Sea Sponges Facts

Sea Sponges Facts When you look at a sponge, the word animal  might not be the first that comes to mind, but sea sponges are animals. There are over 6,000 species of sponges; most live in the marine environment, although there are also freshwater sponges. Natural sponges have been used by humans to clean and bathe with for at least 3,000 years. Sponges are classified in the phylum Porifera. The word Porifera  comes from the Latin words porus (pore) and ferre (bear), meaning pore-bearer. This is a reference to the numerous pores or holes on a sponges surface. It is through these pores that the sponge draws in water from which it feeds. Fast Facts: Sponges Scientific Name: PoriferaCommon Name: SpongeBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: Various species range from under a half inch to 11 feet in lengthWeight: Up to approximately 20 poundsLifespan: Up to 2,300 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Oceans and freshwater lakes the world overPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: One species is classified Least Concern; most are Not Evaluated. Description Sponges come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some, like the liver sponge, look like a low-lying crust on a rock, while others can be taller than humans. Some sponges are in the form of encrustations or masses, some are branched, and some look like tall vases. Sponges are relatively simple multi-celled animals. They do not have tissues or organs like some animals do; rather, they have specialized cells to perform necessary functions. These cells each have a job. Some are in charge of digestion, some reproduction, some bringing in water so the sponge can filter feed, and some are used for getting rid of wastes. The skeleton of a sponge is formed from spicules which are made of silica (a glass-like material) or calcareous (calcium or calcium carbonate) materials, and spongin, a protein that supports the spicules. Sponge species may be most readily identified by examining their spicules under a microscope. Sponges do not have a nervous system, so they dont move when touched.   Placebo365/Getty Images   Species There are an enormous number of species in the phylum Porifera, broken into five classes: Calcarea (Calcareous sponges)Demospongiae (Horny sponges)Hexactinellida (Glass sponges)Homoscleromorpha (Includes about 100 species of encrusting sponges)Porifera incertae sedis (Sponges whose classification has not yet been defined) There are over 6,000 formally described sponge species, measuring from under a half inch to 11 feet. The largest sponge discovered to date was found in Hawaii in 2015, and has not yet been named. Habitat and Distribution Sponges are found on the ocean floor or attached to substrates such as rocks, coral, shells, and marine organisms. Sponges range in habitat from shallow intertidal areas and coral reefs to the deep sea. They are found in oceans and freshwater lakes throughout the world. Diet and Behavior Most sponges feed on bacteria and organic matter by drawing water in through pores called ostia (singular: ostium), which are openings through which water enters the body. Lining the channels in these pores are collar cells. The collars of these cells surround a hair-like structure called a flagellum. The flagella beat to create water currents. Most sponges also feed on small organisms that come in with the water. There are also a few species of carnivorous sponges that feed by using their spicules to capture prey such as small crustaceans. Water and wastes are circulated out of the body by pores called oscula (singular: osculum). Reproduction and Offspring Sponges reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs through the production of egg and sperm. In some species, these gametes are from the same individual; in others, separate individuals produce eggs and sperm. Fertilization occurs when the gametes are brought into the sponge by currents of water. A larva is formed, and it settles on a substrate where it becomes attached to the rest of its life. Asexual reproduction occurs by budding, which happens when a part of a sponge is broken off, or one of its branch tips is constricted, and then this small piece grows into a new sponge. They may also reproduce asexually by producing packets of cells called gemmules. Threats In general, sponges arent very tasty to most other marine animals. They can contain toxins, and their spicule structure probably doesnt make them very comfortable to digest. Two organisms that eat sponges though are hawksbill sea turtles and nudibranchs. Some nudibranchs will even absorb a sponges toxin while it eats it and then uses the toxin in its own defense. Most of the sponges have been evaluated by the IUCN, as Least Concern. RainervonBrandis/Getty Images Sponges and Humans The modern plastic sponge in our kitchens and bathrooms are named after natural sponges, living animals which were harvested and widely used as long ago as the 8th century BCE as implements for bathing and cleaning, as well as in medical practices such as assisting in healing and to cool or warm or comfort a body part. Ancient Greek writers such as Aristotle (384–332 BCE) suggested the best sponge for such tasks was one that is compressible and squeezable but not sticky, and holds great quantities of water in its canals and expels it out when compressed.   You can still buy natural sponges in health food stores or on the Internet. Artificial sponges were not invented until the 1940s, and long before that, commercial sponge harvesting industries developed in many areas, including Tarpon Springs and Key West, Florida. Sources Brusca Richard C. and Gary J. Brusca. Phylum Porifera: the sponges. Invertebrates. Cambridge, MA: Sinauer Press, 2003. 181–210.Castro, Fernando, et al. Agalychnis The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T55843A11379402, 2004.  Ã‚  Coulombe, Deborah A. The Seaside Naturalist. New York: Simon Schuster, 1984.Denoble, Peter. The Story of Sponge Divers. Alert Diver Online, 2011.Hendrikse, Sandra and Andrà ©Ã‚  Merks, A. Sponge Fishing in Key West and Tarpon Springs, American Sponge Diver, 2003Martinez, Andrew J. Marine Life of the North Atlantic. New York: Aqua Quest Publications, Inc., 2003.UCMP. Porifera: Life History and Ecology. University of California Museum of Paleontology.Wagner, Daniel, and Christopher D. Kelley. The Largest Sponge in the World? Marine Biodiversity 47.2 (2017): 367–68.  Voultsiadou, Eleni. Sponges: An Historical Survey of Their Knowledge in Greek Antiquity. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 87.6 (2007): 1757 –63. Print.

