Introduction to the Importance of Diversity and Culture

Elements of culture Schwartz and Conley (2000) are of the opinion that all cultures have a history and a heritage which is passed from one generation to another. Cultures are identifiable because they share certain characteristics. People within a given cultural group have a way of telling between members and non-members. Members share a common language through which cultural interactions take place, certain group values are shared, and various social and behavioural patterns are followed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction to the Importance of Diversity and Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Members follow special rules of etiquette when communicating with others, introducing themselves to strangers, getting someone’s attention and leave-taking. One’s culture certainly provides an important part of the context in which decisions are made, but it may be argued that culture doesn†™t in itself ‘determine† any specific behaviours. Members of each culture also have their own unique slang expressions and figures of speech. Diversity fortifies human species and adds threads to the tapestry of human lives. It exponentially increases the possibilities for progress and positive change in the world because rather than seeing from only one perspective, it allows us to see from many. According to Schwartz Conley (2000), the human would be sadly diminished if the music of the universe consisted of only one note. The authors assert that we would be even more sadly diminished if human beings were free of differences. The author advocates for respecting and celebrating differences rather than tolerating it. Only by respecting and honouring the differences of others can we preserve our own. Respect of Diversity A child will appreciate diversity if he is in an environment where individual differences are noted and treated with respect. In working with children , one will need to be a good model so as to avoid the children developing negative attitudes and feelings of discomfort. A display of respect and comfort is crucial when working with children. Children usually follow the lead when they their model interacting with everyone in a respectful manner and also appearing comfortable in those interactions. When dealing with children, it is important not to worry about what other people may or may not be thinking. It is good to be open when interacting with people from different diversities without fear. Communicating with diverse people may in no way compromise your identity. It is also important to stop someone who is ridiculing or joking about people who are different. By avoiding the discussion, you give the impression that you do not condone such negative behaviour. It is important to also tell children about differences. Consequently, it is important to encourage children to ask questions. Giving them the correct information in matter of fact manner will make them realize that being different is not mysterious or something to be feared. It is crucial to use common, everyday vocabulary and also be yourself when dealing diverse people (Schwartz Conley, 2000).Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Risk Factors According to Schwartz and Conley (2000), home life and parental involvement are crucial to a child’s performance in school. Sergio lacks a supportive home life since he is living in a home with one parent who is working full time and has little time for his needs. Apart from lack of parental involvement in his life, other risks that might affect Sergio’s academic life include; death of parent (his father), being home alone for more than three hours, and use of drugs or alcohol. Sergio might even hurt himself in the house. The loss of his father might be affecting him but because the mother is not available, this hurt might not be easily recognised. All this risks have a potential to impact negatively on his school performance. Because the mother is not involved, this might affect the child’s social skills at school and ultimately his academic performance. Loneliness might tempt him to start experimenting with drugs and alcohol. The child also might be affected by improper content from the television and internet if he has unsupervised access to computers and television. There are other risks that face Sergio such as abuse, abduction, and personal accidents. The boy might also get into bad company (Schwartz Conley, 2000). Diverse Learning Styles Children do not learn the same way. Teaching children about a subject such as deer habitats may require use of different teaching methods. One important way may be to read them a book on the topic. The advantage of this method is that a good book will not only contain the thoughts and experiences of the author about the subje ct, but will also include reference to works of other people about the subject. Watching a film which shows deer habitats is also an important way of teaching. Visual aids such as films have the benefit of cutting through the barrier of different diversities and allowing equal understanding of the subject. Surfing the web to get information about deer habitat is also an important way of teaching children. The advantage of the web is because of the availability of the latest information regarding the subject area. The internet also offers the convenience of quick accessibility and retrieval of information provided there is internet connection. Another teaching method would be to put the children in group works where they could participate in research and discussion of the topic and then present their findings in class. This method has the advantage of engaging the children in the search for information and making them own the learning process (Schwartz Conley, 2000). Reference Schwa rtz, E.S. Conley, A.C. (2000). Human Diversity: A Guide to Understanding, New York: McGraw-HillAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction to the Importance of Diversity and Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Introduction to the Importance of Diversity and Culture was written and submitted by user Valentin Kerr to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Online Physical Education for Homeschoolers

