Factors Increasing Extinction Rates in Giant Panda Populations

Factors Increasing Extinction Rates in Giant Panda Populations Ailuropoda melanoleuca otherwise known as the Giant Panda is categorised as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2007a). This means that this is an animal which is at a very high risk of facing extinction, i.e. the species will die off. This has been a main concern for conservation since the 1950s, as at present there are approximately one thousand and six hundred giant pandas living on earth today (Yiming et. al, 2002). There are many reasons which have caused a such decline in populations of Giant panda such as their reliance on mainly bamboo, low reproduction rates, hunting and most importantly habitat destruction. All of these factors have played a key part in pushing our much loved animals to smaller and smaller numbers. WWF, (2011a) states that 30,000 sq km of forest in China is solely protected for pandas. This means that 80% of wild panda are highly protected by the Chinese government (WWF, 2011a), but why are numbers still decreasing? This essay will discuss what these factors are and how they are affecting the populations and communities of A. melanoleuca. Currently there are programmes being carried out to help conserve this species and increase numbers but are these really working? Why are there still so many few Giant pandas living on earth today? And can our conservation efforts help prevent this species from going in to extinction? To answer these questions we must look at each factor and how these are being dealt with. The Giant Panda inhabits South Central China and ranges from six isolated mountains in the Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces (IUCN, 2007b). Currently, this species is on the Appendix 1 CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) List (CITES, 2011a). This means that giant pandas cannot be traded internationally except in circumstances in which the reason for trading is for scientific research (CITES, 2011b). This is because this species is critically endangered and is at a high risk of extinction. The prohibition of trade will prevent giant pandas being removed from their natural habitats and reduce extinction rates in this species. Despite being biologically carnivorous, A. melanoleuca has an herbivorous diet consisting primarily of bamboo (Dierenfield et. al, 1982). In fact it is estimated that 99% of the Giant Pandas diet comprises of this food source (Schaller et. al, 1985, cited in Carter et. al, 1999). Therefore, habitat locations are very dependent on the distribution and availability of bamboo (Xuezhi et. al, 2008). There is a wide variety of bamboo which is consumed by the giant panda which consists of sixty different types with thirty-five of those containing their primary food sources (Hu, Wei, 2004, cited in IUCN, 2007b). By limiting their diet to mainly bamboo, the giant panda is at risk of eventual starvation. This is because in every fifteen to one hundred and twenty years, there is a bamboo die-off cycle which naturally occurs (Calhoun, 2005). Once this die-off occurs in the bamboo (depending on which species), the time it takes to grow to a level which can feed a full population of giant panda can be up to twenty years, thus many pandas are starved and may die due to this (Calhoun, 2005). Examples of this would be two of the main species of bamboo which are eaten by the giant panda; Arrow and Umbrella. It takes on average between forty and fifty years for Arrow bamboo to flower and for Umbrella bamboo this process takes approximately one hundred years (Franzen, 2003). Once these species and others eventually die off, giant pandas will need to search for a replacement and if unsuccessful, will starve to death and may face extinction. In the event of certain types of bamboo species dying off, conservation plans must be in place. In recent years, conservationists have been putting in place corridors between panda populations and areas which have bamboo which is not being fed on which can be suitable for feeding (Carter et. al, 1999). This type of programme is also being done to create corridors between different populations of panda also (Carter et. al, 1999). It was also suggested by Carter et. al, 1999, that these corridors should be a long term solution as the carrying capacity (the maximum population size a species can reach) of the giant panda can take up to two hundred years! Another factor which has had a negative impact on the population sizes of pandas is their vulnerability to poaching. This is when they are hunted (by humans) in the wild for their skins and skulls (Yiming et. al, 2002). To assess what effect poaching is having on the giant panda; population viability analysis (PVA) is required. PVA takes into account a range of ecological and environmental factors to evaluate the risks and threats to particular species. This allows planning for conservation and allows us to identify levels of threats to a given species (Yiming, et. al, 2002). By using PVA, Yiming et. al, 2002, found that even without the effects of poaching to giant pandas, population numbers were still very low. This is quite worrying as this means that although poaching is highly threatening, other factors are still pushing the species towards extinction. Results from Yiming et. al, 2002, experiments found that with the increase of poaching of the giant panda, a large decrease in p opulation size and a higher extinction rate was the result. Their experiments also compared poaching between the two sexes. They found that poaching in females was found to have a more negative impact on the extinction rate as they would appear to have a higher extinction rate than males, despite the intensity of poaching being the exact same. This comparison was mirrored in the analysis comparing adult and young pandas (i.e. Adults had a higher extinction rate). Therefore, Yiming et. al, 2002, highlighted that although the giant panda is naturally facing extinction due to many factors, poaching can significantly increase the extinction rate in populations. However, in recent years, the market for panda skins and incidents of poaching has began to decrease and is now no