Agriculture in Brazil Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis Free Essays

This paper inspected the recorded and political principle of agrarian strategy definition in Brazil from 1964 to 1992. The article likewise fixated on how exchange, credit, and backing value strategy advanced in light of financial emergency and democratization during the 1980s. The monetary emergency made the agrarian approach of Brazil be upgraded with the change in political system and with the foundations of intrigue bunch portrayal that fundamentally affected the course of strategy change projects and appraisals. We will compose a custom paper test on Agribusiness in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now The arrival to a law based system of this country allowed the neighborhood lawmaking bodies and the legal executive to partake in progressively noteworthy farming arrangement rules. All the while, the republic prompted the scrutinizing of different establishments and there was a development of progressively participatory associations in the horticultural division. These progressions have caused strategy making to turn out to be progressively dependent upon express principles, which should prompt increasingly unsurprising strategies and a drawn out decrease in victimization Brazilian horticulture (Helfand 1999). Brazil advanced farming and incredibly accomplished a quick development in this segment, however its record on neediness was disillusioning (Helfand 2001). One explanation was that predispositions inside the horticultural part, strikingly in tax collection and financed credit, favor huge ranchers and work to the drawback of work. These inclinations interface with the exceptionally unjust beginning area dispersion to diminish the increases to the poor from development. Brazil strikingly shows that advancing horticulture isn't sufficient. Approaches inside the part additionally matter. Brazil’s personal duty enormously favors horticulture comparable to different areas, yet just the rich can receive the rewards. Through extraordinary arrangements in the personal expense code, enterprises can bar up to 80 percent of horticultural benefits from their available salary, and people can incorporate 90 percent. Fixed ventures can be completely deteriorated in the primary year and can even be devalued two to multiple times over. This, along with high expansion, energizes partnerships and the rich to over put resources into land. The outcome has been the aggregation of huge Agribusiness in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis Page 2 landholdings and increments in land costs that surpass development in land efficiency. The poor don't profit by the tax cuts, since they make good on no personal duty, and they can't bear to purchase land. Many move to wilderness regions looking for unclaimed land. A dynamic land duty could counterbalance the predisposition in the annual expense. Brazil attempted this yet fizzled due to across the board avoidance and numerous special cases. One such special case, expected to empower land use, decreases the assessment by up to 90 percent if proprietors utilize the land to munch cows. This advances the change of forestland to uneconomic domesticated animals farming, lessens the interest for work, and has unsafe condition results (Grahan 1987). Farming credit has been extraordinarily twisted in Brazil. As of not long ago, genuine financing costs on legitimate credit were negative, and genuine financing costs on advances for farming were lower than in the nonagricultural division (Grahan 1987). The distinction in credit terms between parts has been promoted in the cost of land. In spite of the fact that endowments raise benefits in agribusiness, they have essentially profited huge ranchers and have energized over the top automation, again decreasing the interest for incompetent work. Destitute individuals who need land titles have not profited by credit appropriations. Rural arrangements in Brazil have diminished work request and have made it practically unthinkable for a destitute individual to purchase land and become a rancher. Open doors for untalented specialists to get aptitudes by turning out to be long haul laborers have been significantly diminished by financed motorization (Helfand 1999). The years from 1947 to 1963 were for the most part called the import replacement period. The essential rural objective in the main time frame was to deliver a sufficient flexibly of sensibly evaluated nourishment for urban workers. An auxiliary objective was to produce remote trade to fund the importation of modern crude materials and capital products. Agribusiness was not viewed as an indispensable development area, yet rather a repository for surplus work not consumed by fast Horticulture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis Page 3 industrialization. From 1961 to 1963, food deficiencies, high food costs, and close hyper-swelling constrained the legislature to concentrate on the horticultural part. The failure to adapt to these issues and worry over radical legislative issues brought about the military-drove transformation of 1964. The subsequent period (1964 to introduce) is a period of monetary development portrayed by send out extension and expansion. The military governments after 164 upheld a totally unique job for the farming segment. The overall backwardness of the part was recognized, yet the causes and fixes were seen in an unexpected way. Ranchers were accepted to be receptive to costs and the bends and disincentives made in the previous period were continuously expelled. New government speculations and motivations underlined modernization of farming (Truran 1977). Huge amounts of sponsored credit were attached to the acquisition of â€Å"modern† sources of info, for example, improved seed, manures, synthetic substances, and hardware (Grahan 1987). These data sources were made all the more effectively accessible by conversion scale controls, exaggerated trade rates, charge exceptions, and direct government appropriation. Low premium credits for working expenses and speculation use urged ranchers to deliver certain harvests and animals. Speculations to improve showcasing and transportation offices were made, to some extent, to profit the farming division. Agrarian exploration and expansion got more consideration as the turn of events and adjustment of innovation got significant notwithstanding stale yields (Truran 1977). Rural advancement in Brazil since its commencement has likewise been related with the expansion of its territory wilderness. After 1950, this procedure has been enhanced by some framework advancement, attempted by enormous ranchers and privately owned businesses, who Agribusiness in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis Page 4 were intensely financed through negative loan costs, particularly during the 1970s (Grahan 1987). The most effective method to refer to Agriculture in Brazil: Perils, Trials, and Economic Crisis, Papers

