Monday, December 30, 2019

The Gravity of Our Decisions Expressed in The Road not...

In this four stanza poem, Robert Frost is presented with a choice between traveling the metaphoric travelled road and the similar but lesser travelled road. Frost explains how and why he came to the conclusion to take lesser travelled road, and he addresses his anticipated consequences of his choice. â€Å"The road not taken† is a poem about decision making process in our daily life and the impact these decisions make in our lives. As we go through life, we often come to a point where we have no choice but to make a choice. Frost came to such a point when the road he was travelling on branched into two â€Å"Two roads diverged in yellow wood†. Though he would have liked to use both roads, he had to realize that as a human being with limitations, he could not travel both roads simultaneously, â€Å"And sorry I could not travel both†. At this moment in time, if he wanted to continue his journey, he had to choose which path to take. In order to make an informed decision, we have to analyze the choices presented to us to the best of our abilities. In the poem, Frost took time to consider the paths in front of him, â€Å"And I looked down one as far as I could†. In this line, Frost is emphasizing that he didn’t automatically embark on his chosen path, but that he took a deliberate decision after a careful exploration of the other path too. After a careful exploration of our situation, it is easy to articulate the reasons why we made the choice we made. The second stanza gives us the two reasonsShow MoreRelatedPOETRY 2 11389 Words   |  46 PagesEdition: 2014 Price: Rs. 40.00 Beeta Publications (A Unit of MSB Publishers Pvt. Ltd.) 4626/18, Ansari Road, Daryaganj New Delhi - 110002 Website: www.studentsmorningstar.com E-mail: info@studentsmorningstar.com A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Volume I — Poems 1. Where the Mind is Without Fear 5 — 7 Rabindranath Tagore 2. The Inchcape Rock 7 — 11 Robert Southey 3. In the Bazaars of Hyderabad 11 — 14 Sarojini Naidu 4. Small Pain in My ChestRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pages Strategic Marketing Management Dedication This book is dedicated to the authors’ wives – Gillian and Rosie – and to Ben Gilligan for their support while it was being written. Acknowledgements Our thanks go to Janice Nunn for all the effort that she put in to the preparation of the manuscript. Strategic Marketing Management Planning, implementation and control Third edition Richard M.S. Wilson Emeritus Professor of Business Administration The Business School Loughborough University Read MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 Pagesor other damages. For general information on our other products and services or for technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the United States at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, visit our Web site at www.wiley.com. Library of CongressRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesunderplay, how much of our daily reasoning is concerned not with arguments leading to truth-valued conclusions but with making choices, assessing reasons, seeking advice, etc. Dowden gets the balance and the emphasis right. Norman Swartz, Simon Fraser University v Acknowledgments For the 1993 edition: The following friends and colleagues deserve thanks for their help and encouragement with this project: Clifford Anderson, Hellan Roth Dowden, Louise Dowden, Robert Foreman, Richard GouldRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesPreface xxii 1 2 Introduction 1 What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Individual 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Diversity in Organizations 39 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction 69 Emotions and Moods 97 Personality and Values 131 Perception and Individual Decision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 ConflictRead MoreCrossing the Chasm76808 Words   |  308 Pageslost and by the wind-grieved ghosts, come back again!† But we should not despair. In high tech, the good news is that, although we lose our companies with alarming frequency, we keep the people along with the ideas, and so the industry as a whole goes forward vibrantly, even as the names on our paychecks slide into another seamlessly (OK, as seamlessly as our systems interoperate, which as marketing claims is†¦ well that’s another matter). Crossing the Chasm was written in 1990 and published inRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesSensitive Line 58 Understanding and Appreciating Individual Differences Important Areas of Self-Awareness 61 Emotional Intelligence 62 Values 65 Ethical Decision Making and Values 72 Cognitive Style 74 Attitudes Toward Change 76 Core Self-Evaluation 79 SKILL ANALYSIS 84 Cases Involving Self-Awareness 84 Communist Prison Camp 84 Computerized Exam 85 Decision Dilemmas 86 SKILL PRACTICE 89 Exercises for Improving Self-Awareness Through Self-Disclosure 89 Through the Looking Glass 89 Diagnosing ManagerialRead MoreAn Introduction to Hydrophonics and Controlled Environment Agriculture40110 Words   |  161 PagesIntroduction to Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture by Patricia A. Rorabaugh, Ph.D. University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center 1951 E. Roger Road Tucson, AZ 85719 Revised December, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: Controlled Environment Agriculture and Hydroponics: Past, Present and Future The Plant How to grow greenhouse crops Plant Protection: Insects and Diseases Basic Principals of Hydroponics Transplant Production Pollination, Fertilization and Bee

Sunday, December 22, 2019

A Brief Note On Websites, Links And Articles On Learning...

