Socio-Political Factors And Mental Health Essay

Socio-Political Factors And Mental Health - Essay Example Some of these factors include race, culture, ethnicity, gender, social class, and other similar factors. This double burden is referred to as double stigma (Corrigan et al. 2004; Rowe 2005). The double stigma does not only perpetuate the self-depreciation that patients experiences, but it also fortifies the public stigma that is manifested in the forms of discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping against mentally ill patients. In this effect, double stigma heightens the negative impact of the stigma that mentally ill patients experience. Recognising the seriousness of the condition, this study will answer the question how socio-political factors may influence mental health? In attempting to answer the question, the study will focus only on one socio-political factor – ethnicity. This acts as a form of limitation and the focus needed in addressing the query of the study. Ethnicity is now used to indicate, â€Å"the different and unequal experiences of social groups with spec ific social attributes such as language, religion, and dress codes† (Giddens & Sutton 2010, p. 136). Ethnicity is necessary because it is one of the foundations of a person’s worldview (Sue & Sue 2003; Sumari & Jalal 2008). The motivation behind choosing ethnicity over other socio-political factors is the fact that one of the key aspects of contemporary society is pluralism and ethnicity is its concrete reality. In a pluralistic society, there is the increasing tendency that the minority group is viewed from the perspective of the majority group as they cohabit within the same physical space. This creates pressure since there are mark distinctions among ethnic groups. In this regard, ethnicity is pivotal in mental health because of the double stigma that patients in the minority group are experiencing. Its negative impact will continue if it is not consciously addressed. In addressing the problem of this study, the answer is drawn both from the experience of the service user and scholarly journals and books dealing with the issue of ethnicity and mental health. The Response Mental health practitioners have the ethical and moral obligation to respect the cultural context from where the patient is coming (Trimble & Fisher 2006). The increasing multicultural diversity of patients with mental illness increases the responsibility of mental health practitioners in providing the venue wherein the patient’s cultural heritage is included as an integral component in formulating accessible and quality therapy for the patient (Sue & Sue 2003). Nonetheless, it has been observed, there appears to be a gap between the theoretical knowledge of the role of ethnicity and the empirical belief justifying that health care providers have to respect the reality of ethnicity since some practitioners are reluctant to modify their current practices to accommodate ethnicity (Griner & Smith 2006). This situation amplifies the double stigma among ethnic groups. The Wes tern Approach of Self-Disclosure. PA, an Asian and one of the patients in the Community Health Centre, shares, â€Å"I do not understand why I have to tell somebody my fears, my thoughts, my delusions.

Legal Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Legal Issues - Essay Example Very recently, an international incident happened to precisely involves a competition between two equally-important values: free speech and religious freedom. Last year, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons – twelve in all – about Islam and the Prophet Mohammad that was deemed offensive by the Islamic community at large. To illustrate, one cartoon showed Mohammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb. The issue generated international controversy. Some newspapers outside Denmark reprinted the cartoons in support of the concept of free speech. Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the newspaper, stated: The cartoonists treated Islam the same way they treat Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. And by treating Muslims in Denmark as equals they made a point: We are integrating you into the Danish tradition of satire because you are part of our society, not strangers. The cartoons are including, rather than excluding, Muslims. On the other hand, the Islamic community demonstrated their outrage at the cartoons through worldwide protests and calls of boycotts. They condemned the drawings as a form of hate speech and decried what they consider to be the offensive depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as well as the not-so-subtle link made between Islam and terrorism. This whole controversy makes a very interesting case for examining the role of the law in settling disputes that involve competing legal concepts reflective of competing values. There is a clear diversity issue at stake, it is not difficult to give credence to the arguments of Muslims all over the world that such depiction of their leader will foment even further inter-religious conflict, will marginalize Muslims and will be a setback for the cause of diversity and pluralism. On the other hand, there is no dispelling the argument as well that free speech is a right that should be cherished and protected. It protects not

Strategies to Determine Art Work Authenticity

Strategies to Determine Art Work Authenticity Examination of the scientific techniques used to determine the authenticity of ark work Abstract The essay will detail the many different scientific techniques that are used to determine the authenticity of art work. Various pieces of artwork will need to be authenticated as there are many fraudulent artwork being sold worldwide. This essay will discover whether scientific techniques are the best process in authenticating art work, the many paintings that have undergone examination with scientific techniques and whether these techniques help to distinguish the original from fake. Introduction Authenticity in art can be defined as the real, genuine and true likeness of a piece of art work done by the artist themselves. There are a high percentage of paintings that have been sold and that are waiting to be sold which are fraudulent. This paper will outline the different types of art crimes that are committed, reasons why these art crimes are committed and the scientific techniques that are used to distinguish original and forged paintings. Many scientific techniques such as infrared are used on art work pieces that are believed to be counterfeit and with the use of theses scientific techniques, many art associations can distinguish between the paintings that are genuine. Although it may seem strange that a scientific technique such as IR can be used in detecting authenticity, there are many cases where fraudulent paintings have be detected using such techniques. The Han Van Meegeren case further examines the background information as to how his paintings where forged and how, using scientific techniques, they were detected as fraudulent. This will be discussed further. Another case being examined is the Leonardo Da Vinci case, which details how an authentic painting could have not been detected if it were not for the use of scientific techniques. Many artists have left their identities on their art paintings such as fingerprints and signatures, which help in the aid of authenticating a painting. Personal identification such as finger printing and signatures can be compared to reference samples taken from the artists themselves. Is it possible to view a painting, with human judgement and detect whether a painting is authentic? Or could using scientific techniques detect how legitimate a painting really is? Main Section There are many art crimes that are committed worldwide. Crimes such as theft, money laundering and forgery all take place in the art world. In the UK, approximately  £300 million art and antiques are stolen each year and is the second highest crime rate behind drug dealing now in the UK (1). Art theft has a very high crime rate because it has been known to be difficult to track and because of this, the recovery rate of getting art and antiques back to the owners are very rare. Art paintings and antiques that can be easily copied, are mostly likely to be forged; the more complex a painting, the harder it is for one to forge. Artists that forge paintings not only replicate a painting but they also go about making fraudulent copies of provenances. The certificate of origin is very easy to forge as the history of a painting can be easily fabricated. There are different scientific techniques that are used to examine art fraud such as Infrared, Ultraviolet, Digital Analysis and Optical Microscope. All techniques used, examine and result in mixed conclusions about a painting. The common aspect of all techniques used can all determine whether an art piece is authentic. Two or more scientific techniques are often used when authenticating art work to ensure accurate findings and support the results of the previous testing. A scientific technique such as IR, is a non-destructive analysis, which absorbs carbon based materials such as graphite and determines the underlying layers of a painting. Small sections of a painting can be enhanced to show the artists original intent and validate whether the painting is an original (2). Using infrared light, wavelengths are absorbed and reflected to show different pigments in the paint, which are used in the underlying drawing, if any. Another scientific technique used to determine the authenticity of art work is Ultraviolet radiation. This analysis is often the primary technique as it is a quick and inexpensive test that can prove to be very significant. The UV light reveals any change within a paintings’ surface. Ultraviolet radiation of the light reflects the surface of the layer of the painting and shows what condition the varnish layer of the painting is in. Another UV analysis is UV fluorescence. UV florescence can detect varnishes and pigments present on the painting and whether varnishes have been removed. This is an important feature as newer, modern varnishes used on paintings do not fluoresce under UV light compared to the varnishes used in older paintings. Natural resin varnishes were the most commonest varnishes used and these particular varnishes do fluoresce. UV is also an important technique as it can also detect any retouching and over paintings made on a previous painting. Paintings which a re under the seen image, when fluoresced, appear darker than the original fluorescent areas (3). Optical microscopy is a technique which sequences and studies the layers of an art piece. It can also be used to analyse the surface, condition and the size of pigment grains (4). When a painting is viewed under normal light, an analyst can see many details such as brushwork, textures and cracks that are present. Optical microscopy is important as it can investigate whether a painting has been altered by studying a small cross sectional piece of a painting. A cross section is removed from an edge or a previously damaged area of a painting and from this, layers of the painting can be inspected under bother normal and UV light (4). Original paintings that have not been tampered with are expected to have three layers present, when the cross section is studied. These three layers are; the prepared canvas layer, the paint pigment layer and the varnish layer. Paintings which have more than three layers are considered to be altered and questions of whether these paintings are authentic or n ot arise. An example of an altered painting layer is; canvas layer, paint layer, varnish layer, varnish layer, paint layer and varnish layer. As seen above, this example cannot be the layers of an original piece and so further analysis would be done to confirm its authenticity. Han Van Meegeren Around the 1930s Van Meegeren composed a plan to forge a large Vanmeer religious style painting. His first forgery was a painting called Christ and the Disciples at Emmaus. Meegeren studied the seventeenth century pigment formulas he was going to use to paint this and ensured he placed the painting on a recycled ‘unimportant’ canvas, which was also painted in the seventeenth – century (5). (http://www.essentialvermeer.com/misc/van_meegeren.html) On all paintings that Van Meegeren created, he used the same characters and the same location as the originals. In many of the paintings the woman and the man look very recognisable to the original paintings along with the window ledge that the paintings were painted around. Van Meegeren went on to forge many more Vanmeer paintings (5), where upon completion sold one to the Nazis. Upon his sale, he was arrested and confessed to be the forger of the recent Vanmeer paintings. To prove he was the forger of the Vanmeer paintings, Van Meegeren painted his last Vanmeer painting in front of the prison guards. After Van Meegeren was confirmed the forger of the Vanmeer paintings from sight, scientific techniques were used for exact confirmation. Such techniques used for determination of authenticity of those specific paintings were X-Radiology analysis, Chemical analysis and Microscopy analysis (6). A scientific technique such as X-Ray analysis is also a non-destructive technique, which detects any underlying substance beneath a surface of a painting, see through pigment layers and show whether there are/were any damaged areas within the art work. This can be used to build up a time line of a particular painting, age and authenticate the work (7). In the Vanmeer case, X-Ray analysis detected a previous painting that laid beneath the current painting due to the amount of lead isotopes detected in the lead based paints that Van Meegeren used to paint the Vanmeer pieces. The isotopes found were compared to the actual isotopes that would have been used if indeed the paintings were painted in Va nmeers living days (8). The chemical analysis taken from the painting ‘The Woman taken in Adultery and The Woman Reading Music’, identified traces of cobalt blue used in the pigment of the paint Meegeren used. This was found to be an artificial pigment, which was not manufactured until the 19th century. When the artificial pigment was detected and confirmed not to have been present in the Vanmeer day, it was further confirmation of the forgery committed by Meegeren (6). In this case the use of scientific techniques was essential when determining whether the Vanmeer paintings were indeed authentic. Without these techniques, visual judgement would not have distinguished the real Vanmeer’s to the fraudulent artwork as they were very good duplicates. Leonardo Da Vinci A drawing of a young womans head also known as ‘La Bella Principessa’ was discovered in 1998. It was not until many years later, that the drawing was thought to be a drawing by Da Vinci himself and was confirmed to be an authentic copy. The drawing was seen by many people in many different museums and was not thought to have been more than 100 years old. When the examination of this drawing took place, it was thought to be an important rediscovery to the artworld.(9). (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-la-bella-principessa-late-15th-century-unknown-artist-8505169.html) IR was one of the scientific techniques used to determine its authorship and authenticity. This technique was used in camera form and by scanning the drawing, it revealed a smudged partial fingerprint on the top left hand corner of the drawing. A forensic art fingerprint expert analysed the fingerprint and matched it to a known fingerprint left by Da Vinci on another piece of his work (9). Another scientific technique used was carbon-14 testing. This was used to analyse and date the paper the drawing was placed upon. The drawing was placed on a sheet of vellum and with carbon-14 testing, it dated back to 1440-1650 (9). This was around the time of Da Vinci era. These two discoveries which date back to Da Vinci era, verified the drawing to be an authentic copy. Without the use of scientific techniques done on La Bella Principessa, its ownership and authenticity would have not been known. The fingerprint and the paper this drawing was placed upon would never have been identified without the use of scientific techniques, which confirms that scientific techniques corrobates authenticated work. Discussion Scientific techniques used to authenticating art work as seen above proves to be an important aspect in the art world. If all art work before being sold and entering museums were to be scientifically tested, the amount of forgery done to paintings would reduce considerably more. Without the use of techniques such as IR, UV and X-Ray, the authentication of paintings would not be possible. The methods outlined are all successful methods that were used and are still being used today as they outline important aspects of artwork when examined, and can prove whether a painting is authentic or not. Many scientific techniques used are non-destructive and today the most used scientific technique is Ramen Spectroscopy (10). Ramen spectroscopy is the now the preferred technique than X-Ray as it is a technique which detects organic and inorganic pigments that are used in paints, which can distinguish the timeline of when the pigments were made (10). Conclusion From the information gathered, it is right to say that the use of scientific techniques is the right analysis used to determine the authenticity of art work. Many scientific techniques whether IR or pigment analysis aid in the authentication process and as seen above prove to be a significant process. Authentic paintings are discovered through the scientific process and counterfeit paintings are uncovered. By visual aspect of a painting and by human judgement one cannot determine whether an art piece is authentic or not. Scientific techniques prove to be a distinct process when authenticating. References (1) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10455560/More-than-300m-of-art-being-stolen-in-Britain-each-year.html (Accessed on 22/02/2014) (2) http://www.sensorsinc.com/artanalysis.html (Accessed on 23/02/2014) (3) http://fineartconservation.ie/ultraviolet-radiation-4-4-43.html (Accessed on 24/02/2014) (4) http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/intro/microscopy.html (Accessed on 25/02/2014) (5) http://denisdutton.com/authenticity.htm (Accessed on 21/02/2014) (6) http://www.tnunn.ndo.co.uk/detectn.htm (Accessed on 25/02/2014) (7) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18502413 (Accessed on 21/02/2014) (8) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC535372/ (Accessed on 20/02/2014) (9) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/7582591/La-Bella-Principessa-a-100m-Leonardo-or-a-copy.html (Accessed on 26/02/2014) (10) http://www.amphilsoc.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/1570202Ragai.pdf (Accessed on 26/02/2014)

