Eco-feminism & political and social movement Essay

Eco-feminism can be defined a political and social movement which aims at combining feminism with environmentalism or, in other words, to unite deep ecology with feminist concepts. Actually, I have chosen eco-feminism as it draws relations between women oppression and degradation of nature. Environmental problems are of great concern now along with women equality. Nature is degrading and women’s rights are still discriminating. Therefore, eco-feminism argues that there is a strong link between degradation of women and oppression of women. Eco-feminism also explores the relations between sexism, racism, domination of nature and social inequality. It is known that eco-feminism originates from union of ecological thinkers and feminist which believe that social mentality is to blame for oppression of women and domination of men. It is directly related to abuse of environment. Eco-feminism is claimed to combine bioregional democracy with eco-anarchism. Eco-feminism strongly proclaims the importance of interrelations between humans and animals, human and insects, and the earth. Central idea of the feminism is that men ownership has resulted in dominator culture promoting food export, tragedy of the commons, abusive land ethics, exploitation of people and over-gazing. Land and animals are viewed only as economic resources and eco-feminism aims at fighting such positioning. The primary goal of eco-feminism is to re-define the views on productivity, attitudes of males and females towards nature and animals, as well as to prevent ill-using of animals and insects. The key figures in the development of eco-feminism are Carol Adams, Helene Aylon, Judi Bari, Mary Daly, Monica Sjoo, etc. For example, Carol Adams is interested in relations between feminism and vegetarianism. In her works she wrote that women ahs to abuse their rights to provide men with the best food. Summing up, the primary goal of eco-feminism is to explain associations between degradation of women and degradation of nature. Works Cited Eco-feminism. Available at http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ecofeminism. Accessed April 20, 2008 List of Feminists. Available at http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_feminists. Accessed April 20, 2008

Exim Policy India Analysis Essay

EXIM policy should be more transparent which should favour export environment The EXIM policy (Foreign trade policy) was announced on 27th August 2009 for the period 2009-2014. It was announced at a juncture when the world was recuperating from the economic downturn. The downturn had caused a sharp contraction in international trade and adversely impacted global investments. The world trade suffered a drastic reduction of 12%. In this context, the EXIM policy focussed on arresting declining exports. Market diversification strategy was adopted in order to reach out to non traditional destinations in Africa ,Latin America and Asia since there was a sharp decline in demand in the traditional market. Technological up gradation of exports was encouraged and transaction procedures were simplified to reduce costs. Other steps planned wee to concentrate on Labour intensive sectors and the draft policy parameters to enhance the competitiveness of our exports by promoting technology upgrades. A Committee of Experts was constituted to revamp the procedures of transactions and administer the value chain of exports. Amidst the current global economic turmoil, the Indian government should take prudent steps to avoid the recurrence of another recession. In light of the recent developments, the EXIM policy should encourage exports and stimulate international trade. While, the current EXIM policy mentions a considerable emphasis on exports, a detailed check is required if the trade is actually adhering to the policies framed and if the transparency is being maintained in the transactions. a) Currency printing should be done by private top 3 financial institutions in the country. The Reserve Bank of India manages the currency in the country with the help of the advice from the government of India. RBI distributes notes and rupee coins to other bank branches through certain selected currency chest branches. Printing additional currency should be done in a controlled manner since it can have a great impact on the economy. India can’t merely print additional currency to meet public expenditure unless it is a time of extreme financial crisis. This method of increasing liquidity in the market is called Quantitative Easing and happens when the Central bank fails to inject liquidity in the system by lowering interest rates. This is mainly done to prevent deflation. However, uncontrolled printing of money causes inflation and can lead to hyper inflation in extreme cases. RBI uses three main factors are used to estimate the demand for bank notes – current growth rate of economy, replacement demand and reserve requirements. During the time of recession, it is all the more important to be prudent on printing money since the economy is on a decline and it becomes imperative to control inflation. Hence, monitoring the currency printing is of utmost importance and this can be achieved by allowing only the top 3 private financial institutions in the country. a) FDI should be allowed in multi brand so as to eliminate intermediaries and benefit farmers and industries directly. It will help in curbing inflation. FDI in multi brand retail should be encouraged since it would contribute extensively in the growth of the economy. It would improve the availability of high quality goods and create an environment of competitiveness in Indian entrepreneurs by giving exposure to global management practices. It would also encourage better technology and enhance efficiencies. However, the policy should be implemented within the purview of the state laws and regulations. This would ensure that there is no anti- competitive practices including predatory pricing. Investments in terms of FDI in retail would in turn help in developing the infrastructure of the country in terms of supply chain and logistics. This would also eliminate intermediaries and benefit farmers and industries directly. This strategy would greatly help in controlling recession since this help in generating demand at the low income level and eventually would eliminate the income divide. It would also curb inflation in an efficient manner. a) More emphasis should be given on R& D of capital goods which are prima facie being produced by developed economies. The profits of the capital goods sector is directly linked with the profits of the entire Indian industry. This is further corroborated by the high elasticity behavior of Capital goods industry to the fluctuations in the industry growth. One of the key stimulators for demand in the capital goods sector is the manufacturing sector which forms the end user of these goods. Another stimulator for the demand is the gross investment made in this sector by the country. It is important to have a good demand for the Capital goods since its consumption constitutes 17-21 percent of the GDP of the country. However, the investments in this sector have declined when compared to other sectors. Hence, more emphasis on the investment and R&D of capital goods will provide considerable boost to the GDP of the country and in turn help in curbing recession. This is one of the most effective ways to control recession. a) Government should spend in agro based economies like Africa to have favourable terms for import of agriculture products. Although imports of agricultural products form a very small percentage of the total imports, the import duties and countries of trade pose significant hurdles. The current import statistics of various agricultural products are as follows. The total agri imports are in the range of 4-7 percent of the total imports. Edible oil accounts for more than 50% of the agri imports. Raw cashew nut accounts for about 10 percent of the agri imports. Other agricultural products imported are – cereals,pulses,spices,sugar chicken meat etc .However, these form a very low percentage of the agri imports and are imported in climatically abnormal years. Government should put extensive effort to build ties with agro based economies like Africa which would help reducing the expenditure on agricultural imports. This in-turn would help in maintaining the balance even in adverse years when domestic production fails to fulfill the demand. This gap between demand and supply in a bad year is one of the root causes of creating a recession. Hence, this is a cost effective alternative to fulfill this supply and curb the occurrence of a recession.

A New Joe on the Block

He needs to understand what makes a coffee shop popular in United States c. Joe needs to know the coffee consumption pattern in United States. 2. What are the deliverables that an outside researcher should produce to help Joe with the Key decision? An outside researcher should be able to provide enough information through descriptive research about key problems faced by his client, â€Å"Joe†. The result should have information like right location for coffee shops; commercial areas might be more suitable for coffee shops than residential areas. Also what affects the popularity of coffee shop, whether it is the brand, services, price, products, consumer behavior and to what extent these variables have on the popularity of the coffee shops, and lastly, how often people consume coffee and what affects their consumption habits. 3. How relevant are the coffee taste studies cited above? Explain. Each study is relevant in its own way. The first two studies compared the four brands with different outcome. The study that surveyed 100 consumers form a small organics shop provides some insight into the behavior of some adamant coffee drinkers, part of which can be used in understanding the attributes of popular coffee shops. The other studies show different opinion about coffee taste preferences from different locations. All these can provide some kind of understanding about the competitor’s landscape. 4. What flaws in the coffee taste studies should Joe consider in trying to weigh the merits of their results? The flaw in the first two taste studies is that the conclusions are based on opinion of single person and not a random sample that could reflect consistent pattern among the target consumers. Research based on a single person is not as strong as it would be if it were to be based on more of the target population. The taste studies also reviewed a sample of 100 people from an organic shop, which isn’t the market Joe would be targeting for his coffee shop. 5. Briefly relate this situation to each of the major stages of the marketing research process. If Joe wants to conduct a business research, firstly he needs the objective in this case that would be what kind of coffee people in United States like and which is the best possible place for his coffee shop. Then he needs to plan a research design and a sample study. Collecting and analyzing the data comes next. Surveying would be the most appropriate in this case. After analyzing the data Joe or his researcher can produce a report to conclude the study. 6. Try to do a quick search to explore the question â€Å" are american consumer preference the same all across the United States ? Search in the internet shows that Americans choice of coffee is not much different than one another. It may differ a little in terms of place but most of them go for instant coffee and majority of coffee-drinking Americans go for franchaise coffee shop and are loyal to them. The biggest franchaise in America are Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, Mcdonalds. 11% of American adults go to Dunkin’ Donuts. Where as 13% of American adults go to Starbucks. 7. Would it be better for Joe to do the research himself or have a consultant perform the work? From the report of the research Joe will decide where to open a coffee shop, what kind of coffee he should produce and where to produce. I believe a hiring a specialist is much more suitable option in this situation. 8. If a consultant comes in to do the job, what are three key deliverables that would likely be important to Joe in making a decision to launch the Cup of Joe coffee shop? The three deliverables Joe is looking from his hired consultant would be; which place would be best for his coffee shop, what makes a coffee shop successful and which combination of price and quality most people in that region like most.

