Introduction to Working with Children Essay

E1 Describe three different types of setting which provide care and education for children in your area. This must include one example from the list: statutory sector, voluntary sector and private sector. The statutory sector involves all the organisations that are set up, controlled and funded by the government or local authority for example: St. Anthony’s Catholic Primary School. This type of sector is funded by people who pay tax or national insurance. Another type of setting which provides care and education for children in my area is sure start children’s centre. This is a voluntary sector and they are run by organizations. This type of sector is not designed to make a profit. ‘’Money for voluntary organisations comes from a variety of sources that include donations, fund-raising, grants from central or local government, lottery grants and fees for the services they provide.’’ (Thornes 2008 pg4) The private sector is owned by an individual or company and aim to make a profit which people will pay for their child to attend such as: Burnham Montessori School. E2 Describe how each of the types of settings indented in E1 aims to support children and their families. St. Anthony’s Catholic Primary School is a statutory sector that aims to support children and their families by involving parents fully in their children’s learning. They also support children and their families by providing them a safe positive environment. Every child is entitled to 15 hours a week of free education and they must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in their day plan and etc†¦ to support children and their families. Sure start is a voluntary sector that aims to support children and their families in many different ways. The first way they aim support children and their families is by providing good quality play, learning and childcare. The second way is by giving ‘’support for children and parents with special needs.’’ (Thornes 2008 pg9) Burnham Montessori School is a private sector that aims to support children  and their families by giving them registered care facilities which offer full or part time care for children. They also support them by offering them good quality play where they can learn from it. Another thing they do to support children and their families is by offering 15 hours a week of education which is delivered by the early year’s foundation for 36 weeks a year. It also provides a solid routine with long and flexible hours. E3 Describe the main legislation in your country that supports the rights of children. E4 Describe the recognised principles and values that underpin working with children. When working with children it is important to recognise the principles and values that underpin and guide professional standards and good practice. The cash statement of value states that equal opportunities help to respect the child individually. It would therefore be important to value and respect the children you work with as I have seen the stuff do in my work placement. It also states that health and safety should be having safety from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out childcare settings. This happens in my work placement by having policies and procedures that insure children stay safe. The cash statement of values states that partnership with parents; respecting parents and other cares. Admissions policy; respecting all children and giving them their rights at the setting. The stuff will carry this out in my work placement by taking all their view and opinions into account throughout the day. E5 Explain the importance of valuing and respecting all children in the setting. E7 Describe how study skills can support your learning during your training. Recognizing my own study skills is a way that can help support my learning during my training. This will help me to complete my training successfully because I can put what I have learnt into practice. In order for me to  complete my training, I will need to manage my time effectively and be organized. By doing this I will then be able to carry on the rest of my learning during the training. I will therefore use my listening skills and any other skills that I have learnt, into practice at work placement and apply them throughout the day activities. I can then also reflect on them and take on board and act upon the feedback from my assignments and non-assessed and assessed work, to ensure that the strategies are really helping me to succeed in my training. D1 Explain why the practitioner should develop and maintain appropriate relationships with parents and other professionals. Practitioners should develop and maintain an appropriate relationship with parents and other professionals. It is important to build a relationship with parents; an easy way to do this is to make sure you have good communication with them. For example make sure that you talk to them in the appropriate language such as using manners. Other way’s that you can build relationships with parent’s are that you would have regular contact with them for the best interests of the child. It is also important when building a relationship with parents that you understand what they think is best for the child. For example if the parents wanted the child to sit at a table all day and do work. It is also as important to build a relationship with the children in order to be able to work well with the children in the setting. For example if a child is not feeling well at nursery you would know in their best interest that they may want to be left alone. The last and also important relationship they should have is with colleagues; to work well with them to ensure the needs and safety of a child are put first and it would be easier for this to happen if there is a relationship. D2 Discuss the characteristics of working in a multi-agency team. There are many different services that work in a multi-agency team such as social services. They all have many characteristics that allow and help them to work with children and their families. One characteristic that helps and allows them to work with children and their families is cooperation because  it makes everyone in the setting feel needed and engaged by working together. Every person involved in the multi-agency team should feel belonged and this is a characteristic as it will make sharing information and problems easier. Having good listening skills will also help and make everyone in the team feel respected and valued that their point is being heard. C Explain why the early year’s practitioner should listen to children’s views and value their opinions. It is important to listen to children’s views and value their opinion. This is because it builds on the child’s self-esteem and well-being. They should be listened to by valuing their needs and accepting that every child has the right to be heard. The emotions and opinions that a child expresses during play can guide practitioners to identify their likes, dislikes and activity preferences. This will then help the practitioner to plan and implement activities of varied interests and learning needs. It will also make the child feel a sense of belonging in the setting. Hannah Mortimer, 2000, author of various early years’ books and education psychologist believed that young children should be having a say and be included in decisions making when planning and the practitioner can ensure the children have equal opportunities and feel involved in their daily routine. B Explain why it is important that practitioners understand the limits and boundaries of their role when working with children. Children are very sensitive and easily influenced. Practitioners need to know their boundaries so that their actions are not misconstrued as inappropriate. Having these limits will allow children and practitioners to know what the rules are or the expectations. The boundaries give the children and practitioners the freedom they have to work within any limits. When allowing a child to have freedom within the boundaries, they can then learn to choose for themselves and have the consequences. Practitioners teaching and giving the children opportunities to make choices in early life, and allowing them to make mistakes along the way will be helping them  develop into adult life. A Reflex on the importance of child centred approach in early years settings. I used a child centred approach to teach the child about the number 6. She likes to play with Peppa Pig, so I had 6 pictures of Peppa Pig on the paper and made her count them. When she was counting the 6 pictures of Peppa Pig she was able to count all of them and repeat the number after me. This theory and research shows the idea of using children current ability to support more advanced skills where the child follows the adult. In my current setting practitioners have a child centred approach many different ways. One way I have seen this happen is when staff see children interested in certain things or activities and they then plan around these interest for next weeks work and activities in the setting. Another way practitioners do this is by doing an observation on a child and learning about them to meet their needs through various task or activities. This show that in my setting practitioners work well with the children and help improve the quality of every child interest and needs in the setting to the principles of a child-centred approach. In placement I also saw a boy was pretending to put fires out with a hose, the practitioner helped him make. Within a few minutes I had helped him set up a load of chairs (a fire engine) and set up a phone on a chair for them to receive emergency calls. By listening to his interests and observing them I was able to extend what may have lasted a few minutes into half an hours child initiated play. Reference: * Beaver. M, et al (2008) Childcare and education Cache level 3 Cheltenham: Nelson Thorns * Hyacinth .M, et al (1998) A practical guide to equal opportunities Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes * www.workingwithkids.co.uk/childrens-act.html 12th October 2011 * http://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky 14th October 2011 Bibliography: * Hannah Mortimer, 2000, author of various early years’ books and education psychologist

