The Ambiguity of Plato Essay examples - 1959 Words

The Ambiguity of Plato For hundreds of years, Plato has been admired as a writer, a master rhetorician, an artist, and above all, a philosopher; however, Platos backlashes against sophistry and art have led to much confusion concerning his ideas and beliefs. John Poulakos says of Plato, [F]or most rhetoricians Plato has always played the same role he assigned to the sophists--the enemy (Nienkamp 1). Plato will always appear to be the skilled rhetorician or artist who speaks out against rhetoric and art. In Apology and Phaedrus we see the character of Socrates rail against writing because it can quickly get out of control of the author and just as easily be misinterpreted, yet Plato is known for his skillful dialogical writing. In†¦show more content†¦Plato says that oration is better because the orator can answer back directly any questions the audience might have. One can see Platos point in this belief. An authors words can be easily misconstrued and the original meanings lost; this is a fact th at can be witnessed everyday. How often do our own words get misconstrued in our day to day interactions with other people? In Phaedrus, Socrates says of the ambiguity of writing, [T]hose who think they can leave written instructions for an art, as well as those who accept them, thinking that writing can yield results that are clear or certain must be quite naà ¯ve (275c). Perhaps this is the reason that Plato chose to write in his dialogical format; however, his mastery of language and rhetorical devices still shines through in each of his works. Plato obviously has strong doubts that writing could help us achieve knowledge in any way. However, if Plato is correct in saying that writing is not as effective as discourse due to misinterpretation, he contradicts himself in the Apology. Socrates has a discourse with the jurors, but he is still not acquitted. We who read the text today are more likely to see the unjust trial of Socrates than those who witnessed the trial first hand. Socrates strong appeal with the added stupidity of his captors aids us in seeing the absurdity of the charges. In the Apology, philosophy becomes the one onShow MoreRelatedIn this paper I will discuss the Final Argument in Plato’s Phaedo. In this argument Socrates700 Words   |  3 Pagesand our souls will truly exist in another world (Plato, 1689).† This argument may be the most convincing of his arguments about the afterlife, but the way in which he comes to his conclusion that the soul is immortal and indestructible is flawed, and because of this, I find that Plato’s final argument is not sound and lacking validity. I feel this argument is an unsound deductive argument. In order to show evidence of this, I will examine how Plato reached his conclusion. The best way to examineRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr s Letter From Birmingham Jail1665 Words   |  7 Pageswanted freedom from segregation and Plato wanted freedom from ignorance. They both wanted justice, and knew that it was immoral to take deny another being justice. For example, Plato has said, â€Å"†¦ Injustice is always an evil and dishonor to him who acts unjustly.† This is similar to what Martin Luther King Jr has also stated in â€Å"Letters from Birmingham Jail†, â€Å"We have a moral responsibility to disobey any law that conflicts with the law of god.† (Paragraph 16) Both Plato and King followed similar philosophiesRead MoreEuthyphro-Plato: What is Holiness? Essay547 Words   |  3 PagesEuthyphro – Plato Holiness is a central theme in the Socratic dialogue with Euthyphro. Socrates has taken up the ironic role of a student in the narrative as he attempts to gain knowledge of what holiness entails, from Euthyphro. Socrates meets with Euthyphro as they meet at a court in Athens. He seeks to gain knowledge on holiness, such that, he can use the insights in his trial against Meletus. Earlier, Meletus had charged him for impiety in a court. This justifies the importance that has beenRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Tragedy Of Platos Apology1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe relationship of comedy and tragedy are often overlapped in meaning, notably in ancient Greek drama and arts. Comedy often presupposed tragedy and are known to compliment one another in literary work. Plato displayed the proper elements of adversity within the â€Å"Apology† and detailed the unfairness the democratic society of Athens presents by punishing an opposing, equally justified force. Socrates preforms his de fence arrogantly and sarcastically in the courtroom of Athens, humouring his own trialRead MoreConsiderations of Moral Leadership and Ideal Leadership in J Thomas Wrens Traditional Classics on Leadership671 Words   |  3 Pagesinitial fiction that was created or invented in response to the challenges of societal governance ¦ (p.13) Wren states that Plato was particularly astute in regards to implications for leaders in a democracy. (p.14) In a democracy, according to Wren the people do not recognize what is best for them, particularly with respect to who should lead them. (2007, p.14) Plato utilized allegorical methods to describe the problems of leading a democracy stating that the