Diversification of Agriculture Essay Example for Free

Diversification of Agriculture Essay Diversification in this case (agricultural diversification) involves the realocation of a, or some of a farms resources, to a new product or products. The prime resource of that time being sugar and the new products being the wide variety of crops that were produced and re-introduced by peasants. Peasants are a class of people of a lower status, who depends on agricultural labour for subsistence. The peasant life could be placed and termed in different categories. According to Mintz 1961, a peasant style of life was worked out by the people while they were still enslaved, these people were refered to as proto-peasants. he also makes mension of runaway pesantries or marrons, whome he described as, those who formed communities outside colonial authority, build on subsistance farming in mountainous or interior forest regions. This research will higlight how the peasants produced a wide variety of crops and the reintroduction of old ones. The purpose of this research is to show that the diversification of the caribbean economy was beecause of peasant initiative. had it not been for their efforts, the old sugar monopoly would have prevailed in the post emacipation period sustaining a system of bankruptcy and decay. Woodville K Marshall wrote, our pesantry starts in 1838 an comprises of ex-slaves who started small farms on the peripheries of plantation wherever they could find land on abandon plantations and in the mountainous unknowns of various teritories. the first aim of the ex-slaves was to move away from the forced and unpaid labour. Many others preffered to stay in their own homes amongs friends and relatives with expectations of earning enough cash to purchase certain commodoties that they were unable to gain as slaves. The feeling of complete freedom, of the plantation was only recodnise by free people if they could aquire there own lands. the simplest methods of getting propperty was to buy unoccupied land, either from land belonging to plantations which was not farmed by owner and crown lands. these crown lands was most popular in Trinidad, British Guyana and the interior of Jamaica. Land ownership also came about by squatting on unused land in the the remote interious of the large colonies. People who purchase property outright were more fortunate than squatters, they gainned written proof of ownership and the land they bought was already cleared and close to markets. however outright purchase was the exception, not the rule. The exslaves were aslo able to aquire land in other intances through missionary help. These include popular missionaries such as James Phillips and William Nibb. In 1835 Phillips, bought 10 hectares in the mountains behind Jamaica Spanishtown, subdivided the land into small lots for sale on easy term to his congregation. the new community named sligoville was the only settlement during apprenticeship. In july 1838 William Nibb shared the belief that planters would try to force extra work from their free labour by dramatically increasing rent on estate fig. 1 Newcastle, free village, in the Jamaica blue mountains. homes. William took up the mantel to help his congregation, he told them about a loan of ten thousand pounds that was granted to him by a friend from england. Knibb then said, that sum should be apropriated to the purchase of land on which you may live if your present employer force you to quit the properties on which you now live. Williams predictions came through, the planters acted as he had foreseen and by 1839 he was constructing several Free Villages for labourers who did not want to risk increases in rent on the plantations. The missionary society was quite abdoman in the development of the pesantry. Upon discusing the success of the pesantry one must give an account for the stages of development which includes the period of establishment (1839 1850-60). This was highlighted by the rapid land ownership, and the incresing number of peasants. observers of the caribbean stated, the great and universal object of the ex-slave was the aquisition of land, however limited in extent. Larger population, small size and a long established sugar industry left few oppertunities for land aqusition for peasants of island territories such as Barbados, St. Kitts and Antigua. Ex-slaves from these colonies had to think emigration. However, countries like Jamaica and the Windward Islands the sugar industry left underdeveloped montainous interiors . In Trinidad and Tobago and British Guyana a small population and young industry created many oppertunities for land aquisition. Efforts of the exslaves were so successful in the named countries that emmancipation officials were reporting an almost daily increases in number of free holders. Another stage of development is the period of consilidation in which the peasantry continues its growth in numbers and most important, a marked shift by the peasants to export crop production. For example in Jamaica (only teritory with complete figures for small holdings) the number of holding between 5 and 49 acres increased from 13 189 in 1880 to 24 226 in 1902 to 31 038 in 1930. However the most important phase of the development is what Eisner calls a new pesantry. Eisner national income estimate for Jamacia for 1850 and 1890 reveal a shift from maily provison production to mixed provisions that could be exported by peasants. a very good example of income was the value of the export crops (sugar, coffee, rum, pimento, ginger) in 1850 its estimated by Eisner at 1 089 300 pounds, of which small settlement contributed 133 500 pounds or just over 10%. The variety of products continued to grow, and shares rising until the third period (1900 and beyond). At this stage the pesantry did not expand and evidence shows that it might have been contracting. Table 2 below shows an example of evidence of a decrease in peasant holdings in Jamaica. Initially, before the growth of the peasantry, ex-slaves decided to set up themselves as peasants because although slavery had ended the principle of forced labour, had only changed to contolled labour upon those who remain on the plantations. Many who stayed in hopes of becoming wage owners, plans were shattered within a few years becasue of different reasons. Amongs these different reasons the system of tenancy which compelled the slaves to labour steadily and continuosly on the estates in return for secure residence in the house and ground which he had occupied as a slave, insecurely of tenure, as well as relatively low wages and increases in rent reinforced many ex-slaves determination to seek new and better oppertunities away from the estates accross the caribbean. a small population of the slaves were skilled which meant those who couldnt be masons, carpenters, barrel makers, wheel wrights and cart builders had to turn to the best known alternative, the soil. Only this time there hard labour would of been for their survival and not to fill their masters stock. The peasantry afforded them with the oppertunity to become wage earners. On the basis in which the pesantry was running, it was basically characterise, the pure plantation economy and society. Although the peasants were producing a great quantity and variety of subsistence food and livestock, they strove to expand their boundaries by introducing new crops and or re-introducing old ones. Bananas, coffee, citrus, coconuts, cocoa, spices (ginger and pimento), and log wood in Jamaica; Cocoa, arrowroot, spices, bananas and log wood in Windwards, were the most popular crops introduced and or re-introduced for exports. the Leewards grew arowroot as a staple export crop. It has been recorded that St. Vincent alone sold 613 380 kilograms. Small holders in Grenada exported coffee, cotton, cocoa, copra, honey and beeswax. In Trinidad squatters sold the timber they gainned from clearing crown lands for charcoal burning and export some for boat buiding and later exported coffee and cocoa. The guyanese was one of the few that was into the exportation of the rice crop. Most of the caribbean teritories were at some point in time producing certain crops for export and gathered profitable incomes. It is quit evident , that the pesantry has accumilated musch success. With the help of the missionaries and the income gainned, peasants were able to initiate the convension of plantation socities. they adapted to building local self-generating communities and used funds that they had alocated from exports along with babtist missionaries ( missionary help was popular mainly in Jamaica) who were quite abdoman in helping the peasants organise free villages and the construction of school such as Cadrinton primary school in barbados, which was run by missionaries and churches for learning and worship. They also clamoured for expansion of education facilities, communication and better maketing schemes and facilities. The peasants were able to start local co-operative movement (sou-sou, box hand and partner hand) which later develop banks some which may still be in exsistance today.

