Dewey’s Progressive Era

John Dewey was rather important figure in the history of education. Despite the fact that his progressive ideas aren’t accepted widely, some of his concepts and ideas are quite popular among today’s teachers. Actually, Dewey’s idea was to promote democratic education at school based on philosophies of Plato and Rousseau. Dewey wanted to prove that teaching wasn’t simply remembering, paraphrasing and answering lessons; instead, he argued that experiences, knowledge and skills should be integrated into students’ studying process.Actually, such concept refers to school of Pragmatism. (Hickman 1992) Some teachers like Dewey’s idea of learning by doing. It is stated that Dewey’s progressive education became popular after the Cold War period. Dewey is known to be the founder of standard-based education reform, outcome-based education and NCTM standard. Dewey positively influenced teaching process in many public and private schools.For exampl e, Dewey provided an idea that teachers should focus on intellectual development of students, their critical and creative thinking instead of learning material by heart. He showed that education is strongly connected with democratic process in society: â€Å"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife†. (Martin 2003) Also teachers realized that personal growth and exploration ensure better results and are more interesting for students. They become more motivated to study. Judgment is one more focus rather than knowledge.Simply saying, students have to become grown-ups who â€Å"are able to pass judgments pertinently and discriminatingly on the problems of human living†. (Martin 2003) Dewey’s contribution is that many schools nowadays tri to help students to learn how to survive and to succeed in life, how to cooperate with others, etc. Dewey often argued that â€Å"in a complex society, ability to understand and sympathize with the operations and lot of others is a condition of common purpose which only education can procure†. (Martin 2003) References Hickman, Larry. (1992). John Dewey's Pragmatic Technology. Indiana: Indiana University Press. Martin, Jay. (2003). The Education of John Dewey. USA: Columbia University Press.

Multiple types of laws Essay

During last week’s session multiple types of laws were introduced and their differences were discussed. One of the types of laws that were discussed were civil laws. Civil laws were created to â€Å"compensate parties and businesses for losses as a result of another’s conduct† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created for certain types of conduct against another party to be handled civilly between them. For any type of offense that is handled civilly, the defendant will need to repay the plaintiff for any loss suffered. Another type of law is criminal law. Criminal laws â€Å"are a protection of society and the violation of criminal laws results in penalties to the violator such as fines or imprisonment† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created to protect all of society against criminals that disrupt the peace of others. Another type of law that we focused on was â€Å"Common Law†. Common law, also known as â€Å"Case Law†, is a basic system to ensure that cases with similar commonalities are treated fairly and consistently. For example, imagine that you are the victim of a reckless driver who side swipes your car, and the judge is now responsible for deciding whether the defendant is liable for the damages in question. The judge will listen to the statements in court and refer to common law in other cases to ensure that the party is fairly dismissed or prosecuted, depending on the verdict. The type of law that many people have heard of is statutory law, also known as written law. Unlike Common Law, Statutory law is made by legislature and written down (hence the â€Å"aka† written law). Statutory Law is a concept in order to underscore the distinction between laws that a governing body makes and case law. If looking for an example of Statutory Law, you do not have to travel too far, or fast I should say; posted speed limits. This means that the speed limit is â€Å"formally† (and literally in this case) written and enacted. Another law that was discussed last week was substantive law. â€Å"Substantive law is the statutory, or written law, that defines rights and duties, such as crimes and punishments, civil rights and responsibilities in civil law†Ã‚  (Melvin, 2011). This law defines and regulates individual’s rights. Some example substantive law is the law of contracts, torts as we talk about in the last lecture along with real property and the essential substance of rights under the law. Substantive law and procedural law are the two main categories with the law. Procedural law sets the rules and methods employed to obtain one’s rights and in particular how the courts are conducted. This law basically defines and creates rights limitations under which society us governed. References Melvin, S. P. (2011). The Legal Environment of Business. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Hadith: Islam and Islamic Community Essay

The Islamic faith began with one man and his spiritual encounters with god and his angel Gabriel. Muhammad, the Prophet, as he is referred to by his followers, is considered to be the last prophet sent by god to interact with human beings on earth. Due to his importance and his influence over the people of his time his words and actions have been collected, over a mass number of years into a book referred to as, The Hadith. The Hadith, is second in line of importance in the Islamic community only behind the Qur’an. The term, Hadith, has been interpreted to mean talk or speech due to the innards of the book being collections of the words and actions of Muhammad (Bentley, 211). During its creation years numerous pieces, referred to as canons, were collected and studied by scholars to prove legitimacy. As it grew the canons were proved either to be accurate or false of authenticity. However, with its completion the Hadith serves as more than just religious guidelines as it sheds light upon social, political, economical, and cultural aspects of the Islamic community similar to works of other faiths and philosophical views. In the early years of many religions government seemed to be greatly influenced by the beliefs and traditions of its people. In the Islamic community Muhammad paved a path for Muslims that not only constructed the foundation of the faith, but also called the attention of government officials to follow and practice the ways of Islam. Before Muhammad’s death he chose no successor to take the role of a religious leader. This may be due to the fact that he was deemed â€Å"the seal of the prophets,† no other human being would have the role of a prophet bequeathed upon them. Within a year after his death the Islamic community saw it important, to at the very least, place one person in as somewhat of a substitute for Muhammad. This person was dubbed a caliph (deputy). The role of a caliph besides being the head of the Islamic state included many other aspects. He took on the role as head of military and a chief judge. This is just one spot where it is evident that the religion took on a larger role than just a stream of spiritual beliefs. In a reading pertaining to Muhammad and his words about the peoples’ role under their rulers he stresses the importance of obedience, â€Å"Obedience is the duty of a Muslim man† (Reilly, 290). The words attributed to Muhammad in this section are a part of the Hadith and break through a singular religious subject. They marry quite a few aspects together, such as: religion, politics, and social order. â€Å"Do not revile the Sultan, for he is God’s shadow on God’s earth† (Reilly, 290). By Muhammad saying that it is the duty of a Muslim man to obey his rulers he is implying, very strongly, that these leaders follow the same spiritual path as the people and that it unites them as a community. A community consists of a cornucopia of factors and a few of them being shared religious belief, government (or a basic code of conduct), and unity. An individual is considered to be a part of the Muslim community if he or she has accepted the Islamic faith (Bentley, 205). Within the collection of the Forty Hadith Qudsi many deal with the proper way in which Islamic people were to handle social and economic situations. One in particular pertains to the order in which one may handle an issue of debt. This pulls in a human’s sense of humane economics. In Hadith 12 Muhammad is quoted as he relayed a message from Allah, â€Å"We are worthier that you of that. Let him off.† What is being demonstrated in this canon is that an individual that finds himself in a debt of another and incapable of repaying said debt may be let off due to good character. If the one in debt has proved himself to a be a person of upstanding character then he should be viewed as a man who is in need of a certain charity for he has done nothing to cross the man in which he owes. Good character and an absence of greed were seen to be crucial in dealing with social and economic situations. The hand of religion has once again been spotted molding the world in which these people live cultivating a society where faith and societal structure are one in the same. In some aspects the Hadith spells out similar messages to Muslims like the Bible does for Christians. Fearing god is a theme in which both religions share. This fear is not a sensation that one would feel in the presence of danger, but rather it describes a lifestyle of consequence. God, in both religions, is seen as a judge, one who holds the fate of each individual in his hands. To live the life that has been preached by religious leaders is the path to follow to reach a heavenly paradise after a human’s departure from the physical world. This lifestyle which the people of both religions are to follow created a domino effect into a cultural standard. The scripts of both these religions hold many similarities. The following examples exemplify a communal guideline to form a structured and righteous community, a culture. Hadith 23 reads: â€Å"Where are those who love one another through My glory? Today I shall give them shade in My shade, it being a day when there is no shade but My shade.† The ninth commandment in the Holy Bible reads: â€Å"Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.† Religion has a strong arm in the molding of a culture. For the devoted followers of a faith the words of guidance, like the ones above, become an imbedded character trait within a person and in the all the ones of the same faith. And by the following of these codes one has this earlier discussed sense of fear that their god is going to reward them or punish them for not falling in accordance. The words conveyed to them are moral imperatives. The potency in which this faith has on its people has been carried through the centuries with an immense sense of pride. Islam is one of the largest religions on earth and like others it remains interweaved in the cultural societies of many countries. It does not hold a structure like the caste system which the religion of Hinduism does, but rather it still to this day has influence in many military forces and daily structures of multiple nations. The implementation of faiths with such monumental scriptures and even just ideas areas of the world have been molded and brought reality to its beginning preachers. For those looking solely at the surface of multiple religious etiquettes the similarities may be overlooked and the faiths and ideas may be seen as nothing but different. However, many of these religions and ideas are closely related. Confucianism, a socio-philosophical system, and the faiths of Islam and Hinduism can be seen as holding some of the same characteristics. Like stated before Islam and Hinduism differ in their societal structures, but still have formed faiths that mold cultures together by standards, found in readings of the Gita, Hadith, and other pieces of literature, that have survived through long periods of time and continue to thrive. The aims of many of these faiths and systems share in common beliefs. Confucianism aims to cultivate a society in which people can live and assume their personal responsibilities to manufacture a peaceful society. Like the Analects of Confucianism, Muhammad has constructed a framework through the Hadith implementing ethics and morality for the public. This too is similar to the words of the Gita in the Hindu faith. Krishna portrays, somewhat abstract at times, a set of guidelines for the followers of Hinduism. Religion has the power to mold the essence of human behavior and create unity amongst a mass number of people sharing in the same belief. When the words and doings of its most respected leaders are noted more than just a set of beliefs can be understood. A framework to a lifestyle can be comprehended and practiced by those following and believing in its meaning creating a community of people living and interacting with each other painting a society by standards in which to live. The Hadith has done just this in the Islamic community, a culture of people has been molded and its life will be watered by its words and the impact which it has had and continues to have on its people. Work Cited Patton, Laurie L. trans. The Bhagavad Gita. London: Penguin Group, 2008. Print. Bentley, Jerry H., Herbert F. Ziegler, and Heather E. Streets. Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2006. Print. Forty Hadith Qudsi. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Ethical Issue Paper - Vitamin K Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical Issue Paper - Vitamin K - Essay Example The Vitamin K in breast milk is also very low and thus after the birth of babies, even though breastfeeding is taking place, Vitamin K is at a low level for several weeks and only attains its required level when the alimentary canal bacteria start generating Vitamin K for the baby. Some babies are fed with infant formula that contains Vitamin K but even though this takes place, the level of Vitamin K remains at a low level for some days (E Hey, 2003). Vitamin k is thus recommended to be administered on the new born babies to increase its levels in their body (American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, 2003). The contention now is on how to administer Vitamin K. Which method is safe and well known to have desirable results in preventing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn? The method that has been in use was intramuscular administration or administration through injection. It however has come to be questioned on its safety on babies and its possibility that it woul d be causing cancer and leukemia in the new born babies who are given vitamin K using the intramuscular administration (American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, 2003). This led to the introduction of oral administration in some countries. The decision however on the method to be used has somehow been determined by the consent from the parent. Where the nurse administering Vitamin K is left to decide, then ethical decision making comes in. As a nurse, consideration has to be put on both methods. Their effectiveness and on the safety. This paper, with the help of research by other writers, will show the dilemma faced in making the ethical decision of the method to use in administering Vitamin K. Summary of the Issue Concerns have however been raised on either the safeness or effectiveness of both intramuscular administration and oral administration of Vitamin K. The first that has been in use is the intramuscular administration. This method has been recorded to have good results and according to study in Australia, there was no registered case of bleeding (HDN) in the children who were given Vitamin K using intramuscular administration (Khambalia et al., A.Z., 2012).. A similar test was carried out testing the effectiveness of oral administration. Most of the infant who received Vitamin K were safe from HDN but a number of them were registered to experience bleeding probably because of HDN. From this you can depict that the efficiency of oral administration is not as effective as using intramuscular administration. This can be due to several reasons that would render oral administration non-effective. The first is that in case of vomiting in the child, to whom Vitamin K is administered to, the dose needed will not have been met and hence the child will be prone to bleeding. The other is that this method is dependent on the parent compliance to bring the child back for the second dose 3-5 days after the first dose given after child birth. T his would mean that if a parent fails to comply with this say because they forget, then the dosage will not be as expected but when it comes to intramuscular administration, the dosage is given once, immediately after birth of the child. This means that the complete dose is administered at once. These two factors may lead to lack of proper dosage if the oral administration is used and thus full protection from HDN may not be in

