Why We Should Study History Essay Example

Why We Should Study History Essay Why study history? When trying to apprehend why you should study history it is good to have the understanding on what history is and what it contains. In the essay written by Peter N. Stearns, he gives a multitude of examples and reasons why history is a subject that should be studied. Throughout my life people have always used the allusion: learn from your history, I agree with this and it’s meaning. Even though historians don’t affect anything in the present or in their immediate timeline, what they do affects the people in the future. The only way we are able to learn is through our past and historians help us do that. We will write a custom essay sample on Why We Should Study History specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why We Should Study History specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why We Should Study History specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer History helps us understand people and societies In this section, the author talks about how history â€Å"offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave.† I believe that this is true because scientists in order to study human behaviors and the societies they lived in they had to rely on historians accounts of that time. Since these people were not able to witness the happenings first hand they had to use whatever the historians have written up from the past. History Helps Us Understand Change and How the Society We Live in Came to Be When the author begins talking about change, I completely agree on the fact that history is needed to move forward and change. But when the author is talking about how history is used in the study and understanding of things like alcoholism, I don’t think that he is right. Alcohol in plays lots of roles in history but learning from it scientifically is not one, more often I believe that the scientist would be the one performing experiments and people will be getting the information from there. What skills does a student of history develop? This is another section that I thought was really important and that I agreed on. Stearn talks about different things that a student will ascertain when they study history such as the ability to assess conflicting i

