Andre’s Mother

1. Discuss the many symbols in the play and what they represent. Andre loved to play the role of Hamlet, a character in Shakespeare’s play. This symbolizes Andre’s character. In Hamlet, Prince Hamlet struggled in deciding whether or not to avenge his father’s death. This situation was similar to Andre’s. Andre, as a homosexual, had personal struggles regarding gender issues. Specifically, he struggled in terms of whether or not to tell his mother about his conditions. Cal provides a direct symbolism of the balloons he brought to the scene. The balloons represent the souls of departed loved ones. As the balloons rose in to the sky, the souls of the departed loved ones were slowly unbound from their earthly ties. Arthur, Cal’s father, called Andre â€Å"Mensch† which means a person of integrity and honor (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2008). Andre may have AIDS or be homosexual, but still he is a good man. In Yiddish, it also means â€Å"nice guy. † This symbolizes that Arthur has accepted Andre’s condition. He sees Andre as a family. 2. Who is to `blame` at the end of the play? Andre’s mother has to be blamed for her son’s agony. Andre died in grief and pain, knowing that her mother would never accept his condition. Being homosexual and having AIDS, Andre suffered the tremendous disapproval of the society. The only person left for Andre to ask for help is his mother. In the play, McNally, Andre’s mother, seems to be a person of few words. In Cal’s monologue, he described Andre’s mother as someone like Lulu’s mother, anonymous in her remoteness. Her remoteness severed her relationship with Andre. Her silence messed Andre’s thoughts. Andre died in fear of her mother’s disapproval, and death was the only way for him to be accepted. 3. What are McNally’s themes about friendship, unconditional love, and respect? McNally provided a concrete description of love through Cal and Andre’s relationship. McNally’s theme of friendship, unconditional love and respect, was shown through Cal’s attitude towards Andre. In the play, Andre had AIDS and was homosexual, a condition which was not easy for Cal to accept, but he still did. It surpassed the love a mother could give her son. It is hard for Andre to gain any respect from anyone, but Cal respected him unconditionally. As the play reached its end, the monologue given by Cal proved that he was not just a friend but family to Andre. He was enraged by the silence of Andre’s mother. This emotion heightened the theme of unconditional love.

A Brief Analysis of Reverse Discrimination

Racial discrimination is defined as unfavorable treatment, or having fine judgement or taste against a distinct race or minority. It is an epidemic that has been occurring for hundreds of years. Throughout different time periods people have been discerning others because of physical characteristics uncommon to each other. In 1607, English colonists in Jamestown, Virginia, became the first Americans to bring African slaves to the New World thus beginning hundreds of years of discrimination. There have been many improvements in the area of racial discrimination through laws and personal views, but racism still exists, and probably will for many years to come. In the workplace racial discrimination is so prevalent that there is one whole title in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically dedicated to quelling this issue. The problem today is deciding where to draw the fine line between racial discrimination and making a choice for the better of your business, and when that line is crossed. But racial discrimination effects people other than those being directly discriminated. By definition, racial discrimination is due to a bias against minorities. But there is another form of discrimination – that of reverse discrimination. In this case it isn't the minority that is being discriminated against, it is the white man. Obviously both forms of biased views are, in simplest form, still discrimination, but reverse discrimination is sometimes not thought of as a serious problem and is an issue that must be addressed. Civil Rights legislature has made major strides in establishing equal rights in the work place but as minorities gain civil rights the issue of reverse discrimination becomes a problem. Before we can take a look at reverse discrimination, we must first look at the laws that establish our basic civil rights. There are two main pieces of legislature that frame these basic civil rights. They are the Fourteenth Amendment of the constitution and the C! The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, and is one of the most important legal weaponS in Black America's struggle for equality (Davis, 11). Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment declares that † No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws† (Bagley A-6). The basic meaning of the amendment is that people are equally entitled to fundamental rights (Schwartz, 100). Its intention was for the individual to possess basic civil rights and to describe how he is affected by basic agencies of the states. In theory the â€Å"people† of the United States were now whites and minorities, and everyone should enjoy freedom equally (101). The Fourteenth amendment did have its shortcomings though. The way it was designed, lent itself to work on a state level rather than a federal level (Loevy 7). This meant that the federal government didn't have as much power as the individual states in enforcing the law and therefore allowed for discrimination by private citizens. There was the notion of a â€Å"free white jury that will never convict† (8). White southerners knew that a jury of their peers would never convict them for crimes such as murder, lynching, and blatant discrimination. It became routine that whites had their free will to personally enforce racial segregation. The first landmark case in the fight for racial integration and equality was Plessy v. Ferguson. In this case a railroad attendant refused to provide a sleeping car for an African American. It went to court under the fourteenth amendment and the Supreme Court eventually ruled that segregation of blacks and whites was constitutionally legitimate as long as the accommodations for each were equal. Separate but Equal† was now precedent and the fight for equality had won its first battle. This verdict soon came into question though when the notion of racial segregation in public schools was taken to court. Brown v. Board of education was probably one of the biggest landmark decisions in the fight for equal rights. The Supreme Court ruled that â€Å"separate but equal† was by definition – unequal. The court stated that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and also implied that all forms of segregation were illegal (Loevy 17). Although this decision implied that segregation was illegal it did little to enforce the idea. There was still an opposition to integration that held the equal rights movement back. It was seen that there was a need for firm legislation that would not only lay down terms for equal rights but be able to enforce them too. >From 1866 to 1965 there were six Civil Rights Acts passed through congress. By far the most far-reaching Act was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . It consisted of eleven titles and of those eleven; there was one that directly impacted discrimination in the workplace. Forty percent of all median income differences between black and white workers is the result of employment and occupation discrimination (Bell 717). Title VII forbids discrimination by employers (Karst 284) and makes it unlawful to even ask a prospective employee any information about race, color, gender, religion, or national origin (Zigarelli 2). The agency that enforces Title VII is the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Since the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII has been the source of more litigation than any other titles in the act (Karst 285). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was indeed firm legislation that did in fact protect the civil rights of Americans, but with the legislative laws of the act also came a host of Common Laws. When a judge makes a decision in court, that decision is said to create a precedent. If a similar case comes to court the precedent will be what is followed when making that decision, and the precedent, although not a legislated law, becomes in affect, a law – or Common Law (Zigarelli 11). Now the citizens of the United States had a strong backing to achieve racial equality. But what happens when the system that is in place to provide these rights actually does the opposite and allows for discrimination of another group other than the minority. Reverse discrimination in the workplace is defined as preferential treatment for minority group members in that workplace (Goldman 4). It can be either giving special treatment in considering an applicant for employment or in considering an employee for promotion or termination. Some of the ways that reverse discrimination is introduced is by the use of quotas, percentages, and set-asides. In an effort to speed up the process of racial integration in our society, the government put forth these certain employment policies. Quotas and percentages are held to encourage minority hiring while also keeping with the existing workplace standards (Goldman 22). The idea is that if the percentage of minority employees working at an establishment is radically lower than the percentage of non-minority employees it is probably because of past discrimination. A quota is established to raise these numbers and create a racially equal working environment. In its basic form a quota is intended to be a goal the company wishes to achieve to be more of an equal opportunity employer. The problem that arises with this type of policy is that it becomes very easy to instead of hiring minority workers based on their competence and skill level, just say â€Å"The next certain n! umber of minorities that apply for the job I'll hire regardless of how skilled they are or how skilled their non-minority competition is. † It becomes a case of white man applying for a job, and his race, not his credentials being the reason for not hiring him (Baer 135); therefore loosing the job to a less qualified minority simply because the company wanted to correct for its past discrimination practices. In January 1972 the NAACP sued the Alabama state police because they had one of the least racially integrated police organizations in the country. The court ordered them to integrate their organization by hiring one African American police man for every white one until they possessed a 25 percent minority work-force (Urofsky 19). Court orders were followed and twelve years later the Alabama state police had one of the most integrated police forces in the south. Obviously the policy worked in integrating their organization but what would happen if a more qualified white man applied for the job and was rejected only because he was white? Is there any difference between the discrimination of African Americans and the discrimination of whites simply because an organization is trying to erase past prejudices? There is a belief that compensation should be made for wrongs done and that there is a need to improve the economic status of minorities, but by making special treatment for some, it is inevitable that others are discriminated against (Fullinwider 2-5). The only thing that is accomplished by these reverse discrimination practices is that the injustice is merely shifted from one group to another (Urofsky 30) rather than working on a solution to abolish it . Alan Goldman, author of Justice and Reverse Discrimination states that strict quotas for raising the percentages of blacks will, unless carefully controlled, result in the decrease of competency standards (22). The reason for this decrease, is that the employer can much more easily resort to hiring less qualified minority workers than properly screening the competency of all people that apply, thus lowering that standard. Quotas also have another drawback. While minorities have long been discriminated against as groups, the process of installing a quota discriminates against non-minorities as individuals (Urofsky 29). Most people believe that African Americans as a group do deserve some sort of compensatory treatment for past prejudices against them (Fullinwider 58). But preferential hiring does not accomplish this. It only benefits individuals and does nothing to further the racial acceptance of that group. The concept of Equal Opportunity in America creates another problem with preferential hiring. As plainly as it can be stated, Equal Opportunity, is a concept that should lend opportunities to all races equally. But since the conception of quotas and preferential hiring, Equal Opportunity has taken on a somewhat different meaning. It now seems to mean; instead of an equal opportunity for all, if one is a minority he will sometimes receive better treatment than a non-minority. Robert Fullinwider in his book The Reverse Discrimination Controversy goes so far to state that preferential hiring is unconstitutional because it violates the â€Å"principle of equal opportunity† (23). Now certainly there is no â€Å"principle of equal opportunity† in the constitution itself, but Fullinwider puts forth the idea that equal opportunity is analogous to the constitutional right of a fair trial or even of free speech. When thought of this way it is easy to contend that there is in fact a â€Å"princi! ple of equal opportunity† that is somewhat similar to a constitutional right. In a simpler form it can be stated that preferential treatment to minorities can be considered if not unjust, at least unfair because it allows minorities to achieve less, and still be just as competitive as non-minorities (Fullinwider 21). It is interesting to note that while Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the main piece of legislature that frames our civil rights, it is also the main framework for allowing reverse discrimination. Section 706(g) essentially gives the court power to order preferential treatment if the accused employer â€Å"has intentionally engaged in an unlawful employment practice charged in the complaint. † The statement: â€Å"which may include but is not limited to, reinstatement or hiring of employees †¦ or any other equitable relief as the court deems appropriate,† is basically the court's right to impose any type of preferential treatment it sees as being necessary. It becomes more confusing to note that section 703(a) and (j) seem to give an opposite opinion of preferential hiring. 703(j) even goes so far as to state the following: Nothing contained in this title shall be interpreted to require any employer †¦ to grant preferential treatment to any individual or any group (Fullinwider 125). It seems to be an odd complement of ideas to be put together in the same Title. On one hand you have a part of the Title that states that the decision is up to the judgement of the court and on the other hand you have another section that states that it is actually not up to the court to decide – it is simply wrong. Fullinwider gives an explanation for this. He states that the two different sections can be thought of as two different rules that will be interpreted differently. Depending on the situation the court is given the power to propagate whatever remedy will work best. All the previously mentioned terms such as preferential hiring, quotas, and set asides are all part of a whole known as Affirmative Action. This plan undertaken by Lyndon B. Johnson as an extension of Kennedy's civil rights campaign was a series of steps made to overcome the present effects of past discrimination (â€Å"Affirmative Action† 241). Although the plan accomplished great strides for minorities it also gave rise to the issue of Reverse Discrimination. And while it did advance minorities it left behind one major idea. The whole concept of discrimination comes not directly from the fact that minorities are held back physically or economically in society. It comes from the idea that we live in a race-conscious society where minorities are sometimes thought of as being a part of a lower economic standard. Critics of Affirmative Action do not see it as being a way for minorities to become more equal in society because with Affirmative Action comes the unending belief th! at ultimately, there is such a thing as race. If we are to overcome racism we must first learn that there is no such thing as race – there are only people. Affirmative Action is therefore thought of as simply another way for America to become an even more race-conscious society, thus keeping minorities from progressing. A good way to further understand the intricacies of Reverse discrimination is to look at specific cases where the policies of preferential hiring, quotas, set asides were put to the test. The first case will explore the rights of a man who was working for ten years and finally had to sue his employer to get a promotion. His name is Joseph Ray Terry and he has been a civil rights attorney at the EEOC for more than ten years. It has been said that workers should roughly be represented proportionally with their numbers in the general population but fifty percent of the white-collar jobs at the EEOC are held by blacks, who make up less than ten percent of the civilian workforce. Terry decided to sue and in 1996, the U. S. district judge of Memphis Jon McCalla ruled that the EEOC violated the laws that it was supposed to defend. Over his career, Terry was overlooked for a promotion more than ten times, and the jobs were given to less qualified minorities. In 1987, the EEOC ha! d 21 district directors; 19 minority, and 2 white. Terry had the credentials; education, experience and high-level government training but he still didn't get the job. One minority who was appointed over him didn't even have a high school diploma and most of the minorities appointed over him had little, if any of the qualifications that he had. The judge ordered the EEOC to pay $150,000 in damages, $8,000 in stress, and ordered him to be given the position of deputy general counsel, and entitled him to back pay. In this case it can clearly be seen that quotas and preferential hiring, while advancing many minorities, did hold back a perfectly capable white man from a promotion he deserved. The next similar example is of a female denied a position because of a less qualified minority. Patricia Steffes, a forty-six year old white female was awarded 2. 6 million dollars by federal jury on Wednesday May 6th, 1999. In this reverse discrimination case she was denied a management position in favor of a less qualified black man. Pepsi claims she lacked sales in front line management experience. Steffes had worked her way up the corporate ladder from payroll clerk to a $73,000 a year management position when she applied for a higher position. She started at the age of eighteen in 1972, following in the footsteps of her father and other relatives. Steffes was promised the next promotion opportunity, which opened in Lansing, Michigan. Even though she happened to be well qualified for it, a black employee got the job. Pepsi was ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the â€Å"Top 50 Best Places for Minorities to work† and reserved 285 million dollars of its budget for minority and women owned businesses. The recent 2. 3 billion dollar IPO was handled by a minority owned! firm. Two of the top eighteen paid employees are minorities and twenty five percent of the entire workforce is comprised of minorities while thirty six percent of their hires in 1998 were minorities according to Fortune Magazine. In Steffes case, a minority held the job initially and when the word got out that Steffes might get hired, other minority employees complained and another less qualified black male got the job. Steffes wrote a letter to the EEOC and senior executive at Pepsi with no response. She then mailed a letter to Mr. Charles Stamper, the Supervisor at Pepsi. The officials weren't pleased so they put Steffes in their process called â€Å"developmental feedback† which is designed to improve an employees job performance. It resulted in Pepsi offering Steffes a transfer to a different facility on a â€Å"take it or leave it† basis. Steffes rejected it and took a leave of absence as advised by her doctor due to stress. She returned to work in September and supervisors allegedly ignored her. She was then ordered to train another black man who was being promoted to a job similar to the one she didn't receive. Steffes quit that day. One can see this is a case of blatant discrimination against a perfectly qualified white female. In the next case we will finally look at the concept of the set-aside. In the case FayComm v. US Small Business Administration a set-aside – designed to leave a certain number of contracts for minority firms to claim, ultimately was the cause of lengthy court battles and FayComm's loss of a contract they deserved. FayComm was a promising but small video production company. They had been working with FEMA for many years when a new (and expensive) contract came up to bid. FayComm bid on the job but was told that it was going to be given to a minority firm. Apparently the US Small Business Administration had taken the matter out of FEMA's hands and given it to the minority, so FayComm sued for the right to bid fairly and competitively. The issue here is the idea of the set-aside. It is practice in some businesses to take a certain number of contracts and set them aside to give to minorities. This serves two purposes. One is to satisfy Affirmative Action supporters, and the other is to skip the time consuming process of bidding for the contracts by simply â€Å"giving† it away to the minority. The problem arises in the fact that the contract is usually given to the minority regardless of its qualifications. In one hearing on this matter the judge was quoted as saying: â€Å"You mean to tell me that if the ‘minority firm' can demonstrate that it is not competent to do the work, and therefore cannot win the award in open, competitive bidding, then the lack of competence qualifies them to be given the contract? Apparently that's how the idea of set-asides is written. To this day FayComm is still in business but never was given a chance to bid on the job. These cases clearly show that Reverse Discrimination is a serious issue in American Society. Through the use of preferential hiring, quotas, and set-asides the government while trying to end discrimination, only succeeded in creating more discrimination. It is obvious that there is a need for some kind of solution to stop all discrimination. Though this paper was not written to solve discrimination, only analyze it, we will offer this final thought. It became increasingly evident to us that the reason for discrimination in the first place is because humans have this preconceived notion that for some reason, all people are not equal. No matter what the Constitution states or what laws are passed this idea seems to be engrained so deeply that it is quite difficult to overcome.