The Complete List of NCAA Division 3 Colleges (Updated)

The Complete List of NCAA Division 3 Colleges (Updated) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The NCAA- the major governing body for intercollegiate sports- separates its member institutions by divisions. Division III colleges are generally the smallest and have the fewest resources for their athletic teams; however, Division IIIis the biggest division in terms of number of schools and student-athletes. Many Division III schools take pride in their sports teams, and athletes comprise a significant percentage of the student population. In this article, I’ll give you a basic understanding of Division III as well as a complete list of current Division III schools, organized by state. Why Are There NCAA Divisions? The NCAA made divisions to create competitive balance and a level playing field. The existence of divisions is meant to enable schools to compete against other schools of a similar size and with similar resources. What Makes Division III Unique? In Division III, there are no athletic scholarships.Sports teams have shorter practice times and playing seasons than they do in Divisions I and II. Additionally, in Division III, the focus is more on the participant than it is on generating revenue or creating events for spectators. Here are some fun facts to know about Division III: There are more than 194,000 athletes in Division III 80% of Division III schools are private Each Division III school sponsors an average of 18 sports Complete List of NCAA Division III Colleges Below, we give you the complete list of NCAA Division III colleges for the 2018-19 school year. At present, there are more than 440 schools in Division III. But how can you use this list? If there's a particular college you're considering applying to, you can look at this list to determine whether that school is a Division III institution or not. You can alsocheck to see which colleges are Division III in a certain sport you're interested in.Note that some Division III schools might compete in Division I for one or two sports. Alabama Birmingham-Southern College Huntingdon College Arkansas Hendrix College University of the Ozarks (Arkansas) California California Institute of Technology (Caltech) California Lutheran University Chapman University Claremont McKenna–Harvey Mudd–Scripps Colleges Mills College Occidental College Pomona–Pitzer Colleges University of California, Santa Cruz University of La Verne University of Redlands Whittier College Colorado Colorado College Connecticut Albertus Magnus College Connecticut College Eastern Connecticut State University Mitchell College Trinity College (Connecticut) U.S. Coast Guard Academy University of St. Joseph (Connecticut) Wesleyan University (Connecticut) Western Connecticut State University District of Columbia Catholic University Gallaudet University Trinity Washington University Delaware Wesley College Georgia Agnes Scott College Berry College Covenant College Emory University LaGrange College Oglethorpe University Piedmont College Wesleyan College (Georgia) Iowa Buena Vista University Central College (Iowa) Coe College Cornell College Grinnell College Iowa Wesleyan University Loras College Luther College Simpson College University of Dubuque Wartburg College Illinois Augustana College (Illinois) Aurora University Benedictine University (Illinois) Blackburn College Concordia University Chicago Dominican University (Illinois) Elmhurst College Eureka College Greenville University Illinois College Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois Wesleyan University Knox College Lake Forest College MacMurray College Millikin University Monmouth College (Illinois) North Central College North Park University Principia College Rockford University University of Chicago Wheaton College (Illinois) Indiana Anderson University (Indiana) DePauw University Earlham College Franklin College Hanover College Manchester University Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Saint Mary's College (Indiana) Trine University Wabash College Kentucky Berea College Centre College Spalding University Thomas More College Transylvania University Louisiana Centenary College (Louisiana) Louisiana College Massachusetts Amherst College Anna Maria College Babson College Bay Path University Becker College Brandeis University Bridgewater State University Clark University (Massachusetts) Curry College Dean College Eastern Nazarene College Elms College Emerson College Emmanuel College (Massachusetts) Endicott College Fitchburg State University Framingham State University Gordon College Lasell College Lesley University Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Massachusetts Maritime Academy Mount Holyoke College Newbury College Nichols College Pine Manor College Regis College (Massachusetts) Salem State University Simmons University Smith College Springfield College Suffolk University Tufts University University of Massachusetts Boston University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Wellesley College Wentworth Institute of Technology Western New England University Westfield State University Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester State University Maryland Frostburg State University Goucher College Hood College Johns Hopkins University McDaniel College Notre Dame of Maryland University Salisbury University St. Mary's College of Maryland Stevenson University Washington College (Maryland) Maine Bates College Bowdoin College Colby College Husson University Maine Maritime Academy Saint Joseph's College (Maine) Thomas College University of Maine at Presque Isle University of Maine, Farmington University of New England University of Southern Maine Michigan Adrian College Albion College Alma College Calvin College Finlandia University Hope College Kalamazoo College Olivet College Minnesota Augsburg University Bethany Lutheran College Bethel University (Minnesota) Carleton College College of Saint Benedict Concordia College, Moorhead Crown College (Minnesota) Gustavus Adolphus College Hamline University Macalester College Martin Luther College North Central University Saint John's University (Minnesota) Saint Mary's University of Minnesota St. Catherine University St. Olaf College The College of St. Scholastica University of Minnesota, Morris University of Northwestern–St. Paul University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) Missouri