The Israel-Palestine Conflict Essay -- Middle East Politics History

Judaism and Islam are two of the world's oldest, and largest monotheistic religions. These religions share a variety of customs, beliefs, and practices. At the same time, there are enough differences that make these two clash. Even those similarities between the two have been the source of conflict for thousands of years. Although there are many conflicts going on in this particular moment in the middle east, I have chosen the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Palestine, primarily due to the death of Yasser Arafat. Primarily, I believe that unless there is a resolution of this conflict, there will never be peace in this portion of the world, and there will always exist a threat to world stability and peace. The history of the Palestinians and the Israelis date back many centuries. Judea was the home of the Jewish ancestry. Judea was conquered by the Romans and renamed Palestine. Palestine was later conquered and inhabited by the Arabs for over a thousand years. The Zionist movement arose to restore the Jews to Israel ignoring the existing Arab population. Towards the end of World War 1, the British government decided to endorse the creation of a Jewish home in Palestine. The decision was made public in a letter from Lord Arthur Balfour addressed to a lead British Zionist, Lord Rothschild. The contents of Balfour's letter which became formally known as the "Balfour Declaration." The Balfour Declaration was drafted with the assistance of United States Presisent Woodrow Wilson, who was a strong supporter of Zionism. Britain saw the need to protect the sea route to India, where most of Britain's economy relied upon. Supporting Zionism was known to be the easiest way of securing lasting British influence of the east regi... ...ty that existence can't be proven, there aren't many options for peace and soverignity. I agree excessively with Mr. Nabil Abuznaid. It takes his kind of optimism and aspirations for both sides to work in unison with each other in solving this world travesty and conflict. I strongly believe that the holy lands held by Israel and Palestine must be shared respectively and held with freedom. In order to do so, terrorist fundamentalists can not be tolerated. With the fall of Yasser Arafat, Israel must continue to rule with a leader of optimism. The United Nations must do all that is needed to work in concert with those of Israel and Arab countries. What we all must do, is educate ourselves to try to accept those of different religions and continue to look for some sort of compromise. Without doing this, there will not be a resolution to withhold world stability and peace.

