Elena Ceausescu, Wife of Romanian Dictator

Elena Ceausescu, Wife of Romanian Dictator Known for: role of influence and power in her husbands dictatorship in Romania Occupation: politician, scientistDates: January 7, 1919 - December 25, 1989Also known as: Elena Petruscu; nickname Lenuta Elena Ceausescu Biography Elena Ceausescu came from a small village where her father was a farmer who also sold goods out of the home. Elena was failing in school and left after the fourth grade; according to some sources, she was expelled for cheating. She worked in a lab then in a textile factory. She became active in the Union Communist Youth and then in the Romanian Communist Party. Marriage Elena met Nicolai Ceausescu in 1939 and married him in 1946. He was a staff member with the army at the time. She worked as a secretary in a government office as her husband rose to power. Nicolai Ceausescu became first secretary of the party in March 1965 and president of the State Council (head of state) in 1967. Elena Ceausescu began to be held up as a model for women in Romania. She was officially given the title The Best Mother Romania Could Have.  From 1970 to 1989, her image was carefully created, and a cult of personality was encouraged around both Elena and Nicolai Ceausescu. Given Recognition Elena Ceausescu was given many honors for work in polymer chemistry, claiming education from the College of Industrial Chemistry and the Polytechnic Institute, Bucharest. She was made chairman of Romanias main chemistry research lab. Her name was put on academic papers actually written by Romanian scientists. She was chairman of the National Council of Science and Technology. In 1990, Elena Ceausescu was named deputy premier.  The power wielded by the Ceausescus led  the  University of Bucharest to grant her a Ph.D. in chemistry Elena Ceausescu's Policies Elena Ceausescu is usually assumed to be responsible for two policies which in the 1970s and 1980s, coupled with some of her husbands policies, were disastrous. Romania under the Ceausescu regime outlawed both abortion  and birth control, with Elena Ceausescus urging. Women under the age of 40 were required to have at least four children, later five Nikolai Ceausescus policies, including that of exporting much of the agricultural and industrial output of the country, caused extreme poverty and hardship for most citizens. Families could not support so many children. Women sought illegal abortions or gave children up to state-run orphanages. Eventually, parents were paid to give children to the orphanages; Nikolai Ceausescu planned to create a Romanian Workers Army from these orphans. However, the orphanages had few nurses and had food shortages, causing emotional and physical problems for the children. The Ceausescus endorsed a medical answer to the weakness of many children: blood transfusions. The poor conditions in orphanages meant that these transfusions were often done with shared needles, resulting, predictably and sadly, in AIDS being widespread among the orphans. Elena Ceausescu was head of the state health commission which concluded that AIDS could not exist in Romania. Collapse of the Regime Anti-government demonstrations in 1989 led to a sudden collapse of the Ceausescu regime, and Nikolai and Elena were tried on December 25 by a military tribunal and executed later that day by a firing squad.

