A Short History of the Toothpick

A Short History of the Toothpick Thanks to the humble toothpick, taking care of your oral hygiene after meals has become somewhat of a ritual. With needle-like precision, it makes removing unseemly pieces of food debris, such as that stubborn sliver of shredded chicken, a thoroughly satisfying task. So who should we thank for it? DIY Origins   The toothpick is one of the few inventions being used today that predates the arrival of modern humans. Fossil evidence of ancient skulls, for instance, suggests that early Neanderthals used tools to pick their teeth. Scientists have also found tooth indentations indicative of teeth picking in human remains among Australian Aborigines, prehistoric Native Americans, and the earliest Egyptians.    The practice of teeth picking was not uncommon among early civilizations, too. Mesopotamians used instruments to keep dental crevices clear and artifacts such as toothpicks made out of silver, bronze and various other precious metals that date back to antiquity have also been unearthed. By the Medieval period, carrying a gold or silver toothpick in a fancy case became a way for privileged Europeans to distinguish themselves from commoners. The toothpick wasn’t always quite the lowly, mass-produced and disposable piece of wood that we’ve come to know today. Queen Elizabeth once received six gold toothpicks as a gift and would often showcase them. There’s even an anonymous portrait depicting her as an old woman wearing multiple chains around her neck, from which hung a gold toothpick or a case. Meanwhile, those who couldn’t afford such luxuries resorted to more creative ways of fashioning their own toothpicks. The Romans came up with a particularly clever method of pulling bird feathers, chopping off the quill and sharpening the tip. The technique was passed on to future generations in Europe and eventually carried over to the new world. Over in the Americas, native peoples carved toothpicks from deer bone. And just up north, Eskimos used walrus whiskers. Coincidentally, wood was generally considered unsuitable for the purpose of dislodging trapped food bits. Twigs from trees were inadequate because they tended to wear down when wet and had a propensity to splinter, which tended to be problematic. One exception is the mastic gum tree of southern Europe, with the Romans among the first to take advantage of the plant’s pleasant aroma and its teeth whitening properties. A Toothpick for the Masses With the ubiquity of tooth picking tools across the world, it was only a matter of time before an industry was built around them. As small businesses specializing in toothpick manufacturing began to pop up, demand for toothpicks also grew.  American entrepreneur named Charles Forster. The mass production of toothpicks can be traced to the Mondego River Valley in Portugal. It was there, in the small municipality of Coimbra, that the 16th century nuns of the Mos-teiro de Lorvo monastery began making toothpicks as a disposable utensil for picking up sticky confections that tended to leave residue on fingers and teeth. Locals eventually picked up the tradition, using only the finest orangewood and a jackknife to handcraft the toothpicks. The region would over time earn a reputation as the world capital of the toothpick industry where the finest toothpicks were made. Orders soon came in from all over Europe and shipment were sent out as far overseas as the Americas. The Portuguese were especially renowned for a special type of cocktail tooth called â€Å"palitos especiales† distinct for their carved involutes and curly shafts. In the U.S., some vendors seek to mimic the classy, festive aesthetic with toothpicks topped with colored cellophane. Toothpicks in America The American entrepreneur Charles Forster was particularly impressed by the high quality of the toothpicks in South America. While working in Brazil, he noticed that the locals often had impeccable teeth and credited it to the use of imported toothpicks from Portugal. Inspired by fellow American Benjamin Franklin Sturtevant’s shoe-making machine, Forster got to work on building something similar that would be capable of mass-producing millions of toothpicks a day. While he was ultimately able to come up with the goods, Americans simply weren’t interested. Part of the problem was that Americans were already accustomed to whittling their own toothpicks and doling out cash for something that can easily make themselves made little sense at the time. What was needed was a sea change in ingrained lifestyle habits and attitudes if there was any hope of generating demand. Forster just so happened to be crazy enough to take on such a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Some of the unusual marketing tactics he employed included hiring students to pose as store customers seeking toothpicks and instructing Harvard students to ask for them whenever they dined at restaurants. Soon enough, many local eateries would make sure toothpicks were available for patrons who somehow developed a habit of reaching for them as they’re about to leave. Though it was Forster who at the time nearly singlehandedly established a growing market for mass-produced wooden toothpicks, there were a few others jockeying to get into the game. In 1869, Alphons Krizek, of Philadelphia, received a patent for an â€Å"improvement in toothpicks,† which featured a hooked end with spoon-shaped mechanism designed to clean out hollow and sensitive teeth. Other attempted â€Å"improvements† include a case for a retractable toothpick and a scented coating meant to freshen one’s breath.  