Thursday, October 31, 2019

Choose a topic for the Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Choose a topic for the Paper - Essay Example The causes for the great depression are many and complex but the basic reasons for the great depression can be listed as a stock market which crashed, economic trends which were negative and a lack of investments in large projects. Industries such as heavy machinery production, shipbuilding and mining operations were worst hit and they had to let go of thousands of workers who could not find jobs to replace the ones they had lost (Wheeler, 2007). Amongst the after effects of the Great Depression was the New Deal which was offered by Roosevelt to the Americans which gave fair wages for fair work. A forty hour work week was created to make sure that positions could be given to all those who wanted to work and massive deficit spending was undertaken by the government to give the economy a boost. In fact, the current transport network which crisscrosses across America is one of the projects which was started to get America out of its economically stagnant state (Higgs, 1992). The Great Depression, even though it was a sad period for those who went through it brought many advantages for those who came after the period since the decisions made then have kept the American economy stable for decades. For example, the idea of a minimum wage comes from the aftermath of the great depression and the benefits to the southern half of the American states were immense since the economic focus shifted from agriculture to industrialization and services (Parker, 2007). I feel that Americans lost trust in financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies in the years which followed the great depression and came to depend more on the relationship they had with the government. Franklin Roosevelt probably benefited most from the era since he was able to pull America out of the situation and was (and still is) seen as a hero for the nation. His New Deal worked for a lot

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Meeting stakeholder and quality needs Research Paper

Meeting stakeholder and quality needs - Research Paper Example All these people play different roles and have different expectations. The managers make decisions, plan, organise and control the operations of the organisation and are accountable to the shareholders or the owners. The employees or staffs such as the pharmacists offer their skilled services to the patients for a salary or an agreed wage. Such services improve quality care and enhance patient safety and as such serve as a touch point for healthcare information for the hospitals as well as the patients. The patients on the other hand are among the key stakeholders for hospitals as they seek medical services expecting quality and affordable treatment. If the hospitals fail to meet the expectations of the patients, they are bound to fail. Other stakeholders include the suppliers who deliver products to hospitals as well as the community members who make up the largest percentage of the patients as well as the government who effect policies, rules and legislations which protect all the stakeholders (Heidi et al 20). Communication is vital in keeping the stakeholders satisfied. Always engage with the stakeholders to understand their concerns and the best way to address them. Communication breakdown may cause frustration and as such the stakeholders may lose their confidence in the organisation. Proper communication ensures that the stakeholders feel valued and that their interests are being looked out for. The primary goal of successful communications approach is to manage and eliminate surprises. It is advisable to manage the information stakeholders get, as well as their perception and communicate the feedback expected to deliver in the organisation. As such, a communications planning matrix will take stakeholders analysis and identify each stakeholder’s roles, what needs to be communicated and the expected feedback (Heidi et al 29). Setting up regular meetings is of essence

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Should the UK Allow Medical Marijuana?

