Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors

Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors Depression Suicide Print Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on January 28, 2020 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Martin Dimitrov / istock More in Depression Suicide Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Types Childhood Depression In This Article Table of Contents Expand Risk Factors Warning Signs Safety Plan Suicide Prevention View All Back To Top Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. If someone you love has  clinical depression, there is a strong risk that they will at some point think about suicide. Although estimates vary, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that around 2% of people who have ever had outpatient treatment for depression die by suicide.?? But depression is not the only risk factor for suicide. Suicide accounts for about 1.5% of all worldwide deaths. Other psychiatric conditions including substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychosis can also be risk factors for suicide.?? While there is a strong relationship between mental health and suicide and the risk is serious, it is important to remember that the majority of people with mental health conditions do not attempt or complete suicide. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 54% of people who die by suicide did not have a known mental health condition.?? The best way to prevent suicide, according to Suicide Prevention Resources, is to make sure you know the risk factors and warning signs of suicide.?? Risk Factors Risk factors can include both the situations a person experiences and how the person is feeling internally. Though it may be easier to recognize situations and times when suicide is more common, understanding how someone is feeling inside requires a little more detective work. Life Situations Certain conditions and situations are associated with an increased risk of suicide, including:?? Death or terminal illness of a relative or friendDivorce, separation, or the breakup of a relationshipLoss of health (real or imagined)Loss of job, home, money, status, self-esteem, or personal securityDrug or alcohol misuseDepression In addition, there are certain times when people may be more prone to suicidal feelings, such as: Holidays and anniversariesThe first week after discharge from a hospitalWhen treatment with an antidepressant first beginsJust before and after diagnosis of a major illness (for example, the risk of suicide in cancer patients is highest shortly after diagnosis rather than after cancer has spread or progressed)??Just before and during disciplinary proceedings Emotional and Behavioral Changes Emotionally, the suicidal person may be feeling:?? Overwhelming painHopelessnessPowerlessnessWorthlessness, shame, guilt, or self-hatredFear of losing control and harming themselves or others Behaviorally, the person may:?? Appear sad, withdrawn, tired, apathetic, anxious, irritable, or prone to angry outburstsNot be performing well in school, work, or other activitiesBecome socially isolated or fall in with the wrong crowdHave declining interest in sex, friends, or activities previously enjoyedNeglect personal welfare or let their appearance goExperience a change in eating or sleeping habits Types of Suicide Risk Factors There are two different types of suicide risk factors: proximal risk factors and distal risk factors. Proximal risk factors are immediate signs that signal that a suicide attempt may take place such as recent suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, recent stressful life events, access to firearms, and learning about someone else dying by suicide.Distal factors are background issues or events that can increase the risk of suicide such as comorbid psychiatric conditions, a family history of suicide, and a history of previous suicide attempts. Warning Signs Suicide warning signs which you should be aware of include:?? DepressionPrevious suicide attemptsPreoccupation with deathStatements like, You would be better off without me or I wish I were deadTalking openly about wanting to kill oneselfDevelopment of a suicide plan, acquiring the means to carry it out, rehearsal behavior, or setting a time for the attemptMaking out a will or giving away favorite possessionsInappropriately saying goodbyeMaking ambiguous statements like, You wont have to worry about me anymore, I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up, or I just cant take it anymoreSuddenly switching from being very depressed to being very happy or calm for no apparent reason If You See Warning Signs If you observe any of these warning signs in your loved one, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional. If they refuse, be persistent. If they appear to be in immediate danger of hurting themselves, do not leave them alone, remove any possible means that they can use to hurt themselves, and get them to an emergency room as soon as possible. Never hesitate to contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline online or by phone at 1-800-273-8255. Caring counselors are available for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Safety Plan While not exclusive to depression, suicidal thoughts are common among people with depression. If you are living with depression but do not feel suicidal, some people find it helpful to make up a contingency plan on the chance that they may feel suicidal in the future. How to Create a Suicide Safety Plan Suicide Prevention If you dont know if you should be concerned about a loved one and arent ready to take them to the emergency room or