Webliography: Websites, Links and articles on Learning Disabilities and families Sha’Vonne J. Walker North Carolina Central University Abstract Pikes Only for Module 6 One paragraph, single spaced, do not indent. single space citations and complete quotes Ldpride.net is a website that provides information on Learning Disabilities. The website defines LD as a term used to describe â€Å"a wide range† of learning and/or social impairments (Bodgod, 2015). The impairment can affect a student’s ability to process information, reasoning, coordination, recalling facts and or social information, organizational skills. This site gives information of reference to the various types of learning disabilities as well as incite on how†¦show more content†¦This site lists characteristics for teachers to watch for, many strategies and resources to assist students with overcoming the learning disability (ies). Fluency and Comprehension Gains as a Result of Repeated Reading – A Meta Analysis, an article written by William J Therrien examines the strategy of increasing fluency through multiple sessions of repeated reading. Through his findings he was able to prove that this technique is helpful to both non disable readers as well as those with learning disabilities. These reading sessions are conducted by adults or student peers. They consist of a period of modeling in which a reading passage is read by student peers to the student in the intervention. Corrective feedback is given, there is a performance criteria, a comprehension component, and charting to show student progress. The author includes the statistics for the success of this repeated reading program and encourages its use for non-disable students as well as students diagnosed as learning disable (Therrien, 2004). I selected this particular article to find out what exactly the study produced. I was responsible for conducting reading interventions in a school in which I was formerly employed. One of the programs that I was responsible to implement is a repeated reading program, called READ Naturally. The