HMS Warspite - Battleship of World Wars I II

HMS Warspite - Battleship of World Wars I II Launched in 1913, the battleship HMS Warspite saw extensive service during both world wars.  A Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, Warspite was completed in 1915 and fought at Jutland the following year. Retained after World War I, it moved between postings in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. After an extensive modernization in 1934, it fought in the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans during World War II and provided support during the Normandy landings. Construction Laid down on October 31, 1912, at the Devonport Royal Dockyard, HMS Warspite was one of five Queen Elizabeth-class battleships built by the Royal Navy. The brainchild of First Sea Lord Admiral Sir John Jackie Fisher and First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, the Queen Elizabeth-class became the first battleship class to be designed around the new 15-inch gun. In laying out the ship, designers elected to mount the guns in four twin turrets. This was a change from previous battleships which had featured five twin turrets. The reduction in number of guns was justified as the new 15-inch guns were substantially more powerful than their 13.5-inch predecessors. Also, the removal of the fifth turret reduced weight and allowed for a larger power plant which dramatically increased the ships speed. Capable of 24 knots, the Queen Elizabeths were the first fast battleships. Launched on November 26, 1913, Warspite, and its sisters, were among the most powerful battleships to see action during World War I. With the outbreak of the conflict in August 1914, workers raced to finish the ship and it was commissioned on March 8, 1915. HMS Warspite (03) Nation: Great BritainType: BattleshipShipyard: Devonport Royal DockyardLaid Down: October 31, 1912Launched: November 26, 1913Commissioned: March 8, 1915Fate: Scrapped in 1950Specifications (As Built)Displacement: 33,410 tonsLength: 639 ft., 5 in.Beam: 90 ft. 6 in.Draft: 30 ft. 6 in.Propulsion: 24 Ãâ€" boilers at 285 psi maximum pressure, 4 propellersSpeed: 24 knotsRange: 8,600 miles at 12.5 knotsComplement: 925-1,120 menGuns8 x Mk I 15-inch/42 guns (4 turrets with 2 guns each)12 x single Mk XII 6-inch guns2 x single 3-inch high-angle guns4 x single 3-pdr guns4 x 21-inch submerged torpedo tubesAircraft (After 1920)1 aircraft using 1 catapult World War I Joining the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, Warspite was initially assigned to the 2nd Battle Squadron with Captain Edward Montgomery Phillpotts in command. Later that year, the battleship was damaged after running aground in the Firth of Forth. After repairs, it was placed with the 5th Battle Squadron which consisted entirely of Queen Elizabeth-class battleships. On May 31-June 1, 1916, the 5th Battle Squadron saw action in the Battle of Jutland as part of Vice Admiral David Beattys Battlecruiser Fleet. In the fighting, Warspite was hit fifteen times by German heavy shells. HMS Warspite (left) and HMS Malaya (right) at the Battle of Jutland, 1916. Public Domain Badly damaged, the battleships steering jammed after it turned to avoid a collision with HMS Valiant. Steaming in circles, the crippled ship drew German fire away from the British cruisers in the area. After two complete circles, the Warspites steering was repaired, however, it found itself on course to intercept the German High Seas Fleet. With one turret still operational, Warspite opened fire before being ordered to drop out of line to make repairs. Following the battle, the commander of the 5th Battle Squadron, Rear Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas, directed Warspite to make for Rosyth for repairs. Interwar Years Returning to service, Warspite spent the remainder of the war at Scapa Flow along with the majority of the Grand Fleet. In November 1918, it steamed out to aid in guiding the German High Seas Fleet into internment. After the war, Warspite alternated postings with the Atlantic Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1934, it returned home for a large modernization project. Over the next three years, Warspites superstructure was greatly modified, aircraft facilities were built, and improvements were made to the ships propulsion and weapons systems. World War II Begins Rejoining the fleet in 1937, Warspite was sent to the Mediterranean as the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. The battleships departure was delayed for several months as the steering problem that had begun at Jutland continued to be an issue. When World War II began, Warspite was cruising the Mediterranean as the flagship of Vice Admiral Andrew Cunningham. Ordered to join the Home Fleet, Warspite took part in the British campaigns in Norway and provided support during the Second Battle of Narvik. Mediterranean Ordered back to the Mediterranean, Warspite saw action against the Italians during the Battles of Calabria (July 9, 1940) and Cape Matapan (March 27-29, 1941). Following these actions, Warspite was sent to the United States for repairs and re-gunning. Entering the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the battleship was still there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. HMS Warspite in the Mediterranean, 1941. Public Domain Departing later that month, Warspite joined the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. Flying the flag of Admiral Sir James Somerville, Warspite took part in the ineffective British efforts to block the Japanese Indian Ocean Raid. Returning to the Mediterranean in 1943, Warspite joined Force H and provided fire support for the Allied invasion of Sicily that June. Remaining in the area, it fulfilled a similar mission when Allied troops landed at Salerno, Italy in September. On September 16, shortly after covering the landings, Warspite was struck by three heavy German glide bombs. One of these tore through the ships funnel and blew a hole in the hull. Crippled, Warspite was towed to Malta for temporary repairs before moving on to Gibraltar and Rosyth. HMS Warspite in the Indian Ocean, 1942. Public Domain D-Day Working quickly, the shipyard completed the repairs in time for Warspite to join the Eastern Task Force off Normandy. On June 6, 1944, Warspite provided gunfire support for Allied troops landing on Gold Beach. Shortly thereafter, it returned to Rosyth to have its guns replaced. En route, Warspite incurred damage after setting off a magnetic mine. After receiving temporary repairs, Warspite took part in bombardment missions off Brest, Le Havre, and Walcheren. With the war moving inland, the Royal Navy placed the battle-worn ship in Category C Reserve on February 1, 1945. Warspite remained in this status for the remainder of the war. Fate After efforts to make Warspite a museum failed, it was sold for scrap in 1947. During the tow to the breakers, the battleship broke loose and ran aground in Prussia Cove, Cornwall. Though defiant until the end, Warspite was recovered and taken to St. Michaels Mount where it was dismantled.

