Objectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Objectives - Essay Example In other situations, some resources may be available but does not factor into consideration nature of hand washing requirements. The objective is addressing leadership requirements in which the management is supposed to provide these resources. Awareness and knowledge by the health care providers –Health care providers may lack the knowledge on how to tackle hygiene related issues. For example, some health providers do not wash their hands after transferring patients between departments/wards (Takahashi & Turale, 2010). In addressing this issue, policy should be formulated and implemented that informs the health care providers on importance of properly washing their hands after accomplishing health related requirement. Encouragement on hands washing rather than wearing gloves –it is appropriate to determine whether it is necessary in any situation for health care providers to wear gloves (Takahashi & Turale, 2010). It constitutes practice inquiry whereby the research tries to quantify when and necessity of wearing gloves vs. when not supposed to wear the

Instructional planning & strategies task Essay Example for Free

Instructional planning strategies task Essay On the past times the Florida State Standards for Mathematics had a problem and some comments for revision was proposed on it. Fortunately all the conflicts encountered were already ended well. Through the help of the Florida Department of Education the State Standards for mathematics had improved and developed. This was a guide for the level standards particularly grade 6-8 stating those that the students should learn and what they can do at the grade level intervals eventually. The following are one of the standards for each level followed by the corresponding goals and objectives. Standard for Grades 6-8: Students already know the concept of numbers and some mathematical operations. However, for a specific grade, the goal and objectives are heighten as each student upgrades or proceeds to its new level, considering the knowledge they have gained from previous grades. Grade 6: Goal: students figure out whether the existing numbers are fractions, decimals, percents, scientific notations, exponent, radicals and absolute value by just looking at its form. Objectives: At the end of the school year the students are expected to do the following so that they will be well familiar with the other branching and composition of numbers. 1. write and categorize numbers according to their forms (e. g. fractions, decimals, exponents) 2. convert a given amount of number in fraction, decimal or scientific notation, and state it correctly. 3. tell whether numbers articulated in diverse forms are identical through some board works. Grade 7: Goal: students must clarify eventually the four fundamental operations used for whole numbers, fractions as well as mixed numbers and decimals, the opposite relationship of positive and negative numbers Objectives: At the end the students are able to fulfill the following because the relevance of the operations will be useful in dealing with other mathematical matters. 1. enumerate results of four fundamental operations on whole numbers and the forms mentioned above. This is to show that the students already know something about it. 2. make use visuals to present the connections of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on its dealing with different forms of numbers to show that children are not confused of it. 3. state and pertain clearly the properties of rational numbers in solving mathematical problems. Grade 8: Goal: eventually the students are aware of and make use of exponential and scientific notation. Therefore, the students must perform indicated operations on examinations board works and group activities. Objectives: the students in due course can do the expected performance for the assurance that coped up already the knowledge in the whole number system. 1. write and recite numbers in exponential notations even if these numbers contain negative exponents 2.tell correctly numbers ranging from 0 to 1 converted in scientific notations 3. appraise numerical or algebraic expressions that enclose exponential notation so as to prove that they are able to surpass various forms of training in numbers for the previous years. Reference: Focus on Success: A REVIEW OF THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS FOR RIGOR AND ALIGNMENT TO COLLEGE READINESS, Retrieved August 25, 2007, http://etc. usf. edu/flstandards/math/College_Board. pdf.

Options for Company in Financial Difficulty

Options for Company in Financial Difficulty Introduction There are a few options for S.B. Ltd to consider getting through difficult times. The five main options are firstly, to discontinue the Nottingham division and Leicester and Loughborough divisions could use their spare capacity to produce 60% of Nottingham’s 2010 output in addition to their own 2010 output, close the Nottingham division and outsource Nottingham’s 2010 output, to launch a major campaign for all 3 products to increase their sales, to introduce a transfer pricing system between the division and the head office to increase motivation among the staff in each division and rightsizing the organisation. Discontinuation As seen Nottingham is not making growth, in response to market forces, the first option is to discontinue Nottingham division by selling its assets and settling its liabilities and shifting production from Nottingham to Leicester and Loughborough. The discontinuation decision is a decision when the division profitability highlights the potential of unprofitable (Drury, 2010, pp.91-92). In this option, assuming that Leicester and Loughborough have some spare capacity to produce 60% of Nottingham’s 2010 output on top of their own 2010 output. According to Drury (2010, p.92), discontinuing the Nottingham division could aid the company in eliminating cost of goods sold, and other variable costs in the division. Other cost such as advertising costs, distribution costs and Head Office costs remain unchanged and is not affected by the discontinuation of the Nottingham division. O’Hare (2010, Management Accounting Lecture 3) suggested other factors which will affect an organisation to discontinue a division, the division is making a loss, to identify avoidable costs or to discover other saving. Outsourcing Outsourcing option is also known as sub-contracting option has become increasingly common in organisations, which enables organisations to concentrate on their core performance while outsource other specialist their secondary activities (Collier et al, 2007, pp.220-221). In S.B. Ltd case, according to Oxford University Press (2009), outsourcing could help to get through this hard time by going on a process of business process downsizing. Outsourcing allows operations that have seasonal demands to bring in additional resources in time of needs. Other advantages of outsourcing are, outsource activities will allow S.B. Ltd to focus on important functions without sacrificing quality or service, outsource specialist could help improve the quality and standard of the jam. It may also be able to purchase the jam more cheaply or perhaps more quickly. Assuming the outsource price for raspberry jam is 20% more then the cost of goods produced and sold for raspberry jam. Hence, the sales of raspberry jam remains the same and Leicester division and Loughborough division have spare capacity which gives them room for expansion of 30% more sales each. All other expenses remain the same for both Leicester and Loughborough divisions. This gives the Head Office a net profit of  £76,000 On contrary to the advantages, outsourcing the jam to some specialist could lead to risk of unsatisfactory quality and standard of the jam. Other disadvantages could be leak of procedures and techniques of making the jam, outsourcing usually focuses on short-term cost-saving, and ignores the unchanged overhead burden. Major Campaign Another option is to launch a major advertising campaign for all three products to increase their sales and keep all three divisions. Advertising could boost awareness and generate demand of the sales of jams of S.B. Ltd. and hence acquiring more orders. In the advertising campaign, assuming the advertising cost increase by 20% and it bring the sales of each product to an increase of 20% each. It simply boost up the profit of the company to  £96,000. Transfer Pricing The other option is when an organisation chooses to decentralise its divisions, transfer pricing helps decide what price to charge for in-company transactions (Collier et al, 2007, p.38-39) and as a form of promoting divisional autonomy (O’Hare, 2010, Management Accounting Lecture 8). It is useful when goods are transferred between divisions; hence, the performance measurement of each division is not prejudiced by the corporate objectives. The profitability of each business units will be affected and according to Solomon (1965 cited in Collier et al, 2007, pp.38-39), companies might take advantage of the transfer pricing which are suitable for evaluating divisional performance for the corporate interest, instead of the business units. Transfer pricing strategies and can produce substantial tax savings in addition to enhancing operational performance and improving cash flow. In many organisations, in order to avoid de-motivating effects on different business units, negotiated p rices are adopted. Say, each product is transferred to Derby division and it pays each division 70% of the sales it made from selling all the jams and yet still bare the cost of advertising, distribution and the head office costs. The local administrative expenses shall be bare by the respective divisions. There are downsides of transfer pricing. The political process in an organisation might affect the transfer pricing between divisions. Incorrect prices adopted can distort reported performance, by making some divisions more profitable at others expense. Opportunities exist to avoid taxes using artificial transfer prices to transfer profits from a high tax division to a low tax division. Rightsizing Rightsizing, or corporate restructuring, with the aim of reducing costs and improving efficiency and effectiveness is also one option in difficult times. Rightsizing is downsizing in the belief that an organisation really should operate with fewer personnel. The primary reason to engage in rightsizing is to make the daily operations of a business more productive. For example, a company may be able to replace assembly line employees with machines which will be quicker and less prone to error. In addition, rightsizing increases profits by reducing the overall overheads of a business. S.B. Ltd operates a full cost (TAC) standard costing system. The standard costs set fot the year 31 March 2010 and information about future costs and selling prices are in Appendix 2. Part 2 (700) Assuming the company decided to go for the option of keeping all divisions open and launching an advertising campaign, you are required to produce a standard cost card for each product and a budget for the company showing clearly the costs attributable to each division for the year to 31 March 2011. State clearly all assumptions made. Standard Cost Card A standard cost card can be defined as ‘a detailed listing of the standard amounts of materials, labour and overheads that should go into a unit of product, multiplied by the standard price or rate that has been set for each elements’ (Anon 2, 2010). A standard cost card, for example must include the price, specifications, quantity and quality of material required, as well as such factors as the period of credit allowed from suppliers, cash and quantity discounts, spoilage due to wastage and deterioration. A standard cost card demands an investigation of all contributing factors that can constitute a cost before the cost is adopted. According to Drury (2010, p.278), standard costs are ‘predetermined costs’ and they are the target costs that should be incurred under efficient operating conditions. The standard cost card will be subjected to updating caused by revision of standards such as changes in prices, discounts, etc. Standard costing is a control system which sets standards that are ideal, expected and achievable (O’Hare, 2010, Management Accounting Lecture). Collier (2007, p.36) put forward that standard costing is a control technique which compares standard cost and all of production revenues with actual results. It is to obtain variances of each division and product (O’Hare, 2010, Management Accounting Lecture 8), which are used to stimulate improved performance and to increase motivation of staff in each division. It is a detective control used to prevent problems from reoccurring as it measures variances as it occur, thus allowing management to take necessary corrective action. The standard cost card for the year ended 31 March 2011 (per batch of 40 jars each 500 grams) for Strawberry Jam, Raspberry Jam and Orange Marmalade are as below: Budget The principal tool in planning is called ‘a budget’. A budget is a collection of predictions. It is an estimation of the revenue and expenses over a specified future period of time. There are three purposes of budgets as identified by Emmanuel et al (1990 cited in Collier, 2007, pp.39-40), ‘as forecasts of future events’, ‘as motivational targets’ and ‘as standards for performance evaluation’. Budget is a financial plan or qualitative statement for implementing the various decisions to be pursued during a specific accounting period, that management has made in the previous period. Collier (2007, pp.39-42) suggest that budgets provide a control mechanism through both the feed forward and feedback loops. The control mechanism in the budget is to provide a performance monitoring function to the appropriate managers who are responsible for implementing the various decisions by producing and presenting the performance reports. According to Drury (2010, pp.8-9), the performance report provide feedback information by comparing planned and actual results. Generally, a functional budget is drawn up for each division of S.B. Ltd. These budgets are, then, merged together into a single combined statement, which is known as the master budget, of S.B. Ltd’s expectations for the future periods. The master budget consists of budgeted profit, which it is expected to convey to everyone in the organisation the part that they are expected to achieve in implementing management’s decisions. The master budget, usually, consists of a budgeted profit and loss, a budgeted balance sheet and a budgeted cash-flow statement. In order to finalised a budgeted profit and loss, other budgets for the individual divisions and produced, such as the sales budget, direct materials usage budget, direct materials purchase budget, direct labour budget, and selling and administration budget. Master Budget Budgeted Profit and Loss Account for the year ending 31 March 2011  £  £ Forecast sales (Schedule 1) 816,000 Purchases (Schedule 3) Materials Fruit 130,272

