large molecules into much smaller ones, thus releasing energy to the immediate environment. This occurs through aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Though they perform almost similar functions, the two operate under different conditions

Business Analytic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Analytic - Essay Example These necessary requirements are as follows: a) Specific – the target must be specific including the number of customers that the organization has to collect annually or the forecasted revenue of a firm, the reduction in delivery time and so on. This target may be attained by carefully selecting relevant information from big data (Barton & Court, 2012). b) Measurable – the target must have the quality of measurement for it to be relevant. The figures must be tangible as it may be difficult to allocate costs and revenues to systems that need enhancement and accordingly measurable targets have to be established. One instance is if the firm is not sure about the number of customers it has, then it has to look for another particular target. c) Agreed – the targets have to be accepted by the organization. In other words, there is essential need for claiming ownership prior to strategy implementation. Without ownership, a strategy may be completely ignored or even coun teracted. Also when the targets are accepted by a firm, some individual are entrusted with the accountability of meeting the targets. d) Realistic – it is very essential that the firm sets realistic and attainable targets. In most firms, targets may be formulated without trying to determine whether they are achievable or not. This may be as an outcome of the corporate culture in the firm, no possible outcomes for meeting specific targets within given deadlines or the possibility for individuals to extend deadline by buying time. e) Time bound – it is extremely necessary for firms to set attainable targets within a specific period of time and it is imperative for the organization to emphasize on meeting deadlines. Also it is very important for firms to understand at an early stage the targets which may not be achievable and accordingly make modifications. Putting the initial letters of the first five words helps one to get the acronym SMART. There are certain reasons fo r the goals to be SMART. This is especially true in the context of business analytics so that they may be accurately defined and operational. Many times, it becomes difficult to implement technical processes in case of ambiguous information and this further complicates calculation and collection of data thereby leading to failure of meeting with the proposed goals. It is important to develop measurable goals as they need to be technically quantified. At the same time, these goals must be attained in a given amount of time for the data system to deliver messages to end users especially when significant values are exceeded. Broadly speaking, the above five needs help to ensure clear understanding of business initiatives. Ambiguous objectives may have diverse interpretations leading to diverse authentic versions. For facilitating efficient reporting, goals need to meet specific deadlines (Laurson & Thorlund, 2010). 2. What are the key competencies required by analysts in the business i ntelligence model? Depending on the organization, the functions of a business analyst may slightly differ, however the core roles of a business analyst remains the same provided the firm wants to smoothly operate the business analytics function. A business analyst should have the required business competencies. The analyst should have thorough understanding of the supporting business process and the manner in which information may be delivered to add to value on a strategic level. Hence the analyst should

Mobile Phone Industry in India Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mobile Phone Industry in India - Research Paper Example The country was a close-door economy until 1991 and languishing at the low GDP growth rate ever since independence. The country faced severe balance of payments problem in the beginning of 1990s and that forced the then newly elected Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao to initiate the liberalization and globalization process in full swing to put the country in high growth trajectory. That was indeed a turning point in the country. The state behemoth BSNL was the only service provider in the public sector and landline was the only available way of communication to the people. The people of the country had to wait several years to get BSNL landline connection as wait-list was fairly long and state resources were not enough to meet the investment needs of the country. (An Economic History of India) In the wake of economic liberalization process, India suddenly became lucrative and telecommunication was earmarked as one of the thrust areas. The government introduced National Telecom Polic y in 1994 that defined certain objectives and also recognized the fact that the government does not have enough resources to meet the desired objectives. In 1995, the government of India decided to set up an independent regulatory body called TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). The purpose was to regulate and spearhead the growth and investment in the field of telecommunication and formulate all policy matters striking a balance between users and industry.     India is a second largest country in the world in terms of population. As per the latest census, a population of the country has crossed 121 billion marks and that offers huge telecom market in the making. Administratively, the country is divided into 28 states and seven union territories. On religious composition, 80.5 percent of the population follows Hindu religion. Muslims constitute almost 13.4 percent of the population as the largest minority community. Christians constitute almost 2.3% of the population. I ndia is also a land of many languages; however, Hindi is understood and spoken by a large section of the society. Most of the educated classes of the people understand English and majority of them prefer to do their official work in English. Southern states do not follow Hindi language and prefer their own languages such as Tamil, Malayalam or Telugu; however, they too use English in their formal communications. In a way, it can be said that due to British legacy English has become fairly common as a second language of India and widely used as a formal way of communication in all parts of the country. Indian constitution is unique in the sense that in spite of its large section of the population is Hindu, India has established itself as a secular state. Every citizen of the country regardless of their faith, language or origin enjoys equal rights. The current literacy rate as per census 2011 is estimated at 74 percent, which shows a 10 percent improvement from the previous census do ne in 2001. This is attributable to the free education provided in the villages by the government. (Census Data Summary) The customs in India are different than what is observed in the US. It is always advisable to learn and use Indian business customs in India. Hierarchy is given a great respect in India.  Ã‚  