Facebook Effects on Society Essay

Nowadays, the social networking known also as social media has become a widespread subject among people, especially among teenagers. At its beginning, social media consisted of diverse dating websites. Now, most people consider that having a social media account means that you have a Facebook account. Facebook involves interactivity and the aim of it was, from the very beginning, to be able to add different people as friends and let those people know about the activities of their â€Å"new† friends. It was launched in 2004 and now is one of the most popular social media websites in the entire world. According to the last surveys in the field, Facebook changes and influences social relationships along with people’s ideas, thoughts and actions. There are several negative effects that Facebook has on the society, in general, and on the people, individually. Facebook causes addiction, which implies: less social interaction, distraction from another tasks and health issues. Since for many people searching and posting on Facebook has become one of the main daily activities, less social interaction begin to be one of the main negative effects that Facebook has on its users. Recent data shows that there are over 500 million Facebook users, which means 1 person in every 13 people on Earth uses Facebook. This social media website seems to be for people an escape from real life to a life where everything is fine and organized. In 2010, Pew Research Center created a survey on over 2,000 respondents about social networking influences and demonstrated that 92% of the social networking users have account on Facebook and 52% of them check their Facebook profile at least once a day. Overall, half of the actual Facebook users, which means 250 million people, checks their profile daily. And definitely, those who tend to check their profile many times a day are the ones who tend to get more attracted by the activities on Facebook and so, to be less interested in real life productivity. Christine Rosen, member of the Ethics and Public Policy Center from Washington, says † People who use networks like Facebook have a tendency to describe themselves like products†(BUGEJA 88). That less social interaction will begin once the Facebook users start feeling more connected with the others through Facebook. A research did by Alex Trimpe, student at Columbus College of Art& Design shows that â€Å"57% of people talk more online than they do in real life† (BATTISHILL). In addition, a report in Daily Mail confirmed that more than a third of the respondents spend less time on going out with friends than posting or chatting on Facebook. A percentage of 75 of the surveyed people have fewer friends since they started using Facebook as a way to keep friends updated and even if they realize they need more real meetings, Facebook is still the first choice for â€Å"hanging-out† and for meeting new people. This seems to be a new way of creating and maintaining friendship relations and Steven Strogatz, network science expert and PhD professor at Cornell University, confirms: † The distinction between genuine friends and acquaintances is becoming blurred. Users are spending time maintaining relationships with people they don’t really care about†. (JARVIS) Another of Facebook’s negative effects on society is the distraction from important tasks, which increases the inability to control important occupations such as working or studying. Michael Bugeja, professor and director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Iowa, named this generation † The Facebook Generation’ who text-message during class, talk on their cellphones during labs, and listen to iPods rather than guest speakers in the wireless hall†(Bugeja 85). Due to this extended presence on Facebook, the students encounter issues on tasks’ performances or in respecting due dates. For instance, a psychologist of the Centre for Learning Sciences and Technologies at Open University, Paul Kirschnera, and Aryn Karpinskib, a professor at Ohio State University, did a survey that shows that the average GPA of students without a Facebook account is around 3.86 while the Facebook users have a GPA of 3.06 (Choney). Paul Kirschnera affirmed in a Daily Mail article: â€Å"The problem is that most people have Facebook or other social networking sites, their emails and maybe instant messaging constantly running in the background while they are carrying out other tasks†(Fleming). Facebook has a well developed entertainment value and, also, an informative value and both make people get involved in discussions or any other activities allowed on this website. Their curiosity or pleasure in what they see or read encourages them to spend more time â€Å"facebooking†. For example, checking the last posts on their friends’ walls, changing constantly their status or using Facebook chat. Any social media activity longer than a few minutes interferes with people’s main occupation, in students’ case, homework, and it makes difficult to keep them focused on what is really important. The experts advice Facebook users to take â€Å"tech breaks† and check their profiles after at least 15 minutes of working on other different tasks. Last, but definitely one of the most dangerous effects of Facebook on society is that it brings a series of health risks. According to a Daily Mail report, people who often use social media tend to be more isolated, and they find it difficult to communicate in person. Doctor Aric Sigman, member of The Institute of Biology, says in The Biologist, â€Å"This [isolated behavior] can increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart diseases, and dementia† (BBC News). These health issues are more likely to appear in someone who spends more time socializing online than he does on face-to-face contacts. In addition, Dr Sigman underlines that some hormones such as stress released or oxytocin hormones, which help people to start and maintain social relationships, are altered in the people who do not have an active social life and who share their emotions and thoughts through Internet. It explains why many people who overuse Facebook are more vulnerable to stress, nervousness and isolation. Another health risk caused by an excessive use of Facebook is the chaotic habit of eating that people have, especially teenagers. If they spend most of their time on Facebook, they tend to skip meals or eating unhealthy food. According to researchers, these habits could lead to diseases like bulimia or anorexia. A survey based on a sample of 600 Facebook users with ages between 16-40 and done by The Center for Eating Disorders, reports that 75% of the respondents do not like how their body looks and 51% of them compare their bodies with their Facebook friends’ bodies (Cowden). Doctor Harry Brandt, director of The Center for Eating Disorders mentions, â€Å"Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else [†¦] In this age of modern technology and constant access to SmartPhones and the internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to remove themselves from images and other triggers that promote negative body image, low self-esteem and may ultimately contribute to eating disorders† (Shaffer). Many people become obsessed with that ideal thin body and the results of the survey mentioned above underlines that people tend to pursue a weight-loss diet because they draw a negative image of their bodies when comparing with other users’ images. It is clear that, at one point, Facebook is enjoyable and its policy is not other than to bring people together faster and easier, though it still affects people’s lives in many ways. Some people are more liable to be isolated from real life, which include â€Å"in person† connections and real entertainment activities. Others end up losing their jobs or getting low grades, in students’ cases, because of the time spent on Facebook. Some could become sick because of the obsession of having that perfect body image, which Facebook promotes, and they start pursuing wrong diets plans, which lead to improper meals. A large numbers of surveys show the negative effects of Facebook to society and the doctors are also worried about the approach that society have for social media websites, especially Facebook. Generally speaking, Facebook mostly affects many people because they neglect real life and spend way too much time on chatting, posting on and checking their profile. The risks and the negative sides of social media will be reduced if the people will use a lower amount of virtual socializing. WORKS CITED BBC, News â€Å"Online networking ‘harms health’.† N.p 09.02.2009. Web. 18 Apr 2012. . Black, Nathan. â€Å"‘Facebook Depression’ Affecting Teens, Report Says.† Christian Post 29 March 2011, n. pag. Print. Bugeja, Michael. â€Å"Facing the Facebook.† Chronicle of Higher Education 27 February 2006, Daily Ed. n. pag. Print. Choney, Suzanne. â€Å"Facebook use can lower grades by 20 percent, study says.† N.p., 2010. Web.

Altruism Essay Example for Free (#2)

Altruism Essay Essay Topic: Sociology Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Chicago ASA IEEE AMA company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints The statement â€Å"People never intentionally act to benefit others except only to obtain some good for themselves† is often described as Altruism or an Altruistic act. This statement is not entirely true. It is possible for someone to intentionally act to benefit others, but this is something that does not happen very often. There are multiple theories as to why people do and do not perform altruistic acts. If someone is a member of your family you are more likely to help a person in need, if you feel sympathetic towards someone you are likely to help a person in need or if it is a social norm you are likely to help them. If in a certain situation helping someone is not a social norm then you are less likely to help this person. Even if someone wanted to perform an altruistic act it is very difficult to do so in our society because we reward people who we perceive to be good, or to have done good things. If you perform an Altruistic act towards a member of your family would be acting within Hamilton’s kin selection theory (1960s). The kin selection theory which states that you are much more likely to perform an altruistic act if the person you are helping is a member of your family. An example of this is recently in Melbourne there was a wall collapse. Three people died as a result of this incident; a woman in her thirties and an eighteen and nineteen-year-old siblings, the older brother and his sister. The older woman died upon impact, as did the brother, but only after he shielded his sister from the collapsing wall. His sister also died later in hospital. (ABC News, 1st April 2013) This is an example of the kin selection theory. Instead of doing what benefited himself, he tried to save his sister, despite it having dire consequences. This would be considered an act of altruism as it did not benefit him, and in this case even had negative consequences, especially as his sister later died in hospital. Another reason people perform altruistic acts is out of sympathy. Sympathy is a natural feeling of concern for a person. Even if you can’t relate to the person you feel bad for them, or concerned for them. An example of someone feeling sympathetic is Julio Diaz, who when a mugger came up to him one night with a knife he handed over his wallet without complaint. When the mugger went to walk away he stopped him and offered him his coat as well, saying he didn’t want the mugger to get cold. He then continued to offer to buy the mugger dinner. (Huffington Post, 17th November 2011). Diaz obviously felt sympathy towards the mugger, or he wouldn’t have given over his wallet, jacket and paid for his dinner. Diaz ended up getting his wallet back from the boy who handed it over after they had eaten. Diaz felt sympathy towards the boy due to the fact that the boy had almost nothing, where as Diaz had enough money to comfortably live. Sympathy makes people feel like they have a moral obligation to help someone in need – the person they feel sympathetic towards. – Sometimes people help others because it is considered a social norm. An example of this is saying please and thank you. This is considered normal in most societies and it is often frowned upon if you don’t use these. A social norm is something people often take for granted and a lot of people are shocked when someone doesn’t follow what they consider to be normal. Another example of a social norm in our society is to wear clothes in public. If you were walking down the street and you say someone walking towards you naked you would not think this was normal. You would wonder why they were naked and often avoid walking to close to, making eye contact with, or speaking to this person. If you were in some traditional aboriginal culture you would wear nothing but animal skin, or even walk around naked. This is/was considered a social norm within that society. There are some internationally recognized social norms, like not engaging in cannibalism, and dressing modestly. While not all societies, past or present, follow these social norms most of the world does. There are also norms within society, religion and individual families. A social norm in our society is mate-ship, not letting down your friends, family, or community. There are plenty of social norms in religion, such as in Christianity it is not exactable to love someone of the same sex. This is an example of a social norm that is slowly changing over time, as do most social norms. It was a social norm in Britain in the 1800’s that you attended church, where as in 2002 only 18. 6% of people in the United Kingdom attended church regularly. (Tearfund report, 2007) This is an example of how social norms change over time, and what we consider to be social norms at the moment may not be considered normal in 40,50,60,70 or more years. These things cannot be considered an altruistic act because you would benefit poorly from not doing these things, so it is good for you to say please and thank you, bringing it back to the first example. There are also plenty of things people do not do to help others because it is considered outside of the social norms. If you saw a drunk person on the street you probably wouldn’t help them because society has shaped us to think that these people brought the state they are in on themselves, therefore it is not our problem to help them once they are in this situation. Social norms can be beneficial, but they can also detrimental. Another instance where helping someone is not considered an altruistic act is if the act is mutually beneficial. This can cover a range of things, from the benefit to you being a smile from someone, to a bravery award. If you see a child drowning and you swim out and save them and when you get back their mother says thank you and buys you an ice cream then you are benefiting, the ice cream being the benefit. If while trying to save this child you drown you do not benefit in anyway, and this even has a negative affect on you. This would be an act of altruism because there is no mutual benefit. A benefit for you may be something as small as a good feeling inside, or a smile, but these are benefits of saving the child, there for there is mutual benefit. You walk away with a good feeling and maybe an ice cream and the child walks away with his life. A real life example of this is Don Richie, who lived just across the road from one of Australia’s most notorious suicide locations. It is estimated that Richie saved more than 160 lives in his lifetime. He received the title of Australia’s local hero in 2011(ABC Radio, 14th May 2012). This is something he got out of stopping these people commit suicide. Despite the fact that he had no knowledge he was going to receive this award when he started saving people, because he received this award it is not an act of altruism. Some would argue that even if he hadn’t received this award these would still not be acts of altruism, as he felt good about saving these people, and it made him a happier person. This is his benefit, making it mutually beneficial and not an act of altruism. People do act to benefit others, without obtaining good for themselves, but this is a rare situation. Whether the person wanted to obtain some good for themselves or not they almost always do, as acts of kindness are rewarded in most societies. While people can intentionally act to benefit others without obtaining good for themselves this almost never happens, simply because of the way our society is shaped. Altruism. (2016, Sep 29).

