Sir Isaac Newton Essays (2693 words) - Copernican Revolution

Sir Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton Through his early life experiences and with the knowledge left by his predecessors, Sir Isaac Newton was able to develop calculus, natural forces, and optics. From birth to early childhood, Isaac Newton overcame many personal, social, and mental hardships. It is through these experiences that helped create the person society knows him as in this day and age. The beginning of these obstacles started at birth for Newton. Isaac was born premature on Christmas Day 1642, in the manor house of Woolsthorpe, 7 miles south of Grantham in Lincolnshire. It is said that ?Because Galileo, . . . had died that year, a significance attaches itself to 1642?(Westfall 1). Though his father had died before Isaac was born, he was given his father's name. He was born into a farming family that had worked their way slowly up the ?social ladder?. The Newton's were one of the few families to prosper in Lincolnshire(Westfall 1). At the age of three Isaac's life would take a drastic turn. When Isaac was three his mother, Hannah Ayscough, remarried to the Reverend Barnabas Smith(Internet-newtonia). Isaac and the Reverend never got along and the Reverend would not have a child that was not his living with him. Isaac stayed with his grandparents when his mother went to live with the Reverend in North Witham. His maternal grandmother raised Isaac until he was ten. It is believed that his mother's second marriage and her leaving caused many problems for Isaac as a child. While living with his grandparents he attended day school nearby in Skillington and Stoke. Many cousins and other family members in the area surrounded Isaac though, ?He formed no bond with any of his numerous relatives that can be traced later in his life?(Westfall 11). In 1653 his mother returned after her second husband died. With her she brought one half brother and two half sisters. Although it is not known, bitterness may have inflicted Isaac when his three new siblings arrived. Never the less, two years later at the age of twelve he was sent to Grantham to attend grammar school. While attending grammar school Isaac lived with the apothecary Mr. Clark(Westfall 12). Mr. Clark had three stepchildren from the first marriage of his wife, Miss Storer, who were also living in his house. In school and at home Isaac was apparently different and did not get along with any other bo ys. He was often in fights and remembered only one nice boy from school, Chrichloe. All the other boys seemed to hate him. He was more comfortable in the company of girls. He made doll furniture for Mr. Clark's daughter. From this Isaac's first and last romantic experience developed. ?Indeed, as the two grew older, something of a romance apparently developed between him and Miss Storer?(Westfall 13). From doll furniture Newton moved on to other little machines. He used all the money his mother sent him to buy tools and filled his room with the machines. He fell in love with Mr. Clark's library and would read as often as possible. At times he would spend so much time on projects that he would fall behind in school. When he realized he was falling behind all Isaac had to do was pick up his textbook and would immediately be caught up. Through his machines Newton became proficient in drawing and his inventions steadily became more elaborate. At the age of seventeen in 1659, Newton left Mr. Clark and had another life changing experience. When Newton was seventeen his mother took him out of school and brought him back to the family farm. Trying to teach him how to run the farm and manage the estate was a failure. Newton would always bribe a hired hand to do the work he was supposed to. When he was supposed to be in town selling produce he would go to his old room in Mr. Clark's house a nd read or play with his machines. In all of his spare time he returned to inventing and building machines. Newton's uncle and old schoolmaster saw that he was in the wrong trade and urged his mother to prepare him to attend the University(Westfall

Managing By Values essays

Managing By Values essays Managing By Values is a template for an organization desiring to improve the overall attitude and efficiency of its employees for the benefit of its clients. It states that people, as well as organizations, are part of three basic Acts of Life: achieving (to want to be something), connecting (relationships), and integrating (bringing achieving and connecting together). The purpose of the Managing By Values template is to demonstrate how companys can define or redefine its own purpose and values and then put them into daily actions in ways that are truly meaningful to themselves and the people, principles, and commitments it cherishes the most. The organization must be built upon four main pillars known as the acronym, CEOS. Each pillar represents a certain group of people to whom the company has a key responsibility. The C stands for Customers. You have to treat customers in such a way that they become raving fans of your service. The E stands for Employees. In this environment, employees begin to think like company owners. Employees are motivated knowing that the organizations goals are working in their best interest. The letter O stands for Owners or companys stockholders. The most required trait for effective leadership is integrity. The integrity of profit making and the related resource allocation practices by management and owners is a company people are proud to be associated with. The S stands for Significant Other groups. This includes the community, creditors, suppliers, vendors, distributors, and even respected competitors. The goal is to consistently build a spirit of shared responsibility and mutual t rust between the organization and its significant others. In summary, the Managing By Values process is an accepted business practice for motivating customers to keep coming back, inspiring ...