Conservation of Natural Resources Essays

Conservation of Natural Resources Essays Conservation of Natural Resources Essay Conservation of Natural Resources Essay Soils Conservation:Easier Soil is the loose top layer of our planets crust. It is dirt or earth in which plant life can grow. Harder Soil covers a major portion of the earths land surface. It is an important natural resource that either directly or indirectly supports most of the planets life. Life here depends upon soil for food. Plants are rooted in soil and obtain needed nutrients there. Animals get their nutrients from plants or from other animals that eat plants. Many animals make their homes or are sheltered in the soil. Microbes in the soil cause the breakdown and decay of dead organisms, a process that in turn adds more nutrients to the soil. Soil is a mixture of mineral and organic materials plus air and water. The contents of soil varies in different locations and is constantly changing. There are many different kinds and types of soils. Each has certain characteristics including a specific color and composition. Different kinds of soils support the growth of different types of plants and also determine how well that plant life grows. Soil is formed slowly, but can be easily destroyed. Therefore, soil conservation is important for continued support of life. Forest Conservation: CONSERVATION OF forest is certainly a necessity that requires to be addressed as a priority. For the survival of human beings, a holistic approach is required to be adopted as regards protection of the plant kingdom as well as the wildlife with regard to the peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence of all. To prevent any kind of ecological imbalance a very pragmatic action plan has to be formulated. Towards achieving this many legislation have been enacted in India and elsewhere. At the international level also the world communities, being concerned with the deteriorating situation worldwide, have joined hands towards finding a lasting and sustainable solution by deliberating on the subject in various conventions like that in Rio-de Janeiro and the latest Doha round of talks. These are truly welcome moves taken by the world community. Coming back to India, there are legislations galore to deal with the situation by way of wildlife protection, forest conservation, environment protection laws etc. No doubt, the aims and object of such legislations are in tune with the call of the hour. Forests are being denuded haphazardly. Deforestation in a rampant manner by various elements has depleted the forest areas forcing the wild life to lesser domains and as a result of this rampage of human habitat by wild pachyderms and other animals have become a regular phenomenon in certain areas. Forests are being encroached by people who have been displaced from their original habitat for various reasons like construction of huge electricity generating dams, ethnic clashes, floods caused by breach of river embankments and dams etc. Being forced to the wall by making these people devoid of shelter, at a time when even the United Nations Organisation gives much priority to providing shelter to the homeless, they are compelled to establish their habitat by waging war with the nature by way of deforestation and environmental degradation. The Union of India has passed the Forest (conservation) Act making it mandatory to obtain prior approval of the Union government for using forest land for non-forest purposes. Even for cultivation of tea, rubber, spices, and medicinal plants among others. In this regard, there is bar imposed in de-reservation of any reserved forests. For grant of any approval for such acts of using forest areas for non-forest purposes, an Advisory Committee is constituted under the statute. It thus connotes that with prior approval of the Central government, forest areas may be utilized for other purposes. In Assam, India, in the not very remote past, the democratically established government demolished a great area of human habitation by engaging tuskers in the name of clearing reserved forest land from encroachment. Ironically enough, the area has been under human habitation for quite a long span of time of some decades. Many multi- storied buildings, school buildings, community halls, prayer halls, libraries and many more established gardens etc were razed to the ground causing loss of property worth several billions belonging to the citizens of the welfare state. It is also a point to be noted that there was no forest as such for about half a century in the area. It was an act of high handedness on the part of the government for some hidden political agenda. However, after a huge furore that erupted after the incident, the eviction operation was stalled in the long run; but the damage was already done. In referring to the incident, it needs to be asserted that laws are made for the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people and therefore, human considerations must receive precedence over everything else. In the name of protecting the forest, human lives can never be sacrificed. It needs reiteration that laws are for benefit of man and not vice versa. In a democratic country where welfare of the people is of paramount importance, the powers that be at the first instance must take recourse to explore the possibilities for providing protection to the people rather than giving primacy to preservation of forest over human beings. If human beings are sacrificed for protection of forest, only forests will remain and human beings will be extinct. This needs to be kept in mind by all the people at the helm of affairs – only when human beings exist they will be able to occupy the seats of power they are occupying now. Coal Oil Conservation:Perhaps in the near future, but there is much more to be considered. The cost of replacing batteries in 3 to 5 years offsets a lot of gasoline dollars. Current battery electric cars have limited range and carrying capacity. The hybrid electric cars have long range, but the great looking gas mileage figures on the window sticker are 12mpg lower in the hands of most drivers. Many gasoline and diesel powered economy cars get comparable real world fuel economy as the hybrid at $10,000 lower initial cost and are a lot more fun to drive. There is a lot of potential in battery electric cars for short-range commuters. (Especially if the vehicle size is small and range is less than 75 miles round trip). The battery electric car can be recharged during off peak hours, which makes the electric company happy. Solar panels generating electricity at your home and feeding power back into the grid may help power the community during the day without increased power plant construction and consumption of fuel oil at the power plants. The need to conserve petroleum is very real. Gasoline and diesel powered cars have about 100 years advantage in development over electric cars so catch up will take time. Fuel cell power is a lighter than battery method of storing electricity. I don’t see any advantage in carrying Hydrogen as a fuel unless you are traveling in the vacuum of space. The production of Hydrogen is going to consume a lot of fuel and it tends to explode when accidents happen. It is not a wise choice. Conservation of Wildlife: The Indian subcontinent boasts of serving as the natural habitat of a large and varied wildlife. We can find some of the most magnificent as well as the rarest wildlife species of the world in the country. The beauty and variety we see in the jungles of India is difficult to be expressed in words. However, the past few decades have seen the greed and negligence of human beings working to the detriment of this rich wildlife. Large-scale poaching, habitat destruction and conflict with humans have resulted in a rapid decline in the population of most of the wild animals and birds. Conservation of Indian wildlife was not given the requisite importance for a long time. However, the government as well as the people slowly and gradually understood their responsibility in this context. Today, efforts are being made towards wildlife conservation in India, to preserve this natural wealth. Numerous wildlife conservation projects have been undertaken in India, both at the government as well as the individual level, to protect the rich wildlife of the subcontinent. Threats to Wildlife The major threats being faced by the wildlife in India are: The problem of overcrowding is one of the major reasons for the depleting population of wild animals in India. The wildlife sanctuaries of India have become overcrowded and their capacity has decreased to quite an extent. Tourism in the national parks of the country is increasing day by day. One of the reasons for this is a rise in the popularity of eco-tourism and adventure tourism. This has led to a growth in vehicle pollution and wildlife road fatalities, apart from leading to a damage of the natural habitat of birds and animals. With the increase in tourism, the parks have witnessed an increase in wildfires also. Innocent campfires started by visitors have, more often than not, led to menacing wildfires. These fires not only kill animals, but also destroy their natural habitat. The wildlife of coastal areas is constantly disturbed by personal watercrafts, like jet skis or wave runners. These personal watercrafts enter shallow waters and expel nesting birds from their roosts. Such activities are disturbing the mating pattern of birds. Releasing of chemicals and other toxic effluents into the water bodies has led to poisoning of the water. The animals and birds drinking such water face a fatal threat. Even the population of fish, living in such water bodies, is declining at a fast pace. The climate changes taking place in the world today, are affecting not only humans, but also the wildlife. The natural habitat as well as migration patterns of the animals and birds is experiencing disturb patterns. Last but not the least, the threat of poaching has been haunting the wildlife of India since ages. Even after the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the threat of poac hing has not been totally eliminated. Project Tiger Indian government commenced the Project Tiger in 1973-74, with the objective of restraining as well as augmenting the declining population of tigers. Under the project, nine wildlife sanctuaries were taken over and developed into tiger reserves. These reserves were developed as exact replicas of the varied terrains of the country, with their core area being free of any human movement. With time, the number of sanctuaries under the ambit of Project Tiger was increased and by 2003, it had been increased to 27. Along with providing a natural habitat to the tiger, these reserves offer them protection against poaching also. The results are for all to see. After undertaking the project, the population of tigers in India has risen considerably. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) The current WCS program in India was started in 1986, as a single tiger research project at Nagarhole National Park. From a single project, WCS has developed into a comprehensive portfolio of activities related to wildlife. The activities undertaken under the adage of WCS include scientific research, national capacity building, policy interventions, site-based conservation and developing new models of wildlife conservation. Conclusion: An Adaptive Conservation Strategy facilitates â€Å"learning by doing† and â€Å"learning by sharing information,† both of which are science-based. Adaptive management at the site-specific level constitutes â€Å"learning by doing. † The development of species, habitat, or ecosystem Adaptive Conservation Plans (ACPs) constitute â€Å"learning by sharing information. † The goals of an Adaptive Conservation Plan tend to be general and overarching (for example â€Å"promote self-sustaining, functioning riparian ecosystems†)- yet they can only be achieved through a multitude of individual on-the-ground projects that are monitored, assessed, and evaluated at the site-specific project level. An Adaptive Conservation Strategy constitutes a very large feedback loop between site-specific projects and many conservation practitioners with similar interests. Findings from individual projects inform ACPs, while recommendations contained in the ACPs inform management plans that guide the stewardship of natural areas. The crucial components of a successful Adaptive Conservation Strategy (ACS) are collaboration, team work at the project level, keeping data current, information sharing, effective communication, flexibility (from all sides, including funders), and a results-oriented applied focus in monitoring, research, and management. The ACS has, to date, been based on the use of birds as indicators. Continuing research is needed to evaluate and refine our understanding of which bird species are the most accurate indicators of which elements of ecosystem integrity. It is fair to ask, however, whether the ACS process might also be applied in the field using other taxa as indicators (for example, bats or invertebrates). This is an area ripe for future investigation. Natural resource management is an unpredictable process. For this very reason, conservation scientists have an unswerving belief in the power of objective scientific measurement to provide one of the best means for guiding conservation action. Yet managers are often overwhelmed by immediate problems: everything from controversies among conflicting user-groups to exotic species that threaten years of restoration investment to mysterious new plant and animal pathogens. It can be easy, at times, for managers to overlook the important role of science in achieving long-term conservation goals- whether through science partnerships or through participation in research themselves. For their part, conservation scientists must constantly make an effort to reach out to land and ocean managers to ensure that the results of monitoring and research efforts will be relevant and useful in addressing key resource management issues. Both conservation scientists and natural resource managers ultimately serve the same mission: facilitating and advancing successful, cost-effective conservation of our precious natural heritage. An Adaptive Conservation Strategy provides a win-win approach for achieving this mission.

