Values and Ethical Beliefs Based on Principles

Values and ethical standards play a very important role in our daily lives at home and work because of what we personally believe in. Values are things that we feel that have an important meaning in our lives. Ethics are the standards of behavior of what our society appears to believe what is right and wrong. My individual values and ethic have slowly developed due to my own personal life’s experiences with family, education, and work. In my reflection paper I will discuss my own personal values, morals, and ethics and relate it to my last job when I was working for a hospital in Arizona. I will incorporate my experience and analyze my moral and ethical principles in an organization evaluation of strengths and weaknesses using detailed examples of circumstances and contexts from the knowledge I have learned so far in my course study with Personal and Organizational Ethics. My personal values play a very important role in my life and they all have to do with what is most important to me. The things that I value the most are my family, religion, education, and my work. Family and religion are my two most important values that I believe to be very important in my life because family is where I have learned most of what and who I am today with my prioritizing my values, ethical and moral standards. My parents brought me up to respect and value family, religion, education, and never to take work for granted. I have had the pleasure of experiencing my parents love and support in all my decisions as an adult. Their love and moral guidance, I believe has helped me set my values and ethical standards. Moral standards include the norms we have about the kinds of actions we believe are morally right and wrong as well as the values we place on the kinds of objects we believe are morally good and morally bad (Velasquez, 2006). I only want others around me to be proud of who I am and what kind of moral and ethical decisions I make not only for me, my family but for my co-workers as well. In the future, if I am to be placed in a supervisor or management position I would want others to respect me due to how I handle certain situations with the best experience in making ethical, and moral decisions not only for them but for the company we work for. In my personal vision and mission statement I believe in honesty and truth. Not only do I believe in my own statement but I believe that businesses should focus on three different kinds of issues: systemic, corporate, and individual. According to Velasquez, 2006 p. 4, a Systemic issues in business ethics are ethical questions raised about the economic, political, legal, and other social systems or institutions within which businesses operate. This would touch on how a business operates when making decisions morality of capitalism, law, regulations, industrial structures, and social practices. Money should never get in the way of making the right decision for oneself or for one’s employer. I believe in the saying, †Å"What goes around will come around. † If I lie, cheat, or steel; it will come around and bite me in the behind ten times greater. If I stand up for the truth and work honestly at my job it will find me later down my life’s path and bless me ten times greater. My personal impression of what I would like others to view me to be in the future when I am a manager is someone that everyone looks up to for advice because they see how open, honest, and my moral along with my ethical reasoning’s are followed by a very strict code of ethics. As a future manager I want to follow and respect company’s policy guidelines and help others know that by doing this you can make a difference in people’s lives and even possibly save them from being fired, fined, and/or imprisoned. I think this is where the ethics of corporation come into play. Instead I want to help get them that promotion or raise they deserve. I’m all about helping others and myself to make a positive change in their values, morals, and ethical decisions based on holding to a code of ethics that is going to help keep principles in balance with today’s’ hard ethical decisions with companies that are located all geographically around the world. I worked as a clerk in the administrational department for five years in one the largest hospitals in Arizona I had the opportunity to experience many situations when dealing with moral and ethical decisions. One example was when I was supervising seven other employees in the administration department. We would take patients personal information such as their current home, work, employment, and insurance data and put it into a personal information program and file it for hospital records. I was also in charge of making sure the patient’s medical insurance were up to date, current, and proper medical billing was accurately inputted into the patient’s records. Once the patient left I would be in charge to take co-pays and then mail them bill for everything that was done during the visit. Now once in a while when a patient left and stopped by my window to check out they would ask questions and I would answer to the best of my ability without giving false or inaccurate information. If you couldn’t guess, most of the questions had to do with money and how much it was going to cost them and if their medical insurance was going to pay for the hospital bill. I had very little knowledge my first year working in the administration and billing department but as I got very familiar with medical terminology and billing codes I could see some discrepancy in how or what was being billed to their records. For example a person that had come into the emergency room for left ankle pain would most likely get a left ankle extra. I would take all their personal information down and of course most importantly their medical insurance information and put it in our data program. After two weeks they would receive their bill in the mail. Sometimes the insurance would pay for the entire cost but some insurance would not so this would put the responsibility of the patient to pay the hospital. Well, I was the one that patients would come and talk to and sit down with and put a payment plan together. They would bring in their bill and we would set out a billing plan. A few people that would request to see their medical records and reports because they just could not believe how expensive their hospital visit added up. Well, in many cases I found that customers disputed their bills because they believed that there was incorrect billing cost. Someone was putting in extra data that was not being done to the patient. Earlier I mentioned a patient that came in for left ankle pain and the doctor ordered one x-ray. Now this doesn’t sound too expensive but patients forget that they are also getting billed for other things than just one x-ray. The hospital will bill you for care by the doctor, nurses, x-ray tech, administration, x-ray machine, materials and products they use to service your needs. After explaining this to a patient most of them would not argue and then see that there is a bigger picture then just getting billed for one x-ray. However, there were a handful of patients that didn’t buy all our billing excuses. They wanted to see their medical records in front of them and see what was charged to their personal profile. This is when a code of ethics comes into play and what I didn’t understand back then from what I now understand today because of the knowledge I have learned from my current class in Personal and Organizational Ethics. There were people working in the billing department that would add on false charges to patient’s accounts just so that their bill would be high enough that insurances would be liable to take on cost to pay the hospital. There are insurances that will not cover cost if the cost does not reach a certain price and the hospital loses out on what percentage should be paid by insurance companies and would solely rely on patients to pay for the care that was given to them. When I was working in the billing department there was about 70 percent of patients do not pay their medical bills to the hospital and if they do it takes years and even decades for them to pay it off because they are only making the required minimum payment amount to the hospital. They work the system this way so they do not get sent to collections or damage their personal credit. If insurance companies or patients do not pay medical bills then the hospital could be at risk and could possibly result in future threats of closing down and putting hundreds of employees out of work. If I was managing an organization I would hope that my social responsibilities would be based on a specific utilitarian principle. Utilitarian principles require that managers pursue those goals that will produce the greatest social benefits and the least social harm (Velasquez, 2006). I would want to conduct business and perform at a level that would be socially and economically beneficial to my organization. My responsibilities would require me to make decisions that would work best for my company and the employees; making sure that no physical or financial harm would come to either one of them and to make sure that the produced goods are being met according to standard. If there would be a situation that would put myself, the company, or employees into a social or economical harm I would do my best to find an effective way to achieve the responsibilities that were given to me because of my position as a manager. Another responsibility that I believe is very important that is required as a manager is to have is the ability to do performance appraisals. It is an important part in the career development. One must obtain, analyze, and record information about the approximant worth of an employee to the organization. In my current job right now, I work at a local bank and my manager sits down with us every 6 months and does a performance appraisal. This is when I, the employee gets evaluated on my personal strengths and weakness. It is also a time for possible promotions, recognition, or the need for more training. In my opinion this is a very effective way that management can relay information back to their employees on how they are doing and what they expect from their employees to make their organization the best not only for themselves but for the entire company. If I was to analyze my previous organization I worked for back in Arizona on an ethical perspective when it came to finding out that extra charges were being inputted into patients billing records I would have to say that it morally and ethically wrong. If the hospital did not input extra charges then the patient’s insurances would not cover a certain percentage of the bill, so therefore the patient would have to pay out of pocket due to their own insurances not covering the cost. The hospital would solely rely on the patient to pay the bill however, because of past experiences the hospital has a good impression that the patient(s) will not pay back the hospital for the services that were provided. Is it morally ethical that the billing department put extra charges on a patient’s records when those procedures were not performed on the patient while they visited; only to help the patient not pay out of pocket so that their insurance would cover the cost of health care. I can see how the hospital is trying to prevent losses by adding on enough charges to the patient’s records so that the insurance would cover the cost instead of the patient going into debt; and therefore limiting the risk that the hospital may go bankrupt by never getting paid due to the patient unable to pay the bill. I have come to know and realize that if I am ever to be placed into a management position I want to portray a positive moral and ethical example to my company, co-workers, and others around me like my friends and family. I believe that there are principles that need to be followed and respected based on moral ethics and how they can relate to a business. In my opinion I believe that dealing with ethics in a business perspective I am following a code of ethics of what is right and not what is wrong. Ethical means accepted standards in terms of your personal and social welfare; what you believe is right (Velasquez, 2006). I may feel differently than another manager who is dealing with the same situation but we both choose to ethically make different actions and decisions base on our own experience and perspective of what is right; however, it doesn’t mean either one of us is wrong. Moral standards include the norms we have about the kinds of actions we believe are morally right and wrong as well as the values we place on the kinds of objects we believe are morally good and morally bad (Velasquez, 2006). For example my moral standards are to tell the truth and to protect innocent people. If my company wants me to lie about a finding on a report; I know that if I do this then I am not following my personal moral standards. Another example is if I know that my company is not disclosing any possible danger or harm to their employees due to the products or equipment that is toxic to their health they are using; then I know that I am not following my moral standards. In too many cases I find that what goes around will come back around. You can only through dirt over it for so long because the rain is going to come and clear away the findings. The truth will always come out sooner or later, and then what will others think of you for making unethical decisions based on moral standards they thought you had and lived by. However, it is possible that I allow myself to lower my moral standards due to unethical persuasions that have come from a higher threatening position that puts pressure on me. Therefore a decision or action could be forced upon me which is an example of nonmoral standards. According to Velasquez (2006), nonmoral standards can be contrasted with standards we hold about things that are not moral. For example my company may threaten to replace me if I do not do what is requested by them. It is possible that I could be persuaded to make a nonmoral decision over my moral standards based on examples like my job is at risk, my pay is good, I have bills and a mortgage, or I have a family to provide for. Nonmoral standards are the standards by which we judge what is good or bad and right or wrong in a nonmoral way (Velasquez, 2006). This is one example of my moral philosophies and ethical principles that I would not like to experience future management decision. Nor would I want to hold onto these kinds of standards in an organization I would be working for now or in the future. I find this to be a very weak characteristic that only hurts my organization reputation, me, and others that I may be leading moral and ethical examples for them to follow. We need to lead by examples in order to continue to make ethical business decisions. In order to change bad management habits or organizational conditions one must realize that there are areas that need improvement and then a plan needs to be developed. In my previous job working in the medical field for over 5 years I experienced highs and lows in regards to how management handled certain situations. Training new employees was something that needed to be addressed. Many new hires were lueless with policies and procedures. They had no experience or skills with the technology that the administrator department used. New employees were not properly trained. They were told and showed one time this is how we take patient’s information, insurance cards and put it into the data system. They missed vital information that was almost impossible to get once the patient left the hospital’s facility and insurances were not notified with in a proper time frame of the patient’s visit. My manager would find missing information and sit one by one and lecture new employees how they were not doing their job right; this sometimes lead to employees quitting and complaints to higher personal that the administration department was not properly collecting the right information from patients. Instead of lecturing new employees and making them feel bad for not doing their job correctly due to lack of proper and adequate training I would set a plan in action to train new employees and set up performance evaluations. My suggestion was to place new employees in a class for at least 1 week prior from starting and have them practice hands on training with our computer system we used when taking patient’s vital information. As a manager I would try to find ways to keep my employees instead of losing them due them being frustrated with not understanding the importance of collecting accurate data on patients when entering into the hospital. Also I found that when my manager would sit most of her employees down in her office she was rude, downgrading, and belittling most of them. When conducting a performance evaluation it would allow the manager and the employee to sit down and talk about what needs to be improved and also what areas have been met. In the five years I worked for this organization, not one time did I get any kind of praise or recognition. Going forward when I become a manager I know how important it is to express to my employees how much they are worth to me and the organization. I would suggest that the management board come together at lease quarterly and do something for their employees like providing a group lunch every quarter to show their appreciation or perhaps allowing the top employees to take off an hour early with pay. There are many ways to show an organization appreciates their employees like a thank you card, or a certificate to a restaurant. It is our job as managers to recognize the hard workers and appraise them once in a while for their commitment and hard work toward our organization. We are a team and one annot get the job done without the other and there is no position better than the other. In a business perspective we’ve seen that values and moral standards play a big role in how we make decisions on a daily basis. We base our values and morals on the importance of what we feel are ethically right and wrong. Our society that we live in is what helps us develop our ethics and keeps our belief strong with what is right, wrong, goo d and evil. My previous work experience and education has helped me develop my own moral standards. In this reflection paper I have discussed my own personal values, morals, and ethics and relate it to my last job when I was working for a hospital in Arizona. I have given examples of what kind of management skills I want to improve on and continue to develop for my future organization I will one day work for. I’ve realized that I must stand strong with my moral and ethical principles in order to be a good manager who will lead by great examples and help other follow in a positive way to use their moral and ethical principles when making important and vital decisions for an organization. I’ve used this course of study in Personal and Organization Ethics to help me evaluate the strengths and weaknesses and I’ve given examples using detailed circumstances and contexts from the knowledge I have learned so far. References Velasquez, M. (2006). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases (6th ed. ). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Learning Experience Paper Essay