Background Of Bhutanese Public And Private Sector Economics Essay

Background Of Bhutanese Public And Private Sector Economics Essay Introduction. The Bhutanese economy is considerably underdeveloped. The mountainous terrain and the rugged topography makes development activities complex. With an estimated population of 684,000 (2010), the country lacks work force and professionals in different departments. The country experienced an average GDP growth rate at 9% in the 10th FYP. The livelihood of the majority of the population of Bhutan still depends on agriculture and its allied group. The government has and will continue to play a lead role as Bhutanese economy undergoes major structural reform. Public sectors form the part of the companies and corporations that are owned by the government. The private sector includes all profit businesses that are not owned or operated by the government. The private sector in Bhutan is hampered by the size of the market, lack of infrastructure and financial instability which is why the public sector plays a dominant role for major economic operations. The operation of the Bhut anese economy is divided into three sectors namely primary sector, secondary sector and tertiary sector. Initially public sector was held responsible for the operation of all the three sectors but with the advent of modern Bhutanese economy, private sector plays a significant role in enhancing production and profitability. This paper briefs on the background of the public and private sectors in Bhutan, their contribution towards GDP, employment and social welfare. With the process of modernization, privatization is given more attention and government aims to strengthen the privatization strategy to generate more revenue, employment opportunities and expand the country’s economic operations. Background of Public and private sector. Public Sector. Public sector in Bhutan is the part of the economy controlled by the nation and is concerned with providing basic government services. Akin to majority of the developing countries, public sector in Bhutan includes education, health ca re, police, military, public roads, communication, etc. The public sector can be defined as: â€Å"The public sector is that portion of society controlled by national, state or provincial, and local governments†. (Investors word.com 2011) The Bhutanese economy is based on the unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness initiated by the Forth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The Royal Government has played a leading role in the modern sector of Bhutan’s economy. The government has direct involvement in every developmental activity due to the shortage of local entrepreneurs and capital from the private entities in the country. The public sector overlaps with the private sector in producing or providing certain goods and services. In Bhutan almost every large organizations are under the ministries of the Royal Government. For instance: Ministry of Health, Education, Trade and Industry, Communications etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ are all public owned. Since the first Five Year Plan in 1961, the government has addressed the need for basic education other than monastic education. Education programmes were given boost in 1990 when the Asian Development Bank granted a US$7.13 million loan. Bhutan’s modern health care development accelerated with the establishment of the Department of Public Health in the 1960’s and the opening of new hospitals and dispensaries throughout the country. Even today, Ministry of health is fully under public sector. Likewise, Agriculture sector, communications, major industries like Penden cement authority, Chhukha Hydro power corporations, Bhutan tourism Industry, Druk Air etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦which forms the highest revenue in the country till date the public are under the public sector.

Why are Relationships Difficult - English composition Essay

Why are Relationships Difficult - English composition - Essay Example It was argued that men and women are different biologically (or naturally), and it is inherent in them, so to speak, to be different from one another, therefore, it is all but natural for their relationships with each other to have so many problems and/or difficulties. However, with the women liberation movement came the idea that it was not biology but social conditioning that caused men and women to behave and think so differently in any given scenario Now the question arises: which of these theories is valid? Are men and women really different from one another because society demands them to be so, or is it because the differences in them are a manifestation of their in-built differences? Many studies have been conducted in this regard by the scientific community, with the result that, indeed, men and women are geared differently naturally (both mentally and physically, of course) as well as through social conditioning. There is much that has already been said about the role of society in setting certain molds for the sexes, and then expecting men and women to fall in line. Such molds are often quite sexist and detrimental to understanding and mutual respect amongst the sexes. Although the media has perpetuated sexist attitudes, with the woman being only a comforter of man, whether as a wife or mistress, it would be unfair to lay the blame on them, as it is society itself that is reflected through the media. It would be wrong for the society to blame the media for projecting ideas that the society itself holds. However, the social conditioning only fosters the human brain which is geared to be masculine or feminine from the birth of a child. There are quite a number of differences between the brains of the two sexes which causes them to develop differently at first and then later on to behave differently. These differences, scientists argue, were the result of evolution and the different roles these two sexes had to perform.

