Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
Forests are salient
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Ζimbabwe forest and woodlands are mainly composed of deciduous trees which lose their leaves for at least part of the dry season. Forest and woodland resources play various ecological, cultural, environmental and socio-economical functions.
Woodlands are the most extensive vegetation formation in Southern Africa, occupying 75 percent of the region’s total land area. In the Southern African forest, the duration of the leafless conditions depends on temperatures, but principally on the availability of soil moisture.
Large blocks of forests and woodlands have great influence on the climate. The act as buffers and regulators over a large part of the land surface.
Ecosystems play a crucial role as “sinks” for carbon and the production of oxygen. Tropical forests contain up to 100 times more carbon in their vegetation and soil than croplands.
Forests and woodlands form important habitats for a variety of either resident and transient populations of animals which can be used for the benefit of humans in various ways for economic or subsistence benefits.
In Zimbabwe just like in other parts of Southern Africa, woodlands, forests and animals can be used commercially to improve the livelihoods of humans. Woodlands and forests provide timber, fruits, and other products.
In rain seasons many insects and mushrooms are obtained from the woodlands and forests, and benefit communities by supplementing their food requirements.
Many people from different areas across the globe visit national parks, safari areas and botanic reserves to see interesting plants and animals.
Ecosystems provide opportunities for non-commercial uses, mainly to do with aesthetics.
Protection of soil against erosion, runoff and compaction are considered one of the principle roles of trees. Trees are can also protect soil against wind erosion by retarding the movement of soil particles.
Forest and woodlands area in Zimbabwe and in many parts of Southern Africa have undergone great reduction surpassing the world average of 0.2 percent. Land area for agriculture and urban infrastructure development has also increased.
Forests are also a source of fuelwood for the majority of rural people in the Southern African region. The continued loss of forests in the region poses a serious challenge to rural household.
Such loss impacts also the role of women in trying to meet the needs of their families
Journalists should articulate the environmental issues with which ordinary people identify. The indigenous knowledge which exists as regards the role of trees in African culture is also important in trying to find solution to better-managed forests in the region
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Gentlemen etiquette
For you to be the best men that fancy and impress ladies you need to be gentle enough. The most important thing is to behave appropriately and respect in a manner that suits the scene.
It is encouraged and important to know how to carry around yourself in terms of mannerism. For those who drink, holy water you can not drink direct from the container or bottle. When coughing please do not forget to cover your mouth and to move away from the crowd. Do not pick up your nose and scratch your groin or your back in the present of the crowd.
Always remember to dress up appropriately and there is nothing appealing as a well-dressed man. These days there is colour blocking and clothes with bright colours. Bright colours are for kids and adults should wear dull colours and know what the colour of your cloth could communicate.
Men even women should know that the way you dress already sets the tone when people meet you. Even, before they spoke to you, how you dress commands their respect to you. Gentlemen worth the name should know what to wear and when to wear and how to wear.
When having a conversation do not forget to uphold turn-taking and listening more than you could open your mouth. Zeno of Citium a Greek philosopher asserts that, ” We have two ears and one mouth, so one should listen attentively rather than hearing more than utterance. Do not just listen, but understand where people are coming from and the idea they are trying to put across. You are free to ask for the person to repeat what they would have said and speak with a coo tone wearing a smile.
When one listens attentively when other people are talking, makes it easy to relate to them and learn new things.
Good manners are always important and always use words such as “please”, “Sorry”, or “May I”, and do not interrupt when someone is talking.
It is said that , “there are rare breed of men who dress well, walk right and always say the right things. Ladies call them gentlemen”.
Women love and respect gentle behaviour just like men who love and respect women who are higly composed and good mannered.div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Communicating through colours
Most of us do communicate to several people without uttering a single word. Through colours we create certain meanings to the onlookers. This have been the trend since childhood. While some may change to like a certain color once or more times during their lifetime ,others will have one colour for their whole lifetime. Some will prefer another colour for a while, but will come back to their original favorite when those specific needs are met.The bottom line of it is that all the time we communicate consciously and unconsciously to different people through the colour of our cloths we wear.
There are some individuals who do not think they have a personality colour, look at the clothes you wear and the way you choose to decorate your home or office. Are there one or more colours you consistently choose? Then these will be the colours that reflect your personality and your deepest needs in everyday life. Whether you like a certain colour or dislike a colour can be dependent on your own life experiences and your positive and negative associations to the color as well as your need for the qualities of that color.
People usually surround themselves with the colours they love, either by wearing them or using them decoratively in your environment. At time , especially with men, the car colour that you drive empower you to be true to yourself, to show your true colours.
All the time an individual should ask themselves which are their favourite colour or colours? If you have changed your personality colour, or favorite colour, try to identify the circumstances surrounding your life at that time as your new favorite will reflect qualities you need to attract into your life to help you deal with those circumstance
Colours reflects your personality and can communicate who you are to others. if your favorite color is red, you are action oriented with a deep need for physical fulfillment and to experience life through the five senses.Some may argue that interpretation to colours and the manner we arrived at meaning depend on your sociocultural back ground
It is vehemently believed that if orange is your favorite colour, you have a great need to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges. People wear Orange to reveal the challenges they encounter in their livelihood. Some may thing orange is just a colour not knowing that meanings can be attached to it
Those who are attuned to yellow as their favorite means that they have a deep need for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas. At times yellow can be associated with gold and richness, but that does not over ride the element of individuality in you as a person.