Trafficking Of Drugs Essay Example for Free

Trafficking Of Drugs Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Central Asia is one of the regions that international groups are focusing on. Aside form the challenges of establishing its independence it still faces today, it also has to deal with the internal struggles of restructuring social infrastructures. The Central Asian region’s undeniable value is its strategic geographic position between Asia and Europe (Esfandiari, 2004). The stability of Central Asia is seen as a key factor than can ease tension in the region, enhance trade and stabilize the political structure. The prevalence of the illegal drug industry is considered as one of the major deterrents for stabilization in the region (Cornell, 2006). The elimination of illegal drugs is a global concern. The United Nations (UN) is targeting to control the international trade of illegal drugs by 2008 (UN General Assembly, 1998). The prevalence of the illegal drug trade industry is seen as not just an issue of crime prevention but also as a geographical, social and political issue that affects the stability of nations and the security of the international community.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Central Asia has a long history of trans-border relations. The region ahs been defined more by its political versus geographic delineations. This has contributed to the richness of the region in terms of culture and relations. However, this also reflects that the security of borders is not a historical aptitude for the region and current border problems maybe a consequence of this historical predicament   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chief producers of opium and opium-derivates drugs in Asia is the Golden Triangle in South East Asia consisting of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand and the Golden Crescent consisting of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Because of the establishment of Afghanistan as the primary producer of opium in the world and the consequent control of the trade in the Golden Triangle, the Golden Crescent has become the region of greater concern (Saidazimova, 2005). Another critical factor in the demand for better control of the drug trade in Central Asia is because of the indication from studies that bulk of the drugs in Europe is being sourced from the region. The concern for controlling the illegal drug trade however has a more important motivation for the countries in the region. Researches conducted by the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have indicated the link of the drug trade to terrorism and crime (UNODC, 2006a). The proliferation of drugs and related crime has significantly affected the economy and the stability of the region, severely detrimental to efforts in building the region as a major business hub for Asia and Europe. Central Asian Drug Trade   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Alexander von Humboldt was the first to refer to the region as Central Asia. As seen in Figure 2, the concept what makes up the region has changed together with the current powers in the region. The region for the most part of the century was under Soviet Rule. Borders were redefined after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990’s and succeeding wars and conflicts in the region (â€Å"Afghanistan†, 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The modern concept of the geographic region includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Western China, Northeast Iran, Afghanistan and Western Pakistan. The region has suffered inveterate incidents of civil violence from ethnic and militant groups (Olcott Udalova, 2000). After the September 11th bombings, the US invasion of Afghanistan put the region into the limelight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the course of this global scrutiny, the international community has realized the key role that the region plays in the establishment of stability and security in the region and the Middle East. Another issue that became a highlight is the increasing significance of the region in the opium and heroin drug trade (United Nations Information Service [UNIS], 2005). The problem of drug trafficking in the region developed its current structure after the Cold War. One of the key factors that is an urgent concern in the region is border management and security. The lack of economic opportunities is also an underlying factor in the pervasiveness of illegal drug production and distribution (Cornell, 2006). The growing presence of crime groups is also capitalizing on the illegal drug trade to finance its operations. The region has seen a direct correlation of the trade with cross-border crime, trafficking or arms and people, money laundering and terrorism. Swanstrom (2001) points outs that the concern in the region is not only in its role a major producer but the greater concern should be focused in its role as a transit point. He estimates that the region will not be able to develop unless it first stops being the preferred channel of transporting drugs. The region is home to a rich ethnic history. The region which is the key element of the Eurasian continent represents a marriage of cultures of the East and West. Ethnic groups like Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, British and the Soviets. The regions of Central Asia, particularly the Soviet areas are the ones that most industrialized and developed infrastructure. However these regions have also experiences a high degree of cultural repression. This has established a psychology distrust of government in