Occupy Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Occupy Movement - Essay Example In the recent years this movement has seen arrests, police raids and police brutality during their activities. This movement is seen as an organization that is voicing out the overwhelming grievances of the working class majority (Fleming 54). The Occupy Movement begun by targeting Wall Street due to its role in the 2008 economic meltdown that led to the commencing of the great recession. This great recession saw thousands of Americans lose their jobs and even their homes due to foreclosures. Occupy movement are of the view that Wall Street’s perilous loaning services that involve mortgage-backed securities which in the long-run do not bring in any returns, was the major cause of the meltdown. They are also of the view that the government bailout ruptured a sense of propriety. According to followers of this movement Wall Street recklessly and without insight violated the credit default swap market. and the volatility of the market ought to have been realized earlier. They demand that action be taken against the people in Wall Street who were directly linked to this. The movement has been mostly criticized due to the fact that most of its followers have different messages and goals concerning the movement. However, I believe that although this is true whereby different followers have different viewpoints regarding the movement, the fundamental message of the Occupy Movement is quite coherent. Douglas Rushkoff who is a CNN reporter stipulated that although the followers of the movement have not yet reached the point of outlining an exact list of grievances or the best way to solve them anybody of the opinion that they do not understand what this people are protesting about is being a blatant liar (Times 27). Whether or not we are of their opinion, it is clear what they are distraught about and that they are fighting for a just cause. It is well known that investment bankers who carry out their activities in Wall Street are continuously

Exporters Having Problems in the United Kingdom Case Study

Exporters Having Problems in the United Kingdom - Case Study Example Analysis: This was one proof of how environmental groups apply pressure on exporters through large UK companies. They cite that if another supermarket chain, Sainsbury's, can do it (that is, sell apples sourced from Britain), then Tesco should be able to do it. Tesco denied the claim and promised in 2003 that it would not import apples from August through February from any Southern Hemisphere country, notably New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa. An article in the Wall Street Journal mentions the case of Haagen-Dazs chocolate-covered ice-cream bar. The label does not mention any genetically modified ingredients listed there, but consumers who question the company about it are sent a letter stating that the bar's chocolate coatings, in fact, contain soy oil that "may have been derived from genetically modified soya, but it is identical to any other soya oil and therefore does not contain any genetically modified material." The letter adds, "We are, however, investigating whether there are suitable alternative oils." In another case, AstraZeneca was forced to take off the market a bioengineered tomato puree. Despite outselling other popular and more expensive brands, the genetically modified food controversy affected its sales negatively until the company, AstraZeneca, had to pull out the product from the supermarket chain J. Sainsbury PLC. Analysis: This case illustrates the paranoia in the UK about genetically-modified foods, even though there's no proof that bioengineered foods pose any health risks. As Haagen-Dazs did, the best way to address the problem is to be forthright in admitting the scientific fact that genetically modified soy is identical to any other soya. It can be funny, but it's true, that there is not much difference, scientifically, between soya that is modified through naturally occurring genetics and one that is genetically modified in the laboratory. In the case of the tomato puree, a successful product, despite being labeled genetically engineered and proven to be a good one, suffered. This could have been avoided if the company came up with a more forthright communication plan to show that genetically modified tomato puree was, as Haagen-Dazs did with soya, better than any other tomato puree. Â  

How people react to robots Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How people react to robots - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that response to robot interaction is a recently emerged area of research that is working to understand how the humans perceive and react towards robots in the social interaction scenario. Recent works have shown that people respond differently to the robot, but also show a similar flow of character towards the devices. Several future challenges have also been considered in these studies, for instance, physical embodiment and correct reading the robot intentions, to come up with sociable robots. Finally, for robots to live up to their mission, the focus will have to drift from competitive generation of robots to production of robots that are functional co-action and co-ordination. Whatever is happening to technology is affecting the day to day behavior of humans in all lines of business. Researchers are invading the human society and this is a reality. From the entertainment to performing household chores, to looking after the elderly, and to educating the children, people will soon be welcoming and accepting their existence. The changes are inevitable; avoiding this will be fighting a losing battle. Research on robot revolution shows that, though this will take time, people will need to learn ways of responding to these changes and try to see the positive impact this will have in the society. That is what this survey is about; the response of the humans to robots in the society.... According to [2] the sociable robots are robots that are capable of fully engaging in the social situation and have their own motivation for being involved in these types of interaction. These robots will be capable of interacting with humans on a social level and be comfortable and familiar with them, thereby, allowing the interactions to seem easy and natural [3]. Ref: [1] researcher referred this to simple trust from the humans. Although there are other types of robots for instance; socially evocative robots and social interface: This research will entirely dwell on sociable robots. III. Critical analysis Human robot interaction is increasingly becoming a topic of popular culture and academic interest, and most try to answer the question regarding the role of robots, the ethical issues in relation with its legal issues, and how the robots interact with humans [7]. Though not everyone writer of the popular culture writers have affected the field of robotics research. A. Shampoo Rob ot Project With the recent technological evolution, robots have been known as objects that can walk, talk or point. However, Panasonic has decided to add another action of robots to the ever increasing list by developing a robot that can shampoo one’s hair. The shampoo-Bot currently is on trial in japan to see how effective it works. Many have argued that it borrows from the car wash machine, but, all the same it is a descent innovation one must say. The hair care robot sounds a fascinating thing to hairdressers. The robot composition includes a reclining chair with a wash basin at the back both mechanized to achieve its task. According to [8] released on YouTube,

