China’s Olympic Torch Controversy

In a world where media are able to put a glaring spotlight on certain events, actions done by ordinary individuals gain greater attention from other people. The internet further amplifies the magnitude of these events because people from other countries can immediately know what is happening. This enables them to draw their own conclusions regarding the actions that were just covered. Such is the case of the controversy surrounding the on-going Olympic Torch relay. What was supposed to be a journey that could promote peace and understanding among different cultures has turned into a fiasco. Protesters have come in full force to disrupt this event. From Paris to London, the world has to come to witness several people trying to grab the Olympic Torch. The protesters targeted this event as a venue to ventilate their sentiments regarding China’s treatment of the unrest that had erupted in Tibet last month where China sent its paramilitary forces to crackdown on the Tibetan protesters (â€Å"China’s View of the Olympic Torch†. 09 April 2008. TIME Magazine online). This has led to protest calls from various sectors especially in Western countries. Some clamor by asking China to stop its heavy handed treatment of dissenters in Tibet while others like Hillary Clinton have asked their governments to boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies as a strong disapproval of Beijing’s standing policy with regard to Tibet. This issue can be seen as part of a long standing question in international relations (â€Å"Clinton urges Bush to boycott Beijing Olympics†. 7 April 2008. Yahoo News). The question being, should individuals from other countries be involved in another country’s problems? To be able to generate an answer to this question, one must define the parameters for the terms individuals, involvement and problems. In the case of the individuals, there are two kinds that are pertinent to this discussion. These are the private citizens and the public officials. The ordinary citizens include those who try to disrupt the proceedings by attempting to wrest the Olympic torch and by displaying the Tibetan flag are examples of what are known as private citizens. Public officials refer to politicians in other countries that are expressing their dissent over the policies of other countries. Involvement is defined here as the actions done by the identified individuals. This may include cajoling, beseeching or pressuring officials through such acts disrupting the events or by issuing officials statements condemning the policies of the country in question. Problems, due to space constraints and timeliness, would be limited to issues on human rights. This issue is one of the most important points of contention between Western countries especially the United States and other nations such as China and Russia in recent years. This paper argues that involvement in issues such as human rights should be limited to the actions done by private citizens and that public officials should refrain from issuing official statements that criticizes the policies of other government’s with regard to human rights. Why is this so? If one is to look at the recent track record of the US government regarding the issue of human rights, one would find sufficient ammunition to fire back to the US side of the fence. The well-documented infamous cases of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prison camps highlight the abuses that are also taking place within the backyard of the United States. Theses cases have led some officials from both China and Russia to criticize the alleged double standards being practiced by the United States in its dealings with other countries. China and Russia often challenge the US claims made through official State Department reports regarding their respective human rights record (Cody A14). In a nutshell, they argued that before the US issues such official statements it should first see to it that its own house is in order. One could also consider the lack of efficacy of these official calls on these countries to reform. It had only infuriated them and their existing policies on human rights have not changed despite these repeated calls. Also, these official statements have contributed to making negotiations in other important areas such as security and trade even more difficult at best and highly contentious at worst. Now if one is to engage in involvement, one can argue that it would be best left in the hands of private citizens. This is warranted for several reasons. In an era where there have been numerous cases of human rights of abuses, there is a recognizable need to highlight this particular issue. The private citizens at this point are in the best position to do it for two reasons. One is that they are not burdened by the labels of hypocrisy and lacking in moral authority that have been attached to the US government in the aftermath of its prison camps fiasco. When an individual like Steven Spielberg protests by declaring himself unavailable to be a technical consultant for the Beijing Games he is not labeled as hypocrite and his message is delivered to the public. Two, private citizens who exhibit involvement; especially in the form of very dramatic forms of protests can get their much desired media mileage. They consequently derive public sympathy for their respective causes as well. One could cite the case of Olympic medalist Sebastian Coe who was manhandled by the paramilitary forces assigned by Beijing to protect the Olympic torch(â€Å"China’s View of the Olympic Torch†. April 2008. TIME Magazine online). The incident involving him generated substantial media attention on the protest against the Chinese government’s action on Tibet while not causing any direct problems among government officials. The protests done by ordinary citizens if carried by major news outfits can generate support from around the world wit hout exactly obliging their governments to issue officials statements that can adversely affect immediate and long-term relationships with countries whose policies are being questioned.

Babes in Bollywood

This paper is an effort to explore issues related to presentation of a woman in Hindi Cinema with the reference of movie â€Å"Mother India† directed by Mehboob Khan. This movie was nominated for Academy Awards for Best foreign Language film in the same year. This movie was remake of â€Å"Aurat† released in 1940 directed by Mehboob Khan. â€Å"Mother India† is one of the best Hindi movies. It is an excellent presentation of Indian woman in all her roles. Significance of movie increases exponentially, if one compares this movie with the socio-cultural perspective of the time of its release.It was a period of post independence in India. People on one hand were taking up developmental issues whereas rural India was facing the similar problems of moneylenders, Jamindari, caste, social status and pride. Differences of caste, social status, culture, gender, language, interests and several others were common. In such scenario, thinking of overall growth of a community needed to bring everyone together irrespective of their differences. Socio-cultural Perspectives Covered in the Movie Movie presents social environment of village where men and women have their predefined roles and responsibilities.Most of the women in the movie will be doing works like fetching water, grinding grains, working on fields along with their family members, cooking and other household works. They are expected to behave in certain manner. The famous actress Nargis Dutt portrayed what is perhaps the ultimate politically correct sacrificial heroine in the 1957 release Mother India (a remake of the 1940 Aurat [Woman]). Persevering against corrupt moneylenders, abandonment, betrayal, monsoons, isolation, and death, Dutt's character, Radha, provides the inspiration for her son and her village to survive (Booth, 1995).Radha as a Bride: As a young bride, Radha takes up all the responsibilities of households silently. She has shy and romantic relationship with her husband and res pecting behaviour towards her mother-in-law. She does not let her mother-in-law do any household work, once the marriage ceremony is over. Radha is concerned about the family reputation and well-being and does not want family to be under any loan so she wants to pay off loan with her jewellery. On the other hand, expectations of a husband (Shamu) to see his wife pretty and asking her reasons of not wearing jewelleries and telling her to wear jewelleries.Radha has expectation from her husband to get his attention. These factors are beautifully presented in the movie. This movie presents expectations of society from a young bride and expectations of a young bride for her family and husband in a beautiful manner. Radha as a Wife Indian society expect wife to be devoted for all traditional duties and support her husband in all thick and thin. Radha in this movie has done the same. Radha’s husband leaves her at young age due to his inability to take care of his family after the ac cident where he loses both his hands.Radha goes here and there searching for him and expects him to come back until the end of the movie. Radha sees his glimpse on her elder son and remembers him all the time whether it is festival or when she becomes grandmother. Radha’s devotion towards her husband is presentation of expectation of Indian society from the Hindu wives. Radha as a Mother Radha as a mother is brave mother. She adores her children, feed them and bring them up. Her children give her due respect. In the movie, it is shown that Radha shots â€Å"Birju† her younger son.This is something contradictory to the social norm and image of mother in society. Mother is expected to ignore all bad about her children and remember only one thing of her motherly love. Radha goes through hardships for the survival of her children. Wealthy â€Å"Sukhilala† the moneylender offers Radha money and food during flood and crisis in the exchange of her beauty, Radha for a m oment becomes ready to feed her dying children but as soon as she regains her conscious, she beats him up, comes back, struggles to find food, and survives.In this movie, various scenes have been presented in the way that the motherly love or the social depiction of mother is protected. As soon as Birju is shot, Radha throws the rifle and runs to hold him and Birju is surprised. This scene presents the unexpected behaviour in a manner that audience would accept and appreciate it. Radha as a Villager Radha as a member of a community holds certain responsibility for the land and her village. During flood when people start leaving village, she requests them and urges them to stay.She thinks about welfare of her village. She beats up and even kills her son when she finds him doing something against honour of village. Her younger son tries to take away moneylender’s daughter forcefully; she refers the term â€Å"Gaon ki beti (daughter of the whole village)† for her. This wa s despite of the fact that the moneylender was root of all the problems in her life. RaConclusion There are very less woman centred movies are made in Bollywood. Number of movies with the theme where woman has been able to bring change in the society is very less.In most of the movies, woman has less significant roles as compared to male characters. The subject of the movie Mother India is not just bold but also it is though provoking. The movie was released in year 1957. This was a period of post independence. Women in the society had to follow very strict social norms and guidelines. The tolerance zone for behaviour of a woman outside these social norms was narrow. The character of Radha has not just followed these norms beautifully but also posed several questions about the women in the society. Radha made a choice for good by killing her son.The starting of movie indicates the progressing India with the Water Canal inauguration by Radha, who is referred as Mother India. This mov ie has given food of thought to people. Radha was not just a character but also an agent to bring change. She was devoted wife like Goddess Sita and fierce Mother Goddess Kali twice first when she dealt with â€Å"Sukhilala† and second when she killed her son. Probably justifying Radha’s character was the most challenging aspect for the filmmaker, which he has done successfully. Radha did not leave her land even in the worst condition.Not just that she was able to convince other villagers to stay for the good of all. Radha talked about welfare of land and the village. She was determined and proved her concerns of welfare of society. The most appealing factor of the movie was the representation of characters in contradictory modes. Character of Radha became more appealing and powerful with the contradictory representations. Mehboob Khan represented rural India and a rural woman in a manner that it not just offered entertainment values to the audience but also gave a str ong social message to the society.Reference: Booth, G. D, Traditional Content and Narrative Structure in the Hindi Commercial Cinema, Journal: Asian Folklore Studies, 54:2. (1995) Pg 169 Rosie Thomas, â€Å"Sanctity and Scandal: The Mythologization of Mother India,† Quarterly Review of Film and Video 11:3 (1989): 11-30 Images retrieved on 29 Oct 2007 from †¢ www. tribuneindia. com/2005/20050526/main1. htm †¢ www. oscarguy. com/Resources/Annual/30th. html †¢ www. afc. gov. au/†¦ /archives/2006/04_oct. aspx †¢ www. afc. gov. au/images/puffs/motherindia1puff.jpg †¢ http://www. boloji. com/cinema/062a. jpg †¢ http://hcl. harvard. edu/hfa/films/2006fall/melodrama. html dha as an Individual At each stage of her life, Radha has proven herself a strong woman. She has maintained her self-respect and courage. She did things that were socially right. She was right of selling off her jewellery and paying off as much debt as possible to avoid the consequ ences of loans and interest in the future life but as a female and youngest member of the family, she could not take decisions.She had taken up all the responsibilities with courage. Her character in every form reveals the purity which society expects from a woman. GANDHY and THOMAS comment on Radha , â€Å"It is important to recognize that, throughout the film, Radha's ‘power' or ‘strength' is integrally bound up with her respect for ‘traditional values' . . . it is as a paragon of wifely devotion and chastity . . . that she is accorded respect and authority† (1991, 118 as cited by Booth 1995).