Should the UK Allow Medical Marijuana? Should Marijuana be Decriminalised and or Legalised for Health Reasons in the U.K? Research Plan Today most young people use some type of drug, even though they are illegal. According to Gov (2017) marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the last year and has been for over 15 years.   Marijuana originates from the cannabis sativa plant. It comes in a variety of forms such as dried plant leaves, flowers and oils which can be smoked or eaten. Better Health (2013) state that there is a chemical in cannabis called tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC); this is marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient, which makes users feel high. THC is a psychoactive substance, which means that it travels in a person’s bloodstream to the brain. It disrupts the brain’s normal functioning and causes certain intoxicating effects. The fastest way to feel the effects of marijuana is to inhale the smoke, the effects are usually felt within minutes. The immediate sensations—increased heart rate, lessened coordination and balance and a â€Å"dreamy,† unreal stat e of mind—peak within the first 30 minutes. These short-term effects usually wear off in two to three hours, but they could last longer, depending on how much the user consumes and the potency of THC (Drug free world, 2018).   According to Addiction (2011), countries such as Finland, Israel and Portugal have all decriminalised marijuana. Portugal, view drug taking as a health issue rather than a criminal issue in the country. Instead of arrests, those found with drugs are sent to medical panels, consisting of a psychologist, social workers and legal advisor for appropriate treatment.   Around the world there are a growing number of countries where marijuana use is permitted and regulated for recreational purposes such as Amsterdam, Nevada and Colorado. Also, there is growth with pharmaceutical grade marijuana due to its acceptance for medicinal properties. 29 American states including Florida, Michigan and Arizona have legalised marijuana for medical reasons (Gov, 2018).    This essay will research and analyse five areas surrounding marijuana consumption to determine whether it should be decriminalised and/or legalised for medical reasons. This essay will investigate different societal perspectives: who uses it and why they use it.   The implications from both a legal and health perspective and whether the health benefits outweigh the risks all incorporated into the following questions. Societal and sociological implication of cannabis use Is the current legislation fair? What are the negative effects on health? What are the psychological causes of using marijuana? What are the benefits? The type of research undertaken will be key to the validity and accuracy of this document. To achieve this, three types of research will be explained and analysed. The first to be discussed is quantitative research. Quantitative research is factual, information gathered from statistics and numbers. For example, how many individuals consume marijuana regularly. This data specifies the actual number of users but does not clarify the reasons why. Primary research involves gathering new data that has not been collected before, such as, surveys using questionnaires or interviews with groups of people.   Secondary research involves gathering existing data that has already been produced. For example, researching the internet, newspapers and company reports. This essay will utilise this method as opposed to primary reserch due to the absence of an ethics panel at the college. The research carried out will look at statistics, legitimate websites, journal articles and newspapers; these along with further reading will be analysed and evaluated in an attempt to address the essay question with an unbiased viewpoint – despite potentially conflicting findings. Project timetable January 11-25 Decide topic; begin research; meet supervisor to discuss subject matter; finalise essay question. February 1-22 Continue research; analyse data. April 8-23 Compile information into essay format; final meeting with supervisor. May 9-14 Audit essay form a conclusion; evaluate; proof read and submit essay. The essay will endeavor to contain conflicting points to enable the reader to sum up their own conclusion. The information gathered and utilised will be obtained from reputable sources, along with the most recent government data and health statistics to ensure reliability and validity of the information. Health and safety will also be in mind while completing the essay. Regular breaks will be taken whilst using a computer to avoid the occurrence of visionary side effects and repetitive strain injury. Data will be reported accurately and contain references throughout to avoid plagiarism. Should Marijuana be Decriminalised and or Legalised for Medical Reasons in the U.K? Official statistics from Gov (2017) show that in 2016/17, 6.6% (around 2.2 million) of people aged 16 to 59 consumed marijuana. This has dropped since measurements began in 1996 (when the proportion was 9.4%). Since 2009/10 it has remained essentially stable at between 6 and 7 per cent. Out of the possible 2.2 million users, one million of these were 16-24-year olds. In addition to this, 34% of 16-24-year olds who consume marijuana claim to be frequent users. Its use is also more prevalent among men than women, in the 2017 survey 9% of men admitted to using marijuana compared with just 4.2% of women. Lastly, people living in deprived areas were more likely to be frequent drug users. A larger proportion (4.5%) of respondents who lived in deprived areas consumed marijuana frequently compared with those who lived in the least deprived areas (2.3%). Therefore, young working-class boys are the biggest consumers of marijuana. However, official statistics need to be treated with caution as they can be misleading and misinterpreted, not everyone who uses marijuana will give admission of their consumption. On the other hand, official statistics are useful in determining the changing rate of crime in certain areas over a period. In addition to this they can also help to highlight police bias and stereotyping. Interactionist Howard Becker (1963) cited in Hazeldine et al, (2016), attributed that the police label and target young working-class people as potentially criminal and frequently stop, search and arrest them. Meaning, it is more likely for young working-class boys to be found with possession. Sociologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1961) suggested that adolescents form retreatist subcultures (drug gang) because they have failed in the opportunity structure of society (Haralambos et al, 2013). Although, this is a naà ¯ve explanation of drug misuse. Drug misuse is also common among successful middle-class professionals and not just failed criminals or gang members as suggested by Cloward and Ohlin. Also, interactionist Albert Cohen (1955) cited in Giddens and Sutton (2015) claims that working-class boys lack opportunities to succeed, largely due to cultural deprivation. Tension from status frustration is realised through the creation of a deviant subculture in which the values of society are reversed.   Like the interactionists view-point marxists argue that the exploitation and oppression from the capitalist’s system leads to feelings of alienation. Thus, encouraging drug consumption which leads to dangerous addictions. However, not everyone suffering alienation from the capitalist system turns to drugs (Browne et al, 2014). Marijuana has been classified as a Class B drug in the UK since 2008 and carries significant penalties associated with possession and production including a maximum prison sentence of 14 years (Legislation, 2018). Statistics from Gov (2017) show that in 2016 there were 99,779 seizures of cannabis in the U.K. According to Browne et al (2014) marxists argue that illegal drugs help to safeguard class inequalities by providing excuses for the police to criminalise the working-class by giving drug convictions; whereas, the ruling class are more likely to be let off with a slap on the wrist.   Interactionist Jock Young (1971) cited in Haralambos et al (2013) studied marijuana users in London. Young argued that police respond to marijuana users as dirty, scruffy deviants which consequently, pushes them into that role. They no longer feel a conventional part of society and so become more unconventional as a reaction. Marijuana has been placed in the same category as the dangerous drug Ketamine. Talk to Frank (2018) write that Ketamine is a powerful general anaesthetic and is used for operations on humans and animals. Ketamine temporarily paralyses the body and gives a ‘out of body’ near death experience which can cause hallucinations and bad ‘trips’. Overdose can result in a coma, respiratory failure and death. According to I the Office of National Statistics (2016) Ketamine was responsible for 160 deaths in 2016.   Furthermore, in the U.K alcohol comes top of the list in the most commonly used recreational drugs.   Alcohol is legal and widely available to adults over the age of 18 in the U.K. According to MPP (2018), marijuana is less toxic than alcohol, less addictive, less harmful to the body, and less likely to contribute to violent or reckless behaviour. Alcohol related car accidents are far more likely than marijuana related car accidents. In 2015, over 200 people were killed in a road collision involving a driver over the legal limit (Department of Transport, 2017). Alcohol is also connected to many long-term side effects such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, liver disease and cancers. Alarmingly, in 2016 there were 7,327 alcohol specific deaths (Official for National Statistics, 2016). Many online articles claim that marijuana cannot and is not responsible for any deaths due to overdose. However, Dr Robert Gable (2004) of the Psychology department of Clermont university, cited in Caulkins, Kilmer and Kleinman (2016), concluded from a review into marijuana that it may be responsible for two deaths of a direct overdose. While it may be factual that it is extremely rare to die from a marijuana overdose, it is an undeniable fact that nobody dies from a tobacco overdose. People do not smoke themselves to death, tobacco causes lung cancer, which is what causes death. So, in that same way marijuana can  kill people in the form of mental illnesses, suicide and in the form of a car accident while driving under the influence. In addition, there are also problems with consuming marijuana that is sold on the black market. It is often contaminated with toxic components which may cause more harm than the substance itself. Thus, a regulated legal supply can be contaminant free, pure and therefore safer as correct dosage can be prescribed. Many argue that legalisation for medicinal purposes could make cannabis more socially acceptable and so encourage use of the substance and other drugs alike which may be more dangerous. However, according to Cerda et al (2015) research has shown that countries which have already legalised marijuana for medical reasons like the US have not seen an upsurge in the numbers of individuals using it. Additionally, the NHS (2017) write that 10% of regular cannabis users become dependent. Despite this, many claim that marijuana does not have addictive properties and that individuals become addicted to the nicotine (which the marijuana is smoked with) and not the marijuana itself. While this may have some truth, withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, irritability and restlessness are all common among individuals who consume marijuana regularly making it difficult to quit. Correspondingly, if a person smokes marijuana with tobacco, there is also great risk of co ntracting tobacco-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease.   Although, this criticism has a contradictive element. Hartney (2018) points out that there are already many highly addictive medications currently being prescribed by doctors in the U.K which have more dangerous side effects than marijuana. One being Tramadol, according to Office for National Statistics (2016) Tramadol was responsible for the lives of 208 people in 2015. However, when consuming marijuana it is common for the user to inhale more smoke and hold it in longer than they would a cigarette, to maximise the effects. Like other addictive drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, individuals can develop a tolerance to marijuana. Therefore, individuals need to consume more and more to get the same effect (Drug Wise, 2017).   The mental consequences of marijuana use are equally severe. Marijuana smokers have poorer memories and mental aptitude than do non-users.   Baler et al (2014) state that recent studies on young adults who smoke marijuana, found abnormalities in the brain related to emotion, motivation and decision-making. Regular cannabis use from a young age can also  increase the risk of developing psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia. This is because the brain does not stop growing and forming connections until it is 25, and cannabis interferes with this process (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2018).   Although, this statement is a tricky one, According to Casarett (2015), a surprising number of people especially men will not seek professional help because they do not like the idea that they require help to manage their issues. This may be another reason why the vast majority of marijuana smokers are men. Some individuals report consuming marijuana helps relieve their depression and anxiety. It could be argued that they turn to marijuana to self-medicate as opposed to admitting to another individual, for example, a doctor that they cannot cope. In other words, individu als may have turned to marijuana to help with their psychological problems in the first place. Thus, the psychological issues were not created from consuming marijuana. Despite the negative, the harm and benefit of marijuana should depend on patient’s medical severity situation and needs; the addiction of marijuana trades off with the expected length of a patient’s life. If a situation is terminal, it could be argued that the benefits meaningfully outweigh the risks. According to the Behaviourist Model addictive behaviour is considered as learned. Therefore, the root to smoking marijuana is a psychological one. Albert Bandura’s (1961) cited in Gross (2015) social learning theory suggests that children learn social behaviour from observing a model. Children are four times more likely to smoke if their parents do (Ash, 2018). Additionally, individuals who smoke are also more likely to divulge further in recreational drugs such as marijuana. Some individuals may use marijuana to gain acceptance. A behaviour explained by psychologist B. F. Skinner (1948), cited in Eysenck (2012), through operant conditioning a person starts to smoke to gain the powerful reinforcement of peer approval.   