call the suicide hotline, here are some things you can do.?? Be Alert Know the risk factors and warning signs. Be particularly concerned if your loved one shows multiple suicide warning signs. Encourage a loved one with depression to seek help. Help them locate treatment resources such as a doctor, therapist, or suicide hotline. Communicate Dont discount your loved ones feelings. Even if a situation seems easily fixable to you that doesnt mean that your loved one sees it the same way. Ask your loved one about suicidal thoughts. Many people are afraid that bringing up the idea of suicide will raise the likelihood it will occur. Thats simply not true. Show Support Express your love. Even if you feel your love should be obvious through your actions, many people craveâ€"and feel validated byâ€"the expression of that love in words. Share your feelings with one another. Your loved one may ask you to keep what they share with you to yourself and not tell anyone. But when it comes to suicide warning signs, not only is that ask not fair to you, but it may be in their best interest to involve others if needed. Use your best judgment, and make your loved ones health and safety your first priority. A Note About Warning Signs While most people who attempt suicide do show some sort of warning signs, there are also those people who, because of social stigma or a desire to not appear weak, will successfully hide what they are feeling. If you fail to recognize that your loved one is considering or considered suicide, do not blame yourself. Remember that you did the best you could with the information you had. How to Help When Someone Is Suicidal

The story of Ethan Fromes life - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1166 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/08/02 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Ethan Frome Essay Did you like this example? In Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, the story of Ethan Fromes life leading to his present circumstances is evaluated by the narrator, a man trapped in Starkfield, Massachusetts due to one of the areas infamous storms. When discussing Ethan, the narrator proclaims, Guess hes been in Starkfield too many winters. Most of the smart ones get away (Wharton 4). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The story of Ethan Fromes life" essay for you Create order As the narrator explains, the winters in Starkfield are extremely rough and seemingly never-ending, having an extremely detrimental impact on its inhabitants. Throughout the novel, Ethan expresses the desire to leave Starkfield and start a new life, yet he is trapped in his life of unhappiness, similar to how the winter storms trap the residents of Starkfield in their homes. In Edith Whartons novel, Ethan Frome, the harsh winters of Starkfield symbolize the depression and imprisonment that Ethan experiences through his marriage, revealing the isolation that the physical environment of Starkfield has caused for Ethan and its detrimental effects on his life. The main impairment in Ethans life is his wife, Zeena, and her illness. Due to the fact that the story is mostly told in Ethans point of view, the reader vividly sees Ethans opinion on his wife. He seems to despise her, describing her as harsh and cold. The winter has once again forced him to be trapped in a life he does not want due to the fact that he married Zeena after his mother died to avoid being alone during the cold winter months. Taking care of her is a chore to him, and disables him from leaving Starkfield and living the life he dreams of. Wharton says, His wifes retort was like a knife-cut across the sinews and he felt suddenly weak and powerless (48). The simile used by Wharton to describe the relationship between Ethan and Zeena exemplifies the theme of the impact that the winter has had on Ethan. Zeena, like the winters in Starkfield, has imprisoned Ethan. He is unable to leave Starkfield and pursue a career in engineering which was the dream of his youth. Eth ans relationship with Mattie and his yearn to commit adultery with her deepens his resentment towards Zeena. When Zeena kicks Mattie out of their house, Ethan truly realizes how trapped he is by his wife; Ethan looked at her with loathing. She was no longer the listless creature who had lived at his side in a state of sullen self-absorption, but a mysterious alien presence, an evil energy secreted from the long years of silent brooding (Wharton 48). Zeena exemplifies winter in Ethans life, a cold and unloving state that imprisons him in his house and misery. Ethans descriptions of Zeena portray the idea that she is an impediment on the improvement of his life, disabling him from happiness. In stark contrast to Zeena is Mattie, the warmth and light of Ethans life. When Mattie enters Ethans life in order to take care of Zeena, there is a revolution in Ethans world. His life has seemed to gain meaning, and he idolizes Mattie due to the fact that she is the polar opposite of Zeena. Wharton says, It was a fact that since Mattie Silvers coming he had taken to shaving every day; but his wife always seemed to be asleep when he left her side in the winter darkness (18). Once again, Zeena represents the winter to Ethan whereas Mattie is like summer through her warmth and appeal. When he is with Mattie, Ethan takes care of himself and enjoys living, yet he cannot escape the coldness of Zeena. This is reflects the idea that the residents of Starkfield cannot escape the cold, ongoing winter months. Opposing the negative descriptions that Ethan gives Zeena such as her being old and unfeminine Mattie is presented to be young and endearing. Her