Ã‚   Towards the end of the 19th century, there were literally billions of toothpicks made each year. In 1887, the count got as high as five billion toothpicks, with Forster accounting for more than half of them. And by the end of the century, there was one factory in Maine that was already making that many.  Ã‚   Toothpicks Not Just for Picking Teeth With the commercialized ubiquity of disposable wooden toothpicks, the concept of the toothpick as status symbol, which stubbornly persisted well into 19th century, would slowly begin to fade. Silver and gold toothpicks, once immensely popular amongst society’s most well-heeled elites, were increasingly turned in as donations at fundraisers. But that doesn’t mean a toothpick’s usefulness was simply relegated to oral hygiene. Most people, for instance, are familiar with the use of toothpicks in social settings where eau doeuvres and other finger foods are served. Yet they’ve also proved capable of pinning down overstuffed deli sandwiches, cleaning dirt from underneath fingernails, and even picking locks. While the standard toothpick of today remains essentially unchanged from the ones Forster was cranking out over a century ago, entrepreneurs still seek to improve upon its very basic iteration. One early attempt by Forster and others to make them more appealing was the introduction of flavored toothpicks. Popular flavors included cinnamon, wintergreen, and sassafras. For a time, there were even liquor flavors, such as Scotch and Bourbon. Inventors have also tested other coatings such as imbuing sticks with zinc as a disinfectant. Another therapeutic approach involved combining a toothpick and a gum massager. Others have tried tinkering with the shape by making the center square as a way to prevent rolling when dropped while some newer ones claim to offer enhanced cleaning ability with the addition of brush-like bristles to the head. Though such efforts to build a better toothpick may arguably yield some advantages, theres something about the toothpick’s modest simplicity that makes it so users dont have much of a desire to deviate. A disposable, cheap object with a simple design that achieves its desired goal, you really couldn’t ask for more - as a consumer or as a manufacturer.

Barbauld

# 8217 ; s Prophecy And Blake # 8217 ; s Imagination Essay, Research Paper Barbauld # 8217 ; s Prophecy and Blake # 8217 ; s Imagination The Romantic Era was a clip of widespread cultural, societal, and political reform. Industrialization was taking the topographic point of the agricultural life style, which introduced jobs such as higher poorness, a larger segregation of category, and overworking of both grownups and kids. The wars in America and France paved the manner for political turbulence by presenting new ways of thought and groups who wanted alteration. With all of this convulsion and pandemonium many authors turned to escape, which involved both imaginativeness, and prognostication. Imagination and prognostication are simply two ways the authors of this clip thought, hence, being deemed the Romantic Era. Anna Laetitia Barbauld # 8217 ; s # 8220 ; Eighteen Hundred and Eleven # 8221 ; displayed a great trade of prognostication while William Blake # 8217 ; s usage of imaginativeness and opposing antonyms is clearly apparent in # 8220 ; The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. # 8221 ; The component of prognostication was common in the verse forms and prose of the Romantic period. Prophecy didn # 8217 ; t needfully intend that the events were really traveling to go on. When meeting the word # 8220 ; prophecy or prophetic # 8221 ; we tend to believe about those visionaries as Moses and Nostradamus, but their usage of prognostication was different. Writers such as Anna Barbauld wrote in conformity with what was traveling on at that clip ( American and Gallic Revolutions ) . It wasn # 8217 ; t as though she was stating that the death of Britain was traveling to go on, but that it could if things didn # 8217 ; t alteration. # 8220 ; ? The revelatory vision of England in decay? # 8221 ; ( Damrosch, 29 ) , that is how Barbauld # 8217 ; s # 8220 ; Eighteen Hundred and Eleven # 8221 ; is described. Although the bulk of this piece is synonymous with the above quotation mark, there are a few cases when Barbauld indicates that no affair what happens, England will bo om and will neer be left in the shadows. Thine are the Torahs environing the provinces revere, Thine the full crop of the mental twelvemonth, Thine the bright stars in Glory # 8217 ; s flip that radiance, And humanistic disciplines that make it life to populate are thine. If westbound streams the visible radiation