Is the Nuclear Family Universal - 803 Words

Is the nuclear family universal? This essay will explore whether the nuclear family is in fact a universal sociological institution. The term universal means applicable to all cases, so, for this to be correct the nuclear family must be found in all families in every society. Nuclear family consist a husband and wife and one or more children, own or adopted, it is defined by Murdock and according to him, he believed that the nuclear family is a universal social grouping. Functionalist George Murdock suggested an idea of universality of the family as family is the basic and vital institution in all societies. He looked at 250 societies and found four the most significant functions of the family: sexual, economic, reproduction†¦show more content†¦However there is an opposing view to Murdock’s theory that goes against the idea of the nuclear family being universal. In 1959, Kathleen Gough provided a detailed insight of the Nayar society. This culture was mainly centred on the woman and known as a matrifocal family. In this society, when the woman reaches puberty, she is married to her Tali husband. This is a sacred and traditional marriage but although they are married by law the husband and wife have no obligations to each other, the woman is then allowed to take on up to 12 visiting Sandbanhan husbands who must come after tea and the stay the night and leave before breakfast the next morning. Husbands and wives didn’t form an e conomic unit. Also, husbands were not expected to maintain the wives and it was frowned upon to do so. Moreover, he didn’t bond, look after or socialize with the children. Another opposing view of the universal nuclear family is the IK culture. This tribe lives in Africa were each member shows now emotional connection with one another. Family, to them, means very little and each member of that society fends for themselves, showing no maternal instincts. If a new baby shows signs of weakness and disability, it will be disowned into the wilderness. The same happens to an elderly member who has no ‘purpose’ in the society. The experience and lifestyle of the IK suggests that family life across theShow MoreRelatedAssess the View That the Nuclear Family Functions to Benefit All It Members and Society of a Whole1216 Words   |  5 PagesAssess the view that the nuclear family functions to benefit all its members and society as a whole. A nuclear family is universal and is defined as a two generational grouping; consisting of a father, mother and their children, all living in the same household. The idea of the nuclear family was first noticed in Western Europe in 17th century. The concept that narrowly defines a nuclear family is essential to the stability in modern society and has been promoted by modern social conservatives inRead MoreThe Effects of Industrialisation on the Structure of the Family954 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Industrialisation on the Structure of the Family The pre- industrial family was said to be an extended family consisting of three generations, the children, parents and the grandparents. The family would all work together in the farms to help provide for the entire families needs, children as young a 5 or 6 would have been found work to do. However this was until the Industrial revolution when factories become the main source of work and developmentRead MoreOutline and Evaluate Functionalist Views of the Role of the Family in Society.1570 Words   |  7 Pagesthe role of the family in society. [33 marks] Functionalism is a structuralist theory; this meaning that it sees social structure (the social organisation of society) as more important than individuals. Functionalist sociologists believe that people have a range of basic needs that must be met if society is to run smoothly. Different groups and individuals in society are important because they perform certain functions which meet societys needs. Functionalism supports the family in nearly everyRead MoreFunctions and Diversity of Family Structure in the UK Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesFunctions and Diversity of Family Structure There are various debates and views on the term ‘family’ in today’s society. Although we can say that a family consists of a unit of people that are related, either legally through marriage or biologically. In both premodern and modern societies families have been seen as the most basic unit of a social organisation that carries out vital tasks, such as socialising children. Whereas a ‘household’ consists of a groupRead MoreFamily and Culture1010 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Family culture is a unique way that a family forms itself in terms of rules, roles, habits, activities, beliefs, and other areas† (â€Å"What is family culture?†, 2002). The perception of family is an aspect of family culture; this includes the interactions within the family and with others. Some of these perceptions can be defined as myths. A myth is a belief about someone or something that is believed to be true, but it is false, made-up, or exaggerated (S. Yu, Lecture). There are both positive andRead MoreAssessment of the Usefulness of Functionalism in Understanding the Family1223 Words   |  5 PagesUsefulness of Functionalism in Understanding the Family Functionalism is a structuralist theory. This means it sees the individual as less important as the social structure of society. It is a ‘top down’ theory. The family can be defined as an intimate domestic group composed of people related to each other by blood, sexual relations and legal ties. When assessing how useful functionalism is when looking at the family, other views/perspectives need to be taken intoRead MoreThe Conflict Perspective On Class Struggles1038 Words   |  5 PagesThe family is a social institution present in all human societies. A family unit is a group of people sharing a relationship based on biology, marriage, or adoption. The conflict perspective refers to the inequalities that exist in all societies. The conflict perspective originated from out of Karl Max’s writings on class struggles. This perspective presents society in a different light than do the functionalist and symbolic interactionist perspectives. This perspective focuses on the negativeRead MoreCO2 Emission as a Severe Global Environmental Concern Essay1203 Words   |  5 PagesDue to other environmental practices that are more relatable to families or people in a general sense, such as household recycling, carpooling, and even purchasing solar panels for a rooftop, the detrimental harm CO2 emissions have caused to the Earth’s atmosphere is often overlooke d. As a release of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere known as CO2 emissions continue to dominate the world’s top environmental concerns, a recent increasing effort has provided multiple ideas including those ofRead MoreAssess the Functionalist View of the Family.1031 Words   |  5 Pages‘Assess the functionalist view of the family?’ Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional. This essay will assess how functionalists view point of the family by exploring Murdock, Comte, Parsons and Durkheim, the founder of functionalism, ideas and evaluatingRead MoreThe Usefulness of Functionalism for an Understanding of the Family1289 Words   |  6 PagesThe Usefulness of Functionalism for an Understanding of the Family The Functionalists see the family as an important and vital institution in society. They take a MACRO view and look at interdependence between the family and other organisations. Functionalists look at the positive parts to society but overlook the negatives. They emphasise on the value consensus and see the family as being universal. Other people’s outlooks disagree with this view, such as the Marxists

The Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Essay

HISTORY GLAAD was formerly known as the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.[i] It was founded in New York City in 1985 by Vito Russo, Jewelle Gomez and George Kolovakos.[ii] GLAAD is a media monitoring agency that seeks to promote and protect issues affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. The organization was originally founded in response to the New York Post’s homophobic and defamatory coverage of the AIDS epidemic, which was at its height in the 1980’s. Initially, AIDS was closely linked with gay men within the American psychology.[iii] The first time that AIDS was detected in the United States was in 1981, when groups of men in New York and Los Angeles were diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma and pneumocystis pneumonia.[iv] The media had labeled it as a gay disease. Based upon the statistics compiled by the Center for Disease Control, the AIDS virus disproportionately impacted gay men at a time when Americans had an extremely negative attitude towards homosexuality. â€Å"[I]t was perhaps inevitable that AIDS would be defined in political and cultural terms as well as medically, and that many heterosexuals’ reactions to AIDS would reflect their attitudes toward homosexuality.†[v] Thus, the coverage of homosexuals was extremely sensationalized and a topic that was not generally discussed as a societal norm within the mainstream media. Nonetheless, due to the hard work of its pioneering members, GLAAD enjoyed several earlyShow MoreRelatedThe Depiction of Lesbianism in the Media1450 Words   |  6 PagesThe Depiction of Lesbianism in the Media Name Women and Gender Studies The depictions of lesbians throughout the TV industry and other forms of media is often used to increase ratings, sexually titillate men and for entertainment purposes. The problem the culture encounters is the stereotypes are widely agreed upon and thought to be right. Many media outlets have made the distinction that attractive women kissing equal to ratings. For example, the kissRead MoreMedia, Society s Absurdity863 Words   |  4 Pageshomosexuals since the beginning of the mainstream media, eventually forcing people to rise against heteronormative life styles by explaining how the media has effected homosexuals, through films, advertisement and social media. Nonetheless, there have been those who rebel against society’s prototypical views. Homosexuality has been the center of scrutiny and confusion mainly because media has made lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities fit a certain label that implements ideological imagesRead MoreDiversity Organizations Paper1086 Words   |  5 PagesHistorically, the people of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community have faced prejudice and discrimination. 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I will, further, show that while visibility has increased drastically from the beginning of the 20th century,Read MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage1376 Words   |  6 PagesDelilah Ramirez Political Science 101 Civil Liberties/Civil Rights Issues November 19, 2014 I†¦My chosen topic is Gay Rights- more specifically marriage equality. Public opinion in the U.S. shows the majority support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages. This issue is more likely to be supported by women and people under 50. My thesis is that marriage equality a civil right, rights we are born with as a citizen of the U.S. which the government cannot interfere with or suppress. (LectureRead MoreAnalysis Christina Aguileras Beautiful Essay1367 Words   |  6 Pageswant it to be portrayed. Some music video’s use socio-cultural codes to construct the visual narrative and structure of their work. For example the music video of Christina Aguilera’s song ‘Beautiful’, ‘packed with a message of holding one’s self up against criticism from the outside.’ ¹, shows the insecurities people have with what society portrays to be beautiful. Such as showing characters throughout the video struggling with body image, sexual p reference and bullying. The characters develop throughoutRead MoreWhy Suicide Is An Epidemic Of The United States891 Words   |  4 PagesAttempting suicide is an epidemic in the United States; especially when 41% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide compared 1.6% of the general population (Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). Due to this, the question of whether or not transgender youth have a harder, more straining adolescence than their cisgender counterparts rises. Although adolescence can be hard on everyone, experiences such as a school environment, puberty, laws that guarantee protection, family and social