The effects of globalisation on an organisation Dissertation

The effects of globalisation on an organisation - Dissertation Example 3 1.3 Project Objectives 6 1.4Research Questions 6 Information Gathering and Accounting/Business Techniques 7 2.0. Information Sources 7 2.1.2 Annual Reports, Summary Financial Statements and Corporate Governance Report 8 2.1.3 Textbooks 8 2.1.4 Internet and Media Sources 9 2.2 Research Methodology 9 2.3 SWOT and PESTLE Analysis 14 2.3.1 Limitations 14 2.4 Ethical Issues 15 Results, Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations 16 3.0 Results 16 3.1 SWOT Analysis 21 3.2 PESTLE Analysis 25 3.3 Financial Ratio Analysis 27 Conclusion/Recommendations 29 Figure 1 30 List of References 40 Research and Analysis Report The Effects of Globalization on Cadbury Schweppes Plc. Part 1 Project Objectives and Overall Research Approach In terms of business practices, globalization refers to the escalation of the â€Å"internationalization of the production, distribution and marketing of goods and services† (Ali 2000, p. 5). More particularly, globalization is the persistent linking of state econo mies (Ali 2000, p. 5). From the perspective of the business organization, globalization means intense competition which can impact the structure of the organization and the way that it produces and markets its goods and services(Czinkota et al 2009). ... From the consumer’s perspective, globalization means an opportunity to choose from a large assortment of goods and services. This also means that in addition to variety, consumers will benefit from a reduction in prices and an improvement in quality. Cadbury Schweppes Plc provides a case study for the effects of globalization on an organization and the responses that an organization is forced to make. The effect of globalization on an organization as a topic for this research and analysis report is justified because globalization changes the way that businesses operate, strategize and market their products and services. All businesses are either passively or actively impacted by globalization (Johnson and Turner 2010). This means that all businesses are forced to reconsider their focus on domestic markets and focus more on foreign markets. The extent of this focus varies from one organization to another. Size, growth, ambitions, brands, opportunities and a number of variables will dictate the degree an organization shifts it focus to penetration of foreign markets. The relevant factors are demonstrated via a case study of Cadbury. The growth directions of Cadbury’s since its inception 200 years ago justifies an evaluation of the impact of globalization on the organization. As we have already discovered, Cadbury’s started out as a coffee shop of sorts and today it is an entirely different company. It went from serving ready to make drinks to manufacturing chocolates. This research intends to discover the extent to which globalization impacted the expansion of products and how those products have been marketed globally. This research will therefore look at Cadbury’s progression on global markets over

Case Scenario, Final Discussion Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Scenario, Final Discussion - Case Study Example aught something different or they learnt about something new from their different nursing textbooks, they would be in a position to share what they have learnt with their colleagues. Moreover, the RN would be in a position to teach the other RNs about what they know and that would help improve the quality of care in the health care setting. Secondly, the significance of gaps in the hospital’s policy and procedures is that the overall quality of care disbursed with regard to the hospital’s policy and procedures would also be improved. For example, if a RN from a different health care setting that followed different and better hospital policies and procedures was scheduled to work in a different health care setting that did not practice or implement all the mandated hospital policies and procedures; then the practice that did not follow all the mandated policies would be given the chance to improve on their quality of care through the existing gap or difference. Thirdly, the significance of gaps between published literatures is that it not only helps different RNs to gain more versatile experience and knowledge in practice but it also assists them to gain skills of socialization and communication with other people in the care environment. For example, if one RN was to study different literature notes from another RN, then each would have different experiences and knowledge. As such, when placed in the same working environment, each would share the different ideas and experiences it is that they learnt from the different literature sets. Moreover, they would also gain the chance to practice and also improve on their socialization as well as communication skills through that experience. Lastly, the significance of gaps in actual practice is that the different RNs would get the chance to practice the different nursing and medical techniques it is that they studied and practiced in nursing school. As such, their nursing skills would be improved and hence the

The evolution of the black church Research Paper

The evolution of the black church - Research Paper Example For the purpose of the study, details of the history will start after the American Revolution, an era where the slavery was abolished. By 1810 slaves were totally free; the slave trade in America ended, and a large native born population of African Americans began to increase. This freedom allowed the African-Americans to blend together, to preserve their cultures and to transform their religious beliefs and practices. This period also coincided with the revival of religious evangelization wherein many slaves were converted to evangelical religions like Baptists and Methodists. Evangelists encouraged the message of hope and salvation to the slaves, and advocated the idea that all Christians are equal in the eyes of God. The teachings of the scriptures appealed to the slaves because it inspired them towards hope and salvation and were particularly interested in the stories of deliverance from slavery of Moses’ Exodus out of Egypt. The Africans also found worships that were sim ilar to their own such as clapping, dancing, loud singing and evil spirit possession. Still, whites and the clergy kept on preaching the message of obedience and used Bible stories to justify slavery, and promoted the idea that they will be rewarded after life if they remain loyal and hard-working slaves. The blacks were not allowed to attend church worships independently by their masters for fear that they would plot rebellion. The blacks however were treated differently inside the church.

Critically examine the relationship between war and underdevelopment Research Paper

Critically examine the relationship between war and underdevelopment - Research Paper Example There is the presentation of a typology of wars together with the review of several literatures indicating the relationship of war and underdevelopment. Generally, wars particularly the civil war is considered as one of the primary reasons of economic underdevelopment as well as human suffering1. However in spite of this, economic examination of developing countries at war is comparatively uncommon. At the same time as the global confrontation involving communism and capitalism at the time of the Cold War did not lead to nuclear Armageddon, all through the forty–year period several nations in the ‘Third World’ were involved in war. From the time of the 1950s and 1990s, fifteen million deaths were resulted directly or ultimately by wars of every kind in developing countries. These also include the global conflicts, government violence against citizens as well as civil war. Provided the conclusion of the Cold War, there was a changeover in the direction of peace in the majority of the regions in which conflict had been fired up by East-West aggression. However while this aggression lessened from the 1980s and on, new wars emerged which were particularly unique from the wars by replacement and procedures of anti-colonial resist and nationwide emancipation which had set apart developing country wars at the time of the Cold War era. These wars, on the other hand, carried on to be situated nearly completely in developing countries: from 1989 to 1995, there were between 31 and 54 globally documented struggles in each year, and an average of 15 major wars happening at any time. A number of older ideological struggles continued in a unique manner, like the one in Afghanistan, whereas other long–lasting separatist struggle turned out to be stronger, like that of Sri Lanka and Eritrea. The Central American conflicts came to a conclusion in a troubled deadlock; however sometime after it broke out again in Mexico. Territorial as well

Information communication technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information communication technology - Essay Example Thus, it is preceded by an extensive study on the technological needs of a group before deciding on whatever application to be developed to meet the needs. Rothman, Sandberg, & Jacques, (2011) points out that there is a high rate of retention and acceptance of a project that meets the most pressing needs of people in a society. From that point forward, it is important to find out about how to develop the application. This should be in line with the intended use of the application and the people that will utilize. Hence, it will guide the design and the interface to be used while developing it. At the same time, the developer of that particular application should consider the ease with which the application will be put into use (Toyama, 2011). For instance, social applications should be simple to use and straight forward unlike those used in corporations that should incorporate the unique needs of each corporate sector. The training of these people on the use of an application is much easier when they are part of the conception process. The adoption process and the eager to learn about how the application works will be inspired by the level with which the application meets the needs of clients. Education on the use of new technology can be availed to the target people through various means. To begin with, there can be the distribution of printouts on the application and its benefits including the instruction on use. Apart from that media can provide a better platform to spread the technological advancements because it reaches a large number of people within a short period. In addition, one can organize training session at different places so as not to interfere with the day to day activities of people to train them on the use of the application and its benefits. There quite a number of expenses encountered in the process of developing an application. To begin with there is an initial cost of determining the community

