Early Greek Education Essay

Definition HIV infection is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The condition gradually destroys the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight infections. Most people infected with HIV eventually develop AIDS. These individuals mostly die from opportunistic infections or malignancies associated with the progressive failure of the immune system. HIV progresses to AIDS at a variable rate affected by viral, host, and environmental factors; HIV-specific treatment delays this process. Most will progress to AIDS within 10 years of HIV infection: some will have progressed much sooner, and some will take much longer. Treatment with anti-retrovirals increases the life expectancy of people infected with HIV. Even after HIV has progressed to diagnosable AIDS, the average survival time with antiretroviral therapy was estimated to be more than 5 years as of 2005. Without antiretroviral therapy, someone who has AIDS typically dies within a year. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. When HIV infection becomes advanced it often is referred to as AIDS. It generally occurs when the CD4 count is below 200/mL and is characterized by the appearance of opportunistic infections. These are infections that take advantage of a weakened immune system and include: †¢ Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia †¢ Toxoplasmosis †¢ Tuberculosis †¢ Extreme weight loss and wasting; exacerbated by diarrhea which can be experienced in up to 90% of HIV patients worldwide †¢ Meningitis and  other brain infections †¢ Fungal infections †¢ Syphilis †¢ Malignancies such as lymphoma, cervical cancer, and †¢ Kaposi’s Sarcoma Today we know that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease and not a syndrome. A syndrome is commonly used to refer to collections of symptoms that do not have an easily identifiable cause. This name was more appropriate 13 years ago, when doctors were only aware of the late stages of the disease and did not fully understand its mechanisms. A more current name for the condition, regardless of an AIDS diagnosis, is HIV Disease. This name is more accurate because it refers to the pathogen that causes AIDS and encompasses all the condition’s stages, from infection to the deterioration of the immune system and the onset of opportunistic diseases. However, AIDS is still the name that most people use to refer to the immune deficiency caused by HIV. †¢ Acquired — because it is a condition that has to be contracted. It cannot be inherited or transmitted through the genes. †¢ Immune — because it affects the body’s immune system, the part of the body that fights off diseases. †¢ Deficiency — because it makes the immune system stop working properly. †¢ Syndrome — because people with AIDS experience a number of different symptoms and opportunistic diseases. Four stages of HIV infection: 1. Incubation Period In the majority of the infected population, HIV remains asymptomatic for years. The only way to know if you have HIV is to be tested. It is important to know, however, that it may take up to six months after exposure to the HIV virus before you will test positive on an HIV antibody test, although most infected people will test positive within 3 months. A negative test, therefore, isn’t a reliable indicator of your infection status if you were only exposed last week. Tests that look directly for HIV RNA, the virus’ genetic material, can detect an infection earlier, but are harder to find. 2. Acute HIV infection The initial infection with HIV generally occurs after transfer of body fluids from an infected person to an uninfected one. The first stage of infection, the primary, or acute infection, is a period of rapid viral replication that immediately follows the individual’s exposure to HIV leading to an abundance of virus in the peripheral blood with levels of HIV commonly approaching several million viruses per mL. This response is accompanied by a marked drop in the numbers of circulating CD4+ T cells. This acute viremia is associated in virtually all patients with the activation of CD8+ T cells, which kill HIV-infected cells, and subsequently with antibody production, or seroconversion. The CD8+ T cell response is thought to be important in controlling virus levels, which peak and then decline, as the CD4+ T cell counts rebound to around 800 cells per  µL (the normal blood value is 1200 cells per  µL ). A good CD8+ T cell response has been linked to slower disease progression and a better prognosis, though it does not eliminate the virus. During this period (usually 2–4 weeks post-exposure) most individuals (80 to 90%) develop an influenza or mononucleosis-like illness called acute HIV infection. Because of the nonspecific nature of these symptoms, they are often not recognized as signs of HIV infection. Even if patients go to their doctors or a hospital, they will often be misdiagnosed as having one of the more common infectious diseases with the same symptoms. Consequently, these primary symptoms are not used to diagnose HIV infection as they do not develop in all cases and because many are caused by other more common diseases. However, recognizing the syndrome can be important because the patient is much more infectious during this period. 3. Latency stage A strong immune defense reduces the number of viral particles in the blood stream, marking the start of the infection’s clinical latency stage. Clinical latency can vary between two weeks and 20 years. During this early phase of infection, HIV is active within lymphoid organs, where large amounts of virus become trapped in the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) network. The surrounding tissues that are rich in CD4+ T cells may also become infected, and viral particles accumulate both in infected cells and as free virus. Individuals who are in this phase are still infectious. During this time, CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells carry most of the proviral load. 4.  AIDS When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level of 200 cells per  µL, cell-mediated immunity is lost, and infections with a variety of opportunistic microbes appear. The first symptoms often include moderate and unexplained weight loss, recurring respiratory tract infections (such as sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, pharyngitis),prostatitis, skin rashes, and oral ulcerations. Common opportunistic infections and tumors, most of which are normally controlled by robust CD4+ T cell-mediated immunity then start to affect the patient. Typically, resistance is lost early on to oral Candida species and to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which leads to an increased susceptibility to oral candidiasis(thrush) and tuberculosis. Later, reactivation of latent herpes viruses may cause worsening recurrences of herpes simplex eruptions, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell lymphomas, or Kaposi’s sarcoma. Pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii is common and often fatal. In the final stages of AIDS, infection with cytomegalovirus (another herpes virus) or Mycobacterium avium complex is more prominent. Not all patients with AIDS get all these infections or tumors, and there are other tumors and infections that are less prominent but still significant. Incidence As a national and global epidemic, the degree of morbidity and mortality caused by caused by HIV or AIDS. At the end of 2002, it was estimated that there were 42 million people living with HIV / AIDS and that more than 25 million had died of the infection. During the same year, 5 million were newly infected with the virus, and for the first time, women and young people 15 to 24 years of age accounted for 50% of HIV infections. In the year 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS had killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. In the Philippines, cases were estimated to be 29 each month in the year 2007 and continue on until 2008. As of September 2008, the Department of Health (DOH) AIDS Registry in the Philippines reported 3,456 people living with HIV/AIDS. The Philippines is a low-HIV-prevalence country, with less than 0.1 percent of the adult  population estimated to be HIV-positive. Etiology AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unsafe sex, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (Vertical transmission). Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world. HIV primarily infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: firstly, direct viral killing of infected cells; secondly, increased rates of apoptosis in infected cells; and thirdly, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity is lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections. HIV is present to variable degrees in the blood and genital secretions of virtually all individuals infected with HIV, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The spread of HIV can occur when these secretions come in contact with tissues such as those lining the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes (the mucus membranes), or with a break in the skin, such as from a cut or puncture by a needle. The most common ways in which HIV is spreading throughout the world include sexual contact, sharing needles, and by transmission from infected mothers to their newborns during pregnancy, labor (the delivery process), or breastfeeding. (See the section below on treatment during pregnancy for a discussion on reducing the risk of  transmission to the newborn.) There is little evidence that HIV can be transferred by casual exposure, as might occur in a household setting. For example, unless there are open sores or blood in the mouth, kissing is generally considered not to be a risk factor for transmitting HIV. This is because saliva, in contrast to genital secretions, has been shown to contain very little HIV. Still, theoretical risks are associated with the sharing of toothbrushes and shaving razors because they can cause bleeding, and blood can contain large amounts of HIV. Consequently, these items should not be shared with infected people. Similarly, without sexual exposure or direct contact with blood, there is little if any risk of HIV contagion in the workplace or classroom. Pathophysiology Signs and Symptoms †¢ Acute HIV infection [pic] Main symptoms of acute HIV infection. †¢ Symptomatic HIV infection or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – Moderate and unexplained weight loss – Recurring respiratory tract infections (such as sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pharyngitis) – Prostatitis, skin rashes, and oral ulcerations – Oral candidiasis and Tuberculosis caused by Candida species and Mycobacterium tuberculosis respectively. – Reactivation of latent herpes viruses may cause worsening recurrences of herpes simplex eruptions, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell lymphomas, or Kaposi’s sarcoma. – Pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii is common and often fatal. – In the final stages of AIDS, infection with cytomegalovirus (another herpes virus) or Mycobacterium avium complex is more prominent. WHO Case Definition for AIDS Surveillance For the purpose of AIDS surveillance an adult or adolescent (>12 years of age) is considered to have AIDS if at least 2 of the following major signs are present in combination with at least 1 of the minor signs listed below, and if these signs are not known to be due to a condition unrelated to HIV infection. Major Signs – Weight loss >10% of body weight – Chronic diarrhea for more than 1 month – Prolonged fever for more than 1 month (intermittent of constant) Minor Signs – Persistent cough for more than 1 month – Generalized pruritic dermatitis – History of herpes zoster – Chronic progressive or disseminated herpes simplex infection – Generalized lymphadenopathy The presence of either generalized Kaposi sarcoma or cryptococcal meningitis is sufficient for the diagnosis of AIDS for surveillance purposes. Expanded WHO Case Definition for AIDS Surveillance For the purpose of AIDS surveillance an adult or adolescent (>12 years of age) is considered to have AIDS if test for HIV antibody gives a positive result, and 1 more of the following conditions are present: – >10% body weight loss or cachexia, with diarrhea or fever, or both, intermittent or constant, for at least 1 month, not known to be due to a condition unrelated to HIV infection – Cryptococcal meningitis – Pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis – Kaposi sarcoma – Neurological impairment that is sufficient to prevent independent daily activities, not known to be due to a condition unrelated to HIV infection (i.e. trauma or cerebrovascular accident) – Candidiasis of the esophagus (which may be presumptively diagnosed based on the presence of oral candidiasis accompanied by dysphagia) – Clinically diagnosed life-threatening or recurrent episodes of pneumonia, with or  without etiological confirmation – Invasive cervical cancer