Online Physical Education for Homeschoolers If you went to public school, you probably remember PE classes. There was calisthenics in the gym and kickball in the field.  Physical education  at home is  easy when your students are  elementary age.  We need them to expend their excess energy as much as they do, so a bike ride  around the block or a trip the neighborhood playground is  a regular occurrence. As kids get older, their desire to get outdoors may wane.  Added to that is  the fact that many states and umbrella schools require at least one PE credit in high school. Many homeschool parents may find themselves at a loss as to how to effectively meet the requirement, particularly if their children aren’t involved in organized sports. What Is Online Physical Education? Despite the name, online physical education classes take place in the real world, not on a computer screen. Thirty states allow their public school students - usually middle school or high school - to take PE online, according to fitness expert Catherine Holecko. Some public and private online PE programs are open to homeschoolers as well. Online PE usually consists of a computer-based portion and an activity portion. The computer portion can involve learning about physiology,  completing writing assignments on different parts of the body and various exercises, and taking tests. The real-life portion is often up to the student. Some use sports theyre already involved in, others add walking, running, swimming, or other activities to their schedule. Students are usually  required to monitor what theyre doing, either with technology like a heart-rate monitor or pedometer or by keeping records that they  submit with their other class materials. The Pros of Online PE For public school students, online PE allows them to fulfill their physical education requirement outside of regular school hours. That frees up more time during the school day for other subjects. Similarly, for homeschooled students an online PE course allows teens to take a self-directed approach to physical education, allowing the teaching parent more time to focus on other subjects and siblings. Online PE also allows homeschoolers to  have supervision by trained physical education professionals without the need to join a gym or seek a private instructor. For kids who are already involved in sports or other  physical activity, online PE adds a written component that might be covered only briefly or not at all by real-world coaches. Online PE courses also offer a health component which may satisfy state or umbrella school requirements. Both public school and homeschool students also get the chance to get credit for sports that may not be part of a traditional physical education program, such as roller blading, surfing, ballet, or equestrian sports. The Cons of Online PE Students who have taken it say online PE isnt easy. In some programs, students must complete certain goals, no matter how long it takes them. They are also all held to the same standards, regardless of their ability, conditioning, strengths, or weaknesses. Students who choose to do activities on their own dont get the same level of supervision and instruction as kids who take a real-world class. They dont have a coach who can monitor their progress and give feedback on their form. They may be tempted to embellish their activity records - although programs often require parents to verify their childrens reports. Where to Find Online PE Programs for Homeschoolers Florida Virtual School, the first and largest online public school in the United States, offers individual classes in Personal Fitness, Fitness Lifestyle and Design, and other Physical Education topics. Florida residents may take the classes for free, but they are also available on a tuition basis to students who live outside the state. The courses are approved by NCAA. Carone Fitness is an accredited school and provider of online health and PE courses for grades K-12 and higher education. Options include adaptive PE and homebound courses. Students set individual goals, participate in a weekly exercise program, and receive one-on-one feedback from an instructor. Family Time Fitness is a company founded specifically for homeschoolers, although it is also available through some public schools. Its physical education programs consist mainly of printable lesson plans and videos, although parents also get reminder emails and access to supplemental downloads and online webinars. Updated by Kris Bales