Meiji Restoration essays

Meiji Restoration expositions The Meiji Restoration was a progressive period during which Japan was changed from a primitive state into an advanced state. The opening of Japan's ports to Western pilgrim armadas indicated the shortcoming of Tokugawa and activated patriot developments. In 1867 master majestic daimyo recommended that Tokugawa Yoshinobu should surrender his place and recognize magnificent power. He consented to step down, however radicals held onto his royal residence on January 3, 1868 and declared rebuilding under Emperor Meiji. The period when Meiji was reestablished Japan was a militarily powerless nation, essentially farming, and had minimal mechanical turn of events. With an end goal to change and reinforce Japan, the progressive heads propelled a progression of conservative and social changes. A large number of individuals were out of nowhere allowed to pick their occupation and move without limitations. The administration began building railroads and transportation lines, phone and transmit frameworks, shipyards, and numerous customer businesses. The administration likewise presented a constitution by making a chosen Parliament called the Diet to win the regard of Westerners and create a decent domain for national development. Japan changed the whole lawful framework to make Westerns update the inconsistent settlements which were marked in 1850s. In 1894 Westerners consented to change the bargains and recognize Japan as an equivalent country. The constitution finished differentiations among classes and made individuals amass in building another country. What's more, the administration set up new colleges and new schools to show individuals the cutting edge innovation. Meiji recruited western instructors to aid Japanese schools. Understudies were sent to Europe and the United States to consider present day science and innovation. Meiji government made a solid military to battle outsiders and catch new domains. It was extremely fundamental to have a solid military to remain shielded from remote attack and demonstrate its capacity to different countries. Japa... <!

Fall 2014 Wait List Decisions Will Be Sent Today

Fall 2014 Wait List Decisions Will Be Sent Today Its been nearly two weeks since the May 1 reply deadline, and we know many of you have been awaiting news about our wait list. tldr: every year we hope to take students from our waitlist, and we are excited that we are able to admit 28 students this year. Today, at 5PM Eastern Time, we will email all students on our wait list their admission decision,  and you should receive it shortly thereafter, depending on how things go with the FCC.  At that point, we will consider our wait list “closed” and will not be admitting any additional students for the Class of 2018, not even a Targaryen dragonlord. We have seen all the wonderful updates that many of you have submitted, and appreciate the time and effort you have put in to letting us know how much you love MIT. We know you will have incredibly bright futures and great college experiences, and wish you all the very best at whatever college you choose. Last week I mentioned I had been a transfer student. Well, I also was a wait list student, so Ive been there too. Those of you among the 28 are about to have to make another decision, but hopefully its a welcome problem to have. For those of you who are not, I hope the decision is also welcome, and that you will bring your full focus to bear on completely crushing whatever college you attend next year, or whatever else you choose to do with your bad self. I know it will be great.

Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths Essay

According to Gary Colombo â€Å"Beginning college can be disconcerting experience.† (Gary Colombo, p. 1). Colombo also writes about how it might be stressful for students being it’s their first time away from home and has to deal with the stress from the real world and having independence. Colombo also explains that students will have to use their brains when thinking Critically and thinking outside the box. Colombo mentions that â€Å"Culture shapes the way we think; it tells us what â€Å"makes sense† â€Å"(Colombo, p. 3). Colombo explains that â€Å"Beginning college can be disconcerting experience† (Colombo, p.1). That there will be more peer pressure from your peers and an increase expectations that you have never faced during your high†¦show more content†¦3). The society in North America has their own believes but a lot of people use television and media for a big influence. Colombo expresses that â€Å"Cultural Myths as Obstacles to C ritical Thinking† (Colombo, p.4). Cultural Myths will throw different obstacles in the mix, and put people in different categories: Either men or women, heterosexuals or homosexuals. As adults people worry more and care about different categories and when the adult was a child they do not care about the categories. Being a good critical thinker will give her a good opportunity in seeing the difference in the world. Colombo also questions the basis of Critical Thinking â€Å"By questioning the myths that dominate our culture, we can begin to resist the limits they impose on our vision† (Colombo, p. 6). Colombo also states â€Å"because cultural myths serve such large and varied needs, they’re not always coherent or consistent† (Colombo, p. 6) With the basis of Critical Thinking is the â€Å"learning to recognize contradictions lies at the very heart of Critical thinking† (Colombo, p. 6). I agree that there is a lot of peer pressure in college from your peers and other influences. If one of your peers are going to a party or out to a night club most likely you will be asked to go. In high school it was harder to go out to a party or to a night club because you lived at home with your parents or guardians. If you decide to move out in the beginningShow MoreRelatedSteps to Becoming a Critical Thinker in the Textbook, Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths848 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† preface to the textbook ninth edition Rereading America is written by Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, is edited by Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle published in 2008. It introduces how to become a critical reader, and it challenges us to think critically. To understand well what critical thinking is, the introduction divides into different sections to comprehend how to be a critical thinker steps by steps. The author providesRead MoreThe Measure of S uccess Essay1249 Words   |  5 Pagesultimately what we decide to do with our life that determines how successful one can be. This takes a lot of hard work, curiosity, the ability to think critically, and the support of family and teachers. In the articles â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† by Gary Colombo, â€Å"The Achievement of Desire† by Richard Rodriguez, and â€Å"Learning Power: The Myth of Education and Empowerment† there are many different viewpoints about how to be successful and what education has to do with it. These articlesRead MoreIs Gender The Same Element As Sex? Essay1323 Words   |  6 Pageselement as Sex? This topic is complicated for the reason that countless people confuse these two as the same, but they are two absolutely different concepts. There are several Cultural Myths about Gender and Sex. Gary Colombo, who wrote: â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† who explains that a cultural myt h is a shared set of customs, values, ideas, and beliefs, as well as a common language. In â€Å"Sisterhood is Complicated† by Ruth Padawer who is a contributing writer at The New YorkRead MoreCultural Myths About Gender And Sex Essay1484 Words   |  6 Pagesare several Cultural Myths about gender and sex. Gary Colombo, who wrote: â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† explains that a cultural myth is a â€Å"shared set of customs, values, ideas, and beliefs, as well as a common language (3).