Defining Prejudice Essay

Prejudice-a preconceived negative judgement of a group and its individual members. -prejudice is an attitude. The negative evaluations that mark prejudice often are supported by negative beliefs called stereotypes. Forms of prejudice Stereotype – a belief about the personal attributes of a group of people. Stereotypes are sometimes overgeneralized, inaccurate, and resistant to new information. Discrimination- unjustified negative behaviour toward a group or its members. Racism- an individual’s prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviour toward people of a given race or institutional practices that subordinate people of a given race. Sexism- an individual’s prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviour toward people of a given sex. Racial prejudice In the context of the world, Every race is a minority. Most folks see prejudice in other people. -is racial prejudice disappearing? -in 1942 most Americans agreed that there should be separate sections for negroes on streetcars and buses. -parents both black and white suggested that their children should know the history of blacks and whites. -most black and white would likely to vote a black American for president. In the United States, whites tend to compare the present with the oppressive past and to perceive swift and radical progress. Blacks tend to compare their present with their ideal world, which has not yet been realized, and to perceive somewhat less progress. Gender Prejudice – people’s prejudgment on others based on gender. Gender Stereotype – are simplistic generalizations about the gender attributes, differences, and roles of individuals and/or groups. Stereotypes can be positive or negative, but they rarely communicate accurate information about others. When people automatically apply gender assumptions to others regardless of evidence to the contrary, they are perpetuating gender stereotyping. Many people recognize the dangers of gender stereotyping, yet continue to make these types of generalizations. the female stereotypic  role is to marry and have children. She is also to put her family’s welfare before her own; be loving, compassionate, caring, nurturing, and sympathetic; and find time to be sexy and feel beautiful. The male stereotypic role is to be the financial provider. He is also to be assertive, competitive, independent, courageous, and career†focused; hold his emotions in check; and always initiate sex. These sorts of stereotypes can prove harmful; they can stifle individual expression and creativity, as well as hinder personal and professional growth. Ambivalent Sexism – Ambivalent sexism is an ideology composed of both a â€Å"hostile† and â€Å"benevolent† prejudice toward women. Hostile sexism is an antagonistic attitude toward women, who are often viewed as trying to control men through feminist ideology or sexual seduction. Benevolent sexism is a chivalrous attitude toward women that feels favorable but is actually sexist because it casts women as weak creatures in need of men’s protection. What causes ambivalent sexism? According to Professors Glick and Fiske, sexist ambivalence is the result of two basic facts about relations between women and men: male dominance (patriarchy) and interdependence between the sexes. Male dominance is prevalent across cultures, with men dominating high status roles in business, government, religious institutions, and so forth. Hostile sexism arises in large part because dominant groups tend to create hostile ideologies concerning the inferiority of other groups. Despite male dominance, however, men are often highly dependent upon women as wives, mothers, and romantic partners. This dependence fosters benevolent sexism, which recognizes women as valuable and attractive (an attitude not generally present in prejudices such as racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia, in which the targets of prejudice are typically shunned or loathed). Gender Discrimination – Discrimination based on gender or sex Where and When Can Gender Discrimination Occur? Employment – Including claims that a potential employer asked discriminatory questions based on gender during the interview process; claims that an employer failed to hire, failed to promote, or wrongfully terminated an  employee based on his or her gender; unequal pay claims; and claims for sexual harassment of employees. Education – Including claims for exclusion from educational programs or opportunities based on gender; and claims for sexual harassment of students. Housing – Including claims for refusal to negotiate with a person seeking housing, claims for imposition of different lease/contract terms, and claims for refusal to extend a loan based on the gender of the applicant/tenant/buyer. Borrowing / Credit – Including claims for refusal to extend credit, claims for imposition of unequal loan terms, and claims arising from improper inquiries during the credit/loan approval process, based on the gender of the applicant. 3 SOURCES OF PREJUDICE Social Source Emotional Source Cognitive Source Social Sources of Prejudice The self-fulfilling prophecy: where a belief is accepted as truth, & in stating it, becomes true. Stereotype Threat Stereotype threat is â€Å"the threat of being viewed through the lens of a negative stereotype, or the fear of doing something that would inadvertently confirm that stereotype,† such as the stereotype that women perform poorly in math. Some students try to escape stereotype threat by misidentifying with the part of life in which the stereotype originates, such as race or ethnic identities. Emotional Sources of Prejudice Frustration & aggression: The Scapegoat Theory: When problems occur, people do not like to blame themselves. They will thus actively seek scapegoats onto whom they can displace their aggression. Scapegoats may be out-group individuals or even entire groups. Powerless people who cannot easily resist will often become victims of scapegoating. Scapegoating increases when people are frustrated &  seeking an outlet for their anger. The Realistic Group Conflict Theory When there are limited resources, then this leads to conflict, prejudice & discrimination between groups who seek that common resource. Cross-race/ Other-race Effect Refers to the tendency to more easily recognize members of one’s own race. A study was made which examined 271 real court cases. The results from this study showed that witnesses correctly identified 65 % of the defendants which were of the same race as them. On the other hand, 45% of the defendants were identified which belonged to a different race than the witnesses. Just-world Phenomenon The just-world phenomenon, refers to the tendency for people to believe that the world is â€Å"just† & so therefore people get what they deserve.† It wrongly colors our impression of â€Å"victims† of any sort. Controversies and Prominent Topics Sexism Nationalism Classism Sexual Discrimination Racism Religious Discrimination Linguistic Discrimination Reducing Prejudice The contact hypothesis The contact hypothesis predicts that prejudice can only be reduced when in-group and out-group members are brought together. In particular, there are six conditions that must be met to reduce prejudice, as were cultivated in Elliot Aronson’s Jigsaw Classroom. First, the in- and out- groups must have a degree of mutual interdependence. Second, both groups need to share a common goal. Third, the two groups must have equal status. Fourth, there  must be frequent opportunities for informal and interpersonal contact between groups. Fifth, there should be multiple contacts between the in- and the out- groups. Finally, social norms of equality must exist and be present to foster prejudice reduction.

Digital forensic Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Digital forensic - Coursework Example So, digital forensic has become very essential and in fact a part of the overall security perspective of any computer based industry, in spite of various challenges associated with the digital forensic investigation process. The increased use of Skype is resulting in increased number of cyber crimes as the users take advantage of the anonymity associated with its use. But with the aid of apt digital forensic tools, valuable evidences can be retrieved and it can reveal the defendant’s activities. This report will discuss about the various available tools that will aid the digital forensic investigation process, document the steps involved in the investigation process along with the challenges that has to be faced during the course of the investigation process. The artifacts collected from a Skype conversation can be analysed with the help of several investigation tools like ‘Skype chat carver’, ‘Belkasoft Evidence Center’, ‘Chat Examiner’, ‘Epilog’, ‘Forensic Assistant’, ‘Internet Evidence Finder’, ‘Skype Extractor’, ‘SkypeAlyzer’, ‘SkypeLogview’, and others (Mikhaylov 2013). It is very important to know where and how to recover the evidences like calls, messages, contacts, file transfers, and voicemails from a user’s accounts in order to utilize the above mentioned tools in the forensic analysis process. The steps stated below will help in the evidence recovery process. There are four users who use Skype application in this example. The file named ‘shared’ is a XML file which contains the main configuration information like time of usage, IP address, and other useful information. Exploring the ‘shared’ file one can retrieve the Unix style time stamp information (Shaw 2014). Here comes the first challenge. This Unix style time stamp information is displayed in a coded format as a string of numbers, which has to be converted to

Introduction - Rationale - Conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Introduction - Rationale - Conclusion - Essay Example Tentative research show that the use of the internet for marketing purposes can make the operators of tourism and travel services easily bridge this gap between the suppliers and the consumers. As already previously discussed, tourism is reliant on a cycle known as the travel cycle, which entails dreaming, researching, booking, experiencing then sharing of the experience (Leigh et al 2013, p.90). The dreaming stage of the traveller or the tourist occurs at the preliminary stages mostly when the potential tourist or traveller uses the internet to look for the most affordable and reliable means of travel by reviewing web pages or videos that ultimately inspires him to want to travel. The consumer then researches and narrows down on his travel options through the making of requests through queries. This is the most important stage for the future successful tourism or travel supplier as it enables the collection and evaluation of the path that determines the path and the power of the tou rist or traveller towards purchasing. Knowing what is likely to happen in the future fascinates each and every man kind and tourists are no exception (Yeoman 2012, p.1). In tourism circles this is significant in the sense that it helps us understand tourism from a sustainability point of view as the industry players that is the tourism and travel suppliers become more prepared and find out the best answers to challenges that are likely to be met in future. The importance of future tourism is intertwined with that of the travel agencies especially those that are internet-based. Tourism experts agree that the internet is an important factor in the distribution and communication of services and products to the global market and eventually all players in this field may be forced to embrace the internet as a means of marketing for the services. Despite this, others argue that the internet will not automatically make the travel agencies dispensable as there are still consumers who insist on the personal touch that may be offered by physical agents as the information supplied needs to be in a continuous manner. The internet as a tool used for marketing is therefore complementary to the physical tourism and travel agent (Palmer and McCole 1999, pp.33-47). Other researchers look at the relevance of the internet based travel agencies as merely to reduce cost by eliminating the intermediaries who increase the total costs incurred in procuring a travel or tourism service or product (Barnett and Standing 2001, P.143). The travel industry and the tourism industry is therefore a major user of the internet that needs to constantly seek new methods of improving the services and products offered to consumers in order to fit in the current and future trends in marketing. Rationale The revolution of the internet is applicable in all aspects of the public especially those wishing to travel. This calls for traveler and tourism suppliers to investigate what motivates consumers of th e tourism and travel services to go into the internet to shop or buy products and services online. The reason for the increased uptake of internet in the marketing of travel products can be attributed to factors such as the ability of one to have one-to-one marketing and can support an interaction between the

Social Psychology - Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Psychology - Theory - Essay Example A group gives each of its members an identity and a role. Group identity gives an individual improved self-esteem, confidence level and sense of belonging. The individual is also socially and culturally influenced by the group. This study was conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University, California, along with a group of researchers. It was a dramatic simulation of prison life conducted to study the behavior of good people when placed in an evil setting, to learn if humanity would prevail over evil or vice versa, etc. (Zimbardo). The independent variable in the study was the conditions the participants were assigned, the dependent variable being their consequent behavior (Haney, Banks and Zimbardo). The study was stopped halfway through due to the grim effects seen in the participants where the "guards" had become sadistic and the "prisoners" extremely depressed. The experiment was funded by the US Navy with a view to study the causes of conflict between the guards and prisoners in the naval prisons. Up until then, there was a belief that the guards entered their jobs with a "guard mentality" and were basically sadistic and insensitive whereas the prisoners were aggressive people with no respect for law. The study, however, disproved this dispositional hypothesis. Though the participants knew that they were part of a study, from the moment the "prisoners" were caught and arrested unawares from their homes and from the moment the "guards" were initiated into their roles a day before the prisoners were brought in, the participants fell so perfectly into their roles and they were affected by them so much that they seemed to believe in their assigned roles or positions. The participants were not preconditioned on their form of interactions and were free to interact in any way. Yet, their "encounters tended to be negative, hostile, insulting and dehumanizing" (Haney, Banks and Zimbardo). The negative emotions showed that the participants, both the prisoners and the guards, had internalized the situation or that they had started to believe in the situation. Though physical violence was strictly not allowed, forms of less direct aggressive behavior were noted. Another instance where the participants' internalization was evidenced was when five of the prisoners had to be released due to extreme depression. Though the prisoners were fully aware that they were only playing a role and could quit the study if they so wished, only two of the rest were ready to forfeit their earnings in consideration of "parole." When the study was terminated earlier than planned, the prisoners were delighted while the guards were disappointed. This was because the guards had grown to enjoy the power that they now held. Even the "prison officials," meaning the research team, had started behaving in a manner they thought was befitting the roles they played. The styles of responding to and coping with the new situation differed from individual to individual. While a few prisoners had to be released, a few endured the atmosphere. While some guards were "tough but fair, some went far beyond their roles to engage in creative cruelty and harassment" (Haney, Banks and Zimbardo). The preliminary personality tests done on the participants had not predicted this manner of a behavior