Fontbonne University Washington University in St. Louis Webster University Westminster College (Missouri) Mississippi Belhaven University Millsaps College North Carolina Brevard College Greensboro College Guilford College Meredith College Methodist University North Carolina Wesleyan College Pfeiffer University Salem College (North Carolina) William Peace University Nebraska Nebraska Wesleyan University New Hampshire Colby-Sawyer College Keene State College New England College Plymouth State University Rivier University New Jersey Centenary University (New Jersey) College of Saint Elizabeth Drew University Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Kean University Montclair State University New Jersey City University Ramapo College Rowan University Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Camden Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Newark Stevens Institute of Technology Stockton University The College of New Jersey William Paterson University of New Jersey New York Alfred State College Alfred University Bard College Baruch College Brooklyn College Buffalo State, State University of New York Cazenovia College Clarkson University College at Brockport, State University of New York College of Mount Saint Vincent College of New Rochelle College of Staten Island D'Youville College Elmira College Farmingdale State College Hamilton College Hartwick College Hilbert College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Houghton College Hunter College Ithaca College John Jay College of Criminal Justice Keuka College Lehman College Manhattanville College Medaille College Medgar Evers College Morrisville State College Mount Saint Mary College (New York) Nazareth College New York University Plattsburgh State University of New York Purchase College, State University of New York Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Rochester Institute of Technology Sarah Lawrence College Skidmore College St. John Fisher College St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) St. Joseph's College (Long Island) St. Lawrence University State University College at Old Westbury State University of New York at Canton State University of New York atCobleskill State University of New York atCortland State University of New York atDelhi State University of New York atGeneseo State University of New York atNew Paltz State University of New York atOneonta State University of New York atOswego State University of New York atPotsdam State University of New York Maritime College State University of New York Polytechnic Institute The City College of New York The Sage Colleges The State University of New York at Fredonia U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Union College (New York) University of Rochester Utica College Vassar College Wells College Yeshiva University York College (New York) Ohio Baldwin Wallace University Bluffton University Capital University Case Western Reserve University Defiance College Denison University Franciscan University of Steubenville Heidelberg University Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Marietta College Mount St. Joseph University Muskingum University Oberlin College Ohio Northern University Ohio Wesleyan University Otterbein University The College of Wooster University of Mount Union Wilmington College (Ohio) Wittenberg University Oregon George Fox University Lewis Clark College Linfield College Pacific University (Oregon) Willamette University Pennsylvania Albright College Allegheny College Alvernia University Arcadia University Bryn Athyn College Bryn Mawr College Cabrini University Cairn University Carnegie Mellon University Cedar Crest College Chatham University Clarks Summit University Delaware Valley University DeSales University Dickinson College Eastern University Elizabethtown College Franklin Marshall College Geneva College Gettysburg College Grove City College Gwynedd Mercy University Haverford College Immaculata University Juniata College Keystone College King's College (Pennsylvania) La Roche College Lancaster Bible College Lebanon Valley College Lycoming College Marywood University Messiah College Misericordia University Moravian College Mount Aloysius College Muhlenberg College Neumann University Penn State Berks College Penn State Harrisburg Penn State University, Abington Penn State University, Altoona Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania State Univ. Erie, the Behrend College Rosemont College Saint Vincent College Susquehanna University Swarthmore College Thiel College University of Pittsburgh, Bradford University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg University of Scranton University of Valley Forge Ursinus College Washington and Jefferson College Waynesburg University Westminster College (Pennsylvania) Widener University Wilkes University Wilson College York College (Pennsylvania) Rhode Island Johnson Wales University (Providence) Rhode Island College Roger Williams University Salve Regina University Tennessee Maryville College (Tennessee) Rhodes College University of the South Texas Austin College Concordia University Texas East Texas Baptist University Hardin-Simmons University Howard Payne University LeTourneau University McMurry University Schreiner University Southwestern University (Texas) Sul Ross State University Texas Lutheran University The University of Texas at Tyler Trinity University (Texas) University of Dallas University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University of Texas at Dallas Virginia Averett University Bridgewater College (Virginia) Christopher Newport University Eastern Mennonite University Emory and Henry College Ferrum College Hampden-Sydney College Hollins University Lynchburg University Mary Baldwin University Marymount University (Virginia) Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Roanoke College Shenandoah University Southern Virginia University Sweet Briar College University of Mary Washington Virginia Wesleyan College Washington and Lee University Vermont Castleton University Middlebury College Northern Vermont University–Johnson Northern Vermont University–Lyndon Norwich University Southern Vermont College Washington Pacific Lutheran University University of Puget Sound Whitman College Whitworth University Wisconsin Alverno College Beloit College Carroll University (Wisconsin) Carthage College Concordia University Wisconsin Edgewood