Social learning theory and style of learning Essay

Social learning theory and style of learning - Essay Example It is based on the supposition that people use several channels of perceiving information. Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic are the major sensory modalities used by humans. All the small children use kinaesthetic channel to explore the world. Later we develop the visual modality and finally master the auditory one. One should strive for developing all three modalities. However, most of people use one of the systems as the major to check the information. Visuals prefer to see information (they need to see a text, or charts and diagrams). Visual learners may be linguistic and spatial. Linguistic learners would remember a lecture if they watch slides with text, while spatial learners do better with charts, videos, demonstrations, and other visual materials. Those with dominant kinaesthetic modality need to touch and perform to master new skills. People with dominant auditory channel prefer to listen to information. Most of people are visuals. There are also many people with leading kin aesthetic modality. Dominant auditory modality is the less spread one (Adler 1997, Clark 2000). As Don Clark (2000) explains, the three learning styles are forced upon us through life like this: up to the third grade new information is mostly presented kinaesthetically, in grades 4-8 visual presentation prevails, while starting with the high school information is usually presented auditory by lectures. My dominant modality is visual spatial. I prefer to get information through pictures, maps, charts, movies and videos. It is easier for me to retain information in mental images than in audio and kinaesthetic format. To remember things I need to make schematic notes. However, I’ve got also a well developed kinaesthetic modality, so that in many cases I learn well through hands-on approach. Another useful instrument to be remembered is social learning theory, which provides glimpses at how most of us acquire our knowledge and

Leadership handbook scoring rubric Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership handbook scoring rubric - Term Paper Example The handbook is cohesive and has a consistent look and feel. Score: 2 Comments: the book is cohesive and consistent. The flow of information is consistent and the topics follow each other in a logical sequence Overall Presentation (visual elements, report format) The overall presentation of the handbook is not satisfactory and does not include visual elements or a report format. The handbook presentation is satisfactory for some of the sections but not for the entire handbook. The handbook provides an effective overall presentation with visual elements and all articles are in report format. Score: 1 Comments: most of the book is presented in a satisfactory way. There are however some cases in which some improvements such as in the table in page 14. Comprehensiveness The handbook does not provide comprehensive coverage of the selected leadership topics. The handbook provides some comprehensive coverage of the selected leadership topics but does not include major content areas critical for a new manager. The handbook provides a comprehensive coverage of the selected leadership topics and includes the major content areas critical for a new manager. Score: 2 Comments: the book chooses several topics and goes on to address them comprehensively. The book covers the major content areas that would be helpful to a new manager. ... Part B: Leading a Team Introduction From the various tasks that I have been engaged in, I have aimed to maintain a high level of integrity in my work, and remain accountable in the line duty. I have strived to ensure that the quality of my work is as expected. However, I have the self-awareness to recognize that I do have my strengths and weaknesses. The strengths that I possess enable me to be more efficient at my work while the weaknesses may sometimes hinder me from producing the best possible results in my work. Question 1: How the Team can Make Use of My Strengths A notable strength that has helped me achieve success in my work, which may enable me achieve the set objectives in the workplace is the ability to meet the set deadlines within the required amount of time. In meeting the deadlines I was still able to come up with work that was of high quality. This attribute can be used in the team to ensure that the members do not lag behind which would slow the entire team. The team can also make use of this strength to ensure that people do not do the work hurriedly without taking into consideration the quality of the work. Question 2: How to Improve on my Weaknesses One of the weaknesses that I have is that I lack the ability to contribute to a collaborative team environment. During the teamwork, I failed to effectively contribute to the team’s collaborative effort. In improving this weakness, I resolved to be more proactive in group activities as opposed to remaining passive, and only performing the duties that were assigned to me. This will help me develop the ability to be an effective team player. Question 3: How My Team Realized its Goals The team was able to achieve the purpose for its establishment. The team met its

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Reaction paper - Essay Example Defining self-control and willpower, the author quotes that self-control is the ability to set goals while willpower helps the individual to attain those goals. In addition to setting goals and achieving them, it is equally important to access how far we have reached in attaining them in order to know the effectiveness of the strategy used. Citing practical examples the author also cautions that willpower can become fatigued when it is overused. The more a person exerts resistance in one particular task the possibility of performing less well in other tasks increases. Despite the fact that the ability to exercise willpower also depends on the genetic makeup of an individual, psychologists believe that people can find ways to exert the same by placing controls in tempting activities such as spending and eating. In less serious experiments which were conducted to test the self-control of the participants, those who considered the experiment to be fun displayed higher self-control compa red to those who undertook the experiment as a serious work. However, the author ascertains that it should also be borne in mind that self-control is a virtue and that it cannot be considered lightly. In addition people may lack the skills to practice self-control or they may possess the skills and lack the ability to use them rightly. This can be rectified through proper counseling guidance. Even practicing to keep out the temptation for the time being will help to overcome it in the long run and in addition people can also develop a belief that resisting the right temptations will only bring reward later in life. Tugend, Alina. â€Å"Pumping up the self-control in the Age of Temptations.† The New York Times. 8 Oct. 2010. Web. 31 Aug 2010.

Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Economic - Essay Example This is shown in the following figure: Image Courtesy: Port Jackson Partners Limited, 2006 These top prices are backed up by a change in the iron ore cost curve in current years. Following figure proves it. Image Courtesy: Port Jackson Partners Limited, 2006 Australian Producers must take benefit of these high prices of iron ore and demand for the mineral Since Australia is the low cost manufacturer of iron ore exported to China, the operating costs to mine the mineral and transporting the ore to the ports are also low. The substructure and iron ore mining procedures in Australia is world class which has been proved by their position on the cost curve (Port Jackson Partners Limited, 2006) in the following figure: Image Courtesy: Port Jackson Partners Limited, 2006 For the past few years Western Australia has become one of the individual country to produce and export iron ore on a large scale. This has been possible due to the Chinese demand for iron ore [(Adams, (2004); Clements and Greig (1994); Clements et al. (1996); Layman (2004) and Ye (1998)]. The low cost of production has helped Australian manufacturers to be unambiguously placed to captivate chances produced by quick Asian demand growth. On the other hand, reacting promptly to shifts in demand is vital to pulling in the break. Any collapse to react to the market increases the threat that other producer countries, will set up low cost production installations in contest with Australia. The longer the postponement the bigger will be the threat. If Western Australia is to increase its supply of iron ore and reap the benefits of growing profit then it has to optimize its inputs. This can be achieved with the help of various combinations of its inputs. The following figure proves this: Source: Seattle education - Appendix to chapter eight In the above figure isoquant Q1 is for 500 units, Q2 is for 475 units and Q3 is for 400 units. Australia can take advantage of this opportunity The production facility ela borations and capital investments demanded to meet this upsurge in demand are enormous. This will have to be made in a much planned way and should be timely too. If Western Australia wants to hold on to its present contribution of sales, it will require committing in a further 300 million tonnes of yearly production capacity over the subsequent 20 years. The kind of commitment needed to attain this capacity is considerable advances to existent port and rail installations in addition to expansion of new mines and elaborations of existent mine sites. At a conventional standard cost of a$65 per tonne in capital expenses demanded for the extra capacity will amount to roughly a$20 billion in extra capital investments compulsory over the following 20 years (Port Jackson Partners Limited, 2006). Optimization of inputs M and L A firm’s production function represents the means by which the different resources of production can be combined to produce a particular quantity of output. In reality the production function denotes the different combination of raw materials like land; labor etc., to produce the maximum quantity of output for a given period. The state of technology is assumed to be fixed (Rowles, 2011). Let us now look at what happens when the inputs like Machinery (M) and labour (L) are optimized with the help of this figure: Figure: (Rowles, 2011). In the above figu

Culture and Identity Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Culture and Identity - Literature review Example To understand the significance of the representations of media and the culture is also the need to examine how culture and identity is defined and how this may be affected by media perceptions or conflicts. The question of how the media changed or portrayed culture through 7/7 events can then be understood by building a sense of how culture and identity fit into a given society. Defining Culture and Identity The concept of culture and identity is one that is based on perception and the way in which one interacts within society. Identity begins with an individual and how the one person understands their own realities, experiences and expressions. The personalities, behaviours and the association which one has with others become the main attributes of identity. The concept of creating labels at an individual level becomes the main component that is associated with personality and identity and changes the way that most associate with others. This begins with the psychological relationsh ip one has to the labels and the desire to be a specific identity. This mental decision then creates an attraction to specific groups and segments in society. It is the similarities that are a part of the individual and that create a relationship to others that creates the sense of culture, or belonging to a group that has the same identity (Postmes, Jetten, 12: 2006). As the concept of identity begins to form in groups, the culture is formed with specific behaviours and ideals. Physical, mental and behavioural similarities often relate to the group that has formed and which creates a culture. However, the similarity is that each individual believes there is a similarity within themselves that is reflected in the group, either physical or through behaviour. Acculturation and adaptation combine with this at a different psychological level to create a set of relationships that can work toward the same identity. For instance, religious changes, adapting to physical presence that is exp ressed by the group and associating with mannerisms are able to add into the reflection of the culture. The conceptualization of a culture from different perspectives creates the main changes that are a part of the group (Berry et al, 303: 2006). The process of building culture becomes associated with the basis of psychological relationships which are created and the defining of behaviours and interactions which are comfortable to various individuals. The reflection that is seen then becomes a part of a minority or majority group. If the comfort is from ethnicity or race, then defined behaviours are also known to associate with this. The relationship between the individual and a segment of society becomes important in defining the way in which the individual perceives their own identity and how this integrates into the building of various groups. When looking at the definition of culture, it can be seen that individual identities that find similarities integrate to create groups and segments within a given society. Communication and Culture The concept of culture and the way in which this is expressed becomes based on various levels of communication used among groups and to show identity. The communication is not only based on the language and basic affiliation with a culture. There are also purposes that are used behind the cultural connotations and