† In â€Å"Sisterhood is Complicated† by Ruth Padawer, a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, she focuses on gender and social issues. Padawer shows various stereotypes about gender roles and sex, and how they form multiple cultural myths. Pawader alsoRead MoreThe Importance Of Formal Education1066 Words   |  5 PagesWith Formal Education, it benefits the growth of the students mind. Formal Education helps build on the students crit ical thinking skills. Critical Thinking allows the students to develop new ways to look at certain topics or discussions with a deeper meaning. As a student, many obstacle of judgement and peer pressure will arise during our time as a student. Cultural myths can affect a way a student will most likely run into a specific group that will try to manipulate you into their thought processRead MoreEssay on Media Advertising - Absolut Advertising Campaign1675 Words   |  7 Pagesthey produce messages that carry specific ideas and beliefs targeted toward a certain thinking body of people. A familiar phrase in America is, â€Å"art imitates life.† It defines life as essential to art, but can we say the reverse? Could life imitate art? The semantics of the phrase seem too ambiguous for such a statement. What is the definition of art, of life? The phrase suggests that art reinforces cultural and social beliefs by using the verb imitate. If art imitates life, then life imit atesRead MoreEssay about Leadership in Early Childhood1466 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch about curriculum and an in-depth knowledge of curriculum approaches and theories of learning and development. This way, they are then able to communicate, inform and share valuable information with other educators as they lead through challenging yet highly achievable goals and expectations. An educational leader will need to consider the following list of essential key factors, discussed below, in taking up this role; with two theories of leadership in mind, which evidently captures theRead MoreQueer Theory : The Matrix2120 Words   |  9 Pagesand the importance of institutional and discursive power.4 Postcolonial theory seeks to account for the impacts of colonialism and colonization on people and places that were colonised. It challenges the very ways in which the world is known, challenging the unacknowledged and unexamined assumptions at the heart of western disciplines that are profoundly insensitive to the meanings, values and practices of other cultures. 2 It is valuable because it calls attention to the use of language and imageryRead MoreThe Media Industry Of Capturing A Mass Audience1865 Words   |  8 Pagesthat faces the media industry of capturing a mass audience now fragmented into millions of niches. â€Å"Because of their widespread attractiveness, abundant and diverse symbolic content, and ease of use, new media technologies help change the locus of ‘cultural programming’ from institutional sources of information and entertainment to individual persons, small groups, and growing numbers of ‘virtual cultures’† (Lull 135). Aside from the challenges of fragmenting audiences and the impact of new technologiesRead MoreLiterary Review of Sexuality and Gender in Science Fiction Literature3057 Words   |  13 Pagesâ€Å"feminist SF is not simply SF about women; it is SF written in the interests of women† (128). In other words feminist SF is an effective and powerful means for feminist visio nary developments that are crucial for the initial attempts to embark on the cultural and social changes that are the goals for the feminist political enterprise. Hollinger discusses Le Guin’s view that feminist SF doesn’t prophecy the future but it refers to the world as it is. This is interesting because it emphasises this idea

