Rainfall Pattern in Enugu State, Nigeria

Rainfall Pattern in Enugu State, Nigeria CHAPTER ONE 1.0  INTRODUCTION Enugu State is located in the southeastern part of Nigeria created in 1991 from the old Anambra state and the principal cities in the state are Enugu,Agani,Awgu,Udi,Oji-River and Nsukka. The state shares borders with Abia and Imo State to the south, Ebonyi State to the East, Benue state to the Northeast, Kogi state to the Northwest and Anambra state to the West. Enugu, the capital city of Enugu state, is approximately 21/2 driving hours away from Port Harcourt where coal shipments exited Nigeria. The word â€Å"Enugu† (from Enu Ugwu) means â€Å"the top of the hill†. The first European settlers arrived in the area in 1909, led by a British mining engineer, named Albert Kitson. In his quest for silver, he discovered coal in the Udi Ridge, colonial Governor of Nigeria Frederick Lugard took keen interest in the discovery, and by 1914 the first shipment of coal was made to Britain. As mining activities increased in the area, a permanent cosmopolitan settlement emerged, supported by a railway system. Enugu acquired township status in 1917 and became strategic to Britain interests. Foreign businesses began to move into Enugu, the most notable of which were John Holt, Kingsway Stores, British Bank of West Africa and United Africa Company. From Enugu the British administration was able to spread its influence over the southern province of Nigeria. The colonial past of Enugu is today evidenced by the Georgian building types and meandering narrow roads within the residential area originally reserved for the whites, an area which is today called the Government Reserved Area (GRA). The state Government and the Local government are the levels of government in Enugu state and have 17 Local Government areas. Economically, the state is predominantly rural and agrarian, with a substantial proportion of its working population engaged in farming, although trading (18.8%) and services (12.9%) are also important. In the urban areas trading is the dominant occupation, followed by services. A small proportion of the population is also engaged in manufacturing activities, with the most pronounced among them located in Enugu, Oji, Ohebedim and Nsukka. The state boasts of a number of markets especially at each of the divisional headquarters, prominent of which is the Ogbete Main market in the State capital, Electricity supply is relatively stable in Enugu and its Environs. The Oji River power station (which used to supply electricity to all of Eastern Nigeria) is located in Enugu state. The state had a population of 3,267,837 people at the census held in 2006 (estimated at o ver 3.8 million in 2012), it is home of the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria. The average temperature in this city is cooler to mild (60 degrees Fahrenheit) in its cooler months and gets warmer to hot in its warmer months (upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and very good for outdoor activities with family and friends or just for personal leisure. Enugu has good soil-land and climatic conditions all year round, sitting at about 223 meters (732 ft) above sea level, and the soil is well drained during its rainy seasons. The main temperature in Enugu state in the hottest month of February is about 87.16 0F (30.64 0C), while the lowest temperatures occur in the month of November, reaching 60.54 0F (15.86 0C). The lowest rainfall of about 0.16 cubic centimeters (0.0098 cu in) is normal in February, while the highest is about 35.7 cubic centimeters (2.18 cu in) in July. The differences in altitude and relief create a large variation in climate in various regions of the country. In places that are characterized as semi-arid zones, climate shows wide fluctuation from year to year and even within seasons in the year. Semi arid regions receive very small, irregular, and unreliable rainfall (Workneh, 1987). The annual cycle of the climatology of the rainfall over tropical Africa and in particular over Nigeria, is strongly determined by the position of the Inter Tropic Convergence Zone (ITCZ) (Griffiths, 1971). Variations in rainfall pattern throughout the country are the result of differences in elevation and seasonal changes in the atmospheric pressure systems that control the prevailing winds. The climate of Nigeria is characterized by high rainfall variation (Yilma et al., 1994). In Nigeria, several regions receive rainfall throughout the year, but in some regions rainfall is seasonal and low making irrigation necessary (Alemeraw and Eshetu, 2009). Rainfall is the most critical and key variable both in atmospheric and hydrological cycle. Rainfall patterns usually have spatial and temporal variability. This variability affects agricultural production, water supply, transportation, environment and urban planning, thus, the entire economy of a country, and the existence of its people. R ainfall variability is assumed to be