Capital Budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Capital Budgeting - Essay Example The management has the option of employing different techniques for evaluating the performance of individual project managers, each of which has its own characteristics. This paper makes a critical analysis of the performance evaluation technique adopted by Brand Neue Corporation and suggests that the project creating positive shareholder value based on Economic Value Added (EVA) calculation is to be accepted for providing overall greater bonus to the project manager. Organizations adopt both financial and non-financial metrics for evaluating the performance of senior managers. Many of the companies use performance measures such as operating income which rely mostly on financial information generated internally within the organization and are therefore are deficient in making the evaluation perfect. In order to overcome this problem firms have started combining both financial and non-financial measures in the form of balanced scorecards specifying different elements such as profitability measures, customer satisfaction measures, internal measures of efficiency, quality and time and innovation measures. The measures incorporate both long-term and short-term horizon in the evaluation. The internal financial measures are normally based on the accounting numbers routinely prepared and reported by the organization. The idea behind evaluating the performance of different projects is not only to judge the profitability of the projects but also to provid e a meaningful basis for compensating and motivating the senior managers. The objective of this paper is to analyze the project performance appraisal techniques adopted by Brand Neue Corporation. This company has been working on three projects, the performance of which was under review. The company was using ROI technique for evaluating the performance of the projects based on which the performance of the project managers was assessed for compensating them. However the evaluation technique was changed to EVA, since the management was convinced that some of the project managers have been accepting or rejecting projects based on their current ROI status in relation to the bonus structure of the firm. One of the projects was in jeopardy as the project evaluation has not considered the cost of clean up to be incurred consequent upon the passing of an environmental legislation. The cleaning cost has made the project unviable. Therefore the management wants to have a relook at the different project performance evaluation techniques. This report will analyze the effectiveness of the capital budgeting and performance evaluation techniques adopted by Brand Neue such as Return on Investment (ROI), Residual Income (RI) and Economic Value Added (EVA) and recommend to the board of directors, the best technique for evaluating the performance of the managers. The report will also substantiate the recommendation of a particular technique and the likely issues the management has to consider in the process of evaluation. This paper is organized to present theoretical aspects of the evaluation techniques, comparison of the performance evaluation under different techniques and finally a recommendation on the technique that the management can adopt. Project Performance Evaluation Techniques The objective of performance evaluation systems is to provide the information feedback loop to the

Enlightment Vs. Romanticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enlightment Vs. Romanticism - Essay Example Although they pass common knowledge to the human beings, they differ in their opinions. Keats believes that beauty is a concept that conquers everything in life. He argues that it is good for the authors to argue their opinions based on reality and the reality he emphasizes is the nature and romanticism. He argues that authors should not categorize the earth into different knowledge as he believes that knowledge is just one. On the other hand, Kant emphasizes of reasoning by saying that the world composes different knowledge. This is the primary tool for getting the reality of enlightenment from the society. According to Kant, enlightenment means the release of a man from his self-tutelage. This is where a person is not able to make his own decisions without the influence of other people. Kant therefore, encourages people to think and reason He considers the traditional philosophers as people who could not reason to bring reality into the world. Through his poetry, he thus hopes to end the age where things are speculated without using the reasoning and thinking capabilities. Kant used his poetry to define the enlightenment as a situation where men are released from their self- incurred tutelage and having the courage to reason and air out one’s opinions on a particular issue. Through the poetry, Kant enlightens people on the nature and the reality (Kant, 23). His poetry is very crucial in the society where reasoning is valued as the primary driver of one’s life. He analyzes the previous philosophers as people who could not reason because they were coward. He argues that their coward behavior made them remain unenlightened in the society for quite a lot of time. Furthermore, he says that people in the society are too lazy that they cannot even reason. The people’s laziness has made them not to think and reason beyond the box. The poet is thus important to the society as through his poetry; people become enlightened. People

Definition of Curriculum Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Definition of Curriculum - Research Paper Example The curriculum development and proper allocation of curriculum to the academic area forms an important part of this process. This paper aims to define and analyze curriculum and its importance and application in the nursing field. The definition of curriculum is defined by different researchers in different ways. The existence of curriculum and its relative importance, however, cannot be ignored in any field. Traditionally curriculum was defined as the path and lessons of study or the material being taught. Others like Oliva(2005) believe that curriculum points towards and makes its way to achieve some ‘purpose’. In the modern era, the definition of curriculum is widened and comprises a body of knowledge and procedures to define the objectives and results (Ellis 2004, p. 4). Regardless of the prevalent differences in the definitions of curriculum, it is evident that curriculum is designed and used with a motive to increase learning and working efficiency, determining and communicating goals and providing a path to move in order to gain knowledge about certain subjects and matters. In the field of nursing, curriculum plays a vital role in explaining the nature, extent and scope of the profession. The practices are related to the health and require closer attentions by the practitioners, hence, curriculum and active learning helps in understanding the peculiar tasks. The nursing area requires higher attention to every task assigned, practice performed and care given (Iwasiw et al. 2009 pp. 4-7). Curriculum in nursing practices and learning environment helps in identifying the potentially risky areas and an insight to resolve those issues. In the nursing practice, curriculum provides detailed analyses of the situations that may arise in the practical application of the learned concepts. These practical areas like hospitals and other healthcare service providers use the theoretical understanding as a key to proper nursing care. The internship requireme nts of nursing curriculum helps in developing the initial practical working experience in the nurses. Such requirements are helpful in training the nurses under the supervision of highly qualified and experienced healthcare practitioners. In conclusion, it can be said that the curriculum provides a good informational and practical structure to train nurses. The requirements and rules of curriculum help in understanding the aim of the profession, legal responsibilities and theoretical knowledge of the concepts related to the field. Bibliography Ellis, A. K. (2004). Exemplars of curriculum theory. Larchmont, N.Y: Eye on Education. Iwasiw, C. L., Goldenberg, D., & Andrusyszyn, M.-A. (2009). Curriculum development in nursing education. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Oliva, P. F. (2005). Developing the curriculum. Boston: Allyn and

Diversity and Inclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Diversity and Inclusion - Essay Example These tests are administered in the student's primary language, with more than one type of test given for each disability tested. (LD Online, 2010) When the disability has been isolated, then the third component provides for an IEP, an Individualized Education Plan. This is an organized approach to providing targeted special education to meet that student's specific needs. It is formulated with a team of professionals, including the parents; they meet annually to discuss process and areas for improvement. The IEP must contain certain parameters: current level of academic achievement, annual and short term goals, frequent evaluation using objective criteria, the list of special education services and environment required, the extent of mainstreaming with explanations for lack of mainstreaming, the date for commencement of services as well as the estimated duration, and an annual progress report updating achievement of goals. (LD Online, 2010) The fourth component states that children should be educated in the least restrictive environment. This means that for the most part, handicapped children should be with their non-handicapped peers unless special circumstances prohibit it. There are program aides provided to many mainstream classes to assist children with special needs to enable them to remain in the classroom with their peers. Occasionally, behavioral issues require a student to be removed to allow for stabilization, followed by a return to the classroom when the student is able. (LD Online, 2010) The fifth component is one of due process with rights for the parents and child with regards to accountability and fairness. It contains the following provisions: 1) confidentiality regarding both the family and... This essay underlines that every person, born with disabilities, has the right to receive an education that will help him master the surrounding environment and allow him to make a contribution to the world at large. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 is the latest comprehensive package which provides not only educational services, but also supportive technology and services to assist children in retaining educational curriculum. In addition to the standard learning disabilities, children with traumatic brain injury, autism and benign mental disorders, and, visual and auditory impairment are now provided services under this legislation. A team of highly qualified professionals partners with the child's parents to monitor progress and assure that quality services are provided for the child. These children are no longer forced to live a life of mediocrity because their needs are met early in life during the cognitive development stage in order to be the most effect ive remedy for prevention of further disability. When a professional suspects a child may have a disability, they must attempt to resolve the issue without involving the special needs team. The parents are also a part of this team. Sometimes just talking with the child and parents provides insight into the situation allowing them to get alternative relief. If at least two alternative approaches for instruction in the regular classroom do not impact the situation, then the child may be referred for a special needs evaluation.

An evaluation of competitive advantages of electronic advertising to Dissertation

An evaluation of competitive advantages of electronic advertising to companies in UK - Asda and Tesco - Dissertation Example This analysis is primarily an evaluation of the market potential of electronic advertising for businesses in the UK, with case-studies of notable examples. The relevant findings that necessitate studies such as this include data that portrays as many as 14 million households in the United Kingdom going online to discover current details about goods or services in September of 2009 – 14 million within just one month. (Office of Fair Trading, 2010) Other relevant findings indicate an ongoing growth rate in the subsequent advertising revenue that can be achieved for those that take advantage of online advertising opportunities. The percentage of advertising revenue generated from online commerce has grown 17% in the five years between 2003 and 2008, for example. (Office of Fair Trading, 2010) There are additional complexities to this form of advertising, but there is strong evidence to suggest that electronic marketing/advertising is a growth area which must be pioneered by any c ompany that does not wish to be left behind by history. As of 2010, the practice of behavioral advertising through online targeting is responsible for revenue as high as ?95m. (Office of Fair Trading, 2010) This represents the fraction of possible online marketing revenues known to be possible within the United Kingdom, to say nothing of the global market, but even within the UK there is potential for further growth. Online marketing allows for an element of behavioral tailoring which is more difficult in other forms of media – even other visual media. The competitive advantages of electronic advertising through online sources allow the vendor to maximize the relevance of an advertisement by adjusting content pertaining directly to the consumers’ desires. This potential is far greater than what might be achieved through less responsive media. Television advertisers for decades have sought to generate programming specific to a selection of the demographic most likely to be watching a given program at a given time, but this method has its limits. A television station attempts to acquire as many advertisers as possible, and must negotiate its scheduling to satisfy all of them, and the most popular programs may have a diverse demographic. Some commercials may be relevant to any particular viewer, but in the course of satisfying all advertisers inevitably there will be much content there any particular view or will not find worthy of attention. Television is not responsive in the way that online navigation could be. The television viewer has already responded by selecting the channel, and no further customization is possible. The situation is similar with radio. Electronic advertising through online sources allows the advertiser to adapt their message in a way that capitalizes upon the very personal nature of website navigation. In front of the computer or mobile computing device, the user has access to an ever growing network of information and enter tainment, far more options than could ever be feasible for the programming of a radio or television company. The range of options is dizzying, but provides a golden opportunity for advertisers. Those who attempt to market to individual website users do not need to cater to the totality of need for an audience of (hopefully)