Monetary Policy Stimulus Free Essays

Suppose that you have been hired as a consultant to advise the Federal Reserve Bank on Monetary Policy. They seek to eliminate our persisting unemployment situation. Devise a package of steps involved with your monetary policy stimulus plan, and convince Fed Chairman Bernanke to use your approach? 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Monetary Policy Stimulus or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the ongoing unemployment, the Obama Administration, Congress and the Federal Reserve continue to struggle for stimulus solutions. They seem to be taking both Fiscal and Monetary Stimulus measures.Compare and contrast the detailed dynamics, mechanisms, and potentials of Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy. 3. Some reject stimulus measures in all current policy forms. These economists focus on the damaging activities and decisions of (a) private corporations, (b) commercial banks, and (c) wealthy individuals. How can these three groups that lead our private market system, each in their own way, frustrate and foil the goals of a combined fiscal and monetary stimulus program. 4.Given our currently high unemployment rate and low inflation rate, argue â€Å"for or against† a Supply-Side policy focus versus a Demand-Side policy emphasis. Upon completing ECO201, you have been hired by the Obama administration to advise them on Foreign Exchange Policy. Their concern is that low interest rates and a large trade deficit have led to a depreciating dollar. Accordingly, first prepare an overview of the way such rates and trade conditions can threaten our currency value. Then secondly, advise the President whether (or not) steps should be taken to strengthen the dollar in foreign exchange markets. How to cite Monetary Policy Stimulus, Papers

Haiku Poems about Flowers! Let us celebrate! Example For Students

Haiku Poems about Flowers! Let us celebrate! Cherry Blossom Cherry blossom sways With wind and rain the lord brings Then grows tall in spring by Jahmeelay Tulips Beautiful tulips In the rain theyre cute and sweet They shine bright with might. by Samarah Iris Iris are lovely As they bloom, I bloom with joy They shine in the light. by Sandy Red Panda Red Pandas are smart Peacefulness is my nature They are playful, too. by Ngoc Lily Can be found in swamps But still beautiful and pink Lily lives in peace by Tu Love Jesus is my love I will love him to the end Jesus is my light. by Diana Clouds They look tall and steep They follow me like a shadow so Ill call the sheep by Kimani Pine cone Pine cones are nature They are just spiky like me I am a pine cone. by Christian The Beautiful Rose It shines bright at night The rose is so beautiful It will soon be grown. by Brenda Live Oak The small live oak tree is tiny just like me grow oak tree grow like me. by Claudolph Daylight I chose the daylight because It gives me the strength to do anything. by Latanya The Sun My nature is sun Sun gets scared, goes behind clouds Then comes back brighter. by Laurie The Moon I am the good moon I may not spark like the sun But I have my part. by Gerytsa Lovely Leaves Leaves blow in the pond, Making small, abstract ripples, Spreading through my heart. by Lexine Geysers They sparkle and shine Thats me Im on of a kind But I shine all times. by Jacquillena Bunny Will jump up and down around and in plains, bunny my littlest friend. by Juline Sunflowers Sunflowers are tall They are pretty and unique They are just like me. by Caroline Dahlia I am a flower I grow strong, brave and happy I grow everyday. by Vanesha Daisy I chosen daisy Because my heart is filled with The shine of daisys by Murielle Summer School is almost done Summer a time to have fun Cant wait to have fun by Diana Panda I am a panda And I am lovable And Im so cute by Jasmine Flower Rainbow They are beautiful That is their definition It is just like me. by Marie Star Suns are beautiful The sun brightens my whole life Every single day. by Ann-Isabelle

The Particular Features Of The Employment System I Essay Example For Students

The Particular Features Of The Employment System I Essay n JapanThe Particular Features Of The Employment System In Japan One of the unique and well known features of the Japanese employmentsystem is permanent employment for workers. Japanese corporations responses torecessionary periods provide an opportunity to sort out the myths from therealities of the Japanese permanent employment system. During recessions Japanese companies forced to reduce their costsachieve reductions in several ways. First, they reduce the number of women andtemporary workers they employ. During the recession that followed the 1973 oilshocks female employment dropped by eleven percent; more then five times thedrop in male employment. It was easy to reduce female employment because womeneven if they hold permanent positions are thought of as transitory workers whowill leave the workforce when they get married. Female and temporary workers area safety valve for Japanese companies that allow them to reduce costs in theshort-term without firing permanent male workers. The second way Japanesecompanies reduce costs is by giving early retirement to senior workers at thecompany. Many of these workers forced into early retirement then take up farmingas is the custom in Japan for retires. Getting rid of senior workers is one themost effective tools companies have of reducing costs because these workers hav emore seniority and thus make more money then the average worker. Japanesecompanies also are able to cut costs during recessions by reducing oreliminating bonuses paid to workers, cutting down on hiring of new workers,eliminating the farming out of work to subcontractors, transferring workersinternally with in the company to subsidiaries, and reducing profit margins tolevels that many American companies would find intolerable. We will write a custom essay on The Particular Features Of The Employment System I specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Japanese companies response to recessions shows the benefits anddisadvantages of their employment system. Some of the benefits are that loyaltyand labor relations are very good. This is due to the fact that for non-temporary male workers not yet near retirement age companies make a great effortto continue the permanent employment system even during recessions. Most youngmale workers once entering a company stay with it for their entire life and forthem Japans permanent employment system serves them well. These workers come toview their company as almost a benevolent parent; the company leads them throughfitness drills, training camps, and retreats. A workers identity is shaped notby their individual title but by the company they belong to. But, female,temporary, and senior workers wind up paying the price of this permanentemployment system. Women who want to work in a long-term position for a companylose their jobs when recession hits. And because many women who lose their jobsbecom e housewives and dont apply for unemployment insurance they become theinvisible unemployed, uncounted by labor department statistics. The permanentemployment system in Japan is only a permanent employment for non-temporary maleworkers not near retirement age, during recessions when companies are forced tocut costs mostly female, temporary, and elderly workers wind up loosing theirjobs. History

