Saturday, August 31, 2019

Hasseltrom Essay

1.According to Hasselstrom, why does she carry a gun? In one sentence, summarize her rationale. – She carries a gun for self-protection, which provides a personal measure of safety for her. 2. List the specific events that led to Hasselstrom to her decision to carry a gun. -Living alone in a deserted area, being stopped on a bridge by 4 men, being harassed while camping with a friend, coming home one night when she thought that someone had been in her house. 3. Other than carrying a gun, what means of protecting herself did Hasseltrom try? Why did she find them unsatisfactory? Can you think of other strategies she could have adopted instead of carrying a gun? -Deodorant spray cans (since mace was illegal), kung fu classes (would have to practice several hours a day to be good, and very good at self-defense). -She was very careful about her surroundings, the only thing else I could think of would be getting a roommate or moving to a safer place. 4. Where is the essay does Hasseltrom express her reluctance to carry a gun? -In paragraph 25 when she says that â€Å"the pacifist inside me will be saddened if the only way a woman can achieve equality is by carrying weapons.† 5. In paragraph 13, Hasselstrom says â€Å"gun possession might increase your danger-unless you know you can use it.† Where else does she touch on the possible pitfalls of carrying a gun? -In paragraph 26 â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† 6. What does Hasselstrom mean when she says, â€Å"The pistol just changed the balance of power â€Å"(24)? -That even though a man might be stronger then she is, she feels as strong as a man and more confident when she has her gun. PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE 1.How does paragraph 1 establish Hasselstrom’s purpose for writing this essay? What other purpose might she have? -That she is a peaceful non-violent woman, but wants to justify why she carries a gun. 2. What purpose does paragraph 5 serve? Is it necessary? -The purpose was to explain how dangerous her town could be for a women, and she wanted to give a real life example of what could have happens even when you call for help and you are by yourself. 3. Do you think this essay is aimed at a particular gender? If so, do you think it is directed at men or women? Why? -I think this essay is aimed more toward women. Everything she talks about seems like it would appeals more toward women than men. 4. Do you think Hasselstrom expects her readers to agree with her position? Where does she indicate that she expects them to challenge her? How does she address this challenge? -No, I think she expects her readers to see her point of view on the situation she is in. STYLE AND STRUCTURE 1.This essay is written in the first person, and it relies heavily on personal experience. Do you see this as strength or a weakness? Explain. -I see this more as a weakness. She could have included statistics which would have made her essay more credible instead of relying only on personal experiences. 2. What is the main cause in this cause and effect essay- that is, what is the most important reason Hasselstrom gives for carrying a gun? Can you identify and contribution causes? -The most important reason she gives for carrying a gun would be the unfortunate dangerous situations that she has been in, and wanting a way to feel safe when she is by herself. 3. Could you argue that simply being a woman if justification enough for carrying a gun? Do you think this is Hasselstrom position? Explain. -I personally cannot argue that just being a woman is reason enough to carry a gun, but I can relate to why she would want to. I believe from the experiences she has had, she has good reason to want a way to protect her. 4. Think of Hasseltroms essay as the first step in a possible casual chain. What situations might result from her decision to carry a gun? -She might feel threatened when there is actually no threat being made, and might shoot an innocent person just on feeling scared. 5. In paragraph 25, Hasselstrom says â€Å"the pacifist inside me will be saddened if the only way a women can achieve equality is by carrying weapons.† In her title and elsewhere in the essay, Hasselstrom characterizes herself as a â€Å"peaceful women.† Do you think she is successful in portraying herself as a peaceful-loving woman why only reluctantly carries a gun? -Yes, I do believe she is a peaceful person, who lives in a not so safe town, and who wouldn’t carry a gun if she didn’t feel she needed to.