wardrobe exudes warmth, includin g a red decoration symbolizing the passion that Ethan feels for her. Wharton explains, He kept his eyes fixed on her, marveling at the way her face changed with every turn of their talk, like a wheat field under a summer breeze (38). Similar to how the plants thrive and grow during the summer months, Ethan is growing as a person when he is with Mattie. Through Mattie, Ethan sees the opportunity to leave this imprisonment and truly be happy, something that was never a possibility to him in the past. The emotions that Ethan has been feeling towards Mattie as well as his increasing distaste for his wife come to a climax when he goes sledding with Mattie. After Zeena has proclaimed that Mattie must leave, Ethan is left heartbroken and furious. He decides that he will bring Mattie home, and when they leave they decide to go on a sleigh ride. This is extremely ironic due to the fact that the cold environment caused by the winter in Starkfield up until this point has been a burden on Ethan. When he is with Mattie, however, he is able to enjoy his life despite the cold and the snow through this sleigh ride. The confirmation of Mattie and Ethans feelings for one another enables Ethan to be truly happy, and he does not want to return to the coldness of his marriage with Zeena. Ethans attempted suicide with Mattie exemplifies the severity of his dissatisfaction for his life before her. Ethans decision to steer the sled away from the tree, however, shows that like the people of Star kfield, no matter how hard Ethan tries he cannot escape the detriments of winter. When he begins to lead the sled into the tree, he sees a vision of Zeena; but suddenly his wifes face, with twisted monstrous lineaments, thrust itself between him and his goal, and he made an instinctive movement to brush it aside (Wharton 69). Ethans decision to not commit suicide was fueled by his imprisonment to Zeena, and once again shows that like winter snow on a house Zeena has left him emotionally buried and unable to escape. The isolation of Ethan portrayed through the brutal winter of Starkfield is an extremely important theme throughout Ethan Frome. Ethans current life with Zeena is representative of the coldness and severity of the winter months in Starkfield. Ethan desperately wants to escape the winter that has imprisoned him into an unhappy life in Starkfield, and the opportunity to do so is presented to him through Mattie. Mattie embodies the exact opposite of Ethans current life; she is warm and inviting and encourages Ethans happiness. Like the people in Starkfield undergoing the seemingly constant winter weather, however, Ethan is unable to escape the reality of his life. This is shown in the fact that he does not follow through with his suicide attempt and is forced to live a life where he is trapped with Zeena taking care of him and a paralyzed Mattie. The cold, bitter winter symbolizes Ethans dissatisfaction in his current marriage and life, and the harsh truth presented at the end of the novel is that he is unable to escape it.

Domestic Violence Against Women - 6693 Words

Introduction Violence in the home is a subject of increasingly public concern. According to Davis in the Encyclopedia of Social Work, The most affected victims, physically and psychologically, are women, including single and married women and women separated or divorced from their partners (Davis, 1995, p.789). For years violence against women has been excluded from everyday conversations for many reasons. Women of all races and social levels are victims of violence in the home. There are many theories as to why this problem has been ignored for centuries with no focused attention. Violence is clearly a problem. Most agree that the solution to violence against women is to prevent it completely from ever occurring through†¦show more content†¦Physical abuse includes: confining one to a certain place, shoving, hitting, slapping, pulling hair, choking, kicking, scratching, or hurting you with a weapon... Sexual abuse includes: Forcing undesired sexual acts, mistreating sexual parts of your body, and rape... Emotional abuse includes: Threatening to utilize any of these types of abusive behavior is also considered to be abuse (Types of Abuse, n.d., Government Publication). Historical Overview Violence against women was an acceptable part of society in the early years of America. Many religious sanctions expected it from certain families as a way to maintain a stable relationship between a man and a woman. Some boundaries were set such as the ‘rule of thumb, as to where a man may not strike his wife with anything bigger or rounder than his thumb (Barusch, 2002). The movement of battered women began to take throttle during the early 1970s. It began with representatives and activist voicing the issue at hand. One argument was of the laws and policies dealing with violence inflicted in the home. Activist argued that because the legal system and police did not protect women, they were deprived of their liberty and property when forced to flee from abusive homes (Barusch, 2002, p.245). The battered womens movement was a grass roots effort that helped to bring to issue to the political forefront (Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003). The femini stShow MoreRelatedDomestic Violence And Violence Against Women1662 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition of domestic violence is, â€Å"Violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm†. Domestic violence takes place in many forms, including physical assault, threats, sexual abuse, intimidation, etc. Domestic violence destroys the meaning behind a home