The Mbuti Tribe

Ashley Jones ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology March 04, 2012 Introduction The way of life in a distant African rainforest where harsh climate and availability of resources were common, the Mbuti tribe were foraging society that hunt and gather and live in a band of 10-50 people. Their environment influenced their modes of subsistence, cultural aspects and lifestyle in a deep-seated system. A culture normally describes a method of concepts, outlook, beliefs and language, which examines the way of life of a specific group of people with similar interests.The cultural system defines and forms necessary activities, views, opinions and interactions among people and their cultures, as well as their surrounding. The central African Mbuti or Bambuti tribe comprised an indigenous people who live within and on the border of the Congo basin rainforest in the Central African Republic of Congo. Their language falls into a classification of the Nilo-Saharan phylum. These groups of in digenous people, primarily settles in the Ituri forest. The forest is a component of a vast tropical rainforest within the Congo basin.This region receives higher precipitations each year, ranges between 50-70 inches amount of rain. The long duration of rain are interrupted by short periods of dry season for two months. The region is wet and humid all year round, and has various lakes and rivers. The community experienced difficulties such as diseases, which is prevalent due to humidity and plenty of rain that contributes to the scarcity of their food supplies. The rapid spread of diseases claims people and animals, and as well as shortage of food.Tsetse flies limit the breeding of large animals, which causes sleeping sickness. The inhabitants of the Bambuti tribe is roughly 30-40 thousand people. The Mbuti were the oldest inhabitants of the central African region. The Ituri is a rainforest and does not produced adequate food all year to support the Mbuti tribe. The Mbuti are hunter s and gatherers. They believed that the forest is everything to them. They consider it as their God, parent, and provider. They perceived themselves as the children of the forest (Mosko,1987).According to Mosko, all other tribes that were not Mbuti live outside of the Ituri forest. The Mbuti do not practice any recognized type of kinship patterns in their social organization (Mosko,1987). There are recognitions of kinship in some practices; for instance, in rules of exogamous marriage or when setting up camp. The huts are laid out according to patrilineage, for mutual support, but no acknowledgement of kinship is given (Mosko,1987). The Mbuti hunt and gather resources such as meat, honey, fruits, nuts and mushrooms in the forest.They trade either labor or wild resources from their hunting and gathering for products from horticulturalist societies to supplement their diets (Bailey, Head, Jenke, Owen, Rechtman and Zechenter, 1989). And in return, the Bambuti receives agricultural food s, salt, cloth, pots, pans, axes and blades, and other items not available in the forest. Mainly, the subsistence occupation of men consists of hunting animals and gathering wild honey. Like the other foraging societies, the Mbuti were very close to nature.The Mbuti believed that the forest is their God, and possessed all the qualities of a god, parent, and partner (Mosko,1987). They believed that all living things have a spirit and are equal (Mosko,1987). The Mbuti considered their tribe as one family and they are all related biologically, to some extent. They call each other by names of close family members; if they are the same age, they call each other brothers and sisters (Mosko,1987). The older people are called Father or Mother and the elders are described as grandparents.Aside from the nuclear family settling in the same hut, there is small number of areas in which the tribe expressed acknowledgement of biological kinship. This is contrary to most foraging societies, where k inship system are the bases of social structure (Nowak & Laird, 2010). The bands relocate from one place to another in search for resources. Cooperation is also a valuable asset, since hunting and gathering is a cooperative effort. More common to foragers is the belief in the spirituality of nature (Nowak & Laird, 2010).Infectious disease in the forest lived on plants. Diseases are scarce enough that the community cannot create immunity. Malnutrition is uncommon and if found, it is mild (Fabrega, 1997). Hunter gatherers normally benefit from healthy diet. Sickness is usually a spiritual problem (Fabrega, 1997). The Mbuti considers the Ituri forest has a center. The round huts, in which the Mbuti nuclear families live, has a center or sphere. They store foods in a round shaped baskets. The arrangement of the family hut is a smaller depiction of the organization of the Mbuti tribe.The place of each band camps form a sphere, with the forest in its center. The Mbuti have an uncommon out look of kinship and lineage, which are usually a determining factors in the social structures of other foraging societies, as well as horticulturist (Nowak & Laird, 2010). The Mbuti community do not know their lineage, which is evidenced in the way the camps are each laid out (Mosko, 1987). Marriage is exogamous to the band to which a person lives. They cannot marry their kin because all are biologically related, that’s why they produced an exception to the kinship policy.Living elders who recognized the common ancestors of the band involved, then they are related. However, if the ancestors are no longer living before the living elders recognized them, then the band becomes unrelated. This rule permits the Mbuti community to preserve their rules against marrying relatives and outside marriages. The Mbutis are separated into age groups. Age together with knowledge is important. The elders have the most knowledge, which gives them the authority. However, their authority can som etimes over-rule by the younger adults.Because they all have the same parent which is the forest, and do not cooperate with any kinship organization because they are all equivalent. The Mbuti lives mainly in the Ituri forest, it is their God and parent. All foraging societies have a special reverence for nature (Nowak & Laird, 2010). Hunting and gathering bring the tribe together and makes them closer to nature. They respect the forest and nature. Ownership have no importance because of their way of life, they move from one place to another. Personal traits and cooperative attitude are more important (Nowak & Laird, 2010).They have a healthy selection of food, which helps them to fight diseases. Each feature of their way of life is nature-oriented and it all points out to their environment. The Mbuti is a complete culture that supports each portion of its survival on the forest, which is the cause for the subsistence technique from which they exist. References Bailey, R. C. , Head, G. , Jenike, M. , Owen, B. , Rechtman, R. , & Zechenter, E. (1989). Hunting and gathering in tropical rainforest: Is it possible? American Anthropologist. New series 91(1) pp. 59-82. Retrieved from http://www. jstor. rg/stable/649276. Fabrega, H. Jr. (1997). Earliest phases in the evolution of sickness and healing. Medical Anthropology Quarterly. New series 11(1) pp. 26-55. Retrieved from http://www. jstor. org/stable/649276. Mosko, M. S. (1997). The symbols of â€Å"Forest†: A structural analysis of Mbuti culture and Social organization. American Anthropologist. New series 89(4) pp. 896-913. Retrieved from http://www. jstor. org/stable/677863. Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content. ashford. edu/books.