Project report-Ikea Estates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Project report-Ikea Estates - Essay Example As far as the marketing plan is concerned, strategic and marketing concepts such as the SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, Segmentation, targeting, positioning and the 4 P’s of marketing has been used (Kotler, 2001, p. 25). As mentioned earlier Ikea, the master of self assembly, flat pack furniture manufacturer entered the prefab housing business. The company joined forced with a construction firm name Skanska in the year 1996. The prefab houses developed were named as ‘Boklok’. The houses were made available in Finland, England, Denmark and Norway (Kohler and Fetters, 2006, p. 54). Prefabricated housing has attracted many businessmen, architects and politicians over the years. The factors behind the attraction are the promise of an expedient, affordable housing at a relatively modest price. However, many perceive this as a solution provided o solve the housing crisis. Prefabrication can be defined as the assembling of components of a construction structure in a factory unit and transporting the completed the assemblies to the designated site. This approach contrasts the traditional approach of construction, where the raw materials are taken to site and assembled to develop construction structure. The principle of prefabrication is applicable on the grouping of similar tasks using assembly line techniques during the availability of skilled workers. Prefabrication is very effective in the presence of modularization. Application of prefabrication was pursued in construction industry to counter the aftermath of the world war two crises, especially in the UK, US an d Japan market. However, over the years the success of prefabricated housing has been questioned over the factors like quality, social status. Therefore the traditional housing still reigns supreme over the prefabricated housing techniques (Biswas, 2011, p. 105). In UK the construction housing is mainly dominated by the brick related construction methodology.

Case Study Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Case Study Analysis - Essay Example For a long time, public administration has reluctantly been viewed as a science by several other disciplines. Perhaps, this is attributable to the idea that public administration theories rely on other disciplines in predicting and explaining relationships among elements articulated in its administrative functions. Nevertheless, public administration system entails studying human beings in an organizational setting, but which operates in a political environment (Rabin et al 2006). In this regard, public administration theory is derived from other disciplines, but studied as a single entity due to its unique traits of enjoining different dynamics to have an effective administration. In a broader sense, public administration is explained by two theories; universal design theory and situational design theory (Farazmand, 2001). In universal design theory, scientific management, classical and bureaucratic theories explains the structuring the public administration. Situational theory deno tes on the human aspect of the organization. Common theories that emphasize on this theory include behavioral approach, system approach and human relations theory among others. In the United States, the public administration can be argued to have utilized theories of public administration effectively. However, Milakovich & Gordon (2012) argued that it is indispensable for the public administration to consider exploring all available ways of bridging the existing gaps. For instance, with the increase in the number of migrants in the United States, the department of homeland security has been face with the challenge of controlling foreigners streaming to the United States. Going by the scientific management theory, Fredrick Winslow Taylor emphasized on the need to have social prosperity between the workers and the management. This aims at developing science of each element of man’s work and

History and uses of carbonnanotubes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History and uses of carbonnanotubes - Essay Example The molecule has been known for the past fifteen years. The molecules were observed by employing high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) (Rakov, 2002). It was referred to carbon nanotubes that were multi walled. The molecules contained two graphic layers and nested as Russian dolls. The molecules have diameters of four 4nm. Two years later Bethune and IBM Almaden research centre colleagues, lijima and ichihashi of NEC created a carbon nanotubes that were single walled. Single walled nanotubes were synthesized in the same way to multi walled carbon nanotubes but some metallic particles were added to the electrodes of carbon. The procedure resulted to the difference in appearance among the two molecules. The individual tubes are looped and curled than straight. Twenty fours ago, the electronic properties of single walled nanotubes were predicted by two different research groups. Their findings revealed that single walled nanotubes can either be semi conducting or metallic depending on their diameter or chirality. The prediction was later confirmed by the various experiments done (Crandall, 2007). Since then a review on synthesis, application, electronic properties, characterization and basic metallic properties of carbon nanotubes have been done. The various properties possessed by carbon nanotubes have made it the most investigated nanostructure materials. The various properties of carbon nanotubes have made companies and researchers to apply them in various fields. The molecule has been applied in the fields of energy. It has been applied as an anode for Li-ion batteries. The carbon nanotubes used, is usually coated with silicon to increase the capacity of the battery to more than ten times. Silicon expansion during the cycle of discharge has resulted to anode damage. The application of nanotubes to the silicon anode is aimed at preventing damage caused (Mordkovich & Karaeva,

Types of Unemployment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Types of Unemployment - Essay Example For example, advance in machinery and changes in souk conditions frequently turn many abilities outdated; this naturally raises the rates of joblessness. This kind of unemployment happens when employees take sometimes to shift from one job to a different one. It might be the case when some employees discover new occupations before they depart their previous ones. Many workers depart or lose their works previous to containing other jobs waiting. In such a situation, an employee must look about for a profession that is excellent for them, and this procedure takes some occasions (Tucker, 2008). The condition is not considered particularly difficult from an economic point of view. This type of joblessness is credited to economic reductions and business series happening to the economy. It happens during depression when the demand for merchandise and services in the market cascades, some corporations react by reducing output and firing employees leading to joblessness (Tucker, 2008). Unemployed snow remover fits in the structural form of unemployment since, removing the snow might depend on the market needs and its dynamic differences. Unemployed technician and a recent graduate fit in the fractional joblessness since the person might be looking for the profession that best suits

Has Americas foreign policy been successful in the Middle East Research Paper

Has Americas foreign policy been successful in the Middle East - Research Paper Example The foreign policy of America represents the ways of interacting with different overseas nations of the world along with setting standards for interacting with the individual citizens, corporations and organizations. The prime goal of the US foreign policy is to establish a secure, prosperous and democratic world, which would serve beneficial for the people of America and others as well as who belong to various international countries. In this context, the US has separated foreign policies for the Middle East countries that determine its relation in terms of carrying out effective trade and foreign relations with the same. The strategic interest of the US over the Middle East countries is the major reason behind the formulation and the execution of the foreign policies. Justifiably, Middle East nations have huge deposits of oil and therefore acquiring this product is the main strategic interest of the US. The US foreign policy for the Middle East gained its significance after the end of World War II. During the Cold War, the American foreign policy aimed at preventing the anti-communist regimes of Soviet Union towards the Arab countries (Dow Jones & Company, 2015). However, after the attack of 9/11 in the year 2001, the US foreign policy started concentrating on addressing and mitigating anti-terrorism related activities (Johnson, 2015). The US possesses diplomatic relations with different Middle East countries apart from Iran, as this nation once went with anti-American regime in the year 1979 (Chomsky, 2010).