They’re all wasted! Essay Example for Free

They’re all wasted! Essay â€Å"They’re all wasted! † proclaims The Who’s Roger Daltrey in 1971’s â€Å"Baba O’Riley,† a song widely and mistakenly believed to be titled â€Å"Teenage Wasteland† because of the refrain. Putting an emphasis on â€Å"all,† this is a sweeping indictment: the youth are all wasted, not just one group or in one way, but everywhere and in every faculty. Every potentialfor rebellion, discipline, pleasure, beliefhas been squandered. But The Who were far from the first to imagine this modern wasteland. T. S. Eliot’s poem, â€Å"The Wasteland,† provides a wide-ranging critique of modernity, while also modeling the aesthetics of the new epoch, that makes statements like The Who’s intelligible while building on established literary and social conventions. The historical context for Eliot’s poem can be divided into three major components. First, there is the literary tradition writ large, the collected textual productions of the world over the last several millennia. â€Å"The Wasteland† makes reference to the Bible (20-3), Buddhism (173), Dante (62-5), Shakespeare (172), Greek tragedy (218), and many more sources: the Norton Anthology’s cup runneth over with footnotes. Second, there is English literature. It is more likely that Eliot’s peers would measure him against the immediate backdrop of national history, not least because education in excellence in English literature is also education of the excellence of English literature. Thus Eliot must be able to demonstrate knowledge of Shakespeare and Marvell at the minimum, but also make an original contribution to the English literary tradition coming out of the nineteenth century. As in â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† Eliot addresses nineteenth century British Romanticism with modern inversions of the celebration of unadulterated nature. In the opening paragraph we have a modernized parallel of Wordsworth’s â€Å"A Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free†: Summer surprised us, coming over the Starnbergersee With a shower of rain; we stopped in the colonnade, And went on in sunlight, into the Hofgarten, And drank coffee, and talked for an hour. (8-11) The natural world is pleasing and comforting to humanity in this miniature. The surprise of rain does not seem to dampen the spirits of the characters but rather, through the stop in the colonnade, causes them to pause and so appreciate the reappearance of the sunlight. The construction â€Å"Summer surprised us† gives the natural world and its seasons a kind of playful agency, as in the Romantic tradition. However, we cannot think of Eliot as remaining within the Romantic tradition despite his utilization of it as a literary option. The third vital context is the recently concluded World War I. Hence the agency of the natural world, insomuch as Eliot images such agency for literary purposes, is as ambivalent as human nature. The opening lines, also drawing on literary precedent in Chaucer’s â€Å"Canterbury Tales,† depict a less loving nature. April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. (1-4) The April showers that bring May flowers, to paraphrase Chaucer, bring a conflation of life and death instead of pilgrims. April is personified, as in Romanticism, but here it is so that it can be labelled cruel. Life is not an abstractly generative force: since at least Sidney’s â€Å"Astrophel and Stella† and Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnets,† English literature has had a rich tradition of sexual metaphorics, using phrases like â€Å"Dull roots† for phallic impotence and â€Å"spring rain† for ejaculatory procreation. But Eliot cannot simply celebrate this cycle of rebirth in the shadow of the muddy graves of World War I. The â€Å"mixing / memory and desire† recasts the common literary relationship between sex and death in a perverse light, since â€Å"memory† transgresses the partition between the living and the dead, the present and the past. Memory exhumes what is past, does not allow it to die and rest in peace. This corpse is now also the object of â€Å"desire. † The cycle of death and rebirth has been stalled in modernity and in the vision of â€Å"The Waste Land. † Eliot’s poem both represents and partakes of this modern problem; in fact, the necessity of participating in the forces of social infertility to represent it might be one of the most distinctively modern aspects that Eliot represents here. The broad scope of historical literature that he can draw on is the result of the British empire contacting and importing cultural products from around the globe. His knowledge of languages and availability of translations when necessary further speak to world literature as a thoroughly modern phenomenon. The need to reject or critique prior traditions is also part of the modern awareness of the dialectical nature of history. Of course, this also marks (ironically) a point of continuity with Victorians like Baudelaire (67). The fragmented form of â€Å"The Waste Land† is part of this modern rejection of tradition, but to depict this fragmentation Eliot must also gather together multiple traditions. They are juxtaposed with each other but without a master narrative to organize them. To further drive the point home Eliot also uses non-standard grammar or spelling, or seemingly nonsense words and sounds: â€Å"O O O O O that Shakespeherian Rag† (128). This ambiguity then contrasts with the grim and undecorated conversation circling, like Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants,† around an abortion: â€Å"I can’t help it, she said, pulling a long face, / It’s them pills I took, to bring it off, she said† (158-60). Stylistic innovation and rejection of stifling â€Å"rules† of art allow Eliot to create a radically new expression of the human experience, but in doing so he simultaneously duplicates the rootlessness and anomie he is seeking to overcome. â€Å"The Waste Land† articulates combatting notions of history, progress, and form that do not reach any conclusive resolution in the poem or in its subsequent readings. With the aid of hindsight the critic can understand Eliot’s growing religious conservatism in subsequent works like â€Å"Journey of the Magi. † By trying to include every literary and theological mode, he winds up putting them all at a discount; even if one’s chosen credo is somewhat arbitrary it at least allows entrance into the myth of rebirth. The forces in tension in â€Å"The Waste Land† chart two continuing political alignments. The will or willingness to subscribe to any belief is most darkly visible in the rise of the Third Reich; the willingness to subscribe to none is most visible in our inability to decisively commit to the prevention of subsequent atrocities. Eliot’s poem provides a space for considering these questions without prejudicing the question through contemporary political affiliations. The political question can be momentarily set aside if we imagine, for the time being, that this is merely art for art’s sake. Works Cited Eliot, T. S. â€Å"The Wasteland. † The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M. H. Abrams and Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W. W. Norton and Co. , 2000. 236

Educating Youth in Developing Countries

Educating Youth in Developing Countries John W. Gardner, former United States Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare stated: Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants (http://thinkexist.com/quotes/john_w._gardner/). Gardners statement expresses the necessity to educate children thoroughly by providing them with skills to harvest their own self-improvement. These skills include leadership, teamwork, confidence and responsibility. Many worldwide organizations focus on youth development through education. Children are the generation most capable of carrying out positive changes such as peace, development, and equity, due to time and materials being in their favor. When youth are given the means to educate themselves and acquire leadership skills, they are provided with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to their global society. Programs that focus on youth education and development through organized activity are popular in developed and developing countries. Organizations range from summer camps to after school programs to international teaching initiatives. I work for an organization called Youth Leadership Camps Canada that specializes in working with children ages 5-18 in an outdoor recreational environment to aid in their leadership development. Our staff is trained in various recreation techniques including games facilitation, high ropes and waterfront activities, teamwork initiative tasks, and reflection in order to effectively convey important leadership and self-improvement techniques to children and teens. Through working at YLCC, I have discovered that play is an effective way to teach leadership skills in a practical and engaging manner. Children absorb concepts quickly through experience, and active learning helps them gain the confidence to lead among their peers when given the opportunity. I have seen positive results and growth in children and teens that are vision impaired, children with mental development issues, children who are labeled at risk and children who are labeled average and above average in their development. My experience working at YLCC has fueled my curiosity to discover similar programs and research their methods and levels of success. This research paper will explore factors influencing the need for development among third-world youth; recreational education as a proven method of equipping youth with essential skills; programs that educate youth through activity, and criticisms of such programs. Factors Influencing the Need for Youth Development When discussing the importance of rehabilitating and teaching youth, it is necessary to evaluate their living conditions and the factors that influence their need for development. Many children in developing countries live in undesirable conditions, suffering poverty and starvation, low success in school, and negligence from parents. Michael Justesen and Dorte Verners book titled Factors Impacting Youth Development in Haiti discusses the state of matters among Haitian youth: A series of factors predisposes a large proportion of youth to poverty, school dropout, 3 unemployment, early sexual initiation, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, sexual and physical abuse, crime and violence, substance abuse and drug dealing, and social exclusion (Justesen, M; Verner, D. 2007:3). Determining the factors that propel youth to unhealthy and unfulfilling conditions allows one to begin to develop a solution to the problem. According to Justesen and Verner, the sources of youth development hindrances are rooted in several aspects: In many households absence of the father or both parents, drug abuse, pressure for female adolescents to bear children, and domestic violence contribute to the challenges young people face on a daily basis (2007:3). Addressing and understanding these factors and their sources is necessary if one has the intention to work with youth and help them to work toward self-improvement. The World Banks Country Study titled Caribbean Youth Development discusses three factors contributing to the need for youth development: individual characteristics, microenvironment, and macro environment. (The World Bank. 2003: 28-42) Individual characteristics refer to the character and qualities of the person in question. For example, the study refers to the levels of self-esteem and feelings of rage among youth in the Caribbean (2003: 28). Youth who experience rage are more likely to engage in crime and violence, or use drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (2003: 28) More than half of children who display rage-like behavior in the Caribbean have been either sexually or physically abused (2003: 29). Microenvironment and macro environment refer to factors such as parental and 4 community influence, and economic situations and position in society, respectively. (2003: 30, 37) Institutions and individuals with whom youth make contact are very powerful influences in their lives (2003: 35). Direct connection with members of their microenvironment can play a role in a youths development, and the individual demeanor they will adopt. Macro environment concerns itself with factors that determine a persons circumstance, such as gender or economic situation (2003: 37). The three aforementioned factors cover varying aspects of a youths life, addressing elements both within and beyond an individuals control. Despite records that certain factors lead to disagreeable living conditions, hope remains that Haitian youth, and others to follow, will rise above their troubles and work as leaders, if given the proper direction: Haitis history, combined with the countrys social and poverty indicators, show that youth should be seen not as a problem, but as a product of the family and community environment and therefore should be treated as a potential solution to Haitis development challenges (2007: 3), This statement advocates the idea of developing youth through education and leadership, allowing them to be agents of change in their own lives and in their communities. Recreation and Youth: Connections and Results People have participated in sport and recreation for hundreds of years, from simple game play in the schoolyard, to worldwide Olympic events. According to Martha Ewings article, The Role of Sports in Youth Development, Children learn 5 moral behaviour from engaging with others, watching the behaviour of others, and/or being taught ethical behaviour (Ewing, M.E et al. 2002:37). In this sense, ethical behaviour can be acquired through active learning in an interactive team environment. Ewings article suggests that youth can learn moral behaviour and build character through participation in sport. Specifically, Ewing mentions that in studying children and their participation in physical education, it has been proposed that children (a) develop physical skillsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(b) improve fitness; (c) learn social and emotional skills; (d) develop moral values; and (e) acquire a better sense of self through increased perceived competence, self-esteem and self-confidence (2002: 31). The essential skills gained from participation in sport work as an agent toward youth development and provide a solution from troublesome conditions. Through sports and team activities, children learn self-sufficiency, co-operation, and begin t o believe that they are capable of being leaders. Recreational programs are sometimes government funded and provided within schools, while others are non-governmental and extra-curricular, such as summer camp. Camp is often presented in the media as simply a place for children to have fun in the outdoors. However, summer camp provides youth with an opportunity to extend their personal boundaries, be active, make connections, and gain confidence through learning new skills and interacting with others. Christopher Thurbers study Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience: Evidence for 6 Multidimensional Growth discusses the technique for youth development used by summer camps: Promoting the healthy development of young people adheres to two complementary theoretical orientations. Prevention Science (e.g., Greenberg et al., 2003; Nation et al., 2003) aims to identify at-risk populations and alter individual characteristics that are precursors to unhealthy behaviors, such as school failure, drug use, and violence. Positive Youth Development (e.g., Catalano, Berglund, Ryan, Lonczak, and Hawkins, 2002; Larson, 2000) also seeks to reduce unhealthy behaviors, but by fostering the individual, social, and environmental characteristics-such as positive identity, social competence, and independence-that promote healthy development. Viewing young people as assets rather than liabilities also reflects the trend toward studying positive psychology and resiliency (e.g., Seligman, 2003; Werner and Smith, 2001), rather than focusing narrowly on pathology and risk (Thurber, C.A, et al. 2006: 241). According to this study, summer camps break their education methods down into two categories. They evaluate not only the factors contributing to the need for development, but focus on methods of fostering healthy development in a positive manner. The harmony of discovering the origins of the problem with the process of intently working toward improvement and learning has proven to be successful: (Researchers have) focused on children with identified problems, including emotional disturbances (Byers, 1979; Durkin, 1988, 1993), learning disabilities and social skills deficits 7 (see Mishna, Michalski, and Cummings, 2001, for a review), family dysfunction (Lewicki, Goyett, and Marr, 1996), chronic medical conditions (e.g., Zimmerman, Carter, Sears, and Lawson, 1987), delinquency (e.g., Castellano and Soderstrom, 1992), and gang involvement (Harris, Fried, and Arana, 1995). Results of these studies all support the conclusion that camp promotes childrens health and development and reduces the recurrence of referral problems. Summer camps and physical education are proven methods of guidance for youth in an active environment. The techniques used to increase a childs mental and physical health through activity can be used effectively to aid youth in developing countries to gain confidence and leadership skills. Programs Specializing in Recreational Education in Developing Countries Many organizations have taken notice of the positive results that come from youth participation in organized activity. Programs such a Right to Play and OA Projects focus on providing children with essential skills through engagement in team sports such as soccer. UNICEFs Peace Education program facilitates various workshops for school-aged youth, intending to teach qualities such as empathy, tolerance, communication, and co-operation (Fountain, S. 1999: 17). Susan Fountains article discussing training methods by UNICEF describes peace education among the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to live and work in dignity (1999:1). Specifically, sport and physical education have been used in Rwandan schools as a vehicle for developing skills and attitudes of peace 8 (1999:17). Training youth to work together as members of a team is a common goal among activity based NGOs like Right to Play and OA Projects. Right to Play is based on the guiding principle of inclusion, hoping to promote the involvement and acceptance of youth who are marginalized for various reasons, including gender, disability, and background (At a Glance, 2009: 1). Right to Play also focuses on reintegrating youth affected by conflict into society; health promotion and disease prevention education; basic cognitive development and partnership with local community leaders and coaches to ensure individual as well as community development (At a Glance, 2009: 1) Similarly, OA Projects partners with local programs focused on promoting peace and rebuilding communities (www.oaprojects.org. About.) Interaction with the project country contributes to the organizations authenticity. The Outcome: Results and Critiques Nearly every effort to aid in developing countries provokes critiques questioning its integrity and authenticity. One might question whether a child can actually grow and receive essential skills from play. While leadership skills are important, do these programs provide youth with the opportunities to exercise them fully, and enough to make changes in their lives and in their communities? Cora Burnetts Sports-for-Development Approaches in the South African Context: A Case Study Analysis looks at sports in the school, community clubs, and South Africas Youth Development through Football (YDF) program. In her conclusion she suggests, the emphasis of 9 traditional male sports such as rugby, cricket and football, inevitably limited the opportunities for equitable gender participation (YEAR: 38). While Burnetts critique states that inclusion of members of the community created mass participation at the school level and afforded many rural learners the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports (year: 39), focus lacked in addressing contextual priorities and appropriate needs-based education and training toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ creat(e) career pathways or enhanc(e) the employability status (with reference to the school sport assistants and contract workers) of vulnerable populations (year: 39). Burnetts critiques address concerns that many inevitably share, questioning whether the outcome of activity-based programs is worth the means to present them. Conclusion It goes without saying that every child deserves to enjoy life and feel the joy that comes with playing and being active. Programs that offer children an opportunity to grow through activity not only intend to expose war-affected youth to an experience of fun, but through the fun experience, show children how to work together, lead and take initiative. Whether in Canada or in the third-world, physical activity is proven to increase fitness, confidence, and teamwork and communication skills. It is questionable whether sports and activity-based programs have a consistently favorable outcome as providers of better opportunities for youth. However, it is undeniable that the end result of joy and confidence for a child is worthwhile. Children in developing countries deserve a childhood just as much as children in 10 developed countries do. Through organized activity and sport, children are given the opportunity to play and laugh, while learning valuable team and leadership skills. Sports-based programs are not designed to pave the pathway of a better future for third-world youth, but rather to provide them with the confidence and skills to consider their pathways, and equip themselves to think critically about the pathways they are on.