longer a key threat to the population of the giant panda (IUCN, 2007b). Reducing illegal capture and killing of the giant panda has been very successful due to training conservationists to patrol areas in which pandas are at risk (WWF, 2011b). The WWF began this training in 1996 and had more than three hundred people trained within four years. Above this, cameras have been installed on sites in which the giant panda inhabits. This allows trained staff to see how the pandas live naturally and can plan ahead on useful conservation programmes to prevent extinction occurring (WWF, 2011b). A. melanoleuca have a k-strategy approach when it comes to reproduction (Linderman et. al, 2004). This is because females do not begin to mate until they are approximately four or five years old and will only give birth to a small number of cubs (this can be as little as one or two young) (WWF China, 2011). If food is scarce (i.e. due to bamboo die-off) then the chance of the survival of cubs is very slim. Another factor which affects the reproductivity in the giant panda population is pandas in captivity. It has been found that giant pandas in captivity are not breeding well and it has been suggested that they find it difficult to mate in the presence of humans. This is because they are not in their natural environment (WWF China, 2011). The major threat to giant panda communities which is increasing extinction rates is habitat loss. Habitat loss is due to human impacts in which the giant pandas habitats have been destroyed by logging, agriculture and the development of hydropower amongst many other things (WWF, 2011c). Research published in 2008 by Xeuzhi et. al stated that agriculture was the most threatening human impact on reducing habitat sizes in panda populations. This is because farmland is usually located near human settlements which affect pandas directly. Also, as pandas are required to consume clean drinking water every day to survive, they tend to avoid large rivers. This is because large rivers are usually nearby to human settlements, in which the water will be highly polluted (Xuezhi et. al, 2008). Therefore, human impacts are limiting where panda communities can live. Fragmentation of the giant pandas habitat is also a factor contributing towards increasing the extinction rate. This has been due to ag ain, human impact as the Chinese economy has being growing exponentially (WWF China, 2009). As habitat destruction and fragmentation are the major issues impacting the giant panda population it is highly important that we try to reverse these effects as human activity is responsible for this. An example of an area which has been badly affected is Jiuzhai ring road in the Minshan Reserve Region (Xuezhi et. al, 2008). This has a high number of traffic daily and has caused the nearby community of pandas to become remote (Xuezhi et. al, 2008). It was suggested by Xuezhi et. al, 2008 that in order to prevent further damage to panda communities, the amount of human activity had to be reduced. This same idea was suggested for the Jiuzhai ring road by reducing traffic daily. In conclusion, it is clear to see that the future of giant panda populations and communities is critical and will remain so unless great changes are made. This is mainly down to human impacts which have negatively affected population numbers by destroying habitats, removing this species from its natural environment (captive breeding) and poaching. However, the giant pandas specialised diet is also pushing this species towards extinction as they are at risk of starvation. Despite this, programmes are in place to help restore habitats by creating corridors to new sources of bamboo and monitoring to prevent poaching. However, at the moment it is very difficult to determine whether or not the extinction of A. melanoleuca will be sooner rather than later. In short, the future of the giant panda is uncertain.

Psychoanalytic Model Paper Essay

When we talk about Psychoanalytic theory the first name that comes to mind is Sigmund Freud. Even though they are other psychologists that contributed to psychoanalytic theory and its development, Sigmund Freud is known for being the founder of this theory. He is famous for his work on sexual bias of neurosis, his study of hysteria, childhood seduction controversy, and dream analysis, among other theories like id, ego, and superego. Psychoanalytic Theory is the theory of the unconscious mind, and the personality development. Another concept, that helped shape psychoanalysis, is the early ideas of psychopathology. Like any other theory, there is always criticism, and other psychologists that do not share the same view. In Freud’s case, he was criticized for his way of collecting and recording data from his sessions with patients. Also for his theory of women having penis envy, and that he focused on the past behaviors instead of paying attention to the patient’s goals, future hopes, and motivations. Psychoanalytic Theory focuses on the study of the unconscious and abnormal behavior. Three of the major influences of psychoanalysis were philosophical speculations about the unconscious, early ideas about psychopathology, and other evolutionary theory. The theory of the unconscious mind is that it is a big influence in our life whether we are sleeping or awake. Freud’s speculated that our actions were a manifestation of the unconscious consequence of childhood  experience or emotion. It was Fechner that used the analogy that the unconscious mind is like an iceberg. This analogy helped inspire some of Freud’s work so much that he even quoted Fechner is some of his writings. There were other psychologists before Freud that suggested the theory of the unconscious mind; however Freud claimed that he found a way to study it scientifically. According to Freud, the unconscious mind slips and exposes our true thoughts, desires, emotions and behavior in dreams. This is known as the Freudian slip. Psychopathology also had a great influence on the development of Psychoanalysis. The study of mental illness dates back to 2000BC. The Babylonians believed that mental illness was the cause of demon possession and that the only treatment was thru magic and prayer. The Hebrews