Sustainable Development and its overall impact Assignment

Sustainable Development and its overall impact - Assignment Example It is related with the utilisation of resources, excess consumption of resources, insufficiency, human rights and availability of facilities. Therefore, evaluation of sustainable development should accept a time limit which can capture both human and environment and react with the requirement of future and present generation. Proper anticipation of future needs should be done on the basis of historic circumstances. The sustainable framework of an organisation should link with the chosen vision and objectives of organisation. A number of measurement amalgamations are effective to provide vibrant indication of progress towards sustainability. By associating the measurement value with the target, organisations can comprehend the ways and the tendencies towards sustainable development (Hardi & Zdan, 1997). Values and Beliefs: Values and beliefs are vital for management of sustainability. Therefore, organisations ought to ensure a level of openness in their operations which can ensure tru st and faith. There is need for applying considerable level of transparency in business performances which also includes measurement of sustainable progress. In order to add value, organisations can maintain close interaction with the government and the public. The involvement of people such as professionals, social groups comprising youths and ethnic people can help to ensure acknowledgement of miscellaneous and fluctuating values. Participations of communities can also help to secure an organisation by connecting implemented policies with consequential actions (International Energy Agency, 2006). Evaluation of Sustainable Development: Organisations need to be iterative, adaptive and reactive to any kind of... Center of discussion in this paper is sustainable development as a kind of development which satisfies the requisites of present times without sacrificing the aptitudes of upcoming generations to satisfy their own requirements. In relation to the case there are five major aspects of sustainable development principles which are: establishing vision, universal perception, needs and rights, values and beliefs, evaluation of sustainable development. Sustainable development is an extensive concept where human and organisational actions can affect the environment and social welfare. Organisations along with individuals have responsibilities to promote sustainable development. From the above analysis of cases, it can be observed that several organisations and bodies implement different measures to protect and to restore the environment and natural resources. In order to accomplish a positive future, above aspects should be considered by organisations and should also implement measures that can reduce the negative environmental impacts. Organisational structure and culture should be changed and adjusted towards better sustainability and the organisations also need to comply with the rules and the regulations of environment. In order to enhance the biodiversity, several projects have been undertaken as a part of sustainable development. One such project is development of â€Å"Bird Flapper† where a disk is linked with the power lines.

Influences of Innovation at Apple Inc Case Study

Influences of Innovation at Apple Inc - Case Study Example The present case study dwells on the innovative features of the business at Apple Inc. The discussion commences from its very beginning and ends with the contemporary strategies and business of the firm. Apple Inc., (Apple) is a US - based multinational corporation that focuses on design and manufacture of consumer electronics and closely related software products. The company was established in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976, engaged in designing, developing, selling and supporting a wide range of personal computers, portable media players, mobile phones, computer software, computer hardware and hardware accessories. Till 2007, the firm opened around 200 retail stores across five countries and one online store through which hardware and software products are being sold (Retail Stores). In the year 2008, the firm was awarded the best corporate performer organized by the famous business magazine, Business Week. (Best Performer Award 2008). Apple started its innovation journey with its first Apple computer in the year 1976. After that the company introduced the Apple II microcomputer on April 16, 1977 and it was different from its major rivals, the TRS-80 and Commodore PET, mainly because of its color graphics and an open architecture. In 1983, the company introduced the Lisa, the first commercial personal computer to employ a Graphical User Interface (GUI). In the early 2000s, Apple expanded its focus on software and included professional and consumer video, music, and photo production solutions with a view to promote its products as a "digital hub". Apple developed its own operating system to run on its hardware such as Macs, Mac OS X and Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. Apple also independently developed computer software titles for its Mac OS X operating system. Apple also offered a range of professional software titles. On May 19, 2001, Apple launched its first official Apple retail stores (Appendix I) in Virginia and California and continued to set up more stores in the US and other countries. Apple retail stores are a chain of stores owned and operated solely by Apple Inc., dealing in computers and consumer electronics. On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod digital music player equipped with a 5 GB hard drive and a monochrome screen. The current models can store up to 160 GB and display video, play games, and support a wide range of third-party add-on devices. Apple added new models of iPod(R) touch, after the success of the iPod touch (Appendix II) launched in 2007. Another innovative milestone in the launch of Apple products was the Apple iPhone. It was introduced by the company in late June 2007 at the top price of $599 with 8GB and a less price of $499 with 4GB. iPhone (Appendix III) was one of the most anticipated electronic devices of the decade (Apple Inc History). AppleCare is a customer service program designed by the company to meet the needs of individuals and businesses. In addition, there are numerous online resources within the AppleCare Support website that provide valuable information and instructions. Apple's self-servicing account program is designed for institutions and businesses - for

Performance in Sme in Malaysia Essay Example for Free

Performance in Sme in Malaysia Essay The Auto Industry and the Environment The industry is committed to contributing to an integrated approach, with other stakeholders, to a cleaner environment and reduced carbon emissions. Automakers are constantly developing more ef? cient engines and drive-trains to reduce fuel consumption, and a wide range of sophisticated emissions-control technology is putting cleaner automobiles on the road everywhere. With more and more new vehicles with modern exhaust emissions performance on the road, clear improvements in air quality can be seen. Automakers have invested hugely in reaching these air quality improvements and in developing diverse automobiles that run on alternative fuels including those from sustainable sources or that use hybrid technology using both gasoline or diesel engines and electric power. Because consumers, as well as different regions of the world, favour different technologies, automakers are developing a range of automobiles that run on different fuels. Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Czech Rep.

