Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Learn How to Conjugate Reposer (to Rest) in French

Learn How to Conjugate Reposer (to Rest) in French Meaning to rest, the French  reposer  will be a useful addition to your vocabulary. The verb will need to be conjugated, however, if you want to say things such as rested or resting. This lesson will introduce you to the essential conjugations youll need for  reposer. The Basic Conjugations of  Reposer Reposer is a regular -er verb, which means it follows the conjugation pattern of the majority of French verbs. If you have studied words like tomber (to fall), poser  (to put), or any other regular verb that ends in -er, this lesson should be relatively easy. The indicative mood is the best place to begin. This includes the basic present, future, and imperfect past tenses which are used most often in French. The catch is that you need to memorize a new word for every subject pronoun within each tense.   Step one in any conjugation is identifying the verb stem (or radical). For  reposer, that is  repos-. To this, a variety of endings are added that correspond to the subject and the tense. Using the chart, you can find which endings are required. For example,  I am resting is  je repose  while we will rest is  nous reposerons. Present Future Imperfect je repose reposerai reposais tu reposes reposeras reposais il repose reposera reposait nous reposons reposerons reposions vous reposez reposerez reposiez ils reposent reposeront reposaient The Present Participle of  Reposer The  present participle  of regular -er  verbs is very easy to form. All you have to do is add -ant  to the radical. For  reposer,  that produces the word  reposant. Reposer  in the Compound Past Tense Passà © composà © is the French compound past tense and its used frequently, so its very good to know. Forming it is rather easy as well. Begin by conjugating the auxiliary verb  avoir  into the present tense to match the subject. Youll then follow that with the  past participle  reposà ©, which does not change with the subject but does indicate that someone has already rested. For example, I rested is  jai reposà ©Ã‚  and we rested is  nous avons reposà ©. More Simple Conjugations of  Reposer When youre uncertain if the act of resting will take place, you can turn to either  the subjunctive  or  the conditional. The main difference here is that the conditional says the resting will only happen if something else occurs as well. The passà © simple  and  the imperfect subjunctive  are literary tenses. Youll find these almost exclusively in formal writing. Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je repose reposerais reposai reposasse tu reposes reposerais reposas reposasses il repose reposerait reposa repost nous reposions reposerions reposmes reposassions vous reposiez reposeriez repostes reposassiez ils reposent reposeraient reposrent reposassent If you want to tell someone to Rest! or use  reposer  in a similarly assertive statement,  the French imperative  can be used. This is one of those rare times when you dont need the subject pronoun, so simplify it from  tu repose  to  repose. Imperative (tu) repose (nous) reposons (vous) reposez

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The inferno Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The inferno - Essay Example c. The interesting mention of Beatrice who seems to be out context because she was only mentioned and not explained and this begs the question who is Beatrice particularly in the passage â€Å"The prophecy by Ciacco of the fall of Dantes party, Canto vi., and that byFarinata  of Dantes exile, Canto x., which Virgil had told should be made clear to him by  Beatrice† (Canto XV). These cruxes identified in Dante’s Inferno cannot be interpreted literally by relying merely on Dante’s text of the Inferno. The reader has to take account of Dante’s other works and inclination in order to understand the identified texts. For example, in the first crux which was in the introduction part of Canto X in the sixth circle of hell of Dante’s Inferno, what actually Dante meant in this passage is his personal amusement and curiosity if any of his friends from Floernce are in hell. He was tempted to ask one of sufferers but did not really get the satisfaction with the reply. With regard to the old man in Canto XIV, this passage is reminiscent of Dante’s aptitude in classical text such as the text of Ovid’s Metamorphes where the metal composition of the head of the old man is made up of the four ages of history: gold, silver, brass and iron, which is typical of its civilization’s rise and decline. The old man looks at Rome because his feature is characteristic of Rome’s strength and weakness. Its strength is in the right foot made of chosen iron indicating strength in the leadership of the empire. On the left is its weakness as it is made of clay, implying declining influence and the corruption of the church. The third passage in Canto XV which mentioned Beatrice could never be understood or explained by just relying on the texts of Inferno. The reader has to refer to Dante’s personal circumstance and other works in order to understand the significance of Beatrice. Beatrice was, in

Thursday, October 31, 2019

How has the debt problem in Europe evolved Using appropriate theories, Coursework

How has the debt problem in Europe evolved Using appropriate theories, assess how governments and institutions have responded t - Coursework Example He stated that â€Å"Europe faced a â€Å"moral crisis† as much as an economic crisis and hence â€Å"European leaders needed to make up their minds on the type of union they really wanted† (Beesley 2013). According to him, there was a need for â€Å"radical economics† and a â€Å"radical rethink† of how Eu leaders were handling the economic crisis† (Ibid). The debt problem was generated as a result of so many complicated factors from different sectors of Eurozone. The introduction of Euro or the formation of monetary union, without uniting the fiscal policies of the countries was one among them. European Union did not give proper attention to confirm whether the member states were obeying EU’s rules and regulations and during the crisis they also accepted the high budget deficits by many countries. The global recession of course has a role in the problem from the year 2008 to 2012. The debt crisis faltered the lending and economic growth bec ause of the bank’s liquidity problems (ACCA 2012). The loans made to both governments and private organizations had assumed certain levels of growth when these expectations failed problems arose regarding the repayment and servicing debts (Ibid). In general, problems from the banking sectors had caused remarkable effects on the whole European economy. The rating agencies utilized the crisis occasion in a way that led rise in bond yields and tensions in the bond market and also made the government to hesitate in raising money because of the distrust on creditors about the payment. European Politics had a sound influence on worsening the dept dilemma. Different political parties with different ideas and suggestions always created conflicts between the decision makers. Germany went ahead with their austerity-led strategy to deal with the crisis and also protected against the anti-austerity parties through their strikes. The responsible authorities or leaders could not take relev ant measures at the right time in order to tackle the problem, and it spread uncontrollably. The decisions made by them seemed to be unsuitable and non-practical. The European Union’s attempts to find proper solutions for the debt crisis resulted in increasing the minimum level of bank capitalization in order to make capable of handling future problems (ACCA 2012). Another step forwarded by the EU was the formation of European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to raise funds needed to provide loans to the European countries and later developed a mechanism in conjunction with both EFSF and Internal Monetary Fund for the same purpose (Ibid). As the banking section founded to be a key solution for debt crisis management, the European Central Bank decided to assure low interest rates to aid and boost economic growth and tried to solve problems regarding liquidity by bringing government and private debt securities to the open market. But ECB lacked other important options like f orming fiscal union or banking union. Internal Monetary Fund is also lending money in appropriate manner joining with EFSF and they are expected to do much more in upcoming years. Morris Goldstein, a former deputy director of research at the IMF said that â€Å"If the IMF wasn’t participating at all, the crisis would have been worse† (Eving 2013). While IMF had insisted that the aid recipients must cut government spending and raise taxes Ms. Lagarde

