Confucianism - a Religion or a Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Confucianism - a Religion or a Philosophy - Essay Example From an analysis of the text and a cursory review of Confucianism, it must be understood by the reader that there are ultimately only three alternatives which could be gleaned: the understanding that Confucianism represents a philosophy but not a religious one, the understanding that Confucianism represents a religious worldview first and foremost within a philosophical interpretation being secondary, and the understanding that Confucianism represents both a religious and an philosophical interpretation. Likewise, it is the belief of this author that the most appropriate interpretation of this particular situation is the first determinant listed above; with the third determinant also being a distant possibility. Seeking to understand such a question may seem as something of an exercise in futility due to the fact that Confucianism is not a widely practiced religion; however, seeking to define what specifically is and what specifically is not a religion is an important aspect of delin eating and defining the current world in which we live. The reason for choosing this first determinant as the most likely case in question is due to the fact that Confucian beliefs do not specify a belief or appreciation for any subset of gods that must be followed or appreciated in order for the individual to attain a degree of benefit, worship or salvation. Whereas other religions make specific claims with regards to what deities must be worshipped and extolled in order for a degree of personal benefit to be generated, Confucianism makes no such claims. Moreover, building upon this is the fact that Confucianism is syncretic; i.e. it builds upon other belief systems and faiths. This is something that few other belief systems can claim and not a single world religion is capable of boasting. This fact, perhaps beyond any of the others which will be discussed, helps to set Confucianism apart and differentiate this as an philosophyal interpretation of the world rather than a strictly r eligious one. Naturally, although the foregoing definition is sound, the fact remains that Confucianism retains key elements of religious dogma with regards to the means by which individuals should integrate with one another and the world around them. Due to the fact that the writings and belief system of Confucianism are concerned primarily with philosophyal and moral interpretations, it is easy to understand why many of the individuals that have researched this particular world view have come to the understanding that philosophyal world view and interpretations of right conduct is a handle that more appropriately defines Confucianism as compared to the blanket and somewhat incorrect handle of religion (Smith 186). Yet, regardless of the interpretation of Confucianism that is made, the fact remains that it retains many of the aspects of a religion so it is also understandable why so many individuals have referred to it as a religion; replete with a holy set of writings/proverbs, a prophet, and a base line of standards and beliefs that are passed down from one generation to the next; from one believer to the next. As such, it is the view of this author that Confucianism is in fact a verifiable â€Å"religion† as it exhorts a set of followers to act and behave in a certain way as a result of constraining and/or defining their lives based upon a certain set of teachings and principles. In such a manner, the definition of religion might not perfectly meld with the fact that Confucianism does not have a â€Å"god† or a particular clergy or any other such hallmarks of other well known religions, it meets

Superfudge Review Essay Example for Free

Superfudge Review Essay â€Å"Superfudge† tells about the life of eleven-year-old boy – Peter Hatcher and his family. Peter considered his life complicated and unfair – his elder brother Fudge constantly irritated him, and, what was more awful, his parents announced mother was waiting for a baby. Peter found himself in uncertain situation as he was left with a babysitter. Peter’s elder brother was always a problem for him and when his parents asked whether he was happy of new brother, he said no as he had Fudge. Fudge was also interesting in where babies were coming from and when he received that knowledge he decided to embarrass Peter. Obviously, Fudge was angry as he was no longer the baby in the family and he decided to get rid of a Tamara Roxanne. Fudge behaved amoral offering her to unknown people on the streets and guests. Fudge decided even to play hide-and-seek and hide in the front hall closet. Of course, Peter was irritated, especially when Fudge got a pet myna bird and named her Uncle Feather.   It was difficult for Peter to adjust to new babysitter. He became more annoyed when he was told that Fudge was to start kindergarten earlier and to attend the same school as Peter. Then, why should Peter want another brother or sister? So, the story provides insight into child’s world of anxieties and hopes. The story is very touching because every child experienced the same feelings. I think that author raises the eternal themes of parents-children interactions. Moreover, the author shows complex inner world of a child.

Dragon Slayer :: essays research papers

Dragon Slayer The musty odor lingered across his nose. "This was it, this was the cave" he whispered under his breath. He knew this would be a challenge. The entrance of the cave was scattered with the bones of many who dared entered. He knew he had to do this even if this was the last thing he ever did. The young knight entered the musty cave with all the silence of a stalking leopard. The cave was a gloomy sight, even in the interior of the cave there were bones of many past knights. This was no ordinary dragon. This dragon had killed more then most and had experience in fighting. He was the most sought after dragon in the world. He has stolen more gold from castles and killed more royal families than any other dragon. This is why the young knight was here, his king sent him on this mission because of his daughter's kidnapping. The dragon snatched her off the castle balcony and took her to this cave. The knight worked his way through the many winding turns of the cave. He knew this could either change his life or end it. The knight knew he had to stay silent and stay in the shadows. If the dragon would hear him it would be all over. The knight could sense the change in the smell as he went deeper into the cave. The smell was at first a musty old smell, the smell that most caves had, but this was different it was as if a rotten carcass had been setting in a warm room for weeks. He knew this smell; it was the smell of a dragon. He was near, so near he could feel the warmth of the dragon's body coming up the tunnel. Then without the slightest clue of danger a ball of flame shot straight by him, so close he could feel the hairs on his face singe with the passing ball of flame. He knew this was a time for action. He ran as fast as he could towards the route the flames had come from. No more than 50 yards of running took him into the dragon's lair. The lair was an awesome sight. There were more riches than any kingdom could imagine in a thousand years. The lair had the knight so awe struck that he had forgotten why he was there.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Monty Python and the Holy Grail† is a satiric comedy about the quest of King Arthur. The movie starts out with Arthur, King of the Britons, looking for knights to sit with him at Camelot. He finds many knights including Sir Galahad the pure, Sir Lancelot the brave, the quiet Sir Bedevere, and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot. Through satire and parody of certain events in history (witch trials, the black plague) they find Camelot, but after literally a quick song and dance they decide that they do not want to go there. While walking away, God (who seems to be grumpy) come to them from a cloud and tells them to find the Holy Grail. They agree and begin their search. While they search for the Grail, scenes of the knight's tales appear and the reasons behind their names. Throughout their search, they meet interesting people and knights along the way. Most of the characters die; some through a killer rabbit (which they defeat with the hol y hand grenade), others from not answering a question right from the bridge of Death, or die some other ridiculous way. In the end, King Arthur and Sir Bedevere are left and find the Castle Arrrghhh where the Holy Grail is. They are met by some French soldiers who taunted them earlier in the film and were not able to get into the castle. The movie ends with both King Arthur and Sir Bedevere being arrested for killing a real-life man who was a historian. In the movie, the three main types of comedy I recognized were farce, parody, and satire. Farce is comedy designed to provoke the audience into simple, hearty laughter and often uses highly exaggerated or caricatured character types and puts them into improbable and ludicrous situations. It also makes use of broad verbal humor and physical horseplay. Some examples of farce in the movie are: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the movie, you hear the sound of music and horses. However, it turns out that it was not horses at all; it was the sound of King Arthur’s squire pounding two coconut halves together to make the sound of horses galloping. They then go on to confront two soldiers at the castle gates o invite their lord to be apart of the round table .they approach a castle and are quickly confronted by soldiers on top of the castle walls. The soldiers go on to question about their mode of transportation. King Arthu... ...arody is the imitation if a work of literature, art, or music for amusement or instruction. Parody usually uses exaggeration or inappropriate subject matter to make a serious style seem ridiculous. Some examples parodies in the movie are: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The comedic affect of the scene where Arthur and his men are kept away from the castle by farm animal warfare is a parody to when King Uther Pendragon attacked the Duke of Cornwall’s castle and was kept off with fire, soldiers and other one would expect in combat. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There was a scene where King Arthur and his knights hid inside of a wooden rabbit to invade the castle. This was a parody of the wooden Trojan horse used to invade the Greeks in the Illiad.The comedic affect was delivered when the king and his men got out of the horse before they even got into the castle. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There were also scenes ever so often a historian would pop up and give you a brief narrative about what was going on in the movie. This was a parody of all the historians that covered the story of Arthur. The comedic affect was delivered when Arthur killed the historian at the end of the movie.

Primary Colors

3/7/13 Film Review: Primary Colors The film I reviewed for this assignment was Primary Colors; the film is very closely related to Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. The film stars John Travolta who plays a charismatic southern governor by the name of Jack Stanton. Jack is trying to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States. Henry Burton, an idealist is impressed by Jack’s warmth and likeability with the people so he joins Jack’s team as a political adviser. This is an example of material covered in lecture; Jack Stanton’s party was very influential so they recruited Burton.After participating in an intense debate against his democratic rivals, Henry’s ex-girlfriend asks Jack a question about his previous arrest during the 1968 democratic convention in Chicago. Jack’s team of political advisors becomes worried that his blemished past could come into play and effect his chances to win. The team hir es Jack’s old friend Libby Holden and basically keep her on retainer. The presidential advisors hired her in anticipation to womanizing allegations that might surface since Jack was notorious for that.Libby Holden’s job is to respond to attacks that can negatively affect Jack’s candidacy. One of the women Jack was having an affair with produces secret taped conversations of the pair to prove that the affair took place. After finding out that the tapes have been altered, Libby finds the man responsible for the tapes. Libby forces him at gunpoint to sign a letter admitting what he did so the public can see. The campaign team is shocked when â€Å"Big Willie†, Jack’s old friend tells Burton that his 16 year old daughter is pregnant and Jack is the father.They convince Big Willie to keep quiet on the issue. Jack’s team decides to take a different approach to the campaign since they are falling behind in the polls. Jack attacks his rival, Senator Lawrence Harris for being pro-Israel and also for wanting to cut Medicare. During a radio debate, Harris confronts Jack but has a heart attack. Harris later announces that he will be withdrawing from the presidential race. Fred Picker, a former governor of Florida and friend of Harris takes his place. Jack’s political advisors see Picker as a potential threat so they dig up nformation about his past. Henry and Libby discover that Picker had a cocaine addiction as Governor of Florida and it ultimately lead to the end of his first marriage. Henry and Libby also find out that Picker had a homosexual affair. They share their findings with Jack and his wife Susan not expecting them to use the potentially harmful information. Jack and Susan decide to leak the information to the press and Libby in turn threatens to tell about the affairs and reveal the real results of the paternity test that says his is the father of the 16 year girl’s baby.Libby is an emotional wreck and ca n’t believe what kind of people the Stanton’s really are. Libby can’t bear the fact that she has idealized them her whole life and they are not at all what she thought, she commits suicide. Filled with guilt after Libby’s death, Jack goes to Picker and presents all of the information and apologizes for everything. Picker willingly admits to his past and withdraws from the campaign. After everything, Henry is not happy being part of Jack’s team and is thinking about withdrawing from the campaign.Jack convinces Henry to stay and says they will make history together if he stays. Jack ultimately wins the election and becomes president of the United States. The class lecture reinforces what took place in this part of the film. Political advisors/consultants first seek out political candidates to work for just like in this particular film. When Henry tried to quit the campaign after realizing what type of person Jack really was, the Political Candidate w as the one who asked for help.Political candidates are seeking out political advisors/consultants because they can improve their chances of winning an election. This film is a fairly accurate portrayal of presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton is essentially played by the Southern Governor Jack Stanton. Primary Colors provides an interesting insight on the scandals of Bill Clinton’s presidency. I find it interesting that these political candidates are fighting to be the leader of the nation and they use foul language and engage in questionable ethical behavior.Jack Stanton’s character who is running for president is a womanizer and resorts to Nixon style tactics. Jack believes that if the ends justify the means then it is okay. I can’t imagine a sequel to this movie for two reasons; the first one is the fact that the film is over 20 years old, and the second reason is the fact that neither Hillary nor Bill are in the public eye as much and Hillary Clinton did not win the presidential election. In my opinion, manipulation is the most important theme in this film; the political consultants manipulate the presidential campaign in favor of Jack Stanton.Since the film is closely centered on the 1992 Clinton campaign, I find it to be an accurate portrayal of campaign communication. A sense of charisma may be projected in a candidate’s image, most often through the communication of campaign discourse. Chapter four in our book states â€Å"A charismatic candidate may also be one who conveys a warm and friendly image, who seems genuine and personable, one who is comfortable speaking and who has the capacity t speak from his or her heart†. This definition fits Jack Stanton’s character to a tee. He seemed warm and genuine and he was extremely likeable.

