Alcohol Policy Report

The WEOC management deems it necessary to establish a set of stringent guidelines for serving alcohol at all of its events, since the company does not support completely banning alcohol consumption. A single alcohol management policy would help enforce a standard practice free of bias and conflicts. This would ensure that all individuals attending the event have a good time without any disturbance from individuals intoxicated with alcohol. Since the company hosts a fair share of late night parties, it would help prevent accidents resulting from drunken driving.Moreover, limiting alcohol consumption at events such training programs and conferences would ensure that business productivity is not affected due to overconsumption of alcohol. Enforcing a policy restricting alcohol consumption is essential to exercise control over large crowds at WEOC sponsored sports events. Since WEOC hosts events such as picnics involving attendees of all ages, it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that such events are suitable for all members of a family including children and elderly people.It is has been proven that individuals under the influence of alcohol may act in a boisterous manner and may even exhibit hostile tendencies. Avoiding individuals from alcohol overdose would help prevent damage to any property in the event premises. It is in the company’s best interest to follow this uniform policy would ensure that none of the employees suffer from alcohol intoxication and behave inappropriately towards a client.This policy is generally good for business and helps in building a positive brand image, since embarrassing scenarios leading to bad press could be avoided by maintaining a certain degree of civility and orderliness. All employees attending an event serving alcohol would be made aware of this policy and expected to conduct themselves in a socially acceptable manner. It should be duly noted that the following ten-point policy will followed in its en tirety by all employees under all circumstances at WEOC events.1) All WEOC events where alcohol is served shall be mandatorily required to use the services of a bartender certified through a state-recognized training program on responsible alcohol service. 2) All event attendees and other staff members with the exception of the certified bartender shall be prohibited from dispensing alcohol. 3) Underage drinkers will not be entertained and the bartender would have the authority to demand valid identification to authenticate one’s age (Grapevine Bar Catering 2007). 4) The bartender shall be given the authority to restrict the number of drinks served to all attendees to prevent alcohol intoxication.5) Bartenders will have the right to refuse serving certain drinks that can lead to quick and high levels of intoxication. 6) Any attendee of a WEOC event can be refused alcohol service at anytime if the bartender deems him/her unfit for consuming alcohol. 7) The bar shall be manned by the bartender at all times and alcohol containers shall remain behind the bar. 8) Attendees of the event shall not be allowed to carry alcohol out of the facility where the event is taking place. 9) The bartender shall stop serving drinks 30 minutes prior to the end of any WEOC event.10) Bartenders will be prohibited from accepting any form of tips, in order to avoid biased treatment. Reference: Grapevine Bar Catering. (2007). Alcohol Serving Policy. RossCo Innovations LLC. Retrieved 1August 2008, http://www. cateredsolution. com/servingPolicies. htm Retailers- Alcohol Service Policy. 2young2drink. Retrieved 1 August 2008, http://www. 2young2drink. com/retailers/alcohol_policy. asp RMIT University. (2001). RMIT – Health and Safety Manual. Retrieved 1 August 2008, http://mams. rmit. edu. au/9bxvxdqlamedz. pdf

PESTEL Analysis Kraft Foods Inc. Essay

PESTEL ANALYSIS The PESTEL framework categorises environmental influences into six main types: political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. Thus PESTEL provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of particular strategies. (G. Johnson, R. Whittington, K. Scholes (2011): 50). Political Relating to the protection of the environment Kraft Foods Inc. is subject to various federal and state laws in the United States, taking into account that it has manufacturing facilities in approximately 70 countries and a presence in 170 countries worldwide. Another factor is that the UK government took a decision to increase value added tax up to 20% that its previous level of 17.5% in January 2011 this can negatively the profits made in the UK (HMRC, 2010; The Guardian, 2010). Economic Kraft Foods Inc. products are made with fresh raw materials such as sugar, corn, grains, and coffee therefore, the price unpredictability can affect the profitability of the company. Given the economic uncertainty this has reduced the spending power of consumers. The overall operation of Kraft Foods Inc. is wide and large, however there are negative impacts on the company for example the exchange rates, fluctuations in currency can have an impact on the company’s earnings. Social The world is leaning towards being more health conscious therefore, consumers are looking for the more healthy option. This social pattern has provided the company in entering new and emerging markets where consumers are willing to spend more. Technological In recent years technology has advanced to help companies to reduce carbon-dioxide emission to protect the environment. Kraft Foods has adopted a course of action to assist with this cause. The company is investing in  nanotechnology (Kraft Foods, 2010). Environmental There are constant pressure from the Government and public agencies about the way in which companies operate and its impact on the environment. The use of new technology would assist with this problem. Legal The highly rigid and competitive industry is threatened by the inherent risks arising out of legal actions and failure to comply with laws and policies could affect sales and create consumer skepticism.

Pyrite

Pyrite is a very interesting mineral for many reasons. The name Pyrite comes from the Greek word â€Å"pyr† which means â€Å"fire,† and was named because  it was  found that sparks would fly from it if struck against another minerals like steel. In early times, this sparking ability gave people a way of creating fire, and in later times, this  ability made it popular for  use  in early firearms devices  like the wheel lock. Today Pyrite  is called  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fools Gold†Ã‚  because throughout  history people  have mistaken it for Gold  because of  its similar visible structure, metallic surface  and brassy yellow color.The funny thing is Gold is often found  with to  Pyrite deposits. Pyrite can easily be distinguished from Gold. Pyrite  is much lighter in color and  much harder. Even though Pyrite is a fairly hard mineral, its crystals are known to  break and crumble, because it is brittle. Pyrite is common in the Earth's crust and found in almost  every possible geological environment like sedimentary, metamorphic, magmatic and hydrothermal deposits. Pyrite's usual crystal forms are cubic, octahedron and pyritohedron.When a cube and pyritohedron crystal combine, the  face of the cube  appear to be grooved with lines. Many times Pyrite will be found  in combinations of all these forms, but also can occur in masses, globular, radiating  or reniform. Pyrite is also commonly found  as small nodules. A mixture of this nodular  form, and are called â€Å"Pyrite Suns† or â€Å"Pyrite Dollars†,  are popular for collectors. Pyrite has the same chemical makeup as Marcasite but has a different structure, and shape. Pyrite is a polymorph of  Marcasite and it can be extremely  difficult to tell apart.The name Marcasite came from the Arabic word for Pyrite. The confusion between the two minerals is common because the jewelry  trade uses the name  Marcasite, when they are actually  s elling Pyrite. Actual Marcasite can’t be used in jewelry because it is even more likely than Pyrite  to crumble into a  powder. Another mineral named Bravoite is very closely related to Pyrite,  but contains 20% more nickel. Even though Pyrite contains a high percentage of Iron and is common, it is not used as a source for Iron today. It was mined as a source for Sulfur during WWII to produce sulfuric acid.The Sulfur  component of  Pyrite was in high demand as a strategic chemical, and was found in parts of Tennessee. The Pyrite supplied them with enough sulfuric acid to get the job done. Pyrite can be used to make marcasite jewelry and it usually set in silver. Pyrite is always in the process of being created or destroyed. It is mostly a good mineral but does have its down sides. Sulfate released from decomposing pyrite combines with water producing sulfuric acid, which leads to acid rock drainage and potentially acid rain.Pyrite also has caused problems for miners . The main issue is dust explosions brought from Pyrite. To prevent these explosions the miners spray limestone on the exposed coal surfaces. Pyrite has also been known to cause some structural damage, and did so in the U. S. , Canada, and Ireland. In 2009 problems with Chinese drywall imported into the U. S. after Katrina were results of oxidation of pyrite. Stone buildings containing pyrite have been known to turn brown. Other than a few problems, Pyrite is a beneficial mineral.

John Brown DBQ Essay

John Brown’s Raid in the South led to an explosion of passion and ultimately the secession of the south. Many radical abolitionists in the North felt that John Brown’s actions were Justified and that he was a hero. These radical abolitionists maximized the damage caused by him and his followers and created an almost godly figure out of him. Not all Northern Republicans saw him as a hero, but rather as a terrorist and a convict. Southern slave holders and normal men alike were astounded, frightened, and infuriated by John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. These two radically opposing iews clashed together and caused the succession of the South. Radical Abolitionists supported John Brown’s actions immensely and applauded his drive to free the slaves from the grasps of the slaveholders. Many of these strict abolitionists also believed that he was a hero, divinely appointed by God. This shows how much they revered him and how justified they believed his actions to be. In Document C, the Topeka Tribune explains that all Republicans revered him, just in different amounts. It explains that one class of Republicans thought that he was a hero and a philanthropist. The other class pretended not to approve of John Brown but really did respect him. When John Brown was executed for treason against the state of Vlrglnla, many northern abolltlonlsts were sent Into a rage. Even though he was dead, his spirit and Ideals still Inspired and affected many abolltlonlsts, as seen In Document G. This song explains that even though his body is buried and decomposing underground, his soul still marches on. As you can see, many radical abolitionists revered, respected and approved of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, which directly opposed the South’s view. Secondly, not all Northern Republicans saw him as a hero, but rather as a terrorist and a convict of the state. Many Northern citizens, although sympathetic to slaves, did not approve of John Browns actions and thought that he was insane and morally wrong. This view was the majority of the Northern Republicans and showed that Radical abolitionists were maximizing the damage that John Brown Inflicted on the south. In document A, Horace Greely explains that although he wishes that all slaves were able to run away from their slaveholders and never be recaptured, he did not approve of what John Brown did. This shows that he was an abolitionist, but not a very radical one like the ones in the before mentioned paragraph. He clearly states in the document that he did not support what John Brown did in the south which was the ideas of many Northerners. Document D, consists of reviews of a book about the Life of John Brown. Most of the reviews talk about how radically abolitionist the book is and how biased it is. This shows that the majority of the North did not support the doings of John Brown and that it was a small minority of whites that maximized the event. All of these events show that even hough it could be perceived that the North was overwhelmingly supportive of the doings of John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry. Lastly, southern slave holders and normal men alike were astounded, frightened, and Infuriated by John Brown. The events caused by John Brown eventually caused the breakdown and eventual split In the Democratic Party. Popular sovereignty was created to cool tempers In both the North and the South but ultimately ended in the split in the Democratic Party. The order to be able to better protect themselves, they strengthened state militias and armies. This prepared them for the eventual war with the Union and it also supplied more confidence in the southerners. In the trial of John Brown, he was asked a series of questions. One of the comments given by a bystander was â€Å"To set them free would sacrifice the life of every man in this community. † John Brown responded with, â€Å"l do not think so. † â€Å"l know it, I think you are fanatical. † The bystander then responded with, â€Å"And I think you are fanatical. â€Å"Whom are gods would destroy they first make mad,† and you are mad. â€Å"l This series of questions and answers shows the general consensus of the South, that he was a fanatical, crazy man. As you can see, all of these things combined caused a massive amount of pressure to be put on the ties between the North and the South which consequently caused the succession of the South. In conclusion, all of the tensions built up caused by John Browns Raid on Harpers Ferry and the Trial of John Brown caused the decline in relations between the North and the South and the final succession of the South. The Northern radical abolitionists enlarged the event and made the southerners enraged by the raid on Harpers Ferry. The southerners were astounded, frightened, and infuriated. These emotions clashed and destroyed the Union.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Forty-Two

