Have the Aspirations of the Un’s Founders as Laid Out

The United Nations was established at the San Francisco Conference on October 24 1945. The world had just witnessed the failure of the League of Nations to fulfill its purpose, the prevention of a Second World War. Consequently the countries that had opposed Germany and Japan looked to succeed where they had previously failed in promoting a â€Å"just and peaceful global community† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 314). The objectives, principles and structure of the organization they hoped would achieve this were recorded in the United Nations Charter. Upon entering the UN, members were required to consent to the set of conditions laid out in this treaty. At the outset there were 51 members. By 2006 this number had grown to include 192 member states, almost encompassing the entire world. Yet whilst the organization has grown in size, the question remains as to whether those aspirations originally laid out in the Charter have actually been met. I will argue that the United Nations has had some success in its capacity as a humanitarian organization, as well as being a useful tool helping to solve international economic, social and cultural problems. However I believe that the UN remains somewhat impotent with regards to issues of international peace and security. The UN Charter is composed of a preamble, followed by numerous articles grouped by topic into a total of 19 chapters. The preamble offers an overview of the hopeful aspirations upon which the UN was founded. The vision that is described consists of four crucial goals. These are then reiterated in the first chapter in a more formal context. The fist target of the UN is â€Å"To maintain international peace and security† (UN Charter). I will argue that the UN is, and indeed always will be incapable achieving this. The second goal laid out in the Charter is â€Å"To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples† (UN Charter). This effectively promotes the concept of state sovereignty, the idea that every state has the right to govern itself without alien intervention. I will argue that this too is unattainable in accordance with UN principles. My case for the failure of the first aim is based upon the principle behind the second aim, and visa versa. The case that I put forewords is that the ideal of simultaneously maintaining peace while promoting sovereignty is unattainable. The other aspirations of the UN include â€Å"solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character† as well as â€Å"promoting and encouraging respect for human rights† (UN Charter). I will argue that the UN has indeed had some success in achieving these two objectives. In order to assess whether the United Nations aim to promote international peace and security has been successful, it is first important to have some understanding of the UN Security Council and the way it functions. Originally it consisted of 11 states. In 1965 this number rose to 15. Of these states, five maintain a permanent membership whilst the ten others are elected on a biennial basis. For decisions made by the Security Council to be passed, a majority of 9 of the 15 member states must vote in favor of them. Furthermore this majority must include every one of the permanent member states, effectively granting them veto power over all decisions regarding security. The permanent members consist of â€Å"the USA, Britain, France, Russia (previously the Soviet Union), and China† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 , p. 15), those states considered to be the great powers at the time the UN was formed. In accordance with the Charter, in the incidence of a perceived threat to international peace the Security Council first attempts to find a nonviolent means to settle the issue. This is described in Chapter VI and may involve settlement or mediation. Other non-violent methods may include â€Å"complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations† (UN Charter: article 41). Where violence is unavoidable the UN may sanction a peacekeeping mission with the objective of affecting a ceasefire or separating rival forces. The principles of UN with regards to international peace and security have now been described. It was the hope in 1945 that the Security Council could be used as a tool to â€Å"save succeeding generations from the scourge of war† (UN Charter: Preamble). However I would argue that just like the League of Nations before it, the fundamental principles behind UN’s security policies are flawed, rendering their aspiration for international peace impossible. It is my belief that the aforementioned policies of the Security Council are incompatible with the principle of state sovereignty, which is also endorsed as an aim of the UN in Article 2 (7) of the Charter, stating that â€Å"Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state†. F. H. Hinsley presents the idea of these two ideals clashing in his book ‘Sovereignty’ (1966). The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 â€Å"legitimized and standardized† (Watson; 1992) the practice of state sovereignty amongst major European powers, requiring them to recognize and respect the territorial integrity of other states. This is widely considered as being the formal introduction of state sovereignty into international relations. Sovereignty essentially refers to â€Å"the supreme authority in a political community† (basiclaw. net; 2004) and implies that states have the right to govern themselves, recognizing no higher authority. However even before such ideas were given proper recognition, states had always recognized their right â€Å"to go to war for any reason whatever, on any pretext at all, if it judged war to be in its interests or necessary for its security† (Hindsley; 1966:p230). It follows that this right is encompassed within those of a sovereign state, which recognize no higher authority and so are free to do that which is in their best interests. Hinsley points out that â€Å"after the end of the nineteenth century states clung tenaciously to this right, believing it to be fundamental to their sovereignty† (1966 p. 30). Yet at the same time, following the devastation of the Second World War, states were undoubtedly disinclined to enter another global conflict. In an attempt to maintain peace the United Nations was formed. Hinsley wrote that the League of Nations Covenant was ‘riddled with compromises which reflect the clash between their conviction that it had become imperativ e to restrict their right to go to war and their conviction that it remained impolitic or impossible to do so† (1966). I would argue that the same could be said for the United Nations Charter, which simultaneously prohibits war whilst insisting on state sovereignty. At the time when the UN was founded, this clash of interests represented in the Charter may not have been of great consequence. Nations were sick of war and were happy to respect sovereignty if it meant they could avert further conflict. This reflected the â€Å"traditional belief that diplomats should ignore the internal affairs of states in order to preserve international stability† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 20). However over time shifts in the international environment would change this. During the cold war, member states were tentative when it came to any sort of interference within other sovereign states. This was demonstrated in Jean Kirkpatrick’s (1979) essay written in the defending the preservation of brutal dictatorships in Latin America as a means of fighting communism without having to get directly involved (Forsy the 1988: 259-60). Furthermore â€Å"the process of decolonization had privileged statehood over justice†, the UN having â€Å"elevated the right to statehood above any tests of viability, such as the existence of a nation, adequate economic performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 314). However with the end of the cold war came a shift in the attention of the international community towards â€Å"individual political and civil rights, as well as the right to basic provisions like food, water, health care, and accommodation† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 314). Charles Beitz exemplified this, being amongst the first to argue against unconditional statehood, claiming that subsequent to independence there must be greater consideration of circumstances of the individual (Beitz 1979). It was argued that these circumstances of the individual were not merely a humanitarian concern, but could potentially be â€Å"a threat to international peace and security. Evidence of a threat to international peace and security could be the appearance of significant numbers of refugees, or the judgment that other states might intervene militarily† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008). This developing association of morality with national interest in the UN agenda is what I believe brings to light the clash between the aspirations of the UN, one being to promoting international peace, the other being the preservation of the â€Å"self-determination of peoples† (UN Charter, article 1). In order to uphold the rights of individuals where they are being neglected, intervention is necessary. Here it seems the UN is caught in a catch 22. On the one hand they can neglect to take interventionist action in order to protect sovereignty. This can be seen in the reluctance of the UN intervene n Darfur which in 2009 had resulted in the death of â€Å"up to 200,000 people and left 2. 7 million homeless† (Tisdall, 2009). Alternatively they have the option of a â€Å"relaxation of the non-intervention principle† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 323). However this approach is equally problematic in attempting to ensure international peace, creating a â€Å"slippery slope† whereby states will take military action without the approval of the UN (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 314). This is recognized by Hinsley, who points out that â€Å"States easily exploit such loopholes. If they cannot plead self-defense for using force- a difficulty which they rarely encounter – they can use it without declaring war or justify it by claiming that they are acting in a good cause as the Security Council would act if the Security Council were not stalled. † (Hindsley, 1966 p. 233). The 2003 invasion of Iraq can be seen to illustrate this point. Before entering Iraq, America looked to gain UN approval. Whilst there has been great speculation over its motivations for doing so, the justification given to the UN was Iraq’s supposed possession of weapons of mass destruction. The alleged presence of these meant the US could claim they were acting to protect the interests of their people. Later the violation of human rights was also given as a justification. However the UN security council did not come to a decision in the winter of 2003 and â€Å"France and Russia threatened to veto a second Security Council resolution authorizing force† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008 p. 323). Regardless of this response a US-led coalition waged war in Iraq in March 2003. The Iraq War case study demonstrates the impotence of the UN to prevent major powers from pursuing their own agendas, even when these agendas threaten international security. In an interview with the BBC, the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan has said, â€Å"from our point of view and from the Charter point of view [the war] was illegal† (2004). On the other hand a statement from the â€Å"Bush administration’s National Security Strategy of September 2002† (Taylor; Curtis, 2008) claimed that the US â€Å"will be prepared to act apart when our interests and unique responsibilities require† (NSS, 2002: 31). This perfectly illustrates how a state exercising its sovereignty, acting in its own special interests which in this scenario include going to war, is at odds with the principles set out in the UN. I would argue that this failure in not a result of UN administration or procedure. It seems instead that the UN is based upon a flawed principle that attempts to encompass two opposing ideals. A system that acknowledges the fact that states internal affairs are of international consequence and therefore can potentially merit intervention, cannot at the same time achieve its aim to maintain international state sovereignty. We see America is unable to exercise its right as a sovereign state to wage war on Iraq under the terms of the Charter, and so must act outside it. Ultimately I would conclude that the ideals at the heart of the UN have rendered it powerless to prevent international conflict impossible. Likewise the ability to justify interventionist policies through the terms of the charter means that the UN can never fully achieve its aspiration to allow the â€Å"self-determination of peoples†. I have already touched somewhat upon another ambition set out in the UN Charter, the aim to promote & protect human rights. However as yet I have only addressed human rights issues with a view to them potentially being a threat to international peace and security. I shall now go on to look at them in greater detail, explaining why I believe the UN has to some extent been successful, despite the fact that human rights abuse is still rife in the world today. A major problem faced by the UN in their efforts to spread human rights is a lack of trust between states that results in a breakdown of international cooperation. The inclusion of human rights earlier in the essay when focusing on issues regarding security and sovereignty highlights an important point. Since the rise in humanitarian intervention after the end of the cold war, there have been â€Å"doubts about the extent to which ‘humanitarian intervention’ is a separate legal or conceptual category† (Welsh, 2006, p. 81). Between 1991-2000 there were 9 cases of humanitarian interventions in Northern Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Albania, Sierra Leone, Kosovo and East Timor (Welsh, 2006). However in all but two cases the UN Security Council or independently acting states did not cite â€Å"humanitarian considerations alone as a basis for intervention† (Welsh 2006, p. 81).