Free Essays on Steel Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING PROCESS Some of the technological options for converting iron ore to steel products is schematically shown below.Hot metal and crude steel process are also inter linked among themselves as represented by arrows. OTHER STEEL MAKING PROCESSES THE ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE The electric arc furnace as the name suggests is a furnace in which heat is generated with the aid of electric arc produced by graphite electrodes. The main components of the electric arc furnace are the furnace shell with tapping device and work opening, the removable roof with the electrodes and a tilting device. The furnace shell is circular and with a refractory lining. The work opening and the tapping device are arranged opposite each other for tapping purposes, the complete furnace is tilted to an angle of about 42 degrees. Normally, the furnace is charged with its roof removed. When scrap is added, a charging bucket travels over the furnace, the bottom opens and the scrap is charged into the furnace within a few minutes. During the process, a control system advances the slow burning electrodes. High voltage is transformed into low voltage and high amperage. The most important parameter for the efficiency of an electric arc furnace is the "specific appa rent power of the transformer" - in terms of 1 t of charge. Values range from 300 to 750 kVA/t (kilo-volt-ampere per tonne). In some cases, as much as 1,000 kVA/t has been installed. THE MELTING PROCESS The electric arc furnace process generally follows the following pattern.  · Charging  · Melting  · Oxidising  · Deoxidising or refining Besides scrap or sponge iron, the charge also includes the ores, fluxes (lime, flourspar), reducing agents (carbon) and alloying elements in the form of ferroalloys. These can be added through the work opening before or during oxidizing. Process begins with the ignition of the electric arc. After melting, further scrap can be added. An additiona... Free Essays on Steel Manufacturing Free Essays on Steel Manufacturing MANUFACTURING PROCESS Some of the technological options for converting iron ore to steel products is schematically shown below.Hot metal and crude steel process are also inter linked among themselves as represented by arrows. OTHER STEEL MAKING PROCESSES THE ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE The electric arc furnace as the name suggests is a furnace in which heat is generated with the aid of electric arc produced by graphite electrodes. The main components of the electric arc furnace are the furnace shell with tapping device and work opening, the removable roof with the electrodes and a tilting device. The furnace shell is circular and with a refractory lining. The work opening and the tapping device are arranged opposite each other for tapping purposes, the complete furnace is tilted to an angle of about 42 degrees. Normally, the furnace is charged with its roof removed. When scrap is added, a charging bucket travels over the furnace, the bottom opens and the scrap is charged into the furnace within a few minutes. During the process, a control system advances the slow burning electrodes. High voltage is transformed into low voltage and high amperage. The most important parameter for the efficiency of an electric arc furnace is the "specific appa rent power of the transformer" - in terms of 1 t of charge. Values range from 300 to 750 kVA/t (kilo-volt-ampere per tonne). In some cases, as much as 1,000 kVA/t has been installed. THE MELTING PROCESS The electric arc furnace process generally follows the following pattern.  · Charging  · Melting  · Oxidising  · Deoxidising or refining Besides scrap or sponge iron, the charge also includes the ores, fluxes (lime, flourspar), reducing agents (carbon) and alloying elements in the form of ferroalloys. These can be added through the work opening before or during oxidizing. Process begins with the ignition of the electric arc. After melting, further scrap can be added. An additiona... Free Essays on Steel Manufacturing MANUFACTURING PROCESS Some of the technological options for converting iron ore to steel products is schematically shown below.Hot metal and crude steel process are also inter linked among themselves as represented by arrows. OTHER STEEL MAKING PROCESSES THE ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE The electric arc furnace as the name suggests is a furnace in which heat is generated with the aid of electric arc produced by graphite electrodes. The main components of the electric arc furnace are the furnace shell with tapping device and work opening, the removable roof with the electrodes and a tilting device. The furnace shell is circular and with a refractory lining. The work opening and the tapping device are arranged opposite each other for tapping purposes, the complete furnace is tilted to an angle of about 42 degrees. Normally, the furnace is charged with its roof removed. When scrap is added, a charging bucket travels over the furnace, the bottom opens and the scrap is charged into the furnace within a few minutes. During the process, a control system advances the slow burning electrodes. High voltage is transformed into low voltage and high amperage. The most important parameter for the efficiency of an electric arc furnace is the "specific appa rent power of the transformer" - in terms of 1 t of charge. Values range from 300 to 750 kVA/t (kilo-volt-ampere per tonne). In some cases, as much as 1,000 kVA/t has been installed. THE MELTING PROCESS The electric arc furnace process generally follows the following pattern.  · Charging  · Melting  · Oxidising  · Deoxidising or refining Besides scrap or sponge iron, the charge also includes the ores, fluxes (lime, flourspar), reducing agents (carbon) and alloying elements in the form of ferroalloys. These can be added through the work opening before or during oxidizing. Process begins with the ignition of the electric arc. After melting, further scrap can be added. An additiona...

Iran and the United Arab Emirates essays

Iran and the United Arab Emirates essays Numerous international conflicts exist among different world nations, occasionally resulting in serious escalation that results in the outbreak of destructive wars as in the cases of the Irani-Iraqi war, the Gulf War, the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, or the Arab-Israeli conflict. Some conflicts have resulted in prolonged quasi-war situations as in the disputes over Kashmir and Cyprus. Many conflicts are also resolved through legal and diplomatic means and forums as in the commercial disputes between the US and the European Community. Conflicts over territorial sovereignty tend to be more serious and threatening to world peace and order, especially when they result in massive losses of human lives and property, the creation of refugee situations, or political and national humiliation. The conflict between Iran and the UAE related to the territorial sovereignty over the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, however, tend to be an exception concerning other conflicts over te rritorial sovereignty. The conflict between Iran and the United Arab Emirates related to sovereignty and jurisdiction over the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa has dominated the relations between the two countries for more than three decades, and today, this conflict remains one major obstacle to the development of international relations in the Gulf region. The conflict is further complicated by the fact that it has political, cultural, historic and strategic dimensions. Yet at the same time, this conflict is not an unstable dispute that could give any rise to the use of force or to the outbreak of violent confrontation between the two parties involved. Accordingly, peaceful diplomatic and political perspectives are highly expected to bring out a resolution in the end, regardless of the difficulties that face such a prospect. Historical Background of the Conflict Historically and for centuries, the three islands subject...

Addiction vs. Dependency

Addiction vs. Dependency Addiction vs. Dependency Addiction vs. Dependency By Maeve Maddox A reader asks if there is any difference between addiction and dependency. The Chicago Manual of Style offers this straightforward distinction: One is physically addicted to something but psychologically dependent on something. I like the simplicity of this explanation, but a casual Web tour reveals a difference of opinion when the context is drug use. For example: Physical dependence in and of itself does not constitute addiction, but it often accompanies addiction.- National Institute on Drug Abuse (US government site). A number of substances produce psychological and/or physical dependence without producing an addiction.- Addiction Science Forum. Addiction can occur without physical dependence [and] physical dependence can occur without addiction.- The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment. Clearly, the use of the words dependency and addiction must be handled with care when writing about their medical implications. For the non-medical writer whose purpose is to choose between the words on the basis of connotation, a look at their etymologies offers a basis for choice. Addiction implies enslavement. The word derives from a Latin verb that meant, among other things, â€Å"to sell into slavery.† An addicted person no longer belongs to himself. Addiction implies a state from which there is no escape. Dependency, on the other hand, carries the connotation of temporality. A child’s dependency ends with maturity. Dependency connotes a situation from which there is a way out. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesHow to spell "in lieu of"20 Names of Body Parts and Elements and Their Figurative Meanings

Market for foreign exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market for foreign exchange - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of the foreign exchange market as one of the financial markets that is characterized by buyers and sellers of assets called ‘currencies’. It has traditionally performed the role of converting one currency into another. It is consistent with the principles of market economy laid down by Adam Smith, according to which the value or price of a currency is determined by the market forces of demand and supply. The terms ‘pegged’ and ‘float’ are often discussed when dealing with foreign exchange markets and are means of determining the levels of controls on one’s currency. As mentioned above, a currency maybe pegged or valued against a basket of other currencies or maybe left to the market forces of demand of supply in what is known as ‘free float’. In between the two, however, lies an intermediate form, the ‘balanced float’ that is characterized by some government control bu t is largely based on the principles of demand and supply. Taking a more realistic view, the value of a country’s currency is determined by the interplay of several factors including the economic, political, geographic environment. Tourism also positively affects the value of the currency by increasing demand for the country’s currency. For instance, a tourist who visits country A will require country A’s currency to purchase any goods and/or services in that country. Holding everything else constant, this shall result in an increase in demand for that currency, thus, bidding up its price.