people honor as a good and profoundlyRead MoreProtagoras Answer to How Virtue Can be Taught by a Story About the Creation of Animals by the Gods1014 Words   |  5 Pagestheory from the expression of that theory) Protagoras embodies an attitude of unconcern and disregard for the true importance of p hilosophy. This attitude is characteristic of the Sophists, at least as they are represented in Platos dialogues. For Plato, the form an argument takes should be dictated by the requirements and merits of that argument. In the previous section, Protagoras emphasized that he, unlike other Sophists, did not hide his doctrine beneath appearance but stated it plainly and publiclyRead MoreHow Safety Is An Essential Human Need Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pageswriters, and practitioners. Therefore, this paper will focus on Plato, Plutarch, and Arendt’s understanding of safety in society as well as it will regard the modern conditions of the security components. Plato about Safety in a Society According to Plato, the state should pay particular attention to the soldiers who ensure its safety. It means that no other problems should detract the soldiers from their task to preserve safety. Plato understands security as an ‘aid,’ or a ‘salvation.’ He elaboratedRead MoreSocrates vs Protagoras1705 Words   |  7 PagesPhilosophy Socrates a sophist? Or just sophisticated? Plato goes a long way in attempting to distinguish Socrates from the likes of Protagoras, a self admitted sophist. In Protagoras, Socrates is depicted as a street smart, wisdom dispensing young man, brash with confidence and a bit of arrogance that goes a long way when confronted with the old school rhetoric of Protagoras. Plato begins to separate the two at the hip right from the get go. The dialogue between Socrates and his inquisitive friendRead MorePlatos Belief that the Human Soul is Immortal1297 Words   |  6 PagesThe Nicene Creed appointed the roles of trinity by using the familiar triad set forth by Plato. God maintains His position as the Father and most important; Jesus becomes a divine human - born of the Father and the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit brings knowledge and truths which are set forth by both the Father and Son. â€Å"The true foundation upon which the doctrine rests is God himself†¦ it is God as he acted in history, entering our world as a Jewish c arpenter named Jesus, dying and rising againRead MoreA Comparison Of Thomas Mores Utopia, And The Symposium By Plato1607 Words   |  7 Pages Utopia by Thomas More, and The Symposium by Plato are similar in that they both challenge pre-existing notions in society. The two stories prompt readers to reconsider certain aspects of life which one might have found to be quite one-sided. Thomas More introduces us to an island called Utopia which serves as a model of perfection in each facet of everyday life. In The Symposium, Plato and his friends contribute distinctive interpretations on the origin and meaning of love. Both author’s purpose

An Awareness Of Life Of A Person With A Physical Disability

Introduction The wheelchair assignment was meant for students to develop an awareness of the life of a person with a physical disability. Different barriers that I became more aware of during this excessive include physical and attitudinal. To complete this experience one had to sit in a wheelchair for at least two hours within a public setting. It was preferred that students left Convocation because numerous students, faculty, and staff within the building knew about this assignment. If a student stayed within Convocation then it is likely that they would not experience a wide variety of social reactions or barriers around the rest of the campus. Social Reactions Before the simulation began, I asked a friend if they would be my buddy in†¦show more content†¦I had heard stories of a past student that was had ROTC student saluted them. I have also talked to students that never left the convocation center because they felt awkward in the wheelchair. I was nervous that people would ask how I ended up in a wheelchair and then not understand the purpose of the simulation. Once the simulation began, it was a little awkward at first due to trying to learn how to make turns. After learning how to control the wheelchair, it was weird to see how people attitudes seemed automatically different compared to when I was walking around earlier that day. About halfway through I began to get restless and was tempted once or twice to break character and stretch, but I decided against it. Later on, I was getting agitated with people avoiding my eye contact and all of the glances back. I wanted to scream that it was just a wheelchair. G etting food within in the lower dining hall of Central was also a struggle because I couldn’t reach numerous of the food options which was frustrating. I did appreciate how the people working in the dining room didn’t complete task differently because I was in a wheelchair. During this assignment, there wasn’t much that I felt that I couldn’t accomplish if I really wanted it, but at one point I started to realize how different life would be if I couldn’t walk. After the simulation, I was thrilled to get out of the wheelchair and stretch