Organizational Diagnosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organizational Diagnosis - Essay Example The report intends to identify the global challenges faced by Infosys Technologies, as envisaged by Mr. NR Narayana Murthy in his response. Also, a sincere attempt has been made to cull out the prominent and major factors underlying these challenges. One important objective of this report is to elaborate on the leadership dynamics existing within Infosys, and to come out with alternate explanations for the challenges being faced by this company. This serves as an additional vantage point from which the chosen leader can analyze the performance of his organization on the international stage. The report culminates with an action plan, especially drafted for Mr. NR Narayana Murthy, to possibly help him resolve the global challenges faced by his dream enterprise. The salient features of this action plan are backed by valid theoretical inputs. With the proliferation of knowledge and information based enterprises in the 21st century, the leadership paradigms of the yore are just not sufficient to navigate organizations operating sans borders and constraints (Foxon, 1998). Enhanced usage of telecommunication, information technology and the internet has not only accelerated the pace at which businesses are conducted, but has also expended the arena and formats governing the hitherto traditional enterprises (Bennis, 1993). Thus, it is not a surprise that contemporary businesses need global leaders, who are not only effective and committed, but own a rich set of qualities, skills and attributes, which enable them lead organizations in a global playing field (Rosenbach & Taylor, 1998). The salient ascriptions of a global leader are one’s global perspective, technology savvy, cultural competency, adaptability, integrity, social finesse, theoretical astuteness, creativity and individual drive, bolstered by an international and variegated experience (Patterson, Dannhauser & Stone, 2007). NR Narayana Murthy could validly be ascribed to be a global leader in the

Needs for a Domestic Vacuum Cleaner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Needs for a Domestic Vacuum Cleaner - Essay Example The Dyson DC08T is a hypoallergenic cylinder vacuum cleaner, and comes with a "lose no suction power" claims from the manufacturer. It Employs a Bagless Dust Collector, and is free-standing. In appearance, it’s cute, compact and small. The bright colorful exteriors are attractive, and the cleaner has easily maneuverable buttons. The hose pipe can be wrapped around the cleaner and hence facilitates easy storage. With a maximum volume of the dust collector of 2 Litres, it is capable of working for an extended period of time without the need to clean and restart. The cleaner however is not capable of working on a remote control mode, and also does not have the capacity to multi-function. It comes with a Telescopic wand and a turbo head for deep cleaning or using on pet hair. Before proceeding to report the actual exercise, it is appropriate to elaborate upon the layout of the cleaning area. The cleaning will be undertaken in my two-bedrooms, that have hard floors and furniture like, bed, dresser and an armchair. It will also include the living room, that too has hard floor, a Belgium carpet, and an assortment of rugs. The furniture in this room includes a fabric-furnished sofa set, a glass-topped center table, two wooden side tables, and an array of artifacts that include small sized statutes, terracotta vases, and several other similar displays. The hall houses dining table and chairs, and a couple of lounge chairs.

Accounting 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Accounting 2 - Essay Example In the end we have tried to comment on the possible reasons behind the changes in these ratios. We have also compared these ratios with past years ratios to find out whether or not the company is on the right path. Based on these ratios we have tried to suggest what the company could do to improve its condition. Some of these ratios are Activity Ratios, Profitability Ratios and solvency ratios. These ratios represent a true picture of the company which solitary figures could not exhibit. In the end we have conclude our report with appendices and various interesting findings about the companies under analysis. Berklee Limited is one of the premier companies operating in Australia. The company was formed by Mr. Adrian Van Berkel in 1963. The company was an immediate success and it was converted into a limited company by 1966. Later, the company was converted into a Public Limited company in 1989 and provided secure investment opportunities to thousands of Australians. Since then, this group has never looked backed and is growing in strength every day. The Principal activities of this group include manufacturing of automotive mufflers and various kinds of exhausts. The company manufactures its products in a fully-automated plant located near Victoria. From this plant, the products are dispatched to the distributors upon completion. Berklee has a unique selling point as its products are sold throughout Australia. This is made possible by the use of its strong distribution network, which has an outreach in every singly city of Australia. 2001 – Present: Mr. Edward Van Berkel, with his dynamic leadership and far-sighted vision, diversified the operation of the company to tube-bending and other automotive products. Since his take over as the managing director, the company has also been managed to achieve ISO Quality Standards and other certificates. The

Justice or moral uprightness of human soul according to Plato Essay

Justice or moral uprightness of human soul according to Plato - Essay Example Conversely, Plato (through Socrates) makes the contention that justice and morality are not socially constructed entities, but instead exist objectively. In this instance, humans should adhere to justice and morality regardless of the consequences. This essay considers these points in relation to the Republic and presents my own position on the debate. From the very opening of the Republic Plato sets about establishing the notion of justice and considering why it should be followed. One of the first aspects that are addressed in terms of justice concerns its very nature. In Book I Cephalus argues that justice constitutes following the laws and legal regulations that are established. Socrates refutes this claim arguing instead that while it would be legal to supply a madman with a weapon that you had taken from him, it would not be morally just as this could cause problems. A series of arguments regarding the nature of justice then occur, wherein an individual raises a socially constr ucted aspect of justice that is then refuted by Socrates in various ways. For instance, Thrasymachus argues that justice doesn’t exist, but is merely the demonstration of the stronger person or entity’s will.... Even if one were to indicate as much, it’s clear that the individuals in the society embrace their concept of justice. In these regards, it appears that in large part Socrates does not go far enough in considering the culturally conditioned aspects of justice, such as religion, or other socially constructed elements. In Book II of the Republic the consideration of justice is continued. At the beginning of this chapter justice is presented as a socially constructed aspect of society that must exist because of human wrongdoings. One notes that this understanding is contrary to Socrates previous presentation of justice as it reflects an understanding of justice that is only followed because it is advantageous for humans to do so. Within this mode of understanding, Glaucon proposes a story of a ring. He states, Suppose now that there were two such magic rings, and the just put on one of them and the unjust the other;,no man can be imagined to be of such an iron nature that he woul d stand fast in justice. No man would keep his hands off what was not his own when he could safely take what he liked out of the market, or go into houses and lie with any one at his pleasure, or kill or release from prison (Plato). In this scenario the ring would allow the individual to avoid punishment for being unjust. While Socrates later makes efforts to refute this theory, in large part one notes that a significant segment of society understands justice within this form of social contract. One also considers the earlier argument that justice is in large-part determined by the dominant party. In light of the current democratic structure of contemporary society and the means of establishing justice through

Great Gatsby and Elizabeth Barrett Browining Essay Example for Free

Great Gatsby and Elizabeth Barrett Browining Essay The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald and Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning are influenced by their varying context in their portrayal of love in their respective texts. Both authors explore the concept of love using various language features such as metaphors the use of irony. The Great Gatsby explores how the desire for the American Dream has taken prevalence over romantic love during post world war 1. This is contrasted with Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese where we are able to visualise her passion towards her lover through linguistic construct and also through the construction of an intimate sonnet. The Great Gatsby is set in what is commonly known as â€Å"The Roaring Twenties† or â€Å"The Jazz Age.† Given the 20s was about opulence, the nihilist attitude is reflected in romantic needs. Fitzgerald dismisses the idea of idealised love and refers to America’s love with the American Dream. Post World War 1 was a period of hedonism that reflected people’s determination to forget the sufferings and loss of the war. It was also a time of moral confusion. There was a mood of superficial optimism as people tried to hide their disillusionment. Fitzgerald explores the difficulty of individuals maintaining moral integrity in a material society that values wealth above all others. It was a time where there was great importance placed on what people had and not what people were. Fitzgerald’s use of Nick as the unreliable narrator is meant to represent cultural mores of the 20s. He represents the voice, failings and cynicism of the time and acts as a filter through which ideas and characters are reflected and mediated. We gain a pessimistic and fragmented insight into the tragic love story of the novel. The fragmentation and complex structure of the novel builds up Gatsby as the paragon of the Jazz Age and epitome of the American Dream. Ultimately, someone who represents the 20s cannot gain true love in the face of Tom’s wealth and riches. At the end of the play, Nick comes to fear that he is living in a loveless and faithful w orld. The narrative structure shows that time is a representation of love. The exploration of love in The Great Gatsby is treated with great ambiguity as Gatsby who is to be admired for his hope and vision, is sadly tragic and is unworthy in a society in which he loves. Fitzgerald is alluding to the fact that in successful America at the time, many were preoccupied with their social standings and wealth. The American Dream took precedence over romantic relationships. He condemns  love to be distrustful and faithless. This is shown through the numerous relationships throughout the novel. The relationship between Daisy and Mr. Gatsby is a clear example. Before Gatsby went to war, Daisy promised to wait for him but instead, married the very wealthy Tom. It becomes clear that Gatsby loves and wants the idea of Daisy rather than the real version. In order to eligible for Daisy’s love, Gatsby recreates himself to become a successful and wealthy man; hence he shows Daisy all his possessions after their meeting at Nick’s house. When Daisy cries over Gatsby’s â€Å"beautiful shirts† it highlights, the materialistic views she possesses and the relationship between love and money at that time. Part of Gatsby’s yearning for Daisy is her link to an exclusive society that he desperately wants to join. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is clear when he takes the blame for the death of Myrtle. We are positioned to see his devotion to Daisy as being foolish. â€Å"I love you now, isn’t that enough?† Although Daisy is unsatisfied with her marriage and enjoys her relationship with Gatsby, she never intended to leave Tom. In the end, it is not enough as Gatsby is not accepted in society or accepted by Daisy. F.Scott Fitzgerald shows the shallowness of love through the relationship of Myrtle and Tom. Their relationship is a symbol of an exploitative relationship. Myrtle is not content with her marriage and vies for a higher position. Myrtle admires ‘breeding’ and the aristocratic society and sees nothing immoral about her position as Tom’s mistress. She feels more superior when walking around New York with Tom and looks down on people who cannot afford materialistic goods although she normally would not be able to afford these products either. Tom provides Myrtle with presents that she normally would not receive. Ironically, Myrtle condemns her husband, George Wilson, for not owning his wedding suit. However, Tom doesn’t want to sustain the relationship with her. It is purely for his sexual needs. Hence, Fitzgerald depicts love to be superficial and is determined by the amount of wealth and social standing of a person. F.Scott Fitzgerald critiques the American Dream. Gatsby is an apparent self-made man who went from almost nothing to extravagance and wealth. However, Gatsby, Myrtle and George are seeking a better life but only achieve humiliation and death. Myrtle dies in the pursuit of the American Dream. Ironically, she is killed by Daisy who represents the idealised woman of her time in terms of wealth and status. Elizabeth  Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese explores love from the perspective of a 19th century women in order to convey the passion she feels for her lover. Barrett Browning ref lects a society where idealised love is admired and where there is faith in the individual. Barrett Browning presents an optimistic view of love. She manipulates the Petrarchan sonnet form, which is traditionally written from a male perspective, by subverting the writing scheme. She subverts the form by writing as the subject and object of the poem. Elizabeth Barrett Browning writes of her personal experience of love and idealised love. She is challenging how the art form challenges woman and celebrates love as a liberating force. By exploring her emotions, she explores her own identity. Elizabeth Barrett Browning believes her love with Robert has elevated so much that they approach transcended beings, â€Å"Our two souls stand up erect and strong.† Barrett browning is suggesting that if they didn’t have a body they would still move towards each other in passion. She captures the intensity of their love and the depth of their love through the line â€Å"Until their lengthening wings break into fire† This reiterates their passion and connection of love. There is a stark contrast with F.Scott Fitzgerald’s bleak view towards idealised love to Barrett Browning’s optimistic representation of love. In each sonnet, Browning portrays the notion of love has empowered her and made her value herself as an individual, â€Å"I love thee with the love I seemed to lose† (sonnet 43) She reveals to us that before she met Robert, her life was characterised by fragmentation and loss. This reinforces how love has transformed her life. She attempts to measure her love for Robert through the line, â€Å"I love thee to the depth breath height.† The use of the half-rhyme unifies Sonnet 1 but fractures it at the same time. Half rhymes show the impact of the love she is feeling and the reassessment she is feeling. The half rhymes are created to show how the predictable known ways of seeing the world have led her to innovation. In conclusion, it can be seen that both authors deal with love in their respective texts. However, F.Scott Fitzgerald takes a pessimistic view towards idealised love and rather, comments on the love for the American Dream in his society. Elizabeth Barrett Browning takes a more optimistic view, suggesting that it is a liberating force.