The Joke Written by Roddy Doyle English Assigenment

The Joke is a short story written by Roddy Doyle. The story is told by an omniscient narrator, and it is told from the male protagonist’s point of view. The story is about a nameless man who is trying to find the point of his thoughts. He remembers how his marriage used to be and how his wife would sit on his lap, how they would watch the TV together. But now he claims that if he leaves his wife, his wife would not care. He does not know what has happened to this marriage or partnership as he refers to it. He is in doubt and he is angry. In the story, he likes to tell his wife a joke and make her laugh like the old times. But he is nervous and does not want to seem desperate, because then he is worried that they would drift even further apart. He also fells very unappreciated.Characterize the main protagonist: He is a anonymous man who seems to very confused about his life and marriage, He is married and has children. He is going bald. He claims that he still loves his wife. H e is very eager to have his wife’s attention although he says otherwise. He is sick and annoyed of everything. He doubts everything; he is not sure what he wants or what his point is. He is also very unhappy, that is why he tries to tell his wife a joke. He believes that his marriage – or partnership as he calls it – is a â€Å"give and take† kind of thing; he has to give something in order to receive something. The protagonist does not develop much during the course of the story, because he has not found out what he wants. In the end, it is not clear whether he tells his wife the joke or not.Comment on the title: The title is the Joke† and the joke the protagonist wants to tell his wife is â€Å"What’s the difference between a good ride and a good shite?† But I believe that the real joke is the protagonist’s behavior and thoughts; he does not know what he wants or if he wants anything at all. He keeps changing his mind during t he story’s course. The title could also refer to the fact that it takes a silly thing as a joke to be the solution of something as important and serious as a marriage – because the joke he might have told could be the start of their communication.Write a short essay about how men and women communicate: Men and women both have very different ways of communicating, that’s because they are also different mentally and physically which also plays an important part in how they see and understand things. This can cause problems between the two genders as is sadly common today and probably always has and will be. They operate in each their own way and expect the other to understand what they want, even just out from bodily gestures which are unfair to the other because of the differences. Most of which would be easily avoidable if people talked more together rather than expecting the other to understand meaningless gestures, a fault both genders share.

Public relations process for Deltec Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public relations process for Deltec - Essay Example The CEO has asked for a range of services from our agency including the advice for a major labor issue faced by the company in the recent past. A detailed analysis was made in this regard to help Delstar to come up with same market share as that of its male athletic equipments. The following paragraphs will discuss the issue in detail to find a way out and help Delstar to survive and succeed in the market. Our agency, therefore, suggest a range of efforts to be performed by Delstar to compete with other firms in the industry and to become a threat for them in the years to come. The company has to conduct a couple of researches in this regard. To start with, our agency advices Delstar to conduct a market research so as to know the pulses of the target group. The first and foremost task in the effort of marketing any product /service is to know whether there are consumers for the desired product/service in the market. So knowing about the market is advisable before thinking about the product and its features. Once the consumers' taste and preferences are well understood, the company can start thinking seriously about the product design and development. Because, our agency believes firmly in 'Prevention is better than Cure' policy in marketing. Market Research is the process of gathering data relating to the consumers, competitor and the market and use of such data for decision making and actions. A market Research is indispensable for Delstar not only because it is going to introduce a novel product to a new target group, but the competition from industry icons such as Reebok, Nike, and Adidas is quite stiff. The target group for the new product, Basketball sneakers, has already been fixed by the company and it is female market. It is co mposed of both basket ball players and those who are fascinated by the style of basket ball sneakers and players. Market Research Method The process by which the data from target group are collected and analyzed is known as Market Research Method. Delstar is advised to conduct a Qualitative Market Research as it involves the study about the market feasibility of a new product, and a focused group. The focused group for the study, as already stated, consists of female basket ball players and female teenagers and women who are fascinated by the style of sneakers and basket ball players. Data are collected from the focused group by means of personal interview with them. In the basket ball players segment, female players are approached with an Interview Schedule to gather data. In the second group, a sample survey was conducted among teenagers and women who like basket ball sneakers for daily use for easy and comfortable walking. The players were asked mainly about their views on the sneakers presently available and their expectations about the one which is like to be launched in the market. An interview schedule is to be prepared with logically arranged questions on consumers' needs and aspirations about the product. In addition to the interview with focused group, a one-on-one in-depth interview with a renowned basketball trainer is also prescribed for the company since it is likely to generate more authentic and reliable information. The survey among the non-players female group is conducted using Random Sampling Method wherein the opinion of respondents are more likely to be

Public Finance and Public Policy by Jonathan Gruber Essay

Public Finance and Public Policy by Jonathan Gruber - Essay Example 1.Productivity If a higher level of education will make a person more productive, then the society could benefit from education in terms of higher living standards due to the increased productivity. 2.Citizenship Education makes citizens more informed as well as active voters, which in turn has positive benefits for other people through the quality improvement of the democratic process. 3.Credit Market Failures The families’ inability to borrow to finance education is another market failure that would justify the government’s intervention. 4.Failure to maximize Family Utility The government may feel that loans are not a good solution to credit market failures because it is concerned that parents would still choose appropriate levels of education for their children. 5.Redistribution In a privately funded education model, as long as education is a normal good, wealthy families will provide more education to their children than the low-income families. 11.2 How Is The Government Involved in Education? 1.Free public Education and Crowding Out 3.olving the Crowd-Out Problem: Vouchers -Consumer Sovereignty One benefit of vouchers is that they allow individual to match closely their choices to education with their tastes. -Competition Another benefit of the vouchers is that they allow the education market to take advantage of the pressures of competition that enable the private markets to operate efficiently. 4.Problems with Educational Vouchers -Vouchers Will Lead to Segregation

Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Capitalism - Essay Example Protection of private property was never so legally simplified before the advent of capitalism and the legal implications of private ownership suggested greater independence of private property owners and provided clear protected ownership that could be legally validated. Capitalism brought in the standardization and integration of property rules, increased trust in economic transactions and laid down the risks of ownership with possibilities of insurance against such risks. Loans and borrowing became easier as personal credit history could be checked and there was an increased standardization and transferability of statements documenting ownership of property (Levi-Faur et al, 2005). This specification of property limits and rules and regulations of ownership indicated a smoother flow of property between individuals and enabled a well-defined role for companies so that they could easily operate in national and international markets. The concept of capitalism has often been criticised by the fact that ownership of enterprises shows the division between the employer and the employee as the profits seem to go to the employer and is not shared by the employees. The growth of multinational companies is thus a direct influence of capitalism and the changing global economy has also been directly shaped by the spread of capitalism across society and nations. In fact, the world today could never have been the same without capitalism and considering this, it is important to examine why and how capitalism first emerged in the 16th century and what are the social, historical and political implications. Capitalism - A Background Capitalism is often contrasted to feudalism on the one hand where a monarch has ownership of property and socialism or communism on the other in which means of production are owned by the community collectively (Sweezy et al 1976). Karl Marx, used the term 'capitalist' in the Communist Manifesto although the word 'capitalism' introduced by Thackeray in 1854 meant as the possession of a large amount of capital. The ideology of the capitalist class also known as the bourgeoisie is known as capitalism which closely relates to the capitalist system (Marx, 1890/1976). Considering a social history of the distribution of wealth, Marx contended that human society has passed through several stages and modes of production. The mode of production has changed from ancient communism to primitive slavery, then to feudalism and capitalism. Marx sees society as being divided into two major social classes - the class that has control of the means of production (the exploiting class or bourgeoisie) and the class which do not have any control or does not own the means of production (the exploited class or the proletariat) (Marx 1890/1976). In ancient slavery, the slave-owners exploited the slaves. In feudalism, the lords exploited the peasants. Under capitalism, the capitalists exploit the workers and exploitation happens through the expropriation of surplus value. The surplus value is the total value of the products made by the worker minus what the worker is paid. The exploited class resists this exploitation and the resulting class struggle or class conflict is what drives human history forward. Marx argued that under the capitalist system, workers are treated like a commodity or equipment rather than a person and also