that leaves thy shores, Still from thy lamp the cyclosis glow pours, Wide spreads thy race from Ganges to the pole, O # 8217 ; er half the Western universe thy speech patterns roll # 8230 ; Barbauld conveys that even though England is losing her appreciation on America, # 8220 ; ? If westbound streams the visible radiation that leaves thy shores? , # 8221 ; She will still predominate and stand strong, # 8220 ; ? Still from thy lamp the cyclosis glow pours. # 8221 ; Barbauld # 8217 ; s manner of composing seems to saccharify surface the message she is directing by her usage of rime and beat ; yet, it is apparent that this verse form is prophetic. Her prognostication, nevertheless, is filled with contradictions. # 8220 ; ? That clip may rupture the Garland from her brow/ And Europe sit in dust, as Asia now. # 8221 ; ( Barbauld, 38 ) insinuates that one twenty-four hours, America will thrive as England had, and that Europe will be left in the dark as Asia is. Ultimately I believe that the prognostication of Britain # 8217 ; s death is her purpose, as by the terminal of the verse form she writes, # 8220 ; But fairest flowers expand but to disintegrate? thy glorific ations pass off? # 8221 ; The imaginativeness was a utile and necessary tool for the authors and poets of the Romantic Era. There was frequently debate about utilizing 1s imaginativeness instead than confronting what was true and existent. Poets found imaginativeness peculiarly of import and instead than specifying what it was, their definitions would explicate what it wasn’t. â€Å" ? Thus, imaginativeness vs. world ; imaginativeness vs. ground ; vs. scientific discipline ; vs. the apprehension ; vs. mere ‘fancy’ ; even vs. spiritual truth.† ( Damrosch, 4 ) In other words, the imaginativeness had nil to make with the material universe. William Blake’s â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell† is a merchandise of the dark side of imaginativeness and faith. He taps into the dark side of his readers’ heads by stating the narrative of the autumn of adult male from the Devil’s position ( the evil side of the narrative ) . It’s far more exciting to read something that society may see to be morally â€Å"bad† than to read a narrative through the eyes of the good cat. Damrosch wrote, â€Å"Blake nowadayss Satans who are a batch more merriment than his angels.† We are so used to reading the Bible and related narratives from the position of God and Heaven that Blake’s position, while being loaded with sarcasm, still shocks us. He seems to be dallying with the heads of his readers by narrating it from a more negative point of position ; it’s about as if he knew that â€Å"The Marriage between Heaven and Hell† could be controversial. He besides uses the binary device, which is opposites working against each other, such as Love and Hate, Good and Evil, and Passive and Active. Ultimately they all tie in, love peers good and inactive piece hatred is tantamount to evil and active. The â€Å"Proverbs of Hell, † while obviously satirical, catches the reader’s oculus, and even though it is the â€Å"evil† point of position there are many Proverbss that are humourous. The Proverbs, entirely, must hold taken a great trade of imaginativeness to contrive. â€Å"The rat, the mouse, the fox, the rebate ; watch t he roots/ the king of beasts the tyger, the Equus caballus, the elephant, watch/ the fruits.† That is such an inane line, I truly have no thought what to believe of it, and I believe that might be his point. There are besides many Proverbss that are serious and â€Å"good.† â€Å"Improvent makes strait roads, but the crooked roads/ without Improvement. are roads of Genius.† This merely means that frequently times the consecutive and narrow isn’t ever the smartest way to take. It besides implies that the true mastermind may lie within the head of the individual who is bizarre, the non-conformist. Blake was a non-conformist in his authorship and today is a portion of the canon. He refers to his lighted verse forms as â€Å"The Bible of Hell.† In Plate 4 he claims that imaginativeness is the lone life. I think that is stated in the first reverse, # 8220 ; Man has no Body distinct from his Soul/ for that calld Body is a part of Soul discernd/ by the five Senses, the main recesss of Soul in this age. # 8221 ; ( Blake, 128 ) Of class, the full Plate exemplifies it better, but I understood it more when reading the first reverse. The Romantic Era produced a great many authors and poets. Escape was besides a merchandise, which included the usage of imaginativeness and prognostication. Through the convulsion of what was taking topographic point in world, the authors of this clip such as Blake and Barbauld, saw the importance in the strength of the head and subjective authorship. Blake # 8217 ; s usage of imaginativeness in # 8220 ; The Marriage of Heaven and Hell # 8221 ; was both of import and exciting. Barbauld # 8217 ; s prophetic # 8220 ; Eighteen Hundred and Eleven # 8221 ; was insightful and enabled us to see the pandemonium of that clip. Damrosch, David, erectile dysfunction. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. New York: Longman, 1999.