Social Media in the Workplace

Tony Green Comp II Essay 3 Social Media in the Workplace A growing hot topic, and cause for concern is the increasing use of social media in the workplace. The landscape for communication has changed, and the line between personal and professional communications has been blurred. How will your employer manage the risks associated with the use of social media and at the same time, gain the benefits that this media form provides? While many employers were initially concerned that employees would use company time and equipment for socializing with friends, they are quickly learning that many social networks can also be used directly for work purposes. In today's competitive workplace, emerging professionals should spend as much time using online tools for professional knowledge and development, as they do developing their social life and personal interests. Supervisors are learning that social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, blogs, wikis, text messaging or discussion groups can be used to engage other employees in discussions, and cultivate conversations between teams across geographic, and other boundaries. Speaking to business partners ashore and abound has never been easier, and can be accomplished today with the click of a button. Social media can also be a profitable sales and marketing tool. Through social media, business professionals now have the ability to advertise, promote, and publicize their products and services without ever having to leave their homes. There is no other low-cost promotional method out there that will easily give you large numbers of visitors, some of whom may come back to your website again and again. In fact, the benefits in most cases exceed the cost. It would take you thousands of dollars to buy several links; social media has the ability to give you that for free. Social Media doesn’t, â€Å"Guarantee† that you will make money. Every site or business that wants to expand and become profitable, needs a core group of supporters who will be willing to make purchases or recommend the site to others. Your site needs to perpetuate itself. The more supporters you have, the faster word spreads about your site. Social media marketing is an excellent way to get people to come into your site to take a look at what you have to offer. You will grow when there are a group of loyal visitors ready to always act upon what you have to offer. Accompanying all actions, there are equal, and opposite reactions. Just as there are many benefits of social media in the workplace, there are many not-so-beneficial attributes associated with allowing social networking in your workplace. Time management is obviously the most important issue for all of us with always-on technologies of communication. Today we can record conversations, take pictures, check email, and visit networking sites through our own telephones. Extended smoke breaks are no longer in the picture when compared to the amount of time employees are using during work to reconnect with friends and family. When that technology is used to view, collect or disseminate inappropriate content, again employers have cause for concern. Use of workplace computers to access and distribute pornography, for example, frequently results in discipline and workplace harassment complaints. In some cases it can even result in serious criminal investigations. Social Media is growing upward, fast! If you can’t keep up with it, at the very least keep track of it. Most importantly, usage of social media in the workplace must be regulated. Guidelines must be set, and signed verifications must be documented. This media frenzy can be your best business partner, or your worst piece of evidence against you. Which side do you want to be on? Social Media in the Workplace Tony Green Comp II Essay 3 Social Media in the Workplace A growing hot topic, and cause for concern is the increasing use of social media in the workplace. The landscape for communication has changed, and the line between personal and professional communications has been blurred. How will your employer manage the risks associated with the use of social media and at the same time, gain the benefits that this media form provides? While many employers were initially concerned that employees would use company time and equipment for socializing with friends, they are quickly learning that many social networks can also be used directly for work purposes. In today's competitive workplace, emerging professionals should spend as much time using online tools for professional knowledge and development, as they do developing their social life and personal interests. Supervisors are learning that social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, blogs, wikis, text messaging or discussion groups can be used to engage other employees in discussions, and cultivate conversations between teams across geographic, and other boundaries. Speaking to business partners ashore and abound has never been easier, and can be accomplished today with the click of a button. Social media can also be a profitable sales and marketing tool. Through social media, business professionals now have the ability to advertise, promote, and publicize their products and services without ever having to leave their homes. There is no other low-cost promotional method out there that will easily give you large numbers of visitors, some of whom may come back to your website again and again. In fact, the benefits in most cases exceed the cost. It would take you thousands of dollars to buy several links; social media has the ability to give you that for free. Social Media doesn’t, â€Å"Guarantee† that you will make money. Every site or business that wants to expand and become profitable, needs a core group of supporters who will be willing to make purchases or recommend the site to others. Your site needs to perpetuate itself. The more supporters you have, the faster word spreads about your site. Social media marketing is an excellent way to get people to come into your site to take a look at what you have to offer. You will grow when there are a group of loyal visitors ready to always act upon what you have to offer. Accompanying all actions, there are equal, and opposite reactions. Just as there are many benefits of social media in the workplace, there are many not-so-beneficial attributes associated with allowing social networking in your workplace. Time management is obviously the most important issue for all of us with always-on technologies of communication. Today we can record conversations, take pictures, check email, and visit networking sites through our own telephones. Extended smoke breaks are no longer in the picture when compared to the amount of time employees are using during work to reconnect with friends and family. When that technology is used to view, collect or disseminate inappropriate content, again employers have cause for concern. Use of workplace computers to access and distribute pornography, for example, frequently results in discipline and workplace harassment complaints. In some cases it can even result in serious criminal investigations. Social Media is growing upward, fast! If you can’t keep up with it, at the very least keep track of it. Most importantly, usage of social media in the workplace must be regulated. Guidelines must be set, and signed verifications must be documented. This media frenzy can be your best business partner, or your worst piece of evidence against you. Which side do you want to be on?