The new smoker associates these positive feelings with smoking. Positive reinforces cause production of dopamine which provide the positive feelings and reward the behaviour. Thus, behaviour which is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated. Another psychological theory is Ivan Pavlov’s (1927) cited in Gross (2015) classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is realised when a specific stimulus causes a specific response. For example, individuals who regularly consume marijuana to relax and de-stress after work while watching the soaps, will start to associate relax time in front of the tv as a time to light up a joint. In this case, sitting in front of the television after work and watching the soaps (specific stimulus), can induce powerful cravings for marijuana (specific response) which can lead to relapse behaviours. It has been proven that chemicals found in marijuana can relieve pain in people living with illnesses like multiple sclerosis and arthritis. According to Goldacre (2013), scientific studies of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form in Canada, USA and some parts of Europe. Marijuana has also been effective at relieving some of the highly stressful side effects that emerge from chemotherapy treatment such as nausea and vomiting (Doweiko, 2015). According to Drug abuse (2017), there is also evidence to suggest that the marijuana chemical cannabidiol (CBD) can treat certain conditions such as childhood epilepsy, a disorder that causes a child to have violent seizures. Scientists in the US have been reproducing marijuana plants and making CBD in oil form for treatment purposes.   CBD oil has low levels of the mind-altering THC, making it unpopular for recreational use.   Nancy and Willard (2014) suggest that marijuana is used in a similar manner to alcohol. Most adults consume marijuana while socialising with friends or to relax after work. Some use marijuana for medical benefits, with others consuming marijuana for therapeutic purposes, such as, help to facilitate with falling asleep and to alleviate arthritis. Some advocates believe that marijuana can relieve stress, anxiety and depression. On the contrary, many argue that consuming marijuana can trigger anxiety and depression. In fact, it is true the THC is linked to feelings of paranoia and anxiety as it activates the amygdala area of the brain, which is responsible for fear. However, CBD counteracts such feelings from THC. Studies show that taking CBD on its own can lower – even eliminate anxiety (Gould, 2015). According to the American Cancer Society (2018), scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or caused death in certain types of cancer cells growing in lab dishes. Studies on animals also suggest that certain cannabinoids slow growth and reduce the spread of certain forms of cancer. This essay has investigated various aspects of marijuana consumption – why people use it what are the consequences in regard to legislation and health. Many argue that marijuana has been put on a pedestal and falsely labelled a miracle drug. It is inevitable to say that there has been a lot of scaremongering and wishful thinking concerning marijuana consumption. However, there is not enough reliable evidence into the extent of how good or bad marijuana is for ones’ health.   Some evidence and findings are very controversial and contradict one another. For example, the claim that consuming marijuana can reduce the risk of certain cancers when it is a well-known fact that smoking in the first place is responsible for almost all lung cancers. Due to the insufficient amounts of reliable evidence more independent unbiased research needs to be carried out to fully determine the abilities and side effects of marijuana. In conclusion, based on the current evidence marijuana should be decriminalised in the U.K. individuals who are caught consuming marijuana and who may have an addiction should be helped and not punished and labelled a criminal. Correspondingly, marijuana should be made legal for medicinal purposes as it clearly carries benefits for some people. However, only if the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, if the individual has a possible life-threatening illness.   Moreover, advances in science, accompanied with further research into the current medications already available, (in the US) additional medications can be administered.   If the drug is as beneficial as some research suggests then science could be bordering major breakthroughs concerning marijuana, accepting and encouraging use further.      Reference List Addiction (2011). Decriminalized marijuana: Top 10 countries in the world. [online] Addictionblog.org. Available at: http://addictionblog.org/the-news/decriminalized-marijuana-top-10-countries-in-the-world/ (Accessed 21 Apr. 2018). American Cancer Society (2018). Marijuana and Cancer. [online] Available at: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html (Accessed 25 Apr. 2018). ASH (2018). Fact Sheets Archives Action on Smoking and Health. [online] Available at: http://ash.org.uk/category/information-and-resources/fact-sheets/ (Accessed 25 Apr. 2018). Baler, R, D., Compton, W, M. Volkow, N, D., Weiss, S, R, B. (2014) Adverse Health Effects on Marijuana use. The New England Journal of Medicine. 6 (4) Available at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1402309 (Accessed 2 Apr. 2018). Better health. (2013). Cannabis (marijuana). [online] Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cannabis-marijuana (Accessed 28 Mar. 2018). Browne, K., Blundell, J., Law, P., Whaley, M. (2014) Sociology Crime and Deviance for A2 AQA. Cambridge: Polity Press Casarett, D. (2015) Stoned: A Doctors Case for Medical Marijuana. New York: Penguin. Caulkins, J, P., Kilmer, B., Kleinman, M. (2016) Marijuana Legalisation: What Everyone Needs to know. 2nd edn. New York: Oxford university Press Cerda, M., Feng, T., Galea, S., Hasin, D, S., Keyes, K, M., O’Malley, P, M., Pacula, R., Schulenberg, J., Wall, M. (2015) ‘Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys’. [online] The Lancet Psychiatry. 2 (7) Available at: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(15)00217-5/abstract (Accessed 23 Apr. 2018) Department of Transport (2017) National Statistics. Statistical Release. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/635345/road-accidents-illegal-alcohol-levels-2015-final.pdf (Accessed 4 April. 2018). Doweiko, H, E. (2015) Concepts of Chemical Dependency. 9th edn. Stanford: Cengage Learning. Drug abuse (2017). Marijuana as Medicine. [online] Available at: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine (Accessed 28 Mar. 2018). Drug Wise (2017) Promoting Evidenced-based information on Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco. [online] available at: www.drugwise.org.uk/which-drugs-are-used-most/ (Accessed 2 April. 2018). Drug-Free World. (2018). Is Marijuana Medicine? Marijuana Affects Driving. [online] Available at: https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/medicine.html (Accessed 28 Mar. 2018). Eysenck, E, M. (2012) AS Level Psychology. 5th edn. East Sussex: Psychology Press Giddens, A. Sutton, P, W. (2015) Sociology. 7th edn. Cambridge: Polity Press. Goldacre, B. (2013) Bad Phama: How Medicine is Broken and How We Can Fix It. London: Harper Collins. Gould, J. (2015) international journal of science. Cannabis 4 Big Questions. 5 (25) [online] Available at: http://www.nature.com/articles/525S18a (Accessed 25 Apr. 2018) Gov (2017). Drug Misuse: Findings from the 2016/17 Crime Survey for England and Wales. Home Office. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642738/drug-misuse-2017-hosb1117.pdf (Accessed 28 Mar. 2018). Gov (2018) Drug Penalties. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing (Accessed 16 April. 2018) Gov (2018) Governing the States and Localities. State Marijuana Laws in 2018. [online] Available at: http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html (Accessed 2 April. 2018). Gross, R. (2015) Psychology the Science of Mind and Behaviour. 7th edn. London: Hodder Education. Haralambos, M., Holborn, M., Chapman, S. and Moore, S. (2013) Sociology Themes and Perspectives. 8th edn. London: Collins  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hartney, E (2018) The 10 Most Addictive Pain Killers. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-most-addictive-pain-killers-22506 (Accessed 2 April. 2018). Hazeldine, A., Purcell, S., Renton, N., Rippin, F., Walker, A. (2016) A-Level Sociology. Newcastle: Elanders Ltd. Legislation (2018). Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. [online] Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/contents [Accessed 17 Apr. 2018]. MMP (2018). Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol: Its Time To Treat It That Way MPP. [online] MPP. Available at: https://www.mpp.org/marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-its-time-to-treat-it-that-way/ (Accessed 18 Apr. 2018). Nancy, E, M., Willard, M, O. (2014) Drugs in an American Society: An Encyclopaedia of Politics, Culture and the Law. Massachusetts: ABC-Clio. NHS (2017) Cannabis: The Facts. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/Pages/cannabis-facts.aspx (Accessed 2 April. 2018). Office for National Statistics (2016) Alcohol-Specific Deaths in the UK: registered 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/alcoholrelateddeathsintheunitedkingdom/registeredin2016 (Accessed 4 April. 2018). Office for National Statistics (2016) Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2016 registrations. [online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2016registrations#deaths-involving-selected-substances (Accessed 21 Apr. 2018) Royal College of Psychiatrists (2018). Cannabis and mental health. [online] Available at: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/cannabis.aspx (Accessed 18 Apr. 2018). Talk to frank (2018). Ketamine | FRANK. [online] Available at: http://www.talktofrank.com/drug/ketamine (Accessed 18 Apr. 2018). Bibliography Adler, J, N., Colbert, J, A. (2013) Medicinal Use of Marijuana. The New England Journal of Medicine. [online] Available at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde1300970 (Accessed 2 April.2018). Browns, D. (2018). A Marxist review of Capitalism and Drug Use. [online] Redrave.blogspot.co.uk. Available at: http://redrave.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-marxist-review-of-capitalism-and-drug.html (Accessed 18 Apr. 2018). Cancer Research (2018). Cannabis oil?. [online] Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat/thread/cannabis-oil-4 [Accessed 31 Mar. 2018]. Cannabis Social Club. (2018). UK Cannabis Law. [online] Available at: http://ukcsc.co.uk/cannabis-law/ (Accessed 17 Apr. 2018). Christie, L. (2013). Which of these drugs is the most addictive and harmful, marijuana, alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, or meth? [online] Available at: https://www.quora.com/Which-of-these-drugs-is-the-most-addictive-and-harmful-marijuana-alcohol-ecstasy-cocaine-heroin-or-meth (Accessed 17 Apr. 2018). McLeod, S. (2015). Biological Psychology | Simply Psychology. [online] Simplypsychology.org. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/biological-psychology.html (Accessed 23 Apr. 2018). Peele, S. (2016). How Does Social Class Affect Drug Abuse? Articles Addictions | HealthyPlace. HealthyPlace. Available at: https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/articles/how-does-social-class-affect-drug-abuse/ (Accessed 17 Apr. 2018). United Patients Group. (2016). What are the best and healthiest ways to consume medical cannabis?. [online] Available at: https://unitedpatientsgroup.com/resources/methods-of-consumption (Accessed 17 Apr. 2018). Evaluation The essay introduction stated some clear figures of the trends of marijuana over the last few years and determined who in society is most likely to consume marijuana. On the contrary, the introduction failed to generate a definitive answer as to why young working-class boys are the biggest consumers of marijuana, due to the absence of primary research. However, links to sociological theories supported the results that young working-class boys are the biggest consumers of marijuana. The research within the essay was obtained from a wide range of reputable sources with the most recent information available. As discussed, due to the absence of primary research there was not an opportunity to examine the reasons on a more personal level as to why young working-class boys choose to consume marijuana when evidence portrayed from the UK government suggest that it can lead to psychological issues and can cause certain types of cancers. The data researched and presented was analysed and evaluated where possible; official statistics from legitimate sources are generally accepted as reliable and informative in their own right. In addition, further relations to sociological theories along with psychological theories strengthened the conclusions of certain studies. In comparison, due to the lack of reliable sufficient unbiased research, there could have been further analysis into the government’s role.   With the recent claims that marijuana has certain cancer killing properties along with many other health benefits, the government should be aiming to provide newly found definitive answers concerning the risks and gains of marijuana. The conclusion acknowledged that the lack of reliable and thorough research into the strengths and weaknesses of using marijuana has influenced the answer to the question; that it should be decriminalised and legalised on the grounds of medicinal use only if the benefits outweigh the risks. However, the conclusion is based only on the research analysed within the essay. Due to a limited word count further research and analysis which may have had an influence on the overall conclusion may have been missed. Thus, the conclusion is relevant to the findings within the essay however, additional and future research may lead to a different prognosis.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Contrasts in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening :: Stopping Woods Snowy Evening