Sustainability Development in Hotel Industry Essay Example for Free

Sustainability Development in Hotel Industry Essay Hotel industry in recent past has come up with various sustainable development measures. These measures are from conserving water, waste management , energy saving to creating green room. The industry has integrated its business with Sustainable development approach in various functions such as Operations, supply Chain and procurement. These sustainable approaches has benefited industry in terms of cost and brand. This research paper find out how globally Hotel industry is adopting sustainable development approaches in the daily business. The goal of Sustainable Development is clearly to secure economic development, social equity and environmental protection. As much as they could work in harmony these goals sometimes work against each other in our modern world. The rapid development of good living, travel and in general of the consumer society has often resulted in less protection to the environment and to some groups of the world population. Ferocious search for profitability has not co-existed harmoniously with making the world a better place. However there is a general consensus that t cannot go on for ever and those who are favored by life now feel responsible for those who have not had the same chance. Economic growth will always remain the basis of human development but it should integrate as well its impact on the people and on the planet. SD focuses on having a holistic approach to development taking into consideration economic, social and environmental needs while avoiding over utilizing key natural resources. Hospitality or Hotel industry all over the world is leading in creating sustainable model for other industry. Area of S ustainable Developments in Hotel industry Water As the hotel industry is a large consumer of water it is obvious that it should demonstrate its concern about this major problem. Currently, in a lot of hotels, guests are recommended to keep their towels –sometimes their sheets- for more than a day in order for hotels to conserve water and reduce the use of detergent. It is a worthwhile undertaking but one that sounds hypocritical as it appears to be as a cost saving exercise. Energy The installation of fluorescent lights throughout a hotel reduces energy consumption by thousands of dollars as does the replacement of windows. Green roofs help conserve energy. New energies – wind, solar should be encouraged. Not only these programs help save energy but they cut maintenance costs. Their pay-back period is generally very good. Governments usually encourage the efforts by giving grants or tax cuts. Hotel companies should do whatever can be done to help develop clean energies. Waste There is an enormous amount of waste in the hotel industry and particularly in the food industry. A significant global project is to engage the units to reduce waste as much as possible and to recycle it Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) Hotels, using major quantities of energy, produce major quantities of GHG. The measurement of the reduction of GHG emission is more visible when consolidated at company level. A company can make a pledge to offset carbon emissions by supporting an organization such as Climate Care. Paperless environment When one considers the quantity of paper that is used in a hotel one cannot but think of the destruction of trees and its impact on global warming. Moreover the printing of paper is often totally useless and people often discard papers after a meeting or will not even look at them at a later point. When one adds the production of ink and toners to supply photocopy machines it is easy to realize the negative impact of such habits on the environment. In a computerized world it is evident that old habits should be discouraged. Not only would it help the environment but it would also cut costs dramatically in the long term. Only the necessary printing of paper and strict use of recycled paper should be encouraged. Green Hotel Program – A new Concept In an industry where investment in the end product (rooms) is enormous it is significant to spend money wisely with a focus on the environment. It actually ives a great opportunity for the company to display its commitment to SD. Every aspect of room construction and decoration can be addressed: flooring, wall-covering, air conditioning, electrical installation, water usage, furniture, textile and equipment. Clearly the process should not only consider the room but the whole property; however in the hotel industry it is the room product that captures the attention of the public Procurement The value chain of the hotel industry includes a major component which is procurement. This is true not only during construction but while running a hotel and a restaurant. This activity will reveal how a sound hotel SD policy can have a ripple effect on other industries, engaging the procurement company and all suppliers in the same direction. Vendors involved in a hotel construction and renovation program should be made aware of the objective of the company. Moreover the procurement company should include Sustainable Development in its own strategy. It can start with presenting as many green products as possible and encouraging vendors to reduce packaging and offer recyclable products. It should as well emphasize buying sustainable food only. Once the procurement company is involved in this mission it will encourage hoteliers to go yet further in their SD efforts. The purchasing power of a procurement company is enormous and it will help reduce the unit price of sustainable products as they can be more expensive than non-sustainable products and it discourages hoteliers and restaurateurs from buying SD products. A major endeavor for a procurement company is to include Fair Trade in its strategy enabling local suppliers to develop their business and helping poor countries to expand their economy. It should not however stop companies from considering Fair Trade as a great opportunity to improve their corporate social responsibility. Industry Standards for ‘Green Hotel’ According to US green building council a ‘Green’ or ‘Sustainable’ Hotel will : †¢Use 26% Less Energy †¢Emit 33% Carbon Dioxide †¢Use 30% Less Indoor Water †¢Send 50%-75% less Solid Waste to Landfills and Incinerators †¢Green Buildings can also encourage the use of alternative transportation (walking, mass transit, low-emission, fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles) World Wide Leading Hotels in Sustainable Development Fairmont Hotels Resorts Fairmont is certainly the hotel company that has introduced Environment and Community Service earlier than others in its global strategy. Due to its history and its hotels locations, often in the countryside, the company has officially recognized the importance of Environment in 1990 and pioneered the Fairmont Green Partnership, in order to minimize the impact of its hotels on the planet. It encourages all properties to individually search for environment initiatives, be it minimization of pesticide on their golf course, encouragement to use hybrid cars, etc. Its main topics are waste reduction, resource conservation, purchasing policy, habitat and species protection and community connection. They encourage as well Social Responsibility through the Fairmont Hotels Resorts charitable donations program that delivers grants which support Education and Youth development programs, Health programs, Social services and Civic and community projects. Through these programs Fairmont has received many accolades and awards, most recently the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow 2006 award. Accor As of today Accor is the hotel company that is the most advanced in its SD approach. It started as an Environment strategy in 1994 building a network of 53 environment correspondents throughout the world. Sustainable Development was officially embedded in the strategy of the company in 2002 with the appointment of a Director of Sustainable Development, member of the Management Board, the creation of a group-wide SD committee and the development of an exhaustive SD strategy. That strategy encompasses all aspects of the concept. A scorecard has been developed that checks Accor’s involvement throughout the world with all takeholders: Shareholders, Customers, Employees, suppliers, Environment and local communities. The company was one of the first ones to sign the Global Compact initiative launched by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in January 1999 which is a commitment to follow strict guidelines in terms of Human rights, Labor, Environment and anti-corruption initiatives. Accor is not only focused on developing a group SD strategy but insists in reaching each and every one of its 170 000 employees through direct campaigns. It sends a strong message to all employees by published a short document highlighting conservation tips, a comic book about environment conservation, and an environment guide for hotel managers to train their employees about all aspects of environmental protection. A SD purchasing charter was developed and distributed to suppliers to entice them to follow SD guidelines and involve them in a virtuous circle. Environment and eco-efficiency start during the development phase of all projects. The Company uses internationally or nationally recognized certifications. 0 hotels are now ISO 14001 certified and more certifications are in the pipeline. In Canada its hotels are Audubon certified for eco-efficiency. Measurements are in place to show the energy, waste and water consumption reduction. Biodiversity and architectural integration are another focus in the development of projects. For international and shareholder recognition Accor is listed in the major socially responsible investment indexes: DJSI World Stoxx, FTSE4Good, ASPI and ESI indexes. InterContinental Hotels Group IHG has evidently undergone a major shift toward a complete Sustainable Development strategy recently. The basis is there to make it the industry reference in the coming years. The group will not only be the largest hotel company in the world but as well, naturally, can become the most admired one. All components of SD have been addressed. Many actions geared toward social responsibility and environmental protections have been endorsed throughout the years by various divisions or hotels and coordination is now taking place. Measurements will help demonstrate that the company walks the talk and a separate and comprehensive company SD report will position the company not as one of but as the hotel company that leads the industry. It would be convenient to â€Å"brand† this strategy so that all could refer to it easily. A Senior Vice President Global Corporate Social Responsibility position was created in September 2006. Hilton Hilton Corporation has not yet embraced a holistic approach to Sustainable Development. They communicate mostly on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment concerns. Their CSR is focused on four areas: Education programs Selected Healthcare programs Youth programs Civic affaires and Public policy. Their Environment policies are based on a tagline: Reduce Reuse – Recycle. The company was the first in the industry to be awarded the EnergyStar award (US) for its involvement in reducing electrical energy consumption –fluorescent bulbs in all areas-, water conservation – towel program-, recycling. It encourages its employees to be involved in various community services. Hilton International (now bought by Hilton Corp) has started a program called We Care which is addressing mostly environmental issues and community service. They have included it in their balance scorecard system. Hilton Hotels has developed an interesting program to help improve relationship between people: Be Hospitable Kimpton Hotels It has divided its operations into two distinctive divisions: Hotels and Restaurants. It is very much involved in Sustainable Development and Environmental protection. Kimpton EarthCare: Their mission statement is the following: â€Å"To lead the hospitality industry in supporting a sustainable world, by continuing to deliver a premium guest experience through non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services†. One of these initiatives is the creation of an eco-friendly room at the Triton hotel in San Francisco designed to become a best practice for the company. It offers amenity dispensers – to reduce packaging waste-, energy efficient lighting and motion sensors, non-toxic environmentally safe products, eco-friendly paints, energy efficient mini-bars and air conditioning system, etc. Kimpton’s SD strategy is clear, with a twist of being specific to â€Å"boutique/hip hotels†. However there are still at the initial stage when it comes to measurements. Some of them are the following: â€Å"Over $500,000 in new revenue attributed to EarthCare Over 12,000 gallons (over 360 bathtubs) of toxic cleaners removed from our water supply Conserved over 103,000 gallons of water at Hotel Allegro, Chicago Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City awarded the e2 environmental award Galleria Park Hotel in San Francisco saved $4,000 from just changing Exit lighting to LEDs†. Six Senses SPAs Their purpose: â€Å"To create innovative and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment†. They have an exhaustive list of values all geared towards the happiness of their staff and customers: â€Å"epitomizing all senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch †¦ and beyond†. Their environmental program is developed in the Holistic Environmental Management Program. Being generally located on tiny islands, their goals are: to reduce resource consumption and waste generation. to manage energy use and water conservation. o hire members of local communities and engage them in social responsibility. Protection of flora and fauna. They created a fund to support all types of environmental and social activities in which they allocate 0. 05% of their total annual revenue. One interesting idea is the Six Senses guest carbon- neutral program through which clients are enticed to donate money to help compensate the emission of carbon dioxide (CO? ) that the plane that brought them to the island produced. That fund is then distributed to NGOs that care about the reforestation of the planet. Preserving the environment with the ECHO program (Environmentally Conscious Hospitality Operations) through eco-friendly guidelines to all hotels and associates through the â€Å"reduce-reuse-recycle† process†. ITC India ITC is leading hotel in India for sustainability development. It has come up with Innovative designs, Water efficient buildings, Material resources and energy conservation steps in its various hotels . At 170,000 sq feet, ITC Green Centre is the world’s largest 0% water discharge, noncommercial Green building, and compared to similar buildings, ITC Green Centre has a 30% smaller carbon footprint. ITC is developing its hotel based on this building model and architecture. References Jauhari, Vinnie (Editor). International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Volume 19, Issue 5 : The Hospitality Industry in India. Bradford, , GBR: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2007. p 364. Saxena, Atul. New Trends in Tourism and Hotel Industry. Delhi, IND: Global Media, 2008. p 191. Brody, Derrick. Latest Trends in Hotel Industry. Delhi, , IND: Global Media, 2009. p 4. Mannan, B. A..

