USS Langley - The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier

USS Langley - The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier Laid down on October 18, 1911, at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA, USS Langley (CV-1) began its life as the Proteus-class collier USS Jupiter (AC-3). Its keel-laying ceremony was attended by President William H. Taft. Work continued through the winter and the collier was launched on April 14, 1912. The US Navys first turbo-electric-powered ship, Jupiter joined the fleet in April 1913, under the command of Commander Joseph M. Reeves. USS Jupiter Shortly after passing sea trials, Jupiter was sent south to the Mexican coast off Mazatln. Carrying a detachment of US Marines, the Navy hoped that the ships presence would aid in calming tensions during the 1914 Veracruz crisis. With the situation diffused, the collier departed for Philadelphia in October, becoming the first ship to transit the Panama Canal from west to east in the process. After service with the Atlantic Fleet Auxiliary Division in the Gulf of Mexico, Jupiter was switched to cargo duty in April 1917. Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transport Service, Jupiter sailed in support of US efforts during World War I, and made two cargo voyages to Europe (June 1917 and November 1918).   During its first Atlantic crossing, the collier carried a naval aviation detachment commanded by Lieutenant Kenneth Whiting. These were the first American military aviators to reach Europe. Returning to coaling duties in January 1919, Jupiter operated in European waters to facilitate the return of troops serving with the American Expeditionary Forces following the end of the war. Later that year, the ship received orders to return to Norfolk for conversion into an aircraft carrier. Arriving on December 12, 1919, the ship was decommissioned the following March. The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier Work began immediately to convert the ship, which was renamed in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley on April 21, 1920. In the yard, workers reduced the ships superstructure and built a flight deck over the length of the ship. The vessels two funnels were moved outboard and an elevator constructed for moving aircraft between decks. Completed in early 1922, Langley was designated CV-1 and commissioned on March 20, with Whiting, now a commander, in command. Entering service, Langley became the primary test platform for the US Navys budding aviation program.    USS Langley (CV-1) - Overview Type: Aircraft CarrierNation: United StatesBuilder: Mare Island Naval ShipyardLaid Down: October 18, 1911Launched: August 14, 1912Commissioned: March 20, 1922 Specifications Displacement: 11,500 tonsLength: 542 ft.Beam: 65 ft.Draft: 18 ft. 11 in.Speed: 15 knotsComplement: 468 officers and men Armament 55 aircraft4 Ãâ€" 5 guns Early Operations On October 17, 1922, Lieutenant Virgil C. Griffin became the first pilot to fly from the ships deck when he took off in his Vought VE-7-SF. The ships first landing came nine days later when Lieutenant Commander Godfrey de Courcelles Chevalier came aboard in an Aeromarine 39B. The firsts continued on November 18, when Whiting became the first naval aviator to be catapulted from a carrier when he launched in a PT. Steaming south in early 1923, Langley continued aviation testing in the warm waters of the Caribbean before sailing to Washington DC that June to conduct a flight demonstration and show its capabilities to governmental officials. Returning to active duty, Langley operated out of Norfolk for much of 1924, and underwent its first overhaul late that summer. Putting to sea that fall, Langley transited the Panama Canal and joined the Pacific Battle Fleet on November 29. For the next dozen years, the ship served with the fleet off Hawaii and California working to training aviators, conducting aviation experiments, and taking part in war games. With the arrival of the larger carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3) and the near completion of Yorktown (CV-5) and Enterprise (CV-6), the Navy decided that the little Langley was no longer needed as a carrier. Seaplane Tender On October 25, 1936, Langley arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for conversion into a seaplane tender. After removing the forward section of the flight deck, workers built a new superstructure and bridge, while the aft end of the ship was altered to accommodate the ships new role. Re-designated AV-3, Langley sailed in April 1937. Following a brief assignment in the Atlantic during early 1939, the ship sailed for the Far East, reaching Manila on September 24. When World War II began, the ship was anchored nearby at Cavite. On December 8, 1941, Langley departed the Philippines for Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies before finally making for Darwin, Australia. World War II During the first half of January 1942, Langley aided the Royal Australian Air Force in conducting anti-submarine patrols out of Darwin. Receiving new orders, the ship sailed north later that month to deliver 32 P-40 Warhawks to Allied forces at Tjilatjap, Java and to join American‑British‑Dutch‑Australian forces gathering to block the Japanese advance into Indonesia. On February 27, shortly after meeting with its antisubmarine screen, the destroyers USS Whipple and USS Edsall, Langley was attacked by a flight of nine Japanese G4M Betty bombers. Successfully evading the first two Japanese bombing runs, the ship was hit five times on the third, causing the topsides to burst in to flames and the ship to develop a 10-degree list to port. Limping towards Tjilatjap Harbor, Langley lost power and was unable to negotiate the mouth of the harbor. At 1:32 PM, the ship was abandoned and the escorts moved into sink the hulk to prevent its capture by the Japanese. Sixteen of Langleys crew were killed in the attack.

