Sociology And Mental Illness - 2832 Words

Sara Sims Sociology of Health and Health Care Research Paper April 26, 2015 Sociology and the Stigmatization of Mental Illness Although it isn’t something that people in society thinks about daily, mental illness is stigmatized all the time. People may think that they don’t think badly about those with mental illness, but those people may be stigmatizing mental illness more than they realize. Recently, there has been a home put into a neighborhood of mine for people with mental illness. Since the neighborhood found out about this home, there were voiced concerns, many with inaccurate information about those with mental illness. Many of the concerns were that these people would would be dangerous, or loud, or that it would make the neighborhood look bad having â€Å"crazy people† living on the block. Another example is a time I was in Drum Corps. Drum Corps is like professional marching band, and my corps went to church every Sunday. One particular Sunday, we went to a beautiful church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the service went o n, people in my corps noticed a man sitting near us who was talking, rather loudly, to himself about God. It was almost as if he felt he was talking to God. Many of the people around me were making fun of the man, and speaking bad about him, not only during the church service, but throughout the day. They were stigmatizing his mental illness. People fear and shun what they do not know, and therefore stigmatize. What is mental illnessShow MoreRelatedThe Sociology Of Health And Mental Illness3181 Words   |  13 PagesDissertation Supervisor: Professor Paul Higgs Submitted: Tuesday, 13 January 2015 A Tale of Two Asylums: Reviewing the context and influences of two theorists, Michel Foucault and Erving Goffman, on the sociology of health and mental illness. Word count: 3,132 John Goulder! 1 ï ¿ ¼Introduction: Mental Health as Disparate Social Object Antipsychiatry was as much a cultural phenomenon as an academic or institutional one. Whilst the work of Laing (1960) and Szasz (1960) can be rooted in the Fruedo-MarxistRead MoreThe Psychology Of Mental Illness1410 Words   |  6 Pagesusually goes hand in hand with mental illness, as people who are considered mentally ill will then be considered as deviant, since it is contemplated not a norm. Sociologists have paid close attention to different concepts of mental illness and how it fits in with sociology. The focus on women and the idea of mental illness is a fairly new phenomenon and a lot of research and models have taken place by sociologists throughout time to find out why women experience mental illness more than men. Social causesRead MoreThomas J. Dodd Research Study Sample746 Words   |  3 PagesThis study is centered around undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. The undergraduate and graduate students from psychology and sociology c lasses at the University of Connecticut are recruited to participate in a self-report survey. A random sample of 240 students will be acquired, 120 males and 120 females. These students will range from different races, ethnicities, and socio-economic background. The participants will first be clustered based on gender, thenRead MoreSociology and Healthcare Essays1578 Words   |  7 PagesSociology and Healthcare Health-care is a sociological institution within the American Culture. Health-care has many different aspects that pertain to patients, care givers and governmental approach to supply healthcare to all citizens. Sociology is the â€Å"scientific study of social behavior and human groups.† (Schaefer, 2009) Sociology plays a large role in how Americans look at our health-care systems and approach health and illness in one’s own life. Health-care has many different definitionsRead MoreThe Psychology Of Mental Illness1177 Words   |  5 PagesWhen it comes to mental illness, I have the point of view of someone who is training to be a health care professional. During my past clinical experience as a nursing student at the Alberta Hospital Edmonton, I was immersed in an environment filled with individuals who were acutely mentally ill, and two of these individuals were my patients. While â€Å"The Sociology of Mental Illness† is an excellent source of information about mental illness in the context of sociology, based on my experience at AlbertaRead MoreSocial Stigma And Self Stigma Of Mental Illness1385 Words   |  6 Pagesfor the upcoming integrative project. This topic is the social stigma that is behind seeking-mental help among individuals in North America. Stigmatization can have a severe effect on the likelihood that an individual will seek services. The topic was selected due to an interest as to h ow public stigma and self-stigma may play a role or how they may interfere with one’s decision-making of seeking mental health services. Even though the consequences of not seeking the counselling may be severe. ItRead MoreHealth And Illness Are Terms That Are Commonly Interlinked,1264 Words   |  6 Pages Health and illness are terms that are commonly interlinked, and offer a topic of discussion that involves different definitions and viewpoints. For example, health can refer to