Animal Cruelty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animal Cruelty - Research Paper Example The given work will discuss the main forms of animal cruelty and provide the recommendations on how to struggle with the problem. Animal entertainment is one of the many forms of animal cruelty that often goes unnoticed. Animals are used in zoos, circus, bull riding and bull fights. Most of these animals are taken from their homes and forced to live in much small replicas of their natural habitats. These animals do not like being confined, which often results in aggressive behaviors, they are usually accused of. Many animals are killed, because they are considered dangerous for people. Nobody thinks about the real causes of this aggression. Animal experimentation is also a form of animal cruelty. In 1938, the food, drug and cosmetics act was passed requiring animal testing of certain drugs and chemicals to make sure they were safe for humans. Millions of mice, rats, cats, dogs, monkeys and many other animals are waiting to be experimented on right now. 90% of them are rats and mice (Mice and Rats in Laboratories). It is well-know that mice and rats are very similar to humans psychologically, they can have different feelings like humans, but it is not taken into account when choosing animals for experiments. It is well-know that mice and rats are very similar to humans psychologically, they can have different feelings like humans, but it is not taken into account when choosing animals for experiments. â€Å"Mice and rats are mammals with nervous systems similar to our own. It’s no secret that they feel pain, fear, loneliness, and joy just as we do. These highly social animals communicate with each other using hi gh-frequency sounds that are inaudible to the human ear† (Mice and Rats in Laboratories). Most of these animals used for experimentation live in cold, barren cages before the initial experiment takes place. More than one millions animals are used in labs per year in the U.S. Most animals are poisoned,

Video game violence Essay Example for Free

Video game violence Essay Video Game Violence Law Poses Questions, is an editorial located in the online magazine V Planet. Vance Velez, the author of the controversial issue, opposes the Washington law involving specific forms of video game violence, which is on the verge of being passed in the Legislature. He successfully persuades his audience that the Washington law limits people’s rights and that they should take a stand against the proposed law. His audience includes people who are in favor of the Washington law, concerned parents, and adult video gamers that oppose the Washington law, who are, in his definition, those 18 or older. Those who are in favor of the law may include politicians, or mothers who can relate to influential violence on children. Adult video gamers are those who enjoy playing video games as a favorite pastime, just like golf or aerobics, for most Americans. â€Å"Its no argument that video games are becoming more violent†, states Velez. â€Å"Many parents and politicians oppose the violence; some even want to get these kind of video games banned. † A politician who opposes this specific form of violence is Mary Lou Dickerson. Mary Lou Dickerson is a State Legislator who has proposed a law to restrict certain violent material in video games. The proposed law, which is quoted in the editorial, states: Levies a fine up to 500 dollars on anyone who rents or sells to someone 17 or younger computer games in which the player kills or injures a human form that is depicted as a public law enforcement officer. Police officers and firefighters are included in that classification. † Velez addresses many flaws in the proposed law in detail and also explains some consequences that may occur if the law is passed. Vance Velez is the author of many editorials that appear on this online magazine. His broad knowledge of video games allows him to pinpoint the main problems of the law. He successfully persuades people that are in favor of the law, that it may, in the long run, actually harm our youth. The authors main argument throughout the editorial is backed by issuing a series of examples how many games that do not endanger young children, may be banned because of a faulty law. He mentions that passing the law will limit people’s rights and may also act as a gateway law, to limit others rights. â€Å"If they take away our right to have fun and view what we enjoy, then what else will they take away when violence is still present in our society? † Vance Velez explains in detail why people should oppose the Washington law on video games. Although he does introduce and define many terms involving video games, he expects the reader to at least have some knowledge about video games. He addresses many games, like Simcity and Grand Theft Auto, which have been in the mainstream lately; therefore, readers must be up to date with video games and must be familiar with certain type of video games in order to understand the author’s references. Velez addresses adult video gamers and let’s them know that their precious games may be lost, so he urges them to take action and protest this pending law. Velez opposes the Washington law because it violates people’s rights. Velez stand that taking away things mature Americans enjoy would be a crime in itself because it violates the Freedom of Speech rights. In his definition a mature American is a person who knows right from wrong. He states, â€Å"The Washington law, because it’s built on fear of the unknown and lack of communication, fails to recognize the freedom of speech rights. † The author uses logos by referring to people’s values of their rights. The author opens the first paragraph with a question, Whats the right way to protect children from violence? He appeals to those who are against video game violence and lets them know that he wants safety for our youth with the use of good reasons. He gains trust from this audience by showing he wants things for the better. His definition of children includes those who have a sense of right and wrong but are still easily influenced. He believes that video games arent harming children; its some other factor that is the reason why video games are harming very young kids, such as lack of parent guidance and discipline. Velez talks about this later on in his editorial. He then uses pathos to appeal to the feelings of concerned parents, and those who are in favor of the Washington law, as he states, â€Å"This is the fourth time that politicians have tried to pass laws regulating violent content in video games. † This audience sees how helpless and unsuccessful the government is when it comes to passing these types of laws. This audience feels sorry for the government, they sort of look down at them shame. Those who are in favor of the Washington law may begin to think that people who can’t make up their minds organize our country. They may start to question the proposed law and wonder if it too, will fail. Velez quotes Mary Lou Dickerson, who explains what the state legislator actually thinks about video games in response to a lawsuit. The lawsuit filed today against Washingtons ban on sales or rentals of cop-killing games to children comes as no surprise. Certain elements of the video-game industry clearly want the right to sell any game, no matter how brutal, racist or sick, to any child, no matter how young. Velez rebuts this argument by initially stating it’s in violation of Freedom of Speech rights. â€Å"Politicians are actually trying to ban violent video games which are a pastime that many adult Americans enjoy. † By adult, Velez states that he means, â€Å"Those people who are 18 or older. † He persuades this audience to take action by standing up against the law. Velez remarks, â€Å"Taking away an individuals right to have fun and enjoy video games can be argued as a violation. † The author is addressing adult gamers when he states this because they have the ability to stand up against such laws. The author’s statements threaten adult gamers and make them have a sense of danger that their lives are being controlled. Velez begins his argument by mentioning games that are â€Å"harmless†, in his opinion, which may be banned because they violate the grounds of the Washington law. His example of the game Simcity, appeals to logos and ethos by explaining how an educational game would be in violation of the law. He says, â€Å"In the game of Simcity, you can cause a minor disaster in your city by causing a tornado, an earthquake or a flood. These disasters can destroy the police station or fire department, which would be in violation of the proposed Washington law. † His audiences are those who are for the Washington law and concerned parents when he explains how â€Å"innocent† games, according to Velez, are the victims of the proposed law. He persuades them by making them realize not all â€Å"violent video games† are harmful to children. I think if this audience is familiar with the game of Simcity, they would agree that it is not a violent game, but the author makes them realize that their values will be lost if the law passes, by the use of pathos. Many video gamers would find this offensive because they arent able to enjoy their â€Å"innocent† games. The audience’s emotions are being involved in this paragraph with the use of pathos. The author’s ethos is clarified once his familiarity and expertise with video games begin to show and as he introduces situations that are possible once the law is passed. In another example of a harmful video game, the definition according the Washington law, Velez introduces the game Rampage, where giant gorillas and lizards destroy cities, similar to King Kong. The author explains that in the game the animals are capable of crushing police stations and police cars. Rampage, which attracts gamers between the ages of eight and sixteen, would be in violation of the Washington law. The author introduces the silliness of the Washington law. He makes the audience realize that highly fictional characters arent harmful to children; however, he states, â€Å"In the governments eyes, they will make children grow up to be terrorists. † Velez describes the many holes the proposed law contains. Those who are for the Washington law are persuaded with logos in this situation because they believe it is only fair for children or even adults to have fun if the game is completely safe. They may also think of other forms of entertainment that may also be involved with this kind of law. They imagine other situations where law enforcement officers are portrayed or killed, such as in numerous movies such as, â€Å"Robin Hood† and â€Å"Lethal Weapon†. Why arent these issues being addressed? Are video games that much worse than violent movies and plays? In his last paragraph, Velez explains his beliefs involving the problems of violent video games. His finger points to government and most importantly, the childrens parents. He explains that parents have the responsibility to judge what their child sees and hears. Some adult audiences might find his accusation offensive and may get turned off by his remarks, because they are blunt and obtrusive. An example of this is when he remarks, â€Å"The parents should be responsible enough to monitor their children and make sure that that particular game does not enter the console (videogame system) itself. † Reasonable adult audiences may actually listen to hear what the author is trying to get across. His use of logos appeals to those who are in favor of the Washington law because he makes them think about how parents could be the source of the problem. They may agree that parents need to be on the look out for what is safe and unsafe for their children. Velez explains that parents allow children to play violent video games that influence children to do harm which portray video games as the main source of the problem. â€Å"Its easier to blame an image or machine than it is to blame people†, Velez said. The â€Å"parent† problem may make more sense to his opposing audience if they arent biased and read the editorial with an open mind. In conclusion, Vance Velez was very familiar with his topic, which gave him enough credibility to persuade those in his audience who are in favor of the Washington law, to think twice about their position and possibly accept his belief, that passing the Washington law is a mistake. He’s also successful at convincing adult gamers, those 18 or older, to take action against the proposed Washington law. His arguments were well thought out and convincing by using logos and pathos. However, his alternative to the Washington law was a bit broad and didn’t really include a solution. He identified the problems that might occur if the law is passed, such as the loss of Freedom of Speech Rights, but he had no feedback on how else to deal with the situation. I believe author’s overall argument was persuading even though he didn’t include a proposed solution.