Position paper why i agree with the 3 strikes your out law Research

Position why i agree with the 3 strikes your out law - Research Paper Example These are the very people that the 3 Strikes Law was designed to protect the population from and I for one am very happy that this law is in place to protect me from the harm that can be caused by such offenders and criminals (Reaves, Jessica â€Å"Whats Wrong With â€Å"Three Strike† Laws?†). According to Californias Legislative Analysts Office, this law is the reason why the judicial system in the state has seen an increase in felony cases. This is mainly because the repeat offenders would rather take their chances in a jury trial in the hopes of an acquittal rather than using the plea bargain in order to lighten their sentences (Brown, Brian & Jolivette Greg, â€Å"A Primer: Three Strikes After More Than a Decade†). Although the law seems to be creating a backlog in our justice system, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the DOJ California Crime Index has actually shown a decrease in the crimes rates of the state since the passing of the law: The crime rate continued to decline after Three Strikes, falling by 43  percent statewide between 1994 and 1999, though it has risen by about 11  percent since 1999. Similarly, the violent crime rate declined by 8 percent between 1991 and 1994 and then fell an additional 43  percent between 1994 and 2003. (Brown, Brian & Jolivette Greg, â€Å"A Primer: Three Strikes After More Than a Decade†). The laws of our land are not perfect. In fact, it is full of flaws that are not realized until decades later when the criminals begin to flaunt those legal loopholes that are found by their lawyers. It is this reality that has always put offenders who should have been put away for life back on our streets. The 3 Strikes Law makes sure that they are kept off the street and prevented from doing any further harm to the public. Those who oppose the law say that it is an unjust and cruel punishment for those convicted of petty crimes. If a person has

Regional Economic Cooperation Essay Example for Free

Regional Economic Cooperation Essay One of the most important developments in the world trade system in the 1990s has been the emergence of regional cooperation. The end of the Cold War reduced political tensions between countries in Asia as well as globalizing production processes and increasing vertical integration. Cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore have been lifting their populations out of poverty in part through cooperative arrangements with neighboring countries. Transnational economic zones have utilized the different endowments of the various countries of East Asia, exploiting cooperative trade and development opportunities. Transfer of technology and manufacturing between nations has allowed them to develop sequentially. Information technology has improved linkages between economies and put remote regions in contact with the world. The private sector provides capital for investment; the public sector provides infrastructure, fiscal incentives, and the administrative framework to attract industry. Regional cooperation is now considered the means of enhancing economic development and providing economic security within the regions. Trade among ASEAN members accounted for more than 23% of all trade by member nations in 1994, topping that of any of the groups major trading partners. Singapore has concentrated on becoming the technology center for Southeast Asia, sending labor-intensive operations to low-cost neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia in special mutual cooperative trade and development arrangements known as growth triangles or growth polygons. The Southern Growth Triangle, also known as SIJORI (Singapore, the Johore state of Malaysia, and Riau Province of Indonesia), was formed in 1989 and covers a population of about 6 million people. It attracted $10 billion in private sector investments during its first five years. Such regional economic cooperation has occurred in other Asian regions as well, spurring economic development. Growth triangles are expected to be a continued driving force for growth in Asian economies throughout the 1990s. Four growth triangles have been established since 1989, involving parts of 11 countries. There are currently eight growth polygons in East and Southeast Asia, with additional triangles being planned. For example, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Chinas Yunnan Province have been discussing ways to develop the Mekong area since 1992. Regional cooperation provides a competitive model to attract investment and technology. According to the secretary general of ASEAN, Ajit Singh, These growth areas will have to be flexible to change where necessary, innovative, and always attentive to the needs of the investors and the businessmen. They also have to be aware that they are competing with much larger countries such as China and India, whose capacities for attracting investors are much greater than their own (Kruger 1996, 17). Asian capital markets are now watching the global economy, and large companies recognize their need to be involved in this fastest growing region in the world. The growth triangles typically group remote regions of the nations involved in an effort to exploit complementary assets within the groupings. For example, the Tumen Delta triangle integrates the capital and technology of Japan and the Republic of Korea with the natural resources of Russia and North Korea (i. e. , the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea) and the labor and agricultural resources of China. The governments of Brunei, East and West Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi of Indonesia; Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines have given priority to expanding air and shipping routes within the East ASEAN Growth Area, another polygon. Where all parts of the polygon are at similar levels of development, growth is expected to be slower. Singapore has provided capital and technology for developments in Malaysia to support SIJORI. Thailand is expected to provide capital and experience in developing the Mekong polygon. It will encompass a population of over 400 million people offering low wages, rents, and land costs. The Southern China Growth Triangle The Southern China Growth area comprises Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the southern provinces of China (Thant et al. 1994). Because China lags behind Taiwan and Hong Kong considerably in economic development and has a very large population, growth in this triangle has enormous potential. Establishment of this triangle was spurred by market forces and private sector initiatives rather than by policy coordination among the countries. However, government policies have supported the economic links that were instituted. The PRCs economic reforms and open door policy initiated in 1978 laid the foundation for economic success in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Establishment of Chinas first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1980 provided for tax concessions, expanded land use rights, and simplified procedures for foreign investment. Policies for land use, finance, and trade were designed to reduce transaction costs and to provide greater access to the domestic as well as the world market. Policies formulated within the SEZs themselves have been even more liberal than those in other parts of the triangle. For China, the triangle has provided exports, foreign exchange, and employment as well as access to the larger global economy. Rapid economic growth and higher incomes have occurred in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces with materials and components from Taiwans manufacturing sectors and the support of Hong Kongs advanced services sector. Geographical proximity and common language are the most compelling factors for capital to move across the border from Hong Kong into Guangdong Province, or for investment to flow across the Formosa Strait from Taiwan to Fujian Province. Cantonese is a Chinese dialect spoken in both Hong Kong and Guangdong, while Fujianese is spoken in both Taiwan and Fujian. For Hong Kong and Taipei, the triangle has provided a means of implementing structural changes in manufacturing and export patterns at minimal cost. In spite of recent political posturing on the part of China, economic planners in Hong Kong and Taiwan are optimistic that economic logic will continue to drive regional integration. Low-Cost Sourcing As Japanese and U. S firms seek to reduce the cost of their latest innovations, they are outsourcing production to low-cost contract manufacturers. China has a growing number of low-cost parts and components suppliers. With a minimum of overhead and a large pool of low-cost labor in China, there is a growing list of high-quality vendors in China. The continuing miniaturization of products has lead to joint ventures with companies from Japan, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. The success of these firms is dependent upon providing competitive value in a timely manner. Low-cost board assembly operations in China utilize the latest SMT equipment required by new computer and telecommunications products. Capital intensity will increase as IC packaging and SMT assembly operations are installed. In the 1980s, Korea and Taiwan provided the first step in the cost reduction chain by providing the most advanced process capabilities. Singapore and Malaysia became additional sources for contract manufacturing with the establishment of global vendors like SCI and Solectron. Today, further cost reduction is possible by moving production to lower cost regions like China and the Philippines. Wongs Electronics in Hong Kong provides a three-step process for cost reduction that includes low-cost labor, low-cost sourcing, and low-cost production designs. Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and China are considered the home of lowest-cost manufacturing competitors in the electronics industry today. They offer limited component technology or product design skills, but provide many low-cost suppliers of generic, low-technology components. Since low-cost manufacturing countries generally lack the technologies required to become industry leaders, they must follow the technology trends as quickly as possible. OEM competitors from Taiwan and Singapore are being forced to open branch plants in China or other Southeast Asian countries to produce the most labor-intensive, cost-driven products.