Government Surveillance in the Digital Age Essay -- Privacy in the Dig

Government Surveillance in the Digital Age Imagine walking along a busy street in the middle of a sunny day. Also imagine that someone is following you around, videotaping everything you do. Disturbing thought? Even more disturbing is the fact that the United States government is already doing this, and it's perfectly legal. According to Robert Trigaux, a reporter for the St. Petersburg times, until August of 2014, in Ybor City, Florida, the Tampa Police Department used fourty-six surveillance cameras that scanned faces of all people walking around the entertainment district. These surveillance cameras captured facial images and then compared them to a police database of known felons. This same surveillance system was also used during the Tampa Bay Super Bowl at the Raymond James Stadium, and other cities are attempting to install such a system. However, even though the cameras are used in public places, they still represent a large violation of privacy. Also a violation of our privacy is the government's usage of the Carnivore Internet surveillance system that can track all of a person's online activity. The FBI not only has the capability to do so, but in many cases it can lawfully enter a person's home and alter or even steal information form his or her computer, all without the knowledge of the owner of the computer. The government's ability to gather personal information on its citizens is similar to methods of surveillance in the novels The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, and 1984, by George Orwell. In order to prevent the extreme cases of surveillance presented in these novels, it is the public's responsibility to remain alert to new developments in law enforcement so as to prevent an unreasonable s... ...ore/000724fbi.shmtl>. Herdy, Amy. Tampabay: They made me feel like a criminal. 8 Aug. 2001. St. Petersburg Times. 2 Nov. 2013. . Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations. July 2012. Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. 26 Oct. 2013. . The Nature and Scope of Governmental Electronic Surveillance Activity. Sep. 2001. Center for Democracy and Technology. 27 Oct. 2013. . Trigaux, Robert. Tampabay: Cameras scanned fans for criminals. 31 Jan. 2001. St. Petersburg Times. 2 Nov. 2003. . Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Signet Classic Printing, 1950.

Legal and regulatory environment that influenced the Internet Essay

The internet is a dynamic field which is a product of several influences, which at times are contradictory. The constitutions of several countries were created before the advent of the internet, the need to create and amend laws and regulations governing the internet have influenced the internet. However, two major issues that have been of legal and regulatory contention are privacy and security; this is because privacy seems to be conversely related with security. The internet has made it possible for detailed personal information to be easily availed and shared, this has however infringed on the personal rights of privacy, according to Frackman, et al. (2002), several acts such as Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act have influenced immensely the internet since firms have to comply with the provisions of the Acts on all the personal information they collect ,and the personal information availed as content in the internet, since availing much information infringes of personal rights . However the issues of electronic commerce, cyber crime, network and state security, intellectual property rights, consumer rights and exchange of credit information have called for sharing of more information on the internet. Laws and regulations, such as Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010, have called for extensive sharing of personal information on the internet, due to security concerns which in essence contradicts the objective of privacy. The privacy and security legal and regulatory environment have therefore greatly influenced the Internet. Explain how Dell initially used software and the Internet to increase sales and yield cost savings Dell is an international company offering computing services and products. Facing increasing costs in product distribution, the company founded the Integrated Dell Desktop (IDD); this offers simple desktop functionality to sales representatives, who are connected together via the internet. The system offers the clients the possibility of ordering bespoke systems directly from hence eliminating the middle men, therefore saving costs; this has been made possible by the company’s website dell. com and call centres. Dell was able to increase sales due to increased customer satisfaction, as a result of customers having the product of their selection. IDD also saved costs for dell, and improved profit for the company as well as offering competitive strategic advantage since the sales personnel were empowered to get any relevant information , since all the back end systems were integrated. In addition, the company was also to save on personnel costs, costs on offering training to the sales representatives were reduced as well as customers being able to get all the relevant information concerning the products from the website. Moreover, storage costs were reduced since the machines were produced depending on the customers’ customization and shipped to customer. IDD and the internet have therefore contributed to reducing costs and increasing sales at Dell.

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary Whether you’re seeking more than a standard cost-of-living bump or have seen your job responsibilities increase over the past year, this may be a great time to open salary negotiations with your boss. The holidays are over and everyone’s settling in for the year ahead- so why not do everything you can to increase your bottom line? 1. Pick your timingIf your company’s year-end financial report just came out and it’s bleaker than an outdoor swimming pool in January, know that this might not be the best time to approach your boss about a raise. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but definitely be wary that your request might not be met with an open checkbook.Knowing how the company is doing in general can help you frame your request. If things are a little lean, open with an acknowledgment that you know things are tough, but that you’d like to open a dialogue on your salary for [reasons xyz].2. Be realisticBefore you even bring up a salary chan ge with your boss, do the legwork by researching what the salary range is for your role within your industry. This can help you figure out a reasonable dollar figure, but can also show you where you stand on the compensation scale. If your salary is currently on the low end of the standard range for your job title and experience level, that gives you leverage when you talk to your boss.3. Don’t make threats/demandsSalary negotiation is a dialogue. Just as you’ll have a preferred outcome in your head, so will your boss. It may take some time to get to a middle ground that works for both of you, so you won’t do yourself any favors by going in guns a-blazing and asking for a particular number or else. That will only put your manager on the defensive, and will not make him or her likely to accommodate your request, however overdue or reasonable it might be at heart. At this point, the company holds the power- being overly aggressive at the start gives you fewer opti ons later on.4. Don’t forget benefitsWhile this is a chance to increase your base salary, it’s also a chance to revisit your benefits and perks, as well. If you seek more vacation time, comp time, or a flexible work-from-home arrangement a certain number of days per week or month, it puts more chips on the table. It could also help provide some middle ground if your employer is unable to meet your top salary goal.5. Document everythingWhen you ask for a raise, you’ll need backup to help justify the increase to your employer. Before you start any kind of negotiation, get these in order. Have a list of specific bullet points ready that you can bust out either in an email or in conversation with your boss. Successful projects that you’ve spearheaded, revenue increases, times when you’ve gone above and beyond†¦get ‘em all in that list. Remember, you’re offering a case as to why you deserve more. General comments like â€Å"I’m a hard worker† or â€Å"I’m good at my job† don’t offer specific enough reasons to give you more money.6. This time, it’s (im)personalKeep personal relationships and needs out of it. This negotiation process is about getting compensation you feel you deserve as a worker- not about how you need more cash for your speedboat down payment. Make sure you limit the discussion to your professional accomplishments, your worth in the workplace, and your relationship to the company.Also, if you’re friendly with your boss, remember that during your salary talks he or she  is no longer the friend with whom you share cat videos. This is the professional colleague who likely wants the best for you, but also has to keep the company’s best interests in mind, too. It’s unfair to expect special treatment based on personal BFFness- not only unfair to your boss, but to your other colleagues as well. You never want there to be even a hint of impr opriety, so keep things straightforward and professional. Then celebrate together later with a cat video.As with just about everything else, the motto for salary renegotiation is â€Å"be prepared.† Knowing your worth and having as much information as possible at your fingertips once you open the dialogue will give you a strong platform. You may or may not get the exact dollar figure you want, but going into the process with confidence and concrete reasons is the best way to start.