The Standard for Insanity :: Barker Regeneration Essays

"The Standard for Insanity" Since Pat Barker's Regeneration is set in a mental hospital, it seems fitting that questions about mental disease and the definition of sanity should be raised. At the very start of the book, Rivers and Bryce are discussing the case of Siegfreid Sassoon, a dissenting officer of the British army. As they discuss his diagnosis of "neurasthenia," Barker is laying the groundwork for one of Regeneration's many themes: no one is completely qualified to judge the sane from the insane, for insanity finds its way into us all. The ambiguity surrounding the definition and treatment of neurasthenia offers just a glimpse into the ever-changing and highly subjective world of mental evaluation. The history of neurasthenia traces back before World War I to a scientist by the name of George A. Beard. Beard coined the actual term "neurasthenia" which means nerve weakness (Marlowe). Neurasthenia was attributed rather vaguely to the stress of everyday life, or, for soldiers, the stress of the trenches. Many also felt it was a disease primarily of the upper class, which means it would apply more often to officers in the army than regular men. Andrew Scott Myrtle, who wrote on the validity of neurasthenia, believed like many medical professionals of the era that "it is not the machine workers, the factory workers, who suffer but 'the inventors of the machines'" (Gijswijt-Hofstra 145). Not only did neurasthenia come from the many stresses of daily life, but it also had a myriad of symptoms. Every article on neurasthenia offered a different set of acceptable symptoms, the most common being sleeplessness, headaches, and fatigue (Marlowe). Cures for neurasthenia were as varied as its symptoms. When working with one patient, Beard "promptly zapped the young doctor with a 'faradic current' from 'head to toe'" (Martensen 1243). Electric shock was still being used during World War I, as evidenced by doctors like Lewis Yealland, but other cures such as bed rest, sea-salts, and expensive cruises were also circulating (Gijswijt-Hofstra 145). The sense of ambiguity that surrounded neurasthenia had a large effect on society's views of neurasthenic patients. Although World War I was one of the first instances where people recognized that mental disorder or disease might be responsible for actions that were otherwise characterized as cowardly, there remained a strong sense that diseases like neurasthenia were ultimately the result of a weak will. Robert Martensen describes neurasthenia as giving people a "socially legitimate explanation of their inability to perform their expected roles" (1243).

Brave New World Government

Government: this word is used to define the system that maintains the state and her people. This system is run by officials who, hopefully, have the nation's best interest at heart; but these best interests for a country often find themselves conflicting in their particular perspectives. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the government has chosen to preserve the interest of state and this dystopia is the result of mankind choosing the wrong faction in the conflict of interest.To clarify, the principles, theories and arguments presented here in are democratic in orientation and not communistic, because the arguments aim toward freedom and rights. Those in control in Brave New World have misguided the nation’s populace into dystopia, they have lost the people's interest, they have disregarded the people's respect and they have effectively stolen evolution. There will always be a great conflict for those with the misfortune of being leaders: to preserve the state or the people.A decisive argument will skip the moral ethics and get right down to the primary idea: a nation is only possible through her people. This being said, it becomes logical that the right course of action for any leading party is that of the interest of the people; the interest of the people has been touted by many famous political icons throughout the ages as the most vital of a nation's concerns. In fact â€Å"the nation's concerns† is directly related to the concern's of her people. This idea, being understood, it is absolutely impossible in a utopian setting that there would be dissatisfaction.A good leader must make sure that their people are provided for, and this can be done simply by meeting the needs of the nation. If the nation wants for nothing, it can be assumed that order would automatically be ensured amongst her people. In Brave New World, the World Controllers have implemented human conditioning and predestination, these methods have indeed assured them that they operate within the nation's best interest. In fact, one can say that by brainwashing the people they have stolen control and not earned it, and the ‘utopia' in Brave New World can be defined as a controlled dictatorship.This is but another example of how the State has failed the people. Any ruler worth his salt must first earn the respect, or alternatively fear, of his subjects in order to reign successfully. Respect earns the ruler the trust of the people: this trust then allows for orderly conduct amongst the citizens of the country. Earning respect can be achieved by conducting one's self honorably and proving one's capabilities. Huxley presents another technique of acquiring respect by employing â€Å"hypnopaedia† as means of earning respect and gaining control over the nation. â€Å"Of course they don't.How can they? They don't know what it's like being anything else. We'd mind, of course. But then we've been differently conditioned. Besides, we start w ith a different heredity†(Huxley,5). Brave New World's Henry foster shows us how conditioning effects a person's values. The citizens do not respect the controllers, they merely adhere to the rules. Though this does not mean that they are dissatisfied, in actual fact they have no sense of dissatisfaction unless it stands opposed to their hypnopaedic prejudice. â€Å"What a hideous colour khaki is,† remarked Lenina, voicing the hypnop? ic prejudices of her caste†(Huxley,4). Essentially what Huxley has wrought is a world of mindless drones with no sense of self, which is quite possibly the worse outcome for mankind, to become enslaved by a system they created and lost control over. There is one major variable that needs to be considered in keeping order in a nation. People change, things change, nothing will ever remain the same for long, and a good government should be as adaptable as the people. If one is to properly maintain order, one must be able to conform wit h society and trends.These changes and trends are how mankind has learned and developed, and will continue to do so. As stated, government or those in power, must too be able to move forward or to risk losing control and becoming obsolete. This is quite possibly the biggest flaw in Huxley's Brave New World: mankind now controls and predestines the people that inhabit their world, and the price for this control has become progress. A society built on the basis of ‘Community, Identity, Stability’ will never be able to face the ever changing, fickle nature of humanity. In order to preserve control they must therefore eliminate evolution.They have stolen evolution’s format: the world and mankind will forever be stuck in the small cage of Brave New World, and in essence this eliminates anything that is truly either brave or new. In conclusion, it is safe to say that Huxley's utopia went about achieving its status in the wrong way. Mankind has lost its free will to the controlling powers of a system. This system cannot be called government, as it is more akin in characteristics to slavery. Man no longer has freewill and order is kept not through respect and intellect, but via degeneration nd conduct. The former sections of this essay present strategies and techniques used to maintain order in a society of individuals. Finally, it may be argued that the Brave New World protects society by locking them in a cage of ignorance; however, this is at the cost of freedom, and this is unacceptable. Mankind needs be free in order to progress as has been explained. Protection is all well and good but not at the cost of freedom: humans must be free to make mistakes in order to evolve, grow and create. Societal order must still be maintained, but not abused.Those in charge are well within their right to impose laws and rules, as long as these laws keep within a reasonable parameter. Protection is one thing, enslavement is another; if protection must come at t he cost of freedom then it is not worth it, and I am sure that those in Brave New World, if given the chance, would choose freedom. Huxley's utopia is a future that we should hope is never realized, it would bring us to ruin. If we must place faith in those in control, let us hope that they possess the qualities presented in this essay, and have the ability to lead a world of free people forward and beyond.