Elena, Stefan, and Damon headed toward Elena's dorm together, and tension thrummed sharply between them. Elena had taken Stefan's hand automatical y as they walked, and he had stiffened and then gradual y relaxed, so that now his hand felt natural in hers. Things weren't back the way they had been between them, not yet. But Stefan's green eyes were ful of a shy affection when they looked at her, and Elena knew she could make things right. Something had shifted in Stefan when Damon came to rescue him, when Elena untied him and told him how sorry she was. Maybe Stefan just needed to know that whatever was between her and Damon, he was first for her. No one was shutting him out. Elena unlocked her door, and they al went inside. It had been only a few hours since she was last there, but so much had happened that it seemed like somewhere from a long time ago, the posters and clothes and Bonnie's teddy bear al relics of a lost civilization. â€Å"Oh, Stefan,† Elena said, â€Å"I'm so glad that you're safe.† She reached out and wrapped her arms around him and, just like when she took his hand, he tensed for a moment before hugging her back. â€Å"I'm glad that both of you are safe,† she amended, and looked at Damon. His black eyes met hers cool y, and she knew that, without their having to discuss it, he understood that things weren't going to go on the way they had been. She loved Stefan. She had chosen. When Stefan told them of Ethan's plan to take both of the brothers' blood and use it to resurrect Klaus, she was horrified. Not just because of the danger Stefan had been in, or because of the terrifying idea of Klaus alive again, and no doubt vengeful against them, but because of the trap Ethan had laid for Damon. He had planned to take the best of Damon – the reluctant, often marred, but stil strong love he had for his brother – and use it to destroy him. â€Å"I'm eternal y glad you're both okay,† she said again, and reached out to hug Damon, too. Damon came into her arms wil ingly, but, as she squeezed him tightly, he winced. â€Å"What's wrong?† Elena asked, puzzled, and Damon frowned. â€Å"Ethan cut me,† he said, the frown turning into a grimace of pain. â€Å"I'm just a little sore.† He tugged at his shirt, fingering a torn edge, and pul ed it up, exposing a swath of pale taut skin. Against the white skin Elena saw the long cut was already healing. â€Å"It's nothing,† Damon said. He shot Elena a wicked smile. â€Å"A little drink from a wil ing donor and I'l be as good as new, I promise.† She shook her head at him reprovingly, but didn't answer. â€Å"Good night, Elena,† Stefan said, and brushed her cheek gently with the back of his hand. â€Å"Good morning, real y, I guess, but try to get some sleep.† â€Å"Are you going after the vampires?† she asked anxiously. â€Å"Be careful.† Damon laughed. â€Å"I'l make sure he takes care with the nasty vampires,† he said. â€Å"Poor Elena. Normal life isn't going so Well, is it?† Elena sighed. That was the problem, wasn't it? Damon would never understand why she wanted to be an ordinary person. He thought of her as his dark princess, wanted her to be like him, to be better than ordinary people. Stefan didn't think she was a dark princess; he thought she was a human being. But was she? She thought briefly of tel ing them about the Guardians and the secrets of her birth, but she just couldn't. Not right now. Not yet. Damon wouldn't know why it upset her. And Stefan was so pale and tired after his ordeal with the vervain-soaked ropes that she couldn't bring herself to burden him with her fears about the Guardians. As she thought this, Stefan staggered, just a fraction, and Damon reached out automatical y to steady him. â€Å"Thank you,† Stefan said, â€Å"For coming to save me. Both of you.† â€Å"I'l always save you, little brother,† Damon said, but he was looking at Elena, and she heard the echo of when he had said the same words to her. â€Å"Even though I might be better off without you,† Damon added. Stefan gave a tired smile. â€Å"Time to go,† he said. â€Å"I love you, Stefan.† Elena brushed her lips against his softly. Damon gave her a brief nod, his face neutral. â€Å"Sleep Well,† he said. Then the door was closed behind her, and Elena was alone. Her bed had never looked more comfortable or inviting, and she lay down with a sigh, looking up at the soft light that was beginning to break through the window. The Vitale Society was gone. Ethan's plan had been stopped. The campus was safer, and a new day was dawning. Stefan had forgiven her, and Damon didn't leave, didn't turn against them. It was, for now, the best she could hope for. Elena closed her eyes and fel wil ingly asleep at last. Tomorrow would be another day.

Physical Security in the Army

The Army regulation regarding Physical Security is AR 190-16 which states: That part of security concerned with physical measures designed to safeguard personnel, to prevent unauthorized access to equipment, installations, material and documents, and to safeguard them against espionage, sabotage, damage, and theft. The importance of maintaining accountability of your equipment as a U. S. Army As a Soldier is that I'm responsible for maintaining accountability for everything I am signed for. Meaning that I am to know where everything is that i'm signed for, and to ensuring that it is also secure. I should also be more cautious with Sensitive items such as my weapon, raido, body armor, kevlar, NBC Mask and so on. These are not just items for my personal use, they are a part of my combat uniform and necessary to complete my mission should it go down the shitter. Accountability of your sensitive items is important. To lose a sensitive item can be detrimental to the readiness of your unit in times of war or training. The consequences of losing sensitive items varies from item to item according to its value and importance. There are many other punishments such as life in prison. To lose a sensitive item can also be a violation of the army values. It violates the values of Duty and Integrity. It violates duty because without the proper equipment you cannot perform your duties. You also let down your platoon and/ or squad by not knowing where your items are. It violates the integrity of yourself by letting your platoon down. Your platoon counts on you to make sure you know where all your items are. If the enemy get a hold of them it makes for a very bad day. The enemy would like nothing more than to get a hold of or weapon systems and our radios. The enemy wants to know everything about how the militaryworks and about our operations. In times of war the more sensitive an item is the more the enemy craves the item. You should never leave equipment lyingaround. If you see that your battle buddy has leftany equipment lying around no matter what it is from patrol cap to an SKL Secure it and make sure you let them know off line the mistake they have made. It does not matter what rank they are. So, it is very important to secure all your sensitive equipment and items, and maintain accountability. The reason simply is to keep very important high costvalued items and equipment 700 accounted for so people all around you do not have to deal with the consequences of the lost item or equipment. Also every sensitve item or equipment is high dollar valued so if you lose it you will be hurting money wise by losing a grand or more easily right on the spot. And after that you can possibly do jail time from six months to a year and sure their will be rank taken away or something along those lines. You might even get an article fifteen after all that or maybe when you have to pay for the lost sensitive equipment or item so these should be a main priority to maintainand know where they are at all times and are accounted for either battle buddy. According to FM 7-21. 13 Chapter 3 on Duties and Responsibilities of the Individual Soldier: â€Å"Duties are general requirements to be performed. Duty begins with everything required of you by law, regulation, and ordersâ€Å", but it includes much more than that, a duty is a legal or moral obligation. Each soldier has a obligation to his/her team, to his or her section, and to the rest of his or her unit to keep constant accountability of their individually issued items. If these obligations were to be thwarted in any way, this would cost his or her unit time the length of time used in obtaining new equipment, personnel resources and manpower that could be utilized otherwise in accomplishing mission critical tasks, and financial resources at any costs incurred to the unit itself. FM 7-21. 13 also states that â€Å"responsibility is the legally established and moral obligation a soldier assumes for his or her own actions, accomplishments and failures. Every soldier is responsible for performing his or her duty to the very best of his or her ability and for trying to improve his or her performance. For example, soldiers are also responsible for their personal conduct and appearance. Also, every soldier is responsible for his or her own physical fitness. And just as personal fitness and appearance is the responsibility of every soldier, so should accountability of personal equipment. Every soldier in the Army assumed this personal responsibility when they took their enlistment oath.

Baroque and Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Baroque and Architecture - Essay Example Wren’s first baroque design for this cathedral was rejected and considered as not practical and too foreign. The crowning dome was taken from that design and since three centuries the dome of the cathedral has been a major attraction in the city. The dome was designed by Wren not only to express the foreign architecture influence on his work but also to uncover the love he had for mathematics. Wren is known as the best architecture for his designs of buildings. He was also known as a leading mathematician and through his combination, he mastered in the shapes and arches of domes. He applied several theories through which he created historic monuments and recorded history’s best used mathematical sciences in architecture. The St Paul’s cathedral was known as the world’s first cathedral with a triple-dome. It was also the first cathedral which was completed in the lifetime of the architect. Wren had designed the cathedral so originally and furnished it with true British furniture that it was hard to believe how easily he did it. He adopted the characteristics of the baroque architecture which consisted of repeated styles and techniques used in buildings and structures. He was an aesthete and the love for art led him to design beautiful churches. As he was also an engineer, he designed and built structures that were acoustically pleasing. St Paul’s Cathedral marked the beginning of the shaky baroque architecture in England. This architecture was further elaborated in the 18th century.