and the feeling of a safe environment. No one man, woman, or child deserves to be abused. The abuser is the one who should take responsibility of the violence occurring, notRead MoreDomestic Violence And Violence Against Women2254 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction â€Å"Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation† (Aziz Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as aRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women966 Words   |  4 Pages Domestic Violence against Women Name Course Instructor Institution Date of submission Domestic Violence against Women Domestic violence is known in different ways, which are domestic abuse, intimate partner or battering. Domestic violence occurs in a relationship between intimate people. It can take many forms including sexual and physical abuse, threat of abuse and emotional. Domestic violence is mostly directed towards women, though men are abused but chances are minimal. Domestic violence happensRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Men and Women1449 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic Violence against Men and Women Sandra Marable Kaplan University CM-220 Professor Freiteg May 20, 2013 Whenever the thought of domestic violence comes to mind, more than often the visual picture is a women or a child. However, there is another side that has been ignored because it is pushed under the rug. The unfortunate fact is that men are the victims of domestic violence at least as often as women are. While the very idea of men is being beaten by their wivesRead MoreThe Issue Of Domestic Violence Against Women1497 Words   |  6 PagesOver the last 50 years the world has made huge strides against the issue of domestic violence against women. While this may seem like a great moral victory for us as a society we have a long way to go before the issue is under control. The very image of a man striking a woman immediately strikes a chord with most of us, causing great discomfort. If we switch the roles however the same proverbial chord lies there dormant. In fact when a man is struck in a movie by a woman it is often displayedRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women And Children 1115 Words   |  5 PagesWomen aren’t the only victims of domestic violence. Society must recognise, support and protect all victims of domestic violence. Good morning everyone. Victoria’s CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley states domestic violence reports in Victoria have topped 70,000 cases in the last year. With these results it would be assumed that they would be directly related to women. Since the recent illegalisation of domestic violence results show that women and children aren’t the only victims. Domestic violenceRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Indigenous Women947 Words   |  4 Pagesarticle â€Å"Domestic violence against indigenous women is everybody’s problem† domestic violence is depicted as a serious social problem that involves â€Å"unspeakable acts of violence† that leaves victims experiencing fear and despair (Taylor 2014). More specifically, the social construction of domestic violence will be discussed with an emphasis on Aboriginal women and a typology of intimate partner violence. The social construction of domestic violence has serious implications for victims of domestic abuseRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women And Girls1600 Words   |  7 Pageshuman rights, to support and help survivors of violence, to explain why violence against women and girls is not acceptable, and to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. This was spoken by the Minister for Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs and the Minister for Development Cooperation in Denmark. The country of Denmark is a small nation that faces the problem of domestic violence. To comprehend the issue of domestic violence against women in Denmark, it is important to understand theRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women Act1639 Words   |  7 Pagesfederal government to take part in the battle against domestic violence. This new law, named the VAWA, acknowledged that violence against women is a crime with far-reaching, harmful consequences for families, children and society (Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection, A Report to Congress under the Violence Against Women Act, 1 [NIJ Research Report 1996]). To fight this violent crime problem, VAWA made federal domestic violence crimes to be act against by the Department of Justice. Reliable withRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women Essay2203 Words   |  9 Pagesof Violence against Women (1993) defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. (UN General Assembly 1993). It is violence in private life that comprises domestic violence against women. Also called Intimate Partner Abuse and Family Violence, it

Post Cold War Free Essays