Applied Business †Strand B Theory Essay

Functional Areas within the Business I am going to describe the work carried out by at least three functional areas of Asda, I will explain how these areas work together to support the business activity and I will evaluate how effectively these functional areas work together to achieve the aims and objectives of the business. The areas I am going to investigate are finance, IT and marketing and sales. There are 7 main functional areas within businesses customer services, administration and IT support, marketing and sales, human resources, research and development, finance and operations. However not all businesses use these areas. Sole traders might do every function by themselves and some businesses may use only a few functional areas or make sure that employees are able to work in each functional area In large businesses people work together in these separate functional areas. The areas concentrate on and carry out certain functions. All functional areas link together to achieve aims and objectives. Good communication and co-operation is needed. Functional areas can be organised by charts such as the one below. Fig. 1 Customer service Customer service is concerned with customer relationships. Their activity is to â€Å"identify and satisfy customer needs†. They provide information, credit facilities, after sales service, deliver goods and give advice. Examples of this include, if a person has a problem with a new product such as a washing machine, then they will phone up customer services and someone will talk them through what they have done so that they can try to correct the mistake such as not switching the washing machine on. Good customer services mean happy customers. An example of good customer services is a shop e.g. furniture. If a person bought a piece of furniture then they could get customer services in the form of the retailer suggesting other products that could be better suited to the job which the consumers want the product for. The retailer could also offer for the furniture to be delivered or installed where the customer wants it. Bad customer services annoy people and make them not want to use the company again. An example of bad customer services is if you order a phone and it doesn’t turn up on time. You then ring customer services and have to spend about 2 hours of your time and your phone bill on something that should be a simple process. Customer services is very important as if a company was only focused on selling goods or services, then people would not feel comfortable or happy with the business and so would not want to use it, the business might then loose customers. The times 100 website tells us â€Å"High quality customer service helps to create customer loyalty†. The website also tells us that customers are not only interested in buying a product, they are also interested in the services that they receive when they enter the shop such as a nice welcome and good refund polices for faulty products. Customer service also gives advice on what a customer could do if they had a problem. Companies such as Portakabin have mottos that focus purely on customer service. Portakabin’s motto is ‘Quality – this time, next time, every time’ they apply this to both products and customer services. Businesses know that if a customer gets a good service that seems to be less of a ‘chore’ than usual then they will be more likely to return and use the business again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_service tells us â€Å"Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.† The GCSE Applied Business FOR OCR book tells us that â€Å"customer service is all about providing this positive experience†. Customer services are expected to provide information, give advice, provide credit facilities, deliver goods and provide an after sales service. As information required can vary from customer to customer, it is unlikely that a customer service assistant will know the answer to every question or query that a customer could ask. However, this is not drastically important, whats more important is that the query is dealt with well, this means that there is a â€Å"friendly smile† and â€Å"a promise to find out quickly† as the GCSE Applied Business FOR OCR book tells us.advice is also important as the advice is personal to the customer, wheras information is personal to the product. Credit means that items are received by the customer immediately but they pay for it over a set time, maybe several months or years. The GCSE Applied Business FOR OCR book tells us â€Å"customers often require credit when they buy an expensive item such as a car†. http://www.bized.co.uk/cgi-bin/level2/typein.pl?module=busactivityfunctional12 Administration and IT support Administration and IT support are concerned with clerical work, such as mail and record keeping, health and safety, security, cleaning and maintenance and provide support for software applications, electronic communications and electronic transactions. For example, if a person within the business accidentally downloads a virus, then admin and ICT will need to know and they will then be able to sort out the problem. If something like this goes unchecked for too long then there is a chance that the virus could spread and then the whole network could fail. This could mean major problems for the business. IT is used in businesses in many ways. Such as: * To Store information about products on databases * To make calculations such as working out the profit using spreadsheets. * To provide advertising using computer graphics packages. * To process information and other document’s using word processing programs * To communicate internally by fax, e-mail and other methods using ICT * To create presentations * To create websites to promote the business and provide information about the business. It is very useful within businesses as it saves time. For example when trying to find a document, if it was on paper and not a computer then a person may need to spend a lot of time searching through piles of paper just to find one document. Marketing and sales Marketing and sales are concerned with customer needs. They do market research, promotion and sales. So they have to research into what customers want such as if a customer wants a futuristic computer screen and power pack then marketing and sales would have to see whether such a computer had been created yet, and if not then talk to someone about creating one. They are also responsible for promoting new products and making people want to buy them. They have to differentiate the product to make it more attractive to customers, they have to skim, maximise, premium price, penetrate, capture & distribute and they have to analyse the product lifecycles. Marketing and sales use the SWOT analysis to analyse the existing position. This presents the: Strengths Weaknesses Market Opportunities External Threats The market can be segmented so that businesses can concentrate on one segment only. There is a big difference between marketing and sales as marketing is where you are trying to get the best products for your customers whereas sales is where you are trying to convince your customer that you already have the best products and where you are selling these products. Marketing the segment can help the marketing department understand its market better. Sales people have to convince their customers that the product that they are selling is the best around. The marketing department of, for example Cadbury’s, may carry out research to find out what flavour chocolate is most desired among their customers. They will ask customers which products they would like to be improved and which products they would like to see developed. E.g. Cadbury’s shortcake biscuit chocolate could be improved to make them crunchier and a new product with orange chocolate in it could be developed. Market research can be carried out by using primary or secondary research methods, or both. Primary research is where data and information is collected first hand. This ensures that the information is original and up-to-date. However, this can be time consuming and costly. Secondary research is where data and information that already exists is used. This data is usually free, and easily available. When a business has market research, they will decide the â€Å"marketing mix† for the product or service. The marketing mix, consists of product, price, promotion and place. Also known as the 4Ps. Businesses must decide what the product or service should be, including whether it needs to be packaged, what the customer wants and whether an after sales package is required. They must decide how much the product should cost. Where the product or service is promoted is also important, as-well as how it is promoted. Where the product is sold is also an issue, the product must be in a suitable location which is also easy to get transportation to. The use of the 4Ps can increase sales, if used well and correctly. It is likely that all marketing mixes will be slightly different and many factors can influence this. The product and customers are just two of these factors. Sales staff may be employed by businesses which will not only rely on promotion and advertising, to sell the product or service. Sales staff are employed to make contact with potential customers and try to sell products. Human resources Human resources are concerned with health and safety, recruitment, retention, dismissal, working conditions, training, development and promotion, employee organisation and union. This includes legal rights and responsibilities of employer and employees. So they have to hire and fire staff, make sure that staffs are happy and retained and make sure that their working conditions are satisfactory. They are in charge of training new staff and developing their skills and promoting able staff and responsible for managing all of the people who work within the business. If legal action is taken in the name of an employee, then human resources are also responsible for that along with organising employee unions so that workers can have their say. The human resources department can also be called personnel. Human resources are in charge or recruitment and have to ensure that vacancies are filled to the best o their ability, the best and most able workers are employed this means that human resources has recruitment procedures for trained staff to follow in order to recruit the most appropriate workers. Human resources are also in charge of retention which means that they are in charge of keeping staff, if they do not retain good staff then they will have to hire and train another person, this takes time and money and so it is very important that human resources keeps employees happy. Human resources are also in charge of dismissal; this means that they are in charge of monitoring workers and dismissing the ones, which are not working efficiently. Businesses usually provide an induction programme fair terms and conditions of employment, good working conditions and appraisal interviews in which employees can talk â€Å"to their managers about their performance and future prospects†. Human resources also need to ensure that physical working conditions are to a standard, which workers accept. If there is a problem with their environment and the workers are not happy, then it is likely that they will not be working to the best of their ability. Working conditions also relate to job content, which means what the job includes, promotion prospects, training opportunities and welfare policies, which include loans and medical checks. Working conditions must be maintained otherwise workers will become unhappy, which could cost the company a lot of money, especially if lots of workers decide to leave the business. Human resources also need to ensure that workers are trained suitably for their jobs. The human resources department may have a training officer or a training section. Human resources will have to keep staff training records, monitor the training budget and as the GCSE Applied Business FOR OCR book tells us, they will be responsible for â€Å"overseeing the procedures for applying for training†. Some workers may wish to develop their skills, this is usually called ‘staff development’ as opposed to ‘staff training’ because the staff are not learning new skills but developing their present skills. Companies may pay for activities that assist staff development and these may be run in the workplace. Staff may be keen to improve their abilities and skills because this may lead to a promotion and better job prospects. Human resources will also oversee promotion prospects, and will decide whether or not a worker is good enough or a promotion. Human resources will also be associated with trade unions and employee organisations. The GCSE Applied Business FOR OCR book tells us that senior members of human resources may have to â€Å"negotiate with trade unions on behalf of management.† Human resources often have to supply information on health and safety issues, and ensure that the Health and Safety at Work Act is being followed and used correctly. Research and development Research and development are concerned with developing new goods and services and updating old ones. If a person comes up with a new and good idea then research and development are in charge of making sure that that idea is looked into. If scientific or technological developments occur then there may be new products developed. A change in ‘customer buying behaviour’ can also cause this to happen. So if marketing and sales come to them with a customers query about futuristic computers then they become in charge of that. Research and development have to work with designers to design and produce good quality and good value for money products to entice customers. Research and development use many different methods of research to find out what customers or potential customers want. They may do surveys, questionnaires, and Internet research and could obtain either primary or secondary research. A lot of the time it will be of more use to the company to obtain primary research as then the company will know how up to date the research is. The company will also know, with more certainty, that the research is reliable. Finance Finance are concerned with money and future plans, preparing accounts, such as invoices, management accounts, financial accounts for shareholders and inland revenue. They are also concerned with preparing wages and salaries, obtaining capital and resources, such as money for expansion and to pay for resources such as equipment and materials. Finance is sometimes considered as the most important functional area within a business. Finance is needed at all points in a businesses life as when they are starting up they will need to buy assets. When they are â€Å"up and running† they will need finance to determine that they are breaking even, this is to say that they must ensure that the money coming in (the input) is matching the money going out (the output). It is important that businesses break even otherwise they will make a loss and can even go into debt. Finance is also important for growing businesses, as they will need to buy more assets and either break-even or make a prof it. This will cause them to expand and grow. Operations Operations are concerned with the main business activities. They obtain and convert resources of the business into goods or services. They make decisions such as what to do with land, buildings, material, and jobs for workers and buying new equipment. In a company such as Argos operations would include processing a persons order; however in a company such as Gillette, operations might include making a batch of razors. The use of IT The use of IT relates to all functional areas because of: * Electronic communications e.g. Email * Data Sharing e.g. Databases * Security systems e.g. virus protections * External communications e.g. Internet * Online support for customers e.g. Order tracking * Electronic Transactions e.g. EFT Functional variations No two businesses are the same. Functions will vary because of the: * Size and scale of the business * Activities of the business * Types of customers * Needs of customers * Preferences of owners

14 Narrative Essay Topics on Arranged Marriages in India

14 Narrative Essay Topics on Arranged Marriages in India If you are writing an essay on arranged marriages in India, you need to base your narrative in something related to your life and experiences. To do that, having some facts might make the work a bit easier. Remember too that these should only help to guide the direction of your narrative essay, but that the true substance of the work should revolve around your personal stories or experiences. Below are 14 great facts about the topic which can help you along the way: In India, 90% of all marriages are arranged, which is roughly 30% more than the statistical likelihood of arranged marriages around the world. If you are in an arranged marriage in India and get a divorce, many parents will disown their child. In India, arranged marriages are viewed not as something done based on feelings, but something done based on a commitment and through that commitment, feelings will develop with time. This form of thinking is one which is emotionally beneficial, and one which alters the psychology of the two people entering into the relationship. Instead of viewing the relationship as something to be sustained until smaller habits or nuances or challenges push the limits of what one person will accept and the relationship is broken, these arranged relationships enter into the relationship with a more accepting foundation, one which isn’t â€Å"I will stay until†¦Ã¢â‚¬  but rather â€Å"I will stay no matter†. Trust, compatibility, love, and adjustment are proven factors in sustainable and long term marriages. In fact, the manner in which the marriage was formed is not a significantly influencing factor in its success. In arranged marriages, for example, all of the new elements of the other person are discovered along the way, each day, something that adds charm and elongates the duration of mystery. In India it is believed that marriages are contractual, but that within them time is adequate in fostering newer feelings for the person, something that keeps the feelings between the man and woman sustained throughout their lifetime, in newer and evolving ways. In India, those in arranged marriages stayed in love for roughly thirty years after the marriage was formed, whereas those who entered into â€Å"love marriages†- those based on love and not on a family arrangement- only stayed in love for 5 years. In India women are raised learning to cook and sew so as to make them more successful wives. They are also encouraged to search for a groom who is blessed and approved by the parents as the best achievement in life, for not marrying in India is considered to not only be a burden on one’s family but an embarrassment. In India the potential husband and wife have the option of meeting one another before they marry to see if the relationship is sustainable. Once the two approve of the match, there is regularly a period of months or a year before the wedding takes place during which time the couple is engaged. This period of time functions as a dating period, the same way dating periods take place in the west. The wedding ceremony in India is typically one week long and is paid for by the father of the bride. The father of the bride is also responsible for providing a dowry, or cash or gifts that accompany the bride as she moves into her new home. This is meant to be her form of financial security. In India, daughters marry into a family. Marriage is not something that just takes place between the man and the woman, but rather, between the two families. And more specifically, it is something which takes place between the woman and the family of the man. The reason for this is that wives enter into the male’s family unit and live with them. Some households contain all of the wives and children for all of the sons. In India, the burden of arranging the marriage is often that of the parents. The father is responsible for selecting and arranging for a husband to marry his daughter, something which takes into account the religion of the man and the caste systems. In India, it is, at best, frowned upon to marry outside of the family’s caste so they must select an eligible man who is in the same caste as the family. When a father is selecting a potential match for his daughter, he will most likely use astrology to ensure that the horoscopes of the two people are a suitable match, and if they are not the marriage cannot happen. The father also has to investigate the man to ensure he will make a suitable match and make his daughter happy, and that his family is suitable as well. The divorce rate in India is only 2%, which is strikingly low especially when compared to the rest of the world where the rate is an average of 50%. These statistics show that while there may be debatable aspects around arranged marriages, they nonetheless remain successful significantly more often than in other countries. On the wedding day, there is typically a small religious ceremony first, and then social gatherings after with dancing, food, and music. Each day of the week long celebrations require different hairstyles for the bride, different make up, different outfits, and different jewelry. There is a henna ceremony as well. On the day of the wedding, the couple circles the holy fire seven different times, encompassing the ancient tradition of Saat Pheras. Once this is done, the couple is wedded for seven lifetimes. This, in Hinduism, is considered to be the act which sustains life and after it is complete will the man and woman be declared husband and wife. Each of the Pheras is said to bring about different blessings from the various gods and goddesses. There are blessings for togetherness, trust and love, faith, loyalty forever, financial stability, health, and progeny. These facts are extremely important if you write a narrative essay on arranged marriages in India. But if you want to make up a good topic for your paper as well, make use of our 20 sample topics related to marital relationships in India. However, if you just have troubles with organizing your narrative essay, then visit our guide that will help you produce an excellent paper. References: Bansal, P. (2015).  Arranged marriages losing respect in India? The Times of India.  The Times of India. Retrieved 7 December 2015, from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/man-woman/Arranged-marriages-losing-respect-in-India/articleshow/49058130.cms Clark-DeceÌ€s, I.  The right spouse. Kannan, C. (1963).  Intercaste and inter-community marriages in India. Bombay: Allied Publishers. Mansukhani, A. (2007).  I Married a Total Stranger.  Marie Claire. Retrieved 7 December 2015, from marieclaire.com/sex-love/advice/a856/arranged-marriage-india/ Myers, J., Madathil, J., Tingle, L. (2005). Marriage Satisfaction and Wellness in India and the United States: A Preliminary Comparison of Arranged Marriages and Marriages of Choice.  Journal Of Counseling Development,  83(2), 183-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00595.x Pande, R. (2014). ‘I arranged my own marriage: arranged marriages and post-colonial feminism.Gender, Place Culture,  22(2), 172-187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0966369x.2013.855630 Reddy, V., Yogasri Srinivas, V. (1978).  Marriages in India. Gurgaon: Academic Press.