History of Middletown, New Jersey Essay Essay Example

History of Middletown, New Jersey Essay Essay Example History of Middletown, New Jersey Essay Essay History of Middletown, New Jersey Essay Essay A Starbuck or Panera Bread at about every corner. high rise condominiums and modern twenty-four hours architectural constructions line the metropolis of Middletown. New Jersey. This is the mundane image of my hometown located North of the Navesink River in Monmouth County. Yes. I have noticed beautiful province Parkss. a beacon. and marks for tourer. but non being a tourer. I neer realized or cared much for why Middletown even attracted tourers. I was looking frontward to this research paper. because it gave me an chance to really larn the historical significance of where I lived. I put the proverbial â€Å"tourist hat† on and took to the streets. What I learned amazed and embarrassed me. Middletown was encased in history. landmarks and all I fundamentally new was where to acquire my latte in the forenoon. Before seeing the â€Å"sights† that I passed by so many times without intermission. I wanted to larn about the history of Middletown itself. the simple facts. The township was settled in l665 by the English who migrated from Long Island. New York and New England. They had to buy the land from the local Indian folk and ab initio established three small towns ; the Portland Point. Shrewsbury and Middletown. The towns were organized as portion of the Monmouth County in l693. Portland Point didn’t advancement. but the two staying small towns prospered and were deemed as the â€Å"Two Towns of the Navesink† ( Gabrielan. 2003 ) . Middletown’s past included playing a portion in the Revolutionary War. A huge figure of occupants stayed loyal to England and while others fount for their independency. Harmonizing to Randall Barielan. â€Å"the struggle in New Jersey was a practical civil war. Enemy participants in the major conflict in New Jersey were headed toward Middletown. British forces hid in the Middletown hills during the conflicts. I neer imagined my hometown shared a piece of our nation’s history. It’s a little town of about 60. 000 people. on the Navesink River. Unfortunately. we did hold 36 occupants die on September 11th. but with that aside our offense rate is 0. 6 per 1. 000 people ( epodunk. com. 2007 ) . Until this paper I thought of Middletown as a quaint small town with the most impressive characteristic being that Bruce Springsteen. Geraldo Riviera and Vince Lombardi were born. Since I did go through a few â€Å"old† churches on my manner to a Starbucks. I thought I’d esearch the spiritualty history of Middletown. There were several different denominations early on with the Baptist Church founded in 1688. the oldest church in New Jersey. with at least one half of the original colonists known to be of this religion. The All Saints Memorial Church in Navesink. founded in l864 and officially going a National Historic Landmark in1988. Richard Upjohn. a visionary of this clip period. with his English Gothic Revival designer. was chosen to build the church puting the basis in l863. Harmonizing to there official web site ; World Wide Web. allsaintsnavesink. roentgenium. the church was awarded a â€Å"grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to develop a long term saving program. † The narrative behind the Episcopal Christ Church. built in l702 is interesting. It was non about England colonists acquiring together to worship ; it was more of a â€Å"missionary venture. † Colonial Governor. Lewis Morris. wrote to the Bishop of London of the people of Middletown: â€Å"There is no such thing as a church or faith among them. They are possibly. the most nescient and wicked people in the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Bishop sent two Anglican priests to â€Å"save† Middletown. That was over three hundred old ages ago and the Christ Church still remains an active fold ( christchurchmiddletown. org ) . Another country of Middletown I wasn’t cognizant of. is snuggled off high on a hill and called the Water Witch Club. founded in 1895. A 50 acre â€Å"historic Eden. † added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It is known for its â€Å"exclusive club civilization. † and architecture. The Witch Club enticed visits by celebrated designers such as Frank A. Wright and Yew York are rich and celebrated. Soon there are 44 places at Water Witch Club that surprisingly kept its â€Å"old-world appeal. † throughout its history. A breathtaking site on top of a hill. which escaped me for so long ( Van Develde. 2003 ) . Before I introduce you and myself. to the several other historic landmarks in Middletown. there is one fact I was surprised to unveil. Middletown’s day-to-day newspaper. the Times Herald-Record. frequently called merely. â€Å"The Record. † was the first cold beginning imperativeness in the state. published in 1851. Subsequently. in 1956. the Middletown Daily Record. the first U. S. newspaper to utilize cold type. printed from a garage. ignited competition for the Record. In l969 the two documents merged into the Sunday Record. but reverted back to the Times Herald-Record in 2007. The signifier of this newspaper from cold type to a web site. in 2008. shows a timeline of inventions ( record online. com ) . Now. back to being a tourer. I set Forth to see the historical landmarks my venue had preserved for coevalss. Marlpit Hall was built in several phases and completed in 1756. It was the place of loyalist Edward Taylor and his household. Taylor was held under house apprehension for his political positions and lost most of his wealth and influence. In l936. the house was donated to the Monmouth County Historical Association. The Association restored it to go the first house museum in the part. Marlpit has five suites all furnished to picture its puting from l756 through 1820. It is â€Å"key property† in the National Register of Historic Places in Middletown Village. A â€Å"spin-off† of the Marlpit Hall is the Taylor-Butler House. built in 1853 by descendants of the Marlpit’s Taylor household. Joseph Taylor and his married woman. Mary originally called it the Orchard Home. They were peculiar in supplying the place with household heirlooms. Mary was the last to populate in the house. which remained vacant for ten old ages after her decease in 1930. Henry Ludwig Kramer. a celebrated designer. bought it for his place and office. reconstructing its historical locale. George and Alice Butler bought it from Kramer in the l950’s ; in bend the Monmouth County Historical Association bought the estate in l999. Actually the Association itself has an historical topographic point in Middletown. excessively. It was founded in l898 by a group of citizens committed to continuing the history of Monmouth County. They built a three narrative Georgian edifice in l931 to house a museum and library ( co. monmouth. New Jersey ) . Middletown has two historic farmhouses ; the Murray Farmhouse and the Moses D. Heath Farm. The Murray Farmhouse and barn was built in l770 and remains on its original foundation. Joseph Murray and his female parent arrived from Ireland in l767 to Monmouth County where he met and married Rebecca Morris. and had four kids. Joseph joined the â€Å"local reserves. † when the Revolutionary War began. He acquired the moniker. â€Å"daring. ill-famed Rebel. † because he was â€Å"openly noncompliant of British regulation. † The farm remained in the household until l861. and had several proprietors until it was purchased in 1973 by the Middletown Township to â€Å"save the land from development. † Today the house is non accessible to the populace but there are uninterrupted events and Tourss throughout the barn and farming area ( poricypark. org ) . The Moses D. Heath Farm provides entree to legion exhibits to exemplify the historical importance of farming in Monmouth County. They include ; nineteenth century farm â€Å"artifacts. Gertrude Neidlinger ( 1911-1998 ) Spy House aggregation. and a on the job honey bee settlement and museum. † The farm promotes the bequest of the Heath household. chiefly Bertha C. Heath. Heath’s male parent. Clinton was a former slave until the Civil War freed him. and he fled to Middletown with his brother Calvin ; who subsequently became the first sermonizer at the Clinton Chapel Zion Church. founded in 1870. After he was settled as a harvest husbandman he sent for his married woman and 13 kids. Bertha being the â€Å"youngest of 6 misss. † Born in the farm homestead on July 22. 1909. she ran two stat mis for a â€Å"trolley to take her to school. † each forenoon. Bertha was exceptionally graduating from Middletown Township High School in 1926 she moved to Upper Manhattan. New York City and lived there for 44 old ages. During this period she graduated from the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing. received a Bachelor of Science grade in Public Health organize New York University. in 1958. and a Maestro of Science grade from Columbia University. Bertha went beyond what a black adult females was allowed or able to make. and enjoyed working as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1974. Bertha with the aid of her nephew. Walter Spradley and infinite voluntaries. organized the Heath Center Black History Committee. which still participates in Black History Month jubilations. The belongings has remained in the Heath Family since the station Civil War old ages and converted into the centre of New Jersey’s Afro-american agricultural history. Visiting the farm is the ultimate household experience. Along with exhibits already mentioned. there is a children’s educational garden. blacksmith store. sugar can mill and â€Å"demonstrations on how agriculture was conducted in the l9th century. † ( heahfarm. tripod. com ) . The last landmark I’ll reappraisal is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Built in l764 it is the oldest beacon in the state and one of the 12 constructed before the Revolutionary War. It is octangular. and rises eight-five pess above the land and 88 pess above the H2O. New York originally financed Sand Hook because the merchandisers lost a batch of money and crew members from shipwrecks. American and English military personnels both wanted control of the beacon during the war. so New York congresswomans gave the order to darkened it to discourage British ships. This proved uneffective. the British sent a set downing party to relight Sandy Hook. The Americans even tried to destruct the beacon with cannons. but did small harm to its construction. The British controlled Sandy Hook throughout the Revolution. â€Å"The original tower of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse still stands. † Another interesting note from the National Park Service is that the beacon originally stood five 100 pess from the northern terminal of Sandy Hook. and now. because of the current of the H2O. â€Å"the visible radiation is five-eighths of a stat mi from the point. † Ironically the visible radiation continues to assist seamans. as it has â€Å"faithfully done for the last l96 old ages. † and was designated a National Landmark on January 29. 1964 ( neptunium. gov ) . Amazing how much a tourer learns about a topographic point you call place? I had to walk in they’re places to detect the national historic landmarks. concealed natural hoarded wealths and countries steeped in history. literally in my ain backyard. What an unerasable yesteryear laid behind my mundane sights of the Gothic designed church. the farmhouses. and restored l9th century places. It is like seeing Middletown for the first clip. through the eyes of an interested alien. My walk to Starbucks takes on a wholly different significance for me now ; I take it slower. detect the artistic landscape and take pride in cognizing I’m walking down a way through history.

African American Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

African American Culture - Essay Example This discussion stresses that  to date no African American can claim certain aspects what he or she does descend from own respective ancestors in W. Africa. Since, present values that we normally hold onto and boast of are just mere retaliation habits of the impending settings. For instance, hip-hop claimed by Hamlet to have spread worldwide but now seems overshadowed by Crunk, a more club-oriented genre.This report highlights that church currently acts as a â€Å"Rich Reservoir† meant to relay varied African American expressions or terms, she fails to notice the extent of societal fusion evident in America. The then Mega churches dominant congregation used to be of certain races but now that is changing whereby the said word-warriors are of diverse backgrounds including descendants of former slave masters. This depicts a creation of unified and borderless society whose description would emerge with entirely different values such that former distinct racial values are inexis tent. Since, interaction especially through social settings currently escalates the extent of intermarriages, which in their actualization by respective partners sometimes tend to disregards certain aspects of the respective participants to embrace common grounds. For instance, overemphasis of certain cultural aspects that has no significance to in unifying the formed interracial union like dominant patriarchal privileges.   Ã‚  

