Saturday, August 31, 2019

Pan Europa Essay

Background Pan Europa Foods is company, located in Brussels, Belgium, producing high-quality ice cream, yogurts, bottled water and fruit juices. Its products are sold throughout Scandinavia, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, western Germany and northern France. In January 1993, the senior-management committee of Pan-Europa Foods must decide which major projects to fund for that year. The available funds for implementation is set as 80 million euros. However various managers, have proposed projects totalling 208 million euro. Capital rationing has been identified as the main problem that the management of the company has to deal with. The management has to identify projects that would best achieve benefits of strategic importance. Problem statement According to case there is no evidence that projects would be proposed with some alignment to any strategy, mission or vision. There are only few criteria defined that projects should apply to, like Minimum Payback period, expected IRR, etc. There is no strictly defined project selection methodology in place. The project selection is based on the discussions and voting by the seven managing directors. The financial tests were the payback period and internal rate of return, which meant that the time value of money was ignored. Analysis The current funding for Pan Europa is mainly rooted in debt financing – debt-to-equity ratio is 125%, that is more higher than most of they peers have. After price war is over, Pan Europa bankers strongly recommended to reduce debt level significantly. Therefore company should pay attention on actions how to decrease capital spending. There might be several finance based methods for project evaluation in place, like NPV, Annuity (due to project characteristics), IRR, etc. And the results for evaluation might differ significantly. Like, if we are looking for long term activities, then, using annuity calculation we will find that preferred project would be the Strategic Acquisition. Projects sorted by this figure would be: Strategic Acquisition Eastward Expansion Snack Foods Southward Expansion Inventory Control System Artificial Sweeteners New Plant Expanded Plant Automation Conveyor System Expand Truck Fleet Effluent Treatment Program (which has no NPV) While the Effluent Treatment Program has no formal NPV it can be considered an investment of 4M now to save a cost of 10M in 4 years. In fact, there are many aspects that could invalidate the simple NPV analysis of the projects. They include Risk Political considerations Regulatory issues including health, safety and environmental Incompatibility with corporate strategy Resource availability Strictly speaking there are no ‘must to do’ projects on the desk. Water treatment project (Effluent Treatment) is upcoming in nearest future. But right now there is no evidence that this project has to be started right now. The new regulation might come in 4 years, but might be postponed as well. Of course this project shouldn’t be forgotten. All existing project might be split in a following sections: Increase efficiency Extension (either new plant building or new market capturing) R&D Regarding risk assessment, Projects that involve small technology changes like expanding the truck fleet would have low risk. Increasing levels of technological sophistication such as automation or introducing artificial sweeteners into products would also increase implementation risks. From financial perspective as the risk area we should consider that any producer in a capitalist environment is attempting to increase markets with new products in new areas. The prospective customers may simply choose to not buy the product. There are many risks regarding project implementation itself, like project size, complexity and length of the period of return, etc. Meanwhile tangible risks, there are several aspects, like correlation between several projects. For instance market expansions will come together with necessity to increase ability to deliver goods to consumers location (most probably truck fleet upgrade will be required). All projects mentioned in case are evaluated against financial figures, but besides  financial aspects, there are several non-quantitative points included. Projects that impact the company’s regulator compliance such as effluent treatment (environment) and warehouse automation safety. Several of the projects could impact the company’s image. For example, the focus on low fat products (artificial sweetener project) might increase companies reputation. Prospective Project evaluation should be done based on several factors. One of the most important points is financial benefits evaluation. There might be following characteristics taken in account for evaluation: Does the project fits in corporate strategy? Expected cost level, does it exceeds Tolerable Cost Value. Maximum payback period analysis. IRR evaluation, does the project meet minimum IRR? Risk analysis – does the project incur high risk? Financial characteristics were chosen due to significant information presence in case. Besides financial aspects several other might be taken in consideration, for instance – social factors (staff treatment), then company would focusses more on projects improving environment for labor force. Applying screens and criteria mentioned above and strictly following companies internal rules, the following projects would be eliminated outright: Truck Fleet upgrade because it does not meet the minimum IRR and exceeds the maximum payback period dictated by company policy. New Plant, Plant Expansion, Artificial Sweetener and Plant Automation all because they exceed the maximum payback period dictated by company policy. Strategic Acquisition would be eliminated due to excessive risk.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Human Progress is Indeed Slow Essay

In the world today, people like to believe that they have evolved into societies of equality, justice, and fairness. Yet around the world there are many ‘modern’ societies that still treat women as second-class citizens. This is clearly evident in the novel Princess, the story of women in Saudi Arabia, introduced through the life of a Saudi Arabian Princess. Jean Sasson was asked by Princess Sultana to use her life to exhibit to the Western World how primitive customs still determine women’s roles in the Saudi society. In Princess, Sasson argues that lack of change in Saudi Arabian society is the cause of men’s mistreatment of women through her repetition and severe imagery. Throughout the novel, Sasson continually uses multiple synonyms of the term ‘public’ to emphasize the idea that society is the ruling force of the country. As various situations are described, Sasson uses several forms of this term for Sultana’s reactions, which emphasizes the importance of public input in Saudi life. The first appearance of this term is shown as Sultana talks about the beating of local wife and the response it receives. She says, â€Å"it is never the fault of the man in the Middle East†¦public congratulations are given from the man of the region for the fathers â€Å"notable† act of upholding the commands of the Prophet† (Sasson 46). Sasson uses the term â€Å"public† to show the reader that acts like this are socially acceptable. By focusing on this term, Sasson shows the reader how universal and unrestricted mistreatment towards women is. The word ‘upholding’ makes this oppression seem as though it is a recognized and encouraged practice that women have very little chance of avoiding because of society’s approval. Sasson shows that women must learn and keep their place in society because the public will always find women at fault, and defend the men. Sasson demonstrates how Saudi men are certainly the prominent sex in Saudi Arabia, but it is the public that gives them their power by allowing and even supporting their behaviors. Sasson then looks at a synonym of ‘public’, ‘social order’, to demonstrate the idea of ‘us versus them’, with ‘us’ being Saudi women and ‘them’ being the society at large. As Sultana begins to understand that she will be forced to fight for equality, the idea that the public will keep her in her place surfaces. She says, â€Å"I had no doubt that my life as a woman would be a perpetual struggle against the social order of my land† (Sasson 64). By changing the idea of ‘public’ to ‘social order’, Sasson creates this sense of a group that is in charge of the Saudi Arabian world. By incorporating ‘order’ into society, it makes reader feel as though there is a specific structure or classification that everyone in Saudi society must follow. It shows the reader that there are rules, though they may be harsh or unfair, that must be followed to maintain the integrity and sustainability of Saudi Arabia. By using the word ‘perpetual’, Sasson focuses on the idea that women will always have to battle against the system that gives men their power to keep women repressed. Throughout Princess, Sasson shows the reader how society is a dominating force and that it would first have to change before any other change comes about. To further broaden her idea of the Saudi Arabian public, Sasson uses the word ‘culture’ so that the reader gains an idea of how much influence the public has over its people. Very early in the novel, Sultana reflects on the history of her country and how it differs from many other sophisticated countries throughout the world. She says, â€Å"From my reading, I know most civilized successors of early cultures smile at the primitive ignorance of their ancestors† (Sasson 5). Sasson makes a jab at Saudi society, making them appear to be uncivilized and primitive. Rather than moving beyond the ignorance of past cultures, she represents Saudis embracing the old, obsolete, and nascent ideas. By including that cultures today ‘smile’ at the past, Sasson makes it seem like other countries in the modern world are amused by how old-fashioned Saudi Arabia still is. Again she points out to the reader that it is the Saudi public that instills men’s basis for their interactions with women. Sasson insets this observation very early in the novel in order to distill the idea that while most civilized countries have progressed beyond how their ancestors lived, Saudi Arabia is still living the way they always have, with men in total control. Sasson also continually uses the term ‘tradition’ to emphasize the continuation of customs in Saudi society. As Sasson looks into the life of her main character, she continually uses this term negatively to emphasize how it is the fault of these traditions that causes the unhappiness of Saudi women. She muses, â€Å"I was beginning to entertain the notion that some women might be happy in my land, in spite of traditions that do not belong in a civilized society† (124). Sasson uses tradition in an unorthodox way by making the readers see it as something damaging. Tradition in this case is not a happy family custom or religious ritual, rather it is an unfortunate habit of society that causes the discontent of Saudi women. Sasson also uses the idea that these traditions keep Saudi Arabia from becoming a civilized nation. She makes it appear that their civilization continues to exist in a world without advancement, education, or refinement. In order for women to achieve a level of happiness in their homeland, the customs and ideas must first change. Sasson includes this reflection to show the reader that by maintaining the same traditions for centuries, it is hindering women’s progress and allowing the continuance of a male dominated society. Another instance of this use of ‘tradition’ occurs when Sasson describes the process Sultana has to endure before her wedding. Even on what is supposed to be the happiest day of a woman’s life, Sultana still has to fight against the traditions of her society; â€Å"Muslims are equipped with hot water and soap†¦we no longer had to use dirt for such purposes. I loudly pronounced that if the Prophet could speak in this new age of modern amenities, I knew he would end such silly traditions† (Sasson 128). Sasson again incases the idea of tradition with something primitive. She makes them seem barbaric and crude, rather than modern. Her usage of Saudi Arabia’s holy man and the idea that even he would oppose the current practices emphasizes that they are archaic and unsophisticated. By referring to the traditions as ‘silly’, Sasson appears to be laughing at them, showing they are subject to mockery. She points out to the reader that regardless of how long a tradition may have been enacted in society, some need to be disbanded for the benefit and improvement of its people. Sasson inserts this outburst by Sultana to show the reader how ridiculous she finds the traditions of the land, and that even their highest religious leader would feel the same were he alive. As always, primitive customs determine women’s roles in Saudi society. Sasson uses imagery to further explain the idea that the people of Saudi Arabia are fixed as a society and there is little effort to change. These images are used to convey a picture as to how Saudi society is unchanging in its ways. Sasson shows the idle nature of Saudi society as she describes her reaction to arranged marriages; â€Å"This one issue alone proved that we Saudis were like uninspired mules; we trod the same weary track as the mules before is even if it led us to plunge off a cliff† (Sasson 128). As she describes this scene, the reader can see the repetitiveness and monotony that keeps any sort of change from reaching the women in Saudi Arabia. Describing people as ‘mules’ helps the reader to visualize the idea that Saudi people have no choice in what they do; it shows that their paths are simple and obstinate. Referencing an animal also makes the Saudi people seems like a less developed race. The uses of ‘trod’ and ‘weary’ show the reader how indifferent and oppressed Saudi women are within their society. She adds the phrase ‘plunge off a cliff’ so the reader can clearly see the detrimental effects of having a fixed path. This imagery allows the readers to see the people of Saudi Arabia trudging one behind another with no hope but to fall into the void their society has created. Sasson shows the reader that Saudi society seems comfortable in its ways and is unwilling to change. Another instance of this imagery occurs when Sasson describes Sultana’s life with her husband. As a married woman, Sultana has to follow both how society expects her to live, as well as her husband; â€Å"Our lives were fixed on a carefully charted course† (Sasson 154). This imagery allows the reader to see that it is not just the women who are expected to live a certain way, but the men as well. Sasson uses ‘carefully’ to make it seem as though someone sat and attentively determined the best way for couples to live. A ‘charted course’ helps the reader to see that couples have a blueprint for their life together; it’s as though they are on a voyage that is steering them in the proper direction. Society has established a specific way for its people to live, and they are expected to stay within the customary confinements. Again, Sasson instills this idea that Sultana is stuck, unable to move toward progress for women, emphasizing that she can do nothing but follow those before her. Sasson further uses imagery to show the consequences of falling out of the line society has created. When a friend of Sultana tries to fight against the rules that oppress her, society is there to keep her in her place; â€Å"A woman who had embodied the life and hope of our land, a women now living in utter blackness, without sight or sound to sustain her life† (Sasson 194). Sasson uses the term ‘blackness’ to illustrate that the girl was isolated and her life was in ruin. The ending clause allows the reader to visualize the complete solitude that this woman endured because she tried to change the set outcome of her life. From the ending clause, the reader can sense the hope this woman had and the desolation created from it. Sasson’s use of ‘embodied’ makes it seen that a single girl is holding the hope for a better life for women, yet that hope is being erased. By embodying life and hope, it indicates to the reader how important one woman’s actions can be for so many others. Society is determined to stamp out all of the women that do not follow the roles that have been assigned to them. Sasson demonstrates for the reader how women see hope for social change while men feel the danger of any change in a society that differs from the way it has always been. Through the novel, Sasson exposes the causes of mistreatment brought upon Saudi Arabian women in the form of cultural immobility. Her language in the text demonstrates how years of societal reinforcement has led to Saudi men’s rationality for treating women as a lower class of people. Sasson uses synonyms of the term ‘public’ throughout the text to remind the reader that this term is an underlying cause of women’s mistreatment. The usage of the term ‘tradition’ with a negative connotation helps the reader to understand that practices of the past are not always practical in present day and can deter social progress. She uses severe imagery to display the mindlessness of blindly following past generations. Sasson uses these tools to express that men’s oppression of women is due to the stagnant nature of Saudi society. Works Cited Sasson, Jean. Princess. Marietta, GA: Windsor-Brook Books, LLC: 2001. Print.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Challenges of Recruitment Processes Samples

