Module 1 and Module 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Module 1 and Module 2 - Essay Example he assumptions that things must be done differently or new things done which at the end of the day drive to learning (Berthoin, Ariane, & Katrin, 1997). The first topic, changing the consulting story, generally talks about the consulting role and postulates that consulting is about experts giving advice and further states that any time one is asked to help and do not have direct responsibility for the outcome, then that is consulting. The two most popular categorizations that distinguish the different types of the roles of consultants is content vs. process and the directive/non-directive continuum. While the roles of the content focused consultants involve the provision of expertise advise and delivering specific service for the client organization which could be like designing a new system for the organization, process consulting on the other hand has been basically associated with the different activities by the consultant that seek to help the client perceive, understand and act upon the process events occurring in the environment of the client (Berthoin, Ariane, & Katrin, 1997). The recent past has however seen the emergence of a trend towards the recognition of the complementarity of content and process consulting thus making consultants to find it necessary to acquire skills on both modes. As postulated by the author in the topic, it is true that the consulting profession is not a regulated industry and that consulting projects are as a results not publicly scrutinized. This could lead to potential for abuse especially when opportunistic snake-oil salespeople operate alongside highly reputable professionals. The author goes further to suggest that from the perspective it would be prudent that clients exercise due diligence whenever seeking the help of consultants. However, numerous studies on the consultancy profession has postulated that the profession just like the other professions have evolved as a result of government regulations. This arises from the

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Example for Free

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Mixed Racial and Cultural Groups is increased by a marginal number in the United States. The growth of these multiracial groups started to surface through migration of different ethnics and raised most of their families in the United States even through marriage. These are some of the issues that have been raised by individual people of having an entity separation of mixed race and cultural or to considered them as Americans without a hyphen. Thinking about this issue myself, and thinking of my two children who married to a different ethnic rather than Samoans. These questions come to mind about this issue: How, Why, and what the three words that needs a big explanation about this matter. According to multiracial Americans, Americans whose identity as two or more races identifies with just one group culturally and socially. From statistics that I got from online, stated that about 2. 9% of the population in the year 2010 are self-identified as multiracial. The identity or the classification of the people’s identification is generally according to the culture they were raised in. Social segregation in many areas of the country is forming interracial unions or cultural group. The diversity of social conditions through migrations brought new groups of people to the United States. Through these migrations, mixed races started to rise when interracial marriage were born and started to increase in the United States. The movement of multiracial identity by more than one ethnicity has taken place and strong. Statistics from the year 2010 census in the United States shows that the largest multiracial groups were white and black which is 1. 8 million. The other 1. 7 millions are white and some other race, white and Asian is 1. 6, white and American Indian and Alaskan Native is 1. 4 million. I have learned that the largest growing group in multiracial is white and black which is about 134%. That is more than 1 million people. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP According to Susan Saulny of the New York Times, title Race Remixed, said that â€Å"sea of change is how we think about race, ethnicity and its place in society†. I believe that a challenge to trend towards multiracial from a sociological perspective is a leap that we should take. The understanding of racial and ethnic categories of their boundaries can be a problem to other multiracial groups. I think that ancestry is the biggest influence in identities through a number of generations through migrations. I also believe that each multi mix or racial group should be treated the same regardless of their identity. If they are legally citizens of the United States, they have the right to be treated equally. I believe that they have contributed to the wellbeing and welfare of the United States through their services in employment within the government, military or private companies. Regardless of the race and ethnicity, they should be treated and considered Americans. President Obama is good example of what I mean about treating them the same no matter what color of their skin or where they are from. I know that some of these mix race entities are trying to separate themselves with-in the United States but when they travel to other countries of the world, they considered be call Americans. As a citizen of New Zealand, I am proud to call myself to be an American and I respect the land that my children were born. What can the United States or these multiracial groups gain from wanting to be separated from their identity. Through my search online, I came across Mrs. Karissa Sulliva’s draft and she said that ancestry influences identities. She said that socialization is the crucible of racial and ethnic identity formation. Farley in 2002, construct racial and ethnic classifications which was adopted by the government for each race or reconsidered themselves to either refuse to identify their own race and ethnic category. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP. I believe that mix racial and cultural groups are increasing daily by the number throughout the United States. However, research shows that children with an original multiracial identity grow up to be happier than those of single-race identity. Some of the statistics shows that another addition to the growth of mix race is through adoption of children from countries outside of the United States. According to Fact’s for Families 2010, parents are coping with these pressures in having open communications with the families about their culture and race. Encouragement and support in every multicultural group for families to be familiar with their language, traditions and customs within their families. They have to support and try to establish a good relationship by creating a network for their children, parents, family member, relatives and the community. In conclusion, the separation and classifications between mix racial and multicultural groups is not an easy task or thing to do. Two of my children are married to different ethnic. My oldest daughter is married to an African American and my son is married to a girl who is beautiful and white but has about four or five mix blood in her. I believe in democracy and the United States is nowhere in having a separation of any mix race and cultural group who are living in the United States. God Bless America, God bless the people of the United States. References: Perez, Anthony Daniel, Hirschman, Charles. The Changing Racial and Ethnic. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882688/ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March-2011). Facts for Families, no. 71 Multiracial Children. http://www. aacap. org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/71_multiracial_children. pdf Dr. Nicole Martinez and Mrs. Karissa Sullivan. May 6, 2013 .docx.

