The Failure of United Nations Peacekeeping free essay sample

The Republic of Rwanda is a country located in East-Central Africa. It is surrounded by the countries Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital city is Kigali. 1. 1 Pre-Colonial Rwanda In the fifteenth century, one chiefdom managed to integrate several of its neighbors, hereby establishing the Kingdom of Rwanda. This kingdom ruled over most of what is now considered Rwanda. Through a contract known as ubuhake, the Hutu farmers pledged their services and those of their descendants to a Tutsi lord in return for the loan of cattle and use of pastures and arable land.Thus, the Tutsi reduced the Hutu to virtual serfdom. However, boundaries of race and class became less distinct over the years as some Tutsi declined until they enjoyed few advantages over the Hutu. Although some ethnic Hutus were among the nobility and significant intermingling took place, the Hutu made up 82–85% of the population and were mostly poor peasants. We will write a custom essay sample on The Failure of United Nations Peacekeeping or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In general, the kings, known as Mwamis, were Tutsi. Besides the Tutsis and Hutus, there are also the Twas. The Twas, or pygmy people, are often neglected to be mentioned in history. Although several thousand Twas were killed during the 1994 genocide. 1. 2 Colonial RwandaAlthough the Hutus and Tutsis had their ethnic conflict, it had never led to any real slayings between these two ethnic groups. At least not until the kingdom of Rwanda became colonized by the Germans in the 19th century. â€Å"The Germans were the first Europeans to set foot in Rwanda. † Although there was already some sort of ethnic division among the Hutus and the Tutsis, it was the Germans that brought the situation to escalation. The Tutsis considered themselves superior to the Hutus and the Twas. When the Germans came they did not try and change this way of thinking in Rwanda. Instead, the Germans encouraged train of thought.Actually, the Germans went a step further by classifying these people. Tutsis were those that had a â€Å"European nose† and were light-skinned. Because of their outward appearance, the Germans regarded the Tutsis as being the superior race in Rwanda. They (the Germans) made sure that the Tutsis were the ruling race and the Hutus the inferiors. After World War I, control of Rwanda passed to Belgium. Rwanda was then known as Ruanda-Urundi. Though there was a new nation to govern Rwanda, the Belgians continued with the ethnic division. During this period, citizens of Rwanda were given racial identification cards.These cards indicated whether one was Hutu, Twa or Tutsi. Later on this slightly changed due to the fact that there were many wealthy Hutus. The citizens still given racial identification cards but now if a citizen owned 10 or more cows he/she was then considered Tutsi. 1. 3 The Years Following Colonialism In 1962, Rwanda was granted independence by Belgium and from this point on the racial hatred grew. Unlike all the previous years, the Hutus took control in Rwanda. The first Rwandan president, Gregoire Kayibanda, was a Hutu and was president from 1962 until 1973, when he was relieved of his presidency by Juvenal Habyarimana, also a Hutu.Under the presidency of Juvenal Habyarimana, Rwanda did enjoy a few years of economic prosperity. This, however, did not last all too long. Many Tutsis had fled Rwanda to Burundi when the Hutus came to power, because they feared that they would be treated badly due to the history shared by these two ethnic groups. While in Burundi, the Tutsis were able to seize military control over the country. This led to random violence within the country. It is estimated that in Burundi, more that 20,000 Hutus were slaughtered by the Tutsi army. Although there were many uprisings by the Hutus, the Tutsi army in Burundi was much too powerful.Around 1986, Tutsi military leader by the name of Paul Kigame and Fred Rwigema formed the Rwandan Patriot Front, better known as the RPF. The RPF began creating an army in order to invade Rwanda from Uganda. In 1990, the RPF invaded Rwanda from Uganda which eventually led to the establishment of the anti-Tutsi propaganda by the Hutus. The fighting continued for 3 years, until in 1993 the Arusha Declaration was signed by both sides. The Declaration was supposed to be a beginning for a cease-fire. However, neither side abided by the declaration and the fighting continued.