The Tragedy of King Lear Essay Example

The Tragedy of King Lear Essay Example The Tragedy of King Lear Essay The Tragedy of King Lear Essay Essay Topic: King Lear A Comparison of Psychological and Physical Deceit and Disguise In many of Shakespearean works, he suggests that appearances are not reflective of reality and uses this idea to develop many subplots in his works. He is notorious for constructing these false identities to advance the plotting and create unsuspecting twists. As his plays progress, different characters employ different strategies to promote their actions, with some opting to psychologically deceive their targets while others select to physically disguise themselves as someone else. Shakespearean King Lear, Is no exception; he portrays this theme through the various disguises of an array of characters that utilize deceit to reach their goals, which range from being supportive to being sinister. This element of deceit and disguise is first established in the opening scene when the reader discovers that King Lear Is planning to delve his kingdom between his three daughters. He tests his daughters by demanding them to proclaim their love for him, with the intentions of awarding the daughter who displays her love to him the best with the largest share of his kingdom. The play as Just begun and Shakespearean theme of fake appearances has already arisen, as the outside appearances that each of the sisters displays for their father is not in accordance with their actual thoughts. General and Reagan, King Learns two oldest daughters, both spin verbose and grandeur explanations about their deep love for him with General starting off by stating, Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter Beyond all manners of so much I love you (1. 1. 60-67). Reagan then plays off of her sisters lead and begins to say, l am made of that self mettle as my sister And mind I am alone felicitate / In your dear Highness love (1. 1. 76-84). This psychological ploy they use on King Lear seems to work, as he becomes frustrated and dissatisfied with his youngest daughter, Cordilleras, answer. As King Lear waits for her to match her sisters responses, Cornelia refuses to make such comments, asserting that, Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty / According to my bond, no more nor less (1. 1. 100-102). As a result of this, King Lear disowns Cornelia, abolishes her from the kingdom and splits the kingdom between the other two sisters. Following this incident, the Earl of Kent, who is the Kings most loyal nobleman and servant, while attempting to reconcile the King about his brash decision to banish Cornelia, is also hastily exiled from the kingdom for giving his opinion on the matter. Here, you can see that King Lear has let his emotions get the best of him as he tells Kent, Five days we do allot thee for provision To shield thee from disasters of the world, And on the sixth to turn thy hated back Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions, The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter, This shall not be revoked. (1. . 197-203) Not only has the plans of obtaining the power of the kingdom gone according to their plan, but General and Reagan were also able to unexpectedly rid the kingdom of two of their potential obstacles to the throne: one being Learns favorite daughter, Cornelia, and the other being his most loyal servant, Kent. The aftermath of this sequence of events turns out to play a large role in the future, as the King will soon learn that he made a mistake. Even though this is only the start of psychological deception in the play, the importance of its presence sets the tone for the play and makes it clear that everyone is susceptible to such trickery, even the almighty King. As the plot of King Lear and his daughters begins to develop in the opening scene, we are simultaneously introduced to another one of King Learns nobleman, the Earl of Gloucester. Early on, we learn that Gloucester is an adulterer and has a bastard son, Edmund. In contrast to Edmund is Edgar, Gloucester oldest and legitimate son. At the beginning of the second scene of the Act One, Edmund gives a soliloquy on the lack of respect and class he has received for being a bastard, stating that Thou, Nature, art my goddess Now, gods, stand up for bastards (l. I. 1-23)! Here we learn of Edmunds plan to betray Edgar, by means of a forged letter, which documents Edgers plan to kill his own father. When Gloucester reads the letter, he barely questions the authenticity of the letter and lets his emotions overcome him, O villain, villain! Abominable villain! (l. Ii. 79). Afterwards, Edmund meets up with Edgar and alerts him of the news that Gloucester is livid at Edgar and that he is chasing him. Pretending to be of assistance to Edgar, Edmund suggests that he avoid Gloucester as much as possible and to remain armed in case Gloucester finds him. Here, Edgar naively mistakes Edmunds plan to protect his own brother as a sign of sincerity because of Edmunds ability to swiftly talk coupled with his deceptive nature. This makes it easy for Edmund to take advantage of the trusting and gullible personality of Edgar. In reality, Edmund is merely setting the bait for Gloucester to fully turn his back on Edgar so that Gloucester will anoint Edmund as the next heir to the throne. Edmund succeeds in accomplishing the next step of his plan when he convinces Edgar to flee Gloucester castle as their father approaches the room. Right when Edgar flees, Edmund intentionally wounds his arm, affirming Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion / Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards / Do more than this in sport. / Father! Father (11. 1. 36-39)! By framing Edgar for his wounds as he fled the scene, Edmund has now secured Gloucester trust which has led him to the condemnation of Edgers death. As the two plots continue to unravel, more disguises begin to unfold, with one of them being Kent after he was expelled from Learns Kingdom. Instead of double crossing his friends and family like Edmund had, Kent chose to return to Learns kingdom, disguised as an ordinary peasant, even though he had been wronged by Lear. When asked by King Lear who he was, Kent simply replied, A man, sir (l. V. 1 1). Lear seemed to be content with the mans answer and allowed the newly disguised Kent to become his new servant. Even after that Kent was using was not of any importance, his characteristics lead him to be different than almost every character in the play. His role and physical disguise of being a random, selfless person who cares about the well-being of the King over his win safety Juxtaposes the psychological disguise the two sisters, Genera l and Reagan, displayed back in Act One. Even though Kent has no familial relations to the King, he cared more about the King than the Kings own two daughters did. Not only did the two sisters deceive Lear into dividing his kingdom amongst them, but they both treated Lear with disrespect and banished him from their respective kingdoms. One cannot simply put a price Kens loyalty to King Lear, even after being expatriated by the King. Much like Kent, Edgar was also forced away from his kingdom ND was required to disguise himself as a means of protection. Under the name of Poor Tom, Edgar disguised himself as a beggar; however, unlike Kent, Edgers entire persona changed. In an aside, we learn that throughout Edgers time as a homeless man, there was no possibility that life could have been worse for him And worse I may be yet. The worst is not / So long as we can say This is the worst (IV. I. 30-31). It is only during his time as a homeless man that he knows that life couldnt get any worse. Such logic would make sense in this situation because it is only at a mans utmost lowest point where he becomes the true essence of what he is. With that being said, by spending time as a beggar and being homeless, Edgers body is stripped away to the very pith of his being and it is there that he finds what he is truly made of. When Edgar has almost fully adjusted to his new life as a homeless bum, he then sees his father, Gloucester, walking towards him, but without any eyes. Here, Gloucester believes that Edgar is Poor Tom and also divulges that he knows that Edgar is innocent and that it was Edmund who was behind everything. Gloucester hen asks Edgar to lead him to Dover, where There is a cliff, whose high and bending head / Looks fearfully in the confined deep shall no leading need (IV. Ii. 83-88). At this point in the play, I was puzzled as to why Edgar did not disclose his real identity to his father, but I believe that it all boiled down to his father condemning him to death, which would always be hard to forgive. Edgar would eventually deceive Gloucester by not letting him commit suicide and Jump off of the cliffs of Dover, but instead Jump onto flat ground. This means of deception was a necessity to prevent Gloucester from killing himself which was easily diverted. After experiencing so many life-altering events, Edgar had finally grown into and found his new identity. Having become encapsulated in this new physical disguise that he had finally developed into, it ultimately gave him the strength and mental fortitude to face and defeat his brother in the final scene. By creating and interweaving these deceptions and disguises amongst all the characters, Shakespeare is able to more effectively develop the characters of the play. Much like the formal title, The Tragedy of King Lear, it was tragic and quite ironic that at the end of the play neither Kent nor Edgar got a chance to adequately reveal their true identities that were hiding beneath their disguises to both King Lear and Gloucester. Lear was far too delusional to understand Kens explanation that he was the Kings new servant due to the combination of his uneasy mental state along with Cordilleras corpse in his arms, whereas we learn that Gloucester died from shock when Edgar attempted to reveal Shakespeare ends the play with only three surviving characters, leaving the reader to contemplate the mystery of their futures.

