Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Confucius, Aristotle, Aquinas, And Erasmus - 1713 Words

Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Quintilian, Aquinas, and Erasmus As a Christian educator, it is important to base educational practices on Biblical authority. Christian education should teach students to learn to act like God and to do His work (Graham, 2003). â€Å"True education is to develop knowledge of God and His created reality and to use that knowledge in exercising a creative-redemptive dominion over the world . . . â€Å" (Graham, 2003, p. 57). Being a Christian educator, does not mean that organizational structure and curriculum occur in a vacuum. Educational philosophy and structure have been developing for thousands of years and the wise educational administrator should study and understand the history and ideas that impact the educational landscape of today. Confucius created his educational code 500 years before the birth of Christ (Gutek, 2011). According to Confucius, the purpose of education was to transmit cultural heritage through ritual, tradition, and hierar chy. He originally had a desire to enter into government service, but after traveling throughout China and studying various political institutions and traditions, he returned home and opened a school that combined both his goals of government service and teaching. Confucius believed that government officials needed to be highly educated and prepared to be ethical and benevolent leaders. The purpose of education was â€Å"an ethical theory intended to guide people on the way, or the path, to leading theShow MoreRelatedChapter One : Theoretical Framework Essay6065 Words   |  25 Pagesthe Chinese had also established formal schools. These early teachers emphasized individual character and citizenship. The earliest individual teachers to have a profound, direct effect on learner-centered education were the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.) and the Greek philosopher Socrates (469-399 B.C.). Henson (2003) provided an account of several philosophical contributions to the learners’ centered approach throughout history, up from Bacon (1561-1626); for instance, who has

Uses of Job Description Free Essays

Usefulness of Job Description 1. It Helps identify a job, distinguishing it from other jobs by its title. 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Uses of Job Description or any similar topic only for you Order Now It serves as a guide in employee recruitment, selection, and placement. 3. It establishes proper relationship between one job and the others within the same salary bracket. 4. It facilitates comparisons with similar jobs in other firms for purposes of wage surveys. 5. It serves as a guide in the organization and administration of a department, division, section, or unit. 6. It helps to form lines of promotion or transfer and to spot employees who need further training. . It contributes to the personal satisfaction of every individual employee with his job. Components of Job Design Job specialization Job expansion Psychological components Self-directed teams Motivation and incentive systems Ergonomics and work methods Job Specialization †¢ Involves o Breaking jobs into small component parts o Assigning specialists to do each part †¢ First noted by Adam Smith (1776) o Observed how workers in pin factory divided tasks into smaller components †¢ Found in manufacturing se rvice industries Job Specialization Often Reduces Cost †¢ Greater dexterity faster learning †¢ Less lost time changing jobs or tools †¢ Use more specialized tools †¢ Pay only for needed skills Job Expansion Process of adding more variety to jobs Intended to reduce boredom associated with labor specialization Methods o Job enlargement o Job enrichment o Job rotation o Employee empowerment Psychological Components of Job Design †¢ Individuals have values, attitudes, and emotions that affect job results o Example: Work is a social experience that affects belonging needs Effective worker behavior comes mostly from within the individual o Scientific management argued for external financial rewards †¢ First examined in ‘Hawthorne studies’ Self-Directed Teams Group of empowered individuals working together for a common goal May be organized for short-term or long-term objectives Reasons for effectiveness o Provide employee empowerment o Provide core job characteri stics o Meet psychological needs (e. g. , belonging) Motivation Worker performance depends on o Motivation o Ability o Work environment Motivation is the set of forces that compel behavior Money may serve as a psychological financial motivator Incentive systems o Measured daywork: Pay based on standard time o Piece rate: Pay based on pieces done Ergonomics and Work Methods Worker performance depends on o Motivation o Ability o Work environment Foundation laid by Frederick Taylor o Match employees to task o Develop work methods o Establish work standards Ergonomics Study of work Also called ‘human factors’ Involves human-machine interface Examples o Mouse o Keyboard How to cite Uses of Job Description, Papers