P&G Strategic Plan Essay

Executive Summary Our Procter & Gamble Strategic Plan makes available an investigation and assessment of the current and prospective opportunities for the company based on in-depth market and company research. Analyses are based on standard business strategy analysis tools, which are: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT) analysis, External and Internal Factors Evaluation (EFE/IFE) Matrices, and standard financial analyses including competitive comparison with Procter & Gamble’s industry. Strategic alternatives were evaluated with the use of the Internal-External (IE) Matrix and the Grand Strategy Matrix which fed into the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). The results of the QSPM validated the best strategy to pursue. The best strategy for Procter & Gamble is the production of less expensive, yet same quality consumer goods, which we plan to implement without compromising our belief in quality and effectiveness. Introduction In order to begin a strategic plan for a company it is important to understand what that business does. Since 1837, P&G has built a rich heritage of touching consumers’ lives with brands that make life a little better every day (â€Å"Company Heritage,† 2011). P&G believes that innovation will sustain them. They have a broad range of brands and are known as the world’s leading branded consumer company since their products are sold in 180 countries (â€Å"Global Structure & Governance,† 2011). Buhovac, Epstien, and Yuthas, in their book Implementing Sustainability: the role of leadership and organizational culture, wrote: â€Å"P&G managers have widened their organizational perspective to see the broader picture and capture benefits beyond a particular issue or cost. They strive to create products that enable consumers to be more environmentally sustainable. Improving efficiency of the entire product life cycle from cradle to grave is a major focus of P&G’s sustainability efforts† ( p. 44.). A brief look at the history of P&G and their mission/ vision statements will provide a better understanding of what type of company P&G is and wants to be. History According to Procter and Gamble’s website, P&G was created on October 31, 1837 by brother-n-laws, William Procter and James Gamble. Each one had their own skills; William made candles and James produced soap. They formed Procter and Gamble to make and sell candles and soap (â€Å"P&G: A Company History,† 2006). The two entrepreneurs were successful in making it through the financial difficulties of the time. The largest impact on the company at this time was the civil war in which the government contracted the company to supply soldiers with soap and candles (â€Å"P&G: A Company History,† 2006). Edison’s light bulb invention caused the demand for candles to weaken and the company began to focus on making soap by opening up their first research lab. The research lab came up with Ivory flakes which served as soap to wash clothes and dishes. Chipso was the first soap designed for washing machines. Dreft was the first synthetic house-hold cleaner and Crisco, which is still around today, was an all-vegetable shortening (â€Å"P&G: A Company History,† 2006). From that time on, P&G has continued to be innovative and create new products for consumers and in 2011 ranked number 26 on the Fortune 500 list (â€Å"Fortune 500,† 2011). Mission and Vision Statement Procter and Gamble has created a mission statement to tell what their business is. â€Å"Sometimes called a creed statement, a statement of purpose, a statement of philosophy, a statement of beliefs, a statement of principles, or a statement ‘defining our business,’ a mission statement reveals what an organization wants to be and whom it wants to serve† (David, 2011, p. 44). P&G’s mission statement says, â€Å"Procter & Gamble will provide branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the world’s consumers. As a result consumers will reward us with industry leadership in sales, profit, and value creation, allowing our people, our shareholders, and the communities in which we live and work to prosper† (David, 2011, p.46). P&G has also created a vision statement that states, â€Å"Procter & Gamble’s vision is to be, and be recognized as, the best consumer products company in the world† (David, 2011, p. 44). Proctor & Gamble’s mission and vision statements explain their dedication and importance of selling high quality products in order to improve people’s lives around the world while providing jobs and stimulating the economy (â€Å"Purpose and People,† 2011). The objectives the company would like to uphold in living up to the mission statement are building existing businesses into stronger global leaders, expand to reach more markets, increase higher margins with global leadership potential, and produce more products in order to satisfy all consumers’ needs and wants. P & G believes they can improve everyone’s lives in ways that enable them to thrive, to increase the quality of living, and over time make them loyal buyers (â€Å"Purpose and People,† 2011). STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT One of the most important parts of the strategic formulation stage of the strategic management process is the assessment of a company, both externally and internally, and where that company stands in their industry. The results of these assessments will produce information that can be analyzed to determine the best strategic plans for evaluation based on the company’s present situation. The external assessment looks at forces beyond a company’s control; opportunities that can enhance and threats that can hurt their operations. The internal assessment looks at forces from within that are either strengths that can be capitalized on or weaknesses that must be offset, or both, for success. Financial and operational analysis, using the Dun and Bradstreet business ratios, looks at a company’s financial and operational success, or failure, as compared to competition within their industry. External Forces Evaluation (EFE) Matrix The following analysis is an external evaluation of the opportunities and threats that can affect Procter & Gamble. The External Factors Evaluation matrix, Figure A-1, and this supporting summary draw data from published reports, news articles, and blogs to ensure as complete a picture as possible is presented. The following opportunities and threats discussed refer back to Figure A-1. Opportunities. As Procter and Gamble is looking to find ways to bring in customers, they have used a method of observation to see what people are concerned about and what they want (Silverman, 2011). By spending $2 billion annually on R&D, Procter and Gamble have brought upon the company an opportunity, as they think about Future Growth plans with a focus on increasing concentration on its core attractive business and enhancing its customer base. Also, Procter & Gamble has been applying for and being assigned patents for â€Å"fabric care compositions and systems comprising organ silicone micro emulsions and methods employing same†¦ assigned Patent for Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Composition†¦and Process for Treating a Hard Surface using an EO/PO Trisiloxane† (â€Å"Targeted News Source†, 2011). As more women want the natural look, there is a movement towards the use of herbal cosmetics (â€Å"The Procter & Gamble company – Financial and strategic analysis review,† 2011). As the manufacturer of cosmetics, Procter & Gamble have an opportunity to capitalize on this opportunity by shifting their production and purchase from synthetic cosmetics towards natural, herbal cosmetics. As the producer of Herbal Essences, the opportunity to increase a line of â€Å"herbal† cosmetics and healthcare products is wide open for the taking. Procter & Gamble have a great opportunity to take advantage of the emerging economies of countries like China, Kuwait, and India (â€Å"The Procter & Gamble company – Financial and strategic analysis review†, 2011). With increased employment and the growing desire for affluence, there is an increase in disposable income available for the purchase of known brands into a market that has little penetration from other organized retailers (â€Å"The Procter & Gamble company – Financial and strategic analysis review†, 2011). Another opportunity Procter & Gamble has developed is to branch out and invest in manufacturing in developing countries such as its chemical company, Procter & Gamble SA. â€Å"It is one of the newest P&G subsidiaries†¦in South Africa principally into production of cleaning products and beauty care products. P&G uses its South African base to export to neighboring SADC countries,† (â€Å"Procter & Gamble SA – Strategic SWOT Analysis Review,† 2011). This opportunity can help to offset a slowing economy in the United States where Procter & Gamble presently generate 41% of their 2011 sales (Hoovers, 2011). As the producer of Iams and Eukanuba pet foods, Procter & Gamble has a prime opportunity to capitalize on the growing trend of humanization of pets worldwide (â€Å"The Procter & Gamble company – Financial and strategic analysis review†, 2011). Procter & Gamble’s market share of pet food and personal pet care products can be increased through an increase in their line of high-quality food and luxury products (â€Å"The Procter & Gamble company – Financial and strategic analysis review†, 2011). With the decline in the market and rising government debt, Jonathan Chevreau published on his Financial Post Blog Wealthy boomer a letter written by Robert Smith, CFA, CFP where Robert wrote that investors should be moving towards purchasing stocks from â€Å"solid dividend-paying companies† ( 2011). Procter & Gamble were cited as one of the companies that are a sure bet because of the diversity and necessity of their products. Procter & Gamble can capitalize on this by continuing to provide a dividend on their stocks which should attract more investors. There is a new trend advancing in the baby diaper industry. Competitor Kimberly-Clark has jumped into the trend with Huggies jeans; a diaper that looks like it is jeans material. Now they are producing a camouflage design diaper for Wal-Mart that will support Military families. Procter and Gamble has recognized the new trend by introducing floral prints for girls. John Brase, head of North American baby care marketing at Procter and Gamble is stated in an article by Bruce Horovitz (2011) as saying, â€Å"You have a group of moms focused on fashion who think of the diaper as an extension of clothing.† Another opportunity for Procter and Gamble is the demand for environmentally friendly products. In recent years there has been an increased focus on saving the earth through green choices. This opportunity has prompted Procter and Gamble to become publicly committed to long-term goals of reducing energy consumption, converting to entirely renewable energy sources, using 100% renewable or recycled materials, and eliminating disposal of consumer and manufacturing waste in landfills (Pandis, 2011).

Advertising media industry Essay

I am student in a work placement agency called STG Media Corporation, a company which dedicates their mission and vision in providing accountable advertising solutions. In my 7 week placement here in the corporation, I learned a lot and discovered that nothing beats on-hand experience in working. Week One (provide date) It was a week of anticipation, stress and learning. How does one person deal with work placement? The first day was dedicated with meeting the executive staff, the working staff, and introduction to what the company is. STG Media Corp. is an interesting work placement agency. I learned about the company through one of my friends and I thought that working for a media company will be so great; little did I know that it is a lot difficult. The first thing that came up in my mind when STG Media Corp. was mentioned is that it is just an advertising company. But it is different. The company details their service in the concept of accountable advertising, in which they refine print advertising media in context of the 21st century need. As a communication student, this was beginning to worry me. After the primary day of introduction, I get to know more about the company and the thought that it is not the conventional type of advertising agency made me overwhelmed with the job and the condition in the work place. This week, I was designated to the Print Media Research, print Media Planning and Market Analysis of one of the company’s client. The company of a branded sports drink is asking STG Media Corp. to help them with the advertising promotion in one of the new products they will launch in about 5 months time. The first thing I did was to interview the sports drink company representative about the nature of their company. I went to their office was so anxious to do the interview that I forgot to bring my recorder, which is considered as one of the great mistakes before doing an interview, coming unprepared. But the good thing is, I did the interview well. I was given the set questions of STG Media Corp., questions that are required to be asked to the client, and throughout the interview, I inserted some of the questions I thought myself to be able to get a good amount of fact for the company. As inexperienced as I am in working for the company, one of the greatest skill I learned is to communicate effectively and luckily I am able to do that with this interview. During the week, one of the great challenges I faced was inputting the vital information of the company’s client to their database called the Print Media Buying System. The PMBS which is the company’s own database generates detailed market research, analysis reports accounting for all aspects such as demographic information, buying trends and other print media recommendations. I really asked for help this time as since I was not acquainted with the kind of technology they used in the particular system. But later I got the hang of it and was commended for a job well done in collecting information from the client. Week 2 (provide date) Before the work placement began, I was told that I will be working full time in one of the company’s venture with a famous sports drink brand. I thought that would be easy since I don’t have to do all the other work, but the challenged I soon found out during the second week is that the process of STG Media Corp. as an advertising consultant is a process to which many steps are taken. This week I am part of the Creative Team designated by the company to help the sports drink brand. Although I must be clear that I was just a part of the team, doing menial job that the professionals are tasked to do. I learned one great thing about the print media industry, 75% of advertisement fail because of weak creative and non-compelling ad copy. It’s true that one of the strengths of a great brand is not just with its quality, but through rigorous and effective advertising that they create. Before working here, I thought that companies only advertise for the sake of advertising, but companies do take this strategy very seriously. On the third day of this week, I was asked to look at one print ad for five seconds during one of the meetings of the Creative Team. They asked me questions rigorously, whether it be based on the appearance or the content. I answered them frankly and mention the things that I would personally think about the ad if I was just a normal consumer looking at the advertisement. Several times, the Team will press and argue their points with me, but all was attributed to presenting a better advertisement for the client. During this week, as unprofessional to assume the role of being a advertiser consultant, I was placed in the position of the consumer, the Team’s viewpoint on the things they realize about the brand and how they can effectively approach working for the client. I really felt like my ideas were respected and included to the Creative Team’s analysis of the product. This week, I also was comfortable with the workplace. I am familiar with the different employees and get to have small talks with them through several breaks. Its interesting how some of them had assumed I am part of the Creative Team when in fact; I am just a student on work placement.