Planning Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Planning Report - Essay Example This plan establishes strategies and policies which are aimed at achieving the county’s long term vision. Upon its approval, the General Plan will update the 2006 Vicinity and Bowie master plans policies and recommendations. The staff in the meeting wanted to brief the Council on the current re-planning efforts together with the scheduled proposed plan topics goals and the scheduled outreach strategy to the public (Levy, 2012). Elements of the report and those involved in the meeting The meeting took place in November1, 2012 and the main subject of the meeting was County General Plan Update Briefing. The meeting took place in the Council Hearing Room, County Administration Building, and Upper Marlboro in Maryland. The Prince Georgie’s County Planning Commissioners are the ones who participated in the meeting. Accord relative to the agenda Relative to the agenda, an accord was set forth. For example, all items which were listed under the Consent Agenda were distributed t o every member of the Planning Board for review. All items are also considered to be routines and will be acted upon by the Board by one motion. The main agenda for the meeting was to strategize on how the city can update or improve on the 2002 Prince George General Plan and this agenda was followed to the latter. ... This is because the meeting created a room for the participation of all members and also stimulated creativity among the members. This can be attributed to the central location of the meeting which did not make any member feel inconvenienced. The seats in the meeting room were arranged in circle in a way which all the members could see each other. This encourages participation in the meeting and makes every member to feel part of the meeting. The meeting was well coordinated with a leader and all members had their names written on their seats and this is to enhance participation and identification. Water provided to the members provides a nice touch to the meeting and the round table used in the meeting helps to prevent all barriers of communication. What was discussed in the meeting? All the strategies necessary for the improvement of the Prince George General Plan were discussed during the meeting in accordance to the agenda of the meeting (Beatley, 2005). A discussion of the count y wide planning including the James Rowley Training center in the United States Secret Service was discussed together with the Campus master plan update and the proposed development. Improvement of the Kreative Kids Child Care Center was also discussed in the same meeting. The proposed designation of the three Prince Georges County Historic Sites was also discussed in the report as part of its county wide planning division (Levy, 2012). The improvement on Beech Tree, South Village as part of the specific design plan of the meeting was also discussed during the meeting. A detailed site plan of all the projects proposed for improvements were also discussed. Generally, the meeting mainly discussed on all strategies which can help the county in the improvement of the 2002

Generic Strategies model in sucessful Management Essay

Generic Strategies model in sucessful Management - Essay Example For example, due to its information technology systems, the international logistics system always stays up-to-date as well as guides the entire procurement procedure from the brands as well as finding out information about the buying habits of its customers.Also, this helps the entire supply chain as well since the companies that supply Wal-Mart the merchandise always get the information at the right time due to the IT system of Wal-Mart. This translates into Wal-Mart acquiring the right products, at the right time which leads to it being able to offer the prices it does and thus, gets the powerful and attractive image it has acquired in the world. Sears, Roebuck and Co., popularly known as Sears, is an American chain of Department stores which offers a variety of items such as clothing, jewelry, home appliances, hardware, electronics etc. Today, the largest Sears Department Store is located at the Toronto Eaton Centre in Canada. Since its inception, the stores of Sears were known for carrying quality and reliable brands which attracted the consumer in the first place. Thus, Sears has been using this differentiation strategy, of stressing on quality products and carrying big names which has made the company popular and well recognized. The stores of Sears carry very popular names like Levi, Sony, Craftsman, Kenmore etc. which are big reliable names and thus the consumers can be sure they are getting their money’s worth since they are shopping at Sears. Sears ran into trouble w few years back when the company lost control and authority in the market due to losing sight of what made the company truly successful – t he power of the brands that it carried, and it started offering â€Å"everybody’s brands† or simply trying to phase out the fact that brands are important for consumers. This proved as a bad strategy for the firm since it was known for its reliability and its ability to

