Positive Behavior Interventions

Positive Behavior Interventions Managing classroom behavior is one of the tasks most challenging for beginning teachers and even some veteran teachers. A national survey revealed that 20% of first- year teachers did not feel adequately prepared to maintain order and discipline in their classroom (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011). I struggle with controlling individuals’ behavior that interrupts the other students learning. A research was designed to show how a specific management strategy helped decrease inappropriate behavior and increase appropriate behavior.The research combined with my experience in the classroom helped me come to the conclusion of how to promote positive behavior. The study was looking at the effects of teachers prompting appropriate behavior on the off task behavior of two middle school students. Prompts are used as reminders and they can be verbal, visual, gestural, and physical but they should be specific and frequent for them to be effective. The stu dy took place in an urban middle school with 1000 students across grades 5-8.The two participants in the study was Owen, an 11 year old male in the fifth grade and Tom, a 12 year old male in sixth grade. They were in general education classes and both were academically able to complete the work when not engaging in off task behaviors. Their off task behaviors included getting out of their seat, talking out, making disruptive noises, and talking to peers. Data was collected in the classes where problem behaviors were most likely to occur for each student.The dependent variable in the research was direct observation to document students’ on-and off-task behavior and the independent variable is the verbal prompt addressed to each student. The verbal prompt was given only one time at the beginning of class and was alternated every other day and it was â€Å"Be respectful, be responsible, and have pride. Do your best! † The results showed that both students engaged in less off-task behavior when they were prompted than when they were not.The teachers also commented that they saw an improvement in academic performance during classes when the student was prompted. They believed that prompting increases appropriate behavior and decreases inappropriate behavior. This study shows that prompting is a simple and effective strategy that may be implemented successfully with students who engage in off-task behavior in a general education classroom setting. I would use prompting in my classroom because prompting requires minimal training and effort to implement so it would be an ideal strategy for me to use for managing student behavior.In my classroom now I have many behavior problems in my last period class. They will talk over me and disrupt me when I was giving directions or trying to explain something to the class. One day I decided to use prompting and I did it at the beginning of class and at the end of class by saying â€Å"Today we will not be disrupti ve and we will be respectful and raise our hands if we have a comment or question† I was very surprised to see how much this improved classroom behavior as a whole.The students then were able to be on task and actual learn more when they were not disruptive. In conclusion, prompting is shown to increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior. Prompts can be effective even in different settings and not just in the classroom. The article stated that prompts delivered over the phone to encourage people to exercise where effective at increasing exercise behavior (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011).Prompting should be used inside and outside the classroom to improve positive behaviors. Classroom management can become much easier for first year teachers if they use the strategy of prompting combined with other strategies. Reference Faul, A. , Stepensky, K. , & Simonsen, B. (2011). The effects of prompting appropriate behavior on the off-task behavior of two middle s chool students. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 14(1), 47-55. doi: 10. 1177/1098300711410702 Positive Behavior Interventions Positive Behavior Interventions Managing classroom behavior is one of the tasks most challenging for beginning teachers and even some veteran teachers. A national survey revealed that 20% of first- year teachers did not feel adequately prepared to maintain order and discipline in their classroom (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011). I struggle with controlling individuals’ behavior that interrupts the other students learning. A research was designed to show how a specific management strategy helped decrease inappropriate behavior and increase appropriate behavior.The research combined with my experience in the classroom helped me come to the conclusion of how to promote positive behavior. The study was looking at the effects of teachers prompting appropriate behavior on the off task behavior of two middle school students. Prompts are used as reminders and they can be verbal, visual, gestural, and physical but they should be specific and frequent for them to be effective. The stu dy took place in an urban middle school with 1000 students across grades 5-8.The two participants in the study was Owen, an 11 year old male in the fifth grade and Tom, a 12 year old male in sixth grade. They were in general education classes and both were academically able to complete the work when not engaging in off task behaviors. Their off task behaviors included getting out of their seat, talking out, making disruptive noises, and talking to peers. Data was collected in the classes where problem behaviors were most likely to occur for each student.The dependent variable in the research was direct observation to document students’ on-and off-task behavior and the independent variable is the verbal prompt addressed to each student. The verbal prompt was given only one time at the beginning of class and was alternated every other day and it was â€Å"Be respectful, be responsible, and have pride. Do your best! † The results showed that both students engaged in less off-task behavior when they were prompted than when they were not.The teachers also commented that they saw an improvement in academic performance during classes when the student was prompted. They believed that prompting increases appropriate behavior and decreases inappropriate behavior. This study shows that prompting is a simple and effective strategy that may be implemented successfully with students who engage in off-task behavior in a general education classroom setting. I would use prompting in my classroom because prompting requires minimal training and effort to implement so it would be an ideal strategy for me to use for managing student behavior.In my classroom now I have many behavior problems in my last period class. They will talk over me and disrupt me when I was giving directions or trying to explain something to the class. One day I decided to use prompting and I did it at the beginning of class and at the end of class by saying â€Å"Today we will not be disrupti ve and we will be respectful and raise our hands if we have a comment or question† I was very surprised to see how much this improved classroom behavior as a whole.The students then were able to be on task and actual learn more when they were not disruptive. In conclusion, prompting is shown to increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior. Prompts can be effective even in different settings and not just in the classroom. The article stated that prompts delivered over the phone to encourage people to exercise where effective at increasing exercise behavior (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011).Prompting should be used inside and outside the classroom to improve positive behaviors. Classroom management can become much easier for first year teachers if they use the strategy of prompting combined with other strategies. Reference Faul, A. , Stepensky, K. , & Simonsen, B. (2011). The effects of prompting appropriate behavior on the off-task behavior of two middle s chool students. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 14(1), 47-55. doi: 10. 1177/1098300711410702

BreadTalk Group Limited Essay

The BreadTalk Group Limited has rapidly globalized into 16 countries such as Singapore, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Middle East(http://www. breadtalk. com/ourbrand-bt. html Our Presence,2012). It is well known for its bakery, restaurant and food atrium, and this compromises of BreadTalk, Toast Box, The Icing Room, Din Tai Fung, RamenPlay, Carl’s Jr China, and Food Republic. Being founded in 2000, the young company has achieved numerous awards which includes the Singapore Prestige Brand Award in 2011(http://www. breadtalk. com/brand-accolades. tml Brand Accolades, 2012). The Group has a global network of over 400 bakery outlets, with a strength of more than 6000 employees, as well as operating 11 Michelin Star Din Tai Fung restaurants in Singapore and Thailand, and over 30 award winning Food Republic food atriums in Singapore, PRC, Hong Kong and Malaysia. The household brand is founded by the Chairman George Quek Meng Tong, who was appointed to the board in 2003, and re-elected in 2010. Being very experience in food and beverage industry since 1982(http://www. breadtalk. com/board-of-directors. tml, Chairman,2012), he started the bakery business with BreadTalk Private Limited and bought it to list on the Singapore Exchange Limited in 2003. The Group made an average revenue of $333, 000, 000 and a profit of $11, 450, 000 between 2010 and 2011. With an available financial asset of $911, 000 at the end of 2011, the BreadTalk Group has a promising future, with the addition of rapid growth of franchising network in Asia Pacific region (http://www. breadtalk. com/franchising. html, our presence, 2012). Today, organizations and firms have to keep changing and adapting to the global shift (R .  Gomez-Mejia, 2012, page 56) to stay competitive in the industry. And this is because the general environment is always moving, and these dimensions – Demographic, economic, political or legal, sociocultural, technological and global – always influences the industry and firms. These segments are uncontrollable and thus, in order to stay competitive, the BreadTalk Group gathers information required to understand each segments and plan a strategy that can be implemented to tackle environmental changes like demographics in China, global consumer preference, threat of new entrant, nd management across cultures. In recent years, firms are venturing into China’s market due to its huge population of least 6. 8 billion (Worldbank, 2012) , and is seen as a driver of growth for BreadTalk Group. In Boston Consulting Group’s Growth-Share Matrix (R. Gomez-Mejia,2012 page 235), BreadTalk Group is a â€Å"Star† that earnings is growingly stable and high, with cash flow that is not negative. And thus, is to invest and grow. By purchasing an existing presence in China, Food Republic, BreadTalk was able to reap benefits from low setup cost, as well as to observe the consumers’ behaviors in China. Up to date, BreadTalk has already spread into 32 cities of China, and outnumbers Singapore with 20 food courts, 3 Carl’s Jr fast food restaurants, 3 Ramen Play restaurants, and 184 Bakery outlets. The BreadTalk Group plans to grow aggressively in the market as â€Å"China currently accounts for about a third of BreadTalk’s revenue† (Themalaysian insider, 2010), and by establishing most of its presence in Beijing and Shanghai, BreadTalk has took advantage of the rising income which led to higher expenditure in consumers. Thus, the demographic environment of China, has boost BreadTalk Group’s revenue, as well as being a large market for it to expand, unlike in Singapore where brands are very saturated . The BreadTalk Group tackles global consumer tastes and preferences very well even though it changes as time goes by. It has a very strong branding and has a very standardized layout. For example, each BreadTalk is designed with the same clear glass concept, and â€Å"see through† kitchens which conveys their bakery as fresh and artistic while Food Republic holds a more nostalgic style of a Chinese village and Toast Box is designed with a more warm atmosphere of local Nanyang coffee shops in the 60s and 70s(http://www. breadtalk. com/ourbrand-tb. html, our brands 2012). Thus, by standardizing the layouts of the brands in BreadTalk Group, the Group has saved cost on the tedious process of customizing to local conditions as well as creating a strong brand through its unique layouts. Although the BreadTalk Group holds a very strong branding, the barriers to entry to food and beverage industry is very low. And thus, the threat of new entrants is very high as they can threaten the market share. Likewise in BreadTalk, existing competitors such as Bengawan Solo, Crystal Jade My Bread, Imperial Kitchen, as well as many neighborhood bakery stores that are located all over the countries, shows a threat to BreadTalk as they are sharing the same market of consumers. Being a big company, BreadTalk faces risk of new entrants as new comer can learn from existing companies and create a similar or even a better concept. With an extra competitor, unless the demand for BreadTalk bakery increases, the revenue will fall. Thus, it is very important for BreadTalk Group to keep innovating and moving to survive against many competitors. Lastly, the management across cultures is also an environmental factor that affects BreadTalk Group as it shapes the consumers’ preferences and tastes. For example, the highest selling bun in BreadTalk is the â€Å"Pork Floss Bun†( http://www. breadtalk. com/franchising. html,more bread business, 2012), however in Malaysia, the Muslim law does not allow Malays to consume pork, and thus, it is taken out of the choices. BreadTalk also follow themes and trends in countries, like creating the Obunma bun during Obama’s elections, and the â€Å"Peace Panda Buns† after the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, to raise social awareness to donate and help the affected people in the earthquake. Through connecting to cultures of different country, the BreadTalk Group not only holds a social responsible frontier, it also caters to the taste and preferences of different cultures and thus, able to attract many consumers. Besides the above factors, economic and cultural environment affects the business in BreadTalk Group as well. BreadTalk Group is now facing the rising of labor cost and inflation in China, and these are unpredictable to how much it will affect the profits. With the cost of goods sold attributing to nearly 30% of sales(http://breadtalk. istedcompany. com/financials. html, financials 2012), an inflation will cause an increase in the cost of goods sold nearer to its gross margins. Likewise in China, the government has gradually increased wages and might continue to do so. And this will increase the expenses of BreadTalk Group, leading to a decrease in the profits. Although some companies could retrench, but BreadTalk Group needs the human capital and thus, could only adjust its raw materials cost by buying forward, and negotiating contracts in bulk and then purchase at the best price available. By doing so, the cost of sales would be reduced and the Group will be more efficient. The BreadTalk Group holds a low power distance, goals achieving culture, and uses a justice approach. For example, BreadTalk strives to have high and consistent standards of products to their customers. Employees will under-go hands on training on various outlets to make sure that they have a formal entrance to the organization and thus, would not face a cultural shock(R. Gomez-Mejia, 2012 page 66). BreadTalk also emphasizes on team-building by organizing team building trips and activities for its employees. By doing so, employees will interact and understand each other, as well as building bonds that enhances teamwork, boosting effectiveness of the team. In BreadTalk, employees are also encourages to think uniquely and are treated fairly, and thus, managers are required to develop a service culture and all these are to achieve an increase customer’s loyalty. Planning is essential for a company and this is one of the four management functions. Through planning, BreadTalk is able to make action plans on how to expand further into China, as well as allocating its resources to different regions. Through the experience of Food Republic in PRC, BreadTalk was able to capture consumer trends and thus, making use of the core competencies of knowing how to make bakery that attracts PRC nations. Planning is beneficial to BreadTalk as it can excess the external forces as mentioned above, as well as develop a sense of direction and purpose of â€Å"innovation† in both managers and employees. One method of planning is the â€Å"SWOT† analysis, which allows BreadTalk to see its strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats. However, planning has to be continuous and capable of adapting to change. And this can be seen in BreadTalk taking a major internal review of paving a future growth, by dividing into 3 divisions – Bakery, Food Atrium, and Restaurants, and inviting 3 new CEOs(http://www. breadtalk. com/message-shareholder. html, consolidating long term growth, 2012) to handle each division. With such willingness to change, the senior management would function more effectively. Forward planning can also be seen in the upcoming headquarters of BreadTalk Group in Paya Lebar Singapore, which will involve all its brands, logistics, training center, departments, and a common ground for staff all over the world to gather at. BreadTalk Group holds a geographical organization which allows the Group to focus on customer needs that may vary by geographic region of Asean region and China region. And then its further diversify into Bakery, Food Atrium and Restaurants. Through this method, the senior management bench will be deepened, and thus, it can strengthen the strategic focus of BreadTalk Group and allow it to execute plans more effectively. All brands under each segment will be managed in totality. This also provides the platform for each brand to be specially positioned based on its unique brand strategy and especially in view of expansion into the region. One of the strategy that BreadTalk Group holds is sharing the set up cost. This can be seen in NEX Serangoon Singapore, whereby a few brands are set up together in a high human traffic area. Thus, competitors can be minimized, as well as saving cost by renting locations in â€Å"bulk†.