my legs out. At first, it felt strange toShow MoreRelatedThe Rate Of Discrimination At Work Place With People With Disabilities Essay1673 Words   |  7 Pagesmain purpose to write the Research Paper is to review or examined the rate of disability Discrimination including the case studies or societal reaction to the disability discrimination. This Research review the rate of discrimination at work place with people having disabilities. The paper mainly focus on the examination on the rate of Employment disability discrimination. Although It been 20 years Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA) 1990 was passed which protect the civil right of disable peopleRead Morenvq level 2 unit 422-2541748 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Understand Physical Disability Outcome 1 1. Explain why it is important to recognise and value an individual as a person A. It is important to recognise an individual as a person as it is their human right to be seen as such. If an individual is not seen as a person it devalues them and isolates them from everyday society making them feel â€Å"different†. 2. Describe the importance of recognising an individual’s strengths and abilities A. Recognising a person’s strengths and abilitiesRead MoreAttitudes Towards Disabled People Are Not Exactly Ideal.1521 Words   |  7 Pagesway society treats disabled people needs to change. As a disabled person I feel that, I have to deal with rude comments and actions from society all the time when I shouldn’t have to and it makes me feel like I’m not important like I am dirt. Some people might argue that society has changed so much that disability awareness is no longer a big issue. I understand that society has become more accepting overtime but disability awareness is still a big issue. In this paper I plan to discuss how disabledRead MoreA Brief Note On The Persons With Disabilities Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesPersons with disabilities are believed and seen to be vulnerable people, poor and face exclusion (DFID,2000). Mobility constraints or inaccessible transport can make it difficult especially for the persons with disabilities (PWDs) to find emplo yment, to gain education and access to various services as well as limit their social interactions. Persons with disabilities make up a huge portion of the poor population in less developed countries and to achieve the goal of poverty reduction, the challengesRead MoreSex And Disability : An Open Minded Perspective From Individuals1313 Words   |  6 PagesRarely, do we find in society, the overlapping topic of sex and disability being discussed. In fact, it is hardly ever addressed because there is an underlying notion which seems to discourage such an open minded perspective from individuals. In fact, the topic of sexual intercourse itself is seemingly discouraged. However, why is that the case? Our society has been conformed to hold such restricted societal values; such that in a way, the desire for sex is shunned upon and confronted with negativityRead MoreAchieving Increased Self Esteem Through Adaptive Sports1141 Words   |  5 PagesThusly how can a person with a disability compete, live, love and be loved in a society that renders them less than adequate and incapable. Fo r millions of people with disabilities attaining self-actualization, positive self- image, and building the healthiest body one can achieve is impossible. How can a person attain higher levels of mental and physical functions when many persons with disabilities cannot complete their basic physiological needs? Imagine how a disabled person must feel lackingRead MoreBiography Of Jim Maclaren And Emmanuel Yeboah996 Words   |  4 PagesPeople with disabilities are capable of doing the same activity as a person who is perfectly healthy. A physical deformity should never define the outlook of an individual’s life. Jim MacLaren, a man who became disabled at the age of twenty-two, learned to live with his disability. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born disabled and became successful. Jim MacLaren and Emmanuel Yeboah won many awards and inspired change for disabled people. The two men have different disabilities, but they both have madeRead MoreThe Implementation of Facilities Managemen t for Disable People at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Malaysia909 Words   |  4 PagesTHE IMPLEMENTATION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FOR DISABLE PERSON IN UITM 1.0 INTRODUCTION Disable persons are special individuals who are considered missing a functional ability compared with a normal society. The movement of people with disabilities is limited and hard to do things without help and proper facilities. The term refers also to the individual such as mental health problems, physical weakness, sensory, cognitive, and intellectual. Individuals with this weakness usually occurs fromRead MoreThe Americans With Disabilities Act1277 Words   |  6 Pageshaving a disability was seen as a physical imperfection. People with disabilities were treated as moral and social subordinates. We were trained that if a person had a disability they were not able to perform a task with the same ability as a normal person. They have been denied jobs for which they are highly qualified because they have been considered incompetent, or because employers were not comfortable with their presence in the workplace. Occasionally people with certain disabilities have beenRead MoreCerebra l Palsy And Its Effects On Society1274 Words   |  6 Pagesof conditions in which a person has an impairment of their motor function. Though motor skills are essential in living a normal lifestyle, living with CP is completely manageable in today’s modern world. Currently, there is no definite cure to offset the symptoms of CP, but there are a number of treatments that can mitigate the various effects of the condition. In this paper, I would like to discuss the effects of cerebral palsy, the treatments involved, quality of life for those who are affected

