Explore John Steinbeck’s presentation in Of Mice and Men Essay

Explore John Steinbeck’s presentation in Of Mice and Men of the culture and experience of the itinerant workers in 1930’s America. Of Mice and Men is a well known novel written by John Steinbeck. It was published in a highly traumatic time, in America. When the Wall Street crash catalysed the Great Depression and the United States suffered an economic collapse. Due to the lack of money there was a high level of unemployment of men and women and many businesses closed down. Additionally America experienced terrible droughts known as the Dust Bowl in which many crops died. The lower the American economy sank the higher the numbers of migrant workers rose, it reached approximately 13 million in 1932! The only way for many Americans to earn money was to travel into the countryside, where work was hard, dangerous, and lonely. They became itinerant workers; the workers moved from place to place for work, to follow the harvest across California-USA. Itinerant workers travelled alone, Steinbeck’s character George describes them as the ‘loneliest guys in the world’. They usually travelled by cheap buses, hitch hiking rides or simply walking. The pay was not bad; they earned $2 to $3 a day and in addition received accommodation and food. As they were lonely and didn’t have much they blew their ‘jack’ at the local pubs and ‘cat houses’ every Saturday night, this meant that they essentially trapped themselves in this style of living. I personally think that Steinbeck chose to focus on the lives of itinerant workers to show the problems facing America and its people during that period. People just saw the economic problems, not the desperation of the workers, or the racial discrimination of the black community and I think that is what Steinbeck was trying to show, the personal effect to millions of men and women. Further more, as Steinbeck had worked on a ranch, he felt sympathy to the workers, and portrays their situation sensitively. George and Lennie are the two main characters in ‘Of Mice and men’. Steinbeck’s detailed description of them allows the reader to easily relate to the characters’ strong personalities and sympathises with their situation. George and Lennie get on very well; they look out for each other. One of the main things that hold them together is their dream; they are not like other ranch workers because they all travel alone, they are the ‘loneliest guys in the world.’ They travel together, they have ‘got a future†¦somebody to talk to that gives a damn’ about them. Lennie acts like a child, although he is very strong, ‘Strong as a bull.’ George on the other hand is sharp, intelligent, and quick. Their personalities deeply match their physical appearance, George is quite short, and skinny whilst Lennie is tall, muscular, and broad shouldered. The relationship, as strong as it is, is quite uneven, George has a lot of authority over Lennie, and we know this as ‘they walked in single file†¦ and even in the open one stayed behind the other.’ So even when there was room for them to walk next to each other, they didn’t, showing that even though they are together they are separate, lonely and they have no community to look after them, no one that is their equal and their friend. The setting of the novel is important for Steinbeck to convey his views on how the workers lived. Steinbeck makes many references to light though-out the whole of the novel, about how weak the lighting in the workers bunk house is as it didn’t light up the corners, and how Curley’s wife blocks off the ‘rectangle of sunshine in the doorway’ when she enters. This shows how she had ‘cut off’ everything good and pure, as light colours and the sun shows hope; it is almost like she is bringing trouble with her. In the last chapter Lennie is shot, killed by George, his death is sudden but the book was written so we would be expecting it. The description of the setting contains many references to light, how the ‘sun left’ the ‘valley’, ‘mountains seemed to blaze†¦increasing brightness.’ The sun is setting the day is ending, so is the novel and their dream; it is all inevitable, including their lives. Steinbeck was a pessimistic and the theme of trouble is very prominent throughout the novel. John Steinbeck also uses other descriptions linked to the weather to convey atmosphere, like the wind, a ‘far rush of wind sounded†¦ gust drove though†¦ tops of trees like a wave.’ Compared to chapter one in the same setting where there is no sound of wind, it is calm. In chapter six we can tell something is brewing, a disturbance is coming, and something is going to happen. In chapter two he describes the small bunk house, which is where all of the workers on the ranch live, from this detailed evocative description we can see how little the workers actually do have, and how they depend on very plain objects, like magazines and their dreams. The room itself is extremely simple and only provided the necessaries for the workers. ‘Walls were whitewashed†¦ floors unpainted.’ The dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½cor in the basic four walled rectangular room is cheap, and hardly luxurious, by using words like, ‘whitewashed’ makes the walls seem boring, cold and hard, almost as if the paint had just been thrown onto the walls, almost like no true care had been put into the comfort of the ranch workers living quarters. Steinbeck refers to the room looking like a dank prison, ‘in three walls there were small, square windows, and in the fourth, a solid door with a wooden latch.’ The ‘solid door with a wooden latch’ makes the ‘bunk house’ seem enclosed, kept in the dark, yet by having a ‘wooden latch’ it makes the room seem like it does not need protecting, the possessions are not worth keeping safe. With very small windows and a big heavy door it gives you the idea of a coffin with thick stale air, this idea seems more like reality as you read on and find out that the sunlight is choked with ‘dust’ when it shines in the bunk house, which strongly reflects the claustrophobic atmosphere, it also shows how dirty and unhygienic the living areas actually are, as ‘flies shot like rushing stars’, though the beam of sun light. In one of the bunks in the room there was a spray-can to kill bugs; one of the characters in the novel called Candy explains that the man who slept there before was just very consciously clean. The ‘bunk house’ was obviously very cramped as it contained eight bunks, meaning there was no privacy, it was a communal living, and a communal life, as they ate, slept and spent 24 hours of their day with each other, not only is there a lack of privacy, but none of the dignity that grown adult men should have. Inside the ‘bunk house’ there was a ‘nailed apple box†¦ so that it made two shelves’ above the bunks, this allowed the men to keep their limited amount of possessions in one area of the room, a small area of privacy. Also in the room there was grouped boxes, where the men sit to play cards, all the furniture is very make-shift and cheap, representing that the men don’t stay there long, they are only temporary workers. On the make-do shelves the workers had, ‘articles, soap†¦talcum powder, razors and those western magazines that men love to read†¦and their medicines†¦ little vials, combs; †¦a few neck ties.’ All simplicities, but they treat them like luxuries; they can not have anything more as they would not be able to carry it from place to place, as they worked. Near one of the walls on the bunk house was a ‘black cast-iron stove’, in those times men did not cook, it was degrading. The workers’ having to cook for themselves is not as bad as having to clean for the rest of the ranch, especially if you were a man. One character on the ranch does have this job, Candy. He has what is seen as a women’s job, yet he does it as he had a physical disability, this is an example of the levels of hierarchy on the ranch. Even though all of the men are different there is a certain category of men that can only be itinerant workers, white, young, strong men. Everyone else is below them in the hierarchy, Crooks being black and disabled, Candy being crippled, and Curly’s wife being a woman. Even Curly feels that he needs to be more physically strong to make up for his height. The start of chapter two deeply contrasts with the start of chapter one, chapter one is a hillside bank, which the Salinas River runs by. It is a beautiful setting and a lovely time of day, as it is the late evening of a hot day. The river runs ‘deep’ and it is ‘warm’, the river had ‘slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool’. To one side of the river was the ‘strong and rocky Gabilan mountains’ and on the other side the ‘water is lined with trees’. Steinbeck goes in to specific detail for this setting, even describing the ‘lead junctures’, showing just how important and picturesque this place is. Steinbeck goes on to tell us about the animals ‘skittering’ lizards and ‘rabbits†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ sitting ‘†¦on the sand in the evening’, the tracks of deer and coons. The scene changes and the marks left by man are described, the har d beaten path, the piles ‘made by fires’ and the limbs of a ‘giant’ sycamore ‘worn smooth by the men who have sat on it’. As George and Lennie enter the area the animal ‘hurried noiselessly for cover’, birds ‘laboured into the air and pounded down the river.’ The place was lifeless for a few moments before the men came into the opening. I think Steinbeck changes the peaceful atmosphere as the men enter, to show the power men have over the environment, the power and strength they posses. When they sit down Lennie starts to drink from the water, it might look nice, but George tells Lennie to stop as it looks scummy. This is not the only dark side of nature, there are water snakes, which the herons would eat then the coyotes that would eat herons. It is survival of the fittest, just like at the ranch and in America at that time. None-the-less the expansive setting – distant mountains, a free flowing river, and the natural wildlife contrasts with the enclosed bunkhouse where the men are trapped. Steinbeck does this to show the predictability of existence; the cynical lives t hat they lived and worked in. Steinbeck does not just show the different levels of power in animals and humans, but with humans together, for example the Boss not really being present in the novel, except when George and Lennie arrive, when he is questioning them, the Boss was ‘sore as hell’ when they were late, as the Boss did not get that little bit of money more that he could of earned. The character is obviously only concerned about the money, not the workers, as he says, you ‘don’t need any brains to buck barley bags’. The Boss’s name is never written in the novel, which almost gives us the idea that he has no personality, as if he is just a person making others work for him. On the way to meet the Boss, George asks Candy about him, he says that he is a ‘pretty nice fella. Gets pretty mad†¦ he’s pretty nice’. Throughout the description Candy repeats the same word pretty often, showing that he really does not know the true nature of the Boss as he is not a constant figure on the ranch, he mainly stays in his house. This could be because the Boss does not want to mix with people below his status, or because he does not want to get attached to people who he knows will leave soon, but most likely it is just because he does not care, all he wants is money, he employs strong men and lets them get on with it, Steinbeck presents him as a harsh capitalist. As the Boss is not on the ranch that often and looking out for his workers, the workers can get away with a lot, with out even concerning him, he doesn’t care what happens to them, he can always employ someone else. However the Boss is not evil, as he brought the workers a ‘whole gallon’ of beer for Christmas, and is very concerned about whether Lennie is taking George’s money at the end of the month. When Steinbeck describes the Boss himself, he tells us how he is a short man, but with quick steps, he does not dress extravagantly, but he does not wear ranch clothing that working men wear. His shoes were ‘high-heeled boots’ they had ‘spurs to prove he was not a labouring man.’ His son also wears this style of boot, the boots are described like cow-boy boots, the American Dream, and the pioneering of America’s past. Not only were the boots meant to show that the Boss had his own land but that he had authority and power, he de manded respect, and the boots were another object that could be used to show the hierarchy on the ranch. The Boss and Curly, (his son) demand authority, contrasting to Slim’s natural authority, Slim is one of the ranch workers who is respected by everyone else because he is a good man; he is emotionally intuitive, which makes it easy for him to make friends. The workers feel like they can trust him, talk to him, in one part of the novel, Lennie tells Slim about when they were kids and how he used to make Lennie ‘jump in†¦ the Sacramento River†¦ he jumps†¦ He damn near drowned’ but George had forgotten that Lennie told him to jump in, and just thanked him for pulling him out. George also told Slim why they left Weed, about how Lennie had touched a girls dress; just to feel the material, and how George and Lennie were chased out of Weed. George and Lennie are itinerant workers, on this ranch they earn approximately $2 a day, we know this as they get ‘fifty bucks’ at the end of each month. Their personal job was to ‘buck barley bags’ which meant that they had to throw large bags of grain on a truck, the barley is poured into large burlap bags, around 75 or more pounds and then is passed brigade-style to the truck. The work was dull, and repetitive, and once it was done, the workers could spend the rest of the day, doing what they want. In Of Mice and Men, the men usually play cards, in their ‘bunk house’. The men play solitaire, a one man game, which shows the continuous theme of loneliness throughout the novel. There are many references to the men playing cards, usually in awkward circumstances, for example the shooting of Candy’s dog. Carlson offered to kill the dog because he was old and smelled, however Candy does not like the idea, when the dog is being shot the room is very awkward and the other ranch workers play cards to take their minds away from the subject that obviously hurts Candy. Everyone they meet find it hard to imagine George and Lennie going around together, even Slim, who is a very friendly and kind worker on the ranch. ‘He is also very intelligent and perceptive, and he has a good sense of justice and fairness.’ (1) Slim’s comment on the fact that there ‘Ain’t many guys’ that ‘travel around together’. Men don’t usually go around with each other. Altogether I think Steinbeck does this to show the solitude and loneliness of a ranch worker, throughout their whole life. The Boss’s son is called Curly; Curly is a mean and a power craving little man. Because he is so small he tries to be very aggressive and strong, he takes boxing lessons as if to show that he might be short but he is better then everyone else, almost as if he is trying to prove his masculinity. He wears the high healed boots with spurs like his father, to portray his authority and power, but also to add to the height. Curly’s name like most of the characters represents his physical appearance, he has Curly hair, and his fists are often described as being wound up, curled. Curly ‘hates big guys’- he has little man syndrome. From what all the characters say about him he is horrible, trouble and loves to show people how he is better then them. I think Curly does all of the boxing to make up for is height, to show that he might not be a strong working man, but he is better then that, he can look after himself and no one can stop him. There are two main relationships in the novel, Curley and his wife plus George and Lennie, neither of these relationships last. It is almost as if Steinbeck is trying to say that even if you want to be with someone in this lonely life style it would be impossible. Once you start to work in this business it corrupts you, in each of those relationship one person dies. Steinbeck’s very pessimistic views probably come from when he was a ranch worker; he experienced the harsh reality of loneliness himself. Curly married a few weeks before George and Lennie arrived, the name of his wife is not written down in the novel one, she is referred to as Curly’s wife, a possession, not a true person. It was a very sexist view, and that was what Steinbeck was trying to show by not giving her a name, that some of the American’s views were still very sexist. Curly has no control over his flirtatious wife; they spend more time asking other members of the ranch where the other one is then they do with each other. They both realise that they are not suited to each other; Curly just likes the fact that he has something over the other men; he has something to do at night, every night if he wants, and what other men can’t. To show this he wears a glove on one of his hands filled with Vaseline everywhere he goes, to flaunt it to the over men he has someone to touch. He tries to keep one ‘hand soft for his wife’ (2) George thinks this is very dirty; it must be very degrading and embarrassing for his wife. The whole relationship seems awkward, Curly’s wife only married him because she was on the rebound from losing her dream, and she was confused about her mother and was upset about her missed opportunities. Curly sees a young pretty girl and likes the opportunity to have a wife to make him look better. This is the only role for women, to look pretty to stay at home, they had very little opportunities. Curly’s wife had a dream to become an actress, the ranch workers all share the American Dream, which is ‘all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ (3) This dream was no longer possible in America due to the great depression. Curly’s wife’s dream was created by men, men who told her how fabulous she was, how they would take her away, put her in the movies. It all sounded amazing except none of it was true, they just used her. George and Lennie build a future in their heads, a dream. To ‘live off the fatta the lan’ to have their own house their own garden and animals, to be their own Boss, to live a free life and to be able to do what they want, which is impossible for them while working on the ranch. Their shared dream helps them through tough times and it also affects others like Candy, who is willing to pay for about half of the land on his own. But this is all a pretend future, George says ‘I got to thinking maybe we would’ This could be because Lennie likes hearing it so much, he has convinced himself that it will come true, we know this as he starts telling the dream rhythmically, then monotonously. George has other dreams, like having a girl, playing cards by a pool, having an easy life and panning for gold, but ‘the only one that’s truly idyllic’ (2) is the one he shares with Lennie ‘because it’s impossible’ (2). It is almost as if the dream hides them from their lives, which could be described as beans with no ketchup, all they do is work and just about function, they have no fun, or luxuries, nothing in their lives is complete. The Dream is nothing but a trick, an illusion. I think Steinbeck was trying to say this about the real American Dream as well, that it is just a dream, something for people to cling to in times of need and despair. It is almost inevitable that George and Lennie’s dream will fail because of the cynical style of Steinbeck’s writing, and the continuous references to death and the destruction that is created by mankind, like the peaceful area by the river, that had recently been left with the marks of man, the men scare all of the animals away on top of the destruction they leave behind them. The diverse range of characters show that not all ranch worker were the same. Not just men were effected by the economic collapse, women were thrown in to a mans world, Steinbeck creates three female characters in the novel to show the problem of their surroundings and their lifestyles. The novels characters consist of black and white men, some of them disabled, but all of them have a little power in their own way, for example most people would think that the ‘nigger’ Crooks is the lowest person in the hierarchy of the ranch, but he can very easily annoy Lennie, so I think he has a little bit of power over Lennie this shows how the ranch society is self-destructive, in times of trouble they don’t help each other they make things worse for each other. The workers live on a rota of work, play cards, sleep, on Saturday they go out to Cindy’s ‘cat house’ and Sunday they get a day off. All of the characters bring something new or different to the no vel, even Whit who is very young and shows the type of an enthusiastic new ‘Brothel-crazy’ (2) man who is just starting to adapt to the ranch workers life. Carlson’s character is what the true ranch workers were like; I believe that Steinbeck included many different characters and their problems, to express the types of problems that America were facing at the time. The role between men and women is hard to understand, men looked down on women also the men stereotype the women, and the women stereotype the men, George says ‘She’s a rat-trap if I ever seen one.’ Whilst Curly’s wife says ‘I seen too many you guys.’ as if she assumes they are going to be ‘basically useless.’ (2) The great detail Steinbeck took into creating the divide between men and women show that he was trying to get us to understand all of their lives, to understand their personal problems and the problems that they faced by living in America at that time. The people living on the ranch with the least amount of authority are definitely Crooks, Candy and Lennie, the three of them get relatively along quite well, they even start to talk about George and Lennie’s dream, Crooks and Candy want to join in, they offer their money and they offer to work for nothing. ‘The optimism and hope in this briefly shared dream is shattered by Curly’s wife’ (2). Curly’s Wife does not like Crooks or Candy; she sees them as weak, they are only at the ranch to do simple, easy jobs. She treats them like dirty, calling Crooks a ‘nigger'(2), Lennie a ‘dum-dum’ (2) and Candy a ‘lousy old sheep’ (2). Curly’s Wife gets along with the men on their own, flirting with them and chatting with them, but when they are together she finds them defensive and competitive. She believes she knows everything there is to know about men, their weaknesses for drink and women; she likes to put them down and threatens them with the power she has from being Curly’s wife, ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’ (2). By acting and saying things like this it makes her feel better, like she has more power, not just some worthless girl living in her father-in-laws house with a short-bully for a husband. Steinbeck gives her so much attitude and certain characteristics to portray the emotional difficulties that faced American women at the time, to show that their lives were truly hard, they were treated differently to men and considered not as important, for example the men in Curly’s Wife history only talk to her, and give her company because they want somebody that night. They do not consider the feeling of the young beautiful woman. This is how it was in America in the 1930’s because every one was losing money and struggling with the crops the less fortunate had to ask for jobs way beneath them, to have a home and a place to bring up their family. The American Dream was dead, due to critical economic collapse and the dreaded dust ball that swept the plains; no one could believe in the dream any more, it seemed completely impossible, they felt that it was inevitably not going to happen. The rich tried to hold on to their money, so the poor ultimately stayed poor. There were no unions to protect the migrant workers, so they lived by their own laws, like all the men wanting to shoot Lennie because during the novel he murdered Curly’s wife. They made their own rules about the hierarchy, and followed it, similar to an unspoken promise; the Boss and his family were at the top, the rest followed in a big group unless there was someone with some natural authority, which was very rare. The whole society was very violent and they did not have any concern for death, they shot Candy’s dog for little reason and there was no emotion involved in the process and Lennie easily killed the mouse in chapter one, and the puppy later on. Carlson has a Lugar, which is gun; he cleans it and keeps it safe under his pillow, showing how little respect he has for death. The disrespect for death is commented on throughout the whole novel, different members of the ranch end up killing something or someone. Steinbeck clearly shows that predictably, something is going to happen at the end; we see this as the deaths increase and happen to higher people in the table of hierarchy. It shows that death was a large part of their lives, their lives were not memorable so they had nothing to fear when they died; lost memories, times or people they would sorely miss. It is as if Steinbeck is trying to say that they had nothing to look forward to, their lives came and went. Just like clock work. Some of the characters on the ranch are friendly, for example Slim, he does not have a plan or a dream, it is as if he accepts his role in society and moves on, he never gets angry or shows much emotion, he is always calm and cool. He ‘moves with majesty’ showing he knows what is to happen and does not fear it, he does not dread the future because he is intelligent enough to realise that it will happen no matter what he can do. He is very intelligent and this is probably why he out of all the men is able to understand his position. It is like Steinbeck is trying to say it does not matter if you are smart or friendly, once you start in this line of work you can’t really get out, it is like a vicious circle; it traps everyone and releases no one. Nature holds a strong power over men in Of Mice and Men, the beautiful setting at the start of chapter one is like a paradise, but it is an illusion. Lennie is often described as an animal, he himself says that he would go and live in a cave, he is almost better suited to the outside, as he would not be able to disrupt, or destroy the lives of other humans. It is almost ironic then that Steinbeck chooses Lennie’s death bed to be the floor of an almost enclosed area of woodland. The time of day he dies is one of the most picturesque, dusk, the ‘light is fading’ (2) everything is returning to its home, even the heron flies off. The pool side setting is a place of death, every time we visit the area in the novel there is death, whether it is a mouse, heron eating the water snake, or Lennie’s death. The Salinas River also has an air of destiny about it as George told Lennie to go there if there was trouble, almost as if he knew it was going to happen, which makes the novel so predictable and pessimistic. John Steinbeck makes the area feel pessimistic with all of the deaths, just like in America at the time, the people were losing hope because of the devastating economic collapse, and many crops were dieing because of the great Dust Bowl. The men play solitaire, a one man game, which shows the continuous theme of loneliness throughout the novel. The solitude that comes with being a ranch worker, Steinbeck almost tries to defy that by bringing George and Lennie together, however some would argue that the relationship is not equal at all, Lennie is the little child that always get in to trouble where as George is the quick intelligent grown up, he has all of the responsibilities. Even though the two look out for each other, they still are lonely, George looks for other people to talk to and confide in as he knows that Lennie would not understand, or be of help to him if he got into trouble. The relationship is still highly important, it highlights the fact that even those who went into the career expecting loneliness need someone, or something, and for example most of the ranch workers have their dreams to depend on. George and Lennie are completely different which is one of the reasons people struggle to come to terms with their relationship, I think George knows that he would not be friends with Lennie if they were not in this line of work as they are total different. The solitude in the novel is not only apparent in humans, but in the environment as well, the constant lack of sound, and awkward conversations in time of death make the whole atmosphere drop. The Salinas River’s description contains a very limited amount of animals, and all of the animals leave at one point or another, so the setting becomes silent and cold. This shows the men’s destructiveness and how they are feared as all of the animals run away when George and Lennie enter the clearing . It is the men who always are there and create the eerie silence, whether it means that they are scaring something away, or they are killing some thing or someone. Of Mice and Men, was published in 1937, it was the 2nd most frequently banned book in the 1900’s. It was criticised for the language, swearing, racism, morality and the violence contained in the novel, many members of the 1900’s American society disagreed with the book and the writer’s views, Steinbeck was even known to have issues with the government and the FBI. There were many problems that came with the book, but the book also brought along the realisation of the troubles facing America during that period, the problems facing the black community, and the effects of the economic depression on the less fortunate areas of society. Steinbeck was hit from both the Left-wing and the Right-wing politicians, Right-wing saying that he went too far, whilst the Left-wing saying that he should have gone further, more on the delicate issue’s. However Steinbeck did not write the novel to rouse the Right or the Left, but to show his country, what was happening. The novel shows us the terrible living conditions and basic desires that the ranch workers craved things that we would consider daily items. Steinbeck expresses clearly the attitude of the workers, and the lonely environment that they lived in. Some people would say that the way in which he writes and describes certain aspects of the workers lifestyles would make the reader biased by making them feel sympathetic for the people that live on ranches. Steinbeck had such a pessimistic feeling towards the lives of the ranch workers because he had experienced how harsh it was as a ranch worker in California-USA in the 1930’s, the style of work made him lonely and he even once said that he ‘just needs to get away from being John Steinbeck for a little while’ (2) because being a public figure was too much, he was shy and liked privacy. He knew how the job affected the workers, mentally and physically, he was very good at adding subtle hints of these throughout the novel. One of the reasons Steinbeck wrote the book was I think to educate the public about these problems in society, and to also tell the world how direr the ranch workers situation was, what they had to deal with and address. America was not the only country facing issues at that time, a civil war broke out in Spain, and the Nazis were in power in Germany, the whole of Europe was effected by Americas economic depression, ‘especially because of the rise in fascism in Germany, Italy and Spain.’ The novel is not about all of these problems throughout the world, but nearly everyone could relate to the novel. Before I read the book I knew nothing of the way the economic collapse affected the millions of less fortunate members of America’s society in such a harsh and incomprehensible way. I knew nothing of how lonely men and women could be. I knew nothing of the way the dust ball had such a vast devastation effect, not only to the crops, but also to the people and their profit. The novel is relatable, but I think that is one of the strong points about the book, because you could say that life in those days was predictable, you knew what position you were in, and if you were a ranch worker your whole life was virtually planned. Steinbeck starts and ends the novel in the same place to show the cyclical style of the life of the ranch workers, he does this in many ways, referring back to the sun rising and setting, the working time, and the weekly visits to the ‘cat house’. This is another example showing how the lives were already laid out in front of them. I personally enjoyed the novel; I found it an interesting insight to the lives of itinerant workers, and the in-depth study of America’s agricultural history showed me how the workers existed and how they adapted to the dog-eat-dog-world, and how resilient we humans can be. References- 1. http://www.newi.ac.uk/englishresources/workunits/ks4/fiction/ofmicemen/smallheath/charnote.html#Slim 2. GSCE English, Of Mice and Men, The text guild. CGP, coordination group publications. 3. http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/DECLARA.HTM