Cross Cultural Interactions with Others

Social workers, psychologists and educators alike, have a responsibility to develop cultural competencies. This implies a commitment to creating an environment of mutual understanding. â€Å"Cultural competence refers to the process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each† (NASW, 2000b, p. 61). Therapists focus on interactions with diverse clients and new situations everyday. Developing cultural competencies is essential towards meaningful communication. Research on person perception has suggested that the information we glean from others can be affected by factors such as appearance, stereotypes, and culture (Wang, 2009). The competency statements for review focus upon communication style (verbal and nonverbal) and how communication can influence others perceptions. In addition, a competency statement regarding high-and low-context communication from different cultural socializations is discussed. Most models of counseling assume that the spoken word is understood. However, when working with cross cultural clients, a host of deficits linger, which may lead to distance, vulnerability and misinterpretations. Verbal communication is important but can be easily misinterpreted across cultures. Words are powerful, but often forgotten. How one perceives the words is most often remembered. Words and what they mean in a cross cultural setting have a major role in a therapeutic setting. To fully understand a culture, it is necessary to understand the se of the cultures metaphors. Metaphors have their own historical origins and are culture specific (Laungani, 2004). The understanding of intrapersonal process of communication is essential and fundamentally important when working with ethnic clients. The therapist needs a clear understanding of the client’s subjective experiences, personal goals, daily behaviors and other significant areas to ensure communication value (Laungani, 2004). When verbal messages are unclear, we tend to look at nonverbal cues (LeBaron, 2003). During a therapeutic encounter between therapist and clients of different cultural backgrounds, it is imperative for all concerned to be vigilant and sensitive enough to read correctly the different verbal, non-verbal, and other physical cues the client knowingly or unknowingly may display to the therapist (Laungani, 2004, p. 196). Nonverbal communication is especially important in intercultural counseling situations because of language barriers (metaphors), set mannerisms, and cultural unfamiliarity. Research has agreed that nonverbal messages convey more than half of the affective meaning of each message (Launganie, 2004, Edmonds, 2010, Wang, 2010). Many emotions are similar across cultures, how they are expressed and interpreted is culture-specific. For example, a person of Japanese decent may smile as she relates details of a death in her family. For a Westerner, who understands a smile to mean happiness, this expression may seem cold and unfeeling. Based upon cultural beliefs in Japan, it is not appropriate to inflict the pain of grief on others (LeBaron, 2003). The understanding of high-and low-context communications from different cultures is significant because it plays an integral part in understanding and developing a relationship. â€Å"Direct and indirect styles of communication correspond to the concept of high-and low-context cultures. The United States is considered a low-context culture because of the linear and direct style of communication. On the other hand, China, Mexico, and Egypt are termed â€Å"high-context cultures† because communication is more contextual, process-oriented, and less rushed† (Fouad, 2007, p. 3). In examining the cognitive style of communication, Brooks (2004) noted that Americans follow a predictable sequence in their thought process. They tend to organize their thoughts in a linear fashion before speaking. Speakers, who have a more relaxed view on time, tend to meander to the point, such as Asians. Arab, Russians, and Africans, tend to insert stories and go off on tangents (p. 143). Cultures tend to attribute different levels of importance to nonverbal and verbal communication. High context cultures rely more on the unspoken word. They are concerned and focused upon the context and the person’s knowledge of the rules for communicating. For other cultures, a clear understanding of the message is less important because nonverbal behavior and the context are understood. Middle East, Asia, and Latin America are examples of high context cultural groups. United States and Canada are considered a low context culture because they place less importance on nonverbal communication and rely heavily on the spoken word (Fouad, 2007). According to (LeBaron, 2003) high context settings such as Japan or Colombia, understanding of the nonverbal message is more important than the communication as a whole. Therapists need to be aware of these differences so they can model appropriate behaviors for others (Fouad, 2007). â€Å"Gudykunst (2001) conceptualized high context communication to include the following communication styles: being indirect, inferring meaning, interpersonal sensitivity, using feelings to guide behavior, and the using silence. In contrast, low context communication includes: being dramatic, dominant, animated, relaxed, attentive, open friendly, contentious, and impression-leaving† (Park& Kim, 2008, p. 47). An emerging body of research has documented that â€Å"Asian cultures tend to adhere to high context communication styles, while European cultures tend to adhere to low context communication styles† (p. 47). Communication styles can be rational or emotional. For example, Brooks (2004) stated that Americans are considered to be more rational. On the other hand, Southeast Asians prefer to keep their emotions stable. Russians are known to be highly emotional (p. 144). In chapter 3, Fouad (2007) addresses the cross-cultural interactions with others. According to Fouad (2007) â€Å"sensitivity and understanding about different cultural scripts for verbal and nonverbal behaviors are essential because of the different formal and