Labor Unions in Hospitals

Organizing and other bear on aggregate activity in the hospitals has drawn increasing attention for galore(postnominal) years. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the largest and oldest sea captain association of registered nurses in the USA (Martin, 2001). The ANA and enunciate nurses associations are committed to the advanceds of registered nurses (RN), the largest group of wellness captains.The ANA even ups registered nurses by organizing and bargaining incarnately. The ANA is un promontoryably for creation of dig up unions in hospitals (Physicians and matings Implications for Registered Nurses, 1998). This paper foc employs on the development of these unions and breaklines that union activity has an important role for nurses in addressing the benefits and salaries and in providing the take into account kick for patients.Labor meats in HospitalsThe leadership of formal shell out for organizations historically reviewed comprehend unions and crusade legis lation with suspicion, if not with direct distaste. In the other(a) of the twentieth century, the American Nurses Association (ANA) did not consider the treat discipline as a work and its practitioners as professionals (DAntonio, n.d.).On the contrary, practicing clinical nurses were more or lesswhat much receptive to the im get along of unions. The Nurses Associated Alumnae, founded in 1896, became the American Nurses Association in 1911, and nurses successfully lobbied for strict enrolment credentials. (United American Nurses, AFL-CIO, n.d.) But the initial registration laws were voluntary (DAntonio, n.d.). Nurses joined together at the end of century to charge up the lack of standardization among quickly development of nursing schools, hard functional conditions and exploitation of nursing students.Nurses also sought a means to exploit together in a professional organization to establish a code of ethics, elevate nursing standards and promote the nurses interests. The first nurse staffing ratios were posture by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary war. The first permanent hospitals were schematic during that war merely it wasnt until 1872 that America could boast its first professionally expert nurse, Linda Richards. (United American Nurses, AFL-CIO, n.d.)During the early 20th century, nurses joined other feeders facial expression for such benefits as an eight-hour workday and paid vacations. By the mid-thirties, ANA and enounce nurses associations were considering the question of unionization for nurses a responsibility ANA confirmed in 1946.During the 1920s and 1930s many nurses left the private-duty push market to work in hospitals (DAntonio, n.d.) They byword that the professionalization rhetoric did not forward their fight to overcome the forest as well as the conditions of their day-to-day work. Gradually the unionization idea overhauled to whatever hospitals nursing staffs to secure pin downs that amend wage s and hours worked.In the early 1940s state nurses associations, without the support of the ANA that was opposed to formal organizing, began their own corporate bargaining units (DAntonio, n.d.). But in 1946 the ANA formally sanctioned the idea of professional collective bargaining by its constituent state nurses associations (DAntonio, n.d.). In the post-World War II era nurses gained contract after contract. Also in 1946 the ANA began the composition of its Economic and General Welfare Program (The Role of Collective bargain and married couples in forward the Profession of Nursing, 1998).That decision was make because of some of the same problems that nurses and nursing continue to face and from a desire to use collective wisdom and strength to effect necessary change. Nurses were represented on a national direct as well, including a decades-long battle against the 1947 Taft-Hartley mold that left private RNs without c overage under the National Labor transaction Act. Since then, collective bargaining has provided for significant accomplishments in salaries, benefits, and the professional practice of nurses.Historically, the nursing profession has worked to assure the public of its commitment to their health pick outs through the establishment of professional licensure, practice standards and guidelines, and a code of ethics. Nurses defy locomote from the hospital into academe, research, long-term care, community and home health, school systems, the legislature, the military, law, and entrepreneurial enterprise. to each one avenue broadens professional perspective and adds value to the body of expertise and influence.By the late 1960s the trade union movement had again resurfaced as a strategy for professional autonomy and economic security (DAntonio, n.d.). Unions such as Local 1199 of the Hospital Workers Union re organize to allow nurses disrupt guilds and strikes, although deeply regretted, were no longer unthinkable tactics (DAntonio, n.d. ).Labor unions representing nursesIn the past 20 years, nurses in hospitals and health care agencies all over the world contain unionized in an effort to achieve appropriate wages and benefits based upon the skill level and risk involved in successfully fulfilling their job responsibilities (Klein, n.d.). There are some examples of active unions representing nurses. The UFCW (United provender and commercial Workers Union) represents nearly 40,000 work men and women in the health care profession in the North America who work in hospitals, nursing homes, medical and dental laboratories, and home health care (Klein, n.d.).Members include registered nurses, licence running(a) nurses, unit assistants, certified nursing assistants, pharmacists, technicians, and caretakers. This union claims to induct improved safety in the workplace and tackled a myriad of important issues, including restructurings, staffing levels, and compensation. Additionally, to macrocosm committed to workpla ce issues, the UFCW periodically sponsors training and education seminars to promote professional development among health care employees.The United Nurses of America represents 45,000 registered and licensed practical nurses and is an AFSCME connect (Klein, n.d.). AFSCME is the voice for 360,000 health care employees, 76,000 of whom are nurses (Klein, n.d.). For its members, AFSCME provides training programs, tuition on workplace violence, a health and safety newsletter and item sheets, and updates on union actions.The ANA has also created the new United American Nurses (UAN) to intone collective bargaining states efforts to retain and recruit members. Now, harmonise to the ANA, 24 states or U.S. territories have collective bargaining for nurses 29 do not (the positive of 53 includes Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia) (Hellinghausen, 1999). Todays UAN, the nations largest union of staff RNs, began from the nurse unionization movement before World War II. (United American Nurses, AFL-CIO, n.d.)For more than 50 years, nurses, through their state nurses associations, have organized to advocate for pretty wages, good working conditions and staffing levels that ensure patient safety. State nurses associations struggled for state measures to displume up the slack, and the 1974 health care amendments to the NLRA finally extended such protections. Amendments to the NLRA passed in 1983 extended Social Security coverage to non-profit workers.The United American Nurses forerunner, the instal of Constituent Member Collective Bargaining Programs, met for the first time in September 1990. Nurses efforts through the Institute to find the solutions of workplace problems led to the organisation of a separate labor arm of ANAthe United American Nursesin 1999.The UAN held its first National Labor Assembly in June 2000, as representatives of 100,000 nurses working under collective bargaining agreements elected Cheryl Johnson as the unions firs t prexy and Ann Converso as the unions first vice president. UAN consort with the AFL-CIO in 2001.With the addition of the UAN, the AFL-CIO represent now 1.2 million health care workers. (Martin, 2001) AFL-CIO unions bargain to provide health insurance for more than 40 million workers and family members accounting for one out of every four Americans with employment-based coverage. Johnson of the UAN tell nurses are organizing into unions at an increased stair to gain a voice on the job and on behalf of musical note patient care, and that giving nurses a voice can address the countrywide staffing crisis.Now the UAN has murderered strike support on a national level to nurses on the picket line provided media training, organizing assistance and collective bargaining help through the annual Labor Leader Institute provided a big and meticulous contract information database to state nurses associations and nurse leaders and provided witness to national leaders on patient care, st affing and other issues.Problems of nursing unionsIn fact, the American Nurses Association (ANA) is wed to organized labor and in some states, such as California and Michigan, the state Nurses Associations act as labor unions. (SubjectUnion Debate, 2003)Most labor unions and Nurses Associations claim that by organizing nurses, they can increase salaries, improve benefits and working conditions, and draw more nurses into the profession. It sounds plausible, barely a union cannot address the real underlying problem Money. Unions cannot give away revenue. They can only extract dollars from the healthcare system.Nurses salaries and benefits are typically a hospitals greatest expense. A hospitals primary source of revenue is from reimbursement for patient services. plot of land hospital operating tolls have steadily gone up, reimbursement for patient services by Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance have not kept up with increased operating costs. In a February 13, 2003 Press Release by the American Hospital Association (AHA), entitled Rising Demand, Increasing cost of Caring Fuel Hospital Spending, rising hospital cost is cited as one the primary drivers of an increase in hospitals spending (Subject Union Debate, 2003).While organized labor would lead to believe at that place is an increased need for unionization, their popularity has declined. In our nations past history, organized labor vie an important role in ensuring employee safety in the workplace. Currently, standards for employee safety have been established by Occupational Safety & Hazard Association (OSHA), say Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and other regulatory and accrediting bodies.Therefore, the need for unions has declined. E specificly because modern changes in healthcare have subjected nurses to the effects of cost cutting, shuffled duties and reorganization, not to mention a chronic nursing shortfall. Just 17% of the nations 2.2 million RNs belong to unions, and labor groups are tone to nursing to boost their dwindling ranks (Salcedo, n.d.). Two AFL-CIO affiliated unions actively act nurses are the Service Employees multinational Union (SEIU) and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW).There have been several instances of already formed collective bargaining units represented by the state nurses association switching to AFL-CIO affiliated unions. The American Nurses Association is reeling from the defections, including the defection of the 20,000 member CNA from the ANA in 1995 (Salcedo, n.d.). The California affiliate complained that the national leadership wasnt doing enough to combat layoffs and staff shortages. (Jaklevic, 1999) from each one state nurses association (except now California) is a member of the ANA. Each state nurses association is divided into two branches, a policy branch and a collective bargaining branch. The ANA is loudly protesting that only nurses should r epresent nurses, however, unions such as the SEIU charge that the associations are much more geared toward policy do and academic issues than collective bargaining.So, on that point is currently a critical shortage of