REading Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

REading Response - Assignment Example They assert that there should be an equitable assessment of both kinds of students. The article by National Association for the Education of Young Children (1995) is an accurate expression of the importance of roles of families and educators in providing linguistically and culturally diverse children with equal learning opportunities. Families must support educators in recognizing their children’s potential. As for Soleno-Flores and Trumbell (2003), I believe that it is very important for the educators to design such polices that give a bit flexibility to students whose first language is not English, so that they are tested fairly. They cannot be tested on equal grounds with students with English as primary language. I believe that the article by National Association for the Education of Young Children (1995) can be helpful for educators in building classroom communities where all children are encouraged to collaborate with each other while accepting each other’s linguistic and cultural background. A classroom community is a place where children from all backgrounds are encouraged to learn through collaboration and group-based learning. The recommendations presented by Soleno-Flores and Trumbell (2003) can be very helpful for second language learners. Classrooms where diverse population is present, educators can make use of these recommendations to cater to their students’ individual needs. National Association for the Education of Young Children. (1995). Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: Recommendations for Effective Early Childhood Education. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSDIV98.PDFhttps://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSDIV98.PDF Soleno-Flores, G., & Trumbell, E. (2003). Examining language in context: The need for new research and practice paradigms in the testing of English-language learners. Educational Researcher, 32(2),

Dirct and eMarketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dirct and eMarketing - Essay Example This connection between good levels of customer service and good levels of customer satisfaction and retention underpins the common association of customer service with keeping, rather than winning, customers. Customer service therefore plays a pivotal role in relationship marketing. Getting this role right, and to a standard of expertise that is superior to that of competitors and sustainable in the longer term, requires an in-depth understanding of the nature and nuance of customer service. Knowing customers means closing the loop between the messages sent to them and the messages they send back. Developments in IT have led to interactive communication tools such as the mobile phones being used to complement less interactive mechanisms such as mail or media advertisements. Growing use of carefully targeted direct mail has characterized this as the age of addressability. "Mobile commerce refers to transactions using a wireless device and data connection that result in the transfer of value in exchange for information, services, or goods. Mobile commerce, facilitated generally by mobile phones, includes services such as banking, payment, and ticketing" (Mobile commerce, 2005). "Some organisations view m-Commerce as merely another e-Commerce channel, those organisations that exploit the m-Commerce channel properly by developing alternative and complementary propositions will be more successful in m-Commerce" (E-Commerce, 2001). For suppliers, building longer-term customer relationships with the help of m-commerce means maintaining a dynamic knowledge of customers' requirements, preferences and expectations. While corner shop managers may be able to retain customer likes and dislikes in their heads, larger organizations need customer relationship management systems which manage data throughout the customer life-cycle, from initial contact, through information exchange and sales, to delivery and post-sales service. "Elsewhere in Asia, subscribers to Hong Kong mobile service Sunday can receive offers from shops as they pass them in the mall"(May, 2001). This interaction is as important with the mobile as with any other communication medium, and outsource its development and operations with minimal provision for information transfer - hence repeating the mistakes often made in the early days of the call centre. As surveys continue to show, advertising products and services with the help of m-commerce is relatively easy; more difficult, but absolutely crucial, is to gather vital customer information, obtain customer feedback, utilize existing knowledge about the customer and exploit the interactive nature to add value though product configuration (Evans, O'Malley, 2004). For instance, "a European-based mobile operator recently had some tickets for a pop concert for sale. Having identified a target audience, specials offers were sent to mobile customers by SMS allowing them to buy tickets at a discounted rate. Within an hour, all the tickets had been sold for approximately $100 each, customer details had been captured, and most customers had given permission for further follow up offers" (E-commerce, 2001). It is apparent that some industries are being restructured as organizations redefine themselves to take advantage of IT-enabled marketing, or are replaced by newcomers which operate

The abuse at abu ghraib happened because of basic socio-biological Essay

The abuse at abu ghraib happened because of basic socio-biological drives because humans are naturally prone to treat people who are not considered of their own - Essay Example In the United States who is the self-proclaimed protector of human rights and a country which has a multicultural society, discrimination is still a huge problem within this society. In this country hate crimes are an epidemic and a real solution towards preventing them are currently not viable since the society is not ready to transform itself and truly accept people who are different from the status quo. In 2004 an unfortunate event occurred at Abu Ghraib in which Iraqi prisoners were abused by American soldiers and civilian subcontractors. This paper describes this event and proposes that the reason the abuses at Abu Ghraib occurred is because of the basic social-biological drives of humans which makes them naturally prone to treat people who are not considered of their kind inhumanely. On April 2004 the entire globe learned about serious violation of human rights and abuse that American soldiers committed against Iraqi prisoners stationed in a correctional facility in Iraq called Abu Ghraib. The acts committed by the Americans were truly inhumane and included things such as rape, physical abuse, taking naked pictures of prisoners in extremely revealing positions, urinating on them, and sodomization with batons among other despicable abuses. The story was revealed by the media when insiders in the prison revealed the photographic evidence of the horrific things happening at Abu Ghraib. The person claimed that the army was ready to cover up the event and was going to secretly deal with the matter. The scandal created hysteria throughout America especially within governmental officials. US government officials acknowledge that the event at this prison violated the Geneva Convention which prohibits torture and cruel treatment of war prisoners. The army reported that 2 7 people are accused of being associated with abuses at Abu Ghraid, including 23 soldiers from a military intelligence

FAR Default and Dispute Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

FAR Default and Dispute - Research Paper Example Despite the establishment of these laws, it is common that disputes arise in the process contracting leading to termination of contracts through a legal process. This paper will examine the FAR process of acquisition, settling disputes that arise within the acquisition process and the available mechanisms through which these disputes can be settled. By considering the acquisition plan that is used by the government, this paper will provide various recommendations that can be sued in to improve the government procurement procedures. FAR provides two mechanisms through which the government can terminate contracts they have entered with suppliers. Either termination for default or termination for convenience can be applied depending on the situation that arises during the contract period. Termination of contracts is one of the strategies that the government employs to streamline its operations with the supply chain and network to ensure that the procurement process is effective and with in the allocated budgets and to accommodate changes that may arise during the procurement process. ... Termination by default takes a legal procedure in-court where the two parties in the contract are required to provide a tangible evidence to prove the authenticity of termination by default. If the government intends to follow this route, then it must prove in a court of law that the contract failed to deliver goods and services with respect to the terms of the contract concerning the quality, quantity, schedule or any other issues states implicitly or explicitly in the bond. The contractor is required to prove to the court of law that the omissions or defiance of the contract terms was excusable or outside the contract agreement. The court judgment is delivered after the enough evidence is tabled by both parties, enough to form a basis for a court ruling. As the number of government contracts increases, cases involving termination of contract for default have become more common. However, the contractor is allowed to appeal if they feel that the termination for default was not a fair part of the contract (Keyes, 2003). Numerous cases have emerged during the government procurement process that has led the government to resort to termination for default. For instance, the government of US terminated a contract for default after a contractor failed to deliver goods that included wire rope terminals and the court upheld the case. In addition, the government demanded a compensation of $14, 457 for goods that were rejected within a warranty period for on the ground that the contractor failed to meet the quality requirements of the contract (Keyes, 2003). The court ruled in favor of the government after assessing the evidence that proved that the contractor had failed to uphold the terms