Economic integration free essay sample

The association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 as an organization for economic, political, social and cultural cooperation among its member countries. Its goal includes also protection of regional peace and stability. The original members are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Now, there are 10 memberships: Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. ASEAN has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8. 8% of the worlds population. ASEAN has for objective to create an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) for 2015. There are 4 pillars of AEC. The first is the creation of a single market and production base (free flow of goods, investments, services, skilled). â€Å"Free flow of goods† is central to the establishment of a single market and production base. There will have an E elimination/reduction of tariff barriers in intra-ASEAN trade transactions. The second pillar is created economic competitive region (competitive policy, consumer protection, intellectual property rights, infrastructure development†¦). The third is an equitable economic development (SME development, initiative for ASEAN development) and the last is the integration into the Global Economy (coherent approach towards external economic relations, enhanced participation in global supply networks) In a first time, I am going to present the positive points proposed by the ASEAN 2015. Then, I will discuss the threats that may arise during the establishment of this common market and if all the countries of the region will benefit in the same way. Finally, I will talk about the difficulties encountered in achieving this objective in 2015 and what are the ways to remedy it. The positive points (opportunities) proposed by ASEAN 2015 The emerging markets are located in Southeast Asia, their dynamism is particularly promising when ASEAN countries will integrate their economies in 2015. We found in the Asian region some of the most dynamic economies in the world. Together they form a huge market that is growing faster than any other region around the world and could be a dynamic regional grouping which would be roughly the size of the EU in terms of GDP. In addition, they will have greater significance in the trade than NAFTA and larger international reserves than those of the EU and NAFTA put together. The creation of an Asian Economic Community will also help the region to play a more effective and important role in the development of a global trading and financial system that is more responsive to its needs. With the AEC, ASEAN will be the biggest single market in the world. ASEAN will be a powerful economic area. Here some data about ASEAN : 10 members / population of 610 million people / Combined income (GDP) of US 2,339 billion / Average GDP per capita of US 3,787. The area will then form a single market and a single production base for the 10 member countries of ASEAN. There will be benefits for foreign companies: for companies selling products in the region, this means that they target an entire region rather than a single country. For example, if you sell in Malaysia, you could get goods to Singapore much easier than before. Active participation in the AEC will bring benefits to ASEAN as a more sustained growth, job creation, increased foreign direct investment It is this connectivity that will grow the market, as well as labor costs and land relatively low for manufacturers who will establish their production sites in the region. The improved economies of scale and scope, raised foreign direct investment, intensify competition and increased productivity. All these reforms should stimulate growth, generate more intra-regional trade, promote the emergence of strong and globally competitive ASEAN companies, and there would be more jobs for everyone. ASEAN will create millions of jobs All ASEAN countries will be more significant to foreign investors as a single market with about 600 million people and at the same time, there will be moreoopportunities for local SMEs to venture abroad. Under AEC, there will have some opportunity on tourism. MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferencing, and Exhibition) opportunities are particularly large and countries which have more experience in this area such as Singapore and Thailand could render their assistance to those with weaker MICE experience. Regional tourism has a huge potential