Contrasts in 'Stopping by Woods'    The duality of the narrator's response to the woods is caught in the contrast between the relaxed, conversational idiom of the first three lines (note the gentle emphasis given to ‘think', the briskly colloquial ‘though') and the dream-like descriptive detail and hypnotic verbal music ('watch . . . woods', 'his . . . fill . . . with') of the last. Clearing and wilderness, law and freedom, civilization and nature, fact and dream: these oppositions reverberate throughout the poem. Frost develops his   own quietly ironic contrast between the road along which the narrator travels, connecting marketplace to marketplace, promoting community and culture - and the white silence of the woods, where none of the ordinary limitations of the world seem to apply. In a minor key, they are caught also in the implicit comparison between the owner of these woods, who apparently regards them as a purely financial investment (he lives in the village) and the narrator who sees them, at leas t potentially, as a spiritual one.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This contrast between what might be termed, rather reductively perhaps, 'realistic' and 'romantic' attitudes is then sustained through the next two stanzas: the commonsensical response is now playfully attributed to the narrator's horse which, like any practical being, wants to get on down the road to food and shelter. The narrator himself, however, continues to be lured by the mysteries of the forest just as the Romantic poets were lured by the mysteries of otherness, sleep and death. And, as before, the contrast is a product of tone and texture as much as dramatic intimation: the poem communicates its debate in how it says things as much as in what it says. So, the harsh gutturals and abrupt movement of lines like, 'He gives his harness bells a shake / To ask if there is some mistake', give verbal shape to the matter-of-fact attitude attributed to the horse, just as the soothing sibilants and gently rocking motion of the lines that follo w this ('The only other sound's the sweep / Of easy wind and downy flake') offer a tonal equivalent of the strange, seductive world into which the narrator is tempted to move. 'Everything that is written', Frost once said, 'is as good as it is dramatic'; and in a poem like this the words of the poem become actors in the drama.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Source text