College Lakeland University Lawrence University Maranatha Baptist University Marian University (Wisconsin) Milwaukee School of Engineering Mount Mary University Northland College Ripon College St. Norbert College University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University of Wisconsin–La Crosse University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh University of Wisconsin–Platteville University of Wisconsin–River Falls University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point University of Wisconsin–Stout University of Wisconsin–Superior University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Wisconsin Lutheran College West Virginia Bethany College (West Virginia) What's Next? Learn the difference between NCAA divisions.If you're a prospective student-athlete, be sure that you know the SAT and ACT scores you'll need to be eligible to participate in NCAA athletics. Athletics should only only be one component of your college decision. Read our expert article on how to choose the best college for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

BUSINESS MODELS, CUSTOMER & CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCES Assignment - 1

BUSINESS MODELS, CUSTOMER & CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCES - Assignment Example The company can use the pricing strategy. That can involve a low penetration cost that is backed by high low levels of advertising. That would ensure that the consumers are attracted to the company products by the low prices. The other strategy could be the use of high prices and high levels of advertising. The high prices would compensate for the high advertising costs that are incurred by the company. The company should not rush into manufacturing because the amount investment could end up as a loss if the products are not approved. If I was the CEO of the company, I would first await for the approving of the product before I go ahead with manufacturing. The main idea of the business was to establish a strategy that will ensure that there is stability of the business even if there are instances of substitutes or entrants of new companies into the industry. That will ensure that the business gains brand royals that will ensure that there is smooth running of the business. There is also an attempt to ensure that the quality of products is maximized so as to reduce the bargaining of customers. The best customer experience I had was when I was been attended to in a local hotel. The service in the hotel was awesome and it was as a result of the good customer service that I received from the hotel attendants. I had expectations of a good service; however, I did not expect it to be of such a high quality as it was displayed in the hotel. The service was awesome as compared to my expectations and that is what made my day awesome. The service counts as my best service because I was able to at least have quality customer service and the hotel had a good feedback system in which I could air my grievances or complains (Brock, 2007). The worst service that I received was in a hospital. I expected the hospital to offer quality services because it was dealing with sick people. The services at the hospital were horrible from the

The Catholic church teaching of homosexuality Research Paper

The Catholic church teaching of homosexuality - Research Paper Example Homosexuality is a troubling moral and that has been addressed with relative frequency by the Catholic Church in recent years. In certain countries, advocated by civil groups in particular, this practice is tolerated in guise of human rights equality and right to chose way of life without interfering with the larger society and in other countries, legal recognition has since been granted to such unions including the legal possibility of such couples adopting children. The Catholic Church stands by the Biblical condemnation of homosexuality stating, â€Å"Basing itself on sacred scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complimentarity. Under no circumstances are they to be approved.† (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357). Nonetheless, in line with Christian teachings of tolerance, homosexuals, according to the Catholic Church, â€Å"must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.† This tolerance however must not be mistaken to imply that the Catholic Church favors homosexuality since the church is openly against such acts. Governments are reminded of the need to control and restrain the phenomenon in order to safeguard public morality and avoid spread of the degeneracy and exposing the society and future generations to such sexual perversions and laws recognizing such unions in certain countries and states must be vehemently opposed as such laws are in opposition to the right reason as they confer legal guarantees, analogous to those granted to marriage, to unions between persons of similar sex. Therefore the states, by granting legal recognition to such unions fails in its sworn duty to defend marriage and family institutions as the foundation and pillar of the society. The society owes its continued survival to the family, founded in marriage and consequently, legal recognition of such unions would mean redefinition of marriage to become an institution without elements as essential as procreation and children. This would result in serious impacts on the societies and the human race at large, to say the least. â€Å"The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and can not be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it.† The Catholic Church stands that homosexual unions do not deserve any institutional recognition as they equally do not serve any public interests unlike marriage couples that ensure continuity of the human race. It is the Church’s view that civil laws determine the principles, behavior, thoughts and tendencies of those it governs either positively or negatively as it is, influencing incoming generations’ views and regard of the forms of lifestyle. Legal recognition of homosexuality would thus inevitably water down some essential and basic moral values and degenerate the institution of marriage. The Catholic Church argues that the lack of biological and anthropological elements in homosexual relations mean that they are unable to play role in the God commissioned and mu ch necessary procreation and continued survival of the human race.