Explain why the ending of the Cold War was not followed by a period of world peace and stability. ____________________________________________________________ ___________ The ending of the cold war did not leave any sign of hope for the world to live in peace and prosperity. Until this second, there are hundreds of men, women and children being killed, injured, raped and executed for various reasons, some which may be legit while others are war related objectives. We will write a custom essay sample on Post Cold War or any similar topic only for you Order Now The world, not sure if this is the right word for it now, has gone and still is through some very tremendous events in the last 17 years or so, starting off with the gulf war which shocked the world in one night, Kosovo war, Al-Aqsa Intifada, war in Afghanistan, war on terror and Iraq, the list can go on and on, some which remain in the books of history and some which are still written about in history books today as that they are ongoing conflicts and example would be the war on terror. To make this whole concept I just talked about more clearly, I will try to explain the reasons to why the ending of the Cold War was not followed by a period of world peace and stability, by talking about the gulf war and how one night changed the lives and situations of many nations, mainly Israel and Palestine and how the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) played a major role in this war, leading to the Palestinian Intifada and the current events that are happening right now. The Gulf war was simply a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force from 35 nations authorized by the United Nations (UN) and led primarily by the United States in order to liberate Kuwait. [1] The Gulf War had two major impacts. First, the war was a catalyst for regional changes that started several years before the eruption of the crisis itself. The polarization of the Arab world was intensified by the invasion of an Arab state by another. Second, the war demonstrated which political terms existed in the Middle East at the time of the Iraqi invasion. On a rhetorical level, Saddam Hussein established a link between the Persian Gulf crisis and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, thus demonstrating the destabilizing effect of the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Iraqi leader compared the Iraqi invasion with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and demanded Israeli withdrawal before even considering a pullback from Kuwait. [2] During the Gulf War, the Israeli public took a step to the right, legitimizing the sanctions the Likud-government posed on the Palestinians. The sanctions were a result of two circumstances: the failing of the Palestinians – especially the PLO and the moderate political leaders in the West Bank – to condemn the Iraqi invasion; and the images of Palestinians cheering the Iraqi Scuds raining down on Tel Aviv. [3] Israel closed the borders between ‘Israel-proper’ and the occupied territories, preventing Palestinian workers from attending their jobs in Israel. Despite an increase of nearly half a million in the Israeli population due to immigration from Russia between 1989 and 1991, the Israeli policy resulted in a reduction in the GDP and a deterioration of the economic situation activity (ibid. )[4]. For the Palestinians, an already difficult economic situation got worse. This resulted in a boomerang-effect for Israel, intensifying the level of conflict with the Palestinians With the outbreak of the intifada, the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict moved inside the occupied territories, and the Green-line was re-drawn. The broad mobilization of nearly all layers of the Palestinian society in the earliest stages of the uprising strengthened the national unity. This kind of communal uprising turned out to be more difficult for Israel to fight than the PLO-launched guerilla-attacks from Arab territory during the 1970’s (Hunter 1991). Despite the optimism[5], the standard of living continued to deteriorate because of the mass-arrests, arbitrary detention and curfews carried out by the Israeli security forces (IDF and the border police). While many would agree that the mentioned above can be directly linked to the events that are going right now in Palestine and that have went on for the last couple of years, many would disagree, but if you want to look at it from a historical angle, it has a lot to do with the Gulf War. The end of the Cold War is a main point of reference in this analysis. However, important changes affecting the political situation in the Middle East started years before the Berlin-Wall was torn down, and the Soviet Empire crumbled. Therefore one might ask if the ‘window of opportunity’ would have ‘opened’ if the Cold War had continued. Would the locally initiated structural changes by themselves created a momentum for peace? My answer is that the combined effects of changes at the extra-regional level (the end of the Cold War), the regional level (the Gulf War), and the local level (the intfada) in sum ‘opened’ the window and let groups in the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships willing and ready to negotiate peace inside. Ultimately, Israel was successful in containing the uprising. The Palestinians’ force was inferior in relation to the well equipped and trained Israeli Defense Forces. However, the Intifada pinpointed numerous problems with the IDF’s conduct in the operative and tactical fields, as well as the general problem of Israel’s prolonged control of the West Bank and Gaza strip. These problems were noticed and widely criticized, both in international forums (in particular, when humanitarian questions were at stake), but also in Israeli public opinion, in which the Intifada had caused a split. 6] Bibliography 1. Abadi, Jacob (1994): â€Å"The Gulf War and Its Implications for Israel†. Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Vol 17, No. 3 (55-78). 2. Freedman, Robert. The middle East after Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait, University Press of Florida, 1993 (213-215) 3. Walsh, Ben. Modern world history, John Murray, London, 2001 4. Choueiri, Youssef M. (1997): Islamic fundamentalism -rev. ed. London : Pinter 5. Kuper , Adam and Jessica Kuper (eds. ) (1996): The Social Science Encyclopedia (Second edition). London and New York: Routledge. 