Question about legal and ehical issue in health care Essay

Question about legal and ehical issue in health care - Essay Example The reaction of the managers and supervisors in the hospital where Gertrude was working as a head nurse can be deemed expected---if not evenhanded.   It can also be said that appropriate actions were taken to immediately resolve the protests; Charlotte, the clinical specialist, did not take the issue lightly; furthermore, she attempted to come up with the simplest solution by making an effort to have a discussion with Gertrude, hoping to have a clearer depiction on the complaints.   However, denial of all objections and refusal to admit that she was actually experiencing difficulties in relating to her colleagues did not help.   Her reluctance to communicate with her superior brought about the clinical specialist’s decision to seek the assistance of the seniors, which, in any aspect is ethically acceptable. Gertrude, unmistakably, has demonstrated competence, and that is obviously one of the major reasons for the heads of the hospital to give more consideration to her.   Despite countless criticisms, as an employee, she established an impression of being conscientious when it comes to her obligations. Consequently, she was given the chance to prove herself.   After listening to her contentions, her superiors understood how difficult it could have been for her to handle such overwhelming administrative duties.  Ã‚   Again, this may be reckoned as impartially agreeable. Considerate---that is probably how the action taken by the hospital heads can be construed.   It would have been partial had her superiors instantaneously dismissed her from the company where she has also given much of herself. Then again, Gertrude never showed significant glitch with responsibilities and was never evaluated as inadequate or inattentive.   It is thus explicable why her seniors did not show any hesitation to confer to her another opportunity to ascertain

Women - are better listeners than men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women - are better listeners than men - Essay Example Capital punishment is no deterrent to crime. Pros: 1) There is statistical evidence that capital punishment is by far not a panacea; 2) even if in one country it works, it does not automatically mean that in every society it will work in the same way; 3) there is a sentiment that a murder for the sake of deterrence is a crime by itself; 4) society may benefit more from life imprisonment and controlled employment of criminals. Cons: 5) Capital punishment in some cases reflects the dominant public opinion; 6) zero tolerance to some criminals may if not reduce crime, but at least keep it in check. "Hard" sciences such as math are more difficult than "soft" sciences such as sociology. Pros: 1) "Hard" sciences often require more extensive basic knowledge; 2) fewer people are good at "hard" sciences in comparison to "soft" sciences; 3) "hard" sciences are usually less intuitively understandable than "soft" sciences. Cons: 4) Many "soft" sciences like sociology are based on observations, wh ich, while making them seem simple, in reality makes the process of research quite difficult; 5) there is no objective ground for differentiation, only inclinations of different people.

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) - Essay Example When a terrorist target is focused and isolated, such as when the Unabomber attacked University faculty, there is little public outcry for compassion for the victims. Yet, when the country is faced with the graphic images of the Twin Towers disaster and the massive loss of life, the social agenda focuses on caring for the victims and the survivors. Modern terrorism has presented the world with a new definition of terrorism and is in search of a new definition of victimization. Modern terrorism has its roots in the 1970s and the wave of airline hijackings during that period. This was a move away from attacking strategic targets to the taking of innocent hostages as victims in an effort to create a threatening public display (Rapoport 421). The hostage taking at the US embassy in Tehran presented a new dynamic to the American people. The media provided an endless stream of pictures of Americans being held captive and the terrorism became more personal as the public was able to relate to the victims. Religious extremism became even more apparent in the 1980s as numerous Middle East countries that facilitated terrorist organizations began to directly threaten the security of the US at home and abroad (Shuggart 29). However, until the turn of the 21st century foreign attacks against Americans would remain overseas. Because they were out of the public eye, they remained largely out of the public consciousness. The attacks were sporadic and seemed to have no log ical target. This was in keeping with the characteristic of terrorism of focusing on an indirect and innocent target that could be used as negotiating power. September 11, 2001 forever changed the way Americans would view terrorism and the way that they would perceive the victims. The 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the first time that the public would mobilize to generate aid for the victims of terrorism ("A

Is this Religion Absolustic or Relavistic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is this Religion Absolustic or Relavistic - Essay Example Through a reconstruction of religion, we see a way out of the impasse. AN OLD DEBATE IN THE HISTORY OF IDEAS concerns the question of the relation between religion and science. The common wisdom once was that science and religion were incompatible, with consequences such as arguments made that religion has no place in schools or the creationism versus evolution theory debated in science classes. It was often claimed that there could be no legitimate concept of a Catholic -- or for that matter a Marxist -- university: A university was concerned with critical inquiry, which is incompatible with closing off any area or domain to critical inquiry or with the specification of an appropriate methodology or test of truth that was prejudiced toward a particular view of the world. Thus, the idea that there was a peculiarly Catholic form of inquiry -- or a Marxist one -or that there was a domain of knowledge appropriate for scrutiny and a domain that was beyond question was rejected. Since the days when this common wisdom was being distilled, science itself has undergone something of a revolution in terms of our understanding of what it is. Philosophers of science and social philosophers have serious questions about it being as value free and objective as was being claimed. There has also devel- oped a related question of whether there can be such a thing as social science, and whether something other than the aims of physical science -- explanation, prediction, and control -- are more appropriate. In the latter case, there has developed, for example, verstehen analysis, and hermeneutics, which consider meanings imputed to social situations by the actors involved in them; social science is thus seen as an exercise in teasing out these meanings so that we may understand, rather than explain things. Again, teleological explanation appears more relevant to social science than does the causal explanation appropriate in the physical sciences. The

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) - Essay Example When a terrorist target is focused and isolated, such as when the Unabomber attacked University faculty, there is little public outcry for compassion for the victims. Yet, when the country is faced with the graphic images of the Twin Towers disaster and the massive loss of life, the social agenda focuses on caring for the victims and the survivors. Modern terrorism has presented the world with a new definition of terrorism and is in search of a new definition of victimization. Modern terrorism has its roots in the 1970s and the wave of airline hijackings during that period. This was a move away from attacking strategic targets to the taking of innocent hostages as victims in an effort to create a threatening public display (Rapoport 421). The hostage taking at the US embassy in Tehran presented a new dynamic to the American people. The media provided an endless stream of pictures of Americans being held captive and the terrorism became more personal as the public was able to relate to the victims. Religious extremism became even more apparent in the 1980s as numerous Middle East countries that facilitated terrorist organizations began to directly threaten the security of the US at home and abroad (Shuggart 29). However, until the turn of the 21st century foreign attacks against Americans would remain overseas. Because they were out of the public eye, they remained largely out of the public consciousness. The attacks were sporadic and seemed to have no log ical target. This was in keeping with the characteristic of terrorism of focusing on an indirect and innocent target that could be used as negotiating power. September 11, 2001 forever changed the way Americans would view terrorism and the way that they would perceive the victims. The 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the first time that the public would mobilize to generate aid for the victims of terrorism ("A

David Suzuki Food Connection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

David Suzuki Food Connection - Essay Example Here, Suzuki makes a contrast between cleanliness and dirt, and between the liveliness of the rural market of naturally grown food and the coldness of the experience of supermarket food items. The writer has given many examples to prove his point. First, he leads the reader to a market in a third world country which he calls a â€Å"collage of sounds† and where we see: Vendors hawking their products (and some of the live produce adding their own squawks) ; buyers haggling over price and old friends greeting and exchanging gossip; smells that range from the perfume of flowers and spices to non-refrigated meat and fish; and splashes of colours in clothing, fruits and flowers (Suzuki, 539). After describing this vivid scene, Suzuki has explained the cultural as well as health-wise importance of this scene (539). He has said, â€Å"Markets give us a sense of the people. ... He has also observed that, in poor countries, the market products are invariably 'indigenous' and grown locally† (Suzuki, 539). He has here, drawn attention to the fact that such produces â€Å"give us an idea of the kind of agriculture practiced in a locale and the variety of products grown or collected in the area† (Suzuki, 539). In this essay, one interesting fact has been that the author has only indirectly and subtly suggested the health benefits of eating naturally grown food. It is only when the chemicals used for agriculture are mentioned that a more direct connection with human health is made. Instead the focal point of this essay has been a more philosophical question regarding the danger of severing one's ties with nature. This becomes evident when we explore the number of instances when an abstract statement is made by the author pointing to th severing of ties with mother nature brought about by the new system of artificial cultivation and keeping of food. F or example, Suzuki has discussed organic food not because he wanted to stress upon its health value but because he felt that by labelling some thing as organic, we are imparting a special value to something which is actually the real normal thing (540). Then he has moved on to show the contradiction in our notions about normalcy. He has revealed that the, â€Å"food that has been treated with pesticides, herbicides, hormones, preservatives and antibiotics requires no special label† which surprises him (Suzuki, 540). Here, the question raised is whether is it not this kind of food that needs to be labelled as different from normal food. In the same vein, Suzuki has added, our overriding concern has been with the appearance, the looks, of the food product (540). To prove

Cadbury conflict Essay Example for Free

Cadbury conflict Essay Businesses can come across many conflicts between stakeholders, which are the people that are impacted by the business. Cadbury, the chocolate producer, has started an organization, worth  £9 million pounds, to put sports equipment in school across the UK. Customers would need to save tokens from chocolate bars and give them to the schools. To get the first equipment, 750 tokens are needed. While to allow the school to obtain a variety of different equipment, it needed 2000 tokens. For schools who can’t afford these new equipment, this idea was very appealing. Cadbury’s ‘Get Active Campaign’ was sponsored with deals from Cadbury and the government by top sports stars such as boxer Audley Harrison and runner Paula Radcliffe. However the company and the government were blamed for increasing the rate and the chances of obesity in young people, because they would eat more chocolate through this scheme. Some stakeholders that are affected by this scheme would be the customers, the competition, the workers, the government, and the shareholders. The customers would be affected by this scheme because they increase the problems of obesity in young people, by eating the Cadburys chocolate in order to receive sports equipment. Cadbury would become more popular and common and after people have tried their chocolate through this scheme, it would encourage them to go buy more, which increases the profit for Cadbury. This would also lead to a stiffer competition between other chocolate and food producing companies. This scheme would be known as a fast effective way of advertising Cadburys chocolate. The workers would also be affected because they would be demotivated and therefore are unlikely to produce good quality products or deliver good customers services. Also, through the scheme, Cadbury would spend  £9 million, and therefore, during the process of trying to sell more chocolate and earn more money, their workers would earn a lower salary. The government would be affected because they would be criticized for encouraging children to eat more chocolate. The shareholders are affected because they would receive a lower profit if the profit margin is dropping. The businesses responsibility would be to provide for the population and to fulfil their wants and needs. In this case, Cadbury is providing for both its customers, and the school. It’s responsibility is to also provide jobs for the society. These people make money to support themselves and their families, pay taxes and use their wages to buy goods and services. The businesses responsibility towards competitors would be to be honest in their business practice. The businesses duty towards its workers would be creating a safe work environment, to pay workers of a business a minimum hourly wage, and to pay each worker money owed from working per paid period, including overtime, sick leave, and vacation wages. It is also the responsibility of the business to train workers in safe procedures to minimize the risk of injury. Also it is a business duty to create a working climate that fosters respect and fair treatment of every worker regardless of age, gender, race etc. The businesses responsibility towards the government is to pay taxes, follow environmental regulations (they need to limit the number of pollutants they expel), to maintain law and order etc. Finally, the businesses responsibility towards the shareholders is to build and maintain generosity in the eye of society, to provide goods and services, and to earn a profit and bring money to the company and the investors. Conflicts that might exist between stakeholders would be between society and the company and government. Even though the government supports Cadbury’s ‘’Get Active Campaign†, the general public is speaking that the only candy company is using the concept of being active to lure children to purchase more chocolates. It would also increase the number of calories the children take in (1.2 million) since to receive only one piece of sports equipment (e.g a volleyball set), children must collect $2000. Thus, leading to obesity at a young age. Another conflict that might result is between customers and the company. The customers buying the chocolate might realize that the campaign is just a scheme created to sell more chocolate, yet neglects the importance of healthy exercise. Some solutions to the conflicts that the businesses faces would be that Cadbury should cancel the concept of accumulating chocolate tokens. It is the responsibility of companies to encourage customers to live a fit  lifestyle, not a plan to sell more chocolate. In order to solve the conflict, Cadbury should cancel and donate the sports equipment to financially struggling schools as an act of charity. Public relations firms specialize in dealing with negative publicity. There are many ways to solve problems between different stakeholders. Each business stakeholders have their own business objective. They usually have different opinions and have to disagree about some decisions. Finding a solution can satisfy both the conflicting stakeholders.