A Small Scale Sample Survey Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

A Small Scale Sample Survey - Coursework Example In addition, the study wants to determine how important computers are for students of Coventry University. Coventry University has extensive computer facilities and services. This study wants to find out whether or not students are able to take advantage of the facilities and services of Coventry University. More importantly, this study also wants to know whether or not students are satisfied with the facilities and services of Coventry University’s computer center. Sampling strategy and sample size The sample size of 30 was pre-determined by the requirements of the assignment. The sampling strategy used was purposive sampling. This type of sampling strategy allows researchers to find respondents that would serve the particular purpose of the study (Anderson, Sweeney, & Williams, 2009). For this particular investigation, the researchers gave the questionnaire to 30 university students who passed by the campus cafeteria. Questionnaire design The questionnaire makes use of 10 qu estions that aim to assess the behavior of computer usage of students of Coventry University. In order to determine the relevant demographic characteristics of the respondents, the questionnaire required that respondents’ sex and academic level be noted down. ... Computers are used for a number of reasons and in order to find out what were the purposes of Coventry University students for using computers, up to three multiple answers were accepted for question 6. The amount of time and the frequency of use of computers by Coventry University students were explored in questions 7 and 8, respectively. Finally, the importance of computers for Coventry University students and their satisfaction with the university’s computer services and facilities were assessed in questions 9 and 10, respectively, Analysis and presentation of findings In order to find the behavior of computer usage of students at Coventry University, the data gathered was collated, summarized, and analyzed. Results of the analysis are given below. Table 1 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of respondents grouped by sex and academic level. The figures indicate that there were a total of 14 (46.7%) male respondents and 16 (53.3%) female respondents. Moreover, 22 (73.3%) of the respondents are at the Undergraduate level of their studies while 8 (26.7%) of the respondents are at the Post-graduate level of their studies. Figures from Table 1 also indicate that 90% of the respondents have their own computer (n = 27) while 10% do not have their own computer (n = 3), all of whom are undergraduate students, with 1 male and 2 females. Table 1. Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents by sex and level (N = 30) Sex Level With Own Computer Does not own computer Total Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage Male Undergraduate 9 30.0 1 3.3 10 33.3 Post-graduate 4 13.3 0 0.0 4 13.3 Total 13 43.3 1 3.3 14 46.7 Female

Plans After Graduating Essay Example for Free

Plans After Graduating Essay My primary purpose of applying for the distance learning program is to further my studies by undertaking a Master’s degree course which is in line with my Bachelor’s degree. As a graduate of sociology I am aware that my expertise is in line with studying society in general and also studying specific aspects of our society. However since this is only a Bachelor’s degree it is imperative for me to pursue further studies and I feel that a more focused degree like MPM can benefit me the more as it has more theories in a specific strata of society. My secondary goal is to assure me of a long-term career in education as I am currently a college instructor in STI College Santa Rosa. It is a prequisite for any budding educator to always pile up on one’s credentials to attain not just the knowledge but also an assurance of better opportunities both in the academic world but also in government agencies as well. Upon completion of said degree I see myself continuing in the academe and also go into research on government policies and possible ways of improving the country’s state in terms of governance. My background in sociological studies is a tool that can help me be effective in research and MPM will enhance my skills and my knowledge in terms of public management. I also plan to take up my PHD inside the next 5 years depending on how long it would take to finish up my master’s degree. I am also looking forward for a possible opportunity to work for my alma mater if not Open University perhaps UPLB either a researcher or a professor. It is also my goal that through the program that I am applying for I could impact the lives of my students by sharing with them what I have learned both from the program and also from whatever research materials are already available. If I would be able to do this, the impact will be tremendous both intellectually and also in the lives of my students. From their ranks are future leaders of this country or perhaps citizens that would help improve the lives of their countrymen their different contributions.