Sociological theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sociological theory - Essay Example His book - Suicide: In the preface of suicide Durkheim says,† There can be no sociology unless societies exist, and societies cannot exist if there are only individuals." In this quotation and throughout his book Durkheim insists that society constitute a reality in itself, and could never be reduced to individuals. The proper focus of sociology was not the individual, but social facts which for Durkheim deal with attributes of society, not of individuals. Durkheim argued that if acts like suicide were purely individual in nature, they would fluctuate wildly from year to year. Social facts in contrast would be far less likely to exhibit such wide fluctuations, because societies seldom change that rapidly. Durkheims famous study of suicide took suicide rates as a dependent variable. Durkheim argued that two central variables--social integration and normative regulation--were independent variables that explained variation in suicide rates. He said that individuality can prosper o nly in a free society that promotes voluntary bonds between its members. In ‘Le Suicide’ Durkheim argues that collective social forces hold the upper hand for suicide than extra social or individual causes. In this book Durkheim argues that suicide is something which primarily results from a lack of integration of the individual into society, and it provides an incredibly detailed and complex understanding of the impetus for suicide as well as on it psychological and physical impact not only on the victim but also on their family and society in general. Erving Goffman: June 11, 1922 – November 19, 1982), was a sociologist and writer. The 73rd president of American Sociological Association, Goffmans greatest contribution to social theory is his study of symbolic interaction in the form of dramaturgical perspective that began with his 1959 book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life and was developed throughout his life. Goffman became one of the most

Battling Obesity in Adults with health promotion programmes Essay

Battling Obesity in Adults with health promotion programmes - Essay Example The research paper â€Å"Battling Obesity in Adults with health promotion programmes† examines the unhealthy lifestyle habits and ways of preventing a serious contemporary public health issue, obesity. Obesity is becoming very common with the current lifestyles of people. Nowadays, life is made more convenient by technology and the accessibility of basic needs. For example, instead of walking to the store to buy things, one can just call for delivery. Instead of cooking food from scratch, one can just buy â€Å"fast food† or heat up instant meals in the microwave oven. These lifestyle habits are likely to cause weight gain in people especially if they do not engage in physical activities. If not controlled, it can even lead to obesity. It is posing a big health problem not only of the individual but for families and society in general. Overweight and obese individuals have an increased risk to illnesses and disease such as heart disease, stroke and other deadly diseases . Hence, a health awareness program for the prevention of obesity as well as some interventions to treat obesity should be put in place. It is part of the nurses’ duties to ensure the health and well-being of patients through preventative strategies such as health promotion. Since being overweight and obese is getting to be more common, nurses need to be educated on its risks, causes and prevention so they can explain it well to their patients, as well as practice healthy living themselves so as to keep physically fit. (Sellwood, 2013). With life/work getting more complicated and busy, people resort to fast food for convenience, but these are all filled with processed ingredients which are not healthy to consume (Tiggermann, 2004). Instead of such convenience food, nurses can advise their patients to eat freshly cooked food, fresh fruits and vegetables for better nutrition. Preparing food from scratch may take more time and effort, but nurses need to emphasize to their patien ts that these are better for them in the long run, as their health should be their priority. In order to be credible nurses, they need to model their conviction to be healthy. That is why they need to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to implement appropriate health promotion programmes (Hayden, 2008; Azjen, 1985; Ewles & Simnett, 2004). Obesity exists when there is an excess fat in the body which adversely affects the health and well-being of individuals. (Mascie-Taylor & Goto, 2007). The body fat is measured with the body mass index (BMI). Brewis (2010) shares that when the BMI level of an individual goes over 25 kg/m2 , then he or she may be classified as overweight. If the BMI level reaches 30 kg/m2 and over, then it is already classified as obesity. Currently a major health problem, obesity contributes to increased morbidity and mortality among adults. It makes them more vulnerable to cardiovascular illnesses. The significant increase in mortality of obese patients with cardiovascular disease is a cause for alarm (Parsons et al., 2005). Obesity has likewise been associated with other medical conditions resulting in human suffering and health care costs, becoming an increasing burden to those afflicted with it, their families, and the government (Finkelstein et al. 2003). It is considered the fifth major cause of death globally as more than 2.8 million deaths annually result from this disease (WHO, 2011). It has also been reported that more than 23% of ischaemic heart disease, 44% of diabetes and 7% to 41% of some cancer burdens are caused or aggravated by obesity (WHO, 2011). From the latest update of the World Health