The Prevalence of Microorganisms in Hospital Wards

The Prevalence of Microorganisms in Hospital Wards CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Hospital acquired infection are also known as nosocomial infection are infections acquired from healthcare services (hospitals) during treatment, which are secondary to the patients original condition. The source and spread of organisms inside the hospital are important issues, human related organisms or the body flora, also found in clothing are spread through shedding during human activities(Ekhaise et al., 2010). Although many such infections occur in patients, infections acquired at work by staff members also are considered nosocomial infections. Many factors can contribute to the acquisition of nosocomial infections, and no single factor or condition to explain why they occur. The most significant factor for determining the outcome of infection is the immunological state of the host. The nosocomial infections are often related to therapeutic and diagnostic procedures that are routinely employed in health care. For more than a century, this issue has been recognized as a critical problem which affects the quality of healthcare and a principal source of adverse outcomes. The patients who are immunocompromised are often hospitalized and undergo invasive examination and treatments thus hospital environment may facilitate the transmission of microorganisms among patients. The intense use of antibiotic promotes antibiotic resistance for the pathogenic microorganisms whereas changes in the medical practices continually present new opportunities for the development of infection (Dilip Kumar et al., 2013). According to Baveja in 2002, the term hospital acquired infection, hospital- associated infection, hospital infection or nosocomial infection(nosocomion,meaning hospital) is defined as infection developing in patients after admission to the hospital ,which was neither present nor in the incubation period at the time of hospitalization . Such infections may become evident during their stay in the hospital or sometimes after their discharge. According to Gupte in 2006, sources of hospital acquired infection are infecting microorganisms from fellow patients which may be multidrug resistant, infecting organisms from hospital staff, infecting organisms from instrument, blood products, intravenous fluid, from patient’s normal flora, etc, insects are also source multidrug infection, organism may be present in air, dust, water, antiseptic solution, food, surfaces contaminated by patient’s secretions, blood fluid, etc. In all over the world weather it is a developing or developed countries, this hospital acquired infection have assumed worrisome proportions in all healthcare scenarios (Col Shivinder Singh, et al 2015). As much as 80% of the estimated hospital deaths are related either directly or indirectly from Hospital Acquired Infection (Hughes et al, 2005). Patients are likely to get sick in hospital due to wide variety of microorganisms which are responsible for many different kinds of hospital infection. Thus during the stay of patients in the hospital it has become increasingly unsafe place. Thus infection has become a significant health hazard and requires great expense for final outcome of treatment. Infection safety (IC) is a quality standard which is essential for safety of patients, staff and visitors. It involves issues like clinical governance, risk management, quality of health and safety which affects most departments of the hospital (Dhayana Sharon Ross et al., 2014). Hospi ­tals have the potential for pathogen spread because they have contact with instruments, medical furniture, medical staff, skin, air, physical facilities and drainage. Contaminated environment are the main cause for such pathogens thus strict safety biosecurity procedures is to be applied (Mazzali M et al., 2003). The common nosocomial infections are mainly include urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, respiratory tract infections, blood stream infections, skin infections, gastrointestinal tract infections and central nervous system infections. These are mainly caused by Staphylococci, Pseudomonas, E.coli etc. And the common antibiotic resistant nosocomial infections include the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and Vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE). Many different environmental factors may either help or prevent the transmission of microorganisms. Hospital environment are the one where both infected person and persons who is at increased risk of infection assemble (Mayon et al., 1988) Today HAIs affects more than 2million patients annually, at a cost of 4.5 billion (Apostolopoulou and Veldekis 2005). The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of microorganisms in hospital wards of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore. Many different wards such as female neurology ward, male neurology ward, male neurosurgery ward, female neurosurgery ward, male pshyciatry ward, female pshyciatry ward, paediatric neurology ward, paediatric neurosurgery ward, de- addiction ward, short stay ward, head injury ward and step down ward was chosen for the study due to its high patronage by patients from all over India. Labs such as clinical microbiology lab, fluorescent microscope room, NABL room, bactec room and neuromicrobiology lab was also taken into consideration in order to ascertain the nature of microorganisms present. REVIEW OF LITERATURE When we think about hospital, one thing comes to our mind is â€Å"Hospital is the place for cure†. This revolutionary idea of treating the patients under the same roof was considered to ease the job of healing. But due to lack of knowledge of sterilization and antisepsis, it turned wrong in Pre- Listerian era leading to gangrene and death of patients which were suffering from wounds. Due to this reason a new discipline was emerged called as senics which was mainly dealing with the Hospital Acquired Infection (Nosocomial Infection). Semmelwis in 1861 with the help of medical officer and students observed the association of Puerperal sepsis in patients. Thus by the introduction of hand washing with chlorinated lime, he was successful to bring dramatic reduction in infection rate. Hospital acquired infection (HAI) are infections acquired during hospitalization, which are not present at eh time of admission (Atata et al, 2006). Due to its increased mortality and morbidity in the hospital patients these HAIs are of significant cause. HAIs are also caused due to prolonged hospital stay which are inconvenient for the patient and constitute economic burden on health care (Malhotra S, et al 2014). Dancer in 1999,depicts that microorganisms which are associated with hospital acquired infection displays two important characteristics, firstly those are the pathogens of well-established medical importance and secondly they also can withstand the hospital environment which benefits them outside temperature. Thus providing an appropriate environment niche for their survival until they transfer back to patients. Some pathogens originate from patients own flora especially those who are immunocompromised whereas others can survive in human tissues and thus rely upon person to person spread in order to disseminate. The patients who are immunocompromised due to underlying diseases, medical or surgical treatment, age are typically affected by nosocomial infections. In pediatric ICU, the hospital acquired infections are approximately three times higher than elsewhere in hospitals (Weistein 2006). Pathogen transference occurs most commonly by presence of bacterial or fungi in inanimate surfaces and equipment or between the hands of health professionals and patients (Kayabas et al., 2008). The transmission of microorganisms from hands of health care workers, medical equipment and surfaces which has become contaminated with a wide variety of pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms has become a significant proportion of hospital environment infection which ultimately results in crosscontamination (Sehulster et al., 2003). When compared to other hospital patients, the patients who are hospitalized in ICUs are 5-10 times more likely to acquire nosocomial infection. The risk of infection and the frequency of infection vary by infection site. The increasing incidence of infection is caused mainly by antibiotic-resistant pathogens leading to seriousness of hospital acquired infection (Weber 2006). Some of the common human pathogens like, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter spp, En ­ terococcus spp and Escherichia coli can survive for longer periods of time on the hospital surfaces or formites that can potentially transmit infectious organisms(Kramer et al., 2006). The primary sources of indoor air contamination are the microorganisms. When compared to outside air environment, the indoor air environment can potentially place patients a greater risk because enclosed spaces can confine aerosols and allow them to build up to infectious level. The relative humidity and/ or the moisture content of the materials determine that to what extent different micro-organisms are able to grow on indoor or outdoor materials (Dhanasekaran et al., 2009). Adebolu and Vhriterhire in 2002 reported that magnitude of hospital acquired infection is dependent upon the number and type of visitors, mechanical movement within the enclosed space, quality of hospital systems and level of hygienic conditions in hospital environment. Hand hygiene has been considered to be the most important tool in nosocomial infections control. One of the significant contributors to the outbreaks of this hospital environment infection is failure to perform appropriate hand hygiene. Resident and transient microorganisms are known to be the natural microflora of the skin of hands. The resident microorganisms survive and multiply on skin and does not cause any harm to human flora whereas transient microorganisms represent recent contamination of hands which is acquired from colonized or infected patients/clients or contaminated environment or equipment. These transient microorganisms are not isolated consistently from most of the persons. When compared to resident microorganisms, the transient microorganisms which are found on the hands of health care personnel will become as a primary source of infections. Gram negative coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus has been known to be the most common transient microorganisms (Sarmad et al. , 2009). Appropriate hand washing results in reduced incidence of both nosocomial and community infection (Kampf et al., 2004). BIBILOGRAPHY Dhyana Sharon Ross., Dr. S. Vasantha. 2014. A Study on hospital acquired infections (HAI), control and management. International journal of innovative research in science, engineering and technology. 3(1): 2319-8753. Atata, R.F., Ibrahim, Y.K.E., Akanbi II, A.A., Urinola, P.F., and Saui.A. 2006. Prevalence of nosocomial infections in a tertiary health care institution in Nigeria (2000-2002), Journal of applied and environmental sciences. 2(2): 212-215. Malhotra S, Sharma S, Hans C. 2014. Prevalence of hospital acquired infections in a tertiary care hospital in India. International journal of medicine and medical sciences. 1(7): 2315-9844. Col Shivindra Singh, Col Rakhee Goyal, Brig G.S Ramesh, Maj Gen V., Ravishankar, Gp Capt R.M. Sharma, Maj D.V. Bhargava, Lt Col S.k. Singh, Maj M.K. John, Surg Lt Cdr Anoop Sharma. 2015. Medical journal armed forces India. 71: 28-32. Hughes AJ, Ariffin N, Huat T.L., Abdul Molok H, Hashim S, Sarijo J, Abdul Latif N.H., Abu Hanifah Y, Kamarulzaman A. 2005. Prevalence of nosocomial infection and antibiotic use at a university medical center in Malaysia. Infection Control Hospital Epidemiolgy. 26:100-4. Dancer S J. 1999. Mopping up hospital infection. Journal of hospital infection. 85-90. Robert F. Boyd, J.Joseph Mare. 1990. Medical Microbiology. Little, Brown and Company Boston. 1980. (1), 701-713. C.P Baveja. 2005. Arya publication. 2. Dileep Kumar Sharma, yogendra Kumar Tiwari, Nitya Vyas, Rakesh Kumar Maheshwari. 2013. An investigation of the incidence of Nosocomial infection among the patients admitted in the intensive care unit of tertiary care hospital in Rajhastan, India. International Journal of Current microbiology and Applied Sciences. 2(10): 428-435. Adebolu, T.T. and K.J. Vhriterhire. 2002. Survery of the microbial flora of the Ondo State Specialist Hospital Environment, Akure, Nigeria. National Journal of Microbiology 16(112): 91-94. F.O.Ekhaise, E.E.Isitor, O.Idehen, A.O.Emoghene. 2010. Airborne microflora in the atmosphere of an hospital environment of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH),Benin City, Nigeria. World journal of Agriculture Sciences 6(2): 166-170. Ekhaise, F.O., O.U. Ighosewe, O.D. Ajakpori. 2008. Hospital indoor airborne microflora in private and government owned hospitals in Benin City, Nigeria. World Journal of Medical Science. 3(1): 34-38. Dutkiewicz, J. M. Augustowska. 2006. Variability of airborne microflora in a hospital ward with a period of one year. Annals of Agriculture and Environmental Medicine. 13: 99-106. Sehulster L, Chinn RY. 2003. Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities. Recommendation of CDC and the healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee (HICPAC). MMWR Recommendation and Report. 52(RR-10):1-42. Kayabas U, Bayraktar M, Otlu B, Ugras M, Ersoy Y, Bayindir Y. 2008. An outbreak of pseudomonas aeruginosa because of inadequate disinfection procedures in a urology unit: a Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis based epidemiologic study. American Journal of Infection Control. 36(1): 33-8. Kramer A, Schwebke I, Kampf G. 2006. How long do Nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infectious Disease. 6:130. Sarmad, M.H Zeiny. 2009. Isolation of some Microorganisms from Bar Soaps and Liquid Soaps in Hospital Environments. Iraqi Journal of pharmaceutical Sciences. 18(1). 18.Muller J.H., J. Hinton. 1941. A protein-free medium for primary isolation of gonococcus and meningococcus. Proceedings of the society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 48:3330-333. 19.M.H.Gordon, T.G.M. Hine. 1016. An experimental study of the cultural requirements of the Meningococcus. British Medical Journal. 2(2916): 678-684. 20.Baure, A.L., M.M. Kirby, J.C Sherris, M. Turck. 1966. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 45:493-896. Not Written in Referrence. Apostolopoulou, E., and Veldekis, D. 2005. Nosocomial bloodstream infections in intensive care unit: excess nursing workload, extra costs. Icus Nurs Web J.. Gupte S. The short text book of medical microbiology.Japyee brothers medical publishers (p) ltd: New Delhi; 2006. 471-473. Weinstein.A.Nosocomial infections Update.www.ftp.cdc.gov/pub/eid/ vol4no3/adobe/weinstein.pdf . March-2006. Weber. Nosocomial infections in the ICU-the growing concern of antibioticresistant pathogen. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/guerv.fcgi. April- 2006. MacFaddin J.F,. 1985. Media for isolation-Cultivation-Identification-Maintenance of Medical Bacteria. Vol.1, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