also believed that the cure for mental illness was thru magic and prayer. They also believed that the cause of mental illness was the cause of sins. The great Greek philosophers believed that mental illness was the cause of the disorder of thought process. The treatment was the power of the healing word. In other words, they believed that therapy was the answer to mental illness. When Christianity became popular they convinced the people that mental illness was the result of the evil spirits sending us back to 2000BC mentality. The only difference is that the Christian Church believed that the only way to get rid of evil spirits and possessions was thru torture and execution. It wasn’t until the eighteen century that mental illness was considered as a behavioral problem. People displaying irrational behavior were sent to an asylum also known as the cemetery for the still breathing. This inspired other psychiatrists to find forms of treatment for the mentally ill. The Emmanuel Movement focused on talk therapy sessions. Elwood Worcester believed that psychological issues can be in some cases the cause of mental illness. The movement became so popular that when Freud came to the United Sates with the concept of psychoanalysis they welcomed him with opened arms. Sigmund Freud is believed to be the father of psychoanalytic theories. His research was based on his theories about the conscious and unconscious mind. He believed that our actions, emotions, and true thoughts are stored deep in our unconscious. He actually got inspired by Fechner’s analogy that the mind is like an iceberg. The part that is above water represents the conscious mind, and the part that is deep in the water is the unconscious mind. Freud strongly believed that our deepest desires were stored in the mind, and no divine power could change that  not even religion. He liked using the free association technique by letting his patients talk about whatever came to mind. Freud believed that by letting the patients express their thoughts they would uncover repressed memories that were the cause of their behavior. He noticed that his patients talked about childhood suppressed memories that involved sexual issues. At first he thought that his patient’s neurosis was caused by childhood trauma of sexual abuses. Later he suspected that they were fantasies that his patients were reporting and not the actual abuse. One of his theories is that all sons have a sexual attraction towards the mother and all girls towards the father. Freud published a paper talking about his theory of childhood seduction. This paper created so much controversy that some people were angry, and other had mixed emotions. Freud believed that sexual frustration was the cause of neurosis. He was actually obsessed with the subject because of sex because of the lack of sex in his life. By analyzing his dreams he realized that the unconscious mind can manifest thru dreams. Years later he published a book â€Å"The Interpretation of Dreams† (1900). Even though Sigmund Freud’s is considered the father of psychoanalysis it was Charles Darwin’s work that inspired Freud. Most of his views came from Darwin’s ideas on psychoanalysis like the meaning of dreams, the unconscious mind, sexual arousal, and even childhood development. Frank J. Sulloway was a recognized historian of science, and he found that Freud’s way of thinking  was inspired by Darwin. â€Å"What Sulloway did was to check the books in Freud’s personal library, where he found copies of Darwin’s works. Freud had read them all and had written notes in the margins.†(Schultz, D 1969 pg293). Even though Freud contributed to the field of psychoanalysis there was criticism of his work. Some scholars believe that his work was reliable due to poor record keeping. â€Å"He did not make a verbatim transcript of each patient’s words but worked from notes made several hours after seeing the patient† (Schultz, D 1969 pg315). This means that his notes of the sessions with his  patients were compromised by his opinions and ideas. I can see way people would be concerned with his methods of data collection. There is a chance that he misunderstood what his patients were telling him. For example, when my husband and I have an argument there’s time when I misinterpreted what he said. My recollection of the argument is different from his recollection of the argument. In his case, it is important to have the most accurate information. Other scholars believed that he influenced the patient’s answers and only heard what he wanted to hear. â€Å"Examination of the actual cases referred to by Freud reveals not a single instance in which this was the case. There is no evidence that any patient ever told Freud she had been seduced by her father. This is nothing more than an inference on Freud’s part. (Kihlstorm, 1994, p.683)† (Schultz, D 1969, pg316). Concerns about the credibility of his work arose because of inconsistencies with his research, his notes, and the work he published. His work was limited to just a number of people and considered incomplete. There were other psychologists that also contributed to the development of Psychoanalysis. Carl Jung worked closely with Freud but after 1914, he developed the idea of analytical psychology. This was his own version of what psychoanalysis should be and opposed some of Freud’s work. Jung believed that what shape our personality are our goals, hopes and aspirations and not just childhood experiences like Freud suggested.  Personality can change with time. During our lifetime, we can experience several personalities depending on the experiences and the level of maturity. This means that you are not the same person you were in high school. As time passes you learn from your experiences and adapt to your environment as it changes. One of Jung’s theories is that the unconscious mind is formed by two levels. One is the personal level where all the memories, wishes, faint perceptions and suppressed memories are. The second form of unconscious is the collective unconscious this is where all the universal and  evolutionary experiences are. For example, the need and instinct to survive that gets passed on for generations. He also referred to this as archetypes of the collective unconscious. â€Å"We typically experience archetype in the form of emotions associated with significant life events such as birth, adolescence, marriage, and death or with reactions to stream danger.