Proposed Installation of a Swimming Pool Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Proposed Installation of a Swimming Pool - Essay Example Since some pools are easily removed while others become a permanent part of a property, this is an important consideration. Related to this concept is the type of coating or painting which should be used for a newly constructed pool. Another of your concerns was the safety features and insurance liability coverage you should carry, not only for your own family's security but also for visitors' coverage or for incidental pollution considerations. Electricity for pumps and filtering devices, accidental misuse of chemicals in the water and a host of other issues are involved here. While you did not ask us about enclosures or pool covers, we are including some information about these in this report. Since Atlanta is not actually in the semi-tropical areas of the USA, we felt you would appreciate some ideas for safe storage of the pool area in cooler weather. We did some interview research about the cost and life expectancy of both on-ground and in-ground pools. (Answers.yahoo). This was part of our research as to which of the three pool types to recommend to you and to provide you with the rationale for your decision. Our staff checked online sites for prices as well as the pros and cons of each of the three pool types. ... Our staff checked online sites for prices as well as the pros and cons of each of the three pool types. Of course, size influences price as surely as whether to build into the ground or on top of the ground. We looked at various building materials for the pool types. These include fiberglass, concrete, steel, aluminum and resin. We felt sure that you did not intend to be building an air-filled rubber pool so we did not check into that material. We have information on ground preparation for the pool types. The red clay of Georgia will not give you much problem for whichever type of pool you build. Lastly, we investigated liability insurance, pool covers and enclosures as well as cleaning and painting materials. In the next section of this report, we will break down our findings to aid in making an informed decision. Findings of Investigation Let us first consider the three possible pool types. They are above ground pools, on ground pools and in ground pools. There are descriptions and photos available online (Propools). The above ground pools are easily moved since they are made to be rather easily put together and taken apart. Within a few hours, the owner can put up the pool and fill it with water and begin using it. These pools sit on top of the ground. Just as easily, the pool can be disassembled for storage or removal to another spot. These pools can be made of aluminum, steel or resin. (sharkline). Pepper 3 The on ground pools are better for sloping ground and are similar to in ground pools in that they are more permanent. Their prices are a bit higher than the prices of the above ground pools since these pools are not easily removed. The third type of pool is the in ground pool. It

A Study on the Self-Perception of Young Female and Male Students from Literature review

A Study on the Self-Perception of Young Female and Male Students from Somali Ethinic Group in Britain Today - Literature review Example It will attempt to unravel current and pressing issues and problems of the Somali youths and delve into potential recommendations to improve their situations. a. Rationale Caught in unending violence and conflict situations which victimized thousands of Somali from their original home of abode, thousands of them immigrated to Britain to liberate themselves from seemingly unending atrocities and economic decadence. Such diasporas to better their lives and from wanton discriminatory chaotic situation of the past unfortunately resulted to identity confusion as new generation now lacked appreciation of their cultural and original identities. This is illustrated in the absence of direct and contextual experience in their homeland after years of enjoying relative peace as an asylum in Britain. Long detachment of these naturalized Somalis from their original homeland introduced young generation to British culture although there is no explicit claim of such identity as Brits are prominently known of their milky white skin, quite a contrast of Somali’s black skin-tone. Neither do they identify themselves with African lineage. As a consequence, there is a need to bridge intergenerational cultural gaps of adults and of the new generation, where the latter struggle to integrate themselves within British community. Youths and children felt that they are discriminated, as there is apparent perception of