Risk Assesment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Risk Assesment - Essay Example If the 100, 000 people were financially well off, they would have left the city before the storm. In addition, if the number were small, say less than 5,000, the government would use its resources to evacuate them. There is a high association between poverty and crime. From a sociological perspective, the poor are more prone to criminal activities such as stealing and looting whenever such a chance occurs. Bearing in mind that the people left behind were the poor, this theory holds true as they participated in the looting in the city. Additionally, the high number of the affected delayed the recovery process, as the government had to wait for the storm to end before implementing any program. There was a large population of the sick, injured, homeless, and psychologically tortured residents. For this reason, it required more resources to provide rehabilitation facilities, medical services, and housing. As a result, the recovery process was slow compared to a situation where the number of victims was manageable, and the affected had personal resources to assist in various projects such as housing and

ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT ASISGNMENT Case Study

ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT ASISGNMENT - Case Study Example The first task looks at both internal and external drivers of change and the second task focuses on the nature of change. The third task critically examines possible types of employee reaction to proposed change and the forth task deals with recommendations that can be implemented to execute the planned change. The conclusion sums up the main points discussed in the report. In this particular context of Blue Marina Restaurant, change is driven by both internal as well as external factors as going to be illustrated below. Schultz et al (2005) suggests that internal forces of change mainly concern the issues related to human resources in the organisation such as low productivity due to different factors. A close analysis of this case shows that there is lack of coordination between the waiting and kitchen staff and this is a major challenge with regards to maintenance of the desired levels of customer service. Customers are forced to wait for long hours to be served and in some cases they have to leave without being served their favourite dishes. In other words, employee productivity has significantly declined as a result of poor coordination among them which has stimulated change to be implemented in the operations of the company. On the other hand, profit margins have remained low and this can be attributed to external drivers for change. The poor performance of the organisation is mainly due to the economic crisis characterising the environment in which the company is operating in. The other external factor which has necessitated change is related to competition which has suddenly tightened as a result of new entrants into the market. These opened a pub and two new restaurants within the shopping mall and there is a growing cluster of similar businesses within the vicinity of Blue Marina. This entails that dissatisfied customers now have an alternative

Soap Opera developed from the American radio serials in the 1930s to a Essay

Soap Opera developed from the American radio serials in the 1930s to a major global television genre. Trace it s development a - Essay Example These ongoing serials, which first appeared on radio and later on television, were called â€Å"soap operas† because the leading soap manufacturers such as P&G, Lever Brothers, Colgate and others were the major advertisers, producers and financers of these soap operas (Katzman, 1972, p. 210). By the 1930s, most of the networks and advertisers were realising the potential and the size of the daytime market, as most men would spend their daytime on their job and children would spend most of the morning and afternoon at school and playing outside, which left the women and homemakers as an enormous untapped market (Baym, 1996, p. 149). Soap operas provided these networks to tap into this market and attract the advertisers since these women made most of the important purchasing decisions in their homes. Furthermore, with the advent of television and its widespread distribution and use in industrialised and modern economies, advertisers began to focus on developing soap operas on te levision and it is on television that the genre of soap opera has developed and nurtured (Nariman & Rogers, 1993, p. 152). This paper will make a brief attempt at exploring and analysing the development and evolution of soap operas in the global television industry with highlighting the significant and noteworthy changes that have taken place over the past few decades in terms of the format and content of soap operas. Discussion For the most part, a crucial defining element of soap operas has been its open-ended narrative nature, where the story line has the potential to go into so many directions. Every episode ends in such a way that it does need to explicitly run a ticker saying, â€Å"To be continued† because the viewers easily infer that the story will move on to several upcoming episodes. A soap opera may have several parallel story lines, which may intersect with each other and shape each other. Soap opera are least likely to bring all of their storylines to conclusion during the show and even if one storyline moves towards its conclusion, the other storyline is likely to take its place (Nariman & Rogers, 1993, p. 152). During the early years, when the soap operas represented stage plays and theatre settings, the actors relied heavily on blocking techniques. Every now and then, during conservations between characters, one character would suddenly change his or her direction so that they could both face the camera or the stage at the same time (Matelski, 1988, p. 37). The conversation or dialogue delivery, which takes place in such a setting, is not at all realistic but this was a technique which was heavily relied upon during the early years when most of the soap operas were shot in live format. The same does not apply to soap operas and television dramas of today, whether they are using single camera or multi camera format (Liebes & Livingstone, 1998, p. 68). During much of the 1940s-1960s, many of the soap operas never left interior settings or were shot in fictional settings of Midwestern midsized towns. Furthermore, since most of the early actors that took part in these soap opera were theatre actors, the focus remained on live broadcasting in order to provide a

Assignment Description Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Assignment Description - Research Paper Example In brief, this book is of very much help for both HR executives and students alike. 2. Joshi, G. Employee counseling-are we ready for it? Retrieved 20 April 2011 from http://www.123oye.com/job-articles/hr/employee-counselling-hr.htm This article draws attention to counseling as a trend that has immense impact on employees of an organization. The writer compares counseling to a tool that helps to achieve organizational goals. The importance of employee counseling is briefly discussed here in it. It also tries to mention the basic qualities of a counselor and how his advice should be. This work has simplified the complex and vague concept of counseling in to an interesting piece of writing which is easily understandable by all from various walks. 3. Yadav, L. B. (Ed.). (2000). Readings in Social and Labor Welfare. New Delhi: Anmol Publications PVT LTD. This book brings together rich information on all vital matters of labor as well as social welfare. This highlights the importance of g iving employee welfare the prime consideration. The historical development of the policy of labor welfare is elaborately discussed in this that it provides the reader with a clear cut idea about how it became as we see today. The structural frame work of employee welfare is well established so as to help an organization to develop a healthy atmosphere from existing working condition. 4. Roberts, G. (1997). Recruitment and Selection: A company Approach. UK: CIPD Publishing. This book serves as a helping material to the process of recruitment and selection. The writer has endeavored to bring in an analysis of all the fundamental aspects of recruitment and selection processes which will be of great interest and help for the students concerned. Still, the main aim of this book is to assist those people who are very much involved in the recruitment and selection trials of individuals at whatever levels; for, it provides practical guidance with sufficient coverage of issues. 5. Amstrong, M. (2000). Strategic human resource management: A guide to action. US: Kogan Page Publishers. This book is a broad compendium of human resource management definitions and explanations about aligning of strategies with organizational goals. Its main aim is to bring down the gap between decisions and actions by citing formulation of human resource strategies and ways of implementing them. This book is divided into four segments which represent the human resource management, the practicalities of implementing strategic human resource management strategies and organizational and functional strategies from practical point of view. 6. Callaway, P. L. (2007). The Relationship of organizational trust and satisfaction: An analysis in the US federal work force. Florida: Universal Publishers. This book is meant for professionals and students who are in the field of business management, organizational studies and human resource management. This provides an over view about what job satisfaction actually is. It cites trust and job satisfaction as of strategic importance. In the study conducted in seven selected US federal agencies, it indicates that if effective communication is done at proper times the top managements truly give their ears to the employees’ concerns and make no difference between males and females. 7. Hamlin, D. (August 8, 2009). Why the importance of HR manager should not be under estimated? Helium: Human Resources. Retrieved 20 April 2011 from