the main cause for the frequently occurring climate extreme events such as drought and flood. These natural phenomena affect badly the agricultural production and hence the economy of the nation. In regions where the year-to-year variability is high, people often suffer great calamities due to floods or droughts. Even though damage due to extremes of rainfall cannot be avoided completely, a forewarning could certainly be useful (Nicholls, 1980). Nigeria is one of the countries whose economy is highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture and also facing recurring cycles of flood and drought. Current climate variability is already imposing a significant challenge to Nigeria in general and Enugu in particular, by affecting food security, water and energy supply, poverty reduction and sustainable development efforts, as well as by causing natural resource degradation and natural disasters. Recurrent floods in the past caused substantial human life and p roperty loss in many parts of the country. Methods of prediction of rainfall extreme events have often been based on studies of physical effects of rainfall or on statistical studies of rainfall time series. Rainfall forecast is relevance to the agriculture sector, since it contributes significantly to the economy of countries like Nigeria. In order to model and predict hydrologic events, one can use stochastic methods like time series methods. Numerous attempts have been made to predict behavioral pattern of rainfall using various techniques (Yevjevich, 1972; Dulluer and Kavas, 1978; Tsakiris, 1998). Awareness about the characteristics of the rainfall over an area such as the source, quantity, variability, distribution and the frequency of rainfall is essential for the implication in utilization and associated problems. Assessing rainfall variability is practically useful in making decision, risk management and optimum usage of water resources of countries. Thus, it is important to obtain accurate rainfall forecast at variou s geographic levels of Nigeria and work towards identifying periodicities in order to help policy makers improve their decisions by taking into consideration the available and future water resources. In this study, univariate Box-Jenkins methodology to build ARIMA model are used for assessing the rainfall pattern in Enugu State based on data from Nigerian Meteorological Agency. 1.1 Weather and Climate Weather and climate over the earth are not constant with time: they change on different time series ranging from the geological to the diurnal through annual, the difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time and climate is how the atmosphere behaves over relatively long period of time. Seasonal and intra-seasonal time scales. Such variability is an inherent characteristic of the climate. The study of climatic fluctuations involves description and investigation of causes and effects of these fluctuations in the past and their statistical interpretation. Much of the work done is about variability of the two important meteorological parameters: rainfall and temperature. Rainfall is a term used to refer to water falling in drops after condensation of the atmospheric vapor. Also rainfall is the resultant product of a series of complex interactions taking place within the earth-atmosphere system. Rainfa ll is only water that falls from the sky, whereas precipitation is any wet things that fall from the sky, which include snow, frozen rain.etc. Water in all its forms and in all its various activities plays a crucial role in sustaining both the climate and life. It is also a major factor for planning and management of water resource project and agricultural production. Even though Nigeria enjoys a fairly good amount of rainfall, wide variability in its distribution with respect to space and time are responsible for the two extremes events (floods and droughts) (Yilma et. al,1994). 1.2 Rainfall Characteristics Rainfall varies with latitude, elevation, topography, seasons, distance from the sea, and coastal Sea-surface temperature. Nigeria enjoys the humid tropical climate type. Because of its location just north of the equator, also, Nigeria enjoys a truly tropical climate characterized by the hot and wet conditions associated with the movement of the inter-Tropical convergence Zone (ITCZ) north and south of the equator. While there is a general decrease in rainfall in Nigeria, the coastal area is experiencing slight increase. Apart from the general southward shift in rainfall patterns, the duration has also reduced from 50-360 (1993-2003) to 30-280 (2003-2013) rainy days per year. This has created ecological destabilization and altered the pattern of the vegetation belt especially in the northern part of the country. The rainfall pattern has also enhanced wind erosion and desertification, soil erosion and coastal flooding in the north, east and coastal areas of Nigeria respectively. The country experiences consistently