dearth of support to mainstream or socially accept them. To cite an example, youths and children felt that there is lack of educational support for them to learn English as language and they felt they are unfairly prejudiced in their daily affairs with other people. b. Significance This study is significant because it will empirically contribute to existing literatures and researches relating to the condition and perception of Somali youths as migrants within United Kingdom. It will also serve as evidence how conflict-situations compromised the identities of people and lost their very selves in a social quagmire and in an unending quest for peace. As part of the outcome of the study, researcher will attempt to make recommendations for policy advocacy and social action. It will also motivate government to look into the plight of Somali youths, prominently tagged as asylum seeker, to respond on their urgent concerns and problems. c. Motivation Youths are said to be the future of the world. There education and value formation are crucial to make themselves complete, instead of being fragmented due to confusion of identities while and at the same time marginalized by the system where it seek protection. Such dilemma will have serious implication to their worldviews, may frustrate them, and if not seriously dealt with will impact to desired societal interaction and to social fabric in the nearest future. Even in the simplest humanitarian consideration, language is important to communicate and to nurture mutual understanding. Hence, efforts should be m ade to bridge understanding, to educate them of their roots to inculcate better understanding of their identities, and to holistically develop them while in the process of integrating themselves in the British society. d. Potential Users This research study will be useful for the following: a. Professionals who are interested to know young Somali’s self-perceptions; b. Researchers and policy makers of the

Computerized provider order entry(CPOE) Assignment

Computerized provider order entry(CPOE) - Assignment Example These systems are used for various reasons in healthcare. It is worth noting that this system makes it possible for individuals in the health care industry to insert precise and detailed analytical information relating to results from medical investigations to identify presence of disease, prescription information, as well as nursing information and guidelines. This helps individuals to keep proper electronic records. CPOE is a computerized system that helps link medical practitioners with patients medical information, links a medical practitioner with his or her colleagues in the health sector, links all computerized systems in a health institution, and also links one medical unit with other units or departments. CPOE helps reduce errors in the medical field. Some of the information entered in the CPOE system include prescribed amounts of medicines, sensitivities, and patients medical history. Availability of all this information is important as it helps healthcare providers consider all the benefits and possible effects of medications and hence minimize inaccuracies. A methodical investigation conducted in Brigham and Womens Hospital focusing on the effectiveness of CPOE, there was a decline medical mistakes or inaccuracies by fifty five percent in a period of four and half years (Doolan and Bates, 2002) To understand the benefits of CPOE, it is imperative to compare it with paper-based systems. According to Doolan and Bates (2002), "The advantages of CPOE over paper-based methods include decreased transcriptions, increased accuracy and completeness, and the ability to enter orders in multiple locations" (A4). This systems also makes it possible for health care providers to make resolutions regarding the patients health status aptly and timely as all information is readily available and computerized. The implementation of CPOE improves competence and effectiveness in health delivery systems. This is

Designing of a 4 Bit Transmission System Using Lasers