Corporations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Corporations - Essay Example In this regard, a duty of care involves the duty to ensure that the corporation’s interests are protected and in doing so, directors must ensure that their conduct does not bring about harm to the corporation (Guth v Loft, Inc.). In the class action lawsuit against the board, the claim is that the board of directors is jointly liable for the illegal conduct of Operator and Accountant. The claim is therefore substantiated by findings that board directors Operator and Account breached their duty of loyalty and the board as a whole was negligent in not preventing or acquiescing in that breach of the duty of loyalty. Liability in this regard will be founded on the statutory duty of care articulated by the Model Business Corporation Act 1984. Pursuant to Section 8.30 of the Model Business Corporation Act 1984, directors have a responsibility to act with the care of an ordinary reasonable person in the director’s position and how such a person would be expected to act in â₠¬Å"similar circumstances† (Model Business Corporation Act, Section 8.30). Therefore the substantive issue is whether or not the board as whole indirectly and through agency, breached the duty of loyalty and in doing so, directly breached the duty of care. From a purely procedural perspective, the business judgment rule engages judicial review of the substantive issues and argument. ... On the facts of the case, it appears that the board relied on Accountant and his teams to appropriately carry out the corporation’s financial affairs. Moreover, the audited financial statements sent to the directors would not have revealed an obvious issue although a closer examination of the books would have revealed the unlawful activities. The main question in assessing the business judgment rule is therefore whether or not it was prudent for the board to trust Accountant and to accept the audited financial statements at face value. Since audited financial statements are usually prepared by a certified public accountant and its authentic is confirmed by the certified public accountant, it does not appear to be unreasonable for the board to rely on the audited financial statements (Merrill Lynch). If the certified public accountant was Accountant and his team, it is only with hindsight that the board might have a reason to second guess his preparation of the audited financia l statements. Therefore this part of the class action lawsuit will not likely succeed. The board appears to have acted prudently or reasonably and had a rational basis for their decision and cannot be said to have acted in breach of a duty of care and therefore did not breach the duty of loyalty. With respect to the payment of a US$50 fine to avoid an indictment against the company, it can be argued that this particular act is negligent since the case against Operator appears to be falling apart. Procedurally, if the case against Operator, the main actor in the scandal is weakening, the case against Mousetrap is decidedly weaker. However, the prospect of facing an investigation and an

Efficiency and Collaboration Proposal Coursework

Efficiency and Collaboration Proposal - Coursework Example However, it is not denied that Microsoft Excel can be used in various others ways like inventory, financial worksheets, etc. But Microsoft Access is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) application which is primarily meant for maintaining records whereas Microsoft Excel’s primary function is to act as a tool for data analysis. As it is necessary to maintain records of personnel working in the organization, an application is essential which can be used to enter the records and provide reports based on various parameters, Microsoft Access is flexible and useful when compared to Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Office is a easiest tool for documentation, tables, analysis, making presentation, maintaining records and getting reports. All the applications in MS Office package are flexible with each other that the data can be imported and exported to different applications. Similarly, all the data existing in MS Excel can be imported in MS Access through Import Option available in MS Access. This not allow the data to imported but it actually imports the data head-wise as it was entered in Excel thus eliminating the problem of entering the data again in Excel. The main benefit of MS Access is that value can be given to the parameters and based on these values data can be entered and reports can generated. Additionally, it offers the flexibility to design report based on our conditions. Such reports can help the organizations in decision making process. Party Plates can use MS Access to its fullest extent as possible to derive data as per its requirement and generate reports to make necessary changes in its strategy. Information pertaining to personnel’s can be obtained category wise to determine the payment policies, costs, products, sales data, etc. Such detailed data will help the sales department in taking decisions regarding the strategy formulation in times of crisis. As the competition is intense in the