informal norms across cultures† (p. 43). This is an important message because you cannot have rapport and empathy without understanding, sensitivity, and knowledge of multicultural behaviors and values. Effectiveness with a client from another culture is dependent upon making educated choices involving communication. LeBaron (2003) noted that â€Å"all communication is cultural; it draws on how we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages† (p. 1). The way we communicate to others depends upon the situation, individual personalities, and our mood. This coupled with a variety of cultural influences we already have can influence our communication choices. Communication is interactive and plays an important influence on the effectiveness of our relationship with others (LeBaron, 2003). Although some emotions are universal (a smiley face inserted in emails), others are subtle and often misunderstood (a wink). Facial expressions may be the only form of nonverbal communication that may be considered universal. Cultures interpret body language, gestures, posture and carriage, vocal noises (shrieks and grunts), and degree of eye contact differently (Edmonds, 2010). Gestures can be easily misinterpreted. For example, nodding your head up and down within the Western culture, suggests you agree. However, in the Middle Eastern culture, it means the opposite. Nodding your head affirmatively in the Middle East is a sign of disagreement. Moreover, in Japan, a nod is just a signal that someone is listening (Wang, 2010). Edmonds (2010) shares that the â€Å"OK† signal made by forming a circle with the thumb and forefinger refers to money in some countries, while in others, it’s extremely offensive reference to a private body part. Eye contact is another variable that is extremely important. In some cultures direct eye contact is valued. However, in other cultures, averting eye contact is a sign of respect. A simple gesture of thumbs up, may readily offend someone from a different culture. In Iran, this gesture is considered to be vulgar. Shaking hands when greeting may seem innocent, but in some countries this is rude behavior. In the Middle East, you should not hand an object to another person with your left hand. The left hand in the Middle East is reserved for personal hygiene (Edmonds, 2010). Others may be shy and touching is considered an intimate behavior. There are specific rules for personal space across cultures. There are different ideas about space when having a conversation. Research shows that Americans tend to prefer a large amount of space. Europeans tend to stand closer together when talking. It is suggested that this may be due to the fact that Europeans are accustomed to smaller places. Americans on the other hand, are used to larger homes and countryside’s (LeBaron, 2003). Personal space is not a concern for some cultures. Italians and Latino’s allow for open kissing with strong and long embraces to greet one another, whereas in the United States, such contact may be considered too sexual. Further studies have shown that Asian children cannot be touched on the head or it will damage the child’s soul. Each of these variables influences communication efforts (Edmonds (2010). As clinicians, we must strive to learn all we can about the culture of our clients. Remer (2007) introduces the butterfly effect. This effect refers to â€Å"those small differences in initial conditions may have severe consequences for patterns in the long run† (p. 93). Miscommunications can lead to frustration and a lack of trust, thus destroying a relationship. Conflict can easily occur or escalate if miscommunications are already in place. As an agent of change, this writer values diversity as an opportunity to learn. Professional expectations should never be lowered, they need to be developed and maintained in order to improve the quality of culturally competent services. Sensitivity and knowledge should be heightened in order to be a successful agent of change. Striving to be cross-culturally competent is a life long journey. It begins with each day being viewed as an opportunity to learn more about another person. Competence implies that one has the confidence and the capacity to function effectively outside of their culture zone. Despite the madness surrounding social service agencies, this writer is committed to supporting members of underrepresented groups. It is paramount to be committed to incorporating a wide variety of verbal and nonverbal communication skills in response to direct and indirect communication styles. A simple glance can affect the message you are sending and how others perceive you. Moreover, it is important to have a strong sense of self awareness. One must be accepting, comfortable and open to new and unfamiliar ways of communicating in order to broaden personal perspectives. The main focus is to remain objective, know that there are cultural differences, be able to identify subtle behaviors, and to trust your intuition. Alternative ways in which a therapist can be actively involved in cross cultural communication may include checking with clients for the accuracy of your interpretation when unsure. Raising a question about interpretations demonstrates interest, validation and establishes trust. Therapists may choose to move outside of verbal exchanges and use acting, puppets (young children), drawing, music, story telling, collage making and journaling. By allowing clients to be your teacher, one can enhance the relationship and establish competence. As an agent of change, specific objectives are to be met. First, diversity training should be offered. Coworkers will be asked to band together and search for consultants or facilitators to assist in the planning. Second, embrace research and gain as much knowledge as you can about your client’s culture. Third, frequent consultations with supervisors and colleagues are important to obtain performance feedback. Collaboration with others is an excellent way to remain grounded. As a therapist working with cross cultural clients, it is important to remember that although your mouth is closed, your body is talking.