An Introduction to Mayanmar

An Introduction to Mayanmar Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, China on the northeast, Laos and Thailand on the east, the Andaman Sea on the south, and the Bay of Bengal on the southwest. It has a land area of 678, 500 square kilometers and, as such, is the largest mainland Southeast Asian country and the second largest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after Indonesia. There are two ecological niches in the country: (1) the lowland central plains, which lie between the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers in the center of the country and are occupied by the dominant Burmans and (2) the highlands surrounding the plains, which are primarily inhabited by minority groups such as the Shans, Kachin, Karen, and Chin. The lowland plains are dominated by a monsoon climate of rain from June to October, a cool interlude for a month or two, and then a hot, dry period lasting until the rains return. The mountainous regions experience the same general seasonal fluctuations with slightly cooler temperatures. Temperature could reach 38ÂÂ °C between May and October and fall to 20ÂÂ °C between December and February. History and Key Events The Mon and Pyu peoples are reported to be the first inhabitants in the area. The arrival of the Mon people, who migrated to Southeast Asia from the north is said to have occurred in the ninth century B.C.E. The first Pyu city-state, Beikthano, was established during the first century C.E. but in 832 C.E. the final Pyu city-state, Sri Ksetra, falls to the Nanzhao kingdom of China. In 1044, the Burman kingdom of Pagan was founded but experienced invasions by the Mongols in 1287 B.C.E. Pagan declined and new centers of power were located at Pinya, Sagaing, and Ava. With the arrival of the British colonizers, a series of war followed. The first Anglo-Burmese War occurred between 1824-1826. The second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 resulted to the expansion of the British territory. As a consequence of the third Anglo-Burmese War in 1883, Burman territories along with that of the neighboring minority groups became part of British India. Burmese nationalism emerged with the establishment of the Young Mens Buddhist association in 1906. They opened a number of schools dedicated to raising the cultural and educational levels of Burmans, so they can compete with Indians for jobs in the colonial government. Strikes against British colonial rule followed. Burma was separated fromfrnhtfcnfnhgbvf India in 1937 but it was soon followed the Japanese occupation. In 1948, Burma gained independence. A military coup in 1962 placed Ne Win in power. Since then, the country had intermittently been under military rule. The government ignored the election victory by the opposition party, the National League for Democracy and its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned. On July 23, 1997, Myanmar joined ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Adminstrative changes were made in March 2006. Nay Pyi Daw became the new administrative capital. However, in 2007, the country remained impoverished and huge fuel price increases sparked protests, later dubbed the saffron revolution after the robes of monks who also joined in. On November 7, 2010, Myanmar held its elections in accordance with the new constitution that was approved in the referendum in 2008. As part of Myanmars Roadmap to Democracy, Suu Kyis was released from house arrest and detention after 14 years on November 2010. Culture and Society The Pyu and Mon were the earliest inhabitants of the area. Under the 1974 Constitution, the political map demarcated ethnic minority states Chin, Karen (Kayin), Kayah, Mon, Rakhine and Shan and seven divisions where Burmans are in the majority. Myanmar has around 135 linguistic sub-groups from 13 ethnic families. Total population as of July 2010 is estimated at 53, 414, 374. In terms of age structure, 25.3 percent are below 14 years old; 69.3 percent are between 15-64 years old; and 5.4 percent are 65 years and above. The median age is 26 years old and life expectancy is 64.23 years. The population is expected to grow at a rate of 1.096 percent. In terms of literarcy, 89.9 percent of the population age 15 and above are capable of reading and writing. Burmese is the official language. It belongs to the Sino-Tibetan group of languages and is spoken by the majority of the population. Likewise, around 15 percent of the population speak Shan and Karen. English is spoken mainly in large cities and among educated social groups. Majority of the population, 89 percent, are Buddhists. 4 percent are Christians, 4 percent are Muslims, 1 percent are animist and the remaining 2 percent belongs to other local religious groups. Some of the indigenous people in the hill areas, who followed various types of shamanistic rituals in the precolonial era, were converted to Christianity in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Pagan, which is said to be the birthplace of Burmese culture, is the place where the first Burmese empire was founded. This is where the newcomers from the Indo-Chinese plateau first wrote their language and where the Burmese first received the teachings of Buddha. Furthermore, the Ananda temple serves as a monument to the great civilization of Pagan. This cave-type temple was built by King Kyanzittha in 1090. Tourist would come for the Ananda temple festival which falls on the full moon of Pyatho as up to a thousand monks chant day and night during the three days of the festival. Government The Republic of the Union of Myanmar was previously known as the Union of Myanmar or the Union of Burma. Myanmar had been under military rule since 1962. The administrative capital was moved on November 6, 2005 from Yangon, the countrys economic hub. After more than two decades, election were held on November 7, 2010. The parliament was convened in February 2011 and former Prime Minister Thein Sein was sworn into office as president on March 30, 2011. The event marked the end of the junta that ruled the country for decades. Tin Myint Oo and Sai Muak Kham will serve as vice presidents. 30 ministers and 39 deputy ministers were also appointed by the president to his government. The legislature is bicameral, which comprise the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) and the House of Representatives (Pythu Hluttaw). Military forces was estimated at 375,500 in 2006, making it one of largest military in Asia after China and India. The military, that uses Chinese technology, is given a hug e portion of the national budget. comprise Economy Myanmars economy is heavily centered on agricultural processing. Major agricultural products are rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, and sugarcane. Other industries include wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade and gems. Total exports (which primarily include natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems) were $6.862 billion in 2009. Major export partners were Thailand (46 percent), India (19 percent), China (9 percent), and Japan (6 percent). On the other hand, total exports (which primarily include fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil) were $4.02 billion in 2009. Major export partners were China (33 percent), Thailand (26 percent), and Singapore (15 percent). Myanmar is also heavily dependent on official development assistance (ODA s) in keeping its economy afloat. Foreign Relations CURRENT ISSUES: Thailand Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum seekers, and rebels, as well as illegal cross-border activities from Burma the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River near the border with Burma; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China reconsidering construction of 13 dams on the Salween River but energy-starved Burma with backing from Thailand remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams downstream, despite identical regional and international protests India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists, such as the United Liberation Front of Assam, from hiding in remote Burmese Uplands; Bangladesh after 21 years, in January 2008, it resumed talks with Burma on delimiting a maritime boundary AUSTRALIA Current Australian policy toward Burma is tightly targeted with respect to both humanitarian aid and financial sanctions imposed on named individuals who form, or are connected to, its ruling military regime. Australia is well placed to initiate a number of diplomatic actions on Burma, including supporting a United Nations Security Council-imposed arms embargo. Sanctions The Australian governments current policy toward the Burmese regime is best described as targeted, incorporating a combination of sanctions applied to specifically named individuals and activities, and expenditures allocated to specific purposes and projects while eschewing broad-based restrictions on trade and investment. Diplomatic Initiatives Australia co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Burma at the March 2009 session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In November 2008, Australia co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Burma in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Humanitarian Assistance The Australian government provides humanitarian assistance to the Burmese people, with a focus on women and children, ethnic minorities, and displaced persons and refugees on the Thailand-Burma and Bangladesh-Burma borders. CHINA In 1949, Myanmar became the first noncommunist country to officially recognize the newly established Peoples Republic of China. China has become an important partner for Myanmar in trade, economic assistance, and investment. In 2008, bilateral trade reached US$2.63 billion, increasing 26.4% compared to the year before. In fiscal year 2008-2009, Chinas investment in Myanmar was US$856 million, which ranked first among the investors in Myanmar that year. According to a recent report prepared by the International Crisis Group, China may be able to extract minor concessions, but these have never led to fundamental changes in Myanmar. China could not stop the conflict between the Myanmar army and the Kokang cease-fire group. That conflict forced an estimated 30,000 Kokang and Chinese to flee from Myanmar into Chinas Yunnan Province, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that the conflict harmed the rights and interests of Chinese citizens living [in Yunnan]. The report also said that Chinas influence is limited by the Tatmadaw governments profound distrust of China and its anxiety about domination by China (which will not occur). Bilateral relations between China and Myanmar are nevertheless on a stable base, and dialogue between the two countries is frequent. On September 28, 2009, for example, General Tin Aung Myint Oo, first secretary of the Myanmar government, attended a reception in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China in Rangoon along with Lieutenant General Myint Swe, the chief of the Bureau of Special Operations-5, which oversees the Rangoon Regional Military Command, and other senior officials. JAPAN The chief aim of the Japanese governments policy toward Myanmar is to encourage the government and the people of Myanmar to move in the direction of political democratization and economic development. Japan assists Myanmar in economic development, recognizing the necessity and urgency of enhancing the welfare of the people as well as the geo-economic importance of the country as a link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. In the context of economic cooperation, Japan has provided grant and technical assistance, although yen-denominated loans have been suspended since 1988. The purpose of this assistance has been mainly to improve humanitarian conditions through medical and health care, school construction, and education. The allocation of financial resources has been decided on a case-by-case basis, taking into account improvements in the human rights situation and the progress of political democratization. PHILIPPINES Areas in which specific Philippine policies could be directed: Providing assistance in education modernization programs, including provisions for liberal arts and humanities. Working within ASEAN to provide the basis for political reform in Burma/Myanmar by making use of provisions in the ASEAN Charter that promote respect for democracy and human rights and in the ASEAN Political and Security Community that urge the sharing of values and norms in the region. Initiating exchange visits by young people on a bilateral basis between Burma/Myanmar and the Philippines, including formal exchanges through training programs for young bureaucrats (e.g., the Foreign Service Officer cadet program in the Philippines). Initiating cultural exchanges between the two countries. ASEAN ASEAN functions according to consensus decisions, it is unlikely to serve as anything more than a structure for managing economic relations, and it cannot overcome the reluctance of India and China to do anything that would adversely affect their economic interests in Burma/Myanmar. ASEANs Stand on Myanmar Defended the membership of Myanmar in ASEAN Opposed any discrimination directed at Myanmar in ASEANs external relations and cooperation with any dialogue partner or other external party Continued to support Myanmars quest to join Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as soon as the moratorium on organization membership is lifted Supported Myanmars joining the annual ASEAN-Europe Meeting starting from the fifth meeting in Hanoi in October 2004 Encouraged and supported dialogue and cooperation among all parties concerned with achieving peaceful resolution to the political problems and national reconciliation in Myanmar Supported the prompt implementation of Myanmars seven-step roadmap to democracy, as expressed, in particular, at the 2003 ASEAN Summit in Bali Encouraged Myanmar to keep fellow ASEAN member states fully informed of progress as well as setbacks in implementing various measures in the roadmap Supported the ASEAN chair when interacting with Myanmar Supported the good offices of the UN secretary-general and his special envoy to Myanmar Support capacity building for the Myanmar government, including attachment to and training at the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as recruitment of Myanmar nationals to work in the ASEAN Secretariat. Take an active leadership role in mobilizing ASEAN and international support for the operations to provide humanitarian assistance to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, under the Tripartite Core Group of ASEAN, the United Nations, and Myanmar