The American Dream Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The American Dream - Research Paper Example dreamed of racial equality. Both men supported their arguments perfectly, hence making scholars to separately view the varying perception for the American dream. Attainment of this dream, however, is still in doubt (Stigliz n.pag.). Initially, American excellence was thought as possessing property and having enough money to be able to provide for their family basic needs. In fact, most citizens wanted to get wealthy and prominent as it is these days. Currently, the American dream has changed into insatiable materialism that has made most Americans think of how to be millionaires and own a yacht and perhaps a private jet. Few Americans are millionaires compared to the entire American population. However, most Americans still believe that this dream is achievable, and that they will join the millionaires club eventually. The belief by a good number of people that it is possible to move from rags to riches is unrealistic, because the modern day wealth is almost not viable to reach (â₠¬Å"Davos† n.pag.). The thought of the American Dream has had a very hopeful influence on the American people, as every person believes that at least one day they will earn enough money, having freedom and riding in high social circles. Just like some other Americans are positive about the achievement of the American excellence, so there is the belief by people from other countries. Most foreigners have travelled to America to get at least a fraction of opportunity in America. However, I believe that the American dream is just a deceptive hope that will never be attained. This article explains the difficulties of achieving the dream especially among the less privileged individuals who literally start from nothing. Even when you try to save money or work extra hard, achieving excellence in the American dream is absolutely impossible (Stiglitz n. pag.). Although Americans’ economy is growing and the wealth increases, many individuals think that it is easy to achieve excell ence by achieving it through hard work and diligence. It leaves many questions still about what the American dream is. Is it possible for a housekeeper and a waitress in a diner to succeed in achieving the so called American Dream? Even if someone has a bit of head to start some business, the beginning of the individual’s activity is very difficult to obtain the American Dream. Some people may work double shifts just to earn enough money, but still their needs are not fully satisfied. Generally, what is important is the chance and where someone starts from (â€Å"Wake Up America†). It is not justified to say that American excellence is still obtainable, yet some people rent hotels so that they can sleep and shower in them due to inability to afford homes. It is so obvious that this dream is not achievable unless I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt. In fact, hard work does not reward as it is initially thought, and, therefore, it is not the key in obtaining the Ameri can Dream. People wake up in the morning to work very hard, yet they are no better off than before, thus proving that no matter how hard an individual works the person cannot just succeed. It is clear that the American Dream is just an illusion that cannot be attained and, therefore, should not be in anyone’s future. People should not cling to the hope that will never come to pass because the track record shows that only

Demography Essay: Study of Human Population Dynamics

Demography Essay: Study of Human Population Dynamics Demography is the study of human population dynamics. Population is shaped by a number of factors including fertility, mortality, migration and urbanization. Significant demographic changes have been shown in many parts of the world. The world population growth has been decelerating since 1970s. Fertility rates in more developed countries (MDCs) have been showing a declining trend, whereas an increasing one in the less developed countries (LDCs). Mortality rates have gone down in both MDCs and LDCs due to medical advancement. Consequently, the population of the countries with low fertility rates aged more quickly, and the world population growth will be concentrated in those developing countries where fertility rates remain high. Uneven population growth among nations accelerated the migration of people across nation borders and the growth of cities. The changes of these interrelated factors with their causes and problems of each of the factors will be discussed, followed by some pos sible plans and opportunities that may benefit from these changes. 