Film paper Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Film paper - Movie Review Example The modern audience might be amused of how Godard suddenly breaks the 4th wall this way. They can perceive the breaking as a form of interpersonal connection, a way to get into the mind of the audience to make them think about filmmaking too, not just the film. A 1959 audience might be a bit shocked, as if their spectatorship has been violated. They might also seem confused of what Michel means. The influence of the technique up to now may not have the same power as before because it might seem too contrived, depending on how it is executed. Or it might just seem like an overused technique for some of the modern audience who have seen it many times. Done before or within the context of avant garde films, breaking the 4th wall can attain the impact of changing how people see the film and the social context of the film. It can highlight the insight that film is about making impressions and images, a contrived way of affecting the audience through the right placing and combination of fi lm elements. 2. One of the scenes that features several jump cuts is the transition between the long bedroom scene between Patrician and Michel and their kiss. Before the jump cut, Patricia starts a game where she will stop staring at Michel once he stops staring at her. After he does his usual rubbing of his lips mannerism, Patricia is in shallow focus and she rolls the poster to look at Michel through its hole. The poster serves as a double frame. She looks into him and the camera zooms, as if she is going deeper into his personality, trying to figure out why she is attracted to him. Michel keeps on staring at her, in this case, he also stares at the audience, and the shot zooms to a close up, making his necklace and cigarette appear closer and closer. The impact is that the audience sees only the physical and the material of his identity. He hides himself inside his carefree attitude to life. After that is the jump cut which is disorienting. All of a sudden,

Resource and Capabilities of Huawei Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Resource and Capabilities of Huawei - Essay Example Global telecom market has gone through systematic changes wherein from a fragmented industry, it becomes more like a centralized industry with the focus on developing core competencies through the centralization of manufacturing and production facilities. With the changes in the technology, however, there occurred a systematic shift in the way organizations in the industry attempted to dominate the market. Â  However, there still remains a big question mark as to whether the firm will be able to climb the technology ladder and start offering high-end technology products in the international market. It is also critical to note whether the firm will be able to challenge CISCO-one of the leading providers of networking and communication equipment in the international market. If it can what resources and capabilities it may require to successfully challenging the CISCO. Â  The resource-based view of the strategic management indicates as to how firms can develop their internal resources and capabilities in order to perform better than their competitors. Resource-based view also indicates that a firm must deploy its resources in most efficient and optimal level so as to maximize the returns for shareholders. Development of strategic capabilities is, therefore, one of the most critical aspects of strategic management which a firm needs to perform. The acquisition of various resources and competencies, therefore, offer a firm a great opportunity to develop its competitive advantage and successfully meet the competitive challenges. (Cromb,2006). Â  The resource capabilities can either be specific to the organization as well as generic capabilities that allow firms to focus on their customer needs and requirements to deliver value. Various studies indicate that the high performing firms which focus on delivering value to a greater extent basically distinguish such firms from the low performing firms.(O’Regan & Ghobadian, 2004).

Summary of Health Articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary of Health Articles - Essay Example Most of the women, especially those above the age of 75 were found to be dependent in more than one way. Singapore has the fastest growing elderly population in Asia and it is estimated to triple over the next twenty years. This rapidly aging region of the world is estimated to spend 11% of its Gross Domestic Product on solely health related costs. The major concern that warrants this study is the increasingly high cost of looking after the elderly. In The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, a study was performed to evaluate the quality of exercise prevalent in low income communities. This was done through having subjects perform 6 minute walk tests, checking their blood pressure, and analyzing the activities in their daily lives (ADL). The upper body strength of most individuals, as well as their estimated body fat at the beginning of the project, was not affected, but their blood pressure did tend to decrease. There was also a dramatic increase in lower body strength of these individuals. The results can be expected from a younger group of individuals, but part of its sociological value stems from its use on the elderly.

Introduction to business Essay Example for Free

Introduction to business Essay A business function is the different jobs that people do or the different departments that form the basis of an organisations structure. The six business functions are Human Resources, Marketing, research and development, production, finance and administration. Human Resources deal with many different aspects of a business. They deal with recruitment, Job descriptions, dismissals, redundancy etc. They also have a policy-making role; they have to create company policies to create security for people and places within the organisation. Human Resources look after the people at work, they need to motivate them and also look after their needs. Human Resources have to help the MD to develop their roles and roles of other employees within the company. One of Human Resources roles is to bargain and negotiate they act as a go-between between different groups with different interests, they also liase with the trade unions. Human Resources also have an administrative role, for example they are responsible for paying wages and supervising and implementing health and safety laws. They also educate and develop the workforce they decide on whether or not any of the employees need training. The Marketing function is responsible for finding out what the customer needs and wants and then satisfying these needs and wants in the most cost effective manner. Sales is sometimes combined with marketing, sales has a different role to marketing though, for example sales has to make the customer think they want what the company makes or offers as a service whereas marketing has to get the company to produce what the customer wants. In order to find out the customers needs and wants they have to carry out primary research such as observations, questionnaires etc along with analysing secondary data. The Marketing department works closely with the production department because the research marketing do will show production what the customer wants, how they want it, where they want it and when. Marketing are also responsible for advertising, packaging, promotion, distribution and pricing. If a company wants to expand and grow a research and development department is essential because research and development furthers the companys aims by improving processes and by researching new ideas, processes and products. If a company does nothing to improve processes or seek ideas then it is highly unlikely that they shall become/remain successful. If a company is having problems they need to have a research department because some of the work this function carries out can help them to understand what is going wrong. Companies usually set aside available capital in for a research budget because it can cost a lot of money. The Administration function basically deals with every single piece of paper work. Some people may see the admin role as petty and this is strictly untrue. Organisations, especially the larger ones depend on their administration department. Administration handles consumer enquiries, communicating messages and producing documents for the company that are accurate. All companies would have an office manager and whereas Human Resources are responsible for deciding if the staff need training the office manager for organising the training, they would advise different departments on the most effective office layout, equipment, working practices and staff development. They analyse admin practices to see if there is any way they could be made better. They provide and maintain communications for the company; this would be phones, mail, Internet and also report and provide statistics on company activities. Overall ensuring a good standard of work. The Finance department is mainly responsible for monitoring the cash flow (monitoring income/revenue and monitoring expenditure) this is represented in a final balance sheet, sources and uses of funds are displayed in a PL account. The chief accountant is responsible for supervising this department. There are two different types of accounting within a finance department Financial accounting and management accounting. A financial accountant would keep records of all financial events to provide financial summaries on what has happened (Pay wages and keep day to day records) whereas a management accountant would provide the managers with figures to help them make their own decisions, for example costing and pricing decisions, they would also produce budgets. There are also subsections within the finance department; these include a cashiers department, which deals mainly with cash transactions, and a wages department, which are responsible for supervising the pay roll i.e. calculating and paying staff wages. The production function includes many different sections to help it run properly, Production and planning set standards and targets for each section of production. They monitor the goods or services that are being produced to make sure it is of the right quantity and quality, a comparator then compares what has been produced to what should have so that they can see if production is running smoothly and effectively. The purchasing dept have to provide the materials and equipment needed to make the product/service so that they can keep the production process working in order, the stores dept stock all tools, raw materials and equipment that is needed and finally there is the design and technical support dept who are responsible for researching improvements on existing products and also researching new ones. A technical department would give advice on working practices in order for them to estimate production costs.