valuing local leaderships more (â€Å"Central Asia†, 2006). Afghanistan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Afghanistan serves as the gateway to Asia and the Middle East. It has been a focal point for trade dating back to the beginnings of caramel caravans and the Silk Road. As a nation, it was established by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747 and was part of the United Kingdom’s territories until the early 20th century. The conclusion of the Anglo-Afghan war in 1919 restored the nation’s independence. The country figured in the international once more when it was invaded by Russia in 1979. After the withdrawal of Russia in the 1990’s, the Taliban, a fundamentalist Muslim group that traces its origins in Iran and Pakistan took control of the country. The Taliban controlled 90% of the country while the remaining 10% was under the control of resistance forces led by Ahmad Shah Massoud. Massoud was assassinated in September 9, 2001 two days before the bombing of the World Trade Center in the United States. Some believe that Osama Bin Laden, leader of the extremist Al Qaeda ordered his assassination as a strategy in the event that the US partner with the Afghan resistance forces against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The US led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 in pursuit of Bin Laden, Al Qaeda has deposed the Taliban and has supported the Presidency of Hamid Karzai. The country today is still hosting the NATO troops authorized in December 2001 by the UN’s Security Council as part of an effort to establish the authority and leadership of the new Afghan government (â€Å"Afghanistan†, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Figure 5, it is shown that Afghanistan today is the undeniable leader the opium and heroin market. This, together with its strategic geographic position in the region makes it the keystone in the drug trade in Central Asia (UN Security Council, 2003). It is estimated that the country now supplies 75% of the world wide market, one third of which ends up in Europe. There has been success in the areas of cultivation but the production from the products has not diminished proportionately (McDermott, 2006). According to Lubin (2001), the farming of opium is remaining a staple in rural agricultural because of the lack of economic opportunities for farmers. The presence of criminal networks in Afghanistan, like the rest of the other countries in the region, is discouraging foreign investment (Swanstrom, 2003). The criminal groups are also being credited with interfering with the government, inciting insurgency and encouraging corruption.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The UN has sponsored programs to address the issues that are escalating the drug trade in the country. The primary objective is to decrease production through the combination of effective regulation and providing livelihood for farmers in the country. Through the Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UN ODCCP), programs are also trying to place criminal groups based in the country, the region and the Golden Triangle. Consequently, the channels that are linked to Afghanistan are also become the target of international police programs (Lubin, 2001) Kyrgyzstan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kyrgyzstan traces its origins to a mix of Kipchak and Mongol ancestry that settled in Russia’s Tuva region approximately in the 10th century. When the Mongol empire took possession of the territory of the Kyrgyz people, they opted to move southward seeking refuge from the Mongol Hordes. It was in the 1400’s that the Kyrgyz emerged as a group and was incorporated into the Russian territories making up its Empire. The Russian takeover was meant with significant resistance and fractioned the Kyrgyz people to Afghanistan, the Pamir region and China. The Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast was founded in 1919 and in December 5, 1936, it was formally accepted as a republic of the Soviet Union. Tension in the Osh Oblast between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in 1990 marked the beginning of a series of violent confrontations that lasted from June to August of the year. Order was restored due to significant reforms and a new leadership in the government. It was also at this time that the country joined Commonwealth of Independent States which was made up of the Central Asian Republics. Before the end of 1990, the Supreme Soviet formally changed the name of the state to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan which in 1993 became the Kyrgyz Republic. More recent developments in the country include the Tulip Revolution in March 2005 that forced the resignation of Askar Akayev and installed Kurmanbek Bakiyev as President and Minister Feliks Kulov as Prime Minister. The country has yet been able to stabilize politics in the country. This has stunted growth in the country and at the same time has encouraged crime and militant and terrorist groups. There is still significant inter-ethnic tension, historically a perennial concern for the nation, affecting civil order and compromising security and efficiency of government (â€Å"Kyrgyzstan†, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kyrgyzstan’s involvement in the drug trade in Central Asia is not in cultivation or production. The role of the country in the drug trade lies in its strategic viability to transport drugs to Europe from the major produces such as Afghanistan. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan have historically been more involved in the transport of drugs form Central Asia as well as those from South East Asia. However, as drug traffickers expand their operations in the region, Kyrgyzstan along with Kazakhstan, is becoming another key channel for the drug trade (â€Å"Kyrgyzstan Confronted by Narcotics Nightmare As Drug Trade Booms†, 2006). As seen in Table 1, opiate seizures in the country remain relatively low and stable compared with its neighbors. This indicates that though there are significant amounts at any given time of opiates and its derivatives in Kyrgyzstan (UNODC, 2006b), there are very few seizures. This may be an indication that its presence is more transitory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similar with the situation of farmers in Afghanistan, one of the reasons for the prevalence of the trade is lack of economic opportunity. More significantly in Kyrgyzstan rather than in Afghanistan is the security of its borders. The existing civil unrest in the country has limited the resources to monitor the security of its borders, easing the transportation of not only drugs but also arms and people (Burke, 2001). As a country that only post a per capita income of $2,900, among the lowest in the world, drug trafficking provides an irresistible lure to the impoverished citizens (Swanstrom, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The country has been one of the first to establish anti-narcotics and supporting trafficking laws. For a long time, the laws acted more as prevention rather than actual part of policing efforts. Traffickers previously concentrated on Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in transporting drugs. However, the industry has grown in the region so much that crime organizations are trying to expand the channels available to them (Marat, 2006). Saidazimova (2005) has pointed out that the existing drugs in the region are not just the one produced there but is also made up of drugs from the Golden Triangle. Following the international operations of a transnational corporation, dealers are competing not just for the availability but also the control of the channels of distribution. Thus, many of the drug syndicates are trying to develop new transport systems and indications from studies conducted by the UN and EU are showing that Kyrgyzstan is becoming a popular option for them (Swanstrom, 2001) Impact of the Drug Trade   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In theory, crime is primarily a concern for the police. However, because of the desire of organized crime to create the conditions that suit them, they try to undermine government, security and civil society. If the state is secure and has the necessary infrastructure for administration or governance, then it can mange and deter the machinations of organized crime. In the case of Central Asian countries, this is not a capability that is readily available. The presence of organized crime that is responsible for the illegal drug trade has undermined the security, state institutions, encouraged the corruption, political instability and violence, and has exacerbated relations among the countries in the region (Cornell, 2006). Security The drug trade is profiting from the scarce resources allotted for the administration of the countries’ borders. Because of the lack or border patrols, the transport of the drugs has been made easier for the traffickers. Land-based transport has been traditionally avoided by traffickers because it was considered riskier than air or sea freight (Esfandiari, 2004). It has increased in viability that even the Golden Triangle is choosing Central Asia to traffic their drugs instead of following the unwritten historical territorial jurisdiction of their operations (Saidazimova, 2005). Better drug control programs against the Golden Triangle have been effective in limiting transportation of drugs produced in the region. At the same time, the crackdown on production has been effective in diminishing the industry in the region (see Figure 5). Security in the areas of the country were the drug trade has its strongholds has severely compromised state and civil security. Reports in Afghanistan of syndicates attacking security convoys, both those of the Afghan government and UN forces are prevalent (â€Å"Drug Industry Threatens to Derail Afghanistans State Building†, 2006). At first, the attacks were attributed to Taliban forces but recent information from investigations in the affected areas reveal that a significant number of the forces were either a combination of Taliban and drug syndicates or just the syndicates themselves (Nazemroaya, 2006). In the case of Kyrgyztan, prior to the Tulip Revolution, there have been reports in the national papers that crime syndicates were taking control of rural areas in the country amidst the political disorder in the country’s capitals (â€Å"Kyrgyztan†, 2006). The country is very vulnerable in its stage today: investor confidence and industries has to be built up significantly. Analysts believe that unless the country can be able to address its security issues, very little progress can be achieved in this objective (Esfandiari, 2004). This is one of the motivation of drug syndicates to provoke crime so that legitimate business do not develop in competitor with their enterprise. State Institutions  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The government is dealing with the trade not just as its protagonist but also internally. In both Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, there has been some concern regarding the link of government officials to the drug trade. The weak presence of government in remote regions is also becoming an advantage for the drug syndicates. According to Olcott and Udalova (2000), in some areas, the traffickers are even presenting themselves as the legitimate government. Some do not even bother with subterfuge and simply overpower the locals for their operations. More alarming is that some local even begin supporting these groups because they seemingly provide livelihood to them while at the same time become more real to them than the legitimate government so far away in their respective nations’ capitals (UNIS, 2005). In Afghanistan, the Taliban has long been linked to the syndicates. This implies that even if the Taliban were not participating in terrorist activities, its role as a government institution is marred by its link to the drug trade. Some have even implied that the profit from the opium trade during the Taliban occupation, estimated to have ranged between US$ 10 million to US$ 75 million, was one of the core partnerships the organization has with the Al Qaeda (Lubin, 2001). In Kyrgyztan, there have also been claims of the link of some government officials to the Russian mafia concerned with the drug trade. The weakness of state institutions has been credited with the expansion of the drug trade channel linking Tajikistan, southern Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia with the Chinese provinces of Xinjiang and Yunnan (Swanstrà ¶m, 2003). Corruption  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Related to the link of government officials directly or indirectly to the drug trade is the problem of corruption. Corruption can be in the form asking favors in