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre - The Relationship between Jane and Roches

The Relationship between Jane Eyre and Rochester   Ã‚  Ã‚   Each of us carries within us the seed of a unique plant. When circumstances conspire to caringly nourish that seed in the manner most appropriate to its true nature-- circumstances which, sadly, are as rare as they are fortunate--the germ of our original selves is likely to flourish. When, however, this tender seed receives attention which is insufficient or antithetical to its essential inclination, growth is inevitably blighted in some way. Weaker or more sensitive seedlings may wither outright; others will be irreparably stunted. Stronger plants may yet grow to imposing heights, but they will be bent and twisted at the places where their needs were unmet, and may well feel eternally compelled to somehow loosen the knot of those deforming deprivations, so as to come closer to their originally intended shapes: Jane Eyre and Rochester are two such plants; driven by an indomitable will to find and follow their essential selves, they discover in each other a vital key to t he realization of that end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As every conscientious parent knows, a child needs both roots--love and security--and wings--belief in, and encouragement of, his autonomy--in order to mature. While gifted with the latter--the drive for self-realization previously mentioned--Jane and Rochester have been severely deprived of the foundation of the former. They are both outsiders. The identities they have succeeded in forging for themselves thus have a quality of rare integrity, for they primarily have come from within, not from the outer prompting to please and emulate others. At the same time, these characters lack the sense of security and connectedness which is the vital prop of such gifts. When the tw... ...r love: like two trees in a dense, dark forest, bending, twisting and inter-twining to reach an aperture of warm, bright sunlight, more beautiful to my mind than their unblemished brothers. Works Cited and Consulted Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Penguin, 1985. Gordon, Lyndall. Charlotte Bronte: A Passionate Life. New York: Norton, 1994. Michie, Helena. The Flesh Made Word: Female Figures and Women's Bodies. New York: Oxford UP, 1987. Poovey, Mary. "Speaking of the Body: Mid-Victorian Constructions of Female Desire." Jacobus, Keller, and Shuttleworth 24-46. Rich, Adrienne. "Jane Eyre: The Temptations of a Motherless Woman." Gates 142-55. Roy, Parama. "Unaccommodated Woman and the Poetics of Property in Jane Eyre." Studies in English Literature 29 (1989): 713-27. Sullivan, Sheila. Studying the Brontes. Longman: York, 1986.

Separation of Powers – Importance of Judicial Independence

The Jamaican Constitution (hereinafter â€Å"the Constitution†) came into effect with the Jamaica Independence Act of 1962. The Act was tabled to ‘make provision for and in connection with, the attainment by Jamaica of fully responsible status within the Commonwealth. ’ This document formed the framework for Jamaica’s political independence and created the premise on which this fledgling nation could carve out its own legal system based on its own moral, cultural and political experience.The Constitution though largely reflective of the previous colonial relationship, has within it an innate balance of power between the arms of government that is theoretically and fundamentally positioned to support the country’s self-governance. This balance is so designed, to facilitate the critical functions of government while ensuring that no single body so fully controls the reins of power that it’s will can be imposed without the acquiescence of the oth er parties, and the greater society.This balance is grounded in the principle of the Separation of Powers, implied by the Constitution. With the complex interplay of relationships, and the significance of power within the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, the latter emerges as the keepers of the gate in maintaining this equilibrium through its function as the arbiters of justice. The Doctrine of the Separation of Powers was first proposed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322BC), and made popular in the 17th century by French writer Charles Louis de Montesquieu.Montesquieu argued that for an independent judiciary to exist, the three arms of government must have separate and independent powers within their areas of responsibility, otherwise we run the risk of there being no liberty, arbitrary control, violence and oppression. This principle may be applied to varying degrees in any legal system and may or may not be a legal restriction; however it is a very effective tool used to protect the rights and liberties of citizens from tyranny.The Constitution by virtue of Section 34, establishes Parliament (the Legislature) as the first arm of government and comprises the Queen (represented by the Governor General) and two Houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Under Sections 48 –50, it is given power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Jamaica, decide special rights, immunities and powers of the Senate, the House of Representatives and its members; and the conditional power to alter the Constitution.By virtue of Section 68, the Governor General is given Executive power to be used on the Queen’s behalf either directly or through officers under him. Section 69 establishes the Cabinet as the main body to direct policy. The Cabinet, consisting of the Prime Minister and other Ministers chosen by him, manages the general administrative functions of the Government and is accountable to Parliament. The Govern or General together with the Cabinet comprises the Executive arm of Government, the second arm of government.The Judiciary is the third arm of Government. It comprises judges and magistrates from the network of courts that form the legal system. Sections 97 and 