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Free Essays

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas The movie, â€Å"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,† was a very interesting but sad movie. It made me think about how children really don’t see a lot of things and how they are very innocent. The way the Jews were being treated made me really upset at how things were really running like that in Germany without many countries not noticing, especially the United States, until years later when they had gone to war. We will write a custom essay sample on The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or any similar topic only for you Order Now But by then, many people had died, or became survivors without any family, homes or any of their elongings at all. It was ridiculous in the way they got away with a lot of things. Their own people in the country thought that it wasn’t even bad and they saw the Jews as the enemies. Brunos father who was in charge of the concentration camp though he was doing the right thing, but until his own son died, he was in complete shock. He didn’t know what to do anymore. He was Just standing there and couldn’t believe it. I think he realized what he was doing and how things drastically changed for his amily and him, especially in how many children and Jews he had been killing in the camp. I really liked how there was friendship in the movie though. Shmuel and Bruno had met, and Bruno would go visit him and talk to him and try to play with him sometimes. But Shmuel couldn’t play, because he was very unhealthy and dehydrated, he could barely run. It would break my heart when Bruno would try to bring him food, but he would drop it along the way. I really liked the acting in the ovie; it made everything look so real, even the setting was nice. I really don’t know how or what they did to make the prisoners in the movie seem so skinny as if they hadn’t ate in months. Pavel who was the butler in the house, would Just peel potatoes all day, it was really horrid when he got beat up for dropping the glass of wine on the dinner table. Many people had to give up their dreams and school Just like Pavel did. It’s hard to imagine if that would have happened to me and my family. I wonder what appened to all the people who were involved in this, if they all died or if went to Jail, did they survive? This film also showed me that you shouldn’t discriminate any types of people from the rest. It is really sad, because to this day, that’s how a lot of people still are and that’s the way they think. This is actually one of my favorite movies because it has so many different concepts and it makes you think about many things. Especially to see how far, into friendship you would go. By Jsierra9 How to cite The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Community Engagement And Development Programs †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Community Engagement And Development Programs. Answer: Reflecting on self The community programs are in most cases managed by non-government organizations. These organizations are non-profit making organizations which are managed on a local or international basis and consists of voluntary individuals who manage them. During my community service program in my organization and interactions with the physically disabled people, we had different connections. We spent so much time helping them do their work, helping them in their daily lives and making their life better. I had different reactions to different instances. Community service may seem a different work to different people taking into considerations that at the end of it all it is a voluntary service but to me, it meant something different (Lough, 2014). It is always wise to do something that leads to a better environment for those who are disabled. For the better part, it ends up giving them confidence in their lives and has the sense of belonging. The also feel motivated in life and as a result, they enjoy having people around them. Before I engaged myself in this community service I had a different impression of the physically disabled. Having them around and helping them out was the best feeling that even changed my thinking. This service facilitated the development of different skills which includes; timeliness, the ability to interact with different people, managing time, leadership, work ethic, the ability to interact and work with people who are physically different from me, customer service and self-confidence among many others. The skills added value in my personal experience and made me a better person. On the other hand, this community service had its own challenges that were differentiating the community service from the other specialty of work. In my case, it was always a challenge to effectively articulate the changes that were supposed to be made in their daily lives for a positive change (Milbourne, 2013). This is because before making any changes there had to be a consideration on the effect to their lives and also the impression it would give and how it would help us to accomplish the services program by delivering to the physically disabled and fully satisfying them. Given that the service program had a time frame that was limited, it was also a challenge to fix in all the required improvements to enhance service delivery. Basically, I can say that the service program was limited to execution time thus making it a challenge to me to incorporate all the necessary changes in the respective areas (Maughan, 2014. ). Reflecting on the organization The organization had some strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and also threats. Strengths The Northside Connected Care Community organization enhanced individual intellectual capacity on the higher level, therefore, improving and facilitating its development, it also upheld the history of collaboration which enhanced togetherness through taking care of the people who are disabled, in served as an experience in community development programs thus setting a good example on how such programs should work, it became the pride in its neighborhood, therefore, enhancing community development besides growth and also brought unity to the neighboring community in the same manner. Weaknesses Community development programs need a lot of time to be fulfilled and this was one big weakness that the organization had since it requires a lot of money and the respective resource for its accomplishment, therefore, being a burden to the Northside Connected Care Community. This made the Northside Connected Care Community depend highly on financial support from external sources (Groves, 2013.). This organization also experienced difficult balancing of services to the community due to the fact that different people have a different disability with different intensity, therefore, they require different service. As a result, this brought about the difference in advocacy of their rights and also the services to be enjoyed by the disabled people. The Northside Connected Care Community had a hard time to evaluate genuine partners and funders, it also had a big challenge for the volunteers in the community development program; this being a voluntary service, it requires people who are comm itted to helping the disabled and having in mind that there is no pay for the work, not enough people were ready to work for the organization. Opportunities It served as a sieve in the community to always put the right people in the right place. This was basically assured through taking people who are committed to community service as volunteers to the community development organizations, therefore, providing quality service and helping the organization to achieve its long-term goals. Being the best community development based organization, it created attention to the internal and external visitors, therefore, increasing the rating in accordance with the sponsorship of the community development service (O'Grady, 2014.). The Northside Connected Care Community is based on the community service, had an opportunistic moment to influence the respective policies. Threats The organization will at some point have to do the regional planning in order to enhance development in its operations and this will be a threat to the community. Gang violence among youth is one of the eliminations that the organization needs to work on but it turns to be a threat to its operations since there is no connection between disability and gang violence. In maintaining the community service, there have to be a measure of proximity where the community will have to judge on the success of the organization, therefore, the organization is at stake if judged by its weaknesses (Min, 2014.). Reflecting on volunteering Volunteering is one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my entire life. It changes an individual life with respect to the experiences and the challenges met in the line of duty. For the better part, it is rewarding in that after making some accomplishments, you will always feel satisfied emotionally despite the fact that the services are not paid for. This volunteer work facilitated my personal growth; by engaging in different services, different skills are acquired in that process which facilitates personal growth. This type of voluntary work also facilitates and enhances self-esteem and courage with the different challenges experienced in the community service. The emotional involvement thats was achieved through personal interactions with the disabled helped me to sustain my emotional involvement with individuals (Williams, 2014.). Volunteering also provided me with health improvements benefits; engaging in physical activity and positive outlook facilitated a health sta bility in my body, being involved in different activities helped my mind to relax and relieved my stress as well. Final reflection Volunteering had a positive impact on me. It made me gain confidence on myself; seeing that I was part of a big community service program became the best feeling in my life and seeing that everything that I was doing was the contribution towards the success of the program made me feel successful too and I gained confidence in everything that I do. This has facilitated my personal life success and good things happen as a result of personal confidence (Osborne, 2013.). The service program has given me a sense of belonging and has facilitated in learning the new skills from the volunteer work. Making a difference has also been the best part of the impact since I see my work and also evaluate the changes that I have made while in the program and finally they are an example to other volunteers. The biggest impact that I got from volunteering was challenging myself; I had to set new goals that I worked on achieving. This was after I saw that I can change the life of another person and I de cided to challenge myself (waterman, 2014). References Groves, L. a. H. R. e., 2013. Inclusive aid: Changing power and relationships in international development. s.l. Routledge. Lough, B. S. M. M. A. a. X. X., 2014. a systematic review of the effect of community treatment: social science research. s.l.:s.n. Maughan, D. M. A. R. J. a. B. T., 2014. A systematic review of the effect of community treatment orders on service use. In: Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, s.l.:s.n., pp. 49(4), pp.651-663. Milbourne, L., 2013. voluntary sector in transition. s.l. policy press. Min, F. X. L. a. X. L. .., 2014. Analysis of Community Health Service Development for Longgang District in Shenzhen. In: Chinese Primary Health Care, 11, s.l.:s.n., p. pg .010. O'Grady, C. e., 2014. Integrating service learning and multicultural education in colleges and universities.. s.l.: Routledge. Osborne, S., 2013. Voluntary organizations and innovation in public services. s.l. Routledge. Park, T. a. S. J., 2013. Turnover rates and organizational performance: a meta-analysis.. s.l.:s.n. waterman, A. S., 2014. service learning: applications from the research. s.l. ROUTLEDGE. Williams, S., 2014. The Role of the Black Panther Party Social Service Programs in Community Organizing.. s.l.: Sociology.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

