Wal mart Essay Example For Students

Wal mart Essay I am pro-choice. I am not one person, but many. Here is what I believe:The fetus is not a human, just a mass of tissue. Abortion is safer than childbirth. Every child should be a wanted child. The number of abortions is relatively small. Nobody has the right to impose their morals on me. A woman should be able to control her own body. Abortion must be kept legal, especially for all the rape and incest pregnancies. We will write a custom essay on Wal mart specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now If abortion is outlawed women will be forced to go to back-alley abortion clinics. Aborting unwanted children reduces the number of abused children. We need to remember that we are overpopulating the planet. Planned Parenthood is a group that focuses on contraception. Pro-life people are diverse in economic status, race, religion, and education. Yet, they are unified by the concept that all humans, especially the innocent unborn, have an inherent right to life. Here are things I believe as a Pro-Life person:I believe that the unborn child is human. I believe that abortion is fundamentally a Civil Rights issue, I believe that the Roe v. Wade decision, legalizing abortion on demand in America, was one of the most important and devastating Supreme Court decisions. I believe that a constitutional amendment should be passed that gives equal protection to all living humans, including the unborn. I believe that the violence inside and outside abortion clinics is morally wrong. I believe that rape and incest are horrible crimes and should be punished, but I dont believe that a child conceived from either should be killed. I do not believe that the government should fund abortions. Being a religious person, I believe that the Bible backs up my views on abortion.

Free Essays on How Television Affects Children

Many television programs involve substantial amounts of violence in one form or another that causes people to think that television is the cause of violence in today’s youth. Many question whether television disturbs the minds of adolescent children who cannot yet comprehend the truth of fiction and reality. Studies show that violent television viewing affects younger children more since their perception of what is real or unreal is not as acute as in older adults - meaning that aggressive adults learn their behavior as children. By watching portrayals of violence, children learn to accept aggressive behavior by becoming desensitized to the effects of violence and imitate it by modeling aggressive behaviors. According to the Institute for the Social Research, an aggressive behavior is learned behavior which is being taught to our children by the media violence that they are exposed to daily (Chen, 1994 p.23). In Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis, written by Albert Bandura in 1973, indicates that sometimes watching a single violent program can increase aggressiveness. However, the impact of viewing violence on television may become immediately evident in the child’s behavior, or it may not surface till later (Canton and Wilson, 1984). While violence portrayed on television is not the cause of aggressive behavior, it is clearly a significant factor. Children â€Å"are predisposed to seek out and pay attention to violence† (Canton and Wilson, 1984). It is not the violence itself that makes programs attractive to children, but the vivid images accompanying them. Children are unlikely to put the violence in context since they are likely to misunderstand the violent images being portrayed – children cannot comprehend fiction from reality. They don’t realize TV programs are people acting out a script and the scenes are not real. They become less sensitive to pain and suffering of others, and children are more likely ... Free Essays on How Television Affects Children Free Essays on How Television Affects Children Many television programs involve substantial amounts of violence in one form or another that causes people to think that television is the cause of violence in today’s youth. Many question whether television disturbs the minds of adolescent children who cannot yet comprehend the truth of fiction and reality. Studies show that violent television viewing affects younger children more since their perception of what is real or unreal is not as acute as in older adults - meaning that aggressive adults learn their behavior as children. By watching portrayals of violence, children learn to accept aggressive behavior by becoming desensitized to the effects of violence and imitate it by modeling aggressive behaviors. According to the Institute for the Social Research, an aggressive behavior is learned behavior which is being taught to our children by the media violence that they are exposed to daily (Chen, 1994 p.23). In Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis, written by Albert Bandura in 1973, indicates that sometimes watching a single violent program can increase aggressiveness. However, the impact of viewing violence on television may become immediately evident in the child’s behavior, or it may not surface till later (Canton and Wilson, 1984). While violence portrayed on television is not the cause of aggressive behavior, it is clearly a significant factor. Children â€Å"are predisposed to seek out and pay attention to violence† (Canton and Wilson, 1984). It is not the violence itself that makes programs attractive to children, but the vivid images accompanying them. Children are unlikely to put the violence in context since they are likely to misunderstand the violent images being portrayed – children cannot comprehend fiction from reality. They don’t realize TV programs are people acting out a script and the scenes are not real. They become less sensitive to pain and suffering of others, and children are more likely ...