6. Keddie, Nikki R. (1992): â€Å"The end of the Cold War and the Middle East†. In Hogan (ed. ) The End of the Cold War. Its meaning and implications (151-161). 7. Clarke, Richard. Against all enemies: Inside America’s war on terror, Free Press, 2004 (62-64) 8. Benny Morris, Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-1999, Knopf, 1999. p. 612 ———————– [1] The reported number of countries participating in the Coalition varies according to source. These variations may be in part be due to uncertainty over what level of participation constitutes being a Coalition member, and vagueness over the organization timeline of the Coalition. Examples of count variations include: an Arab anti-Gulf War essay – 31; CNN – 34; an Arab media site – 36; the Heritage Foundation (a US conservative think tank citing a 1991 Department of Defense report) – 38; US Institute of Medicine report on Gulf War Veterans’ Health – 39. The number of Coalition members has been reported to be as low as 19 at the beginning of the air campaign. 2] Freedman, Robert. The middle East after Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait, University Press of Florida, 1993 [3] Even the Peace Now-organization and well known peace-activists like Amoz Oz and Yael Dayan supported the sanctions the Likud-government posed on the Palestinians [4] Kuper, Adam and Jessica Kuper (eds. ) (1996): The Social Science Encyclopedia (Second edition). London and New York: Routledge. [5] Choueiri, Youssef M. (1997): Islamic fundamentalism -rev. ed. London : Pinter [6] Benny Morris, Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-1999, Knopf, 1999. p. 612 How to cite Post Cold War, Papers

International Monetary Fund Essays (2249 words) -

International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund is an important function that makes world trade less strenuous. The International Monetary Fund, or IMF as it is called, provides support and supervision to nations in all stages of economic progress. International trade is a key element to enable nations, large and small, to strengthen their economic positions. Larger nations need the international market to export their goods and services, and smaller nations also need this world scale market to import products so they are able to produce more efficiently. In order to achieve these goals, one major component must be in place. The ability to value other nation's currency. Throughout the years, many different ways have been used to do this, mostly ending in failure. There is no perfect way to accurately measure the true value of another country's currency. The International Monetary Fund is an effort to see each country's economic position, offer suggestions, and provide the fundamental economic security that is essential to a thriving (world) economy. Many of the domestic economic goals are reiterated by the INF on an international level. To understand the current INF we will investigate the events leading up to its existence. Between 1879 and 1934 major nations used a method of international exchange known as the Gold Standard. The Gold Standard was simply a fixed-rate system. The rate was fixed to gold. In order for this system to function properly three things had to happen. First, each nation had to define its currency to gold (this definition then could not change). Second, each nation must than maintain a fixed relationship to its supply of money and its amount of actual gold. Third, the on-hand gold must be allowed to be exchanged freely between any nations throughout the world. With all of those policies successfully in place, the exchange rates of the participating countries would then be fixed to gold, therefore to each other. To successfully maintain this relationship some adjustments had to be made from time to time. For example, two countries A and B are doing international business together and A buys more of B's products than B buys of A's. Now B doesn't have enough of A's currency to pay for the excess products purchased. B now has what's called a balance of payment deficit. In order to correct for this deficit the following must occur; Actual gold must now be transferred to A from B. This transfer does two things. First, it reduces B's money supply (a fixed ratio must be maintain between the actual amount of gold, and the supply of money) hence lowering B's spending, aggregate income, and aggregate employment, ultimately reducing the demand for A's products. Second, A's money supply is now increased, raising A's spending, aggregate income, and aggregate employment, ultimately raising the demand for B's products. These two events happen simultaneously stabilizing the exchange rate back to its equilibrium. The Gold Standard served the world's economy very well until one unfortunate event happened. The Great (worldwide) Depression of the 1930's presented the world with a new set of problems to be dealt with, not only domestically, but throughout the entire world. The situation was bad, so bad that nations would do anything to dig themselves out of economic disaster. Nations now would break the biggest rule of the Gold Standard. Nations started to redefine the value of there currency to gold. This act of devaluation, as it was called, disrupted the entire world's perception of the relationship of each country's currencies to there own. Bartering systems were tried, however, eventually the Gold Standard failed. After The Depression international trading was crippled. A new method of international currency exchange had to be developed. Many ideas were listened to, but not until 1944 would a new entirely accepted method be adopted. During this year in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire a modified adjustable-peg system was formed, in addition to this new innovative system, the International Monetary Fund was formed. For many years the Bretton Woods adjustable-peg system worked well. This system became more and more dependent of the United States currency's value. Since from the inception of the IMF in 1946 the United States government would exchange currency so that one ounce of gold equaled 35 US dollars. As more and more people found that 1 ounce of gold for 35 dollars was bargain, the supply of gold and US dollars became scarce (many people were trading their US dollars for gold). Eventually the general census of the world did not value 1 ounce of gold to 35 US