Of Mice And Men Theme Essays - English-language Films, Films

Of Mice And Men Theme Essays - English-language Films, Films Of Mice And Men Theme First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men is a classic American novel by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie are two ranch hands that travel together, with George watching over the mentally inferior Lennie. When they start work at a new ranch, several different characters are introduced. One affliction that seems to face several characters is loneliness, created by factors such as the characters lifestyles and by social standards of the time period. Steinbecks theme that loneliness is unhealthy and dangerous to a persons well being is emphasized throughout the novel. This underlying theme is first introduced in the novel when George talks to Lennie about the advantage they have over other itinerant workers of the time. George described how other ranch hands like themselves who traveled alone had nothing to look forward to, and no one to look after them. He told Lennie how other workers would just work up a stake and blow it at a bar because they had no where else to go, no one else to look after them. George explained how Lennie and himself were different from those lonely workers when he said, With us it aint like that, We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us (Steinbeck 15). Because of Lennie and Georges relationship they are able to focus on their dream of having their own farm someday, instead of falling into a routine of moving from ranch to ranch and wastefully spending their pay at the end of the month. In addition, although Lennie is a burden, George accepts their relationship to fight his own loneliness. As he explains to Slim, I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That aint no good. They dont have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time (45). George appreciates Lennies companionship because he knows that being alone can lead to a more negative outlook on life. Candy is another character who deals with loneliness. He is the oldest man on the ranch and is crippled. The only work he can do is cleaning out the bunkhouse and other odd jobs. His only companion is his old dog who stays by his side. One night however, a fellow ranch hand named Carlson convinces Candy to let himself put the dog out of its misery. If you want me to, Ill put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with, said Carlson in persuasion to Candy (52). Candy agreed and so his only companion was shot, leaving him sad and lonely. A few minutes later though, Candy hears Lennie and George talking about the land which they wish to purchase. Candy, overcame with loneliness and seeing no hope for the future, buys himself into a friendship by offering George money to pay for the land. S pose I went in with you guys, Candy stated, Thas three hundred an fifty bucks Id put in (65). Steinbeck seems to be implying that Candy attempted to avoid his inevitable loneliness with the death of his dog, by buying in on a farm with his new found friends. Crooks, a negro stable buck, also had to handle loneliness. Being black, he was forbidden to stay with the other guys in the bunk house, and was instead forced to live all alone i the barn, with only books for company. When Lennie wandered into his room, Crooks talked to Lennie about his loneliness. He described how upsetting it was to not be able to share your thoughts with another person. A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin books or thinkin or stuff like that. Crooks explained, Sometimes he gets thinkin, an he got nothin to tell him whats so an what aint so. Maybe he sees somethin, he dont know whether its right or not. He cant turn to some other guy an ask him if he sees it too. He cant tell (80). Crooks also tried to get Lennie to sympathize with his loneliness. Spose you didnt have nobody. Spose you couldnt go into the bunk house and play rummy

Jefferson essays

Jefferson essays During Thomas Jeffersons presidency, the United States prospered greatly economically, socially and politically. His choices, appointments, and beliefs helped him gain the support of many Americans as he led the country as president for two consecutive terms. Despite the fact that Jefferson was not re-elected in 1808, he left several legacies, due to his actions and decisions as president, that would have a great impact on the United States for many years to come. For example, as third president of the United States, Jefferson followed the lead of Washington and Adams in preserving American neutrality in conflicting nations, Britain and France, by issuing the Embargo Act in 1807. He also left a legacy with his boldest act purchasing the vast Louisiana territory in 1803, an act that would have very positive effects in the end. Jefferson left a final legacy when he made the wise decision, at the beginning of his first term, to keep most of Hamiltons financial system intact. This incl uded the choice not to abolish the national bank or the foreign tariff imposed by Hamilton and the Federalists. Even after Thomas Jefferson stepped down from office, his ideas and beliefs about government remained through his legacies. In 1803, France and Britain renewed their vows of war, although this time they tried to hurt the enemy by trade and sea. Neither France nor Britain supported the United States decision to remain neutral; each country obviously wanted the U.S. to stick by them not the enemy. Britain decided to attack by issuing an order that said if neutral U.S. ships went into French ports, they would not be considered neutral to Britain. This alarmed Jefferson because he knew he had to avoid war at all costs, and this was an obvious threat to the U.S. Meanwhile, France issued a number of decrees with the intention of stopping British exports to European ports. Since both Britain and France wanted to trade...

Snatch by Guy Ritchie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Snatch by Guy Ritchie - Essay Example In the previous work of Ritchie, the use of impenetrable accent by non-British was very common while in the current work; a character represented by Brad Pitt has played a major part in bringing up another complicated gypsy dialect that other characters find difficult to understand in the movie. The character represented by Brad Pitt, paradoxically finds it very easy to communicate using this language understood by fewer people than other characters who find it very difficult to communicate using the language understood by all. Brad Pitt sounds like the combination of Professor Backwards and Adam Sandler. Therefore, this becomes an advantage to Brad Pitt since no one would really concentrate on his presence since no one understands the language he speaks thus he does not experience the discrimination as the rest face. Ritchie is a professional director, he is not interested in crime, but instead, he pays more attention to the voltage. According to Hrubes, Postmodernist Intertextuality in David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, the events of the play, Snatch, make it very interesting to viewers even if no one really hopes to understand the plot or rather no one of the viewers is very keen to understand the plot. The clothesline for Ritchie’s’ pyrotechnics is whereby he seems like very close to tell the audience that understanding the plot does not really matter that much. The plot of the play revolves around interlocked stories, which include, pigs, stolen diamonds, and wicked boxing. Franky Four Fingers steal a diamond from Belgium in Antwerp and runs back to London, two men, Avi, a gangster from America and Borris the Blade, a Russian, try to separate Franky Four Finger from the diamond. This becomes very hard to separate since he is handcuffed with the diamond to the wrist. Eventually, two s hady promoters find themselves involved in the crime after Gorgeous George, a boxer, is found lying flat on the stomach after being knocked down. This leads to the recruitment of the gypsy is a very great fighter that London would not recognize, in desperation for a winner. Pigs feed on the bodies of the discriminated people. When the blacks, the thieves, and other discriminated groups of people die in London, pigs feast on their dead bodies. The part played by Pitt and gypsy constitute the most interesting parts of the movie. The characters in this movie have cartoon faces, and the actions seem outright and Ritchie is very aggressive in his camera style, which makes the movie captivating and interesting. Despite all these facts concerning the movie, the movie ends up nowhere in particular and it does not build or develop anybody. Therefore, this movie entertains more than it educates the viewers. The Snatch is partly a comedy and every event carried out is a dark comedy. It revolve s around death and murder, and decay whereby in Snatch, Ritchie keeps on throwing things that just do not fit in the movie at that time just to break the monotony of deaths, murder, and decay. Stunning things like a Russian who just does not die, a man who has four fingers, and a dog that is able to swallow a squeaky toy among other stunning and strange things. All these characters that Ritchie uses

Final paper Assignment Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final paper Assignment - Research Proposal Example They are distributed throughout the ice-covered sea of the circumpolar Arctic. The sea ice is their primary habitat. They depend on it for successful hunting of seals, which enable them to accumulate enough energy to sustain them during periods when seals are not available (Stirling & Derocher, 2012). There have been changes in the distribution, structure and pattern of break-up and freeze-up of the sea ice in the circumpolar Arctic. These changes have been as a result of the increasing climatic changes and global warming (Stirling & Derocher, 2012). Ice in the Arctic was recorded lowest in 2002, and it has been determined that ice season is decreasing up to eight days in a year (Welch, 2012). Changes in the pattern of sea ice such as increased break up of ice lead to reduced access to seals by the polar bear and results in longer fasting periods that lowers the body condition. Consequentially fewer and smaller cubs with lower survival rates are produced. The survival rate of bears of other ages also declines. The above conditions lead to declined subpopulation and eventually might result in extinction of the polar bears (Derocher et al., 2013). Due to the threat of extinction caused by global warming, polar bears were listed as endangered species by the FWS in 2008 (Welch, 2012) . The effects of climatic changes are very evident in the southerly subpopulations particularly in Hudson Bay (Derocher et al., 2013). It is expected that with the continued climate change, the polar bears will migrate to the northerly areas, which include Canadian Arctic Island and northern Greenland. These areas, which are currently facing thick multiyear ice and little light penetration to support productivity, might be replaced by annual ice that supports high level of productivity compared to the previous states due to global warming and create a favorable habitat for the polar bears (O’Neill et al, 2008). Climate Changes and global warming