10 Extremely Common and Critical Themes in Literature

10 Extremely Common and Critical Themes in Literature When we refer to the theme of a book, we are talking about  a universal idea, lesson,  or message that stretches through the entire story. Every book has a theme and we often see the same theme in many books. Its also common for a book to have many themes. A theme may show up in a pattern such as reoccurring examples of beauty in simplicity. A theme may come also through as the result of a buildup like the gradual realization that war is tragic  and not noble. It is often a lesson that we learn about life or people. We can better understand book themes when we think about the stories we know from childhood. In The Three Little Pigs, for example, we learn that its not wise to cut corners (by building a straw house). How Can You Find a Theme in Books? Finding the theme of a book can be difficult for some students because the theme is something you determine on your own. It is not something you find stated in plain words. The theme is a message that you take away from the book and it is defined by  the symbols or a motif that keeps appearing and reappearing throughout the work. To determine the theme of a book, you should select a word that expresses the subject of your book. Try  to expand that word into a message  about life.   10 of the Most Common Book Themes While there are countless themes found in books, there are a few that we can see in many books. These universal themes are popular among authors and readers alike because they are experiences we can relate to. To give you some ideas on finding a books theme, lets explore some of the most popular and discover examples of those themes in well-known books. Remember, however, that the messages in any piece of literature can go much deeper than this, but it will at least give you a good starting point. Judgment - Possibly one of the most common themes is judgment. In these books, a character is judged for being different or doing wrong, whether the infraction is real or just perceived as wrongdoing by others. Among classic novels, we can see this in The Scarlet Letter, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and To Kill a Mockingbird. As these tales prove, the judgment does not always equal justice, either.Survival - There is something captivating about a good survival story, one in which the main characters must overcome countless odds just to live another day. Almost any book by Jack London falls into this category because his characters often battle nature. Lord of the Flies is another in which life and death are important parts of the story. Michael Crichtons Congo and Jurassic Park certainly follow this theme.Peace and War - The contradiction between peace and war is a popular topic for authors. Quite often, the characters are gripped in the turmoil of conflict while hoping for days of p eace to come or reminiscing about the good life before the war. Books such as Gone With the Wind show the before, during, and after of war, while others focus on the time of war itself. Just a few examples include All Quiet on the Western Front, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Love - The universal truth of love is a very common theme in literature and you will find countless examples of it. They go beyond those sultry romance novels, too. Sometimes, it is even intertwined with other themes. Think of books like Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice or Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights. For a modern example, just look at Stephenie Meyers Twilight series.Heroism - Whether it is false heroism or true heroic acts, you will often find conflicting values in books with this theme. We see it quite often in classical literature from the Greeks, with Homers The Odyssey serving as a perfect example. You can also find it in more recent stories such as The Three Musketeers and The Hobbit.  Good and Evil -  The coexistence of good and evil is another popular theme. It is often found alongside many of these other themes such as war, judgment, and even love. Books such as the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series use this as the central theme. Another classic example is T he Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Circle of Life - The notion that life begins with birth and ends with death is nothing new to authors- many incorporate this into the themes of their books. Some may explore immortality such as in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Others, such as Tolstoys The Death of Ivan Ilych, shock a character into realizing that death inevitable. In a story like F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the circle of life theme is turned completely upside down.Suffering - There is physical suffering and internal suffering and both are popular themes, often intertwined with others. A book such as Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment is filled with suffering as well as guilt. One like Charles Dickens Oliver Twist looks more at the physical suffering of impoverished children, though there is plenty of both.  Deception - This theme can also take on many faces. Deception can be physical or social and its all about keeping secrets from others. For instance, we see many lies in The Adven tures of Huckleberry Finn and many of Shakespeares plays are centered on deception at some level. Any mystery novel has some sort of deception as well. Coming of Age - Growing up is not easy, which is why so many books rely on a coming of age theme. This is one in which children or young adults mature through various events and learn valuable life lessons in the process. Books such as The Outsiders and The Catcher in the Rye use this theme very well.

Digital Art Exhibition Review

Digital Art Exhibition Review Introduction Digital or new media art has greatly transformed the world or art. Digital art emerged in the 1970s and has gained immense popularity with advancement in digital technology. Prior to the digital art era, modern art was more prevalent. Sometimes, digital art is often grouped as a form of modern art but comparing it with most modern art works, it is evident that there is significant difference.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Art Exhibition Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More New medial or digital art therefore refers to a variety artistic works prepared using digital technology (Miller 2008, p. 31). Other phrases such as multimedia and computer art are also used to refer to digital art and all the artistic work the common features are referred to as new media art. Uri Dotan is one of the most successful digital artists. Based in New York, the artist has many artistic works under his name. Uri Dotan’s works of art are common in many exhibitions not only in New York but also in other parts of the world. With advancement in internet technology, many artists have resorted to online exhibit to display their works of art. In this paper, I will review Uri Dotan digital art online exhibit. Digital art has wide usage in advertisement and filmmaking. It plays a significant role in the modern world where graphic representation has found wide use in the field of marketing. The wide usage of the internet has also created very significant ground for growth of digital art. Digital art can be created in various ways. Some of the artistic works are purely computer-generate while other could be generated from other sources. The works of arts could be generated through scanning, vector graphics and other technologies (Christiane 2006, p. 46). The works of art therefore can refer to works of arts created through other means and later transformed using a computer program. Digital Exhi bition Uri Dotan’s online art exhibit is one of the most fantastic online exhibitions to visit. Unlike conventional art exhibit, online art exhibit is accessed from any place in the world, as long as one has internet connection. Online exhibit is therefore open to large audiences. With many upcoming artists, online exhibition provides an efficient ways for displaying artistic works to the public. Uri Dotan is a skilled artist as demonstrated in his works of art. The common theme in his artistic works is that of influence of technology. In his works of arts, the artist is able to take his audience many years ahead of their time. Using his skills in digital art, the artists capture his imagination of the future. Digital art is first of all created in the mind of the artist before being projected electronically (Churchill 2007, para. 3). Uri Dotan demonstrates his imagination as he takes us fifty years ahead of our time through his skills by creating artwork that shows influence of technology on society (The Williams Gallery 2008, para. 2).Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The extraordinary Uri Dotan’s sculptures and paintings exist in digital world. The artistic works appealing to the eye right from the first pages of the online exhibition. Digital art criteria To review an exhibition successfully, one need to use some criteria. Each style of art has some expected criteria. Although the criteria are not explicit, an artist using a particular artistic knows the standard that his or her work or art should meet. Digital art style in one of the challenging styles to analyze. This is above all due to the dynamic nature of the style where digital artists keep coming up with new things every now and then (Wands 2007, p. 79). Digital art mainly comprise of paintings, sculpture and other work of art that have been transformed using digital technology. For digital art to be considered to be successful, It should be able demonstrate relationship with the work of art from which it was obtained. Uri Dotan is able to demonstrate this as looking at his work one knows that he or she is looking an artistic work. The second criterion that Uri Dotan is able to demonstrate in his work is that is able to the medium as a tool to communicate his message rather than as an end. Their criterion that Uri Dotan is able to demonstrate in his work is originality. All the artistic works in the exhibit are not derived from other people’s works but they are original. The last important criterion of good work of art demonstrated in Uri Dotan work is life. All his works of art have life in themselves and therefore, they are able to be appealing to eyes. Digital Virgin The first artistic work to be encountered is given the name Virgin. The beautiful digital painting is an abstract sculpture. The digital Venus is created in an architectural space giving it an outstanding pose (The Williams Gallery 2008, para. 4). The painting is composed in a vertical rectangle with figure centered. The painting is movable and recognizable; it as if the artist is welcoming his audience to view his remaining works of art. Digital Dancer The second artistic work in the online exhibit is referred to as Digital dance. The artwork is comprised of bright strips of metal. The work is poised vertically by use of architectural space (The Williams Gallery 2008, para. 6). Although all these are features of a conventional work, there is no doubt when looking art work that one is looking and a virtual sculpture. Although virtual, the artwork is able draw emotions of creativity associated with world of art rather than technological environment. Uri Dotan’s proficiency in digital art continues to unfold as one meets his other works. The second phase of his exhibits begins with a figure which is more mural Navado-like. Tree leaves and sticks have also been used to symbolize hair and the hand. A pedestal, in three dimensions, sits in front of the mural. Beneath this figure, a keen observe is able to what looks like human feet.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Art Exhibition Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Uri Danton’s artistic demonstrate his command in digital art. The artist is able to explore various styles in his artistic work. For his fifth piece of work (labeled Hummingbird), Uri Danton has decided to make use of an angle and walls, as opposed to the all too familiar rectangle (The Williams Gallery 2008, para. 7). The image is not completely enclosed but some of its parts come out of the case. The image seems complicated with shadow falling on the wall. In total, there are eight Uri Dotan’s artistic works in the online exhibit. All the eight digital images are wonderful and they demonstrate Dotan’s proficiency as a digital arti st. The artist is able to create spaces and fill them with desired figure. Conclusion Digital art is a major revolution in the world of art. Advancement in digital technology has provided artists with a tool not only to create new images but also transform old works of art. Uri Dotan has demonstrated his skills as a digital artist. In the online exhibit, his work comes out as of high quality and skillful. Reference List Christiane, P., 2008, Digital art. New York: Thames Hudson. Churchill, S., 2007. The Art of Digital Show. Web. Available from:Â  artofdigitalshow.com/ . Miller, R., 2008, Digital Art: Painting With Pixels. New York: Twenty-First Century Books. The Williams Gallery., 2008. Uri Dotan. Web. Available from wmgallery.com/dt1095.html .Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wands, B., 2007, Art of the digital age. New York: Thames Hudson.