103 of the Constitution establish the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, respectively. The Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.The other Puisne Judges are appointed by the Governor General on the advice the Judicial Services Commission. It is important to note that there is some degree of inter-connectivity between the Executive and the Legislature, as members of the Cabinet are also members of Parliament. The sharing of personnel between these two bodies compromises the strict application of the doctrine of the separation of powers. It is therefore imperative that the Judiciary ex ecutes its functions in an independent manner.The Constitution supports the assertion that the Judiciary has not only the right, but the responsibility to review the affairs and policies of the Executive and Legislature to ensure that their powers are being exercised within the limits of the Constitution. In exercising this duty, a court can declare a law unconstitutional and therefore null and void as in the case of Adrian Nation, Kereen Wright v DPP and the Attorney General of Jamaica. In Moses Hinds v. The Queen it was underscored that the fair and effective dministration of justice constitutionally rests only within the powers of the Judiciary and in Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights Ltd. and Others v. Marshall-Burnett and the Attorney General of Jamaica, the Privy Council overruled the judgment of the Jamaican Appellate Court in finding that the three Bills attempting to remove the Privy Council as the final appellate court were unconstitutional. This decision was ba sed on their previous ruling in Hinds.As demonstrated in other Commonwealth jurisdictions, the Judiciary may indirectly place pressure on the Legislature to ensure that laws are drafted intra vires, in the first instance. In attempting to avoid ultra vires rulings, the Legislative often times â€Å"†¦tests its own legislation in the courts. This occurred in Suratt et al v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago wherein the Trinidad and Tobago Government defended an action on the grounds that a Bill seeking to promote equality was unconstitutional by virtue of its being discriminatory. This challenge to legislation is another example of the check and balance of the Separation of Powers. The Judiciary is thus required to rule on complex issues that have direct implications for the members and institutions within society, including the other arms of government; with impartiality and in accordance with the Rule of Law. The rule of law as proposed by A. V. Dicey asserts that no man should be punished except for conduct in clear breach of the law. This assertion supports the fact that the legal system rests on the objectivity of the Judiciary.Where we are governed under a system which rests upon the impartial application of laws, and under which citizens’ rights and obligations are regulated by those laws, there must be an established and accepted system for making law. The law must be publicly known. Interference with rights and obligations must be justified within the law as the perception of rights, freedoms and equality in society is influenced by the quality of Judicial rulings. In the spirit of Judicial Independence, the Judiciary must be impartial and may not be influenced by any source except the law.Within the Constitution, security of tenure and security of salary are entrenched provisions designed to insulate the Judiciary from pressure intended to influence their rulings. Judicial Impartiality is defined as ‘the freedom of each individ ual judge to reach a decision within the law without undue interference or pressure from government, other judges, the media or any other source. ’ While attempts to directly interfere with the fair and effective administration of justice may be limited, it can be argued that several factors undoubtedly affect the court’s ability to properly execute its role.Particularly within the Jamaican context, financial constraints arising out of cost-cutting measures of Parliament and limitations in Ministerial budgets have severely affected the resources and physical infrastructure required for the efficient operations of the machinery of the Judiciary. In recent times, influential voices in the Jamaican legal fraternity have highlighted the need to address the issue of limited resources. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn have stated that â€Å"the country is struggling with a low capacity court situation and that is affecting how the wheels of justice turnà ¢â‚¬ ¦.. ou should have been building more courtrooms and making sure you have more personnel, court reporters, prosecutors, resident magistrates†¦. and that was not being done. † The Judiciary also provides guidance to the citizens and other branches of government on matters relating to the Constitution, through statutory interpretation and application of general principles of law while settling disputes brought before them. Their ability to be fair and impartial is particularly challenged when called upon to interpret and rule on legal documents that are poorly drafted or ambiguous.Although the law lends itself to flexibility and expediency, the question arises in some instances whether the ruling accurately represents the will of the Legislative as some appeals have been advanced on the grounds of statutory misinterpretation as in the case of R v East Berkshire Help Authority ex parte Walsh. Judges may find themselves inadvertently assuming the role of creating legal r ights when required to make plain issues not explicitly addressed by legislation.It has been debated that these so-called ‘created laws’ are not in fact created but are legal principles which lay dormant until judges’ interpretations unearth them. This was the position taken by Brett, M. R, in Munster v Lamb. However, the perception is that this ‘power’ does indeed exist as, in plural societies right and wrong are just as plural and judges must