The colour that is associated with vegetation and life which is green may mean, you have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgment for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is sufficient. In any society human beings like to be loved and they feel the sense of belonging.
Those who love the colour blue, be it that you are a men or women have a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs without having to change their inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others. Blue at times is associated with gentleness
Another interesting colour is an indigo which means someone need to feel in harmony and at one with the Universe and to be accepted by others as the aware and intuitive spiritual beings that they are.If your favourite colour is Purple or violet, you have a deep need for emotional security and to create order and perfection in all areas of your life, including your spiritual life. You also have a deep need to initiate and participate in humanitarian projects, helping others in need.
If your personality colour is pink you have a deep need to be accepted and loved unconditionally. But in some instances pink is associated with feminine. Men who like wearing pink are gays and they have high feminine in them. If turquoise is your favorite color your deepest need is to create emotional balance in your life, to be able to express your hopes and dreams no matter how idealistic they may be and to make your own way in the world under your own terms.
Those who loves the colour brown have a deep need for a safe, secure, simple and comfortable existence with supportive family and friends.In other words there are warm heart and care a lot for others and at the same time can be loved more than others
The lovers of black have need for power and control in order to protect their own emotional insecurities.This colour is relevant for masculine positions like managing or when occupying the most influential post
If white is your personality colour, your deepest need is for simplicity in your own life and to be independent and self-reliant so you do not need to depend on anyone else. Again if your colour that you like most is gray means you are the middle of the road type, cool, conserved, composed and reliable. You tend to conform just to keep the peace.This grey colour sometimes is also associated with wisdom and is preferred by elderly people
Another colour that i have seen especially from my community associated with women is the colour Silver, which means you are intuitive and insightful and have a strong connection with a higher spiritual guidance. In Zimbabwe most cars including one of my car is painted in silver. Silver has become the most familiar paint in most cars in Zimbabwe. The colour gold, means you radiate charisma, personality and individuality, making others feel relaxed and valued in your company.Most churches in Zimbabwe and corporate Organisation uses the colour gold.
I had to use my insight to share with you the possible meaning that the colours i have discussed with you may mean from my sociocultural background knowledge. I will be happy to hear you comments . What i can not over rule is that some times colours may be interpreted differently depending with you socio-cultural background of the community where you come from.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Similarities and differences between advertising and propaganda
The two concepts are inter-related, although they differ somehow. The word propaganda comes from the “Latin” word “propagare”, which means to spread or grow much as the word propagate which indicates growth or spread. Like advertising, it is believed that propaganda can shape public opinion, and sway the masses towards almost any point of view desired by the communicator.
Lasswell (1927) cited in Severin and Tankard (1988:91) defines propaganda as , “ The technique of influencing human action by the manipulation of representations. These representations may be spoken, written, pictorial or in musical form. Thus one can conclude that propaganda is information, often inaccurate or biased which a political organisation publishes or broadcasts in order to influence people.
Jowett and O’Donnell (1992:1) assert that propaganda is a form of communication that is different from persuasion, because it attempts to achieve a response that further the desired interest of the propagandist. To them persuasion is transitive and attempts to satisfy the needs of both persuader and persuade (advertising).
The word advertising according to Biagi (1999) is any paid form of non personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services by an identified sponsor. In this pretext advertising carries the message that comes to you from the people who pay for it. Like propaganda, advertising can appear in newspaper, books, magazines, radio, television, social network and so forth. Boorstein (1998) says the word” advertise” originally meant to take note or to consider. By 1700’s, Boorstein asserts that meaning of the word, “advertise” had changed its meaning. Boorstein further suggests that advertising in America shares three characteristics namely, repetition, style and ubiquity. The word style was coined by Hopkins (1998) as “brilliant writing”, which has no place in advertising hence, “one should be natural and simple… fishing for buyers as in fishing for bass, one should not reveal the hook”.
Fletcher (1988) say both advertising and propaganda specify the messages originator, carried by a communication system and intended to influence and inform an unknown audience. Severin and Tankard (1988) discussed advertising within the context of propaganda. Like propaganda, an advertisement can be true or at variance with the truth.
Albeit that both propaganda and advertising campaign can be inaccurate or biased, propaganda campaign is so much into politics rather than in business. Propaganda campaign is used by politician to publish or broadcast in order to influence the public. Gordon (1999) argues that truth is not an appropriate ethical norm to apply to advertising campaign just like in propaganda. Therefore advertising and propaganda is the same thing. It is used as a tool by the dominant class who owns businesses and controls production, who through advertising and propaganda perpetuate their ideology, hegemony that is the manner in which one thinks and feel about things and further their political and economic interest. Both advertising and propaganda corrupts, encourages centralization of feelings, and destroys diversity of experience and corrupt human minds. Lies, distortion, deceit, manipulation, brainwash and psychological warfare are the core factors that influences advertising and propaganda.
In short that is what I managed to gather and will be happy to hearing other contrasting views. I found it interesting to research on the two concept and both deals with communication and manipulation of symbols, words and signs to convey certain information that can blind people views. It is indeed an art that each and every member of the society should acquire and use it to the maximum benefit.
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