MANAGERIAL REPORT Essays - Regression Analysis, Multicollinearity

MANAGERIAL REPORT INTRODUCTION The purpose of this analysis was to develop a regression model to predict mortality. Data was collected, by researchers at General Motors, on 60 U.S. Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's), in a study of whether air pollution contributes to mortality. This data was obtained and randomly sorted into two even groups of 30 cities. A regression model to predict mortality was build from the first set of data and validated from the second set of data. BODY The following data was found to be the key drivers in the model: ? Mean July temperature in the city (degrees F) ? Mean relative humidity of the city ? Median education ? Percent of white collar workers ? Median income ? Suffer dioxide pollution potential The objective in this analysis was to find the line on a graph, using the variables mentioned above, for which the squared deviations between the observed and predicted values of mortality are smaller than for any other straight line model, assuming the differences between the observed and predicted values of mortality are zero. Once found, this ?Least Squared Line? can be used to estimate mortality given any value of above data or predict mortality for any value of above data. Each of the key data elements was checked for a bell shaped symmetry about the mean, the linear (straight line) nature of the data when graphed and equal squares of deviations of measurements about the mean (variance). After determining whether to exclude data points, the following model was determined to be the best model: -3276.108 + 862.9355x1 - 25.37582x2 + 0.599213x3 + 0.0239648x4 + 0.01894907x5 - 41.16529x6 + 0.3147058x7 + See list of independent variables on TAB #1. This model was validated against the second set of data where it was determined that, with 95% confidence, there is significant evidence to conclude that the model is useful for predicting mortality. Although this model, when validated, is deemed suitable for estimation and prediction, as noted by the 5% error ratio (TAB #2), there are significant concerns about the model. First, although the percent of sample variability that can be explained by the model, as noted by the R? value on TAB #3, is 53.1%, after adjusting this value for the number of parameters in the model, the percent of explained variability is reduced to 38.2% (TAB #3). The remaining variability is due to random error. Second, it appears that some of the independent variables are contributing redundant information due to the correlation with other independent variables, known as multicollinearity. Third, it was determined that an outlying observation (value lying more than three standard deviations from the mean) was influencing the estimated coefficients. In addition to the observed problems above, it is unknown how the sample data was obtained. It is assumed that the values of the independent variables were uncontrolled indicating observational data. With observational data, a statistically significant relationship between a response y and a predictor variable x does not necessarily imply a cause and effect relationship. This is why having a designed experiment would produce optimum results. By having a designed experiment, we could, for instance, control the time period that the data corresponds to. Data relating to a longer period of time would certainly improve the consistency of the data. This would nullify the effect of any extreme or unusual data for the current time period. Also, assuming that white collar workers are negatively correlated with pollution, we do not know how the cities were selected. The optimal selection of cities would include an equal number of white collar cities and non white collar cities. ! Furthermore, assuming a correlation of high temperature and mortality, an optimal selection of cities would include an equal number of northern cities and southern cities. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The model has been tested and validated on a second set of data. Although there are some limitations to the model, it appears to provide good results within 95% confidence. If time had permitted, different variations of independent variables could have been tested in order to increase the R? value and decrease the multicolliniarity (mentioned above). However, until more time can be allocated to this project, the results obtained from this model can be deemed appropriate. STATISTICAL REPORT MODEL SELECTION In order to select the best model, several