ensure that conclusions sufficiently represent a   fair carriage of justice. If the Judiciary were acting solely as the mouth piece of the Legislature and the Executive with no independent thought or justice-driven compass, this arm of government would hardly be relevant.In Earl Pratt and Ivan Morgan v The Attorney General and The Superintendent of Prisons, Saint Catherine, the Privy Council interpreted inhumane treatment under section 17(1) of the Constitution of Jamaica to include delay between conviction and the carrying out of the death penalty though the constitution was silent on this matter. This interpretation created a legal right which had the effect of automatically commuting death penalty convictions for convicts on death row in excess of five years to life imprisonment.The Judiciary also exercises its constitutional mandate through a process of Judicial Review which is the means by which â€Å"Government departments, local authorities or others with law-making and administrative powers are confined by the courts within powers granted by the [Constitution]. .   Although Jamaica does not have a specific Judicial Review Act, provisions for judicial and constitutional claims fall under Administrative Law Claims in section 56 of the Supreme Court of Civil Procedure Rules, 2002. Judicial Review is an important tool of the Judicial Branch.It is considered a grave and ominous â€Å"responsibility which the courts must not shirk from or attempt to shift to Parliament† â⠂¬Å"as this responsibility in and of itself is a system of checks and balances thus seen as the: last bulwark of citizenry. †   The grounds for Judicial Review includes error of law, failure to observe the principles of equity, abdication of functions, improper delegation of authority, and unreasonableness of a decision. All are supporting grounds for the argument that the maintenance of fair justice is eally what is at the heart of the function of the Judiciary. â€Å"Remedies for judicial review include: Certiorari, for quashing unlawful acts, Prohibition, for prohibiting unlawful acts and Mandarmus, (now mandatory order), for requiring performance of a public duty, including a duty to make a decision or determination, or to hear and determine any case†6. The fair administration of justice by Jamaica’s courts is influenced by the fact that its final court of appeal rests outside its jurisdiction.According to the principle of stare decisis or Judicial Preceden ce, courts are bound follow the ruling of higher or equal courts. With the Privy Counsel being retained by the Constitution as Jamaica’s final appellate court, the discussion arises whether the rulings of that external body are sympathetic to the Caribbean experience and thus a fair and effective administration of Justice. According to Sharma JA of the Trinidadian Court of Appeal in Boodram v.AG and Another, â€Å"even after our independence, our courts have continued to develop our law very much in accordance with English jurisprudence. The inherent danger and pitfall in this approach is that, since Independence our society has developed differently from the English and now requires a robust examination in order to render our Constitution and common law meaningful. † The Jamaican Constitution was so designed to support and to be supported by the Doctrine of Separation of Powers between the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary.Though not free of limitations, th e Doctrine effectively balances power among the three bodies, ensuring that encroachments that are not in the interest of justice are held somewhat in check. The sharing of personnel between the Executive and the Legislative bodies in the Jamaican Parliament, however, can lead to cynicism and has the potential for corruption. It is therefore imperative that the Judiciary be allowed to function independently and be protected from interference from those who would seek to influence its decisions.Despite the intent of the Constitution’s authors, the justice system can only be determined to be fair or faulty based on human factors, the judges. The Constitution is a function as well as a reflection of the society it serves and as such our moral, cultural and economic experience will determine how our justice system evolves and whether the tenets on which it is founded are sufficiently strong and rooted to support Jamaica’s political and legal independence.

Copal, the Blood of Trees Ancient American Incense

Copal is a smoky sweet incense derived from tree sap that was used by ancient North American Aztec and Maya cultures in a range of ritual ceremonies. The incense was made from the fresh sap of trees: copal sap is one of the numerous resinous oils which are harvested from the bark of certain trees or shrubs around the world. Although the word copal derives from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word copalli, copal is today used generically to refer to gums and resins from trees throughout the world. Copal made its way into English by way of a 1577 English translation of the Native American pharmacological traditions compiled by the 16th-century Spanish physician Nicolà ¡s Monardes . This article speaks primarily to North American copals; see Tree Resins and Archaeology for further information about other copals. Using Copal A number of hardened tree resins were used as aromatic incense by most pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures for a variety of rituals. Resins were considered the blood of trees. The versatile resin was also used as a binder for pigments used on Maya murals; in the Hispanic period, copal was used in the lost wax technique of making jewelry. The 16th-century Spanish friar Bernardino de Sahagun reported that the Aztec people used copal as makeup, adhesives for masks, and in dentistry where copal was mixed with calcium phosphate to affix precious stones to teeth. Copal was also used as a chewing gum and a medicine for various ailments. A handful of studies have been conducted on the