Counseling Ethics Essay Example for Free

Counseling Ethics Essay Ethics are based on philosophical principles and these guidelines assist a practitioner in making the best possible decisions for the welfare of the clients and the practitioner himself. Ethics are normative or critical in nature and concern human conduct and moral decision. Morality describes decision making and judgement by an individual concerning an incident or human behaviour. This is greatly influenced by the values he or she has acquired or formed as a result of external influence or indoctrination. Value is an enduring belief that a specific that a specific end-state of conduct is desirable (McLeod, 1998). Terminal and instrumental values are two types of values where the former refer to the desired end-state of existence, for example wisdom and the later refer to the mode of conduct that leads to it, for example broad-mindedness .Values then influence and determine the decisions we choose to make in our daily lives. In providing an effective, therapeutic therapy, a practitioner helping a client encountering dilemma in decision- making may adopt the eight – step model approach to think through the ethical problems (Corey, Corey Callanan, 2007). The steps of the model are described as follows: Step 1- Identify the problem or dilemma. In the first step the existence of the problem must be recognised. The nature of the problem has to be ascertained. Identify if it is an ethical, legal, moral, professional or clinical problem. The practitioner’s and the client’s insights regarding the problem must be examined. Consultation with the client can begin at this stage as problems are being identified. Looking at the problem from different perspectives is useful as most ethical dilemmas are complex. Step 2 – Identify the potential issues involved. From the collected information, irrelevant ones must be discarded. The critical issues must be noted and described. The welfare of those involved; their rights and responsibilities must be evaluated. Ethical principles relevant to the problem must be identified and examined with the client. In doing so the moral principles namely, autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice and fidelity must be considered and applied to the  situation. The safety and welfare of the client and practitioner cannot be compromised while potential issues are being sorted out. Step 3- Review the relevant ethics codes. The practitioner must seek guidance that can be found from the professional codes of ethics. They provide a basis for accountability, and through their enforcement, provide protection for clients from unethical practices (Corey, 1997). Practitioner must also examine the agreeability of his values with the relevant codes. Should they be in conflict, he must have a rationale to support his stance. It is essential to consider congruency of these values and ethics with those of the client’s. The practitioner must ensure clarity of the ethical codes and if they are applicable with the state laws of the region. Step 4- Know the applicable laws and regulations. The practitioner should be up to date with the specific and relevant laws that apply to the ethical issue. This is particularly critical in situations which deal with keeping or breaching of confidentiality, reporting of child or elder abuse, record keeping, assessment, diagnosis, issues pertaining to dangers to self or others and the grounds of malpractice. Step 5- Obtain consultation. Consulting with colleagues to obtain different perspectives on the problems is generally considered to be helpful. Seeking legal counsel for legal questions is prudent along with consulting a person with an expertise in an unfamiliar culture to serve a client from that culture. In addition the practitioner must understand current rules and regulations of the agency or organization that he or she is working for. It is wise for the nature of the consultation and suggestions provided to be documented. These records would illustrate the practitioner’s attempt to adhere to the community’s standard practice. Step 6- Consider possible and probable courses of action. At this point a list of a variety of courses of action may be identified  through brainstorming. The practitioner could discuss with the client as well as other professionals the available options. The possibilities could be identified for probable courses of actions and these should be documented. Step 7- Enumerate the consequences of various decisions. From the various possible courses of actions, implications of each course must be examined. The questions of who will be affected and to what extent will the client’s decision to pursue the actions affect them must be carefully examined. Again using the fundamental moral principles as a framework, the client must collaborate with the practitioner to ascertain the probable outcomes and consequences. If new ethical issues arise from the selected course of action, a re-evaluation of the action must be pursued. Step 8- Decide on what appears to be the best course of action. Careful consideration of all information received from different sources deliberately and with sensitivity to cross cultural issues is critical before making the best decision. Once making the decision, informing the supervisor, implementing and documenting the decision follows. Reflecting on the experience considering any follow up action could result in finding a solution for the client. While the procedural steps may help in resolving ethical matters, some implications may be noted. Firstly, the client enters a collaborative relationship with the practitioner. The implication is that the client with the practitioner’s help must draw out the details of the problem. This implicates that the client should refrain from coveting relevant information to enable an accurate analysis of the issue. This is to ascertain the true nature of the problem whether it is an ethical, legal, moral, professional, or clinical one. The different perspectives of the problem must be explored. What are the insights the client and practitioner have regarding the problem? (Corey et al., 2007). Failing which the consequence is an unnecessary delay in resolving the problem as there will be an inaccurate analysis of the situation. Secondly, in identifying the potential issues, all the persons involved in the problem must be identified. The implication of failing to identify any one individual who may be affected by the decision of the client would be unethical. The welfare, rights and responsibilities of those affected by the decision might create a different set of problems. The decision would then have to be reversed and a new course of action would have to be pursued. It is to therefore necessary to explore to what extent the course of the action will affect the client and the others (Corey et al., 2007). Next the values and ethics of the client and the practitioner must be evaluated and the degree of congruency noted. This implicates that the relevant ethical principles that are identified to the problem should not be in conflict with those of the client and the practitioner. If there are disagreements, then they must be supported with a rationale. If necessary, guidance must be sought from the relevant organization to clarify the professional codes to the particular problem. Otherwise consequently, the client’s decision may violate the ethical codes relevant to the issue. The client must be informed of the relevant and most recent laws or regulations that apply to the situation. He must look out for any law or regulations that have a bearing on the situation. The implication of his ignorance is that he may run into problems with the law. The practitioner too must abide by the rules, regulations and policies of the workplace. When in doubt practitioner must seek professional advice. The client must be informed of legal issues related to confidentiality, abuse of the vulnerable, record keeping and grounds for malpractice. If the practitioner discovers a criminal act by a client for example, sex with an under-aged girl he has the moral responsibility to report him. The practitioner has the ethical responsibility to discuss with the client on the implications of his actions before reporting the incident. The client must understand the implications of his actions that violate the law. The fundamental moral principles may be considered as framework for evaluating the consequences of the given course of action. The client must  decide the principles that apply to the situation specifically and prioritise them. By thinking through these ethical principles, professional can better evaluate their options in such complex situations. Prioritising the principles can help the client and practitioner to work through the steps of the decision-making model (Elizabeth, 2010). There are implications however when prioritizing one over another. The practitioner encourages the client to exercise autonomy i.e. making a free choice. In doing so, the client must have the concept of doing no harm or non-maleficence and acting in justice (Elizabeth, 2010). Conflict can arise when subscribing to justice which may result in the necessity of treating an individual differently. Though not easy to apply equal weightage to all the principles, it will help to explore an ethical dilemma and resolve it with the least damage to the welfare of those affected. The model may be useful when clients seek help in making decisions in their life regarding relationship issues. A client may be caught in a loveless marriage and be involved in an extra-marital affair and seek advice to take the next step in his life. The dilemma of whether to dissolve his marriage and move on with his life or stay in the marriage to fulfil his duties towards his wife and children is one that needs careful consideration. A divorce would mean breaking up of his family and causing a disruption in the relationship with his children. Staying in the marriage would mean the sacrifice of his love life. Analysing his situation using the model can shed light to clarify the implications of his actions and weigh the consequences. The model may help clients to make decisions at their place of work regarding conflicting work practices. An office worker may be tormented by the wrong practices of her fellow colleagues. She may be facing a dilemma as to whether to report her colleagues to the management or turn a blind eye to the situation. The model can help the client to analyse the situation and evaluate her moral values. She would then be able to make an ethical decision that would do least harm to those involved in the situation. In conclusion, the eight – step model can be a useful tool in helping a practitioner to guide clients to make sound decisions that do not have  conflict with their ethics and are aligned with the laws and regulations of the region. In doing so the practitioner must ensure that he or she is operating in the best interest of the clients.

