Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Deforestation Is Infrastructure Expansion ( Geist Lambin...
There are many causes/factors to deforestation, which are largely associated with direct human influence. The first proximate cause to deforestation is infrastructure expansion (Geist Lambin, 2002, p. 144). This refers to transportation (roads), private and public markets, rural and urban settlements, and private and public services (water lines, oil exploitation, etcâ⬠¦) (Geist Lambin, 2002, p. 144). The next cause is agricultural expansion, which includes, large or small-scale cultivations, shifting cultivations (slash and burn), and, of course, cattle ranching. Wood extractions for industrial and domestic purposes are other proximate causes to this issue. These issues may be exacerbated by mismanagement of central governments, heavy political and economic pressures, widespread corruption, cronyism (appointing familiars to positions of authority), and illegal logging operations (Speth Haas, 2006, p. 30). Corruption and illegal extracting activities are especially problematic because they allow for further abuse and destruction to this environment. International development agencies and corporations, such as the World Bank, must also be looked as actors to this problem. They have contributed millions of dollars ââ¬Å"into dams, highways, power development, and transmigration schemesâ⬠(Speth Haas, 2006, 31). These organizations encourage foreign investments to be taken place so as to expand extraction operations (Speth Haas, 2006, 31). The weakening of domesticShow MoreRelatedDeforestation Is A Global Issue2163 Words à |à 9 PagesThe long-term removal of tree cover, deforestation, is a global issue that can be catastrophic if not resolved and is one of the most urgent of issues. Deforestation is a global issue, not only because it happens all around the world, in multiple countries but also because its causes are produced by globally-drive motives. Politically, Socially and Environmentally, deforestation is a global issue that delves deeply in almost all aspects of organism life. This essay will explore into the intr icacyRead MoreDeforestation And Global Climate Change2015 Words à |à 9 PagesHuman development relies on deforestation as a method to reclaim land, to cultivate more farmlands, to sell forest products and to increase economic prosperity, but with serious consequences of environmental degradation and global climate change. The country of Nepal has an alarming rate of deforestation. Due to its geographical positioning, it is in a prime position to sequester a significant amount of carbon from our atmosphere with its forests. However, like much of South Asia, Nepal has lostRead MoreEnvironmental Degradation9511 Words à |à 39 Pagesand when drier climate prevailed there occurred a loss of reptile diversity.Human activities like creating agricultural lands, lands for development of infrastructure and pollution results in collapse of the habitats .The form of habitat destruction which occurs in deserts is known as desertification,which occurs in forests are known as deforestation,wh ich occurs in coastal areas are known as coral reef degradation. More than 90 percent of the species which are no more are mainly because of habitat
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe Free Essays
The extract taken from Samuel Richardsonââ¬â¢s Clarissa is a letter from Miss Clarissa Harlowe to her sister Miss Howe. In the letter, Miss Clarissa expresses her situation and her feels, as she slows builds up her trouble to the point where she becomes powerless and entangled. Her trouble is that sheââ¬â¢s in a situation where sheââ¬â¢s trapped by the events caused by two people whom both she dislikes, Mr. We will write a custom essay sample on Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lovelace who bothers her with improper suggestions and Mr. Solmes, who sheââ¬â¢s soon going to be married to. The extract is written in first person, since it is the actual letter itself where the writer describes her using the most common form ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠. This gives a more clear view towards the writer, Clarissaââ¬â¢s inner emotions and thoughts. It is a piece of epistoltory writing, where the passage is constructed by short paragraphs that add intensity to the content. The passage starts with a factual tone where Miss Clarissa Harlowe describes her illicit correspondence with Mr. Lovelace by mentioning the letter he deposited in the private garden. The phrase ââ¬Å"private placeâ⬠suggest secrecy and illicitness of the correspondence and adds a sense of mystery. Speech marks are open in the second paragraph but thereââ¬â¢s no direct speech but only a summary of the situation, concerning time and place. In the factual summary, thereââ¬â¢s the omission of the names of people, and this implies that her sister Miss Howe knows the characters she mentions, and further, they must have a close relationship for her to know them. This is implication is corresponded with another implication that Miss Howe is not confused by the numerous pronouns used, that suggest she knows the situation well. The third paragraph is a complaint, thatââ¬â¢s slightly unfriendly and abrupt. The phrase ââ¬Å"no oneâ⬠gives a strong sense of accusation towards Mr. Lovelace. Thereââ¬â¢s a sense of real trouble that builds up as the passage moves along. Her sisterââ¬â¢s, as well as her familyââ¬â¢s dislike towards Mr. Lovelace are expressed in the insults ââ¬Å"upon himâ⬠and the preferring of M. Solmes stead of him. Trouble is suggested by the adding of bad relations of her family with Mr. Lovelace that makes the illicit correspondence dangerous. Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s words about himself being more suitable for marriage than M. Solmes are polite and serious. He speaks of settlement, that includes wealth, money, land, which are all proper considerations of marriage. The ââ¬Å"regularity of his life and mannersâ⬠is a more serious expression that he had no bad habits. However, his bad habits are before his addresses to her, which implies that he had bad habits before. The politeness is suggested in the word ââ¬Å"addressesâ⬠, as well as the phrase ââ¬Å"he will not disgrace himselfâ⬠and ââ¬Å"hope of my favorâ⬠. However, contrary to Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s polite offerings, the family and him are at bad terms, implied by the use of the imperative word ââ¬Å"mustâ⬠in his proposals, which suggest that the family will not likely accept them. Clarissa continues to use revelatory language to describe her situation with Mr. Lovelace. Her language reveals what Mr. Lovelace wants, says and what he will do in his letter. For example ââ¬Å"he will submit to any measures that I shall prescribe, in order to bring about a reconciliation. â⬠Along with his polite offerings, Mr. Lovelace tries to show that he has no bad intentions by the suggestion of a meeting ââ¬Å"attended by whom I pleaseâ⬠. Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s suggestions are all improper, wild and impossible. Young women do not meet men at nighttime in some garden because reputation mattered. It was improper to offer her an asylum when she should be tyrannically treated and it was almost impossible for her friends to drive her into a foreign protection. She is offended towards the suggestions because she mentions them. M. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s suggestions condemn itself because its impossibility and improperness are all implied. The paradox exists when she mentions, ââ¬Å"I had given him great encouragementâ⬠as well as the improper suggestions that sheââ¬â¢s offended to. It emphasizes the improperness of the suggestions and her feeling of being offended. Clarissaââ¬â¢s retelling of Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s description of himself, contrasts with Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s improper, impossible suggestions. One is polite, serious while the other abrupt and offensive. The contrast further intensifies the feeling of being offended by Clarissa. In contrast to her strong feeling, her comments are reduced to only four lines while the majority of the description is about Mr. Lovelace. She moves to the inequality between man and woman where she finds women are too complaisant or bashful. Thereââ¬â¢s an indication of the arrogance of men where women are entangled by old supposals and offers. However, inequality is only pinpointed with a few lines. Thereââ¬â¢s the omission of detail of the inequality she mentions, as well as the omission of detail in her descriptions of her situation. Further thereââ¬â¢s the omission of Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s emotions although he is the one that offers and suggestions. Later, she reanalyzes her own background, where she uses the alliteration ââ¬Å"drawn and drivenâ⬠that presents a sense of entrapment and powerlessness. Her emotions are shown through her heart, that condemns the ââ¬Å"mere lover-like correspondenceâ⬠. The sense of entrapment is further shown by the idea of things that crowds on her, where she could not ââ¬Å"break it offâ⬠. The paradox between her being crowded by the idea of things and her being alone also strengthen the sense of entrapment. The demanding of advice from her sister suggests her alones and that she has to confide to someone not living there to seek her help. She sees love as entanglement, as she condemns the lover-like correspondence. The correspondence had caused the unhappy situation, ââ¬Å"more and more entangledâ⬠. She not only dislikes Mr. Lovelace, but also Mr. Solmes, as she mentions that she wants break off the marriage. Sheââ¬â¢s eager to escape the entanglement and seeks to be free, shown by her wishing to ââ¬Å"put an end to itâ⬠. This is supported by the desperate tone she has, as she points clearly to her suffering by obvious words such as ââ¬Å"unhappy. Her tone is also pessimistic, as she uses words such as ââ¬Å"extricateâ⬠, which has a negative meaning. My personal response is that her entanglement is very difficult to resolve since sheââ¬â¢s going to marry soon. If she breaks off the marriage, it would cause Mr. Solmes to misunderstand her that she accepts his improper suggestions. Her problem is tragic and inevitable to avoid. For that, I feel sorry for her. How to cite Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe, Papers
Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe Free Essays