Major Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology Essay -- Psychology Paper

Major Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology INTRODUCTION In this assignment I will be describing the five major schools of psychological research. These are Behaviorism, Biological, Cognitive, Humanist and Psychoanalytical. I will then attempt to evaluate the pros, cons and practical applications of the Behaviorist and Psychodynamic approaches. BEHAVIORISM The earliest origins of behaviorism can be stemmed from the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704). He believed that the human being is born as a 'tabula rasa'. This effectively means a neonate is a blank slate with no prior knowledge or ideas. According to Locke it is experience through senses, which provides the mind. The modern founding father of behaviorism is John Watson (1878-1958). He believed that ÃŽÂ ¨ should be about the study of observable behavior and that behavior is molded by experience. Behaviorists believe that however complex a piece of behavior might be, it is possible to break it down and analyze it in basic STIMULUS-RESPONSE units. This theory also relates to Reductionism, where psychologists attempt to understand behavior by looking at the most basic parts. This S-R theory can be best demonstrated in the work of a Russian psychologist called Pavlov (1849-1936). His theory of Classical Conditioning centred on his study of dogs and his attempt to artificially condition a natural response. The sight/smell of food leading to salivation is an unconditioned S-R. He introduced a neutral stimulus when food was presented so the dogs associated the two. After this conditioning was complete the dog salivated when presented with the neutral stimu... ...ed from one subject. So if the basis for the research is in doubt the results must also be brought into question. In modern research a large sample is demanded to give room for error and individual differences. The main theme is that we are controlled by our past, this is true to an extent but it implies that we have no control over our lives. All our actions are pre-determined by past experiences. This has also brought reservations about the merit of Freud's theories. Flawed though it is, without it the world of psychology would be a different place. BIBLIOGRAPHY Printed publications: Perspectives in psychology Wadeley and Birch 1997 Macmillan Psychology in perspective Hayes 2002 Palgram Mind watching H and M Eysenck 1994 MMB Internet Sites: www.psychclassics.yorku.ca www.psychology.org