Health Promotion and Education Essay Example for Free

Health Promotion and Education Essay Outline: 1. Health Education a. Definition 2. Five Key Areas in Health Promotion and Education 3. Five Health Promotion Approach a. Medical Approach b. Behavior Change Approaches c. Educational approach d. In Client-Centered Approach e. Societal Change Approach 4. Healthy Lifestyle a. Definition b. How to promote a healthy lifestyle? 5. Advocacy for Health R.A. 9163 Motivation: 1. Are you healthy? Why? 2. How do you define a healthy person? 3. Have you been sent to the doctor or hospitalized? Activity: 1. Diagram of a Healthy Person Ask your students to bring the following material: white cartolina, pencils, coloring pen, scissors and glue Ask your student to draw and image of a healthy person and present it in the class Identify a symbolic picture of your answers to the questions above. Draw a coat of arms using all the symbolic picture of your answers as elements. Lecture: Health Education 1. Health Education a. Definition Health 1. The World Health Organization in 1948 defined health as: a. A state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. b. Within the context of health promotion, health has been considered less as an abstract state and more as a means to an end which can be expressed in functional terms as a resource which permits people to lead an individually, socially and economically productive life. Health is a resource for everyday life, not the object of living. It is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities.1 Health for All 1. It is the attainment by all the people of the world of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life.2 Health promotion 1. Is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health.3 2. Health Promotion is the process of enabling people by strengthening their skills and capabilities as well as changing their social, environmental and economic condition.4 Public health 1. It is science and art of promoting health, preventing disease, and prolonging life through the organized efforts of society. a. It is a social and political concept aimed at the improving health, prolonging life and improving the quality of life not just for a single individual but among whole populations through health promotion, disease prevention and other forms of health intervention.5 Health education 1. Health education comprises consciously constructed opportunities for learning how to promote individual and public health. It involves activities designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health.6 2. Five Key Areas in Health Promotion and Education a. In the 21st century the Jakarta Declaration of the World Health Organizations (WHO) identifies five priorities in health promotion and education: Promote social responsibility for health Increase investments for health development Expand partnerships for health promotion Increase community capacity and empower the individual Secure an infrastructure for health promotion 3. Five Health Promotion Approach a. Various models of health promotion and health education are useful analytical tool, which can help clarify goals and values ​​of health promotion. A framework consisting of five approaches to health promotion, and demonstrate the values ​​inherent in their respective approaches.7 Medical Approach 1. the freedom from disease and disability as defined by medical, such as infectious diseases, cancer and heart disease 2. It involves medicine to prevent or alleviate pain, perhaps with persuasive and paternalistic methods. 3. It gives the importance of preventive medical measures, and responsibilities of the medical profession to make sure that patients adhere to recommended procedures. Behavior Change Approaches 1. To change community attitudes and individual behavior, so they took this healthy lifestyle. Educational approach 1. To provide information and ensure knowledge and understanding of the matter of health. Information about health is presented, and 2. People are helped to explore the values ​​and attitudes, and make their own decisions. 3. Assistance in implementing the decisions and adopt new health practices can also be offered by school health education programs. In Client-Centered Approach 1. This approach is to work with clients to help them identify what they want to know and do, and make their own decisions and choices according to their interests and values. 2. Self empowered client is seen as central to this goal. Societal Change Approach 1. to make changes in the physical environment, social and economic development, in order to make it more conducive to a healthy state 4. Healthy Lifestyle a. Definition According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Health not just defined as the absence of disease it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Interestingly enough Healthy lifestyle then are the steps, actions and strategies one puts in place to achieve optimum and maximum health. It is about making smart and informed decision in maintaining our health8 b. How to promote a healthy lifestyle?9 Balanced Diet – the Motto program initiated by Prof. Poerwo Soedarmo in 1950, the father of Nutrition Indonesia suggest the following: 1. Eat a variety of foods 2. Eat foods to meet energy coverage 3. Eat foods carbohydrate source half of their energy needs 4. Limit your intake of fats and oils up to a quarter of the energy adequacy 5. Use iodized salt 6. Eat food sources of iron 7. Give only to infants only breast milk until the age of four months and add the solids after 8. Always eat breakfast 9. Drink water that is safe and adequate amount 10. Make regular physical activity 11. Avoid alcoholic beverages 12. Eat foods that are safe for health 13. Read labels on packaged foods Pattern break – people are too busy and stressed by their workload, domestic problem and even school requirements and activities and so there is n time to rest. 1. The body desperately needs sleep. If you are only able to gain time for 3-4 hours at night, try to find extra time and complete the rest 2. Rest doesn’t mean sleep, if you can relax your body and your mind until you feel completely relaxed. 3. Do breathing exercises, a few minutes of meditation is very meaningful to all your organs. Exercise – it keeps your body at its peak and fit 1. Fitness is associated with the following: a. Our bodies are strong b. Allows the growth of a healthy soul c. Enhance the immune defense system and us. By itself capable ward off various diseases d. Maintain flexibility, endurance and strength, which in turn will encourage us remain active with high mobility e. Reduce and avoid stress f. Look better, feel better and think better 2. Sports activities maintains our body in a fit condition 3. At least thirty-minutes of continuous walk or jog 4. Gym and Fitness activities is also an option to make your body Free from dangerous addictive substances 1. Be educated and learn the dangers of drugs (narcotics, drugs, and addictive substances) and alcoholic beverages Balancing spirituality 1. To be able to realize a balance spirituality will help you behave or think and feel with more compassion and so there is less negative emotion that will stress your mind and your soul. 2. Efforts that can be done alone could be providing a special time for a break from all the busyness and brings you to the tranquility and relief like when you are attending the mass, prayer or meditation. 5. Advocacy for Health a. Definition An over-all design for health promotion and education which is a combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support for a particular health goal or program.10 b. How can we help in Health Promotion and Education? Create living conditions which are conducive to health and the achievement of healthy lifestyles. The use of the mass media and available multi-media in educating our community of the current and updated health policies of the government Direct political lobbying to policy makers Community Mobilization through, coalitions of interest around defined issues. 6. HIV and AIDS a. Definition of Terms HIV – It stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Unlike a common cold or flu virus that stays in the body only for a few days when a person becomes infected with HIV, the person becomes HIV positive for a lifetime. The HIV virus would gradually infect and kills white blood cells called CD4 lymphocytes (or T cells) which make the body unable to fight off certain kinds of infections and cancers. AIDS It stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by HIV. In simple terms, people treat AIDS as advanced HIV disease. The immunity system of a person with AIDS is weakened by HIV that the person will get sick easily and find it difficult to recover from such simple diseases. b. What are the symptoms of HIV infection or AIDS The first symptoms of HIV infection might resemble symptoms of common cold or flu viruses. Other early symptoms of early infection are also similar to other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and other infections like hepatitis and tuberculosis. Those who do have symptoms generally experience fever, fatigue, and, often, rash. Yet other HIV infected persons do not exhibit any of the symptoms above, as such, the only way to confirm is to test the presence of HIV antibodies. c. How do I get HIV? If you are exposed to the body fluids of a person containing HIV which includes: 1. Blood (including menstrual blood) 2. Semen and possibly pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum) 3. Vaginal secretion 4. Breast milk Three of the four body fluids that contain HIV are transferable during sexual intercourse, thus unsafe sex and promiscuity is the leading cause of being infected with HIV. Other ways that HIV can be transmitted: 1. Sharing needles when shooting drugs 2. Home tattooing and body piercing 3. Accidental needle sticks 4. Blood transfusions 5. Childbirth 6. Breast-feeding False ideas on the transfer of HIV from an infected person: 1. Saliva, tears, sweat, feces, or urine 2. Hugging 3. Kissing 4. Massage 5. Shaking hands 6. Insect bites 7. Living in the same house with someone who has HIV 8. Sharing showers or toilets with someone with HIV d. How should I prevent being infected with HIV? Keeping a strong moral foundation and spirituality to guide youth and individuals away from engaging in unsafe sex and promiscuity Avoid or do not try to get a tattoo or body pierce Always make sure that syringe used on you for medical purposes are sanitized and new Always make sure that the blood transfused or donated are HIV free e. Is there a cure? Up to this time, there is no cure for HIV. All drugs being tested in advanced pharmaceutical firms around the world had yet to discover a cure to the illness. Drug therapy only prolonged and improve the quality of life of people infected with HIV. f. What are sexually transmitted disease ad its relation to HIV? HIV is one of the sexually transmitted diseases from unsafe, immoral sex and promiscuity. Other sexually transmitted diseases includes:11 1. Chlamydia – Is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, bacteria that can damage a womans reproductive organs like infertility, and can cause foul discharge from the penis of an infected patient. 2. Trichomoniasis (Trich) – it has no symptoms but may cause unusual genital discharge for both men and women. The disease can also increase a person’s risk of acquiring HIV and pregnant women can deliver premature, low birth weight babies. 3. Gonorrhea – the disease damages not just the reproductive organ of the infected person but can affect the anus, eyes, mouth, genitals, or throat. 4. Human papilloma virus (HPV) (Warts) – One silent killer among the list of sexually transmitted diseases for it is asymptomatic, unrecognized, or subclinical and yet a leading cause of cervical cancers among women. 5. Genital herpes – like HIV there is no cure for Herpes and at an early stage it doesn’t exhibit symptoms to an infected person. The swollen genital may not be enough to make sure you are inflicted with herpes, a laboratory test is needed to validate the symptoms. 6. Syphilis – one of the most common and easily diagnose STD is Syphilis and is easy to cure in its early stages. Symptoms include a firm, round, small, and painless sore on the genitals, anus, or mouth, or a rash on the body, especially on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. 7. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) – Hepatitis could easily be transferred from an infected person to his/her partner thru sexual intercourse. If you have ever had an STD, you need to test yourself for HIV infection, for the unsafe sex might have exposed you to HIV as well. g. Official Statistics of HIV in the Philippines (to be updated) According to the official statistics of University of California, California, U.S.A. as of 2009 there is an increase in the incidence of HIV infection and AIDS victim in the Philippines.12 General HIV/AIDS