† (Schultz, D 1969, pg.327). He also suggested the theories of introversion and extraversion along with the types of functions and attitudes. Another psychologist, that also made a great contribution to psychoanalysis, was Alfred Adler. Like Jung, Adler did not share Freud’s views on the Oedipus complex. Adler was more interested in the conscious mind than the unconscious mind. He also believed that our plans for the future are the ones that influenced behavior and not the past experiences. Some of his theories are the creative power of the Self and that the order in which we are born matters. Karen Horney also contributed to the development of psychoanalysis. She had many disagreements with Freud’s theories except for the unconscious motivations. She did not share Freud’s view that women had penis envy; instead she suggested that man had womb envy. These psychologists helped developed psychoanalysis. They all brought interesting and exciting new ideas to the table. These theories helped shaped and develop psychoanalysis. Even though Sigmund  Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis the one that pave the way for others to follow, in fact, it was Charles Darwin how inspired Freud theories. It was Darwin who paved the way for psychoanalysis, but Sigmund brought attention to it by claiming he found a scientific way to study the unconscious mind. Freud had many theories some were accepted by scholars, other theories were not. For example, Childhood seduction caused controversy, and some psychologists did not share his view of the Oedipus complex. Even his method of collecting data was criticized causing doubts about the credibility of his work. The one thing they did agree on  was of the existence of the unconscious mind and how it influenced a person’s thoughts, emotions, dreams, personality, and behaviors. Psychoanalysis began with just a philosophical speculation about the unconscious mind. Shaped by the early ideas about psych opathology and developed by evolutionary theories. References Schultz, D. (1969). A history of modern psychology (10e ed.). New York: Academic Cohen, T. (2003). Sigmund freud: The founder of psychoanalysis. School Library Journal, 49(9), 231. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/211726954?accountid=458

Role of Nurse in Community Mental Health - 2115 Words

ROLE OF NURSE IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH INTRODUCTION The trend in psychiatric care is shifting from that of inpatient hospitalization to a focus of outpatient care within the community. Community mental health services include all those activities in the community connected with mental health other than the institutional or hospitalized setting. The community approach focuses on the total population of defined geographical area rather than individual patient. Emphasis is mainly on preventive services which include provision of a continuous, comprehensive system of services designed to meet all mental health related needs in the community. Mental health care is provided. through education, consultation, brief psychotherapy, crisis†¦show more content†¦The factors which a community mental health nurse should give emphasize are: a.) Biological and Physical factors b) Psychosocial factors c) Sociocultural factors a) Biological and Physical factors The community mental health nurse has a significant role especially in prenatal and postnatal care. It will help in reduction of mental retardation and organic mental disorders. Parents need to be prepared for the acceptance of a new child in the family and should provide minimum facilities for the growth of a child like food, shelter and clothing. b) Psychosocial factors * Physical competencies coordination of muscles, protecting oneself from injuries. * Emotional competencies coping alone at home in the absence of mother for 45 hours will enable the child to develop confidence. * Social competencies opportunities need to be provided for group interaction, socialization with guest and friends so that the child learns to accept his strengths and weakness. c) Sociocultural factors For reducing social isolation, a social support system should be developed. Kaplans hypothesis is that every individual in his life from womb to tomb needs physical support, psychosocial support and sociocultural support. If he is deprived in any one of these areas there is a chance of developing mental disorders. ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THIS ASPECTS ARE : 1) To educate the individual and the family about theShow MoreRelatedPreventing Mental Illness And Substance Abuse Found Among Canada s First Nations Communities1326 Words   |  6 PagesIn interpreting the significance of the disproportionately high rates of mental illness and substance abuse found amongst Canada’s First Nations communities, it is critical to recognize that these groups have been long marginalized, and typically live in remote areas bereft of sophisticated and large-scale health service facilities (Gone Trimble, 2012). With this reality in mind, the implications of the statistics and analyses presented above demonstrate that a very significant degree of institutionalizedRead MoreClinical Nurse Leader Role in Psychiatric Department Essay1314 Words   |  6 PagesCNL Role in Psychiatric Department Never has it been more critical to provide high quality care in the hospital while being cost effective. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2005) has created the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role to introduce lateral integration of care for specified groups by creatively and intentionally using a variety of health care resources (AACN, 2005). The CNL’s purpose is to aid in various departments of theRead MoreA State Of Good Mental Health Essay1662 Words   |  7 Pagesa state of good mental health is more than simply the absence of a mental disorder, such as depression, mania, dissociative identity disorder, or anxiety. 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On Some School Nights, I Have A Rough Time Trying To Fall

