Annotated Bibliography Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Annotated Bibliography - Assignment Example This makes the amount of medicine and their effect in patients more difficult to monitor. A study to determine if warfarin is safe was conducted in 25 nursing homes. Patients INR value was ≠¥ 4.5 and suffered no damage, but there was an error in warfarin management. The errors mostly occurred at prescription and observation stages in warfarin management. Observation errors include inadequate laboratory tests to check warfarin level leading to delay response to high INR levels. Prescription error was mostly in dosage in respect to INR levels and drugs interaction. To avoid such instances, there should be frequent communication between nurses and doctors. According to Wu et al. (2011), there should also be upgrading of information technology to incorporate a modern computerized provider order entry program with clinical decision support in nursing homes and hospitals (p.160). This information helps to know the information technology needed to improve monitoring of warfarin therapy in patients leading to better warfarin management. Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee - Warfarin Therapy Management. (n.d.). Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee - Warfarin Therapy Management. Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.bcguidelines.ca/guideline_warfarin_management.html. This report was written by physicians and is intended for other physicians. The guidelines given in this report focuses on management warfarin therapy in patients within an office setup. In this report guideline is given on how to begin administering warfarin, on international normalized ratio (INR) and dosage. It is written that before starting warfarin treatment one should consider various reasons why it should not be used. Warfarin should not be used; if the patient has severe or active bleeding diathesis, if the patient has some doses not taken or taken incorrectly, if the patient

Western presence in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Western presence in the Middle East - Essay Example The Western presence today is more of a continuation of these older precedents than a novel or unique circumstance. The purpose of this essay is to outline and to analyze the particular motives underlying these persistent territorial ambitions.The Western presence, in different forms and by different nations representing the West, has deep roots in the Middle East and the Gulf region. To be sure, the Western presence today is more of a continuation of these older precedents than a novel or unique circumstance. The purpose of this essay is to outline and to analyze the particular motives underlying these persistent territorial ambitions. To this end, twelve motives will be presented. These motives, taken together, provide a clearer understanding of conflict in the Middle East than an analysis of any particular motive in isolation. This is because many of the motives are, to some extant, interrelated; more specifically, economic motives such as energy security, in turn, give rise to ad ditional national security and strategic geographical considerations. The Middle East is a complex study.As a preliminary matter, it is first necessary to provide some brief geographical and historical context. There is a great deal of debate, some historically-based and some semantically-based, regarding the precise dimensions of the Middle East in both geographical and cultural terms. Such a discussion is beyond the scope of this paper; therefore, for the purposes of this essay, the Middle East will be defined to include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. In addition, it is significant to note that the modern origins of the territorial struggle can be dated to 1918. This is when "the Ottoman sultanate, the last of the great Muslim empires, was finally defeated-its capital, Constantinople, occupied, its sovereign held captive, and much of its territory parti tioned between the victorious British and French Empires" (Lewis, 2001: np). As the Ottoman Empire was conquered, Turkey became a peripheral, though significant, part of the Middle East. Although Turkey did regain its independence, it did so as a secular nation rather than as a Muslim nation. This essay will focus on post-1918 events and motives. 1.1. Oil Motive No discussion of the Middle East can take place without a reference to oil and larger issues of economics and energy security. The West is most fundamentally drawn to the Middle East in order to secure and safeguard its access to oil. Indeed, as stated by Hill & Telhami et al, The Persian Gulf region remains central to the global oil market and will become even more vital in the future. U.S. oil imports from outside the Middle East will not change this fact. The United States and the other major oil importers -- western Europe and increasingly, as Morse and Richard note, South and East Asia -- are all part of a single, seamless oil market driven by supply and demand, and global demand for oil has risen steadily over the last several decades. Oil currently accounts for 40 percent of global energy consumption and is not anticipated to fall