What is a network Discuss the advantages of using a network, and Essay

What is a network Discuss the advantages of using a network, and briefly explain the main types of networks - Essay Example Instead, all computers in a network can be connected to a single printer such that users can access it from their work stations. This helps to minimize costs, time wastage as well as protecting the machines from contracting computer viruses, which may be spread through the use of removable storage devices to transfer documents (Newman, 2010). There are various types of networks which include and not limited to; local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) and metropolitan area networks (MAN) (Wetherall, 2010). Computers and other hardware in a LAN are connected within a short geographical distance, for example a building, a hospital or a school, through the use of guided media i.e. cables. If numerous LANs are interconnected within a wide geographical area such as across continents then, they form a Wide Area Network. The internet is an example of a WAN as it facilitates connectivity between users throughout the world regardless of their geographical location. On the other hand MAN is an interconnection of several LANs within a geographical location smaller than that of WAN. This type of connectivity can be found within an area for example a city or a town (Wetherall,

Economic Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economic - Coursework Example Primarily they concentrate on the production of cigarettes however they also produce cigarillos, roll your own or pipe tobacco and smokeless snus. The production of tobacco results in a lot of unintended outcomes of production also known as externalities. A lot of these resulting externalities are negative. According to N. Gregory Mankiw- A, a negative externality is an action of a product on consumers due to which negative side effects on a third party result. British American Tobacco produces several negative externalities. Some of these are significant damage to the environment, reduction in economic productivity, pollution, a contribution to world hunger and a exorbitant health care costs that society and not the tobacco industry pays as a result of their products (Babere K. C.) Tobacco leafs that are plucked at tobacco farms, that British American Tobacco owns throughout the world, basically constitutes to the first step in the production process. A huge amount of manual labor i s required for this process. Tobacco farms in Milawi, where British American Tobacco dominates the market alone has over 78,000 laborers most of which are children. This constitutes to a negative externality for BAT in terms of child labor. As an effect of handling this tobacco leafs these children, according to The Learning Economist, suffer from symptoms of green tobacco sickness or nicotine poisoning. Deforestation resulting from clearing space for tobacco plantations is another negative externality. Also water used in growing the tobacco has a high level of pesticide applied to it which affects water supplies adversely contributing to a adverse environment implication. Tobacco is stored in giant silos after it is cut before starting the process of manufacturing. These silos occupy a large amount of space. This in terms results in a negative externality as they replace prime land from food production and hence contributing to world hunger. John Madley notes that tobaccos minor us e of land in Hong Kong alone control denies 10 to 12 million people of food leaving the government to bear the cost of food imports. When processed tobacco lea arrives at factories it is blended with other ingredients such as flavorings or expanded tobacco. The blended tobacco is treated with the right amount of steam and water to make it supple before it can be cut into cigarettes (Fondez, Web). Although much of the cigarette making is now undertaken by machines as plants are heading towards being more automated however if laborers are over exposed to this part of the production process it can result in symptoms such as severe headaches, abdominal pain, coughing and breathlessness contributing to additional health care costs. The excess use of machinery also leads to the negative externality in shape of excessive electricity used for the purpose of running the manufacturing silos. Once produced these packing machines wrap these cigarettes after which they are moved to a holding sil o’s before being shipped off to the distribution channels. Wood in shape of paper is also a natural resource which is depleted due to the cigarette manufacturing process with one unit requiring 4 miles of paper being consumed in an hour for rolling and packaging cigarettes. Furthermore the chemical wastes dumped into the soil which damages the fertility levels of the dumping area (Ygoy, Web). According to N. G. Mankiw-B, the government’s primary response to externalities can be categorized into two ways; the first of these aims to

Discussing Principles of Universal Healthcare in the NHS