Meritocracy: Definition, concepts and ideology

Meritocracy: Definition, concepts and ideology Meritocracy as an ideology Meritocracy can refer to an idealised society where discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, gender, age, and other irrelevant characteristics is completely absent. Merit is the encompassing value, the basic and morally correct criterion for any and all social classifications, particularly in respect to socioeconomic standing and in public space. A notion, emphasising societal consensus on the means and processes of selection for particular roles through a system of sifting, sorting, and rewarding talent and ability, motivated by competition for qualifications that in turn structure access to wealth, prestige, and personal satisfaction. It is conceived as a repudiation of systems like aristocracy where individuals inherit their social status. A meritocracy resembles aristocracy in the classical sense of the term meaning â€Å"rule by the best.† What has happened over the centuries, however, is that aristocracy has become associated with hereditary privilege and a rigi d class system. Instead of this, a meritocracy promotes worthy individuals regardless of which social strata they happen to be born in and each individual has good fortune in proportion to the individuals deservingness (Rawls, 1999, Nozick 1974, Miller 1999). IQ tests primarily tap analytical, logic-based reasoning; and surely that kind of cognitive ability is related to performance in many job settings. But other kinds of cognitive ability are also related to performance and thus also represent merit. For instance: imagination, practical sense, and the ability to interpret others perspectives. By the same token, the effort component of Youngs formulation suggests that a number of personality factors may figure into a reasonable conception of merit. For example, being conscientious may enhance job performance. Of course, some individual traits and social skills may be rewarded because they reflect conformity to arbitrary group norms. â€Å"It is not clear why the term merit should be identified so closely with mental ability as distinct from many other conditions and traits that improve the chances of social and economic success† (Hauser et als, 2000, p. 203). David Miller (1996, 300) eluding on Walzer (1983) has indicated that a meritocracy is not only more stable but also more socially just if there are a number of socially recognised forms of merit: ‘economic contribution would be one kind of merit, education and scholarship another, artistic achievement a third, public service yet another, and so forth. However these other conditions and traits do not contribute to a â€Å"fair opportunity†. In Rawls view, the correlation between ones social origins and ones outcome in life is zero in a meritocracy and as long as some form of the family exists in society fair opportunity cannot be achieved as (Rawls 1971, 64). The social context within which individuals grow up influences the achievements of equally competent persons. Success in the labour market is transmitted from parents to children, and the advantages of the children of successful parents go considerably beyond the benefits of the best education, wealth and genetic cognitive ability. Many of the criteria associated with individual talent and effort do not measure the individual in isolation but rather parallel the phenomena associated with aristocracy; what is called individual talent is actually a function of that individuals social position or opportunities gained by virtue of family and ancestry. Among these, for examp le, one might list ambition or drive, perseverance, responsibility, personal attractiveness, and physical or artistic skills or talents, along with access to social support and to favourable social and economic networks and resources. Access to education is partly defined by inheritance as much research has demonstrated (Bowles and Gintis, 2002; Bourdieu and Passeron 1990; Aschaffenburg and Maas 1997; Sacks, 2003; Ballantine 2001). Compiling evidence from other studies Herrnstein concludes that 80% of the differences in IQ among individuals is explained by inherited factors and 15% is explained by environmental factors (Herrnstein 1971, 171). Children from the upper class get upper class education, middle class children get middle class education, working class people get working class education, and poor people get poor education. Privileged young people can perceive reachable goals and develop lofty aspirations because they tend to benefit from high expectations and support networ ks from the family and social milieu, as well as extensive economic and educational resources. Those who have the resources, via their parental background, will move through higher education, get well paid jobs, and postpone family plans until they are well into their thirties, building their financial and cultural capital significantly prior to family formation. Inheritance may provide access to powerful forms of social capital (who you know) and cultural capital (what you know). Bourdieu Passeron (1990) indicate that students who lack the required knowledge and skills with which to successfully navigate the parameters of middle class culture inevitably fail at school. It therefore seems that unequal educational opportunity is the driver of individual achievement. Research shows that as class rises so does the level of education. As a consequence, the expansion of higher education will broaden the gulf between rich and poor (Blanden et al. 2005). So achievement capacities are ascr ibed to social class. Thus, IQ tests measure intelligence as a reflection of inherent intellectual capacity combined with environmental influences. Thus parents can predispose their children to succeed or fail in life as they are a part of the environment that affect the abilities that children attain. Thus the first and foremost among non-merit factors is the effect of social class at birth on future life. Therefore truly equalizing childrens environments in an effort to create a system with equal opportunities for all would mean having to eliminate the family. Meritocracy thus could lead to a hereditary caste system that, far from promoting social mobility, actually makes social advancement nearly impossible for the lower orders. This could be the case if wealth and social position are or primarily distributed by unchangeable genetic characteristics of individuals. This argument can be reworked into the form of a Hernsteins syllogism: If differences in mental abilities are inherited, and If success requires those abilities, and If earnings and prestige depend on success, Then social standing (which reflects earnings and prestige) will be based to some extent on inherited differences among people. (Herrnstein 1971, 197-8) This implies that absolute equality of opportunity is an ideal that cannot be achieved. (Loury 1977, p. 176). For John Rawls, the question of distributive justice is rather different. He is not content to say that any person begins at some point in the process of acquisition and then is merely constrained by a set of rules and procedures to ensure fairness. Rather, the socioeconomic position of the agent is also considered. Rawls bases his query on how the agent is presented with the distribution of talents and social position. His conclusion is that these distributions are accidental and arbitrary. It is an accident that someone is born with whatever natural traits he may possess. The question is raised whether a meritocracy based on natural abilities is thus unfair. Some might contend, for example, that even if we do not deserve our natural abilities it is not unfair if we reap the rewards of those abilities because the system of reward is independent of the system of deserts. However, Rawls makes the case that social position is also random and arbitrary. The fact that natural abilities may or may not be rewarded in that society is an accident. To be rewarded based merely on an accident is not deserved. Thus, a meritocracy that is based on reward from undeserved social position is similarly unfair. Therefore, both natural abilities and social position may not be the basis of distributive justice because they are unfair. The naturally advantaged are not to gain merely because they are more gifted. The individual cannot help how she begins life. Why make her â€Å"pay† for her positive talents and advantages? The rectification of these disparities in Rawls is his difference principle that makes all inequalities subject to the stipulation that the least advantaged will benefit from them.

Housewives and Prisioners: Chopin, Colette, Godwin Essay -- essays re

Housewives and Prisoners in their World All three writings, â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† â€Å"A Sorrowful Woman† and â€Å"The Hand† portray the long led belief that women are obligated to carrying the burden’s of a household. The belief that they should surrender their own desires and needs to care for the needs of their families still lingers in society today. Similarly, the women are in a marriage they will not leave, bare the burden of submission, have a love and dislike for their spouses, and desire freedom from the imprisonment they feel in their life. While all three marriages are alike they do have some differences. In the same way â€Å"The Hand† portrays the life of a newly married bride, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† vividly describes Mrs. Mallard as young which would lead one to believe that both women are young in age. The description, â€Å"She was young, with a fair calm face, whose lines bespoke repression.† Describes a woman that has been married to her husband long enough to have realized her unhappiness. Also, none of the women ever speak of ending their marriage. Mrs. Mallard realizes the one joy of the death of her husband is she will never have to entertain the idea of leaving him. It comes to her as her way out. She would not have to take responsibility for the failed marriage because it has been taken care of for her. In a different manner, the woman in â€Å"The Hand† decides that her husband’s strength’s, which are represented by the description of his hair, eyes, build and arms, are enough for her to deal with his flaws, which are represented by the horrific hand. â€Å"A Sorrowful Woman† depicts the wife’s need to stay even though she moves to a different room apart from her husband and child. Another similarity is the submiss... ... He allowed her to tend to her needs in order to keep her in his life. One could ponder the outcome of Mrs. Mallard’s marriage had she been open to her husband about her feelings. Some could say it would not have made a difference and some could say it would. This shows the differences in the views of marriage. In conclusion, a marriage should be an alliance between two people. It should be a tie that bids a woman and a man but does not imprison them. While marriage and the social view of it has come along way many women still feel as these three did. Women feel obligated to stay in a marriage for multiple reasons, submit to their husbands in one way or another, tend to love their man one minute but dislike them another and desire freedom of the lifestyle when it is comfortable conditions. These authors showed different views but portrayed many similarities.

America Needs The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act Essay

The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a federal statute that was signed into law by President Barak Obama on March 23, 2010. The PPACA which is commonly referred to as â€Å"Obamacare† was endorsed by lawmakers based on the objective of shifting healthcare cost from the employer to the government. The enactment of the PPACA has been viewed as unprecedented by many based on the constitutionality concerns related to healthcare reform. In order to address some of the concerns related to healthcare reform it is important to go back and view the nation’s history. Prior to the nation experiencing globalization and free trade, businesses were designed as employee based models, freely offering health care coverage to their employees as a perk to promote loyalty among other incentives within their companies. As a result of globalization, employers have become less capable of offering the same healthcare coverage based on competition with other countries. In order for companies to stay competitive with the current free trade agreements, companies are finding it necessary to cut their overhead expenses, hence cutting healthcare coverage for employers. In other words, in a global economy the healthcare status quo is unsustainable; wages and incomes have progressively flat lined over the years due to the increase in healthcare coverage costs, these costs makes it impossible for employers to give raises to their employees and stay competitive within a global market. These issues endanger the survival our nation’s small businesses as well as large corporations, basically disrupting our nation’s commerce, which entitles the government to intercede with healthcare reform based on the commerce clause enumerated power listed ... ..., R. (2011). Compliance Matters. Matters of Integrity: Examining anti-fraud measures in the health care reform law. PT in Motion, 3(4), 37-40. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Filson, C., Hollingsworth, J., Skolarus, T., Quentin Clemens, J. J., & Hollenbeck, B. (2011). Health care reform in 2010: transforming the delivery system to improve quality of care. World Journal of Urology, 29(1), 85-90 Pickert, K. (2011). Obamacare Goes Under The Knife. Time, 177(2), 48-51. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Healthcare Reform: Retrieved from Public Broadcasting Services: August 16, 2011: PBS.org Stengel, R., & Ford, A. (2011). One Document, Under Siege. (Cover story). Time, 178(1), 30-45. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Wilson, C. B. (2010). A Prescription for America's Health Care System. Vital Speeches of the Day, 76(9), 421-424. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. (Healthcare Reform, 2011)

Physical Appearance in Mary Shellys Frankenstein Essays -- Frankenstei

Physical Appearance in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein we are introduced early in the story to one of the main characters Victor Frankenstein and subsequently to his creation referred to as the monster. The monster comes to life after being constructed by Victor using body parts from corpses. As gruesome as this sounds initially we are soon caught up in the tale of the living monster. Victor the creator becomes immediately remorseful of his decision to bring the monstrous creation to life and abandons the borne creature. Victor describes his emotions and physical description of his creation as follows: â€Å"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! – Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips.† (Shelley 34) Left on his own to strike out in the world the monster soon experienced the prejudices of those he came meet. Prejudices based upon his frightful, or unusual, appearance and his inability to communicate initially. I quickly had empathy for the abandoned creature, despite the descriptions of his gruesome appearance, and felt mixed emotions about his actions towards others in the story. Were the violent actions of the monster towards others spawned from their violent rejection of ... ...-to-form illustration of cultural feelings about how people should look and act in the context of what is normal. Anything outside of normal is perceived negatively, viewed with suspicion and capable of the worst actions towards others. In this case, it is no wonder the monster unleashes his violent wrath upon those that have shunned and disposed of him. He was just fulfilling his predetermined destiny thrust upon him at the moment he was conceived. I am being somewhat sarcastic here, but I do feel that historically the ideas of what is normal can change. Unfortunately, as Shelley has drastically illustrated with the monster character, the monster is judged by his outside appearance and actions as it relates to what is considered normal. Bibliography: Shelley, Mary. â€Å"Frankenstein.† In A Norton Critical Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1996.