Tesco organization structure Essay Example for Free

Tesco organization structure Essay In 1961 Tesco Leicester entered the Guiness Book of Records as the largest store in Europe and in 1968 Tesco opened its first superstore in Crawley, West Sussex. Supermarkets revolutionised the way people shopped and by the 1970s Tesco was building a national store network to cover the whole of the UK, which it continues to expand to this day, while also diversifying into other products. In 1974 Tesco opened its first petrol stations, and would become the UKs largest independent petrol retailer. By 1979 total sales topped  £1bn, and by 1982 sales had doubled to more than  £2bn. In 1987 Tesco successfully completed a hostile takeover of supermarket rival Hillards for  £220m. The battle for top spot In the 1990s Tesco continued to tighten its grip on the UK with more store openings and an agressive marketing campaign in an attempt to overtake Sainsburys as the UKs leading grocer. In 1992, the company launched is slogan every little helps, followed by the Tesco Value range in 1993. This was followed by the launch of the Tesco Clubcard scheme in 1995, helping Tesco to overtake rival Sainsburys as the UKs largest food retailer. 1996 saw the retailer introduce its first 24-hour store while it also expanded overseas opening shops in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In 1997 Tesco appointed Sir Terry Leahy as chief executive. Tesco.com was launched in 2000 and the supermarket continued to expand its range of products, which now includes clothes, electricals and personal finance products. In 2004 Tesco entered the broadband market. Two years ago, in 2006, the retailer announced ambitious plans to open stores in the US under the name Fresh and Easy and funded by existing resources. Tesco now operates in 13 countries. Today it reported that group sales were  £51.8bn in the year to February 23 2008. Pre-tax profit rose to  £2.8bn. In 2008 the retail giant took its conquest of the UK one step further by buying up some rival Somerfield stores on remote islands in Scotland, giving Tesco a presence in every single postcode area in the country. As it stands there is only one postcode in the UK in Harrogate in North Yorkshire which does not have a Tesco. Every little hurts As the supermarket giant has grown, so too has the number of places in the UK dubbed Tesco town. In Inverness more than 50p in every pound spent on food  by the citys 66,000 residents is done so at a Tesco checkout and similar dominance in other towns has sparked controversy. Because of their size, supermarkets have been accused by some of abusing their position by forcing smaller local shops out of business. According to non-profit organisation Ethical Network, local communities could be losing inward investment of up to  £100bn every year because of supermarket centralisation. In 2001 a blackmailer failed in an attempt to extort  £5m from Tesco through a parcel bomb campaign and was jailed for 16 years. In 2008 Phillip McHugh, a former tax inspector, was jailed after threatening to bomb Tesco stores unless they gave him  £1m. Mr McHugh sent 76 letters to the company threatening to blow up shops and poison customers by contaminating food, promising that blood will flow unles s they gave into his demands.

Comparing Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and Michael Radfords F

Margaret Atwood’s depiction of the future in The Handmaid's Tale is extremely bleak and forlorn; this oppressive atmosphere has been created by the development of an independent nation - Gilead - inside the U.S, which is governed by a totalitarian fundamentalist Christian sect. This dystopian text is the brainchild of a series of experimental social ideas which have given birth to a science-fiction novel, which satirises mainly the folly of human characteristics rather than the misuse of technology. Another related text is 1984 the film which was directed by Michael Radford who also envisioned the future as being extremely dark and oppressive; as it depicted in his film adaptation of 1984 the novel, by George Orwell. Several language and film techniques were employed by Margaret Atwood and Radford, such as metaphorical imagery, satire and irony, so that it was possible for the audience to delve deep into the protagonist's mind and understand the world they live in from their perspective. The atmosphere of oppression in The Handmaid's Tale effectively shapes the society of Gilead, as Offred metaphorically describes the life of each individual as being similar to "a rat in a maze †¦ free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze", the maze representing the laws and boundaries of Gilead. Language is used to convey individual opinions and express emotions and feelings; because of this the government of Gilead have attempted to eradicate it, so no revolutionary literature may arouse the mind and create any doubt concerning the integrity of the Gilead and its laws. "Words like free" are "considered too dangerous" because these words encourage thoughts of freedom and individuality which are prohibited since Gilead reli... ...aphorically represent the hope of freedom. We are shown through the metaphorical imagery of the shattering of the pink coral, that this hope is impossible. Ultimately both â€Å"1984† and â€Å"The Handmaids Tale† fulfil the purpose of ominious prophetic texts that have portrayed a dystopian future, a future filled with oppression, corruption and misogyny in the case of The Handmaid's Tale. The governments of Gilead and Oceania have succeeded in brainwashing their citizens by isolating them and attempting to abolish language which would make it impossible for any outcry to be heard or even expressed. Both Atwood and Radford created these texts during times of peril, with the intention of having them serve as ominous reminders of what would become of society if any doctrine was to be enforced by a totalitarian body which withheld all authority without being challenged.