The Untraditional Life of William Faulkner :: Biography Biographies Essays

The Untraditional Life of William Faulkner The South is tradition, in every aspect of the word: family, profession, and lifestyle. The staple to each tradition in the south, and ultimately masculinity, is to be a southern gentleman. William Faulkner, a man with the most southern of blood running through his veins, was everything but a southern gentleman. A southern gentleman is to support his family, to be the sole provider. To support something such as a family is a great responsibility, and it is expected of a southern gentleman to be able to handle that responsibility. Faulkner did not have a secure job or income. He wrote poetry and attempted novels, but had not found success as a writer. He did not aspire to find a different occupation that could bring stability to his financial situation. Though it was not certain that William could support a family, he did have a child with his wife and supported the daughter from his wife’s first marriage. It was not a happy family, as most southern families have been portrayed. Faulkner drank and continued to internalize himself from the rest of the family, as he had always internalized himself from society. The drinking was not and everyday thing, but his family said that it would happen for long periods at a time. He would drink for a few weeks until he wanted to sober himself up. A southern gentleman is to be the father figure in his family, to teach his children right from wrong, but William seemed to be concerned with only himself. When he drank, he was not there for his family. When his daughter asked him not to start drinking because her birthday was coming up, Faulkner said to her â€Å"no one remembers Shakespeare’s daughter.† Tradition in the southern family did encompass â€Å"tough love†, but a southern gentleman is to be an example to his children, with characteristics embodying responsibility and honor. William Faulkner was neither responsible nor honorable. As WWI began, William, who had always been interested in flying, was eager to volunteer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. To protect and defend one’s country is a duty of a southern gentleman, one of the most masculine aspects of the south. Though he did not see any battle first hand, he came back to Mississippi, walking with a limp caused by a supposed metal plate in his head, and elaborate stories of plane crashes and battle.

Nurse Burnout Essay

The helping professions, including nursing, are characterized by the fact that they are not something external to the individual, but encompass the whole person. The activities performed by nurses, require a personal commitment and direct interaction with people. Therefore, it is common to work with the most intense aspects of patient care (pain, anger, frustration, fear, death, etc.). All this, plus small, medium or large daily doses of stress can cause nurses to have a predisposition to experience some degree of burnout, which can lead to the manifestation of unfavorable attitudes and feelings, both for the professional and the person who receives their service (Wright, 2011). This set of attitudes and feelings lead to the so-called â€Å"Nurse Burnout.† That’s why I wanted to address this issue, because it is clearly a very important factor when caring for a patient, because this depends on the quality of care nurses provide and our own faith that what we do helps th em. Nurse burnout is not like every other type of stress, it’s a process that graduallly develops, and it mainly covers 3 dimensions: 1. Emotional exhaustion: This is due to a reduction of one’s own emotional resources and the feeling that we have nothing to offer others, and psychologic manifestations, such as depression, anxiety, and irritability 2. Depersonalization: Refers to the development of negative attitudes and insensitivity towards patients, as well as to colleagues. This leads to the idea that â€Å"others† are the real source of the problems. As a result, we enter the final phase: 3. Lack of personal accomplishment: The perception that the chances of achieving the desired objective at a health community have disappeard, along with experiences of failure and feelings of low self steem. Experiences of stress which trigger responses in the individual, if maintained over time, cause changes in his/her adaptation. These responses mediate the stressor-hea lth relationship. In the implications of burnout we can differentiate those derived for the individual himself and those derived for the organization (McHugh, 2011). The nurse suffering from Burnout becomes a rigid, stubborn and inflexible  person, blocking the progress and changes, to the extent that they require new adaptation efforts. The nurse is also viewed as a cynical person, appearing unmotivated, unsympathetic and even aggressive with patients with a distant and dehumanizing treatment towards them (Witkoski, 2012). The most important consequences on the organization can include a decreased job satisfaction, low or no interest in work activities, deterioration of the quality of service, increased accidents, and low job involvement. This burnout prevents nurses from evolving, and leads to fatigue. Fatigue causes stress, and stress can also lead to many health problems, such as hypertension, palpitations, tachycardia, and menstrual alterations. In every hospital, there is always going to be nurses who are more prone to burnout than others, especially those who work in units in which patients have chronic illnesses, terminal diseases, and/or are more dangerous than other patients. How can nurses avoid or treat a burnout? There is many interventions designed for nurses, and can be classified as individual or as a group in the working place. One of the effective ways to avoid burnout is to forget work problems after a shift, take short breaks during work, or make a goal/ objective before starting a s hift and make sure that you discuss successes and dissatisfactions at the end of a shift. Making friendships with other nurses can be satisfactory and motivating, as well as asking for help when the amount of work is excessive or when you are not preparared for it. Sharing doubts and opinions with other nurses is also helpful. It is extemely imporant to not ignore problems, and instead stablish an action plan to solve them. As a group in a health facility, it is recommended to take a few minutes to listen to what other nurses have to say, to help new nurses get used to the system, to respect others, and to make others feel comfortable, but most importantly to promote collaboration. It is very imporant to change our attitude when facing times of stress. Organization is essential in every case to bring together innumerable tasks, and take note of diverse situations to achieve goals. It has also been reccommended to have a relaxation technique to decrease stress and help concentrate in the moment and manage your thinking around work, such as yoga, meditation exercises, or educational classes to promote an escape from thoughts about work, and prevent burnout (Wright, 2011). References Morse, G. (2012). Burnout in mental health services: A review of the problem and its remediation. Adm Policy Ment Health, 39(5), 341-352 McHugh, M., Wright,. (2011). Nurses’ widespread job dissatisfaction, burnout, and frustration with health benefits signal problems for patient care. Health Affairs, 30(2), 202-210 Witkoski, A. (2012). The longer the shifts for hospital nurses, the higher the levels of burnout and patient dissatisfaction. Health Affairs, 31(11), 2501-2509

Live in the Present with Memories of the Past Essay

Human Society is a long period of building and developing. From the time man lived in dank caves to nowadays when he lives in such a modern life with a lot of excellent facilities. The modern life, the excellent facilities was not a present from god. It was made by people of all generations who always learned from the past and developed everything they had learned from it. Thus, I totally disagree with the statement above that learning about the past has no value. The first reason for this is that learning about the past brings us all the knowledge and information in the past. Without yesterday, there is no today. A society can develop only when its people inherit and understand the achievements of the precursors because the precursors’ achievements were the foundation for everything to develop.. For example, before 1964 there was only black-and-white television but until now there are kinds of colour televisions that are slim and innovative such as LCD TV†¦ The black-and-white television made the basis and gave inventors idea to develop the modern TV nowadays. Consequently our knowledge, success today is the result of constant work of our ancestors before. Secondly, learning about the past is very essential because it makes us doubt and take consideration into earlier assumptions. For that reason, people will find out mistakes that were made in the past. This will show us which roads not to ever go down again and put human in a right way to develop. Learning about the past is not only learning about the history but also is learning from our and the others’ mistakes. By this way of learning, people will become more and more experienced and never make the same mistakes again. Additionally, if learning about the past has no value, people in the world could speak, could write by themselves without learning from anyone. This is impossible so the value of the past, in this case are the parents, are undeniable. In a nutshell, the past is always a good teacher and we are still bad students who crave for knowledge. Denying the past also means that we are destroying the present and our future because no one can jump without ground to stand on.