Trade and Sanctions

Questions: 1) What are trade sanctions? How do they fit into broad economic sanctions? 2) Discussion of the theoretical welfare effects on the world, that is, on the countries on which the sanctions are imposed and the sanction-imposing countries 3) Discussion of different arguments, in the literature, on the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their stated objectives 4) Analysis of two specific trade sanctions by discussing the specific contents of the sanctions, their stated objectives, and their effects on all parties involved, whether the stated objectives were achieved. Answers: Introduction: The competitors in the international trade market have to follow proper rules and regulations stated by the World Trade Organizations. Through some appropriate rules and regulations, countries related to the world trade market end their trade operations. There are several things which are very important to understand before assessing them. Tariff, Quota, Trade sanctions are some significant export duties to be kept in mind before participating in the market (Arnold). This assignment deals with the discussions and issues related to the trade sanctions. The trade sanctions are basically identified as the penalty. It is a kind of penalty that is always imposed by only one country to any one country or too many countries. When one country (or more) is penalized by another country in different reasons, then this penalty is known as Trade sanctions. Trade sanctions are basically imposed to decrease the level of export. Trade sanctions: As introduced before, the trade sanction is a penalty that is imposed by one or more countries on one or more other nations as opined by Doyle (2014). The trade sanctions are of two types which are known as unilateral trade sanctions and multilateral trade sanctions. The unilateral trade sanctions are that penalty which is imposed by only one nation on one or more another nations. The multilateral trade sanctions are identified as the penalties that are imposed by one or more nations on the one or more other nations (Higgins). The relations behind imposing these penalties may or may not related to the trade operations. 1. Trade Sanctions and broad economic sanctions: Shojal Root claim that economic sanctions or broad economic sanctions are those policies which genuinely try to warn the factors which harm or violate the international trade terms (Shojal and Root). As per the viewpoint of the critiques, the sanctions are not sufficient in reaching the goals for what it was made. Stated or non-stated actions in trade world may or may not be controlled with the aid of the economic sanctions. There is some effectiveness which helps in sorting the issues in relation to violent behaviour to some extent. More precisely, the economic sanctions can be explained as the removal or withdrawal financial associations along with the customary trade for some foreign policies and security reasons. It is noticed that over the years, there are many nations who just impose trade sanctions for some very unjustified reasons. For instance, when the import of international goods in industry increases then simultaneously it harms the domestic markets. In such a situation, a country tries to impose excessive tariffs or trade sanction on the import of those goods but it may or may not effects the situation properly (Krugman and Wells). The main loophole of this policy is their over effectiveness. In order to save the domestic market, this policy affects the international trade in a negative way. Economic sanctions are broadly distinguished from the trade sanctions (Bapat and Morgan). However, these things are imposed not only for the welfare purpose in a nation but also for the welfare of the whole world. 2. Welfare effects of Trade sanctions on both parties: Obviously, there are some positive aspects of trade sanctions or barriers with some negative effects to. First of all, it shall be stated that the trade barriers supports a nation hugely to decrease the level of imports. The trade helps and harms both the countries who impose it and whom it being imposed (Higgins). Imposing the trade sanctions harms the country itself. Importing excessive goods is much costlier than producing it or buying it in the domestic markets. Still, some nations import products for several purposes like quality, quantity, availability etc. If it is noticed minutely, then it can be assessed that excessive imports ultimately harms the domestic markets and imbalances the trade of the economy (Hubbard and O'Brien). Tariffs or Quota are some trade barriers which help the domestic markets to be flourished. The effects of imposing various protectionisms such as tariff, quota and embargo etc. basically increase the level of domestic production and hence economic growth comes following this factor. Moreover, the price of the goods in the domestic market will increase because people now do not have enough options (Jha). For instance, foreign companies like the US outsource their job opportunities to the underdeveloped or developing the country by establishing their subsidiaries in those markets. It basically harms the domestic job market because they