How does Williams portray the character of Stanley and his attitudes Essays

How does Williams portray the character of Stanley and his attitudes Essays How does Williams portray the character of Stanley and his attitudes Paper How does Williams portray the character of Stanley and his attitudes Paper Essay Topic: Literature In the play, Stanley is portrayed as a very masculine, aggressive character, with chauvinistic attitudes to both Stella and Blanche. However, despite his thuggishness, he is also portrayed as attractive- Stella can’t live without him – and he is sometimes seen to have a more naive vulnerable side to his character. One of the first dramatic techniques Williams uses to introduce us to Stanley in Scene 1 is that of stage directions. In these, Williams describes Stanley as having `the power and pride of a richly male bird among hens`, and this metaphor conveys his masculine sense of superiority and chauvinistic attitude. It is also one of many animal references associated with Stanley. Williams uses many dynamic verbs in the stage directions for Stanley, such as `throws the screen door of the kitchen open`, also reflected later on when he `snatches` the radio and `tosses` it out of the window. These dynamic verbs give us a strong sense of his physical presence. Williams also uses an asyndetic list `his heartiness with men, his appreciation of rough-humour, his love of good drink and food and games, his car, his radio, everything that is his, that bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer` to build up a picture of Stanley as a typical man, with the repeated pronoun `his` really emphasising his masculinity. This sense of masculinity is made apparent when we first see Stanley, throwing a parcel of meat to Stella. His attitude is that he is the hunter and provider, while she must stay and cook for him. This is further shown at the party scene, when he says `I am the king around here, so don’t forget it`. His choice of the noun `king` conveys his arrogance and sense of power over the women. His attitude to women is also conveyed in Scene 2, when he argues with Blanche about the loss of the plantation; he clearly believes that Stella’s property belongs to him under the `Napoleonic Code` he keeps mentioning. Williams uses a variety of syntax to convey Stanley’s conflict with Blanche in this scene. For example, he uses exclamations such as `Papers! That stuff people write on! ` and `I’ll have a look at them first! `, which suggest his anger and frustration with Blanche and his attempts to dominate her by shouting at her. Stanley also barks out questions at her, such as `Where’s the papers? ` and also uses imperatives such as `Don’t play so dumb` and `Don’t pull that stuff! `, again to control and dominate the scene. In addition, Stanley’s use of non-standard English and colloquial expressions here give us an impression of an unsophisticated, insensitive man. Stanley’s aggressive character develops further in Scene 3 with the poker game, culminating in him hitting Stella. Here, as in the rape scene later on, Williams uses the dramatic technique of having the actual action off-stage – we only hear `the sound of a blow`, which makes it all the more sinister for the audience as we are not quite sure what has happened. However, Stanley is almost immediately remorseful. Williams describes him with the simile `like a baying hound`, which is another example of the animal imagery surrounding Stanley, as he calls for Stella. Stanley calls her `my baby`, `my baby doll`, `my girl`. Here the repeated pronoun `my` suggests his possessive feelings for Stella, whereas the noun choices show us his sentimental affection for her. When he is described as `he falls on his knees`, we perhaps see a more vulnerable side to him. Stanley’s violence towards Stella foreshadows the rape scene in Scene 10, which is the climax of the play. This scene shows Stanley’s cruelty, as he is described as `grinning`. His dominance is shown in his use of short simple imperatives such as `Drop the bottle-top! Drop it! ` When he refers to Blanche as `tiger – tiger! ` he seems to be mocking her and he describes what is happening to the noun `date`, which is cruel and sarcastic. However, just before this episode, when Stanley has arrived home from the hospital, he is shown as exuberantly happy at the thought of the baby coming. The simile of him waving his red silk pyjamas `like a flag` to celebrate gives a rather simple, naive, child-like image of Stanley. We also see this different side when he talks to Stella about their sex life with the simple metaphor `them coloured lights`. His non-grammatical use of `them` shows us a simple, perhaps uneducated man. In conclusion, Stanley is no doubt a bullying thug, some of whose actions will appeal the audience. However, there are some more appealing aspects to his character, making him a complex character to analyse.