nurses in USA. As long as nurses continue to feel disenfranchised, exposed and under siege by doctors and health care administrators, interest in unions will grow stronger. Nurses organize not only to protect themselves, but also to protect the patients under their care, as evidenced by the recent activity regarding staffing levels and acuity systems.As an example, nurses, conventionally uninterested in the distractions of organized labor, are showing new eagerness to embrace unions (Seeman, 2000). But sooner than objecting to pay scales or benefits plans, experts say, they are aiming more often at working conditions depleted staffs, reduced time with patients, jobs that increasingly intrude upon their personal lives.Union membership is rising. The string of strik es in 1999 21 was five times the tot just four years earlier. (Seeman, 2000). More than 1,000 nurses are currently off the job. (Seeman, 2000). In California, union nurses have pushed lawmakers to guarantee more nurses on hospital floors.Hospital officials and insurers characterized the grievances as pull inable but difficult to assuage. Current health care dynamics, they said, are testing the limits of all segments of the industry.Whats unknown is whether nurses relationship with labor will gain more momentum, and what long-term effects that might have on the nations medical network.In the early part of the decade, with the price of health care soaring, managed care gained currency as a strategy to instigate competition and control costs. Insurers notified hospitals that reimbursements for medical treatments would decline. That prompted hospitals to squeeze budgets, including the money spent on nurses, who typically represent to the highest degree a quarter of a hospitals wor k force.Hospital patients, meanwhile, grew sicker. Diseases that might have been fatal in an earlier age now left patients alive but ailing. Hospitals, under pressure to alleviate money, discharged the less sick patients to focus on the direly ill. Technology made nursing much more complicated.In the past three years, about 15,000 nurses have locomote unionized by joining the Service Employees International Union. (Seeman, 2000). About 105,000 nurses now belong. (Seeman, 2000).Another 170,00 belong to the American Nurses Association (Seeman, 2000). Of those, about 60 percentage use the organization for collective bargaining, according to the ANA. (Seeman, 2000).The general numbers remain relatively small. Only about 15 percent of Americas 2.6 million nurses are unionized, according to government and industry estimates. (Seeman, 2000).The BNA, echoing the nurses unions, said that walk-outs are more likely rooted in complaints about needful overtime, inadequate staffing and worri es about patient care.In California, the new law support by union nurses requires the state to set nurse-to-patient ratio standards for general, psychiatric and special hospitals. Hospitals will also be banned from requiring unlicensed employees from performing traditional nursing duties such as giving medicine or assessing treatment. The crown was signed in October by Gov. Gray Davis. Its requirements were phased in through 2002. (Seeman, 2000).Massachusetts, meanwhile, has become very important for union activity. The Massachusetts Nurses Association persuaded about 1,550 nurses at five hospitals to unionize in a 12-month period in 1997-98, according to Judith Shindul-Rothschild, associate professor at the Boston College School of Nursing. (Seeman, 2000).So, administrators should try to understand nurses. If to give the possibility to nurses to effectively care for their patients, half the battle is won. come apart healthcare would mean better labor management relationships.Conc lusionSo, the American Nurses Association (ANA), along with its constituent state nurses associations, has a decades-long responsibility to the right of registered nurses, the largest group of health professionals, to represent through organizing and bargaining collectively, in labor unions (Physicians and Unions Implications for Registered Nurses, 1998).Such activity can play an important role in addressing wages as well as benefits, and the many employment conditions that have a direct bearing on nurses ability to practice their profession and to grant the highest quality care for their patients.One of the most essential problems of unions is that there are no guarantees as to what will be included in a contract between management and the bargaining unit. Everything depends on contract negotiations. In other words, nurses may achieve less salary and/or benefits than before unionization.Still, unionism is only one of some options to ensure nurses control over their practice. For nu rsing always has and always will need diverse organizing alternatives, whether through unions or specialized practice associations. References1. DAntonio, P. (n.d.). Labor Unions Nurses Unions. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/women/hypertext markup language/wm_019610_nursesunions.htm2. Hellinghausen, M. A. (1999, August 9) ANAs creation of labor entity worried the TNA. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.nurseweek.com/features/99-8/tex-ana.html3.Jaklevic, M. (1999, July 5). Associations join pro-union ranks Doc, nurse organizations indispensableness to give their members a stronger voice, new services. Modern Healthcare, 6.4. Klein, J. A. (n.d.). Unions in Nursing. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.nursingnetwork.com/union.htm5. Martin, S. (2001, June 28) Largest Independent Nurses Union Votes to Affiliate with the AFL-CIO. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.needlestick.org/pressrel/2001/uan_afl.htm6. Physicians and Unions Im plications for Registered Nurses. (1998, September) Vol. 3, No. 9. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.needlestick.org/readroom/nti/9809nti.htm 2004 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved7. Salcedo, K. (n.d.). Labor Unions and Nursing. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.oppapers.com/print.php?id=33122idenc=KxyHiuJa8. Seeman, B. T. (2000) works Conditions Drive Hospital Nurses Toward Unions. Newhouse News Service. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.newhouse.com/archive/story1a041300.html9. Subject Union Debate. (2003, February 24) Nurses for rescue of Professional Ethics (NPPE). Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.nppe.org/dialog34.htm10.The Role of Collective Bargaining and Unions in Advancing the Profession of Nursing. (1998, February) Vol. 3, No. 2. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from http//www.needlestick.org/readroom/nti/9802nti.htm 2004 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights ReservedUnited American Nurses, AFL-CIO. (n.d.) Retrieved Ju ly 10, 2004, from http//nursingworld.org/uan/uanhistory.htm 2004 The United American Nurses and The

Pay Equity In Labor Force Movement Essay

Debates ab proscribed wo buildforces rights at litigate and the sex activityed dimensions of consumption in qualifiedity were luminary and contested features of Canadian political discourse with come to the fore the second half(a) of the twentieth century. C erstwhilern close to these issues took root during the 1940s, when women experienced dramatic shifts in their manipulation opportunities as a result of beingness drawn into and posterior jettisoned from the reserve army of wartime hollow. Pressure to improve womens booking conditions, curiously in the burgeoning habitual sector, recurred in the mid- fifties.However, it was in the 1960s, erst the second ripple of womens lib took root in Canada, that women began to rebel a sustained criticism of the piece of work inequalities they experienced and pressure their establishments to character the problem through form _or_ system of governing body innovation and change. (Westhues, 45-58) From the appearset of s econd-wave feminism, women advanced analyses of employment in equality that took account of their project in both(prenominal) the public and domestic celestial orbits.As Brockman noned, activists drew attention, as had never been done before, to the fundamental incompatibility amidst reproductive industry and infant wish well, on the one hand, and gainful work on the separate, as well as to the profound consequences of this incompatibility. (Brockman, 78-93) While liberal, radical, and socialist womens liberationists approached this issue from diverse ideological vantage points, they shared a common belief that the causes of grammatical sexual practice inequality in employment were not rooted solely in the workplace.Only, they claimed, if questions about womens employment in the public scene of action were intercommunicate in tandem with questions about their labor in the domestic line of business would the sex activityed dimensions of employment inequality be ful ly understood. In particular, womens rightists thought that womens maternal work had to be recognized in discussions about promoting gender equality in the workplace.As Westhues, a well-known socialist feminist, once argued, As grand as women pass on the primary responsibility for concern of the home and for pincer criminal maintenance, we will be less than able to comply job opportunities and our domestic commitments will be used to justify invidious employment practices. (Westhues, 45-58) Growing awareness of the need to connector questions about merchandise and reproduction in analyses of womens economic position was by no means unique to Canadian feminism.It was, for example, well established in the primal writing of second-wave feminists in Britain and the United States. What did, however, distinguish Canadian feminists from their counterparts in these other liberal democracies was an ability to work together, patronage ideological differences, in gear up to advanc e this mental image-edged critique of gender inequality in employment. repair from the start of the contemporary womens apparent motion, Canadian feminists engaged with the state, demanding policies that recognized the link between womens employment opportunities and the provision of sister complaint.Canadian feminists lobbied both federal official and provincial political sympathiess about the need to improve womens employment opportunities and expand the provision of barbarian befriend. It was in the federal arena, however, that women (outside Quebec) focalizeed their demands for the organic evolution of policies that acknowledged the link between these two issues. In some consider, this federal focus was surprising. After all, only one-tenth of the Canadian labor root for is regu latterlyd by the federal government, and even at the start of second-wave feminism both federal and provincial governments had been involved in employment hazard and kid economic aid in itiatives.Moreover, even though the federal government has the entire capacity to use its spending power to underwrite the provision of state-subsidized child bearing, it is the provinces that retain constitutional control over the delivery of this service. The federal focus of womens campaigns was encouraged by the fact that the renaissance of Canadian feminism occurred within the context of a broader social project to achieve public welfare guarantees, assured by the Canadian state.It was reinforced by the government of Canadas decision to establish the 1967 Royal Commission on the shape of Women (RCSW) to inquire how best the federal government could ensure that women enjoyed equal opportunities with men in all aspects of Canadian society. It has since been sustained by the work of activists in national organizations, in particular the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC), founded in 1972, and the Canadian Day Care Advocacy crosstie (CDCAA), established i n 1982 and renamed the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) in 1992.However, disdain a long history of feminist employ with the federal state, womens repeated campaigns for the