UAE Courts and Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

UAE Courts and Law - Assignment Example The judiciary of UAE is constitutionally independent that also includes the Federal Supreme Court. Ras- al Khaimah and Dubai are not the part of the Federal judiciary of UAE. There is a separate Islamic and Secular law for the criminal court, high court and civil courts. The court system of UAE comprises of civil and Sharia Courts. The testimony of a woman is considered half valuable as that of a man in criminal cases. There is an exclusive jurisdiction present in the courts of Sharia to hear the disputes of families, including cases such as the custody of a child, divorce, guardianship, inheritance and child abuse. Sharia courts that are present only at the federal level listen to the appeals of criminal cases such as certain criminal cases, robbery, driving while drunk and rape. Civil Law Case The Civil Case of UAE against the 17 bootleg killers The reconciliation committee sent this case to the court for both the parties failed to make the decision and reach a single conclusion re garding the claim that was filed by the murdered man’s brother named Misri Khan. He also claimed that he was seriously injured in the fight take took the life of his brother. Thamer Hassan, the lawyer of Misri Khan said in an interview that the judge has approved that their case should be transferred to the civil court. He further added that his client has suffered from serious injury and had nearly 70 percent of disability. The claim registered by Misri Khan had been reduced from DH 1million to DH 500, 000; although the day of the hearing has not yet been decided by the court. The lawyer of the 17 men also recorded his comments by saying that the court was sent to the federal court only because Misri Khan did not settled the claim out of the court. About DH 3.4 million were paid by the killers to the family of the murdered man in order to settle the claim. This money was also paid by the killer to the family of the murdered man and the victim (Misri Khan) in exchange of pard on and as blood money. The death sentences of the murderers have been computed by the court but the prosecutor has successfully registered an appeal against this verdict of the court. The murders have also been facing another suit that has been filed by Misri Khan, who claimed that he has been seriously injured during the brawl (Kannan). This is a civil case that was filed by Misri Khan who was the brother of the murdered man and the victim as well. The hearing of the case is still on pending but the killers of Misri Khan’s brother have been sentenced to death and they have also paid heavy compensation in exchange of pardon. This kind of case shows the supremacy of the civil rights in UAE. In this particular case the family of the victim not only received compensation but the killers were also sentenced to death. This highlights that how just is the Judiciary of UAE that works to provide justice to the citizens of their country. Shariat Law In UAE according to the Shariat Law a man has the right that he can discipline his children and wife as long as he does not leave any physical marks on their body. There was a case registered in October 2010, in which a man was found guilty for slapping and beating his wife and daughter. There were several bruise found on the hand and knee of the girl and severe injuries were present on the lower teeth and lip of the girl. The court claimed that the bruises and the injuries give evidence that the man has abused the Shariat rights of his wife and daughter. In the case of the man’s wife the law of Shariat has definitely been violated as the injuries resulted from the beating were severe whereas the age of the daughter was 23 and she was too old to be disciplined by

Reflection Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reflection Paper - Assignment Example Autonomy creates an element of directing one’s own life while purpose enhances the desire for persons to do things in service of something significant than ourselves (Pink, 26). More over, mastery enhances the desire of continually improving something that is important. It is imperative to note that, Pink points out that, the traditional carrot and stick method of motivation does not fit in the dynamic jobs of the 21st century. This method concentrates on the principle of rewarding the likable behaviour and punishing the dislikeable one. The carrot and stick method of motivation immensely assumes that the main drive, which powers human conduct, is the drive to counter to rewards and punishments the dynamic milieu (Pink, 26). This study reveals that this method failed to produce the projected results in most instances and this led to the discovery of a possible third drive for human conduct. However, the carrot and stick method proved to work well for typical tasks, which were less dynamic, highly controlled and unchallenging. These tasks involved straightforward processes and less lateral thinking. Pink’s model of addressing the aspect of motivation in the 21st century is such dynamic in the sense that it fits in all the dynamistic nature of the complex jobs. These jobs are interesting and self directed and cannot be attributed to the aspects of rigidity in the carrot and stick approach. In Pink’s perception, it is evident that, the traditional approach of reward can lead to less productivity if applied in the complex nature and the creativity aspects in the 21st century jobs. Pink attributes traditional approach to diminished intrinsic motivation, less creativity, short-term thinking, addiction, unethical conduct and lower performance (Pink, 26). On the other hand, Pink’s approach based on self-determination theory with three fundamental pillars of autonomy, purpose and mastery is capable of correlating maximally wit the dynamic

Proposal Letter and Article Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proposal Letter and Article Summary - Essay Example Upon a critical review, of the request for Proposal, our skilled team of Information Technology experts developed a comprehensive structure that will aid in the equipment of the latest computer system. New desktop computers from IBM will be purchased and installed. Our supplier chain will be able to provide sealed pricing proposals of the latest branded and generic (IBM clone) desktop systems, as well as laptops. These computers will have to be networked in order to allow for information sharing and tighten security. Our team has developed a plan that integrates networking of the computers, configuration, installation of software and antivirus software, and training will provided to the staff in order to give them a hands-on experience on this new technology. We have already sent a catalogue of desktop computers and laptops from our supply chain to Kathy Hennig, the senior Purchaser at C.P.M., which has been approved. Smartechs Corporation specializes in software development and supplies computers and computer accessories to our esteemed customers. We also provide training solutions to our customers on Internet security, networking, and basic computer use, and software. As implied in our name, which means â€Å"smart technicians,† we are a dynamic company who believe in embracing technology for future change and success.

How would pet therapy benefit children with autism Research Proposal

How would pet therapy benefit children with autism - Research Proposal Example He further added that the disease targets those areas of the brain responsible for social integration, language, abstract and creative thinking. The symptoms of autism include social impairment, poor communication skills (both verbal and non-verbal), and through repetitive, stereotyped and repetitive behaviour (APA, 2000). Individuals suffering from autism usually struggle with stressful and changing environments, and are also very sensitive to environmental stimuli. Children with autism have trouble interacting with others and people usually have a bizarre reaction when encountering them. On top of this, traditional psychotherapeutic and educational interventions have for a long time failed to present consistent improvements in children suffering from autism. Since conventional forms of intervention are failing to provide reliable and successful intervention, it is important to seek other innovative forms of autism management. This paper seeks to look at pet therapy and the manner in which it can be used to detect and manage symptoms related to autism. For this study, the independent variable will be pet therapy while the dependent variable will be autistic-related symptoms. The pet therapy applied will depend on the types of pets used in a chosen institution while autistic-related symptoms will be taken as a whole i.e. change in symptoms over time. As explained above autism is a neurological brain disorder characterized by communication impairment, social impairment and repetitive, restricted or stereotyped behaviour. The disease manifests itself before a child attains three years of age and persists into old age. The disorder is one of three disorders that comprise the autism spectrum (ASD). As of 2012, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 20 per 1000 children have autism in the United States (Blumberg, 2013). Pet therapy is the use of animals in managing certain psychoneurotic disorders. The

Reflection Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reflection Paper - Assignment Example Autonomy creates an element of directing one’s own life while purpose enhances the desire for persons to do things in service of something significant than ourselves (Pink, 26). More over, mastery enhances the desire of continually improving something that is important. It is imperative to note that, Pink points out that, the traditional carrot and stick method of motivation does not fit in the dynamic jobs of the 21st century. This method concentrates on the principle of rewarding the likable behaviour and punishing the dislikeable one. The carrot and stick method of motivation immensely assumes that the main drive, which powers human conduct, is the drive to counter to rewards and punishments the dynamic milieu (Pink, 26). This study reveals that this method failed to produce the projected results in most instances and this led to the discovery of a possible third drive for human conduct. However, the carrot and stick method proved to work well for typical tasks, which were less dynamic, highly controlled and unchallenging. These tasks involved straightforward processes and less lateral thinking. Pink’s model of addressing the aspect of motivation in the 21st century is such dynamic in the sense that it fits in all the dynamistic nature of the complex jobs. These jobs are interesting and self directed and cannot be attributed to the aspects of rigidity in the carrot and stick approach. In Pink’s perception, it is evident that, the traditional approach of reward can lead to less productivity if applied in the complex nature and the creativity aspects in the 21st century jobs. Pink attributes traditional approach to diminished intrinsic motivation, less creativity, short-term thinking, addiction, unethical conduct and lower performance (Pink, 26). On the other hand, Pink’s approach based on self-determination theory with three fundamental pillars of autonomy, purpose and mastery is capable of correlating maximally wit the dynamic

How would pet therapy benefit children with autism Research Proposal

How would pet therapy benefit children with autism - Research Proposal Example He further added that the disease targets those areas of the brain responsible for social integration, language, abstract and creative thinking. The symptoms of autism include social impairment, poor communication skills (both verbal and non-verbal), and through repetitive, stereotyped and repetitive behaviour (APA, 2000). Individuals suffering from autism usually struggle with stressful and changing environments, and are also very sensitive to environmental stimuli. Children with autism have trouble interacting with others and people usually have a bizarre reaction when encountering them. On top of this, traditional psychotherapeutic and educational interventions have for a long time failed to present consistent improvements in children suffering from autism. Since conventional forms of intervention are failing to provide reliable and successful intervention, it is important to seek other innovative forms of autism management. This paper seeks to look at pet therapy and the manner in which it can be used to detect and manage symptoms related to autism. For this study, the independent variable will be pet therapy while the dependent variable will be autistic-related symptoms. The pet therapy applied will depend on the types of pets used in a chosen institution while autistic-related symptoms will be taken as a whole i.e. change in symptoms over time. As explained above autism is a neurological brain disorder characterized by communication impairment, social impairment and repetitive, restricted or stereotyped behaviour. The disease manifests itself before a child attains three years of age and persists into old age. The disorder is one of three disorders that comprise the autism spectrum (ASD). As of 2012, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 20 per 1000 children have autism in the United States (Blumberg, 2013). Pet therapy is the use of animals in managing certain psychoneurotic disorders. The