Baptism :: essays research papers

“Baptism';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Greek language of Jesus’ day, the word baptizo meant to dip or immerse an object in water. In its Christian use baptizo came to mean the act of Baptism, or the washing and cleansing of something to renew it. Jesus’ Baptism took place in the Jordan River. (Gospel According to Mark) John, an apostle, was the man responsible for this glorious moment in religious history. Later, he would be known as John the Baptist because of this. During the baptism God spoke from the Heavens through his spirit, proclaiming baby Jesus to be his beloved son. “You are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Baptism, the Holy Trinity was made known to us by the presence of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Through the waters of Baptism we share in Christ’s death and resurrection. The water symbolizes not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. Baptism is a declaration to the world that says, “I have died to the old way of life. Sin will no longer rule over me for my old self has been buried. I have been resurrected by the power of God to live a new life in Christ Jesus';. Through Baptism we are given our Christian name by our parents, which is blessed by the priest, or deacon, using the Trinitarian Formula. (“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I name you…';) This is the beginning of our lifelong relationship with God in His church. First we must believe and have faith in the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit during the Baptism of Jesus. In the scriptures a ccording to Mark, (16:16), Jesus said: “Whoever believes and is baptized, will be saved, whoever does not believe will be condemned';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These words show us that all our invited to be one with Christ, and none will be segregated regardless of race, color or creed. We can all be initiated into the Church of Christ through this first basic sacrament of Baptism. We break our ties with the original sin that we are born with, and are set free.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through the scriptures we know that the disciples were authorized to baptize the people. In the Gospel according to Mathew, (28:19), Jesus said: “Go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples. Baptize them, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit';

The True Purpose of Education

The purpose of a universal public education system can be debated, but originally, in the 1830’s, Horace Mann reformed the American school system in order to give all children the basis on which to learn and become judicious citizens. As public schooling has evolved throughout the years, the purpose of education has been slowly vanishing, being replaced by monotonous routines and pointless activities done by students that no longer are interested in learning, but getting good grades instead.The true purpose of learning isn’t being addressed properly in schools, and it isn’t being recognized by those who attend school in order to learn. In ‘An Education’, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emerson paints a picture of what an education is supposed to provide for a pupil. He writes, â€Å"The function of opening and feeding the human mind is not to be filled by any mechanical or military method†¦you must not neglect the form, but secure the essentials† (para. 9).In a sense, Emerson argues that the purpose of education is, not to mold a judicious citizen that has basic understanding of certain topics, but to guide and ultimately unleash the genius and determination in every man by giving them the essentials to learning. On the other hand, Mann in ‘Report of the Massachusetts Board of Education’ uses the analogy of Feudalism to show that when education is not made a mandatory opportunity for all, society gets broken into classes, like Feudalism, in which the rich and powerful abuse the poor and uneducated.Here we see a specific clash of opinions on what education is supposed to provide for an individual person, and a society. Although Emerson’s essay may seem less subjective than Mann’s, I believe Emerson holds a more broad understanding of what an education can give to a person. There are many cases in which twelve years of public school do not provide a student with the passion or direction in order to live a life full of learning and accomplishment, when twelve years of public education doesn’t provide an exceptional education.The solution might not be to end public schooling, but to begin public acceptance of young students becoming avid learners instead of teacher’s pets, self advocates instead of disabled pupils. Leon Botstein in ‘Let Teenagers Try Adulthood’ proposes that the answer to such an out of date and flawed institution is a world where sixteen year olds are â€Å"prepared to be taken seriously and to develop the motivations and interests that will serve them well in adult life† (para. 11). Being a 16 year old myself, I often wonder hat that would be like; if other adults didn’t know I attend high school or if that was completely irrelevant to begin with. As this is a nice thought, it is also a minor detail in the larger scheme of things. I find the solution of empowering students to be curious and to seek out what they want fr om schools to be far more superior. The public school system can indeed live up to the standard Emerson set for a great education; it just has to be changed. An excellent teacher has the power to provide students with the essentials to learning, good listening skills for example.However, public schools don’t often produce excellent students or teachers, and this is exactly what starts the banal cycle again. To what extent do our schools serve the goals of a true education? Our schools, being the student body, the leaders, and everything in between are too caught up in the everyday cycle of busy work and assessments, to realize that these methods need to be replaced with new ones that open the minds of students to what they can fulfill with the right passion for their education and the true purpose of being educated.