UN Raises Aid Appeal for Pakistani Quake Victims in Race Against Time Essay

UN Raises Aid Appeal for Pakistani Quake Victims in Race Against Time - Essay Example As the paper declares relief agencies are trying to rush shelter and medical treatment to villages in the mountainous region before they are cut off by winter snow within around three weeks. The Red Cross warned in a statement on Wednesday that thousands of the most vulnerable survivors in remote villages could die of exposure if they are left without care or shelter in the freezing cold of the Himalayan foothills. This discussion stresses that the UN has been struggling to fill its current appeal of $312 million for emergency assistance over six months and says that the shortage is slowing the relief effort. Pakistan's Senate chairman, Muhammad Soomro, and minister for economic affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, are expected to outline the extent of destruction of life and property in Pakistan caused by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake. The quake devastated an area of more than 28,000 square kilometers (11,000 square miles), depriving more than 1.1 million people of their jobs and reducing thousands of schools and hospitals to rubble, according to Pakistani officials. Byrs said that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which is delivering urgently needed tents for about 3.3 million homeless people in Pakistani Kashmir, and the World Food Program, which provides food rations, were short of funding. Bad weather has been forecast in the region this week, while snowfall is expected to ground most of the 100 or so h elicopters ferrying help to isolated villages in the region by the middle of next month, according to the UN.

Changes in Gulf banking industry after global financial crisis Research Paper

Changes in Gulf banking industry after global financial crisis - Research Paper Example These economies experience some degree of vulnerability in the international market. The third segment of countries in the gulf region consists of the countries that have high demographic pressure, low functioning social safety nets and low levels of economic growth (Sharif, 2006). Social and economic crises within these countries have hindered their economic growth and they have been exposed to the rages of financial crisis. There are fewer countries in the third group than in the first and groups, but these countries are worse affected during the financial crisis. The countries in the third group include Sudan, Mauritania, Yemen, Djibouti, Comoros and Somalia. These countries received very little international support during and even after the crisis ended. Hence, the governments of these countries have been serious measures to improve the banking and financial systems in their own countries. Islamic banking in the contemporary finance world The banking industry in the gulf region has passed through a period of major improvements over the period of last five years. Over the years, Islamic banking industry has matured and has become a viable competitor of the conventional commercial banks operating in the Middle East as well as in the South East Asian countries (Koldertsova, 2010). At the global level, the banking system of the gulf region has increased in importance. The Middle East acts as the core launch pad for the promotion of the system of Islamic banking in the Western financial markets and business culture. The following section has been devoted to the study of the changes that have taken place in the banking industry in the gulf region after the global financial crisis. Changes in Gulf banking industry after global financial crisis Technological... Conclusion The effects of the financial crisis have to be considered by the policy makers while making plans for the future and improving the management systems internal to the organizations. It is important that banking and financial sector of the gulf economies have to be transformed and integrated in to the main stream financial system of the globe. It is, therefore important that the challenges in these economies are identified and the future prospects are determined with reference to the resources available to the economies for dealing with the challenges. In this regard, past experiences regarding failure of the banking industry have to be truly accounted for. The system of Islamic banking has spread from the gulf region and entered the practice of banking of the other developed countries in the world, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada (Venardos, 2006). After the financial crisis, this system has become more concerned about the ethical values o f financial transactions and has simultaneously increased its flexibility; so as to compete with the conventional interest based financial system. As a whole, the banking and finance industry in the gulf region has undergone certain developments and has become an exemplary finance practice in the global market (Khan and Bhatti, 2008).

Islam in the Performing Arts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Islam in the Performing Arts - Research Paper Example As religion has always created a great deal of influence over people and developing their opinion about participation in different forms of performing arts, that is why permission to act or to participate in any forms of performing arts does differ to a great extent among them. What is a religion? According to Durkheim, â€Å"†¦a religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden – beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community†¦all those who adhere to them.† (Cipriani and Ferrarotti, 2000, p.2) Durkheim’s observation regarding the role of religion as a catalyst for social unity is relevant in this context as religious permissibility of acting can help to a great extent in spearing morality across society. Thus, acting in film or theatre has received a special focus from different religious disciplines and at the same time, this issue has also raised several debates and arguments concerning this argument. Apart from this factor, as every religion goes through a process of maturity (Roof and McKinney, 1987, p. 108), it gradually develops certain forms of prejudices that create pressure over followers of such religion. Keeping in mind the factor of general humane morality factor, every religion provides some kind of restrictions over people but in the general social context, those aspects are often misrepresented and finally those emerge as strict regulations for people in every society Thesis Statement: In this context, the important question arises if it is permissible under the laws of Islam to act in film or theater or if it violates the rules of morality as laid down in the philosophical approach of Islam.

Investment and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Investment and Analysis - Essay Example I would like to point out that the conventional wisdom of wisdom may not necessarily break down in situations of extreme market volatility. This is because making investments is all about diversifying in the right manner using the relevant tools. In 2008 and 2009, there was the occurrence of a serious stock-market cataclysm that led to massive loss of wealth in the US. Market reports estimated that investors lost approximately $6 trillion worth of wealth. The stock-market cataclysm not only led to massive loss of wealth but also eroded investor’s faith in the conventional wisdom of diversification. However, the failure of the diversification does not arise from the concept of diversification itself. This is because diversifying investments does work especially when done with the appropriate tools. In the newspaper excerpt, the writer noted that there is a tendency of assets correlating hence limiting the opportunity for investors to diversify. Investors who record losses durin g periods of high market volatility are the ones who do not manage to establish a well rounded portfolio. A well rounded portfolio consists of assets that do not have the tendency of swinging up and down in correlation with each other. This means that investors need to diversify their assets to include those that have very the least correlations.In recent times, starting from the year 2000, investors who have diversified their investments among companies that have different sizes have managed to record positive gains. This can be supported by the 2002-2003 performance of the bear market (Satchwell, 2004, p. 24). During this period, the S&P recorded a loss of 47.4 percent but small and undervalued companies produced a gain of 1.6 percent. Real investment trusts also managed to record a gain of 36.6 percent. The market has also in recent times recorded losses as a result of diversification. The latest occurrence of a bear market resulted in small, undervalued companies losing 59.6 percent and REITs losing 68.5 percent. This clearly indicates that what many investors seem to count as diversification does not count any further. This is attributed to the prevailing market dynamics that have changed the correlation between different assets in the market. Despite the mixed results, there is one better approach of utilizing the conventional wisdom of diversification (Jones, 2009, 200). This approach involves paying attention to the correlations of the different assets within a portfolio. Investors should consider diversifying their investments in assets that do not move in sync with each other in terms of market volatility. This can be demonstrated by an example that relates to the stock and bond markets. Given two assets that include Stock S and Bond A, the investor has to first to determine the correlation between the two. Let us assume that the two assets have a perfect negative correlation and are in a similar

Hemmingway and OConnor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hemmingway and OConnor - Essay Example There, a man and a girl are shown talking and drinking beer: they are obviously a couple waiting for a train... and, probably, waiting for something else, too. We see that the story is virtually suspended in awaiting for a resolution. The second story provides an image of a â€Å"typical† family of the early 1950’s going on a short vacation and eventually facing silly and unexpected accident and death. Reading and interpreting both stories, the reader will inevitably sense that familial ties play a great role in them, detrimental and harmful role. Moreover, both readings can be related to American society, as the conflicts and moral concerns implied in them have been rather relevant in America for decades. â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† and â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† both illustrate corruption of family ties and incapability of the family members (or lovers) to lend real moral support to a person. Though the style of Hemmingway excludes any explicit descriptions of the story’s context, one can sense that the American is trying to convince the girl that an abortion is the best solution to the dilemma they are facing (Mellow). Although he tries to convince her softly and seems to comfort her with the idea that they â€Å"will be fine afterward† (Hemmingway), his true motivation is visible: he doesn’t want this child (maybe he isn’t ready or finds it hardly affordable to raise a child). Therefore, the role the close (almost familial) ties play in the decision-making the girl faces is unsupportive and even negative. The simple operation, as the American puts it, is supposed to solve rather his than her problems. Another thing arresting the reader’s attention is the way the two characters talk. They seem so distanced from each other, none of them actually listening to what the other says. Thus, presenting their dialogue as talking rather than com municating, Hemmingway might push the reader towards one more