In this paper I will discuss my learning experiences and analyze them with the perspective of learning theories. I will analyze my learning experiences with regards to classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive- social learning theory. First of all, I would begin by describing my experience of learning to fear lizards with regards to classical conditioning. To give some context to the situation, I was raised in India where lizards, usually in large numbers, are often found on walls particularly during the summer months. I strongly believe that my fear of lizards can be explained using Pavlov’s â€Å"classical conditioning†. Classical conditioning is the type of learning that occurs via making associations. In other words, Classical conditioning is a type of learning by which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response (Feist, 2008, p. 449). In addition, Clark (2004) in his article,† The Classical Origins of Pavlov’s Conditioning† gives a detailed insight at the origin of classical conditioning and the reasoning behind the change of Pavlov conditioning to classical conditioning (Clark, 2004). With regards to classical conditioning, I believe my fear of lizards can be traced back to my younger years. When I was in my childhood years, I heard my older sister always screaming every time she saw a lizard; the scream infusing a fear in me. The conditioning happened as follows: Initially when I saw the lizard, I always tried to stay away from them because I thought they were disgusting. But when I heard my sister screaming every time she saw the lizard, it scared me and eventually, I developed the fear of lizard. So, after hearing my sister screaming at the lizard multiple times, I realized that I myself have developed a fear of lizard. Since then, I had learned to associate loud scream with lizard and hence developed a fear of lizard. Therefore, I believe I have been conditioned to fear lizards. I believe the unconditioned stimulus is the lizard, the unconditioned response (fear), the conditioned stimulus (scream), and the conditioned response (fear of lizard). Also, I believe I have acquired behaviors through operant learning. My desire  to accomplish good grades and as a result, make my parents proud of my accomplishments can be traced back to my younger years. I strongly believe that my desire to get good grades and to make my parents proud can be explained by a learning called â€Å"operant conditioning†. Operant conditioning is a type of learning that occur when the reinforcement follows a particular behavior; hence increasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. In my case, when I was growing up I was always known to be a good student amongst my teachers and my family. Every time I had exams, I always did well and my parents always told me that if I get above a certain level grade, for instance being in the best three students in class, I will get a reward. The reward (reinforcement) meant that my parents threw a party as a result of being proud of my accomplishments. So, consequently I learned that every time I perform well in class, I got a reward (parents’ happiness). This in turn made my family proud of me and it reinforced me to do better next time; hence it increased the probability that the behavior would occur again. This is not to say that the reward caused me to behave in a certain way, instead the reward just increased the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. I believe my family approval acted as the positive reinforcement, as it strengthened my behavior. Interestingly, Research shows that operant conditioning can also be used in the treatment of chronic aphasia ( Sigurà °ardà ³ttir, 2006). Furthermore, I have also acquired learning experiences by using observation. In other words, I have learnt behaviors by observing what others do in a particular situation and then learned to perform the same behavior in that particular situation. For instance, when I first moved to Canada, I was not aware of how the supermarkets work in terms of the entire process of taking your own shopping cart to packing your own groceries. Also, I was not aware that most of the grocery stores require customers to bag their own groceries. But when I first experienced the western grocery market environment, I wasn’t sure how everything was supposed to work, so I observed how other people performed the task. When I went to the checkout I saw people unloading their groceries and afterwards, packing it as well. Therefore, I realized how the process worked and I found myself performing the task just as I saw other customers performing. In the end, I recognized  that I have acquired this task by looking at how other people are behaving and hence by observing them, I learnt to perform in the same manner. I strongly believe that media plays an important part in the learning process. As younger kids spend plenty of time in front of their TV’s and computers ( internet, video games), they are more likely to experience adult material such as foul language, violence, kissing amongst other things sooner than their parents generation. Also, if they encounter these adult material sooner in their lives, it also has implications on their social behavior, desensitization of violence, rape, shootings and so on. Moreover, prejudice also plays an important role in learning. For instance, teenagers are stereotyped as misbehaving, violent, and arrogant group and if the society sees them stereotypically, the teenagers are going to learn that such an egotistical behavior is probably how they should be, even if they are not. Hence they would learn to behave in such arrogant ways so that they can fit into the stereotypical picture that has been made by the media and the society. In conclusion, classical conditioning is a type of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes paired (associated) with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to elicit a conditioned response (CR) ( Feist, 2008, 449).This type of conditioning was introduced by Ivan Pavlov and hence also called Pavlovian conditioning. Some of the main components of Classical conditioning are: neutral stimulus (NS), unconditioned stimulus (UCS), unconditioned response (UCR), conditioned stimulus (CS), and conditioned response (CR).Operant Conditioning, on the other hand, is a type of learning in which voluntary responses are controlled by their consequences. If a behavior is reinforced, it increases the probability that the behavior will occur again. Some of the basic principles of operant conditioning are: Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Shaping, Positive Punishment, and Negative Punishment. Interestingly, Research shows that human infants are also capable of learning â€Å"operant discrimination† (Simmons, 1964). Lastly, Cognitive-Social learning theory emphasizes the roles of thinking and social learning in behavior (Carpenter, 2008). There are different types of learning that takes place: insight learning, latent  learning, and observational Learning. A perspective that emphasizes the roles of thinking and social learning is behavior. Therefore, classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive social learning are all forms of learning’ hence called learning theories. Also, Classical and operant conditioning share many of the same basic principles and procedures. Some of those basic principles are: acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, and stimulus generalization. References. Carpenter, S. & Huffman, K. (2008). Visualizing Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Clark, R. (2004). The Classical Origins of Pavlov’s conditioning. Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science, Oct-Dec2004, Vol. 39 Issue 4, p279-294. Retrieved on April 2, 2009 from EBSCO host database. Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2008) Theories of Personality (7th edition). New York: McGraw-HillSigurà °ardà ³ttir, G; Sighvatsson, B (2006). Operant conditioning and errorless learning procedures in the treatment of chronic aphasia. International Journal of Psychology, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p527-540, 14p.Retrieved on April 2, 2009 from EBSCO host database. Simmons, W (1964). Operant Discrimination Learning in Human Infants, Child Development Vol. 35 Issue 3, p737. Retrieved on April 2, 2009 from EBSCO host database

Self reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

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Media and Dealing With Swine Flu Personal Statement

Media and Dealing With Swine Flu - Personal Statement Example According to Kumar (2014), media industries have also sought to expand information shared to audiences across national and subnational borders. The media were greatly involved in spreading information about the H1N1 virus that cause swine flu (Mesch et al., 2013). Swine flu can be detected from the signs and symptoms shown by individuals just like the common flu. Most media avenues such as newspapers and television networks spread the news about this virus immensely (Van-Tam & Sellwood, 2013). There are various risks associated with swine flu, according to information made public by the media. Some of the health risks associated with this type of flu include: asthma and diabetes. In this context, swine flu can worsen the conditions of people suffering from diabetes or asthma. Since the virus causes breathing problems, people with asthma can greatly be affected by this type of virus. Moreover, failures in the respiratory tracks of infected individuals could lead to death. The media industry has also been greatly involved in warning people about against the swine flu disease. According to the United Kingdom newspapers, the media were actively involved in providing information to the public about the emergence of the disease (Social and Public Health Sciences Unit). Moreover, Frontline headlines in the newspapers were about the threats posed by the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu. Moreover, the research found that though the media coverage of this virus was immense, the information provided to the public domain was based on genuine scientific information (Hilton & Hunt, 2011). With such information, the public became aware and cautious about the flu. On the other hand, some people thought the media exaggerated the news coverage concerning the spread of the virus. According to some media avenues such as the Guardian, the swine flu virus was hyped to be able to cause the deaths of up to one hundred