extensive materials recovered from the Great Temple (Templo Mayor) at the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. These artifacts were found in stone boxes beneath the buildings or directly buried as part of construction fill. Among the copal-associated artifacts were figurines, lumps and bars of copal, and ceremonial knives with copal adhesive at the base. Archaeologist Naoli Lona (2012) examined 300 pieces of copal found at the Templo Mayor, including about 80 figurines. She discovered they had been made with an inner core of copal, which was then covered with a layer of stucco and formed by a double-sided mold. The figurines were then painted and given paper garments or flags. A Variety of Species Historic references to copal use include the Mayan book the Popol Vuh, which includes a long passage describing how the sun, moon, and stars arrived on earth bringing copal with them. This document also makes it clear that the Maya collected distinct types of resin from different plants; Sahagun has also written that Aztec copal also came from a variety of plants. Most often, American copals are resins from various members of the tropical Burseraceae (torchwood) family. Other resin-bearing plants that are known or suspected of being American sources of copal include Hymenaea, a legume; Pinus (pines or pinyons); Jatropha (spurges); and Rhus (sumac). There are between 35–100 members of the Burseraceae family in the Americas. Bursera are highly resinous and release a characteristic pine-lemony odor when a leaf or branch is broken. Various Bursera members which are known or suspected to have been used in Maya and Aztec communities are B. bipinnata, B. stenophylla, B. simaruba, B. grandifola, B. excelsa, B. laxiflora, B. penicillata, and B. copalifera. All of these generate resins suitable for copal. Gas-chromatography has been used to attempt to resolve the identification issue, but it has proven difficult to identify the specific tree from an archaeological deposit because the resins have very similar molecular compositions. After an extensive study on the examples from the Templo Mayor, Mexican archaeologist Mathe Lucero-Gomez and colleagues believe they have identified an Aztec preference for B. bipinnata and/or B. stenophylla. Varieties of Copal Several varieties of copal are recognized in historic and modern markets in Central and North America, partly based on what plant the resin came from, but also on the harvesting and processing method used. Wild copal, also called gum or stone copal, exudes naturally as a result of invasive insect attacks through the bark of the tree, as greyish drops which serve to plug the holes. Harvesters use a curved knife to cut or scrape the fresh drops off the bark, which are combined into a soft round glob. Other layers of gum are added on until the desired shape and size is achieved. The external layer is then smoothed or polished and subjected to heat to enhance the adhesive properties and consolidate the mass. White, Gold, and Black Copals The favored type of copal is white copal (copal blanco or the saint, penca or agave leaf copal), and it is obtained by making diagonal cuts through the bark into the trunk or branches of a tree. The milky sap flows along the channel of the cuts down the tree to a container (an agave or aloe leaf or a gourd) placed at the foot. The sap hardens in the shape of its container and brought to market without further processing. According to Hispanic records, this form of the resin was used as an Aztec tribute, and pochteca traders transported from the outlying subject provinces to Tenochtitlan. Every 80 days, so it was said, 8,000 packages of wild copal wrapped in maize leaves and 400 baskets of white copal in bars were brought into Tenochtitlan as part of a tribute payment. Copal oro (gold copal) is resin which is obtained by the complete removal of the bark of a tree, and copal negro (black copal) is said to be obtained from beating the bark. Processing Methods Historically, the Lacandà ³n Maya made copal from the pitch pine tree (Pinus pseudostrobus), using the white copal method described above, and then the bars were pounded into a thick paste and stored in large gourd bowls to be burned as incense as food for the gods. The Lacandà ³n also fashioned nodules, shaped like maize ears and kernels: some evidence suggests copal incense was spiritually connected to maize for Maya groups. Some of the copal offerings from Chichen Itzas sacred well were painted greenish blue and embedded pieces of worked jade. The method used by the Maya Chorti included collecting the gum, letting it dry for a day and then boiling it with water for some eight to ten hours. The gum rises to the surface and is skimmed off with a gourd dipper. The gum is then placed into cold water to harden somewhat, then shaped into round, elongated pellets about the size of a cigar, or into disks about the size of a small coin. After it becomes hard and brittle, the copal is wrapped into corn shucks and either used or sold in the market. Sources Case RJ, Tucker AO, Maciarello MJ, and Wheeler KA. 2003. Chemistry and ethnobotany of commercial incense copals copal Economic Botany 57(2):189-202.blanco, copal oro, and copal negro, of North America.Gifford EK. 2013. Organic and Inorganic Chemical Characterization of Artifacts from the Emanuel Point Shipwrecks. Pensacola: University of West Florida.Lona NV. 2012. Objects made of copal resin: a radiological analysis. Boletà ­n de la Sociedad Geolà ³gica Mexicana 64(2):207-213.Lucero-Gà ³mez P, Mathe C, Vieillescazes C, Bucio L, Belio I, and Vega R. 2014. Analysis of Mexican reference standards for Bursera spp. resins by Gas Journal of Archaeological Science 41(0):679-690. Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and application to archaeological objects.Penney D, Wadsworth C, Fox G, Kennedy SL, Preziosi RF, and Brown TA. 2013. Absence PLoS ONE 8(9):e73150. of ancient DNA in sub-fossil insect inclusions preserved in ‘anthropocene’ Colombian copal.