On some school nights, I have a rough time trying to fall asleep even though I manage to go to bed early. I twist and turn and eventually pass out at one in the morning. Few hours later, I wake up and experience headaches and stress at home, then a difficult time paying attention and processing information in class. All of these factors were resulted by the lack of sleep, or sleep deprivation. Many more harmful problems can result from sleep deprivation, such as sleep disorders, difficulty driving, and physical and mental effects on students. In which case, students wouldn’t want sleep deprivation affecting their academic grades and education in school. Therefore, students in high school should be allowed to sleep for a longer period of†¦show more content†¦As a final point, students who are experiencing sleep problems daily have a high chance of developing sleep disorders, so they should not be taken lightly. The students who were in middle school couldn’t dri ve, but they can now in high school. Drinking while driving and drowsy driving are common throughout juniors, but especially seniors. Sixth grade students usually get about 8.4 hours of sleep, but high school seniors get only about 6.9 hours (Sohn, Los Angeles Times, 2010). Teenagers need their beauty sleep, or problems arise from sleep deprivation. Only 15% of teens are getting the recommended amount of sleep in the school year, according to the National Sleep Foundation (Sylvester, Current Health Teens, 2011). On their way to school, they are prone to passing out on the road at a turn or tempted to rush and past a yellow light. Drowsy driving is considered to be one of the worst effects for many young adults. Adding on, about 50% of seniors reported of drowsy driving once a week, but 68% of them have driven only once while drowsy. 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Buddhism and the Four Noble Truths Essay - 1769 Words

Tilopa once said, â€Å"It is not the outer objects that entangle us. It is the inner clinging that entangles us.† Over 2500 years ago, Buddha outlined the framework for Buddhist thought in which he declared that he taught suffering, its origin, cessation and path. The four noble truths contain the basis of Buddha’s ideas which he attained while meditating under a bodhi tree, which would later become a Buddhist symbol. While Buddhism is not practiced by many, its affect in the world can be seen in the utilization of the four noble truths that Buddha was enlightened with. By accepting the four noble truths, we are able to identify, heal, and be set free from a life of suffering. To begin with, the common bond humans share with each other in†¦show more content†¦The poor man surprisingly walked around peacefully, and this gave the first Buddha the idea of roaming around, abstaining from indulgences, and trying to discover a cure all to end pain and misery. (Chane y, 3.) To continue, the Buddha said in his teaching that life is dukkha, the exact translation of the word to English is unknown, but most believe it is suffering. However, even things such as happiness and success eventually become dukkha. According to Buddha, life is impermanent and is constantly changing. Buddha Gotama said to his disciples, â€Å"Impermanent, subject to change, are component things. Strive on with heedfulness† (Thera, 6). This simply means that life and anything in the world is constantly changing. For example, you could win an award for being an outstanding athlete, but the happiness that brings is only short term. Life is dukkha and the happiness it brings will quickly subside. Buddha wanted his followers to realize the impermanence of life, and the dynamic changes that happen on a daily basis. This learning experience would provide a key into understanding what suffering is, and why every human shares the same common theme of suffering. As humans, we c ontinually push ourselves to reach goals that we set for ourselves. However, the Buddha believes that this thirst for success only disappoints us because we are constantly trying to push barriers that we sometimes cannot physicallyShow MoreRelatedThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism760 Words   |  4 PagesAlyssa Hayes Professor Wayne Knight 2/27/2017 Hum 10 Tuesday Buddhism The four noble truths The Buddhists strongly believed in the four noble truths which are the foundation of Buddhism. The first noble truth, is the truth of suffering or (dukkha). The Pali word â€Å"dukkha† can be described using the term â€Å"temporary†. Things that are painful and things that are pleasurable are considered dukkha because they are temporary and do not last forever. In relation to human life, Buddhists believe that lifeRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism1533 Words   |  7 PagesCritically discuss the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, explaining the reasons or arguments given by Buddhism to support these Truths and discussing at least one objection that could be raised against the first Noble Truth and one objection that could be raised against the second Noble Truth. Buddhism see’s the Four Noble Truths as the Buddha’s way of explaining the truth of the human condition and are described as the essence of His teachings. The Four Noble Truths play an important part in understandingRead MoreBuddhism : The Four Noble Truths859 Words   |  4 Pagesspiritual practices, and traditions, Buddhism. Some of the spiritual practice of Buddhism have largely based teachings today across the world. The teachings consisted of â€Å"The Eightfold Paths,† â€Å"The Four Noble Truths† and some other breathings or meditations. The religion has taught their followers to shadow their own journey in order to assist them in their own lightning way. Some of the practice teachings include meditation and breathing exercise, and chant. Buddhism is a religion that has been aroundRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism1642 Words   |  7 PagesMy Enlightenment Ever since I was a sophomore in high school, I have always had a particular interest in Buddhism. I have embraced the similarities that I have found within myself and the Buddhism