Write the reference Near-perfect reference Write the citation (Krakow 1994) (FDA consumer health Information 2009) Relevance audience / type of language currency connection/relevance to topic in depth information General public with specific interesting.No limit of age, no limit of education. Language: easy to read for anyone, good writing and understandable language, very simple. Currency: new York, 1994 without date. Tattoos, copyright Connection: the legal and forensic Issues General public, people who are interesting. The website has some deep vocabulary; however, it is easy to understand. Currency: the last report update was October 2009. Connection: the site has a lot of information about tattoos, supplies history Depth information: the site provides the advantages and disadvantages of tattoosAuthority reputable author other sources referred to (or links supplied) organization type Author: My Krakow is expert at tattoos. The main content of the book is about what are the tattoo s, history, and the shortages of tattoos. Warner books press is an educational and academic publisher. – consumer health information Author: FDA There are a lot of references supplies for information given E. G. History, advantages and disadvantages.Organization: FDA consumer health information Reliability goal/purpose & kind of information objectivity remarry or secondary source Goal: inform the public about most of information of tattoos; make them know more about tattoos. Objectivity: Workbooks. Com is a one-stop online source It should be primary source Goal: inform the public information about advantages and disadvantages of tattoos Objective: the website no any advertisement. There are a lot of evidences. Primary: a highly recommend as a primary source for academic report. General comment on suitability of resource (I. E. Why you would or would not use this resource)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Clinical Psychology Paper Essay

The great evangelist D.T. Niles once said, â€Å"Christianity is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread† (Niles, 2010). At its most basic level, clinical psychology is the enterprise of one educated, licensed person using his or her knowledge of human behavior to address, assuage, or otherwise moderate the troubles and concerns of another person’s life—whether they be relational, affective, or physiological. Strictly speaking, clinical psychology is, â€Å"the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders† (Plante, 2011, p. 5). Clinical psychology is a scientific endeavor, utilizing the instrument of the scientific method to inform the practice, procedures, and treatments used to address human problems. There is an interplay that exists between treatment outcome research and psychotherapy in clinical psychology—the science informs the art and the art informs the science (Plante, 2011). The point of this paper is to catalogue and compare the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology as well as to consider the specific case of counseling within the framework of clinical psychology. History Hippocrates—the original author of the Hippocratic Oath—formed the first complete, if naà ¯ve, physiological explanation of disease and dysfunction (Plante, 2011). He proposed that imbalances in the mixture and quantity of four fluids: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood, caused several emotions and psychological maladjustment, such as sadness, irritability, and anger. It was not until the advents of Plato that it was conceived that the metaphysical realm of the soul could have an effect on the corporeal domain. However, it was to Galen that a holistic theory of medicine was formed that incorporated the physiological explanations of Hippocrates with the metaphysical explanations of Plato. Even though Galen’s ideas of bloodletting were flawed, it was a step in the direction of objective explanations of illness and disease. During the middle ages the work of Thomas Aquinas, Paracelsus, and Weyer shifted the discussion of psychology away from the metaphysical and toward physical explanations of mental illness, such as bodily causes, movements of the stars, and behavior. Furthermore, at the dawn of the Renaissance and into the nineteenth century the veil of shadow and secrecy behind the inner workings of the mind, body, and cell were ripped from his or her places and the mediums of scientific observation and laboratory investigation were instituted in the place of religion and mysticism as the sole explanation of illness. The works of Rush, Bernard, and Pinel during this period of history paved the way for more humane approaches to the abnormal and deviant—approaches that sought to alleviate psychological dysfunction rather than simply separate and restrain the dysfunctional. The birth of psychology proper came on the heels of the publishing of Wundt’s The Elements of Psychophysics in 1850 and James’ Principles of Psychology in 1890 (Plante, 2011). These publications, along with the institution of the first psychological laboratory by Wundt, culminated in the founding of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892. The main drive behind the fledgling field of psychology was to measure empirically behavior to the end of understanding the subsidiary components of the mind itself. Hence, when clinical psychology first got on its feet four years later (1896), through the opening of the first clinic by Witmer, many psychologists frowned upon the application of the principles of human behavior to clinical situations. This was seen as a step away from a general understanding of human behavior and toward abnormal or dysfunctional psychology. Despite the initial tension between clinical psychology and mainstream psychology, the first formal classes in clinical psychology began in 1904 at the University of Pennsylvania and the first edition of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology was published in 1907. Evolving Nature Despite the disinclination of the APA to embrace an applied approach to psychology, clinical psychology grew rapidly in the beginning of the twentieth century (Plante, 2011). Going back to Plato’s contention of the metaphysical affecting the corporeal, Sigmund Freud postulated that unconscious conflict and strife could have a direct outcome on mental and physical illness. The work of Freud shaped and molded the direction of clinical psychology for many decades after his death. Even though it was not until the Boulder Conference of 1949 that the training guidelines for clinical psychology were mapped out and etched in stone, so to speak. One of the main tenets of these guidelines was that clinical psychologists should have a firm understanding of both psychological research and psychotherapy. It was not until the 1950s and on that Freud’s ideas of human psychology were exchanged for the alternatives of humanism, cognitive-behaviorism, and family systems approaches (Plante, 2011). The changes in psychological perspective were precipitated by the establishment of community mental health facilities and the introduction of psychotropic drugs as a treatment of abnormal psychology. Even though these advancements in conception and treatment offered alternatives to the traditional ideas of psychodynamics and behaviorism, no one theory of human psychology proved to explain the entirety of behavior, dysfunction, and cognition. To that end, parsimoniously eclectic approaches to psychology were adopted—such as the biopsychosocial theory—that incorporated many of the ideas and practices from the abovementioned perspectives. Current Issues The last century of clinical psychology has been characterized by an illness ideology that emphasizes the treatment or preventions of disorders (Maddux, 2008). Even though this approach has utility in the realm of psychotherapy it lacks the ability to enhance the quality of life for people who do not suffer from some type of mental illness. Maddux (2008) proposes that a shift toward positive psychology—a perspective that stresses human strengths and mental health—should be pursued. Positive psychology aims to, â€Å"†¦promote health, happiness, physical fitness, and pleasure, and personal fulfillment through the free pursuit of chosen and valued goals† (Maddux, 2008, p. 68). By shifting toward positive psychology the strengths of people can be used to promote mental health preemptively as well as combat mental illness. At the forefront of the implementation of positive psychology is the innovation of virtual reality (VR) as a means to allow patients to manipulate problematic situations related to his or her mental illness without the use of psychotherapy (Riva, 2009). By creating a safe and comfortable virtual environment patients can explore proactive ways to adapt and mediate his or her mental health problems. Research and Statistics in Clinical Counseling Psychology Rather than approach this section from a structuralist approach (e.g. the ancillary parts of clinical counseling psychology), it seems prudent to offer a specific example of how research and statistics are used and effect clinical counseling psychology. Bakar, Jaafar, Mohamed & Tarmizi (2009) sought to establish a correlation between counseling self-efficacy and trainee counselor performance. Their research found that indeed there is a positive relationship (r(100)=.312p

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Tellurium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements

Tellurium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements Periodic Table of the Elements Tellurium  Basic Facts Symbol: Te Atomic Number: 52 Atomic Weight: 127.6 Electron Configuration: [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 Element Classification: Semimetallic Discovery: Franz Joseph Meller von Reichenstein 1782 (Romania) Name Origin: Latin: tellus (earth). Tellurium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 6.24 Melting Point (K): 722.7 Boiling Point (K): 1263 Appearance: silvery-white, brittle semimetal Atomic Radius (pm): 160 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 20.5 Covalent Radius (pm): 136 Ionic Radius: 56 (6e) 211 (-2e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.201 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 17.91 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 49.8 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.1 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 869.0 Oxidation States: 6, 4, 2 Lattice Structure: Hexagonal Lattice Constant (Ã…): 4.450 Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.330 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.) Return to the Periodic Table Chemistry Encyclopedia