The Best Music for Studying - 20 Songs

The Best Music for Studying - 20 Songs    According to Nick Perham, a researcher published in Applied Cognitive Psychology, the best music for studying is none at all, which is sure to make all the music aficionados upset to hear.  Perham recommends complete quiet or ambient noise, like a soft conversation or muted traffic for the optimal study background. Websites like SimplyNoise.com and apps like White Noise have millions of users testifying to the fact that ambient noise helps people focus and study. But purveyors of white noise have an equal number of music lovers who would beg to disagree.   Some people, despite Perhams research, believe that music is a must for studying everything from the SAT to the MCAT. They believe that music can really enhance the study experience since music brightens peoples moods and increases positive feelings - both of which are important factors for successful study. Lyric-Free Music Music researchers do agree on one thing, however: music for studying should be free from lyrics, so the songs arent competing for your brains memory space.   The individual songs listed below can give you an idea of the wide range of lyric-free study music available to you. There is an entire  world  out there dedicated to study music that you may have never even heard about. Try Pandora and Spotify stations by genre and artist and download the music apps to help you focus on your studies and NOT on the sweet beats of the songs.   20 Songs for Studying These twenty songs represent a wide variety in musical genres. Everything from classical music by Mozart to covers by Modern Rock Heroes is listed, hopefully hitting a lyric-free genre youd be willing to crack open the books to.   Song: Adagio from Serenade No. 10 in B Flat Major for Thirteen Winds Gran Partita ListenArtist: Wolfgang Amadeus MozartSong: Aloha Ia O Waianae ListenArtist:  Ledward KaapanaSong: Be Still My SoulArtist: David NevueSong: Blues After Hours ListenArtist: Pee Wee CraytonSong: Braveheart Film Score ListenArtist: James HornerSong: Concerto for Violin, String and Harpsichord in C R. 190 I. AllegroArtist: Antonio VivaldiSong: Desfinado ListenArtist: Stan GetzSong: Here Comes The Sun ListenArtist: Piano Music SongsSong: In The Shadow Of Your Wings ListenArtist:  John TeshSong: Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet ListenArtist: Henry ManciniSong: Palladio ListenArtist:  EscalaSong: Étude-Tableau in C Major, Op. 33, No. 2 ListenArtist: RachmaninoffSong: Sigh Listen to SighArtist: PrafulSong: Silence Magnifies Sound ListenArtist: The Six Parts SevenSong: So Long, Lonesome ListenArtist: Explosions in The SkySong: South Street ListenArtist:  Bobby Ross Avila and NaturalSong: Take Five Lis tenArtist: Dave Brubeck Song: Viva La Vida ListenArtist:  Modern Rock HeroesSong: Whiskey Before Breakfast ListenArtist: Doc WatsonSong: You Wish ListenArtist:  Nightmares on Wax

Determinants of indian commercial bank profitability Essay

Determinants of indian commercial bank profitability - Essay Example A profitable banking system is able to cope up with different kind of negative shocks that an economy may get from different directions. It also brings a greater account of stability in the financial system of the economy. The determinants of profitability of banks, particularly commercial banks, have now therefore been drawing interest of academic research to an increasing extent. (Leeladhar, 2005; Ram Mohan; 2002) Indian banking sector is one of the largest industrial sectors in the country. Prior to 1990, Indian banking industry was operating in the country in a very comfortable environment. The degree of competition was not very high. However, with the initiation of economic reform, which banking reform was a part of, the whole banking system of the country had been pushed into the pool of extreme competition. Particularly after the starting of new millennium, the banking industry of the country started to face more and more challenges. In the present time the activity of banking can be characterized as the activity operating in a vast horizon together with high risk factor and intense competition. (Pandey, 2002; Rishi and Saxena, 2004; Ram Mohan; 2002) Therefore, profitability of the banks is a very vital factor for any bank, private or public, to ensure efficient performance and for survival. Hence the determinants of the profitability are also of great importance to the management as well as the researchers who are interested in doing research in the banking area. In the international sphere, most of the researches on the bank profitability, like the works of Molyneux and Thornton (1992), Goddard et al (2004), Short (1979), etc. basically used some linear model of regression to find out the effect of different factors that are expected to be important determinants of the profitability of the banks. These researches show the possibility of conducting meaningful study of bank profitability. There,

Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Values - Essay Example However, there is a disparity when it comes to loyalty. I hold that loyalty should be kept only when it is necessary. For example, in case an agency is exploiting people, it significant to tell the truth (Kraemer, 2011). Describe how people acquire and change values Everyone is guided by values; the difference is that we vary on how intensely we hold each our values. This is linked to how our values have been molded during the course of our lives. Recurrent engagement of values is likely to reinforce them. Our lives offer frequent prospects for and restrictions on the detection and development of some values. In addition, practice ensures that values are instilled in our mind (Duggan & Cowburn, 2013). Our involvement with different features of culture and society helps acquire and strengthen certain values. Churches, trade unions, Community centers, and libraries are examples of establishments that we are part of and recognized as encouraging the mutual understanding in that they may surge to the significance we put on equality, friendship, or social justice. Our experience with parks and forests promotes our appreciation for nature and other intrinsic values (Kraemer, 2011). Our experience of particular institutions as well as guidelines can alter or strengthen our views of what is conceivable, wanted, and normal through a procedure identified as policy feedback. Exposure to the institutions of consumer culture may also represent a form of policy feedback. Through our day-to-day lives and interaction with others, we acquire certain values and change others. We encounter different experiences and different people who believe in different things from us and who hold different values from us (Howe, 1995). In the process of interacting with them, we may acquire some new values and therefore changing the values, we have. We also acquire new values form our different religions and cultures. Explain what values do to us and for us Values are those guidelines and prin ciples that guide our life. Our values provide an outline to our conduct even though we are uninformed of what values are. Understanding our values provides one with a superior awareness in behavior. Our decision-making ability depends on the value we have in that we can do something based on which values we hold. Appreciating the significance of our values offers transparency in that we are in a position to define and understand ourselves (Barkan, 2011). Values can also offer discernment into the nature of interactive relationship that one should engage in while relating with others. When we identify and comprehend the meaning and importance of our values, we are able to appreciate ourselves, our relationships and our view of the world. What is the nature and importance of human values at the workplace? Upholding values at the work place is important for any organization. Employees who uphold values are likely to perform well as compared to those who take them for granted.

Research Paper for Ethics Criminal Justice Class

For Ethics Criminal Justice Class - Research Paper Example â€Å"According to Bloxham & Kushner (2005), it was very unethical for the commanders to follow the laws and orders of the Third Reich during the Holocaust.† The following quote show the hatred developed by most Germans against the Jews â€Å"A Jew is for me an object of disgust. I feel like vomiting when I see one. Christ could not possibly have been a Jew. It is not necessary to prove that scientifically – it is a fact.  I do not need to prove this with  science  or scholarship. It is so!† The Third Reich was the official Nazi designation for the regime ruling Germany from January 1933 to may 1945 under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. This Third Reich was a presumed successor of the medieval and early modern Holy Roman Empire of 800 to 1806, which was the First Reich, while the German empire from 1871 to 1918 formed the Second Reich. The Third Reich operated on laws and orders that were discriminatory to people who were of different races from the Germans, especially the Jews and the polish. As such, the obedience by their commanders of these laws and regulations to continually persecute and exterminate the Jews and polish in German concentration camps was very unethical. These laws and orders as followed by the Third Reich were extremely immoral and unethical. Furthermore, they were particularly against the Jewish people. â€Å"Bergen (2003) argues that their defense during the Nuremberg trials was utterly wrong and unsuccessful, as law or no law; it is unethical an d inhumane to persecute and execute others just to follow orders†. The word Holocaust originates from the Greeks, comprising a combination of two Greek words, â€Å"holos† which means whole, and â€Å"kaustos† which means burned. The Greek used this word historically to refer to or describe a sacrificial offering that they offered burned on an altar. However, this term acquired a new and horrendous meaning during the Nazi regime and

Occupational Health and Safety Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Occupational Health and Safety Report - Essay Example This common reoccurrence in this department are heavily expensive in terms of revenue and employees on leave due to workplace injury. I personally think there should be a distinct appropriation sequestered for those types of emergencies. Workplace hazards are an issue within my department in which I must take care of. However, I feel there is lackluster effort on your part in aiding my cause. I pray this composition does not create strife or offend you in any sort but it is my every intention this may be read as a cordial admonishment. Work place hazard regulations have been drafted and implemented in the past few decades in Australia as well as other industrialized countries. The promulgations of such mandates are the byproduct of horrors and abuses of the industrial age. Thus, to prevent and limit the abuses and mistreatment of huge businesses and corporations for its faulty safety methods and little, if not any, precaution procedures, lawmakers has taken initiatives to protect those unable to stand against employers who usurp their less- fortunate employees. Also, labor unions grew to further protect workers hazards and wrongful dischargement. Such efforts to reform safety measures has transcended through the decades to protect workers from hazards the can affect the health of an employee. (www.ohs.annu.edu.au/ohs, 2002) In this composition, an analysis will be done of the regulations and legislations on occupational health and safety. A situation will be used a variable in which the occupational health and saf ety will have to be implemented. Here are the particulars: On Wednesday, October 24, 2007, our receptionist in the Administration Department of the East Coast Secretarial Service, Mary Smith, tripped over an extension cord en route away from her desk. Her misstep caused her to fall heavily on her knee which was a critical insult to her bone and joint. This trauma to her knee prompted edema accumulation. I instructed one of her colleagues who witnessed Mary misstep to accompany her to the hospital. The X-ray results revealed that a piece of the platella has been fractured off the main bone. The prognosis to insults to the body such as these prompts the immediate leave of absence. Hence on this precept, Mary Smith has been given two fortnights of leave and she will be given an extended leave of absence upon further analysis of her knee after her preliminary respite. Events such as these prompted me to address you my concerns about the status of this enterprise. The "lack of uniformity" (www.ohs.annu.edu.au/ohs, 2002) in the regulations can be an impediment toward adjusting to these laws, but I believe this gives us the opportunity to make amends on our own. The recommendations in the British Robens Report (1972) encourages enterprises like ours to use a self-regulation methodology that includes workers and management to improvise the Occupational Health and safety standards set down be the state. (www.ohs.annu.edu.au/ohs, 2002) In chapter 4, section 2, divisions 3 on the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 in regards to work premises, the prefect of the premises are obligated to protect employees from hazardous electrical equipment and appliances. (www.austii.edu.au, 2001) All appliances that places a potential threat to employees (i.e. fires, flaring, overheating) should to be turned off. Appliances that are open in workplace premises and can be a

Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Economic - Essay Example China adopted this very strategy and hence, climbed up the peak of growth post globalization, although other economies around the world have to compensate for the same. Hence China received pleas for a currency appreciation from nations around the world; nevertheless, it seldom gave such an action a serious thought as it threatened to slow down its economic growth though in the short run. But, China’s central bank recently exhibited compliance to these external requests when it hiked the minimum cash reserve ratio to be maintained by Chinese commercial banks, by 0.5%. This step however, was a well-thought one as it indirectly also favored the country’s economic growth. Hike in Cash Reserve Ratio Banks normally hold a certain amount of reserves which is a part of the deposits which it receives from its customers. These reserves are held as a shield against any unprecedented crisis befalling the economy. In fact, the amounts that these banks should mandatorily hold back a re decided by the apex central monetary body on the basis of a number of factors including the risks of being submerged under a crisis. The central bank normally declares a required reserve ratio which the underlying commercial banks must comply to and maintain as a part of the total deposits which they receive. Out of this reserve requirement that they retain, a certain amount needs to be maintained with the concerned central bank of the country as cash reserve ratio. Purpose of CRR is to act as a shield or protection against any crisis. For instance, in case that any bank needs more money than it has with itself at any point of time; in such situations, the bank might turn towards the concerned central bank which forwards this amount eventually. The Chinese Central Bank announced an additional cash reserve ratio of 0.5% over what the domestic commercial banks had been maintaining initially with the former. This step was believed as a development owing to requests for currency appr eciation coming from nations all around the world. Such a measure increased the liabilities of the Chinese Central Bank as more and more cash started flowing in from commercial banks. The commercial banks however, experienced an increase in their assets as a result given that a hike in CRR implied an increase in the reserves of these banks. Impact upon the economy of China Central Bank of China’s policy of increasing the CRR by an additional 0.5%, implied a reduction in the amount that the commercial banks affiliated with it, could advance to potential borrowers. Hence, the primary implication had been a reduction in the amount of money being circulated through the nation. On a secondary basis, to check the amount of loan demands, the commercial banks were instigated to raise the market rate of interest which negatively affected the volume of investments in the economy. Thus, GDP is likely to fall. Moreover, when GDP falls, so does the amount of consumption and investment whi le, the demand for imports increase. Hence, during the second phase, the economy is characterized by an increased reduction in GDP owing to reductions in consumption, investment and net exports. Impact on Money Multiplier Money multiplier, represented is the rate at which an economy can create credit given the economy’s monetary base; it is represented as, MM = (1 + c/d)/ (r/d + c/d); where, c/d ? Currency-Deposit

Insular Insurance Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Insular Insurance Company - Essay Example The analysis that is presented in this essay reveals that managers of the Insular Insurance Company act as a constant guidance and director for employees in their work activities. It is suggested that this could act as a major hurdle for them as they would not be allowed to work independently at their will. These conditions could create pressure on employees causing organizational stress. It is also seen that Insular Insurance Company has a convention of treating all its employees on the same platform and considering them as members belonging to the same family. The researcher states that it is important for successful manager to reduce stress levels of the work community by allowing employees to work independently towards work objectives and strive towards creating a competitive culture and environment in which employees are recognized as per their merits and performance at the workplace. The essay also analyzes the role of work teams and the importance of distribution the work acti vities among work teams by manager. Manager in here plays the role of motivator, mentor and constant support for members of the team. The researcher then recommends for the Insular Insurance Company that according to the best practices of leadership, it is recommended that the leaders must be chosen from amongst the team members, rather than placed from the top position. To conclude, these recommendations will keep employees motivated and faithful towards the organization and eliminate interpersonal conflicts out of issues.

Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Economic - Essay Example China adopted this very strategy and hence, climbed up the peak of growth post globalization, although other economies around the world have to compensate for the same. Hence China received pleas for a currency appreciation from nations around the world; nevertheless, it seldom gave such an action a serious thought as it threatened to slow down its economic growth though in the short run. But, China’s central bank recently exhibited compliance to these external requests when it hiked the minimum cash reserve ratio to be maintained by Chinese commercial banks, by 0.5%. This step however, was a well-thought one as it indirectly also favored the country’s economic growth. Hike in Cash Reserve Ratio Banks normally hold a certain amount of reserves which is a part of the deposits which it receives from its customers. These reserves are held as a shield against any unprecedented crisis befalling the economy. In fact, the amounts that these banks should mandatorily hold back a re decided by the apex central monetary body on the basis of a number of factors including the risks of being submerged under a crisis. The central bank normally declares a required reserve ratio which the underlying commercial banks must comply to and maintain as a part of the total deposits which they receive. Out of this reserve requirement that they retain, a certain amount needs to be maintained with the concerned central bank of the country as cash reserve ratio. Purpose of CRR is to act as a shield or protection against any crisis. For instance, in case that any bank needs more money than it has with itself at any point of time; in such situations, the bank might turn towards the concerned central bank which forwards this amount eventually. The Chinese Central Bank announced an additional cash reserve ratio of 0.5% over what the domestic commercial banks had been maintaining initially with the former. This step was believed as a development owing to requests for currency appr eciation coming from nations all around the world. Such a measure increased the liabilities of the Chinese Central Bank as more and more cash started flowing in from commercial banks. The commercial banks however, experienced an increase in their assets as a result given that a hike in CRR implied an increase in the reserves of these banks. Impact upon the economy of China Central Bank of China’s policy of increasing the CRR by an additional 0.5%, implied a reduction in the amount that the commercial banks affiliated with it, could advance to potential borrowers. Hence, the primary implication had been a reduction in the amount of money being circulated through the nation. On a secondary basis, to check the amount of loan demands, the commercial banks were instigated to raise the market rate of interest which negatively affected the volume of investments in the economy. Thus, GDP is likely to fall. Moreover, when GDP falls, so does the amount of consumption and investment whi le, the demand for imports increase. Hence, during the second phase, the economy is characterized by an increased reduction in GDP owing to reductions in consumption, investment and net exports. Impact on Money Multiplier Money multiplier, represented is the rate at which an economy can create credit given the economy’s monetary base; it is represented as, MM = (1 + c/d)/ (r/d + c/d); where, c/d ? Currency-Deposit

Race-Based Internment and Korematsu Essay Example for Free

Race-Based Internment and Korematsu Essay The internment of Japanese-Americans following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was shameful not only because of the fact that it was allowed to happen, but mostly because it was a national public policy joined in by all branches of the American government. President Roosevelt initiated the policy as the head of the executive branch by issuing executive orders declaring zones of exclusion for people of Japanese backgrounds, curfews, and even relocation programs to what some scholars have referred to as quasi-concentration camps. The legislative branch failed to protect the rights of these Japanese Americans; instead, On March 21, 1942, Congress ratified and confirmed Executive Order No. 9066, which authorized criminal penalties for persons disobeying exclusion orders (Justl, 2009, p. 272). Ultimately, with both the executive and legislative branches having failed to protect or defend the rights of American citizens of Japanese ancestry, the United States Supreme Court would be called upon to decide whether these orders and policies were in violation of the American constitution. To be sure, the notion that Americans could be rounded up and compelled through force to confined in internment camps seems to offend the dearest principles of American liberty and justice. Hoping that the judicial branch would extend the constitutional guarantees to American citizens of Japanese ancestry, a man named Korematsu filed suit alleging that these orders and policies violated the American constitution in a case now well-known as Korematsu v. United States. This particular case originated when an American citizen, who was born and raised in San Francisco, openly refuse to obey the exclusion order issued by President Roosevelt. Korematsu was loyal to the United States, having volunteered for military service though rejected because of health limitations, and there existed absolutely no evidence that he posed even a minor threat to American national security. He was allegedly subject to the exclusion order purely because of is Japanese ancestry. Korematsu was gainfully employed, he had a girlfriend who was not of Japanese ancestry, and he took deliberate steps to avoid and later challenge the constitutionality of the exclusion order. Ultimately, he was arrested and relocated to an internment camp. Specifically, he was arrested because he refused to leave an area open to others but closed to those of Japanese ancestry and because he refused to voluntarily report to an internment camp. The judicial branch, like the executive and legislative branches before, failed to protect the rights of Japanese-Americans; indeed, the Supreme Court upheld the exclusion order and Korematsus conviction (Justl, 2009, p. 274). Significantly, however, the Supreme Court’s decision was a six to three majority rather than a unanimous decision. The majority reasoned that war constituted a national emergency and that certain laws and orders designed to prevent spying or sabotage were sufficient bases upon which to restrict or eliminate individual rights protected in the constitution for the duration of the emergency. This case and its rationale still functions as a landmark type of legal case because it stands for the proposition that the constitutional rights of Americans can be suspended in times of national emergency. The minority opinions, recorded in dissents in the Korematsu case, argued that these laws were racist that they offended American ideals, and that the rights guaranteed by the American constitution ought to always apply regardless of alleged fears and national emergencies. This case effectively allows the judicial branch to relinquish its sacred duties as guardian of the constitution in national emergencies; this, in turn, gives the executive and legislative branches powers perhaps not intended when the founders of the constitution sought to create a stable balance of powers. In the final analysis, the Korematsu case is troubling because it stands for a legal principle that transcends its origins. More particularly, it can be seen in contemporary times that the War on Terror has been used as an indefinite type of national emergency to restrict or eliminate rights for American citizens even though the main enemies have been defined as foreign nationals. Arab-Americans and Muslims have in this way replaced the Japanese-Americans of World-War Two. Additionally, the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been treated as a type of environmental national emergency and the media has been restricted by the American Coast Guard from covering the story on-site. Korematsu is a tragedy both because of the individual harm done to Fred Korematsu and because it continues to stand for a proposition to the effect that politicians can cry â€Å"national emergency† in order to suspend or eliminate constitutional rights for different classes of American citizens. It is perhaps time that the Supreme Court reasserts its intended role as a true guardian of the constitution by accepting a case challenging the Korematsu precedent so that it can eliminate the vague national emergency exception. References Justl, J. M. (2009). Disastrously Misunderstood: Judicial Deference in the Japanese-American Cases. Yale Law Journal, 119(2), 270+. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5036190287