Barriers In Multicultural Communication

Barriers In Multicultural Communication It means the established beliefs, social norms, values, material traits, and behavior patterns transmitted from people to people that differentiate groups of people. Cultural backdrop affects how individuals communicate and how they deduce messages received from others. Multicultural Perspectives Being aware that miscommunication can arise due to ethnicity, age, gender, race and physical disability, and much other dissimilarity such as religious and lifestyle is the first step towards better multicultural communication. Larger cultural multiplicity in the organizations and workplaces increase the need for understanding how cultural background affects communication. Communication Barriers in Multicultural Communication Communication barriers most of the time hamper the quality of communication when you are interacting with people from cultures other than your own. These barriers include:- 1. Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism 2. Lack of Knowledge and Understanding of Cultures 3. Discriminatory and Harassment 4. Language Differences Now lets study these barriers in detail. Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism Cultural relativism compares the norms and conducts of different cultures and usually means evaluating them against standards of whats wrong and whats right. This approach to other cultures becomes an obstacle when you presume that cultural norms, customs and conducts are not right if they differ from those of your culture. Ethnocentrism is the natural idea that your own cultural tradition and values are right and superior. People around the world are ethnocentric to an extent. Norms, customs, and conducts that are different from those of your culture may seem unusual, abnormal and sometimes even wrong. Lack of Knowledge and Understanding of Cultures Although a particular culture may usually demonstrate similar behaviors or attributes, this does not mean all individuals in that culture are similar. People establish stereotypes when they presume that certain norms, values or attributes typical of a particular culture define all members of that culture group. Stereotypes are an outcome due to limited knowledge of cultural diversity. An understanding of various cultures means to be fully aware that individuals within each culture may have some resemblance and some variations. It means responding to people as individuals while understanding that cultural backdrops and experiences impact behavior and communication. Discriminatory and Harassment Discrimination is demonstrating partiality toward or hurtful elimination or rejection of people because of cultural or any other differences. Business communication between the sexes demands a clear understanding of remarks and actions that could be interpreed as sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is undesirable behavior of a sexual nature or with sexual implications. It may occur for men as well as women. Language Differences Language can also be a barrier to communication. An increase in multicultural interactions presents language challenges. When organizations communicate with the large number of people who speak the languages other than English misunderstandings may occur. Non verbal language influences the receivers understanding and acceptance of a spoken message. In multicultural business communication, non verbal signs vary as much as spoken languages do. Nonverbal greetings can be anything from a bow to a handshake or from a hug to an upward flick of the eyebrows. Misunderstanding or misinterpretation of cultural differences in nonverbal messages causes communication problems. Communicating in High or Low Context Cultures Traditionally, high-context countries place high value on relationships and prefer indirect communication when carrying out business. Low context countries give more value to productivity; prefer the use of direct communication, and give minimal attention is paid to building relationships. High context cultures allocate more meaning to shared history, non- verbal signals, and the context of the messages than to what is said. Japan, China, and most other Asian countries generally are considered high context cultures. The United States and Canada, as well as northern Europe, are low context cultures. Given below are the basic differences between high and low context cultures. High Context Low Context Indirect communication. Direct and specific communication Fewer words, more nonverbal clues High value on words rather than nonverbal clues. Simple and ambiguous messages Structured messages with technical details. Very verbal people seen as unattractive; smiling associated with nervousness. Informal, frequent smiles, and frequent use of hand gestures and facial expressions Preference to long term relationships and underlying messages. Temporary personal relationships. Long term view of time. Short term view of time. Appointments are generally considered flexible. Emphasis on appointments on time, management of schedules, and punctuality are given high preference. Vague and non confrontational language is preferred. Focus on getting a job done, being specific, and goal attainment. Honor and respect more important than business; adjourn power and position Personal relationships not considered that much; ideas and people are assumed as equals. Private networks are used to obtain information. Information is made accessible readily, shared with others. Values family and group authority Individualism valued. Multicultural communication guidelines You can become an effective multicultural communicator if you follow a few simple guidelines. Understanding our own culture Communication with others can be improved by increasing awareness of your own culture and its influences on your beliefs, values, and behavior patterns. We have to understand that our cultural background and experiences shape what we think, what we value, and how we communicate. Keep an open mind and respect diversity Learn about other cultures, beliefs, and customs without judging them by our own cultural identity and unexamined biases. These is not to suggest that we change our beliefs or disrespect our own culture, but rather that we acknowledge that cultural norms affect values and conducts and that understanding how others interpret verbal and nonverbal language helps our communication receive the intended response. However, avoid accepting stereotypes that assume that characteristics that may apply to some people in a particular culture are characteristic of all individuals in that culture. Identify and adapt to language differences When we are communicating with persons from another culture, we should try to learn how that cultures verbal and nonverbal languages differ from your own. Examine and understand the meaning of nonverbal communication signal such as facial expressions, social distance for conversing, and hand gestures. Offensive non verbal gestures should always be avoided. Now that we have adequate knowledge about cross cultural communication, barriers in cross cultural communication and guidelines to be followed for better cross cultural communication, we can now discuss the aspects of the Japanese culture one would wish to observe and understand in order to avoid problems of cross-cultural communication. Japanese Non-Verbal Communication 1. The Japanese pull out all the stops for peace and are dependent on group; they use non verbal gestures such as facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell interpret what someone feels. 2. The Japanese frequently trust non-verbal messages more than the spoken word as a single word can mean various things. 3. Frowning when someone is speaking is taken as a sign of disagreement. 4. Most Japanese maintain an impassive expression when speaking. 5. Expressions to watch out for include inhaling through clenched teeth, tilting the head, scratching the back of the head, and scratching the eyebrow. 6. Non-verbal communication is so vital that there is a book for foreigners on how to interpret the signs. 7. It is considered disrespectful to stare into another persons eyes, particularly those of a person who is senior to you because of age or status. 8. In crowded situations the Japanese avoid eye contact to give themselves privacy. Relationships Communication 1. The Japanese prefer to do business on the basis of personal relationships. 2. In general, being introduced or recommended by someone who already has a good relationship with the company is extremely helpful as it allows the Japanese to know how to place you in a hierarchy relative to themselves. 3. Build and maintain relationships with greetings / seasonal cards. 4. It is important to be a good correspondent as the Japanese hold this in high esteem. Business Meeting Etiquette 1. Appointments are required and, whenever possible, should be made several weeks in advance. 2. It is best to telephone for an appointment rather than send a letter, fax or email. 3. Punctuality is important. Arrive on time for meetings and expect your Japanese colleagues will do the same. 4. Since this is a group society, even if you think you will be meeting one person, be prepared for a group meeting. 5. The most senior Japanese person will be seated furthest from the door, with the rest of the people in descending rank until the most junior person is seated closest to the door. 6. It may take several meetings for your Japanese counterparts to become comfortable with you and be able to conduct business with you. Business Negotiation 1. The Japanese are non-confrontational. 2. They have a difficult time saying no, so you must be vigilant at observing their non-verbal communication. 3. It is best to phrase questions so that they can answer yes. For example, do you disagree with this? Group decision-making and consensus are important. 4. Written contracts are required. 5. The Japanese often remain silent for long periods of time. Be patient and try to work out if your Japanese colleagues have understood what was said. 6. Japanese prefer broad agreements and mutual understanding so that when problems arise they can be handled flexibly. 7. Using a Japanese lawyer is seen as a gesture of goodwill. Note that Japanese lawyers are quite different from Western lawyers as they are much more functionary. 8. Never lose your temper or raise your voice during negotiations. 9. Some Japanese close their eyes when they want to listen intently. Dress Etiquette 1. Business attire is conservative. 2. Men should wear dark-colored, conservative business suits. 3. Women should dress conservatively.