Monday, October 21, 2019

Global Financial Imbalances Essay The WritePass Journal

Global Financial Imbalances Essay Global Financial Imbalances Essay How the arrangements of global trade act as a driver of global imbalances Global Financial Imbalances Essay , p. 47). Against such kind of economic activities, the trade deficits constitute a major hindrance to economic activities as they reduce employment and demand and as a consequence forces governments to intervene by running huge fiscal deficits. The external demand that the surplus economies rely on is heavily dependent on unsustainable policies in the economies with deficits. You can also review Finance Essay on Savings and Loans Crisis Theoretical foundation Unger: institutional arrangements and outcomes Roberto Unger proposes an institutional arrangement for the organisation of civil societies, democracies and market economies. He claims that neo-liberalisation of trade is based on theory of comparative advantage that is too partial. It is this partiality that has created global trade imbalances. Roberto Unger argues that the current model of comparative advantage used for free trade arguments is not only partial but is also incomplete and empirically inaccurate to permit the formulation of global business policies. His major concern is the trade policies and designs of the global trading systems which he thinks are inherently designed to create trade imbalances (Claessens, et al 2010, p.81). The theory of comparative advantage is incomplete because it has as a premise the existence of an established comparative advantage. The comparative advantage in the real world is a function of a complex array of economic, social, and political factors. As such it is not possible to determine a case for free trade until fully taking into account the manner in which these factors interact to create the regime of an economy. It is these differences relative to unit costs across countries that create comparative advantage. Different trade agreements often have an effect on the patterns of advantage that an economy can develop and then eventual gains it can attain from free trade. In addition to this, the trade theories often find that multiple world equilibriums exists both in the presence of increasing returns and scale economies as well as the conventional return models (Unger 2005, p. 89). Whichever of these equilibriums the global economy leads a country into affects the aggregate efficiency and distribution of the gains from trade across nations. In the process of selecting equilibrium, broader political and social processes are likely to play a significant role. Only once the effects of trade restrictions on social and political forces have been determined and the eventual selection of an equilibrium made, can a definitive case for or against liberal trade policies be made. This is the reason why Unger proposed the development of a more complex theory of trade premised on a set of basic ideas that play analogous role for labelling the assumptions of a formal model. Without the formal model that takes into account all the factors that affect equilibrium, then the trade imbalances will continue to exist. Other Causes of Trade Imbalance Some countries like China are fuelling imbalance in the global economy by devaluing the Yuan like the Japanese did 26 years ago (Aaronson Zimmerman 2008, p.81). The country is accused of intentionally devaluing its exchange rates. Although it is not easy to accurately calculate the exchange rate of the Yuan, economists believe it is undervalued by up to 40% and consensus indicate that the policy of China of stockpiling foreign exchange reserves is responsible for this (Aaronson Zimmerman 2008, p.33). The country has been able to use its huge trade surplus to buy US currency and treasuries in order to maintain a high demand for the US Dollar and make the Yuan appear relatively cheap. This raises the price competitiveness of China against the United States. Acts of money intervention by China to create trade imbalance is deliberate as it spends a lot of money in the market to keep the Yuan undervalued. This market interference by China is fuelling trade deficits in the United States because American companies are forced to outsource jobs to China in order to be able to enjoy cheap labour (Claessens, Evenett Hoekman 2010, p. 64). The purchasing power of the Chinese is equally suppressed because they are less able to afford foreign products and increase their living standards. This makes it hard for foreign companies to sell their products in the country because the weak Yuan renders them expensive for the average Chinese consumer. The manipulation of trade by China is also fuelling overconsumption in the United States by buying up government treasuries. The artificial suppression of the value of Yuan allows the treasury department to lower the long term interest rates. This fuels the western and American debt, over consumption and ensures that the demand for the Chinese exports is sustained. Although such a practice is not illegal, it creates imbalance in the global trade arena. Although the East and China have played a major role in the provision of attractively priced commodities and financing the western debts, the west has also been responsible for the creation of trade imbalance owing to their inability to control their over consumption (Berger and Nitsch 2010, p. 62). Other than the manipulation of currency by China, the country also supresses labour rights thus lowering the costs of production in the country. The repression of labour by the Chinese government has lowered the manufacturing wages of the workers by approximately 47% to 86% (Chen et al 2012, p.86). The country also provides huge direct export subsidies to its major industries in order to boost production for the export market. Finally, China maintains strict non-tariff barriers to imports. This has ensured that the country maintains trade imbalance with other countries and as at 2011 the Chinese exports to the US were more than four times what the United States exported to China. This trade imbalance from China was further enhanced partly when the country was accepted into the World Trade Organisation without inclusion of a clause to improve the environmental standards and the labour conditions. The entry of China into the economic playing field has further worsened things for the domestic workers in the United States in favour of the multinational companies working in China. You can also review Free International Relations Trade Dissertation Essay Conclusion This essay has identified the different factors affecting the balance of trade on the international arena. Some countries are deliberately carrying out actions to influence the balance of trade in their favour at the expense of the other partners. Although there are countries that are interfering with the global balance provided by the international market, there is need for countries to look into better ways of ensuring that a good business environment is provided for all and proper mechanisms enacted to ensure that no member state flouts the rules and policies You can also review International Business Environment  Essay References Aaronson, S. A., Zimmerman, J. M. (2008). Trade imbalance: The struggle to weigh human rights concerns in trade policymaking. New York, N.Y., : Cambridge University Press. Berger, H., Nitsch, V., International Monetary Fund. (2010). The Euro?s Effect on Trade Imbalances. Washington, D.C: International Monetary Fund. Chen, R., Milesi-Ferretti, G.-M., Tressel, T., International Monetary Fund., International Monetary Fund. (2012). External imbalances in the Euro area. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund. Claessens, S., Evenett, S. J., Hoekman, B. M. (2010). Rebalancing the global economy: A primer for policymaking. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Duncan, R. (2013). The dollar crisis: Causes, consequences, cures. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Fund, I. M. (2010). European Financial Linkages. Washington: International Monetary Fund. Haddad, M., Shepherd, B., World Bank. (2011). Managing openness: Trade and outward-oriented growth after the crisis. Washington, D.C: World Bank. Hall, P. V., McCalla, R. J., Comtois, C., Slack, B. (2011). Integrating seaports and trade corridors. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate. Koo, R. C. (2011). The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics: Lessons from Japans Great Recession. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons. Korea-World Bank High Level Conference on Post-Crisis Growth and Development, Fardoust, S., Kim, Y., Sepulveda, C. P., World Bank., Taeoe Kyŏngje Chŏngchaek Yŏnguwŏn (Korea). (2011). Postcrisis growth and development: A development agenda for the G-20. Washington, D.C: World Bank. Morrison, C. E., Pedrosa, E., Pacific Economic Cooperation Council., APEC Business Advisory Council., Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. (2007). An APEC trade agenda?: The political economy of a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Pettis, M. (2013). The great rebalancing: Trade, conflict, and the perilous road ahead for the world economy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Rebucci, A., Batini, N., Cova, P., Pisani, M. (2009). Global Imbalances. Washington: International Monetary Fund. Unger, R. M. (2005). What should the Left propose?. London: Verso. For other resources, please take a look at WritePass Journal.   If you need to place an order, please visit our website.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

An Analysis of the Morality of Boiling Lobsters Alive in Consider the Lobster, an Article by David Foster Wallace

An Analysis of the Morality of Boiling Lobsters Alive in Consider the Lobster, an Article by David Foster Wallace When a meal is placed before you, you do not usually think of the journey those ingredients went on to reach you. You do not consider how far the corn traveled or the pain the lobster went through in order to become your food. David Foster Wallace’s article, â€Å"Consider the Lobster,† delves into the controversy surrounding the live boiling of lobster for human consumption. In order to effectively get his point across, Wallace outlines the Maine Lobster Festival and connects human experience with the lobster’s experience. Initially, Wallace goes into great detail explaining the environment surrounding the Maine Lobster Festival in order to convey the idea that people nonchalantly ignore the massacre of thousands of lobsters right beside them. He outlines this to accurately show the hypocrisy of peoples’ nonchalant attitude surrounding the mass slaughter of the lobsters when they may find the mass slaughter of any other animal horrific. Further, he attempts to initiate compassion in his readers by gruesomely portraying the killing of the lobster. He does this in a way that sparks fear, disgust, and uneasiness within a reader who may see it as analogous with ones own pain and experiences. In summation, David Foster Wallace gets you thinking about the morality of boiling lobster alive for consumption through the portrayal of Maine’s lobster festival and the depiction of pain experienced by the lobster. We see how mindlessly people act when difficult matters concern their food and the morality of it. Also, we do not often pay attention to the pain animals may experience before they reach our plate. Thus, Wallace’s article encourages us to think before we eat.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Renaissance Art and Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Renaissance Art and Music - Essay Example Northern painters, especially those from Flanders and the Netherlands, were as advanced as Italian artists in landscape painting and contributed to the innovations of their southern contemporaries by introducing oil paint as a new medium. Although portraiture also developed as a specific genre in the mid-15th century, Renaissance painters achieved the greatest latitude with the history, or narrative, picture, in which figures located within a landscape or an architectural environment act out a specific story, taken either from Classical mythology or Judaeo-Christian tradition. Within such a context, the painter was able to show men, women, and children in a full range of postures and poses, as well as the subjects' diverse emotional reactions and states. The Renaissance was also a period of avid exploration; ships set sail in search of new routes to Asia, which resulted in the discovery and eventual colonization of North and South America. Painters, sculptors, and architects were dri ven by a similar sense of adventure and the desire for greater knowledge and new solutions; Leonardo da Vinci, like Christopher Columbus, discovered whole new worlds. This paper aims to define the characteristics of visual art and music during the renaissance through the use of examples, know a little about the artists of the artworks which were used as examples for this paper as well as to compare the works selected as examples in terms of the elements of art. In so doing, the paper will establish that renaissance art, however old and different the world it originated from is still continued to be regarded as timeless and valuable pieces in modern day art. Body Renaissance Art is any type of art produced... The two principal components of Renaissance style are the following: 1. a revival of the classical forms originally developed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and 2. an intensified concern with secular life—interest in humanism and assertion of the importance of the individual. The Renaissance period in art history corresponds with the beginning of the great Western age of discovery and exploration, when a general desire developed to examine all aspects of nature and the world.During the Renaissance, artists were no longer regarded as mere artisans, as they had been in the medieval past. The renaissance has indeed been a period of rebirth because people at that time were given a â€Å"second chance† to live life again. Along with this chance is the realization of the importance of appreciating life and the environment. People were able to have an identity of their own as they were recognized according to what they do best, just like the painters and the musicians. Although, the period is a time of rebirth, still many of its influences, both in visual art and music, comes from religion. Until today, even how old the art pieces of renaissance artists both in visual art and music, their works are still highly regarded and served as guides and models of aspiring artists today. This is manifested in how these new artists study the life and works of renaissance artists and sometimes compare their works to what the young ones of today have created. Truly, renaissance pieces, in art visual art and music, are timeless for until now it has still been considered to be timeless and priceless works of art.