and becomes more and more important. ASEAN member countries as well as other partners need to form a group and cooperate to promote tourism for the sake of common benefits. Also, this area is a godsend, especially for SMEs, because in parallel market BRICS, it will know many infrastructure developments and will be able to accommodate new industrial facilities. This is one of the last untapped markets in the world, expectations are so high in terms of economic growth in the coming years In 2015, there will have also some benefit for some country like Thailand. In fact, when the AEC becomes effective, most of big firm (multinational) will move in Thailand, they will move their operation staff and top management. Thus, these employees will need accommodation and space for work. So, this will bring several opportunities for property firms who develop office and projects. And for example, one property firm in Thailand could expand its activity and its investment in other ASEAN country like on Indonesia, Vietnam for develops residential projects. Property market will increase. According to studies of the East-West Center (EWC) in Hawaii, the real income of the ASEAN economies would increase by 5. 3% due to their participation in the AEC. Companies also have the opportunity to cooperate with major partners such as China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand through free trade agreements (FTA) between ASEAN and different partners (FTA + 1) and the agreement of comprehensive regional Economic Partnership (RCEP). From 31 December 2015, most imported goods in ASEAN will be exempt from taxes. With one FTA, Vietnamese products and any other products from ASEAN countries exports to China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand will also be exempt from any customs tax. All countries from ASEAN can export and import lots of goods between themselves for low price. There will have strong growth in areas such as consumer electronics, vehicles, household goods, clothing, food and luxury products. There will have a boost of the business in the member’s countries by reducing barriers such as tariffs, harmonizing rules, and facilitating the flow of goods and services. It will enhance the regional competitiveness. Building AEC can bring benefits for the emerging market, in particular for Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. For example, Cambodia has many resources, including oil, gas and rare minerals on its soil. And according to my research, the Cambodian people do not know how to exploit this resources, they do not know what to do (most people are farmers and they have not done many studies), may be with the common market, the countries of the region will exploit the oil and gas; this will help the Cambodian people. Poor countries should grow speedily and should profit of the rich countries. It will increase the standard of living for more than half a billion people We can add ASEAN offers exciting production possibilities. It is a stable platform with good macroeconomic record and fundamentals. Likewise, for most parts of the region there is a young population and people are assets, not liabilities. It means there is a good potential for the ASEAN. Also, there is a strong track record in international production networks already and the region has abundant natural resources and minerals. Under the AEC, ASEAN countries who are actually for a grand part a bureaucracy should adopt democracy. In fact, When we created a common market, it is imperative that the countries are at peace, on the same wavelength etc Democracy will therefore be required in all countries. It will help the population to rise, earn more money in the best conditions of life ASEAN 2015 envisages cooperation between the member countries of ASEAN policy, security, and defense. Under the political-security community, the peoples of ASEAN will lead a better life in an environment of peace and friendship to the development and prosperity of the entire region. Increased cooperation in defense, regular exchanges between officers ASEAN countries will contribute, them, promote mutual understanding and mutual trust between the military, helping to minimize the risk of conflict between countries. Cooperation in the development of human resources, moving towards the harmonization of diplomas and professional certificates among ASEAN countries, will create favorable conditions for the population, especially skilled workers, to find opportunities in the region. Then, we can put on light the internationalization of health care under the ASEAN Economic Community. One of the sectors to be internationalized is health care sector. This is fatefully a big challenge but it offers potentials for the free flow of health services in the ASEAN region. For example, the largest medical service in Thailand and other Some Thai hospital groups to step up the pace of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in other Asian Economic Community countries to help give them a better platform to better take care of expanding opportunities on AEC. Threats for the region and if this single market will benefit all country member. The ASEAN members have recently moved closer to China. But I think that rapprochement with China