Economy: Questions Essay

Answer each question fully. Complete sentences are not necessary. Lesson 1 (3.0 points) 1. What are the three tools the Fed uses to keep the economy stable? (1.0 points) 1. fund rate 2. discount rate 3. reserve requirement ratio 2. What is a recession? (0.5 points) a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters. 3. What is domestic commerce? (0.5 points) Domestic commerce refers to the buying and selling of products within a particular country. 4. What is Congress? (0.5 points) the national legislative body of a country. 5. What is monetary policy? (0.5 points) Monetary policy is the decisions a government makes to control the supply of money, availability of money, and value of money. Lesson 2 (3.0 points) 1. What is antitrust law? (0.5 points) antitrust law, which forbids agreements among competitors to fix prices or prevent fair competition 2. What is globalization? (0.5 points) Globalization is the trend toward local, regional, or national economies becoming connected through communication, business, and trade. 3. What is free trade? (0.5 points) A free trade zone (FTZ) is a specific class of special economic zone. They are a geographic area where goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities. 4. What is exchange rate risk? (0.5 points) Exchange rate risk is the risk that investors and business people have when converting their money to a foreign currency to invest or do business. 5. What is a country’s trade balance? (0.5 points) A country’s trade balance is a comparison of its imports to exports. 6. What is an exchange rate? (0.5 points) The exchange rate tells you how much one unit of currency is worth when converted to another currency.