much below this share in the next 20 years (2002: np). The West is dependent on the Middle East for a huge percentage of its energy needs. Significantly, there is an increasing demand for oil being driven by non-traditional countries; more precisely, both South Asia and East Asia are demanding more oil as their economies develop and grow. China and India are countries which may increase their participation in the Middle East, driven by the same motivations as the West. 1.2 Strategic Geographical Motive In addition to oil, there are very practical geographical considerations. During the Cold War, for example, the Middle East was treated by the West and the Soviet Union as a proxy for their larger ideological and military competitions. Today, China is increasingly seen as a defender of Iran and a defender of Arab rights and self-determination. The region links continents, is possessed with major shipping routes, and is a necessary link for the transport of oil. Thus, the geographical motive refers to a strategic

The History Of The Bionic Eye

The History Of The Bionic Eye Here, we present a description of a block scheme, specific features of design and results of testing for a prototype of a bionic eye, types of them and its applications. The bionic eye is intended to provide vision, partially to the visually impaired by use of the modern day electronics devices like CCD cameras. The comprises a computer chip that sits in the back of the individuals eye, linked up to a mini video camera built into glasses that they wear. Images captured by the camera are beamed to the chip, which translates them into impulses that the brain can interpret. Although the images produced by the artificial eye were far from perfect, they could be clear enough to allow someone who is otherwise blind to recognize faces. The paper discusses the differences working methodologies used in each of them. During the tests and the clinical trails, this device made six blind people to regain their vision partially. The potential advantage of using bionic eye is to be able to remove t he blindness completely by making the advances in the present research and improving manufacturing technologies. This break through is likely to benefit approximately one crore world population who suffer from the most common causes of blindness, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Macular Degeneration. The implant bypasses the diseased cells in the retina and stimulates the remaining viable cells. This is a revolutionary piece of technology and really has the potential to change peoples lives. But we need to be aware it is still some way in the future. INTRODUCTION A Bionic Eye is a device, which acts as an artificial eye. It is a broad term for the entire electronics system consisting of the image sensors, processors, radio transmitters receivers, and the retinal chip. Based on the institute developed these devices are developed but with minor to major differences, of these the devices with functional capability and those which are clinically tested and results proved are discussed here. Here the designers objective is to go for a system that is technically perfect with no loop holes and that is harmless to the human body which receives the system and that is commercially viable both in terms of ease of manufacture, cost and the process of implanting. Blindness means loss of vision. Rods and Cones, millions of them are in the back of every healthy human eye. They are biological solar cells in the retina that convert light to electrical impulses impulses that travel along the optic nerve to the brain where images are formed. Without them, eyes lose the capacity to see, and are declared blind. Degenerative retinal diseases result in death of photoreceptorsrod-shaped cells at the retinas periphery responsible for night vision and cone-shaped cells at its center responsible for color vision. Worldwide, 1.5 million people suffer from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of inherited blindness. In the Western world, agerelated macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of vision loss in people over age 65, and the issue is becoming more critical as the population ages. Each year, 700,000 people are diagnosed with AMD, with 10 percent becoming legally blind, defined by 20/400 vision. Many AMD patients retain some degree of peripheral vision. Currently, there is no effective treatment for most patients with AMD and RP, the researchers say . However, if one could bypass the photoreceptors and directly stimulate the inner retina with visual signals, one might be able to restore some degree of sight. Need for the BIONIC EYE: It has been shown that electric stimulation of retinal neurons can produce perception of light in patients suffering from retinal degeneration. Using this property the eye and make uses of the functional cells to retain the vision with the help of electronic devices that assist this cells in performing the task of vision, we can make these lakhs of people get back their vision at least artially. A design of an optoelectronic retinal prosthesis system that can stimulate the retina with resolution corresponding to a visual acuity of 20/80-sharp enough to orient yourself