...Concluding remarks………………………………………………………..19 References………………………………………………………………….20 ABSTRACT: Why do we pray? To appease the Almighty? To have what we want? Well yeah, most of the time the latter one. Because even agnostics pray, prayer is an involuntary reaction, everyone, no matter a believer or an atheist, has said in his mind at least once, “I wish it happened like this”, haven’t they? We pray even without knowing that we are doing so. Now, the success rate is a matter of debate. But definitely we set a substantial store on the power of prayer, that’s why mass prayers are conducted in churches and temples, and also on much less religious scales. Prayers are a form of thought, directed thought to put it in better words. We direct our thoughts; or rather push them in such a way so as to achieve something, in the same way we reach out with our arms to get something. Similarly, our thoughts too have the ability to influence matter without being in direct contact with our environment. How are prayers answered? It is based on the same principle of our mind affecting the outer environment. Let’s take an example, suppose you have a prayer, you are praying that someone near or dear to you is in the hospital (god forbid it happens) and you are praying for that person to heal fast, now if you tell that prayer to many people and tell them all to pray for that person to heal fast, then I can assure you that those prayers will be effective and that person is sure to have got better maybe very...
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...ideas, and provide practical suggestions on ways you can improve your life. Life² helps people to live well - to live happy and wise lives in the modern world. We aim to provide you with ideas, information and tools to help you get more out of life, see things more clearly and live with greater wisdom. We offer lectures, courses, publications and consultancy – on topics from ‘our place in the universe’ through to ‘how to live the life you want’, and from ‘the problem with consumerism’ through to ‘how to be happy’. For more information visit www.lifesquared.org.uk Copyright Richard Docwra 2009 © Published by Life² Life Squared Limited Registration number: 6924570 Registered address: 22 Luther Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 9XA www.lifesquared.org.uk info@lifesquared.org.uk Copyright © 2009 Richard Docwra. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission. Please contact Life² if you wish to syndicate this information. Contents Introduction 4 Advertising 5 Consumerism – beyond advertising 9 The effects of consumerism 14 What is wrong with consumerism? 17 What can we do about it? 27 References Inside back page Introduction Introduction C onsumerism is one of the strongest forces affecting our lives in the modern world. The term ‘consumerism’ does not simply refer to immediate factors in our daily lives such as the omnipresence of advertising, but anything...
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...networks in 31 countries and has partner networks in a further 44 countries. It owns 45% of Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile telecommunications company in the United States measured by subscribers. The name Vodafone comes from voice data fone, chosen by the company to "reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones". Vodafone Group Plc is the world's leading mobile telecommunications company, with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States through the Company's subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures, associated undertakings and investments. Vodafone itself was formed in 1982 as a joint venture between Racal Electronics plc's subsidiaries Racal Strategic Radio Ltd (who won one of two UK cellular telephone network licenses) along with Millicom and the Hambros Technology Trust. The network was known as Racal Vodafone, with the Vodafone name being derived from the firm's goal of establishing a voice and data services over cellular telecommunication networks. Hence VO represented voice and DA symbolized data — yielding the name Vodafone. In 1997 Vodafone introduced its new corporate Speechmark logo. This represents a quotation mark within a circle. With the 'O's in the Vodafone logotype being opening and closing quotation marks, suggesting conversation. Vodafone's vision...
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...though. Many people respect and admire technology because it is there to benefit them. Without the technological advances we have had over the years, the world would not be what it is today. What people don’t understand is that technology can actually be a bad thing. In society today, people are looking for more and more ways to be entertained, and all it is doing is causing problems. People are doing less and less thinking and more and more watching, listening, and playing, all because of technology. Forms of entertainment like the Internet, television and even video games seem harmless to people, but they are really not. When the Internet was first introduced, people never thought it would be as big as it is today. The Internet is an easy to use technology that can do just about anything. But what people understand is that the Internet is not all good. Much of the information posted on sites on the Internet is merely opinions, not factual information. When people look at this information, it looks and seems like trustful information, but most of the time, it is not. Although the Internet is a relatively new technology television has been around for about fifty years. There are many problems with television though, mainly with the content of the shows. Many of the shows on television portray violence, drugs, sexual activity, and profanity. People who watch these shows see what the actors and actresses are doing and then feel it is all right for them to do the same...
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...SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF COMMUNICATION Understanding of the phenomena of our lives begins with a hypothesis that can be tested and a theory that can be examined. In explaining the usefulness of theories, McGuire ( 1981) called them maps. "Knowledge is not a perfect map of the thing known but without it one has to move through the environment with no map at all" (p. 42 ). Each of us has maps, theories about communication. -3- The trick is in making proper use of the theory, which involves recognizing the brilliant partial insight into reality that is provided by any theory's special perspective, seeing its applicability to a specific problem whose puzzling aspects it can illuminate, while at the same time recognizing its limitations and being open to alternative theoretical insights from which guidance can be obtained as one's initial theory begins to prove unsatisfactory. (p. 42 ) Theory is needed because no matter how long and hard people examine any object of inquiry--communication in this case--it will not reveal itself. Only by developing and testing hypotheses and weighing the lines of arguments advanced by different theories can the secrets of human communication be unlocked. This book offers many maps. Each should increase your understanding of communication even if you do not agree with the points it makes. The theories may give you insights into how to communicate more effectively. Many theories in the chapters that follow probably will confirm your...