Dells Just In Time Inventory Management system

Dells Just In Time Inventory Management system Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing is specific type of inventory production strategy that is used to improve a companys return on investment through a cutback of stock held. The primary goal of JIT is the achievement of zero inventory, not just with within the confines of a singe organisation but ultimately throughout the entire supply chain (Hutchins 1988). Many companies are making the transition into adopting JIT manufacturing; however it was the automotive industry sector that initially pioneered the principle. It was first developed by Toyota in the 1980s and it is now frequently used within the production of a diverse range of different goods. Nowadays companys inventories are shrinking to almost nothing mainly because of the large increase of JIT manufacturing. Dell is probably the most well known business that had implemented the lean manufacturing process. Therefore for the purpose of this report I am going to focus on how Dell the computer producer has integrated JIT, a parti cular type of inventory management into their firm. 2.1 Dell company analysis The Dell Computer Corporation is one of the leading sellers of PCs with its main rival being the Hewlett Packard Company. (Mintel 2009) claims that Dell is the the number two supplier worldwide. It is a very successful firm that has gained exceptional sales accomplishments because of its unique direct marketing model. They have had the right amount of resources within their business to develop an extremely successful inventory production model. As a result Dell has gained competitive edge and many rival computer companies are now starting to replicate Dell. However simply imitating Dells strategy without fully researching the management theory behind it is not an ideal approach for other firms to adopt. Most of the enterprises that have tried to do this have not succeeded, to much of a degree that Dell has. The competitive advantages of Dell over its competitors are that Dell has well thought out JIT inventory system and very good supplier integration. This has helped in cutting down inventory costs within the business and has also reduced the lead time in serving customer orders for computers and laptops. This had caused Dell to gain a very successful process improvement within their enterprise. 2.2 Dell JIT strategy It is quite clear that these JIT inventory systems have evolved over the years. (Helo 2004) states that JIT is believed to enhance productivity and build a leaner manufacturing system which minimises inventories. This is because Just-in-time makes production operations much more efficient compared with other methods of production, as it is a cost effective approach. Dell realised that this would be a excellent opportunity for their business processes before any other computer firms did and have therefore have cut their inventories from having 20 to 25 days of inventory to having no warehousesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and no more than two hours of inventory in its factories (Mishra 2009). By doing this Dell reached one of their main goals of constantly improving performance of their business. They also recognized that they could reduce expenditure by integrating and optimizing their computer manufacturing system. Overall such a system builds a leaner supply chain for Dell, so that their inventor ies are minimized. 2.3 Requirements for JIT manufacturing Establishing a JIT company like Dell requires commitment from every department and a lot of support from the companys strategic management team. A pull production method of work flow needs to be put into practice for JIT systems to be useful within Dell. The entire supply chain system is built around the flexibility and speed therefore customer demand is the factor that activates production of Dell computers. Normally this is fine within Dells business as they use the direct marketing model to sell their computers. However sometimes demand for computers can rapidly increase without any significant explanation. Dell has to have a contingency plan in place in case this happens unexpectedly. Even though inventory is low Dell still have the ability to stretch and push the factory processes to the capacity at times when demand succeeds supply. Table 1. Key Requirements for JIT Production (Lubben 1988) 1.High quality standards 2.Demand or pull scheduling 3.Level production schedules 4.Sufficient lead time (minimum setup time) to change to new products 5.Long term contract commitments from customers and with suppliers 6.Contiuous improvement of the production process 7.Minimum inventory in the manufacturing system 2.4 Advantages of Dell adopting a JIT system There are a wide range of benefits that JIT manufacturing can have on an enterprise. Firstly JIT appeals to a wide variety of businesses as it helps to prevent manufacturers from getting stuck with outdated or unusable inventory. Dell only has 2 hours worth of inventory in their manufacturing plants. This ensures that they are controlling their production of computers fully. In addition to this it has been found that JIT adoption has significant positive results on the financial figures of a business. Dell has achieved a cash conversion cycle from implementing JIT systems. This allows a healthy flow of money within their business, which will have an encouraging impact on their profitability. Another one of the many advantages to just-in-time manufacturing is the reduced cost. This is only achieved after the JIT systems has been in place for quite while, but it reduces capital tied up in stock, which allows a company like Dell to spend money on other areas of the business such as adve rtising and marketing. Just-in-time also has a much faster setup and saves resources by streamlining production systems. This as a result prevents overproduction of computers, which will therefore help Dell with the elimination of waste within their company. As a further point JIT systems also abolishes costs of warehouse space and storage facilities. This also allows Dell to inject cash into other parts of their enterprise and can also keep travel costs to a minimum. 2.5 Limitations of a company such as Dell implementing JIT manufacturing Just as JIT manufacturing has many strong points, there are some weaknesses as well. The Just-in-Time system may not suit every business, thorough research needed to be done by Dell to ensure such inventory management would work in the way they wanted it to, before they executed it. This would have been a very long process as they would have needed to weigh up the risks it could have on their business. In addition to this it is difficult and very expensive to introduce as there is possible large initial set up costs, which may put some businesses off. This did not put Dell off as they knew the long term benefits would mean that they would become more profitable if they introduce this method. They also found that it would allow them to gain continuous improvement within their business practices in the future, which could allow them to become the superior computer manufacturer over the Hewlett Packard Company who currently has the top spot in the industry. It is also true that JIT proc esses can become vulnerable to market demand fluctuations and unforeseen production interruptions. Again Dell had to look in depth into the buying patterns of their customer base, before investing in JIT systems within their firm. Conclusion Just in time manufacturing can have a positive influence on an enterprise such as Dell and by utilizing JIT systems they have gained a competitive edge against similar rivals in the computer industry. The direct selling model compliments their JIT systems which could in the future make them the worldwide leader in computer manufacturing. However as an important point inventory management systems do not appear to be consistent across all industries. Dell Computer Corporation must critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of implementing Just-in-time systems within their operations. Nevertheless Dell has done their research correctly and as a result JIT is rather successful within computer manufacturers. It is true that the computer industries do not have the experience of JIT systems that the automotive industry has, but it has successfully implemented JIT principles over the past 20 years and will continue to in the future. In addition to this implementing a new concept such as JIT systems requires a constant support from each and every aspect of the organization. It demands complete support from every department operating in the organisation. If a company like Dell accomplishes the implementation of JIT purchasing systems it can result in improved productivity. Despite JIT process it self is not complicated, the implementation stage is not easy to face at all. However it is possible the system can bring high levels of competitiveness to big companies such as Dell and they have proved this with their financial status in the market. The most important factor Dell has to remember, is that they have to sustain good working relationships with their suppliers for JIT to work within their organisation in the first place. For the reasons highlighted in the paper above I can come to the conclusion that Dell have successfully implemented JIT inventory management within their business processes and they are using continuous improvement within their company to mai ntain to be one the leading manufacturers of computers and software. References ALPHABETICALLY Helo (2004) Managing agility and productivity in the electronics industry Industrial Management Data Systems Hutchins (1988) Overview of JIT Just in Time Lubben (1988) Pull production system Just-in-time Manufacturing Mintel (2009) PCs and Laptops [online] Available at: http://academic.mintel.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/showHYPERLINK http://academic.mintel.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=474522/display/id=475761#hit1HYPERLINK http://academic.mintel.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=474522/display/id=475761#hit1/display/id=474522/display/id=475761#hit1 [Accessed 30 April 2010] Mishra (2009) Just-In-Time production: the Dell Way [online] Available at: http://penofaparanoid.blogspot.com/2009/06/just-in-time-production-dell-way_18.html [Accessed 30 April 2010] http://www.ehow.com/about_5099120_pro-just-time-inventory-system.html