Analysis of Dreams by Langston Hughes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Dreams by Langston Hughes - Essay Example Analysis of â€Å"Dreams† by Langston Hughes On closer analysis, the poem reveals depths of meaning which make it rich and particularly appealing to the reader. Langston Hughes skilfully uses structure, theme, vivid imagery and literary devices to enhance the effect of â€Å"Dreams.† The structure of the poem heightens the poem’s appeal. It consists of just a couple of complete sentences which are arranged in two short stanzas. Each stanza is in the form of four lines which are brief and to the point. This enables the reader to focus on the theme without any distraction. The focus remains completely on the importance of holding on to dreams. The poet uses simple vocabulary and the meaning of the poem is easy to grasp. There are no ambiguous words which puzzle the reader. This makes the tone of the poem very conversational. The everyday language generates an intimate tone and makes the reader particularly receptive to the poet’s voice. The reader feels that the poet is addressing him directly and immediately empathizes with the poet. The reader develops a sense of comradeship with the poet. The rhyming scheme is another aspect of the poem’s structure which holds the reader’s attention. The second and fourth lines of the two stanzas rhyme: â€Å"die† and â€Å"fly;† â€Å"go† and â€Å"snow.† The rhyme adds to the beauty of the poem’s sound and gives it a lyrical quality. The first and fourth lines are unrhymed and make an effective contrast which heightens the rhyme of the other lines. The absence of punctuation is another characteristic of the structure which heightens the effect of the poem. This makes the structure very stark and compelling. Each line flows into the next and contributes to the easy reading of the poem. The poem’s structure demonstrates strong repetition. There is repetition in structure and repetition in words. The two stanzas follow the same pattern. The structure of the first stanza is repeated in the second stanza: both stanzas begin with the poet’s urging to hold on to dreams and both go on to give the details of what would happen if this is not done. By repeating the words â€Å"Hold fast to dreams,† (Hughes, 1) in the second stanza, the poet emphasizes the importance of not letting go of one’s dreams and gives his warning an air of urgency. Again, the two stanzas show a repetition of structure in the lines â€Å"Life is a broken-winged bird† (3) and â€Å"Life is a barren field† (7). Here, the repetition is used for emphasis and the adverse consequences of losing one’s dreams is clearly stated. The theme of the poem is something which every reader can identify with. Dreams are a part of every individual’s life. The vast majority of humanity starts out with many goals and aspirations. As life goes on, obstacles and sorrows are met and many of these dreams remain mere fantasy or die. They cannot be translated into reality. There soon co mes a time when hopelessness envelops the soul. There is a tendency to give up on dreams and accept that they are beyond reach. The poet speaks to the many readers whose dreams are yet to be realized. By urging them to â€Å"Hold fast to dreams,† the poet implies that dreams can easily slip away unless they are tightly held on to. It is comforting to know that everyone finds it difficult to keep a grip on their dreams. The vivid imagery of the poem captures the imagination of the reader. The poem makes the reader actually visualize the tragic consequences of letting go of

Performance and Culture - Post Modernism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Performance and Culture - Post Modernism - Essay Example Though postmodernism still has the potential to be an effective liberating space for the subjugated, it is seldom used for this end (McGuigan 98). One key aspect of the visual aesthetic of the black community is that of the body. The notions surrounding black hair and its style provide us a contextual framework for analyzing its relation to modernity and postmodernity. One of the mechanisms of modernism is to find an absolute "essence" of its subject, denying all the other experiences that make up a community in the margin (Hutcheon). Within and outside their community, essentialist arguments have been used to fit the entire community in the margin into easy categories. For instance, the natural texture of African-American hair has been used as one of the key visual elements in a system of ethnic signifiers. The first essentialist construction of black hair meant that it was all of the things white hair was not. Instead of being judged for its own inherent qualities, black hair was portrayed to be not good, not beautiful, unmanageable and even uninteresting. As an ethnic signifier, its metonymic qualities were obvious - it als o became the construction of what whiteness was not. This first essentialist argument was not created by the black community, but it was internalized. It is still in use today by individuals inside and outside of the margin that comprises the black community (Hutcheon). This deficiency was addressed by the black power movement during the nineteen sixties, although the method employed was of the modernist tradition. It tried to redefine what â€Å"ideal† meant for those inside and outside the community. The myth of the superiority attached to straightened and processed hair was dismantled and a new signifiers for good black hair was projected – namely the Afros and Caribbean dreadlocks. This new essentialist construction of ideal black hair countered the former one, and thus is strongly tied to it. What resulted was a