Is the current government policy and legislation towards older people Essay

Is the current government policy and legislation towards older people going to meet their health and wellbeing needs, now and in the future - Essay Example This is via colossal funding of their care institutions, hospitals and somehow intervening in the end time services, which entail spirituality. Mainly, this is evident in the care centers; both the private and the public (Jeary, 2005). Contrary to all this efforts, the state has invested to ensure sound living of their elderly, the condition of their regulations and policies have proved quite divergent to their expectations. Since the population is rapidly augmenting annually whereas, those responsible to care for the elderly fail in their responsibilities (Eriksson, Asplund & Sellstrà ¶m, 2010, p. 1322). Numerous evils and abuses against the elderly are emanating from the caregivers, that encompass neglect, segregation, both sexual and physical assaults. These have culminated to mysterious deaths resulting from the absence of administering medications, beating and neglect. These cases’ causes have proved to numerous investigations as unconquerable, since those who undertake these vices are close people behind the masks of loving relatives. Hence, has rendered UK Legislations and other reinforcements inadequate to ensure sound elderly wellbeing now and in future (Jeary, 2005). Wellbeing normally assumes three approaches that encompass psychological, bodily and social setting, but their soundness does not imply the absence of sickness and other related maladies (Anneyce, 2011). Psychosomatic approach entails mind aspects where an individual experiences peace and does not have conflicting memories. Uncontrolled memories or thoughts usually yield to mental disorders that may render one incapacitated. Since, they normally lead to stress or prolonged depression, hence prompting an individual live happiness deprived life. Peaceful mind normally emanates from the sound spirituality of an individual, which also comprises one approach of psychological

Standard Building Contract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Standard Building Contract - Essay Example Further under clause 3.10.3 if the contractor does have any reservation he must inform the CA/Architect within 7 days. In case the contractor refuses to comply or does not respond in writing within 7 days, the clause 3.11 of the JCT contract is applicable under which the CA/Architect have the power to employ another person/party to perform the task and the cost incurred in the engagement of the new party to complete the task will be paid by the contractor and deducted from the contract sum. In my opinion I believe that the situation in our case the CA/Architect will issue a written notice and if the contractor does not comply he will have to face similar outcomes as mentioned above. Now, the employer has to invite another party to complete the desired task and deduction from the current contractor’s bill. Thirdly the issues of the modification of working hours where the architect has already written a letter to the contractor. Hence he has done his part of the work so that the clauses under chapter of â€Å"variation† of JCT contract 05 can be applicable. Under the clause 5.1.2.3 the CA/Architect has the right to change and make â€Å"variation† in the working hours of the contractor and the contractor has to comply with the orders, where as he has the choice to make an equal valuation of the variation, which is then to be communicated to the CA/Architect, 5.2 â€Å"Valuation of Variations and provisional sum work†, clause 5.6 â€Å"The Valuation Rules Measurable Work† and 5.9 â€Å"Change of conditions for other work† are applicable.... ect have the power to employ another person/party to perform the task and the cost incurred in the engagement of the new party to complete the task will be paid by the contractor and deducted from the contract sum. In my opinion I believe that the situation in our case the CA/Architect will issue a written notice and if the contractor does not comply he will have to face similar outcomes as mentioned above. Now, the employer has to invite another party to complete the desired task and deduction from the current contractor’s bill. Thirdly the issues of the modification of working hours where the architect has already written a letter to the contractor. Hence he has done his part of the work so that the clauses under chapter of â€Å"variation† of JCT contract 05 can be applicable. Under the clause 5.1.2.3 the CA/Architect has the right to change and make â€Å"variation† in the working hours of the contractor and the contractor has to comply with the orders, where as he has the choice to make an equal valuation of the variation, which is then to be communicated to the CA/Architect, for which the clauses 5.2 â€Å"Valuation of Variations and provisional sum work†, clause 5.6 â€Å"The Valuation Rules Measurable Work† and 5.9 â€Å"Change of conditions for other work† are applicable. I strongly believe that the contractor has no other option but to comply with the instructions as it engages as employer directly. In case of non compliance to the instructions that are been given by the CA/Architect, the contractor can face disqualification from the project under the clause 3.11 â€Å"Non-compliance with instructions† of the JCT standard form of building contract. Whereas this clause is recommended to be a used as a warning as in our case where the contractor is repeatedly

The Concrete Era of Boston City Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Concrete Era of Boston City - Research Paper Example He started it with tax reforms and initialized various measures like the Freedom Trail Project to improve the relationship with locals. But, many challenges still remained as Boston was one of the oldest municipalities in the United States. Real reforms started to take place during the period of John F. Collins who followed Hynes. Several big architects like Le Corbusier and Charles Luckman started to work on various projects in the city. The Prudential Center was the first building to be build during the Hynes, Collins period using glass and steel mainly. Everybody expected the other buildings to follow the same pattern. But surprisingly, concrete considered as an ugly material by many took over the architecture of the city completely. The Government Center and the Boston City Hall built in 1968 was described as "one of the handsomest buildings of the time" by New York Times. I. M. Pei who constructed it designed it in such a way it had room for all administrative offices under one roof. The design for the City hall was selected though an open competition. The design of the Hall was so modern that it evoked many protests from the local architects as well as various other people who felt it did not suit the city's historical importance. The winner Gerhard Kallmann, Noel McKinnell, and Edward Knowles used concrete to create an authenticity for the building. The City Hall was simply described as "Mycenaean or Aztec overtones" by Walter Muir Whitehill. Most of the City Halls major designs like the concrete structures which doubled as sunscreens and top huge overhanging were Le Corbusier's idea (S. Southworth & M. Southworth, 2008). This concrete structure re-defined the Boston's face in the... This "The Concrete Era of Boston City" essay describes how the city and its "Concert Chapter" has changed with the times. The Prudential Center was the first building to be build during the Hynes, Collins period using glass and steel mainly. Everybody expected the other buildings to follow the same pattern. But surprisingly, concrete considered as an ugly material by many took over the architecture of the city completely. The Government Center and the Boston City Hall built in 1968 was described as "one of the handsomest buildings of the time" by New York Times. I. M. Pei who constructed it designed it in such a way it had room for all administrative offices under one roof. The design for the City hall was selected though an open competition. The design of the Hall was so modern that it evoked many protests from the local architects as well as various other people who felt it did not suit the city's historical importance. The winner Gerhard Kallmann, Noel McKinnell, and Edward Knowle s used concrete to create an authenticity for the building. The City Hall was simply described as "Mycenaean or Aztec overtones" by Walter Muir Whitehill. Most of the City Halls major designs like the concrete structures which doubled as sunscreens and top huge overhanging were Le Corbusier's idea (S. Southworth & M. Southworth, 2008). This concrete structure re-defined the Boston's face in the architectural world. Several new buildings started to appear using concrete. Nearly one hundred and fifty-four mega structures were erected in between 1950 to 1970.

Thalia, Muse Of Comedy Essay Example for Free

Thalia, Muse Of Comedy Essay Venue is defined simply as the appropriate place of trial. In criminal cases, fairness and convenience to the defendants are the underlying policy in determining venue. It has been often ruled that the basic requirement of placing venue in the district wherein the crime has been committed must be determined from the nature of the crime alleged and the location of the act or acts constituting it. However, courts must consider such factors as convenience of and fairness to the defendants and witnesses and the prompt administration of justice in setting venue and considering motions for the change of venue. Questions of venue in criminal cases are not merely matters of formal legal procedure. They raise deep issues of public policy in the light of which legislation must be construed (United States v. Johnson cited in VENUE- Cases). In order to comply with this public policy, courts will allow a change of venue if injustice will result and prejudice so great will exist against the defendant or if the procurement of witnesses will be difficult if no change of venue will be made. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows a change of venue upon three instances, to wit: upon the judges own motion, upon motion of the state prosecution, and upon the defendants own motion (Chapter 31). On the other hand, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure allows change of venue for trial only upon defendants own motion (Rule 21). Curiously, the Federal Rules only allow change of venue for prejudice and for convenience on the part of the defendant alone, and only upon his own motion. On the other hand, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows change of venue not only for the convenience and to avoid prejudice against the defendant but also to afford a fair and impartial trial to the State and upon the motion of the judge or of the state prosecution. The inevitable conclusion is that the Federal Rules seek to afford a fair and impartial trial in favor of the accused alone in interpreting the public policy behind the determination of venue in criminal trials, while the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure seeks to afford a fair and impartial trial in favor of both the State and the accused in determining the venue in criminal cases. References Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Retrieved from the world wide web on Nov. 22, 2007. http://www. law. cornell. edu/rules/frcrmp/Rule21. html. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Retrieved from the world wide web on Nov. 22, 2007. http://tlo2. tlc. state. tx. us/cgi-bin/cqcgi. Zalman, Marvin. Venue-Cases. Retrieved from the world wide web Nov. 22, 2007. http://law. jrank. org/pages/2247/Venue. html.