high temperatures all year round. Since temperature varies only slightly, rainfall distribution, over space and time, becomes the single most important factor in differentiating the seasons and climatic distribution are however dependent on the two air masses that prevail over the country. Their influences are directly linked to the movement of the ITCZ, north and south of the equator. The two air masses are the Tropical maritime(Tm) and the Tropical continental (Tc). The former is associated with the moisture-laden south-west winds (south westerlies) which blow from the Atlantic Ocean, while the latter is associated with the dry and dusty north-east winds (easterlies) which blow from the Sahara Desert. Conversely, with the movement of the ITCZ into the Northern Hemisphere, the rain-bearing south westerlies prevail as far inland as possible to bring rain fall during the wet season. The implication is that there is a prolonged rainy season in the far south, while the far north undergoes long dry periods annually. Nigeria, therefore, has two major seasons, the lengths of which vary from north to south. The mean annual rainfall along the coast in the south-east is 4000mm while it is 500mm in the north-east. Nigeria can, thus be broadly divided into the following climatic regions: the humid sub-equatorial, in the southern lowlands the hot tropical continental, in the far north the moderated sub-temperate in the high plateaus and mountains the hot, wet tropical, in the hinterland (the middle-belt ) 1.3 The main effects of Rainfall Trends in rainfall extremes have enormous implications. Extreme rainfall events cause significant damage to agriculture, ecology, and infrastructure. They also cause disruption to human activities, injury, and loss of life. Socioeconomic activities including agriculture, power generating, water supply, human health, etc. are also very sensitive to climate variations. As a result, Nigeria economy is heavily dependent on rainfall for generating employment, income, and foreign currency. Thus, rainfall is considered as the most important climatic element that influences Nigeria agriculture. The severity and frequency of occurrence of rainfall extremes events (meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural) vary for different parts of the country. Drought: Drought is an insidious hazard of nature. It is often referred to as a â€Å"creeping phenomenon† and its impacts vary from region to region. Drought can therefore be difficult for people to understand; it is equally difficult to define, because what may be considered a drought in, say, Bali (six days without rain) would certainly not be considered a drought in Libya (annual rainfall less than 180 mm). Some drought years have coincided with EN events, while others have followed it. According to DDAEPA (2011) the trend of decreasing annual rainfall and increased rainfall variability is contributing to drought conditions in Nigeria Administration. The average annual rainfall patterns of Abuja for the periods 1999 to 2008 and 1984 to 1991 show two important trends. First, annual average rainfall has declined from the mean value by about 8.5% and 10% respectively. Secondly, the variability of rainfall shows an overall increasing trend, suggesting greater rainfall unreliab ility. These rainfall patterns have led to serious drought/flood episodes throughout the Administration. Flood: Floods are known as the most frequent and devastating natural disasters in both developed and developing countries (Osti et al., 2008). Between 2000 and 2008 East Africa has experienced many episodes of flooding. Almost all of these flood episodes have significantly affected large parts of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s topography characteristics has made the country pretty vulnerable to floods and resulting destruction and damage to life, economic, livelihoods, infrastructure, services and health system (FDPPA, 2007). Flooding is common in Ethiopia during the rainy season between June and September and the major type of flooding which the country is experiencing are flash flood and river floods (FDPPA, 2007). Like other regions of Nigeria, the issue of flood continues to be of growing concern in Enugu especially to peoples residing in lowlands, along or near the flood courses as well as village located at the foot of hills and mountains. Flood disasters are occurring more frequently, and having an ever more dramatic impact on Enugu in terms of the costs on lives, livelihoods and environmental resources. The topography of Enugu Administration mainly consists of mountains and hills with steep slope, valleys, and river basins. The catchment characteristics accompanied with its large area coverage coupled with torrential rain fall during the short and long rainy season had been the main factors that contribute to the pervious flood events. Soil Erosion: when soil moves from one location to another, it is referred to as soil erosion. The