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay Problems faced by mangers. Business environment is changing drastically in todays corporate world. In early years of current management era manager were suppose to work exclusively with equipments, data and systems; performing traditional tasks. But scenario of management responsibilities has been changed significantly and todays manger faces issues like cross training, personnel management , interdepartmental communication and widening job scope. Globalization is shaping and re-shaping business environment, resulting in increase of competitors, demand of new sourcing strategies and facing new markets with new demands. Irregular flow of information often subject to quantitatively strong fluctuations, controlling the flow of information is necessary otherwise these fluctuations can become detrimental. Information controlling is the analysis, evaluation and importance attached to the data that collected and provided with the data under various criteria. Because day by day managerial job is becoming more and more hectic manager needs to continuously look for new ways to improve speed and quality along with reduction in rising cost. Rising costs is another problem for the managers. Rising in the cost of services and wages is becoming more and more troublesome for managers. In current environment there is no guarantee of the employees being loyal to company, then in that case, to get more money employees ask for higher wages. Also there is requirement to keep the cost of services, provided by company under constant watch. If company starts loosing because of rising service cost then mangers put attention to solve this issue. As complexity of electronic data processing increases, security often decreases. Not only does this pose problems in the form of breaches, it also has legal ramifications with regard to license. This problem especially faced in IT industries. IT companies buy very expensive software and after some months or years new version comes up, then again managers need to change their strategy along with change in technology. Customers may want to change or upgrade to new technology, then managers has to negotiate for the money and services, this may lead to unsatisfactory customer service. Mainly following are the main challenges faced by todays managers Responding to Globalization: Various forces of globalization are reshaping the business environment generating new competitors and demanding new sourcing strategies and market. In dynamic market situations its very hard for managers to predict any concrete goal and strategy for the business development. Short term strategy may work very well but for long term, goal setting is the problem. Again dynamic market conditions of global economy make the profit prediction shaky. No one is able to predict the variations in the profit and losses, business can make. Responding to globalization is becoming more and more important; this result in redefining business model. Today change is happening at a rate that does not afford organizations the luxury of managing one major change at a time. Today managers are facing two questions because of globalization, how does relentless change redefine the nature of management and the structure of an enterprise? And what role should management play in re-s haping the enterprise? Managing work force diversity: Because of globalization and open market system for business, management has to face diversity in work force. Now a days businesses are spread over different cities in various countries. Thus many times not only gender and age diversity, but cultural diversity becomes essential to manage work force. Basically heterogeneity of people becomes challenge for the managers because of variations in the ethics, motives and working culture. Improving quality and Productivity: Main problem for the management is to decide, what is to produce, how much is to produce and where is to be produce. Management has to decide either to produce different products or to emphasis on one product. Once deciding this, managers have to make sure that the quality of the product is good. It takes long time for the organization to create a market about the product; but if there is any lacuna in quality and productivity then because of high competition its become hard for the product to sustain in market. Improving customer service: Improving customer service is sometimes managers think they will get around to in time. But that time rarely comes. Changes in the requirements or changes in the taste of customers become hurdle in the improvement of customer service. To solve this issue many times managers try to set up scenarios that challenge employees and cover the full range of customer requests. At times management also keep two scenarios running parallel and asks employee to maintain balance. Along with above problems managing labor force is again a challenge for managers. Now days there is no unwritten contract of being loyal to an organization, because of this many employees seems to be fired from the organization or they leave the organization for getting good salary job. In the absence of contract between employee and organization, employee may decide to leave an organization in the middle of project work. This is very challenging situations for managers to deal with. To overcome these challenges managers have to modify the working culture. Managers need to be aware of the skills of their subordinates and people under them. Empowering of employees is the best way to get maximum output from them. People get bore because of routine work, then to get more output managers can make changes or innovations in the working style. Along with the challenges discussed above, managers have to make efforts to understand their employees. If managers are able to gel with their employees then only employee will be happy to work with the manager, and he/she will be ready to face or tackle the challenges faced by managers. By knowing employee managers will be in a position to understand the working capacity of employees and allocate the work accordingly. This will also help for the performance appraisal and to know liking of an employee about the job and the work allocated to him/her. Conclusion: Considering many changes in the working environment and globalization todays managers are facing many new challenges comparing to previous years. Todays managers are coming up with new ideas and theories about the challenges faced by them. Inflation and changing rates of foreign exchanges are also creating challenges to managements, to handle this managers have to come up with new innovative ideas. Introduction The shift from a manufacturing economy to a services economy from production of goods to production of ideas, and from the machine age to the information age has been accompanied by many transformations. Rather than producing goods, the service firms produce ideas. Organizations in the services era, such as software, financial services, and biotechnology firms, depend on intellectual capital. People create intellectual capital and are therefore, the most valuable asset of a firm. Even the environment within which firms conduct business today is very different and much more complex and dynamic when compared to the environment fifteen years ago. Firms no longer compete or operate nationally only. Organizations are no longer governed by the business, legal and political environment of their own nations only. As the world becomes one global playing field, the environmental changes in countries other than the home country of a firm affect business decision and the performance of firms. Se veral societal and global phenomena have challenged the management of human resources. Thus, changes in the economic, business, social and cultural environments have brought about a transformation in the HR function and the roles and responsibilities of HR professionals. Some of the significant environmental trends and changes faced by HR managers that pose major challenges are as follows: Trends in the business environment The changing nature of work Demographic, societal and work-force trends The changing nature of the employment relationship. Globalization of Business A major environmental change that has taken place in the last fifteen years is the globalization of business. The world has become a global village and business has become global in character. Organizations are venturing beyond national boundaries in the pursuit of business opportunities. Toyota Motor Corporation makes cars in USA and India, Mc Donalds sells burgers in India and hamburgers in China, and Marks and Spencers sells products in India. Every other product sold by Wal-Mart stores Inc. is made in India. This is the time when buildings are conceptualized in the US designed in India and built in China. Very recently, Ford Motor Co. (Ford) announced its plans to invest $ 1 billion in products and plants in the Asia-Pacific region in the next few years to maintain its presence in the fast-growing markets. Outsourcing has made India a Manufacturing hub, especially for the automobile sector; with cheap labour providing one of the competitive advantages. Government policy reforms and growth against an appreciating rupee have also facilitated this trend. Large numbers of manufacturing assembly jobs that require low skills have moved from the US and Western Europe to developing countries like China, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. Indias manufacturing and services companies invested $10 billion overseas in 2004. The top 15 Indian IT, software and related companies have invested mostly in developed countries. Like the IT and automobile industries, domestic hospital chains from India, such as Apollo Hospitals Group, Fortis Healthcare and Max Healthcare Institute Private Limited, also have ambitious expansion plans in markets as far away as the US, UK, Mauritius, and South-East Asia. Multinational corporations require employees who can adapt to different cultures, customs, social practices, values, economic and political systems and management approaches, who can work with other employees from differing backgrounds. This has caused new challenges for HR managers. The HRM function of a company must develop systems that will help individuals from different cultural backgrounds to work together. Human resource managers must ensure that employees with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and cultural adaptability are available so that they may be successful in global assignments. Foreign investment is no longer something that flows only from a developed country to a developing one. Indian companies are on an expansion drive. Indian business houses, like the Tata Group and firms like Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy), Wipro Limited (Wipro), Sun pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Crompton Greaves Limited, Asian Paints, and Cognizant Technology Solutions, have struck merger and acquisition deals world wide to become global players. Acquisitions by Indian companies have now become strategic in nature, by which they have been able to take leadership positions in Asia. The table 1.1 depicts major Human Resource Challenges faced by modern businesses in the present scenario. Table 1.1 Environmental Trends and Human Resource Challenges Sr. No. Environmental Trends Human Resource Challenges 1. Business Environment Globalization and increased competition Managing a global workforce. Ensuring availability of employees who have the skills for global assignments. Focusing increasingly on employee productivity to ensure competitiveness. Ensuring legal compliance when conducting business abroad. Mergers and Acquisitions Managing employee insecurity. Ensuring continued employee productivity. Developing HR initiatives to manage employee morale. Downsizing Managing organizational relationship with survivors Managing morale and commitment of survivors Providing outplacement services or relocation for employees who lose jobs. Providing personal and family counseling to employees who lose their jobs. 2. Changing Nature of Work Industry and Occupational shifts Managing workforce with flexible working patterns. Focusing on competencies during hiring process. Designing incentive based compensation. Developing proactive employee development programmes. Technological Advancements Managing a virtual workforce. Managing employee alienation. Developing training modules and conducting programmes to provide employees with required skills. Retraining current employees to mange obsolescence. Providing work-life balance initiatives. Outsourcing Manage employee concerns about losing jobs due to outsourcing. Managing employee morale and productivity. Flexible Work Arrangements Managing the loss of organizational control over work. Developing programmes for motivating the flexible workforce. Developing ways of ensuring commitment of the flexible workforce to the firm. 3. Demographic, Societal, and Workforce Trends Workforce Diversity Workforce Composition Devising customized HR strategies for hiring, retaining, and motivating employees belonging to different generations. Developing life-style driven perks for the new generation employees. Developing work-life balance programmes. Workforce Availability Ensuring the availability of skilled talent to fulfill organizational needs. Ageing population and workforce Finding replacement for retirees. Managing the demand-supply gap for qualified managerial talent due to a large retiring workforce. Developing mentoring programmes to ensure the skills of experienced mangers are passed on to new managers. Obsolescence training and retaining of older employees. Managing retirement policies. Conducting programmes to retain experienced employees. Educated and knowledge workforce Ensuring the continued supply of trained manpower. Training new hires. Partnering with universities and developing academic initiatives to meet projected shortage of skilled manpower. Training employees in computer skills, communication skills, and customer handling skills. Emphasizing re-training and development activities. Women in workforce Strategizing to attract and retain educated and skilled women workers. Conducting programmes for women who opt for career breaks. Providing facilities such as crà ¨ches, flexible working hours, etc. Changing family structures Developing work-life balance programmes. Global Workforce Developing diversity training programmes. Developing HR initiatives directed to workforce diversity. Identifying and training expatriate managers for overseas assignments. Developing equitable pay plans for individuals working in different countries. Contingent Workforce/workforce flexibility Developing systems to motivate the temporary workforce and elicit commitment from them Helping the temporary employees to quickly adapt to the organization to reach their full potential 4. Changing Nature of Employment Relationship Offering challenging jobs to employees. Managing rewards for enhancing employee performance. Providing opportunities for enhancing skills through training, development, and educational programmes. Developing programmes for employee commitment. Understanding value differences across different employee groups and customizing HR programmes. Source: Agarwala, Tanuja, Strategic Human Resource Management, Oxford Publication, 2007. Another recent change faced by HRM in the present business scenario is that of Mergers and Acquisitions. Companies today need to be fast growing, efficient, profitable, flexible, adaptable, and future-ready and have a dominant market position. Without these qualities, firms believe that it is virtually impossible to be competitive in todays global economy. In order to gain access to new markets and fresh ideas, companies often choose to grow via Mergers Acquisitions (MA) rather than concentrating their efforts on their own business activities. Such inorganic growth is often viewed as a faster way to achieve growth for the company. Especially in technology driven industries, where growth is often accelerated through increased innovations, and one way for the firms to compete is to align themselves with those companies that are developing the innovative technology. Such alignment is achieved through MA activities. Successful manifestation of such activities involves complex procedures and processes in order to integrate both organizations and align them as per a common unified objective. It has created certain problems for an organization. One of the problems associated with MAs is the retrenchment of staff that becomes surplus due to rationalization of operations. For example, in the financial services sector, MA activity between 1996 and 2006 caused an aggregate employment decline. Due to MA, sector experts predicted a loss of more than 300,000jobs in the banking sector between 1999 and 2002. When negotiations for MA are on, employees of the concerned firms are subject to several rumours that cause insecurity about the future. Thus, HRM is faced with several challenges before, during, and after the MA decision. In the present era, the competitive advantage of organizations is linked to knowledge. There is a lot of emphasis placed upon dissemination of knowledge, and knowledge workers within organizations. Therefore, there is an increased focus on management of the knowledge resource in organization. Thus, in the 21st century, the HRM function has a key role to play in shaping the competitive position of the organization. To compete effectively in the knowledge economy, a firm must have what Ulrich calls organizational capabilities.HRM plays an important role in creating, developing, and managing the organizational capabilities that are necessary for competing in the knowledge economy. Human resource mangers have to create effective teams within a diverse workforce; tap talent throughout the organization by recruiting, retaining, and developing people at all levels; build and integrate cultures as mergers and acquisitions become common; and develop employee commitment toward organizational v ision. Human resource management is confronted with major challenges in the present knowledge economy. Thus, HRM is no longer simply focused on managing people or confined to traditional HR functions rather; it is now responsible for managing the capabilities within the organization. The Table 1.2 given below elaborates upon the challenges facing HRM in the knowledge economy. The four major HRM roles in the Knowledge economy are as:- Human Capital Steward Knowledge Facilitator Relationship Builder Rapid Deployment Specialist Technology has had a tremendous impact upon the global business environment. Communication, transportation and production efficiency are various areas of business which have been enhanced by the development and improvement of technology. As continual enhancements are made, the world continues to grow smaller and businesses have further reach than ever. Computers The most important technological development to impact the global business environment is the world of computers. There are various programs which help maintain records of inventories and shipments. Email allows for instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the world. Besides its speed, email is easily forwarded and retained. The communication in the global business environment is improved with the use of email. The impact of computers on the global business environment is wide-ranging and also includes the Internet, which is a useful tool for international companies. By using the Internet, companies across the world can perform research and learn more about partners and suppliers. Conference Calls and Video Conferencing Conference calls allow people in multiple locations to be involved in the same conversation. Video conferencing provides the same service, but with the added benefit of all parties being able to actually see each other. Both of these forms of communication have a definite impact on the global business environment. With either form of technology, a parent company in Norway can have a conversation with a raw material supplier in Brazil and a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. This improves communication on a global scale and enables all parties to understand specific plans and agreements. Sponsored Links Import export Find quality suppliers on 20-23 Apr Register for free trade admission! www.hktdc.com Transportation The shipment of raw materials and finished products is absolutely vital to any business, but particularly those with an international scope. Transportation technology enables a company on one continent to send its raw materials or products to another company in a different continent. Technological advancements in airplanes, cargo ships and railways allow for quicker, cheaper delivery, which impacts business by making global distribution more feasible. Manufacturing Technology Increased efficiency of manufacturing plants has a certain impact on the global business environment. By having the capacity to produce materials and products more quickly and efficiently, a company is able to produce quantities needed to supply global demand. Robotic technologies and factory lines have enhanced the speed at which materials and products are manufactured. For a company to be a player in the global business field, it must be able to keep up with demand. Shipment Tracking Corporations now have the ability to track shipments virtually anywhere across the world. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow accurate tracking. The implication of this technology on the global business environment is the ability to let customers know exactly where their shipments are at any given time. This technology creates secure relationships within the global business field. Competitors fill a need for business owners by keeping them on the cutting edge. Without competitors, a business would have no reason to keep prices in check. It would create a monopoly which is never good in any society. When two competitors compete for business, the market (customers) are the ones who decide who they will patronize with their dollars. Prices are usually the first element people choose when deciding which business or product to go with. Competitors drive innovation and keep new ideas and procedures moving forward. Imagine if McDonalds were the only fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. There would never be a Burger King to compete. All food would taste bland and boring. Everyone is always looking to build a better mousetrap Many consumers and social advocates believe that businesses should not make a profit but also consider the social implications of their activities. We define social responsibility as a businesss obligation to maximize its positive impact minimize its negative impact on society. Although many people use the terms social responsibility and ethics interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Business ethics relates to an individuals or a work groups decisions that society evaluates as right or wrong, whereas social responsibility is a broader concept that concerns the impact of the entire businesss activities on society. From an ethical perspective, for example, we may be concerned about a health care organization or practitioner over- charging the provincial government for medical services. From a social responsibility perspective, we might be concerned about the impact that this overcharging will have on the ability of the health care system to provide adequate services for all c itizens. The most basic ethical and social responsibility concerns have been codified as laws and regulations that encourage businesses to conform to societys standards, values, and attitudes. At a minimum, managers are expected to obey these laws and regula- tions. Most legal issues arise as choices that society deems unethical, irresponsible, or otherwise unacceptable. However, all actions deemed unethical by society are not nec- essarily illegal, and both legal and ethical concerns change over time. Business law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the conduct of business. Many problems and conflicts in business can be avoided if owners, managers, and employees know more about business law and the legal system. Business ethics, social responsibility, and laws together act as a compliance system requiring that businesses and employees act responsibly in society. Business ethics are moral principles that guide the way a business behaves. The same principles that determine an individuals actions also apply to business. Acting in an ethical way involves distinguishing between right and wrong and then making the right choice. It is relatively easy to identify unethical business practices. For example, companies should not use child labour. They should not unlawfully use copyrighted materials and processes. They should not engage in bribery. However, it is not always easy to create similar hard-and-fast definitions of good ethical practice. A company must make a competitive return for its shareholders and treat its employees fairly. A company also has wider responsibilities. It should minimise any harm to the environment and work in ways that do not damage the communities in which it operates. This is known as corporate social responsibility. Codes of behaviour The law is the key starting point for any business. Most leading businesses also have their own statement of Business Principles which set out their core values and standards. In Anglo Americans case, this is called Good Citizenship. A business should also follow relevant codes of practice that cover its sector. Many companies have created voluntary codes of practice that regulate practices in their industrial sector. These are often drawn up in consultation with governments, employees, local communities and other stakeholders. Anglo American has played an active part in initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative. Anglo American has also contributed to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. This code sets out principles and practices for ensuring that a companys need to ensure the security of its employees and operations in volatile countries does not adversely impact upon the local population. Thus the Principles provide guidance on how both private and public security forces assigned to protect a mining operation or an oil and gas facility should be vetted, trained in human rights, monitored and controlled. Anglo American also aims to ensure that it plays a role in protecting the human rights of its employees and local people in countries in which it operates. The company supports the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All companies need to make a profit. However, Anglo American recognises that this objective must take account of ethics as shown in its statement on corporate responsibility: Though providing strong returns for our shareholders remains our prime objective, we do not believe that these can or should be achieved at the expense of social, environmental and moral considerations. Indeed a long-term business such as ours will only thrive if it also takes into account the needs of other stakeholders such as governments, employees, suppliers, communities and customers. Stakeholders An important process used by Anglo American is that of stakeholder engagement. This enables it better to understand the perspectives and priorities of external groups that are affected by its activities and to factor them into its decision-making processes. To support this work at a local level, Anglo American has developed a Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox or SEAT process. This toolbox helps managers to measure the impact of activities on the company and communities. It also helps to improve a mines contribution to development through, for example, using its supply chain needs to generate new businesses or to improve the water or electricity infrastructure. They use this toolbox to engage with stakeholders including community representatives. Sometimes communities have to be resettled, with government sanction, in order for important mineral deposits to be accessed. This can cause controversy and divisions in the communities concerned. International best practice sets out a number of key stages in such a process including the need for structured consultation, fair compensation and the importance of restoring and enhancing the livelihoods of people in their new locations. Recently Anglo American has had to undertake two such relocations in South Africa at the villages of Ga Pila and Motlhotlo. These were undertaken with the support of the provincial government and local tribal leadership and after consultation with local people lasting for several years leading to agreement with each householder. New villages have been built with better houses and infrastructure and more land for farming. The relocation programme was voluntary. The relocation programme at Motlhotlo is still under way but at Ga Pila 98% of those living in the old village took up the offer to move to the new village Read more: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/what-are-business-ethics.html#ixzz2K6s8ohJR Follow us: @Thetimes100 on Twitter | thetimes100casestudies on Facebook