toward objects, recognize faces, read large fonts, watch TV and, perhaps most important, lead an independent life. The researchers hope their device may someday bring artificial vision to those blind due to retinal degeneration. BIONIC EYE DEFINED: Bionic Eye, Bio Electronic eye, is a device that can provide sight the detection of light. It replaces the functionality of a part or whole of eye. it is used to replace functionality as well as add functionality. It is a complex combination of multiple devices which work together for restoration of the vision of the subject. The Diseases that cause blindness:  Ã‚ ® Retinitis Pigmentosa  Ã‚ ® Macular Degeneration Of these, retinitis pigmentosa is a disease, which is a hereditary genetic disease in which peripheral rods degenerate gradually progresses towards center of eye and results in tunnel vision. As for macular degeneration, it is also genetically related , it degenerates cones in macula region, causing damage to central vision but spares peripheral retina. MIT- HARVARD DEVICE: This device follows an Epi-Retinal Approach. In this Microelectrode array replaces damaged photoreceptors, which act in the place of rods and cones to send the signals to optic nerve. The power source Laser(820nm wavelength). For image acquisition it uses a CCD Camera. Patient spectacle holds the camera and power source. It consists of two systems, system-1 which senses and transmits image and power and other system which stimulates the cells, there by making brain visualize the image. System 1:  Ã‚ ® CCD camera input External light intensity  Ã‚ ® CCD output amplitude-modulates laser source  Ã‚ ® This hits photodiode array of implant  Ã‚ ® This in turn powers stimulator chip (SC) System 2:  Ã‚ ® SC drives current to electrodes facing retina  Ã‚ ® This excites the ganglionic cells > axons > optic nerve > visual cortex in occipital lobe of brain  Ã‚ ® Brain helps in perceiving an image Advantages:  Ã‚ ® Very Early in the visual pathway  Ã‚ ® No Batteries implanted within body  Ã‚ ® No complicated surgical procedure  Ã‚ ® Power Requirement  ¼ of milliwatt Disadvantages  Ã‚ ® Axons b/w electrodes and ganglionic cells  Ã‚ ® Other axons get excited unwanted perception of large blur  Ã‚ ® Extra circuitry required for downstream electrical input Artificial Retina Prosthesis using ASR (Artificial Silicon Retina) ASR is a solid state biocompatible chip which contains an array of photo receptors, and is implanted to replace the functionality of the defective photoreceptors .Current generated by the device in response to light stimulation will alter the membrane potential of the overlying neurons and thereby activate Visual ensationsthoerv iPsuhaolsspyhsetenmes. can be evoked by electrical stimulation of the different levels of the visual pathway. Phosphenes are evoked by the stimulation of the eyeball or the visual cortex. Artificial vision created by the controlled electric stimulation of the retina has color.  Ã‚ ® Epiretinal Approach involves a semiconductor based device positioned on the surface of the retina to try to simulate the remaining overlying cells  Ã‚ ® Sfutbhreerteintianla A pproach involves implanting the ASR chip behind the retina to simulate the remaining viable cells. IMPLANT DESIGN: Primitive devices Single photosensitive pixel(3mm in diameter) Neo devices The current micro photodiode array (MPA) is comprised of a regular array of individual hotodiode subunits, each approximately 20ÃÆ'-20-ÃŽÂ ¼m square and separated by 10-ÃŽÂ ¼m channel stops (37). The resulting micro photodiode density is approximately 1,100/m2. IMPLANT features The size of implant is 50um. And it needs no external power supply. The response 500nm to 1100nm wavelength response. Working: For the technique to work, the patient must still have some functioning ganglion cells nerve cells that transmit visual information from the retinal cells to the optic nerve as well as a fully-functioning optic nerve. A tiny electronic pad is placed onto the retina of one eye, so that the electrodes are in direct contact with the ganglion cells. Each of the devices 100 electrodes can stimulate 20 to 30 cells. Real-time vision: The user wears a pair of glasses that contain a miniature camera and that wirelessly transmits video to a cellphone-sized computer in the wearers pocket. This computer processes the image information and wirelessly transmits it to a tiny electronic receiver implanted in the wearers head. When received in the implanted chip, the digital information is transformed into electrical impulses sent into the ganglion cells. From there, the brain takes over as the information travels down the optic nerve to the visual cortex at the back of the brain. The whole process occurs extremely rapidly, so that patients see in real-time. This is important any noticeable lag could stimulate the vestibular-ocular reflex, making people feel dizzy and sick. Currently recipients of the device experience a relatively narrow view, but more electrodes should provide a greater field of vision. By stimulating more ganglion cells, he hopes that visual acuity will increase dramatically. His teams next goal is to design a device with 1000 electrodes. MANUFACTURING PROCESS: Implants are comprised of