Google, an American company with multinational presence and specializing in products and services relating to the internet, was founded by the duo of Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. It is one of the most desired workplaces in the world, and that has been magnified by the production of a recruitment video that seeks to provide prospective applicants with a sneak peek into what it entails to work for the organization. One of the key messages from the video about google as an employer is, life at the organization is about more than just work. For example, there are recreational facilities for employees. The fact is, it is not just about productivity, but also, the experience is meant to be pleasant. The other key message is, ‘things happen,' implying that there is fast decision making with regard to whether projects will be approved or not. One of the interviewed engineers stated that ideas are approved at a faster rate i.e. on the order of weeks, months or less in comparison to the institutions that they worked for earlier. Also, there are certain qualities that are rooted for by the company when recruiting. They encompass the following: individuals with ambitious ideas, fast responses to requests, big achievers, passionate about projects, high energy levels, a good understanding of the product base and commitment to clients (Google Inc, 2006). Hence, employees are surrounded by bright and enthusiastic colleagues, working on interesting problems and products that impact a lot of lives e.g. Gmail (Google Inc, 2006). Again, they place huge importance on balancing work and life. To demonstrate, it has a child care center touted as one of Google’s most valuable programs. Further, expectant mothers are given time off before and after delivery. Additionally, they have 75% pay for all of the 12 weeks that mothers were expectant. Furthermore, they are afforded flexibility at work such as working fewer hours. According to Google’s engineering director featured in the video, Google’s culture, philosophy and personalities drawn from its founders. Organizational culture evident from the video is briefly outlined below. Google has a work environment that fosters flexibility, creativity, and innovation. Specifically, the organization has a 20% rule where engineers have 20% of their time to work on individual projects. Some of the projects highlighted in the video included the below mentioned. One, where an engineer created a rotating globe showing where on the globe Google users were searching from. Two, an added feature on google.com where when a user types in the name of a movie and the zip code, it will return to them a list of theatres around that area, with show time and reviews to that particular movie. Importantly, there is a free exchange of information through different setups. First, there is an impactful mentoring program where both incoming and resident employees are assigned official mentors and could also take up unofficial mentors. Therefore, there is an easy transition for new comers and those stepping up to new positions. Second, to stimulate the mind of its employers, the organization has educational talks called Ted talks in different topics such engineering and the latest theories about the origin of the universe (Google Inc, 2006). Again, the organization has a great startup spirit in that projects take a shorter period to launch. Lastly, it provides impactful products to the general public. The development of the theories began in 1920’s amidst the industrial revolution, during which productivity was at the core of businesses (Jerome, 2013). A particular theory that fits well with the Google recruitment video is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory. The theory is built on the premise that the desire of many employees is to be included in an entity that supports their growth and development (Jerome, 2013). Thus, if special attention is a guarantee and there is an encouragement for participation, the view that their work is of significance motivates productivity and high-quality work. Concerning the theory, the video is effective in attracting the right candidates, for the reasons outlined below. The behavior of humans is related to needs. The video comes across as testament that the needs, as outlined by Maslow, will be met. First, ranked at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy, is psychological needs. It entails the basic needs that sustain human life. Such include food, shelter, clothing among others (Wahba&Bridwell, 1973). The video outlines the provision of all these at Google. Second, the security and safety needs which are connected to the psychological fear of job loss. Expectant mothers, for instance, are guaranteed of keeping their jobs. During the 12 months, they are afforded 75% of their salary and flexibility in terms of working hours (Google Inc, 2006). Third, the need according to the theory is the social need. The need posits that it is the desire of an employee is to be in a group and be accepted. This is made possible by Google by mentorship p rograms that facilitate regular interaction with superiors and other forms of activities that make interactions with other employees easier and possible. Ideally the video advocates for the creation of a sense of community. Fourth, the theory stipulates a self-esteem need that has much to do with recognition (Wahba&Bridwell, 1973). The importance of this fact has been duly emphasized in the video citing various activities that enhance self-esteem e.g. the 20% rule. Last, and the highest ranking need according to Maslow, is self-actualization. It entails the desire of an employee to become what they think they are capable of. Google provides for this through the 20% rule, enabling employees to utilize their maximum potential. Attracting the right kind of candidates for job openings is important to any organization in existence,so as to meet the organizational goals and values (Arachchige& Robertson, 2011). According to Maroko& Uncles (2008), there are certain characteristics that come into play when a potential employer is seeking to attract the right candidates for a job opening:attractiveness and accuracy. These are some of the factors that the video by Google looked to enhance by a brief documentation of its organizational culture. About attractiveness, the video demonstrates awareness of employee needs, differentiation in the market and relevance to a particular pool of enthusiasts.   Further, it accurately portrays accuracy regarding organizational culture, values, employee experience and the employer brand (Maroko& Uncles, 2008). A study by Williamson et al. (2010) emphasized the above claim on attractiveness stating that the amount of information given attributing the company and the different positions on offer has an interactive effect on potential applicants. Arachchige& Robertson (2011), provides other characteristics of an organization that fresh graduates look for. The most preferred attributes are: will gain experience that is relevant to career, promotes self-esteem, faster decision making, better relationships with colleagues and superiors, fun working environment among others. These are some of the â€Å"attraction† factors put across by the video. First,   finding a qualified employee in time has become more difficult.Uncontrollable circumstances may lead to someone being laid off, or alternatively, an employee might have left for another opportunity.In these situations, the position needs to be filled promptly (Meister, Willyerd& Foss, 2010). As such filling, the position becomes the next order of business. However, in as much as the market is full of applicants who would be interested in the position, there are challenges. A considerable amount of time is spent on sourcing suitable applicants and profile and CV reviews. Thus, there is a need to find ways of getting applicants of good quality into a recruiter’s short list fast. Second, ascertaining the legitimacy of a resume is an uphill task.Reason being, faking resumes has been a common occurrence in a recruiter’s bid to find a fit for a position. Included here are fake referrals, education, and certification (Mallory, 2014). Researching an employee’s resume to establish if every qualification is genuine is time consuming when working under a strict time frame. Third, settling for the right choice is a daunting task. A culmination of the above-mentioned factors that make the recruitment process challenging results in difficulties settling for the right candidate. A recruiter might have lots of talented candidates but with limited positions to accommodate at least the majority, chances are they might let extremely talented individuals leave. According to the survey by PWC and KPMG, the cost of a bad hire is estimated at double the salary he would have been paid to the individual. Last, as per the findings of a study carried out by Cappelli (2008), career decisions are no longer made by managers and executives as it was in the past where individuals were matched with jobs. As such, the most talented of individuals have the freedom to turn down offers if the offer that they expected does not come along. Similarly, there is a general talent problem that has since been burdensome to recruiters in companies of Google’s magnitude. They want the skills they need at the time of their choosing and in a manner that is desirable to them. Employees on the other hand desire the guarantee of advancement and an autonomous level of control n their careers (Cappelli, 2008). Arachchige, B. J., & Robertson, A. (2011). Business Student Perceptions of a Preferred Employer: A Study Identifying Determinants of Employer Branding. IUP Journal of Brand Management, 8(3). Cappelli, P. (2008). Talent management for the twenty-first century. Harvard business review, 86(3), 74. Google Inc. (2006). Google Recruitment Video. Google: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXF1YirPrQ. Jerome, N. (2013). Application of the Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory; impacts and implications on organizational culture, human resource and employee’s performance. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 2(3), 39-45. Mallory, M. (2014). A Research Proposal: Negligent Hiring and Fraudulent Resumes. Meister, J. C., Willyerd, K., & Foss, E. (2010). The 2020 workplace: How innovative companies attract, develop, and keep tomorrow's employees today (p. 5). New York, NY: Harper Business. Moroko, L., & Uncles, M. D. (2008). Characteristics of successful employer brands. Journal of Brand Management, 16(3), 160-175. Wahba, M. A., &Bridwell, L. G. (1973). MASLOW RECONSIDERED: A REVIEW OF RESEARCH ON THE NEED HIERARCHY THEORY. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 1973, No. 1, pp. 514-520). Academy of Management. Williamson, I. O., King, J. E., Lepak, D., &Sarma, A. (2010). Firm reputation, recruitment web sites, and attracting applicants. Human Resource Management, 49(4), 669-687.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Curruption in Indonesia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Curruption in Indonesia - Essay Example Even reducing poverty to a more substantial extent would be an accomplishment. But the slow pace of getting out being free from corruption at a higher level would require addressing deeper issues that Indonesians themselves must know and realize as they face the problem. This paper will provide a more thorough discussion to these claims. One cannot separate the issue of corruption to political and economic liberation. Indonesians have fought corruption as evil towards their march to liberation. First, they had their political independence after World War II from the Dutch (Crouch, 1985) leading to democracy that would empower them politically and economically but the march seems to be slower than desired. Eradication of corruption levels, which are considered high using the standard used by the Transparency International is something that the vast majority of Indonesians themselves want to happen as they see corruption as an evil (World Bank, 2003). With the proposition that that corruption can the affect the ability of a nation or state to deliver basic public goods to its citizens, there is good reason to stop corruption if Indonesians are to enjoy the benefits of their acquired political freedom. If these people cannot get the essential services and the rules that allow their society to function successfully, they would always remain in an economic condition that is less comparable to developed ones. It would mean failing in the very purpose of their government by making a few to have good life but making many of the poor to suffer. If left uneradicated or not reduced to manageable level, corruption is expected to tax most the poor and the vulnerable Indonesia’s greater majority by creating high macro-economic risks. To illustrate, this would result to government not being able to collect the correct taxes that are due from its citizens and failure to do so could affect