Monday, November 25, 2019

Computer Games Have a Negative Effect on Individuals

Computer Games Have a Negative Effect on Individuals Computer Games: The Potentially Detrimental Activity Computer Games Are Addictive Quite a few Americans have grown up playing computer games – mostly for pleasure, mostly alone – and they’ve wasted a lot of time, and a lot of their health and money, doing it, too. True, some computer games may develop the user’s reasoning skills, their ability to solve problems and so on. Perhaps this is the case, but playing computer games can also have a detrimental effect on a person – especially if they are consumed by the activity to the point they neglect their everyday responsibilities and their well-being. The overuse of computer games affects a person negatively on quite a few levels, mostly one’s physical, mental and emotional health, but also their finances. This is not to say that playing computer games alone is bad for a person; however, when it begins to affect a person’s life in a negative way, it becomes a problem, and it’s a problem our society must acknowledge and work hard to fix. To begin with, let’s take a look at how the overuse of computer games negatively affects a person’s physical health. For one, consider the activity itself. Rarely are computer games played standing up or moving around; they are done mostly sedentary – and encourage a sedentary lifestyle. A person consumed by computer games spends a great deal of their leisure time sitting down. This makes for bad cardiovascular health, which means potential heart problems and strokes – and of course obesity, which causes premature death in a person. Since people in our society spend more and more of our time sitting, because technology controls our lives, it is increasingly important to live a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise. Sitting too long is bad for us, and that is precisely why the overuse of computer games is bad for a person’s health. Computer Games are Time-Consuming ?omputer games can be detrimental to a person’s mental and emotional health, a negative side effect of this time-consuming activity. Even if they enjoy playing the computer game, the user will eventually start feeling lonely, unfulfilled and out of touch with reality. This may lead to depression and anxiety, a feeling of hopelessness, unless they begin incorporating healthier activities into their daily life – such as volunteering, exercising, hanging out with friends or reading. But this is quite a challenge when a person is engulfed in such an unhealthy, time-consuming, yet much enjoyable, activity. That is much of the problem: computer games can be a lot of fun to play, so much that people will forgo human interaction and a healthy lifestyle just to continue playing the game. At this point, it almost becomes an addiction – and addictions always have negative outcomes. Virtual World cannot Substitute Reality Overuse of computer games – like with any all-consuming activity or addiction – can negatively affect a person’s financial well-being. If the user spends so much time playing the computer game that they neglect their work responsibilities, they may lose their job – which could cost them money in the long run. Perhaps it distracts them from paying their bills, their mortgage, their car payment, which then costs them more money in debt. Also, when considering how the overuse of computer games affects a person’s health, all around, it’s a no-brainer that to take care of their health problems (doctor visits, medication, hospital bills, etc.), one has to fork over more and more money. Computer games, though they may cost less than $100 to purchase, can cost a person thousands in the long run – one more negative effect that computer games have  on the individual user. To conclude this argument, that the overuse of computer games has a negative effect on individuals, it’s important to add that playing computer games is not a detrimental activity in and of itself. Only when a person is utterly consumed by a computer game – that is playing it hours and hours a day, every single day of the year – does it begin to bring negative consequences, ones that affect a person’s health (emotional, mental and emotional) and their wallet. What is the solution to this problem? It may not be a bad idea for society to financially reward people with healthy, active lifestyles. Why not give people money for having balance in their lives? Why not penalize people who spend too much of their waking hours behind a computer, consumed in a game? This is a problem we must deal with. It won’t go away on its own. It’s up to us.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Islamic and christian perspective on computer science Essay

Islamic and christian perspective on computer science - Essay Example It is from such beliefs that people various perspectives emerge, all shaped by the specific dogmas of the time. As such, one would expect that at any particular time, it is highly likely that various perspectives will root out from various religious beliefs. For the purposes of this paper, the paper shall research and analyze Islamic and Christian perspectives on computer science. My major is computer science. It encompasses the study of software and hardware development and management to meet societal needs. While studying computer science, we also study contemporary issues around computer science such as religious perspectives on computer science. Under religion, a unit in computer science, we also study philosophy, critical theory and psychology. Given the interdisciplinary approach my university adopts, the course on religion is also designed to teach on various religious beliefs held by various societies that practice such religions. This assists one to be able to interact cordi ally with others as a computer scientist in a dynamic world. The goals of the major are to prepare one to be in a position understand the dynamism that exists in the society. Apart from instilling skills and technical know-how, the course also prepares one to embrace the concept of diversity and be prepared to accept others without any discrimination based on their religious beliefs. It is also apparent that the course prepares one to function properly in the current global village where various cultures, values and practices are increasingly becoming evidenced in the work place. Islamic Perspective on Computer Science One may observe that Islamic perspective on computer science is one that