impact of rainfall striking the surface can cause soil erosion; erosion is a concern for farmers as their valuable, nutrient rich top soil can be washed away from rainfall. It can also weaken structures such as bridges or wash out roads. Vegetation can decrease the amount of soil that is eroded during a rain. Erosion has been going on and has produced river valleys and shaped hills and mountains. Such erosion is generally slow but can cause a rapid increase in the rate at which soil is eroded (i.e. a rate faster than natural weathering of bedrock can produce new soil). This has resulted in a loss of productive soil from crop and grazing land, as well as layers of infertile soil being deposited on formerly fertile crop lands: the formation of gullies: silting of lakes and streams, and land slips. 1.4 Aim and Objectives of the study The main aim of this study is to analyze rainfall pattern in Enugu State using appropriate time series methods based on 15 years (January, 1999-Decimeber, 2013) data recorded at Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Enugu State). Specific Objectives 1. To fit appropriate time series model to the monthly rainfall data. 2. To forecast the rainfall pattern in the study area. 1.5  Data source The monthly rainfall data in millimeters for the period January, 1999 to December, 2013, collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Enugu State) were used in the study. The site was chosen due to availability of relatively long series of meteorological data, the data is a secondary data. 1.6 Significance of the Study Knowledge of what happens to the water that reaches the earth surface will assist the study of many surface and subsurface water problems, for efficient control and management of water resources. For a country like Nigeria, whose welfare depends very much on rain-fed agriculture, a quantitative knowledge of water requirements of the region, availability of water for plant growth and supplemental irrigation, etc. on a monthly or seasonal basis is an essential requirement for agricultural development. In this regard, increased capacity to manage future climate change and weather extremes can also reduce the magnitude of economic, social and human damage and eventually, lead to better resistance. Assessing seasonal rainfall characteristics based on past records is essential to evaluate rainfall extreme risk and to contribute to development of mitigation strategies. Therefore, a reliable rainfall forecasting and assessing behavior at station, regional and national levels is very importan t.

Band of Brothers and Eagles Nest. Easy Company

Military strategists in the 1920s thought that soldiers could surprise their opponents by jumping out of planes flying over enemy territory. Germany, Britain and the U. S. formed their own airborne divisions in the early 1940s. E Company known as Easy was one of four companies within the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. All of the members in this company volunteered to be trained in parachuting, a risky operation. Paratroopers were paid bonus and had greater honors than other soldiers.The â€Å"Band of Brothers† is the name acquired by these members and they played a vital role during World War II. They came together in the summer of 1942 and they suffered together in hunger, cold, and foreign lands. This brought about a special camaraderie that lead to the name â€Å"Band of Brothers†. The major exploits of the Band of Brothers include the story of how they routed two full companies of Germans and thei r night rescue of British paratroopers. They were known for their bravery in parachuting into France early on D-Day morning, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and capturing Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.They were also a unit that suffered enormous casualties, and whose lives became legend. The leading authorities of the 101st Airborne Division were Major General Maxwell D. Taylor (101st Airborne Division CO), and Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe (101st Airborne Division XO). Herbert Sobel was the first man assigned to Easy Company (Time, 2001). At approximately 1:30 a. m. on June 6, 1944, the commander of the 101st Airborne Division landed heavily in a French pasture near the village of Ste. Marie-du-Mont in Normandy.Major General Maxwell Taylor had no time to reflect on the fact that he was the first United States general ever to parachute into combat, as well as the first American general on enemy soil in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France. The 101st w as one of three Allied airborne divisions supporting the amphibious assault on Normandy. It was planned that the 101st was to secure the exits of four causeways behind Utah Beach, Exits 1, 2, 3, and 4; destroy bridges over the Douve northwest of Carentan; and capture two bridges northeast of the town.These objectives were quite ambitious especially in the light of the