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Article Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Article Critique - Essay Example In the article, author mentions that the Taksim Park has seen many changes and social movements during different periods of the twentieth century. Once the area housed Armenian cemetery and St. Gregory church; however, the cemetery was demolished, and on its area, and surrounding properties now stands the Gezi Park, Istanbul Radio building and many luxurious hotels, including Hilton. According to the author Taksim , in its present form, designed by the urban planner Henri Post, presents a vibrant section of the city and symbolizes modern Istanbul. The author in her article states that the current Prime Minister wants to destroy the symbol of Istanbul, and build in its place a shopping mall in the fashion of 19th century artillery barracks of Ottoman Empire. People consider that in taking such a decision Prime Minister acted as an authoritarian ruler who wants to revive Muslim elite culture in a secular country. A peaceful sit-in protest against uprooting of trees from a park created turbulence in the political arena of a country spreading a wave of violent protests across the country; was the author able to describe the underpinning cause of this incident? From the title of the article, one would imply that the author is conveying a message that Taksim Park incident should be an example that, in the 21st century, a leader cannot use the state power to change country’s environment. In the modern century, people’s concerns over the balance of development and degradation of environment cannot be ignored any more. The author very precisely portrayed the sentiment of a large cross section of the Turkish society through the sentence â€Å"Erdogan's and other government officials' apparent contempt for and vilification of the protesters, and their seeming indifference to their concerns (Watenpaugh 1).† In the first paragraph, the author concludes that movement shows deep discontent of Turkish society against Erdogan’s authoritarian governme nt, but the author does not provide an analysis of this conclusion based on facts. Instead, the author provides links to different articles on the Internet, so the reader reads the articles to establish the validity of author’s conclusion. The author uses this method repetitively in all over the article. This is perhaps the weakest side of the article. However, the author successfully explains that re-creation of 19th century Ottoman military barracks, which once were destroyed, and naming a planned third bridge over Bosphorus after controversial 16th century Sultan Selim indeed portray the current government as neo-Ottoman Muslim elite. The article contains 10 paragraphs. In these paragraphs, the author failed to explain whether the article intends to present to the audience that the Taksim protest describes people’s concerns over urban development at the cost of environmental sacrifice, or it describes the protest against the authoritarian behavior of Erdogan’ s government. The motive in this case is the protest against the uprooting of trees, but the cause is political, rooted deep in the society. Though author implied it, but failed to explain it explicitly. Author’s commentary in the article, â€Å"through a series of highly contested lawsuits, the municipality managed to appropriate the cemetery from the Armenian

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs History Essay

The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs History Essay The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the principal agency through which the state conducts its relations with the outside world. In many countries, this important position is held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is considered as one of the most senior members of government, because to conduct the foreign policy of a state is, in effect, to have a determining voice in the development of the state. Diplomacy is the means by which the foreign policy of a state is delivered and for this reason the diplomat has to work hand in hand with the foreign minister towards the implementation of national policy. Alternatively, foreign policy is an ancillary to domestic policy and serves its need. The organisation of the diplomacy of a state is divided into two major parts. As a Government Department it operates through a Head Office in the capital city in charge of the basic responsibility of the conduct of foreign affairs. It is linked to a network of Missions in cities abroad and together, the Ministry and the Missions overseas are responsible for the promotion of the countrys interests abroad. Maltese diplomatic history began on the attainment of independence from the British on 21st September 1964. Prior to this date it cannot be said that Malta had a foreign policy of its own. As in almost all other areas of government, policies originated and were exercised by the colonial power and hence, the elected Maltese Government had absolutely no say, much less conceived or controlled the relations of the Island with other countries. However, this situation was not unknown to the Maltese people as such was the prevailing situation even between 1530 and 1798, since the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John considered Malta as its Principality after obtaining the islands as a fief from Emperor Charles V. The Order maintained a structure of Ambassadors who were resident in the capital cities of various European states including the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Kingdom of Bavaria, France, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Holy See whilst a number of European States also had their Ambassadors in Malta. These gentlemen, were in effect the equivalent of the modern Charges d Affaires and were generally called Ministers.  [1]  The administration of the Islands being completely in the hands of the Order, the Grandmaster of the day had the privilege of bestowing certain offices to the Maltese which were however rarely of an executive nature.  [2]   During the transition period between 1798 to 1800 from the departure of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St Johns from to the end of the French occupation and the arrival of the British in Malta, there was no significant change in the participation or control of the Maltese on Maltas internal or far less foreign policy. During the British rule that extended from 1802 to 1964, the Maltese Public Service was no more than vehicle(s) by which British policy in Malta could be successfully implemented  [3]  and there were only three fields in which the Maltese government could have relations with other foreign countries: immigration, financial aid and commerce and Maltese external relations were handled exclusively by the British Governor acting on the instructions of the Colonial Office in London. As a consequence there could not be any Maltese ambassadors or consuls accredited to foreign countries. However, even before internal self-government became effective, in 1929 the British Government had agreed to the establishment of a representative Maltese Office in Australia and later in London, under the direction of a Commissioner rather than High Commissioner, on the understanding that neither post would be considered a diplomatic office. The Maltese Civil Service had over the 160 years of British Colonial rule acquired experience on the administration of domestic affairs of the island namely finance, public works, health and education  [4]  . In the period between 1958 until 1964 the higher civil service prepared the economic and administrative foundations upon which Maltese sovereignty was based.  [5]  On the 21 September 1964, for the first time in their history, the Maltese people gained the possibility of formulating and conducting their own foreign policy. Thus Maltese diplomatic history started in 1964 when Malta, as a sovereign state, became a member of the United Nations. Chapter One The Nationalist Party strove to implement a foreign policy based on three pillars as outlined in their 1962 Electoral Program and namely Maltas place within the Western bloc with a particular emphasis on the Mediterranean and the Commonwealth, the offer of services to the causes of the United Nations and that opportunities offered by the Common Market would be exploited.  [6]   On 29th September, 1964 Malta applied for membership of the United Nations and by Resolution 196 (1964) become the 114th Member State in the United Nations on 1st December 1964  [7]  in the Western European and Others Group. The first statement of Malta to the General Assembly, made by Prime Minister Dr George Borg Olivier concentrated on presenting its (Maltas) role as a bridge between Africa and Europe and analysed the implications of this matter for Malta, establishing Maltas unique role in the Mediterranean  [8]  . In this regards, it can be stated that from this very first contribution, the Maltese Government took and continued to take an active role in the proceedings of the United Nations, both in the General Assembly  [9]  and especially so when elected to the Security Council in 1983 1984. Notwithstanding Maltas status as a micro-state, its perseverance in the international fora was not to be underestimated as can be seen by the number of stands taken at the United Nations  [10]  with regards to disarmament, aid towards developing countries and peaceful settlement of disputes. But perhaps the most important issue put forward by Malta was its proposal to the United Nations on 17th August 1967, concerning the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind to the international seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, which eventually resulted in the International Law of the Sea.  [11]   The main objectives of the Maltese government initially were security, economic independence and political stability. For this reason even before the achievement of Independence, the Maltese government felt the need to create a distinct unit that would be responsible solely for Maltas Commonwealth and other international relations. This was not an easy task due to no infrastructure and the lack of trained personnel within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  [12]  , more so in dealings in the diplomatic field. Bilateral relations were established immediately on Independence with Australia, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and various countries sought to have their embassies accredited on the Island. Between 1964 and 1971 Malta forged diplomatic relations with countries across the globe  [13]  and its foreign policy firmly embedded it in the western hemisphere as a matter of course  [14]  . Chapter Two In June 1963, the Maltese Government issued an internal call for applications for the recruitment from within the Civil Service, of Officers willing and competent to participate in the representation of Malta abroad.  [15]  The aim was to create a small, compact, highly efficient corps of diplomats who could represent and promote effectively Maltas political and commercial interests abroad. A total of eighty Officers whose grade varied from Under-Secretary to Executive Officer applied. Immediately on Independence, the Nationalist Administration took the first steps towards the creation of a Foreign Service and hence the establishment of a new Ministry falling under the responsibility of the Prime Minister  [16]  with responsibility for Commonwealth and Foreign Relations was created. Fredrick Amato Gauci, who was a graduate civil servant having previously served as Director of Emigration, Labour and Social Service and who had also been decorated for his service as Major in the RMA during World War II  [17]  . He was appointed Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs and entrusted with the task of putting into place the structure necessary for operations. In order to gain first-hand experience on the structure of a Foreign Ministry, Amato Gauci, was sent to London to study the operational system of the British Foreign Ministry. Mr Amato Gauci concentrated on building the structure of the new Ministry on two binaries and his top priority was the identification of the necessary human resources to put the newly created service in a position to implement the administrations policy. The organisation of the Head Office was divided into three sectors and consisted primarily of three distinct Divisions, namely the Political, Administration and Protocol and Missions abroad.  [18]  His second and equally important task was the identification of adequate premises located in a central and prestigious position which could accommodate visits by foreign dignitaries and also Maltese officers working in the Ministry. Adequate premises in a central position but in the proximity of the Office of the Prime Minister at Auberge d Aragon needed to be identified and the choice ultimately fell on St Georges Chancery, a prestigious location in Palace Square at the centre of Valletta. With much of the necessary groundwork accomplished, the formal establishment of the External Affairs Service of the Government of Malta was done through a call for applications for Envoy  [19]  . Amongst the qualities required were, experience in executive or administrative capacity in business or Government service, knowledge of languages and experience gained in travel and work abroad. The grade of Envoy was on the par of the Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs Secretary. A total of seventeen applications were received but the only candidate considered to possess all requisites was Mr Philip Pullicino MBE, who had made a successful career in the United Kingdom Overseas Civil Service. Ambassadors were appointed not merely for their political allegiance but in certain posts depending on their competence.  [20]   The call for the recruitment of the Officers in the Grades of Counsellor, First Secretary and Second Secretary was published in March 1965.  [21]  Individuals who satisfied any of the following basic requirements could answer the said call for applications: possession of a degree in law, science, arts, commerce, economics or accountancy; Officers of the executive or administrative grades with five years service; or Regular or ex-Regular officers of the Armed Forces of Malta. Age limits were set. All Candidates had to have attained their 26th birthday on application however candidates appointed to the grade of Counsellor could not be above fifty years of age, a First Secretary could not be above forty-five years of age whilst a Second Secretary could not be above thirty-five years of age. A fundamental requirement in the call for applications was that successful candidates would be required to sign an undertaking to serve abroad at any time and also that they would be required to undergo courses of training in Malta and abroad. A total of 53 applications were received however only 6 candidates were successful in the selection process with the appointment of two Counsellors, two appointments as First Secretary (the third candidate having declined the appointment) and no appointment as Second Secretary as the only successful candidate subsequently declined the offer of this post. The successful candidates were nominated to follow courses in diplomatic studies at prestigious educational institutions and specifically the Carnegie Endowment Institute in New York, Oxford University and the Universita degli Studi, Rome. Further training in the form of attachment to British Embassies was also envisaged.  [22]   When compared to Officers in the General Service, the grade of Counsellor was comparable to that of Assistant Secretary, ( £1,110-50-  £1,250)  [23]  , the grade of First Secretary to Administrative Officer ( £860-40- £1060) whilst a Second Secretary was comparable to a Higher Executive Officer ( £705-30- £810). The subsequent recruitment effected in 1966  [24]  was only for posts of First Secretary and Second Secretary and for the first time was open to female candidates, who would however receive three-fourths of salary rates in Malta  [25]  but would be entitled to receive the same allowances as their male counterparts whilst serving abroad. Applicants could not be over 50 years of age whilst the minimum age requirement was not amended and kept at 26 years, as in the first call of the previous year. The need to widen the areas of expertise of applicants was felt and applicants with executive, administrative or journalistic experience were also invited to apply. Whilst twenty seven applications were received, only one first Secretary and four Second Secretaries, including the first female diplomat in the Maltese External Service were appointed  [26]  . Further recruitment exercises which were carried out in 1967  [27]  and 1968  [28]  for both First Secretaries and Seco nd Secretaries resulted in the appointment of only six Second Secretaries from a total of eighteen applicants, whilst in 1968 when the call for applications was restricted only to the recruitment in the grade of Second Secretary, three Second Secretaries were appointed from a total of twelve applicants. While all these organisational activities were going on at home, adequate premises in the various capitals were being selected to house the Chanceries and official Residences. In most instances the properties were leased; however official premises were eventually purchased in New York and Washington in 1968  [29]  and Brussels and Libya in 1969.  [30]   With the Maltese Diplomatic Corps still in its infancy, the diplomats posted overseas faced difficulties in conditions of employment. These difficulties regarded post classification allowances, rent or adequate lodging for officers below the rank of Ambassador and especially the provision of medical treatment abroad for the individual officers and the members of their families accompanying them on their posting overseas. The Pay and Allowance Regulations  [31]  , which became effective 1st October 1966, and which were supplementary to Estacode  [32]  and the Administrative Instructions  [33]  formed the basis for the calculation of allowances which Officers in the External Service were entitled to during their posting overseas. Amongst the conditions stipulated one could find the rates of various allowance depending on the grade and country of posting of the Officer in respect of Expatriation, Wife and Child, Entertainment, Domestic Service, Medical Insurance and Rent. Ho wever Medical expenses proved to be a bone of contention for many officers when faced with exorbitant medical cost not covered by the Medical Insurance. This situation was solved when Mr Amato Gaucis successor, Mr Joseph Rossignaud obtained approval from the Ministry of Finance for reimbursement of ninety per cent of medical and dental costs incurred by officers serving overseas.  [34]   During the headship of Mr Amato Gauci, the Ministry, for the first time compiled the Administrative Instructions.  [35]  The Instructions constituted a compendium of operating instructions to be consulted by Diplomatic Staff on a range of subjects ranging from diplomatic practise, administrative and financial procedure. These Instructions are still available today and remain actual as regards the diplomatic and consular practice. Over the years, various attempts were made to update these Instructions so that they could effectively help diplomatic officers to respond to the ever-increasing exigencies of modern diplomatic and consular functions. The administrative and financial procedures employed at the Ministry continue to be those established by the Public Service Management Code and the Financial Regulations, in force throughout the whole public administration as updated from time to time. In a matter of a few years the Ministry of Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs had established its identity as a leader in the implementation of policy and on the change in administration in the 1970s, notwithstanding its relatively small staff complement, was an active actor in the Maltese political arena. Chapter Three The Labour Party (MLP) won the general elections in June 1971 and immediately strove to execute the far reaching changes which had been advocated on while in opposition. Dom Mintoff as Prime Minister, who like his predecessor assumed the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry, had a new, wider vision of Maltas place in the world.  [36]  The main aspects of the Labour Governments foreign policy, even in its second and third terms, were influenced by Maltas domestic policy whereby the islands strategic position were exploited into attracting investment and trade activity, securing financial aid  [37]  and creating economic activity. Furthermore, the creation of a Mediterranean awareness in the spirit of cooperation for peace and progress leading to the withdrawal of foreign fleets  [38]  from the Mediterranean and the vision of a neutral Malta  [39]  was advocated. A further move by the Labour administration to break with the past was the proclamation of the Republic of Malta on 13 December 1974.  [40]   In the United Nations, Malta started to disassociate itself from the Western European ad Other Group and sought closer links with the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement through membership in both groups. Mintoffs intransigency on the conviction for a demilitarized Mediterranean free from superpower influence  [41]  momentarily disrupted the 1975 Helsinki Conference on European Security and Cooperation. The Maltese Government had hoped to have four security guarantors, two from either bank of the Mediterranean, however the only Protocol for financial, economic and technical assistance was agreed to with Italy in 1980. This Protocol implicitly roped back Malta into the western hemisphere. Major changes were taking place in the Ministry, where a changing of the guard at the Headship had taken place with the appointment of Mr J. Rossignaud, a senior civil servant, to the post of Secretary. Due to the increase in personnel  [42]  , the need to identify appropriate premises became a priority. Palazzo Parisio which contains architectural style and rich features necessary to do credit to the Ministry of Foreign was chosen  [43]  and the move took place in October 1973. The Recruitment into the External Affairs Service was discontinued due to the lack of response  [44]  and in concurrence with the Governments policy to achieve greater flexibility in the Public Service by curtailing the variegation of grades. The Foreign Service Grades were subsequently absorbed into the General Service as of 1 February 1974.  [45]  Under this reorganisation, former Foreign Service officers were still liable to serve abroad according to the exigencies of the Service whilst General Service officers in the grades ranging from Clerk I to Head I, were required to undertake to serve the Ministry as and where required for a pre-determined period. As a consequence, a call for applications for Posting to Overseas Missions was issued on 17 August 1976, thereby completing the implementation of this re-organisation.  [46]  The recruitment of Diplomatic Officers at a later date supplemented the arrival of new blood in the Ministry. The prominence given to foreign policy-making by the Labour administration was further enhanced when, during the third legislation, the Prime Minister chose to appoint Dr Alex Sciberras Trigona as Foreign Minister.  [47]   The policies adopted between 1971 and 1987 were a radical recasting of the security cum economic arrangements that been moulded in Maltas colonial history.  [48]  Diplomacy, as a government activity then refers to not only a particular policy instrument but also the whole process of policymaking and implementation. Further Maltese representations were established in European capitals  [49]  in an effort to actuate the foreign policies of the day thereby obtaining valuable assistance for the actuation of domestic policies whilst also accentuating Maltas importance on the international scene. The extent of the islands diplomatic presence extended to the Gulf (Riyadh), Maghreb (Algiers), East Asia (Pyongyang), Middle East (Baghdad) and Eastern Europe (Moscow). During this same period, notwithstanding limited human and economic resources as recruitment into civil service had been temporarily interrupted, and also inadequate telecommunication infrastructure, the Foreign Ministry was instrumental in hosting a continuous stream of high-level foreign delegations with the conclusion of a substantial number of bilateral agreements resulting in beneficial assistance to Malta. No Secretary in place in 1987 Chapter Four The chief thrust of the foreign policy of the new Nationalist government on its return to power in May 1987 was a realignment with Europe  [50]  and the attainment of full membership of the then European Community.  [51]  The neutrality clause however, threatened to prove an obstacle in view of the Communitys objective of fuller integration even on a political level, as signalled in the Single European Act.  [52]  Nonetheless, when the Commission of the European Union issued its Opinion or Avis on Maltas application  [53]  and an Update Report in 1999  [54]  , it did suggest that a constitutional amendment might be necessary to clear the legal difficulties that neutrality might constitute, where Malta was to be admitted as a full member. The new administration also adopted a shift in voting patterns in the United Nations and detachment from NAM and the Group of 77. Dr Vincent (Censu) Tabone, assumed responsibility for the Foreign Ministry and endeavoured to undertake a complete re-organisation of the Ministry and its policies. The application for membership in the EU necessitated the establishment of the EU Directorate within the MFA  [55]  in 1990, which was entrusted with the task of reviewing the compatibility or otherwise of Maltese legislation with European law  [56]  and keeping government organisations informed of developments within the EU by offering advice and assistance. This necessitated the recruitment of professional officers (namely economists and lawyers) under the directorship of Dr Joe Borg.  [57]   Reform of the public service to transform the bureaucracy, improve governance and accountability was a priority for the Maltese Government and following the publication of the PSRC Report  [58]  , and specifically that Public Service responds efficiently to the changing needs for effective government  [59]   and the Operations Review of the structures and administrative facilities of government, major restructuring of the public service was initiated. The classification structure of the Public Service, which in 1990 had some 100 different salary scales, was replaced by a more simplified structure of just 20 scales and newly established professions and occupational groups gained status. A main objective of the Public Service Reform was the reorganisation of departments service-wide to avoid duplication of work and the Foreign Ministry, like all other governmental departments, underwent a major reform in its organisational set-up with the establishment of a Legal Affairs Sectio n, Protocol Section and the re-introduction of a Library  [60]  . The Passport Office which had since 1964 formed an integral part of the Foreign Ministry  [61]  was transferred to the MHASD in 1992. Further human resources were necessary in the light of the opening of strategically selected new missions in Beijing, Cairo, Tunis, Athens and Madrid.  [62]  But for foreign policy to be implemented efficiently and cost-effectively necessitated the re-establishing of an ad hoc diplomatic corps  [63]  , whereby the Ministry would have the service of a professional and specialised body of officials,  [64]  who will be required to fill all vacancies in overseas posts at the various grades from First Secretary to Ambassadorial level.  [65]  In 1992 approval was finally forthcoming from the PSC for recruitment of First Secretaries into the diplomatic service through public examination  

Friday, October 25, 2019

Singapore by author Mary Oliver :: essays research papers

Singapore by author Mary Oliver Let me begin this paper by introducing you to two people who live among many others in this world. One is an Electrical Engineer and the other is a labourer . According to the world , there is alot of difference in these both . A lot of things vary among them. One is highly educated and the other is not. One works in an Air conditioned office where as the other works in burning sun. The engineer earns in hundreds of thousands where as the labourer earns in hundreds. But there is one thing in common in both of them.There is one thing that is smiliar . Both are earning thir living. Both are working to live their life . No matter how much they earn, but they are doing it to go thorugh this world. Human Beings have been divided into different categories .There are certain kind of jobs to do in this world. Whatever the job we do, we have to do it sincerely and it is our responsbility to fulfill all the requirements our job requires from us.Once committed to our job, we have to be sincere, honest, devoted and responsible. This paper focuses mainly on the sincereity as well as the passion with which we do our job. Human body is a very sophisticated machine created by God himself. It can do all sorts of things but there are a few things at which the human body gets very perfect.And that perfectness comes from practice, devotion,love,sincerity and responsibility towards that particular thing. Let me associate the word "thing" in the previous sentence as working. Working for living. Reason I chose to write on this topic was that the Poem " Singapore" written by author Mary Oliver that I read in the book by John Schilb and John Clifford influenced me alot. The Poem narrates the life of a woman which works on an aeroplane and is cleaning teh restrooms which are very dirty. She visually and physically finds the job dirty. But while cleaning that restrooms she sees it in her own world.She finds her hands working in pleasure as she is wondering the scenes of rivers. She realises the truth o f life that she has to work to earn her living. I really admire the phrases author used to describe the feelings , emotions , visions and thoughts of that woman .