The Divine Command Theory

A. Statement- or claim is an assertion that something is or is not the case; it is either true or B. Argument- an argument is a group of statements, one of which is supposed to be supported by the rest. In an argument the supporting statements are known as premises; the statement being supported is known as a conclusion. C. Indicator Words- are terms that often appear in arguments and signal that a premise or conclusion may be nearby. Arguments Good and Bad 1. Deductive arguments- are supposed to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions. 2. Inductive arguments- are supposed to offer only probable support for their conclusions. 3. Valid arguments- a deductive argument that does in fact provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion. 4. Invalid argument- a deductive argument that does not offer logically conclusive support for the conclusion. 5. Strong argument- an inductive argument that manages to actually give probable support to the conclusion. 6. Weak argument- an inductive argument that does not give probable support to the conclusion. 7. Sound argument- valid argument with true premises.  8. Cogent argument- strong argent with true premises. Moral Statements and Arguments A. Moral Statement- is a statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person is good or bad. B. Nonmoral Statements- is a statement that does not affirm that an action is right or wrong or that a person is good or bad. Avoiding Bad Arguments 1. Begging the question- is the fallacy of arguing in a circle that is trying to use a statement as both a premise in an argument and the conclusion of that argument. 2. Equivocation- assigns two different meanings to the same term in an argument. 3. Appeal to authority- the fallacy of relying on the opinion of someone thought to be an expert who is not. 4. Slippery slope- the fallacy of using dubious premises to argue that doing a particular action will inevitably lead to other actions that will result in disaster, so you should not do that first action. 5. Faulty analogy- is arguing by an analogy that is weak. 6. Appeals to ignorance- fallacy consists of arguing that the absence of evidence entitles us to believe a claim. 7. Straw man- misrepresenting someone’s claim or argument so it can be more easily refuted. 8. Appeal to the person- is arguing that a claim should be rejected solely because of the characteristics of the person who makes it. 9. Hasty generalization- the fa llacy of drawing a conclusion about an entire group of people or things based on an undersized sample of the group. Summary This chapter was about the different types of evaluating moral arguments. The section that I thought was most interesting was the section when the author started to talk about moral statements and arguments. I agreed with what the author had to say when he said a moral statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person is good or bad. Like when a person lies they know that they have done something wrong without someone telling them. That is basically what this whole chapter about.