Carl Jung Theory Essay Example for Free

Carl Jung Theory Essay Jungs theory divides the psyche into three parts. The first is the ego, which Jung identifies with the conscious mind. Closely related is the personal unconscious, which includes anything that is not presently conscious, but can be. The personal unconscious is like most peoples understanding of the unconscious in that it includes both memories that are easily brought to mind and those that have been suppressed for some reason. But it does not include the instincts that Freud would have it include. But then Jung adds the part of the psyche that makes his theory stand out from all others: the collective unconscious. You could call it your psychic inheritance. It is the reservoir of our experiences as a species, a kind of knowledge we are all born with. And yet we can never be directly conscious of it. It influences all of our experiences and behaviors, most especially the emotional ones, but we only know about it indirectly, by looking at those influences. There are some experiences that show the effects of the collective unconscious more clearly than others: The experiences of love at first sight, of deja vu (the feeling that youve been here before), and the immediate recognition of certain symbols and the meanings of certain myths, could all be understood as the sudden conjunction of our outer reality and the inner reality of the collective unconscious. Grander examples are the creative experiences shared by artists and musicians all over the world and in all times, or the spiritual experiences of mystics of all religions, or the parallels in dreams, fantasies, mythologies, fairy tales, and literature. A nice example that has been greatly discussed recently is the near-death experience. It seems that many people, of many different cultural backgrounds, find that they have very similar recollections when they are brought back from a close encounter with death. They speak of leaving their bodies, seeing their bodies and the events surrounding them clearly, of being pulled through a long tunnel towards a bright light, of seeing deceased relatives or religious figures waiting for them, and of their disappointment at having to leave this happy scene to return to their bodies. Perhaps we are all built to experience death in this fashion. Archetypes The contents of the collective unconscious are called archetypes. Jung also called them dominants, imagos, mythological or primordial images, and a few other names, but archetypes seem to have won out over these. An archetype is an unlearned tendency to experience things in a certain way. The archetype has no form of its own, but it acts as an organizing principle on the things we see or do. It works the way that instincts work in Freuds theory: At first, the baby just wants something to eat, without knowing what it wants. It has a rather indefinite yearning, which, nevertheless, can be satisfied by some things and not by others. Later, with experience, the child begins to yearn for something more specific when it is hungry a bottle, a cookie, a broiled lobster, a slice of New York style pizza. The archetype is like a black hole in space: You only know its there by how it draws matter and light to itself. The mother archetype The mother archetype is a particularly good example. All of our ancestors had mothers. We have evolved in an environment that included a mother or mother-substitute. We would never have survived without our connection with a nurturing-one during our times as helpless infants. It stands to reason that we are built in a way that reflects that evolutionary environment: We come into this world ready to want mother, to seek her, to recognize her, to deal with her. So the mother archetype is our built-in ability to recognize a certain relationship, that of mothering. Jung says that this is rather abstract, and we are likely to project the archetype out into the world and onto a particular person, usually our own mothers. Even when an archetype doesnt have a particular real person available, we tend to personify the archetype, that is, turn it into a mythological story-book character. This character symbolizes the archetype. The mother archetype is symbolized by the primordial mother or earth mother of mythology, by Eve and Mary in western traditions, and by less personal symbols such as the church, the nation, a forest, or the ocean. According to Jung, someone whose own mother failed to satisfy the demands of the archetype may well be one that spends his or her life seeking comfort in the church, or in identification with the motherland, or in meditating upon the figure of Mary, or in a life at sea. Mana You must understand that these archetypes are not really biological things, like Freuds instincts. They are more spiritual demands. For example, if you dreamt about long things, Freud might suggest these things represent the phallus and ultimately sex. But Jung might have a very different interpretation. Even dreaming quite specifically about a penis might not have much to do with some unfulfilled need for sex. It is curious that in primitive societies, phallic symbols do not usually refer to sex at all. They usually symbolize mana, or spiritual power. These symbols would be displayed on occasions when the spirits are being called upon to increase the yield of corn, or fish, or to heal someone. The connection between the penis and strength, between semen and seed, between fertilization and fertility are understood by most cultures. The shadow Sex and the life instincts in general are, of course, represented somewhere in Jungs system. They are a part of an archetype called the shadow. It derives from our prehuman, animal past, when our concerns were limited to survival and reproduction, and when we werent self-conscious. It is the dark side of the ego, and the evil that we are capable of is often stored there. Actually, the shadow is amoral neither good nor bad, just like animals. An animal is capable of tender care for its young and vicious killing for food, but it doesnt choose to do either. It just does what it does. It is innocent. But from our human perspective, the animal world looks rather brutal, inhuman, so the shadow becomes something of a garbage can for the parts of ourselves that we cant quite admit to. Symbols of the shadow include the snake (as in the garden of Eden), the dragon, monsters, and demons. It often guards the entrance to a cave or a pool of water, which is the collective unconscious. Next time you dream about wrestling with the devil, it may only be yourself you are wrestling with! The persona The persona represents your public image. The word is, obviously, related to the word person and personality, and comes from a Latin word for mask. So the persona is the mask you put on before you show yourself to the outside world. Although it begins as an archetype, by the time we are finished realizing it, it is the part of us most distant from the collective unconscious. At its best, it is just the good impression we all wish to present as we fill the roles society requires of us. But, of course, it can also be the false impression we use to manipulate peoples opinions and behaviors. And, at its worst, it can be mistaken, even by ourselves, for our true nature: Sometimes we believe we really are what we pretend to be! Anima and animus A part of our persona is the role of male or female we must play. For most people that role is determined by their physical gender. But Jung, like Freud and Adler and others, felt that we are all really bisexual in nature. When we begin our lives as fetuses, we have undifferentiated sex organs that only gradually, under the influence of hormones, become male or female. Likewise, when we begin our social lives as infants, we are neither male nor female in the social sense. Almost immediately as soon as those pink or blue booties go on we come under the influence of society, which gradually molds us into men and women. In all societies, the expectations placed on men and women differ, usually based on our different roles in reproduction, but often involving many details that are purely traditional. In our society today, we still have many remnants of these traditional expectations. Women are still expected to be more nurturant and less aggressive; men are still expected to be strong and to ignore the emotional side of life. But Jung felt these expectations meant that we had developed only half of our potential. The anima is the female aspect present in the collective unconscious of men, and the animus is the male aspect present in the collective unconscious of women. Together, they are referred to as syzygy. The anima may be personified as a young girl, very spontaneous and intuitive, or as a witch, or as the earth mother. It is likely to be associated with deep emotionality and the force of life itself. The animus may be personified as a wise old man, a sorcerer, or often a number of males, and tends to be logical, often rationalistic, and even argumentative. The anima or animus is the archetype through which you communicate with the collective unconscious generally, and it is important to get into touch with it. It is also the archetype that is responsible for much of our love life: We are, as an ancient Greek myth suggests, always looking for our other  half, the half that the Gods took from us, in members of the opposite sex. When we fall in love at first sight, then we have found someone that fills our anima or animus archetype particularly well! Other archetypes Jung said that there is no fixed number of archetypes that we could simply list and memorize. They overlap and easily melt into each other as needed, and their logic is not the usual kind. But here are some he mentions: Besides mother, their are other family archetypes. Obviously, there is father, who is often symbolized by a guide or an authority figure. There is also the archetype family, which represents the idea of blood relationship and ties that run deeper than those based on conscious reasons. There is also the child, represented in mythology and art by children, infants most especially, as well as other small creatures. The Christ child celebrated at Christmas is a manifestation of the child archetype, and represents the future, becoming, rebirth, and salvation. Curiously, Christmas falls during the winter solstice, which in northern primitive cultures also represents the future and rebirth. People used to light bonfires and perform ceremonies to encourage the suns return to them. The child archetype often blends with other archetypes to form the child-god, or the child-hero. Many archetypes are story characters. The hero is one of the main ones. He is the mana personality and the defeater of evil dragons. Basically, he represents the ego we do tend to identify with the hero of the story and is often engaged in fighting the shadow, in the form of dragons and other monsters. The hero is, however, often dumb as a post. He is, after all, ignorant of the ways of the collective unconscious. Luke Skywalker, in the Star Wars films, is the perfect example of a hero. The hero is often out to rescue the maiden. She represents purity, innocence, and, in all likelihood, naivete. In the beginning of the Star Wars story, Princess Leia is the maiden. But, as the story progresses, she becomes the anima, discovering the powers of the force the collective unconscious and becoming an equal partner with Luke, who turns out to be her brother. The wise old man guides the hero. He is a form of the animus, and reveals to the hero the nature of the collective unconscious. In Star Wars, he is played by Obi Wan Kenobi and, later, Yoda. Notice that they teach Luke about the force and, as Luke matures, they die and become a part of him. You might be curious as to the archetype represented by Darth Vader, the dark father. He is the shadow and the master of the dark side of the force. He also turns out to be Luke and Leias father. When he dies, he becomes one of the wise old men. There is also an animal archetype, representing humanitys relationships with the animal world. The heros faithful horse would be an example. Snakes are often symbolic of the animal archetype, and are thought to be particularly wise. Animals, after all, are more in touch with their natures than we are. Perhaps loyal little robots and reliable old spaceships the Falcon are also symbols of animal. And there is the trickster, often represented by a clown or a magician. The tricksters role is to hamper the heros progress and to generally make trouble. In Norse mythology, many of the gods adventures originate in some trick or another played on their majesties by the half-god Loki. There are other archetypes that are a little more difficult to talk about. One is the original man, represented in western religion by Adam. Another is the God archetype, representing our need to comprehend the universe, to give a meaning to all that happens, to see it all as having some purpose and direction. The hermaphrodite, both male and female, represents the union of opposites, an important idea in Jungs theory. In some religious art, Jesus is presented as a rather feminine man. Likewise, in China, the character Kuan Yin began as a male saint (the bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara), but was portrayed in such a feminine manner that he is more often thought of as the female goddess of compassion! The most important archetype of all is the self. The self is the ultimate unity of the personality and is symbolized by the circle, the cross, and the mandala figures that Jung was fond of painting. A mandala is a drawing that is used in meditation because it tends to draw your focus back to the center, and it can be as simple as a geometric figure or as complicated as a stained glass window. The personifications that best represent self are Christ and Buddha, two people who many believe achieved perfection. But Jung felt that perfection of the personality is only truly achieved in death.