Health Promotion for Early Years Practitioners Essay

Health Promotion for Early Years Practitioners - Essay Example ..It is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities (Health Promotion glossary, WHO, 1998). In the 1948 Constitution, WHO further declares that enjoying good health is the basic fundamental right of an individual, and the state must necessarily take measures to fulfil its obligation to this end. In context to child health WHO points out that â€Å"Healthy development of the child is of basic importance†, as good health during the formative years forms the foundation for a healthy adulthood. The state must make available to all its citizens the basic resources for medical, psychological well being and all relevant information that aims to achieve good health; and here there must not be any distinctions, based on â€Å"race, religion, political belief, economic, or social condition.† However in this context it must be mentioned that health is not only an obligation solely on the state; but there must also be an active coop eration and informed opinion based feedback from the general public that would help the state to function even more effectively. â€Å"Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health† (Health Promotion glossary, WHO, 1998). Health promotion is an ongoing process that reflects the social and political conditions pertinent to health conditions within a country. Promotions are not only aimed at improving individual health but are directed towards transforming the entire social-economic and the physical environmental conditions, so that is an overall improvement in the life qualities of the society as a whole. There are various socioeconomic factors of health, based on the economic and social conditions of different countries. WHO delineates the general factors that are necessary for achieving good health and these are: sufficient economic resources, adequate food and shelter, stable eco-system, sustainable natural resource s and their appropriate use., and in the process highlights the important yet complex links that exist between an individual’s socio-economic conditions, his physical environment, his lifestyle, and his health. A UK team of researchers identified the socioeconomic factors of health as: social/class gradient, social support, social exclusion, early life, work, joblessness, stress, food, transport, and addiction (Marmot and  Wilkinson, 2005). On the other hand, we find that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  identifies socioeconomic factors of health as, social status, housing, transport, easy access to various services, bias on the basis of gender/ race/ or social standing, and various stressors (environmental or social) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Models and approaches to health promotion: There are various models and approaches to the health promotion plans seen in different countries worldwide. Such variations are owing to the var ying socioeconomic factors that are seen worldwide that makes it necessary for each country to adopt a health promotion plan that is made suitable for its social, cultural and economic conditions. In this context we will examine some of the well known approaches to health promotions, commonly seen in practice worldwide. In the Ottawa Charter WHO identifies three basic approaches

Do pressure groups strengthen or undermine British democracy Essay

Do pressure groups strengthen or undermine British democracy - Essay Example ed to have a thorough examination regarding the role of these pressure groups in British democracy including magnitude of impact they have on the ordinary citizens. The subject deserves to be analyzed from both sides so as to understand the extend which these groups strengthen democracy and the extend they are a hindrance to democracy. A balance between the two sides of the research will be used to draw a conclusion on the role of pressure groups in regard to democracy in Britain. Pressure groups are nothing more than formal institutions whose main aim is to impact on policies for public provisions in a democratic society. They present shared views, attitudes and perceptions regarding various policies. This type of non-partisan activism usually seeks to draw public attention to some issues in which they hold a controversial stand concerning them as compared to political parties. They then use various tools like campaigns and the media to create public awareness and raise public concern regarding them. This is important because some of the ordinary citizens may not be well aware of any change in policies nor how these changes are going to affect them. Therefore, they act as an important public awareness and education tool and hence a channel through which the public can enjoy their democratic rights. According to Coxall and Robins (1998), the best way in which pressure groups strengthen democracy is getting the public to participate in politics regarding various issues that affect them. This is important because it increases public participation in politics and their access to the government’s political system. They become more effective when there are confronting pressure groups holding varied views. This provides a platform for expression of views. The varied ideas are later on used to reach a consensus in which the varied views and concerns are considered. Pressure groups provide social progress as a way of strengthening democracy. The social progress is one

Differentiating Brands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Differentiating Brands - Essay Example However, they are the ones trying to keep up with the large brand nowadays, and it is through different strategies that they aim to realize their lost glory. Some individuals may say that Google is at a place where losing its market to some of its competition is next to impossible (Scott, 2008). This paper will examine three of Google’s main competitors, and find out if any of the strategies being implemented can work to topple the giant. Google, with regards to its competition, may have a difficult time trying to maintain the top position in terms of market share. Microsoft, Yahoo, and Facebook, as the three top contenders for the number one spot, are bringing in new ideas, innovations, and attitude to the IT world. They are trying to be the best at what they do, and to be the best, one has to beat the best. This is what they aim at achieving. They are now offering various products and services to their brand users across the globe, and their reward is the growing number of c onsumers they can boast of in the past year. The competition from all corners may make Google sweat a little as they work hard to maintain the strong grip on the ever-expanding market (Duthel, 2008). Google’s main competitors Microsoft In the IT world, Microsoft can be likened to no other. At this point in time, it is fair to assume that Google’s main competition comes from this dominant force that has ruled the technological world since time immemorial. Google reigns as champion when it comes down search engines. Microsoft’s differentiation strategy when it comes to search engines has led to the creation of image searches, mapping, and the rising Bing. This leads to a discovery that the success of one company leads to the determination and rise of another. This means that, Google is paving the way for more innovation and more competition from the other forces present in the business market (Hill & Jones, 2012). Yahoo A series of changes is being made to this we b phenomenon. This search engine, over the years, has helped millions across the world to access some of the many things that need addressing. Presently, users can now perform searches while getting educated on how to get the relevant and much needed results. A lot of other innovations are coming up, for example; Flickr integration and embedded video are some of the different products Yahoo is hoping will gain them their foothold in the market (Hill & Jones, 2012). Facebook Google and Facebook have been known to complement each other when it comes to the business and IT side (Hill & Jones, 2012). In truth, Facebook has helped Google attract a large share of consumers over the past two years, and due to this, both companies are growing at a particularly rapid pace. During the launch of a feature that could assist individuals find places and each other, Facebook is likely to create a huge challenge to Google. People can do this while on the social network so everything may be done whi le people are still connecting. This is a major product launch, which may see Facebook’s consumer base increase. How Google integrates differentiation into its marketing communication vehicles In terms of Google’s communication vehicles, there are different channels which are being utilized. Being a giant in the IT world, Google has millions of pages that have some of the products and services they offer. During the day, a lot of people in various organizations and institutions use the internet to carry out their