fact that the plans for air attacks were made at the last minute. The main airborne advocates were Generals Matthew B. Ridgway, James M. Gavin, and Taylor. Sixty-six hundred men in three regiments had to paratroop to land in darkness and secure the four causeways leading inland from Utah Beach. The 101st Airborne Division was one of them. It was a vital assignment, for the Germans had occupied most of the low lying areas along the coastline. Overlord would be primarily a parachute operation for the 101st.In this context, it must be remembered that Army airborne divisions were elite units, and paratroopers were voluntee rs. Most officers were in their twenties, and many enlisted men were no more than seventeen or eighteen. The 101st Division was fresh and inexperienced. During the first hours of D-Day, many paratroopers were dropped wherever it seemed most convenient. American paratroopers were directed that if a unit did not reach its drop zone, it should carry out those missions assigned to the area where it found itself. The men of the 101st had had little time to get to know their commanding general.Forty-three years old and a graduate of West Point, Taylor was given command of the division in March. He had told his men: â€Å"All paratroopers are hell-raisers. During the first 24 hours after you jump, raise all the hell you can† (Taylor, 2006). The initial German reaction to the airborne landings was confusion and uncertainty. By quickly securing the invasion causeways, the 101st had made a major contribution to the success of Overlord. Moreover, they helped the 82nd force to capture St e. Mre-Eglise shortly after dawn on D-Day.The 101st's role in Operation Overlord was over and then, on June 29 the division was withdrawn from Carentan and moved north for occupation duty near Cherbourg. Since D-Day the division had suffered more than forty-six hundred casualties, over one-third of its strength. Bradley, who had told Eisenhower that he could not order landings at Utah Beach without the airborne operation, was elated. As for Eisenhower, asked many years later what had been his most satisfying moment in the war, he replied that it was when he heard that his two airborne divisions had reached Normandy (Taylor, 2006).Thus we find that the most visible benefit had been the 101st's contribution to the almost bloodless landing at Utah Beach. D-Day showcased the courage of the brave young soldiers who brought with them the innocent belief that all things were possible. After being in France for 33 days, they returned to Aldbourne, England where their replacements came in. A fter 3 months, they paratrooped into Holland by Operation Market Garden. It was a successful jump with no casualties, but after coming out of Eindhoven they came into the town of Nuenen which was full of Germans and their armor.They ended up retreating with many casualties. Then they came to Bastogne in Belgium where they went into the woods with inadequate ammunitions, food and warm clothes. They were attacked by German artillery and there were some casualties. Later General Patton's men broke through behind them and they got their necessary resources. As the Battle of the Bulge continued, Army press releases described the great bravery of the 101st Airborne soldiers and the press named them the â€Å"Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne† (Time, 2001).Easy Company then moved into the woods near the town of Foy where they eventually made their assault on Foy. Easy Company moved back into France and then pushed the Germans into Germany where they came across a concentr ation camp. Later, they reached Hitler's Eagle Nest which had been previously captured with little resistance. Finally, they moved into Austria where the war in Europe and against Japan ended. Easy Company was said to be one of the best units in the history of the US Armed Forces.Like all units in the American airborne divisions, they had been trained as a light infantry assault outfit. Hence the men in Easy Company were trained to move quickly, maneuver fast and fire small arms. During the World War II, from the beginning of October until almost the end of November 1944, however, there were involved in static, trench warfare. The achievements of the Band of Brothers of Easy Company stands out in history mainly because they achieved success in military actions that they were not trained in.They relied upon their courage and strength.Bibliography:Taylor, M. John (2006). World War II: 101st Airborne Division Participate in Operation Overlord. http://www. historynet. com/air_sea/airbor ne_operations/3036676. html.The Battle of Bastogne. http://www. army. mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_19. htm#p473.Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy Drop. Regimental Unit Study: Number 3. http://www. army. mil/cmh-pg/documents/WWII/506-Nor/506-nor. htm.Time (2001). Band of Brothers. http://www. time. com/time/teach/brothers/pdfs/magazine. pdf.