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay Nigeria is Africas most populous nation and also its largest producer of oil. The country is ranked fifth in terms of oil exportation to the United States. The country has the potential to reach the third spot replacing Norway in a few years though it is plagued with social unrest as well as corruption in the Niger Delta posing significant challenges to the production of oil. The intermittent economic crisis and the political turmoil the country faces dates back to independence in 1960. At the centre of this is the oil industry. This is highlighted by its human development indicators which are among the lowest in the world even though the revenue from gas and oil has gone up to 40 billion per year. This means that the countrys majority lives in extreme poverty. This fact as well the severe environmental degradation that comes with oil production operations in the region has resulted in a conflict between the transnational oil corporations and the communities that reside in the delta date back to early1990s. This article provides an in-depth analysis that the oil industry in Nigeria is faced with in particular with ethical and public relations practices that continues to exacerbate the conflict in the region. It concludes with offering a recommendation that the companies can now adopt in an effort to maintain socially responsible practices in the country and aid in the development of the local communities. Introduction One business sector that has a strong claim to business ethics and/or public relations is the oil and gas sector. The oil and gas Transnational Corporation operating in Nigeria are active in addition to playing leadership roles in developing good codes of conduct and corporate practices in the work place as well as in engaging with different facets of the community. The involvement of Shell, BP-Amoco, Chevron Texaco, ExxonMobil, TotalFinaElf, Occidental, ENI among others in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Global Impact, the Sullivan Principle, the Millennium Development Goals, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, Dow Jones Sustainability Index are some instances (Carrol Bulcholtz, 2003). The footprints of these companies are seen in the transfer of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology and skills: accounting for the majority of the state revenue; and a major employer of labor. They have also undeniably have contributed to the development of communities via programs in health, education, commerce, transport, agriculture, construction among others. Tuodolo (2009) argues that despite the contributions to the community and achievements, the oil transnational Corporations have been the targeted by negative and anti-corporate and negative campaigns in the last two decades. Many civil society actors have been responsible for damaging campaigns against these companies and the institutions that collaborate with them. The strategies they employ in this campaigns include publicity, networking, walk-outs, sit-ins, litigation, lobbying, peoples development plans, socially responsible investment, public hearings, blockades, exposures, seizures and closures. These campaigns cover ethical issues such as human rights abuses, environmental, safety, health, corruption and climate change. In Nigeria, one of the main protests by the civil society against an oil company was against Shell in the Gas flaring taking place in the region and on the Ogoni environmental issues, Niger Delta area (Amnesty International, 1995). The world has experiences massive campaigns carried out by the civil society actors against oil giants such as Shell, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Occidental, ENI. These campaigns often disrupt business activities, damages and embarrass the reputation of the business; the major civil society actors include Greenpeace, Friends of Earth, and the Sierra club, Amnesty, Global Witness, Christian Aid, Oil-Watch, Human Rights Watch and Corp-Watch. Yazji (2006) noted that many civil society actors view the Transnational Corporations more as strange bedfellows or enemies finding it difficult o associate with them. This is often based purely on grounds of ethics. However, recent years have seen a new trend in the relationship that exists between the Transnational Corporations and the civil society actors. Most notably is the development of collaborative relationships that are aimed at directing funding of programs for the civil society. Many of the civil society actors now maintain very cordial relationships with the oil companies with partners collaborating and doing business with the enemies, the oil and gas industry. According to Warren (2005), this is seen to benefits the image and public relation of the business more than the communitys welfare. This has created an image of rapprochement or collaboration between the civil society actors, the publics watch dog, and the oil transnational corporations. An example of this collaboration in Nigeria is witnesses in community development projects that are run by International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) in collaboration with Chevron Texaco (Bendell Lake, 2000). These actions raise many questions that are still to be settled: have the ethical issues that the civil society had campaigned for in the past been resolved or changed? Have the oil industry players changed or repented for the better on the contentious issues that the civil groups raised in the past? Have the actors in civil societies lost track or are they comprised? Have the civil society actors been won over of placated by the big businesses? Or had the public relations machinery and campaigns by the corporations become more effective and can now shield their bad deeds. LITERATURE REVIEW Oil and gas industry in Nigeria Nigeria is Africas largest oil producer and is ranked eighth in the world. Commercial quantities of oil in the country were discovered in 1956. It can on average pump 2.5 million barrels of oil every day. This accounts to approximately 3 percent of the worlds total consumption. The Wall Street Journal stated in an article that the country exports the majority of this output. Oil provides around 90 percent of the countries total foreign exchange and around 80 percent if the federal revenues. This makes the country the fifth-largest foreign crude oil supplier to the United States behind Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Despite this richness in natural oil and gas resources, the country is ranked a lowly 20th poorest country in the world. Much of this poverty as well as underdevelopment can be attributed to the bad governance, mismanagement of the countys resources (oil and gas), political instability and the lack of infrastructure as well as policies to govern industries. Mo st of the many oil companies in the country are American. They utilize the countrys crude oil and gas resources to gain astronomical profits. These companies also utilize the environment to operate and produce within the oil industry. The Niger delta is the oil-rich region in Nigeria and is currently involved in conflicts that surround the oil companies. These companies are usually viewed as parasitic by the local communities as they take the regions resources while giving nothing or very little in return (Bird, 2004). Karl (1997) argues that as in many of the other petro states, the windfall revenues from oil and gas have proved to be more of a curse than a blessing. The country is plagued with conflict that stems out of inequitable distribution of oil revenue and the exploitation of the resources by the oil companies operating in the country. According to the constitution of Nigeria, all natural minerals including the gas and also belong to the Nigerian federal government. The government is then responsible for negotiating the terms for oil production with the international oil companies. Most of the production and the exploration of oil in the region is done by United States and European companies. These companies operate joint ventures in collaboration with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCC). The state oil company owns up to 60 to 55 percent of these ventures (Ukeje, 2004). Public relations and ethical issues facing the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Most of the ethical issues in the oil and gas industry in the country arise from the poor monitoring and enforcement of laws governing the oil producing companies. This is despite the fact that the laws in Nigeria are comparable to other international equivalents. This has seen the region experiencing significant damage to both the environment and to the livelihood of the people that live within the oil producing companies. The companies have failed in their ethical responsibility to relate well with the communities in which they operate. Compensation for the resultant damages is virtually nonexistent (Frey, 1997). The transnational corporations (TNC s) operating within the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as institutions that collaborate with them have over the years come under negative/anti corporate campaigns by the community they operate in as well as by civil society actors. These actors include anti-capitalists, anti-corporate campaigners, anti-globalist, academics and greens. Although this is despite the contribution they seemingly bring to the development of a community, this actors have managed to shed light on unethical practices of corporate ensuring they practice positive public relations. In recent decades however this relationship has developed into a more collaborative one the purpose of which appears to favor the image of the business rather than the society (Newell, 2005). The other side of Corporate Social Responsibility There is no dispute that the community development programs initiated by the major players in the oil and gas industry have benefits most of the local communities. It is however important to not that these efforts in public relations have positive as well as negative impacts. Most of the local communities pay a great cost for enjoying the benefits of these Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Either by commission or omission, the activities or of shell and the program delivery processes have a negative impact on the local community that often outweigh the positive benefits of this corporate Social Responsibility endeavors. The role that the oil companies play in social and environment impacts illustrates this point. According to Human Rights Watch (1999), the Niger Delta in general and Nembe in particular, the oil activities have resulted in serious environment damages. This has been as a result of oil spills from flow stations, pipelines, well-heads; discharge of production and drilling waste; and gas flared from several oil fields. All this has occurred in/on creeks, air, sea and land of Nembe. In the process, fish ponds and farm lands are destroyed, sea and forest animals and plants are forced to migrate or are destroyed; as well as the air being polluted. This environmental degradation has negative impacts ranging from loss of livelihood (farming and fishing), low farm produce, limitation of economic activities, diseases, polluted water, food shortage among others. In certain cases, death of unsuspecting fishermen has occurred after oil spills occurred in the Nembe creek. The negative impact this has on the local communities livelihood and health is enormous. The community at one time indica ted that they are all fishermen who rely on fish for their survival. They also claimed that the oil spillage by Shell wells were destroying the marine life and in extension the peoples occupation. The farmlands as well were not fertile anymore from the pollution and the fish in the river had died. The people are only left with the option of fishing in the high seas which is very dangerous undertaking (Tuodolo, 2009, p.532) Shell on its part has not denied that its operations have been responsible for the degradation of the environment but has adamantly disagreed on the extent the damage to the environment resulting from its activities. Shell alone recorder 3,214 incidents of oil spillage from 1995 to 2004, an average of 300 incidents annually. This has resulted in a spillage of more than 450,000 barrels of oil onto the environment in the Niger Delta and the flaring of large volumes of gas, approximately 604 millions scf daily (SPDC, 2006). Considering that this are figures from only one company, the consequences experienced by the local community in terms of environment, livelihood, climate change or global warming are unimaginable. According to Agagu (2008), negative impacts of the corporate social responsibilities are further illustrated by the social effects they have on the local community. The Nembe case becomes significant once again. The relationship that shell has with the local community via the development programs and its operations have resulted in conflicts being commercialized where groups and individuals constantly fight over the patronage or benefits from shell; funds for community development are misappropriated, mismanaged and embezzled by the leaders or shares amongst cliques and community leaders to the exclusion of the other members of the community. Further negative effects include destroying of community governance by emerging youth groups that usurp the authority and powers of the chieftaincy institutions as well as the exacerbation of several forms of social disorder such as an increase in illiteracy, proliferation of arms, lawlessness, criminality and the disintegration of culture and t radition. These youth groups were apparently armed by the Corporation. Shell sponsor some youth in the community, purchased arms and ammunition for them to fight whoever that is fighting them or protesting for their right from Shell (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). From 2000 to 2006, the number of intra-communal conflicts numbered 21 with six of these inter-community conflicts being linked to the activities that shell was involved in The oil companies, particularly Shell, Agip and their servicing companies, are central to the crises in the community (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). The Nembe Indigenes summarizes the social impacts resulting from Shells activities as, These oil or multinationals have thrust a knife in our midst and we have fallen apart. The love for money and our political selfishness have set us against each other and we no longer see ourselves as brothers, fathers, chiefs, sisters, we disregard ourselves for temporary and temporal things, which have led to the formation of nocturnal and clandestine groups which have transformed Nembe to Sicily (Italy). Groups that are sponsored by chiefs, elders, politicians, government agents and the multinationals have succeeded in causing our aged parents and children, while our young men die prematurely in arms struggle, our parents die of heart attack and the children are denied knowledge by preventing them from going to school (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). And, What wrong has the Nembe man done to Shell and the Federal Government that all these wrongs are visited on him within a decade? (Tuodolo,2009, 538) This continues to raise ethical questions related to the true intentions and the practices of these transnational corporations, the efficacy of their machinery of public relations or the position and campaigns of the civil society actors. This paper attempts to answer the question of dilemmas that the oil and gas industry face in public relations management and ethic by examining the activities of the oil companies in Nigeria. Particular attention is given to the impact of these companies on the communities residing in the oil rich Niger delta region. The paper is based on review of articles that have been written on the matter ranging from academic articles to newspaper articles. METHODOLOGY This study utilizes qualitative content analysis so as to explore the conditions