Sociology Of Health And Illness Assignment Social Work Essay

Sociology Of Health And Illness Assignment Social Work Essay The aim of this assignment is to discuss the strengths and limitations of the social model of disability and how nurses can promote anti-discriminatory practice in relation to people with disabilities. Defining disability is said to be very difficult due to the fact that disability is a complicated, multidimensional concept (Altman 2001). Furthermore Slater et al (1974) has gone as far as stating that constructing a definition that would fit all circumstances is in reality nearly impossible. However attempts have been made by various different people, legislation and models in different ways. According to Altman (2001) these attempts are the reason why there has been a lot of confusion and misuse of disability terms and definitions. The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disabled person as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. (DDA 2005) However the medical model of disability sees disability as the individuals problem and that it should not concern anyone other than the disabled person, for example, if a student who is in a wheelchair is unable to get into the building due to the steps, the medical model would assume that it is due to the wheelchair rather than the steps. Whereas on the other hand the social model would say that the steps are acting as a barrier to the student, therefore the barrier should be removed. The social model of disability was brought about by activists in the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) during the 1970s. This model is seen as the main theory which tests disability politics in Britain (Shakespeare et al 2002). The UPIAS argued that there is a major difference between impairment and disability. They defined impairment as lacking part or all of a limb, or having a defective limb, organ or mechanism of the body. They have also defined disability as the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a contemporary social organization which takes no or little account of people who have physical impairments and thus excludes them from participation in the mainstream of social activities (Giddens 2006). The social model of disability can be defined as an idea that it is society that disables an individual with the way everything is constructed to meet the needs of the majority who are not disabled (Shakespeare et al 2002). Whereas, the social model can be compared with the medical model of disability which tends to focus purely on finding a cure and that to be able to fully participate in society they need to treat their impairment (Crow 1996). The model has several key points. First it describes disabled people as an oppressed social group (Shakespeare et al. 2002) meaning that on top of their impairment, disability is something more deep that excludes and isolates them from participating in society (Oliver 1996). The difference between the impairments that people have to deal with and the oppression which they experience is fundamental to the British social model. Finally, the model defines disability as a form of social oppression, not a form of impairment (Shakespeare et al. 2002). Therefore the aim of the model is to empower disabled people so that they dont feel as though their condition is the problem, but that society is the problem due to the number of barriers it places on disabled people (Giddens 2006). For example, everywhere you go there will be steps, steps to get into a building, steps to climb floors and it is this barrier which causes problems for disabled people therefore the social model provides a soluti on saying that ramps and lifts should be fitted in all buildings, the problem of not being able to stand for too long should be tackled by placing more seats in public places. It is barriers like these that the social model aims to find solutions to. The British disability movement has found great importance in the social model in various different ways. Hasler (1993) describes it as the big idea of the British disability movement. For example, identifying a political strategy to remove barriers in society that played a large role in disabled peoples lives, which was also the main strength of the social model (Shakespeare et al. 2002). Examples of barriers that disabled people faced in all areas of life were the inability to access public transport systems due to the fact that a person was in a wheelchair or had visual or hearing impairment, their inability to find work because employers felt that the disabled person was incapable of doing the job, housing problems and so forth (Thomas 2004). The removal of such barriers would mean that if those people with impairments felt disabled by society then by taking away these barriers would help to empower and promote the inclusion of people with impairments (Shakespeare et al. (2002). The model tries to bring about change in society to suit the individuals need rather than taking up a medical view where you try and look for a cure, or rehabilitation (Shakespeare et al.2002). For example, people who have schizophrenia have to take medication in order to live normal lives. However it is argued that the social models complete view of changing society has become too simplistic or rather an over- socialised explanation. Furthermore, Vic Finkelstein (2004) argues that the social model looks at enabling people to be human in a society rather than having access to their rights. However the medical model of disability has a different perspective. They believe that people with disabilities need to be assessed, that they are incapable of making their own decisions, that they are the problem and that people with disabilities have to be adapted to fit into the world, but if this is not possible then they are placed in specialised institutions or isolated at home where only basic needs are met (Rieser, 2009). A second strength seen from the model was the actual impact on the disabled people themselves. The social model made disabled people feel free as they lifted the view of a medical approach, where the problem was the individual and placed it on society saying that social oppression was the root of the problem. This as a result made people feel liberated and empowered as they were made to believe they were not at fault: society was, that society was in need of the change: not the individual (Shakespeare et al. 2002). The social model helped to bring disabled people to come out like raising feminist consciousness in the seventies, or lesbians and gays coming out (Shakespeare et al. 2002). The social model has played a very important part in many disabled peoples lives, however, despite these strengths to the model there are a number of limitations. Firstly, the social model has been criticised for being unable to deal with the realities of impairment (Oliver, 2004), meaning that the model is not about peoples personal experience of impairment (Oliver, 1996) but about peoples collective experiences of disablement in society (Oliver, 1990). Another point criticised is that other social divisions such as race, gender, ageing, sexuality and so on are not incorporated in to the social model (Oliver, 2004). However Oliver (2004) that just because the social model hasnt incorporated these divisions does not mean that they are unable to. Oliver (2004) states that those who criticise the model are the ones who should try and forge the social model into action when dealing with issues such as race and gender and age and sexuality. Cultural values have also been pointed out to be ignored by the social model. There is an argument about the issue of otherness, meaning that it is the cultural views that people hold which place disabled people as others, not the physical and environmental barriers (Oliver, 2004). Furthermore, another limitation of the social model is that it clearly neglects and ignores the experiences of impairments and disability which are the main cause of problems in most disabled peoples lives (Giddens, 2006). Shakespeare and Watson (2002) argue that we are not just disabled people, we are also people with impairments, and to pretend otherwise is to ignore a major part of our biographies. Against this accusation, Oliver (2004) finds it difficult to accept that disabled peoples experiences are not considered because it is after all the main reason why the model emerged to begin with-due to a number of disabled activists in the 1970s. Furthermore defenders of the model argue that the social model merely focuses on social barriers that disabled people face rather than denying them of everyday experiences due to their impairment (Giddens, 2006). The social model has been criticised as being inadequate as a social theory of disablement (Oliver 2004). Corker and French (1998) talk about social model theorists and then conclude that the social model is not a theory, however Oliver (2004) argues that how can people criticise the social model for something it has never claimed to be? Oliver (2004) states that most people who have developed the social model have claimed that they have said the social model of disability is not a theory of disability. Leading on from the strengths and limitations, there is a substantial amount that nurses can do to promote anti-discriminatory practice in relation to people with disabilities by maintaining a positive attitude towards people with disabilities as they are constantly involved with the treatment and care of people with physical or intellectual disabilities (Klooster et al. 2009). Nursing schools as like other professions, tend to be based around the medical model of care where they aim to diagnose and treat diseases (Klooster et al. 2009). However as Byron et al (2000) has stated that not all disabled people are unwell and may not have a disease. Nurses have an important role, like other health professionals, in influencing a disabled persons response to treatment (Oermann Lindgren, 1995). Therefore Carter et al (2001) has stated that inappropriate attitudes and behaviours from staff are the biggest barriers which disabled people face, which has led to further research indicating that nursing students should move away from the medical model of care when working with people with disabilities and should focus on a more social model perspective (Scullion, 1999). Further research has indicated that nursing students attitudes towards disabled people may be improved by educational programmes which can help nurses to be in direct contact and to work with disabled people (Oermann Lindgren, 1995). However, the research literature suggests that this is currently not happening in nursing practice (Klooster et al 2009). For example, Brillhart et al (1990) found that nursing students had more negative attitudes then the person with the disabilities themselves. Nurses can help to provide clear information as Hammel (2003) states that professionals need to listen to what people are telling them and that actions and non-verbal messages can speak very loudly. Nurses can form strategies to communicate with disabled people in order to make their life easier (Hammel, 2003). However it is common that fewer health care professionals are reluctant to provide services for disabled people as they age (Hammel, 2003). By providing clear information nurses also involve other people who are important in the disabled persons life and ensuring that they are informed about options and benefits for the disabled person as well as themselves. Nurses can also act as advocates for disabled people so that they have equal use of services or even provide information of advocacy groups for the disabled person for example Centres for Independent Living (Hammel, 2003). Furthermore, where young people are concerned nurse can give advice to families about possibilities for independence and can also refer them to community resources that may help young people pursue further education, find a job and live independently (Blomquist et al. 1998) Lastly the Disability Discrimination Act is a guide for nurses to help them provide better care for people with disabilities and also how they can develop their practice (Aylott, 2004). There are many aspects with which nurses can help promote anti-discriminatory practice in relation to people with disabilities however, nurses need to keep a positive attitude towards people with disabilities in order for the anti-discriminatory practice to work. In conclusion for there to be equal rights for people with disabilities, Oliver (2004), states that people spend too much time discussing the strengths and limitations of each model therefore he suggests that both models should be integrated, ideas of both models should be put together and used in concordance so as to actually help people with disabilities. Oliver (2004) claims that if we imagine that throughout history carpenters and builders of the world had spent their time talking about whether the hammer was an adequate tool for the purpose of building houses, we would still be living in caves. Therefore there is a hammer in the disability movement and if it was used properly then the social model of disability can become the hammer of justice and freedom for disabled people (Oliver 2004). References Altman, B.M., (2001). Disability definitions, models, classification schemes and applications. In G.L. Albrecht. K.D. Seelman, M. Bury, (eds.) (2001). Handbook of Disability Studies. Sage, California. Ch.3. Aylott, J., (2004). Learning disabilities. Autism: developing a strategy for nursing to prevent discrimination. British Journal of Nursing, 13(14), 828-833. Blomquist, K.B., Brown, G., Peersen, A., and Presler, E.P., (1998). Transitioning to independence: challenges for young people with disabilities and their caregivers. Orthopaedic Nursing, 17(3), 27-35. Brillhart B.A., Jay H. Wyers M.E. (1990) Attitudes toward people with disabilities. Rehabilitation Nursing. 15(2), 80-82. 85. Byron M. Dieppe P. (2000) Educating health professionals about disability: attitudes, attitudes, attitudes. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 93(8), 397-398. Carter J.M. Markham N. (2001) Disability discrimination. British Medical Journal, 323(7306), 178-179. Crow, L., (1996). Including all of our lives: Renewing the social model of disability. In C. Barnes. Geof Mercer, (eds.) Exploring the divide. Leeds: The Disability Press, pp.55-72. Finkelstein, V., (2004). Representing Disability. In J. Swain., S. French., C. Barnes., and C. Thomas, (eds.) Disabling Barriers- Enabling Environments. 2nd edition. Sage, London. Ch.2. Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology. 5th edition. Polity Press, Cambridge. Hammel, J., (2003). Technology and the environment: supportive resource or barrier for people with developmental disabilities. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 38(2), 331-349. Klooster, P.M.ten., Dannenberg, J.W., Taal, E., Burger, G., and Rasker, J.J. (2009). Attitudes towards people with physical or intellectual disabilities: nursing students and non-nursing peers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(12), 2562-2573. Oermann M.H. Lindgren C.L. (1995) An educational programmes effects on students attitudes toward people with disabilities: a 1-year follow-up. Rehabilitation Nursing 20(1), 6-10. Oliver, M. (1990). The Politics of Disablement. Macmillan Press, Basingstoke. Oliver, M. (1996). Understanding Disability: From Theory to Practice. Macmillan Press, Basingstoke. Oliver, M. (2004). If I had a hammer: The social model. In J. Swain., S. French., C. Barnes., and C. Thomas, (eds.) Disabling Barriers- Enabling Environments. 2nd edition. Sage, London. Ch.1. Rieser, R. (2009) The Social Model of Disability [online article]. Available from [accessed 6th January 2010]. Scullion P.A. (1999) Conceptualizing disability in nursing: some evidence from students and their teachers. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 29(3), 648-657. Shakespeare, T., Watson, N. (2002). The Social model of disability: an outdated ideology?. Research in Social Science and Disability, 2, 9-28. Thomas, C., (2004.) Disability and Impairment. In J. Swain., S. French., C. Barnes., and C. Thomas, (eds.) Disabling Barriers- Enabling Environments. 2nd edition. Sage, London. Ch.3.