1 Fertility Fertility is the incidence of childbearing in a countrys population. Fertility rates have been falling in the MDCs. Findings from PRB (2009a) showed that the growth of future population would be almost entirely in the LDCs, with the most rapid growth in the poorest countries and regions where fertility rates still remain high. In the past 2 decades, countries with Total Fertility Rate (TFR) lower than the replacement rate of 2.1 were all MDCs including Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong etc. (see table 1.1). HK has been experiencing a decreasing fertility rate since 1970s and it reached the historical low of 0.9 in 2003. CSD (2010) projected that TFR of HK continue to decline over the next 30 years. Japan and HK have the lowest projected TFR in 2039 which is 1.25 and 0.94 respectively (see table 1.2). The declining fertility trend can be attributed to a number of factors. Women nowadays have more educational and career opportunities as a result of socio-economic development in many countries, which encourages them to grab these opportunities before they start a family. Marriage postponement in HK is revealed by the increasing median age at first marriage for women, which rose from 26.1 in 1989 to 28.5 in 2009 (CSD 2010). Late marriage for women shortens their childbearing exposure period. Also, women have more access to reliable family planning methods. Worldwide, the use of contraception rose from less than 10% for married women of childbearing age in the 1960s to 62% in 2009 (PRB 2009b). Low fertility rate has led to the decline of young population, and hence, a slow growth of the working population would slow down the economic growth. CSD (2010) projected that the proportion of the HK population aged 65 and over would rise markedly from 13% in 2009 to 28% in 2039. The median age would also increase from 40.7 in 2009 to 47.6 in 2039. An ageing population will put a huge pressure on public finances. Tax base will become narrower because of the shrinking working population. On the other hand, expenditures related to the elderly such as medical and social security payments will increase substantially. The government could stimulate fertility by subsidizing childbirth costs. For example, the Japanese government introduced a new plan in Apr 2009, to pay for all childbirth costs with the public funds (Shimbun 2008). Moreover, regulations and laws should protect and be more favorable to the pregnant women. For example, to extend the maternity leave period. Increasing number of working parents has created a great need for quality childcare. That need is creating a great entrepreneurial opportunity for people who love children and want to start a business in childcare. Childcare services range from small home-based operations to large commercial centers. 2 Mortality Mortality refers to the incidence of death in a countrys population. The phenomenal increase in world population in the 20th century was a consequence of the worldwide trend towards increasing life expectancy and declining mortality, as a result of health and medical advancements. However, the levels in mortality vary from country to country. Although deaths of children in poorer countries like those in the sub-Saharan Africa make up a large fraction of all deaths, the decreasing mortality rate has declined enough to fuel rapid population growth. Nearly 11 million children died under the age of five in 2003 (UNDESA 2005). 98% of these children lived in developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa got the highest regional average of under-five mortality in 2003 (see table 2.1), and it also experienced the least reductions over the 1990s. The lack of progress in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to the increase in child deaths from AIDS in some countries. For most countries, efforts to reduce malnutrition and provide appropriate interventions to address diseases like pneumonia, vaccine-preventable diseases and malaria were inadequate. Poor health systems and socio-economic stagnation due to instability have been the obstacles to the progress in the region (UNDESA 2005). Over 2,000 children die from malaria each day in sub-Saharan Africa. Episodes of fever and anaemia damage the mental and physical development of those children who survive. As the children is the source of the future workforce, it is important to keep them grow up healthily. If situation never improves, the society will never increase its competitiveness. The 4th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) called for reducing child mortality. Its target is to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015. There is a great need of nutritious food and medical and vaccine treatment for children in countries where child mortality rate remain high. In fact most of the diseases could be avoided if the children are provided with nutritious food and proper vaccination which are not high at cost. Food manufacturers and pharmaceutical company could find the markets there. 