Causes of and Challenges to Chinas Economic Expansion

Causes of and Challenges to Chinas Economic Expansion As the world adjusts its vision from the Beijing Olympics to a growing Chinese population, the underlying whispers resound with imperialist fears and economic worry. Researchers continue to bolster China’s position as the next superpower, yet remain limited by supposition and faulty conclusions. Regardless of China’s current size or influence, there is a hierarchical foundation within this world which demands economic and military dominance before offering such a broad title of authority. The fundamental definition of a global superpower evolves from hegemony, or an ability to dictate the policies of other nations, according to Britt (2008). As China flexes its economic muscles, the surface level apparition is one of expansive global control. Yet the question remains as to whether such unparalleled growth is sustainable or simply an artificial boost accelerated by a competitive global market. As wary nations anxiously await a Chinese offensive, economic statistics and r esearchers demonstrate conflicting results, challenging China’s superpower status. In actuality, the multitude of pitfalls and fluctuating economic status will continue to offset China’s capacity for ascension beyond its current foothold; and while economists may maintain a wary eye, the future of economic growth is one of stabilization and competition, not domination. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to China’s determined expansion, human variables continue to numerically plague their overtaxed industrial industry. As with historic examples of developing nations, economic fundamentals operating on a strategic and skill based platform in comparison with international competitors are essential to sustaining economic growth. Recognized by Hofman and Zhao (2007) as total factor productivity (TFP), or a measure of how efficiently economies utilize their capital and labor, China’s growth rate over the past decade has been inconsistent. While directly contributing to over 40% of labor productivity, only 5% of such growth is contributed by human capital, thereby asserting the Chinese disparity between educational advance and industry expansion. As Chinese businesses continue to partner with foreign firms, the need for skilled laborers, specifically in the field of management and operations, continues to reduce market effectiveness. If superpow er definition comes through a broadly recognized economic legacy which is influential and market altering, China will fall far short of this goal as their educational system and impoverished rural participants fall short of leveragable human capital. Unfolding challenges to China’s global dominance evolve from the inherent frailties within their vast but immature socio-economic ecology. The continued pollution of China’s urban and rural areas directly influences the health and well-being of the working class, and in spite of industrial projects being placed on hold as environmental goals fall short, current operations further exacerbate the damage (Dollar 2008). As sustainable enterprise rapidly spreads throughout the global community, nations actively pursue carbon reduction schemes and enforce environmental reform legislation. China, represents an at-risk nation given its current sustainability challenges, and as an expanding population is exposed to increasingly harmful conditions substantial overhaul is needed to reduce pollution and improve the health of the Chinese people (Park 2008). Seven of China’s major river systems are now polluted beyond life-bearing limits, intoxifying the nearby residents and r educing the available resources for struggling farmers (â€Å"Poison From the Dragon’s Belly† 2008). Given the aforementioned need for a skilled and healthy workforce, the environmental challenges which accost the Chinese people directly reduce their competitive potential within the global community and diminish a human legacy which could have contributed to additional growth. Perhaps the most widely recognized factor supporting growth in China’s economy since 2000 has been the expansion of the domestic private business, a force once undermined by a capitalist-fearing, overbearing socialist party (Cooke 2005). Such firms demonstrate remarkable adaptability, a trait which continues to sustain economic growth as China diversifies its exports to remain competitive on an international level. Small to medium enterprise has been recognized in countless publications as a method for developing nations to reduce the disparity between impoverished and wealthy classes. Cooke (2008) highlights the improved operational freedom post-socialism, an expanding inexpensive labor force, technological advancement, and a broadening base of Chinese entrepreneurs as the underlying success factors for increasing domestic business growth (p. 32). O’Leary (2007) predicts that by the year 2025, China’s middle class will have expanded to 520 million people represe nting over half their estimated population. As the majority of China’s GDP arises from export revenue, these firms must be provided with resources to actively pursue international commerce, including continued education and government tax reliefs to ensure that expansion is linked with a global partner network. If China has been recognized for one industrial trait over the past decade it has been their pursuit of manufacturing opportunities and capacity to offer low cost, high quality products for foreign firms. Tactically, China’s expanded technological sector has been founded on principles of joint venture and technology transfer, rapidly accelerating growth of a domestic knowledge base and advancing the Chinese reputation as the world’s workshop (Vaidya et al. 2007). Unfortunately, this knowledge capital is not readily transmitted among the working class and is heavily guarded within a hierarchical system. The reality is that unless Chinese corporations actively pursue individualized export operations, the influential nature of a growing Chinese economy is reduced. The fundamentals of expansion are based on innovation and competition; therefore, while the continuation of partnerships is essential to maintaining operations, localized efforts will be needed to increase GDP be yond its current limits. China remains a powerful workshop and should continue to maintain this status; however, expanding their GDP base will rely entirely on more competitive initiatives and a strategic effort which is directly integrated into the world marketplace. There is a substantial dissonance between Chinese operations and their Western partners that arises from operational management practices and the protectionist methods behind distribution of knowledge capital (Meyer 2005). Currently, the limited support for sector based best practices within the Chinese market pushes businesses to innovate and compete without accepting industry standards or expectations. Wang (2004) recognized that there is differentiation between the West and China in terms of knowledge management, specifically highlighted by methods of dissemination and inclusivity. Investing in IT operations and progressive knowledge reform, countries like the US actively pursue broader knowledge exchange among employees. As the Chinese management style integrates an interpersonal cultural relationship, oral communication and inner-circle divulgence become the main forms of knowledge sharing (Wang 2004). Yet such common practices oftentimes limit the ingenuity and innovative poten tial of Chinese corporations, instead placing emphasis on a control system which views knowledge as a guarded commodity (Peng et al. 2007). Regardless of technique, the lack of proficient management candidates for a growing number of industrial firms hinders expansion at a level which could rival other world powers. Cultural influence by Western organizations undermines that of Chinese culture and rejects a longstanding legacy of hierarchical control systems. Homogeneity lingers as the future for Chinese managers, and their limited understanding of Western practices will inevitably act as a hindrance, reducing the available human capital for growing firms. As business practices evolve to integrate a global value chain, corporations such as Microsoft and GE Medical Systems are actively sourcing components for US designed products from Chinese producers (Inkpen and Rmaswamy 2007). Transitioning from a national production formulae which expands domestic jobs, firms are pursuing the wealth of low cost resources available within Chinese borders, stretching the value ideology to include acceptance of international distribution and foreign job creation. Multinational corporations continue to seek out business to business partnerships within Chinese borders, defying conventional operation and expanding a field of vision which redefines strategic business methodology (Inkpen and Ramaswamy 2007). Unfortunately, within a frail and oftentimes frustrating Chinese infrastructure, multinational firms actively pursue third party logistics providers to assist with navigating supply chain challenges including transportation and material availability (Mu lani 2008). Regardless of expanded manufacturing operations, if firms cannot successfully navigate the difficult logistics of the Chinese interior, the cost basis savings from skill-set outsourcing will be lost. Developing nations must enhance their infrastructure, specifically those transport routes which can best interconnect urban areas or commercial centers. China cannot hope to compete with Western powers as their one seaboard and lack of structural integrity continues to reduce capabilities and the expansion of industry to more rural areas. There have been widespread concerns as to the financial influence a growing Chinese economy can wield against global exchanges and competing economies. As the development of high tech industries have encouraged rapid increase in venture capital and foreign direct investment throughout Chinese firms, the limited liquidity of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges serve as a hindrance to investment firms, locking in profits and limiting returns (Pukthuanthong and Walker 2007). Humphreys (2007) challenges that regardless of China’s expanding military or dominant technological production, the cultural fundamental of harmony which defined the Chinese people should be recognized as an opportunity for partnership and market based economic principles. Undercutting the potential for rapid Chinese ascension to superpower status, the fluctuations within their capital system, lack of banking liquidity, and unproven financial markets continue to reduce external demand for Chinese sponso red investment opportunities. As current government reform measures seek to develop a more complete structural foundation for the growing economy, rapid advances must be made in the financial markets before foreign investors will pursue returns with confidence. It is the foreign direct investment, however, which will offer Chinese firms the opportunity to rapidly expand, and through such growth, diversify their operations and competitive focus. Capturing the world’s attention during the Beijing Olympic games was a remarkable step for this once guarded nation; however, retention and partnerships which later evolve will demonstrate a sustained international respect and hopeful commitment to Chinese growth. There is a final fundamental frailty within the Chinese economy which mitigates global economic dominance and that lies in the linked nature of their current economic structure. Dollar (2008) recognized the economic inconsistencies which have plagued China throughout their history, demonstrating the substantial effect that the global economic crisis has had on the Chinese GDP, reducing growth to 9%, their first time below 10% in over five years. Export economics are based entirely on a supply and demand structure, and as the world continues to navigate financial catastrophe, China’s reduction in GDP evidences their reliance on external support mechanisms for consistent growth. Regardless of the internal growth which continues to offset international reductions in spending, there is a limited functional infrastructure from which to ensure that citizens can actively support the national economy. Regardless of industrial growth, the repercussions have not been felt throughout the impoverished population which serves as China’s backbone and economic foundation. Long term growth will be leveraged through the inclusion of citizen capital and must be more balanced to allow wealth disparity to realign. Remarkable evolution has contributed to China’s global positioning as the fourth largest economy, generated from an intense industrial focus and the recent allowance of privatized operations. Yet superpower status, while an admirable goal, remains out of reach for this still-developing nation. In spite of concerns from global leaders and theorists, the potential for China to evolve past the US in terms of GDP and begin to dictate policy is simply not realistic. There are currently too many pitfalls which China must over come in the coming decades including infrastructure, environment, and trade imbalance. While Chinese corporations are rapidly pursuing additional modes of differentiation and innovation, their pace cannot match the foundation retained by Western companies who retain countless generations of operating legacy. Similarly, Chinese firms cannot simply operate within their current foundation of manufacturing export. Aggregate growth is a realistic goal over the long term outlook, and founded on a well integrated educational structure, diversified income streams, and active global participation, China will see its status continue to creep towards that ever elusive number one point of power. References Britt, R. R. 2008. Will China Become the No. 1 Superpower? LiveScience, 15th August. Accessed on 11/10/08 From: http://www.livescience.com/culture/080815-china-as-superpower.html. Cooke, F.L. 2005. Human Resource Management, Work and Employment in China. London: Routledge. Cooke, F.L. 2008. Competition and Strategy of Chinese Firms: An Analysis of Top Performing Chinese Private Enterprises. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal 18 (1/2): 29-56. Dollar, D. 2008. China’s Growth Surprises on the Downside. World Bank, 20th October. Accessed on 11/10/08 From: http://eapblog.worldbank.org/content/china%E2%80%99s-growth-surprises-on-the-downside. Hofman, B; Zhao, M. 2007. Asian Development Strategies: China and Indonesia Compared. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies 43 (2): 171-99. Humphreys, J. 2007. The Chinese are Coming, and I’m Afraid. Journal of Business Strategy 28 (3): 42-44. Inkpen, A; Ramaswamy, K. 2007. End of the Multinational: Emerging Markets Redraw the Picture. Journal of Business Strategy 28 (5): 4-12. Meyer, M. 2005. The Changing Face of Management in China. Strategic Management, Knowledge@Wharton June. Accessed 11/10/08 From: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1164. Mulani, N. 2008. Gold Medal Solutions to China’s Supply Chain Challenges. Logistics Management September: 23-24. Park, J. 2008. China, Business and Sustainability: Understanding the Strategic Convergence. Management Research News 31 (12): 951-958. Peng, J; Li-Hua, R; Moffett, S. 2007. Trend of Knowledge Management in China: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Technology Management in China 2 (3): 198-211. â€Å"Poison from the Dragon’s Belly: Is China Paying Too High a Price for Success?† 2008. Strategic Direction 24 (2): 21-23. Pukthuanthong, K; Walker, T. 2007. Venture Capital in China: A Culture Shock for Western Investors. Management Decision 45 (4): 708-731. Vaidya, K; Bennet, D; Liu, X. 2007. Is China’s Manufacturing Sector Becoming More High-Tech? Evidence on Shifts in Comparative Advantage 1987-2005. Journal of Manufacturing Technology 18 (8): 1000-1021. Wang, G. 2004. Knowledge Management in a Multinational Company. In: Peng, J; Li-Hua, R; Moffett, S. Trend of Knowledge Management in China: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Technology Management in China 2 (3): 198-211.

The Oppressed Female in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyr

The Oppressed Female in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontà « clearly demonstrates the relationship between sexuality and morality in Victorian society through the character of Bertha Mason, the daughter of a West Indian planter and Rochester's first wife. Rochester recklessly married Bertha in his youth, and when it was discovered shortly after the marriage that Bertha was sexually promiscuous, Rochester locked her away. Bertha is called a "maniac" and is characterized as insane. Confining Bertha for her display of excess passion reinforces a prevalent theme in Jane Eyre, that of oppressive sexual Victorian values. Bertha's captivity metaphorically speaks on the male-dominated Victorian society in which women are inferior and scorned for acts of nonconformism.    For the first half of Jane Eyre, Bertha is only known to the reader through her nearly phantasmal presence&emdash;the peculiar laugh, and the mysterious incident in which Rochester's bed was lit on fire. Only after the foiled wedding of Rochester and Jane, in which Mr. Briggs and Mr. Mason appear unexpectedly declaring that the wedding should not proceed, does Rochester explain to Jane that he has a living wife detained on the third floor of Thornfield Hall. "He lifted the hangings from the wall, uncovering the second door: this, too, he opened" (327). "In a room without a window" Bertha is found living as a wild animal sequestered from everyone but her caretaker Grace Poole. Like a ferocious beast, she is even tied down and bound.    Throughout the novel there are similar images of the restrained female, an example being Jane's detention in the "red-room" at Gateshead Hall. Both Jane and Bertha were ... ...otypical woman of the Victorian era who courteously and obediently allowed herself to be dominated by males. Through the depictions of the incarcerated female, Brontà « speaks on the ills of an unjust society. Brontà «'s representation of Bertha as a wild, chained, and trapped animal and the symbolic use of fire reflect the difficulties women had in expressing their sexuality in an era in which men dominated and in which women played the role of the obedient, confined, and inferior being.    Works Cited and Consulted: Brontà «, Charlotte.   Jane Eyre.   New York, Penguin Books, 1997. Gates, Barbara Timm, ed. Critical Essays on Charlotte Bronte. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1990. Okin, Susan Moller.   Justice, Gender and the Family.   United States of America: Basic Books, 1989. Wollstonecraft, Mary.   The Rights of Women.   Everyman's Library Edition.   