New business on wine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

New business on wine - Essay Example This paper provides a clear picture regarding the possible name of a new business on wine. It also includes the details of the partnership agreement that can be followed by the partners who are going to buy the vineyard It also includes the details of the partnership agreement that can be followed by the partners who are going to buy the vineyard. Furthermore, a proper mission statement is also developed based on the current situation of the company. A list of objectives and a proper SWOT analysis is also included in the paper in order to help the management in the decision making process. Introduction In real business world, if noticed carefully, it will be found that most of the businesses irrespective of their size and nature are actually the result of partnerships of two or more individuals. In case of most of businesses starting point was a partnership. However, turning a partnership into a big business is one of the most challenging tasks in the world. There are number of activ ities and decision making processes that are involved in the entire process. Perhaps the first major activity for starting up a business is choosing an appropriate name that will give a brand identity to the business. This paper is all about such a business that is likely to be concentrated on a vineyard and the wine produced from it. The business needs to be given a proper name and hence the paper includes a suitable name for it. Furthermore, an appropriate partnership agreement that can be followed in conducting the business is also provided in the paper. Over the years it is observed that businesses succeed or fail on the basis of various strategic decisions that are made by the management. However, prior to making any strategic decision, it is very important to analyze the internal and external environment of the company. Hence, the paper includes a proper SWOT analysis for the vineyard business. It also includes the possible mission statement and a list of some major strategic objectives that are required to be met in order to have initial success. Task One The partnership business on vineyard is hereby given the name of ‘Azinert’ which is a combination of last two-three words that are taken from each of the existing product categories – Shiraz, Chenin and Dessert Wine. This will be the new brand identity for the business in upcoming years. All the products that will be produced will be sold under the brand name of Azinert. Task Two Legally a partnership is referred to the relationship between the individuals who are involved into common business with the objective of sharing profits. Usually more than a single party is involved in a partnership and partners must have to agree various terms and conditions which are the pillars of the partnership (Kimuda, 2008). The partnership agreement, in case of Azinert will be made on May 15, 2011. The partners are likely to contribute the capital in the form of cash. There will be a separate capit al account for each of the partners. None of the partners will be able to withdraw any portion from his capital account. Based on the demand of each of the partners, the capital accounts will be maintained in a certain proportions in which profits and losses are shared. The net profits as well as the net losses will be divided equally among the partners. There will be a separate income account for each of the partners. Profits or losses will be either credited or charged to the each of the income accounts. In case the income account does not have enough balance, then losses will be charged to the respective capital account (Internet Legal Research Group, n.d.). As far as the salaries are concerned, there will be no such thing for any partner for any services that are rendered. However, partners are allowed to withdraw the required credit balance from their respective income account. Furthermore, no interest will be credited on the initial amount of capital neither there will be any interest on the any subsequent