Julian Abele

Julian Abele Julian Abele (born April 29, 1881 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center) is best known in Durham, North Carolina as the architect of the Duke University campus. The story of Julian Francis Abele is not rags-to-riches but a tale of hard work and dedication. In college Abele called himself Willing and Able. A brilliant and accomplished student, Abele became the first Black graduate of the University of Pennsylvanias School of Architecture. Although not Americas first architect of color, Julian Abele was one of the first prominent Black architects in America, finding success with the Philadelphia architecture firm led by Horace Trumbauer. The Duke University Chapel may be Abeles most famous building. Died: April 23, 1950 in Philadelphia Education, Training, and Professional Life: Institute for Colored Youth and Brown Preparatory School, Philadelphia1898: Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art1902: B.A. in Arch. - University of Pennsylvania1902-1903: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; worked for Philadelphia architect Louis C. Hickman while in school1903-1905: traveled to Western US, worked on a house for his sisters family, Elizabeth Rebecca Abele Cookcirca 1905: three years of travel in Europe and study in France1906: began work for Horace Trumbauer; became chief designer in 1909 until Trumbauers death in 1938. The Office of Horace Trumbauer continued under the leadership of its principals, Julian Abele and William O. Frank1942: Admitted to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Notable Buildings as Trumbauers Chief Designer: 1909-1912: James Buchanan Duke House, New York Cityc. 1912: Frank P. Mitchell house (Argentine Embassy), Washington, DC1915: Miramar (The George D. Widener Cottage), Newport, RI1915: Widener Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA1921: Whitemarsh Hall, Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania1925: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA1927: Central Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, PA1928: James B. Clews Residence, Long Island, NY1930: Perkins Library, Duke University West Campus, Durham, North Carolina1935: Duke University Chapel, West Campus, Durham, North Carolina1938: Duke University Dormitories, West Campus, Durham, NC1940: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University West Campus, Durham, NC At the turn of the twentieth century, many American architects made a good living building Great Homes of the Gilded Age. Horace Trumbauers commission to build a New York City estate for tobacco tycoon James B. Duke really paid off with the much larger projects at Duke University, where Julian Abele made his mark in architecture. Personal Life: 1925: Married to Marguerite Bulle, a French musician; three children, Julian, Jr., Marguerite Marie (died in childhood), and Nadia Boulanger. The marriage dissolved by 1936 when the younger Marguerite became involved with another musician. They never divorced.Julian, Jr. and Abeles sisters child, Julian Abele Cook (1904 - 1986), both became architects Duke University Architecture: In 1892 Trinity College moved 70 miles east to Durham, North Carolina and the Duke family began funding campus building. By 1924, the Duke Endowment was established and Trinity College transformed into Duke University. The original East Campus was renovated with Georgian-style buildings, after the Collegiate Georgian Architecture popular at other universities. Beginning in 1927 a West Campus was added, built in a Gothic-revival architectural style also popular at large, established Ivy League institutions. Architecture was used to bring students, faculty, and prestige to the new Duke institution - if it looked like a university, it must be one. The Philadelphia architecture firm led by Horace Trumbauer began the transformation of Trinity into Duke. Trumbauers head designer Julian Abele, along with William O. Frank, tackled the Duke projects from 1924 to 1958. The pià ¨ce de rà ©sistance of Abeles designs is the iconic Duke Chapel, which became the centerpiece of the West Campus. Collegiate Gothic style is a revival of 12th century Gothic architecture, with soaring ceilings, pointed arches, and flying buttresses. For Dukes Chapel, begun in 1930, Abele employed modern building techniques and materials to eliminate the need to buttress the walls. Steel trusses and structural Guastavino ceramic tile gave strength to the 210 foot structure, while local volcanic Hillsborough bluestone distinguished the distinctive facade of the neo-Gothic design. The Chapel tower, modeled after Englands Canterbury Cathedral, became a prototype for many of the future towers of Duke University. Olmsted landscape architects, from the prestigious firm founded by Frederick Law Olmsted, were employed to create a walkable campus, connecting the architecture with the surrounding natural beauty. If the intent of Duke was to rival the great universities of the northeast, this twentieth century campus, designed in part by a prominent Black architect, accomplished the task. In the Words of Julian Abele: The shadows are all mine. - commenting on the unsigned architectural drawings for the Gothic Revival Duke University Chapel, Duke University Archives Learn More: Out of the Shadows by Susan E. Tifft, Smithsonian Magazine, February 2005Philadelphia Area Architecture of Horace Trumbauer (Images of America) by Rachel Hildebrandt and the Old York Road Historical Society, 2009American Splendor: The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer by Michael C. Kathrens, rev. 2012Duke University: An Architectural Tour by John M. Bryan, 2000Duke University: An Architectural Tour (The Campus Guide) by Ken Friedlein and John Pearce, 2015Friends of Julian Abele Park, Philadelphia, PA Sources: Penn Biographies, University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center; Julian F. Abele, Architect, Free Library of Philadelphia; Biography and Projects from the American Architects and Buildings database, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia; Dukes Architecture, Office of the University Architect, Duke University; Black U.S. Architect Designed a Bond with Argentina, IIP Digital, Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State; Frank P. Mitchell House, African American Historic Places Database, National Trust for Historic Preservation; History, The Building at http://chapel.duke.edu/history/building, Duke University Chapel. Websites accessed April 3-4, 2014.

Do criminal organisations use business strategy Do business Research Paper

Do criminal organisations use business strategy Do business organisations use criminal strategy - Research Paper Example In today’s world, there are millions of criminal giants making billions of Dollars by harming human beings in one way or another. If we take an example of Naples GDP is 65% and the increasing unemployment rate is 22,6% which leads to Government's failure and economic failure, due to this situation poverty rate is increased which gives birth to the high rate of crime(Mammone 2014). The highest rate of drug dealing and a majority of the people involved are young people who are educated and are jobless. La Familia Michoacan recruits young people from rehabilitation centers and convinces them to give up on their addiction either its drug or alcohol and giving them training, meditations, motivational speaker sessions and readings( Daily Herald 2014).After training part is done some were given the choice to do the driving and other work related to their aptitude and those interested in violent activities were given training of shooting, butchering and all.From the very beginning til l date all the criminal organizations have one common strategy and that is to target the weak either financially or emotionally but to target those who are easily brainwashed and can be of great use and are poor, young brains which have so much to do but are restricted by any force which isn’t letting them put their brain into something effective and creative. Top criminal gangs which are involved in most offenses have very good strategies made by educated, creative minds (Vulliamy 2010).

Ryanair Airline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ryanair Airline - Essay Example Ultimately; when employees are happy, they tend to work better and produce good results increasing the productivity of the firm and making it more valuable for stakeholders (Nishii, Lepak & Schneider, 2008). The effectiveness of the staff is however not something that happens automatically and management must be sure to provide the right mix of elements and conditions so that their staff can be both motivated to work efficiently and feel valued and appreciated. To this end, the firm needs must put in place a variety of factors such as social corporate responsibility, reward schemes as well as treating them in an ethical and protecting from them from exploitation. In the Airline industry, CRS is very important in the airline industry since it is one of the main ways they make name for themselves in in the eyes of both the general population and their clients (Coles, Dinan & Fenclova, 2009). The subject of this paper is Rynair airline which will be examined in the context of its intera ction with the staff with attention to the nature of the relationship and making recommendations on how the situation can be improved. However before endeavouring to make the changes it is important that their effect on the overall productivity of the firm is always taken to account to avoid compromising the interests of the customers. To be successful a firm must be treat its customers well, which as aforementioned makes them the most important stakeholder, when customers are dissatisfied with the quality of service, they will in most cases leave for the competition. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily apply to employees sometimes a firm can treat them badly with the intention of improving the firms bottom line and actually succeed. This is because employees cannot leave as easily as customers given that jobs are not very easy to come by and some will sacrifice their happiness and in some cases even dignity for the sake of the job. It is

Professional document (letter or memo) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Professional document (letter or memo) - Essay Example These advances have made it possible for the human resource to come up with proper recommendations. The recommendations are aimed at improving the work rate displayed by the sales force. The work rate has decreased significantly as their morale has been diminished by the implementation of the pay for performance reward system. Proposal As much as the pay form performance reward system is appropriate and practical, some adjustments need to be done to incorporate all the condition different individuals have in the sale force. In the current pay for performance system all sales people are entitled to pay depending on their performance. Their performance is measured by the quantity of stock they have turned to cash. The commission paid does not include any other form of reward or incentive. In my proposal, all sales people should be entitled to a fixed salary rate. However, the salary should be half the salary of the required pay. The rest of their pay should then be based on commission. This will at least create a balanced operation ground among all the sales employees. According to Miner, the implementation of this move will indirectly motivate employees (34). The motivation will significantly translate to a more active sales force. My proposal in adjustment of the pay for performance system also involves the giving of extra incentives to the most performing sales people. This will not only give the sales force something to look forward to, but the sales in the organization will increase significantly. Additionally, this move will make the bonus system of the pay for performance system more practical. Rationale The welfare of the employees should be the most significant factor to be considered when implementing the proposals. As the main body of ensuring that consumers’ needs are satisfied the organization should be very considerate when dealing with them. Additionally, the level of equity turnover should be considered before formulating any reward system. Rewards system should be dictated by the amount of sales the organization makes at each quarter. Implementation There should be a proper recording system in which the turnover figure for each employee is recorded. The turnover figures should determine whether or not an employee will receive a bonus. The turnover figure should be recorded after each quarter. As originally recommended by the pay for performance system, the reward system should be as follows: 100% over salary for the topmost sales person; 60% for the second top; 30% for the third and fourth; and no extra for the rest. As internationally recommended, all employees in the sales force should be entitled to a salary that is constant to all of them. Just as the initial reward system, there will be oppositions raised against these proposals. However, as stated by Miner, the consistency of a reward system is very important (235). If the advantages of a reward system are many than the disavantages, then the rewards system sho uld be fully implemented and with time all employees will feel justly rewarded and treated. The management should also be fair when it comes to awarding of bonuses and incentives. With high stakes and topping the turnover figures, employees could be tempted to apply dubious operational skills. To curb this, the organization should come up with company rules and regulations which will govern the mode in which the sales force operates. This will also create equality in the