Definition And History Of Foster Care Social Work Essay

Definition And History Of Foster Care Social Work Essay New World Enclopedia (2012) defines foster care as full-time substitute care of children outside their own home by people other than their biological or adoptive parents or legal guardians.] History of foster care Placement of children in foster homes is a concept which goes as far back as the Old Testament, which refers to caring for dependent children as a duty under law. Early Christian church records indicate orphaned children lived with widows who were paid by the church. English Poor Laws in the 1500s allowed the placement of poor children into indentured service until they became adults. This practice was imported to the United States and was the beginning of placing children into foster homes. [1] The most significant record of fostering was in 1853, a child was removed from a workhouse in Cheshire and placed in a foster family under the legal care of the local government.At the beginning of the 1900s only orphaned or abandoned children under the age of 11 years were fostered, and they had to have a demanding psychological profile well adjusted, obedient and physically normal. Until World War II, foster care was recognized as a charitable service. Two important events that pushed the state to look at the foster care system in a different angle was the first mass evacuation of millions of children and then the death of a child in a foster care in 1945. In 1969 research was carried out on the foster care system and it was found that foster families required training on how to deal with the foster children and make them fill secure in the placement. (Jeune Guishard-Pine, 2007) Foster care as a global concept Foster care is probably the most widely practised form of substitute care for children world-wide, depending on the needs of the child, the culture and the system in place. There are many different kinds of fostering and definitions of foster care vary internationally. It can be short -term, a matter of days ,or a child whole childhood. A review of foster care in Twenty-two countries found considerable diversity in the way of fostering in both defined and practised.(Hannah Johnson, 2005).Kinship foster care ,which is the most common form of fostering in African countries is not defined as foster care in all countries. In Ireland for example only children placed with no relatives are said to be fostered. In some countries foster care is seen only as a temporary arrangement ,whereas in others the norms is for long term and quasi adoptive placement.(Colton William ,1995) Hannah Johnson (2005) stated that the process to be registered as foster parents in different countries such as U.K , Australia, Uganda and South Africa is practically the same. In some countries foster care programme is managed either by the government or agency, and each country has their basic criteria that need to be fulfilled ,such as being physically and mentally fit and healthy, having a room for the child ,having time to spend with the child .The process to be registered as foster families can take approximately six months. Individuals who are willing to become foster families must make their applications to the agency. A home study is conducted by a social worker to assess the capability of the applicants for taking care of a child. The assessment form is then forwarded to the final panel who will decide whether the applicants are fit to become foster carers. Placement in Foster care According to zuravin Deponfilis (1997) children are removed from their homes to protect them from immediate abuses. In many situations, these children have suffered physical, sexual abuse, or neglect at home, and therefore they are placed in a safe environment. A small percentage of children are in foster care because their parents feel unable to control them, and their behaviour may have led to delinquency or fear of harm to others. Some children have been neglected by their parents or legal guardians, or have parents or legal guardians who are unable to take care of them because of substance abuse, incarceration, or mental health problems. These children are then placed into foster care until the parents or guardians are capable of looking after them.[1] In all foster care cases, the childs biological or adoptive parents, or other legal guardians, temporarily give up legal custody of the child. (The guardian gives up custody, but not necessarily legal guardianship.) A child may be placed in foster care with the parents consent. In a clear case of abuse or neglect, a court can order a child into foster care without the parents or guardians consent. Before any placement the foster care family is screened by the Government or agency through a psychologist or social worker that assess the foster care families under certain criteria such as emotional stability, motivation, parental skills and financial capabilities.[2] The government provides foster families with an allocation taking in foster children. They are required to use the funds to buy the childs food, clothing, school supplies, and other incidentals. Most of the foster parents responsibilities toward the foster child are clearly defined in a legal contract. Foster placements may last for a single day or several weeks; some continue for years. If the parents give up their rights permanently, or their rights to their child are severed by the court, the foster family may adopt the foster child or the child may be placed for adoption by strangers.[3] The Aim of Foster Care System According to Hayden (1999), the aim of foster care system is to protect and endorse the security of the child, while providing foster parents and biological parents with the sufficient resources and available services needed to maintain the childs healthy development. Foster care environments are proposed to be places of safety and comfort, and are monitored by several welfare agencies, representatives, and caseworkers. Personal caseworkers assigned to a foster child by the state or county are accountable for supervising the placement of the child into an appropriate foster care system or home. The caseworker also carries out regular visits to the foster care family home to monitor progress. Other agents involved in a childs placement into foster care may include private service providers, welfare agencies, insurance agents, psychologists, and substance abuse counselors. Types of Foster Care Parents may voluntarily place children into foster care for various reasons. Such foster placements are monitored until the biological family can provide appropriate care for the child, or the biological parental rights are terminated and the child is adopted. A third option, known as guardianship, is sometimes utilized in certain cases where a child cannot be reunified with their birth family and adoption is not a suitable solution. This generally includes some older foster children who may be strongly bonded to their family of origin and unwilling to pursue adoption. Voluntary foster care may be utilized in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child; a child may have behavioural or psychological problems requiring specialized treatment, or the parent might have a problem which results in a temporary or permanent inability to care for the child. Involuntary foster care is implemented when a child is removed from their caregiver for his or her own personal safety. A foster parent receives monetary reimbursement from the placement agency for each foster child while the child is in his or her home to help cover the cost of meeting the childs needs (Dorsey et al 2008) stated that in many countries ,most of the children enter the foster care system due to neglect. Children may join the foster care system via Voluntary or involuntary means. Voluntary placement may happen when the biological parents are facing difficulties to take care of the child. Involuntary placement occurs when the child is being at risk under the care of the biological parents. Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System recorded , different types of fostering such as: (i) Foster family home, relative A licensed or unlicensed home of the childs relatives regarded by the state as a foster care living arrangement for the child. (ii) Foster family home, non-relative A licensed foster family home regarded by the state as a foster care living arrangement. (iii)Group home or Institution A group home is a licensed or approved home providing 24-hour care for children in a small group setting that generally has from 7 to twelve children. An Institution is a facility operated by a public or private agency and providing 24-hour care and/or treatment for children who require separation from their own homes and group living experience. These facilities may include child care institutions, residential treatment facilities, or maternity homes. Problems in Foster Care System [1]Foster children face a number of problems both within and outside the foster care system. Foster children are more vulnerable to neglect, abuse, family dysfunction, poverty, and severe psychological conditions. The trauma caused to a child when removed from their home is also severe and may cause depression, anger, and confusion. Studies have shown that psychological conditions of abused and neglected children are required to improve when placed in foster care, however the separation from their biological parents causing traumatic effect on the child. Children with histories of maltreatment, such as physical and psychological neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, are often at risk of developing severe psychiatric problems and may be described as experiencing trauma-attachment problems. The trauma experienced may be the result of abuse or neglect, inflicted by a primary caregiver, which disrupts the normal development of secure attachment. Associated Problems with Foster Care Child In long term the foster care children suffer from psychological, cognitive and epigenetic effects. The Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study on foster care children showed that foster care children, were found to have double the incidence of depression, and were found to have a higher rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than combat veterans. Tarren-Sweeny (2010) reported that Children in foster care have a higher probability of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and deficits in executive functioning, anxiety as well as other developmental problems. Neurodevelopmental Disorder A neurodevelopmental disorder is an impairment of the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system. It refers to a brain disorder of brain function that affects emotion,learning ability and memory and that unfolds as the individual grows. Most foster care children are placed in foster care families at a very young age which is a critical period for the children as the development of mental and psychological processes occur during early childhood. According to kristen Rollins, the human brain does not develop fully until the age of 25, and one of the most critical periods of brain development occurs in the first 3-4 years. Therefore, the human brain is influenced by negative environmental factors such as emotional neglect, poor nutrition and exposure to violence in the home and any type of abuses. The study by McCrory E et al ( 2010) states that the negative environmental factors influences all areas of neurodevelopment: neurogenesis (creation of new neurons), apoptosis (death and reabsorption of neurons), migration (of neurons to different regions of the brain), synaptogenesis (creation of synapses), synaptic sculpturing (determining the make-up of the synapse), arborization (the growth of dendritic connections, myelinzation (protective covering of neurons), and an enlargement of the brains ventricles, which can cause cortical atrophy including decreased activity of the prefrontal cortex. Harden BJ (2004) reports that Foster children have elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone in comparison to children raised by their biological parents. Elevated cortisol levels can decrease the immune system. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) According to Dubber (1999) 60% of children in foster care who were sexually abused had post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). 18% of children who were not abused faced PTSD just by witnessing violence at home. These children then suffer from intrusive memories, flashbacks, avoidance, and psychological and physiological reactivity. Eating Disorders Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individuals physical and mental health. Hudson, JI; Hiripi, E; Pope Jr, HG; Kessler, RC (2007). According to Hadfield Sc (2008), Obesity in all age groups of children has become an increasing concern in recent years. Children in foster care are more prone to become overweight and obese, and in a study done in the United Kingdom, 35% of foster children experienced an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) once in care. The children also suffer from Food Maintenance Syndrome which is a pattern of excessive eating and food acquisition and maintenance behaviour without concurrent obsesity. The syndrome is said to be caused by stress and maltreatment of foster care children. Tarren-Sweeney (2006) study states that children in foster care also suffer from Food Maintenance Syndrome which is characterized by a set of aberrant eating behaviors of children in foster care. It is a pattern of excessive eating and food acquisition and maintenance behaviors without concurrent obesity; it resembles the behavioral correlates of Hyperphagic Short Stature. It is hypothesised that this syndrome is triggered by the stress and maltreatment foster children are subjected to. Northwest Foster Care Alumini study (2011) reports that Bulimina Nervosa is seven times more prevalent among former foster children than in general population. Epigenetic effects of environment According to Weaver (2004) negative environmental influences, such as maternal deprivation, child abuse and stress have a profound effect on gene expression, including transgenerational epigenetic effects in which physiological and behavioral (intellectual) transfer of information across generations-not-yet-conceived is effected. Neighh GN et al (2009) states that the effects of abuse may be extended beyond the immediate victim into subsequent generations as a consequence of epigenetic effects transmitted directly to offspring. Suicide -Death Rate Charles (1991) states Children in foster care families are at a greater risk of suicide. Children from foster care families as compared to general population have a risk ratio of suicidal attempts of four to five time greater. A study conducted in Finland have indicated that children in foster care have a higher mortality rate compared to the general population due to incidence of acute and chronic medical conditions and developmental delays.(Kalland M,2001) Academic Prospects According to Neild Ruth et al (2006) foster care children tend to underachieve academically with many never completing high school. The children have low concentration in class and perform poorly in exams. Very few children attempt University and obtain a degree. Barriers in foster care System Timing in Placement Children are more prone to experience insecurity in the foster home during the initial phase of placement, especially in the first six to seven months.(Mary Bruce Webb et al, (2010) Peter J Pecora, James K. Whittaker et al,(2010 )suggest that older children experience placement Stability during the initial phase compared to infants. In order to decrease the chances for placement disruption which children normally experience during the initial phase of placement, it is recommended that children develop trust and not feel lost in the system. Characteristics of the Home (Berridge Cleaver, 1987) stated that children have difficulty to adapt in foster home when they are placed with other children who are roughly the same age or if they are placed in foster homes where the foster parents have children of their own. Foster Children placed with other children may feel insecure and start competing for affection and materialistic objects eventually this leads to conflicts in the foster care family. Childrens mental and behavioral health According to J.Gavin Bremner Theodore D.Wachs (2010), Child behaviour problems is among the frequent reason that foster parents request the removal of a child in their care. Children over the age of four (4) are more prone to experience placement instability due to behavioural problems. (Strijker, Zandberg, van der Meulen, 2002) Foster Parent Characteristics Training and support for foster parents are of a paramount importance to avoid children experience disruption in their foster homeFoster parents who have bigger support system such as extended family are more possible to provide a secure placement for the child. .(Walsh Walsh 1990;Redding et al 2000). Furthermore, foster parents who seize suitable hope and understand causes and reason for a childs behaviour is predictive of placement stability.(Butler Charles 1999) Counselling in the Foster Care System Definition of counselling Counselling often described as talking therapy, is a process aimed at providing clients with the time and space to explore their problems, understand their problems, and resolve , or come to terms with their problems, in a confidential setting. The Royal College(2006 a) defines counselling simply as a type of psychotherapy which helps people address and resolve their problems and work through their feelings.(Jan Sutton William stewart ,2008) Counselling involves the development of a relationship between the client and a trained professional that focuses on the clients concerns and difficulties . it is a process in which individuals have the opportunity to improve upon their understanding of themselves ,including their patterns of thoughts ,behaviours ,feelings and the ways in which these may have been problematic in their lives. Counselling is a collaborative effort as it involves the client and the counsellor working together to identify goals. Throughout the counselling process the client is encouraged ,supported and empowered to look at himself/herself from a different perspective . The aim is not only to help the client cope with a current issue of crisis ,but to do so in a way that produces learning for the future ,so that the client can feel more in charge of his/her life.(M.Ravi 2008) 3.4.1 Foster Child Counselling Williams (1994) ,Children in foster care have often suffered abuse, neglect or maltreatment. Trauma will affect children in different ways, depending on age, family support, developmental level and basic temperament. The objective of child counselling (taken from Children and Trauma) include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The safe release of feeling à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Relief from symptoms and post traumatic behaviors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Recovery of a sense of mastery and control in life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Correction of misunderstanding and self blame à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Restoration of a sense of trust in oneself and the future à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Minimizing the scars of trauma à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Development of specific skills or coping tools The Therapy is meant to be a process to work through trauma and help a child understand what has happened to him/her. It also aims to help a child function better in the world around him /her. 3.4.2 Foster Family Counselling (Fernandez Elizabeth, 2010) Therapy does not change family dynamics. Placing a child in therapy will help the child but will not fix the problems in the family. Family counselling offers a better chance at successful family reunification. Nevertheless, steps need to be taken to provide assistance to the child and foster family who are in need of counselling. Thus, counsellors and therapists need to construct a relationship based on mutual trust for the counselling process to begin. According to Silva (1991), to establish therapeutic mutual trust, there need to be the following requirements: Accurate Empathy: The therapist conveys his or her understanding of the childs background and experience; Genuineness: The therapist is as spontaneous, tactful, flexible, and non-defensive as possible; Availability: The therapist is accessible and available (within reason) when needed, and avoids making promises and commitments he or she cannot realistically keep; Respect: This is both gracious and firm, and acknowledges the childs sense of autonomy, control, and responsibility within the therapeutic relationship. Respect is manifested by the therapists general attitude, as well as by certain specific actions Concreteness: Therapy should, at least initially be goal-oriented and have a problem-solving focus. Foster parents are into action and results, and to the extent that it is clinically realistic, the therapeutic approach should emphasise active, problem-solving approaches before tackling more sensitive and complex psychological issues. Counselling Strategies and Techniques Blau (1994) recommends that the first meeting between the therapist and the child establish a safe and comfortable working atmosphere by the therapists articulating : a positive endorsement of the foster parents decision to seek help; a clear description of the therapists responsibilities and limitations with respect to confidentiality and privilege; and Blau (1994) also delineates a number of effective intervention strategies for foster children including the following: Attentive Listening: This includes good eye contact, appropriate body language, and genuine interest, without inappropriate comment or interruption. Empathy: This therapeutic attitude conveys availability, concern, and awareness of the turbulent emotions being experienced by the traumatised children. Reassurance: In acute bahvioural situations, this should take the form of realistically reassuring the child that matters will be taken care of. Supportive Counselling: This includes effective listening, restatement of content, clarification of feelings, and reassurance. In appropriate cases, this therapeutic strategy can stimulate the officer to explore underlying emotional stresses that intensify a naturally stressful traumatic event. In a few cases, this may lead to ongoing psychotherapy (Miller, 2006).