Audrey Hepburn :: Biography

Audrey Hepburn was loved all over the world and was a very influential, successful actress. She was known for acting, modeling, and dancing. Many women in the world looked to Audrey as their idol. She was influenced by many things that happened during her early life. In Brussels, Belgium Audrey Kathleen Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929. As an infant she almost nearly died from a case of whooping cough because her mother did not believe in doctors she believed in prayers only (Gitlin 1). Audrey was different from a lot of kids when growing up she was a shy, but had a wild imagination. She imaged a fairly castle with nature’s wonders of trees or bushes (Gitlin 3). Hepburn attended an academy for girls in Kent from 1935-1938 (Audrey Hepburn). Audrey and her mother, Ella, were abandoned by Audrey’s father because he was so involved with the Fascist movement. He was very motivated by his increased political passions (Gitlin 6). Audrey’s Grandparents took her and her mother fifty miles southeast of Amsterdam and helped then through the hard time of Audrey’s dad leaving them. After some time had passed on Audrey’s father, Joseph moved to London and asked for visitation rights (Gitlin 6). In 1939- 1945 Hepburn traine d in ballet in Arnhem Conservatory. Audrey became so well at doing ballet in 1944 she danced for groups of people to collect money for underground movement. Later she said, â€Å"The best audience I ever had made not a single sound at the end of my performance’’ (Audrey Hepburn). While attending boarding school, World War II broke out but Audrey focused on ballet. Ella did not feel safe in their location because of the war. The two of them relocated to Holland but soon no country will be safe in Europe because of the German attack (Gitlin 8). Ella and her daughter had to be separated during the war for a while because of all the danger zones. One of the last planes was traveling from England to Holland and they managed to make it. This was the last time Audrey would ever be able to see her father again because of his conversions to Nazism was complete (Gitlin 8 ). Audrey was able to enroll in Arnhem Conservatory of music and dance during this hard ship. The school wasn’t the best in Europe, but they did help her out with her posture and flexibility.

Lord Of The Flies - Character :: essays research papers

Viewing the Text from a Different Perspective Many times in novels the elements of setting, mood and tone are used to extend beyond the words in a text and elaborate the reader’s mind into imagining the actual events taking place. In the classic novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding utilizes the setting, mood and tone in great detail to reflect how the characters think, act and feel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon a desolate tropical island, a group of boys of different characteristics get marooned when their plane crashes. Golding describes the island in a way that appeals to the reader as paradise, â€Å"The palms that stood made a green roof, covered on the underside with a quivering tangle of reflections from the lagoon...It was clear to the bottom and bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral. A school of tiny, glittering fish flicked hither and thither.† (p.12) The island itself suggests a place of wonder and relaxation. Providing the reader with the impression of an utopia society, an impression that will soon be contradicted as the novel progresses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After a signal fire is ignited by Ralph’s orders, two young twins, Sam and Eric stand guard in maintaining the fire. While on duty, an eerie figure drifts down from the sky and lands in the forest several yards away from Sam and Eric. â€Å"There was a sudden bright explosion and corkscrew trail across the sky...There was a speck above the island, a figure dropping swiftly beneath a parachute, a figure that hung with dangling limbs. The changing winds of various altitudes took the figure where they would. Then three miles up, the wind steadied and bore it in a descending curve round the sky and swept it in a great slant across the reef and the lagoon toward the mountain.† (p.95) The dead parachutist, also known as the beast, is used to foreshadow the death of Simon, a small although intellectual boy. The parachutist shows the idea of one man slaughtering another as he dies in war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Simon, returns to the other boys to inform them of his encounter with the parachutist (the beast), he is mistaken for the beast and is brutally attacked. The effects of lighting, rain as well as wind aroused the sensation of rage and excitement in the boys in their slaughter. â€Å"The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of rock to the sand by the water.

Exploring Traumatic Brain Injury in Children Essay -- Medicine

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading public health concerns today. The Center for Disease and Control (2010) reported that 1.7 million individuals sustain TBI each year). Moreover, TBI accounts to a third (30.5%) of all injury related deaths in the United States. Those who are most likely to sustain TBI are children (0-4 years), older adolescents (15-19 years) and older adults (65+ years) (CDC, 2010). This analysis will examine the prevalence, diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis of traumatic brain injuries in children. Brain injuries can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories. The most commonly used assessment for classifying TBI severity is by using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). This scale assesses individual’s level of consciousness based on verbal, motor, and eye responses to stimuli. Researchers Kung et al (2010) analyzed the components of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) from 27,625 TBI cases in Taiwan. The correlation between the survival rate and certain eye (E), motor (M) and verbal (V) score combinations for GCS (scores of 6, 11, 12, ) were found to be statistically significant. The findings indicate that the three fundamental elements comprising the Glasgow coma scale (E, M, & V) separately and in some combinations are predictive of the survival of TBI patients. The researchers assert that this observation is clinically useful when a complete GCS score cannot be obtained when evaluating TBI patients. Confirmative neuroimaging scans plays a pivotal role in TBI diagnosis, prognosis, and deciding what treatments to give. CT is the preferred method of assessment on admission to determine structural damage and to detect (developing) intracranial hematomas (Maas, Stocchetti, Bullock, 2008). .. ..., Injury, Volume 42, Issue 9, September 2011, Pages 940-944, ISSN 0020-1383, 10.1016/j.injury.2010.09.019. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020138310006741) Tawfeeq, Mohammed M Halawani, Khulood Al-Faridi, Wa’el AAL-Shaya, Wa’el S Taha, Traumatic brain injury: neuroprotective anaesthetic techniques, an update, Injury, Volume 40, Supplement 4, November 2009, Pages S75-S81, ISSN 0020-1383, 10.1016/j.injury.2009.10.040. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020138309005609) Yeates, Armstrong, Janusz, Taylor, Wade, Stancin, Drotar, Long-Term Attention Problems in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 44, Issue 6, June 2005, Pages 574-584, ISSN 0890-8567, 10.1097/01.chi.0000159947.50523.64. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856709616336)

How My Optimism Helps Me Overcome Obstacles

Alyssa McCutchen Period 6 3/15/12 How My Optimism Helps Me Overcome Obstacles Optimism is such a funny thing. It has the capability to help you solve some of the most challenging and troublesome problems you’ll ever face in your entire life. This is exactly what optimism does for me. I have had some of the most challenging and troublesome things happen to me and using optimism during those times really helped me through them, and I honestly don’t think I would have made it through all of those times without using optimism.During those times optimism came to me in any and every way, shape, or form. It would come to me if the sun was shining outside, from a verse in a song, from a text I would get, or sometimes even from playing a silly board game to pass the time. All of these things helped me to learn that â€Å"can do† attitude. That attitude where you feel like you can fly if you want to, that you can reach the highest peak in the tallest mountain, or that no m atter how bad your situation may be it’ll get better. That attitude that shows optimism at it’s greatest.When I was a little girl, there was always this one specific person that made me such a positive, energetic, and hopeful little girl. That one person happened to be the one and only Dr. Seuss. He was such a motivational person to me as I was growing up and he still is today. Everything he said stuck to me like a magnet, and made me think long and hard about what he was saying and what it meant to me. There was this one quote he said that has stuck with me ever since I was little, and it goes a little something like this, â€Å"Now I’ve heard there are troubles of more than one kind.Some come from ahead, some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat, I’m already you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me. † When I hear that quote I feel like Dr. Seuss is trying to say get up! Wipe that dust off of your back, stand up str aight, and put a smile on your face. Look your obstacles in the eye and show them that you’re not going to back down. That you’re still as positive and strong as ever, and that you will never give up. Although a majority of that quote resembles perseverance, perseverance wouldn’t exist without optimism.Optimism is such a funny thing. It has the capability to put a smile on someone’s face, to put a spring in their step, and to overall brighten there day. My own mother is a prime example of this. My mom has what is called Congestive Heart Failure. Congestive Heart Failure is the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow. Because of this my mom happens to be disabled, and can’t work or do a lot of physical activity. Even though she has so many reasons to be negative about life, she refuses.Instead, she focuses on being a good, positive role model and mother to my Sister, and I. As Elbert Hubbard once said, â€Å"Optimism is a kind of hea rt stimulant- the diagnosis of failure. † Optimism has brought me through some many things in my life, and I’m sure it always will. Because I know this, no amount of obstacles can knock me down. The Greek philosopher once said, â€Å"Happiness depends upon ourselves. † As for me, I choose to be happy because I know I have optimism and that alone is more than enough.In the words of William Ward, â€Å"Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering the room, others by leaving the room. Some individuals leave trails of gloom, others trails of joy. Some leave trails of hate and bitterness, others trails of love and harmony. Some leave trails of cynicism and pessimism, others trails of faith and optimism. Some leave trails of criticism and resignation, others trails of gratitude and hope. What kind of trails do you leave? †