Diagnosing and Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia Essay

Anemia is a condition in which your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. These cells play an important role because are the main carriers of oxygen to your organs. They take up oxygen from the lungs and release carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Without the red blood cells, you body wouldn’t get any oxygen or carbon dioxide and your body would slowly die. Anemia can be mild or severe. It can be so mild, that people go a long time without even know they have it. They’ll start to realize it the worse it gets. There are over 400 types of anemia, here are some. Sickle cell anemia is when your red blood cells break down fast, so your organs don’t receive oxygen; it mainly affects African-Americans. Pernicious anemia is when your†¦show more content†¦Some of them include: weakness, pale skin, dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme fatigue, cold feet and hands, unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances; such as ice or dirt, or restless legs syn drome; which is an uncomfortable tingling or crawling feeling in your legs. Two of the main reasons one might get this illness is if you don’t have enough in-take of iron and if you loose a large amount of blood. If you are not taking enough iron rich foods, it can affect your health and make you prone to have iron deficiency anemia. Also, if you notice that you are loosing an abnormal amount of blood because of menstruation or pregnancy you should consult your doctor. This is something that can lead to something serious, most likely anemia. Other reasons one might get it is because of frequent blood donation and digestive conditions. I know first hand what its like to have iron deficiency anemia. I have had it for almost four years and I know what its like to not even know when you have it. I was diagnosed with anemia when I fainted in a movie theater after loosing a very large amount of blood from my menstrual cycle. I knew it wasn’t normal, but I was not aware of ho w serious it actually was . I began to have symptoms a few hours before going to the movies, but I did not pay much attention to it. After the incident in the theaters, I was rushed to the hospital and that is when they diagnosed me with iron-deficiency anemia. I had almost all ofShow MoreRelatedThe Relationship Between Anemia and Nutritional Issues Essay3613 Words   |  15 PagesThe Relationship Between Anemia and Nutritional Issues INTRODUCTION Anemia can be defined as a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood caused by low hemoglobin concentration (A Practical Guide, 1). Cells in the body require oxygen to fully utilize fuels. The oxygen is transported from the lungs to tissues throughout the body via red blood cells. Oxygen binds to hemoglobin, a specific molecule within each red blood cell. This molecule consists of heme, which isRead MoreAnemia Is Common Among Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus2062 Words   |  9 PagesAnemia is common among individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection [1]. In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of anemia is high people living with HIV are likely to be malnourished, have low CD4 counts and have high rates of comorbidities such as tuberculosis and malaria [2, 3] The presence of anemia predicts poor clinical outcomes like death, clinical progression to AIDS, morbidity and a poor quality of life during the course of the HIV infection whether th e person is on ART orRead MoreThe History, Use, and Effectiveness of Medicinal Drugs4647 Words   |  19 Pagesand Nutrient Supplements VII. Future Prospects and Trends in Pharmacology (Pgs 32-42) VIII. Recipe (Pgs 43-44) Endnotes (Pgs 45-46) Bibliography (Pgs 47-48) The science and ambidexterity of treating, diagnosing, and preventing disease is known as the field of Medicine. In ancient times Medicine was a vague field, mostly incorporated with magic and superstition, it was not like our modern medical system of scientific analysis.  Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesSelf-Evaluation 79 SKILL ANALYSIS 84 Cases Involving Self-Awareness 84 Communist Prison Camp 84 Computerized Exam 85 Decision Dilemmas 86 SKILL PRACTICE 89 Exercises for Improving Self-Awareness Through Self-Disclosure 89 Through the Looking Glass 89 Diagnosing Managerial Characteristics 90 An Exercise for Identifying Aspects of Personal Culture: A Learning Plan and Autobiography 92 SKILL APPLICATION 95 Activities for Developing Self-Awareness 95 Suggested Assignments 95 Application Plan and EvaluationRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesexamples, and problemspeciï ¬ c tutorials. Enhanced WebAssign is more than a homework system—it is a complete learning system for students. ThomsonNOWâ„ ¢ Homework (0-495-39230-8) ThomsonNOW’s Personalized Study plans allow students to study smarter by diagnosing their weak areas, and helping them focus on what they need to learn. Based on responses to chapter speciï ¬ c pre-tests, the plans suggest a course of study for students, xx ââ€"   Preface including many multimedia and interactive exercises