Quality in Health Care Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Quality in Health Care Administration - Essay Example Performance can denote, for example, the aptitude to fulfill the customer's needs rapidly with no errors. This research focused on this truth that the add to in demand for MRI services opens a casement of chance for putting up a provider-based release of such repair which will serve as an extra source of income for our recognized orthopedic surgical procedure do (Glasper, E. A., & Pogson, D, 2000). The fulfillment of such tactics equates to addressing the population's wants with the assurance of having a extremely spirited and ground-breaking technology that is the moveable Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine. If we analyzed then we come to know that a dream of a healthy inhabitants who is repeatedly provisioned with the uppermost quality medical services that are sensibly priced. As the manager, it lies in your hands to approach up with a possible plan for the commerce. Several challenges contain been recognized which are to be afterward on discussed (Freytag, P. V., & Hollensen, S, 2001). Due to such, it becomes a main task at hand to give good reason for and go additional than these challenges to see how this commerce will create it and flourish finally. Pushing through by means of this project and following greatly lies in the dream that you have by means of regards to this chance. And such vision would be to give the highest quality checkup services that other providers cannot struggle through. According to the expert analysis the most effectual leaders are the ones who are clever to cascade their dream down to their subordinates. Moreover, lacking such influence, the dream could turn skewed in the prospect. It is of utmost significance that the manager be able to make all the people concerned realize the meaning of the chance at hand. From there, he be supposed to be able to assemble them towards achieving the dream through suitable actions. People, policies, communication and harmonization are the structures that determination creates up this association. Management It is management's accountability to handle all managerial concerns of this association. As such, the formulation of all policies and rule with regards to the operations of this novel commerce is their anxiety. Management puts the dream into put and takes charge of carry out it. Management, therefore, makes the most impact on how this chance will development. Staff This research focused on this truth that as a supplier of healthcare services, the commerce as a whole very much relies on the skills of its employees. The staff has to therefore appreciate their position in the understanding of the dream. The failure to present the uppermost quality services as envisioned would guide to the termination of this industry. Policies and Guidelines Appropriate policies and guidelines are supposed to be put into put to make sure that events for only the uppermost quality are in put. These are to be severely followed. This anchors on the power of the commerce as contribution only the most excellent of the greatest Communication and Coordination Effective communication can be achieved through open surroundings. An environment that promotes optimistic and encouraging message and coordination will stay the association physically powerful (Faulkner, M, 2001). Such will

Qualitative Educational Research in Theory and Practice Essay

Qualitative Educational Research in Theory and Practice - Essay Example There are various oriental approaches used for understanding the different phenomena in life. One such way of viewing the world is positivism. Positivism is philosophical science based information derived from mathematical and logical source of knowledge (Cohen, Manion & Morrison 2011, pp. 12). Auguste Comte developed the paradigm in the 19th century with an objective viewpoint on stability of reality while basing various arguments on historical perspectives. Positivism is also the act of manipulating independent variables while maintaining others constant, in a bid, to identify the relationship between various elements of the world. The predictions in positivism may rely on past, or previous realities explained in the historical tradition. Notably, positivism discredits the existence of human knowledge in the society. It remains based on this regards that various discussions have arisen to counter the paradigm of positivism. The paradigms relationship with natural and physical scien ces for instance, as remained a point of controversy. The paradigm reiterates that action within the society is similar to reactions that the physical world remits towards the absolute laws such as gravity (Cohen, Manion & Morrison 2011, pp. 24). Positivism has generated an argument between poetry and philosophy hence creating a rift in the education systems. For instance, there has been a widening gap between humanities and sciences a factor brought misunderstanding in the education. Positivism advocates for superiority of sciences over the human mind thoughts for the reasons that the human mind provides non-inward knowledge. It furthermore promotes the use of scientific knowledge in judgmental decisions while disregarding other disciplines. Positivism believes reality exists; however, it is composed of various discrete elements (Cohen, Manion & Morrison 2011, pp. 28). This means that reality in positivism is any phenomena with a single objective reiterating a solitary world. This has greatly influenced the education system considering the rift generated by the explanation. For instance, positivism regards social sciences as fallacious. This is the act of treating an abstract concept as having a real existence (May 2001, pp 44). This leads to causal efficacy between the two disciplines that fight over the impartial treatment of abstraction. Realism is the most common philosophical perspective, which holds the thought of a relationship and trust in non-observable concepts. Apart from causing confusion in education systems, positivism also promotes reification. Marxist philosophers like berger and Pullberg 1966 demise social sciences, while giving attention to reification (Cohen, Manion & Morrison 2011, pp. 36). The Marxist theory, on the other hand, associates social sciences to capitalism a factor, which further complicates the education system. According to the theory, societal institutions have changed their role influencing existence of people. Use of posi tivism in the current education systems, therefore, not only causes confusion, but it also violates the integrity of history. It arouses negative feelings, creating biases towards various occurrences in life. It suggests elements of dishonesty in the process of creating various systems (May 2001, pp 67). Positivism does not derive conclusions on a subjective approach. Consequently, positivism does not give priority to emotion or feelings to interfere with the process of judgment. The basis of this argument is the fact that these aspects get

Impression on Gothic stained glass Research Paper

Impression on Gothic stained glass - Research Paper Example This informed the research and evolution of the pre historic stained glasses manufactured by the Egyptians and Romans to the modern day fully fledged industry responsible for the creation of the three dimensional impressions with their stained glasses. The manufacture of stained glass is both an art and craft that requires artistic dexterity to create unique designs capable of communicating idealistically and effectively. Additionally, the art requires engineering knowhow to balance the several features of construction to develop a strong window or door. A window particularly the large ones are heavy, additionally, glass naturally heavy and fragile, in designing such doors, the engineers must therefore balance the weight of the structures to resist the tendency of glasses breaking. Windows and doors resist other external pressures such as wind, these have the force capable of breaking a glass, the design of a glass window therefore incorporates the capabilities to resist such externa l forces but remain light enough to avoid piling pressure on frames. Additionally, window and doorframes are made in particular designs and shapes. Glass is known for its ease to break, this makes manipulating one difficult. The creation of a stained window or door glass therefore considers all these features making it quite a profession. The early western civilization involved extensive usage of stained glasses to decorate their buildings. It was one of the key indicators of social status owing to their high prices. The glasses were therefore commonly used in churches and other public structures such as county halls and in the decoration of royal palaces. The early civilization used these glasses to communicate, arts communicates through diverse means. The manipulation of the stained glasses offered unparalleled mode of communication that could be used to preserve images besides decoration. Most church windows frames were therefore fitted with religious portraits of the heavenly beings such as angels, Jesus and God Himself. These collectively aided the creation of a spiritual theme around churches and other religious places. Arts make use of a number of elements to communicate the ideas of the artists. One of these elements is color, every color has a meaning, this therefore implies that the use and choice of a speci fic color is determined by the message that the artist intended to communicate. The stained glasses communicate through color; they largely employ the use of different colors to create different illusions thereby communicating differently depending on the purpose of the glass and its creator. To decorate places and royal facilities, artists used a gold impression, these gave the facilities an aspect of importance and class. Royalties always portrayed an essence of more self worth, they therefore demanded the creation of exceptionally beautiful structures manufactured and coated with the most expensive rocks (Elizabeth 45). Gothic artifacts are scary impressions; some that portray instill fear in their audience, the stained glass technology excels in the creation of such thereby developing a horrific feeling in a room fitted with such windows and doors. The glass stained windows are deigned either figuratively or non figuratively. A figurative design relates a story behind the design . In churches, the stories