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Un and Peacekeeping

CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has been involved in peacekeeping operations and conflict resolutions in the international system. According to Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations, the UN is expected â€Å"to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by lawful means, and in conformity with the principle of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace. The United Nations has been charged with vast responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security. Two organs were created for this purpose: the Security Council (which consists of fifteen members, five permanent members with veto power and ten non permanent members) and the General Assembly (which consist of representatives from all member states). This essay seeks to examine and analyze the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security using the Korean War as a case study. THE UN AND PEACEKEEPING Peacekeeping is defined by the United Nations as â€Å"a unique and dynamic instrument developed by the organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict, create the conditions for lasting peace. The Security Council of United Nations has been given the responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. The â€Å"Uniting for Peace† resolution adopted by the General Assembly in 1954 imposes the responsibility of maintenance of international peace and security on the General Assembly under certain conditions. The United Nations, after the approval by the Security Council sends peacekeepers to regions where armed conflict has recently ceased or paused to enforce the terms of peace agreements and to discourage combatants from resuming hostilities. Since the United Nations does not maintain its own military, peacekeeping forces are voluntarily provided by member states of the United Nations. The founders of the United Nations envisaged that the organization would help to prevent conflicts between states and in the process, prevent outbreak of another major war in the future. The United Nations would have been able to achieve this successfully if not for the outbreak of the Cold War. The outbreak of the Cold War made it extremely difficult for the United Nations to successfully resolve issues and conflicts because of the division of the world into hostile camps. The United States and Western Europe on one side and the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and part of Asia on the other side. This caused a stalemate in decision making in the Security Council as both powers (United States and Soviet Union) used their veto power to check each other. The United Nations found it extremely difficult to come to a resolution on issues where both super powers had national interests. In such case as the Korean War where after the Soviet Union used her veto power to reject resolutions and left the Security Council completely paralyzed, the General Assembly through the â€Å"Uniting for Peace† resolution assumed the responsibility of making decisions. In spite of the various obstacles the United Nations faced during the Cold War era in conflict resolution, it was however to an extent successful in maintaining international peace and security and most importantly, the outbreak of another World War. THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE KOREAN WARThe Korean War from 1950 to 1953 was the most severe test the United Nations had to face since its inception in 1945. As part of the Cold War scenario, the Korean War was a complicated issue with which the United Nations had to successfully deal with or lose credibility just five years after it had come into being. The Korean experience tested the United Nations ability and credibility in maintaining international peace and security. In some ways the Korean episode could be regarded as the United Nations finest hour. Here for the first and only time in its history, the Security Council called on its members to go to the defense of a state under armed attack1. It also marked the first attempt by an international organization to check an act of aggression, and it stands as the only occasion on which enforcement action had been taken against aggressor states or other authorities2. Here in consequences the forces of a number of countries fought under the United Nations flag to defend the principle that aggression should not be allowed to succeed3. But the concept of collective security was not upheld as only a quarter of the membership of he United Nations sent military assistance to South Korea and the sixteen states which did so were all Western countries. This was an example of alliance strategy than of enforcement action by an international organization; of collective defence rather than collective security. The fact that a great majority of the United Nation membership though pro- western were u nwilling to send significant armed support to the country whose existence was threatened showed that the action would scarcely be said whole heartedly to fulfill the ideals enshrined in the Charter of the UN4. The dominance exercised by the United States over the entire operation in the Korean crisis deprived it of the name of the genuine collective security. This was demonstrated in the early stages by the fact that most of the Security Council initiatives and resolutions were really in origin United States proposals. At the onset of North Korea attack on South Korea, the United States was the first state to send assistance both financially and militarily to South Korea even before the United Nations had taken a decision on the matter. The military operation was headed by a United States commander and decision that were taken originated directly from the White House and not from the UN secretariat. This defeated the purpose of collective security by placing the responsibility of a peacekeeping mission in the hands of a super power. This contrasted radically with the subsequent practice of the UN in organizing peace-keeping forces from 1956 onward. In these cases the super power were normally excluded from participation altogether. And no single power or even a group of powers was able to dominate policy in the way the United States was allowed to do in Korea5. This gave a clear indication that the UN was dominated by the United States. Nearly 90% of all army personnel, 93% of all air power and 80% of all naval power for the Korean War had come from the United States. The Chinese got involved in the war (this escalated and prolonged the war) on the basis that they viewed the whole operation not as an United Nations peacekeeping mission but an effort by the United States to gain control of Asia using the United Nation as a cover to invade both