Designing of a 4 Bit Transmission System Using Lasers Title: Laser Communication System Abstract: Communication is a common need. But there are places where wired and frequency wave communication is not possible. Laser as a new form of communication can communicate over those barriers. This paper deals with designing of a 4 bit transmission system using Laser. This is faster and cheaper communication medium. Laser light has higher intensity, efficiency, as well as better visibility and performance quality. It provides a much simpler communication system and reducing the complex wiring. Introduction: Communication is an inseparable part of our life. Search for new mediums of communication is an eternal search that is seen in human history. Newer forms of communication solve the constraints of traditional forms of communication. Today, communication demands more bandwidth allocation, power requirement, accuracy and security in everywhere in everyplace. World needs sufficient mediums to communicate solving the hurdles. As a communication medium wired communication, optical fiber communication, wireless communication over radio frequency has been established so far. A new form of communication medium like laser communication can bring a new era of communication technology where these communication mediums have limitations. Laser communication system do not need wire like wired and optical also do not need licensed frequency channel like RF. This communication is reliable, economic, and speedy can replace wireless, fiber optic communication. Laser communication is interesting and important as it can be used in general as well as for confidential data transmission even for inters building communication like in office or in a conference room. Laser is attractive in a sense that it has features like worldwide availability, unlicensed bandwidth, non-interference with radio bands. Introducing laser communication is not that easy. In the past data were converted into analog waves but the new communication form will have different way of sending data likewise laser communication converts data into laser light. Many researches have been conducted over this topic. Most of the laser communication research was done on earth station and outer space satellites. Other researches done on laser based communication are either costly or inefficient. So there remains scope and need for further research. This paper shows a system that can send data over laser beam using a simpler and cheap circuit. Numerical data from 0-9 mapped into 4 bit binary and send over laser beam which taking as a base can send all computer data over laser. This paper did not conducted research on the laser directionality. No solution is given on the correct positioning of the laser beam. In the next section, related works and then Laser communication system providing components, transmitter and receiver design, constraints and future work can be found. Finally, Section 4 summarizes contributions. 2. Laser Communication System: A laser communication system requires a Transmitter and a Receiver. For better performance 4 laser torch is used so the system can give send and receive 4 parallel bit. These increases speeds by 4X. For demonstration purpose two transmitter and receiver circuit is given. The first transmitter and receiver coded numeric number 0-9 manually and in second transmitter and receiver used encoder and decoder. 2.1 Components: Laser Torch: A process of optical amplification is used in laser to emit light based on the stimulated of photons. It is highly directed beam/intense light and power efficient. Resistors: It restricts the flow of current. It is used to restrict excessive power from destroying the laser torch. Voltage Source: It provides voltage difference. Power source of the circuit. Buttons: Enables and restrict power flow. It is used to represent number 0-9. LED bulb: Glows when power is supplied. Used to show output. Encoder: Converts decimal to binary. Decoder: Converts binary to decimal. Photodiode: This device provides current flow if gets hit by a light beam. Used to detect laser beam. 2.2 Transmitter Design: The first transmitter circuit requires a 1 voltage source, buttons 0 – 9, 4 resistor, 5 4input OR gate, 1 2input OR gate and 4 lasers. Button 0-9 represents numeric 0-9. The input 0-9 mapped as the figure below. To construct circuit for the mapped input the equation user is: Laser 1 = 1 (OR) 5 (OR) 8 (OR) 0 = 1 + 5 + 8 + 0 Laser 2 = 2 (OR) 6 (OR) 9 (OR) 0 = 2 + 6 + 9 + 0 Laser 3 = 3 (OR) 7 (OR) 8 (OR) 9 (OR) 0 = 3 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 0 Laser 4 = 4 (OR) 5 (OR) 6 (OR) 7 (OR) 8 (OR) 9 (OR) 0 = 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 0 The constructed circuit is given below. T1 The input can also be through by using an encoder. The second transmitter circuit requires 1 voltage source, 4 Resistor, 4bit encoder, buttons 0-9 and 4 lasers. The constructed circuit is given below. T2 2.3 Receiver Design: The first receiver for the first transmitter requires 1 voltage source, 4 photodiode, 4 NOT gate, 4 resistor, 3 2input AND gate, 7 4input AND gate and 10 led. The input of 4 photodiode mapped into 0-9 led representing numerical 0-9 like below. To construct circuit for the mapped input the equation user is: Led 1 = Laser 1 (AND) Laser 4’ = 1 * 4’ Led 2 = Laser 2 (AND) Laser 4’ = 2 * 4’ Led 3 = Laser 3 (AND) Laser 4’ = 3 * 4’ Led 4 = Laser 1’ (AND) Laser 2’ (AND) Laser 3’ (AND) Laser 4 = 1’ * 2’ * 3’ * 4 Led 5 = Laser 1 (AND) Laser 2’ (AND) Laser 3’ (AND) Laser 4 = 1 * 2’ * 3’ * 4 Led 6 = Laser 1’ (AND) Laser 2 (AND) Laser 3’ (AND) Laser 4 = 1’ * 2 * 3’ * 4 Led 7 = Laser 1’ (AND) Laser 2’ (AND) Laser 3 (AND) Laser 4 = 1’ * 2’ * 3 * 4 Led 8 = Laser 1 (AND) Laser 2’ (AND) Laser 3 (AND) Laser 4 = 1 * 2’ * 3 * 4 Led 9 = Laser 1’ (AND) Laser 2 (AND) Laser 3 (AND) Laser 4 = 1’ * 2 * 3 * 4 Led 0 = Laser 1 (AND) Laser 2 (AND) Laser 3 (AND) Laser 4 = 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 The constructed circuit is given below. R1 The second receiver 2nd transmitter circuit requires 1 voltage source, 4 photodiode, 10bit decoder, 10 resistor and 10 led. The constructed circuit is given below. R2 2.4 Constraints: The factors such as beam dispersion, background light, shadowing, rain, fog, snow, pollution, smog causes an attenuated received signal and lead to higher bit error rates. For longer distance communication high power laser is required which is costly. The laser and photodiode position have to be correct which gets difficult with longer distance. 2.5 Future work: To provided data computer or any smart device is a remarkable source. Microcontroller will make it more sophisticated. 4 bit data transfer through 4 lasers with TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) can give a super speed and reliability. Improved design of this system can be used to transmit confidential data over long distance with more powered lasers. 3. Related work: 4. Conclusion: We explored the use of light based carriers for transfer of information. This paper emphasis on the study of laser as a communication medium. Upon study a newer form of communication medium like wireless, optical fiber etc can be established. Laser Torch Based Transmission and Reception are cheaper and simpler in construction. Blue-Tooth can also be used for transmission and Reception purpose, but its range is small compared with their price. 5. References:

The Current State of Virtual Art and Exhibition :: Art Artistic Papers

The Current State of Virtual Art and Exhibition Virtual art is the product of long-standing traditions in art merged with revolutionary technological advances. With innovations emerging almost as fast as end-users can test and master new systems, technology has dramatically altered our daily lives and changed our thought processes. Like many technological advances, virtual and cyber realities have been embraced, and often created by, artists that experiment with the myriad of possibilities that technology can offer. While there have been many works of art inspired and created by means of digital advances, the medium has yet to be defined and its boundaries have not yet been identified. Since technology and virtual art are just beginning to be explored, the medium is in its infancy and thus cannot be judged based upon traditional mores of art. Before virtual art can achieve prominence and respect within the art world, many barriers of tradition must first be abolished. Virtual and digital technologies are rampant in American culture and thoroughly utilized in entertainment mediums like television, movies, magazines, and video games. Our capitalist economy creates a fertile environment for these mediums to prosper by feeding off the public's hunger for entertainment. Because these industries are in such high demand and accrue billion dollar revenues, new technologies are often conceived in and funded by these trades: "For, in essence, all socially relevant new image media, from classical antiquity to the revolution of digital images, have advanced to serve the interests of maintaining power and control or maximizing profits" (Grau 339). That being the case, new technologies "hardly ever†¦advanced solely for artistic purposes" (Grau 339). Because "power" and "profits" are the central means of motivation in our culture; art, in the classical sense, is often an afterthought. In an age where entertainment and art intertwine, however, distinctions b etween the two based upon their creation are impossible. With advances in technology and, in turn, art, our ideas and traditions of comparison should also develop to justly analyze new media: "Although art history and the history of the media have always stood in an interdependent relationship and art has commented on, taken up, or even promoted each new media development, the view of art history as media history†¦is still underdeveloped" (Grau 4). In order to embrace virtual art as a valid outlet of artistic expression, its relationship to media and unique position in the history of art must first be acknowledged.