The Portrayal of Women in Art: 1962-2002

We have, more or less, as an audience become used to the idealized depiction of women. Often, particularly in classical styles, they were portrayed as reclining nudes who were there for the viewer’s pleasure. With averted eyes, they touched themselves sensually, typically innocent and oblivious that there is someone painting her for all to see. When they weren’t sexual-fantasy fodder, they were servile and obedient–particularly in the 1940?s and 1950?s after the end of the strong women era of World War II. They wore their hair in perfect curls, with their perfect dresses and worked merrily away in their perfect kitchens. In Jack Levine’s Girl with Red Hair there is a shift away from the perfect, care-free woman that came before. Rather, nudity is embraced as an aspect of the woman’s power rather than the viewer’s object. The subject confronts the viewer with her gaze. This portrait is not a portrait of a naked girl, but rather, a girl who happens to be naked. There is no trace of sexiness or sensuality–we are drawn to her face so that we may attempt to discern what this girl is thinking. Though her breasts are there, they are poorly rendered compared to the depth of her face and do not trap the eye like the neatly depicted flesh of the reclining nudes. Hotline for Troubled Teens, 1970. Joe DeMers (1910-1984). Acrylic on board, 22 ? x 18 ? in. New Britain Museum of American Art, Gift of Walt Reed, 2000. 45. Through both this artistic empowerment of women and the then energized Feminist Movement, women became less objects for a viewer’s pleasure and instead independent characters. In Joe DeMers’ Hotline for Troubled Teens, the gender is nearly removed from the girl. She is seen wearing an over-shirt that hides her breasts and her other feminine features are minimized. The girl is entered into a narrative–no longer is there a displaced nude body just lying around. Instead, we are shown a girl in her not-so-ideal life. Her face is concerned and the telephone cord is wrapped about her shoulders and wrist. She appears to be entirely dismissive of her viewers–be they out on the street around her, or elsewhere. She is self-serving and concerned with only her present situation. The title even suggests that this girl is reaching out (at the time, even that would have been taboo) in order to help herself–a principle that began to empower women during the Feminist Movement. Laneisha II, 1996. Dawoud Bey (b. 1953). Polacolor ER prints, 90 x 45 3/4 in. New Britain Museum of American Art, Members Purchase Fund, 2000. 34. This is one of my favorite pieces of the collection for many reasons. Predominantly, the depiction of women has centered around the â€Å"ideal woman†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwhich, if you haven’t picked up a magazine lately, is typically white, attractive, young, thin and perky. The woman here, however, is the antithesis. Though she is attractive, she does not have the â€Å"elegant† features that a painter might have looked for in the first half of the century. She is fragmented into six pieces and while they mostly match up–in that there are no huge gaps of information–there is a significant deformation of her figure. Her face is extra wide and left arm seems oddly long. A clear difference between the perfectly kept and rendered women of the past, this modern woman allows her flaws and her discord to be reflected in between each frame. She is a woman, not an object to behold. Untitled, 2000. Cindy Sherman (b. 1954). Color photograph, edition 1/6, 32 1/2 x 22 in. Members Purchase Fund, 2000. 88. I particularly enjoy this piece for several reasons: like the piece above, she is not typically â€Å"beautiful†Ã¢â‚¬â€œparticularly for the era in which it was taken. Rather, her appearance is outdated–thick, dark eyebrows, slicked back hair and that awful blue blouse she is wearing. Instead of dismissing the woman as ugly, we are able to see past her physicality. She bears a face that almost says â€Å"Yeah, so what? ’ to her audience. She isn’t hip, nor is she young and beautiful (as dictated by the standards of society) any more. There is a bluntness to this photograph that disempowers the sitter; it almost seems as if she’s the one judging and not vice-versa. Beauty I, 2002. Mark Catalina (b. 1965). Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 72 in. New Britain Museum of American Art, Gift of the Artist, 2003. 01 Lastly, this piece seems to me to be the most poignant out of the bunch. We are not privy to the â€Å"real† image, but only its negative. In form, we might recognize the person as a female. They have breasts, long flowing hair, jewelry†¦ some of the key indicators of what we may associate with being a woman. However, with the inverted colors, we are shown someone with manly features and thus, the lines of gender are blurred. Clearly, the makeup the subject is wearing is exaggerated–dark lips and cat-like eyeshadow–and further masks the individual’s gender. This piece is so inexorably tied to the way in which sex and gender are separated and defined. In this, the artist is redefining the appearance of women, in that women may not even be â€Å"feminine† at all. This piece broaches the subject of femininity and womanhood in an entirely new way, and is entirely appropriate in the evolving context of women in art. What do you think about the portrayal of women in art? How has it changed in the last 500 years? 50 years? 5 years? How can women gain power through representation in art? How does this compare to men in art?

Comparisons of two Information Security Management Frameworks Essay

Comparisons of two Information Security Management Frameworks - Essay Example Security responsibilities in an organization are all-embracing that is why it is important to associate the employees in formulating the program. SQL information system management used in health care The health care information technology system in several instances is predisposed to various risks and threats among other vulnerabilities. The situation gets worse when such vices are channeled towards the information system targeting patients with life threatening conditions. Some of the risks, threats, and vulnerabilities include and are not limited to accessing public internet without authority, hacking resulting to penetration of IT infrastructure, and fire torching primary data (Rodrigues 56). In most instances, health-care centers have put in place web-based patient and physician portals to enable visibility in the organizations financial and clinical data. The physician portal is normally used for various purposes including viewing radiology and laboratory results, obtaining elec tronic medical records and completing charts. Similarly, the patient portal enables accessing patient’s information including test results, billing information, prescribed medication, scheduled appointments, and medical conditions. However, if secure coding of the web application is not implemented, vulnerabilities such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting are likely to occur. This occurs based on actions of exploitation from unauthorized users who may compromise sensitive information confidentiality via the internet (Gentile 69). Notable tools employed in the identification of healthcare related online risks include the Web inspect scanner by Hewlett, Web vulnerability scanner by Acunetix and the watchfire Appscan by IBM. Application of the above systems would then go ahead in selective selections of authentic databases, passwords, and user identities as far as the internet security is concerned. In order to tackle various threats and risks, sections of clinical system s have adopted wireless networks, which they use to present and obtain information at the point of care. For example, this has been applied at bedsides (Gentile 41). The wireless network policy enables the use of wireless network infrastructure to handle patient’s information systems. This kind of system with proper coding plays a significant role in ensuring that there is integrity, confidentiality, and reliable availability of patient’s information. If proper securing of information is not enhanced under such circumstances, it would greatly affect the organizations internal systems. The wireless network system ensures that proper regulations and procedures are put in place to handle the patient’s information systems. These include performance logs and network security. Training of steps in this field would then enable justified users such as permitted staff to understand encryptions and authentication of wireless mechanisms that are in use. To identify where u nauthorized access points and rogue users are located, system administrators should use wireless scanning tools. On the same note, hospitals offering free access to wireless network for the public must always ensure that the person accessing information is

Making an Interpretation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Making an Interpretation - Essay Example In short, his will dominated his deeds. So he concluded that it was not as easy as he thought, and only the will was not enough to become fully virtuous, and the bad habits must be overcome and the good ones should be adapted to become what he called a Perfect man. Thus, he started reading different books, to become a complete perfectionist, and after thorough reading of such books, he was confused once again, for every author had different suggestions and ideas for the same virtues. If one deed was good for one author, the same was thought not to be a good one for another. For example about sincerity, one of the authors wrote that no one should be hurt, and you must be kind and sincere to everyone, on another hand another author writing about the same deed said that being more sincere can make other people selfish for you. You can remain quite far behind in the race of life by being extra sincere to everybody, which was also true according to my thought. So he decided that instead o f sticking his head in so many things all together, he is going to take a start by making a list of only a few virtues, which were vital to become perfect. So he made a list of thirteen virtues, which were going to help him achieve his goal. The virtues included ‘Temperance’ for not eating or drinking too much, for eating or drinking more than the appetite inclines us towards laziness and dullness. ‘Silence’ for speaking only when it is needed and avoiding frivolous conversation. ‘Ordering your things’ and managing yourself and your time is one of the most important virtues of life. Each thing should be given its time and everything should be placed where it is supposed to be. ‘Resolve’ your problems instead of making them more complicated. ‘Frugality’ is to spend only on good things and not to waste your money. By ‘industry’ he means not to waste time. Always keep yourself indulged in doing something good and creative. Be ‘sincere’ to everyone. You need to be patient, innocent and just. ‘Justice’ is to be just to everyone and not using your authorities for wrong. ’Moderation’ have to be followed everywhere. You have to be moderate while taking decisions. Don’t think at extreme levels. ‘Cleanliness’, must never be tolerated in your clothes, body and living place. You must always practice hygiene. ‘Tranquility’ should be there in your heart. You need not to go hyper and panic at some accidental situations. ‘Chastity’ should be used rarely, only for health purposes or for reproduction. It should not be used to an extent of disturbing your own peace or of someone else’s. ‘Humility’ should also be observed very carefully, which gives us spiritual peace. Now after listing down all these things, he decided that he is not going to make the same mistake again by adapting all of them at o nce instead he decided to adapt them one by one. For when he gets swayed to one, he will add another. This will be easier to adapt them all and the adaption of one might also help to adapt another one. Now he started adapting them one by one according to his self-prescribed sequence,

Change and Development in the English Language222 Essay

Change and Development in the English Language222 - Essay Example Topic Sentence 2: As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Topic Sentence 3: Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect. Topic Sentence 4: In spite of the existence of several dialects in the Middle English period, it the dialect of the East Midland that became the standard dialect of the England in the period and this dialect was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Middle English has been the existence of a diversity of dialects and they generally correspond to the Old English Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms such as Northern, Southern, East Midland, and West Midland kingdoms. The Northern dialect of the Middle English corresponds to the Old English Northumbrian whereas the Midland dialects were close to the Old English Mercian and the Southern dialect to the West Saxon. In the course of history, the London speech with its East Midland characteristics became the standard dialect of the land. ... .is a development of the speech of London." (Pyles and Algeo, 131) The other major dialects of the Middle English included the Kentish, the Northern, and the Southern and the progress of a major dialect from among many in the Middle English contributed to the development of the language as a whole. As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Thus, Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect. Similarly, the Southern dialect of Middle English which was mainly spoken in the area west of Sussex and south and southwest of the Thames also was greatly affected by the emerging main dialect. However, the descendants of this dialect still continue to exist in the plebeian country dialects of the extreme southwest of modern England. The Northern Middle English, in contrast with the southernmost dialects, developed quickly and the Scandinavian influence helped its growth tremendously. However, it is the dialect of the East Midland which is recognized as the dialect of Middle English and this was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English. "Since the London dialect steadily gained in prestige from that time on and began to develop into a literary standard, the northern, Scandinavianized variety of East-Midland became the basis of standard Modern English. For that reason, East-Midland is by far the most important dialect of Middle English for the subsequent development of the language." (Dialects of Middle English) In conclusion, though there were different

Change Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change Paper - Essay Example changes its overall strategy for success, adds or removes a major section or practice, and/or wants to change the very nature by which it operates† (McNamara, 2009). This paper briefly explains an event in which the organization and the personnel experience change and various steps taken for reaching the goal. I worked in an advertising agency for about 10 years in Dubai as a Production Manager. We failed to meet the deadlines quite often even though we had enough employees and facilities. We have handled reputed brands like PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Unilever, Reckit & Colman like famous international brands and for them timely delivery of goods with highest possible quality was a must. Even though we had increased our manpower and other facilities, still we were unable to meet the deadlines because of the negative passive attitudes of the workers. We decided to implement a complete change in our organization after a top level meeting. We have achieved major breakthroughs in the volume of production after the change was implemented. Workers started work hard to increase their productivity. The quality was never compromised at the expense of quantity. We have started to deliver goods well before the schedules which increased the trust of our clients and business has risen in huge proposition as we forced to open two more production units in Dubai itself. As a Production Manager, even though my responsibilities have increased, I enjoyed the work a lot because of the rewards given to me by the company. My organization promoted me as the General Manager of productions and has given three production managers under by control in order to look after the production matters of the three units we had in Dubai. Change was visible everywhere inside my organization. Workers avoided taking unnecessary leaves and they started to punch their cards well before the start of production. The reputation of the organization has increased a lot so that we started to get several

The value of using the writing process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The value of using the writing process - Essay Example The value placed on writing and reading arises out of the individual’s shared need to become literate which is an important function in the culture and the society. It is crucial for the writers to generate quality works (Kamehameha Schools, 2007). The value of the writing process is that it requires us to think critically, reflect on our experiences, and examine what is important to us as individuals. Through the natural process of examination and self-reflection, we begin to see ourselves more clearly. The writing process has proved to be valuable for both personal and professional growth. Effective writing process starts with the pre-writing process.When conducting research to form ideas, it is important for the individual to obtain credible academic sources, evaluate opinions, beliefs and biases as relevant to the sources, consider his or her audience, and brainstorm the information gathered. Capella University (2007) states that it is important for the individual to keep track of all the sources and bibliographic information that will be applied in the writing. It is important that the audience be analyzed appropriately in order to meet their expectations. The writer should think hard about the person who will read his piece and what they expect to accomplish from it (Goddard and Hatcher, 2005). To brainstorm the ideas gathered, the individuals should write those ideas in phrases and resist the desire to make any changes or corrections (Capella University, 2007; Bovee and Thill, 2007). Developing a draft is crucial for research and organizing ideas. Most people have issues with their drafts because they either overvalue it or undervalue it. After organizing the points, one can go ahead and begin the draft (Goddard and Hatcher, 2005). Paraphrase the information gathered by presenting it comprehensively, but make sure that the information is rewritten in own words. Paragraphs with similar ideas should be structured together. Each first sentence of the paragraph should be taken as the topic sentence or a mini-main idea (Capella University, 2007). It is important to share the drafts with others and to determine clarity of the points given. An important component of the writing process is revising and editing. The step entails big changes only. In the revising process, delete or move segments that are in the wrong place or unnecessary, and mark the sections where you have omitted something crucial or where you need to support or expand a point (Goddard and Hatcher, 2005). It is also crucial to consider effective synonyms and ensure that thoughts and sentences are complete. This ensures that the phrases or words flow in a logical manner. During editing, one should work on things like word choice, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure. In this process, it is important to find someone worthy to read and comment on the piece of writing. One can create a good mutual-aid group who can assist in proofreading the work and making suggestions(Goddard and Hatcher, 2005). The writing process is applicable in all writing to grow and self-respect. Writing skills will assist individuals to succeed in any setting whether academic, professional or personal. In the professional setting, the writing process enhances basic and detailed written communication skills (Bovee and Thill, 2007). Confidence is increased by good writing pieces. Confidence leads to greater success and the pride in own writing initiates the process of self-reflection. Writing is an important learning process because writing skills involve creativity, and informed writing improves knowledge. The knowledge gained is applied to daily interactions. Fitzgerald, Graham, and MacArthur (2008) state that the writing proce

Leadership Skills Ingredient in Decision-Making Essay Example for Free

Leadership Skills Ingredient in Decision-Making Essay In correlation to the given test as an ethical decision maker, my scores revealed that I am not a judgmental person. I do not usually give judgments neither decide which is wrong or right. Therefore, I cannot easily offend other’s personal beliefs and principles. I also believe that moral right must be respected often. It should be protected. I basically make decisions that conform to unified standards of the majority so that I cannot humiliate them. I also believe that the human spirit can only flower in an atmosphere of freedom. Where people can freely express and decide for their own. However, I have difficulties in handling justice. Sometimes I have inequalities in dealing with other people. I easily make good deals with people close to my heart. Thus, it reflects my biases. The Individual Ethics Profile (IEP) revealed specific traits about oneself. I was able to discover my positive attributes like giving importance with other people’s moral rights. That quality is very essential in making ethical decisions in the future. From that, I can base some of my decisions which conform to the principles of proper conduct as established by the society. Since every decision can affect our future, I can also rely from that result some of my weaknesses particularly in the concept of justice. I must be in balance and minimize unhealthy biases with the people surround me. I can also find ways to strengthen and enrich them. Learning more of ourselves can be every beneficial so we can choose good decisions and productively utilize the freedom to decide in the real world. It can also be a source of improvement by comparing my first result to the second one as I take the same questions again. It can also serve as a guide to me in becoming a better leader and decision maker.