Describe the difference between religion & magic, giving examples of Essay

Describe the difference between religion & magic, giving examples of each. (Give 2 + examples each.) - Essay Example It’s made up of different norms or practices agreed upon and practices by a society. In contrary to magic, a religion is usually accepted and followed devotedly and mostly act as a guidance that contains a moral code governing the conduct of a community. Religion can also be well explained through consideration of its essential characteristics; religious belief, unity of a society of the same faith and finally religious practices and belief (Frazer 38). As indicated by sociologist, religion is not just monotheistic, some religions for example Confucianism recognize no gods at all while others practice polytheism, that is, believe in many deities. Contrary to Adam and Eves story in the Bible, religion is not necessarily a revelation of origins of creation. Not all religions have similar myths of origin though they still fit within the correct definition of a religion. It is, therefore, correct to say that religion is a set of moral norms and principles concerning rules regulating behavior of its believers and sacred. All religion to a greater extent shares at least same features. For example, most religions embrace an individual responsible and is considered to specialize in religious practices (Frazer 41). Christianity and Islam are some of the example of religion. Magic, on the other hand, can be defined as the art that claims to influence or foresee natural events (Frazer 5). It mainly works by invoking the supernatural. Magic is, therefore, performed through superstitious practices and behaviors intended to cause a predetermined or desired end. Magic does require a general agreed set of beliefs or practice upon which its practice is derived as compared to religion. It can be real or manipulation of natural events to attain the desired outcome (Frazer 10). Some religions however incorporate a bit of belief in magic, especially those that arose from traditional practices. An individual who performs magic is assumed

Final Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 13

Final Paper - Essay Example Moreover, very few people remember their lives when they were young and in their toddler ages. The same principles apply with the main principles that are guiding us in the present day. People are given the liberty to act and to think according to the situation and according to what their instincts hold and tell them. The decision and the way people live is also influenced by many factors that surrounding them. It may range from various diversities such as education, religion, the environment and other factors that influence the guiding principles in a person’s life (Bhattacharjee, p 130). Through various societal and cultural influences, people tend to believe in various practices that make them make the decisions they make in life and stand by them. I therefore do not believe in being controlled by an evil genius because an evil genius tends to make people do wrongs in the society constantly. I believe that human beings have the power to design and choose their fates (Bhattacharjee 150). I believe human beings control themselves and their behavior. An empiricist can coherently believe in God as man’s five senses are not adequately reliable for the main reason that man is neither infallible nor perfect. Humans do not have the divine ability to possess complete flaunt less knowledge to everything around them. There are some things in life that man cannot give adequate answers to. Assured and broad knowledge requires humans to depend on a perfect being and that is God. God is Infallible and full of exhaustive knowledge (Gupta 67). The man’s five senses can only provide information and awareness with reference to only specific attributes of an object. There are many fields that empiricists have no answers to. Believing in god is the only option that can offer those answers. The question of origin and existence for example, answers can only be found in religion. The empiricists believe