The effects of retail channel integration through the use of Essay

The effects of retail channel integration through the use of information technologies on Firm performance - Essay Example The article â€Å"The effects of retail channel integration through the use of information technologies on Firm performance† gives a vivid insight into the strategy that can be employed to integrate activities across multiple channels. This resolution lies in the use of information technology, a solution that offers a promising opportunity for most of the retail firms. This is because it is directed towards the enhancement of the relationship that exists between them and their customers. This is, in addition to improving the performance, of the firm in virtually all sectors. This can be tied to the fact that the goal of most firms is to improve people’s lives through their services and products. This is, in addition to, making profits that can enable them stay in the market for a long time. Throughout the article, the authors have focused on the constructive effects of information technology just to encourage those who are not into it to try out. They base this on the f act that by integrating both traditional and contemporary Channels within the retail industries efficiency and integration is improved. These effects, in one way or another, function to the act of the firm as well as customers who are among the key stake holders in any given firm. Another fact is that environment has a role to play because its dynamism is a sure moderating factor of the effects brought about by competence and modernization. All these attributes are aimed at inciting firms to employ this technique in both the retail and service sectors especially to those firms that have both physical and online operation. (Khosrowpou, 2006). Critique of article In the modern world of business, there has been increased shift towards the creation of positive environment that enhances productivity and efficiency. Thus, why many firms resolve to employ CRM software to provide a dependable platform for both customers and firms. This, in part, corresponds to the message in the article dis cussed. However, even though there is the persistence of adoption of technology, it should be noted that it is not for all companies to use it for some use â€Å"excel and outlook† in a stationary surroundings to uphold their information. In such a company, high technology such as use of CRM software is undoubtedly inappropriate. Therefore, the article has not emphasized on what companies are eligible to this high technology, for this is most prominent in growing businesses who are obliged to manage customer’s information with reliable software especially in the constantly changing business environment (Sambumurthy, 2003). However, the article has a valuable message concerning the ways in which businesses can manage change. This is because the modern day organizations have become complex, uncertain and more unpredictable, and, therefore, invention of ways of overcoming these challenges. Therefore, the advent of globalization demands that companies keep themselves up-to -date either through the latest technology or management fad (Lin-Bin et al, 2010). This vertical integration has numerous effects on the factors that lead to firm’s performance such as increasing firm size and reducing uncertainty. However, it has also its own

Recruitment Strategy and Job Offer Process Essay Example for Free

Recruitment Strategy and Job Offer Process Essay Organizations such as education, business and engineering all use diverse recruitment techniques as their operations transform and the demand for employees vary, based on the direction in which the organization is headed. This paper will study in detail business establishments and how they use their recruitment strategy to fill job vacancies. In addition, the paper will select and/or suggest which would be the best recruitment strategy to achieve the goal of drawing qualified personnel from within this industry. Finally, this paper will detail the process to be used in offering a job to an applicant. The first phase of recruitment is deciding on the need for personnel to fill current or future job openings. In business establishments, it is essential for a company to recognize whether an open or targeted recruitment strategy is effective, and to understand which one will succeed in meeting the company’s requirements. If there is no urgency in finding suitable candidates for the position, then a better option would be an open recruitment policy (Mesmer, 1999). For instance, if a company has to fill more than 35 vacancies, the only real option for it is to choose an open recruitment policy. The open recruitment policy helps in attracting a number of applicants including an assorted group of people (Heinemann Judge, 2009). In this way, the organization can obtain pools of potential employees with differing standards of knowledge, skills, aptitudes other characteristics (KSAOs) from which they can select to fill vacancies. â€Å"If a business is required to recruit as many people as possible within a limited period, a sizeable applicant pool often supplies a company with a good number of personnel to fill vacancies† (â€Å"Recruiting practices,†1995). Hiring via newspaper, television, job fairs, radio and media channels will attract numerous candidates needed to fill several vacancies in businesses. The possibility of skimming a broad applicant pool reduces the company’s ability to appraise every application, resulting in triggering high future attrition rates (Soberg Bennington, 2009). Employing the open recruitment policy will not initiate a candidate pool with specific skills or experience levels as witnessed with the targeted recruitment policy. However, when organizational requirements demand specific skills, education, or experience levels, a business will adopt a targeted recruitment policy. Positive action also calls for a company to target a particular segment of the labor force like minority groups (Heneman Judge, 2006). After identifying a specific target, a business may take the help of a talent management team equipped to win over a predetermined sort of applicant (â€Å"CTS strengthens†, 2010). For instance, a company in need of a web designer may advertise available job positions online rather than via the radio or other media channels. With technological advances, the Internet is fast becoming a cost-effect means of hiring, with advertising targeted at specific group of candidates. For a company on the lookout for a certain type of applicant, the target recruitment policy is the best method to use. With the evolving of businesses, organizations should use ingenious recruitment strategies to surface from the conventional â€Å"talent pools† which as Kemsley states are approached with caution and suspicion for assistance (2009). Businesses are becoming very choosy in their hiring methods when recruiting in the present economic scenario. They are recruiting based on business requirements; for instance, an accounting firm which is considering future job vacancies, may approach local educational institutions and target college students who are enrolled currently as accounting majors. The accounting firm then can target specific sub-groups within that group by seeking students with a specific GPA grade point average, thus making certain that the company can hire new recruits with the requisite job qualifications. â€Å"In the same way, a business specializing in health care can adopt a recruitment strategy targeting personnel in the healthcare sector, thereby guaranteeing the solicitation of candidates with healthcare experience† (â€Å"Online health,† 2000). For some business establishments, limiting their options to a single recruitment strategy is bad. When a business does not have a recruitment deadline, the organization can gain from a good blend of open targeted recruitment policies. For most businesses, using an open recruitment policy enables the company to fill vacancies which are not key positions like support staff. When organizational needs demand a highly qualified, trained, or experienced person, then it’s advantageous to use t he target recruitment policy. The subsequent phase of recruitment after the interview selection process is the job offer. Developing and extending a job offer can either be a simple task or a risky endeavor. If the business demands that numerous vacancies should be filled without any delay, the employment offer process is quite simple and the company faces no real risks. With a sizeable applicant pool, a company can extend basic job offers with minimal emphasis on bonus payments or incentives. However, where a business needs specialized skills, the business should know what the competition is offering employees with similar skills set. The greater the demands a company places on applicant qualifications, the more specialized are the job qualifications and the greater the risk involved in the employment offer process. When trying to lure a competitor’s employee, the company should be willing to provide what best fits such an employee’s requirements with no promise of long-term gains for the organization. If the receiver is undecided about accepting the employment offer, the company should decide if it’s willing to significantly change the employment offer in such a way that the receiver cannot turn it down. Finalizing the employment offer demands seeing all aspects of incentives/benefits verbally offered are properly documented. Moreover, the business must make certain that the job offer is not in violation of any federal or state laws. In business industries, limiting recruiting options to a single strategy is not beneficial; however, if a business has no recruitment deadlines, it can benefit greatly from using a mix of open targeted recruitment policies. For most organizations, using an open recruitment policy enables them to fill job vacancies which are not key positions like support staff. Where an organization requires candidates with specialized skills or higher education or greater experience, then it’s profitable to use the target recruitment policy. Recognizing the differences in these two strategies enables a business to avail of the optimum recruitment strategy to meet the organizational requirements prevailing at that time. References CTS strengthen recruiting efforts with talent coordination teams. (2010, July 3). Health Wellness Resource Center Alternative Health Module. Kemsley, N. (2009). Employee-centric markets: A different direction. People and Strategy. New York: 2009. Vol. 32(3), p. 14. Heneman, G. H., Judge, A. T. (2006). Staffing Organizations (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Messmer, M. (1999, September). Developing a strategic staffing plan. National Public Accountant, 44(7), 20. Online health care recruiting company makes debut. (2000, July 3). The Enterprise, p. 7. Soberg, A., Bennington, A. (2009). Workforce planning: implications for healthcare in Canada and elsewhere. People and Strategy. New York: 2009, 32(3), 26. Recruiting practices changing. (1995, November). Physician Executive, 21(11), 4.