The extract taken from Samuel Richardsonââ¬â¢s Clarissa is a letter from Miss Clarissa Harlowe to her sister Miss Howe. In the letter, Miss Clarissa expresses her situation and her feels, as she slows builds up her trouble to the point where she becomes powerless and entangled. Her trouble is that sheââ¬â¢s in a situation where sheââ¬â¢s trapped by the events caused by two people whom both she dislikes, Mr. We will write a custom essay sample on Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lovelace who bothers her with improper suggestions and Mr. Solmes, who sheââ¬â¢s soon going to be married to. The extract is written in first person, since it is the actual letter itself where the writer describes her using the most common form ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠. This gives a more clear view towards the writer, Clarissaââ¬â¢s inner emotions and thoughts. It is a piece of epistoltory writing, where the passage is constructed by short paragraphs that add intensity to the content. The passage starts with a factual tone where Miss Clarissa Harlowe describes her illicit correspondence with Mr. Lovelace by mentioning the letter he deposited in the private garden. The phrase ââ¬Å"private placeâ⬠suggest secrecy and illicitness of the correspondence and adds a sense of mystery. Speech marks are open in the second paragraph but thereââ¬â¢s no direct speech but only a summary of the situation, concerning time and place. In the factual summary, thereââ¬â¢s the omission of the names of people, and this implies that her sister Miss Howe knows the characters she mentions, and further, they must have a close relationship for her to know them. This is implication is corresponded with another implication that Miss Howe is not confused by the numerous pronouns used, that suggest she knows the situation well. The third paragraph is a complaint, thatââ¬â¢s slightly unfriendly and abrupt. The phrase ââ¬Å"no oneâ⬠gives a strong sense of accusation towards Mr. Lovelace. Thereââ¬â¢s a sense of real trouble that builds up as the passage moves along. Her sisterââ¬â¢s, as well as her familyââ¬â¢s dislike towards Mr. Lovelace are expressed in the insults ââ¬Å"upon himâ⬠and the preferring of M. Solmes stead of him. Trouble is suggested by the adding of bad relations of her family with Mr. Lovelace that makes the illicit correspondence dangerous. Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s words about himself being more suitable for marriage than M. Solmes are polite and serious. He speaks of settlement, that includes wealth, money, land, which are all proper considerations of marriage. The ââ¬Å"regularity of his life and mannersâ⬠is a more serious expression that he had no bad habits. However, his bad habits are before his addresses to her, which implies that he had bad habits before. The politeness is suggested in the word ââ¬Å"addressesâ⬠, as well as the phrase ââ¬Å"he will not disgrace himselfâ⬠and ââ¬Å"hope of my favorâ⬠. However, contrary to Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s polite offerings, the family and him are at bad terms, implied by the use of the imperative word ââ¬Å"mustâ⬠in his proposals, which suggest that the family will not likely accept them. Clarissa continues to use revelatory language to describe her situation with Mr. Lovelace. Her language reveals what Mr. Lovelace wants, says and what he will do in his letter. For example ââ¬Å"he will submit to any measures that I shall prescribe, in order to bring about a reconciliation. â⬠Along with his polite offerings, Mr. Lovelace tries to show that he has no bad intentions by the suggestion of a meeting ââ¬Å"attended by whom I pleaseâ⬠. Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s suggestions are all improper, wild and impossible. Young women do not meet men at nighttime in some garden because reputation mattered. It was improper to offer her an asylum when she should be tyrannically treated and it was almost impossible for her friends to drive her into a foreign protection. She is offended towards the suggestions because she mentions them. M. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s suggestions condemn itself because its impossibility and improperness are all implied. The paradox exists when she mentions, ââ¬Å"I had given him great encouragementâ⬠as well as the improper suggestions that sheââ¬â¢s offended to. It emphasizes the improperness of the suggestions and her feeling of being offended. Clarissaââ¬â¢s retelling of Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s description of himself, contrasts with Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s improper, impossible suggestions. One is polite, serious while the other abrupt and offensive. The contrast further intensifies the feeling of being offended by Clarissa. In contrast to her strong feeling, her comments are reduced to only four lines while the majority of the description is about Mr. Lovelace. She moves to the inequality between man and woman where she finds women are too complaisant or bashful. Thereââ¬â¢s an indication of the arrogance of men where women are entangled by old supposals and offers. However, inequality is only pinpointed with a few lines. Thereââ¬â¢s the omission of detail of the inequality she mentions, as well as the omission of detail in her descriptions of her situation. Further thereââ¬â¢s the omission of Mr. Lovelaceââ¬â¢s emotions although he is the one that offers and suggestions. Later, she reanalyzes her own background, where she uses the alliteration ââ¬Å"drawn and drivenâ⬠that presents a sense of entrapment and powerlessness. Her emotions are shown through her heart, that condemns the ââ¬Å"mere lover-like correspondenceâ⬠. The sense of entrapment is further shown by the idea of things that crowds on her, where she could not ââ¬Å"break it offâ⬠. The paradox between her being crowded by the idea of things and her being alone also strengthen the sense of entrapment. The demanding of advice from her sister suggests her alones and that she has to confide to someone not living there to seek her help. She sees love as entanglement, as she condemns the lover-like correspondence. The correspondence had caused the unhappy situation, ââ¬Å"more and more entangledâ⬠. She not only dislikes Mr. Lovelace, but also Mr. Solmes, as she mentions that she wants break off the marriage. Sheââ¬â¢s eager to escape the entanglement and seeks to be free, shown by her wishing to ââ¬Å"put an end to itâ⬠. This is supported by the desperate tone she has, as she points clearly to her suffering by obvious words such as ââ¬Å"unhappy. Her tone is also pessimistic, as she uses words such as ââ¬Å"extricateâ⬠, which has a negative meaning. My personal response is that her entanglement is very difficult to resolve since sheââ¬â¢s going to marry soon. If she breaks off the marriage, it would cause Mr. Solmes to misunderstand her that she accepts his improper suggestions. Her problem is tragic and inevitable to avoid. For that, I feel sorry for her. How to cite Commentary Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe, Papers
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt Essay Example For Students
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt Essay 1) I have chosen to discuss the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Both have many significant similarities and differences. I would like to compare some important points in four common categories. I will compare and contrast the geography and its impact, the political structure of each society, the importance of their existing class structures and finally the role of women in these dynamic civilizations. Mesopotamia and Egypt were both in flood basins of major rivers. Mesopotamia was characterized by turmoil and tension and in contrast Egypt was characterized by stability and serenity. The Mesopotamian climate was harsh and since the Tigris and the Euphrates flooded irregularly, nature was not viewed as life enhancing but rather considered to be a threat. Mesopotamia was located on an open plain without protection from foreign intrusions; therefore they were continually on alert. Egypt, on the other hand, was centered on the dependable Nile. The rich and fertile soil of the Nile Valley provided agricultural wealth. Even though the river was known to flood yearly the Egyptians had no reason to fear it. It helped them predict nature and they began to use this knowledge to their benefit. Since the Nile Valley was surrounded by deserts and the Red Sea, Egypt was free relatively free from foreign invasions. The Nile was also used for travel in their civilization. The political structure in Mesopotamia during the Sumarian era had no unified government. Instead it had numerous independent city states. In the Babylonian Empire Hammurabi enforced his laws described in the Code of Hammurabi. In this Code, the lower class had fewer rites than the higher class and is known for strict punishments. In the beginning Egypt was divided into two parts governed by different rulers. The Unification of the lower and upper kingdoms of Egypt marked the beginning of the Archaic period. The unification of Egypt was significant in the longevity of this civilization to ensure the free flow of traffic on the Nile. The Kingdom of Egypt was ruled by one ruler called the Pharaoh that ruled the land as the chief priest. In this civilization there was no separation of religion and politics in their lives. Both Mesopotamia and Egypt were at one time ruled by kings that derived their power from the gods and were viewed as divine. The Class structure in Mesopotamia had three major social groups. They were known as the nobles, commoners, and slaves. Commoners that included farmers, merchants, fishermen, scribes, and craftspeople made up ninety percent of the Sumerian population. In Egypt the class structure was similar in that there were three major class groups called nobles or upper class, middle class, and lower class. The enormous difference between the classes is best shown in the lower classes. The Mesopotamian lower classes were slaves commanded by their owners. In Egypt the lower class citizens lived freely but with certain requirements to their country.They were to pay taxes on their crops and dedicated much time towards the countries building projects. They also provided a strong military when needed. The lower classes in Egypt had a sense of contribution towards building places to respect their Gods. In Mesopotamia women in general had the role of keeping the household duties. These duties included h ousehold chores, bearing children and educating them. Also, anything a man decided he wanted she must do. Although, not all women stayed at home. Some of them worked for other people. In Egypt the same was true. Wives were very respected in the household and engaged in keeping the household running and educating the children. However women were allowed to hold much more power in Egypt. They were allowed to inherit property, engage in business and even succeed to the throne. These things were not attainable to women in Mesopotamia. .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .postImageUrl , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:hover , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:visited , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:active { border:0!important; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:active , .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6 .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1b898d0c2884c2d8f9543ed790d882f6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: John Steinbeck's East of Eden - Religious Referenc Essay2.) It is said that the major achievements of Indo-Aryans were intangible rather than material, primarily in verbal skill and poetic imagination. Over a long time a body of hymns, prayers, and incantations known as the Four Vedas were passed down from each generation orally. The Vedas compiled the books of the Indo-Aryan and later the Hindu religions. All of these things written and spoken aided in the formation of what is known as Hinduism. Although there was no specific event, the origin of Hinduism started with the separation from common Indo-European pastoral tradition and immersed in speculation about the nature of the cosmic order. From this was a growing belief in the existence of a single force in the universe called Brahman. Hinduism in its early form is still sometimes referred to as Brahmanism. The individuals duty was to achieve understanding of the ultimate reality so that after death one would merge in spiritual form with Brahman. This was recorded in the Upinshads, a set of commentaries on the Vedas. The main ideas are referred to as the main concepts of Hinduism. One of the concepts was that ones duty was to achieve understanding of the ultimate reality so that one would merge with the Brahman after death. Another main concept was reincarnation, which is the idea that ones soul is reborn in a different form after death. One goes through many existences until the final destination where a union is formed with the Brahman. A key element in reincarnation is Karma, which is also another main concept, and is translated to ones actions in this life. Karma is the status of an individual soul that is determined by the result of actions that a soul committed in the past. The ultimate goal was to achieve good Karma to escape a life cycle that was viewed as harsh, painful and short. The average Indian citizen craved a more concrete form of heavenly salvation, and enjoyed the value of material items in their lives. Hinduism was against both and so there was controversy about this religion in the Indian culture. In contrast to the caste system in ancient India, Hinduism ranked people not by wealth and power but by their spiritual progress. Many pondered the basis of this religion. Siddhartha Gautama accepted many Hindu beliefs but altered the practices. He was eventually credited as the founder of Buddhism. Hinduism would undergo many changes from its origins in Aryan society and became the religion of the majority of Indian people. Although it has been argued that Hinduism is not a religion. I view Hinduism as a legitimate religion in the Indian culture today. I have a great deal of respect for this religion in that it can supply the spiritual needs we as human-beings crave. Bibliography:
Saturday, November 30, 2019
The Marxist Perspective on Crime Essay Example
The Marxist Perspective on Crime Paper In sociology, deviance refers to behaviours or actions which are considered abnormal and undesirable; in other words, they contravene cultural/social norms (for example swearing in public). At a certain point in time, a society may decide that some specific acts are so undesirable that they warrant punishment. When laws are passed against deviant acts, they become crimes (for example murder). In this essay, I will look at the Marxist perspective and how it has contributed to the study and understanding of crime and deviance. Whilst Functionalism is a perspective based on value consensus, Marxism holds at its core the theory of conflict and class struggle in society. According to Marx, there is a fundamental division between what he sees are the two classes of society: the capitalists (or bourgeoisie), who own the means of production (e. g. oney, property, raw materials capital) and the working-class, who do not own capital. From a Marxist point of view, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie hold conflicting positions for example, factory workers will inevitably wish for high wages, whilst factory owners will want to maximise their profits by paying workers as little as possible. Marxist criminology is based around the view that crime is a product of the fundamental class conflict in capitalist societies. We will write a custom essay sample on The Marxist Perspective on Crime specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Marxist Perspective on Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Marxist Perspective on Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Marxists argue that the structural-conflict model of capitalism systematically generates crime by holding at its centre severe social inequalities whilst encouraging people to strive for monetary success. The nature of the system is competitive, promoting personal gain rather than collective well-being; it often leads to the exploitation of millions for the profit of a few. Right across the social spectrum, people are persuaded of the importance of material possessions through adverts of the latest fashion item and through the medias portrayal of exclusive lifestyles. Echoing Mertons strain theory, Marxists argue that those with barriers to success, from the businessman to the factory worker, are pressured to break the law in order to achieve the material desires which capitalism encourages. Marxs theory of alienation can be applied to those crimes which have no apparent financial gain, explaining them as an expression of the frustration produced by demeaning and unsatisfying work. For those who are most affected by the systems unequal distribution of wealth, crime can be seen simply as a means for survival. According to Marxists, the state passes laws which protect the interests and reflect the ideology of the ruling class the many laws which protect private property, the essence of capitalism, reflect the expansion of business and trade. They argue that laws which appear to be in the interest of the subject class are in fact just concessions and are there to create a false consciousness, an illusion of equality; they are in place to maintain the power of the ruling class and to keep the subject class under control. From a Marxist point of view, there is a systematic bias in favour of those at the top, and this is evident when looking at how laws are enforced. White-collar crimes, such as corporate/financial frauds, are rarely discovered and even more rarely prosecuted, despite the fact that they can have devastating effects; on the other hand, more visible street crimes are severely punished by the agents of social control. Moreover, people have unequal access to a fair trial having the money to pay for a good lawyer can mean the difference between being found guilty or not guilty. In this light, Marxists play down the significance of official statistics, which predominantly record blue-collar crimes, claiming that they are a social construction and that they do not reflect the truth. Radical criminology, a strand of neo-Marxism, developed in the 1970s through the work of Ian Taylor, Paul Walton and Jock Young as an alternative perspective to traditional Marxist criminology. Like traditional Marxists, they see the economy as the most important part of society and they believe that the inequalities in wealth and power between individuals in capitalist societies are the root cause of crime. However, unlike Marxists, they reject theories suggesting that external forces can direct human behaviour (for example the strain to anomie). Taylor et al insist that crimes are often deliberate acts with political motives, and that deviants are not just the passive victims of capitalism, but that they are actively fighting and trying to alter capitalism. By looking at the states role in the process of criminalisation, radical criminology draws both on Marxism and Interactionism in an attempt to produce a fully social theory of deviance. However, it has been criticised for failing to provide any substantial theories of crime and for offering a utopian socialist model as an alternative to capitalism. New left realism developed in the early 1980s both to compensate for some of the weaknesses of previous Marxist and neo-Marxist theories and to respond to a rise in zero tolerance right-wing policies. Left realists differentiate themselves from Marxists and left idealists by emphasising the significance of working-class street crime and by studying its effect on its victims. John Lea and Jock Young point to evidence from the British Crime Survey that there has been a massive increase in street crime since the Second World War. Whilst agreeing that crime is closely linked to deprivation, they reject the view that poverty is directly responsible for crime, arguing that unemployment levels in the 1930s were high, yet the crime rate was low compared to the 1980s. Their explanation of crime is based around the concepts of relative deprivation, subculture and marginalisation. According to Lea and Young, deprivation leads to crime when experienced as relative deprivation. When one feels deprived compared to someone else, they may use illegal means to feel less disadvantaged. As well as explaining property and financial crime, relative deprivation can be used to explain violent crime: relative deprivation can create frustration and aggression. The concept of subculture is explained by Lea and Young as a collective response to a groups problem. If a group sufferers from relative deprivation, it may adopt a lifestyle which to cope with their problem, either illegally or legally. The concept of marginalisation refers to groups at the margins of society, those without socio-political representation and clearly defined objectives. Typically, unemployed youths of minority ethnic groups resort to crime as an expression of their resentment to a society which doesnt offer them anything. Essentially, left realism is criticised for failing to explain the causes of crime it relies extensively on victimisation statistics and only takes into account the views of victims on certain issues. Also, left realism fails to explain why some people who suffer from relative deprivation commit crime and others do not. However, it has highlighted the importance of understanding street crime and has influenced crime tackling policies. The traditional Marxist perspective on crime has been essential in illustrating the many flaws of capitalism and pointing out that crime is not exclusively a working class phenomenon. In many respects, however, it has a rather simplistic view on the relations of power in capitalist societies. Moreover, it is in large part race and gender blind, and it emphasises the significance of corporate crime at the expense of other crimes. Most importantly of all, perhaps, it wrongly assumes that a communist system would eliminate crime. Despite these criticisms, Marxism has produced a basis for the understanding of crime and has influenced numerous new approaches which further enrich the study of crime and deviance.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Christmas Wrasse Facts and Information
Christmas Wrasse Facts and Information Christmas wrasses were named for their green and red coloration. They are also called ladder wrasses, awela (Hawaiian), and green-barred wrasses.à Description of Christmas Wrasses Christmas wrasses can be up to about 11 inches in length. à Wrasses are a big-lipped, spindle-shaped fish that flap their pectoral fins up and down while swimming. They often fold their dorsal and anal fins close to their body, which increases their streamlined shape. Males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism in color, and may change color, and even sex, during their lives. à Males in their terminal color phase are brightly-colored while females are green with black lines. The most brilliantly-colored male Christmas wrasses have reddish-pink background coloration on their body with ladder-like stripes that are bright blue and green in color.à In its initial phase, a male has a diagonal dark red line below its eye. The head of the male is brown, orange or shaded with blue, while the head of females is spotted. Younger animals of both sexes are a more drab green and brown color. The Christmas wrasses ability to change colors and sex has caused confusion over the years over species identification. It also looks similar to another species in a similar habitat - the surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum), which is similar in color, although there is a v-shaped mark on their snout which is absent in the Christmas wrasse.à Christmas Wrasse Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataSubphylum: VertebrataClass: ActinopterygiiOrder: PerciformesFamily: LabridaeGenus: Thalassomaà Species: trilobatum Habitat and Distribution Christmas wrasses are found in tropical waters in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. In U.S. waters, they may be seen off Hawaii. Christmas wrasses tend to frequent shallow waters and surf zones near reefsà and rocks. They may be found singly or in groups.à Christmas wrasses are most active during the day, and spend nights resting in crevices or in the sand.à Christmas Wrasse à Feeding and Diet Christmas wrasses feed during the day, and prey upon crustaceans, brittle stars, mollusks, and sometimes small fish, using canine teeth in their upper and lower jaws. Wrasses crush their prey using pharyngeal bones that are located near their gills.à Christmas Wrasse Reproduction Reproduction occurs sexually, with spawning occurring during the day. Males become more intense in color during spawning time, and their fins may be blue or blackish-blue in color. The males display by swimming back and forth and waving their pectoral fins. Males may form a harem with several females. If the primary male in a group dies, a female may change sex to replace him.à Christmas Wrasse Conservation and Human Uses Christmas wrasses are listed as of least concern on the IUCN Red List. They are widespread throughout their range. They are fished in limited numbers, but more important to humans for their use in the aquarium trade. References and Further Information Bailly, N. 2014. Thalassoma trilobatum (Lacepà ¨de, 1801). In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2014) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species, December 22, 2014.Bray, D. J. 2011. Ladder Wrasse, Thalassoma trilobatum. Fishes of Australia. Accessed December 23, 2014.Cabanban, A. Pollard, D. 2010. Thalassoma trilobatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Accessed December 23, 2014.Hoover, J. P. 2003. Fish of the Month: Christmas Wrasse. hawaiisfishes.com, Accessed December 23, 2014.Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 pp., via FishBase, December 22, 2014.Waikiki Aquarium. Christmas Wrasse. Accessed December 23, 2014.