development of policies to address the double-edged nature of gender inequality in employment, and the clear recognition of these demands in reports of royal commissions and childbed forces, the federal insurance response has been uneven. Policies to eradicate sex discrimination at work and bring up womens employment opportunities harbor been developed and utilise in the federal form _or_ system of government sphere.By contrast, the federal government has not developed policies to throw out a publicly funded system of child mete out in order to enhance womens employment opportunities, save as emergency measures during the Second World War or as an component part of broader initiatives to get welfare mothers out to work. Instead it has treated child care as a fiscal issue for which paren ts can receive subsidies through federal taxation.This paper examines why a double-edged interpretation of womens employment inequality, which recognizes the public and domestic dimensions of womens work, has not been fully take up into federal policies to promote gender equality in the sphere of employment. The analytic thinking follows the development of debates about womens rights at work from the period of reconstruction after the Second World War, when questions about eradicating employment discrimination against worker-citizens startle emerged in Canadian political debate, through to the close of the twentieth century.It examines federal policy developments under Liberal and Conservative governments, showing that even though the reports of federal royal commissions and task forces encoded feminist demands for a double-edged flack catcher on employment inequality, questions about promoting womens employment equality and child care were continually driven apart in the feder al policy process.Womens Paid and Caring WorkWhile this is by no means the first time that scholars have considered the relationship between Canadian womens work inside and outside the home, it is noticeable how the link between these two aspects of womens labor was explored by historians and sociologists before being intercommunicate by analysts of public policy. In the late 1970s, members of the Womens History corporate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the Clio Collective in Montreal pioneered research in Canada on how womens labor had shifted from the un give domestic sphere into the world of paid employment.In the process, they unearthed textual and oral histories that demonstrated how, despite this transition, women still faced the double bind of a double-day in which they went out to work for pay and home to work for love. Their findings were reinforced in late 1970s and 1980s by sociological analyses of womens work represent that because women so ofte n entered employment while maintaining primary responsibility for the care of their children, they frequently found themselves concentrated in low-paid, low-status employment.Despite the fact that historians, sociologists, and feminist activists drew attention to the double ghetto of womens operative lives, discussions about policies to promote womens employment opportunities and improve the provision of child care evolved as distinct scholarly debates. The literature on policies to promote Canadian womens employment opportunities emerged within the context of broader discussions and debates about the development of policies to root out discrimination in the workplace.By contrast, the literature on Canadian child care policy evolved around questions about the development, cost, and politics of implementing public policies to promote the welfare, education, care, and development of young children. In recent old age, however, policy analysts have paid such(prenominal) greater atten tion to the link between womens paid and caring work. Jacobs, 120-128) Nonetheless, no one has yet considered why Canadian government policies to promote womens employment opportunities and improve the provision of child care have been developed at such different place and, despite repeated calls to the contrary, not linked in the design of public policies to promote gender equality in federally regulated employment. This aim of head is understandable, given the discrete historical development of policies concerned with child care and those concerned with womens employment.However, it unduly limits our understanding of the gendered dimensions of employment inequality in Canada and fails to capture the empirical reality of many womens working lives. double-edged Nature of Womens Employment Inequality Why did womens double-edged demand for equal employment opportunities and child care emerge in Canada in the 1960s and 1970s? After all, from the mid-1950s Canada experienced one of t he instant(prenominal) rates of labor force feminization in the Western modify world.The decline of manufacturing industries and the concomitant growth of the tertiary sector in the 1950s and 1960s meant that while industries that had traditionally attracted men closed down, those demanding relief skills that had long characterized womens traditional domestic roles expanded. Moreover, in countries like Canada, where welfare states were being established, the growth in womens employment intensified closely quickly.The much trumpeted rise in womanly labor force fight rates did not, however, mean that women engaged in paid employment on the aforesaid(prenominal) terms as men. The occupational segregation of Canadian men and women persisted in both horizontal and vertical forms. In fact, this process intensified with the increase affaire of women in the paid labor force. As a result, the considerable majority of women found themselves working in poorly paid occupations, fixed in the lower echelons of buck private companies and public sector organizations.Moreover, as Jacobs have noted, although the creation of welfare states meant that women as a group had more employment opportunities open up for them than men in the mid-twentieth century, the growth in womens employment was in the part-time sector of the labor force, which was increasingly prevail by women in all OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Jacobs, 120-128) This simply intensified the inequalities of employment opportunity that women experienced because part-time work is concentrated in the least-skilled, lowest-paid, and most poorly organized sections of the labor force, where benefits are usually more special than in the full-time sector.The rapid growth in womens participation in part-time rather than fulltime employment reflects two other factors about the feminization of the Canadian labor force. On the one hand, it relates to the type of work that th e service sector has generated and to the increasing flexibility demanded of its employees.On the other hand, it reflects the fact that the greatest increase in female labor force participation rates since the 1960s has been among women with young children. In the early 1960s, most female employees in Canada would leave the workforce when their first child was born and strike only when their youngest child had entered school. By the mid-1980s most women with young children went out to work. Indeed, as Pendakur have noted, By 1991 all traces of the reproduction function had disappeared with female labor force participation rates peaking in the major family-rearing age categories.The double burden that women experience from juggling their employment while continuing to care for their children has been reinforced by the limited provision of subsidized child care spaces in Canada. In the late 1960s, when women began to pressure the federal government to address the minimal provision of child care for working women, federal subsidies for child care were limited to support for welfare mothers under the 1966 Canada Assistance Plan.This pattern changed very little in the course of the twentieth century, although federal subsidies to support child care for low-income families became increasingly tied to efforts to get mothers receiving welfare out to work. Although recent federal publications on the status of day care in Canada boast a twenty-five-fold increase in child care spaces since the government first gathered these data in 1971, in fact the balance of children of working mothers who have access to regulated child care body very low.As a result, most working parents remain super dependent on informal, unregulated child care. Indeed, as Brockman noted, in the mid-1990s children in informal child care arrangements accounted for eighty per cent of all child care used by parents in Canada. (Brockman, 78-93) The federal state in Canada has addressed questions ab out promoting equal employment opportunities for men and women in the public sphere with relative ease but has failed to recognize that this project cannot be achieved without addressing the questions of child care that affect so many womens working lives.While the reasons for this are complex, some insights from feminist theory may help us to begin this exploration. In recent years, a number of feminist theorists have discussed how the concept of worker-citizenship that took root as welfare states were developed in countries such as Canada did not take account of the different contexts in which women and men often assumed employment. (Pendakur, 111-120)As a result, when questions about promoting equal employment opportunities for men and women began to emerge in the 1950s and 60s, they were framed in terms of women achieving the same opportunities as men. Indeed, Canadian have tried to develop a more nuanced concept of worker citizenship that not only respects the objective of equa lity of opportunity but also takes workers particular serving into account and, in the case of women, enables them to integrate their paid and caring work better.In the process, women have argued that a state that upholds the principle of gender equality must develop policies that take account of the interconnectedness of the public and domestic spheres and recognize the different contexts in which men and women often assume employment. terminal Nonetheless, although Canadian feminists have a long history of active engagement with the state, developed through a visible and articulate womens movement that has successfully placed issues on the political agenda, the result, more often than not, has been that their demands have been contained within a limited set of reforms.As a result, those aspects of gender discrimination in the workplace that concern practices within the public sphere have been acknowledged through the introduction of anti-discrimination and employment equity poli cies. By contrast, women have had more difficulty getting their proposals for policies that transcend the public/ private divide, by linking questions of equal employment opportunity with those of child care, acknowledged in the federal policy arena.Despite their efforts to forge these links through two major royal commissions and other government inquiries, problems of gender inequality in employment are still primarily defined as issues hardened within the public sphere of employment. Without doubt, over the past thirty years there have been clear improvements in the position of women in the federally regulated section of the Canadian labor force. Nonetheless, women stay on to cluster in the lower echelons of companies and organizations and remain under-represented in more senior positions.While this brutal pattern of inequality has many causes, paper shows how it reflects a federal policy process that concentrates on ensuring the comparable treatment of male and female employe es once they have entered the labor market, yet, for complex reasons, repeatedly stalls on evolution a more expansive approach to child care. As a result, federal policies to promote gender equality in the sphere of employment neglect the inequalities of access and participation that many women experience as they continue or resume employment once they have dependent children.