Discussing Principles of Universal Healthcare in the NHS The NHS was set up in 1948 in response to illness and poverty within the UK brought on by the Second World War. The vision was that the NHS would provide healthcare that is universal, comprehensive and free at the point of delivery (Klein 2004). This would suggest that the NHS would treat everyone regardless of class, origin, financial status and illness and free it would be free to all. This essay will discuss these principles with reference to current NHS policy. The inception of the NHS was influenced by the release of the Beveridge Report in 1942 (Ham, C. 2009, pp.13-14). This report suggested that there were large amounts of sickness and ill health within communities following the war and formed the notion that a service providing healthcare to the whole population without charge would reduce sickness and ill health. Beveridge (1942) also stated that as health in the UK increased the money required to fund the NHS would reduce and people would live in a healthier society with healthier workforces. However, what the Beveridge Report (1942) did not account for was the rise in life expectancy and the consequent rise in demand on NHS. As a result, instead of the expense of the NHS decreasing as suggested in the Beveridge report (1942) the opposite happened. This is identified in the Office of Health and Economics (2008) paper titled Sixty years of NHS expenditure and workforce and shows that the NHSs expenditure in its first year was  £447 m illion in contrast to the year 07/08 where its expenditure is estimated to be  £114,541 million. Dixon et al (1997) points out the fact the NHS experiences many demands in demographics, new technologies, and increasing expectations which lead to the increase in expenditure of the NHS that is not attainable even with increases in funding. This suggests that the ability to provide a comprehensive service is jeopardised in that if the NHS does not have the funding to sustain itself it questions how the NHS can keep up with expensive and continuously advancing medicine. Furthermore, with the expenditure the NHS requires to function effectively the ability to provide healthcare free at the point of delivery becomes vulnerable. Even the NHS Choices website states that not all healthcare is free as we have to pay for optical, dental, and for some people prescription charges. The argument presented is that exceptions to the principle free at the point of delivery, regardless if everything else is free, is a clear indicator that it is no longer free and therefore should not be regarded as such. However, The Institute for Innovation and Improvement attempts to provide some solutions to vast expenditure allowing the savings made to be utilised elsewhere in the health service. In their publication Prevention is better than cure suggests that prevention is more cost effective than treatment itself and points out, initiatives should aim to reach out to people to educate, advise and motive them to assist preventing them having complications later in life. An example of a prevention strategy is the smoking cessation service that can be accessed by anyone at GP surgeries and pharmacies (NHS Choices, no date). This illustrates organisations attempting to find ways to reduce later life complications and effectively reduce expenditure caused by these complications. The money saved from these interventions can be spent on more services to move towards a more comprehensive health service and also prolonging the funding required to provide these services free at the point of delivery. The Griffiths report (1983) provided Thatcher government with grounds to introduce general management and their Ring Wing ideology of internal markets and privatisation into the NHS (Ham, C. 2009, pp.32-39). The Griffiths report (1983) identified that the NHS was failing to use its resources effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the report suggested that the NHS required general managers to be appointed within the NHS structure. According to the report these managers would monitor budgets and cost effectiveness of the department, motivate staff, and to lead the department to continually look to improve the service. Furthermore, the Griffiths report (1983) pointed out the need for outsourcing to create competition. The Health Authorities outsource services with the reasoning that it would create competition and drive down the costs (Ham, C. 2009). Baggott (1997) evaluates the impact of the internal market. Baggott (1997) suggests that the purchasers of services were restricted due t o the budget in place and the providers were concerned with cutting cost. The article suggests that this resulted in a geographical difference in services provided and that some services that had been cut from the area were only provided on ability to pay privately. This goes against every founding principle of the NHS. The use of private companies within the NHS has continued with the Department of Health (2007) actually acknowledging this compromise on universalism in their publication Post code lottery of care that states that there is still unequal distribution of care dependant on the wealth of the area. However, on the positive side of things it means that the PCTs can invest in services which are needed by the local community instead of putting money into services unnecessarily. Furthermore, if the NHS services in an area does not provide a particular need of a patient but a nearby private establishment does the Labour government stated in their NHS 2000 plan that the private company could be used for that patient but paid for by the NHS (NHS plan 2000). Pollitt, C. et al (1991), produced a study regarding the effectiveness of the implementation of the Griffiths report recommendations from professionals within the NHS. The study by Pollitt, C. et al (1991) found that the general managers felt that they sometimes had to forget that there were patients in the hospital and push to drive to get long term patients back out into the community. This suggests that those patients requiring longer care are not getting a comprehensive service from the NHS in that their