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How is food gendered How do men or women differentiate themselves from Essay

How is food gendered How do men or women differentiate themselves from the other gender with food What does this accomplish in terms of identity and their r - Essay Example In contemporary times, especially in the western world, there is a tendency to focus on the thinness of the body as a symbol of self-control, power and assertion of individuality. This is in contrast to other cultures such as that in Jamaica and Fiji, where a plump body is acceptable and preferred, with its connotations of care-giving, generosity and social cohesion. In the United States power relations are established through subordination, where women frequently experience dissatisfaction and self-hatred directed at their body. This results in women and to some extent men, spending huge amounts of time and energy for relentlessly pursuing thinness. Differentiation between the genders and personal identity construction is increasingly food-related. Where the desire for thinness is predominant and obsessive, psychopathological outcomes such as Anorexia nervosa and bulimia may result (Counihan, 1999: 11). The purpose of this paper is to examine how food is gendered, how differentiation from the other gender is conceptualized by men or women based on food; determine its impact on the formation of personal identity, and on relationships with own gender and the opposite gender. Women almost exclusively have observed fasts since centuries, using food as a unique voice to express themselves. Among men and women in several cultures, food is used as a means of differentiating between the genders as well as a channel of connection between them. Males and females claim different roles with regard to food, and specific attributes through identification with particular foods. Food is used as a means for defining their masculinity and femininity along with similarities and differences between them (Counihan, 1999: 13). In Papua New Guinea, Wamiran men and women define gender through their relation to taro a food that is considered both nutritionally and symbolically to be of great significance. Taro plants grown

Monday, November 18, 2019

Organisational Approaches Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organisational Approaches - Essay Example Hence, one effective method of capitalizing on opportunities to build strong relationships with a more ethically-focused consumer is utilizing digital platforms to build discourse and engagement about the firm’s efforts to be a superior company in terms of environmental responsibility. Placing online videos on a firm’s website, using social media platforms, blogs and other relevant web content allow organizations to speak directly with their desired target segments which have changed the face of public relations dramatically (Scott 2013). Through digital platforms, companies can build virtual communities with common interests and enthusiasm toward a particular cause or environmental concern that allows the business to become more integrated as a member or leader of these ethical considerations influencing consumption. Marketing research indicates that when a company or its brands maintain characteristics or values that are congruent to the consumer self, it creates much more potent and positive emotional connections to the brand which underpin the construction of consumer loyalty. To illustrate, one organization constructed a website to draw attention to alleged or known unethical behaviors related to the poor environmental policy of Royal Dutch Shell. This site allows for users to engage in discourse about Shell’s environmental issues, including blogging from previous Shell employees, which enticed more attention by regulators to control unethical environmental policy at this oil and gas leader (Hotten 2009).