Coursework †Metamorphosis Essay Example for Free

Coursework – Metamorphosis Essay Gregor must work at a job he hates to pay off his family’s debts. The family is in debt, but he is the only one who has a job. While he wakes up early and goes on the train until late at night, his father has a leisurely life. Kafka writes, â€Å"for his father breakfast was the most important meal time in the day, which he prolonged for hours by reading various newspapers. † Instead of working, he is eating and reading newspapers for many hours. At this time, Gregor must work to support the whole family. Later, he finds out that the family has enough money to live on for a few years and maybe Gregor did not have to work so hard. Kafka writes, â€Å"with this excess money, he could have paid off more of his father’s debt to his employer and the day on which he could be rid of this position would have been a lot closer. † He is like a servant, and this is not natural for a family member. Changing into the insect is symbolic of being liberated from this life. Since he is now a bug and cannot work, he does not have to be responsible for paying off the family’s debt anymore. Instead, the family has to be responsible. Therefore, the metamorphosis is also symbolic of the family being liberated because they do not depend on Gregor anymore. They depend on themselves for support. After the change, the mother and sister must do the cooking and the family must all get jobs. Once that happens, the family quickly decides that they do not want or need Gregor anymore. They are independent and decide that Gregor is not an important part of the family. Question 2: If the story was set in contemporary America and Gregor was working two jobs, the plot would change in many ways. If he is working two jobs, it is probably because they are barely able to pay the debts. The family would already be working, they would not get new jobs so easily, and there would be no servant girl or lodgers. If Gregor had two jobs, the other family would probably be working too. This would change the plot significantly. If all the family is working, Gregor would not be the only one responsible for the debts. After the metamorphosis, the family would not have enough money. If they are already working and Gregor loses two jobs, the family would be more in debt every day. Also, in the story, the family starts working soon after Gregor is changed to an insect. However, today it is not so simple to get a job like in the story. If the family has to get new jobs, it would take a long time and their debts would be higher. In addition, there would not have been a servant in the story. Kafka writes, â€Å"The servant girl was now let go. A huge bony cleaning woman with white hair flying all over her head came in the morning and evening to do the heaviest work. The mother took care of everything else in addition to her considerable sewing work. † If Gregor was working two jobs, the family would not have a servant girl or cleaning woman. They would not have enough money and the family would do this work themselves. Also, the family gets rent from three lodgers. Today, lodgers are not so common so the family would be forced to find other ways to get money. The story does not say if the rent is a lot of money, but one of the family would have to get another job to replace the rent. Question 3: I researched â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and found two very good resources: 1. The Modern World. 16 Mar. 2007 http://www. themodernword. com/kafka/index. html. This website is a collection of information about Franz Kafka and â€Å"The Metamorphosis. † It has a biography, review of the story, and a collection of other resources like papers, research, and websites. 2. Bloom, Harold, ed. Franz Kafkas the Metamorphosis. New York: Chelsea House, 1988. This is a book with many essays about â€Å"The Metamorphosis. † I read â€Å"Metamorphosis of the Metaphor† by Stanley Corngold and â€Å"From Marx to Myth: The Structure and Function of Self-Alienation in Kafkas Metamorphosis† by Walter H. Sokel. In â€Å"From Marx to Myth: The Structure and Function of Self-Alienation in Kafkas Metamorphosis,† Walter H. Sokel writes Gregor turns into an insect because he has self-contempt. Sokel writes, â€Å"Seeing himself as vermin, and being treated as such by his business and family, the traveling salesman Gregor Samsa literally turns into vermin† (105). I agree with the author when he says vermin represents the way Gregor is treated, but I do not agree that Gregor sees himself this way. Gregor does not like his job, but must go to work to â€Å"pay off my parents’ debt† to his boss. His family uses him because he can make money and pay off the debts. His boss uses him because he can make money for the company. Kafka writes about Gregor, â€Å"He was the boss’s minion, without backbone or intelligence. † He cannot even miss work if he is sick. He certainly is treated like vermin by his family and boss. However, I do not see that Gregor thinks he is vermin until after he turns into an insect. He seems to be proud that he supports his family.

Managing Multicultural Team Diversity

Managing Multicultural Team Diversity The purpose of this work is to illustrate literature that suggests that member of multicultural team brings all new fresh ideas and approaches to problem solving. Those members however come up with a challenge by also introducing different understandings and expectations regarding team dynamics and integration (Ochieng and price 2009). Dealing with the question of how being attentive to the diversity and creating the structure required for success, a manager can effectively work and same time influence multicultural team diversity. This paper uses a case study of heavy construction engineering projects and its Findings identifies key multi-dimensional factors that either facilitated or limited the effectiveness of multicultural teamwork. The result has implications for managers who work with multicultural teams and are committed to improving team performance and productivity (Ochieng and price 2009). However, it revealed key dimensions to consider but it would not instantly transform multicultural teams into high-performing ones. Originality/value Though the benefits of multicultural teams have been acknowledged, the study helped to develop an understanding that conflict, misunderstanding and poor project performance can occur because of the cultural differences among teams (Ochieng and price 2009). Introduction: While diversity efforts have the potential to strengthen organizational effectiveness and efficiency, and to advance social justice, study has shown that realizing the full benefits of diversity is neither a simple nor a straightforward process. It is quite another to develop a supportive work environment that enables people of diverse backgrounds to perform at their highest levels, contribute fully to the organization and feel professionally satisfied. It is an even greater challenge to integrate fully the varied knowledge, experiences, skills, creativity, perspectives and values that people of diverse backgrounds bring into an organizations strategy, goals, work, products, systems and structures. (Adle and Gundersen 2008) Managing diversity is an on-going process that organises various talents and capabilities which a diverse population bring to an organization, community or society, so as to create a wholesome, inclusive environment, that is safe for differences, enables people to reject rejection, celebrates diversity, and maximizes the full potential of all, in a cultural context where everyone benefits (Rosado 2006). Results have shown advantages and disadvantages (Williams and OReilly 1998, Chevrier 2003). In fact, workforce diversity isnt a competitive organisational strength unless its effectively managed. Allard (2002) founded that diversity itself does not guarantee greater success in business nor does it guarantee qualitative social and creativity improvements. Ancona and Caldwell (1992) explain that difficulty of merging different cognitive styles, attitudes and values, such as those found in teams with diverse members. Diversity if not well managed can create internal processes that slow decision making and keep members distracted from the task. Teams made up of individuals from different thought-worlds may find it difficult to develop a shared purpose and an effective group process. (Worman 2005) The general motivation in growing use of teams is the degree of diversity in the workforce of multicultural organization; multicultural team provides an efficient and flexible way to coordinate production requiring a diversity of skills, talents, and information (Eckel and Grossman 2005) Team diversity may permit greater productivity than could be achieved by individual effort as no individual possess all task-related characteristics necessary to achieve the desired goals. The cross-fertilization possible in a diverse work team leads to more creativity; diverse teams are more effective (Northcraft et al., 1996). Literature review: The emergence of globalization means organizations no longer rely upon the traditional teams. There is a need of people from different cultural background to work together to make global enterprises succeed in the global marketplace (Steers Nordon, 2006) they also founded that Multicultural teams provide an open opportunity to integrate widely differing social, cultural, and organizations perspectives into key decisions that affects the success of all international operations(liaqat et al 2008) The management and development of teams within a global context unavoidably leads to a consideration of diversity and related challenges. For appreciation of international context and development of abilities to understand everyday issues from different cultural perspectives it is essential that managers receives help form organisations. Bartlett and Goshal (1989) identified the main challenge facing organisations intending to work overseas as the introduction of practices, which balance global competitiveness, multinational flexibility and the building of global learning capability. The authors further argued that if organizations have to achieve this balance, they must develop cultural sensitivity and the ability to manage and build future capabilities. The worlds most innovative firms, such as Microsoft, took advantage of diversity by introducing multicultural teamwork as (Ely and Thomas, 2001) diversity increases the number of different perspectives, styles, knowledge and insight s that the team contributes to organizations complex problems. However, team integration requires organisations to value explicitly multicultural teamwork, to adapt to it and use it to generate improvements in work performance and team effectiveness. There are literatures on cultural diversity which examines team members, demographical backgrounds and other such relevant factors to their diverse cultural characteristics, values and discernments ([Ansari and Jackson, 1996].As confirmed by McLeod and Lobel (1992) multicultural team generates more high quality ideas in brainstorming tasks, and when it comes to identifying and solving problems culturally diverse teams perform better than homogenous teams Jackson et al. (1992). And a better utilization of multicultural team by organization yields significant gains in productivity Townsend et al. (1998). For example, Ng and Tung (1998) a multi-branch financial services firm with culturally diverse team gained more financial profits than t o their culturally homogenous counterparts. More recently, Marquardt and Hovarth (2001) established that if the energy and synergy of individuals from diverse culture are managed, organisations could generate creative approaches to problems and challenges that are faced by corporate teams in tasks, they provide their significance for organizations in international marketing activities, expertise to decision making and managerial actions, a greater possibility to implement the decision in a timely manner, there is limited empirical evidence that decision consensus actually leads to decision implementation speed or success (Preim et al 1995). Multicultural Teams in few cases reach to a consensus on a decision by overcoming conflicts but at time of implementation they still face problems, Alternatively when groups smooth over task related disagreements decision consensus suffers because of the remaining latent conflicts among the group members (Preim et al., 1995). Findings of certain studies reveal that communication in multicultural teams fosters the formation of an emergent team culture. Team culture has a straightforward rules, performance expectations and individual perceptions upon which multicultural team develops and depends. Earley and Mosakowski (2000) further confirmed shared individual prospects facilitate communication and team performance resulted from strong emergent culture of effective multicultural team. This also suggests that the performance and team effectiveness can be improved and boosted through the positive effect and trust generated by the perceived shared understanding. Most importantly, the formation of strong emergent team culture can be facilitated by effective interaction among team members Pearson and Nelson (2003). Nonetheless, as multicultural teams are particularly susceptible to communications problems this can affect team cohesion. Individuals in multicultural teams can have different perceptions of the envi ronment, motives and behaviour intentions. Shaw (1981) argued that due to impeded social cohesion the effects of such differences could result in lower team performance. Further research by Evans and Dion (1991), on these two variables showed a positive correlation. Even Elron (1997) asserted that cohesive teams are more efficient and respond faster to changes and challenges. Generally the most common challenge to multicultural teams is Managing cultural differences and cross-cultural conflicts (Elron, 1997). The main cause of conflict is the cultural issues among team individuals because working style of each culture is significantly different from other culture and other reasons are misunderstanding and poor performance (Shenkar and Zeira, 1992). As (Pearson and Nelson, 2003 found there is five important distinctive challenges that managers face are: developing team cohesiveness; maintaining communication richness; dealing with coordination and control issues; handling geographic distances and dispersion of teams; and managing cultural diversity, differences and conflicts). Because of the distinct perception managers from different countries have on environmental opportunity they are likely to translate and respond differently to the same strategic issues or team tasks. To address rapidly changing and complex nature of working environment multicultural teams must improve their ability to combat such external challenges. The sense of belonging to a group gives a growing feeling of safety and comfort to team member in return can enhance the response to task challenges (Schein, 1985). Case study: E.G. Ochieng and A.D.F. Price caries out interviews to the eight organisations that were selected, operated in the energy, pharmaceutical and petrochemical sector. The selected organisations were well balanced in terms of size, status and projects managed, where 20 of the participants interviewed were picked on the basis of project management experience with each having long-standing familiarity in managing large and complex projects over a period of many years, Being familiar with cultural issues empowers project leaders with the requisite knowledge for improving the efficiency of managing multicultural project teams. Addressing the poor performance of multicultural project teams remains an aspiration within the construction industry (Baiden, 2006 Baiden, B.K., 2006. Framework of the Integration of the Project Delivery Team. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Loughborough University.Baiden, 2006). There is mounting evidence and opinion indicating that integrated teamwork is a pri mary key in efforts towards improving product delivery within the construction industry (Egan, 2002). There is a growing trend towards discussing cross-cultural complexity more openly within the construction industry as the demand for international construction projects with multicultural project teams have been exceeding, same time to examine if cross-cultural complexity and cross-cultural communication can be effectively managed, before exploring the effective management of multicultural project teams. The finding shown, that all team member need to trust and understand each other in order to achieve a fully integrated multicultural project team. It is also evident that when it comes to carrying out project tasks all participants favoured collectivism over individualism. The research established that communication in the multicultural teams is a significant factor in the successful completion of heavy construction engineering projects. It is essential for project leaders to ensure that the nature of the interactions do not affect the strength of the relationships between project teams and their ability to transfer knowledge and information required to complete project tasks successfully. As substantiated from the findings, project leaders need to implement a clear and robust procedure of resolving conflicts that might arise. Participants further acknowledged that in a multicultural project team, individual achievement is not valued in a collectivist culture; whereas in an individualistic project team it is one of the most important values. Thus, in a collectivist project team, even though the project leader might play the most important role in successful realisation of a project task, reward is often given to all team members. The consensus that emerges in this study is that a collectivist culture in heavy engineering projects emphasizes the importance of team effort to success, and is not likely to attach failure to an individual person even though this pe rson is the project leader. From the above, four key factors has been identified by the authors that influence multicultural project teams at team levels. These were cross cultural communication, cross cultural collectivism, cross cultural empathy in project leadership and cross cultural trust. What needed to be well understood is that the effective structure of a multicultural project team depends on a well structured integration system, between the client, project manager and the project team. As illustrated by the two groups in this study, the culture of a project manager plays a major role in how the project team will perceive cross-cultural communication on projects. Evaluation: Katzenbach and Smiths have outlined three team goals in his model of team basics: performance results, personal growth and collective work products. Management sets the Measurable performance in order to give the team a rationale to exist. The individual as they have the responsibility for personal growth, they must align with and contribute to the teams goals. The last is collective work products instead of individual products. To achieve all three goals team needs skills, commitment and accountability. To master the assigned tasks Problem solving, technical, functional, and interpersonal skills are necessary. The teams sense of responsibility culminates in accountability for the assigned tasks. Furthermore, only the collective unit not the individual will be responsible for the teams collective product succeeds or fails in fulfilling expectations. Finally, the individuals commitment is important when conflicts, difficult tasks or other critical situations arise. Study by several authors found that Power Distance moderates the relationship between participation and organizational commitment whereas; resistance moderates the impact of culture on satisfaction and commitment (Kirkman and Shapiro 1997). Katzenbach and Smiths model has two more dimensions; the collective and individual dimensions. According to agency theory (eraz and Earley, 1993), individual tends to maximize his self-interest, and accordingly faces a dilemma when working in organizations. Triandis (1995a), and later Eraz and Earley (1993), found that individualists performed better alone than working in an ingroup or outgroup. Conversely, collectivists work better in an ingroup than in an outgroup or alone. This shows how the degree of heterogeneity is not the only determinant of performance. The involved cultures and their characteristics must be considered to assess whether the team is likely to perform well. Conclusion: multicultural team encounter specific problems that can be summarized in three categories: attitudinal problems (mistrust, stress), perceptual problems (stereotyping, tension) and communication problems (Adler, 1991:) however, cross-cultural teams are more effective at generating ideas (enhanced creativity, more alternatives, better solutions) and display limited groupthink (critical evaluation of diverse ideas, self censorship). With the findings of the case study it has been concluded that if the maximum benefits are to be obtained from multicultural team, it is imperative that these negatives should be overcome by proper managerial initiatives. Team managers need to know how to ensure successful behaviour integration among diverse group members (Wright and Snell 1999; kreitz 2008)HR managers must ensure that team managers have adequate training to help them develop needed skills in the emotional aspects of group management, intervention techniques, communication, and team building so that they can manage diverse work teams effectively. Effective teamwork requires members to recognize the team as a unit with common goals, values, and norms (Lembke and Wilson, 1998). The more that team members identify with one another, the more likely they are to believe they hold similar goals, values, and norms, and the more willing they will be to cooperate and work together as a team.( Cummings 2004; Kreitz 2008) Managers must remember that not all sources of diversity in work groups enhance the value of knowledge.87. Jonathon N. Cummings, Work Groups, Structural Diversity, and Knowledge Sharing in a Global Organization, Management Science 50 (2004), p. 360Different diversity characteristics should be chosen to enhance team performance and should be aligned to the teams purpose and goals. An individual who perceives herself as a member of a team is more likely to perceive the fate of the team as her own (Ashforth and Mael, 1989). This commonality is more likely to be recognized if team members are, or perceive themselves to be, of the same social category.