Citizen Kane: Charles Foster Kane - Who Was He? :: essays research papers

Citizen Kane: Charles Foster Kane - Who Was He? The story of Citizen Kane drew many people to the theatres since they wanted to find out who this Kane fellow is or was. It is unarguably one of the best films ever produced. Orson Wells portrays Kane as mysterious person but also a sad person. The different accounts are shown throughout the movie through the reporter wanting to find out who or what Rosebud is. Rosebud was Kane's last dying words. The first person the reporter Jerry Thompson sees is the owner of Walter Parks Thatcher's estate and holdings. Thatcher is long dead and who? visits his library and is allowed to inspect the financier's memoirs in manuscript. Through Thatcher's words we see Kane as a boy playing with his sled on a snow-swept Colorado farm. Through his mother, the boy has just inherited a great fortune. Unable to settle his bill, a prospector who boarded with the Kanes left behind stock certificates that make Mrs. Kane the sole owner of one of the world's great silver mines. She then makes her son the ward of the bank that administers her estate, and Thatcher, whom the angry young Kane bashes with a sled, takes the boy East to be raised. The movie then shows Kane growing up, making life miserable for Thatcher. The mature Kane decides to take direct control of a small, struggling newspaper, and immediately begins using it to attack Thatcher and others among America's financial elite. This displays the mystery with Kane as he wants to expand on something small into something big, but we don't know what. The next account was given by Bernstein, Kane's devoted assistant. He explains the beginnings as a newspaper czar and his takeover of the New York Enquirer, in which he fired its editor, hired an expensive, top-notch staff, and enlisted his college friend Jedediah Leland as the drama critic. Kane is at first a crusader for the understanding, opening his first editorial with a "declaration of principles." He becomes a champion of the little person, hyping his circulation with juicy scandals, crime exposes, etc. In a surprise move Kane marries Emily Norton, the president's niece. For the first time here we see Kane starting a love story. However this wasn't to last and it paved the way for the second-love. The reporter then visits a half-drunk Susan Alexander in a nightclub. She recalls her meeting and eventual affair with the married Kane and their discovery by Leland, who is led to their love nest by Kane's political rival, "Big Jim" Gettys. Until that point, Kane is heavily favored to defeat Gettys in

Expression in Art :: Essays Papers

Expression in Art Before the portrayal of the human body can be critiqued, you must understand the artist's culture. As man evolved over centuries, his views of the body also transformed. Our tour definitely showed the drastic changes in different cultures' art. Each culture and era presents very distinct characteristics. Through time and experimentation, we have expressed our views of the human body clearly with our art. Egyptians were the first people to make a large impact on the world of art. Egyptians needed art for their religious beliefs more than decoration or self-gratification. The most important aspect of Egyptian life is the ka, the part of the human spirit that lives on after death. The ka needed a physical place to occupy or it would disappear. Most of the important men of Egypt paid to have their body carved out of stone. That was were the spirit would live after the man dies. They used stone because it was the strongest material they could find. Longevity was very important. The bodies are always idealized and clothed. Figures are very rigid, close-fisted, and are built on a vertical axis to show that the person is grand or intimidating. Most of the figures were seen in the same: profile of the legs, frontal view of the torso, and profile of the head. Like most civilizations, Egyptians put a lot of faith in gods. The sky god Horus, a bird, is found in a great amount of Egyptian art. Little recognition was ever given to the artists. The emphasis was on the patron. Early Greek art was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Geography permitted both cultures to exchange their talents. The beginning of Greek art is marked by the Geometric phase. The most common art during the Geometric phase was vase painting. After the vase was formed but before it was painted, the artist applied a slip (dark pigment) to outside. Then the vase was fired and the artist would incise his decorations into the hard shell. It was important to incise humans into the fired slip and not paint w ith slip. The people in the pictures needed light colored skin, which was the color beneath the slip, because Greeks wanted to make their art as realistic as possible. Much like Egyptian art, the Greeks idealized the bodies of the people in their works. As the Archaic Period evolved, Greek sculptures were almost identical to the Egyptians'.

Managing Marketing Function

Managing the Marketing Function Project Management Course work MKT2280, 2011-2012 Lecturer: Masoumeh Mahdieh (m. [email  protected] ac. uk) Coursework description: Read the following questions and make sure you answer all parts listed for each question. You must email your coursework as one document in MS Word format to m. [email  protected] ac. uk by the deadline of 12 noon on Friday the 20 January 2012. You must also submit an identical hardcopy of your coursework to the Student Office at William building by the same deadline. Late submissions or submission through other methods will not be accepted. This coursework is worth 25% of your overall mark. Make sure that you clearly show your name and student number of all the group’s members and module code on the Cover sheet of your Report (use cover sheet template in appendix 3). Keep the submission receipt and a copy of your assignment in a safe place. Questions: 1. You are conducting a market research project for FUN Inc. Given the project information that follows, draw AON project network and complete the forward and backward pass. Compute ES, EF, LS, LF and slack time for each activity. Identify the project completion time and critical path. Also use the information to create a Gantt chart for the project. Be sure to show slack for noncritical activities. ID| Description| Duration | Predecessor | A| Contract signed| 3| None| B| Survey designed | 2| A| C| Target market identified | 4| B| D| Data collection| 7| B, C| E| Develop presentation| 3| B| F| Analyze result| 2| D| G| Demographics| 5| C| H| Presentation | 2| E, F, G| Note: To draw project network, Gantt chart and timing use the project templates from Appendix 1. 2. You are in charge of organizing a dinner-dance concert for a local charity. You have reserved a hall that will seat 30 couples and have hired a jazz combo. A. Develop a scope statement for this project that contains examples of all the elements. Assume that the event will occur in 4 weeks and provide your best guess estimate of the dates for milestones. B. What would the priorities likely be for this project? (Draw project priority matrix) Note: Use appendix 2 for project priority matrix and scope statement. 3. Nicolette Larson was loading the dishwasher with her husband, Kevin, and telling him about the first meeting of the Manchester United Tournament Organizing Committee. Nicolette, a self confessed â€Å"soccer mom,† had been elected tournament director and was responsible for organizing the clubs first summer tournament. Manchester United Soccer Club (MUSC) located in Manchester, New Hampshire was formed in 1992 as a way of bringing recreational players to a higher level of competition and preparing them for the State Olympic Development Program and/or high school teams. The club currently has 24 boys and aids (ranging in age from under 9 to 16) on teams affiliated with the Hampshire Soccer Association and the Granite State Girls Soccer League. The club’s board of directors decided in the fall to sponsor a summer invitational soccer tournament to generate revenue. Given the boom in youth soccer, hosting summer tournaments has become a popular method for raising funds. MUSC teams regularly compete in three to four tournaments each summer at different locales in New England. These tournaments have been reported to generate between $50,000 and S70,000 for the host club. MUSC needs additional revenue to refurbish and expand the number of soccer fields at the Rock Rimmon soccer complex. Funds would also be used to augment the club's scholarship program, which provides financial aid to players who cannot afford the $450 annual club dues. Nicolette gave her husband a blow-by-blow account of what transpired during the first tournament committee meeting that night. She started the meeting by having everyone introduce themselves and by proclaiming how excited she was that the club was going to sponsor its own tournament. She then suggested that the committee brainstorm what needed to be done to pull off the event; she would record their ideas on a flipchart. What emerged was a free-for-all of ideas and suggestions. One member immediately stressed the importance of having qualified referees and spent several minutes describing in detail how his son's team was robbed in a poorly officiated championship game. This was followed by other stories of injustice on the soccer field. Another member suggested that they needed to quickly contact the local colleges to see if they could use their Fields. The committee spent more than 30 minutes talking about how they should screen teams and how much they should charge as an entry fee. An argument broke out over whether they should reward the winning teams in each age bracket with medals or trophies. Many members felt that medals were too cheap, while others thought the trophies would be too expensive. Someone suggested that they seek local corporate sponsors to help fund the tournament. The proposed sale or tournament T-shirts and sweatshirts was followed by a general critique of the different shirts parents had acquired at different tournaments. One member advocated that they recruit an artist he knew to develop a unique silk-screen design for the tournament. The meeting adjourned 30 minutes late with only half of the members remaining until the end. Nicolette drove home with seven sheets of ideas and a headache. As Kevin poured a glass of water for the two aspirin Nicolette was about to take, he tried to comfort her by saying that organizing this tournament would be a big project not unlike the projects he works on at his engineering and design firm. He offered to sit down with her the next night and help her plan the project. He suggested that the first thing they needed to do was to develop a WBS for the project. A. Make a list of the major deliverables for the project and use them to develop a draft of the work breakdown structure for the tournament that contains at least three levels of detail. What are the major deliverables associated with hosting an event such as a soccer tournament? B. How would developing a WBS alleviate some of the problems that occurred during the first meeting and help Nicolette organize and plan the project? C. Where can Nicolette find additional information to help her develop a WBS for the tournament? Appendix 1: Project network template: ES LS LF EF A 3 Project Gantt chart: A| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | B| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | D| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | E| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | G| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | time| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20| 21| 22| Project timing: Activity ID| Earliest start| Earliest finish| Latest start| Latest finish| Slack time| A| 0| 3| | | | B| | | | | | C| | | | | | D| | | | | | E| | | | | | F| | | | | | G| | | | | | H| | | | | | Appendix 2: Priority matrix: To fill the table, type X or shade the appropriate box with any colour | Time | Performance | Cost | Constrain| | | | Enhance | | | | Accept| | | | Scope statement: Project Objective: | Deliverables:| Milestones:| Technical requirement:| Limits and Exclusions:| Customer review:| Appendix 3: Cover sheet template Managing the Marketing Function Project Management Course work MKT2280, 2011-2012 Lecturer: Masoumeh Mahdieh (m. [email  protected] ac. uk) Date: Group’s details: Name| Student number| Signature | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