The Benefits of My Fantasy Football League Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of My Fantasy Football League Essay The difference between knowledge and intellect is remarkable, yet many times these words are used interchangeably. Knowledge refers to facts on a given subject; intellect refers to a person’s perspective, how they view, analyze, and interpret their environment . Unlike I.Q., intellect can and should be taught to our students, but instead our current schooling system is focused on ensuring students memorize the facts required to pass an exam. In his essay, â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism†, Gerald Graff explores the limits current education standards impose on our youth’s development. Graff presents the idea that perhaps the subjects that we normally associate with â€Å"anti-intellectualism† are just as capable of being subject of critical thought as Shakespeare’s plays. â€Å"Real intellectuals turn any subject, however lightweight it may seem, into grist for their mill through the thoughtful questions they bring to it† (Graff, 381). This idea is central to understanding the rest of Graff’s argument. If no subject is more deserving than another, then every subject—sports to science—should be utilized in the classroom as learning tools. Young students are motivated in complicated ways. The things that interest them are normally not academic texts of Plato or George Orwell. The author himself identified himself as a person who â€Å"hated books and cared only for sports† (Graff, 381). The only readings that interested him were sports novels and magazines. Over time, Graff developed the idea that his love for sports was not actually anti-intellectual as he had previously assumed, but was as intellectual as his university studies. He claims that had his teachers utilized his love for the workings of the sports world as an outlet to spark academic discussion and thought, he would have earned a stronger education. While Graff was postponing his English homework to have a debate with his best friend about who was the best pitcher in the 50s, he was practicing the skills that would later allow him to become a successful professor at the University of Illinois. Engaging in heated debates about baseball gave Graff opportunities to practice forming coherent arguments supported with evidence he had to collect and analyze while at the same time perfecting his conversation skills and logical thought patterns. What is the goal of elementary education if not to teach one how to learn and think? Sure, one needs to know their multiplication tables and Presidents, but the curriculum should be designed to teach students how to educate themselves in order to think critically about their world. The first step in education, according to Graff, should be providing the pupil with a topic they are interested in. Doing so gives students a bridge from their social life into the academic world and will yield students that are more interested and involved in their studies. Graff acknowledges that there are limits to this approach just like any other. A quote from his peer, Ned Laff, summarizes the challenge in education. â€Å"[The challenge] is not simply to exploit students’ nonacademic interests, but to get them to see those interests through academic eyes† (Graff, 385). Being a cognoscenti on the top songs of the decade is not enough, one should be able draw relationships between the trends of the songs in order to come to a general conclusion or theory that is applicable to other areas of life. Graff is careful to not belittle the classic academic texts and subjects. He claims that educators should use the topics their students are interested in as a gateway to more challenging topics. If one can teach a student to think critically about the implications of performance enhancing drugs in today’s athletes, then the hard part in education is complete. Once a student knows how to think critically, they can apply that technique to whatever subject they want to study for the rest of their life. It gives the power and responsibility of teaching to the student themselves. Graff ends his argument by appealing to the readers logic. Suppose he is wrong, and allowing trending topics in the classroom does not in fact motivate the student to become a student of the world. What does the educator stand to lose in trying? Even if all they ever are interested in studying are the current stats of the Baltimore Ravens, â€Å"they are more literate and reflective than they would be otherwise† (Graff, 386). I believe Graff presented a strong and valid argument worthy of discussion. I am able to relate on many levels with Graff. Often I find myself more interested in my fantasy football team than my college courses. Previously, I had assumed time spent on fantasy football was time wasted, but this essay has allowed me to develop a different perspective. In order to have a successful team, I had to decide what players would complement each other; this required close analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. Memorizing and studying stats has allowed me to develop my statistical analysis skills, a skill that otherwise would be left unrefined. After each season, game, play, I have to reevaluate my thoughts on a player in order to take into account the new information. It has taught me that the greatest players make the same amount of novel mistakes as the worst players but repeat their errors only a fraction as often. If more of my teachers had exploited my love of sports earlier in my education, I might have a more accurate idea of my academic capabilities. Although I agree with the central tenets of Graff’s argument, I think he is overly critical and general of today’s educators. There are teachers who exploit every opportunity to intrigue their students, and they deserve to be acknowledged in any argument critiquing the current education system. These are teachers who go beyond the status quo of â€Å"teaching to the exam.† They are the educators who attempt to instill in their students a passion to learn, explore, and test the boundaries of their mind. It is also important to elaborate on my use of the word â€Å"teacher.† A teacher is not restricted to the classroom, but I have extended the term to encompass all one’s advisors, especially a child’s parents. I believe Graff would agree with my statement that a child’s parent plays a vital and irreplaceable role in the education of a child. Rather than discourage discussion of the popular topics, parents can facilitate classroom learning through critical discussion of subjects directly related to the youth’s life. â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism† details a not so unique argument in a way that is easy for the general public to sympathize with. It provides people with a justification for their â€Å"guilty pleasures† and encourages a more critical mindset no matter what you are doing. I would recommend the article to my peers, teachers, and teammates alike. Works Cited Graff, Gerald. â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism.† They say I say. Eds. Graff, G., Birkenstein, C., and Durst, R.. New York City: W. W. Norton Company, 2012. 380-386.

Regulatory and Commercial Interrelationships Legality

Regulatory and Commercial Interrelationships Legality Individual report M2: Explain the legal obligations that might impact the regulatory and commercial interrelationships This report is about the legal obligations that might impact the regulatory and commercial interrelationships in the Heathrow airport but before we go further, legal obligations is defined by the law dictionary (2016) as the duty enforced by a court of law so we will be going in depth on these duties that might impact the commercial and legal interrelationships. The consequences of not complying with security regulations will be analyzed and concluded. Research findings on the legal obligations that might impact the regulatory and commercial interrelationships: Food safety laws prevent food safety issues from becoming a obstacle in international trade. (Sheward, E ,2006) Investing in compliance activities saves an organization money (Anon, 2016) Noncompliance cost organization a whole lot of money to deal with the consequences of noncompliance. (Anon, 2016). Due to the legal obligations, the aviation industry should adhere to, there may be some inconvenience to anyone who uses the aviation networks. (no, A. 2016). In the cases of threat procedures may change causing uncertainty. ( World Economic Forum,2016). The legal obligation has a wide impact on the regulatory and commercial interrelationship from negative where the organization must face consequences of non-compliance like business disruption and productivity loss (Anon, 2016) and cost the organization a significant amount of money. It is said that investing in compliance activities will lower the cost of non-compliance by staying away from the consequences of non-compliance. The range of non-compliance ranges from 1.4 million to almost 4 million for 46 organization with a headcount of $820 per employee. (Anon, 2016). The food safety law prevents food safety issues from becoming an obstacle in the international trade, this is now a priority as it rings the standard to ensure food safety (Sheward, E ,2006).delay or cancelation of a flight are example of the inconveniences the legal obligation will cause to the passengers, the airline don not have a get timetable so flight plans can change anytime (no, A.2016), most times its for the safety reasons for example in bad weather a airplane will cancel flights until it clears up. The aviation industry has to adopt to the changes in procedures in regard to the threat that it might faces, an effective way of responding to affects is change the normal procedures (World Economic Forum,2016). D1: Analyze and draw Conclusions about: The consequences of not complying with security regulations Security regulation is very important in the aviation industry as this helps to keep or business and customer safe. The non-compliance of the security regulation will cause business disruption and productivity losses. Penalties, fines, and other settlements are some consequences that the industry will face of non-compliance occurs (Anon, 2016). Noncompliance cost the organization millions of dollars to rectify whereas studies shows that the cost of non-compliance for 46 organization ranges from 1.4 million to 28 million with a head count of $820 per employee for non-compliance cost (Anon, 2016). Non-compliance to security regulation when doing an investigation may result in suspension of the employee activities at the airport. Fines maybe also be included in non-compliance; the airport security have the right to take away badges and key that they employee might have in regards to the airport. (Anon, 2016). In conclusion to the compliance of security regulation it is a lot easier to d o just that, it saves time and money and also ruin the reputation of the person or organization. The consequences of not complying to security regulation set in place is very effective as it limits the amount of security breaches because no one wants to pay fines or be held accountable for any non-compliance.

The Mexican Peso Crisis Essays -- Economy Economics Mexico Essays

The Mexican Peso Crisis This paper argues that the Mexican peso crisis of December 20 should have been expected and foreseeable. In the year preceding the crisis, there were several indicators suggesting that the Mexican economy and peso were already under extreme pressure. The economy bubble was ballooning to burst so much so that it was simply a crisis waiting to happen. Evidences Signaling the Crisis 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Decreasing Current Account Deficit versus Increasing Capital Account Balance Mexico was running an increasing current account deficit from US$7.5 billion in 1990 to US$23.4 billion in 1993. This indicates an excess of private investing over private savings. However, the country was able to maintain an improving fiscal account from US$3.6 billion deficit in 1990 to US$0.7 billion surplus in 1993. The deficit in current account was financed through capital funds from abroad resulting the capital account to increase from US$8.4 billion in 1990 to US$33.8 billion in 1993. The over-dependent on foreign capital flows had made the Mexican economy very vulnerable to any sudden and major flux of this capital fund which was very much dependent on the investors? confidence level in the Mexican economy. The fact that majority of the capital funds was in the form of portfolio capital instead of foreign direct investment (FDI) had also worsen the situation. The ratio of portfolio capital to FDI had increased substantially from 1:1.3 in 1990 to 1:6.5 in 1993. Given the volatile nature, portfolio capital tends to respond with greater speed to changes in the environment. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Depletion of International Reserve The central bank of Mexico has built up at high level of international reserve. The huge reserve was the result of the Mexican government?s policy of exchange intervention to prevent large fluctuation in the peso. In the beginning of 1994, the reserve amounted to US$26.4 billion but was depleted to a low US$6.7 billion in Mid Dec, flagging red light that the exchange mechanism had been pushed to the limit and the government can no longer hold on to the pegged peso to US dollar. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increasing Fed Rate but Decreasing Mexican Interest Rate Federal funds rate has risen the fifth time in 1994 on Nov 1994 and reaches 5.5%. This resulted in stronger dollar against peso as the quantity of US dollar reduced. This signaled problems for Mex... ...ssibility of a devaluation of the peso  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Euromoney, Mexico?s ranking among borrowing countries improved between March and September 1994 Conclusion The decreasing current account, increasing capital account, depleting international reserves, declining real GDP growth and increasing dollar-denominated tesobonos all pointed towards the vulnerability of the Mexican economy. In view of the repeated political unrests, Mr. Woo and the others should have expected this crisis. But they based their decisions on surface information and market sentiments that had over-valued the market potential. References : The Mexican Peso Crisis : the Foreseeable and the Surprise Nora Lustig, Brookings Institution, June 1995 Mexico 1994 versus Thailand 1997 Thailand Development Research Institute, 1997 Exchange-Rate Regimes, Speculative Attacks and Currency Crisis University of Essex An Early Warning System for Financial Crisis Dominic Barton, Roberto Newell and Gregory Wilson, Mc Kinsey & Company, 2003 The Impact of the Mexican Crisis of 94-95 on the Maquiladora Industry Paul Cooney, Queens College What NAFTA Brought to Mexicans? Jim Callis, March 1998

Heroism, Magic and Retribution in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Essa

Heroism, Magic and Retribution in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit   A fantasy is an imaginary world where all things imaginable can be brought to life. J.R.R Tolkien portrayed fantasy through his use of skilled craftsmanship and a vivid imagination, which was presented in each piece of literature he wrote. In Tolkien's two stories The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings we see the theme of fantasy brought to life through three essential elements, heroism, magic and retribution. Heroism is shown through the character's courage and bravery in situations where conflict arises and this enables them to be seen in a new light. Magic is a form of extraordinary power seemingly through a supernatural force; it is used in a combination of combat and mystical items to aid the companions on their journey. Retribution is paid to the evil forces for the wrongs society had to endure while they were allowed to dominate. This system allows opportunity for physical and mental development in the characters and the aspect of fantasy to come to life. During the character's quest, weather they were headed to the Lonely Mountains or to the Cracks of Doom, they always experienced a form of heroism. In the story The Hobbit, we see heroic deeds being accomplished by the main character Bilbo. This occurs when the companions do battle with giant venomous spiders in Mirkwood forest. Bilbo finds depth and strength in his nature that he was surprised was there and smote these villainous creatures all on his own, saving his friends and adding to his stature among those in the group. "Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the Dwarves or anyone else, made a great difference to Mr. Baggin... ... fully understand the characters, as well as the major changes both physically and mentally which allow the characters to successfully complete their task to dominate over the forces of evil. Works Cited Chance, Jane The Lord of the Rings: The Mythology of Power. New York, Twayne. 1992. Murray, Roxane Farrell. "The Lord of the Rings as Myth." Unpublished thesis. The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 1974. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit. New York: Ballantine Books, 1993. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. Tyler, J.E.A. The Tolkien Companion. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1976. Urang, Gunnar. "J. R. R. Tolkien: Fantasy and the Phenomenology of Hope" Fantasy in the Writing of J. R. R. Tolkien. United Press, 1971 Wood, Ralph C. "Traveling the one road: The Lord of the Rings." The Century Feb. 97: 208(4).