The Poetry of Judith Wright Essay -- Judith Wright Poems compare Contr

The Poetry of Judith Wright Abstract This report discusses the influences of Australia as well as the universal impact on the poetry of Judith Wright. It contains an evaluation of both the techniques and the "plot" behind the poems "Remittance Man, "South of My Days" and "Eve to her Daughters" as well as a comparison between the three poems. Australia, as Wright ¡Ã‚ ¦s homeland, has had a significant effect on the content of her poems but references to English scenes are also consistent as well as general references to the universal world. Eve to Her Daughters. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poem Summary The poem  ¡Ã‚ ¥Eve to Her Daughters ¡Ã‚ ¦ tells of original sin and gives advice to the women (her daughters) of today from Eve regarding men. The first stanza describes the consequences of the fall but Eve ¡Ã‚ ¦s acceptance of it. The second and third stanzas describe Adam ¡Ã‚ ¦s rebellion against the punishment and the  ¡Ã‚ §insult ¡K the trick They had played on us ¡Ã‚ ¨,  ¡Ã‚ ¥They ¡Ã‚ ¦ being God and Satan whom Adam has grouped together as a united opposition. Adam was discontent with the new life and strove to build a new Eden and put God  ¡Ã‚ ¥out of business ¡Ã‚ ¦. The third and fourth stanzas tell the audience about Adam ¡Ã‚ ¦s attempt to understand how the world works and to disprove God ¡Ã‚ ¦s existence. In his quest to unravel everything he decides that if it  ¡Ã‚ §cannot be demonstrated [it] does not exist ¡Ã‚ ¨. In this process he proves that humans themselves cannot exist and  ¡Ã‚ §refuses to accept the conclusion ¡Ã‚ ¨. The conclusion of the poem is in a sarcastic tone as a final message to Eve ¡Ã‚ ¦s  ¡Ã‚ ¥daughters ¡Ã‚ ¦ that everybody has faults and they always work out. She suggests that Adam is too stubborn to accept this and through this he has turned himself into a shapeless enigma that  ¡Ã‚ §doesn ¡Ã‚ ¦t exist. ¡Ã‚ ¨ ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Universal References The biblical references to Eve, Adam, Abel and Cain, as well as God and Satan are not linked to Judith Wright ¡Ã‚ ¦s homeland or any country in particular but in particular her Christian upbringing. The poem reflects feminist ideas as many of her poems do and also encourage thought by including hidden questions within the poem to challenge her audience. In the third stanza there is mentioned a number of ideals that modern people are striving for such as  ¡Ã‚ §multiplied opportunities for safe investment and higher education ¡Ã‚ ¨ as well as advanced technologies and communications. This stanza has ... ...  Ã‚  Australian References The very first line of  ¡Ã‚ §South of my Days ¡Ã‚ ¨ tells us that the poem is about Australia as it is Judith Wright ¡Ã‚ ¦s home country ( ¡Ã‚ §part of my blood ¡Ã‚ ¦s country ¡Ã‚ ¨). The  ¡Ã‚ §tableland ¡Ã‚ ¨ described in lines 2 and 3 are distinctly Australian as well as the trees mentioned in line 4. In stanza 2 the use of the word  ¡Ã‚ §yarn ¡Ã‚ ¨ is also Australian. Stanza 3 is one of  ¡Ã‚ §Old Dan ¡Ã‚ ¦s ¡Ã‚ ¨ stories about a cattle muster, another distinct Australian reference especially with the inclusion of a drought mentioned and the Hunter Valley. Stanza 4 is another story containing references to particular places such as Tamworth and the Bogongs, as well as specific references to Australian legends such as the Cobb & Co. mail service and Captain Thunderbolt the bushranger, all of which are uniquely Australian. Conclusion The balance between Australia and the universal in the poetry of Judith Wright is fairly even though it does lean more towards Australian poetry. The main references in her poetry are towards England, Australia and the Bible, all of which she had grown up with and had obvious strong influences on her. The love of her country Australia is evident in many of her poems.