The Pros and Cons of Tracking Devices Essay examples -- Exploratory Es

The Pros and Cons of Tracking Devices What is this world coming to? When most of us think of tracking devices they think of primarily negative issues. But that has all changed now. A tracking device the size of a tic tack that can be surgically implanted to provide a tamper proof means of identification, enhanced e-business security, locating lost or missing individuals, monitoring heart rate, vital signs, tracking of the elderly, the location of valuable property, and monitoring the medical conditions of at risk patients, all at the convenience of a button or a phone call (www.allnet). It is called the GPM or as we know it the Global Positioning Microchip. Today I will discuss the ideals of the implanted microchip and some of the technical, social, economic, ethical and practical implications of its technology. Furthermore exploring some of the benefits and dangers of such a device. Invented entirely for animals man has expanded its uses to stolen cars tracking devices, criminal rehabilitations, and experimen tal animal observations. The chip has come a long way but where will it go from here. California inventor Mike Biegal first introduced the basic prototype for the microchip used in the biochip transponder in 1979. The chips are tiny, passive electronic devices ranging in size from12 to 18mm in length and 2.0 to 3.5mm in diameter. All chips are individually inscribed and programmed to store a unique, permanent, 10-15-digit alphanumeric identification code. The GPM is coupled with an antenna and is sealed in an inert glass capsule. It is implanted into a living being using the same procedure as a routine vaccination. Immediately following implementation the tiny device remains inside the bein... ...nted. They will claim it will reduce crime, provide more convenience etc. and if you do not get the chip you will not be able to buy, sell, or trade goods and items. But in the end as in the bible it is only the beginning of the destruction of our world and all will come to pass. He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand or in the forehead (Revelation13: 16-18). Is this just some coincidence? I do not think so. Works Cited InGraham-Borten-L; Smith-Gerald-W, Issues in Criminology-Berkeley-Calif, 7, (2), pp35-53, copyright 1972 Toombs-Thomas-G; Criminal-Justice-Policy-Review, 7, (3-4), pp. 341-346 copyright 1995 www.nando.net/technology/story/271366p-2488143c.html www.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/09/07/chips/ www.allnetdevices.com/wireless/news/2000/07/27/wireless-asset.html

Analysis of a Survey Essay -- Truth Honesty Essays

Analysis of a Survey As children, most of us were probably taught the basic lessons of life. Our families tried to instill in us a sense of right and wrong, good versus bad. One of the first lessons we were taught was that of honesty. A related concept of honesty is truth. Truth is a concept we understand as children but eventually learn to manipulate as adults. The dictionary states that honesty "implies a refusal to lie, steal or deceive in any way." However, formal definitions of both truth and honesty contain similar phrases, that is, adherence to or dealing with facts. The terms may or may not be interchangeable, but they are similar in that their foundations are rooted in fact. Telling the truth usually means dealing with the consequences. Sometimes this moment of reckoning is instantaneous. Lying has its consequences as well, but for the most part, these can be postponed to a later date and time. I presume this is one of the reasons why we lie in the first place. As adults, I believe that the vast majority of us have twisted or stretched the truth at one time another in order to serve ourselves better. Is this right or wrong? This line of thought triggered contemplation on one of life's mysteries--is honesty truly the best policy? Many of my friends and colleagues were aware that I had been coping with a situation where people were lying to me. In my case, the consequences were devastating and these people knew I had been extremely hurt and angry. However, in related conversations regarding these circumstances, I was astounded to learn that not everyone shared my opinion that lying was wrong. I had a difficult time accepting this notion but these people insisted that there were times when it was better not to t... .... The difficulty here would be in making the questions as non-threatening as possible. If a respondent felt uncomfortable with the survey, the results could be skewed. I also feel that additional queries would provide the data necessary to make more thought provoking assumptions and analysis. Nevertheless, I found that conducting this survey was an educational experience and one I would not mind repeating. I feel that truth and honesty are closely intertwined. I believe that if you are honest, whether it be with yourself or another person, the truth will come out. I discovered through this survey that things are sometimes not as obvious as they may seem. More importantly, I saw that honesty is something that often must be measured and weighed before being presented. Though I prefer honesty to lies, I can understand how it could throw equilibrium out of balance.