the form of leniency as payback for support to the official. Another form of corruption is the utilization of proceeds from the trade as protection and incentive (UNODC, 2006a). One of the deterrents in addressing the drug trafficking problem is the execution of the intervention programs. The UN’s Security Council has pointed out that in order to be able to effectively to deal with the problem, government has to be able to show its integrity and authority. If government efforts are perceived as corruptible then instead of discouraging the drug traffickers, it may even be an encouragement for them. The issue does not even require that a government is resolutely corrupt, the mere state of being more corrupt than another nation, regardless of actual prevalence, can significantly increase a country’s preference to the drug trade. The development of the drug trade in Kyrgyztan has been associated with the corrupt Russian military officers who were based in Tajikistan. Both the United Nations and the European Union cite them to have developed the cultivation in the country as well as established the channels of transportation (Maitra, 2005). None of these claims have been admitted to by the Russian military or have been supported by any study. Regardless of whether the claims are true or not, this only reflects the perception of corruption as linked with the prevalence of the drug trade in the country. According to studies conducted by the UN, the decline of the routes in Iran because due to more effective programs against corruption on its borders has increased the attractiveness of Afghani routes (UNODC, 1999). This, like with the developments in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, have established a route that corruption has encouraged not only for drugs but also for all other forms of contraband. Political Instability and Violence Drug traffickers incite and practice violence to coerce people into the trade. This is a strategy to protect their activities as well as to accumulate power. Recent studied have indicated that drug trafficking is the preferred cash cow of most criminal organizations an is only to be expected that they are more than willing to engage in violence to protect it (Maitra, 2005). Tamara Makarenko of the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland’s Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence says that competition among the criminal networks in the trade is also a contributor to the level of violence (Esfandiari, 2005). This level of violence has severely affected the political stability: warlords are taking over government positions; there has been censorship of the real prevalence of drugs and the control of resources (UN Security Council, 2003). Makarenko has alluded that the sheer magnitude of the drug trade has effectively affected all levels of the political system, from the citizenry to the states themselves: The trade itself is so large in Central Asia now and there are so many different types of people and groups involved, that the strategy that has to be considered is one that involves all different levels To tackling this as a political problem and to say there is no room to compromise with warlords†¦ (Esfandiari, 2005). He further alludes to the situation in Afghanistan as one that needs political will to reach grassroots of the society since the country’s main concern is production and cultivation (Esfandiari, 2005). Another spectrum that has to be considered is that unless the region is able to become more politically stable and control violence, then little progress in achieving peace and prosperity can be achived which in turn can contribute to further political instability and violence. EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten told newly independent Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan â€Å"†¦are of strategic importance to Europe and EU enlargement will allow us to strengthen political and economic ties with the region, while making clear that a sustainable and fruitful relationship requires tangible steps to consolidate civil rights and the rule of law. (Maitra, 2005). Inter-Regional Relations As international pressure to control the drug trade increases, countries are becoming pressured to control trafficking in exchange for funding from relief organizations. This has prompted the development of tension in the region as to whose country is not being effective in solving the drug trade in its borders. Historically, the region has already had significant border issues and the drug trade which relies on trans-border operations is highlighting this conflict (â€Å"Threat Posed from the Convergence of Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Terrorism†, 2000). The link or organized crime groups to terrorism are also increasing the inter-regional pressure. With the international crackdown on terrorism, nations fear that they will become identified with terrorists or that they become caught in the firing line of the pursuit against them. An example for this kind of development was shown when the Taliban came into power in Afghanistan in 1996. In the cause of transporting the opium produced in Afghanistan, traffickers took virtual control of the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In defense of the problem of drug trafficking in Kyrgyztan, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is pointing out that the country has a low cultivation and production level of opium and that it is being victimized the ineffectivity of the drug programs of its neighbors (Swanstrom, 2001). In 2003, the Central Asian region expressed its concern when US troops allied with known Afghan warlords in pursuing Taliban cells. The concern for is rooted from the identification of these warlords as drug traffickers. (Maitra, 2005). This move has raised concerns that Afghanistan’s drug lords, who control most of the drug trades in the region, are being given concessions for their support to US Forces. The development has contributed to the perception that regional cooperation is not feasible and that nations have to guard their backs against each other in the war against the drug trade.   