pay package is much fairer than the domestic companies. So naturally people like to work for them instead of working in the domestic markets. Implementing protectionism solves this problem too (Drenzer). However, there is the darker side of the factors to which affects the trade market intensively. As a result of a decrease in imports, the country suffers from the insufficient stock of goods. Geographical aspects assess that every nation has some competitive advantage in several industries like agricultures, manufacturing or on minerals (Drenzer). If a country cannot min sufficient gold from itself then it has to import raw gold to meet the demand of the country. Now imposing trade sanctions barriers to this factor and hence the gold price in the domestic market increases. It is very harmful to the food industry because food materials are segregated as necessities. Increasing prices of food materials can cause starvation, poverty and malnutrition (Jordi). Hence it degrades not only economic growth of the nation who imposes tariff but also degrades the standard of living. It is very general that imposing a tax on the country who is exporting, harm the business or industry of that country. Along with that, it increases the stockpile of the goods in the country who is exporting. With some certain assumptions in the viewpoint of the demand and supply theory, it can be stated that this factor increases the price of those goods (Welch and Welch). It is surveyed that the United States has imposed sanctions for 60 times in previous three years for at least 35 different countries in the world. It is affecting the 42% of the world economy. The world export has been facing severe loss of 20 billion dollars up to the present era. As stated U.S became successful in saving the domestic market to some extent but affecting the world market which indirectly negatively impacted the U.S. itself (Krugman and Wells). 3. Effectiveness of sanctions to achieve their goals: The literature claims that the sanctions are harmful and helpful for the both the parties. Sanctions were made to save unjustified behaviours of the nation towards other countries. It was become effective initially but history proves that it becomes intolerable day by day. The sanctions that the US had implemented for 60 times in different nations became effective initially but in the long run, the country starts facing the problem of serious starvation and poverty (Leijonhufvud). The case of US tax imposition on the Iran from 1991, Soviet Union was get banned by U.S through embargo in 1980 and many more cases concludes four key results. First one says that Sanctions do not work frequently, it is very rare when sanction works. Secondly, the unilateral sanctions are not sufficient in affecting their country or in reaching their goals. The worse effect was received by America was on their trade sector. Moreover, U.S. has faced severe damage on their reputation as a supplier. The U.S. before was identified as one of the reliable material suppliers in the trade market but after all these incidents its reputation was harmed (Wetzstein). However, as per the opinion of Drenzer, all of this critical points have some flaws too. It is observed that the Sanctions work more prominently on allies instead of working on adversaries. It has been surveyed that the there is a major reason exist behind the sanctions failure. One of them is the way that a country imposes it, i.e. half-heartedly (Poon). It is always not that the sanctions do not work. Comprehensive research claims that during 1914 to 1990, more than 116 sanctions were imposed. The result states those sanctions were successful for the third time, were partially achievable at the third time and again for the third time it became ineffective (Terra). This study on the America clearly depicts that the motive for which the sanctions were developed got almost unfulfilled. It was seen that failure rate of that sanctions is more than its success rate. This is probably because the way it works or the way it is imposed. If the pattern of imposing sanctions or barriers can be changed then it might work much effectively. In general, the trade sanctions become a burden for some country. Some scholars have stated that the comprehensive types of sanctions are more often prove that they are ineffective and bring failure. Oskaran (2012), has argued that the success of sanctions depends on upon its goal. It happens that the sanctions were made for some purpose and the purpose has been changed in due courses. Obviously, the sanctions got failed which had happened in the case or Iran, Iraq and Libya (Oskarsson). Parker (2000), supports him by stating that generalizing one or more cases and concluding based on the case study result are always not fruitful. An in-depth analysis is always needed to check things properly before analysing them (Parker). 