Reformation of the 16th Century

The Protestant rehabilitation ignited a apparitional repossess movement that separated the western Christian church service into Catholic and Protestant groups. Martin Luther embarked on a Journey to start the religious reform movement there were other maturations before him that set a buns for a religious alteration in the sixteenth century.The Protestant Reformation each(prenominal)owed for Protestantism to flourish throughout atomic number 63, united the Roman Catholic church with Christian denomi farmings, enab direct bulk to develop independent thinking and creative, fostered etermination in people to walk out religious and semipolitical freedom, and allowed for Christianity to evolve permanently throughout history. Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz helped produce the development of printing from a moving type. In Europe there were thousands of printers that publish religious books like the password, sermons, Latin and Greek classics, legal handbooks, and works on philosop hy.This type of development manifested an immediate impact on European ingenious life and thought (Duiker 429). This kind of invention fostered creative thinking and decisiveness in people to contain scholarly re bases. Printing allowed the European refining to disperse new religious ideals. This communication throughout Europe compete a major role in enabling people to bring in newfound knowledge and formulate judgements of their confess. Many historians state that Desiderius Erasmus laid the ball that Luther hatched (History 1). Erasmus was an influential Christian humanist.Christian humanism or northern reincarnation humanism combined the ideas of the classical Italian Renaissance with the ideas of primeval Christianity. tally to Christian humanism, a society must alter the human beings that cast it. They strongly believed that people are smart enough to formulate their own ideals and tactile sensations. They did no have to solely depend on an irrational godliness f or happiness and repurchase. Erasmus was most influential in teaching that faith should be a philosophy for a direction of life, not a source of arbitrary practices and rituals, which is what medieval religion emphasized.Erasmus also placed an emphasis on teaching the philosophy of rescuer Christ. Erasmus did not approve of the abuse of force out of inside the church. The opposition to struggleds a domineering religion back up the Christian and northern Renaissance humanists to stand against the orruption of the Catholic church they gave mankind commit and encouragement to believe in themselves, and to fight for freedom of religion. Another federal agent that influenced people to start a reform was the corruption of the Catholic Church. The omnipotent Roman Catholic Church labeled any non-believer as a heretic punishment included being burned at stake.The Catholic Churchs power was assembled over centuries, and depended on the lack of religious education and unknowingness of people. pluralitys base motivation of believing in the Catholic Church came from the touch of salvation to heaven though the Catholic Church. Any other belief was disregarded. The realization that some popes were not committing to the needs of the church and people disgust many people in Europe. Many popes interests were not focused on the spiritual uprising of religion, but worldly interests like power and riches The process ot salvation was becoming a traud.This ignited hate and bitterness towards the Catholic Church and stimulated the idea for change and reform. The Catholic Church strongly emphasized that good works and strong faith were the introduction for personal salvation. Martin Luther had a strong opposition o that idea, even as a monk and professor at the University of Wittenberg. Through personal study and dedication to religion he discovered that no weak and impotent human being could do enough good works to hit salvation. He believed that through a powerf ul faith and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that alone was enough for people to achieve salvation. Justification by credence (PBS 1) became the primary belief of the Protestant Reformation. Luthers repulsion of Catholic Church teachings enabled him to effect the Ninety-Five Theses, which opposed the sale of indulgences and revolted against clerical abuses. According to many historians this was the root word of the Protestant Reformation. The Ninety-Five Theses were quickly created and disseminated throughout Germany. Luther encouraged German royalty to overthrow the idea of salvation though the Catholic Church.His idea of salvation through faith alone was widespread and becoming acceptable to many people. The Roman Catholic Church was outraged and did not accept his experience of salvation. The Catholic Church believed that he was to be excommunicated from the church in 1512. When Luther was summoned to seem to the sacred Roman Empire and to recant the heresies (Duiker 431). He responded by rebuffing and qualification a statement that became the battle cry of the Reformation (Duiker 431). This angered the members of Reichstag, who coherent Luther to be detained.Luckily for him, Fredrick of Saxony protected him. A transformation was manifested upon Luthers religious ideals this gyration changed the European Civilization forever. Luthers popularity fostered from hatred and dissatisfaction with the greed of wealth power, corruption and dogmatic ideals of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage between Luther and Katherina von Bora demolished the idea of clerical celibacy his marriage ighlighted the life of a Protestant minister with a family. German rulers strongly supported Luther they quickly acquired control and supervision of the German churches.Luther emphasized that the churches focus on the preaching the Word of God and Bible study. In Luthers eyes in was necessary to abolish Catholic masses and gravitate towards new religious services. All of these changes highlight the metamorphosis that Christianity was experiencing. People who believed and promoted these new ideals were complacent with a new religious experience. In 1 519, Charles V ruled a vast empire, composed of Austrian lands, start of Italy, Spain, nd other territories. Though election he was granted the Holy Roman Empire title.His idea was to preserve the unity of his empire in the Catholic faith(Duiker 432). By this time, Germany detached it self from the idea of royal persuasion this disintegrated any loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1546, Lutheranism was the orotund belief and practice throughout Germany. Charles Vs effort to bring combat and war to disintegrate Lutheranism was a failure. This failure encouraged Charles V to create the calm of Augsburg, which granted freedom to German states to choose between universality and Lutheranism.The supple spread of Lutheranism and Protestant beliefs reassured that Christian unity was no monthlong a possi bility. Switzerland had a prominent role in the Protestant Reformation. The revolution sparked upon Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli ignited religious changes in member states of the federal states of Switzerland and the city of Zurich. evangelical reforms took over these areas. For example, Mass was replaced by services that promoted biblical study and prayer, relics were destroyed, and popes potentiality was no longer accepted.His primary source of support came from the people of Zurich and the agistrate, cognise as Mark Reust. Zwingli created an alliance with the German rulers, and Martin Luther. In 1513, rage and dissatisfaction festered between Catholic states and the Swiss Protestants. This created a war that led to Zwinglis death, his responsibility and loyalty to manifest change in Switzerland was handed down to tin Calvin. John Calvin was a practical theologian who organized the Protestant reform. His conversion to Protestantism led him to escape his native France to Switzerland .His beliefs coincided very closely with Luthers beliefs. A unique belief that he promoted was the idea of predestination. Predestination was a belief that God predestine some people to be saved, and the others to be damned, both who He would engage to salvation, and whom He would condemn to destruction (PBS 1). Calvin also emphasized absolute sovereignty of God he called it the power, grace, and glory of God(PBS 1). His reputation and credibility arose from his proceeds of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, an integration of Protestant beliefs and stands.In 1536, he expanded his revolutionary Protestant reform to the city of Geneva. Calvin created The Consistory, a governing body that attested to clean virtue nd discipline, and enabled a systematic way of including clergy and laymen in church service. The achiever that was fostered upon Geneva, allowed for missionaries to travel throughout Europe and infiltrate all of Europe with Protestantism. The city of Geneva stood as a Protestant citadel that gave success to the religious reform. The Anabaptists were radical promoters of the Protestant faith, who also vie a arctic role in the reformation.Their concern was to return to practice and religion of early Christianity, they emphasized equality in all believers. Separation of Church and stir was something they strongly advocated. They did not see any benefit of the government dictating the jurisdiction of religion. The Anabaptists opposed the idea of baptism in infants. Magisterial Protestants and Roman Catholics grew hostility and hatred towards the Anabaptists because of that belief. That is why they were heavily persecuted in the sixteenth century. The English Reformation played a pivotal part in the Protestant reformation.King Henry the septette was seen as selfish glutton. Surprisingly his strong desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon, his first-year wife made the English Reformation a more political than religious cause. The pope refused to grant Henry VIIs request to divorce Catherine of Aragon for Anne Boleyn. His upkeep then focused on the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the highest court in England. The archbishop condoned a divorce and annulled King Henry VIIs first marriage. Soon after Anne became baron she had a child, whom was a girl.This infuriated King Henry VII because he did not have a son to inherit his throne. This anger encouraged Henry VII to promote separation of the Church of England with Rome. This was known as the Act of Supremacy in 1534, it declared that the King was in transact control of the doctrine and Church of England. During Henry VIIs reign, Archbishop Cranmer attempted to reform the administrative and religious ruling. Shortly after this, Henry VII died and left his ruling to his chthonianage son. Cranmer took advantage of this situation by directing the Church ot England in a Protestant direction.T manifested new Protestant services and ideals in the Church of England. Mary a Ca tholic succeeded Edward VI. Her nickname Bloody Mary was no understatement. Her primary concern was for the Church of England to return to Catholicism she murdered more than ccc heretics who opposed Catholicism. Ironically, her actions ed for England to become more Protestant than ever before. By the mid-sixteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church no longer dominated Europe. Protestantism was infiltrating all of Europe and becoming more dominating and accepted.Due to this nature, the Catholic Church underwent a reformation of its own known as the Catholic Reformation. The Catholic is separate in to three parts known as the Jesuits, a improve papacy, and the Council of Trent. Ignatius of Loyola, Spanish noblemen, founded the Society of Jesus. This society accepted the directing of the pope and promoted the principals of faithfulness to the papacy, and hierarchical ruling of ociety and civilization. They fostered missionaries to explore Asian countries to convert people to Catholi cism The reformed papacy was another aspect of the Catholic Reformation.Pope Paul seasick took the initiative to create a reform to team to hold Catholic Churchs accountable and enforce discipline. Through this he was able to create the Council of Trent and gave wisdom to the Society of Jesus. In 1545, church officials gathered in the city of Trent started the Council of Trent. This Council of Trent met perpetually though three different sessions in the sixteenth century. Their ideas coalesced and they came to the final result that the selling of indulgences was prohibited, both faith and good works were required for salvation, and tho the church could interpret scripture (Duiker 438).This manifested one doctrine and religion under the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation had significant impacts in the induction of our world nations. This impact allowed for the re-establishment of political and religious views throughout the European civilization, challenged the dresser of the Catholic popes, and led to modern concepts of democracy. This reformation is key to understanding how religion has laced an importance in the foundation and building of every nation in our world.The fight for equality and freedom will always be an obstacle throughout history understanding the struggle, rebellion, and motivation to fght that many people faced in reformation, allows for our world to become educated and motivated to turn over towards a better world.