Fighting Racism in Africa

In September 1984, the segregated townships of the blacks in South Africa’s Vaal Triangle, around twenty five miles away from Johannesburg, were suddenly lit up – burned by the fury of resistance. It seemed as though the helplessness felt by the blacks for two years during which their rebellion had been controlled had suddenly turned into extreme anger. In any case, it became apparent at the time that the region was ungovernable by all means. Moreover, it appeared as though the Soweto revolt of 1976 was being repeated in the history of South Africa (Davis). After all, the blacks had not been able to secure their rights in their own countries during that time. It is ironic that the blacks have had to fight racism in their own countries for a very long time. The African National Congress was established to struggle for their rights. On its website, the African National Congress describes itself thus: The ANC is a national liberation movement. It was formed in 1912 to unite the African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social and economic change. For nine decades the ANC has led the struggle against racism and oppression, organizing mass resistance, mobilizing the international community and taking up the armed struggle against apartheid. The ANC achieved a decisive democratic breakthrough in the 1994 elections, where it was given a firm mandate to negotiate a new democratic Constitution for South Africa. The new Constitution was adopted in 1996. The ANC was re-elected in 1999 to national and provincial government with an increased andate. The policies of the ANC are determined by its membership and its leadership is accountable to the membership. Membership of the ANC is open to all South Africans above the age of 18 years, irrespective of race, color and creed, who accept its principles, policies and programs (â€Å"What is the African National Congress†). Stephen Davis, in his book, Apartheid's Rebels: Inside South Africa's Hidden War, describes the African National Congress in greater detail. According to the author, this movement has acted as the chief mobilizing agency of black resistance in South Africa. Furthermore, the unrest experienced by South Africa during the mid-1980’s was staged by the African National Congress through a tremendous transformation of the blacks. The unrest was neither unplanned; nor was it short-lived. Rather, the main adversary of Pretoria – the African National Congress – had developed it through an ever-widening network of secret cells where blacks were politicized as well as schooled in all manners of confrontation (Davis). Although the African National Congress has played a part in the governance of South Africa, Davis claims that the movement is rather unruly in the sense that it employed clandestine couriers that slipped across international borders, in addition to insurgents that primed themselves for attacks, including sabotage, against their enemies who were understood to be superior in both numbers as well as weaponry. The author also details the relationship between the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party – an ally. The propaganda of Pretoria had exploited this connection, while the legislators of the United States had been troubled by the effect that sanctions would have had on this friendship. According to Davis, the South African Communist Party was influential enough in the policymaking process of the African National Congress to be a cause of worry. The surge of new recruits that had been trained in violent rebellion had also given rise to apprehension within the African National Congress. Oliver Tambo, an exiled leader of the African National Congress, had taken a rather radical position because of this friendship. Nevertheless, Tambo argued that the majority of the blacks would simply balk at the endorsement of Marxist rule if free elections were to take place in South Africa. Hence, Davis believes that the relationship between the South African Communist Party and the African National Congress was merely one of convenience for the latter. The African National Congress enjoyed the assistance of the South African Communist Party in its underground operations. Moreover, the South African Communist Party was known to supply weapons as well as intelligence information from its Russian sponsors to the African National Congress. At the same time, the South African Communist Party acknowledged the importance of the struggle against apartheid that the African National Congress was engaged in. What is more, the South African Communist Party hoped to establish a Marxist society once the African National Congress had won its struggle (Davis). Thus, Davis’ study describes the struggles, divisions, and weaknesses of the African National Congress, while also dwelling on the successes of the movement. As an example, the African National Congress was able to transform itself at a time when it was almost forgotten. The movement was able to spread its roots far and wide by nurturing alliances with the United Democratic Front, a movement of mass protest, in addition to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Davis). Undoubtedly, the African National Congress has come a long way. At the same time, however, its history leaves a number of questions unanswered for the reader. The main question seems to be the following: In a world applauding the power of information and knowledge – must we continue to fight against discrimination? Sadly, the answer is, ‘Yes, our world is not civilized enough at this point. ’