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Leadership and Entrepreneurship - Essay Example They create visions and goals to be achieved in a pre-determined amount of time and lay down rules to be followed by their employees / followers in order to attain those goals. For a business to be a successful venture, it is of utmost significance that its leader is a visionary. Considering future as an inevitable element of planning for an organizational strategy is thus, one of the crucial factors while aiming for the desired goals set by these leaders. The success of any organization is largely dependent on the various leadership styles, attributes, models applied during the process of achieving organizational goals, irrespective of the size, type or nature of the said business. The various leadership styles, models and attributes as well as the uncertainty of environmental factors in connection with Small and Medium Enterprises, as observed through various research findings and case studies are discussed elaborately in the following sections (Bass, Bernard, 2001). The term SME refers to Small and Medium Sized Enterprise which employs fewer than 250 people, has an annual turnover of EUR 50 million or less or an annual balance sheet total, not more than EUR 43 million as per the Recommendation of the European Commission Some of the common leadership issues faced by SMEs include, lack of clear/ explicit vision and direction, focus on operational v/s strategic activity, no proper delegation of authority, shortage of time for personal development of the leader, lack of recognition of the need for self development, lack of time for or attention to team development. The process of rational strategic decision making in SMEs requires a long-term stable attitude towards risk. Thus the process of leadership in such small and medium sized enterprises should be future oriented, so as to encompass the various strategic obstacles that these firms might have to encounter in the long run.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Music and Mind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Music and Mind - Essay Example An experiment in neuroscience and cognitive science find a good relationship between music and humans mental and the functioning of the human brain in cognitive ability (Levitin, 2015). Children can remember the music pitches and contours especially in melodies, which can help them remember what happened earlier in the day. The brain has the basic musical building blocks such as the neurons that are sensitive to tone pitch, rhythms, complex harmonic relationships, and melodic contours. For instance, the left hemisphere of the brain can process melody and the right one process language. Children have brains that understands music just like adults and enjoy music in their early life stages. Through listening and paying attention to music, children develop communication, self-expression, and cognition. The muscles and the brain also have a share of the real effect of the music. Scans taken in the brain during musical performances indicate that the cerebral cortex is normally active thro ughout the playing period (Meyer, 2008). Therefore, music engages the brain synapses and improves its capacity through neuron connectivity. Researchers found that music improves reading performances especially in the 1st graders as the experimental group showed high scores in academics than the control group (Meyer, 2008). Engaging in music through learning and performances exercises the brain by strengthening the synapses between the cells of the brain. The specific pitch training in music enhances the reading and the understanding capacity of the students. The ability of a student to recognize words in music leads to the improvement of the sounding-out stage increasing the students ability to rad. Research has shown that a correlation exist between the way students read standard and phonic and pitch discrimination (Supplemental Material for Review of

Managing in a Strategic Business Context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Managing in a Strategic Business Context - Essay Example An organization like HSBC Bank (especially Business Banking) believes that, if an organization follows like them the theories and concepts of the contemporary organizational context and the strategic management related to members, then it is not impossible to achieve the organizational goals accordingly. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieve the objective of an organization. SWOT analysis distinguishes key pieces of information into two main categories3: The internal factors may be identified as strengths or weaknesses depending upon their impact on the organization's objectives. What may represent strengths with respect to one objective may be weaknesses for another objective. The factors may include all of the 4P's 2 in accordance with personnel, finance, manufacturing capabilities, and so on. The external factors may influence macroeconomic matters, technological change, legislation, and socio-cultural changes, with the changes in the marketplace or competitive position. The results are usually represented in the form of a matrix. SWOT analysis is only method of categorisation and has its own weaknesses. For example, it may tend to persuade companies to compile lists rather than think about what is really important to achieve organizational goals. ... For example, it may tend to persuade companies to compile lists rather than think about what is really important to achieve organizational goals. It also represents the resulting lists simply and without clear prioritization so that, for example, weak opportunities may evolve to balance strong threats. Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses of HSBC Bank: Resources: Financial, intellectual and location are the strengths of the mentioned bank. Because HSBC Bank uses financial and intellectual resources to provide up to the mark services to the customers. Customer Service: As a service provider, customers are the main concern of HSBC Business Banking Sector. They believe that customers' satisfaction brings their success. They also assume this as their strength. Efficiency: Efficiency is the strength for the HSBC Bank as it ensures customers' satisfaction and organization's success. Quality: Quality is the strength for HSBC as they have good quality service. But in some cases they face it as weakness when they can't maintain the standard.Staff: In today's competitive market, inadequate number of staff is a weakness for HSBC. Management: HSBC Business Banking Sector works with Strategic Management, which helps them to work easily, and it is assumed as their strength that's why. Principles: HSBC Bank believes in good service providing to the customers in an effective and reasonable manner. This is the key component of their success. That's why they assume their principles as their strength of work. Examples of Opportunities and Threats of HSBC Bank3: Political/Legal: Political and legal unrest situations are often threats for the HSBC Business Banking Sector as it hampers their total management. Market Trends:

Sunday, August 25, 2019

To Immunize or Not to Immunize Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

To Immunize or Not to Immunize - Essay Example The essay "To Immunize or Not to Immunize" talks about the importance of immunization in a modern world. To prevent a lethal epidemic all those living in the United States should be vaccinated against the avian bird virus. Avian influenza, also called Bird flu, is a type of virus that affects birds and other domestic animals. It is reported to be highly contagious in birds, it is uncommon for it to be transmitted to humans. But this does not rule out the option that the U.S. population should not be vaccinated against this virus. It has been examined that humans coming in contact with affected birds and animals have been infected rather badly, with the infection being fatal in sixty percent of the cases. People living near farms have been reported to have been affected most by the bird flu. There have been few cases which involve human to human transmission, but the possibility exists and it is better to fight against it, then just leave it on its own. The U.S. population if left un-vaccinated is in a constant danger of being affected by this virus, which has been found lethal in sixty percent of the cases involving humans, and a hundred percent involving birds. It is true that vaccinations at times can cause allergic reactions like mild fever, flu, redness and swelling, but the benefits of immunization far exceed the damage caused by it. We cannot just stop vaccinating people because of the adverse reactions which take place in some cases and put the majority of the population’s life in peril.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Diagnosis and data gathering based on a case study Peppercorn Dining

Diagnosis and data gathering based on a Peppercorn Dining - Case Study Example The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. This was appropriate variable in collecting and summarizing data that was used in analyzing about to analyze the organizational development and change of Peppercorn Dining and some mitigation measures necessary. As a result, the qualitative and quantitative research methods ensured reliability and credibility of the results. The design is also suitable because it gives an in-depth description of the phenomena in their existing setting. This fits well with the hotel staff who participated in the study while in their respective duties. Descriptive survey was also preferred because it is economical in collecting data from over a large sample with high data turn over. Data collection process Mark Tap consultants were assigned the duty of collecting the data in order to improve on how Peppercorn Dinning operates concerning their development and change. In their quest to obtain the needed data, the consultants will issue question naires to staff members and managers. Sample Selection The selection will be based on randomization principle, which is a procedure of giving every subject in a population an equal chance of appearing in the selection. Stratified random sampling will be used to select the sample population. After which, simple random sampling will be used to get the required the desired sample. Data analysis Data Analysis procedure The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Open coding was used to initially name and categorize the data, and selective coding was used to develop a more general framework. The study used frequency count, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of variables. The hypotheses formulated for the study tested using logistic regression. Quantitative data analysis was done to generate frequencies percentages and means. The resulting quantitative data will then be interpreted using simple statistical method. The questionnaires were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The data collected through questionnaire was classified on the basis of common attributes then tallied to obtain statistical frequencies, tabulated and finally analyzed using descriptive statistics. This helped to collapse large volume of quantitative data in numerical form for ease of statistical interpretation. Besides this, the ANOVA test was applied to find the significance difference among the opinions of different categories of the respondents. The qualitative data obtained through open-ended questions and interview protocols was analyzed by placing the responses into identical categories as described in NVivo software used for analyzing qualitative research data. Besides frequencies, the opinions of the respondents will be calculated into percentage. Interviews and observation Peppercorn Dinning has not embraced professionalism, in that anyone is assign to do a given chore on the basis of who come s first. It is disappointing to note that those who merit to be in finance, marketing and technological sections are thrown away to manual work such as cooking and cleaning. This was triggered by the fact that the students were allowed to seek for employment in Peppercorn Dinning with their academic qualifications notwithstanding. The academic qualification of the organization had not attained the proper skills the hire