4. Two Specific sanctions: There are numerous numbers of sanctions are present among which two have been stated here in an informative way. 1. United States Embargos: United States embargos are pretty famous in the world of trade sanctions. This embargo was imposed by the United States government to one or more country on one or more goods for different reasons. The United States Embargo includes several rules and regulations or tax imposition on different goods. According to this embargos, the United States has imposed import barrier on arm related goods, financial restrictions, on the economic assistance during the civil war. Also, this sanction resists the dual use exports (Walker). During the Civil War, United Sates banned the export of farm related goods in order to stronger their own power of weapons. They wanted to make them stronger. It was needed huge financial funds and economic support. If U.S. provides financial supports or economic assistance to other than it will make them weaker. So they stop providing financial assistance to their enemy countries. The main objective for which the whole thing was designed to get the victory. All was designed to get the supreme power. Exporting goods from Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Sudan, and Syria had been banned by the America. The objective was not fully met but yes, it had affected those countries hugely. Iran was initially started to suffer from losses but after it stronger its nuclear power, the sanctions become meaningless. Sanctions against North Korea were justified and it became successful in prohibiting the abuse of human rights by the country. Myanmar being a poor country was stopped receiving financial help from other countries. The embargo was imposed on Syria because it was identified as the terrorist zone. The mechanism of the embargo has improved the standard of living in the country (Oskarsson). 2. Cuba Sanctions: U.S. and Cuba hold very diplomatic associations between themselves. The U.S. maintains a strict economic embargo against Cuba regarding the trade between them. It was implemented in against of certain actions help by the Cuban government. The Certain regulation was implemented which are remain in place even in today. All were implemented to save Cuban Assets also and with the help of the U.S. government, it became successful. The other objective behind this Cuba Sanction was to keep trade peace between this two countries which was very important (Terra). Conclusion: The above discussion clearly states that the sanctions are effective but not for all time. It also can be analysed that there are fewer situations where sanctions became effectively handle the situations. Trade restrictions or sanctions are always helpful to save the domestic market but sometimes it hurts the world economy to the next level. Some evidence has been analysed here and an ingesting fact is revealed. The way people judge whether a sanction is successful or not can be all wrong. If the reasons for what sanctions were made, become changed then sanctions can never be successful. So, research or analysis should be done in an appropriate way too. References: Arnold, R. Macroeconomics. London: Cengage Learning, (2008). Bapat, Navin A. and Morgan, T. "Multilateral versus unilateral sanctions reconsidered: A test using new data." International Studies Quarterly (2009): 1075-1094. 53.4. Doyle, J. "How Prospects for Global Economic Growth influence Indian Foreign Policy." Strategy Leadership (2014): 42.2. Drenzer, D. "The hidden hand of economic coercion." International Organization, (2003): 643-659. 57.03. Higgins, K. Economic Growth, and Sustainability: Systems Thinking for a Complex World. Academic Press: Cambridge, (2014). Hubbard, R. and O'Brien, A. Macroeconomics. Boston: Pearson. Boston: Pearson (2013). Jha, R. Contemporary Macroeconomic Theory and Policy. Kolkata: New Age International, (2008). Jordi, G. Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Business Cycle: An Introduction to the New Keynesian Framework and Its Applications. Princeton: Princeton University Press, (2015). Krugman, P. and Wells, R. Macroeconomics. New York, NY: Worth Publishers, (2013). Leijonhufvud, A. Macroeconomic Instability, and Coordination: Selected Essays of Axel Leijonhufvud. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, (2000). Oskarsson, K. "Economic sanctions on authoritarian states: Lessons learned." Middle East Policy, (2012): 88-102. 19.4. Parker, W. "The problem with scorecards: How (and how not) to measure the cost-effectiveness." Michigan Journal of International Law, (2000): 235-294. 21. Poon, D. Economic and Trade Information on Hong Kong. (2016). 09 06 2016. https://hong-kong-economy-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Market-Environment/Economic-and-Trade-Information-on-Hong-Kong/etihk/en/1/1X000000/1X09OVUL.htm. Shojal, S. and P. Root. "Effectiveness Of Economic Sanctions:Empirical Research Revisited." International Business Economics Research Journal, (2013): 1479-1490. 12.11. Terra, C. Principles of International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics: Theories, Applications, and Policies. Cambridge: Academic Press, 2015. Walker, A. "The UK and the EU: Trade and economy." 31 05 2016. 31 05 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35757324. Welch, P. and G. Welch. Economics: Theory and Practice. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, (2009). Wetzstein, M. Microeconomic Theory: Concepts and Connections. Abington: Routledge, (2013).