ORAL PRESENTATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ORAL PRESENTATION - Essay Example According to Helen Gardner an art historian, the depth and scope of his likings were without practice and "his personality and mind seemed superhuman, the man himself remote and mysterious." In addition, it is claimed that, despite the various assumptions about Da Vinci, his world vision was logical rather than enigmatic and that the experiential methods he engaged in were rare during his time. Da Vinci was born out of marriage to a lawyer, and a laborer woman, Caterina, in Vinci within the Florence region, Leonardo da Vinci got his education in a studio of the well-known Florentine painter Verrocchio. Most of his early working life was done in Milan with the guidance of Ludovico IL Moro (Leonardoda-Vinci 4). He later on went to work in Bologna, Venice and Rome, and spent his remaining years in France. Da Vinci was well-known mainly as a painter. Amongst his works, included the Mona Lisa painting of which is the most well-known and most imitated painting, as well as The Last Supper of which is the most religiously reproduced painting ever, with their prominence coming close to only Michelangelos Adam Creation. Da Vinci’s painting of the Man of Vitruvian is also considered as a cultural icon that has been reproduced on several items such as textbooks, the euro coin, and T-shirts. There are about fifteen of Da Vinci’s paintings that have survived because of his continuous, and regularly catastrophic, experimentations with new methods, and his prolonged postponement. However, several of these works as well as his notebooks, which contained scientific diagrams, drawings, and his views on the method of painting, influenced artists of later generations matched by only that of his existing, Michelangelo (Leonardoda-Vinci 4). Da Vinci is admired for his technological inventiveness. He conceptualized a tank, flying machines, concentrated solar power, the double hull, and the calculator; he also outlined the theory of rudimentary plate

Audit proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Audit proposal - Essay Example This therefore shows that an audit should be frequently undertaken and in a very concise manner. Another reason it should always be undertaken is that it helps mitigate the possibility of any risks in the operations of the business. In line with the above, an auditor selected to conduct one to an organization needs to write an audit proposal to convince the management on the importance of conducting the audit and how cost effective they are likely to do it and achieve the organizational objectives. A proposal must be detailed and thorough, prepared in an ethical and professional manner (Blazek, 2008). Types of Audits applicable There are several forms of audit that can be performed to Kudler fine foods. This is to ensure its smooth operations, sure financial stability, and accountability and the most is, the audit to ensure that it’s system controls function effectively. Among the types of audits we have; financial audits, this is done ascertain the reliability, reliance, fair ness, accuracy of the financial data. Financial data that can be relied upon aids in the planning of several company activities, good financial data helps an organization in focusing into the future (Blazek, 2008). Another type of audit is the operations audit that is generally concerned with the audit of the general operations, with operations audit there comes an aspect of evaluation and assessment of the fine foods operations accompanied with complex operation structures incorporating the use of modern technology like the use of software in handling the assets of the restaurants. Information systems audit entails general controls review, application controls review and systems control review. General controls would involve assessment of the general system applications and security. Their development is fundamental and their maintenance comes with the package of these controls. Application control revolves around the review of several application systems within the organization. T he controls on inputs, processing and outputs are extensively analyzed, examined, and then assessed to determine their effectiveness. The last on this is the systems control review is the overview of the systematic development of a new system. This runs right from the identification of the organizational objectives, then the system development organizational needs. Lastly, there is the implementation of a system and evaluated. To crown it all Kudler fine foods can also apply the integrated audit system, which is easier to apply since it, summarizes all the above types of audits in totality (Blazek, 2008). Audit process recommended and application The fine foods restaurant is established in a system, which is industry specific and is in the verge of cost reduction measures. Its employees also have vast knowledge of the systems under which the fine foods restaurant operates. Kudler fine foods have installed a software system for efficient inventory control, efficient monitoring, and c ontrol of cash as the major assets of the business venture. The system handles effective acquisition of materials for the organization and issuance of the same materials. The software is also used to handle the accounting needs of the organization and therefore accurate financial reporting for decision-making. To control and allocate labor costs efficiently, the software system allows for a clock card process to account for the number of labor hours actually worked. Dummy workers are a major problem in majority of organizations and many organizations normally loose monetary resources through such leakages. The payroll process ensures that the right payments are made to the right people at the right time and without any loss of valuable