The Future of the Drug Trade   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The UN’s goals of globally eradicating drugs are not anymore an achievable target. One weakness of the programs is that it focused on the trade itself. The focus was in policing the trade, apprehending traffickers and eliminating the channels of trade (Nazemroaya, 2006). Though the efforts have been earnest, it failed to address the nature of the drug problem in Central Asia. Programs that were designed were more like programs to eliminate the use of drugs. In Central Asia, only 10% of the drugs produced are consumed locally, it more profitable to transport it to Europe and Russia (Kyrgyz State Commission on Drug Control, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United Nations, European Union and Central Asian countries have reviewed their programs to address the roots of the drug problem in the region. The personalized programs in Central Asia is trying to alleviate the hold of drug syndicates in rural area, particularly the massive cultivation of opium in Afghanistan and the developing role of Kyrgyzstan in the transport of opium produced in Afghanistan. Programs include the creation of economic opportunities in the problem areas, strengthening government in the areas and demilitarization of criminal groups (Olcott Udalova, 2000). Trends   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to studies conducted by the UNODC, the prevalence of opiate drugs is relatively stable however; this trend is not being reflected in Central Asia. This implies that though the world trend is declining because of better control in key regions like the Golden Triangle, the Golden Crescent trade is still prospering if not benefiting by international drug control (UNODC, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before, the main means of measuring prevalence has been the seizure rates but the UN and the EU have now incorporated rehabilitation indicators to assess the pervasiveness of the drug abuse. To measure the reach how much of the drugs produced is being consumed by the market. From the survey of drugs users seeking rehabilitation from opiate use, it can be inferred that more people are gaining access to the products form Central Asia. As illustrated in Figure 6, the increase of those seeking opiate rehabilitation has increased except in Africa by as much as 32%. It is exhibiting the highest incidence in rehabilitation from 2000 to 2006 (UNODC, 2006a).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) and the Central Asian Drug Action Programme (CADAP) are becoming the key action bodies addressing drug trafficking in the region. Their first part of the programs were concentrating on creating assessment reports on border management capacities, training for management and policing and the possible areas of cooperation not only within the region but also with the EU and the UN. (BOMCA, 2005). In 2004, the BOMCA and CADAP worked with legislation of laws and upgraded training programs for border patrol in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The programs were conducted in cooperation with EU border police officers and included strategic and computer technology training.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Saidazimova (2005) points out that the region respond to this challenge independently as nations and as a region. The control of the Golden Triangle trade can provide insights to the strategies necessary for strategies. The approach should involve a global perspective but a local approach. The drug trade in Central Asia will continue to figure prominently in the EU’s concerns and is a strategic element in controlling drugs in Europe, particularly opiates. Analysts believe that most programs and actions that will be enforced will be by non-Central Asian interest groups like the EU and the UN because the region itself has limited resources to dent the trade activities. Strategies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The current action in addressing the drug trade today is taking a multi-faceted approach. The strategy seems to be combat the problems at all levels at the same time. The objective is to suffocate the drug trade and break linkages so that it becomes fragmented. This will address the viability of the trafficking and in turn will remove the profit from cultivation and production (UN Security Council, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consider the BOMCA-CADAP strategy. Their programs include â€Å"high-level advice and guidance in upgrading legislation, to delivering expertise in airport security, or the use of dogs to detect drugs†. This considers the importance of the political and executive will to implement control programs. Through these efforts that essential legislation and infrastructures are developed to address the situations. Without the needed legislation that is uniform in the region’s countries, there will not be a comprehensive deterioration of the trade. Differential legislation may make one country become a haven for the traffickers when punishment is perceived to be more lenient. The establishment of the needed infrastructure to address the problem operationally is also seen as key factor. When border patrols don’t have the capability to pursue and apprehend traffickers, it makes the effort wasted. If the border patrols are outgunned or out-resourced by the traffickers, they are not only endangered but also can enhance the position of the traffickers as powers in the region (BOMCA, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The EU’s participation in the fight has shifted from border control to the creation of programs addressing the economic and social factors underlying the drug trade. Studies have indicated that if programs are cventerd on border dontrol, traffickers only deveise new ways to transport the drugs. This additional risk has even the effect of jacking up prices and in turn makes the trade even more lucrative (Nazemroaya, 2006). The EU is also providing support to regional programs such as BOMCA-CADAP by providing technical training support as well. An effort by EU Member States led by Austria is providing funding and program development in the region (BOMCA, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the part of the UN, there are several of its branches that are providing the needed research and information for the development of the programs. Among these branches are the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UNIS and the UNODC. The UNDP is formulating the programs to address the economic and industrial development of rural areas in the region to attack the problem at the production level (UNODC, 1999). The programs are