AIDS in Africa :: HIV Disease Epidemic

Africa’s AIDS Epidemic Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become an epidemic for many underdeveloped regions. Although it does exist in the developed nations, it is more prevalent in places like South America, Asia, the island countries and most heavily of all Africa. There are many aspects to the problem of AIDS in Africa. Public health departments lack the resources to treat patients properly and to control the epidemic through education. Thirty-three million people have AIDS in the world. Africa has two-thirds of that number. According to the United Nations Aids Program on HIV/Aids, and World Health Organization (WHO), estimates, seven out of ten people newly infected with HIV in 1998 live in sub Saharan Africa. Among children under 15, the proportion is nine out of ten. Of all Aids deaths since the epidemic started, eighty-three percent have been in the region. These numbers sound even more astonishing considering only one-tenth of the world’s population lives in Africa, south of the Sahara. The amount of Africans affected by the epidemic is frightening. Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 34 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa have been infected with HIV. Approximately 11.5 million of those people have already died, one-fourth of them being children. During the course of 1998, Aids has been responsible for an estimated two million deaths in Africa. There is about 21.5 million men and w omen living with HIV in Africa, plus an extra one million being children. Four million of those people contracted the infection in 1998 alone (Mail & guardian). No country in Africa has escaped the virus. Most of the new infections are concentrated in East Africa and especially in the southern part of the continent. In fact, the southern region of Africa holds majority of the world’s most hard-hit countries with the most AIDS cases. According to the Department of Health, South Africa’s current estimates show that over one person out of every five between the age of 15 and 49 is living with HIV or Aids in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was especially hit hard. There are twenty-five surveillance sites in the country where blood taken from pregnant women is tested anonymously as a way of tracking the HIV infection. The most recent data, from 1997, show that HIV prevalence was below ten percent in just two sites.

DMX song Slippin’ :: essays research papers

DMX- â€Å"Slippin’†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The song â€Å"Slippin’ â€Å" by artist DMX uses tone, theme and imagery. DMX’s purpose for writing this song was to convey the theme how life in the streets is, and how you can over come life with drugs if you give it all you got. The song begins with the speaker talking about problems he is having with his mom, and that’s when he decides to run away from home. Then it moves on to when he is on the streets by himself, and that is when his problems begin to worsen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first stanza, the speaker starts talking about the problem he is having with his mom. He then decides to leave his house. When he leaves his house he thinks its going to be easy to live alone in the streets and that is when he uses imagery and says â€Å"I’m gonna be that seed that doesn’t need much to succeed â€Å". He then finds out that life in the streets is not so easy and that’s when he says, â€Å" I’m ready for the world, or at least I thought I was†¦ â€Å"In this stanza he also uses tone when he says, â€Å" DAMN, was it my fault something I did†¦.†? Here he is asking himself if it was his fault that his father had left him at age 7 and why did his father leave.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the chorus the speaker uses the phrase †¦.â€Å"I’m Slippin’ , I’m fallin’, I can’t get up†, which means that the speaker is loosing every hope that will help him survive through all the problems he has. The speaker also uses theme in the chorus when he says, â€Å"See, to live is to suffer, but to survive, well, that’s to find meaning in the suffering.† He uses theme here because he is saying that to him life is nothing but suffering and if you survive the suffering, its just to find meaning in it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the middle of the song the speaker talks about how he hit rock bottom. He says that in three years he started showing signs of stress, that he didn’t care how he looked and he didn’t care about anybody. He says that he â€Å"Would get high to get by† or in other words he would get high to forget about the problems he had.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally at the end of the song he talks about how his life started to change with the help of his friends.