treatment time is not sufficient for their needs. Another drawback to the appointment of general managers was that they did not appreciate clinical matters which caused tensions and rifts to widen within the general management and clinician relationship (Pollitt, C. 1991, p.71). However, Ham,C. (2009) suggests that general managers have proved their worth in that they are necessary in order to implement, carry forward policies and push to meet targets and performance standards. W ith this in mind, it is important that health professionals beginning employment within the NHS are aware of the pressures regarding targets enforced by general managers. Health professionals will have to do their upmost to ensure that patients are getting the most out of the service before they are discharged in order to maintain a comprehensive service. The Black Report (1980) was an in-depth report into the inequalities between social classes in the UK. It clearly highlighted that people living in poverty had a higher mortality rate than the wealthier people in society. As a result, the Black Report (1980) suggested interventions to be put in place by the government in order to help these people improve their health status. The report suggested that the Government should make children and the disabled a priority and also that the Government should look to put in place preventative and educational strategies in place to assist in reducing inequalities in health. When this report was published the Thatcher Government were in power. Smith, T. (1990) states in his article that the Government rejected the proposals set out by the Black Report with their argument that the proposals were impractical and unachievable. Smith, T. (1990) also suggests that the Thatcher Government asserted their Right Wing ideologies that it is the peoples res ponsibility to look after their own health and not to expect the Government to intervene. Although this article is outdated it highlights how the Governments reaction was interpreted by the people at the time. Evidence of the Governments dismissal of the report is highlighted in Patrick Jenkins (Secretary of State for Social Services) foreword within the Black Report (1980). He clearly suggests that the proposals are unrealistic and clearly states that he will not endorse the proposals. Taking this into consideration it is clear that the Government at the time was not prepared to assist the poor in order to help them progress, improve their health, and improve their social status. As a result the inequalities between the wealthy and working class would remain. Considering these findings it is clear that the NHS and the Thatcher Government failed to provide a universal service. The issue of inequality was highlighted again in 1998 by the Acheson report following the Labour party being elected into power. This report illustrated many similarities to the Black report. The Labour government, with their intrinsic state intervention ideology, they set about tackling these inequalities rather than dismissing them (Bambra, C. et al 2005, p.190). It can be seen in the NHS plan (2000) that many of the inequality issues such as accessibility are being tackled within the NHS. Within the NHS plan (2000) there is a clear emphasis for health provisions to be moved out of the direct NHS setting such as GPs surgeries into the community to assist with accessibility. There are many health provisions in place that can be accessed at local pharmacies such as the minor ailments scheme, smoking cessation, weight loss programmes (NHS Choices, no date). NICE (2008) published a paper regarding the smoking cessation schemes in place in pharmacies. The paper suggests that pharmacies are more accessible for patients in deprived areas who possibly find accessibility difficult. Moreover, the paper suggests that pharmacies have the ability to treat a larger number of patients due to location and later opening hours. This is a clear demonstration of the Government actively putting policies in place to achieve the principle of a universal NHS by extending accessibility. As a result healthcare professionals may find themselves working in the community rather than in a hospital setting. Therefore, professionals such as physiotherapist may find themselves working in the community setting where there may not be the same equipment found in the hospital setting. Therefore, these professionals will need to adapt and find ways to achieve successful programmes without the assistance of expensive equipment. However it should also be noted that there is an underlying cost saving benefit for the Government when implementing community projects. Baqir (2011) has recently published a paper looking at the minor ailments scheme in place in the North East of England. Their results demonstrated an approximate saving of  £80,000 per annum as a result of the scheme. The study points out that the majority of this savings comes from freeing GP resources allowing GPs to focus their attention to more complex patients. It should be noted that this source may pose bias as it was funded by The School of Pharmacy, Health and Wellbeing who would obviously have a vested interest in the pharmacy sector gaining health contracts. In spite of these efforts to tackle inequalities in healthcare The Marmot Review (2010) demonstrates that these inequalities in health still exist today suggesting that the health initiatives and policies laid out by the Governments have not eradicated this issue bringing into quest ion the NHS principle of universalism. Old Labours Left Wing ideologies go against the internal market and