Friday, November 22, 2019
A Review Of Tom Shadyacs Movie Patch Adams
A Review Of Tom Shadyac's Movie Patch Adams Hunter ââ¬Å"Patchâ⬠Adams is a doctor who, among other things, founded the Gesundheit Institute to try and change the medical profession. After attempting suicide, he finds himself and realizes that he wants to help people. He can do this directly by becoming a doctor, but when he notices medicine is a cold, unfeeling process he wants to change, he attempts to do just that. Over the course of the movie, he faces several injustices in the face of his righteous quest, but does not give up and is where he is now because of this. The circle of faith in action model is defined as ââ¬Å"awareness, analysis, and actionâ⬠. In his fight to make medicine more friendly to the people it helps, he takes these three steps and achieves his goal. His own awareness begins to take shape while he is in the mental institution after his suicide attempt. Despite being a rehabilitation facility, none of the faculty seem to really care about the patients and only do what they do for a paycheck. The dismissive attitude of the hospitals main people and the orderlies shows this quite well. This starts Patch on his quest to change things, but not before he enters medical school and sees the injustice in an even worse form there. Students are not allowed to see the patients until their 3rd year, and even then in a purely educational sense. The strict Dean Walcott makes sure of this, and Patch is disciplined and threatened with expulsion several times for ââ¬Å"aggravating patientsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"embarassing the communityâ⬠when in reality hes only trying to make it more fun for everyone-doctors, students, and most importantly patients. After analysis of this situation, he decides that medicine must be changed. Patch then buys an old ranch farmhouse and converts it into a small clinic. With his friends he is able to run it well. However, this clinic isnt just an ordinary clinic. No one there is labelled as a ââ¬Å"doctorâ⬠, or more clearly, everyone is. Whether the people there seek treatment or give it, everyone has a job. This goes from actually administering treatment to cleaning up after others, or (most critically in Patchs operation) entertaining patients with any means necessary. After Patch graduates, he creates the Gesundheit Institute, a medical facility using alternative cheap methods to treat patients and employing entertainment to eliminate the cold atmosphere many hospitals have. The whole reason Patch does what he does in the first place is the somewhat inhumane treatment by hospitals to their patients. He disagrees with the ridiculous costs of healthcare. Even today, simple visits can cost upwards of thousands of dollars. To Patch, this cannot stand, as he believes humans deserve their right to be treated. On a more personable level, he dislikes the social treatment given to patients. To him, most doctors see their patients not as human beings with a right to be medically treated but as a ââ¬Å"jobâ⬠or a ââ¬Å"numberâ⬠. To him, most are only concerned about the money they get from the treatment and not about whether the patient is actually okay. This has a real world basis, as the sterile, boring, darkness of hospitals can contribute to depression and in turn make medical issues even worse as your will to fight slips away. Patch doesnt just try to change the system, he does. While hes in school he promotes fair treatment of patients and visits them (cancer-stricken children foremost) even though he isnt allowed. He convinces his roommate (who detests Patchs attempts to change) that his cause is worth it. Even Dean Walcott and the school board is convinced of his talent by the time Patch finally graduates. More importantly, they accept his unorthodox methods as legitimate, and begin to move their education tactics and treatment methods to a more personal, fun type. Patch knew what he wanted to do, and he did. Even today you can see hospitals with decorations, entertainment, easier treatment, and many other new things that set them apart from the treatment of many years ago. And it would be unfair to say Patch and his Gesundheit institute didnt have a hand in that. The first Catholic Social Teaching theme is respect of the life and dignity of the human person- and this is what Patch, and the entire movie are all about. The real Patchs life is dedicated to fair treatment of patients and to an extent, everyone. He also says death should be treated with dignity and respects that one day, everyone has to go. Patch starts medicine towards more humane treatment and his work has had an effect today. Patch believes medicine should be a community, so everyone- doctors and patients should unite for good treatment. In his first clinic everyone has a job, not just those who are administering the treatment to the patients. He promotes family values and makes sure every voice is heard. Patchs responsibility as a doctor is to help his patient. He must respect their rights and do everything in his power to respect a patient and carry out their wishes. He must make sure they survive as long as they can, but respects their right to die. However, Patch takes his minimum responsibilities as a doctor and takes it much further- he becomes a helper. He makes his patients feel good not just bodily, but in their minds as well. Patch believes healthcare should be low-cost or even free, because every human deserves medical care. His first clinic and his full hospital today are both non profit and rely on volunteers, patient assistance and tireless work from those involved to keep them running. No one is turned away, especially the vulnerable who really need the help. Patch is a natural helper and will do anything he can if someone is in need of his help. Patch respects dignity. Those who assist him in his medical work do it not out of a desire for money but out of the goodness of their hearts. They are treated just as fairly as the patients. To Patch, medicine isnt just about the patient. Its about the doctor as well, and they have rights. To Patch, we must all stand together as a community. In his perfect world, medicine and any other kind of help is always given for free. Humans are naturally good and he took what was in him and revolutionized a huge part of society. Even after hes gone, the protocol he put into practice will remain and Patch will only truly die when medicine regresses back to the almost robotic way it was years ago. Doctor and patient must stand as one unit for the good of themselves. Solidarity is key in Patchs world, and you must stand up for what you believe in. Even after the death of his girlfriend, his expulsion, his suicide attempt, and the several other obstacles in his way Patch never gave up, and this attitude spread to his close friends. As a doctor, caring for Gods creation is Patchs job. He works with humans, but he would surely help an animal or plant in need if he knew how. Patch respects and cares for the planet. As his influence spreads, many others do as well. His organizations are non-profit to make sure no one is turned away, and Patch continues to work with his patients to this day. Patch Adamss influence on medicine was critical to the field. Today, every medical institution is more humanized and treats its patients with the respect they deserve as human beings. Because of him, patients feel better and will heal faster because of it. This is a huge step in the right direction and its insane that it took that long for the medical profession to realize.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Dome shell structure Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Dome shell structure - Research Paper Example good opportunity to learn more about these historical structures on how their evolvement came about, their practice state in the down of this 21st century. Starting from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Livestock Pavilion in Raleigh, and the Madison Squire Garden in New York all along to the Olympic Stadium in Munich, also from the Pontiac Silver dome found in Michigan Sydney Opera House in Australia plus Haj terminal in Saudi, this unique landmark structures exist. They make us swollen with pride and we are linked by these unique architectural designs (Buckminster Fuller Institute 1). Each structure is a model on its own. Yet the term unique structures cannot be disqualified. Unique structures refer to inventive long span structural systems mainly roofs to the areas to house people. Particularly they incorporate several structures like grids or space frames, cable and strut, geodesic domes, tension membrane and thin shells. Thin shells plus tension membranes, are regarded as form resistant structures, because they oppose loads by desirable quality of their shape. Structures, which oppose load by bending, may be classified by the use of span - depth ratio. Tensile structures are more competent as compared to arches for they do not buckle. Even if efficient in material consumption, they generate greater pull forces at their support (Buckminster Fuller Institute 1). Spainââ¬â¢s Eduardo Torroja is credited for the systematic study of engineering of the shellsââ¬â¢ architecture in the 1930s. Felix Cinderellaââ¬â¢s work in Mexico ignited this sudden popularity of the shells in the 1950s. His shells were amazing both outwards and for bold engineering. When a 75mm (3 in.) wide shell was regarded daring, Cinderella constructed a hyperbolic parabolic shell with not more than 16 mm (5/8 in.) wideness for the Cosmic Ray Pavilion at the University of Ciudad in Mexico. The following design was that of Esquillan, it is one of the marvelous engineering of the 20th century, whose
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Strategic Human Resource Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Strategic Human Resource Practices - Essay Example The company encourages team working, building trust, sharing knowledge and expertise to achieve optimal employee satisfaction (Bowman 2012). Tesco is regarded as a market leader in the retail sector and it has acquired this by conducting little deeds that really mean a lot to customers and employees. Tesco also believes in treating its employees with respect and providing equal opportunity to all. The companyââ¬â¢s core beliefs revolve around the concepts of the significance of its people which help the company to create value for the customers and earning loyalty for a long time (Bowman 2012). 2.0 SHRM Practice 1 : HR Planning Human Resource planning is one of the highly important and potent practices an organization adopts. If the employees of an organization are not good enough to carry out objectives, there will be no chance for the organization to succeed or flourish. Recruiting talented people for the right jobs is the core concept of HR planning. It is a unique approach tow ards employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic use of highly dedicated and talented workforce, using a range of cultural, organizational and personnel procedures. It also refers to the strategic perspective in managing people and regarding people precious assets rather than only a variable cost (Brook 2013, pp. 10 - 15). Human Resource planning is crucial for any business in a number of ways. It provides quality workforce, cut down labor costs, provides opportunities to raise the skills of employees, boost motivation, and ensures health safety (Collings 2013, p. 227ââ¬â328). Human Resource planning makes certain that the workforce is motivated to present constant and smooth functions of an organization. This means, human resource... Strategic Human resource Management (SHRM) has expanded significantly in managing important resources. Nowadays, SHRM has become more crucial for service organizations, like Tesco. The Strategic Human Resource Management is the earnest solution of the human resource board and policy matters so as to boost the effectiveness of an organization. Business strategy for service or retail organizations like Tesco has to understand a range of stakeholdersââ¬â¢ interest and appease these within a framework of strategy agreeable to them all. SHRM is thus an important element of a broader reticulation of business administration and strategy. SHRM will enhance the productivity and success of Tesco through continuous and stable progress it would undergo within next five years. In a nutshell, it is vital that SHRM practices are core elements in proceeding proper procedures intact to ascertain that the Tescoââ¬â¢s long term goals are met.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Australia Soft Drink Market Essay Example for Free