is not without risk to the organization that could be quickly overwhelmed despite Beijing have held reassuring statements related to its power. The Prime Minister of Malaysia has recently said, We have always believed that China was not a threat We have always regarded China as an opportunity. But I think the imbalance is obvious. According to a study by the Office for the Study of The Economist, the only Chinese exports in 2004 exceeded those combined 7 of the 10 ASEAN countries. Let us continue on the case of Thailand, which I think is the case of several other ASEAN countries. If the country does not take the necessary measures before 2015, it may be threatened in the sense that he cannot fully enjoy the benefits offered by ASEAN. All companies should unite their efforts and take steps to improve and / or maintain their market position. Due to a lack of development of some ASEAN countries, I also think that companies in the ASEAN region will not be able to compete in many areas the major international players in 2015. There will be a strong dependence on foreign investors. Foreign direct investments are in most countries (except Indonesia), a very large share of industrial added value and exports. The innovation potential of regional companies is limited and there will still be in the future if no appropriate measures are put in place. In addition, ASEAN markets are basically a field of confrontation and western multinationals. Poor countries will not be able to keep pace of the single market in 2015 as the common market does not expect the adoption of a single currency like the European Union. As a result, these countries just at the level of exchange rate they will be the losers and in any case they will not be favored. Tariff barriers are going to be abolished but in some countries the currency not worth anything so those who come from other countries are going in some ways  «takes advantage of the system. † French that goes into a country in Eastern Europe will be rich, which is not normal. Then the common market will certainly create jobs. Where? In poor countries because richer ASEAN countries will exploit the cheap labor in these countries. Thus, the unemployment rate will increase in their own country. This is particularly the case in the European Union. French factories relocate their factory in Eastern European countries (Romania, Bulgaria ) because labor is cheaper and taxes too. However, unemployment in France is increasing year by year Its the same for FDI, because they will help to develop poor countries by injecting money into the business for example, but as it is poor countries, workers will probably exploited as happened in China in recent years. We can also point out the brain drain. The free movement of people will generate the movement of skilled workers in the region. A country’s bright young thing will leave to work in a richer country to develop their careers at the expense of their own country. Currently, this is what is happening in Spain since the crisis. Students study in their country and when they graduate, they flee to Spain to work in another country of the European Union like Germany where working conditions are more favorable. However, Spain suffered lately a major crisis, the unemployment rate is 27% but yet the men flee much to detriment of the country. They run away from one’s problems. Thus I do not think the common market will benefit all countries in the region. At least not in 2015. There are still too large development gap between countries and only 2 years to reach the objectives. At that rate, the CLV countries among others will not fully benefit from the advantages offered by the ASEAN in 2015. Why? They are too late, they do not have adequate infrastructure, appropriate logistics, product not fairly good quality Poor countries and in particular CMLV could enjoy the ASEAN 2015 only if the development gap is narrowing. For example, some experts are concerned about the disparities in economic development between Vietnam and ASEAN +6, which have an impact on the implementation of the AEC in Vietnam. One of the problems of greatest concern is that the community of Vietnamese companies is not willing to exploit the opportunities presented by the Asean Economic Community. To prepare, they must improve their production capacity and the quality of their products and their services In addition, the authorities should develop appropriate policies to help companies seize opportunities and overcome challenges that arise in the context of the establishment of the AEC. It is the same issue with Cambodia. According an article, there are several constraints that Cambodia needs to address if it wants to have a flourishing integration into Asean Economic Community 2015. Whereas the quality of the Kingdom’s agricultural products and garments and textiles is enough, the quality of some other goods is not so acceptable. Also, there are some issues with the country’s public administration, labor productivity and production costs. Cambodia doesn’t have abundant products for exporting to other ASEAN countries while imports keep increasing. Therefore, its trade deficit is anticipated to greatly extend in terms of trade in the region of ASEAN. Also, I think countries