physical wellness or mental stability. On the other hand, it can be used in non-medical terms, including referring to the health of a country’s economy, or the health of the education system (Kirby, 1997). Due to the varying uses and complexity of the two words, multiple definitions have been established and criticizedRead MoreAnalysis Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest 1734 Words   |  7 Pageswhich our modern healthcare system has improved and grown in the last five decades. This inc ludes the following areas of healthcare: the need for a healthcare reform, the lack of healthy doctor-patient relationships, and the murky definition of mental illness. Healthcare Reform Throughout history there has been a veil of mystery surrounding what truly goes on inside of asylums. This idea is illustrated clearly in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on multiple occasions. One example can be seen whenRead MoreOverview of Suicide Essay1141 Words   |  5 Pagesthose have some sort of mental disorder or substance abuse problem and 15% of those who took their own life were clinically depressed and at one point did reach out for help. As the third leading cause in north america Suicide is most common between 15-24 year old. however any age people can result in taking their own life The three social sciences Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology all take part in theories and complexes of suicide. Starting off with sociology. Sociology is the scientific studyRead MoreMedicine And Social Control, Barbara And John Ehrenreich918 Words   |  4 Pagesthe 1960s, consumers demonstrated their concerns for obtaining more social services, especially within the health system. In the essay Medicine and Social Control, Barbara and John Ehrenreich draws attention to the sociology of health and medicine. Ehrenreich claims that more mental health services there are, the more social control are given to these agencies (1, Ehrenreich, CC 2015 p. 185). Thus, individuals are giving up their autonomy and decisions to a higher authority. In this case, Ehrenreich

Essay about The Obesity Epidemic Fast-food Companies Are...

Obesity has become an epidemic in today’s society. Today around 50% of America is now considered to be over weight. Fast-food consumption has been a major contributor to the debate of the twenty-first century. Chapter thirteen, titled â€Å"Is Fast-Food the New Tobacco,† in the They Say I Say book, consists of authors discussing the debate of fast-food’s link to obesity. Authors debate the government’s effects on the fast-food industry, along with whether or not the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise in obesity throughout America. While some people blame the fast food industry for the rise in obesity, others believe it is a matter of personal responsibility to watch what someone eats and make sure they get the proper exercise. Best†¦show more content†¦Balko believes that instead of people blaming the fast food companies, people need to be responsible enough to understand that fast food is not healthy for some people to eat regularly. The author explains how the government wants to intervene in the struggle against obesity when there is no need for them to do so. Balko proposes that instead of wasting money trying to fight obesity, the government should simply reward those who have the willpower to stay away from fast food and manage their own health. Balko believes that the government should reward these people through the healthcare system (158). Zinczenko and Balko represent the 2 sides of the argument over fast food. Political activist Yves Engler’s article â€Å"Obesity: Much of the Responsibility Lies with Corporations,† blames corporate capitalism for the obesity of children. Engler urges the government to put tighter limits on fast-food marketing not allowing them to reach the youth of America. Also Engler proposes that availability of junk food in the school system should decrease. Engler writes about how the government could help the obesity rate in children by creating more parks and funding physical education programs in public schools. Engler and Zinczenko both talk about the government’s ability to intervene in the fast-food industry, and both offer valid solutions. Engler talks about theShow MoreRelatedFast Food and Childhood Obesity Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesAdvertisement and Childhood Obesity ENGL/101-B25 Would you feed your children lard? The answer for most all of us is â€Å"No Way†. Most parents can safely say that they want healthy choices for their children and would never want to give them something that is bad for them. However, with many of the foods on fast food menus this is not far from the truth. We have all heard the statement that childhood obesity is on the rise, and has been for quite some time now. We have seen the heartbreaking storiesRead MoreObesity Epidemic : A Growing Problem Within Our Population861 Words   |  4 Pages The obesity epidemic Americans face today is a growing problem within our population. With serious health issues associated with obesity, it is a problem that needs to be addressed and changed. While fast foods have been around for a