Business in Luxembourg Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business in Luxembourg - Essay Example But over the last few decades the steel industry’s importance has come down while financial and banking services have taken the front seat. The financial services sector constituted more than 80% of the country’s GDP. In 2006, Luxembourg had 156 banks. Some of the key points which have helped the economy to perform well are educated labour force adept in different languages, state of the art communications system, easy admittance to surrounding European economies, and a stable government. The government has also taken the initiative to showcase the country as a communications and audio visual hub. The government has promoted satellite technology in this context. The country with its stable political background has attracted considerable amount of FDI or foreign direct investments in small, medium and large industrial projects. Though the agricultural sector constitutes of 1% of the economy the country is famous for high quality white wines (Country profile: Luxembourg, January 2009; Luxembourg: Economy, September 2008). The country holds a strategic location in Europe being surrounded by or rather landlocked by three big European economies of Germany, France and Belgium. Being one of the most prosperous countries in the world, it has an open culture and is hospitable to people and business from different areas. Moreover, the highly educated workforce is an asset to the countries economy and has attracted many foreign multinationals to set up their IT and financial clusters there. The country offers numerous tax rebates which has acted as an impetus for its growth, especially in the arena of financial services and banking. It has very high level of telecommunication, satellite and basic infrastructure. It believes in liberal policies and has been a proponent of the same at the European Union level also. This has assisted it in becoming one of the best performing economies not only in Europe but all over the world. It has been able to leverage