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Forbiden Lies

[pic] Roxie Releasing presents the 2008 US theatrical release of FORBIDDEN LIE$ A film by Anna Broinowski Con or Artist WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? The journalist? The Chicago mobster? The murdered friend? The FBI? The violent husband? The extorted granny? The spurned lover? The outraged publisher? The embittered fan? The detective? The Muslim activist? The estranged father? The psychiatrist? The media? Yourself? A REAL LIFE THRILLER ABOUT NORMA KHOURI, THE PEOPLE SHE’S CONNED, AND HOW NOONE’S SAFE IN THE AGE OF SPIN. ? WINNER Best non-fiction Screenplay? Writer’s Guild of America (East and West) 2008 WINNER 20,000 Euro ‘Cult’ Prize ? Rome Film Festival 2007 ? WINNER Golden Gate Awards Special Jury Prize ? 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival ? WINNER Golden Award – long form documentary? 2008 Al Jazeera International Documentary Festival ? WINNER Best Film Script? 2008 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards ? WINNER 2 Australian Film Institut e Awards ? Best Documentary Feature Film 2007 Best Editing in a documentary 2007 ? WINNER 2 Film Critics’ Awards ? Best Feature Documentary – Film Ciritcs Circle of Australia Best Feature Documentary – Australian Film Critics’ Association ? Top Ten Audience Favourite ?Hotdocs, Toronto Adelaide International Film festival Melbourne International Film Festival ? Official Selection ? Sheffield International Documentary Festival Vancouver International Film Festival Rio International Film Festival Rome International Film Festival MOMA documentary fortnight, New York (USA) 2008 True/False Film Festival (USA) 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival (USA) 2008 Al Jazeera Film Festival (Qatar) 2008 Full Frame Documentary Festival (USA) 2008 Honolulu International film festival (USA) 2008 Silverdocs International Documentary festival (USA) 2008 S H O R T S Y N O P S I SIn July 2004, Norma Khouri, best-selling author of ‘Forbidden Love’, was exp osed as a fake. She’d won fame and fortune as a Jordanian virgin on the run from Islamic extremists who’d put a Fatwah on her head for her campaign against honour killings. But she was really Norma Bagain, a Chicago real-estate agent and mother of two, on the run from the FBI for one million dollars of fraud. Spinning murder, politics, greed and literary scandal into a web that ensnares us all, FORBIDDEN LIE$ is a real-life thriller about a brilliant con/artist, the people she’s duped, and why, despite everything, we still want to believe her. R E V I E W S ((( â€Å"Wildly entertaining and utterly compelling, Forbidden Lie$ is the documentary version of an airport novel – one you can’t take your eyes off†¦Riveting† Colin Fraser, Filmink _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"As compelling as any thriller†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Michael Adams, Empire ____________________________________________________________ ___ (((( â€Å"This totally fascinating documentary†¦is made with considerable skill: it’s a tantalising real-life mystery. † David Stratton, At the Movies, ABC TV _______________________________________________________________ (((( Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies, ABC TV ______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"This superb documentary†¦ is the best Australian film of the year. † Adrian Martin, The Australian _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"This isn’t a dry documentary: rather it’s a chase movie†¦ † Rodney Chester, Courier Mail _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"This unconventional documentary will mess with your mind†¦ † â€Å"A staggering coup†¦ † â€Å"Quite unlike any documentary you have seen†¦ † Leigh Paatch, Herald Sun ___________________________________________________ ____________ (((( What a coup†¦Funny, entertaining and clever. A marvellously inventive documentary, it peels away layers of a fascinating saga one-by-one†¦With this debut feature, (Broinowski) establishes herself as a bold new voice in Australian filmmaking, unafraid to take risks and be flamboyant. † Sacha Molitorisz, Sydney Morning Herald _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"layered and visually inventive†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"riveting viewing† Rose Capp, Melbourne Times _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"Fascinating and surprisingly engaging. † Tim Hunter, SBS Radio ______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"addictive viewing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Andiee Paviou, Who Weekly _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"engrossing†¦this is a documentary that will keep you on the edge of your seat. † â€Å"Made with a considerable degree of astonishment, unexpected affection and a large dose of humour†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Tom Ryan, Sunday Age _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"gripping†¦as compelling as any dramatic feature you’re likely to see this year†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mark Naglazas, The West Australian _______________________________________________________________ 9/10 You’ll want it to be longer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Try to see it in a cinema as this is a group experience, where everyone gasps at the same moments. † Rob Lowing, Sun Herald _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"utterly fascinating†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"a very slick presentation, and the story it presents has enough twists and turns to keep an audience enthralled. † Tracey Prisk, Sunday Telegraph _______________________________________________________________ ((((( â€Å"documentary gold† â€Å"a brain-twisting, humor ous journey which will leave you wide-eyed with a mix of wonder, admiration and disgust. â€Å"Like a true-life Catch Me If You Can with chicks. † Annika Priest, Melbourne Leader _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"A fascinating, clever documentary. † Sunday Mail (Adelaide) _______________________________________________________________ (((( â€Å"mesmerizing†¦hooks the viewer in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"a gripping piece of on-the-fly filmmaking† Jeff Crawford, Messenger Newspapers (Adelaide) _______________________________________________________________ (((( SBS Movie Show _______________________________________________________________ â€Å"Fair minded and meticulously researched† Vicky Roach, Marie Claire ______________________________________________________________ â€Å"Forbidden Lie$ is a dazzling performance, both by Khouri and director Anna Broinowski†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Martyn Pedlar, Three Thousand __________ _____________________________________________________ â€Å"Shot and constructed like a courtroom drama†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Susan Skelly, The Bulletin _______________________________________________________________ â€Å"The real coup here is the unlimited access to Khouri herself, who jumps at the opportunity to tell her side of the story†¦this absorbing documentary is a thought-provoking conversation starter well worth catching. † Matt Riviera ______________________________________________________________ â€Å"A compelling yarn†¦Forbidden Lie$ looks likely to endure as its subject’s monument. † Jake Wilson, The Age Every great crime says something about the times we live in. Warren Beatty, THE HEIST [pic] S Y N O P S I S How often do you get inside the mind of a con woman – â€Å"one of the best ever†, according to the Chicago cop desperate to track her down? Norma Khouri is a thief, a saint, a seductress and a sociopath – depending on who’s talking. Men want to marry her, Islamic extremists want to kill her and the global publishing industry wishes she’d just disappear.Those she duped with her best-selling ‘true story’ about the honour killing of her best friend Dalia in Jordan, Forbidden Love, number 500,000 readers, publishers and journalists in 15 countries. But her victims don’t end there. When Norma’s book was exposed as a fake by Australian journalist Malcolm Knox in July 2004, the world learned that Norma was not, as she’d claimed on Western chatshows, a Jordanian Catholic virgin on-the-run from bloodthirsty Muslim patriarchs who’d placed a fatwah on her head for her outspoken campaign against honour crimes in the Middle East, but 34 year old Norma Bagain a. . a. Touliopoulos, a married Chicago real-estate agent and mother of two, under investigation since 1999 by the FBI for one million dollars’ of fraud. Knox’s scoop rocked the liter ary world and prompted the FBI to reopen their files on Norma. Norma took a lie detector test in self defence, sued Knox for defamation, dumped her kids with ex-heroin addict and ‘tart-with-a-heart of gold’ Rachel Richardson in Bribie Island Queensland, and fled to the U. S. A with $350,000 in advances still owing to her outraged Publishers. She’s been in hiding ever since. And now she wants to talk.Weaving between the literary salons of London, the mosque-lined vistas of Jordan, the beachside suburbs of Queensland and the seamy Chicago backstreets of Norma’s dubious past, FORBIDDEN LIE$ pits Norma’s tale against the stories of those she conned. There’s Mary Baravikas, who died in an underfunded Chicago hospital after Norma alledgedly cashed in her life savings and stole her house. There’s Rachel Richardson, $15,000 poorer thanks to Norma, who still swears her friend is a †sweet person who’d bake pies for everyone in the s treet – she’s just got dark secrets only she can answer†.And there’s Norma’s estranged husband with alledged ties to the Chicago mob, John Toliopoulos, whom Norma claims forced her to commit her crimes at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Forbidden Love has just been released in the Arab world as fiction, Middle Eastern women continue to be murdered by male relatives in ‘crimes of honour’ with apparent impunity, and Human Rights Groups have yet to receive a cent of the royalties Norma Khouri promised them.Jordanian honour crimes activist Rana Husseini, furious at the damage that Norma’s â€Å"fake book† has done to her cause, is demanding to know why the 73 factual errors in Forbidden Love slipped past publishing giants Simon & Schuster, Random House and Transworld just before the Iraq invasion, when racist potboilers about evil Muslim men with mysteriously veiled women on the covers were selling like hotcakes. So who was really cashin g in? Who is to blame?And does it matter that Norma lied? FORBIDDEN LIE$ lets you be the judge. As we follow Norma to Jordan to meet with people she says will â€Å"prove that Dalia existed, that she was murdered, and that the media has lied†, we also investigate Norma’s criminal past. Will the FBI arrest her? Is her passion to stop honour crimes genuine, or just a new con? Who do you believe, as you watch Norma’s web of stories spinning ever faster, ensnaring everyone, including the filmmaker?Is she a calculating sociopath, a damaged soul craving the limelight, a genuine martyr, or simply a monster of our age, who states that â€Å"if Bush and Blair can spin the truth about WMDs to justify bombing innocent people then why can’t I spin Dalia’s story to save women from being murdered on a daily basis? † In a spin-driven era, as the lines between truth and fiction grow increasingly blurred, FORBIDDEN LIE$ is a real-life thriller for our time. Weaving murder, deceit, greed, the East/West clash and an international literary scandal into a web that entangles us all, Norma Khouri’s real-life drama is even stranger than her fiction.We all love watching a successful con story – the more dangerous the better. But this time, it’s for real. [pic] Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t. MARK TWAIN P R O D U C T I O N N O T E S â€Å"The marriage between con-artist and filmmaker is a match made in heaven: both use a million tiny deceits to manipulate the way we think and feel; both are in the business of making illusions real. † ANNA BROINOWSKI When director Anna Broinowski read Malcolm Knox’s Sydney Morning Herald article exposing Norma Khouri as a hoax in July 2004, she knew she’d found the subject for her next documentary. I wanted to know what kind of woman could be so brilliant that while on the run from the FBI she could reinvent herself as a Jordanian virgin with a Fatwah on her head, write a best-seller, and convince the best publishing and media minds in the world that she was telling the truth. † Teaming up with producer Sally Regan in early 2005, Anna invited Norma (then lying low in Chicago) to fly to San Fransisco to attend the premiere of her last documentary, HELEN’S WAR (about anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott), at the Castro Theatre.Norma liked what she saw, and agreed to tell Anna her side of the story on the condition that Anna make a film putting Honour Crimes back in the spotlight. Anna, smitten by Norma, agreed: â€Å"on the first day of the shoot I was telling the crew to hide their credit cards, that Norma was a notorious con-woman; by the third day, Norma had convinced me that her book was not a hoax, that she was utterly genuine, and that everything the media had written about her criminal past in Chicago was a lie. She promised to take us back to Jordan to prove her friend really was murdered: how could I not believe her? Anna’s journey from Norma convert to con-victim is just one of several betrayals captured in the labyrinth of Truth and Spin that is FORBIDDEN LIE$. By the time Anna and DOP Kathryn Milliss got to Jordan with Norma (and her American ‘body guard’, Jeremey Lackowski), it was obvious that Norma