Opiates And The Law Essay -- essays research papers fc

Opiates And The Law   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Illicit drug use and the debate surrounding the various legal options available to the government in an effort to curtail it is nothing new to America. Since the enactment of the Harrison Narcotic Act in 1914 (Erowid) the public has struggled with how to effectively deal with this phenomena, from catching individual users to deciding what to do with those who are convicted (DEA). Complicating the issue further is the ever-expanding list of substances available for abuse. Some are concocted in basements or bathtubs by drug addicts themselves, some in the labs of multinational pharmaceutical companies, and still others are just old compounds waiting for society to discover them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Almost overnight one such venerable substance (or class of substances) has been catapulted into the national spotlight: prescription painkillers, namely those derived from the opium poppy. This class of analgesic encompasses everything from the codeine in prescription cough syrup to the morphine used in the management of sever pain. These compounds are commonly referred to as opiates and are produced naturally by the poppy. The sub-class of this type that has gotten all of the attention recently is the opioids, which are semi-synthetic compounds derived from the opiates (Wade 846). Opioids were developed for a variety of reasons, such as reducing the cost of production (morphine is expensive to synthesize) and attempting to reduce the addictiveness of the drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And addictive they are. Heroin is perhaps the best-known opioid around, and arguably one of the most addictive substances known to man. Opiates and opioids (hereafter generically referred to as opioids) function by attaching to receptor sites in the body called mu-receptors, which are primarily located in the brain and the digestive system. When these receptors are activated in the brain they produce a rush of euphoria and a groggy state of well being (it is interesting to note that studies have shown that this action does not eliminate the pain one is feeling, but merely changes ones’ perception of it) (Kalb). The body quickly becomes tolerant of this, however, and abuse frequently follows a steep dosage curve requiring that more and more of the drug be taken to produce the same effect. Long-term abusers develop... ...keep them from indulging their habit. The truth of the matter is no one change or modification to existing policy will have much effect if any, on the current state of affairs. It isn’t enough to ban drugs, we must work to understand their allure and the intricate mechanisms in our brains and in our psychology that make some of us too weak to resist the temptation. Only with this sort of concentrated effort will we see any progress. Works Cited Erowid Psychoactive Vaults. Home Page. 6 April 2001. . Kalb, Claudia. â€Å"Playing With Painkillers.† Newsweek 9 April 2001: 45-47. Richwine, Lisa. â€Å"US Launches Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse.† YahooNews. 10 April 2001 . Rosenberg, Debra. â€Å"How One Town Got Hooked.† Newsweek. 9 April 2001: 48-51. Sacco, Vincent F, and Kennedy, Leslie W. The Criminal Event. New York: Wadsworth, 1996. United States Drug Enforcement Agency. Home Page. 6 April 2001. . Wade, L.G. Jr. Organic Chemistry. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1999: 846-847.

Australias Unfair Legal System :: miscellaneous

Australia's Unfair Legal System In theory all jury systems (which have existed for almost 800 years) are fair and just. The jury system originated in England and has so far failed in cases (all too common) when defendants are wrongfully prosecuted or convicted of crimes which they did not commit. In societies without a jury system, panels of judges act as decision makers. They weigh the evidence and apply the law. In the court system, criminal law is interpreted by a jury who are seen as expressing the sense of justice of ordinary men and women. Juries date back to the Middle Ages in England, and while membership, role, and importance have changed throughout the ages, they were part of the system of England’s Common Law. The purpose of the jury system was to ensure the civil rights of the ordinary citizen. It is important to remember that at the time, ordinary people had few rights. I believe that the jury system is an unfair system due to the limitations which are included during jury selection. Many professionals and groups of people are exempt from jury service: police or anyone dealing with the law (law student, lawyer, judges, assessors), anyone dealing in medicine (doctors, nurses), small or large business owners Pregnant women or women in general can claim special considerations, along with; teachers, accountants, ministers of religion, or generally anyone with a professional/education. So due to this, people who serve on a jury can be unemployed or part of a less educated and informed strata of society. Due to such limitations within the jury selection process, it is hardly said to be a fair and just system. In Europe, defendants are always tried by judges and assessors which I believe to be a much fairer way in deciding the innocence or guilt of a person. Assessors are legally qualified magistrates, with long experience in presiding over their own courts. When sitting in the superior court as assessors they are not mere advisors, but an integral part of the court. They have the same right as the judge to question the witnesses. Legal issues which are decided exclusively by the judge or panel of judges are evaluated prior to this decision by the assessors together with the judges, deliberating and voting with equal status. Decisions under this system seem much fairer and more reliable than under the jury system as it exists today.

Human Heart Essay

The human heart is by far one of the most vital organs of the body. It has a mass that ranges from 250 grams to 350 grams. Its contraction and expansion results in 2000 gallons of blood being pumped through the body’s blood vessels per day. It’s located in the middle of the chest protected by the ribcage. Its building blocks are a unique type of muscle known as the myocardium, and it’s enclosed by a double-walled membranous sac known as the pericardium. The double-walled membrane houses the pericardial fluid which cushions the heart preventing shock and nourishing it. It’s divided into four chambers and has a large network of arteries and veins. The chambers are known as the atrium and ventricles. A special kind of muscle called the septum divides the right cavity and the left cavity. Normally the expulsion of blood from one cavity would result in a subsequent amount of blood flowing into the adjacent cavity. The left ventricle is the strongest and largest chamber since its tasked with pumping blood to all parts of the body through the aorta. The right cavity of the heart which is composed of the right atria and right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from all parts of the body and pumps this blood to the lungs for oxygenation (pulmonary circulation). The left cavity composed of the left atria and left ventricle receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps this blood to all body parts through the aorta (systemic circulation). The heart has four valves that regulate the flow of blood through its chambers. Blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle is regulated by the tricuspid valve. The pulmonary valve regulates blood flowing into the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle. Oxygenated blood from the lungs passes through the mitral valve situated between the left atrium and left ventricle. The aortic valve regulates oxygenated blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta for delivery to the body. One of the greatest threats to the hearts proper functioning and subsequently to a person’s survival is a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the heart is not able to pump blood effectively due to arteries clogging. Deposition of fatty cells in arteries will lead to their constriction inhibiting the flow of blood leading to a heart attack which is fatal in most cases.