Innovative Hr Practices by Organisation Across Different Sectors Free Essays

Innovative HR Practices by Organisation across Different Sectors Introduction Companies are taking up people-related initiatives as there is a need to manage human resources advantageously, so as not to lose the competitive edge in talent that they have built. In managing their human resources, companies have time and again focused on values, invested in personnel, emphasized on meritocracy and consequently attaining excellence in HR processes. Innovative Practices of Recruitment and Selection * Second career Internship Program: Tata SCIP was launched in March 2008 on International Women’s Day . We will write a custom essay sample on Innovative Hr Practices by Organisation Across Different Sectors or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is a career transition management programme for women professionals who have taken a break of 1-8 years for any reason, and wish to re-enter the professional space. * Holding on to the employees Quatrro BPO Solutions has nurtured a concept of keeping in touch with high performers who leave the concern and hone in them, whenever they want to come back. * Making use of pre hiring Process: Genpact, the BPO pioneer, uses a pre-hiring process to aid in arresting attrition. The organisation brings people before they join, and have them look at the workplace. If the people choose to join, that reduces potential attrition. * Checking the Profile on Social Networking Sites: Organisations are pursing the candidate’s profile on sites such as Face book and LinkedIn. Once a candidate applies, his social behavior is traced. The persons social Skills decide if he fits the job. This practice has also started in India. Innovative practices of Reward and Recognition In today’s competitive world, rewards and recognition plays an important role in motivating and retaining employees. Rewards and recognition is an important part in every HR plan these days. Rewarding the high performing and motivating others to become such is becoming mandatory in IT BPO industry. 1. Giving Store Vouchers like Shoppers stop, life style etc. 2. Giving cash prizes. 3. Giving articles (wide range of durables as per the level of performance). 4. Organizing holiday trips. 5. Article Gifting Innovative Practices of Motivation Giving Freebies Every weekend, people working at Coco-Cola India’s Gurgan Head quarters received for liters of company beverages free in a program called weekend funda * Providing Dependent Insurance The biggest employee benefit, HSBC provided to its employees was 100% hospitalization benefit for employees Spouse and children. * Offering Stock Options iGate is among a few firms, that has continued to offer stock options to its employee s. There are longterm investment measures for weeding, families, even retirement. Making use of Music Raymond Limited Hosted Music events to its employees. Dream Circle is a group of people with different skill set who play percussion instrument in freestyle but produce a harmonized rhythm in the end. * Treating as Guest: At Marriot Hotels India, The employee usually join the hotel in the batches. The hotel grates six off days every month, something uncommon for the hotel industry and there is also excellent system of compensatory off, * Launching Employee Assistance Program HSBC initiated the Employee Assistant Program(EAP) to assist in coping with trauma and stress post 26/11. Innovative Practices of cost Cutting * Offering Sabbatiacal Package * Offering VRS * Compulsory Leaves Innovative Practices of Traning * Providing Classroom Curriculam * Empowering Young Executives * Encouraging a culture of Innovation * Watching Film Conclusion To conclude, it can be said that those companies that have invested considerable time and resource in building a solid human capital management foundation are better positioned to weather the strom. How to cite Innovative Hr Practices by Organisation Across Different Sectors, Papers