The Lesson: Issues on Financial Stability of Families

In this research proposal I will address issues on financial stability of families, economy and education. â€Å"The Lessonaâ‚ ¬? reflects the attitudes and education of children in the lower working class. A point was made in the story that brought up old emotions. On page 474 a student states, † Imagine for a minute what kind of society it is in which some people can spend on a toy what it would cost to feed a family of six or sevenaâ‚ ¬?. † That's not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal opportunity at the doughaâ‚ ¬?. Our society would much rather spend money on building prisons and shopping malls than on better school and homes. No child should have to go with less than livable housing, or be deprived from a decent education. I was told all of my life that the standards in the wealthier schools (where mostly whites went) were better than the schools in the lower parts of the city (where most blacks went). The sad fact was that it is true. I attended both schools. It made me think, why is the high achievers/summit classes at the poorer school if the other school gets the most money. The only thing that is funded in the poorer schools was the athletic department. We all deserve the same opportunities as our peers no matter what the financial situation may be. I also came to learn in the (black schools) the work was easier and the athletes were given grades. Mostly drug dealers, and dropouts hung around the school. At the predominantly white school they had police and security, but the black school had teachers and coaches as hall monitors. In an overview of educational statistics black and Hispanic children were at the bottom. If we are receiving the same education then why is there such a difference in knowledge? Politicians constantly speak about equality, but they not making a difference? We all deserve the same chance at life rather than being mock and talked about as children as never going to be anything, and we will be in jail by the time we are 16 at least twice.

Free Essays on Couch Potatoes

one potatoe, 2 potatoe Couch Potatoes The television has become one of the most important possessions any American could own. Almost every family household in all of America especially in the United States has at least one television. This means people around the world are spending time being lazy sitting in front of the television doing nothing but watching and eating. Television watchers can be classified in many ways: by the different types of shows they watch or by the amount of time a person watches the television a week, but this seems too general to classify a couch potato. The four major categories of the couch potatoes are ranked on a combination of leisure or free time spent watching, intensity of watching, and the desire to watch verses the desire to engage in other non-watching activities. First, there is the ever so true couch potato. These people have no life what so ever. They are diehard viewers who, when they go home, sit down right in front of the television for the rest of the evening or day. These people now make their living room also their dining room. They sit in front of the television stuffing their faces the whole night. Upon hearing the word bible the, the true couch potato thinks of the TV guide. Couch potatoes plan all daily activities around the television. Some try to accomplish things while they watch, but many don’t get anything done. If the president was on every channel but one and they disliked Clinton like everyone in America, they would watch Farley2 the one channel no matter what on. While at home these true couch potatoes never dream about turning off the TV. The second group is the regular couch potato. These are scheduled television watchers. They have interests other than the TV a... Free Essays on Couch Potatoes Free Essays on Couch Potatoes Couch Potatoes The television has become one of the most important possessions any American could own. Almost every family household in all of America especially in the United States has at least one television. This means people around the world are spending time being lazy sitting in front of the television doing nothing but watching and eating. Television watchers can be classified in many ways: by the different types of shows they watch or by the amount of time a person watches the television a week, but this seems too general to classify a couch potato. The four major categories of the couch potatoes are ranked on a combination of leisure or free time spent watching, intensity of watching, and the desire to watch verses the desire to engage in other non-watching activities. First, there is the ever so true couch potato. These people have no life what so ever. They are diehard viewers who, when they go home, sit down right in front of the television for the rest of the evening or day. These people now make their living room also their dining room. They sit in front of the television stuffing their faces the whole night. Upon hearing the word bible the, the true couch potato thinks of the TV guide. Couch potatoes plan all daily activities around the television. Some try to accomplish things while they watch, but many don’t get anything done. If the president was on every channel but one and they disliked Clinton like everyone in America, they would watch Farley2 the one channel no matter what on. While at home these true couch potatoes never dream about turning off the TV. The second group is the regular couch potato. These are scheduled television watchers. They have interests other than the TV and don’t eat dinner in t... Free Essays on Couch Potatoes one potatoe, 2 potatoe Couch Potatoes The television has become one of the most important possessions any American could own. Almost every family household in all of America especially in the United States has at least one television. This means people around the world are spending time being lazy sitting in front of the television doing nothing but watching and eating. Television watchers can be classified in many ways: by the different types of shows they watch or by the amount of time a person watches the television a week, but this seems too general to classify a couch potato. The four major categories of the couch potatoes are ranked on a combination of leisure or free time spent watching, intensity of watching, and the desire to watch verses the desire to engage in other non-watching activities. First, there is the ever so true couch potato. These people have no life what so ever. They are diehard viewers who, when they go home, sit down right in front of the television for the rest of the evening or day. These people now make their living room also their dining room. They sit in front of the television stuffing their faces the whole night. Upon hearing the word bible the, the true couch potato thinks of the TV guide. Couch potatoes plan all daily activities around the television. Some try to accomplish things while they watch, but many don’t get anything done. If the president was on every channel but one and they disliked Clinton like everyone in America, they would watch Farley2 the one channel no matter what on. While at home these true couch potatoes never dream about turning off the TV. The second group is the regular couch potato. These are scheduled television watchers. They have interests other than the TV a...