Analysis of the Twelfth Planet

The Myth of a 12th Planet: A Brief Analysis of Cylinder Seal VA 243 Michael S. Heiser Ph. D. candidate, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages University of Wisconsin-Madison Introduction Readers of Zecharia Sitchin’s books, particularly The 12th Planet, will recognize the above seal, VA 243 (so named because it is number 243 in the collection of the Vorderasiatische Museum in Berlin). This seal is the centerpiece of Sitchin’s theory that the Sumerians had advanced astronomical knowledge of the planetary bodies in our solar system.This knowledge was allegedly given to the Sumerians by extraterrestrials, whom Sitchin identifies as the Anunnaki gods of Sumero-Mesopotamian mythology. In the upper left-hand corner of the seal, Sitchin argues, one sees the sun surrounded by eleven globes. Since ancient peoples (including the Sumerians according to Sitchin) held the sun and moon to be â€Å"planets,† these eleven globes plus the sun add up to twelve planets. Of cou rse, since we now know of nine planets plus our sun and moon, part of Sitchin’s argument is that the Sumerians knew of an extra planet beyond Pluto.This extra planet is considered by Sitchin to be Nibiru, an astronomical body mentioned in Mesopotamian texts. Sitchin’s works detail his contention that Nibiru passes through our solar system every 3600 years, and so some believers in Sitchin’s theory contend that Nibiru will return soon. Some followers of Sitchin’s ideas also refer to Nibiru as â€Å"Planet X†. Is Sitchin correct – in whole or in part? Is Nibiru a 12th planet that will soon return? Does VA243 prove his thesis? Unfortunately for Sitchin and his followers, the answer to each of these questions is no. This paper will focus on the heart of his theory, VA243.Nibiru is the subject of another paper on my website. Method and Approach The study of cylinder seals is actually a very specialized sub-discipline within Sumerology and Assyrio logy. a It is possible to determine, through the efforts of cylinder seal specialists of the recent past and current experts, to decisively say that Sitchin’s interpretation of this seal is deeply flawed and lacks scholarly merit. In short, his theory is false and is unsupported by the seal itself. In the discussion that follows, I will demonstrate that VA243 in no way supports Sitchin’s ideas.My reasons / lines of argument for this are: 1) The inscription on the seal (left hand and right hand sides – which are not discussed by Sitchin) says nothing about planets or any element of astronomy. Rather than offering an independent translation, I will defer to authorities on Sumerian seal inscriptions in this regard to avoid any charge of bias. 2) The alleged â€Å"sun† symbol on the seal is not the sun. We know this because it does not conform to the consistent depiction of the sun in hundreds of other cylinder seals and examples of Sumero-Mesopotamian artwor k.I will describe the typical depiction (determined with certainty because it appears with texts about the sun god [Shamash Akkadian, known as Utu in Sumerian]) and provide image examples. Sources are provided for readers to check for themselves. The â€Å"sun† symbol is actually a star (which in Mesopotamian art could have six or, more commonly, eight points). Lest the modern reader retort that â€Å"well, the sun is a star,† I offer several images where the star symbol and the sun symbol (which again, is not that in VA243) are side-by-side and distinct from one another.The Sumerians and Mesopotamians distinguished the sun from stars by using different symbols – and associating each symbol with the sun god and other gods, respectively. There is simply no ancient Sumero-Akkadian evidence to support Sitchin’s identification. 3) If the â€Å"sun† is not the sun, then what are the dots? The dots are also stars, as is best illustrated by the Sumerian-M esopotamian depiction of the Pleaides (seven dots together with reasonable astronomical accuracy since they are visible to the naked eye). b The Pleaides are actually one of the most frequently depicted astronomical features in SumeroMesopotamian art.As Sitchin points out (and this is corroborated by actual scholars in the field – it’s common knowledge), stars were associated with or considered to be heavenly beings – gods. In Sumero-Mesopotamian artwork, a star represents either a god or an astronomical body. The same can be said of the sun – it can either reference the literal sun or the sun god. There are three possibilities as to what VA243 is depicting: (A) It is singling out a deity or special star and associating it with other stars in some sort of zodiacal representation. I don’t consider this likely because there are other far clearer representations of zodiacal constellations.Unless there are clear zodiacal connotations, a star was symbol ic of a deity, which brings us to the second option. (B) More probable is the idea that the central star stands for a deity that has some association with fertility (as in crops) since the inscription describes an offering made by a worshipper (who is named) to a seated god who is associated in the seal with fertile harvest. Since there are two other figures in the seal in addition to the seated god, and one is the offerer, the remaining figure is likely a deity also associated with the offering. In favor of this possibility are the â€Å"implements† aAn excellent general introduction is Dominique Collon, Cylinder Seals. I am not saying the star is depicted amid the Pleiades, only that the artistic depiction of the Pleiades provides an excellent example of â€Å"dots† = stars. The Pleiadean depiction is always seven dots/stars. b shown on the seal with respect to these two figures facing the seated god and the figure’s headdress. Also in its favor is the fact th at there are literally hundreds of such â€Å"offering seals,† and many have a star in upper proximity to the figures’ heads, signifying the figure is a deity (see the example). C) Since the star is surrounded by eleven other stars (dots), the artistic depiction could stand for the lead god of the Mesopotamian divine council and its other eleven (upper tier) members. Recall that (as Sitchin again points out) the Mesopotamian council had 12 members. I have noted before that the 12 member council isn’t always consistent in Mesopotamian religion (at times eight gods are considered the council), but 12 is the more prevalent number. This thesis is attractive, but I can’t say there is much to commend it over option B.The reader might be thinking at this point, â€Å"Well, isn’t the sun god the leader of the pantheon – so if this symbology points to the divine council the center symbol could still be the sun? † This would be an erroneous lin e of thought since in SumeroMesopotamian religion the sun god is NOT the high god; the high god is Anu (later, Marduk), not Shamash. These options are admittedly subjective, but one thing is certain – the â€Å"sun† symbol does not conform to the abundantly frequent symbol for the sun in SumeroMesopotamian art. We are not dealing with a depiction of the solar system.Astronomer Tom van Flandern pointed this out years ago anyway, since the sizes of the â€Å"planets† around the alleged sun do not conform to the correct sizes of the planets and there distances from the pseudo-sun are not depicted in such a way as to depict elliptical (or at least varying) orbits. The link to van Flandern’s critique is on my website. 4) There is not a single text in the entire corpus of Sumerian or Mesopotamian tablets in the world that tells us the Sumerians (or later inhabitants of Mesopotamia) knew there were more than five planets.This is quite a claim, but is demonstrabl e through the work of scholars who specialize in cuneiform astronomy. Below I list all the major works on cuneiform astronomy (catalogues of texts, dissertations / books) and invite readers to check them out of a library and look for themselves. Literally every cuneiform text that has any astronomical comment (even with respect to astrology and omens) has been translated, catalogued, indexed, and discussed in the available academic literature.The tablets are often quite detailed, even discussing mathematical calculations of the appearance of planetary bodies in the sky, on the horizon, and in relation to other stars. The field is by no means new, and is considerably developed. All of the above facets of the discussion are now offered in more detail with bibliography. I. The Inscriptions on VA 243 VA243 has three lines of text (â€Å"line 1† is actually repeated on both sides of the seal):The seal is transliterated (the Sumero-Akkadian signs in English letters) and translated in the principal publication of the Berlin Vorderasiatische Museum’s publication of its seal collection, Vorderasiatische Rollsiegel (â€Å"West Asian Cylinder Seals†; 1940) by Mesopotamian scholar Anton Moortgat on page 101. This book is in German, so I offer the German and an English translation: Line 1 = dub-si-ga â€Å"Dubsiga† [a personal name of an apparently powerful personc] Line 2 = ili-il-la-at â€Å"Ili-illat† [another personal name, this time of the seal’s owner] â€Å"dein Knecht† [German for â€Å"your servant†d] Line 3 = ir3-suSo the full (rather boring) inscription of VA243 reads: â€Å"Dubsiga, Ili-illat, your/his servant. † Nothing in the inscription suggests anything remotely to do with astronomy or planets. In an email correspondence with Dr. Rudi Mayr, whose dissertation was on cylinder seals, Dr. Mayr commented on the inscriptions and the seal [and I interject a few comments in blue]: â€Å"The seated fig ure is a god; the ‘flounced’ garment is normal for deities (though kings start wearing them a little later); deities also have the distinctive headdress. Most scholars call it a ‘horned’ headdress, but I’ve always thought it looked more like flames than horns.Ancient texts often refer to deities having a bright, shining, brilliant aspect [this is true across the ancient near east – witness the â€Å"shining one† terminology I discuss in The Facade and in several papers on my website]; they don’t mention horns . . . The introducing figure also has the ‘horns’ of divinity† [this is a strong contextual argument that the symbol – again, it’s not the â€Å"sun† – to the upper left of the introducing figure is a star. Precisely because they SHINE, stars were associated with deities. Shamash, the sun god, had his own symbol of the sun.See below for what it looked like]. c Personal email com munication on Dubsiga with Dr. Rudi Mayr, whose dissertation was on cylinder seals. Dr. Mayr is also the source of the comment on the second line, which conforms to typical cylinder seal patterns. d Dr. Mayr noted to me in an email that the third line might also read â€Å"his servant†, which was his preference. II. The â€Å"Sun† Symbol This is perhaps the biggest problem with Sitchin’s interpretation of VA243 signifying the solar system. Simply put, if the central symbol in his solar system isn’t the sun, the interpretation collapses completely.There’s actually a good deal of evidence to demonstrate decisively that Sitchin is wrong here. Toward offering that evidence, we’ll first introduce a few general comments on Sumero-Akkadian symbols and move to the specifics. A. General Comments Like all ancient religions, Sumero-Mesopotamian religion had a great concern with heavenly bodies that could be observed with the naked eye. In particular, t he sun, moon, and Venus were important focus points because of their ease of visibility, and each was artistically symbolized and stood for a deity.In Sumer-Mesopotamian religion, the sun god symbology was very clear: Sun god = Shamash (Utu in the Sumerian languagee) The symbol of the sun god in Sumero-Mesopotamian religion was a central circle with four extended â€Å"arms† with wavy lines in between each â€Å"arm† (most common), or a circle with only wavy lines. The entire symbol was itself nearly always [I don’t know any exceptions, but there may be one – just being cautious here] inside a circle, as below:f The reader should note immediately that this is NOT the symbol on VA243.VA 243’s â€Å"pseudo-sun† lacks the wavy lines and is not set inside a circle. This sun symbol is ubiquitous in Sumero-Mesopotamian religious artwork. The other common symbol for the sun god was the god in flight upon a set of wings (a depiction akin to the wing ed disc in Egyptian religion). e See Jeremy Black, Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary (University of Texas Press, in conjunction with the British Museum, 1992): 168. This is an excellent reference source. Dr. Black is a well known Sumerian scholar.He was formerly the Director of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq and is now university lecturer in Akkadian and Sumerian at Wolfson College, Oxford. f See above source, p. 168. The above classic solar disk iconography in Sumero-Mesopotamian religion is contrasted with the star symbol, used to symbolize either stars in constellations, any deity (the star is either over the deity’s head or above it to the left of right), or Ishtar (Sumerian Inana), who stood for Venus, the most visible object in the sky aside from the sun and moon:g Note that this example has eight points.This is the most frequently attested style in Sumero-Mesopotamian religious art. The star also is found with six (l ike VA 243) or seven points, and the points even vary within the same seal or stela carving. It wasn’t consistent in points, but what the symbol stood for was consistent – either a star, planet, or deity – but NOT the sun. The star symbol is either set within a circle or, far more often, not within a circle. It is clearly distinct from the sun symbol. How do I know that the symbol of VA 243 is a star and not the sun disk?Other than the obvious noted above – that VA 243 does not have the wavy lines between the â€Å"arms† of the symbol and is not set within a circle – Sumero-Mesopotamian religion often grouped the symbols for the sun god with that of the moon god (Akkadian = Sin; Sumerian = Nanna) and Ishtar (Sumerian = Inana). This isn’t surprising since they were so readily viewed. In short, they didn’t confuse the symbols and neither should we. This grouped threesome is very prevalent in Sumero-Mesopotamian art, and compels t he observation that the sun symbol and star symbol were distinguished from each other:Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, Tafel 11, Zweite Gruppe, stela â€Å"a† = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, Plate 11, 2nd Group, stela â€Å"a†. Note the wavy lines and encircled sun symbol on the right. Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, Tafel 19, Vierte Gruppe, stela â€Å"b† = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, Plate 19, 4th Group, relief â€Å"b†. Note the wavy lines and encircled sun symbol on the lower right. g See Black, 143. The symbols for sun and star/planet are also distinguished clearly in zodiacal artwork from Mesopotamia:The sun symbol (Left) and star symbol (Right) are next to each other under the snake (Draco). Note the wavy lines of the sun symbol Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 47 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 47 Here is a close-up of the sun (L) and star (R) symbol above. Note that th e star in this case has eight points: A second zodiac example: The sun symbol (center) and star symbol (R of center) are next to each other under the snake’s tail. Note the wavy lines of the sun symbol Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 0 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 60 In the above example, note that: (1) the star has seven points, and (b) the stars below it have six points. Note also that these smaller stars also LACK points – they are just dots. This seven dot/circle arrangement is one of the most common motifs in Mesopotamian art, and denote the Pleiades. The point here is that dots = stars in Mesopotamian art when in an astronomical context (or a context where a deity is identified with a star). This is important for our consideration of VA 243. Again, here is a close-up: A third zodiac example:Note that the star symbol here has six points as does the VA 243 star. Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 23 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 23 Some commentary on this last example is in order. The previous two examples clearly are in zodiac context, as is this one. Those previous two examples clearly have the sun symbol drawn in a manner consistent with expected Sumero-Mesopotamian features (wavy lines, encircled) that unmistakably distinguishes the sun from the star symbol. The star symbol signifies the same astronomical body in each case, yet the number of points varies.This means that the number of points is unimportant for identifying the star symbol as a STAR or planet, NOT the sun. Hence one cannot say, â€Å"well the star symbol usually has eight points, and the Sitchin seal has six, therefore it’s not a star but the sun. † This is erroneous because these examples demonstrate clearly that a star symbol can have 6, 7, or 8 pts. , and LACKS wavy lines. The symbol on Sitchin’s VA 243 is NOT the sun. It is a star, and thus denotes a star, a god, or a single planet. This isn’t my opinion, it’s the Sumero-Mesopotamian art convention.Let’s move on to some cylinder seal examples of star symbols. As noted above, the star was designed to signify a deity or literal star or planet. Here’s an example of a cylinder seal with Ishtar signaled as the deity by a star: Source: Henri Frankfort, Cylinder Seals: A Documentary Essay on the Art and Religion of the Ancient Near East (London: MacMillan and Co. , 1939): Plate XXVI-seal L In this example, the obvious star symbol has eight points, and is very similar in design to the star symbol of VA 243. We know it’s a star and not the sun because the goddess depicted is Ishtar. Another star symbol of very similar design to VA 243 is shown below:i The upper left-hand side of this seal contains the winged sun disk above the head of what scholars refer to as a â€Å"scorpion man† (note his tail). Just to the right of the winged disk is our star symbol. This time the star has seven points, and is quite similar to VA 243. Note as well h See the discussion in Frankfort (pp. 177-178, 236, 254) and Black, p. 168. See also the magisterial survey: E. Douglas van Buren, Symbols of the Gods in Mesopotamian Art, Analecta Orientalia 23 (Pontificum Institutum Biblicum, 1945): 8485. Frankfort, Plate XXXIII – seal b. the far upper right corner – the seven stars grouped together are the Pleiades (to which we will return in our discussion). Below are several examples of seals with six pointed stars: (Frankfort, Plate XXXIII – seal d): Comments: Note the six-pointed stars in the upper left and upper right corners. In both cases, note the presence of accompanying â€Å"dots† in groups of seven – again, the Pleiades (the â€Å"extra dot† over the head of the smaller standing figure denotes a deity as it is a star).The seven dots = the seven stars of the Pleiades (the dots were interchangeable with pointed stars to denote stars). A s E. Douglas van Buren, an expert on Sumerian and Mesopotamian art comments: â€Å"In the earliest representations of the 7 dots as yet known it can be seen that . . . they formed a ring or rosette around a central dot . . . [From] the early Babylonian period onwards it is increasingly common to find the 7 dots arranged like stars in the constellation of the Pleiades, and in the last quarter of the second millennium the dots are shaped for the first time as stars. j This observation is important because it demonstrates that the â€Å"pointed star + Pleiades† pattern does not require a certain number of points on the stars. Recall that the same situation was true with the zodiac – it does not matter how many points a star symbol has – it’s a star, not the sun. Another example: j E. Douglas van Buren, â€Å"The Seven Dots in Mesopotamian Art and Their Meaning,† Archiv fur Orientforschung XIII (1941): 277; see also E. Douglas van Buren, Symbols of th e Gods in Mesopotamian Art, 74ff. and E.Douglas van Buren, â€Å"The Rosette in Mesopotamian Art,† Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie and vorderasiatische Archaeologie, new series, vol. 11 (1939, vol. 45 from old series): 104ff. (Frankfort, Plate XXXV – seal h): In this seal the star has six points surrounding a central dot. Note again the Pleiades symbol (see below under the next point on the â€Å"dots† in VA 243). Before leaving the discussion of the star symbol, take note of the close similarity in style between the star on VA 243 that Sitchin says is the sun and the star symbols we have noted above: Frankfort XXXIII-b VA 243Ishtar star Now compare these with the actual sun symbol: III. The Surrounding â€Å"Dots† As I asked in the introduction to this paper, if Sitchin’s â€Å"sun† is not a sun, then what are the dots? The most apparent answer, based on the examples above, is that they too are stars. We have already seen that dots were used t o depict the stars of the Pleiades, and showed that the seven dots = the seven star symbols elsewhere used for the same constellation. We also saw above in the seal of Frankfort Plate XXXIII-d that a single pointed star can be associated with dots which are also stars.It is almost that the â€Å"star + seven dots† symbology is saying, â€Å"constellation = Pleiades. † There is therefore abundant precedent for asserting that these dots in VA243 are stars. It could be that this seal is â€Å"saying†: â€Å"Constellation = the one with 11 stars†. Since I don’t know astronomy well, I’ll let the reader ponder that one. The introduction also noted that the symbology of the seal could just point to a deity and perhaps the divine council. Enough said on that. IV. On Sumerian or Mesopotamian Astronomical KnowledgeIn this regard I offer the reader an opportunity to challenge my assertion above (and I am just quoting specialists in cuneiform astronomic al tablets) that there is not a single text in the entire corpus of Sumerian or Mesopotamian tablets in the world that says the Sumerians or Mesopotamians knew of more than five planets. Below are bibliographical references that anyone can access (the scholarly, dissertation level materials that one needs some knowledge of semitic languages and/or cuneiform, as well as a background in mathematics or astronomy, to really use are noted in their own category).In my paper on Nibiru (available on my website), I’ll briefly go into what the Sumerians and Mesopotamians knew about the planets. For now, though, giving the reader these sources will suffice. General Sources: Francesca Rochberg, â€Å"Astronomy and Calendars in Ancient Mesopotamia,† Civilizations of the Ancient Near East, vol. III, pp. 1925-1940 (ed. , Jack Sasson, 2000) Bartel L. van der Waerden, Science Awakening, vol. 2: The Birth of Astronomy (1974) Technical but Still Readable Wayne Horowitz, Mesopotamian Cosm ic Geography (1998) N. M.Swerdlow, Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination (2000) Scholarly (Technical) Resources: Otto Neugebauer, The Exact Sciences in Antiquity (1953) Otto Neugebauer, Astronomical Cuneiform Texts (1955) Erica Reiner and David Pingree, Enuma Elish Enlil Tablet 63, The Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa (1975) Hermann Hunger and David Pingree, MUL. APIN: An Astronomical Compendium in Cuneiform (1989) Hermann Hunger and David Pingree, Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia (1999) N. Swerdlow, The Babylonian Theory of the Planets (1998) David Brown, Mesopotamian Planetary Astronomy-Astrology (2000)