long time, many people claim that fast food places are to blame. Each day people turn to fast food for a quick meal, wether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even snacks. As fast foods begin to expand and progress throughout the world, people especially in the UnitedRead MoreFast Food And The Obesity Epidemic933 Words   |  4 PagesFast –food Industries are to be Blame for Obesity Visualize the world somewhere a school-age child can step out of his school and walk into a McDonalds. Fast-food causes an array of problems in your body. The food is often high in sugar, fat, and calories while providing very few nutrients. The obesity epidemic Americans face today is a growing problem that affects more than half of the population with growing body sizes and serious medical problems associated with obesity. It is a problem thatRead MoreChildhood Obesity Analysis1473 Words   |  6 PagesParents Child Caretakers Obesity in America is literally a growing problem, affecting every age group. Children are the most venerable group because they have no control over where they have dinner or how often they have fast food. Parents and guardians make decisions about food and are responsible for the health of children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last twenty years. This is concerning because Type Two diabetes is a horrible, crippling disease that is affecting childrenRead MoreEssay on The Obesity Epidemic 1247 Words   |  5 Pagesno one state with an obesity rate lower than 20%? Take this information and compare it to twenty years ago when every state had an obesity rate lower than 15%. Obesity has become not only the number one cause in death, but according to David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health and author of â€Å"Don’t Blame the Eater†, it is the number one cost in health care with numbers rising well over 100 billion dollars a year (196). There are many people we could blame, such as the food industry or the governmentRead MoreObesity in America909 Words   |  4 Pages When discussing the issue of obesity in America, it seems to be that there is plenty of blame to go around and most of that blame falls on fast food companies. When searching for a concrete answer to the question used as my title, you will find none because there isn’t one. When asked this simple question, it is easy to blame the obesity problem on fast food considering 8 out of 10 Americans consume fast food according to a report done by the Huffington Post. But after doing more research you willRead MoreChildhood Obesity Is Not Just An Issue That American1535 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity is not just an issue that American’s are dealing with—it has become an epidemic. Today, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese. Most Americans blame fast food companies for the rise in childhood obesity w hich has tripled in the past 70 years. American citizens point their fingers at fast food franchises because of the increasing rate of childhood obesity; Americans do not realize that it is most likely the parents who are to blame because parents areRead MoreObesity : Childhood Obesity Epidemic1418 Words   |  6 Pagesarticle â€Å"There is no Childhood Obesity Epidemic† discussed the there is a â€Å"stunning† drop in childhood obesity rate. He claims that obesity rates among two to five year olds have plunged over the past decade, and that the so called â€Å"obesity epidemic† had ended. I strongly disagree with Campos view that there is no childhood obesity epidemic, this is due to the researches that was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled in childrenRead MoreAnalysis Of DonT Blame The Eater By David Zinczenco1057 Words   |  5 PagesThe New York Times has published an article, à ¢â‚¬ËœDont Blame the Eater’, by David Zinczenco, in which the author claims that obese people are not completely at blame for their health implications, but, big corporations and fast food restaurants have a big part in this obesity epidemic. Although Zinczenco does not say so directly, he apparently assumes that the fast food industry is completely at fault for the growing health issues in children, including diabetes. Throughout his article, he makes itRead MoreObesity: A Threat to American Citizens1654 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The issue of obesity has become one of the latest challenges that the USA is struggling with. This struggle cuts across many of the food manufactures, restaurant chains as well as chefs and all the people and organizations related to the food industry. Peoples feeling tend to be really mixed up. Fatness is always a situation that may be loathed and on the other hand a condition to be accepted by some, though it can be a medical contagion, it as well tends to be somebodys choice of

Rerajahan Balinese Sacred Drawing Essay Example For Students