Compare and contrast how the two short story writers use the theme of revenge Essay

The two writers Isabel Allende and Guy de Maupassant both use the theme of revenge in many ways in their short stories ‘The school teacher’s guest’ and ‘Vendetta’. Vendetta’s key theme appears to be revenge because of the title, the word Vendetta meaning ‘A bitter, destructive feud.’ Where as â€Å"The school teachers guest† seems, from its title, to be a pleasant story about a school teachers guest. The opening paragraphs of the stories are also different. The school teacher’s guest introduces the murder straight away by the schoolteacher Ines entering the pearl of the Orient and announcing to the character Turk that she had just cut off the head of one of her guests, Allende then goes back to explain why this happened. This is different in Vendetta as the murder does not happen until the very end and it isn’t until the middle of the story that we learn who the vendetta is for. The revenge in Vendetta is also build up in a different way by setting a depressing scene and working gradually into the son’s murder and the widow’s grieving. It also builds up the widow training the dog Sà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½millante to kill. This is different in the school teacher’s guest, as the murder is announced at the beginning, there is no build up and the killing of the man is more of an act of fate. The reason for the act of revenge is also described more thoroughly in the school teacher’s guest. The accidental murder of Ines’s son is told in lines 24-35 in great detail using phrases such as ‘drilling a black hole in the middle of his forehead through which his life rapidly escaped’. In Vendetta, Maupassant simply states ‘one evening, Antoine Saverini was treacherously stabbed in a quarrel by Nicolas Ravolati, who escaped that same night to Sardinia.’ This is a much shorted but not as thorough way to describe the main rea son for the climax of the story. One thing similar between the two stories is the scene in the aftermath of the son’s murder being described in great detail, although in the school teacher’s guest the act of revenge is almost committed by the towns people rather than swore by the victims mother. The aftermath in the school teachers guest is also more of a community parade, throwing mangoes and marching rather than weeping by the dead boys bedside as the widow does in Vendetta. We are also told more about the murder despite not knowing his name. We know that he is a truck driver and an outsider of Agua Santa. In Vendetta we know nothing of Nicolas Ravolati but his name which does not give him much character to hold a vendetta against. Both Maupassant and Allende use revenge in different ways in their short stories but Allende describes the characters and the reasons for revenge more thoroughly even if she doesn’t set the scene as well. In this way I found the school teachers guest used revenge in better and more high-quality ways.

Grant and Lee a Study in Contrasts Essay

â€Å"Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts,† written by Bruce Catton compares and contrasts the characteristics and lives of two leaders of the Civil War. Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, two very strong and very different generals, met on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia to bring to a close the Civil War. By this time, America had become a country that was starting over with the simple core belief in equal rights for everyone. Lee, who is from Virginia, had very traditional and old fashioned beliefs. He strongly believed in the idea that having unequal, leadership, and social categories provided an advantage to society. The Confederacy embraced Lee as their leader as well. Furthermore, Confederate soldiers considered Lee the symbol of everything for which they had been willing to die for. On the other hand, Grant was raised very differently from Lee, his father had been a tanner on the Western frontier, and he was brought to be a hardworking man and to make something of himself. Grant primarily focused on democracy and believed that no individual was born into any type of class. Moreover, he believed that society should have privileges that each man should win for themselves and not just have privileges because you were born into an aristocratic family. He is seemingly the complete opposite of Lee in his belief that each person has the ability to work hard and gain their own good fortunes. Grant believed in a balanced social structure that did not limit anyone to any particular fate. He believed that life was a competition and everyone should get the chance to reach their limits. Grant had a more modern outlook on life and Lee would rather live in accordance with the past. Also, Lee and Grant were most different when it came to loyalty. Lee saw himself very much in relation to his own region. He was brought up in a static society where change was not known. Therefore, his loyalty would only be to the society in the location he lived and would fight to the limit to defend it because he believed that it gave his life the deepest meaning. On the other hand, Grant would fight for a broader concept of society so that there could be growth and expansion. He would fight for the Union with everything he had because he strongly believed in the Western way of living he was raised in. Although Grant and Lee had individual beliefs that clashed with one another they also had a few things in common. For example, Catton points out they were both great fighters that displayed a lot of tenacity and fidelity to their separate causes. Grant battled and endured his way down the Mississippi Valley despite his military handicaps and personal discouragements while Lee still had faith at Petersburg after all hope was lost. Also, their fighting qualities were very similar and they both refused to give up as long as they were able to fight. They were both also very daring and resourceful in that they had the ability to move quickly and think faster than the enemy. Most importantly, they were alike in the sense that they had the ability to turn away from war and come to peace once the fighting had ended. As a result, this helped the nation become whole and united again. Their gathering at Appomattox was a great moment in American history. In our modern society today I think that we can now discuss our political differences and beliefs in peace and overall our nation is one that is very united as a whole. We live in a country that strongly follows Grant’s belief in equal rights for everyone in which citizens are able to vote for who they want as President of the United States. Also, although people will always disagree and agree on some things we carry on the beliefs of Lee and Grant in that we can always come together and discuss things in a peaceful manner much like they did at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.