Read the book it is a Wonder life (Capra,1946) and do the questions Dissertation

Read the book it is a Wonder life (Capra,1946) and do the questions below - Dissertation Example This movie is generally believed to be addressing the themes of honesty and sacrifice or upholding of virtues that ensure civic and familial welfare. However, in-depth analysis of its storyline brings forth the fact that it largely focuses on highlighting the negative outcomes of Capitalism when rapaciousness encircles it. Frank Capra presents two sets of approaches to run a financial enterprise, and this forms the actual theme of the movie; the conflict between ethics based business plan and an interest based one is evident throughout. The protagonist George Bailey endorsed an inclusive business model and used a straightforward and morality-based policy for running Bailey Building and Loan Association. This paper is an attempt to unearth the way Capra depicted an Inclusive model inspired business enterprise in It’s a Wonderful Life using examples from the movie. A business model is a concept developed by an enterprise to devise some definite business logic required to make th e company and its stakeholders earn profit. This model also determines the interactivity and relativity between a business’s core elements, I-e capital, raw material and labor (Bastiaens, Baumeol, and Kreamer 31). Bedford Falls is a small town where the chief financing institution is owned by George Bailey. George Bailey is the good guy who puts both his heart and mind in the business. Therefore, in Bedford Falls under Bailey’s headship, â€Å"banks are small, local, family-run enterprises that help the common people by lending them money to buy homes, run small businesses and build a community; dodgy mortgages are not bundled up and sold off as new investment vehicles to unsuspecting investors† (Lethbridge). This propels the notion that Bailey opted for an Inclusive business model since this type largely focuses on ensuring the welfare of the minorities, poor and/or low-income groups within a community. In an Inclusive Business Model, the approach induced is us ually targeted towards the betterment of the masses instead of the profitability aspect of the company. World Business Council for Sustainable Development describes Inclusive model as â€Å" one, which seeks to contribute toward the alleviation of poverty by including lower-income communities within its value chain while not losing sight of the ultimate goal of business† (Michelini 24). The feature that explains the business model followed by Bailey is that he prefers satisfying public domain, social welfare and community interests over his own financial prosperity. When the company’s shareholder Henry Potter proposes to halt financial aid to working-poor and convinces the Board of Directors too, Bailey is the only one who not just rejects this proposal but wins back the confidence of board members in this regard. At no point in the movie has Bailey been shown as a wealthy self-sufficient man. In the scene when he is leaving for honeymoon and gets information about the bank run his company is about to face; he is not able to generate more than $2000 to pay to the depositors. It was the amount that he had saved to utilize for his honeymoon expenditures. This means that his approach to business is humane, and he strived to keep all the sections of society compatible and intact. As per the rules of Inclusive Model, Bailey involved the

Traditional Circus vs Contemporary Circus Essay

Traditional Circus vs Contemporary Circus - Essay Example The origins of contemporary circus (or "cirque nouveau") can be found in 70s. In this circus a separate story is told to the audience in a chain of different small performances, unlike a traditional circus, where no separate story was told. This new movement has not theoretical background and there is no a clear intention to be separated from a traditional circus. The main aim was to position a contemporary circus as a kind of incarnation from a traditional circus. For example, there is no total abandonment of the use of animals during performances, because animals are poor narrative means. In the contemporary circus animals are often used with success. There are different means to amaze the audience in the contemporary circus, because acrobatics, juggling or clown acts are often not unique for the audience and are not very fascinating. In accordance with the artists from one of the contemporary circuses: "Circus in general has its own tradition; but at the Cirque, we try to regroup and or add multiple disciplinary approaches to synergize the creation process. Every time we add a new collection, we have to capture the relationship between the information sources and the usage† (Spencer 2007, p. 23). In the contemporary circus the main emphasis is made on a story told to the audience through a number of different acts of performance instead of separate successive performances of jugglers, clowns or animals. There is more about topic in the modern circus and the spirit of modern times. Thus, the artists of the contemporary circus are able to appeal for the emotions and feelings of the audience by referring to the most critical themes, such as love, friendship, children et cetera. They develop a chain of their actions on the background of one common theme. There are no circus families performing in the contemporary circus, but rather conservatory-trained artists; character-driven acts are conveyed to the audience through a chain of narratives embodied in a series of successive acts of performance. The audience has the ability to sit in front of the stage and get involved in the story told by the contemporary circus. There is no ringmaster in the contemporary circus anymore, because a number of performances are connected by a common theme. Thus, the representatives of the contemporary circus Nanjing I claim: â€Å"It seems that the 'cultural signifiers' related to training do not simply 'jump from one body to another' but are embodied through slow, repetitive ongoing application according to a set of cultural values imported from China. The project challenged the attitudes to training of the trainers, students and administrators of Nanjing I and encouraged them to question their cultural assumptions† (Farrel 2008, p. 2). Thus, there is a special atmosphere and environment in the contemporary circus, which depends on the quality and thematic connection among different acts of performance. To reach a wholeness of narration, the artists in the contemporary circus introduce different changes in their performance, music and costumes. This is an evident difference between a traditional circus and the contemporary circus. The modern artists wear simple leotard s and there are no traditional costumes for clowns. Human bodies of the modern artists are moving in such enchanting manner that it is really fascinating to watch movements of their strong bodies and not to pay attention to their weird costumes, wigs or any other

Ethics of Data-Driven Decision Making Case Study

Ethics of Data-Driven Decision Making - Case Study Example A series of analysis were given to the project manager concerning data on the cost profit and volume analysis. This is a well detailed collection of data that can help the management to decide whether to proceed with the project or reject it. Some case scenarios require the project manager not only to rely on analysis of data but also to rely on ethics of the society to enable effective decision making. This helps to ensure effective production of the vehicles as well as maintaining a good image in the public. A good example is the case of Giant motor company where they are considering retooling two of their three vehicle assembly plants. The project manager should not only rely on the relevant data providedbut on also other areas that many companies fail to assess like the safety of workers, whether the space is enough for the retooling process and so on. If for example the level of space is minimal after hypothetically retooling, this may cause accidents in terms of congestion of w orkers who may compromise safety of workers inside the plant (Streifer& George, Pp 32). Another case that ethical decisions can override data used for decision making is where the new luxury cars been made affect the environment. This can be seen through emissions of carbon monoxide by exhaust pipes. If the level of the gas produced is so intense that it is considered a threat hazard by the society, the management should take an ethical stand not to retool because of the consequences even though they are not going to realize the profits they had anticipated. This is referred to as moral sensitivity. Another area we come across ethics of data-driven decision-making is in case 4d of Muskoka land development. This case study is about a group of part time MBA students who are following an opportunity to invest in recreational properties in Muskoka Ontario. After undergoing research of the area, they come up with two sites that have potential to bring large returns in profit (Streifer& G eorge, Pp 56). They collect data on both areas and come up with a list of all the expenses and costs information based on development plans for each site. In this case, we can clearly say the students are about to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the project based on the data they extracted from their research. In this case, to some extent, it is not appropriate to rely on data to make decisions concerning investment of recreational properties especially in site A due to the following reasons-: Muskoka is fully equipped with Mother Nature’s best like lakes, forests and so on. If the students decide to invest in site A they will be messing up the balance of nature in that area. This is where ethical decision making comes in handy. In my opinion, the students should ask themselves if they are ruining nature if when developing their plans, they happen to cut down trees in the area which is a life source for many animals that live in that habitat. By destroying trees, to make roads in such an area may cause alternations in many animals’ lives, which may trigger different kinds of reactions. Another question would be if there are any small rural communities that live in that area? If there are, the students risk displacing a whole community so as to make profits and in the process causing a long string of problems between them and the community. This is unethical and is considered moral decay. The students should therefore consider developing in site

LL Bean Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

LL Bean - Case Study Example Also, future research can focus on specific target values based on greater information regarding the actual values prevalent in the measurement procedures of L.L. Bean. Keywords: L.L. Bean; customer requirements; target values; measurement L.L Bean demonstrates a case of a highly customer-centric organization that promises to deliver superior customer service by offering constant customer support and specialty shoes for activities such as hunting. At the crux of L.L Bean’s customer service is its 100% money back guarantee since the company believes in â€Å"treating its customers like human beings†. Given the high level of customer service, it is important to analyze the salient customer requirements along with measurement techniques for the same. Finally, target values are being assessed to ensure that the requirements are fulfilled. L. L. Bean’s dedication to superior customer service is reflected in its promise of 100% money back guarantee on all its products at any time. This is combined with the excellent after sales service provided for product returns. Therefore, one of the major customer requirements that L.L Bean is catering to is high quality of the product including the durability and reliability of the product. Furthermore, the company caters to the need of wearing shoes particular for certain situations which has been satisfied by the provision of ‘specialty shoes’, particularly, the Maine hunting shoe that is lightweight and remains dry. Most importantly, however, L.L Bean caters to the customer’s need for ordering without having to visit the store. This is particularly true for customers who may be pressed for time and find it convenient to order via mail through the mail order catalogue. L.L Bean, therefore, offers full catalogues as well as seasonal catalogues for customers interested in knowing the specifications, looks and prices of specialty products as well as their regular line. This is supplemented by the company’s website which offers customers the facility of shopping online without having to visit the retail outlet. The added convenience of having multiple modes of payment further encourages customers to shop online easily. The company also caters to customers’ need to obtain prompt response by providing customer service throughout the year and throughout the day. This also serves the purpose of assisting those customers who may have further queries or desire additional information after reading the mail catalogue. Therefore, assurance is provided to customers. Finally, L.L Bean caters to customers’ requirements of fast delivery and efficient logistics by partnering with third-party logistics which is Federal Express. This is because the company keeps speed as an important order winner as part of its operations management strategy as it knows that slow delivery can lead to customer dissatisfaction. In order to ensure that the final product reaches cust omers on time, the company’s suppliers must also make timely shipments to the company. Therefore, speed is a crucial customer requirement that the company must cater to. The customer requirement for high quality and durable products can be measured using total quality management and six sigma philosophy. At the simplest level, product quality would be measured using the number of ‘quality’ complaints by customers. As a general rule, the target value must not exceed 3 complaints per month. It must be

The Lowest Moment in Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Lowest Moment in Advertising - Essay Example While motion picture companies all over the world use this advertising tool to advertize the favorable reviews their movies received, Sony Pictures went ahead of the game. They invented their own critic by the name of David Manning and under this name wrote fake favorable reviews for not just the Knight’s Tale but also for Hollow Man, The Animal, The Patriot and the Vertical Limit (Lawrence and Webber, 2010). Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), formerly known as Columbia Pictures Entertainment was found in 1987 in California. SPE is subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. Sony Corporation of America is further a subsidiary of Sony Corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. This multinational media conglomerate produces and also distributes motion pictures and television serials. SPE is one of the biggest media and technology conglomerates that provide entertainment in the form of movies, television, and technology to more than 140 countries around the wor ld. It reported total revenue of more than seven billion in 2010 (Sony Pictures, 2011). Where Sony failed With an organization as big and as established as Sony Pictures, this kind of advertising was not expected. The use of David Manning in numerous such advertising projects led Sony Pictures to incur a fine of 1.5 million pounds (BBC News, 2005). While Sony Pictures can easily recover from the financial aspect of the situation, it is the resulting brand value that creates challenges for the company. This particular advertising approach has affected Sony Pictures on different scales and aspects. Social, Ethical, Regulation aspects   Advertising has quickly become one of the five largest industries of the world. We are constantly exposed to advertising. Even when we do not realize it, advertising moulds our lives in such a manner that we are being constantly hypnotized with it. This has raised concerns among various critics who demanded the need for regulatory practices on adverti sing. The government was forced to take notice to protect the interest of the consumers against false advertising. However, even when the government has posed sanctions on certain types of advertising, social and ethical issues still arise which are outside the boundaries of these laws and here companies must take on their corporate social responsibility to ensure good practices. On the social level, advertising interacts with the consumers to educate them, create a feeling of happiness and generally improve on the standards of living (O’Guinn, Allen and Semenik, 2008). However, the use of David Manning’s review created the opposite effect. It misled the consumers through wrong information and those who went to watch the movie based on the review did not receive the level of satisfaction that they expected from a movie that was favorably liked by a critic. From an ethical stand point, advertising is supposed to be honest, fair and sensitive. Even if we often assume cre ative license to sell products through advertising, ethically we are required to ensure that the advertising is not deceiving. The use of David Manning was particularly deceiving since no such review was written and no such critic even existed at The Ridgefield Press. Such practices in advertising are called deceptive