Summary of KES :: essays research papers

KES Kes is a story of knowledge, of love and not just about a boy and his hawk, It shows the life of a boy from a poor family, and his struggle to get through his teenage years, a story of a boys life which was planned before he was even born. It all starts with a boy named Billy Casper, Billy is the central character in the play and some may say that he is no angel but is he really a villain? He may have nearly knocked Mr Porter of his ladder and he hits Jud when he’s drunk but all of his wrongdoings are never unprovoked, like when Jud steals Billy’s food and pushes him out the way whenever he’s in a hurry. Billy is bullied in school because of his size, as he is a lot smaller than all the other children, he is mistreated by his mother by his fellow peers and by his teachers, but not all his teachers, Mr Farthing is probably the only person that Billy trusts to be around Kes because, he understands, he understands that Billy isn’t the sharpest tool in the box and that his bird is the only thing that set’s him apart from all the other children in his school. Where many would have just given up trying to tame the bird, Billy has exceeded he is now confident enough to give a speech in front of the whole class because in his mind he is one thing that all the other boys aren’t, he is unique. The story is set in a run down Yorkshire mining town where the best job you can get is ending up down dingy old, dark shaft mining. Billy’s family is broken. Jud, mum and Billy constantly bicker and bully each other. Billy realises that most of his problems come from home and the fact that no one supports him, everything started to go wrong for Billy when his dad left and all we hear about him is that â€Å" He ere a wrong en †. There is no one to provide support for Billy –the only person who does is Mr Farthing. Billy loves Kes and she becomes part of his family. It is doubly cruel that Kes is killed by Jud, who should know how much the bird meant to Billy. Family life then is not always happy, but it’s possible to survive, yet it affects people’s behaviour and attitudes.