Analysis on the characteristics and features of Facebook that promotes narcissism on the Filipino Youth Essay

ANALYSIS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES OF FACEBOOK THAT PROMOTES NARCISSISM ON THE FILIPINO younker THESIS STATEMENT Although loving lucreing poses open different opportunities for the exploiters to neighborlyize in force(p)ly, sink faster and relatively cheap, and gatherinformation, the medium of communication promotes psychological incapacities, specifically conceit. designWith 93.3% of the nation signed up in Facebook in 2011, Philippines was named as the amicable Networking Capital of the World (Russel, 2011). Filipinos, as citizens of the country, ar proud of this achievement, still everything has consequences. Although br otherly Networking Sites (SNS), like Facebook, open different opportunities for the users to socialize effectively, gather information, and communicate faster and in relatively cheap venues, the medium of communication promotes psychological incapacities, specifically narcissism.A narcissist captivate himself/herself in a positive but unre a nominateic self-concept. It also results in lack of interest in forming kinships, and a commitment in regulating ones self to plug a positive view (Campbell & Foster, 2007). Narcissists tip to live with this style of conduct which is a result of wanting to be safe by invigoration all by themselves, and to develop uplifted self-esteem. Every SNS has its ridiculous features that extract users. These features contribute to the increasing number of adolescents and young adult narcissists in the Philippines. several(prenominal) SNSs defend technical and functional features that allow the user to show his list of friends. Most SNSs require users to study a profile picture. Other SNSs have a feature that focuses on ab off me of the user, some let the users grade depictions, post photos and create status posts and updates. (Boyd & Ellison Davenport, Bergman, Bergman, and Fearrington)SNS as web-based service allow privates to fashion a public or semi-public profile within a leap system, articulate a list of other users with whom they sh ar a associateion, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and lyric of these connections may vary from site to site (Boyd &Ellison, 2007).In 1997 the first SNS, SixDegrees.com, was created and introduced to the public. SixDegrees.com created a feature that allows the user to communicate with friends by helping the user to connect and send messages.(Due to the increasing number of users, the website was shut down in 2002 because it failed to chip in income for its maintenance (Boyd & Ellison). Since then, hundreds of SNS were created, and Facebook is one of them.Despite being called as social networks, user activity on networking sites is focused on the self (Gentile, 2007). Gentile (2007) put up tabu in her study that people present themselves in SNSs in a socially and desirable, but not realistic perfectized self-view. taradiddle of FacebookMark Zu ckerberg created Facebook in 2004 as a local social networking site for Harvard students it was first named as My Facebook (The Social Network, 2010). Before signing in into the website, students call for to have a harvard.edu email address. This requirement was a key to obligate Facebook a private community.In 2005, when Mark Zuckerberg and his team started expanding My Facebook to nearby universities, high school, corporations, and eventually to everyone, they changed its name to Facebook and removed the initial requirement in signing up but changed it to a valid email. Facebook adapted SixDegrees.coms rummy feature of messaging, and like SixDegrees.com, the feature (messaging) and other new features (e.g. profile picture, microblogging, photo sharing, wall post, applications and etc.) attracted millions of users.Based on a model created by Ashwini Nadkarni and Stefan G. Hofmann in their research titled Why do people use Facebook?, Nadkarni and Hofmann find that people use Fa cebook for two primary asks first is to pander their need to belong, and second, to get together their need for self-presentation.Baumeister & Leary (1995) said that humans are extremely dependent on social support, and exclusion from a social base may have negative effects to ones self-esteem. human race also give noticenot live without social interaction (Sullivan, 1957). These findings explain the first need of an individual why he/she uses Facebook the need to belong. The second need of an individual for using Facebook, the need for self presentation, is motivated by the continuous run of impression management as stated by Nadkarni and Hofmann.Why Facebook and juvenility?The research is focused on Facebook because it has over 1.1 billion users worldwide, al to the highest degree 16% of the worlds population. With this number of FB users worldwide, Facebook is considered as the most popular SNS in the whole world. In 2011, a research used Facebook usage as a measurement to determine the worlds capital for social networking. inquiryers concluded that Philippines has the highest percentage of SNSs users with 93.6%. Since almost 95% of the Filipinos use Facebook, it is the most effective SNS to use in this research composing. other thing is that, 83% of Facebook users are young adults. Youth presents themselves online with different aspects of life, such as their real self, ideal self, and false self. With this modern world, they can present themselves using different medium, specially Facebook since most of its users are young adults. The Needs of a Narcissist and his/her federal agency to compensate for it through Facebook.Narcissists regulate their self-presentation to ensure positive self-view, they also lean to lack in interest to form relationship. Unique feature and indication on Facebook is perfect to aid these traits of a narcissist.The unique features of Facebook are generally technical features (e.g. applications, photo, news feed, friend list, poke, status, video, group, chat, and like), some of these unique technical features satisfy the needs of a narcissist for exhibition/self-presentation (e.g. friend list, status, photo and video). Another feature of Facebook is its unique way of adding friends. Narcissists are afraid of forming muscular bonds they are attracted to Facebook because they can create relationship with loose or weak ties.A person with high personal preference for exhibitionism/self-presentation feels free to demand the center of the stage and to attract attention (Bulatao, et. al.). Exhibitionism is defined as calling an attention to oneself and leaving an impression (Hall. et. al.). SNSs, like Facebook, allow users to throw their self-presentation. This unique characteristic attracts narcissist because they will have more probability to alter their appearance and personality in online SNSs than in face-to-face interaction. disposed that users of SNSs have almost full control over infor mation disclosure, they can be more strategic in managing self-presentation.Profile picture is the most important aspect or part of self-presentation because they represent the individual in most of his online actions and activity. To affirm their positive but unrealistic, idealized and inflated self-view, narcissists tend to make their profile pictures more attractive and self-promoting. They choose profile pictures where they go steady more physically attractive they also edit and refine their photos to pass over their flaws.In a research done by Laura E. Buffardi and W. Keith Campbell, they found out that narcissists post in their about me section and status updates are mostly self-promoting. They do this by posting less entertaining but untold more intelligent quotes.In the same research, they also found out that narcissists photos are more attractive that those of the nonnarcissist. They also post photos in which they verbalism more attractive and self promoting.Narcissist s are also afraid of creating strong bonds. The unique Friend list of Facebook creates weak ties since the friendship of the two individuals in Facebook is imaginary. It means that some of a narcissists friends may be friends in real life, but other, most likely most of the FB friends, relationship or bond is wholly on the online entity, or simply imaginary.In the same research by Buffardi and Campbell, they found out thatnarcissist have more Facebook friends than nonnracissistic individuals. Narcissists seek attention and approval, they do this to gain or bind their self-esteem. In this world where SNSs dominate the lives of most people, especially the youth, it is not impress to observe that narcissist fulfill their needs through SNSs, particularly Facebook. ratiocinationSocial Networking Sites, like Facebook, help people in many shipway especially in communicating, but it also have consequences like promoting narcissism. Facebook promotes narcissism because its unique feature and characteristic stated in the body of this paper (e.g. SNSs giving the users almost full control over information disclosure, and Facebooks unique Friend list that create weak ties which a narcissist seeks) aid their needs for exhibition/self-presentation and formulating connection of weak ties to boost their self-esteem. This unique characteristic and feature of Facebook promotes narcissism of the Filipino youth.LimitationThis paper only focuses on the Filipino youth. The findings in this research paper may not be plausible to other sectors. This may affect by the culture, etnicity, age, gender, and other external and internal factors.BibliographyAmichai-Hamburger, Y., Vinitzky, G. (2010). Social network use and personality. Computers in humanity mien 26 (2010) 12891295 Bergman, S.M., Fearrington, M.E., Davenport, S.W., Bergman, J.Z., (2011). 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The effect of social networking websites on positive self-views An experimental investigation. Computers in Human Behavior 28 (2012), 19291933. Hall, C.S., Lindzey, G. (1957). Social Physchological Theories Alf red Adler. Theories of Personality. 116. Hall, C.S., Lindzey, G. (1957). Murray Personology. Theories of Personality. 157. Lima, E.N. (2007). The Association Between Narcissism and Implicit Self-Esteem A Test of the Fragile Self-Esteem Hypothesis. The Florida tell apart University DigiNole Commons Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations, 6-25-2007 Mehdizadeh, S. (2010). Self-Presentation 2.0 Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Facebook. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, And Social Networking 13. Michikyan, M., Subrahmanyam, K., Dennis, J. (2014). can you tell who I am? Neuroticism, extraversion, and online self-presentation among young adults. Computers in Human Behavior 33 (2014) 179183 Nadkarni, A., Hofmann, S.G., (2012). Why do people use Facebook?. Personality and Individual Differences 52 (2012) 243249 Ong, E.Y.L., Ang, R.P, Ho, J.C.M., Lim, J.C.Y., Goh, D.H., Lee, C.S., Chua, A.Y.K., Narcissism, extraversion and adolescents self-presentation on Facebook. Personality and Individual Differences 50 (2011), clxxx185. Pempek, T.A., Yermolayeva, Y.A., Calvert, S.L. (2009). College students social networking experiences on Facebook. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 30 (2009), 227238. Russel, J. (2011). Philippines named social networking capital of the world . Retrieved 15.04.14. Snchez-Franco, M.J., Villarejo-Ramos, A.F., Martn-Velicia, F.A. (2011). Social desegregation and post-adoption usage of Social Network Sites An analysis of effects on knowledge performance. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15, 256262. Seto, E. (2012). Associations Between Self-Reported Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and Social-Emotional Functions of Facebook. Steinfield, S., Ellison, N.B., Lampe, C., (2008). Social capital, self-esteem, and use of online social network sites A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 29 (2008) 434445 Winter S., Neubaum,G., Eimler, S.C., Gordon, V., Theil, J., Herrmann, J., Meinert, J., Krmer, N.C. (2014). Another br ick in the Facebook wall How personality traits relate to the content of status updates. Computers inHuman Behavior 34 (2014) 194202 Vazire, S., Naumann, L.P., Rentfrow, P.J.,Gosling, S.D. (2008). personation of a narcissist Manifestations of narcissism in physical appearance. Journal of Research in Personality 42 (2008) 14391447

Global Warming Poses Threat to Ski Resorts in USA Essay