3 Migration Migration refers to the movement of people into and out of a particular territory. The annual number of legal immigrants has been increasing since the 1950s, and the regions sending migrants have shifted from Europe to Latin America and Asia (see figure 3.1). In 2005, the U.S. was home to more foreign-born residents than any other country, accounting 38 million of people. Russia was the second, which accounted for 12 million immigrants, and Germany was the third with 10 million. Globalization, economic differences across nations, and uneven population growth and have increased the flow of people across national borders. In 2005, 62 millions of immigrants from moved from LDCs to MDCs, while 61 million moved from one LDC to another for work opportunities. Others have moved to escape from economic problems, civil unrest or natural disasters. (PRB 2009b) The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) impugned in large-scale immigration leading to excessive population growth and environmental degradation, displacing low-skilled American workers and depressing their wages, and threatening the cultural bonds that hold Americans together (Martin Midgley 2006). Martin Midgley (2006) has also discussed some recommendation suggested by the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform (CIR). In 1997 CIR recommended that the federal government do more to Americanize immigrants. They advocated that Americanization, accommodating and integrating immigrants, is a two-way street. The CIR also recommended federal grants to communities with large numbers of immigrants to create resource centers that promote immigrant-native interactions. It also urged U.S. businesses to do more to help integrate immigrants they hire. Self-employment is often used as a proxy measure for entrepreneurship. Self-employment rates were especially high among some groups: 28% of those born in Korea, as were 20% or more of those born in Russia and Iran. Self-employment normally declines with economic development, as farmers leave the land for urban jobs in factories and offices. However, in the new service economy, it has become easier to be self-employed, and immigrants may be in a unique position to spot opportunities (Martin Midgley 2006). 4 Ageing Population World population ageing is unprecedented and enduring. By 2050, the number of older persons in the world would exceed the number of young for the first time in history (UNDESA 2009). There would be more young people in LDCs than in MDCs (see figure 4.1). About one-forth of the population in Japan, Italy and Germany aged over 60 in 2002 and the percentage was expected to exceed 30% by 2025 (see figure 4.2). The proportion of the HK population aged 65 and over was projected to rise markedly from 13% in 2009 to 28% in 2039 (CSD 2010). The median age of the above mentioned countries/region are well above 40 in 2010 according to CIA (see table 4.3). Ageing population is a consequence of declining fertility and increased life expectancy resulting from declining mortality as mentioned in the previous sections. The problem concentrates in the Northern Hemisphere where fertility rate and mortality rate are low. Problems associated with ageing population are closely related to those associated with declining fertility as discussed in previous section. Japan expected its workforce to shrink by 16% (about 10 million people) from 2006 to 2031 (The Economist 2006a). Corporations could consider keeping and hiring old employees. The following are examples discussed on The Economist (2006b): Toyota has adopted its workstations to older workers, and IBM used its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. The HK government have attracted 200,000 talented people from Mainland China and overseas to HK since 1997, aiming to improve the population structure (The 2008-09 Budget 2008). The market will consist of growing number of elderly customers in the next few decades. A great market lies in the increasing the awareness of financial planning, health and fitness. Banks nowadays could spend more effort in their financial planning programs. As good health should be developed from young, fitness centres, health food manufacturers could grab this opportunity to sell this concept to their potential customers. 