Haitian Culture: Impact on Nursing Care Essays -- essays research pape

Haitian Culture: Impact on Nursing Care   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Republic of Haiti is in the western part of the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies. It is densely populated and has the lowest per capita income in the western hemisphere (Kemp, 2001). The population of more than seven million is made up of mostly descendents of African slaves brought to the West Indies by French colonists. The horrible conditions in Haiti, such as crushing poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, and high rates of acute and chronic illnesses and child and infant mortality, result in the illegal immigration of many Haitians to the United States, France, and other countries in Western Europe. Most immigrants are adults and teens who leave Haiti in tiny boats, despite the risk of drowning and other hazards. According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 2001 statistics, the number of refugees has declined to several thousand per year since the early 1990’s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nearly all Haitian immigrants entering the U.S. are poorly educated, illiterate, and speak only Creole, which is seldom seen in written form. Creole is a â€Å"pidgin† language, meaning it is a simplified form of a base language with parts of other languages added. These types of languages were frequently used by sailors, pirates, and other trade people to accommodate the span of communication needs they faced. Haitian Creole is thought to have been derived by combining various native African dialects with the French language of their owners. Very few Haitians (10%) can actually speak French, and one’s ability to do so is seen as an indicator of social class. Because of Haitian views that Creole is the language used by the poor and uneducated, many will claim to be able to speak French and become insulted if it is suggested that they speak Creole. This can pose a problem for the healthcare worker trying to find a way to communicate. Often the only in terpreters available to a family are their children who have learned English in schools here. This can create conflict within the family therefore a facility provided interpreter usually produces a better outcome. Written materials are often of no use to the Haitian immigrant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Socioeconomic status plays a huge part in how Haitians identify themselves, and influences their actions greatly. Many Haitians wil... ...of exercise. These factors all contribute to the young life expectancy of about 49 years (World Health Organization, 2001). When caring for a client of Haitian descent, it is important to be mindful of language and education level, religious and cultural beliefs, and traditional health maintenance practices that may be incompatible with modern medicine. The healthcare provider should respect these cultural differences and be accommodating whenever possible to promote the spiritual and physical well-being of the client. References Ackerman, L.J. (1997). Health problems of refugees. Journal of the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  American Board for Family Practice. 10,337-48. Minarik, P.A. (1996). Culture & nursing care: A pocket guide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  San Francisco: UCSF Nursing Press. Pan American Health Organization (1999). Haiti: Country health profile.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Accessed 6/28/04. Spector, R.E. (2003). Cultural diversity in health and illness (6th ed).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. World Health Organization (2001). Healthy life expectancy rankings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Accessed 6/28/04.

Recreating the Norm in Single-sex Sports :: Sports Essays

Recreating the 'Norm' in Single-sex Sports When investigating the costs and benefits of an individual competing in a sport considered non-traditional for their gender, we must first answer the question of what makes the single-sex status of these sports so important. We know that much controversy often surrounds the assimilation of a certain gender into a sport not traditionally considered their own, but we might forget to ask why this is the case to begin with. First, it is important to acknowledge that the answer to this question will most likely vary a bit between genders. For men, I believe much of the drive to keep certain sports single-sex, stems from a dominance/power struggle. Most of the "male" sports mentioned focus mainly on pure strength, and in the case of boxing, agility. The idea that a woman can excel, or even surpass her male counterpart, in a sport relying so heavily on muscular prowess, seems to me like an issue that could be fundamentally threatening. When I mention power struggle, it's mostly in reference to a struggle for dominance, but I believe that many of the men who look down upon women who enter sports primarily relying on physical strength, may feel threatened in both respects. On the opposite end of the spectrum, much of what might drive them away from traditionally female sports, is the fact these sports are often considered too 'feminine' to justify male participation. It's almost as though the 'masculine' ele ment of a sport implies some sort of inherent difficulty, while a sport deemed 'feminine' is not necessarily thought to be quite as challenging. As for females participating in more male dominated sports, it seems as though they run into similar issues. Most women shy away form participation in male dominated sports in fear of coming across as too masculine. This also plays into the power dynamics that have defined men and women's roles for far too long. Women are either afraid to, or no longer even consider the idea of, pushing back against their stereotypically defined roles. There are obviously many men and women who have challenged these roles over time, and who continue to push these somewhat intangible boundaries. I believe the benefits of abandoning the gender roles in sports strongly outweigh the costs. The biggest benefit seems to me to be, quite simply, the opportunity for both males and females to feel comfortable participating in whichever sports they may feel drawn to.

Invention of Telephone

Why did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone? * Mrs. Bell was deaf and Mr. Bell was always trying to help those who could not hear. The telephone was one of his attempts to create a device for the deaf, to assist their ability to hear. * Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone so that people can communicate with other people anywhere in world. * To facilitate verbal communication over long distances. * He invented the telephone because he is an inventor and he wanted to find a way how to communicate with other people apart from talking to them face-to-face. Bell originally started looking into the telephone as a way to speak to the spirit world. As with many inventors and inventions of the age, there seemed to be a great belief in spirits and the need to communicate with them so that items such as radio waves, telephones and televisions all started out as a means of communication with the other world. * Previous communication technology was limited to the telegraph. The te legraph was inefficient because it relied on Morse Code to relay messages.Only a few trained professionals were taught Morse Code, and not everybody could translate with it. Whereas a telephone would allow people to speak directly to one another without a step in-between. Bell sought to solve this problem. * There is a report that says that Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone to help his few family members as they suffered from hearing problems. But at the same time his father in law did not agree with it. He said it was a toy, that no child would be interested in.

Similarities And Differences Of Buddha And Christ

Religion is somewhat important to a lot of people around the world. It helps us guide in our everyday life. To follow the beliefs and traditions brings faith to whatever religion we are into. In our era today, we come up with a lot of religions and two of the major religions are Buddhism and Christianity. Buddha specifically said not to believe to the things that is passed on and that we’re just written down etc. on face value. He did not urge us to put faith just in texts, or enough faith in their value to trawl through them-quite the opposite.What we’ve known is that, all Buddhist school agrees that one’s salvations from suffering are in one’s own hands. Siddharta Gautama was born into a royal family in the sixth century B. C. His experiences when he was a young adult with the outside world sent him to look out a greater understanding of life and spiritual understanding. Siddhartha achieved the powerful enlightenment through seeking guidance. He was know n as the Buddha from that point which means â€Å"the Enlightened One†.From then on and for the rest of his life, Buddha traveled from great distances to teach people about the one path of salvation. His pupils continued to extend his teachings after Buddha’s death. Hinduism, the most widespread religion in India, had become tightly controlled when Buddhism developed. And today, Buddha’s teachings still followed by a lot of people throughout the world. â€Å"Christ† as the identification, Jesus is not accepted within Judaism.Christians are called â€Å"Nazarenes† in Talmudic Hebrew because in the New Testament, Jesus is described in as being from the city of Nazareth. Being a â€Å"Christian,† one has to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, some believe that an individual must attend a mass and go to church and participate in baptism. Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is necessary to others, instead of a belief and acceptance in their life. â€Å"Nicene Creed† is the ancient text, which some theologians consider a Christian who accepts this.This is accepted by the Orthodox, Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans and the rest of the mainline Protestant Churches. In spite of important differences of interpretation and opinion, Christians share a set of beliefs that they hold as essential to their faith. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is considered and said to be the cornerstone of their faith among all Christians and the most important event in human history. Within the body of Christian beliefs, the death and resurrection of Jesus are the two most core events on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend.Christians commemorated these essential doctrines of the Christian faith during Good Friday and Easter Sunday, particularly during liturgical time of Holy Week. One wrote, â€Å"If Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in god is useless. † Christians believe th at one can be saved from sin and have eternal death through faith in Jesus. The Gospel of John said that He â€Å"takes away the sins of the world†. One’s reception of salvation is related to justification. Generally, Christian churches accept and teach the New Testament account of the resurrection of Jesus.A lot of people believe that Christ may have been inspired by Buddhism, and that the texts of the Nag Hammadi and Gospel of Thomas influence this. Apparently, It has also been asserted that the story of the birth of the Buddha was well known in the West, and it was influenced the story of the birth of Jesus. The two major religions which are Buddhism and Christianity are compared and emphasized their differences by a lot of scholars, perceived similarities in the teachings in the spiritual intent and practices.It is said to be that it may be the result of a direct or indirect influence of Buddhism on early Christianity, or arising from separate but similar developme nts, or remain divided whether the religious parallels are coincidental. Jesus is not mentioned in any Buddhist text and so, Buddhist views of Jesus differ. â€Å"That there are startling coincidences between Buddhism and Christianity that cannot be denied, and it must likewise be admitted that Buddhism existed at least 400 years before Christianity.I go even further, and should extremely grateful if anybody would point out to me those historical channels through which Buddhism had influenced early Christianity. † Buddha the new born prince is adored and predicted by seer Asita and is celebrated his birth. Jesus the new born prince is adored and predicted by seers â€Å"from the east† who celebrated his birth. Buddhist Trinity (Tiratna) and Baptism: â€Å"I take refuge, Lord, in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. † â€Å"Enough, I say, with this external bath. I am satisfied with this internal bath: confidence in the Blessed One. â€Å"Jesus Trinity and B aptism is written as follows: â€Å"baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit†. Lastly, if there are any similarities and differences on people, the faith and respect to each other’s religions is still one of the most important things that should always be present to anyone whether in a Catholic teaching, in Buddhism, or any form of religion. R E F E R E N C E S Woodhead, L. An Introduction to Christianity. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Lopez, D. S. Jr. (2001) The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History & Teachings. New york: Hyper Collins Publishers Inc

Cricks view of politics Essay

This essay will explain Cricks views on politics, as outlined in his book ‘In defence of Politics’ (1962). That politics is a way to bring together differing opinions to resolves problems and disputes in a peaceful manner for the benefit of the majority and for the good of the populace. Cricks belief of what politics entails involves a democratic ideology and as we are considered to have a democratic society in which we live validating with quotes from cricks book. Also Crick highlights the importance of the difference of opinion people have, and such opinions being recognised, and being able to have freedom of speech, being unrestricted in the way that other countries are bound by dictatorship. Crick acknowledges that politics is never a straightforward business, in Cricks words, he describes politics as a â€Å"messy business†, being unpredictable, for example international and domestic events. This essay will use contemporary examples to show how this so. In the 2010 election, there wasn’t any party that had an overall majority (no party had more than half of members of parliament in the House of Commons), which meant that the Conservatives would be unable to have the majority of votes, to pass laws etc, without the support of other parties. In this case, the support came in the form of a formal coalition, with the Liberal Democrats. This being the first time Britain has had a coalition government in seventy years. This situation could said to be in accordance with what Crick asserted, that politics, ‘ideally draws all these groups into each other, so that each individually, and together, can make a positive contribution towards the business of government, the maintaining of order’ (Crick 1962: 18). Crick (1962: 16) stated that for some ‘politics is muddled, contradictory, self-defeatingly recurant, unprogressive, unpatriotic, inneficiant mere compromise, or even a sham or conspiracy’ . In contemporary society, many would argue that this is the case, and the reason why we are seeing parties such as UKIP becoming more populer. Politics can also be on a micro level,involving issues on a smaller scale, such as in the family home, for example, refering to Crick Jones states that ‘People or groups of people who want different things-be it power, money, liberty, ect-face the potential or reality of conflict when such things are in short supply’. For instance, a situation may arise where a husband being given an employment opportunity,involving relocation to  another city,compromise would have had to play a big part,for financial gain for the greater good of the family,as the earning potential of the husband is greater than that of the wife. In this situation issues of power also being present, the husband having the advantage,having the dominant position,simple due to earning more money. In conclusion, although Crick wrote his book in 1962, his ideas regarding politics , and the positive role, he believes it plays,is still applicable in contemporay society today. In the case of the present day coalition ,political parties of differing ideologies,have had to join together for the smooth running of the country, for greater good of the people. However, Crick also recognised that politics is still very much a messy, complicated process,and not everyone would feel that politicians were working in their best interests. Also that compromise plays a vital part on both a micro and macro level to reduce conflict.