Persuasive Fishing

General purpose: To Persuade Specific purpose: To persuade the audience to go fishing this summer. Central Idea: Fishing is fun and easy Pattern: Topical Pattern Introduction: I have been fishing for 10+ years and really enjoy it and would love to share this hobby of mine with others. Body: There are so many ways to fish and I would like to share with you some information on my favorite ways to fish. Bow fishing is my favorite way to catch fish and it begins around May when the temperature is constantly warm and last thru ought the summer.Some gear you will have to have is a bow a recurve or a compound it doesn’t matter but if you are not the best with a bow the best bow for you would be the compound because you have sights on the bow. A retriever reel and an arrow with any kind of tip will work. And the way the fish is swimming threw the water you must aim below where you see the fish at, it’s difficult at first but it gets easier. Cat fishing can be done anytime durin g the summer day or night.I prefer night time because there are less people fishing and the fish are more active. But the down side to fishing at night you must then bring a light or build a fire to see the end of your poles. The first thing you will need is a fishing pole with a heavy weight on the end of the fishing line with a treble hook around half a foot up from the weight you do this because cat fish usually stay toward the bottom of the lake or river.What I found works the best and smells the worst is punch bait and you push the treble hook down into the punch bait with a stick because if you get it on your hands they will stink for a while. And another good bait to catch the catfish with is chicken livers and they are a little more difficult to put on the hook. Conclusion: Fishing is a great and relaxing hobby to try out.