Significance of Black Madonna

Notwithstanding its sociological, historical, literary and religious significance to the life of many people in different parts of the world, the origin and essence of the Black Madonna which serves as the holy icon of the Virgin Mary and Poland's national symbol remains to be a debate to many people as far as the history, literature and religion are concerned. The presence of Black Madonna are widespread all across the country and they are mostly found insidethe churches and cathedrals and they all point towards the image of Mary and the Christ.This image may have been formed centuries ago but its historical significance and importance travelled and withstood the test of time. The word Madonna originated from Italy which means â€Å"our lady†. Thie term connotes a title of respect for the Virgin Mary and it is often applied to works of art, most especially to the mother andchildimagewhich is popularly known as Madonna and Child . Religion tells that Black Madonna is the repre sentation of the image of Virgin Mary which was tested by times that is why it was transformed into its today's black image.Also, church leaders claim that Black Madonna has noting to do with the Culture of the African-Americans. It is stated, nevertheless, that the Black Madonnas became black they were greatly influenced by the cultures and traditions of the Black Americans. The icon transformed into black because it was affected by the place where most of these images can be found. On the other hand, history and literature dictate that Black Madonna is the changed representation of the early statues of the African Goddess Isis and her son Horus which greatly influenced most of the religions of the world today.Society has associated the color black with something negative but in the past, this was not the case. For instance, black was connected with fertility and growth and it is good to think of it not as a color bt as an absence of color. From this perspective, the Black Madonna became an icon for inclusion. She became a guide and a comfort for people from all walks of life and race. In terms of psychology, darkness represents somethin unknown to consciousness and more often than not, thse gifts involve qualities of the females like intuition and emotion.It must be born in mind that the term feminine does not necessarily refer to the female specie because both sexes have masculine and feminine qualities. With this in mind, it can be said that the Black Madonnas symnolize transformation because this image helps people discover their inner gifts and assists them in bringing those gifts into the surface . Amid these numerous explanations from the different perspectives in the society, until today, there are no clear and definite position on the real origin of the Black Madonna which is believed to be the representation of Virgin Mary.Even though the different claims seem to contradict each other with regards to the origin of the icon or image, the Black Madonn a is considered to be one of the most influential religious icon to most of the people in the present generation. The origin of Black Madonna A Black Madonna may refer to an icon, painting, fresco or sculpture of Virgin Mary which is usually found in churches, sanctuaries and chapels. It is also called as Black Virgin since Mary is portrayed with dark or black skin.Some believe that this portrayal of Virgin Mary was originated from the culture of the Black Americans since many of these Black Madonnas were found in the areas with large black populations such as in the United States. Some claim that the color of these images have no significance or value since they were only repainted by black color after being restored to its original pale-skinned coloring brought by the age of time. Nevertheless, amidst its sociological, historical and religious significance to many parts of the world, the origin of the Black Madonna still remains a question left unanswered to many of its devotees.S ome of the famous Black Virgin shrines, which we usually see in the cathedrals and churches, are Loreto, Zaragoza, Chartes, Rocamadour, Guadalupe and Montserrat . Black Madonnas are found throughout the world including Belgium, Croatia, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Sicily, Spain, Switzerland and the United States . The first â€Å"Black Madonna and Child† portraits and statues were believed to be from Isis and Horus . Isis was a black African goddess from Nile Valley civilizations whose worship diffused to most of ancient civilizations.Before the first Egyptian dynasty, Isis was worshiped by the Nubians for more than 300 years. It is believed that Isis religion had a lot of similarities to the to the world's religions which include Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. For instance, Horus, the son of Isis, was from a virgin mother's immaculate conception and said to walk on water like Jesus Ch rist. The husband of Isis named Osiris was also resurrected, like Jesus, after he was murdered. When other religions became popular, the â€Å"Black Madonna and Child† statues of Isis and Horus were not destroyed but their names were only changed.For example, Isis and Horus were changed to Devaki and Krishna in Hinduism or Maya and Buddha in Buddhism. The Japanese called Isis as Kwannon while Chinese changed the name to Kwa-yin. In the 1985 book of Ean Begg entitled The Cult of the Black Virgin, there were 450 identified images of the Black Virgin and Child in Europe with 190 statues in France only. Because of the dominating influence of the Isis religion, it is believed that the African goddess had significant contributions to the civilization of the continent.For instance, Paris is actually believed to be named after Isis since Para-Isis signifies â€Å"Place of Isis†. Likewise, Note Dame which means â€Å"Our Lady† is a manifestation that the cathedral of the Catholics is nothing but more than as enlargement of the temple of Isis in the ancient civilizations . Some also believe that Black Virgin, aside from its resemblance to the portrayal of Isis and Horus of the ancient Egyptians, has the strong connection to the medieval Knights Templar and Mary Magdalene .For instance, the famous Black Virgin – la Madone des Fenestres which means â€Å"The Madonna of the Windows† was believed to have folk traditional significance since the place where this statue was believed to be a place where many Templars were massacred. Some associate Black Madonnas with African-American cultures. Nevertheless, church literature strongly denies this claim since church officials insist that the Madonnas became black because of the smoke from candles and dirt and eventually because of the old age of the statues .Meanwhile, the Black Madonna in Southern Provencal tradition is associated with the patron of the Gypsies called St. Lara . The patron sain t is considered to be the black assistant who accompanied the three Marys to France when they escaped from the Holy Land after Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, during 1934, an icon of the Virgin Mother and Child was brought to the Pauline monastery of Jasna Gora or the â€Å"Bright Mountain† in Western Poland. The icon was said to be donated by the Prince of Opole in Silesia. Some told that the icon was painted by St. Luke on boards from table of the Holy Family in Nazareth.And the face of the said icon is black . There are other countless theories about the origin of the Black Madonnas or Black Virgins but until today, there is no concrete explanation about the history or origin of the now famous image in the religious sectors of the world. There are many who look at Black Madonna in relation to some of the goddesses know to men like Kali of India, Hecate and Medusa of Greece and Isis of Egypt. These grounds generates a spiritual as well as a psychological substance t hat raises the Black Madona to a level of great importance and significance in the modern world .Today, the statues of Isis and Horus are now called Mary and Jesus and there are millions of pilgrims who are visiting the Black Madonna shrines since they are believed to be miraculous to the devotees. Some claim that the statues can help heal towns of plague, make infertile women pregnant, bring back dead babies to life, save countries from war and the like. One of the obvious testimonies of the miracle from the Black Virgin in Poland was the experience of Pope John Paul II when he prayed to the statue for his recovery from his gun shot wound .After the miracle happened to Pope John Paul II, several miraculous events were credited after the Black Virgins including saving Poland from Russia in 1769. In fact, in 1968, the Black Madonna shrine in Poland received over 66, 000 thank you letters for healing and other miraculous events . The meaning of Black Madonna Theories about the definit ion of darkness of the figure and mystery behind the dark image have been established everywhere. What Black Madonna represents is not an easy question to answer.There is a tendency that one answer may lead to several more questions which demand plenty more explanations. One of the possible reasons for this dilemma lies in the difficulty of consciously incorporating the feminine aspect of life in a particular culture and most especially, a darker side of it. Another reason is the characteristic and nature of the dark feminine itself which clearly defies any attempt to generate limits as to what she really represents. However, no matter what many people may say and observe, the Black Madonna mirrors herself in the personal as well as collective lives of the people.This dark side generates intimations to the most essential of meanings through the use of images, literature, works of arts and even dreams . It is noteworthy to mention that the word black can be a misnomer for some of the Madonnas because not all of them are color black in its literal sense, some of them are painted with different shades of black. The original artists of many Black Madonnas are lost in time but most people know that the most powerful representations of the Black Madonna were made during the 11th and 12th centuries.The Shrines of the Black Madonnas are often located in the seat of great power and in the locations where the earth emits energies. From a religious perspective, the Black Madonna represents the honor and devotion of the female form. Christ, the center of Christianity is a male and it was from Mary that the church found a representative of the female specie towards divinity . Theories about the meaning of Black Madonna are often connected to the image of pre-Christian ideas and their religions.Because the Madonna and Child looks like the Egyptian images of Isis and Horus, there is a possibility that the dark skin of the Black Madonnas may be a referene to the Egyptian root s of the image. The Dark-Skinned madoonas may likewise be based on other pre-Christian figures. There are also other theories that the Black Madonnas were made as a representation of a mother or a feminine figure by using earthly tones. This theory suggests that the light-skinned Madonnas depict purity and chastity while another theory holds that the Black Madonnas were intended to bea historically accurate imageof a Semitic woman from the Middle East named Mary.There are some historians who said that the Black Madonnas were conceptualized after Middle Ages because during these times, the light-skinned images were the norm but regardless of what the case maybe, the Black Madonnas captured the attention of believers and non-believers for centuries . During the Victorian society, there was a time when the black female writers seemed to lean towards binding their female characters in an image of chastity because they want to overcomea heritage of concubinage.The women then were portray ed as either a martyr or a saint and in the attempt of the writers such as Harriet Jacobs and Frances Harper to remove the stereotype of a sinful woman, they robbed the personalities of their characters of their sexual identity thereby makingthem pure and holy much like the Virgin Mary. This situation combined with the gender dilemma becomes a double jeopardy. According to Faith Pullin, the black woman faces a painful situation of the double strain of being a woman in a dominant male society and being black amidst the racial discrimination.Novels about the early African American women talks abou the situation of double jeopardy for black women. These women are marginalized by race and gender. According to the notions of the period during that time, the true woman is a character of virtue like Madonna: pure, pious and submissive . Some theologians say that Black Madonna represents diversity. The femininity and the blackness of the Black Madonna calls men towards gender and racial div ersity. This figure calls for uniformity of the masculine and feminine sex, the combination of the white and the dark goddess in order for the wholeness and unity can arise amidst the diversity.The Black Madonna may be interpreted as a symbolism of man in the form of a metaphor as men moves towards the newreality of the modern wornd. The survival of men in this age will depend on their willingness to appreciate and understand the unity amidst the diversity . Conclusion There are plenty of images of Black Madonna that exist worldwide. Reports showthat at one time, there may have been more than 500 images that are mostly in Europe and France. In today's world, there are many people whose interest in the Black Madonna's have increased over the years.Some of her most popular incarnations are found in countries from all over the globe in the form of literature, art and paintings. The Black Madonna may mean many things to many people but everyone must bear in mind that this image serves a s a powerful reminder of the inspiration that it brought to the society. In her image, many people found their comforter, guide and power. She has been and always will be the feminine side of men that will never fail to shed light during trying times. Bibliography Davies, Norman. Europe: a history. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.Dickson, Elinor, Woodman, Marion. Dancing in the Flames: The Dark Goddess in the Transformation of Consciousness. Toronto: Canada Publishing, 1996. Faqs. org. â€Å"Madonna, Religious†. Faqs. org. http://www. faqs. org/childhood/Ke- Me/ Madonna-Religious. html (Accessed May 6, 2010). Foster, Nikki. â€Å"What is Black Madonna? †. WiseGeek. com. http://www. wisegeek. com/ what-is-a-black-madonna. htm (Accessed May 6, 2010). Gustafson, Fred. The Black Madonna. USA: Daion Verdag, 2008. Kaiser, Laurie. â€Å"The Black Madonna: Notions of True Womanhood from Jacobs to Hurston†. South Atlantic Review, 2008, 60 (), 97-09.