Modularity in Development

Modularity is found in all facets of life and is very important in the biological development of an organism. Simon (1962)(in Gilbert, 7th ed.) argued that modularity is important in nature for the design and description of complex systems at all levels. He gave the example of two matchmakers to explain how modularity is important in the stable development of complicated system. Living beings are not composed of hierarchies. â€Å"Each entity is an organized array of constituent modular parts, and at the same time, the constituent of a larger module.† (Gilbert S., 7th ed.) These modules interact among themselves to form a larger coherent module. An evolutionary module is characterized as a unit that functions as an individual in respect of three processes of replication, interaction and evolution. (Lewontin (1970), in Bolker, 2000) One level in which modularity is clearly seen is in the later stages of embryonic development. According to Bonner (1988, in Gilbert 1998, pp.172), â€Å"Modularity is associated with ‘gene nets’ that can participate in many different aspects of development.† This happens through discrete and interacting modules. Klingenberg has defined modules as â€Å"units that are internally coherent by manifold interactions of their parts, but are relatively autonomous from other such units with which they are connected by fewer or weaker interactions.† (Klingenberg, 2002) Modules are, therefore, said to be â€Å"individualized† units separate from their surroundings. Raff listed the characteristics of developmental modules in his definition. He said that modules must possess certain â€Å"discrete specification, hierarchical organization, interactions with other modules, a particular physical location within a developing organism, and the ability to undergo transformations on both developmental and evolutionary time scales.† (Raff 1996, qtd. in Bolker, 2000) He explained that modules are â€Å"dynamic entities† which represent localized processes as seen in morphogenetic fields rather than â€Å"simply incipient structures† like organ rudiments. Modules are found to have external connectivity along with internal integration. So, modules allow for the three processes of dissociation, duplication and divergence, and cooption. (Raff 1997, qtd in Gilbert, 1998) Dissociation lets one module change without affecting other modules and that, in turn, permits heterochrony. Dissociation also allows allometry, letting different parts grow at different rates. The principles of duplication and divergence are seen in the variations of themes produced by morphogenetic fields. These are seen in different sizes and shapes of teeth, and the difference in hind limb and forelimb. Modularity also permits cooption, such that the same module can create both, jaws in fishes and mammalian middle ear cartilage. (Gould 1990, in Gilbert 1998) Modules can also undergo developmental and evolutionary change separately from other modules. The signaling interactions within modules over a distance are carried out by morphogens (Neumann, Kersberg, Ferguson, Gudon and Bouiillot, qtd.   Klingenberg, 2002) These are proteins of families like FGF, hedgehog, Wnt or TGF-?, or molecules like retinoic acid. These are termed as â€Å"panacrine† factors. These factors stimulate the transcription factors in cells through the signal transduction cascades between them. This brings about a stimulation of a specific feature or factor in the cells in a module. Each module in an embryo makes a different level of a living entity. E.g. a cell is a part of tissue and organelles are parts of cells. Organelles must function to make a coherent cell and cells must function to make a coherent tissue. Modular units lets different parts of the embryo develop without interfering with other units. So development occurs through discrete and interacting modules. According to Keller (1986) (in Bolker, 2000), the best-characterized module is the dorsal marginal zone (DMZ) of the â€Å"Xenopus† gastrula. It fulfills all the necessary criteria for a module. It can be physically isolated from the rest of the embryo and still undergo shape change, so it can be said that convergent extension is intrinsic to DMZ; the force-generating function is uniquely localized to DMZ; all cells within the DMZ interact to produce overall shape change; and lastly, this region can be identified in other amphibian embryos and related fish, like sturgeon. Other modules, apart from morphogenetic fields, are imaginal discs, like the wing imaginal disc of Drosophila; cell lineages like inner cell mass or trophoblast, insect parasgments, and vertebrate organ rudiments, somites, rhombomeres in flies, RTK-Ras or Wnt, or IP3 pathways are also considered to be developmental and evolutionary modules. Katherine Anderson first discovered a morphogenetic determinant i.e. an mRNA for the snake protein in her laboratory of Cristiane N?sslein Volhard. â€Å"She rescued eggs from homozygous snake mothers by injecting them with small amounts of cytoplasm from wild eggs.† (Gilbert, 1998) Instead of an entire dorsal cuticle being developed, the dorsoventral pattern was restored in them. They also carried out experiments on Drosophila. They showed that a morphogen could be stored as mRNA, but it could be localized to a region of cytoplasm. Modules can associate with other modules in new ways. Examples at molecular level are proteins like ?-catenin, which can be either a part of Wnt pathway or a cell adhesion factor. At cellular level, the Hedgehog module, which is used to make a border in insect blastoderm, is later used in making eyespots of the wing (Keys et al 1999, in Gilbert, seventh ed.). Buffering of modules is also seen, e.g. the â€Å"double assurance† of Spemann (1927) (in Gilbert, 7th ed.) Modules play an important role in evolution. Evolutionary biologists consider modules as sub-units or components of a larger system. Averof and Patel (1994) showed that the pattern of Ubx and abd-A Hox gene expression correlates with the presence or absence of the modification of thoracic limbs and feeding maxillipeds.(Gilbert, 1998) The maxillipeds form only when the genes are inactive. In vertebrates, the distinction between cervical and thoracic vertebrae, and that between cervical and lumbar vertebrae is mediated by Hox genes.   This is apart from the main role in development. Thus, modular units play important parts in an embryo. Works Cited Gilbert, Scott. â€Å"Modules: Key Pieces in the Integration of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology.† Chapter 23. Developmental Biology. Seventh Edition. [Online] Klingenberg, Christian P. 2002. â€Å"Integration, modules, and development: molecules to morphology to evolution.† [Online] Bolker, J.A. 2000. â€Å"Modularity in Development and Why It Matters to Evo-Devo.† American Zoologist, 40:770–776, 2000. [Online] Gilbert, Scott F. 1998. â€Å"Conceptual Breakthroughs in Developmental Biology.† Journal of Biosciences, 23, No. 3, Sep 1998, pp. 169-176. Indian Academy of Sciences. [Online]               

Hershey chocolate Essay

Go the Hershey website to learn how to make Hershey chocolate. (There is also a â€Å"print friendly† version of the chocolate making process at the end of the video.) Review the process and take a look at some of the videos. Pay particular attention to the process steps of milling and pressing, mixing the ingredients, and refining. In at least one paragraph, describe the costing system that you would recommend Hershey use to account for its cost of goods sold and why. Include a few product costs you think would be traceable, which costs should be allocated and how Hershey should account and apply the manufacturing overhead costs. After reviewing the production videos on the Hershey’s website, it seems likely the company would use process costing versus job costing techniques to track the costs associated with producing the various chocolate bars. Both techniques will identify the costs associated with producing the candy bars, the difference is the process costing tech nique allocates the total cost of production across all units of output. This usually entails accumulation of costs for each stage (or department) of production and assigning those costs to all output from that stage. I feel that the process technique best matches the production process Hershey utilizes. Even on their website videos, Hershey breaks the production of the candy bars into seven separate functions, each with the end goal of developing the finest chocolate bars possible but with unique and separate processes. Just as Hershey has multiple processes, they will also have multiple product costs. A few traceable product costs that come to mind are associated with the seven website videos. The first film shows the production of the raw cocoa beans. The company will determine the costs associated with the purchase of raw materials such as the beans, sugar, and milk. This cost would be variable costs, as the production is increased, the volume of raw materials would also increase. The second stage of roasting and breaking the beans may also have variable inventory costs, and possibly a combination fuel costs to heat the roasters. Hershey will always have the fuel costs, but the amounts will vary depending on the amount of beans being roasted. The third stage of milling and pressing the beans will also have a combination of fuel cost to run the machinery. The process of blending and mixing of the chocolate looks to have a lot of direct labor and once again fuel costs to run mixers, heaters and dryers in addition to the various  employees creating direct labor costs. The refining process runs many heavy granite rollers and mixers to develop the chocolate into a smooth texture and will also generate additional fuel and power costs. Finally, the wrapping and packaging stages will have variable costs for the materials to wrap and package the candy in preparation for transportation to the consumer. In each of the categories, fuels and power costs are utilized in the preparation of the chocolate bars. This is one cost that one that could be allocated to each department. In addition, the facility costs, square footage and non direct labor may be allocated to the various departments. I feel Hershey should debit factory overhead for the actual costs incurred and credit Factory Overhead as these costs are allocated to Work in Process, which eventually gets transferred to expense as Cost of Goods Sold as shown via the preceding entries.