Is Willy Loman An Effective Protagonist English Literature Essay

Is Willy Loman An Effective Protagonist English Literature Essay Willy Loman represents an effective protagonist in Death of Salesman as he is an ordinary working class man in keeping with the domestic aspects of tragedy. He possesses many anti heroic qualities by not fulfilling the American dream and glamorising the past when he believes he was successful. Yet in reality he was even a failure then, which demonstrates that he is not the classical tragic hero of high status. A quality which is common throughout all tragic protagonists is hubris. Willy has immense pride, arrogantly thinking he is better than he really is and believing that success can come without hard work. His hubristic aspect is, in effect, his fatal flaw because Willys obsession with being well liked emphasises his superficial pursuit of the American dream, which helps bring up themes like materialism, as a modern audience will recognise. However, Willy fails to become an effective protagonist in a tragic sense as he does not reach an epiphany, instead, settling for suicide. The first aspect of a modern domestic tragedy is the fact it centres on ordinary people. This is done in Death of a Salesman which contrasts with Othello that depicts Othello who is of noble class. Willy is a father and a husband who is head of the family and therefore he does have some responsibility and power over the people around him. Millers aim with his plot may be to reach closer to the audience, thereby showing how anyones fall from grace can be tragic. Also Miller could have chosen the name Willy Loman as the name Loman is similar to low man reflecting Willys true status. Willy Loman is an anti hero which is as you might expect as a protagonist in a modern domestic tragedy. The audience would strive to be everything he is not, for example, his constant reminiscing of the good old days which were not that good as he had to borrow money to have a decent wage. What makes him even more of an anti-hero is the denial that he is really a failure. However, this could possibly make him an increasingly effective protagonist because his anti heroic qualities make him less perfect and therefore more realistic as a character. Conversely, Biffs discovery of Willys affair, which leads to his loss of ambition and respect. You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! is reinforced by the repetition to show Biffs anger. Here Willys actions damage Biff emphasising again his anti heroic qualities. Hubris is typical of protagonists in tragedy and makes Willy Lomans character more dramatically effective. Willys hubris is shown when he dismisses Bernard Bernard dont be a pest! (to his boys) What an anaemic! because he believes that his sons are better than Bernard, instilling arrogance and his hubristic pride into them, shown through the stage direction. Excessive pride is evident in Willys attitude towards jobs, where he turns down a job offer from Charley I dont want your goddam job! . His hubris accentuates the climax of the play as he could have accepted a job that would have guaranteed relative safety of income. The resulting loss of sympathy from the audience heightens the tragic elements of the play. In Act two Willys denial that he was responsible for Biffs giving up with his future What are you trying to do, blame it on me? If a boy lays down is that my fault? is emphasised in the repeated rhetorical questions. The denial shows an excessive pride as he will not admit to being responsible for Biff flunking maths and thus destroying his future. Psychological elements shown in Willys character reflect the modern aspects of tragedy. These signs of mental unease are shown as early as Act 1 I suddenly couldnt drive anymore. The car kept going off on to the shoulder, yknow? indicating that Willy is perhaps struggling to cope with reality. Miller allows the viewers to gain a greater insight into Willys mind which makes him more effective as a protagonist because you can understand to a better extent the reasoning behind his actions. The whole play takes places during the final two days of Willys life, split between flashbacks of the past which increasingly leave him unable to distinguish between past and present. His inability to distinguish past from present adds another dimension to his character which is a more modern characteristic of tragedy, dealing with insecurity and mental breakdown. All of this is shown in the form, effectively demonstrating the downfall of his character. Most of the play revolves around constructs of t he past in his mind which are portrayed as Eden like. The flashbacks represent Willy trying to recreate the past when he believed he was successful. Willys Eden is centred on his time with Biff and Happy in their younger years as he tries to cling to times when his son respected him like Biff in act 2 when I take off my helmet, that touchdown is for you, rather than the present when they are at odds. Another example is when Willy recalls Ben because he views him as a success, highlighting his refusal to face the present and the truth that he has not achieved the American dream. Willy Lomans fatal flaws are in part his hubris and it also his pursuit of the American dream. His idea of the American dream is the root of the problem, believing that you have to be well liked in order to be successful, as he describes Dave Singleman Cause what could be more satisfying than . . . to go at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities . . . and be remembered and loved. However, he may have been well known but Willy misses out the point that he still had to work until he died, highlighting that being well liked is not what the American dream is about. As he dismisses Bernard for being a nerd it shows that Willy thinks you can be successful without working hard. Whilst you could argue that Willy is to blame for his hubris, the reverse side is that society is the villain in the play, making him what he is. Miller shows this theme for example when the Lomans need a new fridge Once in my life I would like to own something outright before its broken! whic h can explain Willys seemingly misguided pursuit of the American dream in the form of materialistic values. Yet because it is broken like many other items it could be a metaphor for the misplaced confidence of Willy in materialism as it lets him down, much like the aspirations for his sons. Miller creates an effective protagonist by connecting him with other aspects in society that are relevant in America at the time. Typical of many protagonists in tragedy is the reaching of a point of revelation. Willy does not reach this as he instead settles for suicide worth more dead than alive. Yet the realisation may not be from Willy but the audience in their perception of the American dream and how it can have disastrous effects on people. Despite not reaching any degree of self truth, his life insurance policy would in his eyes compensate Linda for his affair and he would gain the respect of Biff. Catharsis, it could be said is not experienced by the audience up until the requiem. Charleys speech Nobody dast blame this man. You dont understand for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to life highlights that the pressure of a salesman would have contributed to Willys downfall. It helps induce pity from the audience as it removes blame from Willy. Charley continues to give the audience reason to pity Willy No man only needs a salary which draws attention to the fact that materialistic values cannot sustain a man. Happy reinforces the catharsis as he is inspired by Willys death. However this catharsis could be undermined due to Lindas comment It seems to me that youre just on another trip hinting that the insurance money for Biff may not be put to good use. The recurrence of the flute music symbolically represents Willys misguided pursuit of the American dream. This could mean that the catharsis is not as effective as the world is not cleansed and is just as it was at the start o f the play. From an audiences perspective they could possibly think that Willy is an ineffective tragic hero because it was his own fault that he was not successful. He failed to understand the American dream, in the process hindering his own sons future. The anti heroic features of Willy could serve on their own as a reason the audience lose sympathy for him and possibly deem him ineffective as a tragic hero. However, on the other hand, society could be viewed as the villain of the play because it gives the audience reason to understand his character, thus making Willy an effective protagonist. Willy Loman could be considered an effective tragic protagonist because of his hubris and fatal flaw typical of a tragic hero. Likewise, the psychological aspects introduced to the plot draw attention to the modern characteristics of modern domestic tragedy.

Catcher In The Rye Essay -- essays research papers

Innocence, Compassion, and some ‘Crazy’ Cliff A novel, which has gained literary recognition worldwide, scrutiny to the point of censorship and has established a following among adolescents, The Catcher in the Rye is in its entirety a unique connotation of the preservation of innocence and the pursuit of compassion. With certain elegance the writer J.D. Salinger, substantiates the growth and perils, which lie between childhood and adulthood. Embellishing the differentiation between innocence and squalor in the grasps of society. The bridge that lies between these contrasting themes are personified through the novel’s protagonist, Holden Caul-field and his visualization of a cliff, which depicts a dividing point between the evident beginning and end. The connection, which binds this gap in reality, was made clear through a new found compassion, consummating Holden’s place in society through the realization of his surroundings from which he successfully cross es over. Focusing on the rebellious and confused actuality of adolescents stuck between the innocence of childhood and the corruptness of the adult world, this novel strikes a cord, which most adolescents can relate. The essence of the story The Catcher in the Rye follows the forty-eight hour escapade of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, told through first person narration. After his expulsion from Pency, a fashionable prep school, the lat-est in a long line of expulsions, Holden has a few confrontations with his fellow students and leaves shortly after to return to his hometown, New York City. In the heart of New York City, Holden spends the following two days hiding out to rest before confronting his parents with the news. During his adventures in the city he tries to renew some old acquaintances, find his significance in the adult world, and come to grips with the head-aches he has been having lately. Eventually, Holden sneaks home to visit his sister Phoebe, because alone on th e streets he feels as if he has no where else to turn. Children are the only people with whom Holden can communicate with throughout the novel, not because they can help him with his growing pains but because they remind him of a simpler time (his inno-cence), which he wishes he could return. The trials of the adult world wear down Holden’s vision of a place in society, portraying innocence as a form of retreat from a confusin... ..., Salin-ger began publishing again and featured his stories in the Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s. By 1951, Salinger has established his reputation exclusively in The New Yorker and the popularity of his work was emerging among college students. And so, he re-leased The Catcher in the Rye, after working on and off on it for ten years. Although it was not an immediate hit it did give Salinger an increasing critical praise and respect. Eventually, as critical acclaim grew, the letters, autograph seekers, and interview-ers began hunting him down and so he became annoyed and moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he has lived ever since. While secluding himself from the rest of the world Salinger began work on Nine Stories, which includes a number of published short stories and introduces the Glass family, the central figures of his later works. Nine Sto-ries was published in 1953, after which Salinger published four lengthy short stories about the problems of the extreme ly bright and overly sensitive children of the Glass family. The books in this short story collection include Franny and Zooey (1961), and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction (1963).