Designing a Twin tip kiteboard Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Designing a Twin tip kiteboard - Research Paper Example th determines the surface area the kite is edging water against and how much power a kiteboard can generates, thus a centimetre of width is more significant than a centimetre of length. Narrow tip and centre boards with longer lengths are easier from edge to edge, though not quick to plane, unlike shorter and wider boards (Boyce, 2004). Generally, Twin tip kiteboard with dimensions: 145cm length, 41cm width are for bigger riders. Top sheet: Is made from PBT which is a thin piece of plastic with two specific functions. The first function is to provide a place to print or graphics and the second function is to provide a protective layer for the laminates. Laminates: The inner laminates are a combination of fibre glass and carbon, though there are other kinds of laminations that are used. Fibre glass is measured in both in the direction of the weave and in the weight of the fabric. The most common weaves are triaxial glass, biaxial glass and unidirectional glass. Triaxial glass provides a stiffer flex, biaxial glass is more flexible while the unidirectional glass is used in combination with either triaxial glass or biaxial glass to get specific flat panels. Carbon provides stiffness and is of light weight with more reflex properties than fibre glass. Cores: Are usually made of wood and some are made of dense closed cell foam. The most common type of wood used are Paulownia, Birch, Poplar due to their longetivity, weight, price and their speed of regeneration (Boyce, 2004). The rails: They are typically acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene (ABS) or urethane which are used for their good flexibility, shaping and strength characteristics. ABS not only offers a great surface for ageing, but also a protective layer for the kiteboard. The sides are planed to remove the rough marks made by the saw. The planks are then clamped and glued for about 24 hours for them to fit into each other. The type of glue used is marine grade glue or a plumbers glue. This is also used in

Lyndon Baines Johnson Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lyndon Baines Johnson - Thesis Example The era of 1950s marked the initiation of a decades-long war, namely the Cold War, between the capitalistic United States and the communist Soviet Union. The war was characterized by a conflict of ideologies that clashed to result in a war that was to change the world politics for quite a few decades ahead. By the time President John F. Kennedy was elected as the President, both countries, the US and the USSR had started forming blocs of their own – capitalist bloc and the communist bloc. A sort of domino effect followed where gradually but progressively, states in Eastern Europe and South East Asia overthrew their governments to replace with a communist regime. This clash between the two states, rather ideologies threatened the start of a nuclear war. After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Lyndon Baines Johnson, also known LBJ, became the president. Following the stance over the domino theory in the South East Asian region, the US believed that communism was a nece ssary evil that would spread from one country to another much as dominos fall one by one inline. Also, the Cuban Missile Crisis had also not proved to be favorable for the Americans thereby escalating the US need to intervene in the world stage. This intervention was seen in the light of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War following its communist takeover in South Vietnam by the Viet Cong. The event has been the most important one during the term of LBJ as the president, an incident for which he will be remembered for his failure at the war.

FDIC takes the Banks back Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FDIC takes the Banks back - Research Paper Example The following brief discussion will focus on the FDIC and its second mission, to reduce the economic disruptions caused by bank failures. Specifically, the role of the FDIC in the recent spate of bank closures will be examined. In conclusion the FDICs intervention in the bank failures will be critically analyzed to determine its impacts, or lack thereof, on the American economy during the recent economic crisis popularly known as the Great Recession. Written in the 1980s the FDIC official history described American banks as â€Å"more closely regulated than in any other nation.† (â€Å"The First Fifty Years†) In the quarter century since that volume was written the situation changed significantly. American banks underwent a comprehensive process of deregulation that climaxed during the former Republican administration. In 2007 Philip E Strahan summarized the effects of more than a decade of deregulation: â€Å"Interest rate ceilings on deposits were phased out in the early 1980s; state usury laws have been weakened because banks may now lend anywhere; and limits to banks’ ability to engage in other financial activities have been almost completely eliminated, as have restrictions on the geographical scope of banking.† He also praised the positive impacts of deregulation. It â€Å"allowed banks to offer better services to their customers at lower prices. As a result, the real economy—Main Street as it were—seems to have benefited† and â€Å"Overall economic growth accelerated following deregulation.† (Strahan, 2007) Strahan was a firm proponent of the stimulative effect of banking deregulation. He also saw its benefits being distributed throughout society and including, notably, Main Street. When Strahans remarks were published in the influential, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Reviews July/August issue in 2007.

Discuss and compare two legal transplants, with reference to AT LEAST Essay

Discuss and compare two legal transplants, with reference to AT LEAST ONE African or Asian legal system - Essay Example The main purpose of comparative law in this case is to provide a deeper knowledge on legal systems (Ritaine 11). From the general study of law, there is great awareness of the transfer of legal concepts, practices and organizations. Atleast in every nation, there has been the use of legal transplant during the development of the legal system; laws have been borrowed from one country to another. There is a lot of evidence that show cases the migration of legal systems from one country to another. It was evident during the adoption of Roman law by many countries; for example, there was a case of legal transfer from America after the World War II to other countries that had been defeated and the migration of legal system from western countries to the countries of the Eastern part of Europe. At the moment, due to globalization, there have been re-dimensions of the legal systems. This has led to the realization of concerns by the European Union, which wants harmonization of legal systems so as to curb the rising of international crime and terrorism (Negura 812). Despite this stand, legal transplant has stood to be one of China’s major legal systems that have seen it develop its legal system, while playing the major role in the transition of social systems. It has served as the best means for legal construction. The process in China began in about 1980. The government sat and agreed to setup a new legal system for the purpose of foreign investment, and it began by informing its major foreign embassies to collect joint venture laws from their respective countries of operation. Most government officials also attended major foreign courses dealing with foreign investment and taught by foreign lawyers and professors (Chenguang, â€Å"The Function†). This is the model of legal transplant relating to economy whereby individuals and groups gain a lot of benefit due to their investment through investments, learning

Patient Classification System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Patient Classification System - Essay Example This perception distinguishes important patient characteristics and helps in staffing procedures for fairness in patient staffing and enhancing excellence of care and performance. Information acquired with the use of the PCS can be used by nurse leaders to efficiently and impartially lobby for proper patient care resources (Harper, et al. 2007). To get the required care that is adequate to their uneven patterns of acuity, patients repeatedly shifted a number of times throughout their small of stay in hospital. Because of these shifting, patients some times miss or get their treatment delayed which in turn cause medication errors, patients falling, and personal contact with several caregivers or related health experts. This cause an enlarged workload index, responsibilities and physical movement, which is innate in existing nursing care models and it attach no worth to patients’ care outcomes. The majority of tools for gauging acuity do not reflect on the effects of repeated shifting of patients on healthcare centers or nursing units. However, the estimate of slanted procedures for patients’ acuity, transformed to a workload index, is the process the majority nursing division resources and plans the number of nursing hours per patient day. Present day’s customary nursing unit might move or discharge an astounding 40% to 70% of its patients each day. A rational workload index is a vital evaluator of withholding of nurses; therefore, it is a main area of prospect as it is linked to the flow of patients and the progress of innovative nursing care models. Throughout the last decade, the difference between critical care and medical-surgical care units was uncertain with a rising acuity of patients, ensuing in the development of progressive care units. Patients are admitted to progressive care units as the patients need immediate mechanical aeration, infusions of vasopressors, or physiological

IT questions Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IT questions - Coursework Example Cookies are usually associated with four main vulnerabilities; the first one is ‘cross-site cooking’. This entails the existence of browser flows that create loop-holes for malicious attack. Another vulnerability associated with cookies is cookie inaccuracies; these are instances where cookies may indicate inaccurate data. In addition, there is the vulnerability of cookie poisoning. This occurs when web attackers modify the content of cookies before re-sending to the server. Consequently, cookies are usually ascribed to cookie theft where: Cookies sent through ordinary HTTP are accessible to anyone. However, these vulnerabilities can be reduced through web vulnerability detection code review. One of the Document Object Model that can be used to make web pages dynamic is the use of JavaScript. This can be used in combination with W3C and may entail the use of array objects, number object, math object, date object et cetera. Moreover, HTML DOM is another method used to create dynamic web pages it entails the use of objects such as: HTML elements, HTML document, HTML attributes et cetera. Image caching is an aspect of ICT that has not been applied in many web development processes; however, computer experts have asserted that this is an imperative aspect of web design that ought to be taken into consideration. Image caching is basically a duplication of the original data for ease of retrieval. Image cache facilitates increasing the speed with, which a web functions. Lack of implementing the use of image cache basically reduces the speed of one’s computer usage. Detecting Web Application Security Vulnerabilities - OReilly Media. (n.d.). Detecting Web Application Security Vulnerabilities - OReilly Media. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from

Pancreatic endocrine hormones Essay Example for Free

Pancreatic endocrine hormones Essay Energy, in the form of sugar, is transported in the blood. It is carried throughout the body and into all cells to produce ATP. ATP is needed for all cellular activity of the body. It is essential that the blood can maintain the bodys fuel at a constant level (homeostasis) regardless of how long it has been since the last meal. There are three main organs that regulate the control of blood sugar: the pancreas, the liver and the adrenal glands. The pancreas produces hormones called insulin and glucagon. These hormones work antagonistically to maintain blood sugar levels that are neither too low or too high. The adrenal gland plays a key function in making sure blood sugar levels are high enough. The liver helps with sugar metabolism by creating insulin receptor sites. After a meal, insulin directs the flow of nutrients. This promotes fuel storage in the liver, adipose tissue and in muscles. The flow of nutrients during fasting is influenced by glucagon. Once glycogen stores are depleted, muscle protein is degraded, and amino acids are used for gluconeogenesis in the liver. Triglycerides stored in adipose tissue are broken down under the fasting condition. The concentration of glucose in the blood rises rapidly after the ingestion of glucose ( in a high carbohydrate meal). Insulin carries out its function and starts to bring blood glucose concentrations back down to normal, then this removes the stimulus that tells the beta cells to secrete the insulin in the first place. As a result, the beta cells become less and less stimulated and so the rate of secretion of insulin declines in parallel to the rate of decline in blood glucose concentration. This mechanism is referred to as negative feedback.