NAFTA :: essays research papers

The United States signed an agreement with all the North American countries. [The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)] This gave the U.S. the right to place their large factories in other countries, one of them, Mexico. It also gave them the right to obviously trade their products freely. So after the agreement was signed, the corporations went ahead and built their factories exclusively in depressing little â€Å"dictatorships† like Mexico. Where collective bargaining and governmental concern for anything other than the next opportunity to better up are nonexistent. Mexican/American factories continue to spew toxic filth into tributaries of the Rio Grande lined with squalid shacks housing of their underpaid employees. Many people concerned for the care of the environment think that in the absence of NAFTA, the amount of hazardous waste from Mexico would simply stop. The problem is the increasing industrial activity in the border area, with associated growth in the generation of hazardous waste. The damage to the environment and public health caused by illegal dumping of hazardous waste along the United States/Mexico border has increased. The increase in border industrial activity has led to an increase in the creation of hazardous waste, with data showing an increase in hazardous waste production since January 1994. Much waste still simply is washed down the drain. And only 70 of the 352 industries generating hazardous wastes reported proper disposal. Which I personally think is astonishing. And according to a 1995 report, one quarter of the hazardous waste from the â€Å"maquiladora† zone, approximately 44 tons daily, has an unknown end. Each year, seven million tons of toxic wastes are, without control, illegally dumped in drains and marine waters. Only one percent is under surveillance in the country, the inspection of the maquiladora industry is virtually non-existent which is a great environmental problem for Mexico. But like anyone cares. This industry both ben efits the Mexican and U.S. government. But soon both Texan and Mexican people will urge to put a moral stop to this because it causes birth defects in local areas. The incidences of neural tube birth defects have not improved since NAFTA took effect in 1994, and may actually be increasing. In December 1994 through February 1995, three cases were reported, one per month.

Islam :: essays research papers

ISLAM   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There has been much talk about Muslim beliefs and the Islam nation altogether. The basis of the religion is peaceful and understanding. While people twist the belief around to fit their own needs. It is based on the teachings of Muhammad. He was born in Mecca, which is the capital of Islamic belief.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad was born and raised in the city of Mecca. He grew up as a merchant and had a wife. He would wander around outside of the city by himself often. He wandered so much that he had no job but his wife believed in him so she supported him. One day he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabriel told him that he was a prophet and he should spread the word of god. He went back to Mecca and told everyone what had happened and decided to teach everyone the way of God. No one believed him and he was ridiculed for his beliefs. So he decided to go on a trip which was called the â€Å"Hijra†. When he came back to Mecca he had many converts. Then the people of Mecca started to believe him and became converts themselves. This is the story of Muhammad and his teachings. All this and more were written down in the Muslim holy book, the â€Å"Koran†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The five pillars are the five ways to be a good and decent Muslim. The first pillar is â€Å"Shahadah† which is to declare your belief by saying shahadah. Which means declaring god or Allah is almighty, and believing in the prophethood of Muhammad. The second pillar is â€Å"Salah† or prayer. Prayer must be done five times a day towards Mecca or the general direction of Mecca. The third pillar is â€Å"Zakah† or tax on the wealth. Everyone must give a percent of their earnings to the poor. The fourth pillar is â€Å"Sawm† which is fasting during the month of Ramadan. The fifth and last pillar is to at least once in their lives to â€Å"Hajj† or make a trip to Mecca when one is willing and able to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is so much trouble in the world because of guys who like to change the meaning of some things in religion when it is obvious what they mean.