Migrant Life in Greece During the Economic Crisis

Migrant Life in Greece During the Economic Crisis Tsiori Maria Abstract For a long time Greece has been a country of emigration. Despite the ongoing economic downturn of recent years the country has turned into a host country for many migrants from Africa and Asia mainly as a gateway illegally, into the EU. Consequently, this migratory movement in this country has attracted a lot of academic interest as the issue is of vast importance to not only the EU but also the Greek government , Greek society and migrants alike. The aim of this work is to provide an in depth view of migrant life in Greece at present both through their eyes and from the perspective of the people their presence impacts upon. Migration to Greece through Turkey, especially has exploded recently and this thesis will explore the reasons migrants have ended up in Greece whilst in transit further west or the reasons they end up settling there and how the current economic climate of Greece itself is directly affecting migrant lives. It will investigate how much the migrants integrate into G reek culture or the extent of the formation of their own social networks within the country and whether this integration or lack thereof affects the air of xenophobia seemingly increasing as of late. Moreover , it will investigate how the Greek government is handling the issue , the related animosity from either side and the positive and negative aspects the migrants have on Greek society both in the immediate area and on a larger scale both economically and socially. Literature view The collection and review of relevant literature went on throughout course of the project and included both empirical and theoretical texts. As far as the former are concerned we reviewed the recent literature on the European emigration at times of crisis as well as academic texts which deal with issue of emigration and economic crises more broadly. A person occupying another country for over a year is defined as a long-term migrant by the EU, and a short-term migrant over three months but under a year (UN DESA 1998) with a clear distinction from tourism but the ultimate intentions of that movement of individuals may be unclear or may even evolve with time and give rise to the use of other definitions of migration as can be seen with seasonal migration. A major factor influencing human societies is that of migration and an ever increasing amount of investigation and analysis into this issue and the effects of it. It is by no means a new phenomenon with many large scale movements of people in history but especially with the improved ease of movement we definitely can recognize this time as the age of migration (Castles Miller, 2009) with some researchers citing that migration never ceases to finish (Schapendonk, 2011). One characteristic of modern day migration is that of irregular migration or illegal migrants as peoples moveme nts infringe upon host countries laws but the latter term reinforces the criminal nature of the act .Such activity can be seen in a major way in the area the Greek-Turkish borders where there exists a significant portal of entry into Europe (Schapendonk, 2011). Whether the migration process stops for individuals depends on the conditions of life the migrants find. It can be seen in the current literature, that investigations into migration highlight the effect that migration has but not the actual migration mechanism (Karczemski Boer, 2010). Furthermore, there exists numerous theories concerning migration internationally and contemporary research tends towards a multidisciplinary angle (Castles Miller, 2009) but there is a large proportion of analysis focusing on how social migrant networks integrate into migration and what part they play (Schapendonk, 2011; Koser Pinkerton, 2002; Spittel, 1998). Academics define these networks as sets of interpersonal ties that connect migrants, former migrants, and non-migrants in origin and destination areas through ties of kinship, friendship, and shared community origin (Gelderblom Adams, 227: 2006). The way in which migration is looked at has changed as Khalid Koser, a Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution says, We used to think of migration as a human security issue: protecting people and providing assistance. Now we clearly perceive-or misperceive-migration as a national security issue. And the risk of securitizing migration is that you risk legitimizing extraordinary responses. Furthermore the problem can be compounded by the demographic nature involved with the migration as former CFR Senior Fellow Charles Kupchan explains, The backdrop to this [migrant crisis] is the difficulty that many European countries have in integrating minorities into the social mainstream. Many of these immigrants are coming from Muslim countries, and the relationship between immigrant Muslim communities and the majority populations is not good. Kupchan also goes on to highlight the fact that geographically this problem has other factors involved too, Europe has historically embraced more ethnic than civic approaches to nationhood, unlike the United States, and that is part of the reason immigration is proving so difficult. Francesc Ortega, a professor of economics in New York conducted an investigation in 2013 into European migration and concluded that it is driven by financial needs