Friday, August 23, 2019

Addiction to Percocet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Addiction to Percocet - Essay Example A brief overview of the substance is followed by the sections on the nursing care considerations during the drug user’s pregnancy in general and during the second trimester in particular, and for the neonate. In addition, the paper explores the potential solutions to the issues that may arise during Percocet use in patient treatment. It ends with a conclusion that summarizes the overall discussion of Percocet: its effects and warnings. 2. Overview of Substance 2.1. What is Percocet? Medications that treat pain are known to have been the first line of defense directed against pain and a standard prescription practice across the United States for decades (Cole, 2012). While they are believed to considerably raise patient quality of life, narcotics often lead to addiction and, if overdosed, to death. Percocet, an opiate-based drug, is one of such painkillers. It relieves severe pain, but puts a person at risk of becoming an addict. To make the matters worse, once consumed in a no n-prescribed or excessive manner, Percocet may lead to fatal consequences. Needless to say, withdrawal from addiction is very painful and accompanied by a range of symptoms including muscle pain, anxiety, panic, muscle weakness, fever, insomnia, and nausea, etc (CESAR, n.d.). 1.2. Percocet Ingredients. Percocet is a trade name of oxycodone and comes in a tablet form. Other brand names of oxycodone, along with Percocet, are OxyContin, Percodan, Endodan, Roxicet, Roxiprin, Endocet, Tylox, Magnacet, Primlev, Xolox. Defined as â€Å"  a semi-synthetic opiate manufactured by modifying the chemical thebaine, an organic chemical found in opium†, oxycodone is known to be as powerful, dangerous, and addictive as heroin (CESAR, n.d., Drug-Free World Foundation, 2008). Oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means that it has a high potential for being abused. It also means that the medication is currently accepted (with restrictions) in the United States, and may lead to severe dependence, either psychological or physical (Office of Diversion Control, 2013). In terms of active ingredients, Percocet also contains acetaminophen along with oxycodone, which increases the pain relieving effect. 2.3. Percocet: Side Effects & Consequences of Use. On 30 June 2009, Percocet was recommended to be removed from the U.S. market by an FDA advisory panel. Along with another drug, Paracetamol, Percocet was accountable for more than 400 deaths over one year. That was caused by the fact that the overdose of these drugs or their intake along with multiple other drugs can cause death (Hombach, 2012, p.122). The consequences and side effects of Percocet are grievous and numerous. An overdose of Percocet is likely to cause death. Oxycodone overdose may lead to circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest, apnea, and death. Overdose of acetaminophen leads to the fatal condition of hepatitis necrosis, hypoglycemic coma, renal tubular necrosis, and thrombocytopenia. Evidently, a c ombination of two, found in Percocet, means a double effect when overdosed. Percocet is a highly addictive drug. Prolonged use of the drug leads to addiction, when the user’s brain is charged in such manner that he or she is not capable of quitting on their own. Once the user decides to quit, withdrawal symptoms appear to be high, in particular if the withdrawal is sudden. The symptoms of withdrawal are severe and include: anxiety, insomnia, nausea, muscle pain, fevers, and a range of other flu-like symptoms (CESAR, n.d.). A number of side effects that result from Percocet use include respiratory depression, irregularity of breathing, nausea, growing pressure of spinal/cerebral fluid,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Ernest Hemingway Essay Example for Free

Ernest Hemingway Essay Ernest Miller Hemingway was considered one of the great American authors of the 20th century. Hemingways unique style of writing set him apart from other authors of this time and of today. He influenced many generations of authors with his style of using powerful, precise words. He used few adjectives, simple verbs, and short sentences in his works. Hemingway believed that his writing should be based on knowledge that he had acquired on a particular subject through his own personal life. In a passage from Hemingways Death in the Afternoon, he wrote If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. This is in fact why Hemingway wrote most of his novels and stories in the first person point of view. Hemingway was also known for the dialogue he wrote between his characters. This allowed the reader to see his characters emotions and inner thoughts. Ernest Hemingways style challenged readers to look below the surface for the meaning of his words. This was known as the Iceberg Theory because the tip of an iceberg is the only visible portion above the sea while the largest part is far below the sea. The Hemingway hero, a male character who faces violence and destruction with courage, and the Hemingway code, unemotional behavior in difficult and dangerous situations, were also trademarks of Hemingways style. To better understand Ernest Hemingway as an author, one must first look at Hemingway as a person. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 in Illinois. As a young boy, Hemingway enjoyed hunting and fishing at the family cabin in rural Michigan. These outings allowed him to gain appreciation for Mother Nature, and to look for adventure in many parts of the world. This love of the outdoors was reflected in many of his writings, such as The Green Hills of Africa published in 1935. During Hemingways high school years, he was editor of the school newspaper. This was the beginning of his writing career. Shortly after graduation, Hemingway went into battle during World War I, where he was an ambulance driver. He became injured and returned to Illinois where he landed a job with the Toronto Star. He became a war correspondent, moved to Paris, and got the opportunity to interview many European political leaders, such as Mussolini. These two events influenced Hemingway to write his first best-seller, A Farewell to Arms, in 1929. Hemingways job, a reporter and journalist, required him to write short and to-the-point articles, which was how he wrote as an author. In 1929, this style of writing led Hemingway to write and publish his first work, Three Stories and Ten Poems. Hemingway the author was born. Ernest Hemingway was married four times. The first two marriages failed because Hemingway was unhappy, the third failed because his wife was unhappy, and the fourth continued until the end of Hemingways life. Hemingway never had a female as the main character in his works. In 1939, Hemingways father committed suicide after battling high blood pressure and diabetes for many years. The painful experience of his fathers death influenced the novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hemingway moved to Cuba in 1945 where he wrote The Old Man and the Sea, a novel about an old fisherman who battled a giant marlin and the sea. This novel won Hemingway a Pulitzer Prize. In 1954, this novel also won Ernest Hemingway the Nobel Prize for Literature. He could not attend the ceremonies because of injuries he received in a near fatal plane crash. Hemingway was forced to move back to the United States in 1960 because of the communist movement led by Fidel Castro. Hemingways health began to deteriate. His injuries from the plane crash prevented him from enjoying his love for the outdoors and his love for writing. Hemingway sank into a state of depression and shot himself, just as his father had done some years earlier. Hemingway had several unfinished works, such as The Garden of Eden and A Moveable Feast, which were published to satisfy the reading public who longed for more of his great style of writing. Hills Like White Elephants and A Clean Well-Lighted Place were two short stories written by Ernest Hemingway during his career as an author. They both show Hemingways ability to entertain the reader with his short, simple well-known style, along with a bit of Hemingways personal beliefs and life. They are short on words, as a journalist would write, but not on the themes, that Hemingway the author wanted to convey to the reader. Hills Like White Elephants was a story about a girl and an American male who were discussing the fate of their unborn child. The story took place in a bar or cafe in Spain. Hemingway made the reader look for the true meaning of the story starting with the title by using symbolism. The story had nothing to do with hills or white elephants, but Hemingways choice of words and his use of dialogue between the two people soon guided the reader to realize that the title represented the real problem being dealt with by the girl and the American. The hills represented the two choices, or decisions, the girl had to make, either keep the baby alive in her womb or have an abortion. The hills might also have represented the difficulties of relationships. One hill is described as fields of grain and trees, or fertile, while the other is described as having no shade and no trees, or barren. The white elephant symbolized the mystery of what life had to offer, or something that nobody wantedthe baby. The dialogue used between the girl and the American showed the reader that the relationship was strained, Just because you say I wouldnt have doesnt prove anything. The American also tried to get the girl to see things his way by saying that the abortion he wanted her to have is perfectly simple. The story was typical of Hemingways Iceberg Theory. There was more going on in the story than just a conversation at a bar. The story was also a bit different from most of Hemingways other works. He seemed to have made the girl more superior than the male, more like a Hemingway hero, and also allowed her to display the Hemingway code, I feel fine. , even though she was faced with a big decision in her life-one that could change it no matter what she chose. A Clean Well-Lighted Place was a story about an old man, a young waiter, and an old waiter. This story also took place in a bar in some Spanish speaking country. The story dealt with the light inside the cafe and the darkness inside the old man. The cafe was a place the old man could escape the darkness, boredom, and nothingness-the Nada, of his life. It is well lit and represented a place the old man could seek comfort. Hemingway used this character to demonstrate that darkness, or death, awaits us all. Again, He used dialogue to let the reader see how the characters emotionally felt. The young waiter was aggravated by the old mans presence and said, I wish he would go home. Hemingway did not give the characters in this short story names because that was not necessary information for the reader. The reader only needed to feel the ideas in the story, Hemingway believed that it was not his name that was important but his words in his works. His concise wording gave the reader a chance to see his characters personalities. The young waiter stated that An old man is a nasty thing. which showed the reader that he had very little respect for the aging. During Hemingways final years, he resembled the old man in the cafe. Both were depressed and Hemingway wrote that he tried to commit suicide. The only difference between them was the old man did not succeed and Hemingway did. This story was also typical of his Iceberg Theory. There was much more going on in the bar than just people drinking. The old man also demonstrated the Hemingway hero and the Hemingway code. He faced death with courage and tried to show little or no emotion about his life ending. Many criticized Ernest Hemingway for his personal and sometimes less than perfect lifestyle, but very few critics can find fault in his literary works. They are works of a brilliant author who was very skilled at what he loved to dowrite. According to the July 7, 1999 issue of Time Magazine, Ernest Hemingway deserved the Nobel Prize for Literature and the trumpets of fame that went with this prestigious honor. He received this award for his best selling novel, The Old Man and the Sea. He broke the bounds of American writing, enriched U. S. Literature ?. and showed new ways to new generations of writers. He was only one of five other American born writers to receive this honor. It also stated that Hemingway wrote this novel over 200 times before he felt it was ready for publication and that perhaps he was his own best critic. The words Hemingway wrote were described as ?. an organic being of their own. Every syllable counts toward a stimulating, entrancing experience of magic and fibrous and athletic, colloquial and fresh, hard and clean. Ernest Hemingway was referred to as an artist and brilliant with whatever words he chose to paint with. Ernest Hemingway was a very interesting person and an enriching author. I enjoyed reading and studying the two short stories, Hills Like White Elephants and A Clean Well-Lighted Place. His style of using dialogue, symbolism, and concise wording made these works a challenge? but a challenge I liked. Hemingway worked timelessly to perfect his writing so that it could be appreciated by readers of all ages? even those of us who thought literature was not for them. Bibliography Ernest (Miller) Hemingway. DISCovering Authors. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 12 April 2007 http://galenet. galegroup. com/servlet/SRC Hunt, Douglas. The Riverside Anthology of Literature. Dallas: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991. Kramer, Victor A. Hemingway, Ernest. World Book Online Reference Center. 2007. 12 April 2007. Kunitz, Stanley J. Twentieth Century Authors. New York: The H. W. Wilson Company, 1955. Segall, Mary T. Portals. Philadelphia: Harcourt Brace College, 1999.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Water and Quality Contamination Essay Example for Free