Australia Soft Drink Market Essay The FSANZ phone survey of adolescents and young adults in Australia found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened soft drinks compared to other Australians (72 per cent versus 50 per cent) and consumed significantly larger amounts (249 ml versus 128 ml per day) (Food Standards Australia New Zealand 2003a). The 2004 SPANS survey of children in Years 6ââ¬â10 in NSW found consumption of soft drinks to be lowest among students of Asian background and highest among boys of Southern European and Middle Eastern background (Booth et al. 2006). Gender Fewer girls than boys consume soft drink in Australia, and among those that do, girls consume smaller amounts of soft drink than boys (section 2. 2). This gender effect has been observed in Europe also. For example, the large WHO collaborative cross-national study of Health Behaviours among School-aged Children 2001ââ¬â02 showed that girls generally consume less soft drink than boys (Vereecken et al. 2005b). Psycho-Social Factors 3. 2. 1 Personal Factors Personal factors appear to moderate the relationship between environmental factors and behaviour. In Norway, personal preferences, i. e. taste, was the number one determinant of soft drink consumption, and attitude was the fourth most important determinant of soft drink consumption in adolescents, with the environmental factors of accessibility and modelling (consumption behaviour of significant others) in between (Bere et al. 2007). Soft drink consumption in school-aged children has been notably correlated with taste preferences in other studies (Grimm et al. 2004). In one study of 8ââ¬â13 year olds in the US, those who reported the strongest taste preference were 4. 5 times more likely to consume soft drinks five or more times per week compared with those with a lower taste preference. A focus group study with groups of children aged 8ââ¬â9 years and 13ââ¬â14 years showed that younger children prefer the taste of still, fruit-flavoured drinks and adolescents prefer the taste of carbonated drinks (May and Waterhouse 2003). Attitude and subjective norm (perception of other peopleââ¬â¢s views and attitudes towards soft drink consumption), together with perceived behavioural control, explained 60 per cent of the variance in intention to drink regular soft drinks in 13ââ¬â18 year olds in the US (Kassem et al. 2003; Kassem and Lee 2004). However, taste enjoyment was one of the most predictive expected outcome beliefs of regular soft drink consumption. In quenching of thirst was the second most important predictor of attitude, after taste, towards drinking soft drinks ââ¬â yet soft drinks have been found to be poor at quenching thirst when compared to water (Rolls et al. 1990; Brouns et al. 1998). Parents and friends have been identified as being more influential than peers in the consumption patterns of younger children aged 8ââ¬â9 years in the UK (May and Waterhouse 2003), although peer groups are considered to play a greater role in adolescence (Buchanan and Coulson 2006). Cost, availability and thirst were more important in older children aged 13ââ¬â4 years. In the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2004 (SPANS) of children aged 5ââ¬â16 years, peer influences were not particularly apparent in soft drinks attitudes and intended consumption (Booth et al.2006). Adolescents who perceived more social pressure to limit soft drink consumption were found to be more likely to consume more in the Study on Medical Information and Lifestyle in Eindhoven (SMILE) study in The Netherlands (de Bruijn et al. 2007). The SMILE study also showed that moderate ââ¬Å"agreeablenessâ⬠(a measure of adolescentsâ⬠willingness to comply with parental practices and rules) of adolescents is associated with less soft drink consumption, however, those that were most ââ¬Å"agreeableâ⬠consumed a lot (de Bruijn et al. 2007). This was attributed to pressures outside of the home environment ââ¬â pro-social motives where those most agreeable wanted to ââ¬Å"fit inâ⬠. It is postulated that the more agreeable adolescents were more inclined to live up to expectations raised by prototype-based advertisements and marketing. One of the few studies examining the factors affecting soft drink consumption in adults showed that consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks was associated with less restrained and more external eating, i. e. sensitive to external stimuli such as taste (Elfhag et al. 2007). The study, conducted among 3265 adults in Sweden showed that, in contrast, diet soft drinks were consumed by persons with a higher body mass index (BMI) (possibly in an attempt to reduce their weight), more restrained eating and more emotional eating. Parents as Models A study in Australia showed that the influence of mothers, either as models of eating behaviours or as the providers of food, is pervasive (Campbell et al. 2007). Parental soft drink consumption was positively associated with younger childrenââ¬â¢s intake in two studies (Grimm et al. 2004; Vereecken et al.2004). Motherââ¬â¢s consumption was found to be an independent predictor for regular soft drink consumption among children in Belgium (Vereecken et al. 2004). In the US, children aged 8ââ¬â13 years whose parents regularly drank soft drinks were nearly three times more likely to consume soft drinks five or more times per week compared with those whose parents did not regularly drink soft drinks (Grimm et al. 2004). A higher frequency of preparing food was found to be related to lower intakes of carbonated beverages among female adolescents in the US (Larson et al.2006). Parenting Styles Less restrictive parenting practices are associated with a higher consumption of healthier food options such as fruit and vegetables in children; however the evidence is not as equivocal for soft drinks. Indeed, the converse has been found in some recent studies. For example, van der Horst et al found that in The Netherlands less restrictive parenting practices, relating to specific behaviours such as ââ¬Å"food rulesâ⬠, were associated with higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among 383 adolescents (van der Horst et al. 2007). This association was independent of perceived parenting practices by the adolescents, and was mediated by attitude, self-efficacy and modelling from parents (parental consumption). The association was strongest among adolescents who perceived their parents as being moderately strict and highly involved. These authors concluded that parents should be involved in interventions aimed at changing dietary behaviours including soft drink consumption and that interventions aimed at the promotion of healthy parenting practices are best tailored to the general parenting style of the participants (for example, strict and/or involved). More restrictive parenting practices were also found to be associated with less soft drink consumption (De Bourdeaudhuij and Van Oost 2000) and stricter parenting practices were found to be associated with less soft drink consumption in a recent study in The Netherlands (de Bruijn et al. 2007). However, findings from studies among younger children suggest that strict parental practices can in fact increase childrenââ¬â¢s preferences for, and intake of, the restricted foods. These different findings may relate to differences in the type of practices used between age groups. For example, parents of younger children might use pressure to get their children to eat more or may restrict access to certain foods. For adolescents, parents might use clearly defined rules about the times when a certain food can be eaten and how much of a certain food they can eat. Environmental Factors 3. 3. 1 Soft Drink Availability Availability at School Increased soft drink consumption has been related to the availability of soft drinks in vending machines in the school environment in a number of studies. However, it appears that when soft drinks are ubiquitous in schools the link between consumption and availability is less discernible (French et al. 2003; Grimm et al. 2004; Vereecken et al. 2005a). Access to vending machines selling soft drinks in schools in the US was not related to consumption in either boys or girls (Kassem et al. 2003; Kassem and Lee 2004). In Norway, most soft drink consumption occurs outside of school despite soft drinks currently still being available in schools (Bere et al.2007). Vending machines were not available in schools involved in a study of adolescent soft drink consumption in the UK (Buchanan and Coulson 2006); and this study found that consumption of soft drinks was higher at the weekends. Nevertheless, the availability of soft drinks at school, either in the school canteen or in vending machines, may send messages to children that they are suitable drinks; also their easy availability at schools negates the need to provide water. The sale of foods and drinks at schools is likely to have a ripple effect in the community (Bell and Swinburn 2005), thus banning soft drinks at schools conveys a healthy message to children and this message has the potential to affect community attitudes. In recent years four Australian state governments (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia) have accordingly imposed a ban on the sale of soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened drinks by canteens in public schools (Bell and Swinburn 2005). In NSW this ban on sugar-sweetened drinks is part of Fresh Tastes @ School, the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. Sugar-sweetened drinks with more than 300 kJ per serve or more than 100 mg of sodium per serve have not been allowed in school canteens and vending machines in NSW since Term 1, 2007 (NSW Department of Health and NSW Department of Education Training 2006). These drinks include: soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, flavoured mineral waters, sports drinks, cordials, iced teas, sweetened waters, sports waters, and flavoured crushed ice drinks. In Victoria the ban extends to high-energy, high-sugar soft drinks brought in to school. Portion Size. The beverage industry has steadily increased container sizes over the last 50 years. In the 1950s the standard serving size was a 200 ml bottle, which increased to a 375 ml can, which was superseded by a 600 ml bottle. Studies have shown that the larger the container, the more people are likely to drink, especially when they assume they are buying single-serve size containers. For example, Flood et al have shown that increasing beverage portion size from 350 ml to 530 ml significantly increased the weight of beverage consumed regardless of beverage type ââ¬â in this case regular cola, diet cola or water (Flood et al.2006). As a consequence, energy intake increased 10 per cent for women and 26 per cent for men when there was a 50 per cent increase in the portion of regular cola served. Food intake did not differ under the controlled conditions; thus overall energy intake was increased as a result of the extra energy from the larger beverage intake. Most recently, a study showed that increasing portion sizes of all foods and beverages consumed by study participants by 50 per cent of baseline increased energy intake from all food and beverage categories, except fruit as a snack and vegetables, for an 11-day period (Rolls et al.2007). The amount of beverage consumed increased from about 470 ml in both women and men to 557 ml in women and 630 ml in men. Disproportionate pricing practices also encourage people to drink large servings as these often cost just a fraction more than the smaller servings (Young and Nestle 2002). Large serve sizes contribute to an ââ¬Å"obesogenicâ⬠environment, as they facilitate excess consumption of energy (Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2005). Dietary guidelines and public campaigns have highlighted the importance of portion size as a central concept related to energy intake (Matthiessen et al.2003). Cost In a number of papers, Drewnoswki and co-workers purport that the main issue in relation to nutrient-poor foods and beverages and obesity is the cost; that is, nutrient-dense diets are more costly than nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods which are relatively cheap. Drewnowski and Bellisle (2007) conclude that the obesity-promoting capacity of different beverages is linked not so much by their sugar content but by their low price, although these researchers concur that taste is likely to be the main factor affecting the obesity-promoting capacity of soft drinks (Refer to Section 3. 1). Cost was reported as being an important determinant of carbonated soft drink consumption, as opposed to fruit juice and still fruit drinks, in children aged 13ââ¬â14 years in a study in the UK (Buchanan and Coulson 2006). Availability and thirst were also recognised as important determinants, although foremost was taste. Exposure to TV advertising Television is a medium through which children are commonly exposed to food marketing. Food marketers advertise heavily during childrenââ¬â¢s programming in Australia (Hastings et al.2007; Kelly et al. 2007), and soft drink is consistently featured near the top of the list of advertised food items in different countries, including Australia (Kotz and Story 1994; Lemos 2004). Increased soft drink consumption has been related to TV exposure in a number of studies (Grimm et al. 2004; van den Bulck and van Mierlo 2004; Utter et al. 2006). The relationship was observed for adolescent boys only ââ¬â not girls ââ¬â in a recent study of children in grades 7ââ¬â8 in Belgium (Haerens et al. 2007). A study of children aged 5ââ¬â6 years and 10ââ¬â12 years in Melbourne showed that children who watched TV for more than 2 hours per day were 2. 3 times more likely to consume ? 1 serve/day of high-energy drinks than children who watched less than or equal to 2 hours of TV per day (Salmon et al. 2006). Functional Drinks 5. 4. 1 Sports Drinks Sports drinks were designed to aid sport performance as well as provide rehydration after sporting events. They contain 6ââ¬â8 per cent carbohydrates, usually in the form of sugar, plus other electrolytes (Sports Dietitians Australia 2007). As the name implies, sport drinks are designed for sports participants. Using sport drinks for normal hydration purposes is not recommended because of their energy content (one 600 ml bottle of sport drinks provides around 780 kJ) and their acidity which is associated with the same dental health problems as soft drinks. In Australia sports drinks currently account for less than 5 per cent of the more than 1. 3 billion litres of non-alcoholic beverages sold per annum, but the sale of sports drinks is growing faster than most other beverages (Australian Convenience Store News 2006). Energy Drinks In recent years, energy drinks have also been introduced as alternative premium products to ordinary soft drinks. Their sales have risen quickly and it has been reported that in the United States energy drinks outperformed all other beverage categories, with more than 500 per cent growth in sales from 2001ââ¬â06 (Montalvo 2007). The Australian Convenience Store News (Nov/Dec 2006) indicates that energy drinks accounted for 22 per cent of total drink sales. Most consumers were in the 15ââ¬â39 age bracket and consumption is slightly skewed towards males (Australian Convenience Store News 2006).