Cerebral Cortex and Phineas Gage

Cerebral Cortex and Phineas Gage Debbie Mintz PSY 360 July 25, 2011 Phineas Gage Paper Phineas Gage was a man who was a leader at his job and was a very likeable person. His family and friends agree that he would helpful to anyone, he was happy, and easy-going person. Then he received brain damage to his cerebral cortex, which is one’s cognitive functions are within their lobes located in the brain. Humans have four kinds of lobes located within the cerebral cortex that do different functions. Human Brain The human brain is covered with tissue known as the cerebral cortex, which large furrows (fissures) and small furrows (sulci), and there are ridges between the fissures and sulci known as gyri. Under the cerebral cortex tissue are four lobes, each lobe has a role in a humans cognitive functions. Phineas Gage was a man who received brain damage, and one will be able to see how it affected his cognitive functions. Four Lobes for Cognitive Functions Basically the cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes; because during development of our brain the pressure divides the area into four areas and the development of these lobes do different functions within our brain. The four lobes are known as frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and the occipital lobe (Pinel, 2009). One’s occipital lobe is what gives him or her visual input and helps guide their behavior, the occipital cortex with â€Å"large areas of an adjacent cortex perform this cognitive function† (Pinel, 2009, p. 69). In, the parietal lobe it has two large functional areas, the post central gyrus function, which it analyzes sensations one can feel from his or her body, such as touch. In the posterior section of the parietal lobes has the role of â€Å"perceiving the location of both objects and our own bodies and in directing our attention† (Pinel, 2009, p. 69). The cortex of one’s temporal lobes, which has three functional areas. For one’s language and hearing there is the superior temporal gyrus, the inferior temporal cortex identifies ones complex visual patterns, next is the medial ortian of the temporal cortex its cognitive function is for memory. The last of the four lobes is the frontal lobe, and it has two distinct functioning areas. The first area is the pre-central gyrus along with the adjacent frontal cortex have a motor function, and the â€Å"frontal cortex anterior to motor cortex performs complex cognitive functions† (Pinel, 2009, p. 69), such as assessin g the outcomes of possible patterns of behavior, preparation to reply with sequences, and assessing the signifince of the behavior of others (Pinel, 2009). Summary of what each lobe does †¢Occipital lobe for vision processing †¢Parietal lobe for movement, perception to stimuli, recognition, orientation. †¢Temporal lobe for perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, speech, and memory. †¢Frontal is for reasoning, parts of speech, movement, planning, problem-solving, and emotions (Brain Structures and their Functions, 2005) Phineas Gage (1823-1860) Phineas Gage is a good example to use when explaining what happens to a person who receives brain damage and how the damage can affect ones cognitive functions. At the age of 25 a young man’s life changed completely, Phineas Gage was a hard worker as well as the a supervisor for the crew he worked with, his or her job was to blast huge rocks to make the land ready for the railroad track in 1848. His job consist of using a tampering iron on the boulders that had gun power or dynamite in them to explode, accidents do happen, and Phineas Gage received a tampering iron exploded into his face. It was remarkable that he was alive as well as being able to walk three miles to find medical help. The doctor cleaned him up with amazement that he lived through this damage to his brain. From the doctors report the tampering iron made entry in the cranium and passed through the anterior left lobe, and made its exit in the medial line, along his sinus fracturing his frontal and parietal bones widely, substantial parts of the brain broken up and his left eye globe was protruding out the socket, within a half of a diameter (Mo, 2006). After this terrible accident according to (Mo, 2006), Phineas Gage retained full possession of his reason, but Gages wife, family, and friends began to see dramatic changes happening to him and his personality. Even the company he worked for tried to rehire him, but they could not because his behavior changed, he was mouthy, unpredictable, disrespectful, and grossest profanities. These was not Phineas Gage’s behavior before the tampering iron went through his brain and rearrange his cognitive function from his anterior left lobe (Mo, 2006). Which is located in the frontal lobe, and it is for reasoning, parts of speech, movement, planning, problem-solving, and emotions (Brain Structures and their Functions, 2005). This was not the Phenias Gage they knew; in fact anyone that knew Gage before states there is a drastic change to his mind. As a result of Phineas damage from his frontal cortex there was a complete loss of social inhibitions, and inappropriate behavior (Mo, 2006). To this day â€Å"the role of the frontal cortex is involved in personality changes and social cognition† (Mo, 2006, p. ) Phenias Gage lived a different life as a stable person, at a place where he was not known, presumably somewhere in Chile and live 13 more years. This shows that when one’s brain has damage that they can live through it, but as a different person. Ones cognitive functions can become altered by brain damage within their lobes in their brain. Phineas Gage he seemed to turn from a good natured person to a bad natured per son, does that mean a bad natured person can become altered to a good natured person?

The Great Surge By Economist Steve Radelet - 1424 Words

Victoria Case Paper # 4 The Great Surge In The Great Surge, economist Steve Radelet, provides examples of progress emerging nations measured in four scopes: poverty, revenue, health and education, and democracy. The Great Surge offers a pleasant contrast to the quick selling theme in many books and articles regarding a lack of advancement, insisting that standards of living globally have improved greatly since the 60s, and even faster since the 90s, after many factors that stunted progress were eliminated. Contrary to various economic books, his writing is less dry than most, with clear examples supported by convincing statistics that get to the point. A portion of this development happened before the 80s; however due to opposing factors such as tradition of colonialism and issues like hostile climates, scarce resources, and widespread sickness, many unindustrialized countries gave up the endeavor to escape the â€Å"the poverty trap†. Economic development involves change. Their success came after the fall of the berlin wall- sound familiar? Governments were more willing to improve social and economic structures to evolve, creating a more stable transition to a more prosperous economy, and nations began to focus the country’s education on technical skills such as math and science. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, as so collapsed the spread of communism to developing countries- there was less focus on a war between the U.S and more focus on globalization. Furthermore, as