Root Causes Of Excess Waste Output

Root Causes Of Excess Waste Output In the recent years, it was brought to everyones notice that one in two camels are dying in the desert from consuming plastic bags (Attwood, 2008). Camels being an important part of the culture of the UAE gained significant conservation programs one of which were to reduce plastic bags and eventually ban their usage by the year 2013. Wastes like these are discarded by inhabitants which not only damages the environment, threatens biodiversity, but also causes societal issues. UAE is subjected to a rapid growth in population and an immense development to its environment. These two consistent factors result in generation of excess waste. Throughout the developing phase, UAE has faced the adverse effects of uncontrolled waste dumping. Moreover, the recycling techniques were yet at par, pended with no serious thought. Introduction to a few new waste management practices were laid but they did not seem to be effective due to scarcity of modern techniques (State of the Environment, Abu Dhab i, 2011). To have it recorded for improvement; an official centre for Waste Management activities was opened in different emirates and made responsible for controlling and coordinating waste. Concluding from the report, the UAE has been ranked second in generating massive amount of household waste. The very next items consisted mainly of the construction waste, accounting for dominating the waste mass (Todorova, 2010). The amount of waste per person generated rises with consumption. The waste, however, is not limited to domestic waste but includes the by-products leaving the factories and organizations, as well. The electronic waste (e-waste), medical waste, hazardous waste, demolition and construction waste, marine waste, etc. all are different categories of the general term waste that need to be taken care of. The increase in the UAE population and economic growth has made it more mandatory to overcome the environmental problem with intelligent and safe techniques. Excess of waste disposal in UAE has always been termed as a very groovy task which results in greater effect to the environment. This result in affecting the overall improving living standards of the UAE and international recommendations of the land for quality living. An important thing to note here is that proper disposal of waste is very essential. It is a cycle in which humans use and produce waste; however, the waste is never thrown away but, it finds its way back to the environment and to use via different means such as through the food chain. The reason for choosing this issue is because excess waste generation is a well noted problem around the world. Moreover, it exhibits its importance for sustainable growth and quality living. In addition, it is a growing problem as cities run out of space to dump waste. For instance, Dubai has filled two of its landfill sites and is aiming at zero output of waste by 2030 (Al-Khan, 2012). This issue might make people more aware of the unhygienic activities and would educate them to evaluate the consequences of excessive consumption resulting in waste generation. This discussion is entirely based on socio economic reforms involving strategic development, taking waste management systems into account and their application for reduction. Further more, this discussion could be used to highlight improving methods and gaining responses from the authorities who are responsible for environment protection. Root Causes Of Excess Waste Output It is crucial to understand the root cause of excess waste generation in the UAE. The main causes of excessive waste generation seen in UAE are: increasing the population, increasing the demand and consumption, and advancements of new technology with no proper know-how of disposal. Moreover, from the interview conducted with Mr. John Schneider, who is a contract specialist at The Center of Waste Management, it appears that the leading cause of excess waste generation is the fast developmental stage UAE is in. Abu Dhabi for instance generates the greatest amount of demolition and construction waste in the Abu Dhabi Emirate in relation to Al-Ain and Western Region (The Center of Waste Management Abu Dhabi, 2011). First of all, the population of the UAE has been increasing rapidly since the last few years by the high rate of births and by migration from different countries to the UAE for employment opportunities and high quality of life. The high population increases the consumption of products and materials which in return produces more waste. Second, the materialistic perception and constant attractive advertisements of luxurious life has augmented the demand for many products regardless to whether it is needed for survival. The demand on products makes the producers manufacture more of their products and the increasing rate of expending these products generates more waste. Furthermore, it is not only the utilization of these products that lead to waste generation, but the waste released during the production process, resource acquisition, and unwanted by-products are also leading components of waste in the UAE (Schneider, 2012). Overconsumption is considered a serious problem in UAE that un equivocally makes the production line and imports to intensify and consequently lead to excess generation of waste. Especially the electronic gadgets and quick shift to technology in UAE has lead to more e-waste which is one of the wastes hardest to dispose and get rid of. People in the UAE are discarding gadgets to have latest ones associated with luxurious lifestyle. Lastly, as per the interview with Mr.John Schneider, it appears that Abu Dhabi in particular has a high demolition and construction waste than any other. The reports tell that construction and demolition waste from Abu Dhabi city itself constitutes 85% in the whole Emirates and more than 50 percent in the total daily quantity of waste in the city (The Center of Waste Management Abu Dhabi, 2011). Effects Of Surplus Waste Generation Waste is not just an unpleasant sight but has an awful smell, too; furthermore waste has an adverse effect on our resources if it is not properly dealt with. Not only this, but all kinds of waste can cause health issues in humans, animals, and plants (Ministry of the Environment, 2012). As aforementioned causes show how waste is adding on in our environment, it is important to note the effects it may have on an individual, society and the world if it is not aptly discarded (EDU Green, 2007). 3.1 Individual level: The consequences of excess waste production can affect the human health in two ways: directly or indirectly (Ministry of the Environment, 2012). For instance, toxic gases from the dump areas are likely to pollute the air leading to respiratory issues in inhabitants. UAE has a harsh humid climate that is also favourable for pests, pathogens and, microbial infections. Indirect impacts can be seen when pollutants from wastes in soil decrease the efficiency of soil and influence the feature of crops (Ministry of the Environment, 2012). Moreover, according to what is stated in a news article published in The National, the hazardous waste incineration is endangering human health. The Northern Emirates have been a victim of waste dumping that is not properly managed and is leading to health issues among the residents (Hassan, 2010). 3.2 National level: Excess waste generation day after day leads to additional landfills to be built (Solid waste impacts on human health, 2012). Eventually the city runs out of space to dump waste and exports to other cities (Disposal site , 2012). Dubai, for instance, is running out of space to build more landfills. Two of the already current landfills have been closed as they have exceeded the limit and the other one is expected to last for only seven years time (Al-Khan, 2012). Excess waste output also affects the economy nation-wide. For instance, it was projected in the Green Middle East website that the UAE economy faces a significant loss of about 1.5 billion AED annually as a result of improper recycling (Green Middle East, 2012). 3.3 Global Level It must be comprehended that most waste dumped areas contribute significantly to the green house gases. Methane is one of the most released green house gas from waste sectors contributing to global warming (Waste and Climate Change, 2012). According to a report published by Environment Protection Agency about Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases, 12% of methane emissions world-wide are from the landfills of municipal solid waste. Furthermore, if nothing is done about it, the emissions will increase by 9% between the year 2005 and 2020 (Environment Protection Agency). Considering this, the UAEs waste output, in relation to its size, is extensive. UAE contributes 22% of household waste to the 22.2 million tones of waste from GCC countries which makes it second highest in waste generation next to Saudia Arabia (Todorova, 2010). Efforts Made By UAE Government The UAE has developed extensively in the past decades; however, this development has not come without a price. According to Mr. John Schneider, to face this national crisis, the municipalities of the emirates have been struggling with drafting strategies and policies. Abu Dhabis Center of Waste Management (WMC) has been lucky in numerous ventures to manage excess waste output. The establishment which effectively has been in operation since 2009 has taken many positive steps such as renewing contracts to companies, taking over the waste management of all the companies in the Emirates as well as pest control (Schneider, 2012). Moreover, it follows standard operational procedures and technical guidelines for collecting and managing waste. WMC endorses and accepts waste energy henceforth; efforts to generate waste energy have been taken up. Also contracts with outsourced recycling facilities have been established to recycle items (Schneider, 2012). UAE government initiated several public awareness campaigns to direct their citizens toward better waste management. One of the waste management campaigns highlighted by Mr. Schneider (2012) was the idea brought up by 11 year old Cameron Oliver who won the Abu Dhabi Award for Everyday Heroes. His idea urges UAE citizens towards a more responsible use of plastic to save desert animals generally and camels especially. Other campaigns were the product of collaboration between nongovernmental organizations and the UAEs government, together they educated the public about the benefits of waste management and the three Rs reduce, reuse, and recycle. In addition, WMC provided various recycling waste pins at eyeshot around the country to facilitate the recycling assignment for the individual citizen (Schneider, 2012). Furthermore, stricter policies and proper implementation by employing inspectors and contract administrators on daily basis have allowed WMC to deal with illegal dumping of wast e (Schneider, 2012). In an attempt to create awareness and deal with extra waste output, the Government of Sharjah installed reverse vending machines that takes in plastic bottles and aluminum cans which can be recycled accompanied by recycling awards via loyalty cards or other prizes through online accounts (Sharjah to Launch UAEs First Reverse Vending Machines, 2012) Another initiative was taken up by the hotels in the UAE by practicing a new technique of waste management where different rooms and suites are given bins with different colors, each for a particular type of waste. The recyclable waste and non-recyclable waste are separated before they end up in the main garbage dump; consequentially, less waste ends up in the landfill thereby improving new green techniques for keeping the environment clean (Todorova, 2012). The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has been looking forward to reduce waste that ends up in landfill. Landfills have been filling up at a very rapid pace which needs to be slowed down. For this reason, Abu Dhabi government has launched recyclable material programs (Schneider, 2012). In addition, numerous companies in UAE are required to register with the tariff regime of the Central Waste Management (Abu Dhabi To Divert 90% Of Waste From Landfills, 2011). Moreover, Abu Dhabi is imposing a fee for few industries that generate excess waste which is not properly managed. This would compel organizations to adopt recycling and reusing as one way of managing their waste (Abu Dhabi Imposes Waste Management Fees, 2012). Understanding the drawbacks of dumping waste in landfill, Ajman has decided to take up on a new strategy. The emirate has planned to build an incineration facility to acquire energy from waste (Todorova, 2010). Mr. Schneider also highlighted about the current recyclable facilities present in Abu Dhabi and Dubai that are active in collecting recyclable materials such as plastic, paper agricultural waste, textiles, demolition waste, and steel. In future, WMC aims to develop ways to recycle agricultural waste in order to use it as an animal feed for the livestock (Schneider, 2012). Recommendations: It should be dually noted that waste cleanup is a lot more expensive than waste prevention. Following are some other methods that can be used to resolve this issue: 5.1 Individual Level Every individual makes a difference. If every individual changes his habits and actions, collectively, they can bring a huge change in any sector of the society. Citizens should refrain from littering around and throw the trash in proper trash cans. They should prefer buying recyclable and biodegradable products and dispose of recyclable items in the proper recyclable bins. Spread the word, inform, and educate others about this issue. Re-use as much as possible, including bottles and plastic bags 5.2 National Level Governments should do their level best to provide awareness campaigns and advertisements informing the public of the disastrous consequences of excess waste and garbage (Schneider, 2012). Provide recycle bins all over the region Place taxes and fines on companies that produce extra waste above acceptable rate (Schneider, 2012). In addition to enacting laws to stop public littering (Schneider, 2012). Subsidize organic and biodegradable products. Invest in research to study microbial action on breakdown of waste or using waste to release energy (Schneider, 2012). Provide benefits, rewards, and privileges to those industries that best recycle their excess waste and/ or most efficiently convert the waste into energy. 5.3 Global Level: Well developed countries could initiate projects where industries coming from poorly developed countries can market materials that are secondary at a price paid per tonne. A recycling business venture can not only add to the economic system boosting international relations but also improve the environment, on the whole (Bhada-Tata Hoornweg, 2012). Moreover, UAE can enter a legally binding protocol with the neighboring countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Qatar, etc to regulate what waste enters the Persian Gulf since it shares common borders. Well developed countries can assist developing nations by financing proper management of waste. E-waste that is exported to less developed nations should be minimized and proper ways of disposal need to be looked into when manufacturing the product in the first place. Trading substances that are non-biodegradable and persistent in the environment should be stopped or the custom charges should be increased in order to discourage their supply and demand. VI. Conclusion In summary, from the research conducted and insight of Mr. John Schneider, it is quite obvious that UAE is suffering from excess waste output. It also is highlighted that UAE generates tones of waste that is dumped in landfills, mostly. However, the leaders of the UAE are well acquainted with this devastating cycle of waste generation and have adopted ways to deal with it. Nevertheless, this mission of zero-waste output cannot be achieved nationally unless every citizen makes an effort. With collective decrease in consumption and methods of managing waste such as reusing and recycling, UAE can contribute globally to the world in minimizing hazards of waste output.