The Introduction Of The Environmental Legislation Accounting Essay

Climate alteration has become a subject of intense public treatment in recent old ages. Scientists, authorities leaders, legislators, regulators, concerns, including insurance companies, investors, analysts and the populace at big have expressed heightened involvement in clime alteration. International agreements, and province and local Torahs and ordinances in the Australia reference concerns about the effects of nursery gas emanations on our environment, and international attempts to turn to the concerns on a planetary footing continueA ( Bacchus 2004 ) . Due to these clime changes the environment protection act was introduced with the purpose of modulating against seting pollution into the air and H2O. These environmental protection Acts of the Apostless besides controls how waste is stored, collected, transported and treated. These meant that if the concern is caught fouling the environment, the authorities can publish mulcts and other controls ( Bennett 2005 ) . The major environmental ordinances that have been enacted in Australia include The National Pollutant Inventory ( NPI ) the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting act ( NGER ) and the Carbon Tax. The chief intent of this paper is to measure the possible effects of the debut of the environmental statute law utilizing the free-market and pro-regulatory attack to ordinance. The paper focuses on the accounting side in relation to these ordinances. There is besides the sentiment of the author sing whether he supports such ordinances † . The usage free-market attack to ordinance means the market without intercession by authoritiess, other than for the enforcement of contracts and ownership rights. A free-market attack is one in which all markets are unregulated by any parties other than the participants, and authorities plays a impersonal function.2.0 Evaluate the possible effects of the debut of the environmental statute law utilizing the free-market and pro-regulatory attack to ordin ance.Once federal action is deemed necessary to turn to an environmental job, policy shapers have a figure of options at their disposal to act upon pollution degrees. In make up one's minding which attack to implement, policy shapers must be cognizant of restraints and restrictions of each attack in turn toing specific environmental jobs. It is of import to account for how political and information restraints, imperfect competition, or preexistent market deformations interact with assorted policy options ( Bennett, M 2005 ) . The debut of National Pollutant Inventory has lead to economic efficiency. It provides the community, industry and authorities with free information about substance emanations in Australia. It has emanation estimations for 93 toxic substances and the beginning and location of these emanations ( Gibbons 2012 ) . The socially optimum degree is determined by cut downing emanations until the benefit of slaking one more unit of pollution that is the fringy suspension benefit measured as a decrease in harm is equal to the cost of slaking one extra unit that is the fringy suspension cost. In the simplest instance, when each defiler chooses the degree at which to breathe harmonizing to this determination regulation that is produce at a degree at which the fringy suspension benefit is equal to the fringy suspension cost, an efficient aggregative degree of emanations is achieved when the cost of slaking one more unit of pollution is equal across all defilers. Any other degree of emanations wou ld ensue in a decrease in net benefits ( Bennett 2005 ) . National pollution stock list policy has besides lead to technological criterion. A engineering or design criterion, mandates the specific control engineerings or production procedures that an single pollution beginning must utilize to run into the emanations criterion. This type of standard constrains works behaviour by mandating how a beginning must run into the criterion, irrespective of whether such an action is cost-efficient. Technology criterions may be peculiarly utile in instances where the costs of emanations supervising are high but finding whether a peculiar engineering or production procedure has been put in topographic point to run into a criterion is comparatively easy ( Janek 2012 ) . However, since these types of criterions stipulate the suspension engineering required to cut down emanations, beginnings do non hold an inducement to put in more cost effectual methods of suspension or to research new and advanced suspension schemes or production procedures that are non permitted by ordinance. The debut of environmental legislative assembly in Australia lead to public presentation based criterion. A performance-based criterion requires that defilers run into a source-level emanations criterion, but allows a defiler to take among available methods to follow with the criterion. At times, the available methods are constrained by extra standards specified in a ordinance. Performance-based criterions that are engineering based do non stipulate a peculiar engineering, but instead see what is possible for available and low-cost engineering to accomplish when set uping a bound on emanations. In the instance of a performance-based criterion, the degree of flexibleness a beginning has in run intoing the criterion depends on whether the criterion specifies an emanation degree or emanation rate emanations per unit of end product or input. A criterion that specifies an emanation degree allows a beginning to take to implement an appropriate engineering, alter its input mix, or cut down end product to run into the criterion. An emanation rate, on the other manus, may be more restrictive depending on how it is defined. The flexibleness of performance-based criterions encourages houses to introduce to the extent that they allow houses to research cheaper ways to run into the criterion ; nevertheless, they by and large do non supply inducements for houses to cut down pollution beyond what is required to make conformity. For emanations that fall below the sum allowed under the criterion, the house faces a zero fringy suspension cost since the house is already in conformity It besides leads to be effectivity. The efficiency of a policy option differs from its cost-effectiveness. A policy is cost-efficient if it meets a given end at least cost, but cost effectivity does non embrace an rating of whether that end has been set suitably to maximise societal public assistance. All efficient policies are cost-efficient, but it is non needfully true that all cost-efficient policies are efficient. A policy is considered cost-efficient when fringy suspension costs are equal across all defilers. In other words, for any degree of entire suspension, each defiler has the same cost for their last unit abated. Many environmental ordinances in the Australia are normative in nature and are frequently referred to as command-and-control ordinances. A normative ordinance can be defined as a policy that prescribes how much pollution an single beginning or works is allowed to breathe and/or what types of control equipment it must utilize to run into such demands. Such a criterion is frequently defined in footings of a source-level emanations rate. Despite the debut of potentially more cost effectual methods for modulating emanations, this type of ordinance is still normally used and is sometimes statutorily required. It is about ever available as a â€Å" catcher † if other attacks do non accomplish desired pollution bounds. Because a normative criterion is normally defined in footings of an emanations rate, it does non straight command the aggregative emanation degree. In such instances, aggregative emanations will depend on the figure of defilers and the end product of each defiler.3.0 M arket based attackMarket based attack create an inducement for the private sector to integrate pollution suspension into production or ingestion determinations and to introduce in such a manner as to continually seek for the least dearly-won method of suspension. Market-oriented attacks can differ from more traditional regulative methods in footings of economic efficiency or cost-effectiveness and the distribution of benefits and costs ( Dagwell 2007 ) . Because market-based attacks do non mandate that each defiler run into a given emanations standard, they typically allow houses more flexibleness than more traditional ordinances and capitalise on the heterogeneousness of suspension costs across defilers to cut down aggregative pollution expeditiously. Environmental economic experts by and large favor market-based policies because they tend to be least dearly-won, they place lower information load on the regulator, and they provide inducements for technological progresss. The debut of legislative assembly leads to crest and merchandise system. In a cap-and-trade system the authorities sets the degree of aggregative emanations, emanation allowances are distributed to defilers and a market is established in which allowances may be bought or sold. The monetary value of emanation allowances is allowed to change. Because different defilers incur different private suspension costs to command emanations, they are willing to pay different sums for allowances. Therefore, a cap-and-trade system allows defilers who face high fringy suspension costs to buy allowances from defilers with low fringy suspension costs, alternatively of put ining expensive pollution control equipment or utilizing more dearly-won inputs. Cap-and-trade systems besides differ from command-and-control ordinances in that they aim to restrict the aggregative emanation degree over a conformity period instead than set up an emanations rate. If the cap is set suitably, so the equilibrium monetary value of allowances, in theory, adjusts so that it equals the fringy external amendss from a unit of pollution. This equivalency implies that any outwardness associated with emanations is wholly internalized by the house. For defilers with fringy suspension costs greater than the allowance monetary value, the cheapest option is to buy extra units and go on to breathe. For defilers with fringy suspension costs less than the allowance monetary value, the cheapest option is to cut down emanations and sell their licenses. Allowances may besides be allocated to defilers harmonizing to a specified regulation. This represents a transportation from the authorities to polluting houses, some of which may happen that the value of allowances received exceeds the house ‘s aggregative suspension costs. The constitution of environment legislative assembly leads to debut of rate based trading system. Rather than set up an emanations cap, the regulative authorization under a rate-based trading plan, establishes a public presentation criterion or emanations rate. Beginnings with emanation rates below the public presentation criterion can gain credits and sell them to beginnings with emanation rates above the criterion. As with the other trading systems, beginnings able to better their emanations rate at low cost have an inducement to make so since they can sell the ensuing credits to those beginnings confronting higher costs of suspension. However, emanations may increase under these plans if beginnings increase their use or if new beginnings enter the market. Therefore, the modulating authorization may necessitate to sporadically enforce new rate criterions to accomplish and keep the coveted emanation mark, which in bend may take to uncertainness in the long term for the regulated beginnings. In add-on the constitution of legislative assembly leads to infliction of emanation revenue enhancements. Emissions revenue enhancements are exacted per unit of pollution emitted and bring on a defiler to take into history the external cost of its emanations. Under an emanations revenue enhancement, the defiler will slake emanations up to the point where the extra cost of slaking one more unit of pollution is equal to the revenue enhancement, and the revenue enhancement will ensue in an efficient result if it is set equal to the extra external harm caused by the last unit of pollution emitted. As an illustration of how an emanations revenue enhancement plants, suppose that emanations of a toxic substance are capable to an environmental charge based on the amendss the emanations cause. To avoid the emanations revenue enhancement, defilers find the cheapest manner to cut down pollution. This may affect a decrease in end product, a alteration in inputs to production, the installing of pollution control equipment, or a procedure alteration that prevents the creative activity of pollution. Polluters decide separately how much to command their emanations, based on the costs of control and the magnitude of the revenue enhancement ( Hoque 2005 ) . The polluting house reduces emanations to the point where the cost of cut downing one more unit of emanations is merely equal to the revenue enhancement per unit of emanations. For any staying emanations, the defiler prefers to pay the revenue enhancement instead than to slake farther. In add-on, the authorities earns gross that it may utilize to cut down other pollution or cut down other revenue enhancements, or may redistribute to finance other public services. While hard to implement in instances where there is temporal and/or spacial fluctuation in emanations, policy shapers can more closely come close the ambient impact of emanations by integrating accommodation factors for seasonal or day-to-day fluctuations or single transportation coefficients in the revenue enhancement. Economic efficiency can be defined as the maximization of societal public assistance. An efficient market is one that allows society to maximise the net present value of benefits: the difference between a watercourse of societal benefits and societal costs over clip ( Comisari 2011 ) . The efficient degree of production is referred to as Pareto optimal because there is no manner to rearrange production or reapportion goods in such a manner that person is better off without doing person else worse off in the procedure ( Burritt 2011 ) . Taxs and charges facilitate environmental betterments similar to those that result from marketable license systems. Rather than stipulating the entire measure of emanations, nevertheless, revenue enhancements, fees, and charges specify the effectual monetary value of breathing pollutants ( Burritt 2000 ) . Environment legislative assembly besides leads to environmental subsidies. Subsidies paid by the authorities to houses or consumers for per unit decreases in pollution create the same suspension inducements as emanation revenue enhancements or charges. If the authorities subsidizes the usage of a cleansing agent fuel or the purchase of a peculiar control engineering, houses will exchange from the dirtier fuel or put in the control engineering to cut down emanations up to the point where the private costs of control are equal to the subsidy. It is of import to maintain in head that an environmental subsidy is designed to rectify for an outwardness non already taken into history by houses when doing production determinations. Environment legislative assembly besides leads to environmental subsidies. Subsidies paid by the authorities to houses or consumers for per unit decreases in pollution create the same suspension inducements as emanation revenue enhancements or charges. If the authorities subsidizes the usage of a cleansing agent fuel or the purchase of a peculiar control engineering, houses will exchange from the dirtier fuel or put in the control engineering to cut down emanations up to the point where the private costs of control are equal to the subsidy. It is of import to maintain in head that an environmental subsidy is designed to rectify for an outwardness non already taken into history by houses when doing production determinations It is possible to minimise the entry and issue of houses ensuing from subsidies by redefining the subsidy as a partial refund of verified suspension costs, alternatively of specifying it as a per unit payment for emanations decreases relative to a baseline. Under this definition, the subsidy now merely relates to abatement costs incurred and does non switch the entire or mean cost curves, thereby go forthing the entry and issue determinations of houses unaffected ( Burritt 2011 ) . Environmental legislative assembly leads to tax- subsidy combination. Emission revenue enhancements and environmental subsidies can besides be combined to accomplish the same degree of suspension as achieved when the revenue enhancement and subsidy instruments are used individually. One illustration of this type of instrument is referred to as a sedimentation refund system in which the sedimentation operates as a revenue enhancement and the refund serves as a partly countervailing subsidy. As with the other market instruments already discussed, a deposit-refund system creates economic inducements to return a merchandise for reuse or proper disposal, or to utilize a peculiar input in production, provided that the sedimentation exceeds the private cost of returning the merchandise or shift inputs ( Burritt 2000 ) . Under the deposit-refund system, the sedimentation is applied to either end product or ingestion, under the given that all production procedures of the steadfast pollute or that all ingestion goods become waste. A refund is so provided to the extent that the house or consumer provides cogent evidence of the usage of a cleaner signifier of production or of proper disposal ( Burritt 2011 ) . Another consequence is information revelation. Necessitating revelation of environmental information has been progressively used as a method of environmental ordinance. Disclosure schemes are most likely to work when there is a nexus between the polluting house and affected parties such as consumers and workers ( Keil 2004 ) . Disclosure demands try to minimise inefficiencies in ordinance associated with asymmetric information, such as when a house has more and better information on what and how much it pollutes than is available to the authorities or the public. By roll uping and doing such information publically available, houses, authorities bureaus, and consumers can go better informed about the environmental and human wellness effects of their production and ingestion determinations ( Burritt 2000 ) . Another consequence of environmental legislative assembly is the debut of liability regulations. Liability regulations are legal tools of environmental policy that can be used by victims or the authorities to coerce defilers to pay for environmental amendss after they occur. Liability regulations can function as an inducement to defilers. To the extent that defilers are cognizant that they will be held apt before the polluting event occurs, they may minimise or forestall engagement in activities that inflict amendss on others.4.0 DecisionThe environmental ends are achieved at a lower limit cost where consumers, manufacturers and authorities are being involved in the execution of the legislative assembly. These means that it is cost effectivity There is whole engagement of the execution of environmental legislative assembly due to the enterprise given to the manufacturer by the authorities for illustration Emission revenue enhancements and environmental subsidies. Emissions revenue enhancements are exacted per unit of pollution emitted and bring on a defiler to take into history the external cost of its emanations. There is besides the creative activity of the consciousness where by every party are cognizant of the punishment for the breach of the jurisprudence. Every participant is apt for non following the jurisprudence to the missive. These is achieved though the debut of liability regulations. Liability regulations are legal tools of environmental policy that can be used by victims or the authorities to coerce defilers to pay for environmental amendss after they occurReferencing ListA Bacchus, Z 2004, Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility, Prentice Hall, New York, Bennett, M 2005, ImplementingA EnvironmentalA ManagementA Accounting Prentice Hall, New York, Burritt, R 2000, ContemporaryA Environmental Accounting: Issues, Concepts, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Burritt, R 2006, SustainabilityA AccountingA and Reporting, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Burritt, R 2011, Eco-Efficiency In Industry and Science: A Environmental ManagementA , Prentice Hall, New York, Comisari, PA 2011, integratedA Environmental, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Dagwell, R 2007 CorporateA AccountingA inA AustraliaA , Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Edward gibbons, KA 2012 Biodiversity Monitoring inA AustraliaA Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Hoque, Z 2005, Handbook of cost & A ; managementA accounting, A Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Janek, R 2012 Eco-Efficiency In Industry, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Janek, R 2010, Science: A Environmental Management, A John Wiley & A ; Sons, New Jersey. Keil, IA 2004, EnvironmentalA ManagementA Accounting, John Wiley & A ; Sons, New Jersey. Roger, L 2008, EnvironmentalA ManagementA AccountingA for Cleaner, Production, Prentice Hall, New York A Schaltegger, S 2003, EnvironmentalA ManagementA Accounting, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne. Wolters, J 2002, EnvironmentalA ManagementA Accounting: Informational, Prentice Hall, New York