Image Incentives for Environmental Management Essay

Investors are most perceptibly impressed by environmental management. A company that demonstrates sound and sustainable practices with respect to the environment wins the trust of fund managers who adopt risk management strategies for the long-term safety of capital. A business or even an arm of government that has large ‘eyesores’ in terms of waste, extravagant consumption and deleterious side-effects from use of its products and services, will find it impossible to attract fresh investment, or even to retain its equity, unless it is able to demonstrate clear ability to contain all the undesirable effects of its operations. Organizations with transparent environmental management systems will emerge as preferred destinations for public and private investment. Major accidents can threaten the continuance of both industry and government. The impacts of the Bhopal disaster on Union Carbide’s pesticide operations, and that of the atomic power plant accident in Chernobyl, are striking examples of how a sudden disaster can be the reason for an indefinite cessation of all activities for a running organization. Formal environmental management systems help to reduce probabilities of adverse incidents, to cope with the immediate effects of disasters, and for image recovery in the aftermath of such major incidents. The EMS has therefore image implications for organizations, apart from the actual aid that it would render internally. Industries with negative images in the public mind need independent certification of their environmental management systems more than others. The label of ISO can enable such enterprises prolong their market operations. Some communities may ask polluting and hazardous businesses to move away from them. Local governments do routinely place severe restrictions on chemical application-some cities in North America have even banned their use altogether. Such developments point towards the eventual demise of entire sectors of industry. Companies and organizations with long term stakes in such enterprises, can rescue their investments by adopting comprehensive environmental management standards. There are a large number of enterprises and organizations with products, services and activities that have no obvious effects on the environment. Even they may on life cycle analysis, find areas where they can contribute to conservation of key earth resources. Life saving health care services generates large quantities of infectious wastes. Electronic goods including computers contain plastics and heavy metals, the disposal of which threatens our future, in a field with such rapid obsolescence. Many consumer goods compete on the basis of elaborate and attractive packaging, which tends to be paper based, and therefore very demanding of vegetative cover. Bureaucracies, especially the armed forces, may run on enormous quantities of energy without consummate and durable benefits. Companies in ‘non-polluting’ fields of endeavor can achieve new breakthroughs by displaying foresight in environmental conservation terms. Environmental concerns are most attractive for the young. This may be because of the long-term perspectives in which related concerns lie. Companies that design and make products and services for the young, can often find environmental concerns to make special business sense. Many social organizations have large numbers of young people amongst their ranks of activists and followers, because they lay so much importance by the environment and its conservation. Any business or group activity that seeks the support and endorsement of the young must have defendable records of environmental management. Toyota leads automobile manufacturers which use achievements in energy and waste reductions, to reach out to the young and to increase their market shares of this demographic segment. Formal environmental management systems involve elaborate procedures. They use the best team building practices. Environmental management methods use some of the top business management resources. The technology encompasses all aspect of business and operations; it provides platforms for individual and group excellence. Firms and organizations with elaborate environmental management systems in place can attract and retain the best professional talent, because of the challenge and opportunity it presents. Conversely, companies and organizations with poor records of environmental conservation will find it increasingly difficult to build adequate human resources of the right quality. The reasons and benefits of certified environmental management are not confined to the ‘soft’ reasons of image and goodwill: there are concrete business advantages as well. Companies and service organizations that supply goods and services to downstream industries, can access additional markets by adopting environmental management systems. The latter have ‘domino’ effects and all those who adopt formal systems for environment care are generally obliged to make their suppliers conform as well. Vendors who opt to ignore environmental management systems, or who consider the costs to be too high, will find themselves isolated and excluded from increasing sections of their potential markets. Tenders for major construction and service projects may stipulate environmental requirements. Bids can be lost because potential winners for such contracts do not have the experience and resources to comply with tender conditions. Some bidders, who are not the lowest on price, may present environmental advantages and add-on services to support their bids. We may see more examples of this trend, especially when public funds are at stake. It is unlikely that any major tenders can exclude conditions related to environmental concerns. We know that investors value stocks more on the bases of their perceptions and sentiments, rather than by the cold facts and figures of financial statements and checks of dividend. Image plays a major role in building long term value for companies, especially leaders in mature markets. There is a recent trend towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which instigates firms to stray beyond the strict limits of their original purposes. CSR has little meaning for firms without EMSs. One can never tell when an acute and major adverse event may expose an errant company, but the erosion of credibility of all firms with pernicious abuse of the environment, is also certain. There are strong compulsions for companies to develop and to protect their images in the public eye through the shield of ISO 14001. ISO 14000 and Global Trends The Internet and the World Trade Organization have combined to give all businesses global potential. This is a double-edged sword, as the benefits come with certain tags. One of the important implications of globalization is the need to display effective commitment to environmental conservation. The latter is a prime concern of recent origin that permeates key markets everywhere (Hanson, A. J. not dated). The United Nations Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the Brundtland Commission, published in 1987, gives concrete credence for the inevitability of environmental concerns for all international transactions. The cause of sustainable development is well served by the ISO 14000 series. Business houses and social organizations are bound by some international treaties related to environmental protection. The Montreal Protocol of 1987 on ozone depletion, the Basel Convention of 1989 on the transport of hazardous wastes, the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, are the key ones. These international agreements act as competitive advantages for companies that can meet the technological challenges implied; companies that ignore international trends in environmental concerns, on the other hand, are doomed to exclusion from emerging frontiers of global business. The Agreement on Technical business to Trade (TBT) and the Code of Good Practice are strong albeit indirect influences by the World Trade Organization to impose environmental management on a trans-national basis. Imports in to a member country may be restricted by technical regulations and product standards. The latter can have strong environment norms, as for example in terms of air emissions. Product labeling requirements may also act as barriers for companies to export their goods, if they do not have a comprehensive environmental management system such as ISO 14001 in place. Since ecological labeling is based on life cycle analysis, international trade can dig deep in to production and purchase systems as a barrier to entry for companies that do not follow or use ISO 14001. The Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment (SAGE) has led the ISO to establish the following standards, each of which has severe impact on companies involved in international trade: Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Environmental Auditing (EA) Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE) Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Environmental Labeling (EL) Terms and Definitions (T&D) Environmental Aspects of Product Standards (EAPS). TC 207 has the international authority to set standards for environmental management systems. It has established a network of organized committees in many countries of the first world that give strong body and substance to the strict observance of environmental management standards by all companies engaged in global trade. TC 207 gives an undeniable message to global corporations to use systems such as ISO 14001. Environmental concerns have reached consumer groups, and they add great force to regulatory pressures on global companies to use the ISO 14000 series to respond to changing trends in customer demands. Companies that lack the abilities and the inclination to conserve the environment, face gradual extinction as they stand to lose custom. The net effect of these treaties and regulations is that business will get confined in stages to small pockets of the third world where international obligations do not apply, and where consumer awareness is low. Even these pockets will shrink to infinitesimal proportions with the passage of time. The future lies in business that meets global standards, and environmental management systems are an integral part of such standards. ISO 14001 is a structured way for all companies to strengthen their bases for the world-wide markets of the future. ISO 14001 and Profits Many business leaders will not invest the time and money required to obtain ISO 14001 registration, and to maintain it, for image reasons alone. However, they can be persuaded by arguments related to direct effects on the bottom line. ISO 14001 helps profitability in a number of ways (Case Studies 2002). Companies which have implemented ISO 14001 have the following experiences: 1. ISO 14001 makes the implementation of other standards in the ISO 14000 series easier. A company which invests in ISO 14001 can earn multiple returns by qualifying quickly and at low cost, for other certifications in the series. The profit implications of this competence will become an increasing lever of competitive advantage as countries and trading blocks insist on the consumer benefits that the ISO 14000 series offers. 2. Material and energy costs can be significant in total product costs. Much of the ISO 14001 process deals with reducing the amount of materials and energies needed to make each unit of a brand. This leads to direct cost savings. ISO 14001 also reduces the total cost of production by reducing waste management expenses. 3. ISO 14001 reduces the chances that a company may have to pay out large and unexpected amounts to help communities recover from pollution arising out of production and use of products. ISO 14001 protects operating profits from erosion due to recovery from pollution. 4. Recycling of waste is an important ISO 14001 priority. Parts recovered from a recycling process can act as raw materials for a new or a different production process, sometimes by a new entity at some other location. Regardless of the structure of a recycling process, there are always significant revenue potentials in the system. 5. ISO 14001 contributes positively to employee health and safety. It reduces employee-related costs in this manner, and improves productivity. ISO 14001 companies can expect better contributions from their human resources. 6. Insurance companies can be persuaded to reduce their charges as ISO 14001 improves risk management. The chances of adverse events reduce with ISO 14001 processes, and thereby reduce insurance costs. 7. ISO 14001 has international relevance. Companies that operate globally can avoid duplicating the costs of meeting local standards by seeking the universal nature of ISO 14001 certification. 8. Company valuation appreciates after an ISO 14001 certification, especially for relatively risky areas of business. Investors feel more assured about investing in stocks of companies that are able to manage their inherent risks in the transparent and professional ways of ISO 14001. 9. Companies can market their ISO 14001 certifications to gain market share. Customers may switch over to support companies who are able to inform them about the environmental benefits of the registration. ISO 14001 is a flexible system that adapts to the priorities of organizations that strive for its certification. It yields margin improvement through productivity achievements. It also protects future profits by contributing to the risk management capabilities of registered organizations. It can reduce insurance costs by managing product liabilities and reducing the probabilities of accidents, claims and other adverse incidents. Companies that use ISO 14001 experience profit growth and more assured future prospects as well.