which speak well English such as Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore will have a real advantage over others countries like Thailand, Myanmar. In fact, education plays an important role. If one country doesn’t speak well English it will be difficult to trade properly with the rest of the world and the region. English is the base for lots of thing. Some ASEAN countries understood that and took the good measure at school. Does the project will be completed and what the greatest difficulties to reach Despite the efforts made, regional integration remains insufficient. The rate of trade integration between ASEAN countries increased from 15% to 25% in 20 years, and in recent times the dynamics of trade with other Asian countries (China in particular) is much higher than the internal dynamics. Free trade has come to dominate and should be almost universal by 2015 among the member countries of the organization. But it does not base neither a Customs Union (no common external tariff), neither on the harmonization of standards and procedures, or even a regional financial standardization, so that market integration is far be optimal within ASEAN. Over the past ten years, the intra-ASEAN-5 trade fails to take off the threshold of 23-25 % of global trade. For these reasons and those previously explained, I do not think the project will be successful in 2015. A large part can be but there is still much work. For example, the draft ASEAN provides for the abolition of tariffs and the removal of import duties by 2015. But trade within ASEAN are modest and regional bloc (as I said previously) has important differences in terms of economic development between Singapore, one of the leading financial centers in the world, and Burma, a third of the population lives under the poverty line. But in order to create regional bloc, it will incorporate economy as diverse as Singapore and Burma. With a GDP of $ 511 billion, Indonesia has an economy that weighs 100 times more than that of Laos, the smallest country in ASEAN. Economic activity in ASEAN is also very focused on the five most important countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, which together account for 90% of GDP of the group. Also, some specialists commented about the lack of leadership. The role of Asean chairmanship is a rotatingopositionmand a series ofoofficials from theepoorer, less developed Asean countriesmwill be theechair of Asean for the next few yearsswhich means that leadershipwwill be inexperiencedaand possibly beeless interested in pushingaahead quickly withhintegration onaall fronts. For me, there is not a particular point which is harder to achieve than others. It is a set. To make the whole project for me the starting point is the reduction of the development gap, the abolition of corruption in some countries may hinder the project, a perfect agreement between the members (not like Philippine and Malaysia last year for example) because there is still internal tensions and intra-regional conflicts on the ASEAN, which hampers the strengthening of relations and cooperation between the countries of the Asia South-East, establish a business ethics because some countries do not really have. Here are some ways to reduce economic disparities: Only with strong leadership illustrated byygenerous support to CLMVVcountries, will the AEC be ultimately accomplished. I think 2 immediate measures are needed. The first is the creation of clearly defined financial support to alleviate social costs and to finance infrastructure development and trade facilitation. This can be byyway of the ASEAN-Development-Fund with clearly identifieddfunds to approach keyyissues such financing adjustments costs that are appear as a result of the economic integration. The European Union, the most successful regional grouping, made easier transition by ensuring sufficient allocation of resources to ASEAN members which required assistance. The European Union established 4 types of structural funds: there are the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fun, the EuropeanAAgricultural Guidance, GuaranteeFFund and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries, with the intention to facilitate economic integration process. ASEAN should follow this idea and agree on a method to ascribe resources to this fund on an equitable-basis. The support of international aid and some donor countries can also help to complete this fund. Then, the development of infrastructure should be an immediate priority for the ASEAN. It should clearly define increasing investment. Infrastructure development, such. as transportation networks, stable supply of utilities like water, energy and telecommunication,†¦principally in the depressed regions will provide the appropriate incentives for countries’ member to speed up economic integration. Secondly, trade facilitation should likewise be given priority. I think Singapore should take the lead here in this situation. In the longer term, after these immediate measures have been effectuated, and along with other strategies determined and identified in the project for ASEAN 2015, members should be better prepared to focus on a common external trade policy; and accomplished the Asean Economic Community.