Describing Death

Giovanni Martinelli’s early career as a Florentine painter is relatively unknown. It is documented that he moved to Florence in 1634. Prior to relocating, Martinelli produced Memento Mori (Death Comes to the Dinner Table). This piece has a comparable style to the Florentine painters Filippo Tarchiani and Anastagio Fontebuoni. Memento Mori is displayed in a clear narrative style. Martinelli created a colorful and dramatic scene that was underscored by the hasty arrival of death. Some translations state that Memento Mori means â€Å"Remember, you shall die. Here, Martinelli portrays a group of five individuals of varying ages. They appear to be from a wealthy stock. They wear expensive clothing and are seen at a dinner table partaking in a party of sorts. They are gallivanting around a table that is filled with an abundant collection of exotic fruits, pies, and pastries. Along with the food, Martinelli painted various wine glasses that appear to be hand-crafted and of the highe st fashion. Giovanni used bright, shiny silken wear with colors ranging from yellow, to peach, to blue. The colors complement each figure, adding to their personality and desire for greed. These wealthy-looking people appear—almost instantaneously—to be in a rigid state of duress. On the far right side of the painting, we see, in dark shades, the resemblance of a skeleton holding up an hourglass, as if to say, â€Å"cheers. † This one-time jovial band of feasters is seen reacting to the new character intruding on their high-standing party. The faces offer gestures of utter shock and dismay. All the focus shifts from their colorful mealtime festivities to this arch nemesis, and back again. The skeletal metaphor of death leans into one man’s shoulder. This man closest to death is in the act of clutching his heart. His eyes dilate toward the figure of death and his mouth, just slightly ajar, appears to be ready to cave open in utter horror. He, however, is too dumbfounded by this apparent figure of death’s close proximity to do anything but freeze in horror. ANALYSIS OF MEMENTO MORI There are two men at the rear end of the table, furthest from death. They are also horrified. One man is seen posturing with arms wide-open, even though his is furthest from death. He is attempting to back away; yet, at the same time, he is powerless and unable to leave the empty gaze of death’s vision; for running will do no good to the mortal man, regardless if he led a life of sin-hood or martyrdom. Morals were almost epidemic in Martinelli’s fresco works. Memento Mori is another classic story-telling scene with moralistic intent. The era of this 17th century creation occurred at a time when plague was a hearty, healthy killer. The deathful onslaught of plague, in all its pestilence, came to towns without warning. It attacked the poor and wealthy alike, caring little for a person’s status in regards to wealth, politics, or religion. To create the moral fabric surrounding the powers of death through plague, Martinelli displayed deep imagery between the youthful party-goers who were enjoying their food and intoxicating drinks. He contrasts these free-willing, wealthy individuals with the ghastly—even chilling—reality of death. He does so by casting death’s chin over one man’s shoulder. This imagery adds power and personality to the fresco. Martinelli displays the image of death coming to this gathering alone and without emotion or guile. The lone figure of death is shown to uproot the lives of this group of healthy, stress-free people—startling the living daylights out of everyone, young and old. MODERN-DAY IRONY Today, some four-hundred years after Giovanni Martinelli finished his last brush stroke to canvas, we remain as close to the fear of death’s randomness as the 17th century plague-ridden societies were. For 300 years plague hung over the lives of Europeans like an omnipresent cloud,† said Mormando, who is an Italian studies professor at Boston College. This statement, today, holds tremendous weight to our real-world current lifestyle. Today, terrorism, war, suicide bombing, and the like are the molds that cast this same skeletal image at our kitchen table. Terrorism is a specter that comes at us in many forms: anthrax, subway bombs, and suicide hijacker leading to the massive death of September 11, 2001. Just as smallpox left past centuries in a state of despair and real fear, we, today, see how fear forces us to change our reality. This changing reality holds an ominous likeness to the changes that the banqueters in Momento Mori faced. Martinelli’s plague painting is characteristic 17th century Italian. The horrific tendency of the subject matter never destroyed the utter beauty—even charismatic charm—of the oils that he chose to mix in his representation of terror and deathly destruction. For in his era of epidemics and massive death, hardly a decade passed without plague haunting a town and bringing it to its knees. When this painting was created, there wasn’t anything small about death. It came in massive, near apocalyptic proportions, decimating generations in the blink of an eye. So, the timing of Martinelli’s piece was right in line with the mood of the generation. This connection further enlivened his work back then. Since we, in the dawn of the 21st century, can relate to massive death and fear through terrorism, war, and civil upheaval around the globe, it also adds empowering imagery to his age-old mastery. The imagery of Memento Mori is further encapsulated by the grave images on these wealthy party-goers’ faces. The hand-crafted beautiful likeness on the faces of those facing death offers deep-rooted thinking that says: As some of the Italians survived a plague-ridden epidemic, they continued to look-over-their-shoulders awaiting the next surprise visit by the specter of death. It’s rather haunting how this parallels with what terrorism instills upon societies around the planet today. Plague paintings like Martinelli’s, many times, depicted a person pinching their nose to refrain from smelling the horror of death in the air. Martinelli, however, appeared to glaze over his moral of death and the fear of death by not rendering any people in his paintings to be abhorred by the scent of death. This may further enhance the true lifestyle of the wealthy in the 17th century: they had more than they could fathom. So, was Martinelli a closet optimist? Or was his subliminal imagery set up to leave us with this question: How can the rich continue to ignore the fate of death, and why don’t they seem concerned with finding ways to better humanity instead of bettering their personal property and lavishness? In closing, we must also consider the element of hope and healing, and why it is not apparent in Memento Mori. We must consider the ‘miasma theory’ and its transmission by way of corrupt air. It’s the complete randomness of plague that Martinelli depicts so well that adds such force to this painting. As we continue to live in corrupt societies, it seems that the fear of death will continue to hang over our shoulders. Terrorism is likened to the countless plagues that washed over communities those many centuries ago. As death and terror come and go, the art of the masters remain untouched.

Analysis of the Feasibility of Cultural Relativity, Ethical Subjectivism

The cultural relativity argument is based upon the following premises. (1) Societies differ in their standards of rationality on both empirical and normative aspects. (2) What counts as an empirical fact and a social fact and the bases by which societies were able to judge them as such are said to vary across societies. (3) Rationality is deeply intertwined with our cognition of the world. (4) Facts do not go beyond our capacity to know.Such assumptions lead to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a common body of social fact that corresponds to a shared human standard of cognition. If such is the case, it therefore follows that there are several bodies of fact each relative to the standards valid to the society in question. In relation to this James Rachel contends that a minimum conception of rationality requires that â€Å"we try to guide our conduct by reason while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual† (qtd in McNiven 131).The possibility of suc h is evident if one considers that (1) moral judgments must be based upon good reasons and (2) morality requires â€Å"the impartial consideration of each individual’s interests† (McNiven 131). If such is the case, it thereby follows that since a relativistic world view is based upon a conception of relative standards for the validation of social views hence a relativistic framework assumes that the different conceptions of morality [since these must necessarily be based upon the structural framework of a culture].If such is the case, such a perspective thereby fails to adhere to the second provision of a minimal conception of reality, which gives credence on the aspect of impartiality. It follows from this that cultural relativism thereby fails to meet the standards of a minimum conception of morality.2. During the last twenty years or so, a number of ethicists have found some value in ethical subjectivism, despite its flaws. How might some of its assumptions be helpf ul in making moral decisions?Ethical subjectivism is based on the assumptions that (1) there are no valid grounds to support the notion of the existence of objective moral truths and (2) moral conceptions of right and wrong are relative in nature (Mills and Polanowski 134). In a sense, ethical subjectivism may thereby be seen as enabling the renunciation of moral absolutism, which is based on the assumption that reason stands as the grounds for he formation of moral judgments.David Hume contends that such a perspective fails to account for the influence of desire in the formation of moral judgment. In relation to this, Mills and Polanowski contend that such an assumption shows the manner in which â€Å"moral ideals achieve their reality only within consciousness as the subjective product of moral valuation† (137). The importance of such is evident if one considers instances wherein rationality decrees the elimination of life whereas subjective morality opts for enabling the c ontinuance of life [e.g. cases of euthanasia].3. Gregory Pence claims the arguments against SCNT are weak. Do you agree? Why or why not?Gregory Pence claims that creating an embryo through the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is deemed as problematic due to the possible harm that it may cause. Such possible harms range from those considered as enabling â€Å"harms to society or the institutions of the family† (Pence 77). The main concern however lies in its effects upon the child [physical harm as a product of birth defect and psychological harm], which is a product of the aforementioned method.At the onset, it is important to note that such harms are based upon preconceived and invalidated conceptions of possible outcomes in the future. In a sense, they may be considered as somewhat fictitious projections of possible occurrences as a result of a particular methodology that has resemblance to other methodologies that enabled or caused physical or psychological harm upon an entity. Pence, thereby argues that he failure of the aforementioned criticism may be traced to their assumption of either of the similarity of SCNT to other methodologies [e.g. cloning] which has led to the harm of entities or to the assumption that such a process will scar a child. Such assumptions [against SCNY], however, as I reckon fails to consider Pence’s arguments.Works CitedMacNiven, Don.   Creative Morality.   London: Routledge, 1993.Mills, Jon and Janusz Polanowski.   The Ontology of Prejudice.   U.S.A.: Rodopi, 1997.Pence, Gregory.   Brave New Bioethics.   London: Rowman and Littlefield, 2002.

What types of problems and effects are been forced upon the planet?