Criminal Sentencing Purpose Essay -- Crime Criminal Justice

Criminal Sentencing purpose There was once a Television show name â€Å"Berretta† and the show theme song said do not do crime if you cannot do the time. That is a true saying, one that should be on every criminal mind why they are committing a crime. Sentencing a criminal for crimes for which they have been convicted of is their due punishment according to the severity of the crime committed. The Courts have for centuries punished criminals according to the belief of the society in which the crime was committed. The belief systems of a civilized society have often dictated the punishment in criminal procedures. In biblical days, the belief system called for stoning for violation of many of the Jewish people laws. In modern day societies, the term â€Å"sentence† is used to refer to punishment for crimes. Sentencing can be further defined as â€Å"the process by which a judge imposes punishment on a person convicted of a crime or crimes.† (Wallace & Roberson, 2008, p. 337, p. 339) Sentencing can also take several forms, some design to avoid jail or prison terms. The concepts that will be discussed are deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation, and retribution. The general purpose of criminal sentencing is to punishment the convicted criminal for the crimes in which they have committed. However, there are studies that state the intent of criminal sentencing does not always center on merely punishing the convicted criminal. Jo Dixon of New York University â€Å"states the formal legal theory of sentencing predict that sentencing is initially determined by legal variables; the substantive political theory predict that sentencing is determined by legal and social status variables.† (Dixo... ...olume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: November Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=242575 Davenport, A.U. (2009). Basic criminal law: the constitution, procedure, and crimes (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Dixon, J., (1995). The Organizational Context of Criminal Sentencing The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 100, No. 5 (Mar. 1995), pp. 1157-11. The University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2782274 Lin, T.Y., (2009). Public Interest in sentencing: Deterrence, Desert, or anything Singapore Journal of Legal Studies: Special Issue to commemorate its 50th Anniversary Texas Offender Reentry Initiative. Retrieved December 01, 2010. From http://www.medc-tori.org Wallace, H. & Roberson, C. (2008). Principles of criminal law (4th ed.). Boson: Pearson education.

The Orthodox Tradition in Eastern Europe Essay -- Religion Russia 19th

The Orthodox Tradition in Eastern Europe After the 4th century when Constantinople emerged as a great capital and church center, tensions sometimes arose between its leaders and the bishop of Rome. After the fall of Rome to Germanic invaders in 476, the Roman pope was the only guardian of Christian universalism in the West. He began more explicitly to attribute his dominance to Rome’s being the burial place of Saint Peter, whom Jesus had called the â€Å"rock† on which the church was to be built. The Eastern Christians respected that tradition and recognized the Roman patriarch to a measure of honorable authority. But they never believed that this authority allowed the papacy to overrule another church or that it made the pope into a universally reliable figure within the larger church. The Orthodox tradition asserted that the character and rights of the church were fully present in each local community of Orthodox believers with its own bishop. All bishops were equal, and patriarchs or synods of bishops exercised only an â€Å"oversight of care† among the body of coequal bishops. The precedence of honor of individual national churches depended on historical rank. Therefore, the patriarchate of Constantinople understood its own position to be determined entirely by the fact that Constantinople, the â€Å"new Rome,† was the seat of the Roman emperor and the Senate in a world where church boundaries, for administrative reasons, reflected political limits. Apart from the different understandings of the personality of church power, the most significant doctrinal difference between Eastern and Western Christians arose over the exact wording of the Nicene Creed. The Orthodox churches demanded that no words be added to or taken away from the ancient and fundamental statement of the faith, as issued by the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in the 4th century. During the early Middle Ages the Latin word filioque, meaning â€Å"and from the Son,† was added in the Latin Christian world, thus rendering the creed as â€Å"I believe †¦ in the Holy Spirit †¦ who proceeds from the Father and from the Son.† Charlemagne and his successors promoted the outburst, primarily opposed by the popes, in Europe. Eventually, it was also accepted in Rome in about 1014. Western theologians believed that this teaching preserved the spirit of the original creed. But Orthodox teachers believed that it had n... ...r tsars, Moscow had become the so-called third Rome, direct heir to the imperial and ecclesiastical supremacy of ancient Rome and Constantinople. The patriarchs of Moscow never enjoyed anything like the relative freedom of the Byzantine patriarchs, where church laws regulated the interference of the emperor and were generally respected. In Russia the tsars exercised complete domination over church affairs, except for the brief reign of Patriarch Nikon in the mid-17th century. In 1721 Tsar Peter the Great abolished the patriarchate altogether, and thereafter the church was governed through the imperial administration. The patriarchate was reestablished in 1917, at the time of the Russian Revolution, but soon afterward the Russian church was violently persecuted by the Communist government. As the Soviet regime became less repressive and, in 1991, broke up, the church started to regain its vitality. The Orthodox churches in Eastern Europe also faced persecution by oppressive Commun ist governments after World War II ended in 1945, but they too regained their authority in the 1990s and are slowly reestablishing their place in the moral, religious, and cultural life of their people. The Orthodox Tradition in Eastern Europe Essay -- Religion Russia 19th The Orthodox Tradition in Eastern Europe After the 4th century when Constantinople emerged as a great capital and church center, tensions sometimes arose between its leaders and the bishop of Rome. After the fall of Rome to Germanic invaders in 476, the Roman pope was the only guardian of Christian universalism in the West. He began more explicitly to attribute his dominance to Rome’s being the burial place of Saint Peter, whom Jesus had called the â€Å"rock† on which the church was to be built. The Eastern Christians respected that tradition and recognized the Roman patriarch to a measure of honorable authority. But they never believed that this authority allowed the papacy to overrule another church or that it made the pope into a universally reliable figure within the larger church. The Orthodox tradition asserted that the character and rights of the church were fully present in each local community of Orthodox believers with its own bishop. All bishops were equal, and patriarchs or synods of bishops exercised only an â€Å"oversight of care† among the body of coequal bishops. The precedence of honor of individual national churches depended on historical rank. Therefore, the patriarchate of Constantinople understood its own position to be determined entirely by the fact that Constantinople, the â€Å"new Rome,† was the seat of the Roman emperor and the Senate in a world where church boundaries, for administrative reasons, reflected political limits. Apart from the different understandings of the personality of church power, the most significant doctrinal difference between Eastern and Western Christians arose over the exact wording of the Nicene Creed. The Orthodox churches demanded that no words be added to or taken away from the ancient and fundamental statement of the faith, as issued by the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in the 4th century. During the early Middle Ages the Latin word filioque, meaning â€Å"and from the Son,† was added in the Latin Christian world, thus rendering the creed as â€Å"I believe †¦ in the Holy Spirit †¦ who proceeds from the Father and from the Son.† Charlemagne and his successors promoted the outburst, primarily opposed by the popes, in Europe. Eventually, it was also accepted in Rome in about 1014. Western theologians believed that this teaching preserved the spirit of the original creed. But Orthodox teachers believed that it had n... ...r tsars, Moscow had become the so-called third Rome, direct heir to the imperial and ecclesiastical supremacy of ancient Rome and Constantinople. The patriarchs of Moscow never enjoyed anything like the relative freedom of the Byzantine patriarchs, where church laws regulated the interference of the emperor and were generally respected. In Russia the tsars exercised complete domination over church affairs, except for the brief reign of Patriarch Nikon in the mid-17th century. In 1721 Tsar Peter the Great abolished the patriarchate altogether, and thereafter the church was governed through the imperial administration. The patriarchate was reestablished in 1917, at the time of the Russian Revolution, but soon afterward the Russian church was violently persecuted by the Communist government. As the Soviet regime became less repressive and, in 1991, broke up, the church started to regain its vitality. The Orthodox churches in Eastern Europe also faced persecution by oppressive Commun ist governments after World War II ended in 1945, but they too regained their authority in the 1990s and are slowly reestablishing their place in the moral, religious, and cultural life of their people.