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Music Appreciation and the Auditory System :: Biology Essays Research Papers
Music Appreciation and the Auditory System Have you ever come home after an exhausting day and turned on music to relax your nerves? While you are taking it easy, your auditory cortex is not. It works hard to synthesize the several musical elements of rhythm, pitch, frequency, and timbre to create a rich auditory experience. First, a discussion of the ear physiology is needed. Vibrating air moving at different frequencies hits the eardrum which causes the middle ear's three bones to move accordingly. The stapes, one of these inner ear bones hits on the oval window of the inner ear, and because the inner ear is filled with fluid, the bulging of the oval window causes this fluid to slosh around. The round window, also in the inner ear, compensates for the increased pressure by bulging outward. The inner ear has two functions, to transduce sound via the cochlea and to maintain a person's vertical position with respect to gravity via the vestibular system (1). . But here, we will only consider the transduction of sound. The cochlea is filled with hair cells that are extremely sensitive and depolarize with only slight perturbations of the inner ear fluid. At the point of depolarization, a neural signal is transmitted and on its way to the brain. This nerve impulse travels to the auditory nerve (8th cranial ne rve), passes through the brainstem, and then reaches the branched path of the cochlear nucleus: the ventral cochlear nucleus or the dorsal cochlear nucleus. The nerve signal that passes through the ventral cochlear nucleus will reach the superior olive in the medulla where differences in timing and loudness of sound are compared, and location of the sound's origin is pinpointed (1). The nerve signal that crosses the dorsal cochlear nucleus ultimately is analyzed for sound quality. As seen in the final step of sound transduction, the information relayed by the neural signal branches and processing occurs at different sights. No consensus has been reached as to where music is processed in the brain. Most researchers agree that the different components of music are processed in different parts of the brain, as exemplified by the branching pathway of the cochlear nucleus which facilitates the separation of sound timing and loudness with the sound quality analysis. But this information is not sufficient to answer the question of where our sense of music originates. Frackwiak has supplied a small part of the puzzle.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Autism and Social Skills Essay
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that ranges from mild to severe impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive pattern of interest. Children with autism need early social skills support to develop their social interactions and understanding. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and socialization among young children and adolescence is one of the major impairments, along with language individuals have. Social skills groups are prearranged groups with, a direct goal orientated to engage young children and adolescences with the appropriate support, in the development of social skills. Social skills groups for young children and adolescences can be a viable tool, in helping children with ASD to learn how to socialize appropriately. The Socialization of young children with a diagnosis of ASD has shown some positive results. This pilot study was conducted in response to the heightened awareness and the need for young children with ASD to learn social skills. The parents of autistic children, the children that have a diagnosis of ASD and the facilitators of the groups, will engage the children in social sessions, in hopes to build social relationships. The parents will fill out questionnaires as to the progress they see their children making. This pilot study sets out to answer the following two questions. Is participation in a social skills group beneficial for young children / adolescence with ASD from the childââ¬â¢s, Parents and the facilitatorââ¬â¢s perspectives? The second question posed was, is there any improvement in the autistic childââ¬â¢s ability to communicate or interrelate socially. Methodology Based on a review of literature on Autism, a psychologist and a clinical psychologist planed a structured 5-week program, for one-hour sessions, one day a week. Only children with a diagnosis of ASD were invited. The childrenââ¬â¢s ages ranged from seven to 18. Using the qualitative method, the parental focus group was used to gather data and answer two research questions. Each parent received three questionnaires developed for the purpose of this evaluation. One was a pre- questionnaire, to be completed at the beginning of the groups, the post questionnaire, at the end of groups, and a review questionnaire, to be completed six months following the social skills groups. The questionnaires were used for the parents to rate their childââ¬â¢s current level of difficulties. Results and Discussions The high cost of one on one therapy for autistic children has become too high for caregivers and the need for alternative approaches was necessary. Evidence suggested that social skills groups for autistic children would be an alternative Dunlop, Knott and Mackay (2000). The information gathered from parent questionnaires and through observations from the facilitators and the higher functioning adolescents with ASD showed there was a need for social skills programs. Some parents felt their children benefitted and others seen no change. The feedback was very positive and most of the participants would like the social skills groups to continue. There were several areas identified within the program that needs fine-tuning such as, smaller groups, the level or severity of ASD the children have, longer duration of sessions without summer breaks and addressing how to manage the challenging behaviors some of the autistic children displayed, which prevented them from engaging socially within the groups. There was no time for one on one interaction, to encourage those children that did not socialize during the five-week program. The facilitators observed this and felt that it was an important issue to address along with the other recommendations above, when planning social skills programs. I choose this article because I am a parent of an autistic child and I am always looking for new treatment methods. I like to stay informed of all the new research on autism to share with my son. I think there is a need to socialize all persons with autism and the ideal of social skills groups cannot hurt; it can enhance the quality of life for the autistic child.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Corporate Governance in Australia After Hih Essay
In the light of various corporate scandals, regulatory bodies and corporate governance were placed under pressure by shareholders and stakeholders to form a tighter grip in governing corporationââ¬â¢s conduct. The obligations, roles and responsibilities of companyââ¬â¢s stewards are under scrutiny of Corporations Act, listing rules, countryââ¬â¢s code of corporate governance, ethics as well as social standards. At the same time, advocates of market forces as a replacement to regulations and legislation continue to pursue for market deregulation and liberalisation based on the believe that government intervention will only distort resources allocation and hinder market growth. The collapse of Australian company HIH Insurance Ltd (HIH) in 2001 was analysed in terms of its conduct and compliance to the Corporations Act, listing rules as well as code of corporate governance as released by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Council (CGC). Reforms in regulations and the Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 2007 by ASX CGC were used to recommend best practices in corporate governance that should have taken place in HIH. Lastly, the effect of globalization and challenges to good corporate governance resulting from globalization were discussed from the perspective of national government, regulatory bodies as well as the corporation itself. Justice Neville Owen, The Royal Commissioner in the HIH Royal Commission Report described corporate governance as the framework of rules, relationships, systems and processes within and by which authority is exercised and controlled in corporations, and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Council added that corporate governance relates to and influences how the objectives of the company are set and achieved, how risk is monitored and assessed, and how performance is optimized (The HIH Royal Commission, 2003; ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). The meaning of corporate governance has evolved over time but, in the strictest sense, is linked to the legislation that allows its existence. The law sets forth a companyââ¬â¢s rights and responsibilities but this can differ from country to country. However, it is generally accepted that corporate governance extends beyond the law to include a consideration of best practices and business ethics (Birt, Chalmers, Beal, Brooks, Byrne, & Oliver, 2008). The structure of corporate governance as put forth by Farrar (2005) and represented in the figure below illustrates the relationship within the corporate governance structure: Figure: The structure of corporate governance (Farrar, 2005). The issues surrounding the rights and responsibilities of corporations are complex and ever changing as financial markets become more global, corporations become larger and more powerful, and societyââ¬â¢s perception of the corporate role changes. A school of thoughts advocates for market forces to be the regulator of the financial market. The neo? liberals assume that factor markets work efficiently without government intervention if property rights and competition are guaranteed. They considered government interventions as less efficient than market? based solutions and stresses that government interventions hamper private sector development and that government should concentrate on improving the enabling of business environment through deregulation (Emeseh, Ako, Okonmah, Obokoh, & Ogechukwu, 2010). Neo-liberalism challenges the conventional structuralist orthodoxy of government intervention by highlighting the negative effects of ââ¬Å"financial repressionâ⬠on economic growth and development. They refer financial repression to be the set of government legal restrictions preventing financial intermediaries in the economy from functioning at their full capacity. The distortion of domestic financial markets through rules and legislation is claimed to have negative impact on economic growth. In essence, corporations should be relied on in the main to self? regulate in the critical aspect of business activities. Neo-liberalism has prompted many countries to implement liberalisation and deregulation of their financial markets on the recommendations of the World Bank and IMF (Emeseh, Ako, Okonmah, Obokoh, & Ogechukwu, 2010). The significant role of market forces in contributing to good corporate governance and strong corporate performance has for some time been emphasised in economic literature on the corporation and corporate law. In fact, advocates consider the influence of market forces to be an effective substitute for formal legal regulation (duPlessis, McConvill, & Bagaric, 2005). However, through-out the last two decades, legislation reforms and corporate governance has