Rerajahan: Balinese Sacred Drawing Essay Balinese Sacred Drawing by Sitar Ways Religious symbols, icons, or signs can be found in surprisingly numerous numbers in Bali. Surprisingly? Since they are perfectly interwoven in everyday Balinese life, one hardly realizes their existence. Some religious symbol can easily be recognized, for example Reaching. Reaching is the most obvious and easily recognized Balinese religious symbol. What is reaching? Reaching is a drawing of sacred characters or images on a piece of cloth, metal plate, pottery, leaf, fruit, wood, weapon, basket or skin. The drawing of the reaching can be categorized into 11 groups: 1 Drawing of holy characters (vicars) or short incantation 2. Drawing of sun, star or moon combines with holy characters 3, Drawing of flower, especially lotus flower with holy characters on its petals 4. Drawing of animals such as tiger, crocodile, lion, snake or dragon 5. Drawing of human or part of human body 6. Drawing to distorted human body such as human with animal head, animal with human head, or human without head 7. Drawing of gods and goddesses, with their weapons and vehicles. Drawing of distorted gods or goddesses or in their angry personifications. G, Drawing of gods weapons combines with holy characters. 10. Drawing of demons, spirit or strange creatures; sometimes equipped with their weapons, II, Drawing of sacred buildings Various Purpose Reaching serves various purposes range from inviting the gods to descend to mortal world to harming or killing the enemy. Basically, the functions of reaching can be categorized as follow I _ to get protection and magical power from the god that is drawn in the reaching for example the power to prevent main 2. To purify the body and soul 3. o enhance the spiritual power of someone or something 4. To get a unique talent or power, for example ability to run fast or can not be seen 5. To get sympathy or admiration from other 6. To drive away pestilence, or bad luck 7. To protect the house compound, rice field, village or children 8. To prevent or negate physical or magical attack from the enemy g. To harm or kill the en emy In order to fulfill these various functions the reaching have to be invested with a power. A powerful reaching is made on an auspicious day with specific offerings and of course a qualified reaching maker. After the drawing process is finished the reaching is invested with magical power by its maker by using Upstate mantra (upstate incantation). [pick How to use it How to use a reaching? Reaching is used in many ways, reaching that is used for protecting house compound or rice field are usually buried in the ground in the middle of house compound or rice field, and some protective reaching are also hung or attached on the gate or part of the house Some reaching re inserted in a belt, draw on a t-shirt, or swallowed. Swallowing reaching is considered the most dangerous method since Balinese believe that reaching is alive and sometimes can control or harm the user when he or she is not in a good condition. For Balinese, using With reaching is a dangerous thing to do since it involves strong magical power and also invested with unknown risks. Besides using reaching is just a way to achieve something and Of course, there are many other better to achieve it with much less risks.

 The State of the World Today Essay Example

  The State of the World Today Essay I will introduce this project by attempting to answer the question: What is wrong with the world today? If were to ask this question to an ancient Greek the answer that you would be given would be something of the lines of Pandora. If you were to then ask them why they might reply that she was the person who opened the box and released envy, anger, intolerance, greed, racism, discrimination, drug addiction and lust into the world amongst other problems into the world which can harm the rest of mankind. Since Pandora herself was a mortal human, all of the problems that affect us in the world today are caused by here and hence the human race. This is still a true belief today and is the one that I take. For example there were a total of 1, 059, 913 offences of violence against the person recorded by UK police in 2005/2006. All of these crimes have been committed by humans and so humanity can be blamed for all of the violence which takes part in the world. Most fraud and deception is caused by humans as is theft. The following lyrics are from where is the Love? by the Black Eyed Peas and I believe that it demonstrates how badly the world is messed up as a result of humanity. We will write a custom essay sample on   The State of the World Today specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on   The State of the World Today specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on   The State of the World Today specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer But if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate And to discriminate only generates hate And when you hate then youre bound to get irate, yeah Madness is what you demonstrate And thats exactly how anger works and operates Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight Take control of your mind and meditate Let your soul gravitate to the love, yall, yall It just aint the same, always unchanged New days are strange, is the world insane If love and peace is so strong Why are there pieces of love that dont belong Nations droppin bombs Chemical gasses fillin lungs of little ones With ongoin sufferin as the youth die young So ask yourself is