MG2119 Marketing Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MG2119 Marketing Research - Essay Example Moreover, the findings are a comprehensive scrutiny on the various facets of the company that the manager should know to make decisions that will facilitate sustainability. Corporate social responsibilities define the lawful actions that extend some social goodness to the community, business environment and employees. (Palmer, 2012) Programs in social responsibility include actions to make a better environment for the society and stakeholder’s lives in an organization. Most companies are not aware of the accountability factor hence they do not make any significant impact to the societies; essentially, this is because they lack the right strategies and procedures to implement in their systems (Palmer 2012). Most companies fail at achieving sustainability because they lack the necessary curriculums; however, they are those that establish these curriculums but do not effectively implement them. CSR curriculums facilitate meeting of customer’s needs by companies; they improve their esteem by making them feel more worth in the society. These programs also act to the corporation’s advantage since they attract a great number of customers hence increasing the sales. In cases of Insurance policy companies, they increase the number of people that want to be in their hands and these also motivates the company to continue offering better services using the social responsibility programs (Annabel & Deanne, 2011). Social responsibilities act as guidance to how employees and stakeholders behave and conduct themselves in the work place. CSR, merely as laws, facilitate employees’ actions, as individuals or as a group, in different situations like when providing services to customers, when handling corporation assets and when required to execute business-based tasks. Failure to establish the different aspects related to corporate social responsibility is the reason why top-level managers for most companies do not succeed in

Recruitment and Selection Process Essay Example for Free

Recruitment and Selection Process Essay Stages of recruitment and selection process – In a nut shell: 1. Job analysis: Determining the different aspect of a job through job description and job specification 1.1 Job description: Role within an organisation and lists the main tasks and responsibilities 1.2 Job specification: Highlights the characteristics a candidate needs for a post and the desired qualities 2. Sourcing: Attracting or identifying candidates internally or externally through advertisement (i.e. recruitment agencies, institutions, internet†¦etc) 3. Screening and selection: Assessing potential candidates, specifically, relevant skills, knowledge, aptitude, qualifications, and educational or job-related experience. Screening can be achieved by evaluating resumes and job applications, interviewing, and job-related or behavioural testing 4. On-boarding/induction: Process of helping new employees become a productive member of an organisation Definition: The process of sourcing and screening potential candidates that shares similar values and beliefs aligned with the organisation along with the desired knowledge, skills and experience to competently fulfil the defined job descriptions and specifications (Australian Human Resource Institute n.d, para. 1). Job Analysis: A job analysis is a systematic process where information regarding a job vacancy, specifically its duties and responsibilities as well as the knowledge, skills and abilities required, are collected to formulate a job description and job specification tailored to the organisation’s specific needs (HR Council n.d, para. 2) Job Description: The objective of a job description, according to HR Council (n.d), is to effectively ‘increase individual and organisational effectiveness’ by  aligning the daily duties and responsibilities of an employee with the overall mission, vision and value statement of the organisation Job Specification: Job specification, sometimes referred to as employee specification, is a written statement outlining the specific requirements demanded by an organisation including, but not limited to, characteristics, traits and qualifications that a potential candidate must possess to be considered for the position that he or she is applying for (Heathfield n.d; Management Study Guide n.d). Sourcing: According to Recruiter (n.d), sourcing is a process that ‘encompasses deep organizational talent strategy issues and in general, the practice and need to acquire human talent for any source of business need’. Sourcing can be seen as a tactic or as a strategy. When sourcing is referred to as a tactic, this often means ‘the practice of finding specialized candidates on the internet or through phone work’ (Recruiter n.d, para. 3). In contrast, sourcing as a strategy means ‘a number of different broad hiring initiatives or approaches to particular labour markets’ (Recruiter n.d, para. 5). Screening and selection: The process of screening and selection involves assessing and comparing potential candidates against a predetermined selection criteria factoring in their level of education, competencies, experience, skills and abilities and personal characteristics (ZeePedia n.d, p.82) as well as evaluating whether if their values and beliefs are compatible with the organizations overall mission, vision and values (Mayhew n.d, para. 5). Induction: Induction is a formal process where, according to Department of Human Services (2014), ‘new members of the organisation are welcomed to the organisation and given details about their position’ and introducing the hierarchy and line of communication involving the key people in the workplace (Department of Human Services 2014, para. 10). They are also  briefed on their roles, responsibilities and expectations in the daily operations. Sources: Australian Human Resource Institute n.d, RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION, Australian Human Resource Institute, retrieved 4 March 2015, HR Council n.d, Getting the Right People, HR Council, retrieved 6 March 2015, HR Council n.d, Getting the Right People, HR Council, retrieved 6 March 2015, Management Study Guide n.d, Job Description and Job Specification, Management Study Guide, retrieved 7 March 2015, Heathfield, S n.d, Job Specification, About Money, retrieved 7 March 2015, Recruiter n.d, Sourcing, Recruiter, retrieved 11 March 2015, ZeePedia n.d, SELECTION: Initial Screening, Advantages of Successful Screening, ZeePedia, retrieved 8 March 2015, Mayhew, R n.d, Methods of HR Selection Techniques, Demand Media, retrieved 8 March 2015, Department of Human Services 2014, Recruitment, selection and induction, Department of Human Services, retrieved 11 March 2015,