a doped and ion-implanted silicon substrate disk to produce a PiN (positive-intrinsic-negative) junction. Fabrication begins with a 7.6-cm diameter semiconductor grade N-type silicon wafer. For the MPA device, a photomask is used to ion-implant shallow P+ doped wells into the front surface of the wafer, separated by channel stops in a pattern of individual micro photodiodes. An intrinsic layer automatically forms at the boundary between the P+-doped wells and the N-type substrate of the wafer. The back of the wafer is then ion-implanted to produce a N+ surface. Thereafter, an insulating layer of silicon nitrate is deposited on the front of the wafer, covering the entire surface except for the well openings. A thin adhesion layer, of chromium or titanium, is then deposited over the P+ and N+ layers. A transparent electrode layer of gold, iridium/iridium oxide, or platinum, is deposited on the front well side, and on the background side. In its simplest form, the photodiode and electrode layers are the same size. However, increasing the photodiode collector to electrode area ratio can increase the current density available at each individual micro photodiode subunit. Post Implant function and Inference.  Ã‚ ®Measurement procedure  Ã‚ ® IR stimulation at 940nm on the ASR chip  Ã‚ ® Recorded at the corneal surface using contact lens electrode  Ã‚ ® Comparison of responses of gold, platinum and iridium electrodes  Ã‚ ® Iridium based device has a longer persistence  Ã‚ ® Stability of these electrodes BIO-COMPATIBILTY RESULTS: There is no progressive change in retinal appearance that may be associated with retinal toxicity. But there is loss of photoreceptive layer over the region of implant, which is expected due to deprival of oxygen and nutrients to those cells underlying the chip. Multiple Unit Artificial Retina Chipset (MARC): The other revolutionary bio electronic eye is the MARC , this uses a ccd camera input and a laser beam or rf to transmit the image into the chip present in the retina using this a resolution of 100 pixels is achieved by using a 1010 array. It consists of a platinum or rubber silicon electrode array placed inside the eye to stimulate the cells. THE MARC SYSTEM BLOCK: Outside Eye: The video input to the marc system block is given through a CCD camera. This image is further processed using a PDA sized image processor to transmit it , we do pulse width modulation in first stage and then ASK modulation is done. This signal is further amplified using a class E power amplifier and transmitted using RF telemetry coils. Inside Eye: The signal received from the RF telemetry coils is power recovered and then these signal is ASK demodulated and the data and clock is recovered from this signals and these signal are sent to the configuration and control block of the chip which from its input decode what information has to be sent to each of the electrodes and sends them this data. And the electrodes in turn stimulate the cells in the eye so as to send this stimulation to the brain through optic nerve and help brain in visualizing the image and while this process is going on the status of each electrode is sent to the marc diagnostics chip outside the eye Block Diagram Of Image Acquisition System: The image acquisition system consists of a CMOS digital camera which acquires images and sends it to the Analog to Digital Converter. It converts this analog input to digital data. This data is first sent into a video buffer where it is processed, the images are color mapped and this processed images are sent through RS232 interface. this serial data is then sent to the electrodes or testing monitor through a RF circuit or laser beam. Marc Hermetic Sealing And Positioning: The RF coils either intra ocular or extra ocular coil arrangement as shown in figure. This rf probes receives the transmitted RF energy and give it to the MARC chip. The AC wires from this coil is sent to the MARC chip. This chip is hermetically sealed in silicone gel and the other sides of the chips have the electrodes, which stimulate the cells in eye. Advantage of the Marc system: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compact Size 66 mm à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Diagnostic Capability à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduction of stress upon retina Conclusion: Researchers throughout the world have looked for ways to improve peoples lives with artificial, bionic devices. Its been 40 years since Arne Larsson received the first fully implanted cardiac pacemaker. Researchers throughout the world have looked for ways to improve peoples lives with artificial, bionic devices. Bionic devices are being developed to do more than replace defective parts. Researchers are also using them to fight illnesses. Providing power to run bionic implants and making connections to the brains control system pose the two great challenges for biomedical engineering. But what ever be the pro and cons of this system. If this system is fully developed it will change the lives of millions of people around the world. We may not restore the vision fully, but we can help them to least be able to find their way, recognize faces, read books, above all lead an independent life.