A Event That Changed My Life

BRAINSTORMING: 1. )Moving away to a different state. Positives: a. )started college b. )stayed out of trouble Negatives: a. )had no family to turn to b. )had a lot of trouble finding a place to stay 2. )Being a troubled teen. Positives: a. )learned from experiences I had Negatives: a. )had a lot of trouble with the police b. )didn’t go to school c. )ran away Final Draft: OK so basically I have decided to tell you about me being a troubled teen. Everybody I am sure has either had some kind of trouble as a teen or been in some kind of trouble as a teen. Well some has been worse than others right. Well mine started off when I was 14. I thought I could do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it and knew everything. Needless to say it didn’t happen that way. When I was 14 I got into a lot of trouble. I didn’t listen to my mom, I would sneak out the house, and I got into a lot of trouble with the police for fighting a lot, and always skipped school. I never hung out with people that did anything good. The people I hung out with where negative. Well one day I went to school and got into a really bad fight and ended up in a juvenile facility over it. I was there for about a month went to court and the judge put me on probation for 3 years. Well I still thought I could do what I wanted to do. So I still kept doing the same behavior I was doing before then. Needless to say I ended up violating probation when I was 15 and they locked me up. I was in a juvenile facility for 3 months then went to court and they put me in a program for 1 year. Well when I got to the program I thought it was going to be easy. But I ended up finding it was actually very difficult. Well after I got out of my program I decided that was something I had never wanted to experience again. So still to this day, and am 21 now, I have not been back in jail or nothing. I have been abiding by the laws and actually I am doing really well for myself. But before I could realize that’s not the life I wanted to live anymore I had to make a change, and not for anybody but myself. Narrative essay:

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that teenage criminal and deviant behaviour results from parents failing to socialise their children correctly Essay

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that teenage criminal and deviant behaviour results from parents failing to socialise their children correctly (12 marks) Most criminologists would agree that the majority of criminal and/or deviant behaviour both stems and/or develops during either childhood or the early years of adolescence. Therefore, many how deduced that the adequacy of socialising in the home by parents is likely to have an effect and possible even result in teenage criminal and deviant behaviour. This essay will therefore discuss how far sociologists would agree that teenage criminal and deviant behaviour results from parents failing to socialise their children correctly. According to functionalists, one of the key roles of parents is to appropriately socialise children to become good citizens of society. However, in conjunction to this, it has also been theorised that failure to appropriately socialise a child at home may lead to criminal and/or deviant behaviour later on in life. This may be that the parents them self’s display criminal and/or deviant behaviour, which that child them copy’s and learns. The new right approach for example theorises that children from a parentally deprived home are more likely to look for guidance and comfort elsewhere and are more prone to crime. They are therefore more likely to find role models in such situations who they aspire to grow up like. The Marxist theory of alienation however is another factor that sociologists have recognised. Marxist theorise that young, impressionable adolescences often feel pressurised by those in power who often use the law to benefit themselves and are therefore forced in to demeaning work. Due to this, many turn to crime in order to be able to control what they do but also get certain objects that they may not have been able to receive should they have stayed on the other side of the law, objects which the rich and powerful are usually the only ones to receive. Therefore, Marxists would agree that while failure to properly socialise children is an important factor in why teenagers turn to crime and delinquency, the oppression of the bourgeois is just as far reaching. In regards to teenage behaviour, labelling is a common factor found right across the board. Whether it is in school, in peer groups, in the neighbourhood or even in the home, labelling can eventually lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. If a child is labelled as a delinquent early on in life, it is extremely likely that that child will eventually become to believe it they are told it enough. They will therefore begin in act as they have been labelled and become criminal and/or deviant. Many sociologist would agree that labelling is a major factor in why teenager criminally and/or deviantly. Another factor is peer pressure within a sub-culture. Sub-cultures are a common day thing in many environments, especially in school. Most of them in areas of material and capital deprivation have developed a laddish sub-culture, where you must be tough and hard in order to be popular where as those who do well in academics are often viewed as uncool and nerdy. Therefore, many teenagers are pressured in to behaving criminally and or/deviantly by the threat of being socially outcast and labelled as uncool by their peers. Therefore, many sociologists would agree that peer pressure within a sub-culture does affect the criminal and/or deviant behaviour of teenagers today, possibly more so than poor socialisation in some situations. In this essay, I have explained four different factors that can affect how deviant and/or criminal teenagers behave in today’s society. However, although poor parenting may result in teenager criminal and deviant behaviour, other factors such as the Marxist theory of alienation, labelling and peer pressure within a sub-culture affect teenagers just as much as poor socialisation by parents.

Intro to business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to business - Research Paper Example spending i.e., food and beverages, and recorded a steady growth; in a way it invented a new market structure through its monopolistic structure, a thorough competitive activity, industry costs and capital structure, all achieved through a systematic approach and healthy business practices. Its journey from Seattle to other parts of the United States and then rest of the world is said to have begun in the 1990s (Starbucks Coffee Company, par.1). Although Starbucks’ main products include a variety of coffee, they also provide food services within the same outlets. Their main business objectives include production of high quality product, aim for customer delight, ensuring utmost employee satisfaction and strategic business performance. Operating in multiple locations across the globe requires a great deal of effort, excellent team of executives and an effective leadership. Starbucks’ leaders infused this culture into every employee through healthy management practices such as team working, training, empowerment of employees, alignment to the mission and vision of Starbucks, appropriate performance measurement and feedback system. From a business perspective, their supply chain network is highly established and well managed through practices such as Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E ) program, supplier certification, and robust product evaluation mechanisms. It also abides by all the social, legal, ethical responsibilities towards environment and State through appropriate practices (Starbucks Corporation, p.22). Starbucks has laid much stress on continuous improvement, which includes a continuous identification of areas of improvement; taking up these areas as opportunities to perform better and has successfully implemented Total Quality Management (TQM) system in all sectors (Starbucks Corporation, p.11). The advantages of such business include potential to attract more customers, continuous revenue generation, increasing popularity and can attract best