What types of problems and effects are been forced upon the planet with modern technology and the increasing population and what can be done to make the planet healthier? The growing population, deforestation and use of fossil fuels are causing the biggest environmental problem that has been discovered over the past 50 years, Global Warming. In the past 10 years dramatic actions have been taken to curb the dangerous affects that could lead to drought, floods, sweltering heat and rising seas. I believe that to curb the effects more people should be aware of what the future would be like for future generations. How their lives would be affected by global warming. Simple things like walking to work and school or using a bike to commute would make a huge difference, if more people knew that bicycling is 117% more efficient than walking, and then I believe more people would do it. However the majority will have to take this into account if they want to make a difference. By simply wearing an extra shirt around the house and not turning on the heating will contribute to saving the environment. Paper which is made from trees should not be wasted and recycled when finished with. In order to prevent unnecessary usage of the planets resources' recycling helps to curb the effects of deforestation. Whenever a person uses a car or forgets to switch their television off at the mains, leaving the little red light to waste energy, a thought should be spared for the millions of men women and children that survive every day in third world countries who have quite possibly never seen a television. If every commuter car in the U.S. transported an extra person, it would save eight billion gallons of fuel a year. Facts like these assist in convincing people that small gestures matter. However many people do not think that just one person can make the difference. Scientists have discovered the main causes of global warming and because of this curbing the effects causing global warming is a great deal easier. Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities including industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use, such as deforestation all contribute to the increasing temperature of the planet. Heat from the sun passes through the atmosphere of the earth and heats up the earth's surface. The heat is reflected back out to space by the earth's surface but certain gases in the atmosphere trap some of the deflected heat. These gases then act as a blanket, keeping heat locked in the atmosphere warming the planet. This process is similar to that which takes place in a greenhouse environment hence the name â€Å"greenhouse effect† and â€Å"greenhouse gases†. Greenhouse gas (es) is the name given to the gases which trap the heat in the earth's atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide is the greatest contributor to the build up of gases in the atmosphere. Cars, Factories, even using paper all contribute to the hostile planet we are all creating for future generations. Fossil fuels release the majority of harmful gases into the atmosphere, so in order to reduce the amount of dangerous gas entering the atmosphere; other sources of energy are being used. Renewable energy sources such as Solar Power, Wind turbines/farms, Tidal, Hydro-electric, Geothermal and using Biomass and alternative power sources such as nuclear power all contribute to the decrease in use of fossil fuels. Trees provide oxygen for the planet by removing the carbon from carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen back in to the atmosphere. This done by a process called photosynthesis. Transpiration is a process whereby the plants carry water up the stems of the plants into the leaves and it evaporates through the leaves. These processes determine the weather and cause clouds, which block the suns heat from passing through the ozone layer. Deforestation regularly occurs because of farmers attempting to settle farmland; the poor become ‘shifted cultivators' and resort to using ‘Slash and Burn' methods to make an open space. The name implies exactly what happens; trees are cut down and the remains are burned. The ash is used as a fertilizer and the land is used for vegetation farming or a cattle farming, however, the soil that is cleared in slash and burn is left infertile; the nutrients in the soil are quickly absorbed by surrounding organisms. The trees can no longer be replanted in the same area once a shifted cultivator is finished in that area. Another reason for major deforestation is because of many labourers resorting to illegally cutting down trees to survive. The UN has however developed a plan to provide the poorer countries with enough money to stop the deforestation. Acts like these will all help to minimise the dangerous effects inflicted on the planet. Tidal barriers attract a lot of controversy. The proposal to build the Severn Barrier has been severely opposed by many environmentalists, because of impacts upon wildlife and the marine environment. The construction of tidal lagoons has been proposed as a more ecologically sound method of generating electricity from tides. However due to global warming, it is inevitable that the sea levels will rise. Coastal cities must be protected against sea level rise, so tidal barriers must be constructed for this purpose. If CO2 emissions are not dramatically reduced within twenty years we will face much greater sea level rise, and we will then have to look at tidal barriers to protect other UK cities, on the River Severn. Although Biomass is a renewable energy source it does release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere reducing the use of fossil fuels but not necessarily reducing the emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Nuclear power is not renewable but it does not emit any harmful greenhouse gases and therefore it does not contributing to the greenhouse effect. At present, there are 442 nuclear power stations in operation in the world, with a generation capacity of 368 million kilowatts, which accounts for 16% of world's total power generation for 18 consecutive years. Nuclear power has many advantages; it is cheap and produces large amounts of energy from small amount of fuel, it is also very reliable and produces very little waste. Although there is little waste produced, it is dangerous and has to be buried underground to contain the radioactivity; it takes hundreds of years before the radioactivity is gone. On April 25th -26th, 1986 the planet suffered worst nuclear power accident occurred at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union (now Ukraine). The Chernobyl nuclear power plant had 4 reactors and whilst testing reactor number 4 numerous safety procedures were disregarded. A chain reaction in the reactor became out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew off the reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid. The Chernobyl accident killed more than 30 people immediately, and as a result of the high radiation levels in the surrounding 20-mile radius, 135,000 people had to be evacuated. It will take four hundred years before the affected area will become liveable again. In conclusion, I have discussed the effects of pollution and the controversy caused, I have also discussed what can be done to curb the effects. The use of renewable energy can assist in the prevention of further damage, and that walking or bicycling instead of driving can also reduce the damaging effects facing the environment. I have discussed the disaster and consequences of nuclear power and its advantages to the environment. I would like to conclude by saying that unless drastic measures are taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of future generations, the planet will die and we, as a species, will too.

Cost Information for decision making Essay

Two common costing systems used in business are traditionally cost accounting system (job costing, process costing and operating costing) and activity-based costing system (ABC). There are some similarities and differences between these systems. Regarding the similarities, both accumulate product costs throughout the production process and assign those costs to individual units of production. Additionally, product cost under two costing systems consists of direct materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. In terms of differences, they are different in the way how the overhead costs are allocated. For conventional costing, it assigns manufacturing overhead based on a single volume based cost driver such as direct labour hours. In contrast, ABC approaches cost from the perspective that products do not cause costs. It requires activities which are the causes of all costs incurred so it allocates manufacturing overhead according to the activities needed to produce the products. Therefore, it highlights the existence of non value added activity which is not existed under traditional method. ABC also differs from conventional costing in the use of several cost pools when allocating the overhead costs. For instance, traditional costing uses only one cost pool to distribute the overhead whereas there are many cost pools involved under ABC. Furthermore, ABC employs both volume-based and non-volume-based cost drivers while conventional costing utilizes only volume-based cost drivers. Another difference is that conventional approach complies with the GAAP so it can be used to satisfy conventional financial reporting requirements. On the other hand, accounting standard board does not accept ABC to prepare financial statements so it can be useful for internal management decision. Under conventional system, there are similarities between job costing, process costing and operating costing. Firstly, they accumulate product costs throughout the production process and assign those costs to products. Secondly, these costing systems calculate the product costs which comprise direct material, direct labour and manufacturing overhead. Lastly, the cost flows for three systems is from raw material to work in process to finished goods and then to costs of goods sold. These first two systems can be distinguished by the following differences. First, job costing system is used by the company which produces unique products or products based on customer orders. Conversely, process costing is for the firms which produce one or a few homogenous products and often have continuous mass production. Second, each individual product costs are traced easily under job costing while process costing makes no attempt to track individual product costs. Thirdly, under job costing, the transfer from one job to another does not take place whereas the production from one process is transferred to next one till the product is full completed under process costing. Next, process costing accumulates product costs in each production department throughout the period while job order costing accumulates product costs to specific units. Operating costing for company which has a mix production system that produces in large quantities but then is customized the finished product. Therefore, operating costing is a combination of process costing and job costing. However, it differs from job and process costing which includes more than two types of cost pools in overhead allocation process. The cost pools are designed to match the separate processes that may be allocated to batches of products. Comment about the quality of your work: According to the assessment criteria, my answer for the question should be marked 7. This is for the following reasons. Firstly, the answer is well-organized into five paragraphs which consist of differences between conventional costing and ABC costing. For instance, the first and second paragraphs demonstrate the similarities and differences between conventional costing and ABC. Apart from this, the answer also points out the similarities and differences between job costing, process costing and operating costing.

Sovereign Hill in Ballarat is a classic example of 'staged Essay

Sovereign Hill in Ballarat is a classic example of 'staged authenticity, outline some of the challenges that the tourism operator faces in trying to commercial - Essay Example Sovereign Hill is a multidimensional attraction that depicts the Australian town of Ballarat, around the mid-nineteenth century, about ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851. The attraction offers an excellent example of a â€Å"living† museum, â€Å"presenting the mining and social history of Australia’s gold rush era† (Buhalis & Costa, 2005: 209). The township is spread over sixty acres of land, has around sixty buildings, 300 costumed staff, 200 costumed volunteers and around 40 horses. The gold rush museum promotes visitor participation and authentic experience through role playing, interactions with characters, and the buildings and artefacts. This is supported by a modern orientation centre which familiarizes visitors with the background of the gold rushes in the 1850s, with the help of audio and video. The tourist destination offers several interesting experiences including activities, events, festivals and a sound and light show â€Å"Blood on the Southern Cross† with spectacular lighting and special effects (Buhalis & Costa: 209). Sovereign Hill in Ballarat is a classic example of â€Å"staged authenticity†. This paper proposes to outline some of the challenges faced by the tourism operator in trying to commercialize the tourist destination, while at the same time attempting to maintain an authentic experience for the visitors. A tourist destination is not only a geographical place, it is an integration of products, services, natural resources, built environment, artificial elements and information that attracts a number of visitors to a place (Bieger: 8). The stakeholders are: actual and potential tourists, public administration, tourism operators, conductors of local private tourism activities, operators of non-local tourism activities and the host community. The main objective of tourism operators is the integration of different resources to provide facilities and activities based on policy. Tourism should â€Å"meet the needs of different