Minimum Wage: My Case to Raise It

IntroductionIn my opinion, minimum wage should be raised.   It is time for the United States to stand up for the original purpose of the Fair Labor Standards Act.   The low wage is hurting the economy as a whole because it is squeezing the lower income level so tightly that they have to make choices between paying rent or buying food.   The three main reasons for this increase are as follows.   First, an increase in minimum wage would directly impact those at the bottom of the economic ladder.   Second, by increasing minimum wage, you also increase the value of work.   Third, because the cost of living has increased so much, the cost of work must follow its lead.   Due to these reasons, minimum wage must be raised.HistoryIn 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed.   This was a reaction the hard work of women like Jane Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt who were trying to end child labor and increase the standard of living in the poorest communities. The labor unions we re advocating for it as early as the late 1800’s when women in the Lowell factories claimed they deserved equal pay and treatment.   Its passage was also influenced by industrial disasters like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, which killed many of the young workers in New York.   The Jungle written by Upton Sinclair about the struggles of the working class in Chicago, influenced politicians and communities and caused them to start looking at its workers in a different light and with increased understanding.It set the maximum work week, standards of child labor and overtime pay.   It also created minimum wage.   This is the idea that there is a minimum standard of pay that everyone should be given.   It was set at twenty five cents an hour.   The act succeeded in many ways but it failed in keeping pace with inflation.   Originally, this was written into the act.   Now, raising minimum wage to keep pace with inflation has become a political issue. U sually democrats are in favor of raising the wage and republicans are against it.   Because the federal government has failed to protect its people by raising the wage, many states and cities have taken it upon themselves to raise their own wages.Argument againstThe conservative argument against raising the wage is primarily economic.   They say  this action hurts the whole economy and doesn’t help the lower classes at all. (Chapman)   Their argument is that if employers have to pay more, they will limit the employees they have or even take their work overseas, which is a valid threat.   They claim that in reality, the people who benefit are in higher economic classes because they learn to manage their businesses more efficiently and the boom lines their pocketbooks.My ArgumentAs my thesis demonstrates I disagree with the conservative stance.   I feel that an  increase in the minimum wage would help the people intended.   It would add value to what they do and keep up with the cost of living, as it was originally designed to do.The lower income families in the U.S. are hurting. â€Å"Today more than 28 million people, about a quarter of the workforce between the ages of 18 and 64, earn less than $9.04 an hour, which translates into a full-time salary of $18,800 a year—the income that marks the federal poverty line for a family of four.† (Working and Poor)   It is extremely difficult, if not impossible to raise a family on that amount of money.   The argument has been made that you can make more money on welfare than working for minimum wage.   What kind of lesson does that teach?So, is the answer raising minimum wage.   According to Jeff Chapman in his brief for the Economic Policy Institute, it is.   â€Å"If the federal wage were raised to $7.00, the bottom 40% or households would receive nearly 60% of the benefits.† (Chapman)   He goes on to say, â€Å"Raising the minimum wage provides income support to families in need.   While it is important to understand that the minimum wage should not be judged solely on its efficiency at targeting low-income families, research shows that it does just that.†(Chapman)Business Weekly agrees with these finding. â€Å"Lifting the minimum wage by $1.50 an hour, would boost the incomes of 10 million workers.† (Working and Poor) My research indicates that raising the minimum wage would be an effective way to target lower income workers and increase their income.   This would help offset the cost of inflation, as I will prove is a necessity.Originally, the wage was designed to increase as the cost of living increased.   This system makes sense.   If things cost more, people need to make more money to afford them—not luxuries, necessities.   If this adjustment is not made, the consequences affect the family, not just the worker. â€Å"Some experts on homelessness say the numbers are growing because of the widening gap between low pay and high rents.† (Kaufman) â€Å"Real pay for the bottom 10 percent of wage earners rose less that one percent in adjusted dollars from 1979 to 2003, according to the Economic Policy Institute. (Kaufman)If the wage doesn’t keep up, how can people afford rent?   If I make just enough to cover my bills, and my rent increases but my salary doesn’t, I have no choice.   I would have to get another job, which may not be a possibility, try to work overtime, which my job might not allow, or move.   What if I live in the cheapest apartment available?   This is the cycle that must be stopped. It leads to hopelessness, debt and in some circumstances, homelessness.â€Å"Even if the minimum wage were not well-targeted at helping those in need, it serves an important role in the U.S. economy and society.   