Koreas and China. The decision of the United Nations Forces to cross the 38th parallel also originated from the United States. The United States brought the proposal for the United Nations forces to cross the 38th parallel and enter North Korea before the General Assembly even though most of the participating states were against it. Even though there were other states that participated in the peace keeping operations, their opinion were barely considered by the United States. Major of the decision making processes was held in Washington rather than New York. While the success of the United Nations in repelling aggression in Korea had been in large part due to the contribution of the United States, the dominant role of the United States weakened the collective character of the operation6. Throughout the whole episode, the United Nations failed to institute or even attempt to institute any effective negotiations among the parties concerned as in the case of South Korea and North Korea and also the United States and the Soviet Union after the division of Korea. The United Nations also failed before 1950 to bring the two parties (North and South Korea) into discussion to as to bring about a resolution or involve the use of a mediator or good office to help along with negotiations; instead the United Nations held on to its demands for all Korean – election under the UN auspices. The Korean experience has shown that the Charter provision and machinery for which the Charter provides can be adapted and utilized under certain conditions to defeat aggression and to discourage aggression in advance7. Since the decline of the Cold War, the UN however, has been more effective and efficient in maintaining international peace and security. The Korean experienced questioned the UN as a useful and promising means of dealing with threats to and breaches of the peace by collective measures and its limitations. The â€Å"Uniting for Peace† resolution which was passed by the General Assembly during the Korean War created a whole new dynamic. The veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council sometimes cripples the Council as it make decision making harder and slower in cases where the super powers have different contrasting interest as could be seen in the Korea conflict where the Soviet Union used her veto power to cripple the resolution passed by the other members of the council. The â€Å"Uniting for Peace† resolution gave the General Assembly the power and responsibility to make decisions under such circumstances where the Security Council is crippled and in capable of making decisions concerning the security matters. The Korean experience served as an important lesson for the UN in its pursuit of international peace and security. It has also shown that the purpose of collective security is to restore international peace and security and not do justice, particularly if the doing of justice, which often is highly controversial and in practice requires some accommodation of conflicting interests involves a serious risk of extending the war. Furthermore there is the additional danger where one member has disproportionate share in the direction of the operation that the member will seek to use the operation for implementation of its own national policies, policies which may not be in harmony with the interests and policies of other members of the United Nations. The United Nations could justifiably hold that it had fought a successful war to defend a nation under attack what it could not claim, after eight years of discussion, was that it had brought any nearer a resolution of the Korean problem. CONCLUSION The Korean War served as an important lesson to UN. In spite of the various obstacles it has faced the United Nations had been able to improve and make amendment. Since the decline of the Cold War which was a major factor in the outcome of the Korean War has also strengthened the United Nations in the area of conflict resolution and peace keeping operation. ENDNOTES 1. Evan Luard, A History of the United Nations Volume 1: The Years of Western Domination 1945-1955 (Macmillan 1982), p. 71-272. 2. D. W. Bowett, United Nations Forces. A Legal Study of United Nations Practice (London, Sterens and Sons, 1984), p. 30 3. Evan Luard, A History of the United Nations Volume 1: The Years of Western Domination 1945-1955 (Macmillan 1982), p. 272. 4. Ibid, p. 272-273. 5. Ibid, p. 273. 6. Leland M. Goodrich, â€Å"The United Nations and the Korean War: A Case Study†, Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, Vol. 25. No. 2. United Nations: Success or Failure p. 103. 7. Ibid, p. 102.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Latin America News Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Latin America News Review - Essay Example Fossil fuels include petroleum, coal and natural gas. These sources of energy are non-renewable. Lack of deliberating a course towards sustainable development would lead to depletion of the non-renewable energy sources. Big oil corporations hinder the development of renewable sources of energy, and the also receive the government’s support since they are a significant source of government revenue through the immense taxes they pay. A study by Mark Jacobson (2009) aims at strategizing on how a hundred percent of the world’s energy is achievable through the use of renewable sources. With the changes the world has been experiencing, campaign on the use of biofuels has been on the rise since it is a more sustainable source of energy. The Latin American governments have been creating awareness and opportunities such as tax incentives to companies that utilize green energy in their production activities. Renewable sources of energy include solar power, biogas, bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and algae concentrates. In Brazil, production of vehicles that use biofuels is ongoing (Digest 2015). As at now reliance on fossil fuels has been on the decline since the introduction of fuel blends. For1 example, diesel that is a fossil fuel may be combined in bio-diesel to produce a more sustainable source of fuel. The Latin American governments should, therefore, strategize and formulate policies that will encourage the use of biofuels and green energy. Through this, the countries will not only experience economic development but also will ensure that the development is sustainable. Digest, Bio fuels. positive review of sustainable development of biofuels in latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, February 16th, 2015. http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2015/02/16/positive-review-of-sustainable-development-of-biofuels-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/ Lawrence, Frank Thomas and John. Conversion to renewable energy is going