Strategic marketing planning

Strategic marketing planning The proper application and implementation of a strategic marketing plan is essential to the success of any business. A company can have a perfect product, but without proper placement, identifying an audience and a marketing plan appropriate activity would not be able to market its products to consumers. Watawala Plantations PLC was able to convert an activity performed in the home of commercial success through the implementation and respect of its strategic intentions. The company was able to convince consumers that the store offers more than just tea, but rather a rich experience they should have on a recurring basis. The company was able to translate this consumer experience of its products for an extremely lucrative. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC, and evaluate the plan of the company in the current marketing strategies including market segmentation, targeting strategies, positioning, the competitive environment, and various other factors that affect its marketing strategy including external macro environmental forces. Table of contents Title Page. 1.0 Introduction 04 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 05 2.1 Company Background 05 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 06 2.2.1 Mission 06 2.2.2 Vision 07 2.2.3 Corporate Values 07 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea 08 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis 08 5.0 Marketing Objectives 10 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 10 6.1 Market Segmentation 10 6.2 Target Market 11 6.3 Positioning 11 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors 12 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps 14 8.1 Product 14 8.2 Price 15 8.3 Place (distribution) 16 8.4 Promotion 16 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget 17 10.0 Evaluation and Control 18 11.0 Bibliography 19 1.0 Introduction Today in the rapidly changing corporate arena one of the frequently spoken subject is becoming the Strategic Market Planning and many expensive reference materials can be commonly seen in bookstores, libraries and via online sources. But what exactly is Strategic Marketing Plan, how to assess the external macro environment? What are the impacts of political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors have on developing Strategic Marketing Plan? These are some of the common questions to be answered. Without a clear strategy the organization is like a ship without a rudder, going around in circles. This strategic marketing plan prepared to Watawala Plantations PLC is essential for the newcomer Oolong tea to the market. Oolong Tea is an innovative product that is close to the tea and black tea, and this product can be a cleaner body. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC. It is very much evident, that the strategic marketing plan for Watawala Plantations PLC has been successfully completed after gaining a substantial understanding from the various reliable sources where the information have been gathered. I strongly feel that the information that I have provided in this strategic marketing plan will definitely satisfy the assessment criteria. Last but not the least I wish to mention that, at the best of my knowledge, Ive acknowledged all the sources which I did refer to complete this strategic marketing plan. 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 2.1 Company Background Watawala Plantations PLC is a pioneer tea plantation and marketing company in Sri Lanka. This is a listed company is a joint venture with the legendary Tata Group, which owns the No. 1 tea brand in Britain Tetley. Today Watawala plantations PLC has undertaken the management of selected 18 prime tea estates in all elevations of low-rise, medium-and high-grown along with a pair of rubber plantations, and the Sri Lankas only palm oil factory and employs over 15,000 people. With the joint venture in Tata Tea India, Watawala Plantations PLC has accepted the challenge of converting trade and productivity in to competition. The unique advantage of three diversified namely crops, tea, rubber and Palm has made the company to move in different directions in terms of involvement with the daily life of people in Sri Lanka. Total area of plantations is divided region 12,442.13 hectares, of which 41% is the tea, rubber is 18% and 8% less for the cultivation of oil palm. About 7% is separate for firewood and the rest is uncultivated and remains as the areas of conservation, forestry, spices, vegetable cultivation, jungle, buildings, roads, etc. 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 2.2.1Mission Statement According to David (1995, p.88) a business mission can be classified as the foundation for priorities, strategies, plans, and work assignment. In other words it can be said as the starting point for the design of managerial jobs and, above all, for the design of managerial structures. A mission statement which focuses on a businesss current activities reveals the long-term vision of an organization in terms of what it wants to be and whom it wants to serve. The Mission Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ By the year 2015 we will get closer to our end user locally and internationally by: Adding value to our products (tea, rubber, palm oil) Being committed to producing quality products Using our own brand Fully utilize the technological advancements and land resources in an eco-friendly manner To respect and understand the community in which we do business Celebrate the diversity and the power of our people While continuing toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, Be the preferred supplier in tea, rubber, palm oil globally Enhance return to our shareholders 2.2.2 Vision A strategic vision concerns a firms future business path that is where we are going. Companys vision defines the desired or intended future state of an organization or company in respect of its basic objectives. Vision is a long-term; sometimes describing how the organization wants the world must stay where it operates. The primary role of a companys vision is to establish a dream to all its employees and stake holders to achieve the companys corporate goals. The Vision Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ We will take a path no one has walked before and many will want to follow 2.2.3 Core Values Watawala Plantations willà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ensure that our business is always customer focused and that we continuously strive to meet their demands with the highest level of service. Be committed to offering the highest quality products at all times to our customers globally. Recognize and motivate our employees who are the live wire of the organization, to achieve their fullest potential and provide equal opportunities regardless of gender, religion, race or colour to excel in their work. Value transparency and honesty in everything we do. Contribute positively to the long term sustainability and development of the external community and the environment we operate in. Be innovative and strive for continuous improvement in whatever we do. Recognize that our shareholders are of utmost importance to us and ensure the best possible returns to them. 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea There are hundreds of different varieties of tea made from tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, but almost all of them is divided into three broader categories which are respectively black teas, which are fully oxidized before drying a careful fermentation process, green tea is dried quickly, while non-oxidized oolong, which is somewhere in the middle and combine the best features of both. Oolong is partially fermented (semi-fermented) tea, which is known for its rich taste and pleasant lasting aftertaste. Oolong is classified as black or dark green tea which is baked longer than Green Oolongs. Green Oolong is usually smells stronger as Dark Oolong is usually has a stronger aftertaste. Special oven baked Oolong is only an intermediate dark green. 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis According to David (2004, pp.156-158) no organization is equally strong or weak in all its functional areas. Objectives and strategies are established with the intention of capitalizing upon internal strengths and overcoming weaknesses. The overall evaluation of a companys strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are called as the SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is used as a framework to help the firm to develop its overall corporate, marketing, or product strategies. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors, which are controllable by the company. Whereas, Opportunities threats are external factors tend to be uncontrollable by the organization. The SWOT analysis of the Watawala Plantations PLC can be illustrated as follows: Strengths Uniqueness of the product Benefits of product are outstanding and not offered by any other product/company. Brand awareness High quality tea High quality service Expertise on the tea business Entrepreneurial spirit and commitment Complete and broad trained staff Opportunities Can open new lines of business Mass market tea prices will stabilize Consumers are living a more healthy lifestyle Consumers prefer quality products that offer true value Modern technology in the tea industry will be able to increase productivity Growth in tea market due to promotional efforts of healthy attributes of tea Threats Seasonal demand Misperception of tea consumption Competition from coffee shops Limited number of raw materials Unstable tea supply of high quality tea High quality tea prices will increase moderately Tea market is very competitive and relative elastic where strong local competitors such as Lipton, Bogawanthalaweà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. SWOT ANALYSIS Weaknesses Budget deficits Less access to modern technologies with to Oolong tea manufacturing process 5.0 Marketing Objectives All businesses, as a rule, need to set objectives on their own, for the products or services they intend to launch. Setting objectives are important; because they focus on specific aims over a period of time and can motivate the staff additionally to meet the set objectives. The marketing intention Watawala Plantations PLC is to grab a 10% market share and to achieve a sales volume worth of SLR 2,500,000 during the current year 2011. 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 6.1 Market Segmentation An organization cannot satisfy the needs and wants of all consumers. To do so, may result in a massive drain in company resources. Segmentation is simply the process of dividing a particular market for a good or service into sections, which display similar characteristics or behavior. There are a number of segmentation variables that allow an organization to divide their market into homogenous groups. There is no single way to segment a market. A good marketer has to try different segmentation methods, either alone or in combination, in order to view the market structure clearly. Segmentation can be categorized in to four major variables. They are geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioral variables. It has to be clearly understood that Watawala Plantations PLC has utilized the demographic segmentation variable to divide the market. In demographic segmentation, the market can be divided in to groups such as age, gender, income, family size, family life cycle, occupation, education, race, religion, generation, nationality and social class. But here Watawala Plantations PLC going to consider only the first three groups from the demographic variables as described above. It is very much evident that in particular, the demographic segmentation variables have been chosen because of two reasons. One is that, customer wants, preferences, and usage rates are often associated with demographic variables and the other is that the demographic variables are easier to measure. 6.2 Target Market Target Market is the specific group of customers that a company aims to capture. They have been identified as the people with needs or wants that can be met with the products or services from the company. When evaluating the market segments, Watawala Plantations PLC must look at three major factors. They are segment size growth, segment structural attractiveness, and companys growth. Considering these aspects Watawala Plantations PLC has decided its target group as anybody who is interested in good quality tea. Mass market is the strategy of the company aiming to sell their product to broad market in Spain. 6.3 Positioning After an organization has selected its target market, the next stage is to decide how it wants to position itself within that chosen segment. A products position is the complex set of perceptions, impressions, and feelings that consumers hold for the particular product compared with the competing products in the market. As marketers, Watawala Plantations PLC not only plan positions that gives our products the greatest advantage in selected target markets, but also we design marketing mixes to create these planned positions. Therefore Watawala Plantations PLC is going market its Oolong Tea under its renowned positioning theme THE ART OF TEA 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors According to David (2004, p.114) the purpose of an external audit is to develop a predetermined list of opportunities that could benefit the firm and threats that should be avoided. The Relationship between Key External Forces and an organization can be illustrated as follows: Therefore while formulating business strategies, Watawala Plantations PLC should be able to respond towards the external macro environmental factors in order to take the maximum advantage of external opportunities or that minimize the impact of potential threats. PEST analysis is a framework used to scan the external macro-environment, in which a firm operates. It is an important aspect to a company, in order to begin the marketing process. The following gird represents the analysis of the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors Watawala Plantations PLC has to consider before deciding either Germany or Australia would be potential market to expand the fruity malt loaf product. The grid below examines the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors with regard to the potential impact and its relative importance towards Watawala Plantations PLC. PEST Analysis Factors Potential Impact Relative Importance Political Factors Strict trading policies Medium Important Funding grants Medium Unimportant Local pressure groups High Unimportant Government policies High Important Political influence High Important Economic Factors Economic structure Command Economy prices are determined by the government Important Taxation issues Total tax rate is 64% on Profit Critical Interest rates 3.0% Important Inflation rates 9.4% Important Socio-cultural Factors Consumer attitudes High Critical Consumer opinions High Critical Media views High Important Brand image High Important Buying access and trends High Critical Health consciousness High Critical Religious factors Medium Important Technological Factors Technology development High Important Research funding Medium Important Recycling systems Medium Important 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps To achieve the marketing objectives, the company has to use the marketing controllable elements (4Ps) effectively. A company might adopt one or more marketing strategies when introducing a product newly. It can set a high or low-level trend for each of its marketing variables, such as price, promotion, distribution, and product quality. Therefore, the key elements of the marketing mix namely product, price, place (distribution) and promotion have to be utilized Watawala Plantations PLC as follows: 8.1 Product A good Oolong tea is refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite different from what you get with green or black tea. It is difficult to obtain reliable figures on the caffeine content, but its probably not entirely wrong to say that the cup of Oolong average, well mixed, has about half as much caffeine as a cup of black tea and about half again as much as a cup of green tea. The difference mainly comes from the brewing temperature, not the composition of the tea itself. Although Oolong has the characteristics of black and green tea, the taste has little in common. If not overcooked, most Oolong seems almost no trace of bitterness, and generally a stronger aroma than any black or green tea. Like other tea, Oolong is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. These help prevent cancer, keep your heart healthy and aid general well-being. 8.2 Price Price can be simply defined as the amount of money charged for a product or a service provided. A companys pricing decisions are affected either by internal factors relating to the company or external environmental factors or both. The major external environmental factor, which is going to affect the pricing decision, of Watawala Plantations PLC depends on the competitors costs, prices and their possible reactions in relation to the price fixing modes of Watawala Plantations PLC. A consumer when deciding to purchase our Watawala Plantations PLCs Oolong Tea, at the first instance evaluate the price and value of other products, which compete with Watawala Plantations PLCs products. Considering these pricing factors Watawala Plantations PLC should to apply the market penetration pricing strategy, meaning, to fix a low initial price at the introduction stage, in order to penetrate the market successfully at the outset. This is due to the fact that, it is an ideal pricing strategy which can be applied with success at the introductory stage itself, to attract a large number of buyers quickly and effectively so as to win a large market share, in a short period of time. Upon successful launch of Oolong tea, Watawala Plantations PLC can adapt skimming strategy. 8.3 Place (distribution) The distribution modes will cover all areas and all consumers coming under the target group. This is certain as the popularity grows with the demand. A competent distribution strategy will enhance the chances of attaining the goal with easy reach. Through maintaining proper contacts and application of the experience and specialization in the trade and through insuring a steady supply of goods without shortages the reach is assured with satisfactory results. Over the appointment of distributors and agents for the purpose of popularizing the product, requirements and competence in promotion, experience, market familiarity in relation to the productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. In addition to the distributors, a careful consideration will be given towards selecting the distribution strategy. In this case an intensive distribution strategy will be utilized where it is expected to bring in quick and satisfactory results. 8.4 Promotion Promotion is one of the key elements in the marketing mix. The intention now is to inform, persuade and to familiarize Oolong tea to the market and to popularize it. In this regard sales promotion and pre publicity are two areas, which are related to public relations. To target the group, pre publicity is essential via the media namely the electronic and the print. It is through proper and efficient advertising methods, the target group mainly the consumers would be reached easily which we intend to employ. The channels, which we hope to utilize both in TV and Radio in addition to the press, will be chosen based on their popularity and result-oriented methods adopted. In this regard a careful consideration would be given to economize the expenditure for the promotion purpose. In addition to the above method e-marketing strategy will also be utilized via social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook. YouTubeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget A financial plan will be carried out since the initiation of the strategic marketing plan in order to determine the total amount of capital needed for each marketing related activity and to be completed within stipulated investment limit, which allows the marketing manager to measure the past with the forecasts actually spent during the project. Figure A illustrates the proposed marketing budget for Watawala Plantations PLC. Figure A Description Amount (SLR) Amount (SLR) Estimated Sales 10,000,000 (-) Estimated Expenses Raw Materials 500,000 Sales Distribution 400,000 Financial Expenses 200,000 HR Administrative Expenses 150,000 Production Cost 1,450,000 Promotional Expenses (posters, banners, advertisementsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc.) 4,500,000 Transportation 300,000 Estimated total expenses (7,500,000) Estimated profit 2,500,000 10.0 Evaluation and Control When involving in introducing a new product into the market, it becomes necessary to plan the overall operation in advance, in addition to budgetary provision to carry forward the objective. The controlling and monitoring aspects are two areas, which need constant attention. Any deviation will tend to upset a proper implementation of this strategic marketing plan. Therefore the following action plan can be utilized by Watawala Plantations PLC in order to evaluate and control the strategic marketing activities. Marketing Strategy Action Responsibility Control and Evaluation Methodology Marketing Communication Campaign Advertisement on TV, internet, radio, newspapers, ad campaigns on the streets Marketing Managers, Marketing Executives Monthly Sales Figures Marketing Promotion Campaign Set Up Special Stand for Personal Selling Marketing Managers, Sales managers, Counter staff Supervisors Count Customers and Monitor Sales per Month Organize Promotional Event Major Cities Marketing Managers, Supervisors, Hostesses Count Participants Promotional offers e.g. free gifts with purchase Marketing Managers, Production Managers Produced Output Figures Distribution of Free Samples to Customers At cash point Marketing Managers, Cashiers, Supervisors Count Customers