Water and Quality Contamination Essay Introduction. Background: According to the Millennium Development Goals Report 2012, 783 million people, or 11 per cent of the global population, remain without access to an improved source of drinking water. Also the United Nations has long been addressing the global crisis caused by insufficient water supply to satisfy basic human needs and growing demands on the world’s water resources to meet human, commercial and agricultural needs (un.org). In this experiment water quality and contamination of groundwater was investigated. First, I observed the effects that many pollutants have on groundwater. I predict that in this experiment the oil and vinegar will create the large amount of contamination in the water, while the laundry detergent will just create an aroma smell to it. Considering the smells and color to these ingredients I think that it will cause the water quality to have a bad smell and cause the water to be very cloudy. Once filtering the contaminated water, the water will be clear and purified. Second, I will experiment water treatment and filtering. I predict that once the contaminated water is treated and filtered that it will leave me with less contamination or none at all. Then for the last experiment, I will determine the difference between bottled water and tap water to discover any contamination. I predict that the tap water will be the most contaminated and with the most chemicals in it, while the bottled waters; Dasani and Fiji will be completely filtered and free of any chemicals. Objective: The objective of groundwater sampling is to determine whether or  not the quality of the water is poor or valuable enough to drink, and then it leads to decontamination and filtering. Contaminants can move from food, soil, air and water. It is important to note that groundwater and surface water may act both as pathways. Evaluation of surface and ground waters as part of contaminated site investigation studies is, therefore, a major concern. Hypothesis: There were three different steps to this investigation to determine the final hypothesis. The first experiment was the effects of groundwater contamination, second was water treatment and third was drinking water quality. There are a variety of portable sampling devices available for the collection of groundwater, however, each application has different standards and is dependent on the contaminants. A number of different sampling devices and their being able to be used are used to determine the contamination. Techniques for the preservation and analysis of samples and quality assurance and quality control are also presented. Materials and Methods: Experiment #1: In order to determine my final hypothesis I had to experiment many different methods. The first method was to experiment the effects of groundwater contamination. My first step to this method was to gather all the proper materials, which included water, vegetable oil, vinegar, laundry detergent, and 240 mL of soil, cheesecloth and beakers. I started by labeling all the beakers 1-8, so that I can do comparisons and so forth. Then, I carried on to filling the beakers with water. Once adding water I then put oil, vinegar and laundry detergent into three different beakers, then mixed them and recorded my observations. After this objective was complete I drained the contaminated water into cheesecloth and recorded my observations from that as well. Experiment #2: In the second experiment, I filtered the water as to how water is properly filtered in order to purify it to drink it. The materials used in this experiment were 100 mL potting soil, beakers, 40 mL sand, 20 mL acti vated charcoal, 60 mL Gravel, alum, bleach, cheesecloth, funnel and graduated cylinder. The first step I took was adding 100 mL of soil to a beaker and adding 200 mL of water to it. Then, with two beakers I went back and forth between the two with the soil  and the sand. Once the solution was created I placed the newly contaminated water into another beaker. Once I completed that I added 10 grams of alum to the contaminated water, stirred it slowly for 2 minutes and waited 15 minutes for results, then recorded them. Meanwhile, I continued to experiment by putting a piece of cheesecloth into a funnel and the funnel into a beaker. On top of the cheesecloth 20 mL of sand, then 20 mL of activated charcoal, then 40 mL of gravel was added. Tap water was then ran through the mixture and waited five minutes to filter and see results. A few drops of bleach were then added to the water to create the filtered water. Then the two results were compared. Experiment #3: In the third experiment, tap water and bottled water were tested and compared to determine if there are health benefits in drinking bottled water. The materials used for this experiment were Dasani and Fiji bottled water, ammonia test strips, chloride test strips, 4-in-1 test strips, phosphate test strips, iron test strips, beakers, Para film, pipettes, and foil packets of reducing powder. First, all three types of water were placed into three separate beakers for further testing. The first test ammonia test strips were used, and then I recorded my results, this process continued with all the other testing strips for my final hypothesis. Hypothesis: My hypothesis was confirmed. At first I did not get much of a good response from the treatment because it was still filled with dirt. The tap water had higher levels of everything during the experiment while the treated water had none. The smell of tap was the smell of city public water while the treated water smelt like bleach. It is better the go through the filtration process. What are the steps to this process are as filtration and disinfection. In this lab I used all these steps to perform water treatment. After this experiment my hypothesis was denied. I thought that the tap water would be the only contaminated water when it was just the most contaminated while the bottled water was indeed clear and filtered, but it was not 100% clear of all contaminants. The major differences are that tap water definitely with holds much more contaminants than bottled or filtered water. My tap water seems as if it isn’t to badly contaminated and is drinkable. I definitely believe that bottled water is a better drinking water and you cant be to safe to consume tap water. Context: Bottled water can come from wells, springs, artesian wells, or the municipal water supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate it as a food product. It is important to note that the FDAs standards are essentially the same as those set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates public water supplies. In some states, however, bottled water requirements are stricter than those for tap water are (people.chem.duke). Overall, the experiments went really well and it was good to learn about the water that we intake. Discovering the effects of groundwater contamination and the quality of water was a huge success. In these processes I discovered the importance to having filtrated water. The  process in this involves many different steps, but after taking all the required steps it leads to have clean and purified water, which is benefits society health. Variables and Futures Experiments: The point of experiment one is for us to get an understanding of the difference substances that are affected on ground water. Conclusions The threat of harmful contaminants in drinking water can no longer be reasonably ignored. The correlation between contaminated drinking water and many significant diseases and health problems is far too strong to discount ( historyofwaterfilters). At the end of the day we as people need water to survive. Millions of Americans receive high quality drinking water every day from their public water systems, (which may be publicly or privately owned). Nonetheless, drinking water safety cannot be taken for granted. SDWA applies to every public water system in the United States. There are currently more than 160,000 public water systems providing water to almost all Americans at some time in their lives(water.epa.gov). It is important to know that the water you are drinking in safe and it is healthy it doesn’t matter if the water is from the bottle or the tap. References http://www.historyofwaterfilters.com/conclusion.html http://people.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/water/wattap.html http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/water/ http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfm

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The City Of Bath, England

The City Of Bath, England The City of Bath and the beautiful countryside which surrounds it have been described as one of Englands most beautiful places to visit. Bath is situated within the south west of England and is a fabulous city to visit. The population  [1]  of the city is 169,040. It was granted city status by Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590. The city was founded, among surrounding hills, in the valley of the River Avon around naturally occurring hot springs where the Romans built baths and a temple, giving it the name Aquae Sulis. Much later, it became popular as a spa resort during the Georgian era, which led to a major expansion that left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture crafted from Bath Stone. Bath and its stunning surrounding countryside offers tourists a multitude of fantastic places to visit from stately homes and gardens to the impressive Stonehenge. As City of Bath the city became a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city has a variety of theatres, museums, and other cultural and sporting venues, which have helped to make it a major centre for tourism, with over one million staying visitors and 3.8 million day visitors to the city each year  [2]  . The city has two universities and several schools and colleges. There is a large service sector and growing information and communication technologies and creative industries, providing employment for the population of Bath and the surrounding area. Source: www.maps.google.co.uk Historical Background: A city which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, making it the ideal city break destination and Bath is a World Heritage City (UNESCO), featuring the famous Roman Baths Pump Room and simply stunning Georgian period architecture. The history of city came across the different periods started from Roman era. Roman Period: After the Invasion of Britain by Romans in 43 AD, Bath was also occupied by Romans. The worship of Sulis continued in the Roman times. Thats why during Roman period, grand temples, and bathing complexes were built. In the 3rd century, the city was given defensive walls. But with the start of 4th century, the Roman Empire and its urban sprawl declined while the some of the suit of Baths were in use.The Roman Baths Post Roman and Saxon Period: In this period, the Anglo- Saxon Chronicle mentioned the falling of Bath into West Saxons after the battle of Deorham in 577 AD. The name `Bath` came from the Baoum or Baoan given by Anglo-Saxons. By the 9th century, after the Royal possession, the old Roman street pattern had been lost and with King Alfred laid out the town afresh leaving abbey precinct in the south. Norman, Medieval and Tudor Period: By the 15th century, some major churches were badly dilapidated like the abbey Church. After the status of Spa city, the baths were improved and maintained; city began to attract the aristocracy again. Finally in 1590, Bath was granted as city status by Royal Charter. 17th Century Period: In this period, the heath giving properties of the hot mineral waters came to the attention of whole country and the aristocracy also started to partake in them, invented by the Thomas Guidott, a student of chemistry from Wadham College Oxford in 1676. Also he wrote A discourse of Bathe, and the hot waters there with some inquiries into the nature of water. Old Character of Bath Streets Georgian Period: There had been much rebuilding in the Stuart period, but this was eclipsed by the massive expansion of Bath in Georgian times. The old town within the walls was also largely rebuilt. This was a response to the continuing demand for elegant accommodation for the citys fashionable visitors, for whom Bath had become a pleasure resort as well as a spa. In the early 18th century, the development of first purpose-built theatre, assembly rooms etc came into existence. The use of Sedan Chairs also can be seen into this period by Grand Georgian people (rich people). Victorian Period: In this period, Bath crossed the population of 40020 according to Census 1801 it came into the list of largest cities of Britain. Bath Spa rail station was also built in this period for the Great Western Railway. 20th Century Period: During World War II, Bath faced three air raids, 400 people were killed and more than 19000 buildings were damaged destroyed. Houses in the Royal Crescent, Circus and Paragon were burnt out along with the Assembly Rooms, while part of the south side of Queen Square was destroyed. All have since been reconstructed, and regeneration work is continuing. Since 2000, developments have included the Bath Spa, South Gate and the Bath Western Riverside project. Historically part of the county of Somerset, Bath was made a county borough in 1889 and hence independent of the newly created administrative Somerset county council. Bath became part of Avon when that non-metropolitan county was created in 1974. Since the abolition of Avon in 1996, Bath has been the main centre of the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset (BNES). Bath remains, however, in the ceremonial county of Somerset, though not within the administrative non-metropolitan county of Somerset. Spatial Integration of Bath City: The Spatial Integration of the Bath city will also be analysed with the help of city landuse assessment method and the changes in it with time and the spatial planning tools techniques, which are used for the integration of the city will be analysed. The Bath city is now days under a unitary authority Bath North East Somerset Council (BANES or BNES) which was created in 1st April, 1996. The total area under authority is 220 Sq. Miles and city of Bath is the principle settlement in the district. The Former Bath City Council prepared Local plan as a Statutory Local plan in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. The Plan guides development in the City of Bath up to 2001 with the co-ordination of public and private investment decisions. This Local Plan supersedes the Bath City Plan that was adopted by the City Council in June 1990. But after objections, ratifications modifications at different stages, On 12 June 1996 a letter was received by the Council from the Government Office for the South West on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment stating that the Bath Local Plan was now in accordance with the Direction which was henceforth lifted. The Council issued its Notice of Adoption of the Bath Local Plan on 20 June 1996. Bath and North East Somerset Council adopted this Plan on 20th June 1996 and it now forms part of the statutory Development Plan for the new Authority. The Plan was, however, progressed through all the formal procedures outlined above by the former City Council, and it has been considered appropriate to retain the text which was the subject of public consultation and examination, including references to the City Council. These references will serve as a reminder that the Policies are applicable only within the City of Bath, but it should be understood that in most instances the Council referred to is that of Bath and North East Somerset. However a High Court Challenge in August 1996 resulted in Bath and North East Somerset Council having to re-adopt the Plan on 19 June 1997. The Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) council prepared a Local plan which is adopted in October 2007; establish a robust policy framework to provide clarity for all those involved in the development process. The Local Plan includes other spatial planning tools techniques like Public consultations, Government Guidance, the Joint Replacement Structure Plan, the Council`s Local Transport Plan the Strategies of the Council (Community Strategy, National and Regional Planning Guidance) and other organisations etc. The Local plan sets out the key objectives for the development of policies in different aspects: Living and Working (Social Inclusion, Resources, Housing, Economy, Urban Rural Areas, Shopping, and Services Leisure), Environmental Assets and Transport Access etc. Housing: Housing Affordability: The Housing section assesses the housing situation of the City of Bath. If we look at the housing scenario of the city, the affordability of housing is least in City of Bath as compared to whole of the district. The following figures represents as: Source: So many people are migrating due to high cost of living in the City of Bath. This is leading to recruitment difficulties and skill shortages which could have a knock-on effect on the local economy. The need for affordable housing (per year) is also much in Bath city as compare to the other areas in the district. The following figures represent it as: Source: The land supply for housing development is also limited in the City of Bath. This places considerable pressure for development both on sites allocated for housing and on other sites in the City to meet the demand for housing. Problems/Issues in City of Bath: In the listed Georgian properties in Bath can resulted in an additional challenges and improvement works due to large number of high risk houses in multiple occupations. Due to the relatively high property values in Bath, the refurbishment of converted buildings often results in higher rents being charged and people are moving off to City of Bath. The problem of decent housing type is also major concern in the private rented sector which is mostly occupied by university students. It includes the Abbey ward in Bath City and Bathavon wards surrounding city. The current and future needs of older residents are generally exceeds then Government funding allocations in housing schemes. Traffic and Transportation: The city of Bath is a small complex city as compared to other cities and it has well defined activities like commercial areas and employment areas. The various sectors of its transportation systems are like parking facilities and public transport services are not only interdependent but all are affected by the other activities and decisions made for them e.g. new developments to meet the housing objectives, conservation of the historic buildings or streets etc. The traffic management system came into force since 1970 rather than building only new roads in the city and at boundaries. The main problem of the City of Bath is the congestion within the city by through traffic because most of the traffic in city has an origin and destination in the city. The following figures show the mode of transport in the City of Bath to travel to work as: The table above represents that the all the residents which are living and working in Bath or outside the city and vice-versa, are mostly dependent upon their own vehicles especially car is the most common mode of travel. But in case of comparison with other area in the district and national level, the figures in following table represents that the residents within Bath are more dependent upon private mode of transport i.e car or on the walk which is much higher as compared to other areas at National level but more interesting point is that the City of Bath has percentage of residents who has no car as compared to other areas and National level. These figures clearly show that the private mode of transport is creating congestion in the City of Bath and through traffic generated by them. Parking and pedestrian safety are also important issues in the City of Bath. Problems/Issues in City of Bath: Traffic problems have been a dominant issue in planning for Bath but the development of new major road schemes within the City is no longer seen as a solution. The emphasis now is on careful management of traffic and the integration of policies for use of land in order to make the best use of existing road space and minimise the congestion, pollution and danger caused by vehicles. The road and rail network are at capacity and congestion across the area is a problem in terms of journey times and public transport travel times, a key impediment to maintaining a healthy economy. Congestion is also affecting air quality and in areas of Bath City Centre air pollution has reached levels that are higher than the Government recommended acceptable limits. The lack of parking spaces and their capacity is also an important issue and recent studies have indicated that there is a greater need for pedestrian management schemes, such as improved signing of information etc, and areas given over to pedestrian priority. Heritage Management: The city is internationally known for its Roman and Georgian heritage and archaeology, its culture as a spa that stretches back over two thousand years, the innovative architecture and town planning, and the harmony between the city and the landscape. The city of Bath was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 for its unique and outstanding universal value for its Historic character. The city is a blend of history and modern life, continually changing, growing and adapting to modern requirements which attracts approximately 3.7 million tourists each year and lies on strategic road rail transport routes. The City of Bath has a close relationship between the success of modern city and heritage due to the wide range of business, industries and regional centre for employment, shopping and entertainment etc. The City of Bath (World Heritage Site) is vulnerable to change and growth with the time, but this is both inevitable and desirable in a living city. There are threats to the fabric and character of the World Heritage Site and its setting, and uncontrolled or inappropriate change in these areas can become a threat to the very values for which Bath is inscribed as a World Heritage Site. So even to tackle these kinds of situations, the local authorities were much concerned about them. They identified various issues related with the World Heritage Site its management etc. But along with these threats and vulnerabilities, the City of Bath has also many opportunities as a World Heritage Site which are helpful in many ways to the City of Bath. To address those threats and vulnerabilities, incorporating opportunities, The BNES and English Heritage prepared a World Heritage Site Management Plan for the City of Bath for the period of 2003-2009. They have identified various issues which are described as: Problems/Issues in City of Bath: Due to the scale and complexity of site, numbers of people are involved in the management, ownership and cultural assets. So its really an important from management point of view which requires the coordination of a large number of disciplines and agencies The protection of World Heritage Site is achieved only through the planning system of plans and designations so for the appropriate protection, and according to World Heritage Site criteria, a appropriate legal system is required because there are number of actions like risk assessment, mitigation awareness campaigns etc which are necessary for the appropriate protection of World Heritage Site. There are number of planning applications involved in the whole process as general due to the complexity of the site and the number of listed buildings. There are number of new developments on the outskirts of the city which may or are degrade the historic fabric of the World Heritage Site which gives an authenticity and outstanding universal values to the site. So there is a need of development controls in and around the city keeping in mind the character of the city. In the recent times, the condition of contemporary architecture is not good with the test of time other physical changes in climate, due to which it doesnt match with the historic architecture of the city. So its more challenging from integration of contemporary design into a historic environment.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Creation and Evolution: An Eternal Debate Essay -- essays research pap