The Epic of Gilgamesh free essay sample

The story of Gilgamesh was one of the world’s first literary works but most importantly the very first epic. â€Å"An epic or heroic poem is a long narrative poem, on a serious subject [that was] written in a grand or elevated style, centered on a larger-than-life hero† (Lynch). Because it was only recited orally for many centuries it was forgotten and vanished until â€Å"it was recorded at Sumer in the late third millennium B. C. E† (Fiero 19). The story of Gilgamesh is about an arrogant ruler, who changes because of an immense love and friendship with his companion Enkidu, it is a story about the wisdom he acquires with his journeys, and the inevitability of death. The story begins with the introduction of the two main characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The love these friends will stumble upon for each other makes both of them change as individuals. From their initial encounter they will discard part of their own lives and give a piece of them to each other. Enkidu’s journey out of the wilderness with Gilgamesh. leads to his death. Gilgamesh, distraught over his companion’s death, goes on a search for everlasting life. Gilgamesh continues his journey to Dilmun in search of Upnapishtim (who is Gilgamesh’s father) the only mortal that gods have given everlasting life. From the mortal man Gilgamesh is told that there is no permanence in life. . Gilgamesh’s journey leads him to the realization that he has lost the ability to live forever, that the ultimate fate of all humans is death. Gilgamesh at the end of his journey invites Urshanabi to view the greatness of Uruk, the architectural and organizational achievement that assures his cultural immortality. In like manner, the Sumerians completely disappeared as s people. Their language, however, lived on as the language of culture. Their writings, their business organization, their scientific knowledge, and their mythology and law were spread westward by the Babylonians and Assyrians. It is clear that this epic tale embodies the ideals and values of the Mesopotamian civilization and the history of ancient Sumeria, including it cities, kings and religions. * In the centuries that followed the immigration of the Sumerians, the country grew rich and powerful. Art and architecture, crafts, religious and ethical thought flourished. Temple towns grew into city-states, which are considered the basis of the first true civilizations. * The acknowledgement that Gilgamesh is part god, part human and oppresses his people harshly is reflective of the violence indicative of that era. The history of The Land of Two Rivers refers to Semitic tribes such as the Akkadians, Amorites, Hittites, Kassites, and Assyrians who all vie for control of the region. * The Sumerians organized a complex mythology based on the relationships among the various local gods of the temple towns. Each city-state was a theocracy, for the chief local god was believed to be the real sovereign. In Sumerian religion, the most important gods were seen as human forms of natural forces – sky, sun, earth, water, and storm. * There is rich symbolism in the creation of Enkidu by the sky God, Anu, the seduction of him by Shamhat, and his befriending by Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh embraces this man with the trust and intimacy that one would a wife. Thus, he and Enkidu lose their strength and wildness, lamenting the loss of this state. However, in its place are all the joys of civilization shine in their resplendence, and Gilgamesh is able to perform great deeds. As one considers several elements of the story that are a departure from the cultural and historic conventions of the Sumerian era, one recognizes a distinct turn in the narrative in the direction of exploring universal themes of the human condition: * The beneficence of Anu’s decision to create the wild man, Enkidu, in order to help Gilgamesh is contrary to the intrusive tendency of the gods. For Enkidu and Gilgamesh civilization is a process, the transformation of the primitive. Without the primitive, civilization would cease to exist. This Epic helps one to see past the conventional classifications of â€Å"civilized† and â€Å"primitive† so that one might recall what each of us gains in developing from one state of being to another. The conflict in this area is represented in Gilgamesh’s refusal to acknowledge the wisdom in Enkidu’s outrage at the abusive aspect of the practice of having intercourse with new brides. There is no nobility of purpose in Gilgamesh’s suggestion of a great adventure. It is merely a response to having grown weak and lazy living in the city, i. e. being civilized. * Enkidu is supposed to guard the life of the king, but, instead, loses his courage and attempts to turn back. Later in the encounter with Humbaba, he inspires Gilgamesh to muster the courage to come out of his hiding place. He ultimately oversteps his bounds when he advizes Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba for the sake of fame. He pays dearly for this mistake. All Sumerian cities recognized a number of gods in common. The gods seemed hopelessly violent and unpredictable, and one’s life a period of slavery to their whims. As a result, it is no surprise when the Chief Gods meet and decide that Enkidu should be punished for the killing of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. * Gilgamesh is torn apart by the death of his friend, and allows his life to fall apart. This is hardly the behavior of an epic hero; it is more akin to the life of a modern anti-hero. He is in a panic over the thought of his own death, not in grief over the loss of his friend. Gilgamesh is given two chances to achieve immortality, but he cannot stay awake, and suffers the misfortune of having a snake eat his magic plant. The irony in the conclusion of the story of Gilgamesh’s epic adventure is symbolic of the destiny of the Sumerian culture. Gilgamesh, resigned to his fate as a mortal man, invites Urshanabi to look around and view the greatness of the city, its high walls, and its mason work. The architecture of this city-state is Gilgamesh’s legacy, and is the closest he will come to immortality. The cultural sophistication that characterized Sumerian culture inspired the cuneiform script that made it possible for the story of Gilgamesh’s epic journey to be captured on a stone of lapis lazuli at the base of the foundation the city walls of Uruk. By the same token, this epic tale conveys universal themes relevant to any age. All men struggle to behave in a civilized manner, and to control primitive impulses. All men struggle with weakness, laziness and complacency while enjoying the conveniences and comforts of civilization. All men are a mixture of courage and cowardice. All men experience struggles where it appears that they are sometimes helped, sometimes hindered by the gods to whom they pray. All men sometimes spurn the gods, and suffer the consequences, as Gilgamesh did with Ishtar. They also doubt themselves sometimes, as Gilgamesh did with the magic plant. Gilgamesh is as much a modern anti-hero who has fallen from grace as he is an, epic, ancient hero as he struggles in making decisions in conflict with his friend, Enkidu, and in fearing for his own mortality upon witnessing the eath of his companion. As Gilgamesh cries out in lament that he has gained absolutely nothing for himself, one encounters the classic theme of sacrifice of the individual for the sake of the greater good, the advancement of the culture. Paradoxically, his name lives on forever, as a result of his having resigned himself to the ultimate human inevitability, the acceptance of his own death. This is surely an enduring and r elevant theme for any era.