Overpopulation in the Philippines Essay

It has been a politically perceived issue that there is over population in the Philippines. This issue has been constantly blamed for the aggravating poverty situation. One side is claiming that unbridled population increase is putting so much strain on the financial and food resources of the country that more and more Filipinos are no longer eating three square meals a day. Economic rating system is also stating a poor Filipino family is earning just below $1 per day. This certainly can hardly feed a family of 4 or more. On the other side, it is claimed that the cause of poverty is government corruption. They rightfully claim that while it’s true that the poor are constantly increasing, and that the income gap between them and the next economic level is likewise widening, financial resources that are intended to support the poor are being pocketed by corrupt government officials. Population is not the cause of poverty, corruption is, the Catholic Church claims. The government is keen on crafting remedies to curb population. Several laws have been passed to curb corruption. But since they lack heavy punitive measures, they became hardly effective. Corruption has already downgraded the country’s economic standing that adversely affected our capability to borrow money from credit or financial institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. So the government resorted to drafting a bill that drew the ire of the conservative and the Catholic Church. Foremost is the reproductive health bill, which was authored by Senator Pia Cayetano and Congressman Edcel Lagman. The bill underwent rough sailing on the legislative seas. The President is set to sign the bill into law before 2012 ends. DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE Reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safer sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. One interpretation of this implies that men and women ought to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of birth control; also access to appropriate health care services of sexual, reproductive medicine and implementation of health education programs to stress the importance of women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth could provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. On the other hand individuals do face inequalities in reproductive health services. Inequalities vary based on socioeconomic status, education level, age, ethnicity, religion, and resources available in their environment. It is possible for example, that low income individuals lack the resources for appropriate health services and the knowledge to know what is appropriate for maintaining reproductive health. As a personal opinion, reproductive health is also the ability of a couple – a man and a woman – to reproduce and raise children. It is a genetic process of increasing the number of the earth’s inhabitants which continuously work for their own sustenance or provide for their basic needs to survive – food, shelter, etc. But the disproportionate increase of population vis-à  -vis resources, the consequentially widening disparity between these two elements is putting strains on both the natural and financial resources. Science has undertaken remedies to increase food production and sustain natural resources. Sustainable development is employed. There are successes in several countries, especially in rich countries. But other countries, particularly the third world, where governments are  beleaguered by ineptitude and corruption have hardly taken off. The Philippines, for example, continue to lag behind in development and food production due to this problem. Over population, as the government and credit or financial institutions claim, is thus blamed as the cause of underdevelopment and poverty. Credit or financial institutions which provide loans to poor countries for development therefore advise poor countries to curb population or their resources shall be depleted and their ability to borrow money from them regulated or limited. In this light, third world or poor countries like the Philippines had to craft laws that they believe could solve the problem of over population. Thus enters the reproductive health law, other government policies intended to curb over population in the pipeline. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354), informally known as the RH Law, is a legislation in the Republic of the Philippines guaranteeing universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Philippine government and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as condoms, birth control pills (BCPs) and IUDs, as the government continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers. On October 2012, a revised version of the legislation was re-named the Responsible Parenthood Act and was filed in the House of Representatives as a result of re-introducing the bill under a different impression after overwhelming opposition in the country, especially from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. The law is highly divisive and controversial, with experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures supporting and opposing it, often criticizing the government and each other in the process. Debates and rallies proposing and opposing the bills, with tens of thousands of opposition particularly those endorsed by the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church and various other conservative groups, have  been happening nationwide. It has polarized the Filipino nation. PRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVE VIEWS Differing opinions have emerged from various sectors and divided the people into the â€Å"pros† and â€Å"cons† – or those against and for the RH Law. The Catholic Church, whose doctrine of pro-life as understood from the bible, is firmly against the Reproductive Health bill; and position is absolute and uncompromising, said an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). There is no way that the Church will soften its position against the controversial bill. It allegedly opposes the bill because of its anti-life provisions, or the contraceptive program it engenders. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also joined the Catholic Church’s voice in opposing the bill. These groups propose that the best form of birth regulation is self-discipline. Instead of allotting P2 billion from taxpayer’s money for the purchase of contraceptives, CEAP has urged lawmakers to use the money for education, livelihood and basic public services. The same position is shared by other groups and some conservative religious denominations which value life right at conception or the union of the woman’s egg cell and the man’s sperm cell. These â€Å"cons† reason that over population is not the problem, or that there is no over population. The purported over population stems from the fact that the government has failed to developed provinces or areas beyond the metropolitans areas. Metropolitan Manila and its suburban cities are booming while remote provinces are simply relying on primitive farming and minimally supported livelihood. In search of the needed fund to support livelihood in their home province, some people thus migrate to the cities to find work. Government has allocated some fund to sustain agriculture livelihood. Unfortunately, this is not sufficient to effect significant progress on farming system. Moreover, corrupt officials tasked to administer the fund  tend to pocket some of the funds. Faming infrastructures funded by local taxes and foreign donations are limited, thus unable to lift the struggling rural economy. The poor farmers have already been subservient to private lenders and banks. And their produce has only become fodder for loan sharks, who lend these farmers virtually everything they need including their food. In effect, they could hardly recover, to whom their produce would simply go as payment for their debts. To the pro-RH Bill, they claim that the reproductive health bill would allow greater access to modern contraceptives and sex education. It allegedly proposes more maternal health services, raising the number of midwives to one for every 150 deliveries. Contraceptives would also be funded for poor women and would be included in the standard supplies of medicine in hospitals. Modern family planning methods would be provided in all accredited health facilities. The bill, allegedly, will provide adequate funding to the population program. It is a departure from the present setup in which the provision for reproductive health services is devolved to local government units, and consequently, subjected to the varying strategies of local government executives and suffers from a dearth of funding. It will promote information on and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, which are medically safe and legally permissible. It assures an enabling environment where women and couples have the freedom of informed choice on the mode of family planning they want to adopt based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs. It does not have any bias for or against either natural or modern family planning. It will also promote sustainable human development. Taken as a basis for the â€Å"pros† stand, the UN stated in 2002 that family planning and reproductive health are essential to reducing poverty. The UNICEF also asserts that family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to the human race. According to this group, coverage of RH are the following: (1) Information and access to natural and modern family planning (2) Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition (3) Promotion of breast feeding (4)  Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications (5) Adolescent and youth health (6) Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and STDs (7) Elimination of violence against women (8) Counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health (9) Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers (10) Male involvement and participation in RH; (11) Prevention and treatment of infertility and (12) RH education for the youth. The principal author of the RH Bill, Congressman Edcel Lagman of Albay, claims that the bill is not anti-life, totally discrediting the â€Å"cons† stand, but allegedly a pro-quality life. Allegedly, it will ensure that children will be blessings for their parents since their births are planned and wanted. Additionally, he stated that the bill will empower couples with the information and opportunity to plan and space their children. This will not only strengthen the family as a unit but also optimize care for children who will have more opportunities to be educated, healthy and productive. The Congressman further stated that the bill does not interfere with family life, but will enhance family life: The family is more than a natural nucleus; it is a social institution whose protection and development are impressed with public interest. It is not untouchable by legislation. For this reason, the State has enacted the Civil Code on family relations, the Family Code, and the Child and Youth Welfare Code. Further according to the Congressman, the bill does not legalize abortion: It expressly provides that abortion remains a crime and prevention of abortion is essential to fully implement. (To this, the Catholic Church countered that the Reproductive Health Bill as a precursor will eventually pave the way for more anti-life policies, like legalization of abortion and divorce, which are already in the pipeline). He used comparative reports or information to bolster his position. He stated that it is not true all countries where contraceptive use is promoted eventually legalize abortion. Many Catholic countries criminalize abortion even as they vigorously promote contraceptive use like Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Paraguay and Ireland. The Muslim and Buddhist countries of Indonesia and Laos also promote contraceptive use yet proscribe abortion. According to studies, correct and regular use of contraceptives reduces