Rethinking The Watchtowers Essays - Wicca, Witchcraft, Magic

Rethinking the Watchtowers RE-THINKING THE WATCHTOWERS or 13 Reasons Air should be in the North ======================================= by Mike Nichols copyright 1989 by Mike Nichols (fondly dedicated to Kathy Whitworth) INTRODUCTION It all started 20 years ago. I was 16 years old then, and a recent initiate to the religion of Wicca. Like most neophytes, I was eager to begin work on my Book of Shadows, the traditional manuscript liturgical book kept by most practicing Witches. I copied down rituals, spells, recipes, poems, and tables of correspondences from every source I could lay hands on. Those generally fell into two broad catagories: published works, such as the many books available on Witchcraft and magic; and unpublished works, mainly other Witches' Books of Shadows. Twenty years ago, most of us were "traditonal" enough to copy everything by hand. (Today, photocopying and even computer modem transfers are becoming de rigueur.) Always, we were admonished to copy "every dot and comma", making an exact transcription of the original, since any variation in the ceremony might cause major problems for the magician. Seldom, if ever, did anyone pause to consider where these rituals came from in the first place, or who composed them. Most of us, alas, did not know and did not care. It was enough just to follow the rubrics and do the rituals as prescribed. But something brought me to an abrupt halt in my copying frenzy. I had dutifully copied rituals from different sources, and suddenly realized they contained conflicting elements. I found myself comparing the two versions, wondering which one was "right", "correct", "authentic", "original", "older", etc. This gave rise to the more general questions about where a ritual came from in the first place. Who created it? Was it created by one person or many? Was it ever altered in transmission? If so, was it by accident or intent? Do we know? Is there ever any way to find out? How did a particular ritual get into a Coven's Book of Shadows? From another, older, Book of Shadows? Or from a published source? If so, where did the author of the published work get it? I had barely scratched the surface, and yet I could already see that the questions being raised were very complex. (Now, all these years later, I am more convinced than ever of the daunting complexity of Neo-Pagan liturgical history. And I am equally convinced of the great importance of this topic for a thorough understanding of modern Witchcraft. It may well be a mare's nest, but imagine the value it will have to future Craft historians. And you are unconditionally guaranteed to see me fly into a passionate tirade whenever I'm confronted with such banal over-simplifications as "Crowley is the REAL author of the Third Degree initiation," or "Everyone KNOWS Gardner INVENTED modern Witchcraft.") CONFLICTING TRADITIONS The first time I noticed conflicting ritual elements was when I was invited as a guest to attend another Coven's esbat celebration. When the time came to "invoke the Watchtowers" (a ritual salutation to the four directions), I was amazed to learn that this group associated the element of Earth with the North. My own Coven equated North with Air. How odd, I thought. Where'd they get that? The High Priestess told me it had been copied out of a number of published sources. Further, she said she had never seen it listed any other way. I raced home and began tearing books from my own library shelves. And sure enough! Practically every book I consulted gave the following assoications as standard: North = Earth, East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water. Then where the heck did I get the idea that Air belonged in the North? After much thought, I remembered having copied my own elemental/directional associations from another Witch's Book of Shadows, her Book representing (so she claimed) an old Welsh tradition. Perhaps I'd copied it down wrong? A quick long-distance phone call put my mind at ease on that score. (When I asked her where she'd gotten it, she said she THOUGHT it was from an even older Book of Shadows, but she wasn't certain.) By now, I felt miffed that my own traditon seemed to be at variance with most published sources. Still, my own rituals didn't seem to be adversely affected. Nor were those of my fellow Coven members, all of whom put Air in the North. Further, over the years I had amassed lots of associations and correspondences that seemed to REQUIRE Air to be in the North. The