Year 12 stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Year 12 stress - Essay Example In causing one’s death, the methods being used today are different but the intent and motivation are more or less the same. One of the frequently used methods involves trains and railroad tracks. Most of the suicide incidents reported in Japan these days involve students who flunked, or knew they would flunk, a high-stakes college admission test administered uniformly to graduating high school students nationwide. Japanese students have been raised to believe that their very lives and future ride on this battery of tests such that failure to pass it could mean the end of the world for them. That means abasement and dishonor to the proud Japanese. In the psychology of suicides, however, it is said that it is not enough that one’s sense of pride and honor is wounded to want to end it all. A strong instigating factor is stress which, psychologists say, comes from feeling out of control. So if an individual is in control of his senses, he might still seek ways to redeem his fallen honor and thus vindicate himself. Suicide thus becomes an attractive path only for people stressed out by the prospects of failure, which could be the reason for the alarming incidence of such cases among Japanese students. The same thing could be happening to Australian students in the past few years. A pressure-packed series of tests for pre-college students similar to Japan’s college admission tests has since the 1960s created the same sort of problem for public health and safety in Australia. Like the Japanese exams, a great deal of importance had been attached to the tests for Australia’s Higher School Certificate (HSC) that passing it has become a do-or-die proposition for the students involved. Too much is expected from students going through this examination that flunking it is considered out of the question. The HSC is

Bereavement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Bereavement - Essay Example The mourner's history of losses, personality style, and pre-morbid mental health adjustment also impact the grief process (Rando, 1993). Clearly, the traumatic circumstances that surrounded the events of September 11th added an unprecedented degree of complexity to the grief of those who experienced losses that day. While it appears reasonable that issues related to the trauma itself must be resolved before there is sufficient intrapsychic energy to deal with the loss per se, parsing out the differences between the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and those of complicated grief can be challenging (Figley, Bride, & Mazza, 1997). Depressive symptoms may also be confusing and interfere with recognition of and response to the symptoms of complicated grief (Rando, 1993). Especially in the initial phases of recovery from a traumatic loss, individual interventions are an appropriate modality of treatment. The process of assessment for the variety of co-morbid risks that can accompany traumatic loss is facilitated in individual sessions. There is also the opportunity to provide support and problem solving that specifically address the challenges that have been generated by both the loss itself, the circumstances surrounding it, and its intrapsychic concomitants. But because of the sense of emotional isolation that commonly accompanies both trauma and the loss of a significant other, support groups are an excellent adjunct to individual treatment (Figley et al., 1997). Studies report the importance of the supplemental support system such groups provide, and the critical necessity for the normalizing discussions about reactions and difficulties that take place in group sessions (Yule & Udwin, 1991; Fitzgerald, 1994; Rando, 1988; Underwood & Dunne-Maxim, 1992). In later stages of recovery, group support can be essential to the process of going on with life. Immigrants and Cultural Minority Groups Given both the effect that culture has on grief and bereavement, and the disproportionate rates of infant death, particularly among Afro-Caribbean immigrants compared to European, Latin American, Mexico and those born in the United States, we sampled providers serving this community. The importance of cultural competence cannot be overstated. Cultural competence should include: providers being aware of their own cultural traditions and beliefs, learning about the cultural beliefs and customs of the community being served, genuine appreciation and respect for cultural diversity and being empathic, flexible and prepared to tailor the care to meet individual and family needs of those that have suffered a loss (ACOG). The Needs of People Experiencing Loss, Grief and Bereavement There was broad agreement that the needs of individuals in relation to loss, grief and bereavement are highly individualised. There is a wide range of grieving styles and experiences. However, the fundamental needs of bereaved individuals are for support and acceptance. This includes recognition and validation of their grief and grieving style, from family, friends, employers and the general community. Arguably, grief and bereave