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\"Was Salman Rushdie right to have written The Satanic Verses? Were the protestors right to have protested? What about the Danish cartoons? Is giving offence simply about the right to freedom of expression, and what is really happening when people take offence? Using case studies of a number of Muslim-related freedom of speech controversies surrounding (in)famous, controversial texts such as The Satanic Verses, The Jewel of Medina, the Danish cartoons of Muhammed and the film Submission by Theo van Gogh, this book examines the moral questions raised by such controversies, questions that are often set aside at the time, such as whether the authors and artists involved were right to have done what they did and whether those who protested against them were right to have responded in such a way. In so doing, it argues that the giving and taking of offence are political performances that struggle to define and re-define freedom, and suggests that any attempt to establish a language of inter-cultural communication appropriate to multicultural societies is an ethical as opposed to merely political or legal task, involving dialogue and negotiation over fundamental values and principles. Overall, this important book constitutes a sustained critique of liberal arguments for freedom of speech, in particular of the liberal discourse that took shape in response to the Rushdie controversy and has, in the twenty-five years since, become almost an orthodoxy for many intellectuals, artists, journalists and politicians living and working in Britain (and elsewhere in the West) today. \"-- Provided by publisher.

Finding Wisdom in East Asian Classicsis an essential, all-access guide to the core texts of East Asian civilization and culture. Essays address frequently read, foundational texts in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, as well as early modern fictional classics and nonfiction works of the seventeenth century. Building strong links between these writings and the critical traditions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, this volume shows the vital role of the classics in the shaping of Asian history and in the development of the humanities at large. Wm. Theodore de Bary focuses on texts that have survived for centuries, if not millennia, through avid questioning and contestation. Recognized as perennial reflections on life and society, these works represent diverse historical periods and cultures and include theAnalects of Confucius,Mencius,Laozi,Xunxi, theLotus Sutra, Tang poetry, thePillow Book,The Tale of Genji, and the writings of Chikamatsu and Kaibara Ekken. Contributors explain the core and most commonly understood aspects of these works and how they operate within their traditions. They trace their reach and reinvention throughout history and their ongoing relevance in modern life. With fresh interpretations of familiar readings, these essays inspire renewed appreciation and examination. In the case of some classics open to multiple interpretations, de Bary chooses two complementary essays from different contributors. Expanding on debates concerning the challenges of teaching classics in the twenty-first century, several pieces speak to the value of Asia in the core curriculum. Indispensable for early scholarship on Asia and the evolution of global civilization,Finding Wisdom in East Asian Classicshelps one master the major texts of human thought.

Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) (Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu), an invasive species from China, was first detected in the US in Georgia in 1975. High densities of galls caused by larval feeding inhibit tree growth, reduce tree vigor, and decrease nut production. A parasitoid of ACGW, Torymus sinensis Kamijo, was imported and released in the US in the 1970’s. This specialized parasitoid has become established in other eastern states, via natural dispersal and additional introductions. In 2015, ACGW was identified in an orchard in Berrien County, Michigan. We have monitored presence and spread of ACGW and the T. sinensis parasitoid in Michigan since 2017. To date, ACGW is established in at least 25 orchards across 14 counties. The T. sinensis parasitoid, first detected in Michigan in 2017, appears to follow ACGW spread, generally lagging 1-3 years behind ACGW establishment. Along with monitoring regional distribution, we are analyzing ACGW spread within individual orchards to assess spatial-temporal dynamics of this invader in Michigan. Chestnut growers in Michigan, the leading producer of commercial chestnuts in North America, face increasing pressure from native and invasive insect pests, reflecting the expansion of this relatively young industry. Lesser chestnut weevil (Curculio sayi Gyllenhal), a native species which originally infested American chestnut (Castanea dentata), is a particularly serious problem. Female weevils lay eggs through burs into developing nuts in late summer. Larval feeding can destroy entire harvests. Our research objectives included identifying effective pre- and post-harvest tactics to minimize reduce weevil damage and yield loss and determining effective trapping and scouting techniques to monitor adult weevils in chestnut orchards.