Fast Food Essay

Junk food is being blamed for causing many undesirable problems to children. It is referred to any food that is low nutritional value such as instant noodles, potato chips and chocolate bars. Takeaway foods, pre-packaging meals and sugary snack food are also included as junk food (Trab 2005). In response to the problem, I strongly believe that the sale of junk food should be banned. The first reason why junk food should be banned is because it causes behavioral problems in children (Caputo 2005). Most of them contain chemical additives to enhance flavor and colour and to increase shelf life. Furthermore, junk food has a lot of flavor as it is typically high in fat, salt, or sugar and commonly containing synthetic flavor enhancer (Smith 2005). These additives have been shown to cause the behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and pour concentration. Based on a research, it is proven that junk foods are often loaded with chemical additives which can trigger behavioral problems (Caputo 2005). Secondly, junk food is to be said as the major contributor to litter problems. The fast food packaging causes litter problems which is a safety and health hazard, increases cleaning costs and reflects bad image to our communities (Smith 2005). Cans, crisp packets, cartons and plastic container are among of them and are everywhere (Green 2005). By reducing the sale of junk foods, litter problem in schools can be redressed (Smith 2005) as many junk foods are sold in school canteen. As a result of the reduction, the school grounds man doesn’t have to spend so long cleaning and has more time to spend on maintenance projects that benefit the school (Green 2005). Lastly, junk foods need to be banned because they are unhealthy diet because they are lack in nutritional value (Health Foundation 2005). The nutritional value of food eaten by Australian children has been falling progressively over the past 30 years and this can be linked directly to the increased availability and consumption of junk food (Tran 2005). Examples of the junk food that is low in nutritional value are biscuits, cookies, chips.

Ford Motor Company Case Study Essay Example

Ford Motor Company Case Study Essay Example Ford Motor Company Case Study Paper Ford Motor Company Case Study Paper Ford Motor Case Study Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Issue Identification Environmental and Root Cause Analysis Alternatives and Options Recommendations Implementation Monitor and Control Exhibits 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 12 13 After reviewing Ford Motor supply chain, we became aware of its very complex nature. Due to this complexity we are forced to search for alternatives to overcome the costly supply chain challenges faced by our industry both now and in the future. The present system has an inefficient control of a large database and a vast and complex network of suppliers. We need to change our supply chain in order to make it more cost effective and profitable. After careful analysis we recommend the implementation of a partial virtual integration system, similar to the system used by Dell Computers. With this system, Ford will use information technology and the internet to interact and transact with both their suppliers and their customers. Ford can increase their sales by providing better customer service and faster communication from the supply end through to the manufacturing division and right on to their end user, the customer. This system will be implemented with their xisting supply chain so Ford will cover both markets at the same time. If Ford concentrated only on the virtual system their competition would put them out of business, so by running both systems simultaneously will give them an edge over their competition. Ford Motor Company is the second largest industrial corporation in the world with revenues of more than $144 billion and about 370,000 employees. Their operations span more than 200 countries worldwide. The company has both the design and manufacturing of cars division and they have a financial services division. : Significant evenues and profits are realized in both divisions. The automobile industry has grown very competitive over the last two decades with not only competition being felt from the other two US automakers, General Motors and Chrysler, but also from foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Nissan. The industry is also facing an increasing over-capacity as developing nations realize the wealth and Job-producing effects of automobile manufacturing, and are encouraged to develop and expand their own export auto industries. The main issue with Ford is the management of their large data base of business artners, in particular their first tier suppliers and their second tier suppliers. When we compare Ford to Dell (See Exhibit 1) we realize that Dell only has about 50 suppliers, but Ford has thousands of suppliers that operate in a very complex network of business relationships. Each Dell computer system is made up of less than a hundred parts, whereas an automobile requires several thousand parts. In addition, where Dell sells directly to the consumer, Ford has a large number of dealerships who are spread through a large geographical area throughout the world. To manage both the suppliers and consumers in a single supply chain is a challenge for Ford. Ford is constantly looking for new ways to better control and to manage its supply chain in a more productive and cost effective way. Another issue faced by Ford is the lack of technology in their first tier business partners. This lack of technology makes it difficult for these suppliers to keep up with Fords demands. It results in a bottle neck situation for the supply chain. This lack of IT technology results in miscommunication and poor coordination between the suppliers which ay result in longer lead times, higher costs and other problems. Because Ford has used independent dealers to sell their vehicles, they dont have control on their end users, the customers. This lack of control, plus the dealers markups, has negatively impacted their ability to control the consumers service experience. Root Cause Analysis Fords main business is the production and distribution of vehicles. Ford also earns substantial revenues and profits from their financial division. These two divisions have resulted in net incomes of over $7 billion and a return on sales of 4% which is rending upward. These results show that Ford has a strong market and financial position. In order to increase their global share, Ford teamed with Chrysler and General Motors to work on the Automotive Network Exchange which aimed to create consistency in technology standards and processes in the supplier network, so that suppliers would not have to manage different means of interaction with each automobile manufacturer. These actions have enabled these American manufacturers to produce better quality vehicles at a reduced cycle time and lower costs due to economies of scale. Ford merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 and in 1999 Ford also acquired Volvo. These mergers have increased Fords database of suppliers substantially. This has also made their supply chain even more complex and expensive to run and even more difficult to manage. In order to manage these supply chain issues, Ford implemented their Ford 2000 plan, which worked to restructure many of Fords key processes like Order to Delivery and Ford Production System. Their goal was to reduce OTD from 60 or more days, down to less than 15 days. They wanted to convert their supply chain from a push type toa pull type (See Exhibit 2). Fords goal was also to reduce the number of their suppliers and in turn create a more cost effective supply chain. Ford worked with their suppliers to help them better manage their own operations. Another initiative started by Ford was the Ford Retail Network which aims to reduce competition among its own dealerships in the same areas, by having one unified dealer who provides the best possible service to their customers. Our decision now is to either implement Dells supply chain model or not! There are a number of approaches we can take to improve our supply chain. We ould design a system that is a mixture of both an online system and our tradition dealership system. We would have to form procedures to enable customization and ordering by customers over the internet, but we would also have to maintain our traditional dealerships as well. The advantages of this two type system would be the customers would have the ability to customize their own vehicles. This would be basically building a vertically integration business model. This would open new markets and attract clients who prefer to shop online. The disadvantages of this system would be the cost. It would be time consuming and require both internal and external changes with would be difficult to handle and integrate with existing systems. Also the independent dealerships would most likely complain that their own supplier is now a competitor for their customers. Also if Fords own suppliers do not have the abilities to keep up with the speed of Fords IT system, there would be cause for more problems. Another option would be to create a virtually integrated system based on Dells model. Ford and all their suppliers would share information between their systems and the internet to coordinate the flow of materials and roduction. The orders would be taken either by phone or on the internet. Basically Ford would be creating a complete pull system. The advantages of this option would be the same as the first option, the customers would have the ability to customize their own vehicles. The customers requirements are met faster with higher profits being realized due to the elimination of the dealers mark up. Also Ford would be able to directly control the customer service. They would have minimal inventory carrying costs and higher order lead times. They would also improve their ability forecast demand. There would also be an improved relationship with both the customer and the supplier. The disadvantages would be that Ford would have to change their traditional processes and production methods in order to take advantage of this new form of supply chain management. This would definitely be a more risky option due to the costly and time consuming processes. Another problem would be the loss of dealerships, which may also result in this traditional shopping customer going to the competition. Our recommendation would be to implement the first option outlined in the Alternatives and Options, which is to extend its virtual business strategy by mplementing a partial version of the Dell model of supply chain management. The dealers would still play a role in the distribution since the experience of buying a car from a dealership cannot be replaced by something virtual like an online system like Dells. Combining the virtual integration model to their existing supply chain will ensure that Ford has a more efficient and profitable future. Their overhead and inventory costs will decrease, and Ford will be in a better position to interact with their customers. Most importantly the success of this recommendation will mainly depend on the performance of the shareholder value. Implementation Plan In order for Ford to implement this new system, their IT systems should be centralized and shared with their suppliers. Since its tier two and tier three suppliers may not be able to update their IT systems, Fords sharing of their system will aid the suppliers to implement this new virtual system. Suppliers would have access to central design database while Ford controls the access and functionality as per their operational requirements. The IT system would ensure a smooth flow of supplies and reduce any congestion and improve the efficiency of the supply chain nd more importantly, give Ford a competitive edge. The dealerships can play a more involved role by forecasting customer demand and Ford should involve an outside company to help them with the forecasting demand and work with each dealer. In order for the new system to function properly Ford must have an IT specialist to coordinate all IT activities with the suppliers in order to ensure a smooth flow of information between the supply chain partners. This IT specialist should resolve any issues as soon as they arise. Lead times on all online orders should be monitored egularly to ensure that the time trom the customer order to delivery is being met at the predetermined optimum time. Another way to monitor the performance of the system is to start an online customer satisfaction program where the customers can evaluate and rate their experience with Ford. The new system should be review semi-annually to ensure the ideal performance is being met, and if not, make recommendations on improvements to senior management. It is also important to ensure the shareholder value is increasing. This could be done through annual meetings with all executives to review the progress of the new system.