Stock and Inventory Management Practices Essay Example for Free

Stock and Inventory Management Practices Essay Intuiting The researcher become totally immersed in the phenomenon into the lived experiences of the clients with regard to the inventory and supply management system of convenience store. The researcher has come to know about the phenomenon as described by the participants through the use of in depth interview. The researchers will avoid giving their criticism, evaluation or opinion and pays strict attention to the phenomenon under investigation as it as be described at the initial stage Analyzing In the second step of this phenomenological analyzing, the researcher will be involved in identifying the essence of the phenomenon under investigation based on data that was obtained and how the data are presented. They will  distinguish the phenomenon with regard to elements on constituents, and explored the relationship and connections with adjacent phenomena (ibid). Describing In this kind of phenomenological describing, the researchers describe the operation to communicate and bring written and verbal description distinct, critical elements of the phenomenon. They came up with the description based on the classification or grouping of the phenomenon. They avoid attempting to describe a phenomenon prematurely so as to make sure that they would not be committed methodological error  Co-Researchers of the Study It is necessary for a phenomenological researcher utilizing the interview method to seek out participants who not only have had the particular experience being investigated but also are able to articulate their experience. It should be remembered that the phenomenological researcher is seeking to illuminate human phenomena and not, in the strictest sense to generalize the findings. Therefore randomness, or participants unable to articulate the experience, might,in fact, keep the researcher from fully investigating the phenomenon in the depthful manner necessary, hence participants are chosen by the ability to fully describe the experience being researched. (sunburst.usd.edu) Description of Co-researchers of the Study The co-researchers of this study who are to be chosen by the researcher will be 3 convenience store owners or employees in Quiapo, Metro Manila who are involved in the operation of convenience store for at least three (3) years and have been practicing traditional supply and inventory system and have encountered problems over stock and inventory. Location of the Study The location of this study will be at Quaipo, Street, Metro Manila. The Guiding Framework The analytical procedure is psycho-phenomenological in nature and comprise seven step, inspired by Giorgi (1996) and Vaam Kaam (2000): horizontalization, reduction and elimination, individual and textural-structural description, verification, validation, and synthesis. These seven steps are shown below: [pic] Figure 2 Phenomenological Analysis Process Procedures and Analysis of Data 1. Horizontalization: Reading of the Transcription For the purpose of obtaining an overall picture, the researchers will read the written testimonies of service availing experience. Then each one analyzed the testimonies carefully and deliberately. The units of service availing experience were drawn and were extracted from these transcribed interviews. 2. Elimination and Reduction: Division into Meaning Units Each transcribed testimony of service availing experiences will be read once more, and thereafter was divided into meaning units. A meaning unit is a coherent expression of meaning comprising one or (usually) more sentences. In this process, repetitive words and redundant expressions will be eliminated. 3. Transformation: Clustering and Thematizing Each meaning unit was systematically transform in two steps (first and second transformation), each raising the level of abstraction. In this, bracketing was employed, which is to say that the researcher’s previous knowledge and understanding was excluded. The meaning units is set out as scrupulously as possible and with no intrusion of interpretation. 4. Individual and Textural-Structural Description This step will be used to clarify and elaborate the meaning by relating constituents to each other and to the whole. In this process, the researchers reflect on the themes that were developed, and find overlapping themes which are related to each other. These themes with similar meaning and related construct on criterion were converged as one. In this manner, the very essence of convergent validity was followed in reintegrating related themes as one. 5. Verification In this process, the researchers reflected on the constituents in the concrete language of the participant. They had identified the defining elements for each theme. The defining element was the basic structural unit of the experience. 6. Validation There were two steps in the process of validation. First, the researchers will used inter subjective validation. This was done after the interview is transcribed, and brings it back to their co-researchers to validate if the transcription is connecting in the arrangement/structure and content. The second step was the presentation of the result of the findings of the study to their co-researchers to find out if the results of the study do in fact reflect their service availing experiences. The transcription was based on the interview which used high efficient voice recording device. Transcription Standard The interview will be transcribed meticulously with the use of an earphone that is attached to the voice recording device. The technique that will be used is â€Å"listen to the voice in one or two sentences pause to write the lines heard from the audiotape and play continue†. This technique will be used to make sure that accurate verbatim expressions are written accurately including sounds of laughter, coughing, and other distinct sounds that will be recorded by the machine/voice recording device. 7. Synthesis In this process, the researchers integrated their insight and reflection on the synthesis or composite structure of the experience through a descriptive structure of its meaning. Base on the insight, they will expound on the meaning of the themes based on the narrative story of their co-researchers. Each theme will be supported and substantiated by a description of the experience, and interpreted in the light of the insights they had inferred from the experienced and through the existing review of relevant literature and studies. Guide Questions: 1. What are the types of inventories that you keep? 2. How do you determine the inventories that you will keep? 3. Can you share with us your practices related with your inventories? (general) 4. Can you share with us your practices in purchasing your inventories? 5. How do you determine the timing of inventory purchase? 6. Can you share with us your practices in storing and organizing your inventories? 7. Can you share with us your practices in keeping your inventories safe and secure? 8. Can you share with us your practices in selling your inventories? 9. How do you establish your selling price? 10. What are the problems that you have encountered in managing your inventories? (general) 11. What are the problems that you have encountered in purchasing inventories? 12. What are the problems that you have  encountered in storing and organizing inventories? 13. What are the problems that you have encountered in securing your inventories? 14. What are the problems that you have encountered in selling your inventories? 15. How did you resolve these problems?