Biography of Harriet Tubman, Helped Slaves to Freedom

Biography of Harriet Tubman, Helped Slaves to Freedom Harriet Tubman (c. 1820–March 10, 1913) was a slave, fugitive, Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, spy, soldier, and nurse known for her  service during the Civil War and her advocacy of civil rights and womens suffrage. Tubman remains one of historys most inspiring African-Americans and there are many childrens stories about her, but those usually stress her early life, escape from slavery, and work with the Underground Railroad. Less known are her Civil War service and her other activities in the nearly 50 years she lived after the war. Fast Facts: Harriet Tubman Known For: Abolitionist causes, Civil War work, civil rightsAlso Known As:  Araminta Ross, Araminta Green, Harriet Ross, Harriet Ross Tubman, MosesBorn: c. 1820 in Dorchester County, MarylandParents: Benjamin Ross, Harriet GreenDied: March 10, 1913 in Auburn, New YorkSpouses: John Tubman, Nelson DavisChildren: GertieNotable Quote: I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of two things I had a  right  to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive. Early Life Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1820 or 1821, on the plantation of Edward Brodas or Brodess. Her birth name was Araminta, and she was called Minty until she changed her name to Harriet- after her mother- as an early teen. Her parents, Benjamin Ross and Harriet Green, were enslaved Africans who saw many of their 11 children sold into the Deep South. At age 5, Araminta was rented to neighbors to do housework. She was never good at household chores and was beaten by her owners and renters. She wasnt educated to read or write. She eventually was assigned to work as a field hand, which she preferred to housework. At age 15, she suffered a head injury when she blocked the path of the overseer pursuing an uncooperative slave. The overseer flung a weight at the other slave, hitting Tubman, who probably sustained a severe concussion. She was ill for a long time and never fully recovered. In 1844 or 1845, Tubman married John Tubman, a free black man. Shortly after her marriage, she hired a lawyer to investigate her legal history and discovered that her mother had been freed on a technicality upon the death of a former owner. The lawyer advised her  that a court wouldnt likely hear the case, so she dropped it. But knowing that she should have been born free led her to contemplate freedom and resent her situation. In 1849, Tubman heard that two of her brothers were about to be sold to the Deep South, and her husband threatened to sell her, too. She tried to persuade her brothers to escape with her but left alone, making her way to Philadelphia and freedom. The next year, Tubman decided to return to Maryland to free her sister and her sisters family. Over the next 12 years, she returned 18 or 19 times, bringing more than 300 people out of slavery. Underground Railroad Tubmans organizing ability was crucial to her work with the Underground Railroad, a network of opponents of slavery that helped fugitive slaves escape. Tubman was only 5 feet tall, but she was smart and strong and carried a rifle. She used it not only to intimidate pro-slavery people but also to keep slaves from backing out. She told any who seemed ready to leave that dead Negroes tell no tales about the railroad. When Tubman first reached Philadelphia, she was, under the law of the time, a free woman, but passage of the  Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 made her a wanted fugitive again. All citizens were obligated to aid in her recapture, so she had to operate quietly. But she soon became known throughout abolitionist circles and freedmens communities. After the Fugitive Slave Act passed, Tubman began guiding her Underground Railroad passengers to Canada, where they could be truly free. From 1851 through 1857, she lived parts of the year in St. Catherines, Canada, and Auburn, New York, where many anti-slavery citizens lived. Other Activities In addition to her twice-yearly trips to Maryland to help slaves escape, Tubman developed her oratorical skills and began speaking publicly at anti-slavery meetings and, by the end of the decade, womens rights meetings. A price had been placed on her head- at one time it was as high as $40,000- but she was never betrayed. Tubman freed three of her brothers in 1854, bringing them to St. Catherines. In 1857, Tubman brought her parents to freedom. They couldnt take Canadas climate, so she settled them on land she bought in Auburn with the aid of abolitionist supporters. Earlier, she had returned to rescue her husband John Tubman, only to find hed remarried and wasnt interested in leaving. Tubman earned money as a cook and laundress, but she also received support from public figures in New England, including key  abolitionists. She was supported by  Susan B Anthony,  William H. Seward, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Horace Mann, the Alcotts, including educator Bronson Alcott and writer  Louisa May Alcott, William Still  of Philadelphia, and Thomas Garratt of Wilmington, Delaware. Some supporters used their homes as Underground Railroad stations. John Brown In 1859, when John Brown was organizing a rebellion he believed would end slavery, he consulted Tubman. She supported his plans at Harpers Ferry, raised funds in Canada, and recruited soldiers. She intended to help him take the armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia to supply guns to slaves they believed would rebel against their enslavement. But she became ill and wasnt there. Browns raid failed and his supporters were killed or arrested. She mourned her friends deaths and continued to hold Brown as a hero. Civil War Tubmans trips to the South as Moses, as shed become known for leading her people to freedom, ended as the Southern states began to secede and the U.S. government prepared for war. Once war started, Tubman went South to assist with contrabands, escaped slaves attached to the Union Army. The next year, the Union Army asked Tubman to organize a network of scouts and spies among black men. She led forays to gather information and persuade slaves to leave their masters. Many joined regiments of black soldiers. In July 1863, Tubman led troops commanded by Col. James Montgomery in the Combahee River expedition, disrupting Southern supply lines by destroying bridges and railroads and freeing more than 750 slaves. Gen. Rufus Saxton, who reported the raid to Secretary of War  Edwin Stanton, said: This is the only military command in American history wherein a woman, black or white, led the raid and under whose inspiration it was originated and conducted. Some believe Tubman was allowed to go beyond womens traditional boundaries because of her race. Tubman, believing she was employed by the U.S. Army, spent her first paycheck on building a place where freed black women could earn a living doing laundry for soldiers. But she wasnt paid regularly or given rations she believed she deserved. She received only $200 in three years of service, supporting herself by selling baked goods and root beer, which she made after she completed her regular duties. After the war, Tubman never got her back military pay. When she applied for a pension- with the support of  Secretary of State William Seward, Colonel T. W. Higginson, and Rufus- her application was denied. Despite her service and fame, she had no official documents to prove she had served in the war. Freedmen Schools After the war, Tubman established schools for freedmen in South Carolina. She never learned to read and write, but she appreciated the value of education and supported efforts to educate former slaves. She later returned to her home in Auburn, New York, which was her base for the rest of her life. She financially supported her parents, and her brothers and their families moved to Auburn. Her first husband died in 1867 in a fight with a white man.  In 1869 she married Nelson Davis, who had been enslaved in North Carolina but served as a Union Army soldier. He was often ill, probably with tuberculosis, and frequently couldnt work. Tubman welcomed several children into her home, raising them as her own, and supported some impoverished former slaves, financing her efforts through donations and loans. In 1874, she and Davis adopted a baby girl named Gertie. Publishing and Speaking To finance her life and her support of others, she worked with historian Sarah Hopkins Bradford to publish  Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman in 1869. The book was initially financed by abolitionists, including Wendell Phillips and Gerrit Smith, the latter a supporter of John Brown and first cousin of suffragist  Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Tubman toured to speak about her experiences as Moses. In 1886, Bradford, with Tubmans help, wrote a full-scale biography of Tubman titled  Harriet Tubman: Moses of Her People.  In the 1890s, she finally was able to collect a pension as Davis widow: $8 a month. Tubman also worked with Susan B. Anthony on womens suffrage. She attended womens rights conventions and spoke for the womens movement, advocating for the rights of women of color. In 1896, Tubman spoke at the first meeting of the National Association of Colored Women. Continuing to support aged and poor African-Americans, Tubman established a home on 25 acres next to her home in Auburn, raising money with help from the AME Church and a local bank.  The home, which opened in 1908, initially was called the John Brown Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People but later was named for her. She donated the home to the AME Zion Church with the proviso that it would be kept as a home for the elderly.  She moved into the home in 1911 and died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913. Legacy Harriet Tubman became an icon after her death. A World War II Liberty ship was named for her, and in 1978 she was featured on a commemorative stamp. Her home has been named a national historic landmark. The four phases of Tubmans life- a slave; an abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad; a Civil War soldier, nurse, spy and scout; and a social reformer- are important aspects of her dedication to service. Schools and museums bear her name and her history has been told in books, movies, and documentaries. In April 2016, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced that Tubman would replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill by 2020, but the plans were delayed. Sources Timeline of the Life of Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman Historical Society.Harriet Tubman Biography. Harriettubmanbiography.com.Harriet Tubman: American Abolitionist. Encyclopaedia Britannica.Harriet Tubman Biography. Biography.com.