also grown rapidly, particularly since the collapse of Enron Corporation in 2001 and the subsequent financial problems of other companies in various countries. As financial scandals continue to emerge, there will be continued attention placed on corporate governance issues, especially relating to transparency and disclosure, control and accountability, and the most appropriate form of board structure that may be capable of preventing such scandals occurring in future (Mallin, 2007). In pursuance of good corporate governance, an area of interest would be how directorsââ¬â¢ conduct and decisions should be in the best interest of the company, its shareholders and other relevant stakeholders. In this context, the agency theory is a very suitable framework that can describe the problems associated with the principal-agent relationship caused by separation of ownership and control between shareholders (the principal) and directors (the agent) in corporations. Information asymmetry, moral hazard, difference in attitude towards risk and difference in interest between shareholders versus directors are common agency problems that would usually be at the expense of shareholders (Mallin, 2007; Rahman, & Salim, 2010). For example, directors may have a wider range of economic and social needs (such as to maximize compensation, security, status and to boost their own reputation), while shareholders are interested only in maximizing return on investments. Furthermore, as directors are usually contracted to the company on short term basis, they may be eager for short-run payoffs within their contract term, whereas shareholdersââ¬â¢ interest would be based on long-term success. Australian companies have a unitary board structure and the regulatory framework for corporate governance and directorsââ¬â¢ duties is governed by (i) Statute (notably the Corporations Act), (ii) Common law rules (for example, cases relating to directorsââ¬â¢ duties), (iii) The companyââ¬â¢s constitution, and (iv) Guidelines issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (Dibbs Barker Gosling Lawyers, 2003). ASIC plays a vital role in enforcing and regulating company and financial services laws to protect Australian consumers, investors and creditors. It acts as Australiaââ¬â¢s corporate regulator and administers various legislations including the Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, etc. (Australian Securities ; Investments Commission, 2010a). By the Corporations Act, general duties imposed on directors and officers of companies are stated as (i) the duty to exercise their powers and duties with the care and diligence that a reasonable person would have which includes taking steps to ensure they are properly informed about the financial position of the company and ensuring the company doesnââ¬â¢t trade if it is insolvent, (ii) the duty to exercise their powers and duties in good faith in the best interests of the company and for a proper purpose, (iii) the duty not to improperly use their position to gain an advantage for themselves or someone else, or to cause detriment to the company, and (iv) the duty not to improperly use information obtained through their position to gain an advantage for themselves or someone else, or to cause detriment to the company (Australian Securities ; Investments Commission, 2010b). Beyond their legal duties and obligations, directors are also expected to meet commercial expectations in th e interest of stakeholders, which include, but are not limited to, shareholders. These commercial expectations essentially require directors to drive the bottom line and provide appropriate shareholder returns. Taking it a step further, many directors of today are challenged to embrace triple bottom line reporting and consider the economic, social and environmental ramifications of their corporate activities (Lucy, 2006). While the scope and laws governing the conduct of directors are wide and many, intentional and unintentional breach has shocked the financial market and public numerously. Till today, HIH Insurance Ltd (HIH) that went into liquidation in early 2001 is well remembered by almost every Australian as a collapse caused by mismanagement of the company, and various board members were brought to court on charges including giving misleading information with the intention of deceiving other board members and the companyââ¬â¢s auditor. As one of Australiaââ¬â¢s largest insurers, the company ran into debts of over AUD$5 billion and subsequent to the collapse, the government carried out an expensive exercise to underwrite many of the failed policies (Mallin, 2007). According to the HIH Royal Commission Report on the failure of HIH, it was concluded that investigators did not find fraud or embezzlement to be behind the collapse. The failure was more the result of attempts to paper over the cracks caused by over-priced acquisitions (notably FAI Insurance Ltd) and too much corporate extravagance based on a misconception that the ââ¬Ëmoneyââ¬â¢ was there in the business. The primary reason for the huge loses was that adequate provision had not been made for insurance claims and past claims on policies had not been properly priced. HIH was mismanaged in the area of its core business activity (Bailey, 2003). In chorus, the HIH Royal Commission report fundamentally states that the main reasons for the failure of HIH was poor management and greed characterised by (i) a lack of attention to detail and skills, (ii) a lack of accountability for performance, and (iii) a lack of integrity in the companyââ¬â¢s internal processes and systems (Nicholson, 2008). Justice Neville Owen further commented in the report on what was the essence of good corporate governance: ââ¬Å"The governance of a public company should be about stewardship. Those in control have a duty to act in the best interests of the company. They must use the companyââ¬â¢s resources productively. They must understand that those resources are not personal property. The last years of HIH were marked by poor leadership and inept management. Indeed, an attitude of apparent indifference to, or deliberate disregard of, the companyââ¬â¢s underlying problems pervades the affairs of the group. â⬠(The HIH Royal Commission, 2003). The above comment can be loosely translated to say that the directors of HIH have failed their duties. Notably, in April 2005, Mr Ray Williams, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HIH, was sentenced to four-and-a-half yearsââ¬â¢ jail with a non-parole period of two years and nine months. Mr Williamââ¬â¢s sentencing follows ASICââ¬â¢s successful civil penalty proceedings on the three criminal charges which Mr. William pleaded guilty to. The three criminal charges were (i) that he was reckless and failed to properly exercise his powers and discharge his duties for a proper purpose as a director of HIH Insurance Limited when, on 19 October 2000, he signed a letter that was misleading, (ii) that he authorised the issue of a prospectus by HIH on 26 October 1998 that contained a material omission, and (iii) that he made or authorised a statement in the 1998-99 Annual Report, which he knew to be misleading, that overstated the operating profit before abnormal items and income tax by $92. 4 million (Australian Securities & Investments Commission, 2005a). ASICââ¬â¢s HIH investigation also led to criminal prosecutions of 9 other former senior executives, including directors of FAI, HIH and associated entities on 31 Corporations and Crimes Act charges. Of high public interest was Mr Rodney Adler, a former director of HIH and the majority owner of FAI was sentenced to four-and-a-half yearsââ¬â¢ jail, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years, on four charges arising from his conduct as a director of the HIH group of companies in 2000. ASICââ¬â¢s chairman, Mr Jeffrey Lucy, in his public statement said, ââ¬Å"Mr Adler was in a position of trust as a director of HIH but he put his own financial interests before the interests of HIH shareholdersâ⬠(Australian Securities & Investments Commission, 2005b). Mr Adler was sentenced after pleading guilty to four criminal charges: (i) two counts of disseminating information on 19 and 20 June respectively, knowing it was false in a material particular and which was likely to induce the purchase by other persons of shares in HIH contrary to s999 Corporations Act 2001, (ii) one count of obtaining money by false or misleading statements, contrary to s178BB Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), and (iii) one count of being intentionally dishonest and failing to discharge his duties as a director of HIH in good faith and in the best interests of that company contrary to s184(1)(b) Corporations Act 2001 (Australian Securities & Investments Commission, 2005b). HIHââ¬â¢s disastrous business ventures in U. K. , U. S. , acquisition of FAI Insurance Ltd. nd the Allianz joint venture were identified as what ultimately brought HIH down. These instances of poor decision-making were caused by and reflect a poor corporate governance culture. Corporate governance issues identified included (i) an over-dominant CEO whose decisions were never questioned, (ii) an ineffective chairman who failed his responsibility to oversee the functioning of the board, (iii) an ineffective board who failed to grasp the concept of conflicts of interest, and was unable to monitor and does not question management performance, (iv) inappropriate conduct in remuneration setting and performance measurement (mostly made by Mr. Williams who, although not a member of the committee, attended all meetings by invitation), (v) an ineffective audit committee who showed no concern with risk management and internal control, and (vi) compromised auditor independence (the auditing company was Arthur Andersen and HIHââ¬â¢s board had three former Andersens partners ââ¬â one of them was the chair of the board yet continued receiving fees under a consultancy agreement. Andersens also derived significant fees from non-audit work which gave rise to a conflict of interest with their audit obligations) (Lipton, 2003). Subsequent to HIHââ¬â¢s collapse, The Corporate Law Economic Reform Program (Audit Reform and Corporate Disclosure) Act 2004 (commonly known as ââ¬ËCLERP 9ââ¬â¢) came into force on 1 July 2004. CLERP 9 incorporated a number of recommendations made in the HIH Royal Commission Report. Reforms were made relating to (i) disclosure of directorsââ¬â¢ remuneration, (ii) financial reporting, (iii) au ditors independence, (iv) continuous disclosure, and (v) enhanced penalty provisions. CLERP 9 also deals with accounting standards, expensing of options, compliance controls, and encouragement of greater shareholder participation at meeting ââ¬â all of which represents a significant development in the corporate law framework (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, 2005; Alcoc, & Bicego, 2003). Prior to CLERP 9 coming into force, advocates of corporate governance were delighted with Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX) release of the ââ¬Å"ASX Corporate Governance Councilââ¬â¢s (CGC) Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendationsâ⬠in March 2003. ASX CGC adopted the same ââ¬Ëprinciples basedââ¬â¢ approach as taken in the UK Combined Code which governs entities listed on the London Stock Exchange. ASX listed entities are at liberty not to comply with the recommendations, but if they do not, they must explain why not. The Guidelines were built on the belief that one size does not fit all companies. The Guidelines contained 10 ââ¬Ëessentialââ¬â¢ Corporate Governance Principles (Principles) and 28 Best Practice Recommendations (Recommendations) which was later revised in August 2007 as ââ¬Å"Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendationsâ⬠(Guidelines) comprising of 8 Principles and 26 Recommendations (Farrell, Harding, ; Spilsbury, 2003). The Guidelines also reflect ASX CGCââ¬â¢s emphasis in continuous disclosure by listed companies. Each Principle has a ââ¬ËGuide to reportingââ¬â¢ about the Recommendations at the end of the ââ¬Ëchapterââ¬â¢ discussing what should be disclosed and where. Under ASX Listing Rule 4. 