Legal aspects of cultural diversity Essay Example for Free

Legal aspects of cultural diversity Essay Cultural diversity is of great essence to any community, just as diversity is important to the living organisms which can in fact, have their ecological system adversely affected, lack of cultural diversity can lead to an increase in the risk of economic and political instabilities. This therefore implies that it is very important to preserve cultural diversity. Its preservation, above all conflicts and security concerns has made it to be of much concern in the global arena. For effective integration of the cultural diversity there is need to develop and enact laws that are intended to preserve it so as to continue enjoying its numerous benefits (Heuberger, Gerber, Anderson, 1999). Legal aspects of cultural diversity A major fundamental characteristic that is emerging as a result of political space that is increasingly widening globally is not so much due to plurality but as a result of polarity of thoughts coming from different corners of the globe which vary significantly. The polarity of these ideas naturally corresponds to the cultural diversity of the communities. Polarity does not necessarily lead to development in the negative direction in the process of social politics. However, there is need to derive some values which are useful from this particular development. This therefore means that there should be efforts which are aimed at developing institutional mechanisms, which apart from acknowledging the existence of cultural diversity they also stress on the fundamental consensual principles and values as a basis of any state. The potentiality of such opportunities lies in the enactment of laws intended to safe guard cultural diversity, such laws should be well entrenched in a country’s supreme law, that is, the constitution (Tarver, 1999). The ethnic and cultural diversity is a broad area which can be very problematic should states fail to adequately cater for them in their laws of the land. When properly managed, cultural diversity is capable of producing positive fruits in the development of institutional structures aimed enhancing integration of various cultures. It is therefore important to note that dealing with ethnic and cultural diversity is not only a sensitive issue but a complex one too. Thus it is of much essence to include virtually all the stakeholders while coming up with laws of regulating and governing this diversity. This is very important since if such a process is not well managed the minorities are likely to feel left out in the development of their nations and thus opposed to its objectives. This can result into anarchy in a country, which can easily lead to tribal conflicts which do not auger well for the economic and political stability of a nation (Mitullah, 2002). The differences in various cultures are not absolute, they can therefore, be mediated positively through a well engineering process of the constitution of the country or other laws governing the state. This is a task that every country should endeavor to accomplish so as to avoid instances of discrimination of minorities. Their values too should be well taken care of and appreciated in a similar manner as those of the majority. Making laws on such basis will ensure that no single culture is left out in the task of nation building as they are all important and each form an integral part of the nation and thus a state cannot function optimally without the inclusion of all the cultures existing within its boundaries (Mitullah, 2002). By the laws properly addressing the issue of cultural diversity the states are likely to be saved from effects of conscious mobilization of people based on their culture and ethnic origins by their elites who are selfish and only interested in their political gains as opposed to the greater good of the entire nation. Such laws should ensure that there is eradication of political processes in which politicians are able to divide people during the periods of campaigns through ideas of cultural differences instead of policies that are needed by the state in order to develop both democratically and economically and thus liberate the citizens from the handicaps of ethnicity and their respective cultures. The laws should enable the citizens to perceive each culture in the country as an important part in the general development of the nation (Mitullah, 2002). In many countries ethnic or cultural social engineering so as to achieve myopic political goals is a major challenge in attaining credible political and economic stability. Not unless such is adequately addressed several countries will continue suffering and their development objectives delayed. Such short comings can be effectively addressed if there are laws and statutes to cater for cultural diversity so that it can be used to yield good fruits for these nations as opposed to situations of political and economic instabilities resulting from failing to manage cultural diversity in a proper manner (Lewis, 2007) Conclusion Cultural diversity when well managed in any given society is capable of yielding a lot of benefits to the all the nationalities. There is need therefore to ensure that it is well preserved and adequately taken care of so as to realize the benefits of stable economies and political systems. By appreciating cultural diversity the members of the different communities are able to borrow the strong values from other cultures and this will lead to the emergence of a culture that incorporates all the cultural diversities that exist within their limits. This can be effectively addressed in laws and statutes which should be oriented at ensuring that cultural diversity is preserved. Reference: Heuberger, B. , Gerber, D. Anderson, R. (1999): Strength through Cultural Diversity; Journal Article of Multiculturalism Vol. 47, Issue 4. Lewis, M. (2007): Cultural Norms and Political Mobilization: Accounting for Local and State-Level Liquor Laws, 1907-1919, Journal of Cultural Geography, Vol. 24, Issue 8. Mitullah, W. V. (2002): Recognising and Respecting Cultural Diversity in the Constitution, Retrieved on 22nd May 2009 from, http://www. commonlii. org/ke/other/KECKRC/2002/5. html. Tarver, M. L. (1999): Law Enforcement Diversity Training And Technology, Retrieved on 22nd May 2009 from, http://aabss. org/journal1999/f13Tarver. html.

Multilateral Approach to Climate Change

Multilateral Approach to Climate Change MULTILATERALISM CLIMATE CHANGE What will it take for the US to embrace a multilateral approach to confront climate change? In your answer, please consider: Overall US attitudes toward multilateralism and global governance What terms for a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol might the US find acceptable? According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (n.d.) (UNFCCC), climate change is a complex problem. It touches all aspects of our lives, be it environmental or our very purpose in this world. We need to educate one another on the impacts of climate change globally. The centre of this environmental issue as agreed by everyone is the need to reduce emissions. In 2010, the countries in the UNFCCC had reached a consensus that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced and managed in such a way that global temperature does not see any hike by more than 2 degrees Celsius. It is clear that global warming is a serious issue. The American public and the rest of the world saw Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. So why did the US fail to legislate a policy on climate change? According to Skjaerseth, Bang Schreurs, (2013), there are three possible explanations on this matter, namely, differences in agenda-setting privileges, potential for issue linkages and law-making procedures and formal leadership. Agenda-setting privileges refer to the setup of lawmakers in the US. The lawmakers have to tip the balance between promoting an agenda for greater good in the interest of the constituencies and getting a re-election. Issue linkages essentially involve a joint negotiation of two or more issues where it is believed that linkages can improve the chance of an agreement. Lastly, the law-making procedures, these are the political institution settings. The American setting is such that the bill sponsors or the leaders who champion the policy propo sal have to trade off rules, procedures and norms in the legislature with the home state economics, in order to arrive at a winning coalition. The US Senate is represented by states which have different interests individually. For instance, coal, agricultural and manufacturing states are commonly against carbon pricing as it adds to their production costs. One may tempt to accuse the US as pure selfish for not acting in concerted effort to stem global warming. The US is the world’s largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter and yet it refused to join the multilateral effort of the Kyoto Protocol (KP). 191 countries and the European Union signed the KP cooperation to curtail the average global temperature hikes and the consequential change in global climate. The developed member countries of the KP are legally bound to achieve a target in emission reduction in the KP’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. In December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the KP was adopted which launched a second commitment period, starting on 1 January 2013 until 2020. KP was governed by the UNFCCC, see UNFCCC (1997). Because of the higher level of GHG emissions are caused by the developed countries, the KP is therefore binding on these countries to achieve those set target. The developed countries have contributed to more GHGs in the atmosphere since they have gone through more than 150 years of industrialisation, hence the heavier burden. Why was the US unable to embrace multilateralism? Multilateralism can be defined as the practice of coordinating national policies in groups of three or more states, through ad-hoc arrangements or by means of institutions (Keohane, 1990). Since the commencement of the KP, the European Union (EU) has been successful in legislating KP in its member states. According to Skjaerseth, Bang Schreurs, (2013), the EU, in December 2008, has passed a comprehensive legislation on the 20-20-20 targets. They called for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emission, a 20% increase in the share of renewable energies in overall energy consumption and a 20% cut in primary energy consumption. So why didn’t the United States become a party to the KP? US President Bill Clinton signed the 1997 KP but never submitted it for Senate consideration. This example of a failure by the US to ratify an environmental treaty is not exceptional. The US Department of State (n.d.)’s website reported of many major multilateral environmental agreements that had failed to achieve ratification from the Senate. According to Hovi et.al. (2010), the way the KP was designed, it stood no chance of getting any ratification from US Senate. In 1997, five months before the KP meeting, the Senate passed the Byrd–Hagel resolution (Byrd–Hagel). In 2001, President Bush echoed the sentiments of Byrd–Hagel: ‘I oppose the Kyoto Protocol because it exempts 80% of the world, including major population centers such as China and India, from compliance, and would cause serious harm to the US economy. What would it take for the US to have a hand in the global governance of climate change? It has after all made itself the world’s policeman in some war-torn areas. It had negotiated responses to problems that affect more than one country. So clearly, the US has no qualm in embracing global governance then. Now, what would it take for the US to change its mind on joining KP in its second commitment period? Will it enter the fray if developing countries like China and India sign up? Or does it take an international embargo on these major GHGs to reduce their carbon footprints? Hovi Skodvin (2008) concludes that any efforts to seek the US to sign up with the successor of the KP are likely to fail. One main reason is that the US cannot be threatened to sign on any trade or technology cooperation as the threat would just be unbelievable. A common approach by the U.S. is â€Å"to act first at home and then to build on it at a global level†, see Purvis (2004). So instead of facing the divided government and upcoming elections, the US lawmakers can focus on its own internal environmental regime. This federal climate policy can mimic the KP’s requirement that is to reduce the GHG emissions to 7% below 1990. Successful policies were implemented nationwide on the renewable energy. While others agreed on cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emission from power plants. This way, perhaps the American public would be more inclined to push for the US’ role in international level. The key to the success of the implementation of the KP lies on its effective compliance commitment by the member countries. Therefore the world leaders have to come together and decide if confronting the issue of global warming is indeed a priority. If they are worried about the loss of economic bargaining chips, the same can be said about the potential from creating renewable energy sources and making them available to the world. So KP is an excellent platform for the world communities to embark on this green mission to preserve planet earth. References: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (n.d.). Background on the UNFCCC: The international response to climate change. Retrieved from: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/6031.php Skjaerseth J.B., Bang G Schreurs M.A. (2013). Explaining Growing Climate Policy Differences Between European Union and the United States. Global Environmental Politics Vol. 13, No.4. p. 61-80. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (1997). Kyoto Protocol. Retrieved from: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php Keohane, R.O. (1990). Multilateralism: an agenda for research. International Journal Vol. 45, No. 4. p. 731-764.http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=sageltd Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40202705?uid=3738672uid=2129uid=2uid=70uid=4sid=21103954165271 US Department of State. (n.d.) Treaties Pending in the Senate (updated as of May 7, 2014). Retrieved from: www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/pending/index.htm Hovi, J, Sprinz, D.F. and Bang, G. (2010). Why the United States did not become a party to the Kyoto Protocol: German, Norwegian, and US perspectives. European Journal of International Relations. DOI: 10.1177/1354066110380964 Hovi, J Skodvin, T. (2008). Which Way to U.S. Climate Cooperation? Issue Linkage versus a U.S.-Based Agreement. Review of Policy Research. Volume 25, Issue 2, p. 129–148. Purvis, N. (2004). The perspective of the United States on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol. International Review for Environmental Strategies 5(1). P. 169–178.