Global Market Place Activities Essay

Internet America is a wireless ISP (WISP) that operates within the southern United States. Currently we have been expanding the use of WiMAX hardware to provide our customer base a better user experience with fewer issues. Our older hardware has become unusable due to the vendor being restricted from sales in the United States so we made the recent decision to utilize WiMAX hardware developed by an Israeli company. This has brought on the added challenge of maintaining the hardware in the event of a Middle East conflict that potentially could choke off supplies of the equipment in the United States. This ongoing conflict has no foreseeable end in sight so the CEO made the decision to negotiate into the contract with the Israeli company to provide us onsite spares for all major hardware to mitigate the chances of service interruptions to our customers in the event of an escalation of events in that region of the world. Risk Sources The first identified risk for Internet America is the potential loss of our climate control systems that cool our corporate data center location. This location has a large number of temperature sensitive devices that are currently cooled by systems that are aging (8-12 years old) and are heavily utilized most of the year due to the location of our corporate offices in Houston Texas. This location necessitates that we run these systems continually for nine to eleven months of the year. This heavy utilization and the hardware’s age pose a very real risk to the serviceability of our corporate structure and support of our customers. Being a WISP, the company relies heavily on the ability to move data to and from the customers. Our corporate headquarters are fed by a point to point fiber connection to our datacenter at Cyrus 1 in Houston TX. As with any buried cabling there is the potential for a cabling cut due to construction or as is more likely for our current location road repairs. The access streets in our location are in disrepair and are being constantly serviced due to the heavy trucks that utilize them constantly. Attacks to our core devices and support structures are common and attempts to breach our systems occur on an almost daily basis. We have determined that most of these  attempts are mainly just beginner computer enthusiasts that are trying out something they read on the internet or inadvertently tried to access our systems. This is evident in the amateur attacks that are attempted, however several times a month we get attempts from more advanced hackers that really test our abilities to detect and stop the attack. A large number of these more advanced hacks are initiated from China. Being located in Houston TX our fourth identified risk would be damage to our Cyrus 1 datacenter location. This building was chosen due to its design and the lengths that the facilities owner has gone through to provide a stable and reliable infrastructure. Even with the most adept preparation there is no way to fully prepare a location in the event of a major natural disaster. Houston is well known for being impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. All of which could potentially destroy any structure in the city if the conditions are just right. The fifth identified risk is the potential for our WiMAX vender to be unable to provide hardware support in the event of an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The conflicts in this region are well documented and have lasted for many decades with little to no end in sight. In the event of an escalation of terrorist activities against the Israeli nation we may see our hardware support be limited until the activity recedes or peace talks begin again. As with any service industry, Internet America in not immune to the possibility of personnel loss due to the turndown in the economy. Internet service for most people would be considered a necessity in today’s society so the effects of a bad economy do not affect us as hard as other industries; however our core customer base is in rural areas and those customers do not have as cemented a need for internet service. This leaves the company vulnerable to revenue loss and possible staff reductions in a bad economic environment. The availability of commercial power is fairly ubiquitous across the United States, and most companies take for granted that the service will stay on  when needed. This however is not always the case and eventually most businesses will be afflicted with the loss of power during business hours. For Internet America this could be catastrophic as the loss of commercial power would render the customer support teams unable to service our clients and detect/resolve any outages that occur throughout the network. The final and least likely risk Internet America faces is the possibility that we may fail a fire code inspection in the corporate offices. Due to the installed fire suppression systems in the datacenter, the company is required to undergo an annual fire safety inspection. In the event of a failure the facilities would not be usable until the needed repairs are completed. This could potentially disrupt our ability to service our clients properly.

Essay paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper - Essay Example The economy; Globalization has affected the economy in both positive and negative ways, some of the advantages are availability of better quality goods in the market, this is because some countries are able to access raw materials at better prices than others and that are of acceptable standards. Quality is also improved by the fact that the sellers need to make sales that translate to profits and the only way to achieve this is to ensure that their goods are of the highest quality. In addition, there is the availability of cheaper goods, for example, Saudi can now import electronics and other stuff from China due to their affordability. Furthermore, globalization has led to diversity, and one can now buy goods that were once not available in their country but are sourced from another one. Saudi Arabia was known mainly for dates, but now people can get access to other food stuffs such as bananas from Mexico, rice from Pakistan and so on. Therefore, due to globalization, Saudi Arabia has now become one of the leading countries when it comes to providing for employment to people from other countries; for instance, the horn of Africa. However, there are disadvantages associated with globalization concerning its impact on the economy; such as stifling of the smaller companies through the competition brought about by globalization, which leads to their collapse while trying to put their foot in their home countries market. There are also cases of social injustices such as child labor as well unfair working conditions have increased. In the education system, standards of education have risen as countries seek to adopt other education systems into the country with the hope of making their citizens more learned and marketable. Often one can find a country having 2 or 3 education systems, so that it can cater to students that are not originally from that country.

Historical Criticism of Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory Essay

Historical Criticism of Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory - Essay Example Vol I). Sherry also informs us that as a young boy of 14 he suffered at the boarding school. His acquaintances and his experiences were shaping a mind which paralleled the tumultuous time he lived in. He ran away from home. And was sent for psychoanalysis. In 1925, he met Vivien Dayrell-Browning. A Roman Catholic conver, Vivien molded him toward Roman Catholicism, to which he got converted at the age of 26. His religious belief followed a trajectory vividly depicted in his catholic tetralogy: "Brighton Rock" (1938), "The Power and the Glory" (1940), "The Heart of the Matter" (1948), and "The End of the Affair" (1951). In fact, Greene's life is a reflection of the saga of Roman Catholic Church at that time. As Mark Bosco says that Greene's writings represent different phases of his Catholic sensibility. He emerges mature with liberation theology after Vatican Council II (Bosco 115-117). The novel draws parallels with T.S. Elliot's poem "The Hollow Men". The hollow men wander in a barren landscape, trying to remember the line after "For Thine is the Kingdom" in the Lord's Prayer. The phrase happens to be "the Power and the Glory" (Ways of Escape 65-68). Not only the theme, but even the milieu and the settings set Greene's novels apart. "The Quiet American" is set in the Vietnam of the early 50s, "The Heart of the Matter" is set in West Africa, "Our Man in Havana" in Cuba, "The Honorary Consul in Paraguay/Argentina. Greene was a globe-trotter. From Africa to Asia to Latin America, he had his share of experiences everywhere. A man who wrote "England Made Me", Greene spent the last 25 years of his life in exile in France. This is not surprising then to find that all but a few of his post-war novels are set outside Britain. His authorized biographer Norman Sherry suffered tropical diabetes in Liberia, dysentery in Mexico and intestinal gangrene in Paraguay in the course of his research. Sherry links Greene's constant urge to be on the move to his escapist tendency and an escape from the responsibilities of life (Sherry 350-354 Vol. I). His penchant for travels also stems from his love for Joseph Conard. Mr. Greene suddenly becomes a character out of the Conrad stories he admired. He exposes himself to all sorts of pain and jeopardy. He explores hitherto unpenetrated jungles. He climbs mountains, crosses wild and unbridged rivers, endures the pain and vulnerability of tropical sicknesses. He looks everywhere, it seems, listens with respect to the most obscure of his fellow human beings and thereby not only learns about and from others, but finds the direction of his own life's compass (Coles). Like his shifting destinations during the course of frequent travels, Greene's faith too followed a shifting trajectory. Today Catholicism is once again the topic of discussion thanks to Dan Brown's murder mystery "The Da Vinci Code." Before Brown's best-seller, Catholicism as a theme of a novel was a strange idea for the readers. As Lawson makes us believe: Today, Catholicism, wanderlust and expatriation all lack the attraction they had for writers in Greene's time. The centre of gravity of

Global Distribution Of Material Goods And Products Essay

Global Distribution Of Material Goods And Products - Essay Example An organization I worked for several years ago left me with many fond memories. I made many lifelong friends and enjoyed a pleasant environment. I later realized that the upper management cared little about the low wages employees earned I earned one raise of ten cents per hour in nearly four years, though I quickly became one of the top employees. I trained new employees and befriended everyone. I went the extra mile to show residents that I cared. My immediate floor nursing supervisors became my mentors. Co-workers in the same position as I were young females in their early 20s. We all worked hard with as much skill and caring as possible. Many of us grew close very quickly. We helped each other, supported each other during times of personal crisis and socialized together away from work. We found common ground and formed a culture of camaraderie, caring and moral support. Two groups of subcultures arose from this work situation. The subculture of nursing supervisors who were beginn ing their professional careers and families simultaneously formed one. Those of us who were single, young adults with a strong work ethic and sense of caring for others made up the other subculture. Upper management symbolically stated they did not belong to the general workforce, by locking themselves in their offices. Decisions were made by a couple hired as administrator and maintenance worker. The couple socialized with all staff and attended many functions outside of work. They became involved in each group dynamic as much as possible and were respected by everyone.