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Baseball Management Statistics Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Baseball Management Statistics Project - Essay Example Based on the specific factors relevant for making MLB profitable, the statistical report provides specific test ran for the variables with the indispensable impact on baseball league. Variable test ran inherently discussed based on a business perspective. Most importantly, the statistical report contains concrete materials for assisting baseball committee in improving specific shortfalls within the league. Moreover, the report entails recommendations relevant for enlightening baseball committee members in understanding statistics associated with advancements within baseball league. In contemporary baseball setting and competition, financial gain is imperative in improving performance. Prompt and reasonable wages are indispensable in improving both franchise owners and players’ morale to actively participate within baseball league. In addition, increase in baseball league prominence requires its committee members to engage actively in increasing facilities for the association. Establishment of modern facilities coupled with reasonable salaries for baseball players is imperative in promoting baseball members for the association. Therefore, improved fan base assist in realization of higher economic income. It is hypothetical that an increase in members’ attendance for a specific baseball team leads into corresponding improvement in salaries for the players and franchise owners. Moreover, increase in fan base positively corresponds to an improvement in facilities and other modern investments relevant for developing thee sports organization. Statistical analysis based on Anova test of the data in Appendix A depicts a positive correlation between participation and wages received by both franchise owners and players. Anova test results show that participation of approximately three million baseball members or more, results into correspondent increase salaries for the players and franchise