that the oil and gas industry in Nigeria operate in that create the dilemmas in public relations and ethics of practice. This is according to recommendation by Jensen (2002) on qualitative research. The study is iterative/repeat process as this topic has been covered numerous times before. As such, this method allows for an application of analytical procedures and theoretical concepts employed to a variety of empirical domains that is flexible. This discourse will contain information source from academic articles from online journals, press releases and webpage pieces from the oil corporations operating in Nigeria and news paper articles that span the last two decades that have seen the ethical issues and public relations deteriorate as well as receive world wide attention. In addition to these article, particular case study on dilemmas faced by in Particular Shell are employed to give a clearer picture of the situation in Nigeria as well a to provide for a fuller analysis. Sample The method of data collection used in this discourse studies information content in article spanning two decades, from the 1990s to current date. The documentation is comprised of academic articles, magazine and newspaper articles, government reports and civil society articles and reports produced in the contest of normal publicity business to address the crisis facing the oil industry in Nigeria. According to Lindolf Taylor (2002), this ensures that the sources are free of bias from the researcher. A limitation of this method is that it may prove to have a limited or indirect exploratory value for the research questions to be addressed. However, it will be able to fully address the question of ethical and public relations dilemmas faced by the industry. This is because of the intense media civil society and international attention this case has received over the years with particular emphasis being placed on the misdeeds of the oil multinationals operating in the Niger Delta. ANALYSIS The analysis section will focus on a debate that addresses the various issue faced by the oil corporation and in particular Shell in their operations. This will lead up to the various public relations steps and strategies employed by the companies to address their alleged ethical misconduct in the wake of political and economical turmoil allegedly exacerbated by their operations in the country. In their attempt to maintain a public faces, the companies spawned public relations strategies that aimed to portray them as saviors to a people long subjected to poverty as a result of bad governance. This is through the numerous development projects that are operated under the patronage of these companies in the country. On the background of this is the numerous environmental and human right violations that have continued unhindered as a direct or indirect result of these companies continued exploitation of Nigeria natural resources, oil and gas, to meet their bottom line, astronomical profi ts. The case of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni People initiated the international concern in the region and offers a backdrop to the origin of the conflict between the oil corporation and government of Nigeria on one hand and the people of the Niger Delta in general on the other. DISCUSSION The debate on dilemmas in public relation and ethics in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Milton Friedman (1970), a free-market economist, ascertained that a businesss one and only social responsibilities involves the making of profit. This view is less popular in present day business. However, many economists and business leaders still believe that the best way for a company to promote the local communitys social development is comprised simply of increasing the overall level of activities in economy through investment and trade. In taking this view, the administration of revenue generated, environmental standards tolerated of the respect for the human rights in the community residing in the area of operation are simply not relevant. These factors are in fact viewed as hindrances to the corporations main business and in the long run to the countrys social development itself. If standards employed for developed countries are duplicated in the developing countries, then they will simply never catch up, this is because dangerous working conditions, below-market wages that w orkers in third worlds are subjected to are justified as being better than there being no jobs at all. The corporations shareholders make the situation worse by justifiably complaining if the directors pay attention to issues that may negatively impact the companys financial bottom line (Soremekun, 1995). However, this attitude is increasingly changing as the companies come under more pressure from activists and consumers who are worried about the impact globalizations of the economy is having on the worlds poor. In addition, directors of these corporations have come to see that wider issues of social development have a direct or indirect impact on their operations. This trend has brought with it the buzz phrase triple bottom line encompassing social, economic and environmental outcomes. A good reputation for the corporation is seen as a valuable asset as it attracts customers and helps in recruiting competent employees. Good public relations with the local communities promoted by development programs that are properly administered as well as good labor relations minimize the shut-downs that cause protests directed towards the operations of the company. Even though low environmental standards and low wages can in the short-term be useful to the company, in the long run the company mak es more money if it is accountable for its operations. Studies carried out, have not revealed any correlation between the foreign direct investment that oil transnational corporations inject into the developing countries itself and the respect for human rights in these countries. In Nigeria, the presence of the oil multinationals is viewed to have seemingly contributed to promoting the successive military regimes that ruled the country for a long haul. These regimes were responsible fro multi human rights violations in addition to misappropriation of funds meant to promote development. The companies interest should therefore focus on the promotion f steps geared at the positive development of the communities social welfare. They should also minimize their environmental effects while also aiming for their core business, maximizing profits (Uduaghan, 2008). Oil multinational corporations have increasingly become more powerful within the global economies. The companies operating in Nigeria have substantially large global resources than the country itself. This has resulted in the country being almost paralyzed in enforcing international and/or domestic law against these companies. This is especially true when these companies have diplomatic support from the first-world country where the corporate headquarters are located. May of the laws that have been developed to govern the conduct of multinational across the world have been largely opposed to by the developed countries. This is especially because of their provisions/recommendations of treatment of the multinationals by the host countries. An example is the U.N Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations. As such, no laws are currently legally binding in terms of the public relations responsibilities of the multinationals. Some companies have recognized that it is in their best inter est and have started initiatives to address questions raised regarding their operations. However, human rights and environmental activists have notes that the companies statements of intent are not worth it without the strategies meant to ensure they are implemented. They also call for independent auditing of the human rights and environmental performance. Up to date, no oil corporation, Shell include, has agreed to be subjected to such an audit (Nigerian Tribune, 2008). The experience of Shell in Nigeria offers a glimpse on how an oil transitional corporation ought to learn from a significant sustainability dilemma. In response to these significant challenges, shell setout to develop practices and policies that were designed to address the problems. They included the company engaging the local community the international forum and the civil society in dialog. In addition it began to actively participate in the developments of norms for corporate citizenship (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Having operated in the Niger Delta since the 1950s, Shells operations and the influence it had politically in the region only came under scrutiny after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa author-activist and a member of MSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, in 1995. The author and activist castigated the companys operations in Nigeria, gaining international attention. He highlighted the role that the oil industry had played in the stagnation of the economy of the Delta. The Nigerian economic growth pace has not kept abreast with the growth that the countys oil industry has been able to achieve. The industry is currently able to produce in excess of 2 million barrels of oil daily (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Shell has reportedly admitted that the approach it has taken in public relations causes the disorder in the community. The cash payments made, for instance standby labor, access fees to community youths, have seemingly been at the center of inter-community disputed as well as for the distortion of genuine needs of the community. Despite all this, Shell has yet to change its practices although it still claims it is practicing corporate social responsibility (Tuodolo, 2009). According to Birnbaum (1995), the inequitable distribution of the oil revenue, the high rates of poverty coupled with the episodically harsh rule is responsible mainly for spurring the conflict in the Niger Delta. The Human Right Watch (1999) cited that while the people of the Niger Delta have faced the adverse effects of the oil extraction, they have in general also failed to gain from the oil revenue. By galvanizing the up to 500,000 people of the Ogoni-land in MSOP, Saro-Wiwa was able to draw the worlds attention to the grievances of his people. He constantly cites Shells complicity as the symbol of the status quo. Eventually, the federal police forces acted to shutdown MSOP. This saw numerous people being detained, injured or even killed. Nine activists, among them Saro-Wiwa were arrested in 1994. This was allegedly because of murdering four local leaders. All the accused would go on to be executed in November 1995 after court proceedings that the then United Kingdom Prime Minist er John Major termed as judicial murder. (BBC News, 1995). The role that Shell played in the Ogoni incident is a complex one. The company is reported to have sought clemency for the nine accused. In several statements, it lamented about the heavy handedness and the violence that both sides of the conflict in Ogoni-Land had over time displayed (Human Rights Watch, 1995). Contrary to these statements, the company later disclosed it had on several occasions in 1993 made direct payments to the states security forces under duress. Appearing before the U.S House of Representatives International Subcommittee on Africa in 1996, Stephen Mills, the environment and human rights campaign director for the Sierra Club stated that The Sierra Club is of the opinion that Shell should feel considerable responsibility for the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni activists. Shells massive pollution, repeated denial of responsibility for it, its refusal to clean up the Ogoni territory, and its appeal to the Nigerian military to silence the protestors is what incited the civil unrest (Sierra Club, 1995). In a recent statement, Mills released a follow-up piece that stated, A peaceful solution to the crisis in the delta seems remote as anger grows over record oil profits amid the striking poverty. The Riyal Dutch Shell earned a whooping 18.5 billion dollars in 2004 yet some villages within sight of the gleaming shell facilities have no electricity or running water. However, the campaign Ken Saro-Wiwa led to hold Shell accountable for their pollution and complicity in human rights violation has not been in vain. After the death of Saro-Wiwa, the company did adopt stronger social and environmental responsibility guidelines. It is up to communities in the delta and groups like mine to make sure that Shell and other oil companies live up to their promises (Sierra Club, 2008). Shell as under severe criticism for the perceived role it played in the events that lead up to Saro-Wiwas death. Amnesty international however recognized the companys willingness to discuss the groups concerns regarding its human rights record. In a report released in 1996, Amnesty International noted that only Shell has responded to its appeal to Shell and other oil transnational companies operating in Nigeria to acknowledge that they have a responsibility to at all costs uphold the human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite this, many questions still lingered on the companys operations in the region. The UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights issued a report in 1997 calling for attention to be renewed on the persistency of oil spills in the delta region. Some of these spills were as a result of sabotage. The report raised deep concerns about the severe and widespread environmental damage to the River Delete region as a result of the oil o perations and exploration by Shell. The company took account of the issues that were raised and undertook a major review of its internal operations (Newell, 2005). Meanwhile, by the turn of the century, the relationship between Shell and the communities in the oil producing region had worsened since Ken Saro-Wiwa had been executed. This was despite the efforts of the company to improve on Public relations, in particular by increasing its spending on developments and the professionalization of the developmental projects management. It is fair to note that most of the deterioration experienced was as a result of the government failing to respond to the demands that had been presented by the Delta communities rather than by the activities of the company. The continuing dilemmas and problems illustrate just how difficult it is to put the fine words contained in the Statement of General Business Principles into actual practice (Tuodolo, 1999). Shell and public relations in Nigeria Shell has undoubtedly contributed immensely to Nigerias economic growth as well as to the development of the local communities residing in the companys area of operation. Shells activities employ around 12,000 persons as skilled and unskilled labor making it a major employer of labor. The greatest evidence of shells effort to maintain positive public relations are in its development programs in the communities it operates in. Through community development programs, the company contributes to development of education in the local communities. The company achieves this through the provision of scholarships from primary up to university level, to local level, construction of classrooms, provides appliances and equipments and at times pays allowances for teachers in post primary. For some of the communities, shell provides or sponsors training in basic skills such as joinery, mechanics, craftsmanship, tailoring among others, for the indigenous (SPDC, 1999). Shell also plays an active role in several other sectors aimed at community development, for instance, transportation: building jetties, construction of roads, donation of cars and speed-boats; agriculture: donation of equipment for farming, microcredit schemes for the farmers, training of farmers; water: construction of water pipelines, sinking boreholes; electricity: supply of diesel, donations of power plants; and the provision of infrastructures such as land reclamation, shore protection comm