Legal systems in Western countries recognize Essay

Legal systems in Western countries recognize - Essay Example Draft Introduction: Legal systems in Western countries recognize equal protection of the law. Therefore equality is not an issue.1 However, equality in practice cannot always be achieved as the equal rights of one group can conflict with the equal rights of another. (Discuss the purpose of equality laws and the tensions that can arise between sex-based rights and faith based rights). The UK recognized sexual orientation as a new sex-based right worthy of equal protection of the law.2 The expansion of sex-based equalities under the Equality Act 2010 is flawed however. Identify the purpose of the essay. Hypothesis: the Equality Act 2010, is a reminder of the tensions between the recognition and protection of equal rights in favour of one group against another.3 Faith-based and Sexuality-based Equality Laws The most common tensions between faith-based and sexuality-based equality laws is the rights of gays to the equal protection of the law and freedom of religion which generally includ es the right to discriminate against gays particularly the right to oppose same-sex unions and adoptions.

Romanaticized Blackness by Whites to The Folk Essay

Romanaticized Blackness by Whites to The Folk - Essay Example He touches several other related topics as well. Throughout Hale’s book she has mentioned how the white Americans were much more open to the ideas of sharing the same hobbies, the same interests with the colored population and so they are termed as ‘outsiders’. This sudden change over several years caused a great transformation in the society and culture. The rebellion was such that a person’s race did not count, the discriminatory acts were slowing down. On the other hand, Baldwin’s stories clearly display that there was no such thing as fairness and justice between the races. The blacks were still treated wrongly, judged because of their skin color, the facts ignored because a white man was not to be blamed. It always had to be the colored man’s fault and he was unjustly punished for it. One of the stories Baldwin has written is Rockpile. The Grimes family consists of mixed ethnicity. The members are all white except on boy called John who i s Reverend Gabriel Grimes’ step son – son of his wife’s with another man before their marriage. Despite being a man of God, Grimes does not treat John fairly just because of his skin color. The incident related in the story is how Grimes’ son Rory gets injured due to his own fault, but John receives all the censure for it because he is black. Rory gets into a fight with some African American boys and hurts himself. "They fought on the rockpile. Sure footed, dangerous, and reckless, they rushed each other and grappled on the heights (†¦) Immediately, one side of Roy's face ran with blood, he fell and rolled on his face down the rocks" (Long and Collier 541) The story mostly shows the tumultuous relationship between the two. They were fighting with each other for no reason other than their color. John was thought to be guilty because of no other basis than the fact that he was black so obviously it was his entire fault. The unfairness is clearly shown here and it is quite a different version of what Hale is talking about in her own book. Times were quite difficult then. The sufferance during the Great Depression led to the white people unemployed. Only the blacks still had employment opportunities as they were willing to work for cheap wages and long hours. As more and more people were sacked, the menial tasks set aside for the blacks were given to whites. This was one of the early signs of prejudice and racism. Hale writes that the white Americans called themselves the outsiders during these times since they were not working. It was the ‘in’ thing even though they still had much more privileged lives than the blacks who were even working. The latter had very less income; the divide between the rich and poor was great. The poor automatically became even poorer whilst the rich continued to prosper despite the troubled times. The economic divide between the two races was great and yet the whites continued to compare th eir problems with those of the blacks. They did not realize that they were in a much greater, luckier position. Another story written by Baldwin is Sonny’s Blues. It is referring to the songs which were preferred in that time period. The story is about two brothers who are not really close but the narrator is showed as being worried for his sibling despite the distance. Sonny is a gifted pianist but he is troubled because he has no idea what to do with his talent. He gets into drugs till he becomes really addicted to them and puts everyone concerned

Receivable Management Essay Example for Free

Receivable Management Essay The company will come to know about the existing flaws in the system. The recommendations would help the company to overcome the same. It will also help the company to know which portal is generating more revenue, which position and many other things which generate grab major part of the revenue. [pic] Management Of Accounts Receivable Management of receivables is a process under which decisions to maximize returns on the investment blocked in them are taken. Thus, the main objective of management receivable is to maximize the returns on investment in receivables to minimize risk of bad debts etc. Because investment in receivables affects liquidity and profitability, it is, therefore, significant to maintain proper level of receivables. Accounts receivable represent sales that have not yet been collected as cash. It explains that merchandise or services in exchange for a customers promise to pay at a certain time in the future. Accounts receivables of a firm are created on both the side of the productive system. On one side of this system, the firm may make advance payments to the suppliers of the raw material to ensure timely supply, when the supplier holds the monopolistic position. On the other side of the productive system, accounts receivable are created by a firm when it sells its output on credit. These are termed as sundry debtors. Sundry Debtors constitute nearly 60% of the Accounts Receivables. Four Aspects Of Management Of Sundry Debtors: 1. Credit Policy needs to be determined. This involves a trade off between the profit on additional sales that arise due to credit being extended on the one hand and the cost of carrying those debtors and the bad debts losses on the other hand.