religion. A few years ago, I was in a dark state of mind after my father had passed away. During my healing process, I felt that I was awakened in which I found my determination to search for my enlightenment. I spent a few weeks searching for what I thought was my path to end my suffering. I needed toRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism1635 Words   |  7 PagesIn the history of Buddhism, suffering has always remained a key concept as it is the main reason for using Buddhist principles and practices to relieve ourselves from it. The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism inform us of the following principles: suffering exists in life, there is a cause to our suffering, there is an end to our suffering, and following the eightfold path can relieve our suffering. Traditional forms of Buddhism suggest that we c an overcome suffering by attaining Nirvana, or the stateRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths of Buddhism1018 Words   |  4 PagesDiscussion 1: Desire. Please respond to the following: Explain what you think your life would be like if you did not make decisions or act on the basis of your desires. The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism suggest that suffering is caused by desire, and to eliminate suffering, it is essential to eliminate desire. This concept is so simple, and yet so difficult to achieve. From the moment we wake up, desire consumes our thoughts. Desire can inspire us to achieve great things, but desire can alsoRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism1248 Words   |  5 PagesIn Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, the four Noble Truths of Buddhism are revealed throughout the journey of Siddhartha. The Four Noble Truths include: Life means suffering, the origin of suffering is attachment, the cessation of suffering is attainable, and the path to the cessation of suffering. Siddhartha discovers that in order to reach enlightenment, one must have experiences and struggle through these Noble Truths firsthand. The first Noble Truth â€Å"Life means suffering† is shown throughout Siddhartha’sRead MoreBuddhism: Happiness and The Four Noble Truths1442 Words   |  6 Pagespermanent. Gautama’s renunciation of an unsatisfying existence is a great model for anyone following the Buddha’s path. Gautama himself tried to find a teacher to help him find peace, however; this proved ineffective (Haught 47). Therefore, followers of Buddhism must find the way to peace themselves. No one can help them in this quest. One has to experience life on their own; following the rules of others will do nothing to bring about one’s own consciousness. For six years, Gautama joined a group of monksRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths of Buddhism Essay791 Words   |  4 PagesThe Four Noble Truths of Buddhism #65279; Dukkha is the first of the four noble truths of Buddhism. The word means suffering, but just to state suffering as the entirety of the first noble truth, is not enough because the expression of dukkha is the first truth that is needed for salvation. Moreover, dukkha is the conclusion of a logical chain of ideas that explains the life and death cycle of mankind. Before a person recognizes the truth of dukkha, he lives in a space of ignoranceRead MoreDiscussion of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism2489 Words   |  10 PagesQ2. Outline and discuss the four noble truths: is the Buddhist view of existence optimistic or pessimistic? The question of the Buddhist view of existence being optimistic or pessimistic is one which is many have an opinion on. It could be said that the four noble truths provide the views of the Buddha in the way that life is led and more importantly, should be led. Certainly, the end goal is clearly optimistic, the attainment of spiritual enlightenment, or nirvana. However, the Buddhist view

Zoe’s Tale PART I Chapter Two Free Essays

I climbed out onto the roof through my bedroom window and looked back at Hickory. â€Å"Hand me those binoculars,† I said. It did – and then climbed out the window with me. We will write a custom essay sample on Zoe’s Tale PART I Chapter Two or any similar topic only for you Order Now Since you’ve probably never seen it I’ll have you know it’s a pretty impressive sight to watch an Obin unfold itself to get through a window. Very graceful, with no real analogue to any human movement you might want to describe. The universe, it has aliens in it. And they are. (Obin: â€Å"it,† not â€Å"he† or â€Å"she.† Because they’re hermaphrodites. That means male and female sex organs. Go ahead and have your giggle. I’ll wait. Okay, done? Good.) Hickory was on the roof with me; Dickory was outside the house, more or less spotting me in case I should trip or feel suddenly despondent, and then fall or leap off the roof. This is their standard practice when I climb out my window: one with me, one on the ground. And they’re obvious about it; when I was a little kid Mom or Dad would see Dickory blow out the door and hang around just below the roof, and then yell up the stairs for me to get back into my room. Having paranoid alien pals has a downside. For the record: I’ve never fallen off the roof. Well, once. When I was ten. But there were extenuating circumstances. That doesn’t count. Anyway, I didn’t have to worry about either John or Jane telling me to get back into the house this time. They stopped doing that when I became a teenager. Besides, they were the reason I was up on the roof in the first place. â€Å"There they are,† I said, and pointed for Hickory’s benefit. Mom and Dad and my green friend were standing in the middle of our sorghum field, a few hundred meters out. I raised my binoculars and they went from being hash marks to being actual people. Green man had his back to me, but he was saying something, because both Jane and John were looking at him intently. There was a rustle at Jane’s feet, and then Babar popped up his head. Mom reached down to scratch him. â€Å"I wonder what he’s talking to them about,† I said. â€Å"They’re too far away,† Hickory said. I turned to it to make a comment along the lines of no kidding, genius. Then I saw the consciousness collar around its neck and was reminded that in addition to providing Hickory and Dickory with sentience – with their idea of who they were – their collars also gave them expanded senses, which were mostly devoted to keeping me out of trouble. I was also reminded that their consciousness collars were why they were here in the first place. My father – my biological father – created them for the Obin. I was also reminded that they were why I was here, too. Still here, I mean. Alive. But I didn’t go down that road of thought. â€Å"I thought those things were useful,† I said, pointing to the collar. Hickory lightly touched the collar. â€Å"The collars do many things,† it said. â€Å"Enabling us to hear a conversation hundreds of meters away, and in the middle of a grain field, is not one of them.