Friday, November 15, 2019

Arguments For And Against Organic Food Environmental Sciences Essay

Arguments For And Against Organic Food Environmental Sciences Essay The organic industry has grown rapidly over the last decade particularly in the agricultural sector; today, over thirty million hectares are being organically managed in 118 countries (Yusuf Wilber, 2007). Organic products are made using biological and ecological farming techniques which exclude the use of pesticides and fertilizers; in addition, these products are characterized by a strong brand image which means that they command higher prices among retailers. On the other hand, inorganic products are characterized by monocultures, mechanization, and extensive use of chemical compounds in order to produce them. The inorganic product industry developed primarily as a consequence of technological advancement the Second World War; during this period, major breakthroughs such as the Haber Bosch process were used to promote the development of organic produce. The organic industry has many benefits over its inorganic counterpart; research published by the Journal of Applied Nutrition (2001) revealed that organic food products have more nutrients than inorganic foods this is due to the fact that organically grown food contains sixty three percent more calcium, seventy three percent more iron, eighteen percent more magnesium and ninety eight percent more zinc minerals. According to the Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry (2003), organically grown strawberry, corn and marionberries have considerably greater levels of anti cancer oxidants than inorganically grown food products. The research further suggests that inorganic methods such as the use of herbicides and pesticides inhibit the growth of natural protective compounds in food such as anti ageing, anti immune, and anti cancer properties. The European Clinical Nutrition Journal (2008) found that the average level of nutrients in eleven organically produced products was almost twice as high compared to inorganically produced products. Therefore in the long run if the country chooses to enhance and promote the organic industry it will lead to several benefits such as reduced fertilizer, machinery and fuel cost; organic practices will also earn the industry a significant amount of carbon credits which they can trade in the carbon credit market (Kipper, 2001). The endorsement of organic industry in the economy will also encourage organic labeling. This kind of certification will enable consumers to have confidence in organic products; improve record-keeping in order to maintain organic certification and create an opportunity for both producers and consumers to understand organic certification standards. Unlike inorganic products which lack clear accreditation standards, organic certification and accreditation ensure that the organic industry adheres to high quality product standards. This certification system has two major components: 1.A code of conduct, standards, criteria and guidelines for product certification. 2. Monitoring mechanism which assures that inorganic products are produced in accordance with certification principles. Organic industries also prevent long distant transportation of food; the average distance covered in transporting organically produced products is over 1800 miles while that of transporting inorganic products is 2500 miles Therefore inorganic industries consume a lot of energy and fossil fuels which leads to high carbon dioxide emissions. (FAO, 2002), on the other hand, ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s relatively cheap to transport organic products since they are often produced near the consumers. The endorsement of organic industry and organic products will lead to three forms of biodiversity i.e. genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity and species diversity. This will dramatically improve the environment. According to Evans and Grice (2005) organic industries reduce green house emissions by over forty percent which slows down global warming effects. Another benefit which will result in supporting organic industries is long term productivity and food security. According to FAO (2003), organic farming has a higher potential of ensuring food security in both developed and developing countries. Rundgren (2006) published an objective analysis of the contribution of organic industries to food security. He summarized that although inorganic industries can be used to solve food insecurity issues, its capital intensive and depends on chemical inputs which tend to reduce biodiversity. On the other hand, organic industries can tremendously increase food production without causing environmental degradation or loss of biodiversity. A study conducted by The Centre for Disease Control (2009) revealed that inorganic industries produce many toxic chemicals which often result to contamination of water supplies. These toxins have tested positive in blood and urine test of most citizens. In addition, the Centre for Disease Control found a cocktail of toxins and synthetic chemicals in most living organisms. Peer reviewed research has proven that most of these chemicals can disrupt nervous and immune systems, as well as disruption of hormone levels. The FAO report (2002) clearly states, à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It has been proven that foods produced using organic methods have lesser levels of synthetic chemicals, lower nitrate content and lower veterinary drug residue. Animal feeding practices used in organic livestock production drastically decreases contamination of animal origin products.à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚  p .119 . In light of these facts, promoting the growth of organic industries will prevent these problems as well as curb the escalating rise in cancers such as leukemia, lymphorma, uterine and breast cancers which are linked to synthetic chemical use. Similarly, the advancement of organic industries and products will curb the spread of autoimmune industries caused by inorganic chemical compounds. Surveys conducted in regions which undertake intensive organic practices have found that cases of Hodgkinà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s lymphoma disease are almost inexistent on the other hand cases of the same disease is fast growing in regions which have many inorganic industries as well as regions undertaking inorganic practices. Another benefit of adopting organic industries is the development of diversified landscapes as well as aesthetic values (Haltom Scalia, 2002). These industries also encourage the creation of semi natural habitats by maintaining biological connectivity which benefits both nature and agricultural conservation while still pursuing economic objectives. Its can therefore be accurately concluded that organic industries lead to greater aesthetic gains when compare to inorganic industries. Adoption of organic practices and industries offer greater social benefits than inorganic ones. For example, all organic products which have been certified meet International Organic Federation standards. These industries also conform to UN charter of human rights thus they ensure that they have safe working environments; abide by International Labor Organization laws; provide essential social security needs to employees and offer equal opportunities as well as adequate wages regardless of gender, creed and color. Accredited organic industries ensure the rights of indigenous people are respected and rarely are they involved in lawsuits due to exploitation of inhabitants, in the long run these industries provide a lot of social benefits. According to FAO (2002) the general social benefits which are directly linked to organic production systems are: First, tendency for these industries to align to traditions of inhabitants and less motivation to follow production paradigm i.e. increasing output via artificial inputs. Secondly, they depend on local knowledge of intricate interactions of conditions from place to place; this usually makes it unfavorable to use large production areas. This encourages reduced land and farm sizes thus enhance equitable access to land. The endorsement of organic industry in the economy also promotes social justice and fair trade products this is particularly done through fair trade certification of organic produce. Organic certification considers reasonable wage in its standards thus ensuring that all certified organic industries are aligned with principles of fair trade. Furthermore, research conducted by the US bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that eighty six percent of firms in the organic industry have favorable gender distribution as well as promote women representation in senior management positions. Organic industries also stimulate the local economy by using local inputs and reduce the purchase of inputs on credit; this is in sharp contrast to inorganic industries which use imported inputs. Many firms in the organic agricultural industry use crop diversification, different harvesting and planning schedules related to crop rotation practices which evenly distribute labor demand throughout the year. They also ensure stability in employment, reduce labor migration problems, spread the costs incurred per employee throughout the year and reduce turnover. Finally, diversity in production created by organic industries and value added products boost income generating opportunities; they also spread the odds of failure over a broad range of products and crops. The US Society for Cultural Development, a private nonprofit organization conducted research and noted that over seventy certified organic firms had were members of democratic cooperatives and adhered to fair trade requirements. The study revealed that over eighty six percent of the firms paid employees salaries which had social premiums in order to improve quality of life. In addition, the organic movement has a consensus in support of the fact that social requirements are necessary even though many critics argue that pursuing these social standards impose trade barriers and restrictions to organic exports. Loir (2002) studied forty indicators of benefits of organic industry and products in US counties. A statistical comparison and analysis showed that twenty six indicators were in favor of organic systems while eight favored organic systems, six were neutral. The studies suggest that regions with organic farms have better farm economies and add more to county economies through net revenue, total sales, maintenance services, repair, payroll and taxes paid. Additionally, counties with many organic farms have better rural development support with greater direct consumer sales, higher worker pay and greater direct-customer sales. Organic industries also provide a mechanism for generating foreign exchange. Unlike inorganic industries which tend to import inputs, organic industries export more of their produce especially when they are internationally certified. In addition, international organic markets such as the European Union, Switzerland and Japan have well developed infrastructure and channels for successful exportation. Unlike inorganic products which usually have one channel of selling distribution, inorganic industries have many players such as foreign offices, foreign retail supermarket chains, organic marketing organizations etc. The premium connected to organic farming greatly benefits the economy as a whole. This premium has been estimated to as much as twenty percent above that of inorganic products. In conclusion, the growth of organic industries and products will continue to outpace that of its inorganic counterpart. Attractive premium prices in the lucrative export market, social and environmental benefits will continue to boost organic firms. Governments and state support are also likely to promote organic systems through legislating certification, export and market advice, development and research. State institutions and private corporations are increasingly admitting that it might be more cost effective to promote and encourage organic systems rather than rectify problems caused by inorganic industries e.g. environmental degradation.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Piracy of the Media Essay -- Music Sharing Internet