focusing on development of agriculture and the other legitimate industries. One of the major developments to be undertaken in the next five years is the utilization of the same drug trade routes to make transport hubs to Europe for products from continental Asia. On the other hand the UNODC is conduting a regional and coutry survey of the actual prevalence of the opium trade. One of the first parts of their study included the grading of cultivation in the region (UNODC, 2006a). The nest level of the studiest they are to conduct will be grease toward the identification of specific criminal activites to the trade. This is an effort to understand further the link of activities like terrorism and money laundering to drug trafficking in the region. The UNIS primary objectives for the next couple of year sis to provide information regarding the accomplishment of the 2008 UN General Assembly Special Session’s drug control objectives. The UNIS is providing important information to individual countries who can not afford to conduct the studies themselves while at the same time establishing correlation that can provide insights for the programs (UNIS, 2005) Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Significant increase in the global production and trading of opium and coca derived drugs were first taken note of in the 1970’s and eventually decreased in momentum by the 1990’s (Burnham Burnham, 1997). The probability that the objectives set by the UN’s General Assembly for 2008 can be achieved based on current levels of illegal drug trafficking is unlikely. We can take comfort that control of the trade is possible. In the first couple of years of the century, Afghanistan was able to bring down opium production due to enforcement of the Taliban (â€Å"Drug Industry Threatens to Derail Afghanistans State Building†, 2006). However, the means by which the Taliban was able to affect the development is not one that can be considered an option by the UN or other states: it enables violent persecution that in the course of its objectives victimized innocent farmers as well (Lubin, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The drug trade and rafficking in the region as Svante E Cornell says is one that is the result of   â€Å"the complex evolution of organized crime as a security challenge in Eurasia† (p.29). The drug trade’s effect of developing shadow economies affords it opportunities to infiltrate legitimate institutions in the society and even take control of it. When this happens, the state becomes at the mercy of criminal elements whose central concern is profit. In Kyrgyzstan, the effect of the drug trade has not just raised concerns against the prevalence of a crime but also has significantly affected the stability of the country. The Kyrgyz have had success in being able to achieve progress in crating the necessary policies mainly thorough its successful social activists but it has yet been able to successful stem the infiltration of drug organization in its economy (Burke, 2001). Though no specific data is available, local media has been vocal in its concerns and they seem to have a reason to be concerned (Cornell, 2006). According to initial information gather by studies conducted by the UNODC, there may be a factual basis to media fears expressed in Kyrgyzstan (UNODC, 1999). Of all the nations in the region, Afghanistan poses the greatest challenge and the greatest potential of creating an impact against the world trade of drugs that is centered in the Central Asian Region.   If the cultivation of the opium is effectively reduced in Afghanistan the world supply of the material can be effectively reduced. The action must be decisive, otherwise, it only increase the status of drug traffickers in the region among the local people. Makarenko believes that, â€Å"There is no room to compromise with known drug traders. There is no room to compromise with corrupt officials. We have to clean things up today because if we dont, this becomes ingrained within society (Esfandiari, 2005). Every effort has to be done from Afghanistan becoming a narco-state. This will not only deter the development of Afghanistan but also of the rest of the region not to mention the prevalence of opium in the rest of world (Cornell, 2006). In conclusion, it is the prevalent and progressive feebleness of the states in Central Asia because of civil conflicts is the factor that has commenced the development of criminal activities in the region. The success of the drug organizations is primarily because of the lack of economic opportunities in the region where they are most prevalent. This another reason why framers become involved in the trade: the farming of opium poppies is more profitable than any other produce and in a country where all supplies are so scarce and overpriced, it has become the only means of survival. Recommendations Programs in the region should focus on increasing stability in the countries in the region. Focus should be given on Afghanistan because it is pivotal in controlling of the supply of opium as well as on Kyrgyzstan because it provides the chance to create a model for control. If the development of the trade in Kyrgyzstan is controlled in its beginning stages, it can provide fundamental elements to the proliferation of the trade. Kyrgyzstan has the potential of creating the strategies needed because of a proactive civil social that has previously successful in bringing forth change in the society. There has been more vocalized concerning the infiltration of syndicates into the government and businesses. Regional programmers should capitalize on this unique opportunity to crate the effective agenda against the drug trade. The pivotal factor in the battle against drug trafficking in the region and the rest of the world is the control of the production in Afghanistan. To be able to do this, government infrastructures have to established and enforced in rural areas of the country. The UN’s various objectives to support the economic recovery of the country should be continued. Focus on developing communication in identified key areas is essential to create response units that can properly control the problem. The US action of partnering with warlords who have links with the drug trade should not be encouraged. Afghanistan is at a stage that it is trying to establish its authority and sovereignty and consorting with the elements that undermine this can severely deter progress in