A Five Year Development Plan for Russia Essay -- Politics Government S

A Five Year Development Plan for Russia This paper presents a five year national development plan for the Russian Federation. The plan I have created is a culmination of a semester's worth of research on the current state of affairs in Russia. Following a brief review of relevent history, recommendations spanning the course of the next five years will be made in three areas that are of particular concern: economic development, political reform, and the environment. Relevent history and a synopsis of the current situation will preceed the recommendations in each section. Historical Background The pressure to be an industrial and technological powerhouse has left Russia with a skewed development situation. During the Soviet era, money and resources were funneled into the military, research, technology, and the space program. At the same time, basic necessities of the population were essentially ignored. Such high-tech government expenditures were exacted at a great social cost, as the bulk of Russia has remained largely underdeveloped. Russia's modern-day development requires that it focus on domestic issues, and catch up with itself in terms of its advanced industry. The Soviet Union ceased to exist as a political entity in the final days of 1991. From that point on, the Russian Federation was faced with and committed to the daunting task of getting its economy and its politics back on track. With the downfall of communism and the Soviet state came the downfall of both the ruble and the Russian economy as a whole. At its worst in 1992, Russia suffered 2000% inflation. As of 1996, the rate was less than 22% and it has fallen into the single digits in the present day, but the legacy of the monetary crisis has deeply ... ... References Aslund, Anders. How Russia Became a Market Economy. The Brookings Institution, 1995. Boycko, Maxim; Schleifer, Andrei; and Vishny, Robert. Privatizing Russia. The MIT Press, 1995. Filipov, David. The Boston Globe. "As Crises Ebb, It's Time to Get Down to Business; Outlook '97 Russia". January 5, 1997. Frydman, Roman; Rapaczynski, Andrzej; and Earle, John. The Privatization Process in Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic States. Central European University Press, 1993. Goldman, Marshall. Lost Opportunity: Why Reforms in Russia Have Not Worked. W.W. Norton & Company, 1994. Nelson, Lynn; and Kuzes, Irina. Property to the People: The Struggle for Radical Economic Reform in Russia. M.E. Sharp Inc, 1994. Nelson, Lynn; and Kuzes, Irina. Radical Reform in Yeltsin's Russia: Political, Economic, and Social Dimensions. M.E. Sharp Inc, 1995.