The Arrest Of Vessels Has Long Proven To Be A Controversial Exercise Essay

The Arrest Of Vessels Has Long Proven To Be A Controversial Exercise In The Law Of England And Wales - Essay Example Conclusion 6. Reflective review 7. Bibliography 1. Introduction a) Synopsis Pre-judgement security of claims and post-judgement execution of a suit are of importance in maritime law of any country. In both cases, it is the maritime creditor who is at the receiving end with concerns about the fulfilment of the credit extended to the debtor, as normally, most ships are credited and it is the concern of the creditor to realize the debt amount from the debtor. The concerns of the creditor become manifold when the debtor and the property under debt from the creditor are under litigation in the purview of the concerned admiralty law of the state. This calls for a study of the relevant processes and procedures involving the application of the international maritime laws to identify and evaluate the available methods and impact of the laws on the interests of the creditor and also the other related stakeholders of the ship1. Admiralty law derived from English law and the international mariti me law have relevant sections that state the process and procedures for the arrest of vessels, the ship owner and the ship which will be studied and which will be useful to understand the process of arrests, the ways in which the pre-judgement is carried to ensure that post-judgment is enabled after the suit is accepted and the litigations of the ship owners, creditors, sister ships, and also the issue of payment to the plaintiff and any other claimant of the property of the ship owner is carried with this knowledge. The Arrest Convention of 19522 and the ratified Arrest Convention of 19993,4,5,6 along with the Supreme Court Act 1981, at sect. 20(2)7 and sect. 218(1) will be studied to understand the probable scope and litigations arising out of the arrest of vessels as per the Admiralty law while considering its jurisdiction. This knowledge is used to suggest useful recommendations that can be practically implemented within the ambit of the English jurisdiction. The following secti ons discuss the aims and objectives of the paper, followed by a literature review of the laws of Admiralty, International Maritime Law, and the procedures for arrest, conflicts arising out of the etc. The research is commissioned by The British Shipowners' Federation and the report is targeted at outlining the effectiveness of arrest procedures in the UK and the possibilities for future reforms within the scope of international maritime law. b) Aims and objectives Aims- The aims of the research are to prepare a report for the British Shipowners’ Federation by: Exploring the literature available Admiralty Law and International Maritime Law based on English Law to develop critical competence of the information available and to reflect upon it Identify and evaluate the procedures for arrest of vessels in the British Admiralty Law and any conflicts with maritime laws of other countries Provide evidence for action research and need for critical reflection to recommend improvements to the Admiralty Law Objectives- To explore the different laws existing in relation to the arrest of vessels in the UK To identify any deviations in the British Admiralty Law from those of other countries that distinguishes between the procedures for vessel arrest To understand how the deviations in the laws concerning arrest of vessel impact the creditor or the ship owner To reflect upon the impact of the applicability of laws of the different countries on vessel arrest To plan and design a reflective learning report to improve

Securing the Nation from Terrorism Threat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Securing the Nation from Terrorism Threat - Essay Example The local community initiatives that can address mitigation and preparedness against terrorist attack include: Volunteering in the police service, This is initiatives that train civilian volunteers who then can assist in the local police department, freeing up an officer to a critical function that affects community security (Docobo). Also through neighborhood watch initiatives that encourage civilian to report to authority any suspicious activity in their immediate neighborhood, according to Docobo in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, neighborhood watch has taken a greater priority as the mean of securing our community. Community emergency team’s initiatives, these programs provide emergency training to civilians with the aim of enhancing their capacity to respond and mitigate the effect of disasters (Docobo). Also through the initiative of medical reserve corp where skills of practicing and retired physician, health professionals and nurses who are willing to volunteer are brought together and play a mitigation role in the event of a large-scale emergency situation. Docobo points out that, since September 11, 2001, community initiatives toward disaster mitigation and preparedness partnership with a homeland security play vital role in addressing the security issue, this is because communities have dynamic skills necessary to identify, plan, mobilize and respond to the terrorist attack (Docobo). However, trust is an important component that builds community participation. Homeland security in collaboration with the private sector enhances preparedness through various means, which include: developing and implementing risk-based transportation, this approach focus on those who pose a threat to the transportation network where passenger and cargo screening is emphasized even in the private sector so that to ensure the security of all American people.  

The Arrest Of Vessels Has Long Proven To Be A Controversial Exercise Essay

The Arrest Of Vessels Has Long Proven To Be A Controversial Exercise In The Law Of England And Wales - Essay Example Conclusion 6. Reflective review 7. Bibliography 1. Introduction a) Synopsis Pre-judgement security of claims and post-judgement execution of a suit are of importance in maritime law of any country. In both cases, it is the maritime creditor who is at the receiving end with concerns about the fulfilment of the credit extended to the debtor, as normally, most ships are credited and it is the concern of the creditor to realize the debt amount from the debtor. The concerns of the creditor become manifold when the debtor and the property under debt from the creditor are under litigation in the purview of the concerned admiralty law of the state. This calls for a study of the relevant processes and procedures involving the application of the international maritime laws to identify and evaluate the available methods and impact of the laws on the interests of the creditor and also the other related stakeholders of the ship1. Admiralty law derived from English law and the international mariti me law have relevant sections that state the process and procedures for the arrest of vessels, the ship owner and the ship which will be studied and which will be useful to understand the process of arrests, the ways in which the pre-judgement is carried to ensure that post-judgment is enabled after the suit is accepted and the litigations of the ship owners, creditors, sister ships, and also the issue of payment to the plaintiff and any other claimant of the property of the ship owner is carried with this knowledge. The Arrest Convention of 19522 and the ratified Arrest Convention of 19993,4,5,6 along with the Supreme Court Act 1981, at sect. 20(2)7 and sect. 218(1) will be studied to understand the probable scope and litigations arising out of the arrest of vessels as per the Admiralty law while considering its jurisdiction. This knowledge is used to suggest useful recommendations that can be practically implemented within the ambit of the English jurisdiction. The following secti ons discuss the aims and objectives of the paper, followed by a literature review of the laws of Admiralty, International Maritime Law, and the procedures for arrest, conflicts arising out of the etc. The research is commissioned by The British Shipowners' Federation and the report is targeted at outlining the effectiveness of arrest procedures in the UK and the possibilities for future reforms within the scope of international maritime law. b) Aims and objectives Aims- The aims of the research are to prepare a report for the British Shipowners’ Federation by: Exploring the literature available Admiralty Law and International Maritime Law based on English Law to develop critical competence of the information available and to reflect upon it Identify and evaluate the procedures for arrest of vessels in the British Admiralty Law and any conflicts with maritime laws of other countries Provide evidence for action research and need for critical reflection to recommend improvements to the Admiralty Law Objectives- To explore the different laws existing in relation to the arrest of vessels in the UK To identify any deviations in the British Admiralty Law from those of other countries that distinguishes between the procedures for vessel arrest To understand how the deviations in the laws concerning arrest of vessel impact the creditor or the ship owner To reflect upon the impact of the applicability of laws of the different countries on vessel arrest To plan and design a reflective learning report to improve

Quality of Financial reporting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quality of Financial reporting - Assignment Example h of the company depends on various intangible attributes, it becomes quite challenging to examine its real or actual financial performances (Intel Corporation, 2010). Cost of goods sold: The inventory computation process of Intel is focused on the First-In-First-Out method. To comprehend the loss recognition of the written down values of inventories, the company tends to capitalize interests based on the borrowings treating the grants as additional expenditures for the stock (Intel Corporation, 2010). Operating expenses: The depreciation of the tangible assets is calculated in a straight-line method by Intel after capitalizing the interests on borrowings in the net worth of the asset. Impairment costs are charged on goodwill, non-marketable equity investments and other intangible assets which are also reviewed annually to monitor any changes. The acquisitions during research and development process are also identified as an intangible asset liable for amortization costs (Intel Corporation, 2010). Non-operating revenue and expenses: The net interest income generated by the company is computed after deducting the interest expenses incurred during the fiscal year along with other nets. Equity income is also calculated in relation to both its marketable and non-marketable equity investments. The financial statements of the company also depict the income tax changes along with the probable reasons for such alterations increasing its transparency. The financial statements are elaborate on the discontinued functions in relation to various investment activities initiated by the company (Intel Corporation, 2010). Other issues: The consolidated financial statements apparently depict the material alterations caused in relation to outstanding shares of Intel over a given period of time. The cash flow statement as well as the income statement also depicts the computation process of operating earnings before taxation and after taxation charges following the guidelines of