Patrick Moore †Cofounder of Greenpeace Essay -- Biography Environment

Patrick Moore – Cofounder of Greenpeace After more than 15 years of co-founding and heading up Greenpeace, Patrick Moore switched sides and views. Instead of the radical environmental activism that Greenpeace encompasses, Moore now focuses on how we can benefit humans while remaining as environmentally safe as possible. Patrick Moore was born in 1947 and raised in Winter Harbour, British Columbia, a fishing and logging village on the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island often referred to as the Pacific rainforest. His father was a logger and the past president of the B.C. Truck Loggers Association, while his mother came from a family of fishermen. At the age of fourteen, Moore was sent to boarding school in Vancouver. Later, at the University of British Columbia he studied life sciences. Throughout his time at UBC, Moore discovered his love for ecology, because it gave him an understanding of the rainforest he lived in as a child (Moore, â€Å"Environmentalism† 1). In 1971, Moore started Greenpeace out of his hometown. The group was originally called the ‘Don’t Make a Wave Committee’ (Bate, par. 2). The committee went to Alaska to protest against US nuclear testing in the Aleutian Islands. They set out on an old fishing boat from the Vancouver harbor to disrupt the tests, but were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and arrested. Despite the arrest, the mission ended up being successful. President Nixon cancelled the remaining nuclear tests (Moore, â€Å"Environmentalism† 3). During his 15 years with Greenpeace, Moore was the scientific spokesperson. He served for nine years as president for Greenpeace Canada, and seven years as director for Greenpeace International Borders, par. 3). The organization campaign... ...y and improve health (Moore â€Å"Battle† par. 10-11). Moore currently lives in Vancouver and still works with the B.C. logging industry, writing articles, performing speeches, and appearing on television for them. Works Cited Bate, Roger. â€Å"Moore Wisdom Needed.† Economic Affairs 24.2 (June 2004): 72. Borders, Max. â€Å"The Reformers: Patrick Moore.† . â€Å"Greenpeace.† Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2005 . Moore, Patrick. â€Å"Battle for Biotech Progress.† The American Enterprise (March 2004). 3 April 2006 . ---. â€Å"Environmentalist for the Twenty-first Century.† IPA Review 52.3 (September 2000): pages 3-8. 3 April 2006 .

Blackadder Goes Forth and Journey’s End Essay

The ending scene for both Journey’s End and Black Adder Goes Forth are similar and different in many ways. For example, the last episode of Black Adder Goes Forth greatly affects the viewer by pursuing the idea that history as it was written and has been taught is incorrectly. In having this approach, it is like the audience is rediscovering history and uncovering the truth of our ancestors for the first time. Not only does this capture the viewer’s attention, but it entertains them as well as touching them on an emotional and comedic level by showing the real life orders trench’s but deliberately miss hearing what the orders were. Viewers, however, also know that these orders are not to be taken seriously and are only there for the comedy value. An example of this is when one soldier states that the reason for the war was because someone shot an ostrich out of hunger. The majority of viewers know this is not true, but the episode and character plays the comic seriousness to perfection. However, Journey’s End shows the more serious side of the war and trench life by being a serious side of the war and trench life by being a serious play with no real comedic value. One soldier is very excited about the idea of defending his country; in fact he is so honoured by this chance, that he does not accept a way out of the trenches when he is offered; even though Blackadder realizes their fate when the go above the trenches and tries to explain he will die. I never imagined anything as awful as war† this also shows the serious nature that war has on its soldiers, this is also shown when another soldier states that he wants the dying to stop, and everyone to go home, because he cannot see a reason for war, this links in Sassoon’s declaration where he states war has gone from one of â€Å"defence and liberation† to one of â€Å"aggression and conquest†. Even George has to try and push these thoughts out of his mind and replace them with thought s of patriotism and the great honour dying for ones county has. This is much like Raleigh in Journey’s End when he first enters the battalion and his innocence is intact because he does not know the true horrors of war yet. Act three scene three of Journey’s End is the very last scene of the play. From almost the very beginning we have known that an attack from the German opposition is inevitable. However, the character in the play are not sure when it will take place or what form it will take place in, as the attack could happen in any moment meaning the ension is high throughout and especially in the final scene. This is not the only tension in the script. At the beginning of act three scene three, Raleigh and Stanhope, two of the most prominent characters, have had a large argument about the death of a mutual friend, which is not resolved until the beginning of the final scene. The strain on their relationship has been tense for the duration of the play and was heightened by the hero worshipping Raleigh did for Stanhope. As they were previously well acquainted before they were both in the battalion Stanhope fears that Raleigh would look at him badly and tell people on the home front what he has become, an alcoholic, and Stanhope chooses to ignore their previous relationship and address him as a new Officer. This contrasts with Blackadder Goes Forth, because as Colonel Melchett knows George he uses this to his advantage by manipulating him into showing propaganda to the men; however Colonel Melchett also has an underlying theme of worry for George and seems to offer him many ways out of fighting the war because he knows his death is inevitable. To conclude I feel that Blackadder Goes Forth and Journey’s End and two completely different plays. However, they both share few similar themes, for example they both share the theme of hero worship, where soldiers look o authority figures for guidance which again opposes the view that Sassoon has on the war. They also share the theme of waiting, because both plays are waiting to ‘go over the top’ and neither plays want to because they know that your death was sure if you do so due to the heavy equipment the Germans have. Although, I believe Journey’s End is much more a serious play whereas Blackadder Goes Forth uses comedy and takes from the impact it could truly have if it was more realistic to trench life, but it still shows the fear and anger of many men when regarding the war.