Pollution Market Failure

Pollution Market Failure A tax on pollution is designed to confront a person or company causing pollution with the sum equivalent to the social costs they are imposing on others. Firms pay taxes on the income both in the legal sense that the company is an individual and in the economic sense that company is a tax on them. Taxation can be used to correct market failures. Pollution are things that cause discomfort or harm to our environment, it can be in different form such as air, water, noise, heat. Things that causes pollution are called pollutant because they harm living organism, causing global warming which is when the temperature on the earth is getter hotter and climate change. A pollution tax can promote productive efficiency when a firm produces where price is equal to marginal cost, Also when the firm produce at any given output at the lowest possible cost, given in this case that this is a perfect competitive market. Externalities are spill over cost or benefit we can refer to external economies and diseconomies. Externalities can either be good or bad, when good is called benefit and bad cost. The benefit is when the society are affected beneficially they are said to be external benefits, while cost is when the society are affected adversely .It creates a divergence between private and social costs and benefit. All cost are incurred by the producers and all benefits are reaped by their customers. The costs are often clearer when specific government activities are considered rather than taking everything in one lump. Externalities in production are very important in the real world. Pollution can be seen as an externalities. Taking a industry for example they throw their waste into the river and its smoke into the air. Apart from pollution been an externality, creation of a shopping mall increases traffic in the area causing discomfort to the people living in that area can also be seen as an externality. External cost of production is when the marginal social cost is greater than the marginal cost(MSC>MC).The problem of external cost arises in a free- market economy because no one has legal ownership of the air or river. Marginal cost (MC) is where the firm gets to produce its goods and services. It is the cost of the firm or private cost, this does not include the cost of pollution on the environment that the firm creates, these are external cost to the firm. We tax a firm that has external to make up to the society. marginal social cost(MSC) lies above the marginal cost(MC). Given MSC>MC, MSC is where the society wants the firm to produce ,the vertical difference between the MSC and MC is the external cost which is referred to pollution that the firm emits in the environment causing discomfort to the society. The individual who live and work around where the waste has been deposited bears the cost arising from the industry. At point Q1 the firm is profit-maximizing output, the society sees the external cost as an overproduction from the firms part .if the government required the firm to pay the external cost the firm would reduce its outputs to Q2 which is the level at which the society is comfortable with the level of production which is known as social optimum. At this point we can say the firm is attaining productive efficiency. Price MSC MC=S P D External cost 0 Q2 Q1 Quantity External benefits in production, the marginal social benefit is greater than the marginal cost, the benefits outweigh the cost. Given MC

Grande Bretagne Hotel; External business environment

Grande Bretagne Hotel; External business environment Strategic concepts in tourism, hospitality and events Individual assignment: Grande Bretagne Hotel Athens; External business environment INTRODUCTION No company in the world is working standalone and in isolation. That’s even more emphasised in the tourism industry where the location of the tourism companies follows the location of the tourism product, the tourism destination. A hotel can not be located standalone in a no attractive tourism destination and expect success, it should be as close to the epicentre of the tourism happening and movement. The problem is, every tourism company wants that, and they all have to compete in the saturated, consistent market with each other and with the environment like a whole. In this assignment we will discuss the challenges and implications of the external environment applied to our hospitality organisation of a choice based on the selected theoretical model. Further evaluate the competitive environment using the Porter’s Five Forces Model with closing recommendation for the future of the business. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CHOSEN SUPPLIER For the purpose of this assignment we had chosen the New Hotel Athens. New Hotel Athens (formerly Olympic Palace Hotel), along with 4 other hotels, is a part of Yes Hotels chain, and they are part of the worldwide Design Hotel company with more than 250 independent hotels in over 50 countries worldwide. (http://corporate.designhotels.com/about_design_hotels) Situated in Plaka area in central Athens, New Hotel is a 79 room establishment designed by the Brazilian award winning design duo Fernando and Humberto Campana. The hotel also sports exquisite all-day bar-restaurant, New taste, and Workshop Floor, meeting space with teleconference facilities. IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS ISSUES IN THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT (MACRO ANALYSIS) Business environment refers to those factors of the surrounding of business enterprise which have influence on the functioning of a business. The business cannot control these aspects but can respond to change if needed. This is also call macro environemnt. (http://books.google.gr/books?id=nfADHVmJkTUCpg=PA3dq=external+business+environmenthl=ensa=Xei=jiJvVNnjHJP5asqEgvgLredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=external%20business%20environmentf=true) External business environment Economic conditions Economic conditions are global as well as national, and when there is a global financial crisis as in 2007, and the recent one, changes in the external environment can be dramatic. Positive economic condition of the nation have also positive effect on their spending habits. And opposite, when the nation is suffering financial hardship, the money that will be spent for recreation and holidays will be less. Indirectly, the negative economic condition increase the unemployment rate and the interest rate and taxations. New Hotel Athens, operates within the EU and Greek economic environment. Considering the not so positive economic condition of the country and the Euro zone generally, we can say irrefutable that it reflects negatively on the business. After a calamitous recession in which the economy shrank by 30%, government debt now stands at 174% of GDP and the budget deficit last year was almost 13% of GDP (The Economist 2014). This leaded to aggressive rise of the taxes, increased interest rate for bank loans and credits and overall increase cost of the raw materials and imports. In the table below we can see the country’s economic freedom index and few other economy related facts and figures like, the the freedom of corruption, fiscal freedom, business, labour and trade freedom etc. (The Heritage Foundation 2014) Greece, Economic Freedom index 2014 Source The Heritage Foundation Regardless of the present adverse condition in the country, there is a positive forecast for the future economy of the country from international and domestic experts. High government official also promised a new taxation roadmap that would be unveiled in the future, with the maximum income tax cut to 32 per cent from 42 per cent and the corporate tax rate reduced to 15 per cent from 26 per cent. (ABC News 2014) Market (competition) The market/competition is a constantly amending factor in the external environment of the business. Not only that new competitors arise and other disappear, but also the existing ones are changing and adapting their marketing strategies, product lines and prices. Often those changes are not evident so the businesses must be alerted to what their competitors are doing. Our hotel is one of the 23, exclusive 5 star hotels in the central area of Athens, excluding Piraeus and Glyfada (Greekhotels.com 2014), and one of the 176, 5 star hotels in the country. (Hellenic Chamber of Hotels 2006). In that saturated market are included as well the big international players like Starwood, Intercontinental, Hilton and other hotel chains with great influence on the market and provide fierce competitiveness. But New Hotel Athens diversificate in many ways from the competition, and their business model follows the fresh market trends providing a product for a niche tourism clients. Technology In the last half a century, one of the rapid change factors in the external environment and the constant pusher on the businesses and organisations has been the technological change. If the don’t react sufficiently quick to this change, they can face with the risk of losing market shares. The technological change don’t affects only on the design of the products, but as well on the delivery of service. In the example with our hotel, we must say that this external factor is taken into consideration seriously, and even used for competitive advantage. The property is recently renovated according to the latest standards and trends, with implemented computer controlled in house systems, offering free WiFi to the customers (unlike most of the 5 star hotels), and having great interactive web page and social networks presence. Climate change Climate change is an insidious threat because the pace of change may be recognisable only if considered on a decade-by-decade basis. The effect of climate change will not fall equally on all nations and all businesses. Businesses that depend directly on a good supply of water e.g. agriculture, field sports will be adversely effected if climate change results in reduced rainfall. However the flow on affect of drought will eventually work their way through to all businesses in the affected community. Legal The most common law changes that affect business include Workplace Health and Safety, Consumer Protection, Industrial Relation and Environmental Law. But most obvious change in law through legislation is the taxation. Sometimes the taxation changes occur fast and with little warning and there is not much time for the business to prepare. The New Hotel Athens guests are protected by the general Greek consumer protection law for all transactions you make while travelling in the country. As enterprise, the hotel is obliged to issue written receipts, that safeguards the consumer in the event of any claim or dispute with the enterprises. (VisitGreece 2014) Media The significant changes in the technology and the rise of the internet, reflected on the media as well and changed it from ground up. That affected deeper on the external business environment. The old channel for communication where suffocated, altered and brand new ones appeared. The businesses had to embrace this change and adapt to it as fast as possible. New Hotel Athens following the modern media trends, had build extensive online presence all over the internet (as a medium). And had gained significant positive feedback. For example Trip Advisor, according to the votes by the customers, had awarded this hotel with the â€Å"Travelers Choice Award† for 2014 and had ranked it as number 7 out of 324 hotels in Athens. Except the booking sites, New Hotel Athens heavily uses the social media for promotion and communication with the customers and the public. Political Just like law, changes in the general government policy can be well notified and discussed or changes without notice. Many organisations depends on the government financial assistance and if there is a change in the government policy, those funding can be reduced or to completely disappear. Also any political instability in the country, leads to destabilisation of the society and have repellent effect on the tourism. For example the recent political crisis in Greece and the rise of the radicalism had negative impact on the tourism as a whole. Some of the media even scared out the tourists with warnings of racist attacks (Hamilton Spectator 2012). Or the few cases when the strict immigrants policy mistreated few tourists by the police in Athens (BBC 2013). Demographic The population changes include increasing or decreasing of the population, change in the age group proportion, change in the ethnic diversity, change in the number of two-income families, number of marriages and geographic population distribution. All those changes affects the external environment of a business. Human resources, security and mentality wise. New Hotel Athens operates in quite diversive demographic environment that just adds to the colourfulness of the business. USING THEORETICAL MODELS TO SUPPORT THE DISCUSSION PORTERS 5 FORCES (MICRO ANALYSIS) Porter five forces analysis is a framework to analyze level of competition within an industry and business strategy development. It includes three forces from horizontal competition and two forces from vertical competition. Porter referred to these forces as the micro environment, to contrast it with the more general term macro environment (Porter 1980). The Porter’s Five Forces is a powerful and simple tool for understanding where the power lies in a business situation. Conventionally, the tool is used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations. Porter’s 5 Forces (Source Wikimedia) Supplier Power: The bargaining power of suppliers is also described as the market of inputs. Suppliers of components, raw materials, labor, and services to the firm can provide power over the firm when there are few or no substitutes. Suppliers may refuse to provide those supplies to the firm or charge high prices for the unique resources. Potential factors are: Supplier switching costs, supplier concentration, degree of differentiation, substitute, labor unions, supplier competition etc. New Hotel Athens, being part of the YES Hotels chat and part of Design Hotel chain, can maintain wide supply chain due to the dispersed suppliers connection of the sister companies and the mother company. If there is leak of supplies from one source, they can easily switch to other supplier connected to some of the other properties or globally with the mother company, Design Hotel Chain. From FB materials to technology. Though, thats not applicable to the suppliers who provide unique supplies to the hotels. Buyer Power: The bargaining power of customers, is described also as the market of outputs. It is the ability of customers to make a pressure over business, therefore to affects the customers sensitivity to price changes. The companies can take measures to reduce buyer power, such as introducing a loyalty program and promotions. If the buyer have many alternatives then his power is high and opposite. Potential factors for this are: buyer concentration, buyers switching costs, buyer information, substitute products, barganing leverage, buyers price sensitivity etc. Competitive Rivalry: For most of industries the intensity, competitive rivalry is the biggest determinant of the competitiveness of the industry. Potential factors includes: Innovation, advertising, competitive strategies, company concentration, degree of transparency etc. Threat of Substitution: The existence of different products that can satisfy the same need, can make the customers switch to alternatives. Potential factors here includes: the propensity to substitute, price performance of substitute, buyer switching costs, product differentiation, number of substitute products available, ease of substitution, quality depreciation etc. Threat of New Entry: Power is also influence by the ability of companies to enter the market. If it does not cost much time or money to enter the market and compete effectively, if there are few economies of scale in place, or if there is little protection of the key technologies, new competitors can quickly enter the market and weaken the existing business position.The following few factors can affect on how much new entrants can be a threat: existence of barriers to entry, government policy, capital requirements, absolute cost, economies of scale, product differentiation, brand equity, expected retaliation, access to distribution, customer loyalty, industry profitability etc. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS, FEW REALISTIC RECOMMENDATION FOR CHANGE Conducting macro and micro environmental analysis we can come up with some conclusion †¦