A Heavy Dosage: The Pharmaceutical Industry Essay -- Health, Medicatio

Of all the booming businesses in recent history the pharmaceutical industry makes the largest profits of any industry; making approximately three times more than the average fortune 500 company (Silverstein). At the forefront of the drug industries rise is the United States. The United States accounts for nearly half of the world’s pharmaceutical market, and the benefits are evident. The United States is seeing record high life expectancy along with an all time low death rate (â€Å"Life Expectancy at All Time High†). Countless lives have been bettered and saved because of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical advances made within. However, people must remember that the pharmaceutical industry is as much a business as anything. Like any business they are looking to profit and the best interest of the consumer is not always the top priority. Despite the opposition of eager clients, the pharmaceutical industry is in need of reform and more government regulation. Every year 100,000 Americans die from prescription drugs; not including accidents or wrongly prescribed drugs, all these deaths are the results of side effects from properly prescribed and taken drugs (Perdomo 1). That number hasn’t gone down over the last decade and won’t decrease until action is taken. Much of this is due to insufficient testing on drugs before being released. The testing process is too quick to discover many of the long term side effects that a drug may cause. Resulting in 250-300 drugs a year approved by the FDA being recalled (Greve). The standard procedure includes three phases of testing. However, not all drugs go through all phases of testing. If the early tests are successful the FDA often approves it prematurely. Also, if a drug is a minor altera... ...testing of prescription drugs is more rigorous and in-depth, better prescription drugs will reach the market and the ones with devastating effects can be filtered out. If the clinical testing was done by non-profit organizations and the FDA more closely monitored the process, the corruption could be ended, ensuring that only safe drugs are approved. Some government enforced guidelines placed on drug companies will protect Americans from the schemes of the industry along with lowering prices; resulting in more affordable medication for the average citizen. More government control will also end the deceiving marketing tactics used by drug companies. The government involvement will take away the financial motives behind deceptive marketing. Making these changes will utilize all the good the pharmaceutical industry has to offer and eliminate many of the problems.

Power and Authority

HOW HAVE YOUR TEXTS EXPLORED POWER AND AUTHORITY The abuse of power and authority leads to corruption. George Orwell’s satire Nineteen Eighty-four and Frank Darabont’s hellish version of prison life The Shawshank Redemption show the effects of the exercise of absolute power. These texts show that if there are no restrictions when it comes to authority it can lead to corruption. Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four demonstrates powerful warnings against the dangers of a totalitarian society.A theme used in Orwell’s novel is the party of Big Brother and its absolute power â€Å"we shall be utterly without power of any kind† this conveys a very controlling message towards all party members as they are totally evicted from freedom. Orwell uses three phases throughout the novel to give an impression of the sheer power and authority of Big brother â€Å"WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SALVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH† this is an irony used to show power towards th e party. One of the motifs of Nineteen Eighty-Four is the control of an individual’s thoughts and the governments’ surveillance of every party member.Telescreens are most prominently featured in the novel; they are devices that keep any one of its subjects under constant surveillance therefore eliminating any chance of secret conspiracies against Oceania. â€Å"It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander†¦within range of a telescreen†¦the slightest thing could give you away†. The Party’s surveillance tactics and technology are so advanced that even the smallest expression could give you away. â€Å"thought crime does not entail death, thoughtcrime is death†. Orwell has written about thoughtcrime throughout the novel.It was illegal to hold any negative thought against the party at any time. This gives the reader a picture of how controlled an individual’s thoughts were and the surveillance of each and every thought. The Sh awshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont provides a desolate view of a prison where the abuse of power is usual. The figure of the warden, who has the total power of all prisoners, is used to symbolize the corrupting effects of unrestrained power. He reminds each and every new prisoner that they have no protection from his absolute power, used in a frightening warning â€Å"your ass belongs to me. His corruption is emphasized through the lightening used by Darabont. Throughout the film he has him emerge from and retreat into darkness. Captain Hadley, the unusually harsh prison guard, routinely and casually breaches prisoners’ rights through violence, responding to a request made by a prisoner to make a complaint with â€Å"Youll be tellin’ the Warden with my baton up your ass†. The impact of the frequent beatings is emphasized by the loud sound affects of the blows landing on each hopeless victim. We see the distinctive dangers of a system where power is s trong in few but at the expense of many.The Shawshank Redemption is a film that deals with the institution of prison and the impact of its power on prisoners. â€Å"These walls are funny. First you hate them†¦ enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized. †Ã‚  This creates an image that the prison walls are constraining as it authenticates that the prison has the power over the prisoners simultaneously becoming a false support for all inmates. Through the character Brooks we learn that he believes he cannot stand alone and needs the prison as a support. â€Å"Maybe I should rob the FoodWay so they’ll let me back home. This emphasizes the point that brooks depended so much on the prison and became an institutionalized man. The abuse of power can lead to corruption. We see the abuse of absolute power being used in the novel Nineteen Eighty-four and the film The Shawshank Redemption. Nineteen Eighty four demonstrates this through warni ngs against the dangers of a totalitarian society and The Shawshank Redemption provides us with a desolate view of a prison where the abuse of power is a regular occurrence. These texts show us that when power and authority has no restrictions it can lead to a corrupt populace.

Economic Integration in Latin America: a Reality or a Mith?