5 Urbanization, the Growth of Cities Urbanization is defined as the concentration of humanity into cities. Cities have existed for thousands of years but grew faster after the industrial revolution. Since the 1950s, rapid urban growth has become a global phenomenon. The world population was expected to increase from 6.7 billion in 2007 to 9.2 billion in 2050 (UNDESA 2008). Population living in urban areas was projected to gain from 3.3 billion in 2007 to 6.4 billion in 2050 (see figure 5.1), and most of the urban population growth would be concentrated in the cities of the less developed regions (see table 5.2). Asia, in particular, was projected to increase by 1.8 billion, and Africa by 0.9 billion (see table 5.3). Population growth is therefore becoming largely an urban phenomenon concentrated in the developing world. Population growth has been the main factor in the growth of cities in LDCs, whereas rural-urban migration has been the main reason for cities growth in industrialized countries. Furthermore, global economic growth, urban-urban migration and international migration have also affected urban growth (UN 2010). Problem of urbanization is manifestation of lopsided urbanization, poor urban planning, poor economic base and without having functional categories. India for example, urbanization was followed by some basic problems in housing, slums, transport water supply and sanitation, water pollution and air pollution, inadequate provision for social infrastructure and poverty (Datta 2006). Redirection of migration flows is required to relieve the problem of overcrowding and unemployment in cities. A strong economic sector in the urban economy is needed (Kundu and Basu 1998), more efforts and investments should be allocated to small cities which have been neglected. Policies should relate to proper urban planning emphasizing improvement of urban infrastructure and restoring original status of old building monuments which have historic value (Datta, 2006). Urbanization critically depends on the necessary infrastructure otherwise it could turn out to be a curse. Investments are required in urban infrastructure, urban transport and urban renewal. Sectors which can find the most opportunities include construction, materials (e.g. steel, copper, aluminums, cement), capital goods, and transportation. Conclusion Are the above mentioned interrelated demographic changes an opportunity or a threat? There is a great potential of economic growth in the LDCs with an increasing population growth, but only if the governments could create a better functioning market, and set appropriate policies to cope with the problems brought by rapid population growth. Ageing population is a common problem among the MDCs. Governments should invest more in education for the society, so as to develop a knowledge-based economy, and enhance the skills and competitiveness of people of all ages in order to cope with the shrinking workforce.

Birth and Beyond :: essays research papers

Birth & Beyond of Sacramento, is a non-profit health care agency whose main focus is to provide family support services in a form of family resource centers and home visitations where a personal home visitor is recruited from the same neighborhood they serve to provide the caregiver the help he/she needs on how to give a better care for the child. Their mission is to support the caregiver in all areas such as job referral and training, how best to communicate with other parents in the neighborhood, the best way to overcome obstacles that the family might be facing, and how to better use the community resources such as transit system or comprehensive health care services. All these services are provided until the age of five of the youngest child in the family. The family resource centers offers support in budgeting, parenting groups, health, immunization, overall child development, class sessions for anybody who would like to learn Spanish, English, Hmong, or Russian, and Play and G row groups which are parent/child bonding classes through arts and crafts and kid connection. In addition to the family resource centers and the home visitations, families also have the support of the team of consultants and specialists such as Nurses and Family health counselors, joined together to coordinate a full range of services for the families. (www.birth-beyond.com/Content/Learn-Participate/Learn_More.htm). The geographical area served by Birth & Beyond is the Sacramento County which houses nine different Family Resource Centers. Each resource center is responsible for certain zip codes areas of the Sacramento County. Many serve up-to five different zip code areas, however Meadowview Family Resource Center only serves the zip codes 95822, 95831, and 95832. (www.birth-beyond.com/Content/Locations/FRC_map.htm). According to Heather Blanchard, Meadowview Family Resource Center serves one hundred and thirty families, in which fifteen are Spanish speaking families and five are English speakers. Home visitation services are provided to ten families. This center has the capacity to serve two hundred families. Birth & Beyond is open to anyone who would like to improve the care of their children. However, since Meadowview Family Resource Center is located on Florin Road, the population that frequents this facility the most is Spanish speakers. The youngest client at this facility as of now is a fifteen year old female who started attending at this facility at the age of thirteen and the oldest person is forty-one. This facility is visited by 99% females and .