Piracy of the Media The use of the internet to download and share music files is a very controversial issue. This topic is especially of interest to me because I download music quite frequently. To get a better look at how frequently students do this, and whether or not they feel it is ethical, I decided to conduct a survey. I conducted a ten question survey of twenty freshmen students. Distributed in Hanson Hall, and all freshmen dorm, the survey was very straightforward and asked questions dealing with how often students used file-sharing programs and whether or not they felt it was ethical to do so. Other questions dealt with alternative options to downloading music and the legal action that ensues doing so. After conducting the survey, I came to the expected conclusion that the majority of students download music regularly. All but one of the students surveyed stated that they download music off a P2P (people to people) file-sharing program. Several people also, however, admitted that they felt that the piracy of music online is unethical. These were people who also said that they download music regularly. Their response as to why they continue to compromise their integrity was based on the fact that they did not feel that the record labels or the individual artists themselves were actually being adversely affected. In their minds, their downloading and sharing of this music is only helping the music industry, especially up-and-coming bands who are trying to develop a name for themselves. Instead of handing out promo CD’s, they can simply upload their music onto the internet and circulate their music that way; a much more inexpensive and effective method. For example, I had n ot heard of the band Good Charlotte ... ... record label if they request it. Possible results may include individuals being sued for downloading music. This may seem as a step in the direction of doing away with the free distribution of music online, but I feel that there will always be a loophole. Students can anonymously sign on and download music, or register under fake information. As seen in the past, as soon as one program is shut down, such as Napster, another one will pop up in its place; Limewire, Kazaa, Morpheus: the list goes on and on. In conclusion, the piracy of music is a hot topic these days. I feel that it will be a controversy for quite awhile, simply because of how difficult it is to prevent. Unless courts and the record labels take more legal action, the music industry will just have to sit back and watch us students â€Å"steal† money from them, money which they already have plenty of.