Greek Life: the Negative College Experience

Rachael Susco Mr. Rose ENGL 1302. 13 6 November 2012 Greek Life: The Negative College Experience? Most people do not have the ability to think of college without thinking of some sort of Greek life organization. Whether that thought is negative or positive may vary, but it is rare to think of any time in a college of any sort without thinking of a fraternity or a sorority at all. This is to be expected because most of these groups have somewhat dominated their campuses for hundreds of years, or since their particular chapters were formed.Supporters of Greek life, especially of fraternities, argue that being involved in Greek life organizations encourages brotherhood, the development of leadership skills, and the participation in philanthropic organizations throughout the students’ collegiate career. The bonds of brotherhood within fraternities have proven to be some of the strongest bonds among young men across the country. When it comes to supporting each other, it appears th at the young men of collegiate fraternities are masters in the field.Whatever problems are faced by one brother can easily be backed up or even repaired completely by another, and the massive amount of time that the members are required to spend with each other due to meetings or rituals or any other function for the particular fraternity does nothing but strengthen the bond that was already set by initiation into the group. It is rare among college campuses, especially at Sam Houston State University, to see a member of a fraternity walking alone or spending any amount of downtime doing anything but socializing with the other members of their organization.This type of bonding can most certainly be considered to be a very positive aspect of participating in a fraternity, especially when the ability build relationships and work together as members of a team is one of the main concepts behind the organizations in the first place. These organizations may seem harmless enough in the set tings that are viewed by the public, but if a closer look is taken at specific time periods of brotherhood, especially pledgeship for the newest members of the fraternity, it is obvious that these groups are anything but innocuous.There have been many reports of underage binge drinking at the parties for all different fraternities and requirements of the pledges to consume extremely large and ultimately unsafe amounts of alcohol, all in the hopes of acceptance into the organization and done out of fear of rejection. For example, it has been observed for many years that the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Sam Houston State University requires their pledges to finish an entire handle of Jagermeister liquor among themselves within a small window of time, and if they fail to do it properly, they are handed a new bottle and forced to start again.This activity is done on Bid Day, the very first day that the young men announce their desire to join the fraternity. Another example of this ty pe of encouragement of binge drinking would be the two deaths of the pledges of completely different fraternities and two different college campuses during 1997. The first, Scott Krueger, an â€Å"18-year-old Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman honors student† who died after a party that was thrown off-campus by the â€Å"Phi Gamma Delta fraternity† that Krueger was in the process of pledging (Scrivo 1). His blood alcohol level was a determined to be a â€Å". 1,† which is â€Å"more than five times the legal limit† (Scrivo 1). The second is Benjamin Wynne, a pledge of the â€Å"Sigma Alpha Epsilon† fraternity at Louisiana State University (Scrivo 1). His blood alcohol level after death was reported to be â€Å". 58,† a level that is â€Å"nearly six times the legal limit† (Scrivo 1). This type of strict enforcement and fear of rejection by the pledges must be taken into account when discussing what constitutes â€Å"broth erhood. † The definition of the word itself is â€Å"the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of people or all people. One could easily question how the requirement of new members to binge drink to the point of alcohol poisoning or potentially even death equates what is described so often as â€Å"brotherhood. † Another aspect that must be taken into consideration when defining â€Å"brotherhood† is the racial profiling that has gone into choosing and accepting members into fraternities in the past and how it has translated into today. Many different fraternities were originally founded as specifically one race organizations, such as â€Å"Pi Kappa Alpha,† which was rimarily an â€Å"all-white fraternity† (Black, White 1). Now, there are laws set into place that prohibit â€Å"membership bias and exclusion based upon race† in both United States educational institutions as well as in the â€Å"corresponding fraternities and soror ities† of the institutions, but this brings up the question of whether or not the organizations would be any different in modern times than they were when originally founded (Black, White 1). Are these organizations only accepting racially different members because they are required to by law?This question is very difficult to answer, but is something to consider once again when determining whether or not the term â€Å"brotherhood† is used genuinely or if it should be replaced by something a little more truthful: forced acceptance. Focusing again on the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and their lack of true brotherhood, there was a reported case of a student member of the PKA fraternity at the University of Tennessee being sent to the hospital during the month of September, 2012, with a blood alcohol level â€Å"well over a . ,† induced by the alcohol ingesting practice called â€Å"butt chugging† (Jacobs 1). This practice is more formally known as an â€Å"al cohol enema† and is essentially when an individual ingests alcohol into his or her system through the rectum, where it is then directly absorbed in the intestines (Jacobs 1). By consuming mass amounts of alcohol in this manner, the effects of the liquor â€Å"come quickly and potently† and are extremely dangerous for the individual partaking in the practice (Jacobs 1).Also, when members of this particular fraternity are asked about their experiences in the organization so far, all of their answers are overwhelmingly positive and many of them wholeheartedly support the claim that there is absolutely no negative aspect that comes with being involved in a Greek organization. How can a situation so incredibly terrible for the members such as the one that occurred at the University of Tennessee be encourage among the members and still be seen as â€Å"positive† in any way?Anyone with any amount logic or concern for the young men who join these organizations must take situations like this one into account when deciding on whether or not these groups are a positive aspect of the collegiate experience. Although all fraternities across the country are run in different manners and have different sets of rules that, all of them have some sort of executive board or positions that are deemed the leaders of the organization.They tend to have jobs, such as running the meetings, managing the money for the fraternity, filling out necessary paperwork for every different type of function, or taking care of matters of law breaking within the fraternity. Holding this type of position is considered to be prestigious because it means that that particular member is an excellent example of leadership towards their peers, and by being voted into a position of executive power, these leadership qualities are refined by the work required of that position.Refining leadership qualities can be used later on in life in the setting of the adult work environment, which can u ltimately lead to better paying jobs and a more impressive, well-respected position in life. Again, this is a nice enough concept, but not necessarily as true as it seems if examined in the actual fraternities.Personal interviews with the members of Tau Kappa Epsilon at Sam Houston State University have revealed that even though a member is elected into position by his peers, his position is not necessarily respected, especially if the elected member is young in both age and amount of years they have been involved in the organization. The amount of time that a member spends within the fraternity ultimately equals the amount of power he holds in comparison to his peers, and according to the members of the TKE fraternity, this type of power tends to overrule the executive position holders regardless of the title that they may hold.This type of thought process will not always be functional or acceptable out in the workforce of the country, and many times if executive position rulings a re ignored, the result is a loss of a job or even jail time. If the development of leadership skills is supposed to be a positive aspect of Greek life, then the type of leadership qualities and the acceptance of them should be modified to reflect more real world attributes. Another positive feature of Greek life is that each organization has a particular philanthropy that they participate in and donate funds to every year.This annual participation with so many different organization is in fact one of the most positive aspects that all Greek life organizations have to offer, especially because of all the constructive repercussions that occur because of it. Not only do the fraternities and sororities donate to their particular philanthropic organizations unrelentingly, but they also raise awareness about the many different types of charity groups in the surrounding communities and in the world altogether among the other students of the universities.Each Greek life organization usually has a minimum time span, usually a week or a month, where they try to recruit the help of the students around the university in supporting their particular charity. By having a particular time span, such as â€Å"Movember† for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity which encompasses the whole month of November every year and encourages male students across campus to not shave their facial hair in order to raise awareness about testicular cancer, the organizations are able to plan events and different types of advertising in order to maximize the amount of awareness about their patronage.With all of these differing types of events for the philanthropic organizations, it truly helps to make such types of charitable work more approachable and even more exciting to an entirely new group of unknowing people, such as the non-Greek affiliated students on the campus.It would seem that fraternities and sororities helping out with charitable organizations would be somewhat difficult to underm ine and find any negative aspect with, but it most certainly is not that difficult when you consider that most of the Greek life establishments are only participating with these charities because they are forced to by University rule. If the Greek groups were not required by their Universities to participate in at least one philanthropic event every year, it presents the question of whether or not these groups are participating with pure intentions, or if they are only doing it because they are forced to.Something that should also be taken into consideration when comparing the positive aspects against the negative ones is again whether these patronage events are done with purely wholesome intentions of helping out the less fortunate, or if these events are done simply to add on to their future resumes in the hopes of again increasing their potential for better job opportunities.On the surface, it appears that fraternities and Greek life organizations as a whole have many positive as pects, until further inspected and genuinely analyzed. When the majority of an organization’s positive features are required by law or chapter by-laws and the members willingly participating in such dangerous or negative activities, the question of how constructive the organization truly is comes into context and has the ability to destroy any positive reputation that the establishment had to offer in the first place.If the laws and by-laws monitoring and ruling the fraternities were made stronger, or if more people spoke out about all of the negative aspects of the organizations in a more public manner, then the opportunity for such harmful results to come out of such groups that play such a major role in the collegiate experience could be greatly reduced or eliminated overall. Works Cited Arriaga, Robert. Personal interview. 5 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Fraternity Not Allowed on Campus Next Fall Due to Hazing Activities. Houstonianonline. com. Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Ho uston State University, 3 May 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Huchting, Karie K. , et al. â€Å"Comparing Greek-affiliated students and student athletes: an examination of the behavior-intention link, reasons for drinking, and alcohol-related consequences. †Ã‚  Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education  55. 3 (2011): 61+. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Hughey, Matthew W. â€Å"Black, White, Greek †¦ like who?Howard University student perceptions of a white fraternity on campus. †Ã‚  Educational Foundations  20. 1-2 (2006): 9+. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Jacobs, Don. â€Å"Charges Stemming from Butt-Chugging Night at UT Frat Heard in City Court. † Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville: Knoxville News Sentinel Co. , 2012. Knoxnews. com. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Scrivo, Karen Lee. â€Å"How Colleges Have Responded to Teenage Drinking. †Ã‚  Teen Alcoholism. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001.Contempor ary Issues Companion. Rpt. from â€Å"Drinking on Campus. †Ã‚  CQ Researcher  (20 Mar. 1998). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Stevens, Ashlei N. â€Å"Greek Members Are More Likely to Binge Drink and Use Drugs. â€Å"Student Life. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from â€Å"Report: Fraternity, Sorority Members More Likely to Drink, Use Drugs than Non-Greeks. †Ã‚  Spartanburg Herald-Journal  18 Feb. 2008: A1. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.