Three basic concepts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Three basic concepts - Research Paper Example Here comes the option of outsourcing either the whole manufacturing unit or certain major business activities while would help BlueJay in increasing its output. Now in this context there are two things that need to be considered; first, what portions of the manufacturing unit should be outsourced, and second is the amount of capital investment that BlueJay has to make for this new outsourcing plan. This study aim at discussing the basic concepts of the cost of ownership understanding single or multiple options of outsourcing business operational activities of the company. A relationship between cost estimation and financial statements would be explained to validate the basic concepts. For understanding the nuances of the supply chain management in the company, cost of ownership plays an important role. The different elements associated with the cost of ownership involve purchasing price, salvage value or resale value and other expenses which lead to acquisition, disposal and conversi on. These further includes the cost associated with purchase of orders, delivery charges, search costs, handling and storage cost, maintenance cost, repair, etc, and disposal. Cost of ownership when incorporated for analysis of the financial benefit presents cost base for the determination of the economic value of investments. For example internal rate of return, return on investment. The cost of ownership analysis includes operating cost and total cost for acquisition. It is also used to measure the viability of the capital investment. Enterprise may utilize it to as a comparison tool (Zachariassen, & Arlbjorn, 2009, p. 5-8). The three concepts which closely align the cost of ownership are the life-cycle costing, zero based costing and cost-based evaluation of supplier’s performance. All of these concepts are developed to monitor the performance of the suppliers based on the expectations of the firm. The objective is to focus more on the maintenance of long-term relationship with the suppliers, but at the same time calculate the cost associated with supply chain management and manufacturing. In this case the outsourcing cost can be estimated. In order to calculate the cost of ownership BlueJay has to follow an eight step process: a) Analyze the present scenario of the company, b) Map the activities and the processes in the company, c) Identification of the cost drivers, d) Collect the data on activity usage, e) Identification of the potential solution/solutions, f) Estimation of the cost drivers associated with the improvements, g) Calculation of the cost of ownership for different scenarios (before and after), and f) Presenting the results (Woodside, Gibbert, & Golfetto, 2008, p. 207-209). Cost estimates are nothing but approximation of the project cost, which is important for avoiding the problems associated with cost overrun. In case of BlueJay the manufacturing cost would have to be estimated, which can be segregated into three categories; manufact uring overhead, labor cost, and direct material costs. The cost estimates are utilized to conduct a cost-volume-profit analysis to project a revenue figure of the company with respect to its volume of production and the cost incurred by the company for it. Another reason for evaluating the cost-volume profit is to identify the breakeven point of the company’s revenue generation. The estimation of the cost of the manufacturing unit is documented in the cost sheet of a company, which in turn is

The Case Of Nationalism In Bosnia Herzegovina Politics Essay

The Case Of Nationalism In Bosnia Herzegovina Politics Essay This essay will be focusing on the ethnic conflict that erupted predominantly in Eastern Europe as a result of the dissolution of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia in the late twentieth century. Attention will be given specifically to Bosnia Herzegovina (Bosnia) to illustrate the on going effects of ethnic conflicts that continue and how autonomy was sought by the Bosnian Muslims in reaction to the strong nationalism expressed by the Serbians and Croats during that time. The situation surrounding Bosnia is a valid example of contemporary nationalism, and as a nation it continues to face ethnic conflict and conquest and the threat of war and domination by the Serbians, who still seek a unified Slavic state. In assessing Bosnia, this essay will firstly define nationalism and assess how Bosnia can be looked at as an example of both ethnic and civic nationalism. A brief interpretation will also be given to what is meant by ethnic conflict before looking specifically at the causes of the eventual collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia) and how this subsequently gave birth to several new nations, including Bosnia. Focus will then turn solely to Bosnia and at the key issues that led to the outbreak of ethnic conflict and the rise of nationalism within the nation and furthermore, which ethnic groups were involved and what their motives were. Conclusions will then be drawn as to the stability of Bosnia in the present day and why it can be used as a case study to demonstrate the happenings of both contemporary nationalism and of ethnic conflict. To begin with this examination into Bosnia, it is firstly important to set out the parameters of what is meant when one refers to ethnic conflict, the ideology of nationalism and more specifically the further distinctions made between ethnic and civic nationalism. For the purposes of this essay, the idea of nationalism occurring within or against a state is defined as a group of people who see themselves as distinct in their culture, history, institutions, or principles and should thus rule themselves in a political system that expresses and protects those distinctive characteristics.  [1]  Quite simply, it can be looked at as a category of practices as an institutionalized cultural and political form with the aim of building a nation.  [2]   Ethnic or Eastern nationalism is a strand of nationalism that places more emphasis on the creation of a state based on common cultural, religious and linguistic traditions and generally occurred against an existing state opposed to within it.  [3]  Conversely, civic or Western nationalism appeared to encase a more sophisticated demeanor and was based on the ideals of individual liberty  [4]  and political ideals with membership to that state being defined purely in political terms.  [5]  As this essay will later purport to show in its discussion, Bosnia identifies with several parts of the ethnic nationalist ideology, however it also shares commonalities with civic nationalism, particularly in certain areas of Bosnia where there are separate political institutions set up to bring order and civility to those areas. Ethnic conflict refers to the struggle between mobilized identity groups for greater power, whether for equality within an existing state or for the establishment of a fully independent nation.  [6]  It should be noted that the collapse of states is more often than not, the cause of ethnic conflicts opposed to the result.  [7]  In this instance, the dissolution of Yugoslavia as a multination state resulted in the re-emergence of much older historical identities, religions and ethnicities being used as a mechanism and foundation on which to base a nations claim to autonomy.  [8]  Consequently, conflict began to erupt between those who were dedicated to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, versus those who clung to their ethnic and religious roots as a means to define an independent state.  [9]  A more in depth analysis will be given to the role of ethnic conflict and its causal link to the rise of nationalism in Bosnia at a later point in this essay. To understand the relevance of these terms that have now been interpreted, a brief overview must be given of the collapse of Yugoslavia and the birth of Bosnia as an independent state near the end of the twentieth century. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia) emerged in 1943 and comprised of six socialist republics. Those republics were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. Serbia, in addition, included two autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo. During this period, Josip Tito began his reign as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and in 1953 he became the President of the state.  [10]  It has been said that Tito was the chief architect of the second Yugoslavia  [11]  , as he was pivotal to the development and birth of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Tito instigated the ideology of socialism throughout Yugoslavia and after the commencement of World War Two in 1945, Yugoslavia became victim to peculiarly harsh Communist system.  [12]   For several decades during the mid twentieth century, Yugoslavia enjoyed economic success and prospered as a nation. In the nineteen sixties, Yugoslavia could boast an annual gross domestic product growth of approximately 6.1 percent, with free medical care, and a literacy rate of 91%.  [13]  Yugoslavia remained at this point in time, the most diverse collectivity of societies in the Balkan region.  [14]  Political reform began to lose momentum in the early nineteen seventies and was suddenly pushed aside within the pluralist multi-nation in favour of federalization.  [15]  The push for federalization came as a reactionary movement to the growing Serbian supremacy in Yugoslavia as Tito realized he needed to enforce institutional innovations that would federalize the federation.  [16]   By the nineteen eighties, Yugoslavias once growing economy began to hinder as the international arena was changing from a bipolar sphere to the dominance of the United States of America as a unilateral mega power. There was a growing amount of foreign debt and increasing amounts of Yugoslavias GDP were being swallowed by debt servicing. There was also a sudden decrease in Western aid after the Soviet President Gorbachev began to admit defeat to the American and Western Europe.  [17]  On May 4th 1980, Tito passed away and with this, the strong socialist regime of Yugoslavia began to break down and the process of democratization in the six republics started to ensue. As a result, central state authority became increasingly weaker, and Yugoslavia faced an upsurge of nationalist movements and anarchy.  [18]   Titos 1974 constitution remained in force during the immediate period after his death and this allowed for a rotation system out of the eight leaders of the republics, for year long presidencies. These short terms of presidencies turned out to be highly ineffective and added to the unstable and increasingly volatile conditions of Yugoslavia. Essentially it left open a power vacuum with Slobodan MiloÃ…Â ¡eviĆ¡ gaining steady momentum from the many Serbian nationalists who resided throughout Yugoslavia and particularly within Bosnia Herzegovenia.  [19]  MiloÃ…Â ¡eviĆ¡ began rallying to the many Serbian supporters he had, making reference to Yugoslavias historical past and the pressing need to unite all the Slavic nations into one centralized government and brotherhood.  [20]  As a reaction to the strong nationalist Serbian movement occurring within Yugoslavia, both Croatia and Slovenia quickly declared autonomy and independence of state and after a v ictorious week of fighting by the Slovenes in the Ten Day War the breakup of Yugoslavia had begun.  [21]   In 1992, the multi-nation state of Yugoslavia began to break apart and left several nations fighting for autonomy. Instead of these nations clinging to Western liberal democratic ideals to form a state, they fell back on their own older and entrenched religions, ethnicities and national identities to assert independence over one another.  [22]  Bosnia, compiled of the Croats, Serbs and Bosnian Muslims, was suddenly facing an internal clash of cultures and identities with the Serbians residing in Bosnia wanting to unify with Serbia and the other remaining Slavic nations, against the Croats and Muslims who wanted independence as a state. There were several factors that contributed to the tensions and ethnic conflicts between the three main ethnic groups residing in Bosnia. Firstly, there were historical hostilities and antagonisms that had existed within the ethnic groups for centuries. There was also the sudden presence and dominance of Serbian nationalist MiloÃ…Â ¡eviĆ¡, who continued to pursue Bosnia as a Slavic nation and part of that sanctity. To add to the fragility of the situation facing Bosnia during the early nineteen nineties, there was an inadequate political institution in place with Bosnias parliament fragmented based on ethnicity and was divided into a majority Bosnian faction and minority Serb and Croat factions.  [23]  In 1991, Radovan KaradÃ…Â ¾iĆ¡, the nationalist leader of the Serb Democratic Party, gave a strong and hostile warning to the Bosnian president, stating: This, what you are doing, is not good. This is the path that you want to take Bosnia and Herzegovina on, the same highway of hell and death that Slovenia and Croatia went on. Dont think that you wont take Bosnia and Herzegovina into hell, and the Muslim people maybe into extinction. Because the Muslim people cannot defend themselves if there is war here.  [24]   Bosnia was surrounded by two incredibly powerful and nationalistic states; Croatia and Serbia who both extended equal rights and citizenships to the Croat and Serb Bosnians. Therefore, it was impossible for Bosnia to resolve its national identity without the input of Croatia and Serbia.  [25]  One the one side in Bosnia, there were the Serbian nationalists who identified closely with Milosevic and their greater homeland of Serbia and thus wanted a unified Slavic state, and to be part of the brotherhood. Others however, such as the Croats and particularly the Bosnian Muslims, wanted to identify with their own individual ethnic groups and stick to the notion of individual opposed to collective rights and the freedom to identify with whom they choose. With Bosnias demographic structure comprising a population of Serbs and Croats of approximately 50%, and with ideas on independence resting with the ethnicities rather than the nation on the whole  [26]  , control of territory once again became open to interpretation, particularly due to the pluralist and multi-culture nature that existed within Bosnia which led to large sections of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia under dispute as to its proper ownership.  [27]   In October 1991, Bosnia joined Croatia and Slovenia in declaring its sovereignty and quickly organized a referendum on independence in March 1992.  [28]  The general Serbian population residing in Bosnia was encouraged by the Serbian nationalists to boycott the referendum and subsequently, the turnout in the referendum was 64-67% and the vote was 98% in favor of independence.  [29]  Independence was however officially declared on March 5 1992 by the parliament of Bosnia. However, this merely added and even encouraged the continued surge of nationalism from the Serbs in Bosnia and instant war broke out in Bosnia between the different ethnicities and much to the detriment of the Bosnian Muslims who although made up an estimated 48%  [30]  of the population, were ill equipped to stand up to the strong Serbian forces who were receiving support from their own nation. A period of genocide, ethnic cleansing and blood shed occurred over the next three years and was the tragic consequence of the Bosnian War that illustrated a series of failures made by the Western world at large and also at a regional level, the failures of local leaders to intervene and offer any sort of assistance.  [31]  There was a fundamental breach of human rights during this period and a total disregard for any rule of law or civility. Whilst the Serb Bosnians engaged in a greater amount of ethnic cleansing during this period of trauma, it should be noted that they were also the victims of such cleansing at the peril of the other two ethnic groups.  [32]  The Bosnian Muslims had really pushed to preserve Bosnias existence as a multi-cultural state  [33]  and did not want to see the division of Bosnia. Only a scarce minority of politically significant actors in Bosnia were committed to trying to mediate a balance between a civil society and competing nationalisms.  [34]   November 1995 brought some hope to the Bosnian cause when the Dayton Accord was signed, purporting to end the Bosnian War and the continued outbreaks of conflict in the region.  [35]  The Dayton Accord had the purpose of compromising between the ethnic groups who sought an independent unitary state, versus those who sought total autonomy from Yugoslavia and the Slavic nations.  [36]  The institutional part of the agreement created a Bosnian state divided between Bosnia, which is shared between the Bosnians and the Croats, and the Republika Srpska. The Bosnian-Croat federation holds 51% of the territory with the remaining 49% controlled by the Republika Srpska.  [37]  Each division has their own parliament and presidency. Fifteen years has passed since the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord which effectively ended a great proportion of the ethnic conflict and cleansing occurring in Bosnia as a result of the Bosnian War. However, in a contemporary setting, nationalism and consequently ethnic conflict still pursues in Bosnia and there are mounting fears by the United Nations and the international community, that war is still a threat to the Bosnians due to the divided and segregated nature of Bosnia.  [38]  With the Dayton Accord dividing Bosnia into a Muslim -Croat federation and a Serbian republic, each ethnic group has established their own legislature with ten regional authorities each with their own police force, health system, education system and judiciary.  [39]  Furthermore as a result of the Bosnian War and the division of Bosnia, there is a huge displaced population of Bosnian Muslims, Croats and Serbs who were essentially driven out of Bosnia and are now scattered throughout t he world with little national identity left in tact. In conclusion, the situation that occurred in Bosnia during the late twentieth century exemplifies the pivotal role nationalism played within the state and the consequential ethnic conflict that erupted and continues to do so, as a result of three different ethnic groups identifying strongly to their own historical nationalisms and religions. Due to the strong nationalistic tendencies of the Croats and Serbs residing in Bosnia during this time, Bosnian Muslims who historically were not allowed to declare themselves as Bosnians  [40]  were forced to band together and unite in their own autonomy and form a national identity so as to compete with the much stronger Croats and Serbs. As a result of these competing nationalism, ethnic conflict ensued and was only resolved after the implementation of the Dayton Accord which effectively segregated Bosnia into different regions dominated by different ethnicities. For example, the city of Mostar before the Bosnian War was considered the mo st ethnically integrated city in all of the former Yugoslavia.   [41]  Now, Mostar has developed into the most divided town in Bosnia where even a pizza delivery joint will not deliver to the Muslim sector of Mostar across the bridge. This is viewed as a victory for the Croat and Serb Nationalists against the Bosnian Muslims.  [42]   The on-going situation in Bosnia Herzegovina really demonstrates a contemporary example of nationalism occurring and further shows the severe impact nationalism has had on the country and how it led to the eventual segregation of the nation as well as pursuant ethnic conflict. Whilst the nationalism portrayed by the Serbs and Croats mostly identifies with the ethnic strand of nationalism, that is nationalism founded on historical ethnicities, customs and religions, it is interesting to note that Bosnia Herzegovina as a whole, and particularly through the Bosnian Muslims, share many elements of civic nationalism in its attempt to set up order, democracy, and political institutions. Perhaps the conflict of the two nationalisms also contributed to the volatile nature and confusion that seems to cloud over Bosnia. Whilst it is idealistic and perhaps naÃÆ' ¯ve to hope that Bosnia will one day have unity as an independent state, it is still a vision that many civilians in Bosnia and around the world share. Bosnia has provided the global arena with a strong message and precedent and demonstrates a situation that must be learnt from especially in the overall dangers and effects that competing nationalisms can have on even the most harmonious nations.

Nothings Changed :: Papers

Nothing's Changed When you phoned last night I was clipping my nails. I stood at the window of my bedroom; the phone cradled between my chin and shoulder, and clipped my nails as I listened to your voice. It had, after all, been some time since I heard it and I was, as ever, mesmerised. "I'm coming to town on Friday. I thought we could meet for a drink or something," you said, as if we were and always had been quiet, calm friends. "Sure. Sounds good." I watched the tiny clippings, brittle slivers of dead cells, fall to the floor. We arranged a meeting and you hung up. I remained at the window, the phone burning the palm of my hand. Eventually I replaced it on the hook and sat on the table overlooking the street below. I placed my hands palm down, feeling the cold on my skin. To drown the memory of your voice I looked at them minutely. My nails were short and functional, with sharp edges, not the perfectly soft rounded ones of before. My hands. The lifetime of hands; the language of hands. Here were the scars of a lifetime spent trying to unearth something, what I wasn't sure. My hands have aged with me, the knuckles have become red raw from the years of slave driving manual work, scars from unforgotten accidents, a story behind each one. I turned them over to look at the palms, lined now, the heel roughened by years. There was a scar beneath my ring, whitened by time. The silver mood ring, which flashes golden in the sun, and burns red whenever you are near. Do you remember the night you gave it to me? The first time you whispered in my ear that you loved me, and the expression on your face when I said it back? These hands, they had held starfish and crabs, caught by my brother and father on the long summers days spent at the beach down in Sussex where my grandmother lived by the sea.