Economic Integration in LATAM: A Reality or a Myth Oscar R. Martinez Latin American International Relations 19 March 2013 Integration for Latin American (LATAM) states has been an overarching approach when discussing foreign relations in the western hemisphere. Much of the literature proposed in this class proposes the intentions of LATAM states to integrate at different levels. However, this paper will demonstrate that regional economic integration is formally happening. Yet, it remains weak and inconclusive.Internal bureaucracy and the lack of commitment to these integration efforts overshadow the intentions for economic integration. This paper will examine the different strategic options for economic integration in LATAM, the reason why LATAM states seek for economic integration and most importantly the factors impeding and weakening regional integration in the western hemisphere. This analysis is based on the historical evidence of LATAM states’ behavior and trading trends . To grasp the ongoing economic liberalization policies in LATAM, we must first understand viable strategic options of economic integration for LATAM states.After the Cold War, Latin America faced a prospect of marginalization. The distinctive economic disadvantages to compete in the world economics presented different strategic integration options that could provide the foundation for long-term development and growth. Peter H. Smith proposed four different economic integration options for Latin America at the beginning of the new millennium: unilateral liberalization, joining with the North, extra-hemispheric partnership, and regional integration.These strategic models accentuated the different available options LATAM states could consider in order to the meet political and economic agendas. The first strategic option available is the unilateral liberalization of economic programs to strengthen commercial and financial ties with major power centers. This option allows countries to center on export-led development were internal policies focuses on the diversification of products and partners and continually seek foreign investments from multiple sources. Chile is an example of using this lucrative option.Before Pinochet, Chile exercised protectionist trade policies that suffocated its trading opportunities throughout the globe. Pinochet’s economic reforms resembled this option advocating free trade and allowing Chile to develop commercial ties with Europe, Japan, and the United States without allowing dependence to any single trade partner. Chile has the most signed free trade agreements in South America. The second strategic option is joining economic grounds with the United States. This alternative seems beneficial for LATAM countries because it also integrates them with the world economy.LATAM states understand the current economic position of the United States and its interdependence in the global economy; this assertion could incentivize other coun tries to meet their economic ambitions at a global scale. Countries view this option as an opportunity to integrate with the strongest world’s economy, which will enable them to gain prestige and trading opportunities in the global market. Mexico has followed this option, mostly because of its geographic proximity to the United States, benefitting from the free access to the U.S. market—with NAFTA— and tormenting from its sole dependence. In 2011, nearly 80% of Mexico’s exports were tied to the United States. This can be referred as â€Å"putting most of your eggs in one basket. † Nevertheless, the Mexican economy has significantly grown since NAFTA. The third strategic options is seeking extra-hemispheric partnership. LATAM leaders have the option to develop economic ties with extra-hemispheric trading blocs such as the European Union and the Asian-Pacific Region.LATAM countries to offset the hegemonic position of the United States often use this option. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Peru, and Venezuela have made remarkable efforts in exercising this option in the past decade. Some countries and/or regional trading blocs see this as a feasible option due to the competition and intense bureaucratic limitations within their own region or subregion. Consequently, this option allows LATAM states to diversify their trading partnership. The fourth and final strategic option is the main focus for this paper.The regional/subregional economic integration option affirms self-reliance. This alternative provides a realistic approach in changing economic configurations of international power. Therefore, we must further examine this option and explain why LATAM insist on integrating their economies. Regional economic integration agreements depend on the motivation, form, coverage and content. It is often that the major actors set the agenda not only with the view of constructing and retaining power at that regional level but also to est ablish global precedents.According to Smith, â€Å"given the diversity of interests and economic structures, Latin American leaders have focused not only on continental unification but on subregional integration—projects for economic cooperation among groups of Latin American countries, rather than for the continent as a whole. † The level of interest in regional integration depends on what cost/benefit (political and economical) analysis in the countries involved. We can argue that Latin America is not homogeneous block, therefore, the different intentions and needs from each country drive regional economic integration at different scales.Nevertheless, LATAM countries insist in integrating their economies for more relevant factors. First, they wanted to keep their market open for trade (market liberalization). After the Cold War, developing countries in the region needed to increase their trade opportunities in order to level the economic blow caused by developed nati ons. Open markets increase economic development among partner countries and enhance interaction and cooperation between states and markets. Economic Integration is also a way to overcome the limitation of small domestic markets.Second, countries want to compete with other regional integration options. Countries that feel limited to an outside regional trading bloc will try to form its own to level the plain field. The Andean Pact (1989) was the first economic integration effort in the western hemisphere. Others followed immediately after this economic block was established: Central American Common Market (CACM—1990), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR—1991), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA—1993). LATAM countries were pressured to compete as a bloc instead as single element.Third, common norms and ideals spreading to the region encouraged economic integration between these countries. Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez led a common anti-US mo vement to contest different political and economic views. The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) formed by President Chavez intended a regional cooperation of many LATAM countries based on the idea of the social, political and economic integration. The Bolivarianism movement is an effort to balance against the Washington consensus and liberal markets sponsored by the US.These type economic integrations have more of a completion of economic, social and political ideals. Diana Tussie articulates, â€Å"Regionalism in Latin America is not just a single tidy entity but has given way to many coexisting and competing projects with fuzzy boundaries. † Regional integration provides a variety of incentives for LATAM countries, however, not everything is as easy as it seems. LATAM effort for regional integration started in 1960 with the Latin American Free trade association (LAFTA), however, this and other regional integration projects failed due to the internal and externa l factor that limited or impeded its success.Numerous internal and external factors impeding effective economic integration continue to weaken these regional efforts. Internal factors such as commodities-based economies and domestic policies influence the commitment and participation to these integration projects. External factors such other attractive international options also weakens the regional economic integration. Regional integration is constantly threatened by these factors and it is more evident in Latin America. Despite of the formal integration, the effectiveness of these regional institutions is directly affected by domestic elements.The first internal factor affecting this regional integration endeavors is the number of commodities-based economies. The commodities for countries are not complimentary with each other. Competition for the open trade in the global market becomes fiercely competitive. Countries will ignore treaties to gain competitive advantage. The â€Å" commodity lottery† or the random allocation of natural resources endowments seems to be an influential factor when deciding trading partners. For example, Brazil and Argentina are both members of MERCOSUR, but both are competing for the right to export their agricultural and energy products outside the region.Tussie reveals this issue by stating that â€Å"regional institutions remain feeble, honoured more in spirit than in letter, and intra-regional relations are frayed with competing development projects. † The second internal factor is domestic policies. This factor impeding the effective economic integration is broken in two different elements: changes in regime and bureaucratic domestic pressures. The constant changes of political regimes affect the stability of a regional institution. Establishments of new political reforms will directly affect economic ambitions set in treaties by previous regimes.An example of General Pinochet economic reform in Chile has isolat ed its regional neighbors. The drastic withdrawal of Chile from the Andean Pact and the sway of neo-liberalism generated major economic crises, antagonism to region-wide industrial planning, and a backlog of non-compliance decisions in the region. Hugo Chavez in Venezuela has also stirred the pot on the new endeavors for MERCOSUR, making this trading bloc more of a political instrument rather than an economic integration system. Other domestic pressures come from the legislative institutions blocking and making these trading initiatives almost impossible to achieve.The bureaucratic process to ratify new or change current treaties—in particular Free Trade Agreements—seems to discourage any further economic integrations. Countries such as Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica would rather sign unilateral treaties than entering into a regional bloc. The final factor affecting the economic integration in Latin America is the recognition of a more attractive option outside their regi on to integrate their economies. Research shows that less than 28 percent of the overall trade in in Latin America is intra-regional.This means that economic institutions in Latin America do not take advantage or effectively use their regional partners for trade. For most of the LATAM countries, their top five trading partners include the United States, China, and the European Union. Again, the â€Å"commodity lottery† plays a huge role in the influence of why these countries prefer other international states for economic integration. The United States is the most important trading partner for most of the LATAM countries. The economies of many of these LATAM countries depend on the import and export with the United States.Their economic dependence influences some regional decisions. Nevertheless, these economic decisions could be used to balance against the United State, even though; this could also hurt their own economy. For example, Venezuela’s largest trading partn er is the United States. Yet, Venezuela’s domestic and regional economic policies continue to challenge those economic practices it depends the most on. Another huge external factor is the emergence of China and its economic influence in Latin America. LATAM countries see China as a potential alternative from the northern hegemony.Also, China’s manufacturing industry is highly competitive from those in Latin America. Many countries would prefer cheaper Chinese manufactured good than a more expensive one from their regional partners. China indeed affected the regional integration in Latin America. As expressed by Tussie, referring to regional economic institutions, â€Å"it has as an ‘epic’ status as a preferred tool for promoting social rather than mere market goals. † Historically, regional integration has always been part of the LATAM culture. Whether for political or economic gains, the effort to form these institutions is relevant and somehow to o optimistic.This paper displays different economic options LATAM states have in regards to economic integration. It also defines regional or subregional integration and lists some of the reasons why LATAM states insist in regional integration. Finally, the evidence and examples shown of the internal and external factors that impede and/or weaken regional integration support the following conclusion. A pragmatic approach in the economic and trading decisions seem to dominate the foreign policies of most LATAM countries, affecting the strength, legitimacy, and relevance of these formal regional institutions. ——————————————- [ 1 ]. Peter H. Smith, â€Å"Strategic Options for Latin America,† Latin America in the New World System, in Latin America in the New International System, ed. Joseph Tulchin and Ralph Espach (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner, 2001), 38. [ 2 ]. Ibid. , 35-36. [ 3 ]. Ibid. ,39. [ 4 ]. Ibid. , 39-41. [ 5 ]. â€Å"US Relations with Mexico,† Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State, accessed on March 15, 2013, http://www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35749. htm. [ 6 ]. Smith, â€Å"Strategic Options Latin America,† 46-53. [ 7 ].Diana Tussie, â€Å"Latin America: Contrasting Motivations for Regional Projects,† Review of International Studies 35, S1 (2009), 169-188, doi:10. 1017/S026021050900847X. [ 8 ]. Smith, â€Å"Strategic Options Latin America,† 46. [ 9 ]. Tussie, â€Å"Contrasting Motivations Regional,† 170. [ 10 ]. Ibid. [ 11 ]. Francisco E. Gonzalez, â€Å"Latin America in the Economic Equation—Winners and Losers: What can losers do? † in China’s Expansion into the Western Hemisphere: Implications for Latin American and the United States, ed. Riordan Roett and Guadalupe Paz (Washington, D. C. :Brookings Institution Press, 2008), 151. [ 12 ].Tussie, â€Å"Contrasting Motivations Regional,† 170. [ 13 ]. Ibid. , 174. [ 14 ]. â€Å"International Trade and Market Access Data,† World Trade Organization website, accessed on March 3, 2013, http://webservices. wto. org/resources/profiles/MT/TO/2011/WLD_e. pdf. [ 15 ]. â€Å"International Trade and Market Access Data,† World Trade Organization website, accessed on March 3, 2013, http://www. wto. org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_bis_e. htm? solution=WTO&path=/Dashboards/MAPS&file= Map. wcdf&bookmarkState={%22impl%22:%22client%22,%22params%22:{%22langParam%22:%22en%22}}. [ 16 ]. Tussie, â€Å"Contrasting Motivations Regional,† 176.