privatisation created within the NHS by the Thatcher government (Ham, C. 2009, p.51). However, New Labour recognised that the integration of private companies within the NHS had some advantage (Ham, C. 2009, p.51). It is clear in the NHS plan (2000) that New Labour has moved further right from their left wing ideology and continues to allow the private sectors to have input into the NHS for the benefit of the NHS and the people using it. The plan suggests that the private sectors should work with the NHS and that the NHS should also be able to utilise its own expertise to provide the best possible healthcare to patients. In order for the NHS to become universal and free at the point of delivery the Government decided that if the NHS could not provide a particular service but a private hospital could the NHS would pay for the patient to be treated within the private hospital (NHS plan, 2000). This allows patients to r eceive their comprehensive treatment which they may not have been able to access previously without having to pay the private treatment costs. This clearly demonstrates the government working towards a comprehensive, universal, and free service which the NHS was founded upon. Nuffield Hospitals are an example of this in working practice. The website for Nuffield Hospitals state that NHS patients can be treated in these private hospitals paid for by the NHS. This is important for healthcare professionals working within private practices in that they should be aware that it is not always private paying clients that are treated in these hospitals. Furthermore, healthcare professionals in this environment must ensure they do not discriminate in these circumstances giving priority to paying clients. There are treatments being developed that the NHS is unwilling to provide patients as they are not cost effective. Under NICE guidelines, some drugs are just not cost effective enough to warrant funding on the NHS. NHS Choices (no date) clearly states that the NHS does not have unlimited money to spend on treatments and therefore they must decide which treatments are of benefit with regards to their cost and effectiveness and they depend on NICE to provide the evidence to base these decisions. This example highlights the criticism that the NHS is no longer comprehensive. However, with technology and research constantly moving forward and the formation of new but very expensive interventions it would be almost impossible to provide a comprehensive service that is equally distributed to all in need. The above example highlights the conflict between morals, in that the NHS attempts to provide for all eventualities however their funding restricts them in achieving this (NHS Choices, no d ate). The Foundation Trusts are a symbol of the Governments intentions to decentralise the health service as they are not regulated by the central government (Department of Health, 2005). The notion that these Trusts are free to do as they please with the tax payers money is worrying. However, this is not entirely true. They are monitored and inspected by the board of governors (Department of Health, 2005). The Foundation trusts aim is to provide healthcare to meet the populations needs whilst meeting the founding principles of the NHS (Department of Health, 2005). However, when analysing A Short Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts publication made by the Department of Health in 2005 there is no mention of two of the principles. The fact that the Foundation Trusts, who directly affect what services are available to the people of their area, do not consider two of the founding principles of comprehensiveness and universalism is highly significant in highlighting that these two principles are no longer at the forefront of the NHS services. In summary the NHS is no longer universal, comprehensive or free at the point of delivery. It is not universal due to the fact that different areas pick their own differing services so there is no consistency in what the NHS provides. It is not comprehensive because it fails to offer all treatments available due to lack of funding. It is not free at the point of delivery due to the charges placed upon dental, optical and prescriptions. This essay has pointed out that the NHS and Government does strive to achieve the NHSs founding principles however as a result of the expenditure rising year on year within the NHS it would appear that all three principles cannot be achieved collectively. As pointed out by the NHS choices website there is not enough funding to be able to provide every single treatment to everyone in need of it whilst it is still free of charge. Future recommendations would be that if the Government is unable to provide a treatment to all in need of it, it should not be licensed for supply either on prescription or privately. This compromises the comprehensive principle of the NHS but at least it is equal and fair to all regardless of social status. Furthermore, in order for the companies providing expensive treatment to keep business it would have to strive to lower the price of their services. As a result, this recommendation may have a positive effect on the comprehensiveness of the NHS. The main issue highlighted in findings of this essay is that all three founding principles cannot be achieved collectively. However, what is apparent throughout the evidence presented is that organisations are still striving to achieve the founding principles within the NHS. This would therefore suggest that the principles are still present in the making of current policy, however, they have not been fully achieved.