Performance Management Framework Essay

Mr. Stonefield is starting his own business in Austin, Texas, called Landslide Limousine Service. One of the fundamental elements to building this new business venture is creating a framework for performance management. The framework must include necessary employee job skills, the methods used for measuring these skills, the process for addressing skill gaps, and the approach for delivering effective performance feedback. It is important to understand how the performance management framework (PMF) aligns to the organizational business strategy. Mr. Stonefield previously stated he wants to provide first-class transportation to his customers. His goals are realistic for the first year with an anticipated -$50,000 in revenue, and 10% turnover. The success of the business’s performance management will ensure there will not be any additional lost revenue, and turnover stays at, or under target. The goals set in place lay the foundation for the future of this company, and a clearly defined PMF will foster highly engaged employees and lead to continual revenue growth. It is imperative Mr. Stonefield’s employees have the necessary job skills to allow Landslide Limousine to achieve its goals and gain a positive reputation. A job analysis is â€Å"The process of obtaining information about jobs, including the tasks to be done on the jobs as well as the personal characteristics necessary to do the tasks† (Cascio, 2013, p.690). Mr. Stonefield has elected Atwood and Allen Consulting to conduct the job analysis process to identify the skills his employees will need. The job analysis process, or in this case, processes, have been identified, but additional time is required to act out these processes. The first process is observation. â€Å"The analyst simply observes a worker or group of workers doing a job. Without interfering, the analyst records†¦ Team Reflection: Performance Management In week 4 Team â€Å"D† reviewed and discussed the following information and how it applies to Landslide Limousine. Alignment of the performance management framework to the organizational business strategy, organizational performance philosophy, the job analysis process completed identifying the  skills needed by employees, methods used for measuring an employee’s skills, process for addressing skill gaps, approach for delivering effective performance feedback. Alignment of the performance management Aligning the structure of the performance management plan with the business strategy is a key element for its success. For Landslide Limousine Services, it was previously communicated that this strategy entailed providing first class transportation to its customers. Its prospective goals indicate a $50,000.00 first year net revenue, a 5% net revenue increase over the first few years, and a turnover rate of approximately 10%. In order to achieve the realistic goals set and for the business strategy to be met, you must consider what it would take to reach them. Understanding that employee loyalty will be an asset to the business is a good start. This means developing a flexible framework that expresses the company’s culture and shows managements’ commitment to developing a strong team of employees. Providing the right training opportunities is essential for meeting business objectives. Many companies just go through the motions of a performance management plan without fully evaluating the needs of the employees to develop their morale and commitment in return. In order to provide first class transportation to its customers, opportunity for development in this area with the proper guidance and encouragement will engage employees in the direction of the company’s strategy. Organizational performance philosophy Every business and its culture differ from one†¦ Introduction Creating a performance management framework ensures that Clapton Commercial Construction will achieve its business venture goals. A critical tool for a company is its performance management. It gives the employees an opportunity to succeed and for the organization to prosper. Outlined are recommendations that we here at Atwood and Allen consulting feel should be utilized to maximize the potential this company has. Performance Management For any business to be successful it is imperative that they implement a  performance management framework. This structure must be effective for the company to meet its goals and ensure that internal decisions are made based on the work performance of its employees. The performance management framework aligns with the business strategy because the structure is created based on the goals and vision of the business. Recommendations Clapton Commercial Constructions desire is to deliver quality top notch construction and customer service. A clear vision and realistic goals are needed to target areas of improvement. An effective performance management framework ensures consistency in reviews and brings the business success they are anticipating. It is recommended that Clapton Commercial promote growth by making sure that all employees are properly trained and feedback be analyzed from the employees and customers. The job analysis is an in-depth study of the position. It provides information for job descriptions (Job Analysis-Human Resources Management for Employers, 2011). We recommend that the employees be involved by completing a job analysis form, this is a way of collecting information about the work. Interview the employees by asking them specific questions about their job duties and make a list of the specific task performed. Also, identify the experience, education, and training levels†¦ PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ABOUT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Performance Management involves the entire gamut of processes in identifying critical dimensions of performance – setting work plans against laid down objectives, reviewing the work done against indicators of performance and developing and enhancing competencies for improved performance. THEORGANIZA TIONAL GOAL PROVIDES THE PERSPECTIVE TO DETERMINE THE DEPARTMENTA L (REGION/ THEME/UNIT) GOAL WHICH IN TURN PROVIDES THE CONTEXT FOR AN PROCEDURE FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM An effective Performance Management System should be based on :a) Setting up Key Result Area (KRAs) for the Region/Theme/Unit/ Department b) Clarity of Individual Roles and Responsibilities c) Laying down Plans and Performance  Indicators for each position d) Periodic assessment of performance of the individual against such Plans/ Performance Indicators e) Identifying factors facilitating and hindering achievement of Plans – development of action plans for overcoming hindering factors and strengthening facilitating factors f) Periodic review of role incumbents’ behavior, which contributes to effective functioning and working out action plans for developing such behavior. g) Identification of role incumbents’ developmental needs and preparing plans for staff development through training and related activities. h) Implementation and review. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PAGE STAGES OF MANAGING PERFORMANCE SYSTEM : 1. Identification of KRAs (Key Result Areas)  KRA(s) for the Organisation need to be identified and collectively agreed upon. The KRA(s) for the organization will be drawn out from the Country Strategy paper (2005-2010) which has evolved through a bottom-up approach, from consultations held with over a 1000 persons, with participation from the partners and communities AAI-India works with. KRA(s) for the organization will hold good for the†¦ Performance Management Plan Performance Management Plan HRM-531 March 17, 2014 Patrice Cloutier Mr. Stonefield, I am very happy to hear that you are considering a Performance Management Plan for your business expansion in Austin, Texas. As you may know there are sound organizational payoffs for implementing a strong performance management system. Study indicates that companies with a strong management plan is likely to outperform competitors by 51% on financial measure and by 41% on nonfinancial metrics. The performance management plan for the limousine operation with 25 employees, with a net $-50k revenue, with a growth of rate 5% for the first two years and expected rate of turnover of 10% should be straight forward. Here below I am presenting to you our recommendations for a very comprehensive performance management plan. (Cascio, 2013, P.332) The first step a business must consider is alignment of performance management to the business strategy. Once you have the vision for the Limo operation in Austin, identify the drivers or Key Performance Indicators to achieve the vision. The KPIs then can cascaded down to the functional areas then to individual level. The next step in the process should be of defining goals. The process of goal setting should be a collaborative process between a manger and the employee. Once the company wide strategy is established the strategy and the goals should be shared with each employee. This is a critical step in the process. One thing to keep in mind in goal development is that the goals should be specific, measurable, achievable and timely. Specific: Well-defined to inform employees exactly what is expected, when, and how much. Measurable: Provide milestones to track progress and motivate employees toward achievement. Achievable: Success needs to be attainable with effort by an average employee, with a bit of a stretch. Relevant: The goals should focus on the greatest impact to the overall†¦

International Management Essay

In the first article titled â€Å"Developing an effective repatriation strategy for MNC: A model and tools for international human resource management†, the authors explore the rather forgotten aspect of repatriates. This is a specific targeting the area of international human resource management. According to the authors, repatriated employees have not received the focus they should especially about their full inclusion into the companies. As such, expatriates have suffered on various fronts, ranging from the emotional disharmony to the general loss of contact to the company. The authors fault the fact that multinational companies have not been able to come up with policies and procedures to support these expatriates. They point out that these companies fail to accommodate the expatriates just as they fail to recognize the existence of this category of employees. They also point out the fact that companies have the responsibility to provide support services for their expatriate employees (Chew, 2008). The second article titled â€Å"Analyzing International Trade Patterns: Comparative Advantage for the worlds major Economies† focuses on the relationship between comparative advantage and other comparative factors in relation to the overall benefit obtained from having such an advantage by a country. The authors go ahead to analyze the comparative advantage of the major economies in the world. They bring out the single most important contributor to these countries’ high development as having its roots in the fact that they have succeeded in achieving high exports. The author brings out the fact that these countries put together, comprise over 80% of the global exports in terms of manufacturing products. According to the author, the achievement of high production of goods by these countries has in the end meant the cost of production has reduced. The high exports and resultant cost reductions on goods, makes such countries stronger economically and puts them above other countries. The first article brings into focus some forgotten but very relevant issues on expatriates. Indeed it is estimated that over 20% of the people working in most industries in developed countries are expatriates. The lack of strategies towards the full integration of such people has meant a great deal of discomfort to them. Mead (2005) agrees that there are issues applying to expatriates that need to be specifically addressed by policy makers. It is the mandate of the human resource department in companies to come up with strategies to absorb them. There are many benefits that accrue to a company that is able to employ expatriates. Apart from the special technical interests that they may bring to the company, they can also help the company in setting its global focus (Goderham, 2003). This can come in the areas of new markets or new global marketing fronts. As such it is of value that companies really think in terms of integrating such employees. The adoption process of such people however ought to be guided by policy and a development of strategies fully targeting them. The setting in motion of this process is informed by four major steps that the companies have to take. Indeed if companies were able to follow the four steps, they would benefit a lot from this category of employees. The first thing that companies have to do is to develop a policy. This should be a duty to be aggressively undertaken by the human resource departments of the companies. Companies have the mandate to come up with the policies that are aimed at integrating, supporting and hence adopting their expatriate employees. The second thing that should be done is the setting up of an agreement. This is in view to the fact that the difficulties and poor conditions of working encountered by the expatriate workers may not be similar to those experienced by the other category of workers. As such there should be a collaborative effort between the expatriates and the companies to ensure the terms are supportive to the expatriates present conditions and restrictions. The third thing is that companies should aggressively undertake efforts towards the development of an internal program aimed at monitoring issues on expatriate employees. Such a program should have the capacity to monitor the implementation of the strategies targeting expatriates. There should be a continuous process program (Goderham, 2003). The establishment of such a program should be finalized by the setting up of the necessary tools to evaluate its achievement of the objectives in helping the expatriates become fully integrated. The second article brings into focus another issue different from the first. The focus of this second article is on the idea of competitive advantage of countries. Indeed it is the main focus in many countries today as they strategize towards becoming great economic powers. The real concept communicated is that with an increased focus on exports much can be achieved. The focus on exports as a tool towards economic boost of a country is an old strategy. It is the main strategy behind the idea of mercantilism as used by the British. They knew that when they exported more and imported less, it would go a long way in making their economy grow. As such they sought to acquire more colonies as exclusive markets for their product. This dimension towards export, in the end ensures more benefits and a strong economy. The principle behind the idea of mercantilism is used by many developed economies in the world. They seek to export more and import less. This has in the end made them stronger economies. To understand the real impact from the exports towards boosting a country’s economy, there is need to understand three fundamental concepts and how these concepts interact to achieve what is called a country’s competitive advantage. These concepts are the relative costs, cost ratios and the absolute advantage. There is need to focus on these factors individually. Relative costs are those obtained in the comparison of the cost of an item against other items in the same country. This comparison in ratio terms is what gives us the cost ratio. The cost ratio is what can then be compared to the other countries to get a country’s absolute advantage. Absolute advantage itself is a factor indicative of a fall in production costs. The benefits of less production costs, usually trickle down to the economy and is what is felt as the boosts in a country’s economy (Ram, 2008). The idea of production costs going down is itself indicative that a country was producing and selling more. This directly points to exports. But to achieve large export sells, a country and its products must be able to fair considerably well compared against its competitors. This brings into focus the issue of competitive advantage and the underlying issues. The focus now is on how to be more competitive than the other, in this global economy. The answer here is this, that, the most innovative country will achieve more exports and hence better lives for its citizens.