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...discipline of philosophy. * Realize that the culture in which we live influences our thinking. Business ethics, some would say, is an oxymoron. After all, the media presents, on nearly a daily basis, the shenanigans of corporate representatives as they ply their trade. Price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, fraud, deceptive advertising, and insider trading are but a few of the many questionable tactics found in the quivers of corporate moguls and their charges. Corporations and their activities have been fair game for attack, both factual and fictional. The level of corruption is epidemic in the estimation of many observers. This rather bleak picture is probably the one most familiar to what has become a very cynical populace. We have come to think of ourselves as current or potential victims of evil corporations. Is business evil incarnate? Of course it isn't. Is business completely innocent of the charges against it? Again, the answer is no. The truth lies somewhere in between. It is, after all, the modern enterprise, with all of its strengths and weaknesses, that has brought to larger numbers of people around the world, a level of material comfort and cultural opportunities than has ever before existed. Businesses must be doing something right. In fact, while business has less than a stellar reputation, the vast majority of its activities are either positive or benign. Just look around. Can you not, at any time of the day or night, find food to eat at a local eatery...
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...paper) 1. Information society. 2. Information networks. 3. Computer networks—Social aspects. 4. Computer networks—Economic aspects. I. Title. HM851.B457 2006 303.48'33—dc22 2005028316 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 STRANGE FRUIT By Lewis Allan _ 1939 (Renewed) by Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP) International copyright secured. All rights reserved. All rights outside the United States controlled by Edward B. Marks Music Company. Reprinted by permission. For Deb, Noam, and Ari “Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which...
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...Question 01: How do consumers culture, social, personal and psychological characteristics affect their cosmetics shopping behavior? Answer: The behavior that the cosmetic consumers display in searching, purchasing, using, evaluating and disposing a product that they expect will satisfy their needs is very important to create a market. It mainly focuses on how individuals make decisions to spend their time, money and effort on that cosmetic. That includes what they buy, why they buy it, when they buy it, where they buy it, how often they buy it, how often they use it, how they evaluate it after the purchase and the impact of such evaluations on future purchases, and how they dispose it. 1. Cultural Factors: Culture has a profound influence on all aspects of human behavior. Culture is a pervasive influence which underlies all facets of social behavior and interaction. It is embodied in the objects used in everyday life and in modes of communication in society. Different cultures react differently to a new product, as the meanings, values, ideas and beliefs of a social group are articulated through various cultural artifacts. One’s own personal culture guides the selection of cosmetics. The language and the symbols used on the package influences the selection of cosmetics and the ritual which we perform has an effect on the use of cosmetics too. While selecting cosmetics, culture influences their selection. For example, complexion of Asians is darker than Europeans...
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...popular concept worldwide including Nigeria. At first sight, quality of life is a simple, straightforward construct. Most people have a reasonably clear idea of what sorts of things would enhance their individual quality of life (and probably the quality of life of other individuals too). There is an adage that says, “He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches”. The quality of life of a person is what he/she perceives it to be. For example, higher pay; longer holidays; more satisfaction in our working lives; time to pursue enjoyable and satisfying leisure pursuits; emotional fulfillment in relationships; and having a long healthy and happy life – all within a safe, caring and supportive local community are among the things people conceived as what could improve their quality of life. Quality of life in the rural setting according to Phillips (2006) is a multifaceted phenomenon determined by the cumulative and interactive impacts of numerous and varied factors like housing conditions, infrastructure, access to various amenities, income, standard of living, satisfaction about the physical and social environment. According to this author, the two indicators of quality of life which are subjective and objective are pointing to two different things. Subjective indicator focuses on pleasure as the basic building block of human happiness and satisfaction of quality of life. However, the objective indicator on the other hand, focuses on a radically different perspective. To those who...
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...technologies that are intended to reach a large audience by mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place varies. Broadcast media such as radio, recorded music, film and television transmit their information electronically. Print media use a physical object such as a newspaper, book, pamphlet or comics,[1] to distribute their information. Outdoor media is a form of mass media that comprises billboards, signs or placards placed inside and outside of commercial buildings, sports stadiums, shops and buses. Other outdoor media include flying billboards (signs in tow of airplanes), blimps, and skywriting.[2] Public speaking and event organising can also be considered as forms of mass media.[3] The digital media comprises both Internet and mobile mass communication. Internet media provides many mass media services, such as email, websites, blogs, and internet based radio and television. Many other mass media outlets have a presence on the web, by such things as having TV ads that link to a website, or distributing a QR Code in print or outdoor media to direct a mobile user to a website. In this way, they can utilise the easy accessibility that the Internet has, and the outreach that Internet affords, as information can easily be broadcast to many different regions of the world simultaneously and cost-efficiently. The organizations that control these technologies, such as television stations or publishing companies, are also known as the mass media...