Weapons Used by Pirates

Weapons Used by Pirates Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1700-1725, employed a variety of weapons to carry out their high-seas thievery. These weapons were not unique to pirates but were also common on merchant and naval vessels at the time. Most pirates preferred not to fight, but when a fight was called for, the pirates were ready! Here are some of their favorite weapons. Cannons The most dangerous pirate ships were those with several mounted cannons - ideally, at least ten. Large pirate ships, such as Blackbeards Queen Annes Revenge or Bartholomew Roberts Royal Fortune had as many as 40 cannons on board, making them a match for any Royal Navy warship of the time. Cannons were very useful but somewhat tricky to use and required the attention of a master gunner. They could be loaded with large cannonballs to damage hulls, grapeshot or canister shot to clear decks of enemy sailors or soldiers, or chain shot (two small cannonballs chained together) to damage enemy masts and rigging. In a pinch, just about anything could be (and was) loaded into a cannon and fired: nails, bits of glass, rocks, scrap metal, etc. Hand Weapons Pirates tended to favor lightweight, quick weapons which could be used in close quarters after boarding. Belaying pins are small bats used to help secure ropes, but they also make fine clubs. Boarding axes were used to cut ropes and wreak havoc in rigging: they also made for lethal hand-to-hand weapons. Marlinspikes were spikes made of hardened wood or metal and were about the size of a railroad spike. They had a variety of uses onboard a ship but also made handy daggers or even clubs in a pinch. Most pirates also carried sturdy knives and daggers. The hand-held weapon most commonly associated with pirates is the saber: a short, stout sword, often with a curved blade. Sabers made for excellent hand weapons and also had their uses on board when not in battle. Firearms Firearms such as rifles and pistols were popular among pirates, but of limited use as loading them took time. Matchlock and Flintlock rifles were used during sea battles, but not as often in close quarters. Pistols were much more popular: Blackbeard himself wore several pistols in a sash, which helped him intimidate his foes. The firearms of the era were not accurate at any distance but packed a wallop at close range. Other Weapons Grenadoes were essentially pirate hand-grenades. Also called powder flasks, they were hollow balls of glass or metal which were filled with gunpowder and then fitted with a fuse. Pirates lit the fuse and threw the grenade at their enemies, often with devastating effect. Stinkpots were, as the name suggests, pots or bottles filled with some stinking substance: these were thrown onto the decks of enemy ships in the hope that the fumes would incapacitate the enemies, causing them to vomit and retch. Reputation Perhaps a pirates greatest weapon was his reputation. If the sailors on a merchant ship saw a pirate flag that they could identify as, say, Bartholomew Roberts, they would often immediately surrender instead of putting up a fight (whereas they might run from or fight a lesser pirate). Some pirates actively cultivated their image. Blackbeard was the most famous example: he dressed the part, with a fearsome jacket and boots, pistols and swords about his body, and smoking wicks in his long black hair and beard that made him look like a demon: many sailors believed he was, in fact, a fiend from Hell! Most pirates preferred not to fight: fighting meant lost crew members, damaged ships and perhaps even a sunken prize. Often, if a victim ship put up a fight, pirates would be harsh to the survivors, but if it surrendered peacefully, they would not harm the crew (and could even be quite friendly). This was the reputation that most pirates wanted. They wanted their victims to know that if they handed over the loot, they would be spared. Sources Cordingly, David. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996 Defoe, Daniel (Captain Charles Johnson). A General History of the Pyrates. Edited by Manuel Schonhorn. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1972/1999. Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Guilford: The Lyons Press, 2009 Konstam, Angus. The Pirate Ship 1660-1730. New York: Osprey, 2003. Rediker, Marcus. Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004. Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Mariner Books, 2008.