Friday, April 24, 2020

My life in Western Europe in 600 AD

The European Middle Ages, popularly referred to as ‘dark ages’ can only be described by one word, ‘barbaric’. This was after the fall of the Roman Empire that had ruled for almost 500 years. Hooligans, Hans, barbarians and Goths came from all directions, East and North, sweeping down Europe. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on My life in Western Europe in 600 AD specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many buildings and architectural structures that were used during the reign of Roman Empire were destroyed. The Western half of Europe was now in a state of anarchy but Eastern Europe was still thriving. Power was now decentralized, army was disbanded and the force that upheld Rome collapsed. During this time, there was little education and trade, countries were fragmented into small portions that were now under the control of feudal lords. Barbaric tribes were immense and kings had little power. Th is means that the Roman army that used to protect the empire was almost powerless and could no longer guarantee security and distance travels became quite risky. I could not even visit my uncle who lived in the neighboring city to have a chat with my cousins and being the only child at home them, life was so boring. I had to stay indoors for most of the days as schooling had also become difficult. My father would leave us home to go look for casual jobs in the agricultural farms as this was the only place that one could secure one. Feudal lords had taken over all the lands and the laws that protected such property were no longer applicable. By now, schools were closed roads were not maintained d and living standards were dismal. Agricultural practices were torn down and the agribusiness that had thrived was now replaced by subsistent farming. The fertile lands in the areas of Iran and Iraq that had flourished in technology collapsed and resulted to use of rough methods of irrigatio n which had a great effect on rivers Tigris and Euphrates. There were salt sediments along these basins and eventually, they became deserts which are prevalent to date. Misery continued and life became almost unbearable. This was made worse by the emergence of plagues that saw the continued downfall of cities like Persia, Indonesia and Arabia. Northern Greece was also invaded Dorians and this led to the collapse of the famous arts culture and playwrights that had charmed the world. The Mycenaean who were the Greeks in the Bronze Age and popularly referred by Greeks as Ionians fled and settled in Turkey. Today, there is the believe that the Philistines referred to in the bible were the Ionians who settled in Israel. The church conserved ancient and Biblical writings and it helped in bringing people together since it had a centralized authority and was constant. The barbarian kingdoms were always fighting and could not agree with each other. Advertising Looking for essay on hist ory? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Persian Empire tried to take over Byzantine and this marked the beginning of Byzantine civilization. Later, Persia is overcome by Byzantine forces and the Jerusalem cross taken from the Persians. Later, Arabs conquered Byzantine and when they try to do the same to Constantinople, they fail. For the many years, life here was terrible with no luxuries or riches that were prevalent before the collapse of the Empire. The church continued to unify people in the kingdoms that would later unite to form the present glorious Europe. With the advancement of the middle ages, there was some light at the end of the tunnel and the little that the church had salvaged was used as centers of learning later. This essay on My life in Western Europe in 600 AD was written and submitted by user Arturo York to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Tips For Writing a Sample Essay About My Education

Tips For Writing a Sample Essay About My EducationA sample essay about my education is a great way to really make your students think about their experience. It can be hard to really convey how you feel about your education in writing. Here are some tips for making this experience personal.When you start writing, think about the one that was most meaningful to you. Sometimes this may not be the one that made you the most money or made you enjoy school the most. If you were not able to come up with a personal reason for wanting to write, at least try to find one that is still important to you. You may find a different one that will make you want to come back and do it all over again.What will you be focusing on in this one? Will it be about why you went to school, what you learned, or how you gained knowledge. Think about the ones that you love and remember the most. Write about those things now that you have the opportunity.A personal essay can be as simple or as complicated as you l ike. This means that you can choose how long your essay will be. It can be short, short and sweet, or long and detailed. You can take the time to really get into your reasons for writing about this topic. The more you know about why you want to write, the easier it will be to convey what you really want to say.You should make sure that you write a short, simple, easy to read essay. Try to keep the sentence length at four or five words for one paragraph. If you go over that limit, people will notice and start to lose interest in your essay.When you are writing a hard-to-read essay, it can be difficult to pull off. You may need to cut some parts of your essay and change others. Make sure that you cover all of your bases. Sometimes it helps to use some titles for the paragraphs so that people can go back and read them later.Find something that you really like about your one time at school. Try to include a story about something that really stands out to you about your education. Share some personal experiences that have stood out to you as well. Some of the best memories of your education may be the times when you were with the right people that helped you learn and grow.No matter what you are trying to express in your essay, a good idea is to start by writing down your main topic first. Then, you can add in other pieces that relate to that idea. Make sure that your essay is easy to read and understand. Finally, add a few quotations if you feel that will make it a better piece.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Opium War as a Turning Point in World History essays