the lovin really gone So I could ask myself really what is goin wrong In this world that we livin in people keep on givin in Makin wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends Not respectin each other, deny thy brother A war is goin on but the reasons undercover The truth is kept secret, its swept under the rug If you never know truth then you never know love However, there are those people who would consider the role of man on natural suffering e.g. poverty as a result of drought in Africa. I acquiesce that whilst humanity can not be blamed for this suffering, most of us (humanity) arent doing anything to alleviate this poverty and hence are just as bad. Yo, whatever happened to the values of humanity Whatever happened to the fairness in equality Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity People killin, people dyin Children hurt and you hear them cryin Can you practice what you preach And would you turn the other cheek Father, Father, Father help us Send us some guidance from above Cause people got me, got me questionin Where is the love Section A: The Environment Q1) Why do religious believers think that they should care for the environment and promote its conservation? A1) In the Judeo-Christian account of creation [Genesis] we are told that whilst Man has dominion over all other plants and animals we also have stewardship of the earth and thus we must look after it. As the Earth is believed to have been created by God, it is therefore sacred. Hence by harming the Earth (by not looking after it) we are effectively harming God. The Nicene Creed also takes a similar line to the message concealed within Genesis as it starts with the words God, Father, Almighty is the maker of heaven and Earth More recently, the World Council of Churches declared that The dignity of nature as a creation has to be bound up with our responsibility for the preservation of it. This shows Christians that because like you and me, nature itself is a created entity it too like you and me should be respected and it is hence our responsibility to care and conserve it. Christians also apply the 10 commandments to their reasoning for the conservation of the environment. One of the commandments given to Man by God was Thou shalt not kill Christians realise that if they do not care for the environment they will not be preventing the unnecessary deaths of animals and plant life and hence going against the commandment given to them by God and hence going against his will which is bad thing. Hinduism also teaches the importance of the preservation of the Earth. If there is but one tree of fruit and flowers within a village, that place is worthy of your respect [Mahabharata]. The above quotation demonstrates that trees are most important form of plant life and hence should be treated with respect. Hindus also believe that trees possess atman (soul) and hence they should not be killed as this will generate negative karma. The concept of karma also often persuades Hindus to care for and preserve the environment. Hindus believe in samsara (a cycle of birth, death and the rebirth). For this reason doing good things in their current life will build up positive karma and hence will increase their chances of being reborn as something pleasant (assuming that they dont reach nirvana). However, doing something bad e.g. murder or theft will build up negative karma and will hence decrease your chances of being reborn as something pleasant. The Bhagavad Gita also teaches the importance of environmental conservation. For, so sustained by sacrifice, the gods will give you the food of your desire. Whoso enjoys their gift, yet gives nothing, is a thief, no more no less As all food originally comes from the earth, we can be said to be enjoying the gift of our desires. However, whilst it is difficult to give something back to the Earth (except through agriculture), the least we can do is protect it. If we fail to do that, Hindus believe, then we may be called thieves and that will build up negative karma. In the Assisi Declaration of 2002, The Hindu statement on the Environment was The human role isnt separate from nature. All objects in the universe are governed by the same spiritual force Unlike in Christianity, Hindus are told that we have no dominance over the Earth and hence must respect it like others respect us. Q2) What conflicts can arise for religious believers between uses of land and water (including the destruction of natural habitats)? A2) In India, the governments plans to build large scale reservoirs have had to be put on hold many times in the past due to opposition from Hindus. The problem is that in order to build these reservoirs, the surrounding countryside including trees and animals will have to be destroyed. This is disagreeable to Hindus because it goes against the principle of Ahimsa (non violence) and against some of the teachings mentioned in the Mahabharata. However, Water is an essential for life and so the confusion arises. Christians would also have problems with the building of dams. As wildlife and trees would have to be destroyed it would go against one of the 10 commandment and the message about stewardship conveyed to Christians in Genesis. However, they can not deny that water is necessary to sustain life and so they have a dilemma. Q3) What are the religious responses to animal rights and the means of protecting those rights? A3) For Christians the viewpoint on this topic is very clear and simple. One of the 10 commandments given to them by God is thou shalt not kill. This can be expanded and combined with the idea of the sanctity of life (also believed in by Christians) it can be expanded to thou shalt not harm other creatures. Furthermore as according to the Genesis account of creation [Bible], all creatures were created by God and so are special to him in one way or another and so by haring animals, Christians may feel as though they are harming and insulting God. In terms of the methods for conserving animal rights, Christians prefer the method of Non-violent protest. They would not usually opt for violence because it goes against agape (unconditional love for your brethren), the 2nd great commandment given by Jesus (love your neighbour as you would yourself). Furthermore if the violent protests resulted in death then Christians would be seen to be going against the thou shalt not kill commandment. Non-violent protest avoids all of the aforementioned problems but still allows for the message to be portrayed powerfully. Hinduism also takes a clear stance on this issue. Hinduism condemns any form of violence to any sentient being (including animals) and through that preaches ahimsa. Furthermore by hurting animals Hindus believe that they are only building negative karma for themselves which will in turn affect their chances of a good rebirth in the cycle of samsara. A final reason is the idea of vahanas. Hindus believe that every god and goddess has their own vahana. A vahana is an animal that the deity uses to travel around the universe (e.g. the vahana of Lord Ganesh is a rat) and hence these animals are regarded as being sacred. Therefore, by harming these animals (there are many of them as there are many deities in Hinduism); Hindus may say that you are harming God which would build up negative karma and affect the cycle of samsara. Like Christianity, Hinduism believes that the best way to conserve the rights of animals is through non-violent protests. As I have already mentioned, Hinduism preaches Ahimsa (non-violence) because violence generates negative karma. Through non-violent protests these problems can be solved because the message of the important of the conservation of animal rights can still be portrayed powerfully. Q4) What are the differing religious responses to vegetarianism? A4) Christians are not 100% sure on the issue of vegetarianism as through religious scriptures and teachings, two different views can be established. According to the Judaeo-Christian account of creation [Genesis, Bible], Man has dominion over all other creatures on Earth. Hence some Christians would argue that since the human race is superior, we should be allowed to eat the flesh of whatever animal we wish. However, the 10 commandments seem to portray a different message. One of these commandments is Thou shalt not kill. Usually you will only eat meat once the animal is dead and usually the animal has to be slaughtered by man. Therefore, it goes against the Commandment and hence Gods divine will. However, unlike in Christianity, there is no dilemma which arises from this issue. To kill animals in Hinduism you will not be practicing ahimsa. Secondly as most animals are sacred to certain deities (vahanas), killing them may be viewed as an attempt at attacking God. This will build up negative karma which in turn will affect the chances of a person being reborn as something prosperous. Section B: World Poverty Q1) What reasons do religious believers give for caring for the poor? A1) Christians use 4 teachings to justify their reasons for caring for the poor. The first of these is the second of the great commandments taught by Jesus. Love your neighbour as you would yourself This shows Christians that ball people are equal and should be treated the same and hence should in an ideal world be of equal wealth. The second principle is agape. This is Greek word which symbolises unconditional love for fellow brethren. Hence by helping the poor Christians feel that they are showing love and hence are upholding the principle of agape which is a good thing and also links in with the third of the teachings, the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are found at the beginning portion of the Sermon of the Mount. In the Beatitudes, Christians are told that when we help people that are less fortunate than themselves, they will be praised by God, store riches up for themselves in heaven and hence go to heaven. The final teaching can be found in the Bible as well, It is impossible to serve both God and Money Therefore, by helping the poor you would by obeying Gods will and hence obeying him you would instead be building up riches for yourself. This in turn would increase your chances of going to heaven after you died. Buddhists also preach the importance of helping the poor. Karuna is one of the values for which Buddhism is widely admired for. It means Compassion. Hence Buddhists feel that through helping the