† â€Å"So you’re useless,† I said. Hickory nodded its head. â€Å"As you say,† it said, in its noncommittal way. â€Å"It’s no fun mocking you,† I said. â€Å"I’m sorry,† Hickory said. And the thing of it was, Hickory really was sorry. It’s not easy being a funny, sarcastic thing when most of who you were depended on a machine you wore around your neck. Generating one’s own prosthetic identity takes more concentration than you might expect. Managing a well-balanced sense of sarcasm above and beyond that is a little much to ask for. I reached over and gave Hickory a hug. It was a funny thing. Hickory and Dickory were here for me; to know me, to learn from me, to protect me, and if need be to die for me. And here I was, feeling protective of them, and feeling a little sad for them, too. My father – my biological father – gave them consciousness, something the Obin had lacked and had been searching for, for the entire history of their species. But he didn’t make consciousness easy for them. Hickory accepted my hug and tentatively touched my head; it can be shy when I’m suddenly demonstrative. I took care not to lay it on too thick with the Obin. If I get too emotional it can mess up their consciousness. They’re sensitive to when I get overwrought. So I backed up and then looked toward my parents again with the binoculars. Now John was saying something, with one of his patented half-cocked smiles. His smile erased when our visitor started talking again. â€Å"I wonder who he is,† I said. â€Å"He is General Samuel Rybicki,† Hickory said. This got another glance back from me. â€Å"How do you know that?† I said. â€Å"It is our business to know about who visits you and your family,† Hickory said, and touched its collar again. â€Å"We queried him the moment he landed. Information about him is in our database. He is a liaison between your Civil Defense Forces and your Department of Colonization. He coordinates the protection of your new colonies.† â€Å"Huckleberry isn’t a new colony,† I said. It wasn’t; it had been colonized for fifty or sixty years by the time we arrived. More than enough time to flatten out all the scary bumps new colonies face, and for the human population to become too big for invaders to scrape off the planet. Hopefully. â€Å"What do you think he wants from my parents?† I asked. â€Å"We don’t know,† Hickory said. â€Å"He didn’t say anything to you while he was waiting for John and Jane to show up?† I said. â€Å"No,† Hickory said. â€Å"He kept to himself.† â€Å"Well, sure,† I said. â€Å"Probably because you scared the crap out of him.† â€Å"He left no feces,† Hickory said. I snorted. â€Å"I sometimes question your alleged lack of humor,† I said. â€Å"I meant he was too intimidated by you to say anything.† â€Å"We assumed that was why you had us stay with him,† Hickory said. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I said. â€Å"But if I knew he was a general, maybe I wouldn’t have given him such a hard time.† I pointed to my parents. â€Å"I don’t want them getting any grief because I thought it would be fun to mess with this guy’s head.† â€Å"I think someone of his rank would not come all this way to be deterred by you,† Hickory said. A list of snappy retorts popped in my head, begging to be used. I ignored them all. â€Å"You think he’s here on some serious mission?† I asked. â€Å"He is a general,† Hickory said. â€Å"And he is here.† I looked back through the binoculars again. General Rybicki – as I now knew him – had turned just a bit, and I could see his face a little more clearly. He was talking to Jane, but then turned a bit to say something to Dad. I lingered on Mom for a minute. Her face was locked up tight; whatever was going on, she wasn’t very happy about it. Mom turned her head a bit and suddenly she was looking directly at me, like she knew I was watching her. â€Å"How does she do that?† I said. When Jane was Special Forces, she had a body that was even more genetically modified than the ones regular soldiers got. But like Dad, when she left the service, she got put into a normal human body. She’s not superhuman anymore. She’s just scary observant. Which is close to the same thing. I didn’t get away with much of anything growing up. Her attention turned back to General Rybicki, who was addressing her again. I looked up at Hickory. â€Å"What I want to know is why they’re talking in the sorghum field,† I said. â€Å"General Rybicki asked your parents if there was someplace they could speak in private,† Hickory said. â€Å"He indicated in particular that he wanted to speak away from Dickory and me.† â€Å"Were you recording when you were with him?† I asked. Hickory and Dickory had recording devices in their collars that recorded sounds, images and emotional data. Those recordings were sent back to other Obin, so they could experience what it’s like to have quality time with me. Odd? Yes. Intrusive? Sometimes, but not usually. Unless I start thinking about it, and then I focus on the fact that, why yes, an entire alien race got to experience my puberty through the eyes of Hickory and Dickory. There’s nothing like sharing menarche with a billion hermaphrodites. I think it was everyone’s first time. â€Å"We were not recording with him,† Hickory said. â€Å"Okay, good,† I said. â€Å"I’m recording now,† Hickory said. â€Å"Oh. Well, I’m not sure you should be,† I said, waving out toward my parents. â€Å"I don’t want them getting in trouble.