Creation and Evolution: An Eternal Debate   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people have tried to reconcile the differences between creationism and Darwinism but few have succeeded. Any religious debate is seen as a very sensitive subject and the discussion about the foundations of certain religions generally becomes difficult. Darwinism, in relation to religious beliefs can become controversial; some say they can coexist and some say they cannot. Darwinism was not intended to be anti-religious, but religious activist have criticized the belief since On The Origin of Species was published in 1859. Common ground between the two subjects is a very rough place, but it can be achieved. Reconciliation between the subjects has been achieved but few are standing by it because even the compromise is controversial.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The beliefs of Charles Robert Darwin, as shown in his book On the Origin of Species, are controversial religiously and have been debated since its’ publication. Darwin writes â€Å"I see no good reason why the views given in this volume should shock the religious feelings of any one† (Darwin 329). This was not how religious activists saw the book; they attacked Darwin’s beliefs and stated it is in opposition of some religious beliefs. Darwinism is based on the basic belief of ‘natural selection’ and ‘survival of the fittest’. These are not separate thoughts when it comes right down to it. According to Darwin, the idea of ‘natural selection’ states that animals adapt slowly in accordance to their environment, and their DNA adjusts throughout generations. At first glance, this seems like a logical, non-controversial topic, but Creationist believe that â€Å"†¦all species were created by God and had not changed biologically† (Hirschberg 321). This is where the conflict comes in to play. Darwin believes that genes can mutate and change over generations to better adapt to environment. This belief has since been overturned by modern evolutionists. Hirschberg put it this way: â€Å"Today, evolutionists believe that mutations in genes produce the variations that natural forces select for survival. And, indeed, geneticists have traced ancestral relationships among species from the presence of similar molecular structures and DNA patterns† (Hirschberg 321). Instead of only bettering the species, the DNA shifts and the stronger of the species ... ...; there are others that rebel against the compromise. Overall not many have gotten very far in the compromise process and it does not seem promising. Works Cited Berra, Tim M. Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: A Basic Guide to the Facts in the Evolution Debate. Stanford, California. Stanford University Press. 1990. Darwin, Robert Charles. Past to Present: Ideas That Changed Our World. Ed. Stuart and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Terry Hirschberg. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. Davis, Edward B. â€Å"The Christian Century†. Chicago. Jul 15 – Jul 22. 1998. Vol 115,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Iss. 20; pg. 678. Hirschberg, Stuart and Terry, ed. Past to Present: Ideas That Changed Our World.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2003. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois. Housley, Kathleen. â€Å"The Christian Century†. Chicago. Jun 19- Jun 26, 2002. Vol. 119,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Iss. 13; pg. 39. Pope, Stephen J. â€Å"The Christian Century†. Chicago. Jul 13, 2004. Vol. 121, Iss. 14;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  pg. 38.

The Ebola Virus :: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever

The Ebola Virus INTRODUCTION The most deadly killers on this earth are too small to see with the naked eye. These microscopic predators are viruses. In my report, I will answer many basic questions concerning one of the fastest killing viruses, the Ebola virus. Questions such as "How does it infect its victims?", "How are Ebola victims treated?", "How are Ebola outbreaks controlled?" and many others related to this deadly virus. GENERAL INFORMATION The Ebola virus is a member of the negative stranded RNA viruses known as filoviruses. There are four different strains of the Ebola virus - Zaire (EBOZ), Sudan (EBOS), Tai (EBOT) and Reston (EBOR). They are very similar except for small serological differences and gene sequence differences. The Reston Strain is the only one which does not affect humans. The Ebola virus was named after the Ebola river in Zaire, Africa after its first outbreak in 1976. STRUCTURE When magnified by an electron microscope, the ebola virus resembles long filaments and are threadlike in shape. It usually is found in the form of a "U- shape". There are many 7nm spikes which are 10nm apart from each other visible on the surface of the virus. The average length and diameter of the virus is 920nm and 80nm. The virons are highly variable in length (polymorphic), some attaining lengths as long as 14000nm. The Ebola virus consists of a helical nucleocapsid, which is a protein coat and the nucleic acid it encloses, and a host cell membrane, which is a lipoprotein unit that surrounds the virus and derived form the host cell's membrane. The virus is composed of 7 polypeptides, a nucleoprotein, a glycoprotein, a polymerase and 4 other undesignated proteins. These proteins are synthesized by mRNA that are transcribed by the RNA of the virus. The genome consists of a single strand of negative RNA, which is noninfectious itself. The order of it is as follows: 3' untranslated region, nucleoprotein, viral structured protein, VP35, VP40 glycoprotein, VP30, VP24, polymerase(L), 5' untranslated region. HOW IT INFECTS Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the blood stream and is replicated in many organs. The mechanism used to penetrate the membranes of cells and enter the cell is still unknown. Once the virus is inside a cell, the RNA is transcribed and replicated. The RNA is transcribed, producing mRNA which are used to produce the virus' proteins. The RNA is replicated in the cytoplasm and is mediated by the synthesis of an antisense positive RNA strand which serves as a template for producing additional Ebola genomes. As the infection progresses, the cytoplasm develops "prominent inclusion bodies" which means that

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Personal Narrative- Meeting God through Strangers :: Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative- Meeting God through Strangers Meeting strangers can often times be awkward, but there are other moments when, if given, a stranger can transform your life. The time frame was approximately six years ago and I was working as a photographer for Sears Portrait Studio. As the photographer, I was always meeting new and interesting people. My job was fairly predictable in that we primarily photographed children; except for one day when that would all change. I was working at the front counter when an older couple approached. Their disposition was gentle and soft. They wanted to know if we were photographing that particular day. I said, "Indeed, we were." I might mention that this couple was so polite in asking that I was a bit caught off guard. I told them we could get them in immediately if they were ready. The lady mentioned that all she needed to do was add a touch of lipstick, fix her husband's tie, and they could be ready. The wife made sure to explain that the portraits would be for their 35th wedding anniversary. They both followed me in to the sitting room as I began to take a few poses. After doing so, I started to notice something peculiar about the couple. I was not a Christian at that time, so all I really noticed is that they weren't like everyone else I encountered. I was in a difficult relationship myself, and after seeing their interaction with one another, it spurred me to ask them a question. I said, "I don't mean to pry, but I was noticing something about you both that seems unique; I was curious what makes your relationship work?" The woman paused for a moment and pondered my question. After a moment she replied with sheer confidence, "God." He was what made their relationship work. I took a few steps back. This was not the answer I was expecting. We continued with the sitting and I met them out front to finish up the sale. I told them that "it was nice to meet both of them and I appreciated their advice." But, before I got that full sentence out, the lady reached out and embraced me. I knew at that moment, God had a hold of me and that he was using this couple as a vehicle to my salvation. These "strangers" are my family today.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Nervous Conditions Summary and Analysis Essay

The narrator, Tambudzai, Tambu for short, begins this story at the end: â€Å"I was not sorry when my brother died. † That happened in the year 1968, and the first chapter sets the context for that event. Nhamo, Tambu’s brother, is introduced as proud; he is too proud to walk home from school, although Tambu sees the walk as holding endless possibilities for inspiration. Thus, their contrasting outlooks on life are introduced. In anecdotal style, Tambu looks back at the year 1965, when her father decided that Nhamo would go to the mission school and live with Babamukuru, Tambu’s uncle. She remembers how her father was always grateful for the generosity of his brother, who had educated himself and thus found financial success. After living with his uncle for a few years, Nhamo became embarrassed by â€Å"all this poverty, in a way that it had not done before. † Chapter 2 continues Tambu’s memories of how her brother became educated in place of her; he began school when he turned seven. She also remembers when Babamukuru went to England, when she was only five years old. He and his wife, Maiguru, moved there with their children, Nyasha and Chido for five years. Without Babamukuru’s generosity, the narrator’s family struggled and her mother was forced to sell boil eggs to passengers at the bus terminus. Tambu did not understand why they were only concerned with raising enough money to send her brother to school, not her as well. When she complains to her mother that her father does not prioritize her education, her mother answers, â€Å"This business of womanhood is a heavy burden. † Tambu remembers her grandmother, with whom she used to work in the fields until the day her grandmother died. The values of her grandmother’s generation are clear: â€Å"life could be lived with a modicum of dignity in any circumstances if you worked hard enough and obeyed the rules. † Tambu learned from her grandmother about how their land was taken from them and how her grandfather had escaped from slavery. Tambu put those lessons to use and worked hard to cultivate a small plot of land, growing cobs of maize, which she calls mealies, to sell. But one day at school, she discovered that her brother, Nhamo, was stealing her mealies and giving them away to children at Sunday school. She loses all respect for her brother that day, charging at him and attempting to kill him. Their fight is broken up by the Sunday school teacher, Mr. Matimba. Mr. Matimba advises Tambu to sell the mealies to the Whites, who would probably buy them for as much as sixpence a piece. Despite protests from her father, Mr. Matimba picks Tambu up in his truck and drives her to town one Tuesday to sell the maize. The first white couple they approach demonstrates the attitude of whites toward blacks in Rhodesia: â€Å"Come now, Doris,† says the husband to his wife, â€Å"It’s none of our business,† when the wife scolds Mr.  Matimba for putting a little girl to work selling mealies. They do not buy any, but Doris hands a wad of money to Mr. Matimba anyway, after he lies to her, telling her that Tambu is an orphan. Under Mr. Matimba’s advice, Tambu gives the money to the school headmaster to keep safe, so that she can use it to pay her school fees for the next few years. Despite her father’s protests and attempts to get the money for himself, the headmaster keeps the money and uses it to help Tambu in her education. Thus Tambu’s father is further characterized as short-sighted and unconcerned with the well-being of his daughter. When Babamukuru and his family returned from England, Nhamo and his father take the trip to meet them at the airport and Tambu and her mother scramble to find the provisions for a feast. Analysis The theme of education as a possibility for lifting oneself and one’s family out of poverty, opening new opportunities, is introduced in the first chapter in the context of Nhamo’s schooling. Tambu remembers her father’s decision to take advantage of Babamukuru’s kindness and generosity with his money and knowledge. Although Babamukuru seems to have remained humble and helps with the physical labor on the homestead whenever he comes to visit, education affects Nhamo differently; he resents the poverty he was raised in. In contrast, the narrator’s mother has little pride, but still understands the importance of education; she boils eggs and sells them to passengers at the bus terminus in order to keep her son in school. As the narrator describes the scene in 1968 when her brother did not return home from school on the bus as expected, the theme of gender inequality is introduced. Nhamo never carried his own luggage, but expected the women in his family to serve him. He is generally â€Å"unpleasant† as a person, but his expectations and actions reflect the Shona society in which he was raised. As Tambu says, â€Å"the needs and sensibilities of the women in my family were not considered a priority, or even legitimate. In contrast, Englishness saves Maiguru to some extent, at least in Tambu’s young eyes. She â€Å"was driven about in a car, looked well-kempt and fresh, clean all the time. † But Nhamo tells his sister that she cannot study, that â€Å"It’s the same everywhere. because you are a girl. † The theme of racial inequality is introduced subtly in the beginning of Chapter 2, when Tambu narrates that seven is â€Å"the age at which the Government had declared that African children were sufficiently developed cognitively to be able to understand the abstractions of numbers and letter. The tone of her language is resentful; obviously, seven is old enough, but the Government has low expectations for African children. The narrator is weighed down, as her mother puts it, both by â€Å"the poverty of blackness on one side and the weight of womanhood on the other. † When Mr. Matimba takes Tambu into town for the purpose of selling the maize she has grown on her garden plot, they end up begging for a handout instead. Their interaction with an elderly white couple, Doris and George, demonstrates the inequality they face as â€Å"kaffers. â€Å" Black people who gather to watch Doris hand Mr.  Matimba a wad of money are of mixed opinions: some think that blacks should not accept handouts, since â€Å"what is good is not given,† as one black onlooker puts it, but others claim that whites â€Å"could afford to be, in fact ought to be, generous. † The generational gap between Tambu and Nyasha and their parents, let alone their grandparents, is a constant theme that is introduced in the second chapter. Tambu’s mother and grandmother do not complain about the hard labor they endure; her grandmother â€Å"had been an inexorable cultivator of land, sower of seeds adn reaper of rich harvests until, leterally until, her very last moment. Her grandmother tells her â€Å"history lessons† while they work in the fields together, with this message: â€Å"endure and obey, for there is no other way. † But it is through her grandmother that Tambu learns about her uncle’s prosperity; Babamukuru became successful because his mother sent him to the mission school. Eventually he earned a scholarship to South Africa because he worked so hard: â€Å"he was diligent, he was industrious, he was respectful. † The narrator absorbs those lessons and uses the plot of land that used to be her grandmother’s to turn into her own vegetable garden.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Toilet Facilities in All Schools