Bauhaus School

Das Bauhaus Jeremy Hart German Civilization 2320 Professors Cook, Kopp, and Prager March 6, 2013 The Bauhaus, a revolutionary school of art and craft founded by Walter Gropius in 1919, stands today as an important influence on postmodern art and architecture. It is also the namesake of its own movement; which is characterized by severely economic and geometric designs and a functional view of materials. To truly understand the origins of the Bauhaus and the importance of its modern implications, we must first know about the influences that its founder relied on. The Vienna Secession was formed in Austria in 1897.The secessionist artists attempted to create their own style that had no clear relation to any historical eras. Paired with this avant-garde approach, they relied on more pure geometric designs to produce their art. The geometric approach to art proved to have lasting effects on Gropius and his contemporaries. The Werkbund was the German model of the Vienna Secession. Founded in 1907, the 12 artists and 12 industrialists who comprised it aimed to infuse industry with modern and functional designs. These designs would both foster efficiency and function and be free of traditional elements and ornamentation.A leading artist in the Werkbund named Peter Behrens was Gropius’ mentor and employer. Along with Belgian painter Henry van de Velde, the two men were Gropius’ main influences in forming the Bauhaus. In the Bauhaus manifesto he wrote in 1919, Gropius vows to return artists to the deep seat of creativity that rests in the handicrafts, and bring together an unbiased consortium of artists who would dictate architectural style to the modern world: â€Å"By the grace of Heaven and in rare moments of inspiration which transcend the will, art may unconsciously blossom from the labour of is hand, but a base in handicrafts is essential to every artist. It is there that the original source of creativity lies. Let us therefore create a new guild of craftsmen without the class-distinctions that raise an arrogant barrier between craftsmen and artists! Let us desire, conceive, and create the new building of the future together. It will combine architecture, sculpture, and painting in a single form, and will one day rise towards the heavens from the hands of a million workers as the crystalline symbol of a new and coming faith. In the latter half of this passage, Gropius is expressing a Utopian vision that encompasses the general public: â€Å"†¦building of the future together†¦from the hands of a million workers. † The new styles would not be just for artists, but their work would be accessible to everyone. The nature of the designs would be streamlined and simple to they could be mass-produced. The art would not only be of interest and use to a niche audience but to the majority, so they could appreciate its function and efficiency When the new conservative government of Weimar withdrew support for the Bauhaus in 1925, it found a new home in Dessau.Out of the new home in Dessau came the radical changes in style and material of everyday items, such as tea infusers, office chairs, and table lamps. Most importantly perhaps, the Bauhaus in Dessau was the home of the first workshop for architecture, the key Gropius outlined in his manifesto that would serve as the medium for infusing function and creativity into everyday applications. The new architecture would be the first tangible contributions to industry. Prior to this point, Germany had been in the midst of a severe economic crisis brought on by World War I.Now that there was money to be spent, new innovations in architecture began to become the standard in the modern industrial world. The first chance the new school had to prove itself, quite ironically, was by building itself. The school was to be constructed following mostly Gropius’ designs, now commonplace features of Bauhaus architecture: flat roofs, lack of ornamentation, an d strict geometric lines. The first true revolution in architecture for which the Bauhaus is credited came in the form of the workers’ housing areas.Architect and Gropius contemporary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe organized an exhibition for architects to design a modern solution for worker housing, with only one rule that each building have a flat roof. Unfortunately no groundbreaking design was hatched, but the designs helped change the culture of architecture forever. The Bauhaus was already establishing itself as a symbol of progressive art and architecture. Following the architectural and industrial boom in Germany, the Bauhaus relocated to America in 1933, fleeing Hitler and the Nazis.New director Laszlo Moholy-Nagy founded the New Bauhaus in Chicago. The spirit of innovation that marked the original Bauhaus was just as prevalent here as New Bauhaus students developed breakthroughs in photography, film, and the use of materials. In America, the Bauhaus style is still influen cing the gamut of industrial design, from towering skyscrapers that seem to be built entirely out of glass, to ‘wiggle chairs’ actually made completely of cardboard. Ultimately, postmodernists and modernists stand starkly opposed when it comes to the necessary attributes and function of designs and art.Postmodern culture was born out of a disregard for modernist minimalism, arguably a style perpetuated if not championed by Bauhaus theory. So one can say modernism is the de facto reason for postmodernism’s existence. The practitioners of postmodernism sought to revive theories from previous centuries that appealed to the human need for comfort for the body and beauty for the eye. The true similarity between the two movements was the importance of function. Both schools of thought believed art and architecture specifically should serve to promote the building’s function. The true difference lies in aesthetics.So in the same way we attribute postmodern styles to high art of years past, we can also attribute Bauhaus styles to the past. Gropius’ vision of a return to purer geometric forms, a proclivity for functional efficiency, and respect for materials exemplifies this. We see the strong disjunction between modern (Bauhaus) and postmodern style as the latter reacting to the former. Making this connection lets us argue that modernism and postmodernism are actually two aspects of the same movement, and thus shows us that the free-thinking, subjective aspects of postmodernism owe their creation to the logical, analytical aspects of its predecessor.Works Referenced Bauhaus Museum. www. bauhausmuseum. com/history/manifesto Bauhaus School. March 4, 2013. http://thebauhaus. org/thebauhaus/ Chicago Bauhaus and Beyond. March 4, 2013. www. chicagobauhausbeyond. org Exhibit Bauhaus. March 4, 2013. http://bengal. missouri. edu/~kuhlerd/art327/index. html Roger Cook. Class notes. http://germanciv. missouri. edu/2320/bauhaus/index. html

Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Environmental degradation may be defined as the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. Environmental degradation has occurred due to the recent activities in the field of socio-economic, institutional and technologies. Environmental changes are dependent on many factors including economic growth, population growth, urbanization, intensification of agriculture, rising energy use and transportation.Poverty still remains a problem at the root of several environmental problems. Introduction to environmental issues problems There are innumerable issues and problems faced by the environment today. Due to rapid industrialization, heavy usage of chemicals and lack of concern for the environment, today we are facing several problems. These issues should be dealt with immediately else mankind may have to face serious repercussions. Environmental degradation is a r esult of socio- economical, technological and institutional activities.Degradation occurs when Earth's natural resources are depleted. These resources which are affected include: †¢Water †¢Air †¢Soil CAUSES The causes of environmental degradation are often as complex the problems that result. The primary cause is human disturbance. The degree of the environmental impact varies with the cause, the habitat, and the plants and animals that inhabit it. There are many causes of environmental degradation. These include. Environmental changes are based on many factors including: †¢Urbanization †¢Population growth †¢Economic growth Intensification of agriculture Increase in energy use Causes of Environmental Pollution Increased and uncontrolled human activities like industries, transportation, agriculture, health care, dwelling, and energy generation are some of the causes of environmental pollution. Several industries like textile, steel, paper, sugar, food, petroleum, cement industries, and chemical industries and causes soil or land pollution, air pollution, and water pollution. Conclusion of environmental pollution is that the major cause for the environmental pollution is activities of humans.Industrial pollutants that causes pollution includes gases like cyanides, methane, carbon disulphides, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochloric acids, hydrogen disulphides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and sulphur dioxide and several other liquid / solid compounds. Modern agriculture which uses large scale of pesticides and fertilizers causes soil pollution and pollution of drinking water. Vehicular traffic releasing excess amounts sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide are the major causes of air pollution especially in cities.INCREASE IN TRANSPORTATION Increased and uncontrolled human activities like industries, transportation, agriculture, health care, dwelling, and energy generation are some of the causes of environmental pollution. Several industrie s like textile, steel, paper, sugar, food, petroleum, cement industries, and chemical industries and causes soil or land pollution, air pollution, and water pollution. Conclusion of environmental pollution is that the major cause for the environmental pollution is activities of humans.Industrial pollutants that causes pollution includes gases like cyanides, methane, carbon disulphides, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochloric acids, hydrogen disulphides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and sulphur dioxide and several other liquid / solid compounds. Modern agriculture which uses large scale of pesticides and fertilizers causes soil pollution and pollution of drinking water. Vehicular traffic releasing excess amounts sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide are the major causes of air pollution especially in cities. †¢Water and air HABITAT FRAGMENTATIONHabitat fragmentation carries long term environmental impacts some of which can destroy entire ecosystems. An ecosystem is a di stinct unit and includes all the living and non-living elements that reside within it. Plants and animals are obvious members, but it will also include other components on which they rely on such as streams, lakes, and soils. ACID RAIN Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide from coal plant emissions combines with moisture present in the air. A chemical reaction creates this acid precipitation. Acid rain can acidify and pollute lakes and streams. It causes similar effects to the soil.If enough acid rain falls in a given environment, it can acidify the water or soil to a point where no life can be sustained. Plants die off. The AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF animals that depend upon them disappear. The condition of the environment deteriorates. Agricultural runoff is a deadly source of pollutants which can degrade environments,. Surface water washes over the soil and into lakes and streams. When it does so, it carries the fertilizers and pesticides used on the farm lands into water resources. Obvi ously, introducing poisons into waterways will have dire consequences.Fertilizers whether or not they are organic carry equal risks. URBAN DEVELOPMENT Urban development is the primary cause of environmental degradation. As populations increased, so did the need for land for homes and farms. Wetlands were drained. Environmental degradation is one of most urgent of environmental issues. Depending upon the damage, some environments may never recover. The plants and animals that inhabited these places will be lost forever. We do not have to look far to see the impacts of environmental degradation on our Earth.DEFORESTATION Cutting down massive forests impacts our biosphere. . Deforestation, wasting resources, and pollution all add to the demise of an environmentally-sound and safe planet. For example, when trees in forests are cut down in large quantities, so that more homes can be built on the land, the birds and wildlife who lived in the forest must find a new place to live. Unfortuna te Impacts of Environmental Degradation The degradation also impacts our: †¢Wildlife †¢Plants †¢Animals †¢Micro-organisms When factories produce harmful chemicals and toxic waste into bodies of water, humans suffer.Pesticides and fertilizers can also get into a region's water system and pollute it. Drinking water is contaminated. Some residing in third-world countries are highly effected by the degradation of our planet and these unhealthy practices cause the following: †¢Illnesses †¢Death in children †¢Death in adults POVERTY . People are finding less nutritious food to eat. , especially those around the Equator, are vulnerable to weather changes, water shortages, and urbanization. All of these factors are increasing the health and lives of thousands.Some scientists and environmentalists are asking that non-food items and agriculture waste be used as alternative fuel for vehicles instead. LOSING EARTH'S BEAUTY As humans dump waste products, use ch emicals, and over fish in the oceans and seas, areas of beauty such as coral reefs are damaged. At times the destruction is so great that is cannot be reversed. We are killing our planet and the consequences are tremendous. How to Stop Degradation There are ways which you can help to decrease degradation in our environment. Some of these include: †¢Purchase recycled products †¢Conserve water Do not litter or toss waste into inappropriate places †¢Conserve energy †¢Join an awareness group †¢Talk with others about the impacts of environmental degradation †¢Be an advocate to save our planet! Factors Affecting Envi: 1. Destruction of natural resources: Agricultural development and farming activities contribute, to soil erosion, land salination and loss of nutrients. The green revolution and over exploitation of land and water resources, and use of fertilizers and pesticides have increased to many folds resulting in land degradation and water logging. 2. Eff ects of Environmental Degradation: 1.Loss of biodiversity: The extinction of plant and animal species will heavily affect the ecosystem; it will reduce ecosystem adaptability and lead to the loss of genetic resources. 2. Environmental changes: Global warming is the result of ozone depletion which is responsible for perhaps 300,000 additional cases of skin cancer a year and 1. 7 million cases of cataracts and may lead to increase in the risk of climatic natural disasters. 3. Hazardous waste production: Diseases are spread by uncovered garbage and drains; the health risks from hazardous wastes are typically more localized, but often acute.Wastes affect productivity causing pollution of groundwater resources. 4. Soil erosion has increased due to deforestation. 5. Climate has become warmer in the deforested regions due to lack of humidity. 6. Floods and droughts have become frequent. 7. Pattern of rainfall has been changing. 8. Pollution due to increased levels of chlorofluorocarbons an d nitrogen oxides cause depletion of ozone layer in the stratosphere. 9. Acid rain is the indirect impact of air pollution. 10. Use of pesticides makes the soil toxic for plants. 11.Large amount of organic matter causes eutrophication. 12. Thermal zonation caused by hot water affects migration of aquatic animals due to thermal barriers. Environmental pollution can be defined as the deleterious effects or changes that causes disturbance to the existing environment and affects the components of the environment. Find below the causes, effects, and conclusion of environmental pollution. Presence of unsafe unnatural components that causes imbalance to the ecosystems and health hazards to animals and human beings is called pollution.Pollution affects the all the components of environment that mainly includes soil (land), water, and air Effects of Environmental Pollution Health problems due to environmental pollution ranges from the skin irritations and simple vomiting to brain tumors, int estinal cancer, and other cancers, from simple fever to the fatal hepatitis, from normal throat irritation to the deadly heart diseases. Air pollution affects the human health and is associated with problems of lungs, throat, respiratory problems, cancer etc.Water pollution of water causes health problems like gastric problems in human, affects the life aquatic organism, etc. Foods that we consume are polluted due to the use of polluted water and use of pesticides, or microbial activities. Many persistent pesticides that enter into the food chain accumulate in the human and animal bodies at larger concentrations and affect the health. Soil pollution due to various hazardous solids and liquids creates imbalances to soil ecosystems and affects the vegetation and habitats of living organisms. Conclusion of environmental pollution effects s it is a major concern of human and animal health and affects the entire ecosystem. So keeping in view of effects of environmental pollution humans a nd government should take several measures to prevent pollution and incorporate stringent laws to prevent environmental pollution. Environmental Issues Problems Conservation of species:Conservation of water, air and the natural habitat of animals and plants to curb their extinction. Over the last fewdecades several plants and animal species have become extinct which has led to a loss of biodiversity on the planet.Climate Change: Due to global warming effect the climate has changed significantly over the last century. Extreme temperatures are bringing about never before seen natural calamities like frequent draught and flooding Energy Crisis:Excessive usage of fossil fuels has led to depletion in these fuels. Usage of alternate fuel will help conserve fossil fuel. Exploitation of Natural Resources:Large scale deforestation has led to loss of vegetation. This in turn has affected rainfall, caused land degradation, soil erosion and changed the planet surface.Nuclear Issues:Usage of nuc lear power has caused major changes in the climate and composition of soil, water and air. This in turn has changed the habitat for birds, animals which migrate to other places in search of a good habitat and sometimes become extinct. Radioactive Nuclear waste needs to be dealt with in a proper way so that it does not affect the environment. Overpopulation:Overpopulation is a major global environmental issue. As the population of the world is increasing more and more resources are used up and destroyed for human use, this has dented the environment.Appropriate measures should be taken to curb population explosion. Pollution:Large and small industries and households discard industrial and household waste in water and in the atmosphere that is causing large scale pollution. This kind of pollution prevents proper growth of plant and animal species. Waste management is an important process of controlling pollution. CONCLUSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES PROBLEMS Continuous damage has been caused to the environment over the centuries. It is important to make consolidated efforts to control degradation of envi HOW TO STOP DEGRADATION There are ways which you can elp to decrease degradation in our environment. Some of these include: †¢Purchase recycled products †¢Conserve water †¢Do not litter or toss waste into inappropriate places †¢Conserve energy †¢Join an awareness group †¢Talk with others about the impacts of environmental degradation Be an advocate to save our planet! CONCLUSION †¢ Air pollution affects all life on Earth, from reducing a plant's ability to produce food to acidifying lakes and killing fish, to causing human disease and death.The complexity of air pollution with its many causes requires a multi-faceted approach that involves not only industry control but conservation practices by citizens as well. it is impossible that one can control environmental pollution but one can control one's own surrounding by throwing ga rbage in proper place, can ride cycle to nearby places and this motto should be followed by each and every person . What do you mean by â€Å"Money is a System of Power? † Money is one of the most extraordinary of human inventions. As a means of exchange it makes modern commerce possible and is one of the most beneficial of institutions.As an instrument of power it can support the most insidious and destructive of tyrannies, particularly when the processes of its creation and extinction are hidden from public view and shielded from public accountability. Money, a mere number of no inherent substance, utility, or worth created from nothing with an accounting entry when a bank creates a loan, shapes the boom and bust cycles of economic life. Its international flows determine the fate of nations. Individuals who have it in large supply enjoy lives of grand opulence in the midst of scarcity.Those who lack it face death by starvation in the midst of plenty. roleThe function of mon ey as medium for exchange required that money acts as a measure of value, otherwise how else would we know how much one item is measured in terms of other items? So human need to facilitate exchange is what gave rise to the role of money as both measure of value and medium of exchange. So far there would be little or no argument as to what money is or its role. As measure, money in and by itself has no value except in terms of the goods and services you can get in exchange for giving up an amount of that money.As a measure, money also is a neutral medium where it only shows how much each commodity is worth in relation to another commodity. A tape measure is the same tape measure whether you are measuring carpet, a pipeline, or how tall or short you are. The value is not in the tape except for the function of standard measuring it provides. It is in what the tape is measuring, and such a value is weighed in relative terms. The distance a taxi travels is measured in terms of money whi ch the driver gets in return for the services of traveling such a distance, which is the same amount of money the passenger pays the driver in return for the service.Neutrality of money is a guarantee that money does not distort the terms of exchange as the relative value of things would be measured of how much one is willing to sacrifice in terms of one commodity in return for another. Once neutrality of money is violated then its very role in facilitating exchange and promoting economic growth of producing more and consuming more in and by itself is compromised. Placing value on money itself then becomes a distorting factor where things are no longer only weighed in terms of relative values to buyers and sellers.A new player comes into play where terms of exchange are now affected by how much value a â€Å"money supplier† places on that money where money abandons the role it was created for to become a commodity in itself. Role Of Commercial Banks In The Economic Developmen t Of A Country – Presentation Transcript 1. o1. Banks promote capital formation o2. Investment in new enterprises o3. Promotion of trade and industry o4. Development of agriculture o5. Balanced development of different regions o6. Influencing economy activity o7. Implementation of Monetary policy o8. Monetization of the economy o9. Export promotion cells . Role of Commercial Banks in the Economic Development of a Country o3. Promotion of trade and industry: oWith the growth of commercial banking, there is vast expansion in trade and industry. oThe use of bank draft, check, bill of exchange, credit cards and letters of credit etc has revolutionized both national and international trade. 3. Role of Commercial Banks in the Economic Development of a Country o4. Development of agriculture: oThe commercial banks particularly in developing countries are now providing credit for development of agriculture and small scale industries in rural areas. The provision of credit to agricultu re sector has greatly helped in raising agriculture productivity and income of the farmers. Globalization and the Indian Economy Indian markets have been transformed relatively as there is addition of wide range of goods in the recent years. These rapid transformations can be understood by analyzing the various aspects like:- 1) Production across countries: Before the middle of the twentieth century, production was largely organized within countries. Raw materials, food stuff and finished products were crossing the boundaries. Trade was the main channel connecting distant countries.This was before large companies called multinational corporations emerged pm the scene. Whence the goods and services are produced globally and production is organized in increasingly complex ways. The production process is divided into small parts and spread out across the globe. The advantages o f spreading out production across the borders to the multinationals can be truly immense. 2) Interlinking pro duction across countries: Almost all MNC’s set up production where it is close to the markets; where there is skilled and unskilled labour available at low costs; and where the availability of other factors of production is assured.The money that is spent to buy assets such as land, building, machines and other equipment is called investment. Investment made by MNC’s is called foreign investment. At times, MNC’s set up production jointly with some of the local companies of these countries. MNC’s provide money for additional investments like buying new machines for faster production and they might bring with them the latest technology for production. As a result, production in these widely dispersed locations is getting interlinked. 3) Foreign trade and integration of markets Foreign trade has been the main hannel for connecting countries. It is an opportunity for the producers to reach beyond the domestic markets. Producers can sell their produce not only in markets located within the country but can also compete in markets located in other countries of the world. Similarly, for the buyers, import of goods produced in another country is one way of expanding the choice of goods beyond what is domestically produced.Therefore, foreign trade results in connecting the markets of integration of markets in different countries. ) By understanding the meaning of globalization: Globalization means integrating the Indian economy with the world economy. In the process India becomes economically interdependent with other countries at the global or international level. It seeks removal of trade barriers. There are various features of globalization they are: 1. Many producers from other countries can sell their goods and services in India. 2. India can also sell its goods and services in other countries. 3. Businessmen of other countries can establish their enterprises in India, produce goods for sale within the country or to other countries as ex port. . In the same way entrepreneurs from India can also invest in other countries. 5. Globalization includes not only movement of capital and goods but also allows exchange of technology experience and laborers from one country to other and 6. In pursuance of this policy government of India has removed restrictions on imports of goods, reduced taxes 5) Factors enabled globalization: Rapid improvement in technology has been one major factor that has stimulated the globalization process. This has made much faster delivery of goods across long distances possible at lower costs.There have been remarkable developments in information and communication technology. Information and communication technology has played a major role in spreading out production of services across countries. Removing barriers or restrictions set by the government is what is known as liberalization. The government imposes much less restrictions than before and is therefore said to be more liberal. 6) WTO  œ meaning and its functions: It was set up in 1995 by the member countries of the United Nation to promote trade among countries.Headquarter is located in Geneva. It has influenced the liberalization and globalization processes in most of the developing countries, including India. It aims at conducting international trade among countries of the world in an open uniform and non-discriminating manner. WTO allows free trade to all, in practice, in developed countries. On the other hand, it rules have forced the developing countries to remove trade barriers. 7) Impact of Globalization in India: Globalization has taken an important place in the Indian economy for the last fifteen years.Globalization in combination with greater competition among producers – internal as well as external, has been of greater advantage to consumers, particularly the well-off sections in the urban areas. Although the impact of globalization has not been uniform, because, MNC have increased their invest ments in India during the last fifteen years, which has proved to be beneficial to India. Mushrooming of industries like cell phones, automo iles electronics, soft drinks, fast food or services, via MNCs have created new avenues. It has given an opportunity to the raw material suppliers to prosper too.On the other hand, the top Indian companies have been able to benefit from the increased competition by investing in new technology and production methods and raised their production standards. Moreover, globalization has enabled some large Indian companies to emerge as multinationals themselves! Some of the Indian companies which are spreading their operations world-wide are Tata-Motors (automobiles), Infosys (IT), Ranbaxy (Medicines), Asian Paints (Paints). It has created new opportunities for companies providing services, particularly those involving IT.But for a large number of small producers and workers, globalization has posed major challenges. Globalization and the pressure hav e also posed a threat to the worker’s jobs, as they are not secure any more. Workers are low and workers are forced to work overtime to make both ends meet. The workers are sometimes denied their fair share of benefits which is brought about by globalization. 8) The struggle for a fair globalization: Globalization has not benefited everyone by way of not giving the best of the new opportunities and have not shared the proper benefits.Fair globalization would create opportunities for all and ensure the benefits of globalization are shared better. It is possible if government takes major steps in this respect. The policies should be framed to protect the interests of all the people in the country, such as labour laws are properly implemented and thus the workers get their rights. By supporting small producers to improve their performance till the time they become strong enough to compete. †¢