Atrocities on Women Essay

Everyday early in the morning after getting up from bed, as a matter of habit, I look for the local newspaper which the hawker uses to insert it in the door belt of my house. When I go through the paper, invariably I find one or more news on atrocities on women or outraging the modesty of women appearing either on the front page or on the following pages depending on seriousness of the happenings. Sometimes I tremble to think, how could these heinous incidents take place everyday when stringent laws are there to deal with these cases rigorously, National Commission for Women and Child Welfare and separate women police stations have been set up by the Govt. to provide protection to women in danger or distress? Unlike the past when women were confined to four walls and treated as slaves in the male dominant society, there has been radical change in the social order and the women have been given equal status in all walks of life over the passage of time. Today the women are more or less conscious of their rights and position in the society and most women are educated too. In spite of all this, the women, as it were, are subjected to undergo humiliations and torture of different dimensions at various stages of their lives. Then what is going wrong? Are the flaws lying with the society or the system or the women themselves? In fact, women are very often made the targets of attack for pleasure or fun or comfort or making of money or avoiding unnecessary burden right from the stage of embryo before birth till their old age. Before going to discuss on what could be the reasons and who are responsible for inflicting torture on women, it may not be out of place to take an account of different nature of atrocities and humiliations being done to women at various stages of their lives as the reports, very often, come to our notice through media. v Pregnant women are either persuaded or forced to undergo abortion if the babies in the womb are detected to be females through sonography, only to avoid bringing up of girl children and bear huge expenses for their arriage. v New born female children are brutally killed by parents or other members of the family and thrown as wastes if they could not be aborted before birth not only for rearing burdensome creatures but also for satisfying their caustic desire for having only the male children who will be the future bread earners and shall be the heirs to advance their family for future generations,. v Girl children in several parts of the country are not allowed to g o to school for study and they are engaged in household or field work. In many cases they are engaged as maid servants for earning money for the family or sold out as bonded labour to rich people. v Girl children are abducted and sold to the brokers for trading in the whore market. v School and college going girls are very often subjected to eave teasing, kidnapping, rape, rape and murder. v In many families daughters are not given equal treatment in upbringing as given to their sons. v Forceful child marriage of girl child and forgetting about her fate in father-in-law’s house is still existent in some parts of our country. If the marriage of a girl after attaining right age is arranged one, her misery follows when her parents fail to satisfy the demands of groom and his parents. All her visionary projects for building a lovely home get crushed and mingled with the dust as soon as she steps into her father-in-law’s house. She is treated like a foot ball and is subjected to painful humiliations and inhuman torture for dowry day in and day out. How helpless and destitute she feels in her father-in-law’s house where everybody including her husband go on torturing her mentally as well as physically until their dowry demands are not fulfilled? In many cases, the helpless poor girl either commits suicide or she is most cruelly murdered. v If a woman is divorced or estranged by the husband for any reason after marriage, her misery crosses all limits by making her life extremely unbearable. Not only her neighbourers, friends, relatives but also her parents in many cases never hesitate to cast slur on her and treat her as if an unwanted entity in the family/society. v If a woman is raped or kidnapped and then released, her living in the society becomes awful and everyone looks down upon her as if she has committed a grievous sin willfully. Working