Company analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Company analysis - Essay Example As such some governments put censorship laws that are meant to control the quality of information that can be accessed from or disseminated through the internet. The company should establish these factors first before launching the publication in different countries. Accessibility to the internet depends on the economic status of the country. Some countries are so poor such that resources are committed to other pressing issues. In such areas, spending money on women issues may be seen as a luxury which may not be afforded by many people living under poor conditions. In some countries, issues related to gender particularly feminism are viewed as a threat to the society since they can destabilize the moral fabric. Some societies are patriarchal hence the level of tolerance of issues related to feminism is low. Therefore, it is important for the company to establish these factors in each country it intends to set business. Since this is a global online publication, it is important for the company to establish the level of infrastructure as well as telecommunication development in each country it intends to penetrate. Internet connectivity varies from place to place across the globe. The distribution pattern is skewed in favour of the developed countries while the developing countries still lag behind in terms of telecommunications infrastructure since the internet is the major communication tool that would be used for all activities of the

Measuring Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Measuring Globalization - Essay Example The spread of globalization, according to many, allows for free trade and free markets in most of the developing countries. This is with the aim of alleviating poverty. Many corporations, from developed countries, are responsible for running the lives of many individuals. Globalization, today, is seen as a means to try and calculate the gap that exists between the poor and the rich. Economists try to address globalization, and the effect it may have on different individuals and countries. If there is a constant or an even growth in a country, there is likely to be more satisfaction. This is unlike when there is an uneven growth (Guinness 194). This is because the latter indicates that some areas will be better off than other areas. The most common method of measuring the globalization level in a country is the use of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in a region. It might be; import or export or the total consumption on import/export GDP in the region. This represents the final market value of goods in a country produced or consumed or a sum of both these factors within a year. In measuring globalization through the GDP, an increase in exports increases the country’s GDP, thus; symbolising growth in the country’s economic stature (Maher 109). The higher the annual growth rates, the higher the economic growth, through time. It is through such a constant method that allows for a country to trade freely along international lines. This may be because; their products are capturing a wider, global market. This indicates that

Integration paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Integration paper - Assignment Example Even though each of the concepts and theories learnt can be testified as transforming my learning in a very tremendous way, two concepts and theories I believe will continue to impact my corporate knowledge about emerging markets forever are the concepts on legal and ethical practices in emerging markets, and the ways in which local emerging businesses can effectively compete with multinational companies. These two concepts and theories are selected generally because they are transcending to both multinational companies and local companies. While learning about legal and ethical practice in emerging markets, I came to appreciate the kind of power and authority that the consumer in these emerging markets have as far as the command that they can have on the market is concerned. This is because for all this while, I thought that because most multinational companies that went to these emerging markets were from developed countries, they would go and influence the local people directly with their foreign ethics and culture. However, I have now come to appreciate the fact that culture and ethics are important concepts that establish the identities of people and so local consumers would not just allow the influx of foreign and strange ethics and legal practices to overtake what they have practiced for long. For multinational companies that are poised for success, the essential role that they can play is to admit a sense of readiness to comply by local ethical and legal standards. This is because with the ethical and legal inc lination that the local people have, they form a social hub, which is not easy to penetrate or break apart. Multinational companies must therefore see themselves as part of social network, where they are the ones who have to comply with set standards. The concept of competitions between local companies and multinational companies was

Islamic Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Islamic Finance - Essay Example Agency cost is referred to internal cost of a company, which arises due to conflict of interest between the management and shareholders. The shareholders expect that the management should run the company in such a manner that it increases the shareholder’s value. However, it is observed that the management concentrates on maximizing the wealth of the company and does not take into consideration the interest of the shareholders. This creates a difference between the management and stakeholders. The same problem was observed in the Islamic banks; though the PLS system aimed at increasing the wealth of the investors but it failed to fulfil the expectation of the shareholders (Dar and Presley, 2000). The main rule of PLS system is that the banks provides part of its profit, obtained from investment, to the investor instead of interest. As a result, if the banks fail to earn any profit on the investments, the investors do not get any bonus (Dar and Presley, 2000). The same situation is observed when the company is small to afford high profit and even earn a considerable amount. If a new company invests in the bank, it has the right to earn the profit but the scheme had already dried up the earnings of the financial institutions. This indicates that the company as an investor is not at all profitable and the banks have failed to implement PLS appropriately. This has created misunderstanding between the management of the banks and the investors (small companies) as the payment under this scheme cannot be taken as granted (Abduh and Omah, 2012). When the banks failed to offer higher return on the scheme such as Murabaha financing despite good performance, it is subject to elements of uncertainty. These uncertainties are vague demand for goods and services, business environment that surrounds the world. Moreover, the banks are seen to suppress the profit as the