Platypus Facts (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Platypus Facts (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an unusual mammal. In fact, when its discovery was first reported in 1798, British scientists thought the creature was a hoax made by stitching together parts of other animals. The platypus has webbed feet, a bill like a duck, lays eggs, and males have venomous spurs. The plural form of platypus is a matter of some dispute. Scientists typically use platypuses or platypus. Many people use platypi. Technically, the proper Greek plural is platypodes. Fast Facts: Platypus Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinusCommon Names: Platypus, duck-billed platypusBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 17-20 inchesWeight: 1.5-5.3 poundsLifespan: 17 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Eastern Australian including TasmaniaPopulation: ~50,000Conservation Status: Near Threatened Description The platypus has a keratin bill, a broad flattened tail, and webbed feet. Its dense, waterproof fur is dark brown, becoming paler around its eyes and on its belly. The male has one venomous spur on each hind limb. Males are larger than females, but size and weight varies considerably from one individual to another. The average male is 20 inches in length, while females are around 17 inches long. Adults weigh anywhere from 1.5 to 5.3 pounds. The male platypus has a venomous spur on its hind limb. Auscape, Getty Images Habitat and Distribution The platypus lives along streams and rivers in eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is extinct in South Australia, except for an introduced population on Kangaroo Island. Platypuses live in diverse climates, ranging from tropical rainforests to cold mountains. Platypus distribution (red: native; yellow: introduced). Tentotwo, Creative Commons License Diet and Behavior Platypuses are carnivores. They hunt worms, shrimp, insect larvae, and crayfish at dawn, dusk, and night. The platypus closes its eyes, ears, and nose when it dives and moves its bill from side to side, much like a hammerhead shark. It relies on a combination of mechanosensors and electrosensors in its bill to map its surroundings. The mechanosensors detect touch and movement, while the electrosensors sense tiny electrical charges released by muscle contractions in living organisms. The only other mammal to use electroreception to seek prey is a species of dolphin. Reproduction and Offspring Except for the echidna and platypus, mammals give birth to live young. Echidnas and platypuses are monotremes, which lay eggs. The platypus mates once each year during the breeding season, which occurs between June and October. Normally, a platypus lives a solitary life in a burrow above the water level. After mating, the male departs for his own burrow, while the female digs a deeper burrow with plugs to control environmental conditions and protect her eggs and young. She lines her nest with leaves and grass and lays between one and three eggs (usually two). The eggs are small (under half an inch) and leathery. She curls around her eggs to incubate them. The eggs hatch after about 10 days. The hairless, blind young drink milk released by pores in the mothers skin. The offspring nurse for about four months before emerging from the burrow. At birth, both male and female platypuses have spurs and teeth. The teeth drop out when the animals are very young. The females spurs drop off before she is a year old. A platypus reaches sexual maturity in its second year. In the wild, a platypus lives at least 11 years. They have been known to reach 17 years of age in captivity. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the platypus conservation status as near threatened. Researchers estimate the number of mature animals anywhere between 30,000 and 300,000, usually settling on a number around 50,000. Threats Although protected since 1905, platypus numbers have been decreasing. The species faces habitat disruption from irrigation, dams, and pollution. Disease is a significant factor in Tasmania. However, the most significant threat is reduced water availability from human use and droughts caused by climate change. The Platypus and Humans The platypus is not aggressive. While its sting may be fatal to smaller animals, such as dogs, there has never been a documented human fatality. The animals venom contains defensin-like proteins (DLPs) that cause swelling and excruciating pain. Additionally, a sting results in heightened pain sensitivity that may persist for days or months. If you want to see a living platypus, you have to travel to Australia. As of 2017, only select aquariums in Australia house the animals. The Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney have successfully bred platypuses in captivity. Sources Cromer, Erica. Monotreme Reproductive Biology and Behavior. Iowa State University. April 14, 2004.Grant, Tom. The platypus: a unique mammal. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-86840-143-0.Groves, C.P. Order Monotremata. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 2, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.Moyal, Ann Mozley. Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0-8018-8052-0.Woinarski, J. A.A Burbidge. Ornithorhynchus anatinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T40488A21964009. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40488A21964009.en

Paper on Business proposal Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paper on Business - Thesis Proposal Example This would ensure RDH regains its lost reputation and has a competitive advantage in the market. Organizational change in an effective way can be a difficult proposition for any given company, no matter how big or small it is. Many of the multinational companies all around the world have tried to bring about changes related to different aspects of the company. Some have been able to affect the change quite effectively, while others failed to do so successfully. Various factors are needed to be considered while bringing about an effective change or transformation in an organization. Out of those factors the two most important aspects are: a) establishment of a clear vision and b) being able to communicate that particular vision to all the organizational members. In accordance with John P. Kotter, he lays down eight basic steps leading to the transformation of any organization. Out of those eight steps mentioned by Kotter, the third step tells about the creation of a vision for the company to help lead to the change within the organization. It also includes development of strategies which, when implemented, could lead to an effective change in the organization. There is plenty of evidence regarding failure in the efforts made by the organizations to make an effective transformation in its organizational culture because of lack of efficient communication about its vision. The fourth step in organizational transformation, as mentioned by Kotter, is about communication of the companys vision to all its employees and other concerned stakeholders. The next step that is step five includes empowering the other employees of the organization to facilitate working in alignment with the set vision of the company (Kotter 4). RDH has identified that there is a need for change in the culture of the organization. Therefore in order to facilitate such change, they took various steps to initiate the change program. The company then selected Hotel