Exam Study Guide Essay

The beneficial consequences that may result from the legalization of euthanasia as proposed by brock are the following: a. serve as an insurance policy- it comforts patients by allowing them to know that it is there if they need it b. respect the self determination of individuals c. provide a relief from prolonged suffering d. make a dignified death possible 2. In his article on VA euthanasia, Brock examines two broad lines of arguments against euthanasia: a. deontological b. utilitarian 3. People are generally opposed to killing because they have learned or been taught to think about it in negative terms. Killing is usually reported in the context of murder, not in the context of humanitarian service. 4. Allowing someone to die involves withholding intervention, when no cure is possible or withdrawing intervention because it is no longer able to cure a dying patient. 5. To the idea that active voluntary euthanasia is incompatible with a physician’s moral and professional commitment is to care for patients and protect life, Brock replies: the commitment to self determination and well being ought to be at the center of medical practice, not just preserving life. 6. To the objection that allowing euthanasia would undermine general confidence in health-care services providing optimal care for dying patients, Brock replies: There is no reason to fear that euthanasia is going to erode patients trust if only voluntary euthanasia is allowed. 7. Among the ethical considerations relating to genetic testing are the following: a. do parents have the right to be informed of all the results of a genetic test? b. does a person have a right to have children who are likely to be impaired? c. should public funds be used to pay for genetic esting when people are unable to pay? 8. Therapeutic sterilization is the termination of the ability to produce offspring if the mother’s life or mental health is in danger. 9. In the context of euthanasia, the slippery slope argument is the idea that it will eventually lead to a diminishing of our respect of life. 10. Abuses of laws permitting active euthanasia can be prevented by doing the following: a. make sure tha t it is the patient voluntarily making the decision to have it. b. make sure that there is no chance of recovery for the patient. c. he patient must feel that they are not being a burden to their family because of their illness. 11. Among the benefits of genetic testing are the following: a. improves the lives of the parents and at times, the child b. provides assistance for parents who wish to make rational decisions regarding their family planning 12. Ethical considerations with surrogate motherhood include the following: a. is it right to ask a surrogate mother to give up all rights to a baby she carried for nine months? b. potential court battles over custody of a child conceived outside of marriage. c. uture emotional distress when the child learns that they were deliberately taken away from their natural mother. 13. Extraordinary care means when caring for a comatose patient, one should include: B. CPR, mechanical breathing 14. The set of conditions that must be present to determine if a patient is an irreversible coma is known as the Harvard Criteria. 15. The care given to terminally ill patients that consist of comfort measures and symptom control is referred to as palliative care. 16. The Baby M case is an example of: C. problems encountered as a result of the use of a surrogate 7. An infertile couple who does not wish to adopt has the option of surrogate motherhood. 18. While the goal of therapeutic genetic interventions is to restore the patient to the best state of health as possible, the goal of nontherapeutic or enhancement genetic engineering is to improve on an otherwise healthy body. 19. A viable infant is one who is able to survive after birth. 20. Provide examples of ordinary versus extraordinary means used in the treatment of terminally ill: ordinary includes- treatment that is morally required, such as giving fluids and providing comfort measures. xtraordinary includes- procedures and treatments that are morally expendable, example: providing chemotherapy to a patient who has end stage cancer 21. The Karen Ann Quinlan case involved: C. removal of a respirator from a comatose patient 22. A type of settlement that allows people with terminal illnesses, such as AIDS, to obtain money from their insurance policies by selling them is called a viatical settlement. 23. The Karen Ann Quinlan case is an example of: C. withdrawing treatment 24. What are some of the measures to assess quality of life? a. general health b. physical function c. social function d. pain e. mental health 25. What measures does palliative care include? a. comfort measures b. symptom control for pain, shortness of breath, support therapy, etc. c. relief of pain and suffering d. make the end-of-life period a meaningful experience for the patient 26. Why did the surgeons attempt to separate conjoined twins Laden and Laleh Bijani when the chances of survival were apparently very slim? ecause he was persuaded to proceed with the operation based on medical evidence and the strong desire of the twins to be separated; he wanted to make sure they had their best chance. 27. What are the Kubler-ross’s five stages of dying? 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance 28. People who are against euthanasia offer the following reasons: a. possibility of mistaken diagnosis b. doubt about how voluntary a patient’s choice is c. it dis torts the moral responsibility of doctors. The role of the doctor is to care for his patients, not to shorten their lives. 29. Genetic counseling involves investigation and counsel through interview and conferencing with prospective parents to determine: the risk of passing on a genetic disease to their offspring. 30. A surrogate mother is a woman who: a woman who is carrying the ovum of the wife or another woman who is unable to give birth, and the husband’s sperm to eventually birth a child- they are bound under contract to give up the child at birth to the couple they agreed to complete this with. Most are paid from $20-25,000 in medical expenses. 31. To the idea that active voluntary euthanasia is incompatible with the octor’s moral commitment to care for patients and protect life, Brock replies: the commitment to self determination and well being ought to be at the center of medical practice, not just preserving life. 32. For Rachels, the distinction between active and passive euthanasia often leads to decisions concerning life and death made on the conventional doctrine. 33. On the issue of euthanasia, Rachels argues that â€Å"letting die,† or â€Å"doing nothing,† is a form of passive euthanasia. 34. For James Rachels, the Standard View is wrong. If active euthanasia is sometimes permissible then passive euthanasia is also sometimes sometimes permissible.