Opium War as a Turning Point in World History essays For hundreds of years before the nineteenth century, Westerners had been trying to gain a strong economic foothold in China. However, they were limited to one small, designated commercial outlet in Canton. The British were not satisfied with these arrangements and they yearned to reach a larger crowd. Despite negotiations with China through those such as Lord Macartney and Lord Almherst, new arrangements could not be made. The Chinese, who already had a self-sufficient economy, did not want their culture to be tainted by Westernization. In the 1800s, the British devised a scheme to commercialize in China. They would use opium, a highly addictive narcotic that produces a rush of euphoria followed by an intense dreamy state. Opium was grown in northeastern India, which was controlled by the British East India Company at the time, and sent to China, where it had been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Although the Chinese had officially prohibited the use of opium, the drug was in high demand and the British, who were known was leaders in the drug trade, wasted no time marketing and profiting from this lucrative venture. The Chinese, unfortunately, gradually became unable to balance their trade of tea and silk for opium and turned to smuggling. In 1839, Lin Zexu was appointed by the Chinese government to help stop the Opium Trade. He tried to appeal to Britains Queen Victoria through morals and practical grounds, but the British refused to hear him stating that if the Chinese didnt want the opium they wouldnt buy it. He even threatened to stop the trade of rhubarb, which Europeans used as a laxative. After negotiations with Queen Victoria failed, Lin Zexu began to impose penalties upon smokers, arrest dealers, and seize supplies from drug traffickers. Unluckily, when he tried to blockade the foreign factory area in Canton, the British retaliated and launched a naval attack that began the Opiu...

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Understanding Ecological Succession

Understanding Ecological Succession Ecological succession is the progressive change, in an ecosystem, of species composition over time. With the change in species composition comes a series of modifications in community structure and function. A classic example of succession involves the series of changes observed in an abandoned field in what is normally a forested area. Once the field is no longer grazed or mowed, the seeds of shrubs and trees will sprout and rapidly start growing. Before long, shrubs and tree saplings will be the dominant vegetation form. The tree species will then grow to the point of shading out the shrubs, eventually forming a complete canopy. The species composition in that young forest will continue to turn over until it is dominated by a stable, self-maintaining group of species called a climax community. Primary vs. Secondary Succession Ecological succession where there was no vegetation prior is called primary succession. We can observe primary succession on bulldozed sites, after an intense fire, or following a volcanic eruption, for example. The first plant species to show up have the ability to very quickly colonize and grow in these bare areas. Depending on the region, these pioneer species can be grasses, broadleaf plantain, Queen Anne’s lace, or trees like aspen, alder, or black locust. The pioneers set up the stage for the next phase of succession, improving soil chemistry and adding organic matter which provides nutrients, better soil structure, and greater water-holding capacity. Secondary succession occurs when a new set of organisms appears where there was an ecological set-back (for example a clear-cut logging operation) but where a cover of living plants was left behind. The abandoned agricultural field described above is a perfect example of secondary succession. Common plants during this stage are raspberries, asters, goldenrods, cherry trees, and paper birch. Climax Communities and Disturbance The last stage of succession is the climax community. In a forest, climax species are those that can grow in the shade of taller  trees – hence the name shade-tolerant species. The composition of climax communities varies geographically. In parts of the eastern United States, a climax forest will be made of sugar maples, eastern hemlock, and American beech. In Washington State’s Olympic National Park, the climax community may be dominated by western hemlock, Pacific silver fir, and western redcedar. A common misconception is that climax communities are permanent and frozen in time. In reality, the oldest trees eventually die and are replaced by other trees waiting under the canopy. This makes climax canopy part of a dynamic equilibrium, always changing but overall looking the same. Significant changes will occasionally be brought about by disturbances. Disturbances can be wind damage from a hurricane, a wildfire, an insect attack, or even logging. The type, size, and frequency of disturbances vary by region – some coastal, wet locations experience fires on average once every few thousand years, while eastern boreal forests may be subject to spruce budworm kills every few decades. These disturbances knock back the community into an earlier successional stage, restarting the process of ecological succession. The Value of Late Successional Habitat The dark shade and tall canopies of climax forests provide shelter for a number of specialized birds, mammals, and other organisms. The cerulean warbler, wood thrush, and red-cockaded woodpecker  are dwellers of old forests. The threatened spotted owl and Humboldt fisher both require large stands of late successional redwood and Douglas-fir forests. Many small flowering plants and ferns rely on the shady forest floor beneath old trees. The Value of Early Successional Habitat There is also considerable value in early successional habitat. These shrubland and young forests rely on recurring disturbances that set succession back. Unfortunately, in many places, these disturbances often turn forests into housing developments and other land uses that short-cut the ecological succession process. As a result, shrublands and young forests can become quite rare on the landscape. Many birds rely on early successional habitats, including the brown thrasher, golden-winged warbler, and prairie warbler. There are also mammals that need shrubby habitat, perhaps most notably the New England cottontail.