Social Security for Unorganised Sector Workers Essay Example for Free

Social Security for Unorganised Sector Workers Essay The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector was set up by the UPA Government under the Chairmanship of Arjun Sengupta in September 2004. The Commission prepared two draft bills: (1) Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2005, and (2) Unorganised Sector Workers (conditions of work and livelihood promotion) Bill, 2005. According to the draft bill, it will cover all workers in the unorganised sector with a monthly income of Rs. 5,000 and below. This category includes self-employed workers (including marginal and small farmers), wage workers including agricultural labourers, and home-based workers. It also includes informal workers under the organised sector. It is estimated that around 30 crore workers are eligible under this scheme. The Bill indicates that there will be a national minimum social security for all eligible workers covering four things: (a) health insurance; (b) maternity benefits; (c) life insurance; and (d) old age pension. Every unorganised sector worker is eligible for registration. The registered worker will get a unique social security card. The existing welfare programmes will continue as before. A National Social Security Fund will be created. The scheme will be financed from the contributions at Re. 1 a day by workers, employers (wherever identified), and the Government (that is, Rs. 3 per worker a day or Rs. 1,095 a year). The Government contribution will be divided between Central Government and State Government in the ratio of 3:1 respectively (75 paise per worker by the Centre and 25 paise per worker by the State Governments). Similar to the Employment Guarantee Scheme, the National Commission estimated the costs of the minimum social security scheme. If all the 30 crore workers are covered, the contributions would work out to Rs. 32,850 crore. The share of the Central Government will be Rs. 17,548 crore and that of the State Governments Rs. 5,010 crore. This adds up to a total of Rs. 22,558 crore to be spent by Central and State Governments, equal to 0. 8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in 2004-05. If we include administrative and other expenses, the government contribution may not exceed one per cent of GDP. Similar to the national EGS, full coverage is expected to be reached in five years. If six crore workers are covered in the first year the cost will be Rs. 4,512 crore and Rs. 22,558 crore from the fifth year. The Government can contribute to the fund in the form of grants or through tax or cess. The second Bill, which deals with conditions of work and livelihood promotion, addresses the issues relating to providing a basic minimum standard on hours of work, payment of minimum wages, bonded labour, and child labour. The Bill also recognises some minimum entitlements of the workers such as the right to organise, non-discrimination in the payment of wages and conditions of work, safety at workplace, and absence of sexual harassment. The costs of providing health insurance, maternity benefits, life insurance, and old age pension for the 30 crore workers are not clear from the Bill. The Government contribution in the first year (Rs. 4,512 crore) is not large but in the fifth year it is closer to one per cent of GDP. As the draft says, tax or cess is one option for raising resources for the Government. The insistence on State Governments contributions may create problems for the scheme as their finances are in bad shape. the Bill seems to be following the targeting approach for identifying beneficiaries. For example, the Bill says that it would cover all workers in the unorganised sector with a monthly income of Rs. 5,000 and below. This may again lead to targeting errors and corruption. the implementation machinery still looks bureaucratic although decentralisation is mentioned. It is better to involve panchayati raj institutions more. Fourthly, legislation alone is not enough. For example, health insurance for all the workers will not help if there are no doctors and health infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Hence, spending has to increase at the grassroots level for better delivery systems. Fifthly, the working of the present welfare boards for workers must be examined. Keralas experience shows that there are problems of sustainability, high costs, meagre benefits, etc. Lessons should be learnt from these experiences. Sixthly, the second Bill on conditions of workers is equally important. Some regulatory institutions are needed without ending up with inspector raj. Minimum wages have to be fixed keeping in view the increasing needs of the poor. The laws should be effectively implemented. Some estimates show that even if the number of days of employment are increased, the existing wages may not bring many workers above the poverty line. This is the main reason why we have so many working poor in the country. The poor are working but at low wages. The main issue is how to improve the wage rates for the unorganised workers. DOMESTIC WORKERS Live-in workers are often treated as 24-hour slaves. Many employers do not let them even step out of the house. Part-time domestic workers are in a slightly better position. They are not on duty 24 hours a day, have access to their own families and friends, and can quit work when employers become abusive. However, there is a growing demand for live-in workers who can double up as `ayahs or nurse-cum-companions for the elderly. To meet this demand, young girls and boys are often trafficked from the poorer districts of many States. From Bokaro district (Jharkhand) alone, three lakh girls have migrated or were trafficked, 40 per cent of whom were below 14. Their average annual earnings would be Rs. 200 crores, of which they take home only half; the other half goes to the agencies. A separate law is needed to control trafficking, besides regulating working conditions. Domestic workers are especially disadvantaged since they are not covered by laws such as the Industrial Disputes Act, the Equal Remuneration Act, or even the Minimum Wages Act. The Central government has been shying away from enacting any specific legislation for this group. A Domestic Workers (conditions of service) Bill was drafted as early as 1959 but was never enacted. The House Workers (conditions of service) Bill, 1989, was not enacted either. In 2003, the Human Rights Law Network filed a petition in the Supreme Court on behalf of the NDWM, pointing out that legislation to protect domestic workers had been stalled time and again. According to lawyer Vipin Mathew Benjamin, the government had told the court that domestic workers would be covered by the forthcoming Unorganised Sector Workers Bill, 2004. The Supreme Court passed an order saying that all suggestions and demands could be put before a tripartite committee to deliberate on the draft of the Bill. Consultations with all stakeholders were to be held at the Central and State levels. We dont have a problem if this bill is comprehensive, he said. According to Bhatnagar, who is also coordinating the National Campaign Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers, there are no fewer than five versions of the draft Bill. The one put up by the Union Labour Ministry has come in for heavy criticism. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, former Judge of the Supreme Court, called it a `a half-baked law and said that rushing it through Parliament would be `a gross betrayal. Meanwhile, domestic workers are organising themselves. As a result, the Domestic Workers (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2003, has been tabled in the Maharashtra Assembly, while Karnataka has been persuaded to extend the Minimum Wages Act to domestic work. It is high time the government amended the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which is applicable only to 64 professions (13 occupations and 51 processes) that are deemed hazardous.