Friday, October 18, 2019

You should discuss some artworks in music from the 20th century Essay

You should discuss some artworks in music from the 20th century - Essay Example One of the major developments in music artworks were in electronic music using several electronic instruments such as the guitar; and one of the best composers of this era was Edgard Varese who experimented with electronic music. The 20th century musicians and composers had greater global influence as transportation had become faster which allowed musicians to travel more frequently and interact with a wide range of people or fans. Amplification was another technology which allowed people with the cheap tickets to listen to huge concerts and enjoy high quality music performances. As in all art forms, in music as well there were some great works recorded and distributed in this era. This era was also an era of psychological awareness as well as the after-effects of the First World War which had brought horror, fear, and disturbance of destruction and death for the people of Europe. In response to such influences, there were composers who focused on expressionistic music such as Arnold Schoenberg and some who used experimentation in new forms of music such as Edgard Varese. These composers received lesser fame and recognition but their techniques influenced the composers who followed them (Mabry 45). Electronic music was one of the major developments in music artworks in the 20th century. It was developed in Japan, Europe, and America in the 1950s. The composers of this era dealt with the magnetic tapes which allowed them to record sounds and manipulate them in several ways. The electronic music consists of transmission through loudspeakers; however there are two major types; acousmatic music and live electronic music. Acoustmatic music is the one which is recorded and available for loudspeaker listening and live electronic music is the one in which electronic devices are used to initiate, transform, and trigger the music sounds in huge concerts and

Memo to the teacher Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Memo to the teacher - Essay Example This memo will seek to clarify the problems in the topic (the Mozart) and send it to the respective recipient with solutions. The structure and presentation of the Mozart advert topic is ambiguous. Specifically, an effective topic of a memo possesses the element of information. In this case, a topic of a memo appears effective when it provides readers with substantial information about the purpose of the article. Additionally, a sound memo topic makes a recommendation or simply asks for action after describing its content Concerning the Mozart advert topic, analysis shows that it does not support the school’s position. This leaves the readers with questionable doubts about the point of view of either the advert or the institution. A closer outlook into this topic reveals that the advert seeks to persuade. However, the since its topic seems to have a bit of problems, it is vital to provide a list of solutions in order to avoid repetition of such a thing in the future. First, the Mozart advert should restructure its topic and provide a precise, persuasive heading that grabs the concentration of every single reader. A persuasive advert increases the number of readers, which in turn increases the number of people taking action. Taking action in this scenario means having more students enrolling for music classes in Mozart School of Music. Lastly, this memo serves to suggest a specific action whose aim is to improve the current situation. Regarding the Mozart ad topic, the problem of ambiguity and obviousness needs to be addressed through changing it to have a persuasive message with a recommendable course of action in the end. Further still, the Mozart ad is clear with regard to the second component of a memorandum. This is so because it shows the benefits that a student will get upon enrolling at Mozart School of Music. I am sure that you will find these solutions valuable and approve them for action. I also the change will take course immediately as

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The Quality Movement Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Quality Movement - Article Example Others define quality on bases of facilities in the hospital like vehicles (ambulance), scanning machines and other health care equipments (Hickey and Brosnan, 2012). In respect to MGH, quality is the ability and efforts made by professional to provide health care services to individuals with an aim of achieving the desired outcome through application of the current professional knowledge. MGH is determined to provide the combination of patient care services that optimise the health of the surrounding population. MGH is also determined to provide an effective, efficient care of high quality to the patients all the time (Massachusetts General Hospital, 2015). MGH monitors outcome by assessing the effects of the health care provided to patients and population. The hospital monitors the ability and efforts made to diagnose, treat and prevent health problems. MGH views the monitoring process as the bottom line since it gives an evaluation of the quality (Institute of Medicine, 2001). MGH performs condition specific approach in which professionals examines the outcome or end results of an individual in a certain diagnosis. The hospital also performs generic approach in which it monitors outcomes like patient satisfaction, mortality and change in status (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2011). Related Data in MGH is collected by use of questionnaires filled in by patients and members of public. The patients respond to questions about the services obtained in the hospital. The patients also rate the hospital’s service. The forms filled by patients are then checked by the department of research in order to understand the areas to improve and note the hospital’s weakness (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Technologically, MGH has advanced because it utilizes the use of new technology in service provision. The hospital fills patient’s data in computer unlike other hospital which uses hard copy papers

The Death Penalty in Contemporary America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

The Death Penalty in Contemporary America - Essay Example Ancient religious texts such as the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran all contain laws and punishments which include the death penalty, and these have been followed by millions of people over the last two or three thousand years. For many modern Americans who belong to fundamentalist branches of their respective religions, this alone is sufficient reason to continue with the death penalty and no other arguments need to be entertained. Leaving aside the religious argument, there are also good psychological reasons why strong penalties need to exist in any legal system. The risk of prosecution will not deter criminals if there is no bad consequence following on from being convicted of a crime. The law enforcement agencies have no power of their own to prevent crime or stop criminals repeating their offenses unless there is a penal system to take care of those who commit violence, drug crimes, and other serious offenses. The death penalty is the strongest possible message to criminals that there are limits to what society will tolerate, and that those who overstep those limits have no place in that society. Another argument in favor of the death penalty is the fact that it takes tens and perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars to imprison a criminal for life, whereas the death penalty is inexpensive to operate, once the due legal process has been completed. In a world of famines, wars and natural disasters, where many people live and die in poverty and there are huge deficits in the provision for health and education, there is a moral issue in devoting such a huge amount of money to individuals who have shown contempt for the rule of law. Turning now to the arguments against the death penalty, there are also a number of religious arguments which are applicable to this context.  

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Psychology class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Psychology class - Essay Example al health problems are prevalent in modern society, a fact that contrasts the low mental health cases reported in health institutions in traditional society (Shally-Jensen 80). Society is preoccupied with treating mental health conditions, but the low number of medical professionals cannot effectively address this problem. Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with assessing, diagnosing, treating and preventing mental health problems (Shally-Jensen 10). A clinical psychologist improves the psychological well-being of individuals by alleviating and reducing psychological distress. As a professional, I will be training in various techniques and theoretical approaches to be able to work in private practice, hospitals, and academic settings. However, other clinical psychologists focus on treating psychological disorders and may involve treatment of severe mental problems like depression and schizophrenia. Dealing with clients and ensuring positive outcomes requires detailed record keeping, client assessment, therapeutic, and diagnostic records for tracking treatment progress and for insurance and billing (Shally-Jensen 57). Moreover, a clinical psychologist works with a team of other professionals, and I will work alongside occupational therapists, doctors, social workers, nurses, and physiotherapists. Clinical psychologists are increasingly demanded today because of the increasing cases of mental health problems. Consequently, the salary of clinical psychologists is increasing annually because of the low number of clinical psychologists today. However, according to the US Department of Labor in its Occupational Outlook in 2013, employment opportunities in clinical psychology are expected to rise in coming years (Department of Labor Statistics 1). It will influence the demand for professionals because of a rising need for qualified mental health experts. A 2013 report by CNN suggested the median pay for clinical psychologists was 80,000 dollars.

The Death Penalty in Contemporary America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

The Death Penalty in Contemporary America - Essay Example Ancient religious texts such as the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran all contain laws and punishments which include the death penalty, and these have been followed by millions of people over the last two or three thousand years. For many modern Americans who belong to fundamentalist branches of their respective religions, this alone is sufficient reason to continue with the death penalty and no other arguments need to be entertained. Leaving aside the religious argument, there are also good psychological reasons why strong penalties need to exist in any legal system. The risk of prosecution will not deter criminals if there is no bad consequence following on from being convicted of a crime. The law enforcement agencies have no power of their own to prevent crime or stop criminals repeating their offenses unless there is a penal system to take care of those who commit violence, drug crimes, and other serious offenses. The death penalty is the strongest possible message to criminals that there are limits to what society will tolerate, and that those who overstep those limits have no place in that society. Another argument in favor of the death penalty is the fact that it takes tens and perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars to imprison a criminal for life, whereas the death penalty is inexpensive to operate, once the due legal process has been completed. In a world of famines, wars and natural disasters, where many people live and die in poverty and there are huge deficits in the provision for health and education, there is a moral issue in devoting such a huge amount of money to individuals who have shown contempt for the rule of law. Turning now to the arguments against the death penalty, there are also a number of religious arguments which are applicable to this context.  