It is a fundamental statment of principle about the value of work, opportunity and the responsibilities of employers.† (Chapman) Increasin g minimum wage validates the worker.   As the girls in Lowell were looking for acknowledgement of the value of their work, so do the workers of today search for validation for what they do.When the government raises the wage, they are sending a clear message that they value the workers and understand their position.   The C.E.O. of Costco is quoted as saying, â€Å"We no longer have a motivated working class.† (Working and Poor)   This is a huge problem.   If you can’t take pride in your work, what’s the point of working at all, especially if you can take advantage of the welfare system? If no one values what you do, why try to do any better than the bare minimum?Raising the minimum wage demonstrates employer accountability.   The government is making them responsible for the people their success rests upon.   â€Å"No employer should be allowed to unreasonably profit by exploiting the lack of negotiating power of low-wage workers.† (Chapman)à ‚   Labor simply has no power anymore.   The unions have been broken and they have no voice.   Someone has to hold the employers accountable.   Someone must step forward for the workers.An increase in the wage would do just that.   As I have shown, it does have a direct affect on those in the deepest need. â€Å"Everyone should have the opportunity to earn a decent wage.   No American should be compelled to work at a rate that amounts to the federal poverty level.   This is equally true for a middle-class youth working to raise money for college as it is for a single mother supporting a family.† (Chapman)ConclusionMinimum wage is one small part of the Fair Labor Standards Act that was designed to protect the worker.   Society saw its people falling through the cracks and they stood up for those people, claiming that everyone who works hard deserves a chance to succeed.   Minimum wage is the foundation of that success.   I have shown three strong reasons for the need to increase minimum wage.   The first is that raising the wage directly affects those in the greatest need.They do benefit from a raise as it corresponds to the raise in the cost of living. My second reason demonstrated this.   As the cost of living increases so should the minimum wage.   This way, workers can easily adjust their earnings to cover new expenses and not have to make hard decisions that could greatly impact their families.   The third reason is philosophical.Adding value to the worker validates the job that is being done.   When employers are held to greater accountability, the working class feels they are appreciated.   This is so important for our society.   Welfare shouldn’t have to be an option for a family willing to work and take part in the economy.   Without a raise in the minimum wage, this might be a serious threat.   â€Å"Equality means dignity.   And dignity demands a job and a paycheck that lasts through the week.† (Weisman)   I feel this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. conclude my thoughts on this subject.

William Shakespeares Presentation of Iago, Othello, and...

William Shakespeares Presentation of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Othello From the very beginning of the play ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents the friendship between Iago and Othello as a lie. Shakespeare makes us see that Iago is only pretending to serve Othello for his own ends and following this on, Othello completely trusts Iago and is able to speak in confidence with him. All the way through the play, Shakespeare shapes the audiences response to make us want to like or dislike them, admire or have sympathy for them. From the moment the play opens, Shakespeare gives us a negative impression of Iago. Shakespeare presents Iago to us as a dishonest and false-hearted character. In contrast,†¦show more content†¦This may have been the biggest hint which was to be unfolded to show us that something even more bigger and exciting will happen. In the first scene of the play ‘Othello’, Shakespeare presents Iago as a very untrustworthy and deceitful character. He says ‘I am not what I am’. It is not very clear on what Iago means as he does not make it specific but we can still understand something. It seems as if it is a sudden warning to Roderigo that Iago is a type of man that just can not be trusted. We also remember this quote in our minds simply because it is short, and strangely worded. All the way through the play, Iago’s character is kept constant. He stays deceitful and two-faced. We can see that this is true as he states ‘I hate the Moor’. He uses the word ‘Moor’ to describe Othello. He then later says ‘My Lord you know I love you’. This is one of the many situations where Shakespeare shows that Iago is being two-faced as we already know that this is not true as he has already stated that he loathes Othello. But even though Iago is doing all this back stabbing with Othello, he portrays himself to others as being an honest man. Towards the end of Act 1 Scene 3, Shakespeare presents us with Iago’s first soliloquy. ‘He’s done my office’. Iago claimsShow MoreRelated Comparison of an Evil mastermind in Shakespeare’s Othello and MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)1433 Words   |  6 PagesIago is one of the most renowned villains of pre-modern literature, as first introduced in Shakespeare’s Othello. His deceiving personality and complex nature is painted such that readers are amazed by his ingenious schemes. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is represented as trustworthy and honest, but readers soon realize that he is the opposite of what he seems. Even though Iago’s personality and thoughts are revealed less in MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)Read MoreOthello - Female Stereotypes Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pages6th, 2012 Othello Essay In â€Å"Othello,† William Shakespeare extensively explores female stereotypes that occur during the playwright’s time. Throughout the Shakespearian era, women were seen as the inferior sex, over whom men had complete control and thus forcing women to act submissively and obediently in front of their husbands. Men believed that women were objects who just cooked meals, cleaned the house, and bore children while society just accepted these degrading roles. William ShakespeareRead MoreAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Essay1008 Words   |  5 PagesAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Referring to the passage in page 155, I have analysed several points in conjunction to background knowledge, in attempt to answer the task set above. Initially, I feel that it is very important to relate to the character of Iago. As a character, Iago has the potential to be a man of extreme power but he does not have the tool that we refer to as money. All that he has is ambition; and he remains malcontent until he attainsRead MoreAp Lit- Othello Prompt-1979 Essay628 Words   |  3 Pagesfull presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we might otherwise think.   Avoid plot summary. A man falls into a violent epileptic shock from sheer anger and jealousy. Othello is an aspiring man, who under delusional rage, allows revenge to blind him and so he betrays the trust of friendship and marriage. Actions alone can merit the characterization of evil simply because some deeds are too purely vicious and malignant, however William Shakespeare’s OthelloRead More Feminine Roles in Othello Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesFeminine Roles in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚   A variety of roles have women in them in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello. Let us in this essay examine the female characters and their roles.    One key role for the heroine of the drama, Desdemona, is to support the general. David Bevington in William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies states the hero’s dependence on Desdemona:    Othello’s most tortured speeches (3.4.57-77, 4.2.49-66) reveal the extent to which he equates the seemingly betrayingRead MoreEssay about Shakespeares Othello - Desdemona the Wonderful2444 Words   |  10 PagesOthello: Desdemona the Wonderful  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The innocent and charming personality of the wife of the general in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello can hardly be rivaled – and yet she died the victim of a horrible murder. Let’s consider her case in this essay.    Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello† comment on the virtue within the innocent wife of the Moor, and how pain came into her life:    Desdemona is warmhearted, tender, faithfulRead MoreThe Beautiful Character of Desdemona in Shakespeares Othello2743 Words   |  11 PagesOthello and the Beautiful Character of Desdemona  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The good character of Desdemona in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello meets a wretched end because of the sinister treachery of an ancient. In this essay let us analyze the beautiful character of Desdemona.    Valerie Wayne in â€Å"Historical Differences: Misogyny and Othello† comments on the proper manner of interpreting Desdemona’s body as referred to by an irate Othello:    Desdemona’s body before her supposed adulteryRead More Othello’s Female Roles Essay1945 Words   |  8 PagesOthello’s Female Roles  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Let’s look at the roles of the three lady-characters in the Shakespearean drama Othello. Their roles are not marginal, but are rather vital to the tragedy.    In the Introduction to Shakespeare’s Othello: The Harbrace Theatre Edition, John Russell Brown summarizes the role of the heroine of the play:    When considered functionally, Desdemona’s role may be seen to be every bit as demanding as those of the principals. The fact that she has far fewerRead More Othello – How it Ranks Essay2151 Words   |  9 PagesOthello – How it Ranks  Ã‚         In the context of thousands of plays written by hundreds of dramatists since 500 years prior to the time of Christ, how does William Shakespeare’s play Othello rank? In this essay let us find the proper place for this play, and consider critical opinion in the process.    Othello would appear to have a beauty about it which is hard to match – thus ranking high. Helen Gardner in â€Å"Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune† touches on this beauty which enablesRead MoreEssay on Shakespeares Othello - Desdemona the Ideal2114 Words   |  9 PagesDesdemona the Ideal  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   What wife can compare to the ideal wife which the Bard of Avon has painted for us in his tragedy Othello? She is appreciated by everyone except the villain.    Angela Pitt in â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies† comments on Desdemona as the ideal wife:    Handbooks of the period explain in some detail what is required of the ideal wife, and Desdemona seems to fulfill even the most conservative expectation. She is beautiful and also humble: