Jurisprudence and corporate Social Responsibility Essay - 1

Jurisprudence and corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example the â€Å"first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.† Therefore, justice can be distinguished from compassion, mercy, generosity, benevolence and charity. The understanding of the concept of justice varies between societies depending on their mythology, religion and shared history. However, the common feature about the notion of justice in every society is that it is influenced by values created by the society’s ethics. Generally, justice has been viewed by societies as either harmony, natural law, divine command, a human creation, a mutual agreement, a subordinate attribute and even as a trickery. The duty of the ensuring that justice is accorded to every member of the society is a corporate social responsibility. There are different approaches or theories that can be applied in defining what constitutes justice in a country. The three theories of justice that will be discussed in this paper are Justice as Fairness, Utilitarianism and Libertarianism. According to utilitarianism, a society can be said to be just if its institutions and laws promote the greatest total or average happiness of every of its member (Hare 1982). The question in this theory is â€Å"how we determine the overall happiness and/or satisfaction of each member of the society?† Therefore, this theory can be said to provide an indirect approach to the issue of justice because justice is not like weight or temperature that can directly measured. Traditionally, utilitarianism relied upon the account of forms of organization and social conditions necessary for the realisation of this good. It also relied on the theory of human good, that is, that which was though to be good for human beings or that which they needed for them to flourish (Mary 1973). The problem here is that it is not possible for all people to agree on what type of things or life is desirable. For example, financiers, ministers, intellectuals, artists, soldiers, salespersons or athletes have

A topic on software testing Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

A topic on software testing - Thesis Proposal Example Modern systems and products are largely based on ‘embedded systems’ to facilitate control, action and enhanced functionality. In fact, embedded systems used in these scenarios comprise both hardware and software components that work in a highly customized framework to achieve a specific workflow or operation. Although embedded systems are sophisticated computers, they seldom share or provide a similar interface like PCs and are capable of providing a highly dedicated and distinct functionality based on their structure and configuration.A typical application of embedded systems is in precision-driven measurement and control systems, wherein a particular process or parameter such as temperature is constantly monitored and measured through sensors, converted and delivered as a stream of digital signals and processed to modulate the regulation of the underlying process (heat controlled according to predefined constraints). Embedded systems are also in vehicles to measure car bon emissions through a sensory arrangement and processed through a feedback controller network to store and monitor the condition of the engine (Rajski and Tyszer). Over the past few decades, embedded systems have become integral parts of every notable electronic system including safety-critical components. For instance, embedded systems are used to control sensitive and critical functions such as aircraft navigation and ensure failsafe availability of financial networks.

Artistic Behavior in the Human Female Essay Example for Free

Artistic Behavior in the Human Female Essay The passage above comes from the article, â€Å"Artistic Behavior in the Human Female,† by Jean Robertson (2003, p. 24). Robertson (2003) argued that female artists define and interpret female sexuality in diverse and conflicting ways, and by using different artistic strategies. Robertson makes assumptions about the woman’s body as a contested terrain, wherein being a woman continues to be a subject of heated debate. For him, how female artists view themselves as women, and as artists, shape their depiction of â€Å"femininity† and â€Å"female sexuality† in their artworks. One of the quotes that Robertson mentioned in his text comes from Simon de Beauvoir. In her seminal book, â€Å"The Second Sex,† she stressed that: â€Å"One is not born a woman, but, rather, becomes one. † I want to reflect on de Beauvoir’s statement and Robertson’s belief about the woman’s body. I agree with de Beauvoir that social experiences and political conditions impact the construction of â€Å"being a woman. † Society shapes how women and men see femininity and gender roles through establishing gender roles and expectations. An example is when a girl is â€Å"conditioned† by her mother to be a â€Å"woman,† by telling her how she should act as a â€Å"woman. This includes educating her about the toys she can and cannot use, and the games she can and cannot play. The girl learns that she should act and think a certain way, in order to be â€Å"feminine. † She learns that she cannot be boisterous or get involved in sports, because that would be too â€Å"manly† for her. This girl is the perfect example of â€Å"becoming† a woman. On the other hand, I also agree that being a woman is a biological and individual construct. A woman is a product of her biology, whether she likes it or not. This is why women are also defined by their sexual organs. Their biology also determines their sex, as well as their gender. Furthermore, being a woman is a product of individual desires and needs. Any woman can define her womanhood the way she also wants it to. Robertson indicated the existence of the pluralities of femininity. It is true that a woman’s body is a contested terrain, and for me, what is wrong with that? Is it not also possible to have multiple femininities, instead of having only one approach to define and to interpret what it means to be a woman? There is nothing wrong, in my opinion, of having different ways of being a woman, because to deny one approach to womanhood undermines the very essence of being a free woman. Journal entry 2 In â€Å"A conversation about race and class,† Childers and Hooks (1990) argued that gender should be expanded to include issues of race and class. They said that: â€Å"†¦we should begin by talking about how we experienced the struggle to challenge and expand the category of gender† (pp. 61-62). For them, people cannot understand gender in its whole sense, if racial and class issues are overlooked in gender analysis. This reading challenged my view of gender, by asking me to see gender through a much broader lens. I have not considered that gender issues also intersect racial and class issues. On the other hand, Childers and Hooks (1990) compelled me to think about the politics of gender. This is related to our discussions about gender as a political object. The politics of gender demonstrate that there are hierarchies to the feminine gender that are experienced by many women. Power is also affected by one’s class and race. If white female women feel that there is a glass ceiling at the workplace, lower-class black and Hispanic women face a greater and heavier glass ceiling in society. Because of their class and race, they feel and experience multiple glass ceilings- the ceiling of racial discrimination, the ceiling of class discrimination, and the ceiling of gender discrimination. These ceilings, on top of one another, represent something more than just a hindrance to economic development, but resemble ceilings that are directly pressed on these women’s bodies. They could hardly breathe, because there are just too many ceilings that make it difficult for them to even survive. Now, I look gender as an amalgam of issues that women bring to gender discourse. As a result, race and issue not only expand gender discourse, but considering them has also broadened my understanding of gender and its diverse conflicts. Journal entry 3 When feminists speak about feminism, they mostly see the opposition between the feminine and the masculine- the yin and the yang. We also discussed the binary opposition in class, which heightened my knowledge of how women are reduced to the lower spectrum of the opposition. The binary opposition also exists in differentiating mothers from fathers. Mothers are put in pedestals, while fathers are forgotten and scorned. Laqueur (1990) complained about this binary opposition in â€Å"The Facts of Fatherhood. † This is an interesting article that argued about the repression of the history of fatherhood. Laqueur (1990) posited that while women enjoyed being the â€Å"natural† parent, fathers were regarded as mere providers, or even as a backdrop to the family. He stressed that it is time for fathers to reclaim their right to be part of the parenting history, wherein their contributions to the formation of society are recognized and respected. This polemical article amuses and interests me significantly. It amuses me because at the back of my mind, I felt gender discrimination in reverse. I believe that mothers have specials bonds with their children, but this belief, however, is marked by sexism. Do not fathers also share special bonds with their children? Laqueur (1990) challenged the notion of motherhood, because it undermined the importance of fatherhood. In my mind, it is better to not differentiate mothers from fathers, which is the same as stopping ourselves from differentiating women and men. Women and men have their own strengths and weaknesses and none is more superior. In the same line of thought, mothers and fathers are also equal. Let us just call motherhood and fatherhood as parenthood and give fathers their rightful place in the history and the practice of nurturing human society. Furthermore, this is also an interesting article, because it challenged me to talk about being a woman in relation to being a man. Being a woman has its multiplicities, and now, being a man has its pluralism too. For me, these multiplicities, acknowledged as part of gender analysis, render two steps forward for true gender equality. Journal entry 4 In â€Å"Criticizing Feminist Criticism,† Gallop, Hirsch, and Miller (1990) debated on the purposes and development of feminine criticism. Their main point is that feminist criticism writers have gone to the extreme, by pulverizing each other’s feminist views. They believe that this process is futile in understanding and improving the development of gender discourse and feminism. They asserted that feminism can be criticized in a more comprehensive manner, wherein there is no right or wrong feminism. I chose this article because it threads on sensitive issues, wherein the personal versus the collective idea of feminism clashes. Feminists have different worldviews about gender roles, sexuality, and femininity, and they criticize each other in different ways. I have never thought that feminist criticism has become too unconstructive. This is not my idea of criticism at all. I think about my own criticism of feminist criticism and I cannot help but agree that criticism is not about â€Å"thrashing† feminist theories (p. 350). Criticism is also about adding something to existing theories, in ways that can benefit the understanding of what it means to be a woman and how different understandings contribute to a wide range of feminism discourse. I earnestly believe also that feminists cannot define feminism in one way or several ways alone. Feminism should be viewed as a huge mess of ideas and values, different and special to women and groups, who fight for and because of different issues. Yes, it is a mess alright, because being a woman is a dynamic process that is also a part of being an individual and being a member of one’s race, class, and so on. Being a woman cannot ever be a tidy place, wherein women think the same and act the same. I would rather have it as a mess- wherein women are free to think and re-think feminism, in relation to their personal experiences and values. References Childers, M. Hooks, B. (1990). A conversation about race and class. In M. Hirsch E. F. Keller (Eds. ), Conflicts in feminism (pp. 60-81). New York, NY: Routledge. Gallop, J. , Hirsch, M. , Miller, N. K. (1990). Criticizing feminist criticism. In M. Hirsch E. F. Keller (Eds. ), Conflicts in feminism (pp. 349-369). New York, NY: Routledge. Laqueur, T. W. (1990). The facts of fatherhood. In M. Hirsch E. F. Keller (Eds. ), Conflicts in feminism (pp. 205-221). New York, NY: Routledge. Robertson, J. (2003). Artistic behavior in the human female. In B. Stirratt C. Johnson (Eds. ), Feminine persuasion: art and essays on sexuality (pp. 23-38). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Small farmers

Small farmers Small farmers produce most of the food that we consume globally. But North and South, smallholder producers are leaving the land and food production is becoming increasingly the concern of big business. Does it matter? On 31 March fourteen international panelists considered the most salient issues confronting small farmers today in the IFAD-supported debate Failing the farmer? on BBC World. How important is small scale farming? How can development of small scale farming contribute to poverty reduction? Why should we care about small scale farming? What problems are encountered in implementing effective policies that should support small scale farmers? How important is global market access? The global discussion about poverty reduction is usually strictly related with farmers with small land holdings because the majority of the worlds poor belong to such households. Secondly, it has been estimated that about 70 percent of worlds poor are concentrated in rural areas where two out of three billion rural people reside in about 450 million small farms. Furthermore, the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Hunger estimates that in small scale farms reside about half of worlds hungry people including three quarters of Africas malnourished children (WDR, 2008). Improvement in the situation of the small scale farmers will likely result in a decreasing of the population living in poverty. Therefore in order to reduce rural poverty, policies are needed to support small-scale farming and have to be addressed in particular to women and children. The concept of Food Sovereignty provides an important framework for policy makers to design such measures. The association Via Campesina defines Food Sovereignty as the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations. It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation. It offers a strategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food regime, and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems determined by local producers. Food sovereignty prioritizes local and national economies and markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven agriculture, artisanal fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food production, distribution and consumption based on environment al, social and economic sustainability. Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just income to all peoples and the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition. It ensures that the rights to use and manage our lands, territories, waters, seeds, livestock and biodiversity are in the hands of those of us who produce food. Food sovereignty implies new social relations free of oppression and inequality between men and women, peoples, racial groups, social classes and generations (Via Campesina, 2008). The idea of Food Sovereignty points out the fundamental right of the human being to be able to consume and produce food locally, according to the local environment conditions and cultures. The agro food industry and the rapid globalization of markets are the main drivers of these changes in the food-chain structure: the production strategies in the agro food business are defined mainly by economic terms; moreover, a long-term view in food and agricultural sy stems is needed and has to keep in count the efficiency, quality and sustainability of the production. Nowadays the international society is aware of the damage caused by industrial farming system all over the planet: it is a major contributor to global warming through intensive use of fossil fuels for fertilizers, agrochemicals, production, transport, processing, refrigeration and retailing; crop and livestock genetic diversity has been lost through the spread of industrial monocultures reducing resilience in the face of climate; agrochemical nutrient pollution causes biological dead zones and other relevant environmental problems; human activity produces more nitrogen than all natural processes combined (FAO, 2008). According to the stated reasons the current model of industrialized food production appears to be not sustainable. It makes farmers increasingly dependent on external inputs (pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary support, hormones, etc.) and big amount of external capita l. This industrialized production system is usually intensive and not linked to a correct soil management or conservation strategy. The export oriented production systems are not created to respect local ecological conditions or to meet local food needs and farmers lose control over production decisions. The National Commission on Small Farms reported the following, Small farms contribute more than farm production to our society. Small farms embody a diversity of ownership, cropping systems, landscapes, biological organization, culture, and traditions. Since the majority of farmland is managed by a large number of small farm operators, the responsible management of soil, water, and wildlife encompassed by these farms produce significant environmental benefits. Decentralized land ownership produces more equitable economic opportunity for people in rural communities, and offers self employment and business management opportunities (National Commission on Small Farms, 1998). The survival of small scale farming it is a crucial issue because small farming system often permits an higher differentiation of the production, relies on a long historic experience with local resources (water, soil, climate, plant and animal varieties) and farmers are capable to produce the optimal quantity and q uality of food with less external inputs. Products are mainly grown for their own families and consumers of the same region and tend to meet local food needs. This model, based on small scale farms, is also labour intensive, a resource that is available in abundance in most regions of the world, instead of capital intensive like the extensive farms production system. Moreover, the outputs of production are deeply linked to the soil and therefore its correct management in a long term perspective will be more likely pursued. Smallholders face significant challenges that obstacle their participation in new marketing opportunities. Markets in the developing world are characterized by imperfections such as lack of information on prices and technologies, high transaction costs, and credit constraints. Moreover, the modern production systems often expect larger supply volumes, favoring larger farmers. With the increasing number of free trade agreements affecting both national and international commodity markets, smallholder farmers are forced to compete not only with their local producers, but also with farmers from other countries as well as domestic and international agribusinesses. Sharpen marketing skills are also needed by small scale farmers: the opportunity for smallholders to raise their incomes from agricultural production, natural resource management, and related rural enterprises increasingly depends on their ability to sell their goods not just at local, but also regional and even international ma rkets. Nowadays, technological advances require investments in human and physical capital, as well as advanced relationships with a wide network of suppliers and traders of inputs and services. In this environment, small scale farmers are difficult to locate the required financial resources and integrate. Seems to be hard to point out the reasons why effective policies are not being implemented: many economic interests are involved and usually in the society small scale farmers are stakeholders with limited power. One possible solution could come from changes in the demand in the agro food market: we assist in a raise of the demand of high quality local product from the consumers, in particular in Europe; secondly, the value for rural services (rural tourism, social farming and other activities) is rapidly increasing, bringing more opportunities for small scale farmers. These changes can be the drivers for the implementation of sound policies directed in particular to rural areas and to small scale farmers. List of participants in the debate Kevin Cleaver Assistant President, IFAD and farmer Working to enable small farmers, we can slow down the migration from rural to urban areas. Pedro Sanchez Director of Tropical Agriculture, Earth Institute, Columbia University The crucial factor is to fertilize the soil and manage water supplies. GM is a political issue, with no proven risk. Paul Nicholson European co-coordinator, La Via Campesina Via Campesina coined the expression and is working to promote food sovereignty (national food security). Makanjuola Olaseinde Arigbede Union of Small and Medium Scale Farmers of Nigeria and farmer Smallholder farmers labour on their farms, not merely to feed their beleaguered families but entire nations, despite the great obstacles placed in their way at all levels. Simeon Greene Relationship Director, Windward Banana Development Without Fair Trade, the Windward Islands would be out of the banana market. Theyre able to survive because consumers in the UK have taken the decision to buy Fair Trade Produce. Esther Penunia Secretary General, Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) Farmers tend to be poorly organized only 10 per cent are organized into farmers groups. So, although they represent a large constituency, they have little influence politically. This must change! Peter Robbins Ex-commodities trader, author and activist Liberalization and the collapse of international commodity agreements has led to the impoverishment of farmers in producing countries. We need to reinstate international commodity agreements. Duncan Green Head of Policy, Oxfam Oxfam is now looking to develop policy on the wider agricultural debate not just on trade. Specifically were looking at how to support and empower farmers. Norah Olembo Executive Director, Africa Biotech Stakeholders Forum The big issue is acceptance. Worldwide this type of science has been seen as humans tampering with Gods work. Science becomes hard for ordinary people to comprehend, but one can move a gene from one plant to the other. Its all about education. We have not seen any harm to humans. Andrew Bennett Biotechnology Marketing Lead, Europe-Africa, Monsanto Each year the global population grows by more than 70 million and agriculture is required to produce more food with limited land and water resources. But biotechnology can help. Over the next decade biotechnology promises to deliver products that address land and resource limitations, with qualities such as drought tolerance, as well as deliver products with direct consumer benefits. Crawford Falconer Agriculture Chairman, World Trade Organization (WTO) International trade works if you have the right social and economic policies in place within countries already. Countries cant isolate themselves forever. Louise Fresco Professor, Sustainable Development, University of Amsterdam Small farmers around the world are leaving the land because life is too hard and they need other sources of income as well. Globalization brings opportunities for the developing world, but markets will not take care of poor people. Catherine Kainja Kaluluma Minister for Education, Government of Malawi Anthony Gooch Head, Media and Public Diplomacy, European Commission

Possible Solutions to Remedy the Detrimental Effects of Soil Acidity on

Possible Solutions to Remedy the Detrimental Effects of Soil Acidity on Tropical Agriculture Arable tropical soils, which mainly consist of Oxisols and Ultisols but also include regions of Inceptisols and Alfisols, cover approximately one billion hectares; this area represents 33 percent of the total potentially arable land of this world which does not require irrigation. Most of these soils have optimum conditions for crop production, including low population density, excellent physical conditions, and a favorable climate (Van Wambeke, 1976). The main limitation of agricultural productivity and the reason that these tropical soils are underutilized for farming is soil acidity and its related factors. Improving the quality and yield of crops in these regions would do much to relieve the food pressures imposed upon us by the world's growing population. As stated by I.M. Rao, et al.: It is particularly critical to realize the agricultural potential of Ultisols and Oxisols which remain idle in huge areas of the tropics...(but) we cannot repeat previous attempts to settle farmers in these areas before we have collected sufficient data and facts upon which we can honestly base our recommendations which guarantee a decent living from agricultural enterprise (Rao et al., 1993). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to find a feasible and cost-effective way to alleviate the problems of soil acidity on tropical agriculture. Before the effects of soil acidity on tropical agriculture is examined, it is necessary to have a good background on what soil acidity is and how it occurs. Soils become acid because of vigorous leaching, coupled with the inputs of acids (substances capable of releasing positive hydrogen atom... ...fisol from Zambia": Tropical Agriculture, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 309-313. Rao, I.M. et al., 1993, "Selection and Breeding for Acid-Soil Tolerance in Crops": Bioscience, vol. 43, pp. 454-465. Ritchey, K.D. et al., 1991, "Rapid evaluation of Juvenile Sorghum for Tolerance to Soil Acidity": Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 315-329. Singer, Michael and Munns, Donald, 1996, Soils: An Introduction (3rd ed.): New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 480 p. Van Wambeke, A., 1976, "Formation, Distribution, and Consequences of Acid Soils in Agricultural Development": Proceedings of Workshop on Plant Adaptation to Mineral Stress in Problem Soils, Nov. 22-23, 1976, pp. 15-24. Yamoah, Charles, et al., 1992, "Correction of Acid Infertility in Rwandan Oxisols with Lime from an Indigenous Source for Sustainable Cropping": Exploratory Agriculture, vol. 28, pp. 417-424.

othello Essay example -- essays research papers

jealousy In the play Othello, jealousy is shown to be very evident through the actions of the characters. Jealousy is an emotion that everyone shares, and it is ultimately responsible for the tragic ending of the play. Everyone feels jealous at certain times of their lives, and this feeling can cause people to do irrational things. This human emotion also shows people to be weak in the sense that they are never happy with what they have. Shakespeare shows through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion. Othello is horribly jealous of what he thinks is going on between his wife and Cassio. This poisonous feeling turns Othello into a mad man and he strikes his wife. Jealousy causes people to act incredibly different. People that are almost always reserved and sincere can become crazy because of jealousy. Othello kills his wife because he feels that if he can’t have her, nobody can. This is a very selfish action that Othello takes. He determines his wife’s fatal fate just because he is jealous. People often think only for themselves when they are jealous. This shows humans to be selfish when their emotions are intense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is almost no worse feeling that being very jealous of someone or something. People will risk almost anything to get rid of this disastrous feeling. Jealously causes people to act irrationally and irresponsibly. This is a feeling that always comes up throughout everybody...

Marriage: When a Man Meets His Woman Essay

â€Å"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.† (New International Version, Genesis 2.24) Marriage as we all know is the union of a man and a woman to become husband and wife. Marriage is where the smallest unit of the society begins––the family. Marriage is the door to procreation. Marriage is a sacred vow and according to Hebrews 13.4, â€Å"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.† Marriage is a game that children play. When children are tired of playing, they simply quit. When children encounter problems while playing, they quit. When they want to play again, they simply do so. Marriage is a deep relationship between the husband and the wife. It is intimate. It involves not only their physical self but their hearts and souls as well. Quitting is not an option should they become tired or should they encounter problems. Timothy had a good description of a responsible husband, â€Å"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money† (1 Timothy 3.2–3). Though Timothy specifically dedicated these verses to an overseer (or a bishop during their time), the characteristics given are truly what a husband should possess in order to please God and to make their marriage last. Since a husband is the head of his family, he should really possess qualities that will help him manage the â€Å"small society† given to him by God. A man should seek God’s wisdom in choosing the woman to marry. Man, having free will, makes plans for himself. In most cases, these plans failed or never happened because those are not God’s plans. â€Å"Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails† (Proverbs 19.21). The Holy Bible describes the â€Å"perfect† woman to have fear of the Lord (Proverbs 31.30), has wisdom (Proverbs 31.26), and not quarrelsome (Proverbs 19.13). A woman can possess all these characteristics if she is living according to God’s will. With the Holy Bible as our reference, the first husband and wife were Adam and Eve. In the story of creation, God created man according to His image and likeness on the sixth day. He made man the steward of all His beautiful creations. God said in Genesis 2.18, â€Å"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.† So God had Adam fell asleep, and took one of his ribs. Out of the rib God created the woman. Then Adam said in Genesis 2.23, â€Å"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.† So this is the love story of our great, great, great, great, great grandparents. If you are interested to know the ending of our love story, read Genesis to find out. If we are to analyze our course verse (Gen. 2.24), a man will leave his parents and will be united with the woman as one. They are no longer two separate, different individuals, but they are one. Marriage binds this two unrelated people into a sacred union. The man will now live not only for his own but for his wife. Same is true for the woman. Both will â€Å"forget† themselves and will create a new self out of two obviously different individuals. This is in accordance to 1 Corinthians 7.4 ­, â€Å"The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.† Also in Ephesians 5.28, â€Å"In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.† These two Bible passages do not refer to the physical body alone but to whole identity of the man and woman—physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and let’s add financial. Being united as one, husbands and wives share resources. The â€Å"I† mentality is no longer applicable in marriage. It’s now the â€Å"us† or the â€Å"we.† A man’s burden is also his wife’s burden. A man’s achievements are also his wife’s achievements. A man’s failure is also his wife’s failure. A man’s dreams are also his wife’s dreams. In Genesis 2.18, God said that it is not good for a man to be alone. So He created a â€Å"helper† suitable for the man. â€Å"Helper† does not literally mean a house helper, or a slave, or a maidservant. Helper here means a co-worker; a colleague; and the most appropriate description of a helper, a partner. A husband now has a partner in everything. He has someone to share his goals, visions, aspirations, problems, weaknesses, and frustrations. He has someone to help him make decisions. He has someone he can rely on anytime. He has someone to grow old with. God binds a man and a woman in marriage. â€Å"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate† (Matthew 19.6). It is very clear that no man should cause the fall out of anyone’s marriage. It is very clear that God’s plan in the very beginning is a lasting marriage for husbands and wives. Unfortunately, even during Moses’ time, divorce was already a show stopper. â€Å"If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house† (Deuteronomy 24.1). For the record, this was not God’s original plan. Laws for divorce were made because of the Israelites’ hard-headedness. But they could only file for a divorce if either one was proven guilty of marital unfaithfulness. â€Å"I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery† (Matthew 19.9). This is for the husband’s case. For the wife’s case, â€Å"So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man† (Romans 7.3). Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, also addressed the issue on divorce. â€Å"To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife† (1 Corinthians 7.10–11). The Holy Bible, from the Old Testament up to the New Testament, has teachings on divorce. This is how important and sacred marriage is for God. He wants every man and woman to enjoy the companion of each other. Hardships, troubles, and problems happened in marriage not to break it but to strengthen it. Some were not able to withstand the pressure brought about by these problems and ended their marriage. There are married couples today, who are having problems with their relationship, opt for divorce, believing that this is the best solution for their problems. What comes after divorce? Annulment, the couples now arrange the invalidation, dissolution, termination of their marriage contract.   The sacredness of marriage is slowly being neglected. If fact, there were some who re-marry after annulment. Marriage is a lifetime vow. Only death can separate a husband from her wife. This is God’s original plan. 1 Corinthians 7.39 says, â€Å"A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.† In this verse, the wife is only freed from the marriage vow because of the death of her husband. God wants every husband and wife to enjoy their vow as long as they live. How can a marriage last? Married couples who put God in the center of their relationship will definitely last. God, being the author of one’s life, never fails anyone who trusts and completely obeys His will. In Proverbs 16.3, â€Å"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed,† God assures married couples that whatever plans they have, success is an assurance, provided that they commit their lives to the Lord. God has given many advices on how to have a successful marriage. All of these can be found in the Holy Bible. So it is advisable for everyone, not for married couples only, to meditate the Word of God day and night (Joshua 1.8) because the Holy Bible contains God’s laws, promises, blessings, curses, and precautions that will serve as our guide. In Colossians 3.18, God instructed wives to submit to their husbands because this is His will. Husbands are also required to love their wives and never ever be harsh to them (Colossians 3.19). One marriage conflict is who has the authority over the family. In Colossians 3.18, wives should submit to their husbands. Also recall that God created man to become the steward of His creation. Woman was created to become man’s helper or a partner steward of God’s creations. Another answer to who has the authority over the family is written in Ephesians 5.23–24, â€Å"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.† Wives submission to their husbands does not mean that the husbands are in charge of everything. As partners, they are both involved in decision-making and planning. But wives should acknowledge the fact that their husbands are the team leaders of the family. As team leaders, husbands preside the â€Å"meeting† and distribute the task to the whole members of the family. 1 Peter 3.1–2 says, â€Å"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.† Actions speak louder than words. If someone’s husband is still an unbeliever, the actions of his wife, according to the previous Bible passage, can make the husband become interested in learning God’s words. According to Proverbs 12.4, â€Å"A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.† So a wife’s submissive attitude is worthy for her husband will truly respect her. Not only that, God will be pleased with her because according to 1 Peter 3.4, â€Å"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quite spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.† Though wives should submit to their husbands, the husbands in turn should not abuse their wives submissiveness. â€Å"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayer.† (1 Peter 3.7) The Book of Proverbs says how precious a husband’s wife is and why she deserves to earn her husband’s respect, â€Å"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD† (Proverbs 18.22); â€Å"Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD† (Proverbs 19.14). So a prudent, well-respected wife is the Lord’s gift to faithful husband. Respect, aside from love, is a very important component of marriage. Respect in fact is one way of showing love to your husband or to your wife. Never ever disrespect your husband or your wife for this could be the start of a misunderstanding. God had promised Abraham that he will become the father of all nations and that his children will become as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22.17). The fulfillment of this promise is dependent on procreation, which is legitimate to married couples. Even before God revealed the promise to Abraham, He already declared that He will increase the number of humans on Earth, â€Å"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it† (Genesis 1.27–28). To this day, many recognize Abraham as the father of all nations. God’s promise was fulfilled. God loves man so much that He encourages the procreation of many men. Man, among all God’s creation, is the most especial creation because man is created according to His own image and likeness. He enjoys seeing His wonderful creation. Above all, God considers men His children. â€Å"Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease† (Jeremiah 29.6). In the book authored by Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life, he identified the five main reasons why God created man. Man is created to worship God, to have fellowship with other men, to be trained to become Christ’s disciplines, to participate in God’s ministries, and to evangelize the words of God. God deserves to be worshipped. God loves to see His wonderful creations worshipping Him. Through marriage, more men will worship God. This is way God wants men to increase in number, not to decrease. Because God wants to see many men giving Him praise. Men should have fellowship with one another. God wants to see how His wonderful creations enjoy the company of one another. Fellowship is one way to develop a harmonious relationship among God’s children. Fellowship is also a training ground for us to become disciplines of Christ. Once trained, we can now participate in God’s ministries. And most of all, we His children are being prepared to evangelize, to spread the Good News of salvation. You may think that this is no longer related to marriage. But all these things started from the union of a man and a woman. Above all, everything has started from the wonderful plan of God for us. God wants to establish a nation of men who will worship Him. To do this, our God created the universe, which we know as the story of creation. To start the nation, He created a man and a woman. God created marriage so this man and woman could start to procreate and increase the number of men and women on Earth. Millions of years had past. Today is our present time. Today, many men and women submitted to the vow of marriage. Unfortunately, many marriages encountered so many problems. Unfortunately, these problems cause the destruction of some marriages. The sacredness of marriage is not preserved. Procreation, which should be done under the oath of marriage, is related now to pre-marital sex. God has a perfect plan for us. God made marriage to be sacred and holy. Divorce is detestable to God. Let us spread the awareness on the true reasons why God created marriage. God gave us the Holy Bible to be our guide in our daily living. The Holy Bible has many teachings on marriage. Marriage is supposed to unite a man and a woman deeply in love with one another. Marriage is a lifetime relationship. Marriage combines two persons into one. God, through marriage, created one individual out of two. What God has created, no one should separate. More importantly, marriage is the very reason life continues to exist.   WORK CITED The Holy Bible, New International Version. USA: International Bible Society, 1984. Warren, Rick. The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? USA: 2002.