Buildings and as we know trees had Essay Example for Free

Buildings and as we know trees had Essay Deforestation is the process of clearing the forest by cutting down the trees for fulfilling different demands. Forest has a vital role in meeting peoples needs. Therefore people usually cut down the trees of the forest without having proper knowledge. Indeed, exploit of land really lend a big helping to grow in economic. For example, exploit of land is for wider develop range, the lands is use to build households, buildings and as we know trees had a very high demand all across the world so by selling the trees the process of developing in country will surely speed up not only the economic but in entire ability. On the other hand, exploit of lands also bring more jobs opportunities, as the buildings increased they had no choice to employ more worker. Although, these activities really did enhance our standard of living however, improper use of the resources leading side effects. see more:trees are our best friends essay in english pdf Deforestation has not always been a major problem, but since the early 1900s it has become more and more of an issue. The percentage of rain-forest is declining since deforestation began. For example, nearly 70% of the area in Brazilian Amazon has been deforested (Butler, 2011). The direct causes of deforestation are agricultural expansion, wood extraction (e.g., logging or wood harvest for domestic fuel or charcoal), and infrastructure expansion such as road building and urbanization, from this the disadvantages of deforestation can basically divide into 3 major effects which are climate change, decrease biodiversity through the destruction of habitat and natural disasters. 1st Counter argue The lands that been exploit can provide the materials for various industries. One of the easiest benefits of deforestation to spot is the economic ones. Lumber products are one of the most staple constructive materials in human society. Whether it is raw lumber used for making tables and houses, or paper and other wood by-products, we simply cannot live without the use of lumber. Through this process country will have more products to sell to foreign countries as well as local too. Forests are also cleared in order to accommodate expanding urban areas with the worlds population growing by leaps and bounds, there is growing demand for land use for residential, agricultural and commercial purposes. Golf courses, resorts, housing projects, farms etc. have replaced some of the areas where there used to be forests (Jones, 2011), with this it can attract more foreign investor and tourisms to invest and expand in our country which is a decent way to boosting the economic. 2rd counter Another advantage of deforestation is its can create more jobs opportunity. The exploiting of lands mostly for commercial purpose which means increasing of transaction will also increase the demand of the workers. This is another benefit of deforestation; it opens more job opportunities for people who would otherwise be unemployed. These job opportunities are more than simply a humanitarian concept; society at large would suffer if all of the people working in the wood industry were to suddenly find them jobless. This benefit of deforestation not only covers the people who cut down trees and process them, but also extends to the people who clean up after them. For every patch of forest cut down, arable land becomes available for farmers, or can be used as an area to place urban living sites like apartments, houses, and buildings. The number of people employed by such a construction project is many and varied. Or, if the city/government mandates replanting trees to replace the lost on es, then jobs are also provided for those people who do the seeding after a patch of forest is stripped (Fiset, 2007). Transition Notwithstanding deforestation is effectively increase the economics of the country, however the unreasonable deforest bring many series side effect to human. Deforestation affects many things, it has ecological, environmental, atmospheric and hydrosphere impacts. When the soil is disturbed by deforestation natural carbon storage systems can be disturbed releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in one go. In areas like the small developing island nations in the Pacific it can be disastrous as many endemic plant and animal species live here, and when land is deforested it disturbs soil causing landslides and disruption to the ecosystem. It also means species are confined to smaller habitats and usually move to higher more dangerous altitudes, some species cannot survive in these conditions and become endangered. It is also harmful to humans as the soil becomes too saturated due to less infiltration from tree roots and it can cause higher risks of flooding on these islands, which are usually very small. The surface runoff from the soil also can harm surrounding corals as the soils water runs out into the surrounding sea via rivers and streams. The soil then settles on the corals causing them to die. During the process it can block fishs gills. 1st Pro arguments Deforestation is a major cause of climate change because it releases huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse effect. Deforestation and forest degradation are both a cause and a result of climate change. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and use it to grow, but when they decay or burn, carbon dioxide is released again. Decaying plants also produce methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. So deforestation and forest degradation are doubly damaging, because greenhouse gases are released (e.g. through forest fires, or using the cut trees as firewood), while at the same time the number of carbon dioxide absorbing trees are reduced. Thirty percent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere over the past 150 years is thought to come from deforestation, but this is a small amount compared to what is still stored in forests. The Canadian and Russian boreal forests alone hold 40 percent of the worlds carbon stocks(deforestation, 2006). Most importantly, deforestation causes a lack of clean air. The lack of clean air plays a big role in many diseases and illnesses that plague this world. By a chain of events, deforestation is responsible for those diseases and illnesses caused by breathing unclean air. Slash and burn agriculture which is one of the most important causes. It also known as swidden or shifting agriculture and it is a traditional method of tending domesticated crops that involves the rotation of several plots of land in a planting cycle. The farmer plants crops in a field for one or two seasons, and then lets the field lie fallow for several seasons. In the meantime, the farmer shifts to a field that has lain fallow for several years, and removes the vegetation by cutting it down and burning it—hence slash and burn. The ash from the burned vegetation adds another layer of nutrients to the soil, and that with the time resting allows the soil to regenerate. Slash and burn works best in low intensity agriculture, when the farmer has plenty of land that he or she can afford to let lay fallow; and it works best when crops are rotated to assist in restoring thenutrients. It has also been documented in societies where people maintain a very broad diversity of food-generation; that is, where people also hunt game, fish, and gather wild foods (Hirst, 2011). 2rd pro Deforestation does not only affect the climate. The world of academia takes a hard hit as the gene pool is diminished by the extermination of many species of plants and animals as a result of deforestation. Possibilities of exploration are as good as dead with the rapid rate of deforestation. There are many species of plants that have the potential to create medicines that can cure the ailments that there are no cures for at the moment. Deforestation can affect if we can cure such diseases such as AIDS. On a humorous note, those familiar with the Resident Evil franchise know about the virus that causes people to turn into zombies. Deforestation would destroy changes of creating a vaccine for that virus. There are many tribes that live in the forests and live somewhat isolated from society. They do not exploit the forest but cut enough wood to make a living. The non-indigenous people of the forest understand how important it is to preserve the forest and the resources it offers. Their livelihoods are cut short when people that exploit the forest for means of money are added to the equation (The effects of deforestation, 2008) Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost on a scale that is quite unprecedented. Even though tropical rainforest make up just 6 percent of the surface area of the Earth, about 80-90 percent of the entire species of the world exist here. Due to massive felling of trees, about 50 to 100 species of animals are being lost each day. The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale. The effects on animals is very heartbreaking. They not only lose their habitat and protective cover, they are pushed to extinction. Many beautiful creatures, both plants and animals have vanished from the face of the earth (Putatunda, 2011) Third pro Another Example which was lead by deforestation is natural disaster. The most often case we can find out are Floods and Drought. Forests are a life saver, as they absorb a large amount of the rainfall, thereby stopping it from entering the inhabited areas and rivers. The cutting down of trees leads to disruption in the regular flow of water, thus causing floods in some areas, while drought in other areas. For decades, the common perception in hydrology has been that deforestation in such areas made seasonal floods bigger on average, but had little effect on the number of large floods over times, in the interior regions of North America, many creeks and rivers get most of their flow from melting snow accumulated during winter storms in mountainous areas. How much water flows down these streams depends not only on how much snow falls upstream, but how fast the snow melts. But deforestation shines a new – and glaring – light on this water source. While ordinarily the trees keep the melting under control by shielding snow from the sunlight, as soon as you get rid of the trees, the snow melts faster (American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2012) Conclusion In the conclusion, the consequences are very unpleasant as every form of life on earth is interlinked with one another. Not only do animals lose their homes, but humans dependent on the local ecology are also affected. The water cycle gets disturbed leading to floods and droughts. People dependent on the forests for their survival lose their livelihood. Global warming is another problem looming over our heads. The causes and its effects of this destructive practice can be stopped to some extent, if we all do our bit towards the environment. Reduce emissions by avoiding use of cars and bikes indiscriminately. Make our factories more cleaner and monitor their emissions. Develop better ways of farming that help increase the yield without having an impact on the neighboring forest areas. Forest management and strict monitoring of tree cutting should be carried out by various government and other nonprofit agencies. Reforestation of lost areas and following sustainable practices will help us balance our green cover. Remember, trees give us life, without them it will be impossible to sustain life.