History of Statistics Essay

The history of statistics can be said to start around 1749 although, over time, there have been changes to the interpretation of the word statistics. By the 18th century, the term â€Å"statistics† designated the systematic collection ofdemographic and economic data by states. In the early 19th century, the meaning of â€Å"statistics† broadened to include the discipline concerned with the collection, summary, and analysis of data. Today statistics is widely employed in government, business, and all the sciences. Electronic computers have expedited statistical computation, and have allowed statisticians to develop â€Å"computer-intensive† methods. The Word statistics have been derived from Latin word â€Å"Status† or the Italian word â€Å"Statista†, meaning of these words is â€Å"Political State† or a Government. Shakespeare used a word Statist is his drama Hamlet (1602). In the past, the statistics was used by rulers. The application of statistics was very limited but rulers and kings needed information about lands, agriculture, commerce, population of their states to assess their military potential, their wealth, taxation and other aspects of government. Gottfried Achenwall used the word statistik at a German University in 1749 which means that political science of different countries. In 1771 W. Hooper (Englishman) used the word statistics in his translation of Elements of Universal Erudition written by Baron B.F Bieford, in his book statistics has been defined as the science that teaches us what is the political arrangement of all the modern states of the known world. There is a big gap between the old statistics and the modern statistics, but old statistics also used as a part of the present statistics. During the 18th century the English writer have used the word statistics in their works, so statistics has developed gradually during last few centuries. A lot of work has been done in the end of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the 20th century, William S Gosset was developed the methods for decision making based on small set of data. During the 20th century several statistician are active in developing new methods, theories and application of statistics. Now these days the availability of electronics computers is certainly a major factor in the modern development of statistics. * Statistics helps in providing a better understanding and exact description of a phenomenon of nature. * Statistical helps in proper and efficient planning of a statistical inquiry in any field of study. * Statistical helps in collecting an appropriate quantitative data. * Statistics helps in presenting complex data in a suitable tabular, diagrammatic and graphic form for an easy and clear comprehension of the data. * Statistics helps in understanding the nature and pattern of variability of a phenomenon through quantitative obersevations. * Statistics helps in drawing valid inference, along with a measure of their reliability about the population parameters from the sample data. * Actuarial science is the discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in the insurance and finance industries. * Biostatistics is a branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and observations by means of statistical analysis, and includes medical statistics. * Business analytics is a rapidly developing business process that applies statistical methods to data sets (often very large) to develop new insights and understanding of business performance & opportunities * Chemometrics is the science of relating measurements made on a chemical system or process to the state of the system via application of mathematical or statistical methods. * Demography is the statistical study of all populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic population, that is, one that changes over time or space. * Econometrics is a branch of economics that applies statistical methods to the empirical study of economic theories and relationships. * Environmental statistics is the application of statistical methods to environmental science. Weather, climate, air and water quality are included, as are studies of plant and animal populations. * Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. * Geostatistics is a branch of geography that deals with the analysis of data from disciplines such as petroleum geology,hydrogeology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, geochemistry, geography. * Operations research (or Operational Research) is an interdisciplinary branch of applied mathematics and formal science that uses methods such as mathematical modeling, statistics, and algorithms to arrive at optimal or near optimal solutions to complex problems. * Population ecology is a sub-field of ecology that deals with the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the environment. * Psychometrics is the theory and technique of educational and psychological measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits. * Quality control reviews the factors involved in manufacturing and production; it can make use of statistical sampling of product items to aid decisions in process control or in accepting deliveries. * Quantitative psychology is the science of statistically explaining and changing mental processes and behaviors in humans. * Statistical finance, an area of econophysics, is an empirical attempt to shift finance from its normative roots to a positivistframework using exemplars from statistical physics with an emphasis on emergent or collective properties of financial markets. * Statistical mechanics is the application of probability theory, which includes mathematical tools for dealing with large populations, to the field of mechanics, which is concerned with the motion of particles or objects when subjected to a force. * Statistical physics is one of the fundamental theories of physics, and uses methods of probability theory in solving physical problems. * Statistical thermodynamics is the study of the microscopic behaviors of thermodynamic systems using probability theory and provides a molecular level interpretation of thermodynamic quantities such as work, heat, free energy, and entropy.

Critical Paper A Rose for Emily

In the story of â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, a kind of point of view that is used was first point of view of multiple characters where the narrator is one of the characters in the story. The multiple characters narrate the actions of a group of characters while never referring to a â€Å"me† and only to a â€Å"we† of the group. It was evident that the narrator was one of the townspeople who were very objective in presenting the facts of the story. He told us about what the townspeople think of Miss Emily but he didn’t judge her. He clearly presented a reality, not an illusion in which Miss Emily was the one who’s really struggling with the concept of reality vs. illusion and also living one way while hiding a terrible secret (reality vs. appearance). One of the main themes of the story is that people should let go of their past, moving on with the present so that they can prepare to welcome their future. Emily was the proof of a person who always lived on the shadow of the past because she was afraid of changing. She did not accept the passage of time throughout all her life, keeping everything she loved in the past with her. The first evident was about the description of Grierson’s house which was still remained like a symbol of seventieth century while the society was changing every minute. The second evident was the event that Miss Emily declined to pay taxes because in her mind, her family was powerful and they didn't have to pay any taxes in the town of Jefferson and the third was the fact that Miss Emily had kept her father’s death body inside the house and didn’t allow burying him. And last evident which was also the most interesting of this story, the discovery of Homer Barron's skeleton in the secret room which can be understood that Miss Emily was afraid that he would leave her and she decided to kill him because she was afraid of losing him. Another theme of the story is that not all things, people, and events are always what they appears to be, which was associated and expressed many times throughout the story. The townspeople viewed Miss Emily as a strange old woman. Not until after her death when the men opened the secret room and found the corpse of Homer Barron, did the citizens and the reader realized that Miss Emily had gone insane.

The Working Roles of Animals

Animals in the media Animals have been used in the media for many years as they catch the eye of the viewer. Animals which are used in advertisements usually don’t have any or much relevance to the products being advertised. An example of this is the adverts for Dulux Paint, which uses an Old English Sheep dog in their adverts. They have used this breed of dog in their adverts since 1961 because this breed of dog has been used for so many years people associate it with the Dulux Company.The adverts catch people’s attention and as the dog has no relevance to paint products and therefore people will discuss the adverts. Another example of animals having no relevance to the product in which they are being advertised is the Andrex adverts, they use Labrador puppies in their adverts for toilet paper. When the adverts first came out, Golden Labrador puppies became extremely in demand. However some of the people who were buying the puppies had done little to no research about the dog. The appeal of owning a Labrador was having a small, cute dog.However many owners didn’t realise the size that they would grow to, many owners then re-homed them as they grew larger. However, there are exceptions to this where the animals are relevant to the product being advertised. These adverts are usually for pet products and rescue centres. Recue centres use abandoned looking animals in their adverts, which is an emotive technique. Another example of animals being used relevantly in adverts is pet products, such as Iam’s or Pedigree. They show the animals which the product is for. They use cute animals which the public find appealing.Many adverts portray animals inaccurately; this causes people to believe that the images which are shown are a true reflection of the animal, as they have little or no knowledge of how the animal behaves. This may result in people potentially buying dangerous pets. This can be harmful to the owner or the animal and can result in abandonment. Animals which are portrayed as unpleasant, scary or dangerous can be in danger when people assume animals are worse than they are from seeing them on television. A good example of this is ‘Harry Potter’, where spiders are shown to be dangerous and scary.This causes people to have a higher fear of the animals, this can also develop into phobias, which may result in people hurting or killing animals. Another good example of where animals are portrayed to be much more vicious than they actually are is in the film ‘Jaws’. Great white sharks are perceived to be human killers and go out of their way to hunt humans whereas in reality the chance of being killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264. 1 million (1). Films also promote animals, implying that they would be good pets.In the film ‘101 Dalmatians’ many breeds of dogs are perceived as being extremely intelligent and easy to care for. This causes people to purchase them without doing the correct research and easily become overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for a dog. Animals in sports The most popular sports involving animals are horse racing, dog racing and angling. Many people find pleasure and excitement in racing and betting on animals, it creates enjoyment for owners, trainers and spectators. A large part of racing is when people gamble on the race.This will generate money for the owners and trainers of the animals as well as the book makers and the people who place the winning bets. Television will provide a source of income and promote the sport. People may also watch the races and place bets at their local Bookies. The animals which win the most races, are the most successful and will be highly valued for breeding. This helps to ensure good offspring for racing. Race horses will usually be spoilt and have the best quality of life to ensure that they are the fittest they can possibly be for racing. However, Greyhounds may be starved and beaten before races.Starving the dogs may provoke them to run faster to try and catch the ‘rabbit’ because their natural instincts kick in. Some owners/trainers may be more concerned with the financial gain than the animals’ welfare. As a result animals may be harmed during training. This also means that animals that are not fit enough to race may be abandoned, rehomed or destroyed. Animals may also be killed during racing as a result of injuries. Angling is very popular in the UK. Live bait is usually used to attract the fish but dead bait or artificial lures can be used instead.There are different types of angling including coarse, game and sea. The advantages of angling include the financial gain for manufacturers, dealers, charter skippers and the owners of the lakes and rivers where fishing takes place. The water quality in the lakes and rivers has greatly improved over recent years to benefit the stocks which also improve the quality of the fish’s life and the underwater ecosystem. Many of the fish are returned to the lake or river in which they came. There are also disadvantages with angling. Fish will become stressed and physically injured through being captured and handled.Even when the fish are returned to lake/river, they may not always survive due to the shock. Careless anglers have been known to spread disease within the lakes and rivers. Alien species have also been introduced to the ecosystem which shall compete with the native species. Animal fighting is illegal in the UK as well as other countries. Animals which are used to fight include bulls, cocks, dogs, fish, as well as badger and bear baiting. There are no advantages in this for the animals however some people get pleasure and money from this particular sport.The dogs are mistreated and starved so they become more aggressive. All animals involved in fighting suffer and many die from injury and infections to wounds received. The survivors to the fight will not receive the veterinary treatment that they require; therefore the healing process will be long and painful. Animals in work Animals have been used for helping disabled people and in working situations for many years. Guide dogs are given to the blind or extremely visually impaired people so that they find it easier to partake in everyday life.The dogs are trained to watch out for cars and objects that the owner may walk into, the dog will be able to guide them away from danger. Dogs can also be specially trained to help the disabled by opening doors, retrieving medicines and food. They can also be trained to alert help if the owner is injured or is unconscious. Some dogs can be trained to detect oncoming epileptic fits and can therefore warn the owner before a seizure occurs. Animals can also be used in a farming environment. The dogs which are commonly used are Border Collies, they are used to herd animals into a group.They are extremely intelligent and can learn commands by whistling and speech easily. They are trained to know the difference between herding left and right, they are also usually trained from a young age and are used until they are old. Dogs such as Spaniels can be used as gun dogs, this is where a shooting team shoots down birds and the dog will retrieve it unharmed. Horses were used to plough fields, gather sheep and cattle and transporting goods. However, they have now been replaced by machines. Animals in commercial use Animals can be used for their meat or for the products they produce.Chickens are used for their eggs until they can’t produce anymore, then they are killed for their meat. Battery farms keep chickens in cruel conditions, they will sometimes be force fed and have their beaks cut off to avoid pecking other chickens in the overcrowded conditions. Free range chickens however, are kept in good conditions with lots of room to run around. Cows are used for their milk, which can be turned in to yogurts and cheese; meat and their ski n, which is used to make leather. Animals can also be used for medical testing as well as the testing of cosmetics.Many animals are put through stressful situations whilst being tested on. Medical testing can include testing drugs on animals for humans. However, animals have a different anatomy to humans and what may be harmful to them may be good for humans. For example, rabbits will die from taking Penicillin whereas it is beneficial to humans. Testing cosmetics on animals is needless as there are alternative methods to testing products. It’s not as common as it used to be, however, it does still happen. Products that don’t test on animals often publicise it as it’s an effective selling point.