The Ameri depose west is marvellous, it is large with grand landscapes and mountains reaching to the slant . The plains unfold to the horizon and the vistas present an unimaginable panorama. Just like whatsoever where else in the domain of a function, water supply is an essential subdivision to life here simply it is scarce hence creating the wests vulnerability. Precipitation is gener eachy scurvy and cannot support agriculture it is for this reason that agriculture is except(prenominal) possible done irrigation.This precipitation is not only scarce however scarcest in the passs when it is in world(a) needed yet evanesces disproportionately and mostly in the mountains in the pass. The only saving grace is that in spend it precipitates as hoodwink and stays as bamboozle packs with verboten the spend. It is on the basis of these run patterns that the winter sports tourism is established. This effort has served as the main economic hotheaded machine of the west and other other aras for decades. However, changing climatic patterns and foreign heating has emerged as a serious affright to the surviveence of the winter sports industry.Projected gains in average world-wide temperatures collectible to developments in commonalty admit gases in the atmosphere has been incriminated in widespread quick-frozen and carbon-covered cap decreases, ocean level rise and warming unless most importantly in the decrease of nose candy cover and the decrease in the duration of winter tourism. The unpredictability of the future and the clime subtle temper of winter sports tourism has led to many initiative aimed curbing the increase in green ho intent gases and consequently making snow available. creative activity Compelling evidence suggests that inter guinea pig humour has been on a advanced swop since the industrial era and is project to strain over the twenty- for the first time century and beyond. worldwide warming and clime t urn is an unequivocal phenomenon. ball-shaped mean temperature has been on the increase with an approximate increase of 0. 760 C amidst 1850-1899. the same increase has been found between 2001 and 2005. This means that global predictions of temperature feature a 90% probability (IPPC. clime Change and touristry, 2007).These increases in average temperatures atomic number 18 a direct upshot of human activities that increase the concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere. The extent of these discernible human influences submit likewise across-the-board to other modality qualify aspects such as temperature extremes, changes in hint patterns, continental average temperatures and ocean warming. The same is applicable to the widespread glacial and white cap decreases coupled with warming of the ocean surface temperatures, the result is a sea level rise of round 1. 8mm yearly from 1961-2003 and approximately 3. 1mm yearly from 1993-2003.The answer heart of biolo gical response in ecosystems and species transitionion presents an unpleasant scenario and these statistics are recorded in virtually ein truth continent. It is projected that the probability of increase in global temperatures testament further hie green house gas emanations at the present or to a elevateder place the present rates. The prediction pushes general global temperature rise by 1. 80C -4. 00C. presumptuous that the atmospheric concentrations of green house gases are stabilized, the warming effect would shut away continue callable to the levels of green house gases from past emissions and the consequent caloric inertia of oceans.The biological response would excessively be extrapolated to future centuries nonetheless if the levels are stabilized at the present concentrations today. The discernible manifestations worldwide leave alone be hot temperature extremes, extreme heat waves, heavy precipitation, peak vacate speeds and precipitation in tropic cyclon e events and an additional heavy precipitation associated with increases in tropical sea and surface temperatures. Together with these climatic changes extra tropical storm tracks are projected to put forward towards the poles. All these changes together with the decreases in show cover ordain continue into the future.The economic and environmental risks are unfathomable and would effectively impede nations strides towards the achievements of sustainable informations. However, on that point is hope that if precautions and measures are interpreted to sign green house gases today the high cost of environmental and economic destruction and disruption can reasonably be mitigated. This calls for lifestyle changes, economic policies and regulations and international efforts that not only serve reduce the causative agents of climate change and global warming but besides foster readjustment and mitigation measures to experience the challenges of climate change.Climate change and t ourism Climate change, particularly global warming has grown to be a pivotal issue in the development and management of tourism. The human relationship between the environment, climate and tourism sector is currently a super sensitive economic matter. Climate change is increasingly driving tourism development and decision making, changing tourism destinations and even tourist tastes. Tourism sector system a non negligible contributor to climatic changes. GHG emissions from enamour and accommodation must be reduced in accordance with international standards.Tourism sector cannot address the challenges of climatic changes themselves and in isolation but they can only do this in the background of sustainable development and the broader international development agenda. Tourism and the sustainability of tourism destinations is dependent on climate variability. The length and the quality of seasons as well as destination prize and the level of tourist spending are all determined by climate change. Climate change and winter sports Winter sports constitute a very source of in stupefy and the reliability of snow is a key element in the touristic notch.Skiing and snowboarding are the most common forms of writer sports but others such as snow hiking and cross-country moveing also depends on the reliability and the availability of enough snow. Mountainous areas are always very sensitive to climate change hence less snow, melting permafrost, withdraw glaciers and extreme events such as landslides. Additionally climate change shift mountain fauna and flora. These effects pose a direct threat to go resorts in the United States. Lower earnings in winter tourism will only serve to exacerbate economic disparities that exist between the alpine regions and the more developed urban areas.These changes will also increase the risk of only traveling at high elevated up the mountain. If this was to happen there would be an intense concentration of sports activities in c ertain regions as well as further putting haul on the environmentally sensitive high mountains. The extrapolation of the effects of global warming on winter tourism extends to the viability of the mountain cable way companies that use the availability of snow as a prerequisite for their financial stability. Without snow or enough snow the profitability of the move industry is impossible.The absence of snow in the mountains will be like having a summer without a sea. The variability of the winter season with response to climate change will deny the winter sports industry the right levels of snow at the right time. These forecasts are a necessity in planning for trips at shorter notices especially the weekends (Rolf Burki et al, 2003) Studies underinterpreted in Canada, Australia, brand-new Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and the United States to establish the impact of climate change on the tourism sector show severe implications especially to the winter sports industry.While ju st about regions with high technological advances like adaptation strategies ( fake snow making) will maintain their tourism, others unable to adapt the expensive technologies will lose out. These transitions in business volumes will not only be driven by limiting snow levels but also the occurrence that skiers respond flexibility to snow conditions. During a snow poor season, 49% of skies are most likely to change to a resort that is fairly more snow reliable, 32% would reduce the frequency of go and only 4% would give up the sport.Coupled together with the fact that climate change has a direct effect on the number of ski days, those unable to adapt to expensive technologies will be disadvantaged and pushed out of business. (Rolf Burki et al, 2003). vitamin C resorts not concentrated in snow reliable high elevation areas will be forced to withdraw from the market because of change magnitude levels of snow. For transport industries that will offer access to high raising areas (sometimes high than 200m) business prospects will be good due an expected increase in move at the high altitudes.The effect of this will be quantitative expansion of the high altitude skiing resorts hence eliciting a ostracise environmentally feedback effect caused by disruption of the ecologically sensitive high altitude mountain regions. Presently, this expected expansion to high altitude areas has been the theme of many concept studies that influence the opening up of in high spirits Mountain (Breiling and Charamza, 1999) It is for these effects of climate change that during a recent drift in Portsmouth, N. H, Barrack Obama the Democratic Party presidential candidate reiterated that there is need to address the urgency of global warming on the ski industry.He said that global warming is not a future problem but a present one. This problem has made New Hampshire to have shorter sporting seasons and people are losing jobs. He further reiterated that residents of north Americ a ski areas together with their customers should work reach in hand to change their energy spending. habits and resort to green technology if they were to prevent climate caused melt-downs (Laura Bly, 2007) furbish ups have started investing in sustainable seafood practices, local food supplies, biodiesel ply snow cats and embracing the use of more energy efficient snow making equipment.To achieve this, campaigns on global warming and discounts are macrocosm offered to guests who come in hybrid cans. What is even more impressing is that resorts have taken the challenge of campaigning for these changes as well as acting as advocates for inter politicsal change. Effects of global warming have also been reported in Burlington Vt. The city is usually carpeted in December but regrettably changing climatic conditions has created a mild role where snowfall is hardscrabble just an inch thick.The temperatures are becoming warmer and fewer trails open. However, these fears have been all ayed by the optimism of the meteorological department prediction that the season will improvement as Christmas approaches. According to Michael Berry president of the National ski Areas Association, the electric potential impacts winter recreation, the mountain ecosystem and the way of life of residents in these areas cannot be ignored. globular warming has a direct and profound effect on the ski business as it depends solely on the variability of stand.To drive this butt on of change, the association has adapted a indemnity to regulate and control climate change. The reduce, well-bredize and advocate approach was adopted to help in the argue against global warming. Key in the policy is a call to ski resorts to work towards the reduction of green house gas emissions individually and collectively, educate the public and guests on the potential impacts of climate change to writer sports industry and be the advocate in pushing for institutional and regulatory changes aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions (Michael Berry, 2007).To this end almost half of the 59 ski resorts, who have purchased renewable energy credits or utilize green energy for their lifts and other facilities are 100% green ply hence reducing carbon dioxide emission by 427,596,000 pounds an equivalent of put almost 17 million trees. Customers are boost to offset their emission and work towards increasing green energy use in their home. propagation of renewable energy through on site solar projects or micro hydro power projects and wind energy has greatly increased with lever Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts installing the first wind turbine powered ski area in August 2007.Resort vehicle fleets are now using alternative fuels like biodiesel, they also provide or promote car pooling or mass transit use. Ski resorts are being built using green construction techniques and retrofitting existing facilities all with the aim of saving energy. Though an outreach program called rema rk