On Gentrification in Los Angeles

The poor condition and high crime rate have caused nearly unanimous support from the residents for some form of government intervention in the area, Hough the extremity of the proposed redevelopment has community members uneasy about their future. In an article titled America's Worst Housing Project is Being Gentrified by Mike Pearl via internet-based fringe media outlet Vice the author argues that gentrification's benefits Only extend to those who can afford the rent hikes that inevitably accompany redevelopment.As Pearl sees it, â€Å"history teaches us that when your dilapidated housing project gets revalidated, you do not get to stay unless you stop being very poor†. The City of Los Angels currently maintains a required ratio of one subsidized housing unit for each that is rented at market value, however the prominent real estate blob Curbed LA questions this statement, asserting that â€Å"This isn't the first effort to tear down and fancily a crumbling housing project, but it is the first time such a large project has been undertaken without kicking all of the current residents out first†.With understandable skepticism many residents of Jordan Downs believe that the gentrification may drive the low income inhabitants out of the area with no alternative options for housing. This was the case in Chicago Cabin Green district, in which 80% of low income residents were driven out by more affluent residents willing to pay high prices for the land. Jordan Downs native Juanita Sims, a four decade long resident of the projects, commented â€Å"I'm not afraid to move, but what my fear really is is: Where†?The Housing Authority for the City of Los Angels (HACK) attempted to qualm the fears of Jordan Downs occupants by stating that all residents â€Å"in good standing' would be allowed to remain in their units until the day that hey were relocated to an apartment in the new buildings. The extremely vague wording of this decree did little to plac ate the uneasy residents, as the term â€Å"in good standing† places a huge amount of discretion in the hands of the housing authority.Community outreach group SHIELDS for Families has been on site in Jordan Downs recently to prevent abusive renting policies. In their words, the city has begun â€Å"a new enforcement of old rules†, recently evicting several people for violations that they had been committing for the entire span of their occupancy at the complex. Things that previously had gone unnoticed such as bad housekeeping, or violations of the no pet policy have recently landed several people with evictions.LA Times author Jessica Garrison commented in her article Bumptious Makeover Planned for Old Housing Project â€Å"It will be an enormous challenge, with success likely to be measured in tiny increments,† further noting that â€Å"only 47% of adults at Jordan reported any wages to the housing authority last year†. Though the challenges of this pr oject are numerous, however the benefits to the community may be equally great in magnitude, provided that students are given fair opportunities to remain in the area at affordable prices.Between the initial stages of planning the project Jordan Downs has seen a 53% drop in violent crime and zero homicides in the past 18 months. To further assist in transitioning from dilapidated urban decay to the â€Å"Vibrant Urban Village† that the redevelopment's Faceable page promotes, the LA Housing Authority has begun funding community growth by hosting classes at the Jordan Downs Community Center.These courses include computer skills, financing parenting and even high school equivalency adult education. Career counseling has also been available to residents like Cynthia Gill who told Nap's All Things Considered that [after receiving career counseling] â€Å"When go to an interview, know how to present myself, how – what to say, what questions to ask and to know to ask questio ns and how to dress and how to carry you resell†.The Los Angels Housing Authority bolstering of community development funds in recent months has assisted the redevelopments goal to gain favor from the residents, however many outside parties remain staunchly opposed to the gentrification. The comment section on Vice's article generated an outcry of opposition to the redevelopment. One commenter named James Knowles asserted that â€Å"LA. is going to lie to the residents of Jordan Downs just like every other city lied to its residents with promises of a better life.More or less it will go like this†¦ ‘Here is a section 8 voucher now, go find somewhere to live'†. Knowles has good reasons to suspect that this outcome is a possibility. Atlanta has had many similar problems with gentrification in recent years. In a publication by notable sociology professors Leslie Williams Reid and Robert M. Dolman, the authors observe that â€Å"Without question, rising property values have displaced older, long-term black residents as middle- and upper-income whites bid up property values [in Atlanta)†.The professors then refer to the Atlanta neighborhoods Kirkwood, East Lake and East Atlanta which are widely considered one of the clearest examples of gentrification in American history. The change in property value and economic status of the people these neighborhoods is believed to be caused in part by the aging local population (allowing for an abundance of vacancies), lose proximity to downtown, opening opportunities for new development and the desirability of the surrounding metropolitan area. Jordan Downs has each of these factors in common with Atlanta.At this point it is too late for the residents of the Jordan Downs Housing projects to Stop the redevelopment from happening the developer has applied to the federal government for a $30 Million loan for seed money to fund the project, and the HACK has approved the plans to begin construction. D espite the best efforts of people on all sides of the issue to reverent massive gentrification from consuming the area, it is impossible to ignore the tell tale signs that the poor residents will be shunned and driven out as the desire for economic growth continues.

Study of Personality

What is Personality? It is the combination of qualities that form an individual's unique character and make them different from other people. Personality is made up the characteristic patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Personality becomes apparent from an individual's early age and remains consistent throughout his / her lifetime. Cloninjer (1999), believe that people are born with four specific temperaments ( harm avoidance, novelty seeking, perseverance, reward dependence) which have a crucial role in forming the personality and how we get along with our family and other people.There are numerous theories about how personality develops and they focus on difference approaches. For instance the Freudians and the Behaviorists argue that personality is developed by ones interactions with their environment and by studying behaviors that can be observed and assessed. The humanists theory focuses on the importance of free will and individual experience in the development of pe rsonality.The two issues I selected that are of interest to me are Free-will vs Determinism and Cultural Determinism vs Cultural Transcendence. Free-will vs Determinism. With this issue, the focus is on finding out if genetic and environmental events have a bearing on our personality? Can we shape, direct and control our character development and destiny? The notion of free will argues that we are conscious human beings and as a result are free to make undetermined decisions in situations where we can and are able to do so.Determinism on the other hand argues that things or events that happen are as a result of things/events that happen in the past. Cultural Determinism vs Cultural Transcendence. The question here is that to what extent does our cultures shape us to become who we are? Just like the Free-will question, can we transcend cultural differences by rising above it? Should it so happen that we can transcend cultural difference, how can it be done, and how easy or difficult will it be to do so?I am inclined to believe that the culture in which we were born and raised shapes who we are emotionally and behaviorally, however the environment has a commanding influence. Many cultural studies conducted during the last decade on issues such as self- processes, emotion, and personality traits have firmly established the following: culture is a key determinant of what it means to be a person (Diener, Oishi & Lucas, 2003; Markus & Kitayama, 1998).

Caroll is a subsidiary

Caroll is a subsidiary Introduction Caroll is a subsidiary of the Vivarte group since 1988. This brand is one of the ready-to-wear sector’s successes, which has been known and appreciated by many women for over 40 years. Caroll is particularly renowned for the quality of its products. With over 350 stores, about 100 of which are abroad Caroll is a brand that is ever growing both in France and internationally. Caroll’s culture is based on a shared brand vision:  § Strong product identity,  § A high degree of adaptability,  § An innovative brand/distributor concept. The company’s niche was knitwear only. The 1970s were boom years! In the 1980s, Caroll began to evolve†¦In 1980, it added a ready-to-wear collection and its first franchise shops in France. In 1984, Caroll opened its first branch shops. Four years later, Caroll International was listed on the stock exchange and the Andrà © group, which was to become Vivarte in 2001, purchased a large share in the company. The 199 0s were revolutionary! In 1994, Caroll International defined a new positioning for itself, creating the â€Å"Caroll Paris† brand and introducing new strategies with a view to becoming a key player in the world of fashion, for a targeted yet sizeable female clientele, well informed and with high standards. In just a few years, Caroll International succeeded in completely changing its image and significantly increased its market share. After having transformed its network in France, Caroll International began to expand in other countries in 1997. Since 2000, Caroll has strengthened its image by taking on a huge challenge: the application of luxury codes to distribution. With a wealth of experience in its sector, the Brand is now particularly appreciated for the quality of its products, its expertise and its style. Part One: Marketing Audit A. Corporate Level 1. The company mission Caroll has its styling bureau in Paris. This bureau detects trends and creates collections it abl e to react quickly and design new products. Caroll missions are to design fashion clothes women, staying at the top of the fashion each seasons. The second mission is to sell this clothes and accessories by franchising new shops all around the world. 2. Company objectives & goals In order to faced with constantly evolving fashion, Caroll has chosen to continuously renew itself and launch new models, new colours throughout the season. The goal is to keep up with the latest looks. Caroll has to answer to the women wants. So, clothes are perfectly cut, the choice materials are an important part of its renewed. Caroll doesn’t offers only clothes fashion, it also sells accessories: scarves, jewellery, belts, bags, shoes, etc. B. Marketing Mix: 4 P’s  § Product: Caroll has a large range of products. All the products are based on three same styles that are based on the â€Å"details finishing† and the â€Å"high quality material† used. The silhouettes are real ly important: o 3 trends o 3 styles o 3 lines All the product’s shapes are well defined and cut in chosen materials, which offers a very elegant to order outfits. Caroll collection:  § Blouses  § Coats  § Dresses  § Jackets  § Pants  § Skirts  § Sweaters

Gallstones Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Gallstones - Essay Example In general, gallstones are about two times more common in women than in men. Most study series show a prevalence of gall stones in women between the age of 20-55 years (5-20%) and after the age of 50 years, the prevalence for men is about half as that for women in a given age group (Sleisenger, 2002). The first degree relatives of patients with gall stones are 4.5 times more likely to develop the same condition as compared to age and gender matched controls (Sarin, 1995). High-risk populations include Pima Indians in Arizona, where 70% of women older than 25 years have gallstones. About 50 % of Scandinavians develop the condition by 50 years of age. Other high-risk populations comprise the American Indian groups in Alaska, Canada, Bolivia and Chile (Egbert, 1991). The populations at the lowest risk are those in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Su CH, 1992) Obesity is a well-known risk factor and individuals with BMI > 45kg/w2 are at a seven-fold higher risk for the development of gallstones in comparison with controls (Stampfer MJ, 1992). Cholesterol hypersecretion into bile and increased cholesterol secretion have been implicated. Rapid weight loss contributes to gallstone disease. About 25% of obese patients on strict dietary restriction and 50% of patients who have gastric bypass develop gallstones, 6 months following the surgery (Shiffman ML et al., 1986.) Foetal parenteral nutrition and drugs like clofibrate, oral contraceptives, estrogens, progesterone, ceftriaxone and octreotide are causative agents. Pregnancy is a potentially lithogenic condition due to increased cholesterol secretion and supersaturation of bile, occurring due to increased estrogen levels (Lynn J, 1973). In many studies, fecundity has been implicated in the increased prevalence of gallstone (Tsimoyiannis, 1994 & Miquel JF, 1998.) According to their chemical composition, gallstones can be classified into cholesterol stones, mixed stones, and pigment stones. Cholesterol