Analysis of the Nation of Brazil and Its Classification as A Developed Nation or Not

Analysis of the Nation of Brazil and Its Classification as A Developed Nation or Not In this project I have collected, analysed and evaluated evidence to help me to decide whether Brazil is a developed country or a developing country. Introduction to Brazil Brazil is the largest and most influential country in South America with a population of about 176 million, which is greater than the combined total for the whole of the rest of the continent. Brazil takes up almost half of South America. The 6,448km long Amazon River runs through the North of Brazil and is the second largest in the world, and the Amazon Basin is the largest River Basin the world. The River and over a thousand tributaries drain an area of 6,150,000km and carry one fifth of the worlds fresh water out to sea. In the North East, Brazil has arid deserts with rolling grasslands in the South. The Amazonian Rainforest covers more than one third of Brazil and its exploitation has become a major environmental worry. Brazil borders the Atlantic Ocean down the eastern side with the following countries bordering the North and West: French Guiana; Suriname; Guyana; Venezuela; Columbia; Peru; Bolivia; Paraguay; Argentina; and Uruguay. Brazil lies between 5 North and 30 South of the Equator. So, it is possible to stand with one leg in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere! The Equator, therefore, runs through the extreme North of Brazil with Macap and the Mouths of the Amazon on its line. Brazils correct title is The Federal Republic of Brazil and its 26 states are administered from its capital, Bras, which was purpose built and now has a population of between 1 and 1.9 million people. However, S Paulo has 17 million inhabitants. (See population map). The highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina which is 3014m (9,888 ft) above sea level. Brazils main language is Portuguese and its main religion is Catholic Christianity. Brazilian society is a vibrant, diverse mix of cultures. Brazils share of the Amazon basin, occupying half of the country, has a model equatorial climate. The 150-200cm (59-79 inches) of rain are spread throughout the year, although some periods are rather wetter than others according to the region. (See rainfall map) Temperatures are high, with almost no seasonal variation, but scarcely ever rise above 38 (100). The Brazilian plateau, which occupies most of the rest of the country, has far greater temperature ranges. Rain falls mainly between October and April. However, the Northeast, the least productive region of Brazil, is very dry and in past years has been suffering from severe drought, which compounded its problems. (See map on rainfall) The southern states have hot summers and cool winters, when frost may occur. The currency used on Brazil is the Real. 1 real = 100 centavos. The average wage per person per year is about ,570. The following evidence I have gathered describes how Brazil may have become a developed country. Economy Brazil has one of the worlds major economies and is now the ninth wealthiest country in the world. Economic reforms in the 1990s have bought some stability to the countrys finances. Reforms have included privatisation and the opening up of its markets. During the 1960s and 1970s, GDP expanded by an average of 11% a year. At this time the country enjoyed massive industrial growth, but then the Boom and Bust pattern hit and Brazil went bust! It became the worlds greatest debtor. The economy underwent major diversification and industrialisation, and today Brazil is a significant producer of cars and computers. In fact, Brazils car industry is acclaimed as being the success of the decade. Economic reform, initiated in 1990, enabled Brazil to reschedule its debts, but a steep recession followed in 1990-1992. The launching of the new currency, the re, in 1994 was the fifth attempt at monetary stabilisation since 1986. It contributed to the dramatic reduction of inflation from around 50% a month in 1994 to around 80% a year in 1995 and less than 20% a year in 1996. Economic growth of 5.7% in 1994 was the highest since 1986. This boosted regional confidence and facilitated the launch of MERCOSUR, the common market with neighbouring Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In 1995, a fractious Congress blocked constitutional reforms of the tax and social security system, but finally agreed to end state monopolies in such sectors as telecommunications and oil, thereby reviving the governments privatisation programme. Rio de Janeiro is a major city on the East Coast, and although not the biggest, was once the capital city of Brazil. It was the area where the earlier Portuguese settlers (who have always claimed that they discovered it) landed and immediately began cultivating the rich soil. At this stage, it was all tropical forest in the area, but over many centuries it has been cleared and it is now Brazils political and economic heartland. Many people enjoy the white sandy beaches of Copacabana, which is overlooked by Sugarloaf Mountain. Many centuries of colonisation, conflict and slavery, and massive immigration from Europe have left Brazil a Country full of many different races and cultures. Lying mid-way between Salvador in the North and Porto Alegre in the South, and occupying only 7.7 per cent of Brazils total area, Rio De Janeiro supports over 30 per cent of its population. The annual carnival in Rio takes place over fives days where parades, balls, street dancing and samba and bossa nova music fill the streets. Brazil is also revered for its football prowess, having won the world cup 5 times. Vast sugar cane plantations mean that alcohol production is huge, and when oil became scarce and expensive in the early 1970s it caused many to use industrial alcohol as a fuel for the vehicles they then began building. Politics Brazil is a democratic federal republic with 26 regional parliaments and a national congress. Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822 giving the country the opportunity to develop to its best potential, and current borders were established. Women in Brazil have had the vote since 1934 and in 1993, Brazilians voted to retain directly elected presidents. In 1997 the constitution was changed to allow a president to run for re-election. Reformists want provisions to curb tax evasion, and were successful in 1995 in ending state monopolies and allowing foreign investment in telecommunications, oil, mining and shipping. Many also want to see changes in the electoral system in order to curb the increasing involvement of small parties in government. In October 2002, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, won the elections and became president. A former shoeshine boy he will head Brazils first left-wing government for more than 40 years. At his inauguration in January 2003, Lula promised to make major political and economical reforms and pledged to eradicate hunger. He also pledged to tackle corruption and Brazils economic woes, improve education and create 10 million jobs. He plans to rid Brazil of its reputation for the biggest gap between rich and poor in the world. He did warn that this might take him longer than his initial 4-year term. Plans to develop nuclear weapons have now been abandoned by the military. Industry Local industry is well developed, making Brazil dominant in the region. Major industries include, Agriculture, Mining, Iron and Steel, Motor vehicles, Oil and Mineral refining, Chemicals, Wood pulp and paper, Machinery, Food processing, Consumer goods, Textiles, Rubber processing and Fertilisers. Brazil is one of the worlds most important steel producers, and it has large deposits of gold, silver and iron. Agriculture and Products Brazil has a huge, successful agricultural base and produces the worlds largest quantities of coffee and Soya beans. It also has immense natural resources. It also produces Cereals, Cassava, Sugar, Oranges, Cocoa, Rice, Cotton, Tobacco, Bananas, Rubber, Timber, Iron ore, Bauxite, Manganese, Crude oil and Natural Gas, Coal, Chromium, Nickel, Tin, Zinc, Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Phosphates, Salt, Quartz crystal, Beryllium, Graphite, Titanium, Tungsten and Asbestos. Exports Total products exported are valued at $58.2 billion. Brazil has previously built its wealth on the exports of coffee, but more recently on sugar exportation and that of its other many natural resources. Brazil is now one of the largest sugar and orange juice exporters. Other products exported are Sugar, Machinery, Animal feed stuffs, Coffee, Cocoa, Iron ore, Motor vehicles, Soya beans and oil, Oranges, Iron and Steel, Chemicals and non-ferrous metals. Resources Under the military, Brazil commissioned several power stations from former West Germany. Energy from these has been more expensive than expected, but the construction of the Angra-2 nuclear station was approved in 1996. Hydropower has been more successful, accounting for 90% of electricity generation. An agreement to build a 2,200km (1,370 miles) pipeline from the Bolivian gas fields to Brazils industrial south was signed in 1996 and put out to private tender. Ethanol is being made from sugar in an attempt to reduce petrol imports. Within the agricultural sector, Brazil is the worlds largest producer of coffee and the third largest producer of maize (corn). The total amount of electricity generated is 251bn kW/h. of this 93% is generated by hydroelectric power and 6% is thermal. The total electricity capacity is 56.21 million kW. In the South, the forces of the Paran and Paraguay Rivers have been harnessed to form the worlds largest hydroelectric project, the Itaip Dam. Regional divide Brazil can be divided into 5 regions (see regional map) North, Northeast, Centre West, Southeast and South. The North has several resource sites, from which the following materials are mined: Gold Bauxite Lead Copper Tin Iron Nickel Diamonds Common Salt (Sodium Chloride) Oil But the north does not have any industries. This is because of the enormous Amazon Rainforest and the inability to build upon it. In the Centre West, there is a similar amount of resources, which also includes zinc, limestone and quartz. As in the North, the Centre West does not have any main industries. Down in the South there are not as many resources as in the North and Centre West, but there are many industries. Moving back up into the South East there are many resources such as Iron, Nickel, Oil, Gold, Quartz etc. and also quite a few industries which include Textiles/Clothing, Iron and Steel sites and a shipbuilding site. Finally, in the Northeast of Brazil there are many resource sites and industrial sites. These include Bauxite, limestone, sea salt and oil refineries, mechanical engineering and textiles and clothing. Communications A vast road network is being built to link the main centres of Brazil, and five river systems are being harnessed for a total of 8,000km (5,000 miles) of waterways. The antiquated railways are increasingly unreliable. S Paulos metro is being extended to cope with the citys rapidly expanding population. Media Brazil is the largest exporter of TV programmes. South Americas biggest media market is home to thousands of radio stations and hundreds of T.V channels. The constitution guarantees a free press and vigorous media debate about controversial political and social matters is common. Media ownership is highly concentrated. Globo and Abril dominate the market and have interests in T.V and radio networks newspapers and pay T.V operations. Education Education follows the French system with a bachillerato (baccalaur) at the end of secondary schooling Society Brazil has targeted eco-tourism as a major growth area. The government is encouraging foreign investment in tourist facilities in Amazonia. Health There is a free health service available. This chapter includes evidence to suggest that Brazil may not yet be a developed country, but may still be developing. Politics The reduction of the fiscal deficit is a key objective. The government aims to dramatically reduce overstaffing at all levels of government, reduce social security payments and address the problem of the high real level of interest rates. The 1988 constitution, detailing promises for a better future, has proved to be unworkable in practice. The state cannot afford its social security, health and pension commitments. The proliferation of local governments, designed to check federal power, has led to a duplication of functions and is very expensive. Former President Collor de Mellos 1992 impeachment for fraud underlines the depth of the problem of corruption in Brazil. Many are now demanding an end to parliamentary immunity: under the current system, elected officials cannot be prosecuted unless they have been suspended from office by a two-thirds vote. The military, in power between 1964 and 1985, was responsible for human rights abuses, particularly against Amazon Indians. Its economic mismanagement left Brazil with a legacy of huge debts and inefficient state industries. Regional Wealth The government is facing increasing pressure to redress what some say is one of the worlds most unfair distributions of wealth. Much of the countrys arable land is controlled by a handful of wealthy families, a situation which the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) seeks to redress by demanding land redistribution. It uses direct protest action and land occupation in its quest. Society Social conditions are harsh in the big cities of Rio de Janeiro and S Paulo, where a third of the population lives in favelas or slums. In the 1970s a major drive was initiated to move settlers to the Amazon region. This caused considerable damage to vast areas of the rainforest. The high rate of destruction of the Amazon by loggers and cattle ranchers remains controversial today. However, these government sponsored migration programmes have now been halted. Many people work in fields for little pay, while a few rich landowners benefit from the huge profits. The ownership of consumer goods is not high. Out of 1,000 people: 278 own a T.V, 83 own a VCR, 13 own a PC. A lack of money, health and education forces over 500,000 girls into prostitution. Many street children are murdered by vigilante groups, who believe they are cleaning the streets. 