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...with time and distance, the new multimedia realm is allowing us to include vital physical cues in the information stream, introducing a physical reality into the world of electronic communications, goods, and services. Not surprisingly, some of the industries that are being most radically revolutionized are those that deal with the human senses, including entertainment, health care, education, advertising, and, sadly, warfare. Simply put, technology changes your way and pace of life. In recent years, the word telecommunications has been used so often, and applied in so many situations, that it has become part of our daily lexicon, yet its definition remains elusive. So, let's start with a definition. The word telecommunications has its roots in Greek: tele means "over a distance," and communicara means "the ability to share." Hence, telecommunications literally means "the sharing of information over a distance." Telecommunications is more than a set of technologies, it's more than an enormous global industry (estimated to be US$2.5 trillion), it's more than twenty-first-century business and law that is being re-created to accommodate a virtual world, and it's more than a creator and destroyer of the state of the economy. Telecommunications is a way of life. Telecommunications affects how and where you do everything—live, work, play, socialize, entertain, serve, study, teach, rest, heal, and protect. Telecommunications has served a critical role in shaping society and culture,...
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... The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets. Broadcast media transmit information electronically, via such media as film, radio, recorded music, or television. Digital media comprises both Internet and mobile mass communication. Internet media comprise such services as email, social media sites, websites, and Internetbased radio and television. Many other mass media outlets have an additional presence on the web, by such means as linking to or running TV ads online, or distributing QR Codes in outdoor or print media to direct mobile users to a website. In this way, they can utilise the easy accessibility and outreach capabilities the Internet affords, as thereby easily broadcast information throughout many different regions of the world simultaneously and costefficiently. Outdoor media transmit information via such media as AR advertising; billboards; blimps; flying billboards (signs in tow of airplanes); placards or kiosks placed inside and outside of buses, commercial buildings, shops, sports stadiums, subway cars, or trains; signs; or skywriting.[1] Print media transmit information via physical objects, such as books, comics, magazines, newspapers, or pamphlets.[2] Event organizing and public speaking can also be considered forms of mass media.[3] The organizations that control these technologies, such as movie studios, publishing companies, and radio and television stations, are also known as the mass media.[4][5] Contents 1 Issues with definition 1.1 Characteristics 1...
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...Leonora Christopher ENG1020 23 July 2012 Impact of Culture Shock . (rough draft) Immigration has changed many aspects of American society and has been influenced in return. People migrate around the world due to a multitude of reasons. Some adjust while others are lost in cultural shock and discrimination; many others form and join ethnic groups in an attempt to assimilate, while others resort to crime. These rapid changes direct American society in a new cultural direction. This research paper will attempt to define and explore the term culture shock, identify different stages in the process, share first-hand experiences and provide some personal remedies for dealing with culture shock as it relates to International travel. Modern technology allows an increasing amount of people to travel easily and quickly more often. Though man has always been mobile and has throughout history interacted with other units, tribes, nations and peoples, never before has the position of the individual been so favorable. Traveling and living abroad is more the standard than an exception among young students nowadays. With the flow of people also flow new ideas, concepts, ideologies and views. Through school and educational background, the media and arts, new views are continually being introduced to the public. However, only through traveling and living abroad can one get the actual experience of the things...
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...PSYCHOLOGY AND LIFE After reading this chapter, you would be able to: understand how psychology can be applied to common problems in our lives, appreciate the relationship between human beings and the environment, analyse how pro-environmental behaviour helps to deal with environmental stressors, explain the causes and consequences of social problems from a psychological perspective, and learn about the possible remedies of problems such as poverty, aggression, and health. CONTENTS Introduction Human-Environment Relationship Different Views of the Human-Environment Relationship The Bishnois and the Chipko Movement (Box 8.1) Environmental Effects on Human Behaviour Human Influence on the Environment Noise Pollution Crowding Natural Disasters Promoting Pro-environmental Behaviour Psychology and Social Concerns Poverty and Discrimination Aggression, Violence, and Peace Key Terms Mahatma Gandhi on Non-violence : Why Does Summary Non-violence Work (Box 8.2) Review Questions Health Project Ideas Impact of Television on Behaviour Weblinks Pedagogical Hints 152 Psychology Introduction In the previous two chapters, you read about some topics related to social behaviour and groups. We will now reflect on a set of social concerns with a wider scope, which are linked to each other and involve psychological aspects. These issues have to be understood and resolved at the level of the community rather than the individual. It is now known that besides affecting our physical...
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...necessarily have an effect since other factors also influence people other than information consumed from the media. As such, this study asserts that the mass media influences public opinion but does not necessarily cause it. Key words: powerful media, mass media effects, theories of mass media effects, impact of media messages INTRODUCTION The mass media involve organisations that are responsible for the dissemination of information to a large number of people. Basically, the mass media are categorised into print and electronic media. The print media include magazine, newspapers and books while the electronic media are television, radio, internet, videos or films etc. The instruments of both the print and electronic media are being used by the mass media to create and promote multitude of ideas that positively affect the lives of people and the society. That is to say,...
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