Primate Species Profile :: essays papers

Primate Species Profile Red-shanked Douc Langurs What are their names? Scientific name: Pygathrix nemaeus English name: Red-shanked douc langurs How are they classified? Order: Primata Family: Cercopithecidae Did you know..... -That Douc langurs are leaf-eating monkeys with long intestines and very large stomachs to get nutrients out of leaves. Leaves are difficult to digest, so therefore, the langurs spend most of their time sleeping in order to properly digest them. They leaves they eat ferment inside them as part of their natural digestion, which releases bubbles of gas and causes them to burp! -Douc langurs have a specific "playface" in which the eyes are closed, exposing very pale blue eyelids. -The tails of Douc langurs are actually longer than their body. -Douc langur babies are very susceptible to the pet trade because they are so cute. Unfortunately most of these babies die due to lack of proper nutrients because their owners feed them only fruits - and they need many other nutrients for a balanced, healthy diet. Where do they live? Douc langurs are found most frequently in primary evergreen forests of Vietnam and Laos (also in Cambodia), at around 300-2000 meters elevation. Recent fieldwork has demonstrated that although douc lagurs were once thought to have a restricted habitat, they are actually found in a variety of habitats. While douc langur monkeys are restricted to wooded areas, they occur in a variety of forest types. Populations of doucs have been located from both monsoon forests as well as rainforests and include: semi-evergreen, lowland lower montane and upper montane forest types. What are their general characteristics? Description: Douc langurs appear as if dressed in costume. They have grey-black underparts, and the upper part of the leg is also black, and finally continuing down the knee and below are orange-red. Cheeks and throat are white, and the hands, feet, brow, and shoulders are a contrasting black. The tail, forearms, and genital region are also white. There is no sexual dimorphism in the size of douc langurs, and the size ranges are the following: the body length ranges from 23.1-23.5 inches, the tail length ranges from 23.5-26.8 inches, and their weights range from 18.1-24.0 lbs. Diet: Douc langurs are vegetarians, getting adequate protien and fluid by eating leaves, buds, fruit, and flowers. They eat 50 species of plant but no animals. At the zoo, the animals eat primate chow and various types of greens that they get in a rotating diet. That way the animals get to choose which type of green they want.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 16

It was the lone hoot of an owl–a long, plaintive sound–that caused my eyes to snap open. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I felt a pulsing pain on the side of my neck that seemed to keep time with the owl's cries. And suddenly I remembered everything–Katherine, her lips drawn back, her teeth sparkling. My heart pounding as though I were dying and being born all at the same time. The awful pain, the red eyes, the dark black of a dead sleep. I glanced around wildly. Katherine, clad only in a necklace and a simple muslin slip, sat just steps away from me at the basin, washing her upper arms with a hand towel. â€Å"Hello, sleepy Stefan,† she said coquettishly. I swung my legs out of bed and tried to step out, only to find myself tangled in the sheets. â€Å"Your face,† I babbled, knowing I sounded insane and possessed, like a town drunk stumbling out of the tavern. Katherine continued to run the cotton cloth along her arms. The face I'd seen last night was not human. It had been a face filled with thirst and desire and emotions I couldn't even think to name. But in this light Katherine looked lovelier than ever, blinking her eyes sleepily like a kitten after a long nap. â€Å"Katherine?† I asked, forcing myself to look into her eyes. â€Å"What are you?† Katherine slowly picked up the hairbrush on her nightstand, as if she had all the time in the world. She turned to me and began to run it through her luxurious locks. â€Å"You're not afraid, are you?† she asked. So she was a vampire. My blood turned to ice. I took the sheet and wrapped it against my body, then grabbed my breeches from the side of the bed and pulled them on. I quickly shoved my feet into my boots and yanked on my shirt, not caring about my undershirt, still on the floor. Fast as lightning, Katherine was at my side, her hand gripping my shoulder. She was surprisingly strong, and I had to jerk sharply to wrench myself away from her grasp. Once free, Katherine stepped back. â€Å"Shhh. Shhh,† she murmured, as if she were a mother soothing a child. â€Å"No!