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Corporate social responsibility Essay Example for Free

Corporate social responsibility Essay Social responsibility is an ethical theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems. Businesses can use ethical decision making to secure their businesses by making decisions that allow for government agencies to minimize their involvement with the corporation. Critics argue that Corporate social responsibility (CSR) distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful corporations though there is no systematic evidence to support these criticisms. A significant number of studies have shown no negative influence on shareholder results from CSR but rather a slightly negative correlation with improved shareholder returns. Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate conscience, corporate citizenship, social performance, or sustainable responsible business/ Responsible Business) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby a business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. In some models, a firms implementation of CSR goes beyond compliance and engages in actions that appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is required by law. CSR is a process with the aim to embrace responsibility for the companys actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere who may also be considered as stakeholders. FUNCTIONS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The function of corporate social responsibility is for corporations to hold themselves accountable for the ethical, legal, societal and ecological impacts of their business practices. Corporate social responsibility practices are self-monitoring, meaning there arent laws requiring corporations to behave in a socially responsible manner. Rules regarding corporate responsibility practices are generally written into the corporate bylaws, mission statements and employee handbooks. Ethical Function Ethics are one of the most important aspects in corporate governance and therefore have an important function in corporate social responsibility. A company must have internal controls regarding the expected ethical behavior and consequences of unethical business practices of its top executives and employees. Behaving ethically makes the company as a whole accountable to its investors, shareholders and consumers. The ethical function of corporate social responsibility helps to prevent conflicts of interest between earning corporate profits and maintaining the integrity of the company and the goods and services it produces. Legal Function The legal function of corporate social responsibility is to encourage transparency in a companys business practices and financial reporting. Maintaining high levels of legal business practices, such as adhering to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations promotes goodwill toward employees. Maintaining high levels of legal financial practices maintains good will among investors, stakeholders and government financial-reporting regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Societal Function The societal function of corporate social responsibility is to respect and invest in the communities in which the company operates. Companies are aware of how the production of their products affects the local community. These companies take necessary actions to diminish the negative impacts of factors such as increased traffic, noise and pollution for the communities in which they operate. The societal function of corporate social responsibility also includes companies reinvesting in the communities in which they operate, such as donating money to local charities. Ecological Function The ecological function of corporate social responsibility is to not only respect the immediate environment in which the company operates but also to respect the companys effect on the global environment. Companies are aware of the environmental impact the production of their products have on their local communities. In corporate social responsibility, these companies adhere to strict standards in an effort to diminish the negative impact of the environmental byproducts such as air and water pollution from the production of their products. Having such standards impacts both the local and global environments. CHARACTERISTICS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, first appeared in the late 1960s in response to the need for businesses to address the effect of their pursuits on the environment and society, in addition to the interests of their shareholders. CSR attempts to portray corporations as responsible citizens who are concerned with issues of social and environmental welfare. The Public CSR argues that corporations bear responsibility for the effect they have on other sectors of society. The activities of corporations have an impact on individuals who dont work for them and dont buy their products, through, for example, secondary economic impacts and degradation of the natural environment. CSR acknowledges this, and attempts to make the interactions between corporations and society positive and productive. This can be done by consulting with neighbors and citizens who are affected by corporate activities and by striving for transparency in corporate pursuits so that the public knows what is going on. The Environment Increased knowledge on the part of the public about declining resources, toxic waste and global warming is compelling companies to make more efforts to be more environmentally benign. The traditional view that the natural world is merely a source of materials and an equally convenient dump for waste is being challenged from many quarters, and CSR is an attempt by corporations to respond to these concerns. The sincerity of changes being made on the part of corporations includes some serious efforts to achieve sustainability and other efforts that are essentially greenwashing, activities in which corporations put more effort into appearing green than into actually being green. Clients CSR challenges the traditional wisdom that the interests and needs of the clients of a corporation will be adequately protected by the market itself. Because the free market has been severely compromised by a combination of government subsidies and manipulative marketing practices, CSR attempts to remedy this situation by installing practices into corporate life that will monitor the interaction between corporations and their clients in an attempt to ensure that nobody is being exploited or cheated. Consumer protection can be enforced by the government or voluntarily pursued by companies, the latter course have clear advantages for the public relations of the company. Staff Staff and employees of corporations have a right to expect fair pay, safe working conditions and meaningful work. CSR is one aspect of a transformation in the corporate world that attempts to overcome archaic views of workers as mere means to an end on the part of shareholders. Particularly in less developed countries that are often the sites of intensive resource extraction, the treatment of labor is frequently substandard. CSR is intended to promote the rights of all workers and to ensure that corporations respect these rights and make whatever changes are required to prevent the exploitation and mistreatment of labor. FOUR TYPES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY As large corporations begin to dominate the world economy, it raises questions about the importance of corporate social responsibility in business. A variety of types of corporate social responsibilities have emerged in public discussions, and understanding their implications is important. Environmental Responsibility People expect businesses to exhibit environmentally responsible behavior, as evidenced by a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey that found that the No. 1 issue for companies in the future, according to U. S. respondents, is carbon emissions reductions. Specific environmental issues that affect businesses include global warming, sustainable resources and pollution. Businesses are being urged by environmental groups and governments to reduce their carbon footprint, to obtain their materials from sustainable sources and to reduce their pollution. Human Rights Responsibility The 21st-century marketplace is highly global. This means that when a product is purchased in the United States, for example, it may have been produced in China, or have components from South America. The ethical issue for corporations is ensuring that human rights are respected throughout all levels of the supply chain. Major companies have received criticism for their use of sweat shops and for sourcing resources that are harvested by unfairly treated workers. This has lead to a push for the use of strict labor standards to be applied to suppliers, and a demand for fair trade products such as chocolate and coffee. Financial Responsibility Financial responsibility is an important issue in corporate social responsibility. In the wake of the accounting fraud perpetrated by Enron and Arthur Andersen and Ponzi schemes orchestrated by the likes of Bernie Madoff, businesses are questioned about the accuracy of their financial reporting by increasingly skeptical shareholders and government officials, as evidenced by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Employees are expected to act as whistle blowers in such situations, and white collar crime is seeing high-profile prosecutions like that of Martha Stewart or former Worldcom CEO Bernie Ebbers. Political Responsibility Trading with repressive regimes is a difficult issue in corporate social responsibility. Some businesses argue that working with these regimes will help to advance them and bring rights to the countries. People and governments have demanded that businesses stop trading with repressive regimes, which was most notably observed when several western governments launched an embargo against the Apartheid government in South Africa during the 1980s. Shell Oil received considerable consumer backlash during the 1990s for its complicit involvement with the Nigerian government that murdered anti-oil activists. These issues make doing business with certain governments an important consideration for corporate social responsibility. PROS CONS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Corporate social responsibility is generally perceived as a positive business ideology in the 21st century, despite some challenges. A significant expansion of basic business ethics, CSR establishes guidelines for ethical and socially responsible behavior. It addresses how companies that want to satisfy government and societal requirements should treat key stakeholder groups, including customers, suppliers, employees and the community. Pro 1: Social Responsibility and Customer Relationships One of the foundational elements of CSR is that it causes companies to reason beyond basic ethics to consider the benefits of active involvement in communities. In his article The 7 Principles of Business Integrity, business strategist Robert Moment argues that 21st-century companies must prove themselves to customers to build long-term, trusting relationships. They must also get involved in the community to give back. This community connection endears your company to the local markets in which you operate. Pro 2: Motivated Employees Employees are a companys most valued asset. This is the premise of a companys obligation to this key stakeholder group with regard to CSR compliance. This means treating employees with respect and offering fair working conditions. It also means establishing fair hiring practices and promoting a non-discriminatory workplace. This improves morale within the workplace and encourages teamwork. Additionally, a writer on the As You Sow website stresses the importance of managing a diverse workplace so that you can benefit from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Con 1: Expenses The main reason any company would object to participating in CSR is the associated costs. With CSR, you pay for environmental programs, more employee training and efficient waste management programs. Proponents of CSR agree that any expenses to businesses are ultimately covered by stronger relationships with key customers. However, David Vogel indicates in his Forbes article CSR Doesnt Pay that investment in CSR programs may not necessary result in measurable financial results. Con 2: Shareholder Expectations Another challenge for companies when considering CSR is the possible negative perception of shareholders. Historically, publicly-owned companies had a primary focus of maximizing shareholder value. Now, they must balance the financial expectations of company owners with the social and environmental requirements of other stakeholder groups. Some shareholders are happy to invest in companies that operate with high integrity. Others may not approve of the aforementioned expenses of operating under CSR guidelines. IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Social responsibility is so important to current and long-term business success that corporate social responsibility, CSR, has become a widely recognized business process in the early 21st century. An entrepreneur point out that CSR is an evolution of corporate ethics because it involves balancing the social expectations of all stakeholders, including shareholders, citizens, providers and customers, along with environmental responsibility. Basic Integrity Most experts and CSR analysts agree that this broad business concept is an evolution of basic business ethics and integrity. Entrepreneur and business strategist Robert Moment The 7 Princes of Business Integrity agree that treating stakeholders with respect and earning trust of customers through ethical business operations is the CSR foundation. Leading advocate of corporate accountability, the As You Sow Foundation, also stresses the importance of internal business controls that mandated ethics from corporate leaders and employees. Community Relations The word social is key to understanding how CSR goes beyond basic integrity. Moment states in one of his seven principles that as a CSR adherent, you must remain involved in community-related issues and activities thereby demonstrating that your business is a responsible community contributor. This community involvement and participation shows your marketplace that you are interested in more than just taking money from their pockets. In the long run, this strategy leads to a stronger public reputation and more profitable business relationships. The Environment Another reason CSR is much broader than conventional business ethics is its necessary inclusion of environmental responsibility. Once an opportunity for companies to add value and enhance their brand image, green-friendly operations are now a societal requirement with CSR. As You Sow discusses the importance of preserving the environment, optimizing efficient use of natural resources, such as renew, reuse and recycle, and reduction of waste as important to the environmental component of CSR. Companies that do not consider these initiatives draw the ire of the government, public and consumer watch groups. Bottom Line The underlying question is whether CSR operations improve a companys bottom line performance. David Vogel argues in his 2008 Forbes article that CSR Doesnt Pay. Vogel argues that operating under CSR guidelines is not likely to produce higher tangible profits for a company throughout time. Now that socially responsible behavior is expected, it goes largely unnoticed, argues Vogel. He does agree, though, that companies that ignore CSR may experience public backlash and negative business consequences. Still, many advocates of CSR believe that companies can still profit in the long run through stronger business and customer relationships. PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The main principles involving corporate social responsibility involve economic, legal, ethical and discretionary aspects. A corporation needs to generate profits, while operating within the laws of the state. The corporation also needs to be ethical, but has the right to be discretional about the decisions it makes. Levels of corporate social responsiveness to an issue include being reactive, defensive, responsive and interactive. All terms are useful in issues management. Selecting when and how to act can make a difference in the outcome of the action taken. CSR has inspired national governments to include CSR issues into their national public policy agendas. The increased importance driven by CSR has prompted governments to promote socially and environmentally responsible corporate practices. Over the past decade governments have considered CSR as a public issue that requires national governmental involvement to address the very issues relevant to CSR. The heightened role of government in CSR has facilitated the development of numerous CSR programs and policies. Increasingly, corporations are motivated to become more socially responsible because their most important stakeholders expect them to understand and address the social and community issues that are relevant to them. Understanding what causes are important to employees is usually the first priority because of the many interrelated business benefits that can be derived from increased employee engagement (i. e. more loyalty, improved recruitment, increased retention, higher productivity, and so on). Key external stakeholders include customers, consumers, investors (particularly institutional investors), and communities in the areas where the corporation operates its facilities, regulators, academics, and the media. The debate, on whether responsibility of a business enterprise is only to its shareholders (owners) or to all stakeholders, including environment and the society at large, is an on going one and continues. In received literature â€Å"Stakeholder†, as an expression is fairly recent in origin, reportedly appearing first in an internal memorandum of the Stanford Research Institute in the year 1963. According to a definition given by Edward Freeman â€Å"A stakeholder is any group or individual who can effect, or is affected by the activities and achievements of an organization. † Friedrich Neubauer and Ada Demb in â€Å"The Legitimate Corporation† identify six groups of distinguishable stakeholders (not necessarily in this order) as follows a) Providers of funds b) Employees c) General public d) Government e) Customers and f) Suppliers An increasing number of companies are reporting publicly on their social, environmental and ethical performance, both as a communication to stakeholders, and as a management tool. However, as this practice has only become more widespread since the mid 1990s, there is as yet no standard format to address the type of information companies choose to report, or how that information is collected, analyzed and presented. At the same time, many stakeholders are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the type and quality of information they are demanding from companies. In an effort to meet these demands as well as to strengthen the credibility of their social and environmental reports some companies are choosing to have their reports externally verified. In doing so, companies recognize that verification by a third party can add value to the overall social and environmental reporting process by enhancing relationships with stakeholders, improving business performance and decision-making, aligning practice with organizational values, and strengthening reputation risk management. Social Responsibility Principles The Corporate Social Responsibility is based on the following principles: Legal Compliance Principle: The enterprise shall comply with and understand all applicable, local, international, written, declared, and effected laws and regulations, in accordance with fixed, specific procedures. Adherence to Customary International Laws Principle: The enterprise shall adhere to international and governmental agreements, executive regulations, declarations, covenants, decisions, and guidelines, when setting its policies and practices pertinent to Social Responsibility. Respecting Related Stakeholders lefts Principle: The enterprise shall acknowledge and accept the diversity of related stakeholders’ lefts and interests, and the diversity of the major and minor enterprises activities and products, among other elements, which may affect such related stakeholders. Transparency Principle: the enterprise shall clearly, accurately, and comprehensively declare its policy, decisions, and activities, including known and potential effects on environment and society. Moreover, such information shall be available to affected persons, or those who are likely to be affected materially by the enterprise. Respect for Human lefts Principle: the enterprise shall execute policies and practices which shall result in respecting existent human lefts in the Universal Declaration of Human lefts. Because CSR can influence economic, environmental and social factors in a variety of ways, there is no â€Å"one size fits all† approach. An effective CSR strategy must consider alignment with the organization’s business strategy, commercial added value, and sustainability of impact. The benefits of an effective CSR approach to an organization can include: Stronger performance and profitability Improved relations with the investment community and access to capital Enhanced employee relations and company culture Risk management and access to social opportunities Stronger relationships with communities and legal regulators CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AT RELIANCE POWER LTD Reliance Power Limited is part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, one of India’s largest business houses. It was established to develop, construct and operate power projects in the Indian and international markets. Reliance Energy Limited, an Indian private sector power utility company and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group promote Reliance Power. With its subsidiaries, it is developing 13 medium and large-sized power projects with a combined planned installed capacity of 33,480 MW. Reliance Natural Resources merged with Reliance Power in 2010, shortly after its initial public offering. The group operates across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, financial services, media and entertainment, infrastructure and energy. The energy sector companies include Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power. Reliance Power has been established to develop, construct and operate power projects both in India as well as internationally. The Company on its own and through its subsidiaries has a portfolio of over 35,000 MW of power generation capacity, both in operation as well as capacity under development. The power projects are going to be diverse in terms of geographic location, fuel type, fuel source and off-take, and each project is planned to be strategically located near an available fuel supply or load centre. The company has 1,540 MW of operational power generation assets. The projects under development include seven coal-fired projects to be fueled by reserves from captive mines and supplies from India and elsewhere; two gas-fired projects; and twelve hydroelectric projects, six of them in Arunachal Pradesh, five in Himachal Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand. Reliance Power has won three of the four Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) awarded by the Indian Government so far. These include UMPPs in Sasan( Madhya Pradesh),Krishnapatnam( Andhra Pradesh) Tilaiya(Jharkhand). UMPPs are a significant part of the Indian governments initiative to collaborate with power generation companies to set up 4,000 MW projects to ease the country’s power deficit situation. Besides these, Reliance Power is also developing coal bed methane (CBM) blocks to fuel gas based power generation. The company is registering projects with the Clean Development Mechanism executive board for issuance of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) certificates to augment its revenues. Reliance Power in its continuous efforts to positively impact the society, especially the areas around its sites and offices, has formulated policies for social development that are based on the following guiding principles: Adopt an approach that aims at achieving a greater balance between social development and economic development. Adopt new measures to accelerate and ensure the basic needs of all people. Work towards elimination of all barriers for the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups- such as the poor and the disabled Give unfailing attention to children for in their hands lies the countrys future. It is for their sake that health, education and environment get topmost priority in our programs and investments. In areas around its power plant sites in Sasan,Rosa,Krishnapatnam,Butibori,Chitrangi and others, Reliance Power has been actively involved in various social and environmental organizations to address the issue of sustainable development and social uplift. The Company in discharge of its responsibility as a corporate citizen actively contributes to community welfare measures and takes up several social initiatives every year. Reliance Power Ltd. has been closely working with institutions and social organizations and supporting their programs for social development, adult literacy, adoption of village, tree plantation schemes etc. HEALTH Health and safety are of universal concern across the spectrum of communities. As a company, we are not only committed to compliance with legal norms but its is our endeavour to voluntarily go beyond that and provide quality healthcare facilities in the regions around our site. We are committed to providing all possible support to create awareness on various health related issues impacting the local people. We believe in a multidimensional approach that considers the needs of the area leading to an effective plan to address all issues in consultation with the local administration, community workers and NGOs working in the area. At its various project sites, Reliance Power sites runs medical facility center, physiotherapy center, and mobile medical vans that dispenses free medicines and provide free health check-ups. Also periodically we come up with health camps like general health check up camps, gynecology camps, eye check up camps and corrective surgery camps for disabled children. EDUCATION Education is a basic tool to bring development to an area and its people. We aim to create an awareness pool of human resource both within and across our area of operations. We are committed to bridging the digital divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in educational infrastructure and facilities. Exposure to technology along with a sustainable education model could be strengthened through partnership with government and quasi-government agencies. Reliance Power is involved in a surfeit of activities that have changed the lives of the people residing at the sites or the PAFs (Project Affected Families). Education is the main thrust of these activities. Major contributions made in the area include building of a DAV school at the site for the children of the PAFs and the children of the villages around the sites, free school bus facility for the students, stipend to every child who attends school (a boy child gets Rs. 250 per month while a girl child gets a stipend of Rs. 300 per month), free uniforms, study tours for children, teaching aids to the teachers, training of teachers, as well as night schools for uneducated adults etc. EMPLOYMENT Community is an integral part of the business environment and the basic commitment lies towards augmenting the overall economic and social development of local communities by discharging our social responsibilities in a sustainable manner. Reliance Power invests significantly in skill up gradation of people around the sites. The trained manpower available for construction will ensure quality and accident free working. CIDC, a Government of India initiative has been engaged and has trained about 300 project affected youths as electricians, welders, carpenters and masons and bar benders in batches of 40 each. To further encourage them we paid them, a monthly stipend of Rs. 1000 per month. In addition efforts are on to enroll the oustees in short term courses at the ITI operating in the region. Apart from these, training is also provided are: Computer coaching centre English speaking classes Personality development classes Physiotherapy training center Training by NAC (National Academy of Construction) and use them for future requirement of the construction. For the women folk of the villages, in an effort to empower them the company trains them in soft skills like tailoring and poultry farming etc. Reliance Power provides assistance to women keen on starting their own businesses. THE HUMAN TOUCH BEYOND POLICY IMPERATIVES Although the main thrust of Reliance Power’s CSR lies in providing quality education, health care and livelihood, we don’t restrict ourselves to it. In order to better lives around our areas of interest and business, we strive to provide basic amenities like electrification in the villages, augmentation and development of roads connecting the village to the main roads, old age support for senior citizens of the project affect families, development of the grazing lands for the cattle of the villagers, afforestation and veterinary camps for domestic cattle. Moral and financial support is extended during social occasions like marriages, community prayers, funerals and other such occasions.