History of Latin America: The Colonial to Contemporary Period Essay

The history of Latin America can only be understood in its relations with other countries and continents. Europe and Anglo-America play a huge role in shaping the history of Latin America from pre-colonial times to the contemporary period. The expansionist policies of colonizing countries clearly meddled with the history of Latin America. This is seen in the longstanding presence of dominant countries in the continent. The effects of these forces can be seen in the economy, politics, culture and history of Latin America. Interestingly, defining Latin America by presenting its history is a monumental task. For one, Latin America is not a homogenous continent. â€Å"It is an immense world region striving to establish its place in the new global order†¦ it is home to some 500 million people who well represent the rich racial and cultural diversity of the human family† (Vanden and Prevost 1). Rather than present Latin American history in the traditional historical framework—dates, geography, political successions—which is linear in nature, this essay resonates Eduardo Galeano’s depiction of Latin American history. This presentation is based on a number of facets of history that are suitable images of what Latin American peoples had collectively undergone. This essay seeks to present the history of Latin America from the colonial to contemporary period. Given the vast scope of the region’s history, specific thematic spheres are focal discussion points in this essay. The discussion will focus in terms of: slavery, foreign domination, agriculture structure, foreign debt, living standards and neo-liberalism. Lastly, the conclusion presents a synthesized view of Latin America’s history. Slavery One phenomenon collectively experienced by Latin America is slavery. The main reason for the interest of colonizers in Latin America is economic in nature. Slavery is a means of production whereby the mass production of goods from the colonizing countries would have free labor. Intensifying the capital would translate to a corresponding increase of productivity for the colonizer. Slavery took place almost immediately after the invasion of Latin American countries. It is tied to the new law and order promulgated by the ones in the bastion of power. Modem day transatlantic slave trade dated from 1519 to 1867; by 1530 the Spanish crown had authorized the spread of slavery to Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Jamaica† (Vanden and Prevost 33). The colonizers of Europe and the US had the â€Å"realization that new laborers, artisans, and those with other skills could add to the growing nations† (8). This means that slavery crept through the entire continent, every colonizer followed suit—fearing of lagging behind the economies of colonizers that are founded on slave labor—since then others have already adopted the practice of slavery. In the movie Burn, the island of Queimada is ravaged with unscrupulous practices of production. Slaves were used in the sugar plantations and manufacturing plants so that the profits are maximized (Burn 1969). Although, there are different forms of slavery within Latin America and in some countries, slavery as a tool for economic production even failed. The case of Brazil and the Carribean showed that resistance to slavery can be successful. â€Å"In northern Brazil and the Caribbean, native slavery failed, and the native peoples would not otherwise provide the abundant labor needed† (Vanden and Prevost 32). Foreign Domination Pre-colonial Latin America is isolated in nature: the economies there were â€Å"small local spheres that are isolated from events outside the valley, village or small town. † (146) Civilizations such as the Mayan, Mohican, etc. contributed to the breakdown of isolationism, although the collapse is only in economic terms and is limited only to the region. Less centralized societies existed before the foreign presence in the region and had been self-sustaining for centuries. â€Å"Latin American integration into the world economy only began when the Europeans arrived† (146). During the period of foreign domination, the breakdown of autonomy of the different facets of society became a massive and all-encompassing policy. Politics, culture, economics, social order, law and governance are all key positions held by foreign powers. The relationship between the empire and colonies is similar to the relationship of the slaves to their masters. Core-periphery relationship enabled the rich empires to continually develop at the expense of the peripheries. The decisions on resources, politics and over-all direction of the Latin America are done on foreign soil. Galeano points out that the expansionist policy of foreign colonizers had a push and a pull factor. The push factor is the desire of colonizers for glory. The first of the conquerors that came to Latin America are the Europeans notably the Spanish. Initially, the desire for glory drove explorers to different expeditions of other lands. The pull factor is the allure of the expeditionary forces to the vast riches of the region. â€Å"After the reports of the riches of the empire to the south had reached the Spanish settlement in Panama, considerable interest in conquest developed. Eventually, the Spanish came back with its