† I yelled, holding my hand up. I would not have her try to charm me. â€Å"Y ou're a vampire. You killed Rosalyn. Y ou're killing the town. Y are evil, ou and you need to be stopped.† But then I caught sight of her eyes, her large, luminous, seemingly depthless eyes, and I stopped short. â€Å"You're not afraid,† Katherine repeated. The words echoed in my mind, bouncing around and finally taking residence there. I did not know how or why it was so, but in my heart of hearts, I suddenly wasn't afraid. But still †¦ â€Å"Y are a vampire, though. How can I abide ou that?† â€Å"Stefan. Sweet, scared Stefan. It will all work out. Y ou'll see.† She cupped her chin in my hands, then raised up on her tiptoes for a kiss. In the near sunlight, Katherine's teeth looked pearly white and tiny, and nothing like the miniature daggers I'd seen the night before. â€Å"It's me. I'm still Katherine,† she said, smiling. I forced myself to pull away. I wanted to believe that everything was the same, but †¦ â€Å"Y ou're thinking of Rosalyn, aren't you?† Katherine asked. She noticed my startled expression and shook her head. â€Å"It's natural that you'd think I could do that, based on what I am, but I promise you, I did not kill her. And I never would have.† â€Å"But †¦ but †¦, † I began. Katherine brought her finger to my lips. â€Å"Shhh. I was with you that night. Remember? I care about you, and I care about those you care about. And I don't know how Rosalyn died, but whoever did that†Ã¢â‚¬â€œa flash of anger flickered in her eyes, which, I realized for the first time, were flecked with gold–â€Å"they give us a bad name. They are the ones who scare me. Y may be scared to walk ou during the night, but I am afraid to walk during the day, lest I be mistaken for one of those monsters. I may be a vampire, but I do have a heart. Please believe me, sweet Stefan.† I took a step back and cradled my head in my hands. My mind whirled. The sun was just beginning to rise, and it was impossible to tell whether the mist hid a brilliant sun or a day of clouds. It was the same with Katherine. Her beautiful exterior cloaked her true spirit, making it impossible to ascertain whether she was good or evil. I sunk heavily to the bed, not wanting to leave and not wanting to stay. â€Å"Y need to trust me,† Katherine said, sitting ou down beside me and placing her hand on my chest so she could feel my heart beat. â€Å"I am Katherine Pierce. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm the girl you watched for hours on end after I arrived two weeks ago. What I confessed to you is nothing. It doesn't change how you feel, how I feel, what we can be,† she said, moving her hand from my chest to my chin. â€Å"Right?† she asked, her voice filled with urgency. I glanced at Katherine's wide brown eyes and knew she was right. She had to be. My heart still desired her so much, and I wanted to do anything to protect her. Because she wasn't a vampire; she was Katherine. I grabbed both of her hands, cupping them in my own. They looked so small and vulnerable. I brought her cold, delicate fingers to my mouth and kissed them, one by one. Katherine looked so scared and unsure. â€Å"Y didn't kill Rosalyn?† I said slowly. Even as ou the sentence left my lips, I knew it to be true, because my heart would break if it weren't. Katherine shook her head and gazed at the window. â€Å"I would never kill anyone unless I had to. Unless I needed to protect myself or someone I loved. And anyone would kill in that situation, wouldn't they?† she asked indignantly, jutting out her chin and looking so proud and vulnerable that it was all I could do not to take her in my arms right then. â€Å"Promise you'll keep my secret, Stefan? Promise me?† she asked, her dark eyes searching mine. â€Å"Of course I will,† I said, making the promise as much to myself as to her. I loved Katherine. And yes, she was a vampire. And yet †¦ the way the word came out of her mouth was so different from the way it sounded when Father said it. There was no dread. If anything, it sounded romantic and mysterious. Maybe Father was wrong. Maybe Katherine was simply misunderstood. â€Å"Y have my secret, Stefan. And you know ou what that means?† Katherine said, throwing her arms around my shoulders and nuzzling her cheek against mine. â€Å"Vous avez mon coeur. Y have ou my heart.† â€Å"And you have mine,† I murmured back, meaning every word.