women, in most cases are subjected to sexual harassment at their respective working places and outside. v In nucleus families (Families comprising husband, wife and children only which are commonly seen these days) mostly the dominance of husbands is supreme where wives are not earning members and poor wives have no freedom to act according to their wishes. In cases, even if the wive s are earning members, the husbands hardly share the responsibility of managing the family and rearing of children. The wives are compelled to manage all household works including cooking of food even if their earning is equal to or more than their husbands. In most of the cases wives have to compromise for a peaceful family life and their dedication for the family is considered as an obligation to making an ideal family either as wives or as mothers. v Most widows in old age are an abandoned lot in spite of having their well placed sons simply because their daughters-in-law can’t bear their presence at home. Although the nature of atrocities on females as listed above is not conclusive, it is enough to indicate clearly the motive behind all these infamous deeds. Those may be (1) Fanatical belief of man of having a male child in stead of a girl child. (2) Insatiable greed for dowry and passion for leading a comfortable or luxurious life by utilizing women as the key gadgets to extract easy money from their parents. (3) Jealousy and hatred (4) Satisfaction of one’s sexual appetite growing out of passion for having illegal sex and infatuation. (5) Utilising women as precious commodity to breed money. 6) The last but not the least is the upholding the false vanity of male dominance by males on the strength of their masculine power. Now, if we go deep into the matter to discover who are the persons responsible for initiation of all these ghastly deeds, we may find, barring the cases of rape, sexual harassment and exercising superiority of men vainly upholding the male dominance, in oth er cases there must be either direct or indirect involvement of one or more women. This kind of abrupt landing on an observation may appear absurd, controversial and illogical but it is not far from reality. I think it is needless to elaborate on this question as the news come in daily that how women for their own advantage frame clandestine designs to inflict torture on other women who are not of their liking by craftily utilizing the masculine power of men and for that matter they never hesitate to instigate, persuade, entrap, coax, seduce or apply undue influence on men. Of the many news items coming out in the news papers everyday, one incident shocked me most and that was the dealings of a woman constable in a police station manned by women only. When a rape victim coming from a poor family approached the nearest women police station for help and wanted to lodge an FIR the woman constable of the police station in stead of extending help persuaded her to return home without creating a scene by lodging an FIR which would in no way go to help her on the contrary, it might make her life more miserable owing to spread of slander. This is only one of the live examples of lapses of the system in providing security to women in distress. One can imagine how many such cases might be happening everyday? Recently somewhere I read a news item that about 10-15% of the incidents of torture on women, injustice, humiliations done to women and outraging the modesty of women come to light whereas the rest happenings, however grievous they may be, are suppressed by the victims themselves out of fear or under pressure from other women of their relations who might be trying to cover up the incidents. For this matter I do not blame women in general but nobody comes forward to raise a voice against such injustice. In a complex society of ours where problems of leading a happy and peaceful life are multitude and highly sensitive being aggravated by poverty, unemployment and inadequate education, the atrocities on women can only be eradicated through mass awareness of women themselves. If all women develop a spirit of fellow feeling by placing themselves in the shoes of victims or aggrieved women and unite to protest or counter or fight or raise strong voice against all types of oppression, I think they can catalyze a novel metamorphosis in the society and curb atrocities on women to a great extent. If some progressive women come forward to form â€Å"Mahila Jagaran Manch† (MJM) and spread it through out the length and breadth of the country with a view to provide protection and help to women in distress I think the problem might subside. Unlike the National Commission for Women the MJM should grow voluntarily in every village and in every residential blocks in towns and cities through awareness campaign being conducted and monitored by some progressive benevolent ladies so that the women folk at large can master courage to come out to join MJM and face any turbulent situation confronting them boldly.