conquistadores† (Galeano 27). The rest, as we now know from hindsight, is history. Agriculture Production Agricultural production in the Latin America became the fuel for development of the imperial global market. â€Å"At the same time, directly or indirectly but decisively, it spurred the growth of Dutch, French, English and United States industry. The demand for sugar produced the plantation, an enterprise motivated by†¦ profit and placed at the service of the international market that Europe is organizing. (Galeano 72). Agriculture production policies of the imperial powers deliberately shifted from small-scale farming into monocrop economies. â€Å"As national economies developed, regions and often whole nations became dedicated to monoculture—dedication to one crop or commodity. † (Vanden and Prevost 151). Colombia and El Salvador focused on selling coffee on the international market, Mexico and Venezuela were dependent on the petroleum commodity, Bolivia centered on tin. Coffee and bananas became the biggest agricultural products of Central America. From being self-sufficient agricultures, where people â€Å"nourished themselves on a balanced diet consisting of beans, corn, and squash,† (Vanden and Prevost 19), the shift into agro-industries is triggered by the principle of comparative advantage on the international market. Latin America at this point became a good source of raw materials and food for the imperialist states. The priority of agriculture in peripheries is always the self-serving interest of the US and Europe. While Brazil prospered due to its exports of sugarcane monoculture, the nation’s children ironically starved. Abundance and prosperity came hand in hand with chronic malnutrition and misery for most of the population† (Galeano 75). Foreign Debt At present Jamaica owes over $4. 5 billion to the IMF, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) among other international lending agencies yet the significant development that these loans have guaranteed have yet to manifest. The amounts of foreign exchange together with the structural adjustment policies have had a negative impact in the life of everybody. In another part of the movie, we can see the history of a chicken plant which had a good business selling high-quality chicken to the internal Jamaica market; but this business has been demoralize by U. S. ; while there are a lot of restriction on foods and goods imported into the U. S. there are regularly no restrictions on foods and goods exported to foreign developing country. (Life and Debt 2001). Jamaica is not alone in its debt crisis. After the shift from colonialism to the independence of Latin America, the new world order shifted its principles from liberalism to a neo-liberal, neo-colonial system. Virtually all of Latin America is on the throes of economic dependence on international financial institutions, namely the IMF and World Bank. The loans do not come without strings attached to it. Structural adjustment programs and stringent conditionalities essentially limit the capability of Latin America to compete at the global market. For instance, produce from Third World countries such as that in Latin America are penalized with tariffs and quotas as they enter First World markets, while finished products of the US and Europe find their ‘niche’ market in the Third World. The free play of supply and demand does not exist on the international market, the reality is a dictatorship of one group over the other† (Galeano 259). Conclusion: Global Economic Hegemony The alienation of the peoples of Latin America, their sufferings and collective aspirations juxtaposed with the injustices experienced within its history are the prime reasons for the regions revolutionary and bloody history. From slavery, to feudalism, to mercantilism, to capitalism, the world order had changed via neo-liberalism, neo-colonialism and globalization. Sadly, none of these modes of production had effectively benefitted Latin America. These different economic historical periods are only different forms of the same thing—inequalities, poverty, human rights abuses and a melange of problems that hound Latin America today. Since the colonial period, the grips of powerful nation states had never loosened on Latin America. It is a good source of raw materials, with cheap labor and also a good market for finished products. The international economic structures enabled â€Å"economic policy recommendations that are dominated by orthodox capitalist economic thinking† (Vanden and Prevost 165). Inequalities continue to exist and are even presented in smokescreens such as Free Trade, which is not free after all. The Global North competing in the international market against the Global South is a very one-sided economic structure that benefits the North at the expense of the South. The contemporary global economic hegemony is essential for the US and Europe, it is essential for their survival. Globalization shrank the world into a smaller entity but the international economy is still run by colonial powers. 21st century domination of the world does not come in barbaric way, the methods of coercion and domination are subtle yet they are as cruel and deadly as before. What had happened for the past centuries is an enslavement of Latin America and a raping of humanity by colonizers.