Winter cool millions of people have been educated on global warming and encouraged to institute lifestyle changes to help curb global warming. Specific Impacts of Global Warming on Winter Tourism . SnowThe financial viability and stability of the winter sports tourism industry solely depends on the availability of sufficient snow. Less snow pack is caused by higher(prenominal) average temperatures, on the other hand if there are extremely low temperatures at night then it follows that there is likely to be an average increase in daytime temperatures. In both cases the resultant effect is less mountain snow cover and a reduction in the duration of cover. (Stephen Saunders et al, 2005). This means that recreation will be pint-size and the snow will be slushier.The big difference to earlier situation where snow cover was considerably reduced is that, the capital intensity of the winter sports tourism will be considerably high. When this is analyzed in the context of profits from sk i dependent businesses, taxes from local and state governments, the financial prospects of industries in the winter tourism sector look bleak. However, the most important tie-in between climate change and mountain tourism is less snow and, as a consequence, less earnings in ski tourism. GlaciersStatistics all over the world point to the fact that there is a general retreat of glacial cover all over the world. Taking Switzerland as an example, since 1850, the Swiss glaciers have lost slightly more than 25% of their surface. If this was to continue in the future, by 2030, approximately 20% to 70% of the total Swiss glacial cover will disappear. This is a real problem for the ski industry not only in Switzerland but across the world as ski tourists will resort to other countries with snow availability.The effect of this trend will be putting more pressure on the existing ski facilities as well as acting as an incentive for investment in high altitude areas. Permafrost Melting of perma frost due to global warming makes mountain areas vulnerable to landslides. Transport facilities such as the mountain cable way stations, the lift masts and buildings expire instable. Them costs incurred in bracing and anchoring such buildings when permafrost melts are extremely high.Hiking and climbing in these areas is also made more dangerous hence the loss of revenue due to potential risk of injury like rockfall or other wellness outcomes. Despite of cries over decreases in snow levels in the future, there is a possibility of winters with heavy snow like that of 1998/1999 that brought a great parcel out of losses in the winter tourism industry. The avalanche winter undo mountain cable ways, ski-lifts and chair lifts. The expenses incurred on sow clearing and the overall loss incurred was in excess of US $ 130 million.Adaptations for the future ski industry should therefore inculcate these historical weather unpredictability patterns in improving the industrys financial viabili ty. Adaptations and Strategies Used by the Tourism Industry to Mitigate Against the Impacts of Global Warming All tourism representatives at political,organizational, entrepreneurial or operational level have been in the mind in pushing for adaptation strategies to curb climate change and help mitigate the potential effects of global warming.The experiences that project what is going to come in the future are prevalent today and is widely current that snow deficient conditions will determine whether winter tourism will remain a viable economic activity. To achieve this a multi sectoral modelling that consists of the National Ski Areas Association(NSAA), Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the federal government through the Senate Environment and Public Works, state stakeholders and other non governmental civil society organizations have developed a Climate Change policy aimed at reducing the concentrations of green house emissions.Ski resorts have been encouraged to adopt sa fe and efficient energy usage through the victimisation of renewable energy resources. It is this concerted effort in mitigating climate change challenges that also saw the support and endorsement of McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act to spearpoint the fight against global warming. Specifically these attempts will help stabilize the US$ 5 billion mountain resort industry that currently offers practice session to 165,000 people.Despite the existence of facts that predict radical effects in the industry, some argue that climate change issues are very exaggerated and politicized by science and the media. They argue that even though the effects could intensify problems in the industry, the majority of resorts in medium and high altitudes will be however affected. Discussions should yield strategies that take into cipher the accuracy of statistical data disseminated on climate change and critically analyze the potential consequences.These issues should further be analyzed with reference to the global competition in the winter tourism sector. The facts that accrue from these forums should then be integrated in the construction of artificial snow flaking facilities, extend existing ski runs. Opening of high altitude ski resorts (2000-3000m)should be guided by the potential ecological effect. Climate change should not only be viewed as a negative challenge to winter tourism but also as a catalyst to drive radical structural adjustment and change.These developments should take into account the present risks and opportunities as well as foster development that is in line with the strive for environmental and socio economic sustainability. This will create a highly competitive market where customer preference is not only driven by snow availability but by the strength of service in some very high end but smaller less extensive resorts. Such top resorts will offer attractive offers for skiing tourists and hence reduce attention on grand developments with less attractive offers.Artificial Snow making This is an ubiquitous system that is widely employed to mitigate the risk of climate change. Since its inception in 1953 at the Grossingers Resort in New York, it has grown to become the principle in the ski industry with an approximate 95% of the resorts tenanted in the strategy. Its success has mainly been driven by its invaluable splendid nature that offers a complete substitute to natural snow fall as well as making it possible to extend skiing durations(Daniel D. D. McGill, 2007).However, this technology is heavily dependent on temperature and is only effective in cases at low temperatures. Technological advances has seen the reduction of labor costs through the use of snow guns operated by computers. Snow making utilizes vast volumes of water and therefore the availability of water must be guaranteed for efficient blanketing of a large resort. Weather Derivatives. These are weather risk management tools coordinate to enable ski res orts make appropriate and informed decisions. They can be structured on snow fall temperature according to the customers specifications.Other factors that can be utilized to mitigate the effects of global warming include r4evenue diversification, cloud seeding and marketing to insulate the resorts against variability of weather by modify them to maximumly capitalize when the weather is excellent. Conclusions Climate change and global warming remains will continue to remain key challenges in the winter tourism industry especially the ski resorts. Less snow, less glaciers and extreme weather events such as landslides are the key determinants of the future viability of ski resorts.Strategies instituted to meet the challenges of climatic change and mitigate the impacts of global warming can never be successful if implemented in isolation. It is commendable fact that the skiing industry has adopted sustainable building techniques,inculcated green principles and technology in their oper ations among others. These precedents are admirable but we have to admit that when taken in the global context, these measures do very little in stemming the distressful tide of global warming whose effects are felt indiscriminately.Global warming is a worldwide problem and therefore all the measures undertaken by the tourism industry must be in line with national and international guidelines that aim at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the future, tourist developments will not only be evaluated and judged with respect to their environmental or socio-economic compatibility and viability but they will also be assessed with respect to the climate-compatibility angle.

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Three

bonnie st atomic number 18d. I dont come foul anything ab reveal the bridge. It didnt aspect deal a bridge. hardly you say it yourself, at the end. I thinking you cerebrateed Elenas theatrical role died a federal agency. You dont remember that part, she tell flatly. It was not a question.I remember being al superstar, whatsoeverwhither c doddering and immorality, and feeling weak and thirsty. Or was it esurient? I dont k flat, but I penuryed something. And I almost cherished to die. And then you woke me up.Elena and Meredith exc devolveed a glance. And after that, Elena express to fair, you said one more thing, in a strange voice. You said not to go near the bridge.She toldyou not to go near the bridge.Meredith corrected. You in particular, Elena. She said finis was waiting.I dont motorcare whats waiting, said Elena. If thats where Stefan is, thats where Im press release. therefore thats where were all going, said Meredith.Elena hesitated. I endow the bouncet as k you to do that, she said slowly. There might be danger of a kind you dont master it on ab issue(a). It might be best for me to go alone.Dont, said Elena quickly. You were the one who said it wasnt a game.And not for Stefan, either, Meredith reminded them. Were not doing him more than good standing well-nigh here.Elena was already shrugging come in of her kimono, mournful toward the closet. Wed give a way all bundle up. Borrow anything you want to custody warm, she said.When they were more or less dressed for the weather, Elena off to the door. consequently she halt.Robert, she said. Theres no way we can get past him to the front door, thus far if hes asleep.Simultaneously, the three of them turned to olfaction at the window.Oh, wonderful, said Bonnie.As they climbed out into the quince tree, Elena realized that it had blockingped snowing. however the bite of the air on her cheek make her remember Damons words. Winter is an unforgiving season, she notion, and shive red.all(a) the lights in the house were out, including those in the spiritedness room. Robert must have gone to sleep already. Even so, Elena held her breath as they crept past the darkened windows. Merediths car was a little way follow up the street. At the last minute of arc, Elena decided to get some rope, and she soundlessly undefended the back door to the garage. There was a swift current in Drowning Creek, and wading would be dangerous.The drive to the end of town was tense. As they passed the outskirts of the woods, Elena remembered the way the leaves had blown at her in the cemetery. Particularly oak tree leaves.Bonnie, do oak trees have any special significance? Did your grandmother ever express anything about them? hale, they were sacred to the Druids. All trees were, but oak trees were the most sacred. They view the spirit of the trees brought them power.Elena digested that in silence. When they reached the bridge and got out of the car, she gave the oak trees on the pay off side of the road an uneasy glance. exclusively the wickedness was clear and oddly calm, and no breeze stirred the alter brown leaves left on the branches.Keep your eyes out for a crow, she said to Bonnie and Meredith.A crow? Meredith said sharply. Like the crow outside Bonnies house the night Yangtze died?The night Yangtze was killed. Yes. Elena approached the dark waters of Drowning Creek with a rapidly beating heart. Despite its name, it was not a creek, but a swiftly silklike river with banks of red native c place down. Above it stood Wickery Bridge, a wooden structure built nearly a century ago. erstwhile, it had been strong enough to support wagons now it was just a footbridge that nobody used because it was so lay on the worldly concern.Despite her brave words earlier, Bonnie was hanging back. repute the last metre we went over this bridge? she said.Too well, Elena design. The last time they had crossed it, they were being chased by something from the grav eyard. Or someone, she thought.Were not going over it yet, she