Harold Pinter Essay -- Biography Biographies Harold Pinter Essays

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter is one of the greatest British dramatists of our time. Pinter has written a number of absurd masterpieces including The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, The Homecoming, Betrayal, Old Times, and Ashes to Ashes. He has also composed a number of radio plays and several volumes of poetry. His screenplays include The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Last Tycoon, and The Handmaid's Tale. He has received numerous awards including the Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear, BAFTA awards, the Hamburg Shakespeare Prize, the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or and the Commonwealth Award. Harold Pinter was born on October 10, 1930 in Hackney, East London. He was the sole child of Jack Pinter and Frances Franklin. His father was a ladies’ tailor whose family was among Jewish immigrants that reached the East End of London. Both sides of Harold’s family were Jewish, but they had different personalities and characteristics. His paternal side was Orthodox Jewish and they had an artistic background, whereas his maternal side was more secular and skeptical about strict rules of religion and were known for their entrepreneurial background. Although the Pinter’s were relaxed and music-loving, they got along well at family gatherings with the noisy and clamorous Franklins. Since Harold was an only child, he would imagine a life with brothers and sisters and would create imaginary friends and play out adventures and scenes in the backyard of his home. This isolated world created a place where Harold felt warmth and security. However, this childhood was interrupted by the outbreak of war in 1939. Harold had to leave his home in Hackney as part of a nationwide evacuation, and along with twenty four other children, Harold was sent to John Nash, a fabricated castle, from the elementary school. This was a traumatic and disturbing experience for all of the boys who were isolated from their homes and families, especially for nine-year old Harold. Some boys took advantage of this experience and were happy to be exposed to rural life. â€Å"For Harold, the disturbing experience blended with a magical eye opening encounter of rural life and his tendency to introspect blossomed† (Top Biography). At the same time, his awareness to sounds and images developed, and these permeated his later life and work. This encounter left a mark in Harol... ...lways isolated from something, whether it be from the lack of feeling of love from non-existing siblings and creating imaginary friends in his backyard, or being isolated from his parents during his evacuation throughout the war. Pinter’s life was filled with significant events, but he claims that his life is and was confusing and has had no influence through his works. In this case, his plays, like his life, are just a series of events that happen in real life, but are not supposed to mean a certain thing or express a certain thought. His most recognizable plays mostly take place in just a room filled with people dealing with a certain issue, but they mean so much more; or do they? These situations can be so awkward and silly at times that they are absurd enough to see humor in them and laugh at. This is the way Pinter wanted his plays to be looked at. He was never trying to get a message across and his plays are meant to show a situation at hand and how people deal with it. It is so easy to try and come up with a reason for his menace which causes critics to over-analyze his work. This is what makes Harold Pinter one of the greatest British dramatists of our day.