abortion rates by as much as 85 percent and negates the need to legalize  abortion. Furthermore, contraceptives, allegedly, do not have life-threatening side effects. Medical and scientific evidence shows that all the possible medical risks connected with contraceptives are infinitely lower than the risks of an actual pregnancy and everyday activities. The author also claims that the bill simply recognizes the verifiable link between a huge population and poverty. Unbridled population growth stunts socioeconomic development and aggravates poverty. The connection between population and development is well-documented and empirically established. However, in countries where population control is prevalent, there is now evidence that they are wanting of more able and young workforce. Japan for instance is having problem with its ageing workforce to sustain its preeminent economic standing. The country has practiced population control in order to create huge surplus of resources and production which they sell or trade abroad to infuse large income to its export-oriented economy. Sadly, the country is now experiencing workforce shortage. Population control has become detrimental to their economic progress. On the other hand, China, the world’s most populous nation, is now enjoying economic boom due to a huge supply of human resource. The country is able to provide cheap labor to industrial countries around the world with huge economic benefit. This could prove that over population is not completely the cause of poverty. Considering some demographic profiles, some provinces are more populated than others on a person per area basis. There is just disproportionate distribution of inhabitants. Metro Manila is over populated due to unregulated influx of rural people in search of menial or professional work. Work pay is the difference. While Metro Manila is offering wages which comply with lawful rates, provincial wages are lesser. The amenities are like conspicuous everywhere in Metro Manila than anywhere in Luzon. Worldly things are just hard to resist that many people are flocking to Metro Manila. The same thing happens in metropolitan cities of the Visayas and Mindanao. Consequently, farms are somewhat abandoned for the sake of seeking financial gains from working in factories or offices. This exodus of farm workers leaving the farm could somehow create a vacuum in the farms. Food production thus construed as a sign of poverty. There appears to be three major points of view from which to approach the controversial reproductive health bill, namely: legal, moral, and scientific. This is so since, the proposed legislative measure once enacted into law will affect society. In short, there are many stakeholders by differing institutional concerns. It then becomes difficult to erect a tripod to hold the issue that has carried so much weight. There are those who think, once legislated, the proposed Reproductive Health will in fact set the stage for other anti-life laws or so-called D.E.A.T.H. bills (acronym for death, euthanasia, abortion, two-child policy, and homosexuality). The problem that has been viciously overlooked in our legislative mill is the fact that legislators themselves violate the rule that a bill should have only one subject matter. Up until today, there is a serious opposition to a reproductive health bill in whatever form or substance it comes simply because there are such groups or organizations that are against it. For instance, the CBCP is against it and for that matter other like-minded Catholic sub-groups. True enough, from the time it was first filed in the past Congresses, the bill already experienced a string of failures – to be passed into law – owing to provisions that are questionable legally, morally, and scientifically. It can be said that again, this proposed HB 812 may go through another rough sailing unless it can be railroaded in Congress and Senate. One theory stands in defense of the bill which claims it is necessary in order to curb population growth which is now pegged at 86 million Filipinos as well as for the sake of limited resources such as rice. But the myth of this Malthusian fear has already been settled long ago and it does not anymore hold water. Why a ‘zero population growth’ as that which was a  matter of policy in the whole of the United States and Europe? If we consider the earnings being remitted into our country from OFWs as the single factor that buoys up our fledging if pale economy, then we should have no reason to argue against this bill. That ‘zero population policy’ practiced by countries in the First Bloc now reached the irreversible scenario of a graying population that depletes their respective economies in heavy state subsidies. The National Academy of Science and Technology supports reproductive health bill. The Catholic Church or the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines does not. There are pro-life advocates versus pro-choice advocates. This camp says it involves no abortion, another camp says otherwise. This group claims contraceptives to be abortifacient, another such group claims it is not so. Within the legal community, a wedge divides their sentiments as to whether it is against the Divine Law to allow any room of choice toward abortion or to some extent euthanasia. Cases of abortion do sometimes involve â€Å"life-boat ethics† – that Catch 22 of having to choose which person to save – the unborn babe or the mother. There are issues at every loop, claims at every turn, and cries in every direction the bill takes – for or against. Moralists, legalists, scientists follow their own lines of thinking that are parallel unto one another – no lines intersect. There is where the problem lies. Is it then possible to weave from various strands or threads a beautiful tapestry of the proposed bill? Has it become time to curb population growth or corruption? CONCLUSION Whether it is called reproductive health, or responsible parenthood, the debate is a polarizing one. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines came out with a pastoral letter, on the issue of the Reproductive Health/Responsible Parenthood Bill. Their words, alleging they come from the spring well of morality. It is why when you read, or listen to the pastoral letter, or the position of the Church they think that contraceptives are immoral, or are abominations. There is nothingwrong with that position, and it is a perfectly valid one from a certain point of view. On the other end of the spectrum, the proponents of the Reproductive Health Bill say, â€Å"yes we should.† What the proposed legislation is about: it asks the government to explain to men and women, regardless whether they are married, single or of age, about their human bodies. They teach about a full range of methods— natural family planning, artificial contraceptions, from Condoms to IUDs to the Pil l and the morning after pill and everything else in between. Now, all this isn’t new. Growing up and studying in a Catholic school, these were things taught to us. And at the end of the day, it is about making an informed decision on what’s important to us. Biologically? Men have their urges. Women have their needs. Science tells us that the human race has been around for about 150,000 years. We wouldn’t be here if humans didn’t have those instincts. What the bill proposes to do is to put everything in the forefront. To make informing people mandatory, and to put the choice front and center and readily available for every Filipino, regardless of age, or social status. This chasm is just one of many philosophical differences that make it impossible for both the Pro Reproductive Health and the Anti Reproductive health proponents from ever seeing eye to eye. What of President Aquino? The President during the campaign was explicit. He does not fully support the reproductive health bill in the form that it was during the campaign. He was explicit that he believed that the reproductive health bill should be renamed, responsible parenthood bill. The President’s position, based on his Platform when he ran for public office could be summed up as: 1. He is against abortion; 2. He recognizes that there is a population explosion; 3. He is in favor of giving couples the right to choose to manage their families; 4. He believes in cases where the couple is too poor, or is in no position to make an informed decision that the state must take responsibility. 5. He wants all options to be equally presented. That means including Natural Family planning up to modern family methods. 6. He believes  that Parents should play a key role in ensuring every child they bring into the world will have the opportunity to lead good lives. The Aquino position is a logical and fair one. Parents should really play a role in their family’s future. Giving everyone an informed choice, and letting them decide on what to do, instead of ramming the choice down their throat is the logical thing to do. The proposed legislation then has basically met many of those requirements. So, is this still the Aquino position on the issue? If not, what has changed? Rumor has it that Aquino isn’t so hot on the RH Bill. The President of course looks at the priority legislation and sees what he can pass that does the biggest benefit. Did the President see that putting the Reproductive Health Bill or Responsible Parenthood bill on the agenda would prevent other, equally important legislation sidetracked? This is my disappointment with the Aquino Administration. Just come out and say so, and be honest about the whys on the matter. This is why many of those who supported the Administration are coming out to say, â€Å"this isn’t the change we signed up for.† They are so disillusioned with the state of things. In an issue as charged and as polarizing as Reproductive Health or Responsible Parenthood bill or however legislators want to call it, there is a simple way to break the impasse. The President uses all the power of discernment he has. The President simply decides. The RH Bill is about responsibility. It is about making an informed decision, and it appears not just for Filipinos, but for the President as well. But responsibility is not just for the economic well-being of a person but for his/her spiritual well-being too. When we talk about morals, we also must think about our personal responsibility to our own souls, and faithfulness to the church, being the body of Christ. By following or not following what the church teaches is an expression of personal liberty from the dictates of anyone. However, by following the church, the ultimate dictate for human salvation is paramount. After all, just as Christ Himself used to say in the Gospel, â€Å"Thy faith has saved you†, we shall be saved from our steadfastness to our faith. PUNCHLINES â€Å"Safe and satisfying sex†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Delivered by Sen. Pia Cayetano in her defense of the Reproductive Health Bill, which she authored with Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, which she means to say women should have the right to safe and satisfying sex. This phrase was moved by Sen. Vicente Sotto to be removed from the bill. â€Å"RH bill is being gift wrapped to look like a gift for maternal health care (even if) it will lead to greater crimes against women.† Catholic Bishops Conference Of The Philippines (CBCP) â€Å"Show me the same law!† Reaction of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to Sen. Vicente Sotto’s statement that the Reproductive Health Bill is redundant â€Å"Is there gender discrimination in Philippine society?†Ã‚  Debate between RH bill sponsor Sen. Pia Cayetano and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile â€Å"Our biggest export is OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). That is export. That’s why I’m against RH.† Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s statement in his opposition to the RH Bill â€Å"Long after we are gone, we will leave behind not just a law but a whole mentality and a whole culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle warned of the bill’s effect on Filipino Culture and the youth.