90% of these murders go unpunished. Amerindians suffer prejudice from most other peoples in Brazil. Since 1900, 87 Amerindian groups have become extinct as a result of disease, starvation or the forceful taking of their land by miners, settlers and loggers. The Amerindian population today is estimated at just 220,000. Migrants from the poor Northeast suffer considerable discrimination in Brazils larger cities. Health Brazils Aids programme has become a model for other developing countries, having succeeded in stabilising the rate of HIV infection and cutting the number of Aids-related deaths. However, it is a controversial programme since it involves bypassing the big drugs firms to produce generic copycat Aids medicines. There may be as many as 2,000 street children who are HIV positive. The major causes of death are Heart diseases, Cancers, Accidents and Violence. There are 681 patients per doctor. Only 2.8% of the GNP (Gross National Produce) is spent of health. The public health system is limited. Less than 20% of hospitals are state-run and private care is very expensive. The World Bank has criticised the under-financing of preventive health care. On average, only 15% of the health budget is allocated to child health, immunisation and other preventive programmes. Reported malaria cases tripled between 1980 and 1990; 90% are in Amazonia, mainly in settler towns. Leprosy and parasitic skin infections are also becoming more common, again often affecting settlers. Unfortunately, the building of the Itaip Dam caused the lake it created to drown a set of waterfalls and this created a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The forest contains many plants that provide the basis for many valuable products, the most important ones being those for medicines. The bark of chinchona supplies the quinine to treat malaria, for example. Other plants supply substances used in the fight against cancer. Brazil nuts too are of-course famous all over the world. The constant stripping and attacking of these natural resources is doing much harm. Economy Brazil has a history of boom and bust, with its attempts at development hampered in the past by high inflation and one of the biggest foreign debts. It has had to be bailed out in times of crisis. The total value of Brazils debt is a staggering $250bn! () Chaotic finances of the states threatens national economic stability. Foreign investment is deterred by corruption, the fragility of economic reforms and preferences given to national companies in the sale of state companies. Congressional opposition delays urgent tax and social security reforms and privatisations. Savings and investment rates are about half those of leading East Asian competitors. Despite enormous natural and economic resources, Brazil still has 32 million of its people living below the poverty line, and has not begun to tackle the problem of homelessness and street children in Rio, S Paulo and other large cities. An estimated one to five million families remain landless, while nearly 80% of farmland is owned by 10% of farmers. Brazils large wealth disparities have been growing during the last decade. Relatively low levels of unemployment conceal large-scale underemployment, and the UN classifies over 50% of the population as suffering poverty. The large numbers of poor rural migrants who move to the cities live in the favelas, or shantytowns. Favelas are now also appearing in the countryside. The wealthy like to drive European cars, holiday in Paris or ski in Switzerland, where most of them keep their money to avoid scrutiny and interference in their accounts by the government. Brazil experienced an energy crisis in 2001. It is a country very dependent on water to fire its hydro-electric power stations, so when they had droughts so bad that the reservoirs were drained dry, they had a major catastrophe on their hands. At that time, hydroelectric plants and reservoirs produced over 90% of the countrys electricity supply, and the dry weather and insecure infrastructure issues caused major shortages. In 2002, they introduced some energy rationing, even declaring public holidays in an attempt to keep the demand for power by the large industries down. This in turn has led to a more immediate need for an alternative fuel source, and to not keep all ones eggs in one basket so to speak. They are currently importing oil from Venezuela and Argentina. Many large foreign firms have placed serious bids for the rights to drill and excavate for oil in the rich off-shire reserves 6,560 feet below the waters surface off Brazils Atlantic Coast. BP Amoco, for example, won a bi d for an area located 186 miles from the mouth of the Amazon River. A second, third and fourth round of bids was even more successful, with large investments being made in Brazils oil reserves. Aid Brazils main aid donors are the USA and the EU. The World Bank provided $2 billion in 1996 for environmental, basic sanitation, road building and anti-poverty projects. As well as official aid, much comes from NGOs, (non-Governmental Organisations) mainly for environmental and housing projects. Education Not all children in Brazil are registered. Of those that are; 90% receive Primary education, 19% receive Secondary education and only 12% receive Tertiary education. The adult literacy rate is 84.9% of all registered people compared with 99% in the UK. State schools enjoyed a good reputation until the 1950s, but have declined since then. Most middle-class parents now send their children to private schools. The wealthy send theirs to Switzerland or France. Millions of the poor receive little education especially those living in the Northeast and Amazonia, and the urban poor. Brazils three million street children have no schooling at all. Public degree courses work on credits, as in the USA. Of Brazils 95 universities, 55 are administered by the state. Sao Paulo University is the most prestigious. Communications In Brazil, only 49 out of 1,000 people own a car and only 75 out of 1,000 people own telephones. Media Although there is now no official censorship, TV and radio operating licences are awarded as political favours, and state advertising is so extensive that it cannot fail to influence editorial policy. Media ownership is also highly concentrated, 3 main companies own 293 daily newspapers. There are 19 state owned TV stations and 218 independent stations. There 2000 independent radio stations, but only 1 state owned. Environment Federal agencies charged with protecting the Amazon are insufficiently funded, understaffed and accused of corruption. The Amazon rainforest contains an estimated 90% of the entire worlds plants and animals and is the most complex ecosystem known. However, the demands of agriculture are leading to its destruction at a rate of 4 square km (1.5 square miles) per hour, or 35,000 square km (13,510 square miles) per year. As a result of such massive clearances, usually for conversion to cattle pasture, vital genetic diversity is being lost. Brazil faces other environmental problems. Opencast bauxite mining is polluting rivers and threatening the livelihoods of indigenous Amerindians. In the cities, widespread industrial pollution and untreated sewage are major problems. Crime The total population in Prison is 87,053. There is no death penalty. There are 2 murders and 3 rapes per 100,000 people. Urban life in Brazil can be violent. The incidence of armed robbery and drugs-related crime is rising. Human rights abuses by the police are frequently reported. Death squads, uncontrolled by the government, target street children in particular, especially in Rio, S Paulo and Recife. Since 1985, the rate of street child murders has been rising. However, international condemnation of the crimes has led to action in some areas. In the countryside, violent land disputes are common. Landless workers are repeatedly displaced and indigenous peoples driven from land to which the government has, in theory, guaranteed their rights. Tourism Brazils border with Argentina and Paraguay, boasts a natural wonder of the world, the massive Iguazu Falls. This is a remarkable sight much bigger than the Victoria Falls in Africa or North Americas Niagara Falls. Yet, the rest of the world barely knows of its existence. If marketed correctly, this could be a major tourist attraction. Brazil needs to extend this tourist resource and do more with it. Its 2,000 km (1,240 miles) of Atlantic beaches, the folklore and music of the north-east coast, and the annual Mardi Gras carnival in Rio de Janeiro are Brazils major attractions. However, the increasingly affluent and international audience now controls the carnival. The largely Afro-Brazilian residents of Rios favelas, or shanty towns, can often no longer afford to take part in the parades that originate in their culture. However, Brazilians show little interest in Eco-tourism, preferring to visit Amazonia for the duty-free shopping zone in Manaus. Brazil is still a relatively cheap destination for European and American tourists. Despite this, visitor numbers are declining, falling from 0.5% to 0.1% of the world market since 1970. Many visitors have been put off by the negative publicity generated by the conditions in the shantytowns and by Brazils past human rights record. Housing shortages in Brazil mean that about 25 million people live in sprawling shantytowns, called favelas that surround the cities. Most of the homes are built by the families themselves, sometimes from waste materials but more often from wood, bricks and cement bought from builders merchants. For the population who live in the favelas, 70% have no running water, 60% have no toilets or drains and 52% have no waste collection. Conclusion On analysing the evidence found, I have drawn the following conclusions. I think that Brazil is still a developing country despite its enormous agricultural/resource exports and its current attempts to repay its immense $250bn debt. There is such a massive divide between the rich and the poor, with the poor being in the majority that no developed country would have allowed this to remain for such a long time. A developed country would not have accrued such a high debt and would have used its natural resources to its advantage. There needs to be an equal distribution of the countrys wealth. I feel that in order to address some of Brazils problems, there needs to be a major re-allocation of land so that the very poor have a fighting chance of earning a decent living from working the land and selling the produce. There needs to be a massive campaign to re-educate the whole population of Brazil, which should address the need world-wide to stop destroying the rainforest, and all its natural plants. I think Brazil is no where near being a completely developed country. I believe that its only just started developing.