A Study On Becks Theory Psychology Essay

A Study On Becks Theory Psychology Essay Becks theory states that Individuals with dysfunctional attitudes are likely to show increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events. From the cognitive perspective, we can say that depression is caused by ones thinking. Someone with dysfunctional attitudes tends to think negatively toward themselves. When a negative event occurs which relates to that person, it triggers the negative thoughts over and over again which can lead to depression. Beck believed that the cognitive symptoms of depression actually precede the affective and mood symptoms of depression, rather than vice versa. Becks main argument was that depression was instituted by ones view of oneself, instead of one having a negative view of oneself due to depression. For example, Abela and DAlessandros (2002) found that the students negative views about their future strongly controlled the interaction between dysfunctional attitudes and the increase in depressed mood. The research clearly backed up Becks claim that those at risk for depression due to dysfunctional attitudes who did not get into their college of choice then doubted their futures, and these thoughts lead to symptoms of depression. The other cause of depression would be a persons interpersonal relationship with their surroundings and the people around them. Hammen and Brennan (2001) found that 13% of the sons and 23.6 % of the daughters who were depressed had depressed mothers as compared to 3.9% of the sons and 15.9% of the daughters who were depressed lacked a depressed mother. From the social perspective, we see that the child becomes depressed because of the interpersonal relationship with his or her mother which shows how the social environment around someone can influence the behaviour or thinking of the person. The depressed adolescents of depressed mothers were also more likely to evidence dysfunctional cognitions about their social selves and worlds. (Hammen Brennan, 2001, p. 8) This clearly contradicts becks argument that depression is cause by dysfunctional cognition but not vice versa. Hammen and Brennan (2001) discussed that adolescents gets depressed because of the interpersonal relationship with their mothers which then later lead them into dysfunctional cognitions. Whereas, beck states that dysfunctional attitudes comes first which then later on lead the person into depression. Another contradiction of these two concepts is that one states that depression is caused by the inner thinking without the influence of another person and on the contrary, the other is cause by the surrounding people and how they behave. Second Section Cognitive Theory Individuals with dysfunctional attitudes are likely to show increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events which is stated in Beck`s theory. We can say that depression is caused by ones thinking from the cognitive perspective. Someone with dysfunctional attitudes tends to think negatively toward themselves. When a negative event shows up, it triggers the negative thoughts over and over again which can lead to depression. The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events is caused by negative views of the future . Becks cognitive theory of depression has generated a vast body of empirical research.Central to Becks theory is the construct of schemas(Becks (1967, 1983). Beck defines schemas as stored bodies of knowledge that affect the encoding, comprehension and retrieval of information. The content and organization of different individuals schemas vary according to their particular experiences. Once activated, depressogenic schemas provide access to a complex system of negative themes and cognitions which will lead to ‘negative cognitive triad'(Becks (1967, 1983). Beck defines the negative cognitive triad as a negative view of the self, the world and the future. Beck hypothesizes that the negative cognitive triad is a sufficient cause of depression and will start showing some depressive symptoms such as deficits in affec tive, motivational, behavioural and physiological functioning(John R. Z. Abela,2000). Beck also states that there are three main dysfunctional belief themes (or schemas) that dominate depressed peoples thinking (Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D, 2007): I am defective or inadequate, All of my experiences result in defeats or failures, and The future is hopeless. Together, these three themes are described as the Negative Cognitive Triad. When these beliefs are present in someones cognition, depression is very likely to occur. Depressed people will tend to demonstrate selective attention to information, which matches their negative expectations, and selective inattention to information that contradicts those expectations. Faced with a mostly positive performance review, depressed people will manage to find and focus in on the one negative comment that keeps the review from being perfect. They tend to magnify the importance and meanings in the negative events, and minimize the importance and meanings in positive events. Usually this kind of situation will happen quite unconsciously which is will maintain a depressed persons core negative schemas in the face of contradictory evidence, and they will remain feeling hopeless about the future even when the evidence suggests that things will get better. Beck hypothesizes that depressogenic schemas are typically latent in individuals which vulnerable to depression and must be activated by relevant stressors or event in order to exert their influence on information processing(Becks (1967, 1983). In the absence of such aversive life events, depressogenic schemas remain inactive and do not exert an influence on patterns of thinking. Based on the research done by a group of researchers from Canada, (John R. Z. Abela and David U. DAlessandro,Department of Psychology, McGill University), they used a short-term longitudinal design in which participants dysfunctional attitudes were assessed prior to the occurrence of a negative event. The method that they have used was 136 high school seniors applying to the University of Pennsylvania completed measures of depressed mood and dysfunctional attitudes 1-8 weeks before receiving their admissions decision and denoted as (Time 1). The assessment of dysfunctional attitudes was preceded by a primary task designed to activate latent depressogenic schemas in all participants. Participants also observed on thier depressed mood, negative views of the self, and negative views of the future shortly after they received their admissions decision and denoted as (Time 2) and four days later as (Time 3). The outcome from this research was consistent with the component of Becks theory. The participants who are dysfunctional attitudes predicted increases in depressed mood immediately following a negative admissions outcome (Time 2). In addition, according to the the causal mediation component of the theory, for negative outcome students, the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and increases in depressed mood was caused by negative views of the future. Contrary to predictions, however, this relationship was not mediated by negative views of the self. In addition, opposite to predictions, dysfunctional attitudes did not predict enduring depressed mood after a negative outcome (Time 3). Some studies have found no support for the diathesis-stress component of the theory. For example, using a psychiatric in-patient sample, Persons and Rao (1985) reported that irrational beliefs (Ellis, 1962) did not interact with negative events to predict increases in depressive symptoms seven months after discharge. Similarly, using a three-month prospective design, Barnett and Gotlib (1988a, 1990) reported that dysfunctional attitudes did not interact with negative events to predict increases in depressive symptoms. Social Theory The early onset of depression commonly recalled by depressed adults. (Burke, Burke, Regier, Rae, 1990) The increasing rate of depression in youngsters is significantly impairing and it indicates recurrence and continuity into adulthood. One of the best empirically supported predictors of depression in youth is having a depressed mother. There is no single unifying social model of depression but rather various empirical and theoretical developments that emphasize interpersonal cognitions and behaviors. As for the mother, a key characteristic of the interpersonal perspective is a particular emphasis on the dysfunctional, abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group transaction between the person and the social environment. (Joiner Coyne, 1999) Depressed individuals often function poorly in marriages and relationships with family members. (Barnett Gotlib, 1988; Rao, Hammen, Daley, 1999; Weissman Paykel, 1974) They may engage maladaptively, adapting poorly to a situation with others in ways that contribute to the occurrence of interpersonal stressful life events, which eventually might cause further depression. (Davila, Hammen, Burge, Pa-ley, Daley, 1995; Hammen, 1991) Depressed people are often dependent on others and seek confidence in ways that distance others.(Barnett Gotlib, 1988; Joiner Metalsky, 1995) They often overvalue relationships as sources of self-worth but may also have acquired negative beliefs about the availability and trustworthiness of others .In turn, prolong course of depression may be due to negative attitudes by family members. (Hooley, Orley, Teasdale, 1986; Hooley Teasdale, 1989; Keitner et al., 1995) Although many of the interpersonal deficiencies noted in depressed individuals may be depressive state dependent, a number of the cited studies have indicated enduring difficulties even when the person is not currently depressed. Obviously not all depressive disorders are functionally linked to maladaptive interpersonal relationships; but research strongly suggests the importance of the contribution of social behaviors and beliefs in promoting depression and its recurrence. The acquisition of dysfunctional schemas about the self and others, and the deficiencies in interpersonal skills, may set the stage for vulnerability to depression, particularly when stressors are encountered that deplete or challenge the childs sense of worth, competence, and social relatedness. The depressed children of depressed mothers were also highly likely to have elevated rates of interpersonal and conflict life events, reflecting at least in part their relative difficulties in negotiating interpersonal relationships. The depressed adolescents of depressed mothers were also more likely to have dysfunctional cognitions about their social selves and world. They more likely compared to depressed children of non depressed women to report fewer friends and social activities. In my opinion, social vulnerabilities of offspring of depressed women may contribute to earlier onset of depressive disorders and worse clinical features. Although biological and genetic factors may heighten risk for early onset, acquisition of interpersonal vulnerabilities may also result in early experiences of depressive disorders. The homogeneity permits evaluation of differences between groups that are not mistaken with age effects. Moreover, young adolescence is a developmental period during which social activities and alliances outside of the family take on increasing importance. The most noticeable differences among the groups occurred in interpersonal functioning. Indicators of ongoing social role performance revealed more impaired functioning in social domains, with a particularly marked problem, not surprisingly, in relationships with family members for depressed youth of depressed mothers. The depressed children of depressed mothers were also highly likely to have elevated rates of interpersonal and conflict life events, reflecting at least in part their relative difficulties in negotiating interpersonal relationships. The depressed adolescents of depressed mothers were also more likely to evidence dysfunctional cognitions about their social selves and worlds. They were significantly more likely than depressed children of non depressed women to report fewer friends and social activities. However, It is interesting that depressed children of depressed mothers were more positive about their romantic appeal than depressed children of non depressed women, possibly indicating earlier involvement or greater. (Gotlib, Lewinsohn, Seeley, 1998) An important implication of subgroup differences may be that the depressed youth of depressed women, because of interpersonal difficulties, will have earlier and more frequent recurrences of depression, which could result from stressors associated with inability to adapt to social demand. Moreover, it might be speculated that youth interpersonal difficulties might lead to adult social difficulties, including dysfunctional marital relationships and even transmission of depression to their own offspring. From the study, it is interesting that there was a tendency for a higher male proportion among the outcome of depressed women, while most of the depressed children of non depressed women were girls. In conclusion, the results are consistent with the perspective that depression among children of depressed mothers is especially likely to occur in the context of difficulties in their interpersonal skills and perceptions of others towards them. The youths difficulties may represent a mechanism of intergenerational transmission of depression that results in part from the parents own interpersonal difficulties acquired in their childhood family environments. Last but not least, aggressive treatment of the social dysfunctions has to be taken. Third Section Depression / Major depressive disorder Depression is a medical illness that involves the mind and body. It also known as major depression, major depressive disorder and clinical depression which is by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.. It affects patients feel, think and behave which lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Major depression is a disabling condition which adversely affects a persons family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health. Subtypes There are five further subtypes of major depressive disorder called specifiers to nothing the length, severity and presence of psychotic features: Melancholic depression loss of pleasure in most or all activities, a failure of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli, a quality of depressed mood more pronounced than that of grief or loss, a worsening of symptoms in the morning hours, early morning waking, psychomotor retardation, excessive weight or excessive guilt. Atypical depression mood reactivity (paradoxical anhedonia) and positivity, significant weight gain or increased appetite (comfort eating), excessive sleep or sleepiness (hypersomnia), a sensation of heaviness in limbs known as leaden paralysis, and significant social impairment as a consequence of hypersensitivity to perceived interpersonal rejection. Catatonic depression a rare and severe form of major depression involving disturbances of motor behavior and other symptoms. The person is mute and almost stuporose, and either remains immobile or exhibits purposeless or even bizarre movements. Catatonic symptoms also occur in schizophrenia or in manic episodes, or may be caused by neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Postpartum depression (Mild mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium) refers to the intense, sustained and sometimes disabling depression experienced by women after giving birth. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression in which depressive episodes come on in the autumn or winter, and resolve in spring. The diagnosis is made if at least two episodes have occurred in colder months with none at other times, over a two-year period or longer. Causes of Depression Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Some of others factors involved in depression are: Family history Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations. Trauma and stress Things like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. People can become depressed after any unwelcome change in life patterns, like starting a new job, graduating from school, or getting married can trigger a depressive episode.[1] Pessimistic personality People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression. Physical conditions Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions. For example, some medications that are used to treat high blood pressure, cancer, seizures, extreme pain, and to achieve contraception can result in depression. Even some psychiatric medications like some sleep aids and medications to treat alcoholism and anxiety can contribute to the development of depression. Lack of neurochemicals the depressive disorders appears to be associated with altered brain serotonin and norepinephrine systems. The different types of schizophrenia are associated with an imbalance of dopamine (too much) and serotonin (poorly regulated) in certain areas of brain. Both neurochemicals (serotonin and norepinephrine) are lower in depressed people. Other psychological disorders Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, persistent deprivation in infancy, physical or sexual abuse, clusters of certain personality traits, and inadequate ways of coping (maladaptive coping mechanisms) can increase the frequency and severity of depressive disorders Symptoms Feelings of sadness or unhappiness Irritability or frustration, even over small matters Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities Insomnia or excessive sleeping Changes in appetite — depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things arent going right Slowed in thinking, speaking or body movements, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches Treatments and Suggestion Psychotherapy Psychotherapy can be delivered to individuals or groups by mental health professionals including psychotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses. Talking the[2]rapies help patients gain insight into their problems and resolve them through verbal give-and-take with the therapist. It reduces the recurrence of depression even after it has been terminated or replaced by occasional booster sessions. Types of therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help to identify and change thought and behavior patterns that contribute to depression. People who are depressed tend to think negatively. Therefore, cognitive behavioral therapy teaches patients how to identify and challenge the negative thoughts and helps to obtain more satisfaction and rewards through their own actions. Interpersonal therapy looks at how depression can be connected to troubled emotional relationships. Interpersonal therapists focus on the patients disturbed personal relationships that both cause and exacerbate the depression. Psychodynamic therapy links depression to traumas and conflicts that happened earlier in your life, especially during childhood. It can be a short-term treatment, although it is often a longer process. The therapists focus on resolving the patients internal psychological conflicts that are typically thought to be rooted in childhood. Long-term psychodynamic therapies are particularly important if there seems to be a lifelong history and pattern of inadequate ways of coping (maladaptive coping mechanisms) in negative or self-injurious behavior. Group therapy allows you and other people with depression—or people with the same issues that contributed to your depression—to meet together with a therapist and share experiences. Antidepressants Antidepressants are treatment method by the help of medication to treat the physical state in the brain. Psychologists identified that when certain chemicals in the brain (such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) are out of balance, depression can occur. People with chronic depression may need to take medication indefinitely to avoid relapse. Hence, antidepressants can be help to improve the symptoms of depression by bringing those chemicals back into balance. Some of the major types of antidepressants are discussed below: NDRIs (Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors) are a type of antidepressant that increases the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine by blocking their reuptake in the brain. Buproprion is the only antidepressant within this class of drugs approved by the FDA. Side effects may include weight loss, loss of appetite, and dry mouth. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and citalopram are a widely used type of antidepressant. SSRIs increase serotonin in the brain by blocking serotonin reuptake in the brain. These types of antidepressants can cause sexual side effects. SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) work in much the same way as an SSRI. SNRIs block the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. SNRIs may also cause side effects similar to SSRIs. Electroconvulsive therapy Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure whereby pulses of electricity are sent through the brain via two electrodes, usually one on each temple, to induce a seizure while the patient is under a short general anaesthetic. ECT can have a quicker effect than antidepressant therapy and thus may be the treatment of choice in emergencies such as catatonic depression where the patient has stopped eating and drinking, or where a patient is severely suicidal. ECT is useful for certain patients, particularly for those who cannot take or have not responded to a number of antidepressants. ECT often is effective in cases where trials of a number of antidepressant medications do not provide sufficient relief of symptoms. This procedure probably works, as previously mentioned, by a massive neurochemical release in the brain due to the controlled seizure. Opinion In my opinion, there is more than one way to skin a mongoose. There are a lot of difference perspectives to look at the causes of depression. There might be environmental, biological, psychological, physical, or some incidents that cause individual to depress. It is quite difficult to differentiate between a depressed people from a normal one. Hence, by looking at the symptom of depression is one of the ways to diagnose the disease. Therefore, we will discussion about how depress symptom appears and may leads to occurrence of depression. At first, we choose to use cognitive theory as an approach to explain how people get depressed which can be apply in most cases. Cognitive theory saying that depression results from maladaptive, faulty, or irrational cognitions taking the form of distorted thoughts and judgments. Depressed people think differently than non-depressed people, and it is this difference in thinking that causes them to become depressed. For example, depressed people tend to view themselves, their environment, and the future negative, pessimistic light. As a result, depressed people tend to misinterpret facts in negative ways and blame themselves for any misfortune that occurs. This negative thinking and judgment style functions as a negative bias; it makes it easy for depressed people to see situation as being much worse than they really are, and increases the risk that such people will develop depr essive symptoms in response to stressful situations. The depressive symptoms are also the cognitive approach to the depressive individual where all the symptoms are causes by themselves. For example, they have feelings of sadness or unhappiness, irri[3]tability or frustration, even over small matters, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, insomnia or excessive sleeping and others. All the symptoms are from patient mind. They tend to ignore positive information, pay exaggerated attention to negative information, and to engage in overgeneralization, which occurs when people assume that because some local and isolated event has turned out badly, this means that all events will turn out badly. For example, depressed people may refuse to see that they have at least a few friends, or that they have had some successes across their lifetime (ignoring the positive). Or they might dwell on and blow out of proportion the hurts they have suffered (exaggerating the negative). Other depressed people may convince themselves that nobody loves them or they always mess up (overgeneralizing). In addition, cognitive theory also suggested that people are shaped by the interactions between their behaviors, thoughts, and environmental events. Each piece in the puzzle can and does affect the shape of the other pieces. Human behavior ends up being largely a product of learning, which may occur vicariously, as well as through direct experience. Depressed peoples self-concepts are different from non-depressed peoples self-concepts as we mention earlier. They tend to hold themselves solely responsible for bad things in their lives and are full of self-recrimination and self-blame. They also tend to have low levels of self-efficacy (a persons belief that they are capable of influencing their situation). Therefore, they tend to set their personal goals too high, and then fall short of reaching them. Repeated failure further reduces feelings of self-efficacy and leads to depression. Nevertheless, of all the factors which by the depressed individual, they are just feeling directed toward themselves for blaming the failure and uselessness. However, there also a cause to major depression which is appearing of a stressful event triggered their depressive episode. The stressful event initiate depressive episodes create changes in the brains chemistry that make it more likely that future episodes of depression will develop. The stressful experiences often take away a persons sense of control and can cause great emotional upheaval and pain. Sometimes, even positive life changes such as getting married or having a baby can trigger a depressive episode. Another approach of theory which I personally think is very important causes to depression is by using Behavioral Theories. Behavioral Theories uses principles of learning theory to explain human behavior. Therefore, according to behavioral theory, we can say that dysfunctional or unhelpful behavior such as depression is learned. A person can be depressing because of the environmental stressors cause them to receive a low rate of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement occurs when people fo something they find pleasurable and rewarding. When people receive positive reinforcement, it wills increases the chances that people will repeat the sorts of actions they have taken that led them to receive that reinforcement. In other words, people will tend to repeat those behaviors that get reinforced. However, depressed people do not know how to cope with the fact that they are no longer receiving positive reinforcements like they were before. A depressed people typically have a heightened state of self-awareness about their lack of coping skills that often leads them to self-criticize and withdraw from other people. For example, a man who has been fired from his job and encounters difficulty finding a new job might become depressed. In a nutshell, depression can be cause by the internal and external factors such as peoples thoughts, perceptions, evaluations, expectations, behavior and so on. Hence, at the last part of our research on depression, we had generated an equation for the causes of depression by using cognitive theory and behavioral theory which applicable for most of the depression cases. DEPRESSION = f { stressful events, dysfunctional attitudes, depressive symptoms, loss of positive reinforcement } [1] Subtypes of Depression—Diagnosis and Medical Management. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1237582/ [2] Understanding Depression Signs, Symptoms, Causes and Help. Retrieved March 6 2010 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm [3] Depression Treatment. Therapy, Medication, and Lifestyle Changes That Can Help. Retrieved from 6 March 2010 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/treatment_strategies_depression.htm