poor they are showing compassion and hence building up positive karma for themselves. Buddhists accept that the only way to end all suffering (4 Noble Truths) is through the Noble Eightfold Path. 2 of the 8 folds are Right Action and Right Livelihood. Helping the poor can be seen as fulfilling both of these folds and hence it will help be rid of all of their suffering and help them reach Nirvana which can be described as a sense of total peace. Q2) How do religious believers care for those in need? A2) There are many ways in which religious believers can care for the poor although most of these methods arent too different from those which would be used by non-religious believers. Some people will give money, food or other material objects to the poor in the belief that they can use it to help increase their quality of life. However, the danger with this materialistic approach is that those who are in poverty may remain dependant on other peoples donations and will not seek their own way at attempting to improve their lives. A better approach to helping the poor would be through providing services e.g. free education to the poor. This is better because the poor are being taught the skills that they will need in order to find a job with a decent wage and help lift themselves out of poverty. Some people who are unable to help provide services or materialistic possessions can still provide and share their love simply by praying and fundraising. Q3) Explain the work of a religious organisation which alleviates world poverty A3) The Karuna Trust is a Buddhist Organisation in India which assists dalits (previously known as untouchables under Indias age-old caste system). The charity has had to split its resources into four main areas such is the poorness of the quality of life of these people. The main branches of the organisations assistance are: Education, Healthcare, Culture and Self-dependence. The Karuna Trust believes that the best way for people to regain control of their lives and climb up the social ladder as it is through education that people can gain the necessary skills to get new jobs and hence earn more money. As a result of this belief, the Karuna Trust is currently supporting 72 kindergartens, literacy classes for women, hostels for the poorest of the poor to complete their education and a wide range of after school extracurricular activities. Currently over 150 million people still die a year due to a lack of access to free healthcare In response to this problem, one of the most important projects supported by the Karuna trust is the Pune Project which brings primary health care to some of Punes 700,000 slum-dwellers. Health workers concentrate on vaccination, family planning and prevention of malnutrition using low-cost and simple methods. On top of the Pune project, the Karuna Trust is also currently supporting the Nagpur healthcare project and a clinic in Indias Dapodi district. One of the Trusts aims is to help people live happier more fully human lives [Patron: Dame Judi Dench]. According to the Karuna culture is the best way to achieve this aim. Consequently Karuna is supporting a performing arts project called the Asvagosha Project. Teams of project workers visit villages demonstrating the arts of story-telling, play-making and song-writing. Their performances address the most pressing social issues facing dalit communities such as dowry weddings, and the benefits of education for girls and women. They also train the teachers in the hostels and kindergartens to run story telling and music classes. As well as the Asvagosha project, Karuna is also currently supporting a wide range of after school sport and craft activities. Karuna also aims to enable people to become self sufficient. Instead of giving material help, which might give rise to an attitude of dependency, they try to create situations where people can come together to find common solutions to their own difficulties. As a solution to this the Karuna trust is currently supporting 14 sewing classes, 3 shops, 2 horticultural and agricultural products and many other social work training schemes. Conclusion To conclude this project I shall attempt to answer the question: Is there anything really wrong with the world today? I believe that the answer to this question is both yes and no. I believe that it is yes in the sense that there are still thousands of people needlessly dying each day, beautiful countryside views are being destroyed by office blocks and we are slowly killing the earth with our CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. However, I also believe that the answer is no as there are many charitable organizations that attempt to alleviate suffering in the world. I have already talked about the Karuna trust which is tackling the plight of the dalits in India. The United Nations has on many occasions stopped wars and promoted peace. Charities such as Oxfam are trying to supply the people of the drought stricken parts of Africa with basic needs such as clean drinking water. All in all I believe that the world is almost perfect and what goes around comes around. The perfectionisms of the world arent always apparent but when love is present they are always visible.