Literacy in America Essay

America, the most technologically advanced and affluent of all nations on the earth, seems to have an increasingly larger illiteracy rate every year. This has become and continues to be a critical problem throughout our society as we know it. According to the National Adult Literacy survey, 42 million adult Americans can’t read; 50 million are limited to a 4th or 5th grade reading level; one in every four teenagers drops out of high school, and of the students who graduate, one in every four has around an 8th grade education. Why? You ask. This problem will never fix itself and will take quite a bit of time to overcome. We need to make sure that everyone is aware of the social problems, poverty and lack of family interaction that occurs everyday in many, if not all, communities throughout America. â€Å"Nearly a billion people, two-thirds of them women, will enter this world unable to read a book or write their names,† warns UNICEF in a new report, â€Å"The State of the World’s Children 1999. † UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, points out that the illiterate â€Å"live in more desperate poverty and poorer health† than those who can read and write. (Boaz). The most important factor that contributes to the outrageous statistics of illiteracy is that of poverty. Poverty is an issue that more and more of our nation’s children are coming face to face with and the price they must pay is unbelievably high. Poverty is considered a major at-risk factor (Leroy 2001). The term at-risk refers to children who are likely to fail whether it 2 be at school or life in general because of their life’s social circumstances. Some of the factors that may place these children at-risk are: dangerous neighborhoods; young, uneducated parents; unemployment; and inadequate educational experiences. Teachers need to be aware of the circumstances that their students face and be able and ready to help these children find a balance between the cultural values that they may have and values emphasized in school. By providing emotional support, modeling, and other forms of scaffolding, teachers can help students use their strengths, skills, and knowledge to develop and learn ( Marlowe and Page,9). The United States prides itself on being a free, democratic state. Jonathan Kozol’s essay â€Å"The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society† states that the United States is not the democracy it claims to be. For democracy to work at its best, a true representation of the common interests and how the majority feels about those interests must be in place. According to Kozol, about â€Å"60 million people in the United States are illiterate. † For the United States to be the self-functioning democratic state it proclaims to be, it has to be a literate society. The people of the United States are not part of a democracy without the full capacity to make informed choices, and furthermore cannot reap the benefits that a democratic society has to offer if the best interests of the majority are not represented. Direct quote #2 (Madison)with signal phrase. Hypo-thetical example James Madison wrote that a â€Å"people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both† (Surowiecki, page 4). Voting is by far the most important aspect of a democratic society, and the percentage of people who do vote is a topic of much discussion here in the United States. If the number of people not voting is such a significant concern then the reasons they are not voting is 3 as well. An uneducated vote is not any better than a vote not cast at all. Imagine going to a voting booth and voting for a person or a ballot measure based on the ads you see on the TV only. In this circumstance, decisions are often made based on the negative ideas offered by both major political parties. If 60 million people in the United States cannot read, then they cannot cast a vote truly representative of their opinions. As Kozol claims, the United States has in fact become a government â€Å"of those two thirds whose wealth, skin color, or parental privilege allows them opportunity to profit from the provocation and instruction of the written word† (Kozol). The percentage of the population that is illiterate cannot choose which candidates make it onto the ballots, they cannot sign petitions, and they cannot choose which measures will pass or those that will fail. Direct quote #3 (Kozal), with signal phrase e. Of equal importance to a democratic society are the benefits that literacy provides to the public. When one is illiterate they are not able to reap the benefits of a free society. The freedom to choose enhances one’s chances of experiencing the best of anything. Illiteracy makes for a life of settling. An illiterate person has to settle for another’s interpretations of the world. According to the article ‘Democracy 101,† the ability to read opens a world that many people do not consider. The choice of where to live, what to eat, and where to work may all seem commonplace to the average literate person. Kozol uses the warning on a can of Drano in the opening of this essay to educate. It may take a moment for it to sink in but the reader will soon realize how much power reading and writing holds. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are supposed to be guaranteed to all citizens of this country. Those that cannot read or write do not have the capability to choose who are the best people suited for ensuring those rights. Perhaps more importantly the 60 million illiterate people in this country cannot make the choices necessary to make use of those rights (Kozol). References Boaz, David. â€Å"Illiteracy — The Bad News and the Good. † Cato Institute. 20 Jan. 1999. Kim, J. K. â€Å"NRRF – Illiteracy: An Incurable Disease or Education Malpractice? † Kozol, Jonathan, Illiteracy: The Enduring Problem. â€Å". Leroy. â€Å"The Effects of Poverty on Teaching and Learning. † 2001 Surowiecki, James. â€Å"The Dangers of Financial Illiteracy in America. † The New Yorker.