10. 3, companies are required to provide a statement in their annual report, disclosing the extent to which they have followed the Recommendations in the reporting period. Where companies have not followed all the Recommendations, they must identify the Recommendations that have not been followed and give reasons for not following them ââ¬â the ââ¬Å"if not, why notâ⬠approach (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). In relation to HIHââ¬â¢s case, a number of the Guidelinesââ¬â¢ Principles provide fairly extensive coverage of corporate governance issues identified in HIH earlier. Principle 1 highlights the need for companies to establish and disclose the respective roles and responsibilities of the board and management. In the 2007 edition, the Guidelines added the Recommendation 1. 2 for companies to disclose the process for evaluating the performance of senior executives (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). This Principle serves to provide disclosure in relation to HIHââ¬â¢s situation of an over-dominant CEO and ineffective chairman and board. Where HIH was highlighted to have a board that was ineffective and failed its duties, Principle 2 states that companies need to structure the board to add value with an effective composition, size and commitment to adequately discharge its responsibilities and duties. Recommendations in the principle placed importance in having a majority of the board and the chairman being independent directors to ensure independence in board decisions and prevent conflict of interest. Recommendation 2. 4 suggests that companies should establish a nomination committee to ensure appropriate selection and appointment practices in the company. This Recommendation also provides resolution in relation to HIHââ¬â¢s case whereby the board was mostly made up of directors hired by Mr. William, including the former Andersen partners. In the 2007 edition, the Guidelines added the Recommendation 2. 5 for companies to disclose the process for evaluating the performance of the board, its committees and individual directors (previously this was part of Principle 8 in the 2003 edition, titled ââ¬Å"encourage enhance performanceâ⬠). This Recommendation helps to ensure directors are given access to continuing education to update and enhance their skills and knowledge that are necessary in performing their duties (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). Principle 3 discusses how companies should promote ethical and responsible decision-making. Beyond legal obligations, directors are expected to make decisions that satisfy not only the companyââ¬â¢s shareholders but other stakeholders as well (this principal includes amalgamation from Principle 10 of the 2003 edition Guidelines which was to ââ¬Å"recognize the legitimate interests of stakeholdersâ⬠). To achieve this, Recommendation 3. 1 encourages companies to establish and disclose their code of conduct pertaining to integrity practices, legal practices and handling of unethical practices. Aligned with this, Recommendation 3. 2 promotes the establishment and disclosure of companyââ¬â¢s policy concerning trading in company securities by directors, senior executives and employees (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). Relating to Principle 3 and Principle 7 titled ââ¬Å"recognize and manage riskâ⬠, HIH has been considerably questioned of its various business decisions, mostly of which contributed to huge loses and ultimately the companyââ¬â¢s insolvency. Criticized decisions made by the company are many, and on top of the list include (i) the acquisition of FAI Insurance (majority-owned by Mr. Adler who later became a member of HIHââ¬â¢s board of directors) for A$300 million which FAI was later estimated to be worth just A$100 million, (ii) re-entering the California market in 1998 and failure to take the difficult decision to exit the market when it proved unprofitable, and (iii) the decision to enter a sector (insurance and re-insurance of film-financing) that has proved problematic for many market participants in London (Cagan, 2001). The lack of risk management within HIH was apparent and Mr. Adlerââ¬â¢s unethical conduct was evident with his imprisonment. In view of the importance of risk management, Recommendation 7. 1 urges companies to establish policies for the over sight and management of material business risks (that is financial risks and non-financial risks) and disclose a summary of those policies while Recommendation 7. 2 call for the board to require management to design and implement risk management and internal control system to manage the companyââ¬â¢s material business risks and report to it on whether those risks are being managed effectively.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
CHILDHOOD VACCINES essays
CHILDHOOD VACCINES essays Vaccinations are the best weapon against disease, at one point in time devastated people around the world. Unfortunately, far too few people are getting them as needed. Immunizations vary in dosages and concentrations for adults and children. In the sake of this paper I will be going over pediatric vaccines. Pediatric vaccines are administered at certain ages depending on the vaccine. These vaccines would include Polio, Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertusis absorbed, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal Conjugate, Haemophilus Inluenzae Type B, Inactivated Influenza, Measles Mumps The first vaccination a child receives is Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a very serious disease. This disease can cause acute illness that leads to loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, fatigue, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), pain in muscles, joints, and stomach. It possibly can cause chronic illness that may lead to cirrhosis (liver damage), liver cancer or death. HBV is spread through by contact of blood or body fluids from an infected person. The first Hepatitis B Vaccine is administered to children within 12 hours of birth. Children will receive three more doses of Hep B at age 2, 4, and 6 months. Totaling 4 vaccinations all together. Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB) vaccines are administered at 2 months, 4 months, and again between the ages of 12 months and 15 months. HIB disease is caused by a disease is caused by a bacteria. This disease normally strikes children around the age 5. Before the HIB vaccine, the HIB disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings. This infection usually leads to deafness or brain damage. Diphtheria Tetanus ...
Monday, November 4, 2019
HOW MIGHT DEVELOPING CULTURAL COMPETENCE IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH Essay - 1
HOW MIGHT DEVELOPING CULTURAL COMPETENCE IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - Essay Example Growing cultural diversity in UK involving both healthcare practitioners and clients has however triggered significant desirability for change towards cultural competence within the countryââ¬â¢s healthcare system. This paper discusses how developing of cultural competence based on the Papadopoulos et al. may improve mental health care services in UK. Papadopoulos et al. (1998) provides a cultural competence model capable of facilitating effective implementation cultural competence within the UK health care system. The cultural competence model developed by Papadopoulos et al. (1998) entails five constructs including cultural awareness, knowledge on the clientsââ¬â¢ culture, and development of cultural skills, cultural encounters and culture desire. The five constructs are perceived as central to healthcare practitionersââ¬â¢ ability to deliver care within patientââ¬â¢s cultural context. The model recognizes the role of culture in influencing patientsââ¬â¢ way of thinking and perception about their health problems. The cultural competence model is viewed as an ongoing process that involves integration of the five cultural competence constructs to enable health practitioners achieve the ability to deliver health care services within patientsââ¬â¢ cultural context (Campinha-Bacote 2002). The model emphasizes on the n eed for health care practitioners to appreciate cultural diversity in the process of providing care to their patients or clients. Culturally competent services emerge as essential to improve the general health care system through recognition, incorporation, practicing and valuing cultural diversity the delivery of health care services. The cultural competence model focuses on ensuring quality services for culturally diverse populations, including provision of culturally appropriate interventions. According to Lightburn and Sessions (2005), culture significantly determines whether or when an individual seeks help, the kind of help and from
Saturday, November 2, 2019
State Aid developments in 2013 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
State Aid developments in 2013 - Research Paper Example ings on issues are to be the preserve of the European Commission whilst the European Court is called upon as the court of last resort in these issues. Article 107(1) was interpreted significantly in the Doux Elevage case where it was found that in cases where government agencies and units are independent from government, their directives which seemingly favors some organizations cannot be classified as state aid. A ruling on the state aid claims and disbursement in France concerning the France Telecom and the French Government showed that in cases where the donation and/or investment into a given entity is seen as some kind of reorganization or a long-term change in the structures of the entity, it could be seen as something done outside the scope of the state aid restriction. And this could be permitted. Also, Article 107(3) (a) has been interpreted to be compatible with state aid allowances if they cover areas that are considered to be areas that need accelerated development and change. And this is typically allowed where the activity is within the scope and context of relevant rules and relevant limits set in the law of the com munity. The deminimis regulation was also reviewed in the current year under review. The ceiling remained at â⠬200,000 for most aspects of the state aid system in spite of calls for an increase. The GBER and other frameworks are introduced, whilst the overall plans and objectives of the European Union has been moved to focus on the aviation industry. Numerous benefits and advantages are put in place to encourage the aviation industry. There are numerous rulings that occurred in the past year that has significance in the interpretation of European Union State Aid laws and regulations. Some of these cases provide further interpretation of the existing laws whilst others provided an insight into new circumstances and situations that were not expressly defined and stated in the European legal systems. The fundamentals of European law
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