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

More stewardship is needed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

More stewardship is needed - Essay Example In terms of the planet's resources, stewardship would simply entail taking care of what one has, whether an individual, family, company, or government. Now we come to the crux of the problem, being the aforementioned. Everyone is different and there is no common agreement in regard to "the needs of the people." In thinking stewardship, fashion takes a back seat. In developed nations, fashion is part of success. Since each nation and government is divided into sections of differing cultures, we can view the United States as a good example of where stewardship takes on different meanings; The region of the Pacific Northwest carries the trophy for being ecologically aware, having begun some of the nation's first recycling programs for glass, aluminum and plastic back in the '70's. One part of stewardship is responsibly disposing of waste, and as the population grows, so does waste. The term, "reduce, reuse, recycle" abounds in stewardship thinking. Stewardship is a big inconvenience. It means we must think about what we do, what we use and how we get rid of it.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Introduction to Macroeconomics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to Macroeconomics - Case Study Example Moreover, there are always huge numbers of people that are self-employed and every one cannot increase their incomes in proportion to the inflation rate so a huge chunk of citizens suffer in this process. In a way, high inflation impacts living standard of the majority of the people. Impact on Interest Rates Bank interest rates get impacted due to high rate of inflation because banks need to enhance their deposit rates to attract the deposits from the public; moreover, this will also cause lending rates to go up. This puts producers and traders at inconvenience as their production planning process goes in turmoil impacting production, sales/marketing and other related functions. During high inflation regime, investors tend to disinvest from fixed income securities such as bonds, debentures causing a great upheaval in the market. People tend to spend this money on their other needs fueling further inflationary pressure in the market. Impact on Saving High inflation rate discourages sa ving thus reducing capital formation necessary for economic growth; on the contrary, high inflationary environment forces people to spend as fast as possible before money loses its value. With increased levels of spending, market gets heated up giving a further upward push to the prices. Overall, market gets hooked up in an inflation trap creating a difficult situation for all. Affects Global competitiveness High-inflation at the domestic front, relative to the trading partner, makes imports lucrative and exports less competitive. This disturbs the trade balances significantly and as a natural consequence, industries involved in exports or competing with imports tend to lose market leading to unemployment in those sectors. Eventually, this can cause its impact on nation's GDP and unemployment rate. No democratically elected government would like to live with this situation for a long time and will resort to the measures necessary to cap the inflation at reasonable levels. Labor Unre st High inflation rate could also be a cause for labor unrest. Union activities increase during high inflation environment because often wages and salaries fail to keep pace with inflation. This disrupts the smooth functioning of the manufacturing units harming productivity and economic growth of the country. Uncertainty The companies from within and outside do not want to invest when instability and uncertainty due to inflation prevails in the country. It has a negative impact on economic growth of the nation. Thus, it becomes quite clear that it is extremely important to control inflation in the larger interest of the economy, people and the country. B) Since the financial/economic crisis, which first manifested itself in 2006/7, the UK rate of inflation has deviated from its bank of England chosen target. Identify these deviations and discuss their possible causes. Answer Source: http://citywire.co.uk/global/central-bank-regime-change-the-new-inflation-rules/a645632#i=1 Bank of E ngland’s targeted inflation rate right from 2007 until date as measured by consumer price index (CPI) has been 2.0 percent. Inflation in terms of CPI, most of the time, has remained above 2.0 percent except for the second half in 2009 when it fell down below the targeted level. But since then it has consistently deviated above

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Business and Economics of the Olympics Can Ireland Benefit from the Essay

Business and Economics of the Olympics Can Ireland Benefit from the London 2012 Olympics - Essay Example Research has shown that those bidding countries that do extensive pre-planning, including those that secure financial backing from private enterprise and corporate businesses so as to not directly enter into agreements to obtain funding from city coffers, have successful Games as there is no direct involvement of the public's money. By also utilizing many of the buildings, like in the Calgary Winter Olympics, for training centers to accommodate future Olympic athletes and open them up for public use, these facilities will also continually fund their operation. As in the example of the Olympic arena in Montreal, the facility became a constant maintenance problem due to an extremely leaky roof and thus has rendered it unusable. The scope of this paper is to not only examine those Olympic Games that have proven to be a financial opportunity for those businesses pre and post game hosting, but, also how the next Olympic Games to be held in 2012 in London can transfer that knowledge to a potential host, Ireland. Evidence will be shown via tables as to the financial benefit to businesses that have occurred through two successful Olympic Games, Los Angeles and Sydney, and provide documentation as to the full involvement the governments of both countries had in encouraging business financing in order to fulfil the greater use of facilities once the Games have moved on to the next host country. Introduction Business enterprise has always had a vested interest and need by many athletes in pursuing their dreams of Olympic greatness. The governments of host cities and host countries have a further vested interest in ensuring the Olympics make it to their city of choice. By having the government work in cooperation with businesses, the ability to fund the Games proves to be an extremely involved and long process that can either make the Games a success or a failure. There are many key economic issues that are associated "with the holding of Olympic Games and the factors that are important in ensuring the potential benefits are realized, are those associated with the macro-economic environment" (Treasury Department, NSW 1997). These such issues that will be