was taking them for a ride. Key witnesses disappeared, locations evaporated, and the actual hair salon, in which Norma had promised to introduce Dalia’s friends to the camera, fell apart when Norma’s mysterious ‘cousin’ failed to arrive with the key. I realized I could no longer make a film vindicating Norma; that this had become a portrait of a con woman whether I liked it or not†, says Anna. Yet through it all, Anna and Norma have remained friends: â€Å"there is a sense with Norma that everything is a game for her, that she relishes the challenge of having to improvise when confronted, of having to convince you to believe her all over again. I can’t help admiring her audacity†. The film’s style was designed to directly reflect the mental sleights of hand Norma plays out on her victims. Armed with a 1. million dollar budget, the filmmakers worked hard with visual effects company Resin and DOPs Kathryn Milliss and Toby Oliver to create CGI and in-camera illusions; the expense of the round-the-world shoot was offset by filming several of the Jordanian scenes in Adelaide with the imaginative help of designer Robert Webb and his team. Above all, the filmmakers were keen to create a ‘real-life thriller’ rather than a conventional documentary: FORBIDDEN LIE$ owes more to the narrative structures of con movies like CATCH ME OF YOU CAN and HOUSE OF GAMES than it does to non-fiction genres. What excites me about FORBIDDEN LIE$ is that people walk out with more questions than answers. I don’t know if we got to the bottom of who Norma is, I don’t think e ven Norma knows who she is†, says Sally Regan. â€Å"There can be no absolute conclusion with someone like Norma†, agrees Anna. â€Å"Should we judge Norma, or the spin-driven climate that allowed her to thrive? If the audience walks out less inclined to trust what they are told, by anyone, especially the filmmaker, then that’s a good thing! †With a successful Australian release through Palace in 2007, 2 AFI wins, Top Ten audience votes at Hotdocs, Melbourne and Adelaide Film Festivals, international prizes including the San Francisco Golden Gate Special jury Prize and the Rome Film Fest ‘Cult’ Award, and distribution deals in the US, Japan and the Middle East, FORBIDDEN LIE$ is satisfying people’s desires to be entertainingly deceived. Even Norma, now selling car insurance and studying human rights law at night-school in Chicago, has seen the film and enjoyed it.Of course she had an outrageous new comeback to every allegation made agai nst her†¦ but all of that is revealed in the DVD, released by Madman in April 2008! [pic] The public will believe anything, so long as it is not based on the truth. Edith Sitwell T E A M ANNA BROINOWSKI (Director/Writer/Producer) is a NIDA acting graduate who has been making award winning films for international audiences for the past ten years. Her 2004 film Helen’s War – portrait of a dissident (CBC/ZDF/FFC/SBS) won an Australian Film Institute award for Best Director (Documentary) and Best Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards.It was nominated for a Canadian Gemini, an Independent Film Award and an Australian Film Critics Circle award. It sold to Sundance Channel, screened theatrically in Australia and the US and toured the UK as part of the 2005 British/Australian Film Festival. Two of Anna’s other documentaries, Hell Bento!! (SBS/AFC) and Sexing the Label (SBS/FFC), both had theatrical releases, screened at several international film fes tivals, sold widely overseas, and can still be found in the cult section of Australian video stores.Anna’s other films are Romancing the Chakra (ABC/FFC) and the shorts Tsunami (part of the Slamdance DVD 12 angry Women) and Burqa (part of the 2004 Oz feature Time to Go John. ) Anna’s past awards include Best Australian Documentary (Sydney Film Festival), 1 Bronze and 1 Silver Plaque (Columbus Film Festival), Best Documentary (Film West) and Best Documentary Director (Films des Femmes, France). SALLY REGAN (Producer) was awarded the Kenneth Myer Fellowship upon graduation from the Australian Film Television and Radio School and has produced film and television in Australia, Europe, Asia and America for the past 15 years.Her documentary, First Look, won the Fuji award, and her short film, Swerve, opened the Berlin Film Festival. In 1997 Sally won the AFC Distinctly Australian Script Editing award. From 1999 to 2003 Sally was Business Affairs Manager of Documentary Produc tion at Film Australia, Australia’s leading documentary agency. Since then, she has co-produced the international Russell Crowe-narrated series The Colour of War, and produced National Treasures, Korean Anzac, Peter Berner’s Loaded Brush and Road to Tokyo.Sally is currently developing a number of projects, including the feature film Axe Fall, a recent participant in the competitive NSWFTO Aurora script workshop (the development stomping ground of acclaimed Australian dramas SOMERSAULT and LITTLE FISH). We are never deceived: we deceive ourselves. GOETHE [pic] M A I N C A S T The ArtistNorma Khouri The PressMalcolm Knox Rana Husseini Caroline Overington Jon Yates The LawDet. Ed Torian, NYPD Frank Bochte FBI Dawn Lawkowski The FriendsRachel Richardson Kara Elliott Maree Elliott The ClanJohn ToliopoulosMajid Bagain Cousin Faris Asma Bagain The LiteratiPatrick Walsh Larry Finlay David Leser The ActivistsDr. Amal al Sabbagh Nadia Shamroukh The MuscleJeremy Lackowski John Ak dikman Anna Hermann The MedicsCharles v. Ford MD Dr. Mu’men Hadidi Dr. Hani Jahshan Dr. Nasri Khoury The ActorsDalia: Linda Mutawi Mohammed: Shahin Azimi Mahmood: Fariborz Zareei Michael: Farhad Noori Norma: Sara Azadegan M A I N C R E W Director/writerAnna Broinowski ProducersSally Regan and Anna Broinowski CinematographersKathryn Milliss and Toby Oliver ACSEditorsAlison Croft and Vanessa Milton Titles/CGIResin 35 mm Blow-up/additional CGITim Trumble Sound design and MixCraig Carter and Peter Smith Drama designerRobert Webb Covers composerMax Sharam Completed July 2007 Format 35 mm Sound6 track Dolby Duration 104 minutes FORBIDDEN LIE$ was produced by the Film Finance Corporation Australia, produced and developed in association with the New South Wales Film and Television Office, and produced in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, the Adelaide Film Festival and Palace Films.It was developed and produced with the financial assistance of  the Australian F ilm Commission and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and developed with the financial assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation. Distributed in Australia and NZ by Palace Films. International Sales by Jonathan Page of Becker International. [email  protected] com. au US Theatrical release through Roxie Releasing, contact Bill Banning at [email  protected] com or Rick Norris at [email  protected] com and phone (415) 431 3611 [pic] A half truth is a whole lie. YIDDISH PROVERB