† â€Å"This is allowed under our treaty with your government,† Hickory said. â€Å"We’re allowed to record all you allow us to record, and to report everything that we experience. My government knew that General Rybicki had visited the moment Dickory and I sent our data query. If General Rybicki wanted his visit to remain secret, he should have met your parents elsewhere.† I chose not to dwell on the fact that significant portions of my life were subject to treaty negotiation. â€Å"I don’t think he knew you were here,† I said. â€Å"He seemed surprised when I sicced you on him.† â€Å"His ignorance of us or of the Obin treaty with the Colonial Union is not our problem,† Hickory said. â€Å"I guess not,† I said, a little out of sorts. â€Å"Would you like me to stop recording?† Hickory asked. I could hear the tremble on the edge of its voice. If I wasn’t careful about how I showed my annoyance I could send Hickory into an emotional cascade. Then it’d have what amounted to a temporary nervous breakdown right there on the roof. That’d be no good. He could fall off and snap his snaky little neck. â€Å"It’s fine,† I said, and I tried to sound more conciliatory than I really felt. â€Å"It’s too late now anyway.† Hickory visibly relaxed; I held in a sigh and gazed down at my shoes. â€Å"They’re coming back to the house,† Hickory said, and motioned toward my parents. I followed its hand; my parents and General Rybicki were indeed heading back our way. I thought about going back into the house but then I saw Mom look directly at me, again. Yup, she’d seen me earlier. The chances were pretty good she knew we had been up there all that time. Dad didn’t look up the entire walk back. He was already lost in thought. When that happened it was like the world collapsing in around him; he didn’t see anything else until he was done dealing with what he was dealing with. I suspected I wouldn’t see much of him tonight. As they cleared the sorghum field, General Rybicki stopped and shook Dad’s hand; Mom kept herself out of handshaking distance. Then he headed back toward his floater. Babar, who had followed the three of them into the field, broke off toward the general to get in one last petting. He got it after the general got to the floater, then padded back to the house. The floater opened its door to let the general in. The general stopped, looked directly at me, and waved. Before I could think what I was doing, I waved right back. â€Å"That was smart,† I said to myself. The floater, General Rybicki inside, winged off, taking him back where he came from. What do you want with us, General? I thought, and surprised myself by thinking â€Å"us.† But it only made sense. Whatever he wanted with my parents, I was part of it too. How to cite Zoe’s Tale PART I Chapter Two, Essay examples

Growing Up as a Restaurant Kid Essay Example For Students

Growing Up as a Restaurant Kid Essay The automatic door bell rings as the front door opens, and customers are greeted with, Hi! How are you? How can I help you today? I welcome everyone who dines in my parents sushi restaurant with this progressively robotic phrase every day. My journey as a restaurant kid started when I moved to America to reunite with my parents after spending a decade in China with my grandma. Ever since then, my home has always been inside of the restaurant, among the countless plates that I have shattered and a pressure cooker that exploded when I was curious about what would happen if I clogged the steam vent with rice. As a boy I would play hide and seek with my little brother, lock myself inside the industrial sized walk in freezer, and sleep in the little storage place under the cash register. I felt like Christopher Columbus, exploring the restaurant with a curious mind, experimenting with foods like a scientist, and making new recipes as if I were Paula Deen. But as I grew older, my parents began to give me tasks to help relieve some of their stress. When I was entering 7th grade, my dad assigned me an important job. He, a restaurant manager, took me under his wing and prepared me as a chef to take his place. My objective was to make and serve sushi to the customers, but the journey was impossible without any proper training. During the summer, my dad directed me to observe him make sushi because this was the way how he learned and became a sushi chef 16 years ago. At first glance, I thought making sushi was a walk in the park, to my surprise, when it was my turn to make the sushi, it was a total disaster. I think you are better off working at Subway and making subs than sushi with me. My dad joked. Making sushi is like an art; it takes time and patience, which took me three years to master it. Although it took me 7 months to get a blue belt, I was still nowhere near the level that my dad was on. However, knowing how to do several simple tasks did reduce some of the work my dad was doing; in fact, he took his first day off of work since the restaurant opened. Eventually, my culinary responsibilities integrated with washing dishes, taking care of customers, and dealing with customer complaints. As I entered high school, I often times found myself trying to straddle being a restaurant kid and a regular student. Every day after school, I had to go to the restaurant and help out, while simultaneously struggling to finish my school work in the kitchen. Sometimes my physics homework would be discontinued by the angry customers impatiently waiting for their order, my study time would be cut short because of chores that my parents didnt have time to do, and whatever I was doing would be halted because of dirty dishes that needs to be washed. By committing everything towards familys restaurant, I couldnt participate in many social events or athletic teams; but I was willing to sacrifice my time for my parents because they sacrificed their lives 18 years ago by immigrating to America and starting a new life with the ultimate goal of increasing the probability of my success. Growing up in a restaurant encouraged me to work harder so I can be the first member in my family to graduate high school and enter college. The best rewards from this experience are the virtues of patience and perseverance I gained from these experiences and this reward will apply to me as a college student and beyond.