Hurricane Katrina Essay Example for Free

Hurricane Katrina Essay Many countries that face the catastrophes today need the relief assistance particularly in the floods and the devastation of the earthquakes. The countries, particularly those undergoing difficult transitions, lack the public and private institutions and infrastructure necessary to meet the challenges posed by complex humanitarian emergencies need a collaborated effort to overcome the effects of the devastations. The requirement is to identify the need of a joint effort by the organizations and political stability is required to take timely actions. The disaster relief efforts are also to be identified which are to be continued to support developing and transitional states in a unified operational concept and the Disaster Prevention and Disaster Response cooperative initiatives. (Anna, 2005) The Japan for example experiences hundreds of seismic events annually; tropical cyclones (typhoons) are so frequent they are numbered and not named; and heavy rains accompanying typhoons often result in devastating mudslides that annually claim many lives. Although Japan seems to be well prepared to cope with natural disasters. Organizations with emergency response duties including fire, medical, police, environmental, etc. are professional and well equipped. (NPR, 2005) This expanded role of agencies in a collaborated disaster relief can be further defined to ensure the availability of technical competence in order to make their participation meaningful. The local agencies and community groups should not be underutilized and undermined by relief organizations. The knowledge, expertise and ability to communicate with local people can be invaluable for humanitarian relief programmers. The challenge for international agencies and NGOs is to assure, wherever possible and useful, the appropriate inclusion and collaboration of the local agencies into the system. Prior identification of local civil possible partners in disaster-prone countries and training of the required staff is one way to prepare for unexpected crisis. In some countries, local agencies and community groups exist with high levels of competence but may require outside technical and logistic support. In the United States, the Federal Response Plan describes how the federal government will assist the state and local governments when a major disaster or emergency overwhelms their ability to respond effectively (LeClaire, 2005). The plan assigns federal agency responsibility for twelve Emergency Support Functions. These cover the world of disaster response from transportation, public works and engineering, mass care, food energy and those to those functions that are vital to meet the challenges of the disasters. A few weeks ago, Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 hurricane, stormed the Gulf coast of the USA, affecting an area as large as the UK. Katrina completely destroyed of individuals. New Orleans is a major American city, with a devastated and evacuated exercise, with a fictitious category 3 hurricane named Pam, predicted the scenario accurately,1 As we impotently watched television, the disaster unfolded. The hospital scenes of combined internal and external disasters already described in Houston2 repeated prevent them. (Television Week, 2005) electricity, water, communication, and other vital services; Local and national leaders underestimated the storm and failed to the size of the tragedy in human lives and future ecological repercussions. Katrina left the affected region teams, evidence of complete lack of preparedness with insufficient immediately available physical and human resources, health-care systems incapacitated, urban anarchy, despicable crimes, while the world criticized American leaders and emergency organizations. Millions of jobs have been lost to the storm. New Orleans largest employer, Tulane University, hopes to reopen to students for the spring semester. The casino barges that helped revitalize the Mississippi coast are no more. Right now, only insurance agents and construction workers seem to have guaranteed employment in the storm-damaged areas. Disasters and Urban Renewal Monitoring of field activities is always difficult without the setting of objectives and standards for joint relief actions. Minimum operational goals should be defined for performance evaluation. Goal setting would also bring into focus the impact of the joint relief on the beneficiaries, both for acute and chronic disasters. Co-ordination and communication are the central point for the success of a joint disaster relief operation. In disaster situations, the joint and rapid operational decisions within a political and media environment can be very vital (WaterWorld, 2005). A rapid assessment of needs following a disaster is always a clearly and critical aspect of effective humanitarian action. The local Civil Hospital and other installation medical treatment facilities can have agreements with local hospitals covering certain medical procedures and emergencies on. These agreements can be extended to post disaster emergency care also. It is vital that a Manual should be developed as a Coordinating Manual for Disaster Relief Operations to provide basic coordination procedures between different agencies. There are an increasing number of disasters with a conflict dimension. The areas of further development in the field of collaborated disaster relief operation can be areas of research that can be proposed as having immediate utility to field operations. Disasters have security as well as other dimensions. After Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans the rest of the country became aware of the citys extreme poverty. This however, is not a new issue for the city of New Orleans. It was an obvious demonstration of how our country needs to step up its emergency relief effort to respond faster to these situations. But, was it a mistake they did not respond immediately? This is a question that is recently up for debate and we have decided to look deeper into. 67. 3% of the cities population is African American (68% of whom are in poverty) compared to the 28. 1% of whites. (2000 Census) It is interesting to compare the response to September 11, 2001 to the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina. The response the terrorist attacks in New York, whose population is almost the reverse of New Orleans 67. 9% White and 15. 9% African American (NY Census 2000), was immediate. It is amazing that New Orleans had days to prepare for Hurricane Katrina and they were well aware of its potential to destroy the city- however it never occurred to them to make everyone aware of the destruction this hurricane could cause. Through the Hurricane Pam simulation, scientists knew the level of damage that was going to be caused and knew that it would take at least 72 hours to evacuate before the hurricane made landfall. New Orleans had an evacuation plan that they poorly enforced when it came time to really implement it. Many valuable resources that could have saved lives went unused such as Amtrak trains evacuating valuable equipment from the area and offering to take several hundred passengers along with them. Lack of transportation was a major reason many people died. A large percentage of the people in poverty did not have their own means of transportation to get out of the city and could have put these offered resources to good use. It is unfortunate that these people were basically ignored when it came to the rescue effort. I feel that Louisiana Governor Blanco and New Orleans mayor Nagin could have made much better decisions when it came to evacuating the city that could have potentially saved thousands of lives. They let many resources go wasted and the poor decisions made by these people cannot be taken back. People will always be attracted to live near the shore, which leads to serious problems when evacuation is required. No matter the administration, Hurricane Katrina would still have had a devastating impact on the citizens and landscape of New Orleans. However, many lives would have been spared were it not for the mistakes of President Bush, Gov. Blanco, Mayor Nagin, and ex-FEMA director Michael Brown, in their unsuccessful attempts to contain the damage. The act of carrying out a complete mandatory evacuation is where most administrative mistakes were made. When officials made the order for evacuation, they ignored the fact that New Orleans has a poverty rate of 38 %(Wikipedia 4), one of the highest in the country. In addition to this, they did not account for the 120,000 people in New Orleans who were without transportation, which led to chaos after the order was given for a mandatory evacuation. Individuals were expected to find their own way out of the city, and due to an inadequate evacuation plan, thousands were left stranded in the city to survive on their own, most of which were poor, elderly, or sick(Wikipedia 4). New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, realizing the threat Katrina posed to his city, was the first to call for a full evacuation. He pleaded with Gov. Blanco to call for a mandatory evacuation, but Blanco was reluctant and decided to take 24 hours to make the decision, a delay that the people of New Orleans could not afford. Had this delay not occurred, there would have been adequate time to prepare mass public transportation of evacuees. Mayor Nagin was enraged by the governments reluctance to aid, and further expedited the evacuation process. Nagin publicly criticized the federal involvement in the evacuation, primarily attacking their failure to quickly provide buses. This lack of communication between city, state, and federal officials continues, and occurs throughout the disasters response and recovery efforts. Criticism of local and national response to the hurricane is widespread in the media. Local officials complain just days after the disaster about the lack visible presence of troops and FEMA. The presidential response to the hurricane was embarrassing. The day Katrina hit, Bush was at a ceremony in California, and did not break from his vacation until the next Wednesday, which left those affected by the hurricane with a feeling of abandonment. President Bush is also responsible for appointing an unqualified lawyer, Brown, to be the director of FEMA. Browns most critical mistake was his urging of all fire and emergency services departments not to respond to the counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities(Wikipedia 8). This caused a serious clash between state, local, and federal governments, resulting in the loss of tons of critical aid materials. Having never dealt with crisis and natural disaster relief, Brown continued to inhibit the reconstructive and rescue efforts, resulting in many fatalities that could have been prevented had a more qualified individual been in the position. Similar delaying acts were performed by Vice President Dick Cheney. The day after the hurricane, Cheney ordered workers of the power company to divert power crews, who, at the time were restoring power to local hospitals, to substations that control the diesel fuel and gasoline flow from Texas to the northeast. The workers upsettingly questioned this diversion of labor and were told to perform it anyway. Cheney did this in an attempt to avoid fuel price gouging, however it proved to be unsuccessful, and there was an enormous spike in fuel costs following the hurricane. This graph, and attached data sheet show this dramatic increase: This action reaffirms the perceived attitude of unreceptiveness displayed by the government and authorities toward the victims of Katrina during the hurricanes relief effort. It is an undeniable fact that a category five hurricane will have devastating effects, no matter where it makes landfall. Due to the citys cultural and racial diversity, geographical structure, and inflated poverty, it was clear that Katrina was going to hit fast and hard. Just as predicted by weather forecasters, the hurricane quickly flooded the city and those who attempted to ride the storm out perished. Unfortunately, the governments policies implemented to help did not come as quickly, and as a result thousands of fatalities that could have been avoided were not. Three places in your home that are usually damaged by hurricanes are the roof, windows, doors, and there are things that can be done to strengthen these areas to minimize damage. Firstly investing in a stronger roof by placing more beams and securing the trusses by placing brasses to strengthen the roof structure, to protect your windows and doors the simplest effective method is by installing storms shutters which are basically thick boards of wood coving windows and doors. When it comes to prevention with hurricanes of a category 4 nature governments should have emergency plans in place, George Bush was criticized in the handling of hurricane Katrina, it even sparked of arguments that New Orleans was neglected due to its poverty stricken black communities. Although warnings were in place 24 hours before the hurricane hit and there was time for evacuation, a lack of services was provided. Although in the following hurricane Rita, The US government was quick to act while sending hundreds of busses to evacuate cities. Some officials in high positions were accused of a good-riddance insensitivity toward the export of the citys poverty and accompanying social ills. On a more positive note, many planners and scholars have called for the development of mechanisms that can accommodate the displaced poor population, who should be encouraged to return. The storm may have created an opportunity to address the issue of poverty and land use in a way that is much smarter than previous approaches (Cutter and others 2006). Racial and Economy Perspectives A major question affecting the future cultural and racial geography of New Orleans is how much of the African American population will return to the city. About two-thirds of Orleans Parish was African American before the storm; now the percentage is generally assumed to be much lower, although nobody really knows by how much. Half is a popularly held local presumption, but I have found no official figures to support it; data are difficult to come by. Will the loss of African Americans be permanent? If so, what will the cultural and racial imprint of the city be? What will its political geography look like if a large and reliably Democratic voting block disappears? Mayor Ray Nagin was clearly alarmed by the possibility of a permanent loss of the African American population when he steadfastly affirmed that displaced African Americans would return to a rebuilt city and that New Orleans would be chocolate at the end of the day. †¦ This city will be a majority African American city. Its the way God wants it to be. †¦ You cant have it no other way. It wouldnt be New Orleans (Pope 2006, 1). Part of the mayors angst arose from concern that a major influx of Hispanic workers to help rebuild the city, and the possibility that many in-migrants might stay permanently, would potentially alter the cultural and political balance of power in New Orleans. Although much of the storms face was poor and African American, in the final analysis Katrina was no respecter of class and race. One of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in New Orleans, Lakeview, is mainly Caucasian and middle-to-high income. New Orleans East, which some observers argue should never be rebuilt, is a suburb populated by a growing African American middle class. Venetian Isles and south Slidell contain some of the most desirable waterfront properties in the metropolitan area, many of which were adorned with beached sailboats after the storm. Meghan Stromberg observed that Katrinas obvious disregard for areas of wealth and privilege may work in favor of the citys recovery: Homeowners there have greater resources to rebuild sooner (Stromberg 2006). Of great concern is whether people with the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed by a rebuilding city will return. Unfortunately, these skills are often in high demand elsewhere, so people may be enticed to stay in their adopted homes. Mark Drennen, head of Greater New Orleans Inc. , a public-private partnership whose mission is to spearhead economic development in the New Orleans region, commented that this prospect is a huge concern. It occupies almost every meeting Im in all day long (Mowbray 2005). The longer companies put off returning to New Orleans, the more likely it is that they and their employees will not come back. On the bright side, there is always the red-beans-and-rice effectthe soul and culture of New Orleansthat keeps the natives coming back, even in the face of better economic opportunities elsewhere. Some commentators also speculate that there may be an influx of risk takers who spy opportunity in the rebuilding of New Orleans, giving the city a flesh jolt of people with entrepreneurial skills (Mowbray 2005). The absence of workers of all types is already being felt. Estimates that the Gulf Coast currently lacks 150,000 construction and maintenance workers have prompted the Business Roundtable, a Washington-based association of large-company chief executive officers, to develop a plan to recruit and train 20,000 new construction workers for the region (Sayre 2006). Accompanying the departure of the citys poor population was its supply of minimum-wage workers. Fast-food and convenience outlets are especially desperate for employees, to the point that one major hamburger chain is offering a bonus to new hires of $500 per month; other chains are advertising entry wage rates in excess of $9 per hour. Plumbers, electricians, and other tradespeople are in extremely short supply, partly because many of them never returned after evacuating and partly as a result of the huge surge in demand. The most common sign at business entrances today is Now Hiring. In a sense, future demography is destiny for New Orleans, not only in terms of racial and cultural makeup but also with respect to economic vitality (Frey 2005). Its cultural geography will be shaped by who comes back and who does not and by as yet unknown new migrants to the city. Conclusion The immensity of the disaster and the long rebuilding process will offer abundant research opportunities for geographers. The new footprint of the New Orleans metropolitan area will provide intriguing areas of study for planners as well as for economic, urban, and cultural geographers. Along the same lines, population geographers will want to track the status of the great New Orleans Diaspora. Of considerable interest to researchers will be the geography of debris and the environmental impact of millions of cubic yards of waste. Biogeographers will have an interest in the disruption of bird and animal habitats; and of course physical and environmental geographers will find a renewed impetus to continue their examination of the environmental risks associated with eroding coastlines. Hurricane Katrina laid bare New Orleans environmental vulnerabilities, social ills, and policy deficiencies. At the same time, the city that everybody knew before the storm was not destroyed and is slowly coming back. Already tourists have returned to the French Quarter, with its raucous good times; and the convention industry is regaining its footing. (If Katrina was Gods attempt to punish the city for its night life, it failed. ) Gradually, trust is being placed in a restored levee system. A new normal is emerging, unfortunately in some cases eerily reminiscent of the old normal. Only time will tell if the â€Å"new† New Orleans has learned its lessons from Katrina, or if sentimentality for the old New Orleans will set the city up for a repeat disaster. One can hope that future scholars will not worry again about how people manage to survive in such an unnatural and impossible city. As a hurricane can never actually be stopped or destroyed prevention is a little more vague it’s more of damage prevention rather than hurricane prevention. Although there are scientist researching in possible ways to lower storm intensity some of which include a substance that absorbs large amounts of water with small amounts of the substance being used up the idea is simple but somewhat impractical. In Conclusion, with today’s modern equipment we can predict and perceive a hurricanes power easily but it is nearly impossible to stop a hurricane, so prevention needs to be researched more, if any lesson was learnt from Katrina it is this. Many of the people included in the Diaspora and most visibly affected by the storm were poor and members of minorities, as for example in the hard-hit Lower Ninth Ward. They were among the thousands initially stranded, and then bused to out-of-town shelters. After Katrina an avalanche of media accounts and academic articles appeared on how the storm laid bare the environmentally linked economic and racial inequities within New Orleans, inequities with a long history. References Hurricane Katrina. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 22 July 2004, 10:55 UTC May03, 2007 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina/. Storm Surge. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 22 July 2004, 10:55 UTC May03, 2007 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Storm_surge. Anna Badkhen. Hurricane Katrina: Relief Effort / Response Like Second Disaster; San Francisco Chronicle (CA), 09/11/2005 Congress Reacts to Hurricane Katrina Disaster. Water World, Oct2005, Vol. 21 Issue 10, p8-9, 2p Cutter, S. L. , C. T. Emrich, J. T. Mitchell, B. J. Boruff, M. Gall, and others. 2006. The Long Road Home. Environment 48 (2): 8-20. Frey, W. H. 2005. City Can Lure Back Its Reluctant Migrants (New Orleans). Times-Picayune [New Orleans], 30 November,  §B, 7. Jarrell, Jerry D. , Max Mayfield, and Edward N. Rappaport. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes from 1900 to 2000. Oct. 2001. NOAA/NWS/ Tropical Prediction Center. 28 Sept. 2005. Katz, B. , M. Fellowes, and M. Mabanta. 2006. Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction. 3 May update. Washington, D. C. : The Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program. LeClaire, Jennifer. Katrina disaster trains a spotlight on homeowners policies. Christian Science Monitor, 9/8/2005, Vol. 97 Issue 200, p12-16, 2p Medias Role Vital in Katrina Disaster. Television Week, 9/12/2005, Vol. 24 Issue 37, p9-9, 1/4p Mowbray, R. 2005. Brightest Evacuees Weigh Option: Return to N. O. or Stay? NOLA. com. NPR; Analysis: Katrinas economic disaster Talk of the Nation, 09/0