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Case analysis for business negotiation Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis for business negotiation - Case Study Example Moreover, this was likely due to the high labor costs in France as well as the increasing inputs of the production process. With this baseline of understanding established, the CEO then went on to elaborate upon how labor costs and inputs within Slovakia are measurably cheaper than in France (approximately 30% on the whole). In such a way, such an approach would definitively save money in the long run. Finally, anecdotal evidence is given with regards to the fact that other large firm such as Peugeot and Sony had recently relocated their operations from France to Slovakia and had experience and measurable increase in overall growth and profitability as a result. 2. How did this CEO communicate to the media the closing of the plant and its relocation to Slovakia from becoming a national issue? One of the first reasons that any level of media hype is generated is with regards to the level and extent to which leaks of the information reveal a sensational story that the media cannot resi st. In such a way, the strategy of closure within this particular case was handled with the utmost care. This was facilitated I insisting that all individuals who were cognizant of these changes sign a nondisclosure agreement and remain very tightlipped within the firm as well as without with regards to the facts that closure was soon it likely to take place. In this way, once the information was released, the firm had fully anticipated the response and was able to manage the story in a way that did not create a sensation or make stakeholders feel as if they had been kept in the dark with regards to such a decision. 3: What were the negotiating strategies used to reach the agreement? With regards to the negotiating strategies used to reach the agreement of plant closure, these were necessarily concentric around cooperation, analysis of the situation from multifaceted viewpoint, and general secrecy. Although the first to have been briefly enumerated upon, the general secrecy might ne cessarily be viewed as a negative aspect. However, the negative externalities of not keeping a closely guarded secret with regards to the means by which the plant would close might necessarily harm each and every stakeholder within the entire process. By making the information known prior to a formal strategy being elaborated upon, the situation would necessarily unfold in and out of hand manner without the CEO or top management being able to be directed in any way shape or form. From the firm’s perspective, such an eventuality would mean in much higher cost with regards to the payments that they would be due to the labor unions. 4: What are the pitfalls to be avoided when negotiating with the labor union representatives? By engaging early with the labor unions, the firm was able to experience a â‚ ¬1 million savings by reducing costs that would otherwise have been associated with payoffs to the union that were required. This was able to be effected simply by assuring them that all employees 55 years or older would be a able to draw an early pension from the plant shuttering. In this way a cooperation strategy was employed. Furthermore a bond of trust between the firm and the union representatives was established prior to the shuttering of plant. This was leveraged when the bad news was delivered to the union as a means of creating a situation in which the union

Friday, August 23, 2019

Descriptive Statistics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Descriptive Statistics - Coursework Example Another group of data was collected using nominal scale. This was data on the marital status of respondents. The researcher thought it prudent to collect data on the marital status of respondents because it is common knowledge that the marital status of a person may affect his or her learning in one way or the other. The reason why this is so, is that marriage changes the usual personal roles of a person in one way or the other (Fuchs et al, 1997). The data collected on the marital status of respondents was computed and have been displayed below. From the data presented above, it can be seen that majority of the respondents are not married. Their percentage is 58%, which is more than half of the total sample size. This was followed by 14% who were married and 5% who were widows. The least percentage was 2% representing those who are divorced. Using a likert scale, the researcher collected a nominal data (Danielle 2009; Cheng, 2009) on the impact of a 2-tier curriculum on student performance. Respondents were given closed ended alternatives to select their responses from. It would be noted that a close ended question gives respondents specific answers from which they have to make a choice (Choi et al, 2008). The choice of answers given to respondents were indicated as insignificant, slightly significant, significant and very significant. In order to be able to use the SPSS in finding the mean of the responses, the answers were scored as 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The over all responses have been represented in the table below. Judging from the responses in the table and as computed with the SPSS, it can be said that there are many respondents who root for the use of 2-tier curriculum as an intervention for improving the academic performance of students. This is judged from the fact that the mean score as computed was more than the average score (Gardener, 2008). Choi, K., Hoff, C.,