Energy Drinks Research Essay

Many energy drinks are found in the market and many people are consuming them without knowing the bad effects on their health, having the misconception that they help in enhancing and boosting the body energy. Ingredients: Other than the caffeine and carbohydrates energy drinks contain: B vitamins: Energy drinks contain B vitamins that exceed the daily-recommended amounts. Gingko: German pharmacological studies suggest that this herb increases blood flow to the brain and may be effective in treating depression and short-term memory loss. Guarana: An herbal stimulant popular in Brazil. The reason guarana is so stimulating is that it contains two to three times the caffeine of coffee. Carnitine: A compound generally found in animal foods that’s theorized to enhance fat burning and improve endurance performance. Mechanism: Energy drinks cause many things that include: Insomnia and alertness: Most energy drinks contain caffeine and herbal stimulants that stimulate the central nervous system, giving a sense of alertness. This stimulation can cause a person who is sleepy to wake up. However, it can also prevent a person desiring to sleep from dozing off. In addition, the caffeine in energy drinks blocks the effects of adenosine, a chemical in the brain involved in sleep. This in turn activates neurons in the brain as though there were an emergency, often preventing sleep and causing insomnia. Increased heart rate: When caffeine blocks adenosine and the neurons are activated, the pituitary gland releases adrenaline. This hormone makes the heart beat faster and consuming the large dosage of caffeine found in energy drinks can lead to high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Increased blood sugar: When adrenaline is released into the system, this causes the liver to release extra sugar in to the bloodstream for energy. In addition, energy drinks contain high amounts of sugar, which can be digested easily and also used as a quick source of energy. When consumed, the body experiences a sugar high then often crashes. The sugar enters the bloodstream, provides a blast of energy and when the sugar is burned up, 30 to 45 minutes later, the body usually experiences a sugar crash. At this time feelings of dizziness, slowed reflexes and decreased performance may occur. Dehydration: Caffeine is a diuretic or a substance, which causes urination. The caffeine in energy drinks causes the kidneys to move extra fluid into the urine, which can lead to dehydration if done while sweating during exercise. The high levels of sugar in energy drinks slow the absorption of water that dilutes the sugar in the bloodstream, enhancing dehydration. Also, consuming a drink with a high sugar concentration before an athletic performance can cause gastric distress and diarrhea, resulting in dehydration. Energy: Most energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, which can provide a temporary energy boost. Some energy drinks contain sugar and other substances. The boost is short-lived, however, and may be accompanied by other problems. Side Effects: Energy drinks can cause inflammation in the stomach; bleeding and ulcerations in the duodenum. While consuming energy drinks alone will not damage your liver immediately, prolonged consumption of certain ingredients in popular energy drinks may have ill long-term effects on your liver. For example, many energy drinks contain herbal concentrate products like kava kava or taurine. An overabundance of either of these herbal supplements can lead to liver damage or liver failure. For example, consuming large amounts of taurine may lead to complications in individuals with type-2 diabetes. Caffeine and Guarana affect the adenosine receptors in the brain. Caffeine also cause dopamine to be released in greater amounts which makes you feel more alert and energetic and happy though it does not provide any energy. Resources: http://www. deseretnews. com/article/635202412/What-ingredients-do-energy-drinks-have. html? pg=all http://www. ehow. com/about_5256218_do-energy-drinks-affect-body. html Books: â€Å"The Nutrition Bible,† by Jean Anderson.

Chinese Economy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chinese Economy - Research Paper Example of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (Import/Export License System, 2008). International organizations have displayed keen interest in investing in China, notwithstanding its restrictive policies. China has displayed good business sense in spite of its negative political rhetoric. 400 of the top fortune 500 companies have invested in China. Cheap labor and improved working conditions appear to spur economic radiance. However, it is good to keep fingers crossed. Economic gains have yielded little political reforms. In case flight of foreign capital starts taking place there will be problems of unemployment and uncertainties in finance (Overall Evaluation of WTO Entry's Influence on China). While on the subject, it is also pertinent to remember China's growth is spurred by exports. Its domestic market may find it very difficult to survive should exports come down significantly or vanish altogether. For the moment, China faces little competition in the manufacturing sector, thanks to its political ideologies. China's imports and exports "China's major exports consist of machinery and transport equipments constituting to nearly half of the total exports. Another major portion of the exports comprise of textile, rubber and metallurgical products constituting to 18%. Chemical products, food, mineral and fuel materials made of up 10% of the total exports. There is an exponential increase in the machinery and transport equipments segment of the exports from a mere 5% to 47% in 2007" (China exports by category of commodities, 2010). "For year 2007, machinery and transport equipments made up the majority of the imports, accounted for USD 412 billion or 43% of total import volume. Next major imported products were chemical products which took 11.3%; mineral and raw material accounted for 11.0%; and textile, rubber and metallurgical products were 10.8%" (China imports by category of commodities, 2010). China's reputation as the number one manufacturer of world products today has enabled it capture myriad markets from all over the world, notably the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). Corporations in the US and the EU who found their fortunes dwindling in their own countries rose like the proverbial phoenix by establishing their enterprises in China. China's Economic System China's new-found euphoria as a major contributor may also prove to be a setback in certain quarters. As socialist economy, China observes the "rule-of-the-thumb" and cannot digest the principles of