A Study On Scottish Smoking Ban Social Policy Essay

A Study On Scottish Smoking Ban Social Policy Essay When it comes to health and social policy, governments have the difficult task of balancing the desires and rights of individuals with the desires and rights of society as a whole. This is particularly evident in the recent smoking legislation in the Scotland. Current literature and opinion has much focused on the effect of smoking bans on the hospitality industry, and the cost to society of tobacco-related illnesses. This literature review examines the social policy considerations of the recent ban on smoking proposed by the Scottish Executive and currently under consideration. This review first considers the smoking ban bill and an overview of smoking restriction issues. It then deals with one smoker in particular, examining the effect of the proposed legislation on the complex care issues of a middle-aged cancer patient, and the balance between her right to choose her actions, even if self-destructive, and the rights of others in the hospital where she resides. Smoking is undeniably destructive to the smoker, and the Scottish government is considering action to restrict its use. Among other things, the Scottish Smoking, Health and Social Care Bill will prohibit smoking in wholly enclosed public places (Scottish Parliament 12-2004). It faces final vote in 2005, with implementation, if it passes, scheduled for 2006. Objectives listed in the bill include preventing people, including children, from being exposed to the effects of passive smoking in certain public areas and safeguarding the health of the people of Scotland from the effects of tobacco smoke (Scottish Parliament 2-2005). There is also hope for changing public attitudes towards smoking, preventing Scots from beginning to smoke, and assisting those smokers who want to quit in breaking the habit Scottish Parliament 2-2005). Similar legislation has recently been implemented in Ireland, Norway, and parts of the US with great success (BBC 2004). According to Irish Medical Organisation p resident James Reilly, in the almost one year Ireland has banned smoking in public, cigarette sales have dropped sixteen percent, demonstrating that more Irish are quitting or reducing smoking (Salvage 2005, 36). The need to reduce the destruction caused by smoking, therefore, is not limited to Scotland. Countries around the world have begun to address the tobacco situation, with over forty ratifying the WHOs Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO 2004). The FCTC just went into effect in February 2005, establishes packaging and labelling guidelines, addresses tobacco advertising, provides for regulation to prevent second hand smoke, and tightens efforts on tobacco smuggling (WHO 2004, WHO 2003). The Scottish legislation replaces the less than effective Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places. Implemented in May 2000, as of 2005 only 61% of hospitality establishments had some type of non-smoking provision, demonstrating the Charters inadequacies (Anon 2005). Bill ONeil, Scottish Secretary of the British Medical Association, supports the bill, contending that each year we continue to rely on these half-hearted measures, Scots continue to suffer from passive smoke-related illnesses and significant numbers die (BBC 2004). Smoking is a profoundly destructive health and social issue. The World Health Organisation (2005) lists tobacco as the second major cause of death in the world, affecting one in ten adults worldwide. Half the people who smoke today, that is about 650 million people, will eventually be killed by tobacco (WHO 2005). The government contends, smoking is the main avoidable cause of early death in Britain, killing more than 120,000 people a year, even publishing a White Paper titled Smoking Kills (Gardiner 2004, DOH 1998). Scotlands Chief Medical Officer, Mac Armstrong states nicotine is twice as addictive as cocaine and that it takes sixteen years off the average smokers life (Johnson 2004, 8). Tobacco is also destructive to non-smokers. Smoking and exposure to passive smoke are the fourth most common risk factor for disease of any kind worldwide (WHO 2004). This risk extends to those who choose to smoke, and those who are exposed to others cigarettes, regardless of choice. The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (2005) concludes that exposure to second hand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a cause of lung cancer, heart disease, and asthma, and represents a substantial public health hazard. Jim Devine of Unison stated to continue to allow people to work in smoky environments is the 21st century equivalent of sending children up chimneys (BBC 2004). Studies find children regularly exposed to second hand cigarette smoke are more likely to develop asthma (Johnson 2004, 8). Mac Armstrong offers that due to passive smoking, between 1000 and 2000 lives are lost each year in Scotland (Johnson 2004, 8). Some smoking opponents question why it is legal at all, given its social cost and overall destructive impact on human life. Proponents of smoking argue that adequate ventilation would address much of the second hand smoke risk. However, workplaces with designated smoking areas have been shown to still expose smoke to workers (Leourardy and Kleiner 2000, 68). It also raises the question of who should pay for such ventilation. Tobacco already has staggering economic costs to society, typically claiming the lives of people at the ages when they are most productive and exponentially increasing health care costs (WHO 2005). The average smoker takes 25% more sick days than the average non-smoker (Johnson 2004, 8). These costs are passed on to all members of society, whether they choose to smoke or not, just like second hand smoke. Other typical arguments against smoking bans are economic. Tobacco companies and members of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association have argued that a full ban is unnecessary and not supported by the public (BBC 2004). Opponents of the smoking ban contend it will ruin business, cause unemployment, and take away peoples right to enjoy a cigarette with a drink in public (Johnson 2004, 8). Tobacco Manufacturers Association executive Tim Lord held that a study commissioned by the TMA showed 77% of Scots were opposed to a total smoking ban, particularly disfavouring the ban in clubs, pubs, and bars (BBC 2004). These results were not supported by independent studies, however. A policy memorandum produced for the Scottish Parliament found 70% of Scots in favour of smoking restrictions, with 59% of restaurant owners not expecting any negative impact from the legislation (Scottish Parliament 2-2004). More importantly, any economic impact of smoking restriction must be considered in light of t he tremendous cost of smoking to society. Not all opponents of smoking bans cite economic reasons. Salvage (2005, 36) contends, human rights and freedom of choice are two reasons put forward for [smoking] bans not going ahead. For example, opponents of bans cite the uproar of violation of human rights caused by the recent smoking ban in Liverpool. Health Minister Melanie Johnson stated the bill was incompatible with the Human Rights Act, because it extended smoking bans to private homes and prisons, required smokers to prove their innocence, effectively reversing the burden of proof, and extended the power of searches (Merrick 2005). MPs and peers ruled that it breached human rights laws, while a cross-party human rights committee found the smoking ban bill incompatible with the right to a private life, and possibly the right to a fair trail and the protection of property (Merrick 2005). These impositions on human rights, however, seem based on the bills reach beyond public places, and the manner with which that reach is exe cuted. It is unlikely that the legislation currently under consideration in Scotland will have similar flaws. Questions do arise of the National Health Services ability to enforce such legislation. Under the current bill, smoking policies would be enforced by environmental health officers, hired by local councils (Scottish Parliament 12-2004). It is questionable whether they will have the same effect as would police officers, particularly if trying to enforce no-smoking legislation in pubs and bars. As the patient considered here is confined to a hospital, enforcement is not an issue. Of greater concern regarding the National Health Service is whether it will be able to provide the necessary support for smokers who want to quit. Approximately one-third of smokers try to quit each year, but only three percent succeed (Lewis 2005). Kevin Lewis (2005), Clinical Director of Smoking Cessation of Shropshire, Telford, and Shrewsbury, believes, however, there is great potential for smoking cessation in primary care. If smoking bans are accomplish their objectives of reducing the number of smokers and amount they smoke, adequate resources must be available. The greatest success occurs when a motivated individual is provided with a combination of personal support and pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement or bupropion), under the care of a trained medical professional, typically a nurse (Lewis 2005). As the government progresses with smoking legislation, preparation and funding for the NHS are imperative to the ultimate success of smoking restrictions. To provide some background on the specific case considered in this review, the female patient in reference is forty-three years of age. She began smoking at the age of fifteen, and smoked regularly throughout her life. This is not surprising, as 80% of smokers take up tobacco as children and teenagers (Johnson 2004, 8). The patient was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of forty, which has progressed with some rapidity; her cancer is now inoperable, untreatable, and terminal. She has recently suffered loss of mobility, in addition to general physical degeneration. Due to these complications, the patient now requires a wheelchair to travel even short distances, including going outside the hospital. She is unable to navigate the wheelchair to the common area outside the facility without assistance. The patient, however, continues to smoke, and the recent ban will make her unable to smoke in her room or a designated indoor area of the hospital. In addition, hospital staff is not allo wed to assist her in going outside for smoking purposes, per hospital policy. She must therefore wait for visitors to take her out. There are several factors of prominence in this particular case study. First, while the government has some (albeit debated) responsibly to protect its citizens from themselves, there are no grounds for the need to guard this woman from the effects of smoking (Lambert and Dibsdall 2002). She has irrevocably made the decision to smoke, and bears the consequences. It is unlikely that quitting smoking now will have a pronounced difference on the time she has remaining or on her prognosis. The government therefore has no right for intervention to protect her from the harms of tobacco. The debate then emerges between her human rights to decide her own behaviour and receive adequate care, her responsibility to society, the rights of hospital staff, patients, and visitors regarding second-hand smoke, and the mandate of the hospital to act in the best interest of the patients health and well-being. Advanced societies recognise the right of every human being to make choices regarding his or her behaviour and life, to the point these choices negatively impact others (Perry 1985, 568). The patient, as a part of a larger society, has a responsibility to the members of her community. She is affected by legislation that could save others, and her government does have a responsibility to encourage its citizens to make wise decisions. Smoking is certainly not a wise decision, as even tobacco companies and smoking ban opponents acknowledge its addictive nature and potential for impaired health (Anon 2005; Black, McKie and Allen 2003, 69). The patient undoubtedly recognises this, as she is dying due greatly to her choice to smoke. Certain laws are passed not because they are required for everyone, but because they are needed by most (Perry 1985, 574). For example, many people would drive at excessive speeds from time to time were it not for speed limits. While there are a few that could probably do so without accident, most need speed guidelines to drive safely. The major difference with smoking is the effect of tobacco smoke on those in the general area. Second-hand smoke, as discussed previously, has been shown to be almost as deadly as actually smoking, and it is often beyond the control of the non-smoker to limit smoking in his or her vicinity. Those commonly cited in this argument are wait staff in clubs and bars, but the same would apply to hospital staff required to clean a designated smoking area or move patients in and out of it (Aung et al 2001, 283; Cuthbert and Nickson 1999, 33). These workers are then faced with either exposing themselves to a potential carcinogen or giving up their jobs (Aung et al 2001, 280). As the patients rights extend only to the point they impact others, the government is therefore within its bounds to restrict her smoking in enclosed areas of the hospital. The question then presents itself, does the patient have the right to continue her destructive behaviour, and what is the hospitals mandate to prevent her injurious choices? J. David Velleman (1999), in writing about his own bout with cancer, discusses the rights of smokers in society. Instead of focusing on second hand smoke as the effect of smoking on non-smokers, he considers the relationship between the individual and society. He sees himself as my sons father, my wifes husband, my parents son, my brothers brother (Velleman 1999, 606). However, he comes to the conclusion that a person has a right to make his own life shorter in order to make it better, if he so chooses and however he defines better. Social organisations, like governments or hospitals, only have the right to intervene when the individual is incapable of rational decision (Velleman 1999, 613). While the patient therefore has the right to smoke, she does not have the right to expect assistance from the hospital. A hospital, as a medical facility, has a corporate responsibility to its patients to promote their healthy living (BBC 2005). Hospitals would not be expected to provide candy machines for uncontrolled diabetics or allow suicidal patients to keep sharp objects. The hospital has a responsibility to promote health (BBC 2005). While this patient may not be more harmed by continuing to smoke, providing assistance or a smoking area for her would require the hospital to do the same for all its patients, thereby assisting many in smoking which would damage their health. The visible issue is her mobility; if she were able to go outside unassisted, her smoking choice would not be limited. It is the combination of her damaging desire to smoke and her degenerative condition that create the quandary. The most feasible solution is to ask the patient to provide her own assistance to and from the outdoor smoking area. Since she is choosing destructive behaviour that the hospital cannot support, she must find a way to accomplish such behaviour. The government and the hospital in the above instance have the right to impose smoking restrictions on the patient for the good of society as a whole. Both organisations have a mandate to protect those in their community from risk to health, and smoking is most certainly a risk to health. Neither, however, has the right to prevent her from smoking. Therein lies the balance. In her situation, she must find or arrange for someone to help her in her choice to smoke. We as members of society can choose to pursue self-destructive behaviours, but society has no obligation to support us in their pursuit. REFERENCES Anon 2005. Second hand smoke: health risks. Scottish Executive Health website [online]. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. Aung, M. et al, 2001. An exploratory study of the smoking issue in restaurants. Management Decision, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 279-285. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. BBC 2004. Scotland smoking ban to go ahead. BBC news, Scotland [online]. Available at www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. BBC 2005. The Hippocratic Oath. Nova online [online]. Available at www.bbctv-ap.co.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. Black, M., McKie, L., Allen, E., 2003. A community development approach to tobacco control. Health Education, vol. 103, no. 2, pp. 68-74. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Cuthbert, L., Nickson, D., 1999. Smoking in the restaurant industry: time for a ban? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 31-36. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. DOH 1998. Smoking Kills: a White Paper on tobacco. The Stationery Office, London. Gardiner, B., 2004. Scotland readies tough smoking ban, England may follow. Associated Press, Oban, Scotland, Nov. 15, 2004 [online]. Available at www.cbsnews.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Johnson, J., 2004. The Huff Puff CafÃÆ'Â ©. The Sunday Herald, Fresh Section, December 5, 2004. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Lambert, N., Dibsdall, L.A., Frewer, L.J., 2002. Poor diet and smoking: the big killers. Comparing health education in two hazard domains. British Food Journal, vol. 104, no.1, pp. 63-75. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Leourardy, B., Kleiner, B., 2000. New developments concerning tobacco smoke in the workplace. Management Research News, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 67-70. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Lewis, K., 2005. Helping patients to quit smoking. The Practitioner, 8 March, 2005. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Malam., S., et al 2004. Workplace Smoking Policies in Scotland. Scottish Exectuive and NHS Health Scotland, research report [online]. Available at www.healthscotland.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. Perry, T., 1985. Two Domains of Rights. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, vol. 45, no. 4, June 1985, pp. 567-580 [online]. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Salvage, F., 2005. Smoking Cessation: Should it be banned? Chemist Druggist, March 5, 2005 [online]. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Scottish Parliament 2-2004. Prohibiltion of Smoking in Regulated Areas (Scotland) Bill. Policy Memorandum, introduced 3 February 2004 [online]. Available at www.scottishparliment.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. Scottish Parliment 12-2004. Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill. Executive Bill, introduced 16 December 2004 [online]. Available at www.scottishparliment.uk, accessed 19 March 2005. van Teijlingen, E., Bruce, J., 1999. Systematic reviews of health promotion initiatives the Smokebusters experience. Health Education, vol. 99, no. 2, pp. 76-83 [online]. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. Velleman, J., 1999. A Right of Self-Termination? Ethics, vol. 199, no. 3, pp. 606-628, April 1999 [online]. Available at www.emeraldinsight.com, accessed 19 March 2005. WHO 2003. An international treaty for tobacco control. World Health Organisation [online]. Available at www.who.int, accessed 19 March 2005. WHO 2004. Tobacco Treaty set to become law, making global health history. World Health Organisation [online]. Available at www.who.int, accessed 19 March 2005. WHO 2005. Why is tobacco a public health priority? World Health Organisation [online]. Available at www.who.int, accessed 19 March 2005.