History’s Contribution to Present Day Caribbean Society Essay

History, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is the continuous record of events, especially those that are public. The history of the Caribbean is a diverse and intriguing one seeing as our present day country is one of cultural diversity, often referred to by locals as a â€Å"culture pot†. It is because of the Europeans enslavement of various ethnicities and cultures in the islands that this is possible. The locals however, were exported to work in the European countries. When the slaves were brought to the Caribbean and made to work on the plantations, they were stripped of their religion and culture; forced to take up or partake in the Roman Catholic religion and were expected to act as the Europeans thought them. In the beginning, the main imported race was the Africans. Africans were and still are well known for a very rich and interesting heritage and they were not able to practice their beliefs at the time that they were brought. East Indian imports however, were brought at a different time, a more lenient time. They were brought through indentureship and they were allowed to practice whatever they saw fit. This has affected our society`s social identity. This means that although we know who we are, we have our own opinion of people and their beliefs. Although the number of people that believe their culture is better than others, it still exists in our society. People also tend to identify themselves with those who are similar to themselves and somewhat avoid those who are dissimilar. Trinidad and Tobago in particular, has a very special history to me. As a people, we gained our independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. The man responsible for this tremendous act was Dr. Eric Williams, who was a noted Caribbean historian, widely regarded as â€Å"The Father of the Nation†. In 1976, the country cut its ties with the British and became a republic within the commonwealth. The country has been relatively successful by importing two major goods, those being; oil and sugar; however sugar production has stopped as of late. The sugar industry was once a mainstay of the economy of Trinidad and Tobago. It was established by the British Empire when they brought slaves to work on the plantations, hence giving it the name the sugar plantations in the nineteenth century. It remained a vital factor in the country`s prosperity for over a hundred years, however, it became a strain on the state`s finances. Oil is another large part of what allows the country to make any form of income. In the Caribbean, music is also a major part of any form of event. Trinidad and Tobago is not the only country that values its music, but every island that is located in the Caribbean, for example Jamaica. Jamaica is well known for its Reggae music, something that has influenced a lot of today`s youth. An artist that has made the genre extremely known was Mr. Bob Marley. His sons are also very influential and played a wonderful role in Trinidad and Tobago`s 50th Independence anniversary as they sang at a concert to commemorate the country. Trinidad and Tobago has also made a very stupendous achievement, which was creating an entirely new musical instrument in the 20th century, the steelpan. Another historic event that gave birth to something cherished in Trinidad and Tobago is Carnival. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on our islands` cultural and tourism calendar. Carnival had arrived with the French, indentured laborers and the slaves, who could not take part in Carnival, formed their own, parallel celebration called Canboulary. Stick fighting and African percussion music were banned in 1880 and were replaced by bamboo sticks beaten together, which were banned as well. In 1937 they reappeared, transformed as an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids and oil drums and this gave birth to the steelpan. In 1941, the United States Navy arrived on Trinidad, and the panmen, who were associated with lawlessness and violence caused by the Canboulary riots, helped to popularize steel pan music among soldiers, which began its international popularization. History has shaped our society in more ways than we can imagine. Although the history of our islands has had a lot of strife and pain, if it were not for those horrible events, we would not have many of the things that we enjoy today. We as a people are proud and have made various changes, most for the better and I am proud to be a member of this lovely country.