Autobiography :: Autobiography Personal Narrative

Part 1: Family Background I was raised by both my parents while growing up. My parents barely finished high school and never went to college so they were not the type of parents who pushed college careers nor did they have any sort of college fund set aside for us. They always helped with homework but never pushed us to do better. Now that they see my accomplishments from attending college they are very proud of me and supportive for me to finish. My mom even went back to college after seeing me and my sister do it, and she got an accounting degree at the age of 40. My parents came from poor families and not many college graduates. We often had no spending money or even good running vehicles but they always gave us love and we were happy with all of the small things we had. My parents used the permissive parenting style, at least for me and my sister; they never really used any type of punishments. They would tell us we were grounded from something but the next day we would be doing the things we wer e grounded from. We were always nurtured and my parents were easy to talk to. My dad taught us many things from riding a bike to driving a car; he never gave up on us and always gave words of wisdom. There were times when were yelled at and even spanked a few times, but the good times always overcame those bad. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother who are all younger than me. Being the oldest of 5 children had its good and bad occasions. Since I was the oldest I always was given first option on things like movies, where to eat and who got to play with what toys. I was also faced with a lot of responsibility being the oldest, I was expected to watch the other kids a lot to make sure they did not get hurt. Some days I felt more like a mother than a child but they looked up to me and listened to me so I felt good. To this day I still look after them and make sure they are doing the right things and doing well in school. I think that the "birth order" material is pretty close to des cribing all of us. Autobiography :: Autobiography Personal Narrative Part 1: Family Background I was raised by both my parents while growing up. My parents barely finished high school and never went to college so they were not the type of parents who pushed college careers nor did they have any sort of college fund set aside for us. They always helped with homework but never pushed us to do better. Now that they see my accomplishments from attending college they are very proud of me and supportive for me to finish. My mom even went back to college after seeing me and my sister do it, and she got an accounting degree at the age of 40. My parents came from poor families and not many college graduates. We often had no spending money or even good running vehicles but they always gave us love and we were happy with all of the small things we had. My parents used the permissive parenting style, at least for me and my sister; they never really used any type of punishments. They would tell us we were grounded from something but the next day we would be doing the things we wer e grounded from. We were always nurtured and my parents were easy to talk to. My dad taught us many things from riding a bike to driving a car; he never gave up on us and always gave words of wisdom. There were times when were yelled at and even spanked a few times, but the good times always overcame those bad. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother who are all younger than me. Being the oldest of 5 children had its good and bad occasions. Since I was the oldest I always was given first option on things like movies, where to eat and who got to play with what toys. I was also faced with a lot of responsibility being the oldest, I was expected to watch the other kids a lot to make sure they did not get hurt. Some days I felt more like a mother than a child but they looked up to me and listened to me so I felt good. To this day I still look after them and make sure they are doing the right things and doing well in school. I think that the "birth order" material is pretty close to des cribing all of us.

Film Critique: “American Gangster”

Film critique is the overall analysis and review of the cast, the performance, the direction, the acting, the overall gesture, shooting set and stage settings, production, dialogues, lyrics, music and everything which is involved in making a movie; starting right from the casting of performers to the launching of the melodrama or the movie which is presented to the public. In short, film critique is the final analysis of a movie which is written in such a good way that makes it publishable in the writing and reading commodity.It is not mandatory that a film critique should always be in the favor of the movie. It could be written against the movie or its makers because of any reason; this reason could be the platform, the story, the casting, the performance, the topic of the movie, anything! In this document, we would present the film critique and review of the movie â€Å"American Gangster† which was made in the year 2007. American Gangster: The Movie: There are several and hu ndreds of movies which are launched and then thrown into the basket without anybody’s notice.But at times, the box office and the audience are hit by a masterpiece. The American Gangster is one masterpiece on which its director, Ridley Scott should be very proud of. Ridley Scott is the ideal pioneer of the melodrama and he has succeeded in keeping his pace in this movie as well. He is the person behind the direction of the fabulous movies such as, the old Roman movie â€Å"The Gladiator†, the science fictional â€Å"Alien† and the â€Å"Blade Runner†; and makes the best of the project while keeping an eye on the whole story and background of the story and moral of the movie.The American Gangster is a melodrama by the king of melodramas and with the finest performance from the performers and actors in this movie (Mondello 2007). It is observed that the movie follows the line of the crime films such as â€Å"The Departed† and possess the variety of O scar award winning actors in the casting. Presented in the year 2007 by the Universal pictures, the usual reviews from all international media sides were very kind to this movie and the audience found it tempting and catchy enough to come and watch the movie but their overall expression is not so captivating as far as the whole impression is concerned.The whole story of the movie is based on a true story and revolves around the rise and fall scenario of 1970’s most powerful drug dealing king of the New York City. The casting consists of two major superstars Denzel Washington (playing the role of the drug lord, Frank Lucas) and Russell Crowe (a responsible cop who is on the hunt to catch the drug lord). Frank is a reliable and worker/friend of Bumpy Johnson since 15 years and decides to take charge of the drug lord position after Bumpy’s death. Frank Lucas becomes the drug lord of underground crime-world who has risen up from the Harlem.He has earned this position by de livering up uncut heroin directly from the Southeast Asian region during the Vietnam War era. His proceedings were determined by the incorruptible and honorable federal investigator Richie Roberts. The film basically focuses on Frank Locus. The script written by Steven Zailliant travels in parallel ways by focusing on two major roles of the two people belonging from entirely contrast fields; one from being the gang lord and other belonging to the law enforcement. This contrast has been set very neatly by the script writer and the director.Frank demolishes the in-way barriers and competitors and becomes the drug lord by bringing drugs from Thailand to U. S via military planes and then flooding the whole city with his uncut drug products, which ultimately makes him the king of the drug world with the huge profits of his drug sales. Previously, Frank Lucas has been a pimp-style flash who prefers to live with a normal style and maintain a low-profile by dressing himself in conventional and old-fashioned style, having breakfast alone in the morning in a local nearby bar and personally does not take interest in involving with his business around.But when he advances, he becomes bold enough to punish the accused person and shoot him in front of everyone on the streets of New York City in the day time. On the other side, detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an honest responsible cop who has been assigned the task to administer the task force and bring down Frank Lucas to his end. The whole movie seems to confuse the viewer as how to judge Frank, because it is not really being seen whether to take him as a villain in the movie or as a main title hero character. He does something good; he is capable of doing bad things more and does so.He has a strong positive gesture towards his family and city and it shows that he loves both of them very much; but on the contrary he also makes efforts on vital basis to spread drugs in the city and play major role in the deaths, destruction and drug addiction in the entire city. His role is a mixture of villain, evil character as well as portraits himself as a loving person too. Same is the case with the character of Russell Crowe as he has been portrait as a sweaty honest cop who does brilliant job in the police department but his actual home and love life is a complete failure.He is popular to complete his tasks on time with high performance and do whatever he thinks is right; but at home, he hardly manages to give proper time to his only son and barely communicates with his ex-wife. Both the stars are brilliant characters in their own field. The whole movie shots two men in parallel and we do not manage to see both the stars together till the end, until they finally meet in the last scenes of the movie. The Review:The movie â€Å"American Gangster† doesn’t really starts with a slow pace and we do not seem to see any thrilling actions in the first thirty minutes of the movie and nothing rea lly happens in the story which could change the situation of the movie. Both characters of Denzel Washington and that of Russell Crowe busy in their own circle of life. Denzel Washington being busy in working his heads off; and Russell Crowe being busy with his studies and trying to complete his law degree from the law college. The story of the two men continues to serve as particularly individual narrative stand which later on becomes closer tightly together.As a viewer, most of the people do not find the movie very interesting especially in the beginning and also the ending. The best part is in the middle of the movie. Most of the people find the opening and ending part of the movie boring whereas they like the middle part of the movie quite interesting. (Dargis 2007) There are some flaws or long tails in the movie as well which makes it boring for the viewers. These parts raise questions in minds such as; how come a movie would portrait the life of woman who is ex-wife of a cop w ith so many details and what is the use of focusing on the life of a woman in the story of a criminal drug lord?How many crime concerned movies get the details of a dirty cop who enjoys making other people’s lives miserable? There are at times so many similarities I found with other crime based movies while watching this film that I almost forgot that this movie was actually based on a true movie. There are many shots which are similar with other crime based movies and do not play a distinctive movie as a whole. What the viewers would be interested to know how the drug dealer Denzel Washington dealt with his emotional feelings and nature after becoming the drug lord and how he took it on is psychology.People would be more interested in knowing how Denzel Washington dealt with his subordinates and become the drug lord in detail. This all could have been portrait in better form rather than portraying more on the emotional irrelevant details of Russell Crowe’s wife suffer ings and life. (Dargis 2007) Whatever the movie takes, Denzel Washington is the best actor when it comes to act seriously. He can take the movie and the viewers to their edge if he gets to act and so has he done in this movie as well.As Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington wears traditional old fashioned clothes with a gun tacked up on his belt and makes his own reliable gang by calling off his relatives and inviting them and binding them together in his gang to make a team. This is how he manages to get the title of the drug lord by eliminating his competitors and getting competitive edge to all the criminals in the city. (Gleiberman 2007) Director Ridley Scott seems to like his villain too much, that is why we did not manage to judge who is the hero or who is being the villain in this movie.Ridley Scott has showcased the character of Denzel Washington with lots of positive points along with being the bad guy. He has tried to prove his point in this movie that hope and struggle should be implemented in lives and there is no such word as being a failure or hopeless. Every man has guts to be the best if he tries to. The best shot in the movie could be the one when Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas) shots a man in head on the streets on a daytime in the new York city, the camera moves backward with long focus view; this shot tells the sensitivity of life and territory consumption detail.Nonetheless, the best scene which we have found to be most interesting is the one in which Russell Crowe (Richie Robert) with his task force decides to take over and drag down an incoming military plane and immediately comes in action by putting off all the things and coffins apart. This scene contains all the concentration and emotions which are needed to hold the audience on their seats. The movie â€Å"American Gangster† is rated R which means that it is restricted for the children coming under the age of 17 years who are accompanied by either their parents or guardians because of the drug and violence reference used in the movie.The overall reaction which was perceived by the viewers was that Russell Crowe played the role of Richie Roberts very well better than Denzel Washington being Frank Lucas because he played a different role than he usually plays in other movies; whereas Denzel Washington played the same â€Å"angry man† role which he usually does all the time. However, keeping the same image of the angry man, Denzel Washington did a very good job and no matter what business the movie brought to the team involved in making, it touched the hearts of the viewers and is a movie which we could recommend others to watch to pass time with a normal fine mood.The Team: Directed by Ridley Scott; written by Steven Zaillian, based on the New York magazine article â€Å"The Return of Superfly,† by Mark Jacobson; director of photography, Harris Savides; edited by Pietro Scalia; music by Marc Streitenfeld; production designer, Arthur Max; produced b y Brian Grazer and Mr. Scott; released by Universal Pictures. Running time: 158 minutes. The Cast: WITH: Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas), Russell Crowe (Richie Roberts), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Huey Lucas), Cuba Gooding Jr.(Nicky Barnes), Josh Brolin (Detective Trupo), Ted Levine (Lou Toback), Armand Assante (Dominic Cattano), John Ortiz (Javier J. Rivera), John Hawkes (Freddie Spearman), RZA (Moses Jones), Lymari Nadal (Eva), Yul Vazquez (Alfonse Abruzzo), Ruby Dee (Mama Lucas), Idris Elba (Tango), Carla Gugino (Laurie Roberts), Joe Morton (Charlie Williams), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Doc), Roger Guenveur Smith (Nate), Roger Bart (United States attorney), Chuck Cooper (private doctor) and Linda Powell (social worker).Works Cited Mondello,Bob; 2007, Movie Reviews – ‘American Gangster', NPR. org, Available online at: http://www. npr. org/templates/story/story. php? storyId=15885027 Owen Gleiberman, 2007, Movie Review – American Gangster (2007), Entertainment Weekly, Availa ble online at: http://www. ew. com/ew/article/0,,20155724,00. html MANOHLA DARGIS, 2007, Sweet, Bloody Smell of Success – Movie Review of the American Gangster, the New York Times.