Toilet Facilities in All Schools ——————————————————————————– Toilet Facilities in All Schools Encourage and contribute to developing the necessary partnership between the state of Maharashtra and the Government of India’s programmes to establish toilet facilities in all schools. The Indian government has launched a focused campaign to increase the households in the country that have toilets by 2010. Additionally, we will target the urgent need for separate toilets for boys and girls, together with a hand-washing facility in every school in Maharashtra. Name: Toilet Facilities in all Schools Status: Theme: Region and Country: Maharashtra, India Partners: Beneficiaries: Funding Need: Budget: Duration: Contact: Programme Activities: Each year two million children die from diarrhoeal diseases, making it the second most serious killer of children under the age of five. The main source of diarrhoeal infection is human excreta. It seems clear therefore, that human excreta should be managed as a potentially dangerous material. The construction of latrines is a relatively simple technology that may be used to control the spread of infectious diseases. Studies have shown that latrine coverage has to reach 90% of a population to have an impact on community health. In Maharashtra, 85% of rural households and 54% of all households have no access at all to a toilet facility. While the Indian government is making great strides in the availability of toilets, this programme looks to increase advocacy and education necessary to convince people to use the toilets, and to create separate male and female toilets in schools together with hand-washing facilities. It is important to gain political support and government commitment to the programme. A mix of mass media and interpersonal communication is the best way to deliver the key programme messages. Demonstration sites for the selected technologies are important, as is the training of local people in operation and maintenance methods. It is also necessary to provide reasonable funding options and incentives to make the technology affordable. Intended Results: Latrine facilities, separate for boys and girls, with a hand-washing facility will be established in all schools. A latrine promotion programme will teach students and the local people about why and how to use the latrines through community involvement, radio messages, and other social marketing strategies. The construction of this latrine system in schools will be used to control the spread of infectious diseases, and promote toilet usage at a young age to school children to convey proper usage and knowledge at home. Programme Management and Implementation: This programme has numerous phases of implementation. Background Data: The first step is to become familiar with the local area and school systems. The acceptance of latrines varies from culture to culture and it is important to understand where the areas of potential resistance lie so as to direct promotion efforts efficiently. Conducting interviews can help to determine users likes and dislikes as well as identify current hygiene practices. This information is essential to the planning of a sanitation promotion program that will match the customs and attitudes of the users. Planning Phase: The information gathered during the background study of the local people can be used to plan a custom tailored sanitation promotion program. The initial lanning phase should consist of selection of the key messages to be promoted and a matching appropriate technology. The key messages need to be based on existing ideas, because it is much harder to introduce radical or rapid changes in a population. The core ideas should be kept simple and to the point. It is easiest for people to grasp a few straightforward ideas, rather than a long list of suggested improvements. The type of latrine selected should be low-cost, appropriate for the geographic area, and match with existing customs of anal cleaning and defecation habits as much as possible. Once the key messages and technology have been selected a marketing approach must be developed. Recent efforts in promotion programs related to socio-cultural issues have focused on social marketing techniques. Social marketing uses the approaches of economics to advance social change. Social marketing advocates a demand driven approach to sanitation. Therefore, a successful sanitation program needs to create a demand for latrines. This is accomplished by offering affordable technology, but also by increasing the social desirability of latrines. Studies have shown that the reasons people want latrines are less for health concerns than for social status, privacy, comfort and convenience (WHO, 2000). It should therefore, be the goal of any sanitation program to foster these feelings to increase the social demand for latrines. Since social status is one of the driving factors in latrine demand, it is important to recruit prominent people and community leaders to the cause of sanitation. Sanitation promotion by these leaders will increase the acceptability of latrines (Ikin, 1994). While the role of community leaders may be important, so is the participation of the average community member. Community based efforts have been shown to be more effective than external intervention (WHO, 2000). The marketing approach must select key populations within the community to act as agents of change and use appropriate channels of communication to reach the target audience. Implementation: Implementing a latrine promotion program requires outreach and education of the masses, as well as, cost reduction strategies. It is also important to consider the interactions of any institutions involved in the project schools, government, and construction company) and the issue of sustainability. The most effective method of outreach is person-to-person visits (UNICEF, 2002). These visits are used to share hygiene and technical information, as well as encourage sanitary behaviour changes. Other methods, such as radio and television programming, discussion groups, and school curriculum' s, may be incorporated depending on the community reception of these types of media. Radio or television programming has worked well in areas with high coverage by these media. Broadcast programming is most effective when done in the native language. Discussion groups are a good way to encourage community participation in the project. They may also be a way to disperse technical information to a large population through demonstration sites. Introducing hygiene curriculum in the local schools works well in areas of high school attendance and reliable school systems. Children can act as powerful agents of change when they practice proper hygienic behaviours in the classroom and then bring these behaviours home with them (UNICEF, 2002). It is also hoped that children will retain these positive traits into adulthood. A significant factor to consider in any sanitation program is the cost to the new technology. High cost is the number one deterrent for the spread of latrine construction (Cotton, 1998). It is important to select low-cost technologies for sanitation projects in the developing world. Many sanitation promotion programs rely on the support of both the local government and NGO. Whenever there are multiple institutions working together on a project it is important to have a clear structure of goals and methods of implementation. Care must be taken not to duplicate efforts or damage the working relationship between the partner institutions. Where large institutions are involved it is helpful to establish community contacts to ensure effective communication from the field to the institute headquarters. Although the introduction of improved sanitation services may be difficult, ensuring the sustainability of these services may be even more so. The most important step towards sustainability is the involvement of the community from the start of the project. People, students, and the school must learn to take ownership and pride in their latrines. Social marketing strategies can aid in the increased acceptance and demand for latrines. School programming is also an important step towards educating the future of sanitary behaviour. Another tactic is to train local artisans to construct and maintain latrines. These artisans may build small businesses to market their skills, thus increasing the economy drive behind latrine use. Above all the program must be adaptable and flexible enough to change with the needs and demands of the people being served. Programme Monitoring and Evaluation: Programme monitoring and evaluation will occur to oversee the instalment of toilets in schools, how many children are using the toilets, and possible reasons for not using the toilets. Community attitudes will also be monitored and surveys will be conducted to see if toilet usage increases in surrounding school communities. Learning and Dissemination: Related Resources: Sanitation and hygiene promotion programs started in India in the 1980s with the support of UNICEF. The initial emphasis was on technical solutions, specifically the promotion of twin-pit pour-flush latrines. The government and UNICEF advocated the construction of these latrines as the national standard for cost-effective sanitation. However, the idea was never widely accepted and latrine coverage in rural areas remained less than 10 percent. The cost of latrine construction was considered too high and people saw little motivation for use. Between 1986-1987, UNICEF performed several micro-field studies to determine alternative methods to sanitation promotion. The results indicated that the lack of community involvement was detrimentally to the program. The studies also revealed several reasons behind people’s reluctance to use the new latrines. People avoided latrine use for fear of breaking it, or because they believed it more sanitary to defecate in the fields away from the house, or because they preferred to use the latrine as a storage facility. The high cost of the twin-pit pour-flush toilets was also often beyond the means of many poor communities. The results of these studies lead to a new approach in sanitation promotion in India in the 1990s. The new emphasis was on lower-cost latrines and sanitary behaviour changes. A community-based approach was used to promote behaviour change. Efforts were made to increase household visits, school programming and considerations for gender issues. Sanitation issues were linked with other health concerns in an attempt to increase motivation for latrine usage. A program evaluation in the mid 1990s indicated that person-to-person visited could be highly effective, but that 3-4 visits were required for every latrine installed. The labour costs associated with this method of promotion are therefore quite high. School programs were developed to teach children hygienic behaviours, including the use of a latrine. The hope is that the children will than bring these behaviours home with them, thereby acting as agents of change in their communities. The new promotion plan also stressed the role of women in sanitation and household hygiene management. Lack of proper sanitation facilities has traditionally been more detrimental to women than to men. Due to the lack of privacy, many women may wait until nightfall to relieve themselves, leading to serious health problems and kidney failure. The lack of sanitation facilities has also been a barrier to girls attending school. The restructuring of the sanitation promotion program has attempted to address these issues by including women in health discussions and the operation and maintenance of the new latrines. The key to sanitation promotion in India has been balancing the technical and social aspects of sanitation services. Since the introduction of community based promotion methods, rural India has seen sanitation coverage increase from nearly zero to 14% while total sanitation coverage increased to 31%. Community involvement and self-financing methods lead to the construction of more than 350,000 latrines in one county alone. An impact evaluation in 1999 showed consistently better excreta disposal practices in communities participating in the promotion programs. The study indicated that future sanitation promotion efforts should focus on social marketing techniques and community management of latrines.