the country. The ultimate solution to the problem can only be achieved by determined and definitive programs. Programs should reflect the urgency of the situation. Programs should be able to address all levels of the trade through creating preventive measures as well developmental elements like education, rehabilitation and cooperation. Unless the programs gain the support of civil society, then the program will not be able to achieve their full potential. Also, programs should take into consideration more than geopolitical elements into the proposed solutions. The region’s cultural history and experience have combined to create a society that is prone to factionalism but at the same time has a sense of cultural identity that is unique and beyond boundaries. The international community must to take the concerns in the region as if it was their own. Central Asian states do not have the resources to tackle the problem themselves. However, this does not diminish the urgency of controlling the drug trade that amplifies crime, empowers illicit activities and terrorism and destabilizes the state. Insurgent, criminal and terrorist organizations will continue to engage in illicit drug activities because of the magnitude of the financial gains that can be sourced from it. Unless people are given alternatives for livelihood, cultivation will continue. Unless government and civil society work together in politically, socially and ethnically sensitive program, no real success can be achieved. References Afghanistan (2006). Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan Border Management Programme In Central Asia (BOMCA) (2005). Boosting Border Management Drug Control In Central Asia. Brussels, Belgium: BOMCA Cornell, Svante E. (2006). The Narcotics Threat in Greater Central Asia: From Crime-Terror Nexus to State Infiltration?. China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly Volume 4, No. 1. Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Silk Road Studies Program. pp. 37-67 Burke, Justin (2001). Drug trafficking getting more organized in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan Daily Digest. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.eurasianet.net/resource/kyrgyzstan/hypermail/200107/0006.htm Burnham, R.W. and Burnham, Helen (1997). United Nations World Surveys On Crime Trends And Criminal Justice Systems, 1970-1994: Restructured Five-Wave Data Washington, DC: U.S. Department Of Justice, National Institute Of Justice Central Asia (2006). Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia Drug Industry Threatens to Derail Afghanistans State Building (2006). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) News Service. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press_release_2006_11_28.html Esfandiari, Golnaz (2004). Central Asia: Drug Trafficking Has Devastating Social, Economic Impact.   Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/06/0761f337-a1de-4b7c-a5d0-bbdaeb20d5f1.html Kyrgyz State Commission on Drug Control (1999). Drug Proliferation in the Kyrgyz Republic. Bishkek: Kyrgyz State Commission on Drug Control Kyrgyzstan (2006). Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Confronted By Narcotics Nightmare As Drug Trade Booms (2004). Eurasia Insight – Eurasianet.   Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav031904.shtml Lubin, Nancy  (2001). Eurasia Insight Drug Trafficking In Central Asia: A Matter Of Survival For Some. Eurasianet. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050901.shtml Maitra, Ramtanu (2005). Follow the drugs: US shown the way.   Asia Times Online October   27, 2005. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GJ27Ag02.html Marat, Erica (2006). Impact of Drug Trade and Organized Crime on State Functioning in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly Volume 4, No. 1. Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Silk Road Studies Program. pp. 93-111 McDermott, Roger (2006). Dushanbe Looks Towards Afghanistan To Combat Drug Trafficking. Jamestown Volume 3 Number 6 January 10, 2006. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2370646 Nazemroaya, Mahdi Darius (2006). The War in Afghanistan: Drugs, Money Laundering and the Banking System. Global Research October 17, 2006. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticlecode=NAZ20061017articleId=3516 Olcott, Martha Brill and Udalova, Natalia (2000). Drug Trafficking on the Great Silk Road: The Security Environment in Central Asia. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Saidazimova, Gulnoza (2005). Central Asia: Experts Say Region Should Look To Golden Triangle To Combat Drug Smuggling. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/37d15755-5c22-4df6-a4a9-2ab9cc3ab944.html Swanstrom, Niklas (2001). Central Asia as a transit region for drugs. Speaking Freely Asia Times Online August 28, 2001. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EH28Ag01.html Swanstrà ¶m, Niklas (2003). The Southeast Asian And Chinese Connection To Drug Trade In Central Asia. Central Asia Caucasus Analyst August 27, 2003. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=1676. Threat Posed from the Convergence of Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Terrorism (2000). Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.csis.org/hill/ts001213cilluffo.html. United Nations General Assembly (1998). United National General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) Drug Policy Targets For 2008. New York: United Nations. United Nations Information Service (UNIS) (2005). Drug Chiefs from Afghanistan and Colombia Meet with UNODC Executive Director in Vienna. Vienna, Austria: UN Information Service. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2005/unisnar887.html United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (1999). Global Illicit Drug Trends. Vienna, Austria: UNODC UNDCP Research Section United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2006a). 2006 World Drug Report Volume 1: Analysis. New York: United Nations Publication United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2006b). 2006 World Drug Report Volume 2: Statistics. New York: United Nations Publication United Nations Security Council (UN-SC) (2003). Security Council Urges The International Community To Strengthen Cooperation Against Drug Production And Trafficking In Afghanistan. Retrieved on December 4, 2006 from http://www.un.org/av/photo/sc/sc061703.htm