The objective of this study is to determine the overall effectiveness of omnichannel warehouses, with a focus on the fashion industry, which has demonstrated resilience during the pandemic by utilizing both offline and online sales techniques. This study essentially develops a generic technique for evaluating omnichannel warehouse productivity based on the design of Karim et al., adjusting some of its indicators to suit Indonesia's medium-sized fashion industry. The observational study's results indicate that the workforce and space categories' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the fashion sector are still deficient. Based on discussions with various management entities, it is suggested that KPIs be extended into four categories by including measures related to space and information systems. Moreover, four indicators-product receiving, identification, and picking (offline) in the labor category, and transportation utilization in the space category-are highlighted using the Traffic Light System (TLS) method as the highest priority areas for improvement. The fundamental reasons for these issues are found through fishbone diagram analysis, and they include a deficient fleet of vehicles, imprecise transportation plans, inaccurate demand projections, insufficient employee training about new products, and inadequate mechanisms for communication between the sales, warehouse, and vendors. The limitation of this study is that it solely looked at the fashion industry's productivity. It is recommended that future studies use omnichannel principles across many businesses to measure other industry variables like time, cost, and quality. The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has caused significant changes in several industries, including the fashion sector. New habits are entering the market as a result of people's trends changing quickly and dynamically. One such habit is the move to online apparel buying, which provides a range of practical features at reasonably low costs. Since many of them would rather spend their time doing other things than shopping in real stores, the younger generation prefers to use internet programs to make apparel purchases. Fashion has adopted a new way of life as a result of the pandemic. This study essentially uses the research of Karim et al., who created a generic technique to gauge warehouse productivity and modified a few variables to make them relevant to the fashion sector in Indonesia. The measurement results indicate that there is a need to enhance the following areas: employee awareness of new items, accuracy of demand projections, appropriate transport vehicles, and reliable, timely transportation planning.

In the digital age, new media platforms have a profound impact on the shaping of national images around the world. Basing on the theories of national brand, electronic word of mouth, digital emotional contagion and media decentralization, this study explores the transformation of China's online image within the context of new media platforms by analyzing YouTube videos and their audience interactions before 2020 and after 2024. Through quantitative content analysis of video content and user comments, the study aims to reveal how digital media is reshaping global perceptions and challenging common stereotypes about China. The findings show that videos from 2024 onwards have more positive reviews than those from before 2020, a shift driven by an increase in audience engagement, content authenticity, and algorithm-driven recommendations that amplify user-generated content, offering a more nuanced and diverse perspective.

In recent decades, the modernization and globalization of East Asian societies have provided more opportunities for women to engage in professional music education and careers. This shift has allowed female composers to not only claim their place in the classical music world but also to become key figures in the development of contemporary music. They have embraced both traditional and modern elements, utilizing indigenous instruments, folk traditions, and spiritual themes alongside cutting-edge techniques and Western classical frameworks.This document delves into the dynamic contributions of three prominent female composers from East Asia: Chen Yi from China, Unsuk Chin from Korea, and Karen Tanaka from Japan. By exploring their innovative works, this study highlights how these composers challenge and expand traditional musical boundaries within their respective cultural contexts. Through a comparative analysis of their contributions, this document aims to shed light on how these composers not only reflect but also shape the evolving musical landscape of East Asia. This study underscores the ways in which the three composers seamlessly integrated Eastern and Western musical traditions, innovatively expanded upon existing styles, and established distinct compositional voices.

The introductory chapter of this thesis is dedicated to establishing the social, economic, and engineering contexts relevant to the challenges in estimating passenger flow that will be addressed in subsequent chapters. It places particular emphasis on the intersection of smart city development and its manifestations within China. A notable observation is the relative scarcity of academic literature directly comparable to statistical studies in this field, largely attributable to the limited availability of data on these subjects. The availability of the data, which is based on this thesis, makes the whole work developed here unique for the Chinese environment related to metro transport. Consequently, while this research will reference academic articles wherever possible, a significant portion of the material cited in this first chapter of the thesis will be derived from surveys and reports published by governmental bodies and commercial entities. This approach not only acknowledges the current state of research, but also highlights the innovative aspect of this thesis in tackling a subject where the academic literature is not yet abundant.

My thesis aims to put 17th- to 19th-century English and Japanese gender representations in conversation by focusing on cross-dressing and disguise in popular theatres. I begin with a discussion of gender, sumptuary regulations, and the circulation of clothing and costumes in both societies. Then, I close-read several early modern plays—Ben Jonson's Epicene; Kawatake Mokuami's Benten the Thief; Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton's The Roaring Girl; Takeda Izumo II, Miyoshi Shōraku, and Namiki Senryū’s 's Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees; and William Shakespeare's As You Like It—and provide an analysis of dramatic characters cross-dressed and in disguise. These analyses, alongside an investigation of performance history in Tokugawa Japan and early modern England, help illuminate the theatre's influence on the production of cultural masculinity and femininity and speak to the extent to which gender was costumed and performed both on stage and in everyday life.

This study explores Thailand's pursuit of BRICS membership through the lenses of Teo's middle power theory and Kuik's theory of regime legitimation, based on archival and secondary materials. Methodologically, a case study research design with a process tracing technique is employed. The key findings indicate that internal and external conditions drove Thailand's BRICS move. Externally, the stratified international structure has motivated the country, self-proclaimed as a middle power, to preserve, if not elevate, its international standing by differentiating itself from smaller nations through active engagement in multilateralism, including the pursuit of BRICS membership. Internally, maintaining regime legitimacy has shaped Thai foreign policy actions towards BRICS, thereby supporting the domestic agendas of the political party in power. The delay in becoming a full member of BRICS from the time publicly anticipated may imply that policymakers in Bangkok need to do more to distinguish the country and demonstrate its value-added to BRICS compared to other middle powers seeking the same status.