Health and Social Care – Unit 32

Unit 32 Factors affecting growth and repair M1 In this assignment I am going to explain the factors that might affect the growth and repair of bones. There are many different factors that can affect the growth and repair of the bones I am going to explore 4 factors and these are; * Exercise: Doing regular exercise helps build the muscle’s in the body, but it also helps maintain the bones and increase the bones strength. Exercise causes the muscle to contract against the bone. This action then stresses or also stimulates the bone and the bone will start to become stronger and denser.When people think of exercise they think of continuously but even walking and movement around the day can help to strengthen the bones. Starting from a younger age with exercise will help the bones to get stronger as the person gets older and there bones will gain strength. The best exercise for the bones is the weight-bearing kind, which forces the bones to work against gravity. Certain cells calle d osteoblasts constantly bring calcium into bones to make them stronger and osteoclasts take calcium from bones. Exercise increases the rate that osteoblasts strengthen bones. Inactivity weakens the bones.So any exercise that places force on a bone will strengthen the bone. Most people achieve their peak bone mass in their 30s. After that, the strength and density of bones begins to decline. Exercising slows the process of decline and helps prevent fractures and osteoporosis. * Diet: One of the key nutrients that the body needs for bone growth and development is calcium, this is normally found in different foods and especially in milk. It is important that calcium is took in a diet because is not it can lead to the bones being weaker and can be prone to break more easily. many other important functions.Because calcium has so many important jobs, it’s important to get enough of it in your diet. The amount of calcium you need depends on a number of different factors, including your age. However, one thing’s true for everyone: you and your bones will benefit from eating plenty of calcium-rich foods, limiting foods that deplete your body’s calcium stores, and getting your daily dose of magnesium and vitamins D and K—nutrients that help calcium do its job. Refrences http://www. drmirkin. com/joints/bones_exercise. html http://www. google. co. uk/imgres? q=exercise+in+bones http://www. google. co. uk/imgres? q=calcium+bones

The Peace Treaty Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Peace Treaty - Lab Report Example His 14 points were aimed at improving the conditions of the European states and had little to do with benefiting America. After the war the European countries had no specific direction or plan on what to do. The major concern to the European Allied forces was the division of the lands and reclamation of their own which had been lost to the enemies during the war. They had no idea on how to ensure lasting peace in the world so such an event would never occur again. At such a time America provided a neutral approach to the war as their entrance in the war had put them in the light of a moral crusader attempting to put an end to war as America faced little direct threat from the enemy and no advantage of territorial advances. So whatever the outcome, America would have had no benefits as compared to the European countries directly involved in the fighting. Perhaps that is why America did not enter the war as an ally but an Associated Power. Wilson wished his country to be a role player in providing peace to the world. (Henig, pp.10, 1995) The 14 points of Wilson could be demarcated into two basic categories. The first category contains those points which were generalized in nature and would require equal participation from all the nations. These policies aimed at establishing equality and a sense of fairness among the victors and the defeated. The other policies were more specific in nature addressing issues related to countries directly; such as the issues relating to Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and the Balkan states. The generalized policies proposed by Wilson could be seen as attempts to make the superpowers act more humbly and provide the smaller countries less reason to fear them. He proposed the abolition of hidden treaties which were considered the primary cause for the war in the first place. Another proposal was to have open sea travel over international waters. Decolonialization and disarmament of all countries aimed at removing the resentful image of the superpowers who had led many smaller countries to enter the war because of their colonial power over them. These measures aimed to cut down the possibility of the superpowers using other nations to aid them in their conflicts. Finally an open trade agreement was proposed which was very much similar to the WTO being implemented today. This aimed at providing a fair chance to all the countries to do business rather than facing barriers in trade by larger more powerful countries. These policies were not met with much enthusiasm from the Br itish and French as they believed these policies to not recognize the "hard reality of the situation". (Henig, pp.10, 1995) The specific policies were aimed at restoring the lands lost by the warring nations and in introducing an American style of governance in the countries responsible for the war. But probably the most visionary proposal of the Wilson 14 Points was to have a multilateral international association monitoring the nations and ensuring peace and foreshadowing the League of Nations. This proposal could be seen implemented in the form of the creation of the United Nations in 1945. The proposals made by

Colonial Settlements in Kenya and Southern Rhodesia from 1900-1965 Thesis

Colonial Settlements in Kenya and Southern Rhodesia from 1900-1965 - Thesis Example Kenya During the periods of war the Imperial design adopted by British for Kenya proved to have a paralyzing effect between the opposing demands of ‘West coast’ and a ‘South African Policy’ which is referred to as â€Å"the conflicting requirements of peasants and settler political economy†. The late Nineteenth century imperialism as demonstrated by the British rule on Africa was the final sortie using which the capitalist system of the world occupied the last continent to remain partly beyond its pale. The system comprised of different types of production modes which were connected at the level of exchange and these all were dominated by the most advanced forms of capital.2 The scuttle for colonies in Africa reached its highest pitch in 1884 when Africa was decided to be partitioned after the Berlin conference among the European colonial rivals. The Brtish acquired the land which is known as Kenya today.3 As the railway project concluded, white settl ement was initiated in Kenya in the early 20th century led by Lord Delamere, Pugnacious a gentleman farmer from Cheshire, England. Lord Delamere was not familiar with the characteristics of the land- its pests and wildlife; hence he faced disasters in his initial ventures. But by 1912, Delamere along with his followers was able to earn a profit by starting mixed agricultural farms which made other Europeans follow suit. They relocated to the highlands near Nairobi. The process of colonization was interrupted by the World War I as two thirds of the 3000 white settlers in the region formed impromptu cavalry units and started searching the Germans in the neighboring places like Tanganyika. After the war was over the settlement process again resumed where the veterans were offered subsidized land in the highlands around Nairobi. The net effect of it was an increase in the white Kenyan population in the area. The population rose from 9000 in 1920 to 80000 in the 19504. The white settleme nt at the fertile region of Kenya ignited grievances among the natives of the land, which grew stronger day by day and in the year 1930 the Kikuyu people spearheaded demonstration against the British to reclaim Kenya under the leadership of Johnstone Kamau, who later came to be known as Jomo Kenyatta and eventually became the first president of Kenya. Initially Kenyatta joined the East Africa Association whose major campaigns were based on issues like land reform, better wages, education and medical facilities for the residents of the country. At the period of British rule it was obvious that these issues will be addressed but will be limited for the region where the Whites were settled and not for the natives. And in the all white legislative council it was difficult to make them hear the interest of the original resident of the land. Therefore Kenyatta soon joined a more forthright association, the Kikuyu Central Association which was eventually banned for its demonstration and ca mpaigns against the White rule. It was in 1929; Kenyatta set out for London with the help of the money supplied by the Indian communists to appeal the case of Kikuyu with the British Colonial Secretary. As can be

The Old Folks Home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Old Folks Home - Essay Example The author of â€Å"The Old Folks Home† begins his narrative with the statement that approaching always brings up the same feelings in the author: duty, of course, and excitement because he hasn’t seen his grandma in so long†¦ but there is always a touch of apprehension, of dread. The fact is, there is not a whole lot that we have in common together, not a lot of common ground to talk about.   This means that we will check up on each other – because we do care, we truly do, but after that first inspection, the tales of the past week or two or four, a silence laps. The visit turns into watching jeopardy or a Cubs game, comfortable, yet not all that fulfilling.   The author tells that he cannot leave after the first checkup though – what would the point be for such a short visit?   Wouldn’t that be admitting defeat?   Wouldn’t that be telling each other that there is not actually that much for us to talk about anymore? He keeps on telling himself, and his grandma keeps on telling him, that she appreciates them, that the author is doing a good thing.   But he also worries that his discomfort is shared – that she knows no matter how much they love each other, that there is nothing that love can do to help bridge the 60-year gap that separates their birth.   He tells himself this is fine, that his presence is all that is required, that he is doing good.   He wishes he could believe himself.   He wishes he could do more.

Kant's ethical theory applied on cases of violence Essay

Kant's ethical theory applied on cases of violence - Essay Example Indicating that an act that has been adopted across the world is ethical. Secondly, it advocates for the protection of the human dignity; people should not just be used, humanity should be treated as an end and not in any way as the means. Finally, it advocates for an act that exemplifies fairness from all directions, that is, a person’s act should be conscious of both the actor and the one being affected by the actions. In this proposition by Kant, reciprocity of actions is very important (Wike & Showler, 2010). In this essay, I will put into perspective the application of this theory in incidences of violence that entails both self-defense and proactive violence. According to the Kantian theory, morality is not based exclusively on reasoning but also the moral worth of a given action. Engaging in act of violence can be considered moral when the reason behind the engagement can be validated. Though it is important for an individual to apply their reasoning before they act, it is of essence that they are weigh whether the act can be universalized (Wood, 2012). For example, when a thief that has been terrorizing people and poses a threat to the community to the society, the moral worth of such an action can be established. According to Kant’s predispositions, the moral status of humans is based on their rationality; this means humans have the capacity to distinguish what is moral and what is not, hence some sort of universalizability. Therefore, it is possible to point to a moral action based on the extent to which we are able to apply our reasoning. However, despite the human rationality predicting the moral position taken, the basis of the judgment made is not clearly defined. Kant’s argument that reasoning also plays a pivotal role in the determination of the morality has a strong basis since humans not only acts on impulses but also on reasoning (Sullivan, 1989). Therefore, engagement in violent activities is an interplay of the two