Critical Essay on ‘Follower’ Essay

A poem which explores the problems of growing older is the poem ‘Follower’ by Seamus Heaney. This poem is about Heaney’s childhood memories of his father working on the farm ploughing the land. Heaney talks very highly of his father and creates the impression of a very strong man who was an expert at what he done and a man who was his son’s hero. It also talks about how Heaney used to follow his dad around as he worked and how he dreamed of growing up and ploughing like his dad. However, there is a twist at the end of the poem and Heaney goes from talking about how he was an annoyance to his dad when he was younger but now his dad is the annoyance to him as he is now old. In the first stanza, Heaney talks about his father and his work. He is talking very highly of his father and says, â€Å"The horses strained at his clicking tongue† This quote shows how his father was a man who was extremely good at his work as it shows how his father could control numerous strong farm animals perfectly and with ease just by clicking his tongue, a very hard thing to do using reasonable force never mind just by a simple gesture such of the click of his tongue. The image the reader gathers from this quote goes well with the image of a strong, well-built man that we get when Heaney writes, â€Å"His shoulders globed like a full sail strung† These two quotes together give a very good impression of Heaney’s dad. Together they give the impression that his dad was a very heroic figure to him and that he aspired to be like him. It gives the image of the perfect male, a strong, graceful man that was an expert at his profession and that was an idol to his son. However, these hero-like images of his father when he was younger are dismissed later on in the poem when Heaney writes about how his dad is no longer the big strong man that is an idol to younger males but the complete opposite, someone who is annoying and in the way of him rather than being someone who he looks up to, follows around and aspires to be. These positive quotes of the young strong man and the negative image created by the last stanza go hand in hand to show the problems of growing older. The same kind of idea of the negative points of growing older are continued in to the second stanza when Heaney continues to talk about how his dad was so much of an idol to him and how his dad was someone to be looked up to and to aspire to be like when he was younger and in his prime in this stanza. This time Heaney says, â€Å"An expert. He would set the wing† This is a very powerful line. The short sentence of only two words to start off the stanza is very effective as it gives the impression that his father wasn’t only very good at his job but he was an expert, he was the best. This is once again showing how his father was so much of an idol to him and that he was a very respectable stereotypical perfect father when he was younger as it shows how good his father was at his job. The second part of the line shows that his father knew exactly what he was doing and gives us the impression that his father took his job very seriously and that he was very precise and concentrated when doing anything in his job such as setting the wing. The idea of his dad being so good at his job and being able to do it with ease is continued when Heaney writes, â€Å"The sod rolled over without breaking. At the headrig, with a single pluck† The quotes ‘without breaking’ and ‘with a single pluck’ reinforce the idea that his dad was an ‘expert’ at his job as they show that he could do hard work with ease and that he knew exactly what he was doing and that he could do it perfectly if he could turn soil without it even breaking and control his animals with a ‘single pluck‘. Once again it is the negative image of his father given in the last stanza as he is older that shows the negative effects of growing older as it is so different from the image you gather from the first two stanzas alone about how good his father was at his job and how strong his father was and how much of an idol his father was to him when he was younger. The image of his father being so strong and good at his job in his youth is continued throughout the next three stanzas. The idea of him being an expert and being someone to look up to who was strong and almost perfect is continued through the continued use of quotes such as, â€Å"the sweating team† This shows that the work was not easy. If the team of strong farm horses that where doing the job were sweating and tired you could only imagine how much sweat and effort Heaney’s father would have to put in to the work. It then continues to talk about his expertise in the job as it says things such as, â€Å"Narrowed and angled at the ground, Mapping the furrow exactly.† The first line shows how his father took his work very seriously and that he was very precise in what he done and that he made sure he done it to a good standard therefore he had to concentrate greatly on what he was doing. The second line also reinstates the fact that he was an expert at his work as it shows how he mapped the furrow in his head and made sure it was exact once again showing that he took it very seriously and had pride in his work. Heaney then goes on to write, â€Å"Sometimes he rode me on his back† This gives the impression that his father was the ultimate as he has talked about how hard his work was when he wrote about the ‘sweating team’ and he was talked about how much effort and concentration that he had to put in to his work but he says how he still even managed to carry his little son on his back while he did all of this. Something that would make the work even more harder and longer and would make it harder to concentrate but he still did it. However, all these quotes can be compared to the last three or so lines that show the real problems of growing older. Althought he had listed all of these positive things and even said how he literally followed in his fathers footsteps all day, he finishes of the poem by saying, â€Å"But today It is my father who keeps stumbling Behind me, and will not go away.† This really highlights the problem of growing older as it shows how people can just disregard someone when they get old regardless of what they thought of them when they were younger. Although Heaney had idolised his dad when he was young and wanted to be exactly like him and used to stumble behind his father and annoy him, now that it is Heaney in the position of having his father stumbling behind him and relying on him, Heaney doesn’t even want to know him. This is actually quite a sad ending to the poem as it really does highlight the problems of growing older as it shows how it seems that once you are older and start relying on those younger than you who once relied in you they don’t want to know you. So, as you can see, the author, Seamus Heaney has been very successful at exploring the problems of growing older in his poem ‘Follower’. Heaney does this by writing the vast majority of the poem about positive points about his dad when he was younger making him out to be a hero but then introducing a cruel twist in the last stanza about how even though he once idolised his dad and relied on him now that his dad relies on Heaney, he doesn’t want to know him.