said. First weve got to look under it on this side.Where the old serviceman was found with his throat torn open, Meredith muttered, but she followed. The car honcholights illuminated but a small portion of the bank under the bridge. As Elena stepped out of the narrow wedge of light, she felt a sick thrill of foreboding. finish was waiting, the voice had said. Was Death down here?Her feet slipped on the damp, scummy play offs. All she could hear was the rushing of the water, and its hollow echo from the bridge above her manoeuver. And, though she strained her eyes, all she could ensure in the darkness was the raw riverside and the wooden trestles of the bridge.Stefan? she whispered, and she was almost glad that the noise of the water drowned her out. She felt like a person calling whos there? to an empty house, yet hunted of what might answer. This isnt right, said Bonnie from piece of tail her.What do you mean? Bonnie was feeling just about, shaking her head some, her body taut with c at a timentration. It just feels wrong. I dont well, for one thing I didnt hear the river before. I couldnt hear anything at all, just dead silence.Elenas heart dropped with dismay. Part of her knew that Bonnie was right, that Stefan wasnt in this barbarousand lonely place. But part of her was too scared to listen. Weve got to make sure, she said by dint of the constriction in her chest, and she moved farther into the darkness, feeling her way along because she couldnt externalise. But at last she had to admit that there was no sign that any person had recently been here. No sign of a dark head in the water, either. She wiped bleak muddy pilewritings on her jeans.We can check the other side of the bridge, said Meredith, and Elena nodded mechanically. But shedidnt need to see Bonnies expression to know what theyd find. This was the wrong place. Lets just get out of here, she said, climbing through vege tation toward the wedge of light beyond the bridge. just as she reached it, Elena froze.Bonnie gasped. Oh, God Get back, hissed Meredith. Up against the bank.Clearly silhouetted against the car headlights above was a black figure. Elena, staring with a wildly It was moving toward them.Ducking out of sight, Elena cowered back against the muddy riverbank under the bridge, pressure level herself as flat as possible. She could feel Bonnie shaking behind her, and Merediths fingers sank into her arm.They could see nada from here, but suddenly there was a weighty footfall on the bridge. Scarcely daring to breathe, they clung to one another(prenominal), fonts turned up. The obtuse footsteps rang across the wooden planks, moving away from them.Please let him keep going, thought Elena. Oh, beguileShe sank her teeth into her lip, and then Bonnie whimpered softly, her icy hand clutching Elenas. The footsteps were coming back.I should go out there, Elena thought. Its me he wants, not t hem. He said as much. I should go out there and face him, and maybe hell let Bonnie and Meredith leave. But the fiery rage that had sustain her that morning was in ashes now. With all her strength of will, she could not make her hand let go of Bonnies, could not tear herself away.The footsteps sounded right above them. Then there was silence, followed by a slithering sound on the bank.No, thought Elena, her body charged with fear. He was coming down. Bonnie moaned and buried her head against Elenas shoulder, and Elena felt every muscle tense as she saw lawsuit feet, legs appear out of the darkness.No What are youdoing down there?Elenas mind refused to play this information at first. It was still panicking, and she almost screamed as prostrate took another step down the bank, peering under the bridge.Elena? What are youdoing? he said again.Bonnies head flew up. Merediths breath exploded in relief. Elena herself felt as if her knees might give way. monotonic, she said. It was a ll she could manage.Bonnie was more vocal. What do you thinkyoure doing? she said in cost increase tones. Trying to give us a heart attack? What are you out here for at this time of night? gym mat satiate a hand into his pocket, rattling change. As they emerged from under the bridge, he stared out over the river. I followed you.Youwhat ? said Elena.Reluctantly, he swung to face her. I followed you, he repeated, shoulders tense. I figured youd find a way to get nigh your aunt and go out again. So I sat in my car across the street and watched your.Elena didnt know what to say. She was angry, and of course, he had probably through it only to keep his promise to Stefan. But the thought of Matt posing out there in his battered old Ford, probably halt to death and without any supper it gave her a strange pang she didnt want to lodge on.He was flavor out at the river again. She stepped closer to him and spoke quietly. Im sorry, Matt, she said. round the way I acted back at the house , and and about She fumbled for a minute and then gave up. About everything, she thought hopelessly.Well, Im sorry for scaring you just now. He turned back briskly to face her, as if that settled the matter. Now could you please tell me what you think youre doing? Bonnie thought Stefan might be here.Bonnie didnot , said Bonnie. Bonnie said right away that it was the wrong place. Were looking for somewhere quiet, no noises, and closed in. I felt surrounded, she explained to Matt.Matt looked back at her warily, as if she might bite. Sure you did, he said.There were rocks around me, but not like these river rocks.Uh, no, of course they werent. He looked sideways at Meredith, who took pity on him.Bonnie had a resource, she said.Matt backed up a little, and Elena could see his profile in the headlights. From his expression, she could tell he didnt know whether to walk away or to round them all up and get behind them to the nearest insane asylum.Its no joke, she said. Bonnies psychic , Matt. I know Ive always said I didnt believe in that sort of thing, but Ive been wrong. You dont know how wrong. Tonight, she she tuned in to Stefan somehow and got a g arrestse of where he is.Matt drew a long breath. I see. OkayDont patronize me Im not stupid, Matt, and Im telling you this is for real. She was there, with Stefan she knew things only he would know. And she saw the place hes trapped in.Trapped, said Bonnie. Thats it. It was definitely nothing open like a river. But there was water, water up to my neck.His neck. And rock walls around, covered with thick moss. The water was ice cold and still, and it smelled bad.But what did you see? Elena said.Nothing. It was like being blind. Somehow I knew that if there was even the faintest ray of light I would be able to see, but I couldnt. It was black as a tomb.As a tomb cut cpitchers mounds went through Elena. She thought about the ruined church on the hill above the graveyard. There was a tomb there, a tomb she thought had opened once.No but I dont get any reason of where itcould be then, Bonnie said. Stefan wasnt really in his right mind he was so weak and evil. And so thirsty Elena opened her mouth to stop Bonnie from going on, but just then Matt skint in.Ill tell you what it sounds like to me, he said.The three girls looked at him, standing slightly apart from their group like an eavesdropper. They had almost forgotten about him.Well? said Elena.Exactly, he said. I mean, it sounds like a well.Elena blinked, extravagance stirring in her. Bonnie?Itcould be, said Bonnie slowly. The size and the walls and everything would be right. But a well is open I should have been able to see the stars.Not if it were covered, said Matt. A lot of the old farmhouses around here have wells that are no longer in use, and some farmers cover them to make sure little kids dont fall in. My grandparents do. Elena couldnt contain her excitement any longer. That could be it. Thatmust be it. Bonnie, remember, you said i t wasalways dark there.Yes, and it did have a sort of underground feeling. Bonnie was excited, too, but Meredith interrupted with a dry question.How many wells do you think there are in Fells Church, Matt?Dozens, probably, he said. But covered? Not as many. And if youre suggesting mortal dumped Stefan in this one, then it cant be any place where people would see it. Probably somewhere abandonedAnd his car was found on this road, said Elena.The old Francher place, said Matt.They all looked at one another. The Francher farmhouse had been ruined and tatterdemalion for as long as anybody could remember. It stood in the middle of the woods, and the woods had taken it over nearly a century ago.Lets go, added Matt simply.Elena put a hand on his arm. You believe ?He looked away a moment. I dont know what to believe, he said at last. But Im coming.From here we walk, he said.Elena was glad shed thought of bringing rope theyd need it if Stefan were really in the Francher well. And if he wa sntShe wouldnt let herself think about that.It was hard going through the woods, especially in the dark. The underbrush was thick, and dead branches reached out to snatch at them. Moths fluttered around them, brushing Elenas cheek with unseen wings.Eventually they came to a clearing. The foundations of the old house could be seen, building stones tied to the ground now by weeds and brambles. For the most part, the chimney was still intact, with, hollow places where concrete had once held it together, like a crumbling monument.The well would be somewhere out back, Matt said.It was Meredith who found it and called the others. They gathered around and looked at the flat, square block of stone almost level with the ground.Matt stooped and examined the dirt and weeds around it. Its been moved recently, he said.That was when Elenas heart began pounding in earnest. She could feel it reminiscent in her throat and her fingertips. Lets get it off, she said in a voice barely above a whisper.T he stone slab was so heavy that Matt couldnt even shift it. Finally all four of them pushed, bracing themselves against the ground behind it, until, with a groan, the block moved a fraction of an inch. Once there was a tiny gap between stone and well, Matt used a dead branch to lever the opening wider. Then they all pushed again.When there was an aperture large enough for her head and shoulders, Elena bent down, looking in. She was almost afraid to hope.Stefan?The seconds afterward, hovering over that black opening, looking down into darkness, consultation only the echoes of pebbles disturbed by her movement, were agonizing. Then, incredibly, there was another sound.Who ? Elena?Oh, Stefan Relief made her wild. Yes Im here, were here, and were going to get you out. Are you all right? Are you hurt? The only thing that stopped her from tumbling in herself was Matt grabbing her from behind. Stefan, hang on, weve got a rope. Tell me youre all right.There was a faint, almost unidentifi able sound, but Elena knew what it was. A laugh. Stefans voice was thready but intelligible. Ive been better, he said. But Im alive. Whos with you?She slapped the top of his head. Dont joke about it Get him upYes, maam, said Matt, a little giddily. Here, Stefan. Youre going to have to tie this around you.Yes, said Stefan. He didnt argue about fingers numb with cold or whether or not they could haul his weight up. There was no other way.The next fifteen minutes were awful for Elena. It took all four of them to pull Stefan out, although Bonnies main region was saying, come on, comeon , whenever they paused for breath. But at last Stefans give gripped the edge of the dark hole, and Matt reached forward to grab him under the shoulders.Then Elena was holding him, her weapons system locked around his chest. She could tell just how wrong things were by his unnatural stillness, by the limpness of his body. Hed used the last of his strength helping to pull himself out his hands were cut and bloody. But what worried Elena most was the fact that those hands did not return her desperate embrace.When she released him enough to look at him, she saw that his skin was waxen, and there were black shadows under his eyes. His skin was so cold that it frightened her.She looked up at the others anxiously.Matts brow was furrowed with concern. Wed better get him to the clinic fast. He needs a doctor.No The voice was weak and hoarse, and it came from the limp figure Elena cradled.She felt Stefan gather himself, felt him slowly raise his head. His squirt eyes fixed on hers, and she saw the urgency in them.No doctors. Those eyes burned into hers. Promise Elena.Elenas own eyes stung and her vision blurred. I promise, she whispered. Then she felt whatever had been holding him up, the current of innocent willpower and determination, collapse. He slumped in her arms, unconscious.