Genetic Diseases and Disorders (as through animal cloning) essays

Genetic Diseases and Disorders (as through animal cloning) essays Genetics. A science that has through the ages been the center of not only scientific debate but religious and morale ethic discussion. Recent genetics has caused uproar in such discussions especially in the science of the ever growing genetic cloning. Since the successful cloning of many animals such as Dolly the sheep and CC the kitten many have been dreading the appearance of a human clone. Yet even with such outrage the science of cloning has continued its advancement and even has provided hearts to heat failure patients. Yet before all these advancements there was one who began the cycle. She was a sheep and her name was Dolly. Dolly the sheep was first created in the Irish labs of the Roslin Institution in 1996. Yet the accomplishment was not easy. Now when most people think of cloning they think of deformed objects floating mystically in a glass container. However the process is much more complicated than that. In fact there are several types of cloning methods. In Dollys case the process of Reproductive cloning was used. Reproductive cloning is a technology used to generate an animal that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing animal. The cloning of Dolly proved that cloning of adult animals could be accomplished. Previously it was not known if an adult nucleus was still able to produce a completely new animal. That was not it in this case. Scientists Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell discovered a method with which to synchronize the cell cycles of the donor nucleus and the host egg cytoplasm. Without synchronized cell cycles the donor nucleus would not be in the c orrect state for the host egg to accept it. The donor cell was forced into the Go stage of the mitotic cell cycle by starving the cells. When the nucleus enters the egg cytoplasm, egg proteins reprogram the chromosomes in the nucleus. The dividing embryo is transferred into the oviduct of a surrogate...

Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models of Healthcare

Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models of Healthcare Critical Evaluation on the Future of Healthcare: The Biomedical or the Biopsychosocial Model The Biomedical Model This model has been in existence since the mid-19 th century and was predominant for physicians in the diagnosis of diseases. It comprises of four elements. It argues that, that health constitutes the freedom of pain, disease or defect which implies the normal human is healthy. In this model, the focus on the physical processes such as biochemistry, physiology and pathology of a disease do not take into consideration the role played by individual subjectivity or social factors. Unlike the biopsychosocial model, the biomedical model fails to consider negotiation between a doctor and patient in determining diagnosis. The main focus in this model is purely biological factors. It excludes social influences, environment and the psychological ones. Western countries have adopted it as a leading modern way for which health professionals treat and diagnose conditions. Regardles s of the limitations that this model expresses, it has been critical in the development of programs to control infectious diseases. In addition, it feeds more information to the biopsychosocial approach (White, 2009). The Biopsychosocial Model This is an approach that states that psychological, social and biological factors all play a key role in the human functioning in relation to illness and disease. Health is thus understood by concentrating on biological, social and psychological factors rather than entirely focusing on biological terms. It contrasts to biomedical model. Biomedical model takes the position that every disease process can be explained in accordance to deviations in normal functions such as injury, developmental abnormality in genes or virus (White, 2009). This model is used in the fields of medicine, health sociology and psychology and nursing. The acceptance, novelty and prevalence of the biopsychosocial model demonstrates variation across cultures. The model ha s been developing over time and will only mature further with health psychology designs and research. The Future of Healthcare The biopsychosocial model is at the heart of the future of healthcare. Specialization in healthcare has advanced to fields of health psychology, psychiatry, chiropractic, clinical psychology, family therapy and clinical social work. Majority of clinicians will engage the elements of biopsychosocial and biomedical models in the practices they engage in. However, it is arguable that all illnesses whether functional or organic can be managed best going by the biopsychosocial framework rather than the biomedical in practice. The two models seem to share the same goal which is improving the improvement of the patient’s well-being. What differs is the scope on which the physician considers impairment including its origin and the possible remedies. The biopsychosocial framework expands the meaning of this goal and applies it in clinical processes. Illness is approached as the subjective sense of suffering by the patient. The goal of managing the disease thus needs to identify the specific exposures of the patient which are biological, social and psychological. Potential Disabilities of the Biomedical Model The biomedical model will lose its position in the future of healthcare as it assumes that social and psychological processes are irrelevant to the disease’s process. The potential disabilities it exposes are massive. It mainly has three liabilities. First, the model is reductionist in nature. It reduces illness to lower level processes. These include chemical imbalances and disordered cells. It thus fails to recognize the general role of psychological and social determinants. Secondly, the model is a single-factor model. The explanation for illness is in terms of biological malfunctions rather that recognition of a variety of factors with only a few being biological in the causation of illness. The third liability is that the model assumes a mind-body dualism. It maintains that the body and mind are two separate entities. The final but not least liability is that the model puts more emphasis on illness over health. The focus is aberrations that cause illness instead of the conditions that would promote health.

Motivating and Retaining Employees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivating and Retaining Employees - Essay Example One problem that may be identified with the Company is the need for the human resource department to design and implement measures to promote retention of these valuable employees. Since the Company attracts highly skilled and capable employees, the same employees will also be valued by the rival, competitor firms and McKinsey and Company must take steps to ensure that employees feel valued and appreciated, so that the Company is able to retain them rather than losing them to competitor firms. This Paper will identify measures that have been found to be successful in attracting and retaining good employees so that the Company can retain a good competitive advantage in the market. It will assess the relative benefits of monetary rewards as compared to intrinsic rewards such as recognition and which policy may better serve the company in promoting retention of the best employees. Several companies have successfully achieved a competitive advantage through the restructuring of their human resource management systems to provide financial benefits to employees, as pointed out by Schuler and Macmillan (1984). In the Bairnco Corporation, bonuses were linked to performance for top-level executives and the company was able to almost double its sales from $270 million to $442 million in the short span of two years. In the case of Lincoln Electric, workers receive a share in the profits, which imbues workers with a high motivation to produce. When employees are offered profit sharing and incentives, it may help to enhance their performance and increase retention. Oller (2002) discusses how employees at various design and printing firms are rewarded for jobs well done with monetary benefits, such as gift cash vouchers, free lunches or contributions for educational purposes. Such reward and recognition for work done well functions as a strong motivation for employees and helps them.