and irregular migration is a product of poverty, The migratory pressures to Europe are something thats not going to go away.and the truth is there are very limited legal pathways to migrate to Europe. . . . Those two facts combined make smuggling very profitable. The pursuit for monetary reward by migrants does put pressure on the host nation as can be seen specifically with Greece as the number of jobs and the income has reduced for Greeks everywhere. Animosity towards migrants in Greece is on the rise and according to Anna Trianda fyllidou, attention to immigration as a growing threat to the cohesion of modern Greek society. In fact, racism is on the rise in society and politically with support for immigration constantly on the decline ( http://www.eliamep.gr/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/MIDAS-Policy-Paper-EN.pdf). From my opinion, the integration of immigrants appears to be a complex, multifaceted and contradictory process, touching several aspects of contemporary Greek society: politics and policy, economy and the labour market, geography and space, education and culture. Despite the exclusionary mechanisms that are still in place, immigrants do make a living in the host country and gradually become organic elements, turning Greece into a multicultural society. Outline of the chapters Currently the thesis consists of seven chapters. Chapter 1 will serve as an introduction to the issue and present the aim of the research and the significance of the topic in a contemporary sphere. The second chapter will look at the current policies of both the EU and the Greek government concerning irregular migration and will look at Greek migration elsewhere in the globe. Chapter 3 will focus on the entry point to the EU via the Greek-Turkish border and look at the reasons they are found to be there at that moment and what the conditions are like at these holding centers. It will feature points of view from both Greek citizens and migrants. It will include a number of interviews from both sides. Chapter 4 moves on to look at the migrants life-legal and illegal- in the period after the holding centers in various regions and snapshots of their lives as well as their hopes and desires for the future. It will pay particular attention to any racism and antimigrant feeling experienced by those interviewed. Chapter 5 will explore the social networks of the migrants in Greece and how they have developed and to what extent they have improved their lives. The sixth and final chapter will present the conclusions and suggest further areas of investigation including suggestions on political alterations to migrant policy specifically dealing with the Greek legislation. Methodology The methodology that I will use for this research will be a combination of a quantitative and qualitative approach, using interviews and statistics around the migrant and immigrant crisis in Greek life and in EU in general. It will include a field research also in some areas of Greece where they have refugees hotspots. I will interview a number of refugees and Greek citizens comparing their opinions. This sort of research tries to offer responses to inquiries like how or why. Furthermore I will include the political approaches of realism and feminism and liberalism. Also, my research will be exploratory and I will use the empirical method. Finally, it will conclude the foreign policies of Greece around immigration through the years. Bibliography Regarding the bibliography, the paper will be construct both in light of essential and secondary sources. At first it will include official archives from the EU and the UNHCR, (2012), Text of Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,European Union Councils decisions for the refugee crisis. Concerning the derivative sources, they will principally include scholastic interviews from refugees and Greek citizens in the areas of Greece, Local and international press coverage regarding the refugee crisis in Greece and in Europe (The Independent, BBC,Guardian,To Vima, Kathimerini ) some of them are listed below: Castles, S. Miller, J. (2009), The Age of Migration. New York: Palgrave McMillan Karczemski, M Boer, A. (2010) Post-Accession Migration: Polish migrants moving from Poland to The Hague, Radboud University, Nijmegen Koser, K. Pinkerton, C., (2002) The Social Networks of Asylum Seekers and the dissemination of information about countries of Asylum, Migration Research Unit, University College London Schapendonk, J. (2011), Turbulent Trajectories. Sub-Saharan African Migrants Heading North, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen

Multiple Sclerosis and the Self :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Multiple Sclerosis and the Self Multiple sclerosis is a devastating disease that attacks the mylination on the axons of neurons, causing many problems. Patients with MS must worry about how they will get around, see, and manage everyday activities. However, probably one of the most devastating and stigmatizing aspects of the disease is its effects on one's cognitive capabilities. This in combination with its paralyzing effects can produce a diminished sense of self in the patients as well as a diminished sense of being in others. The sensory-motor effects of MS can be very debilitating. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). MS often begins with numbness in the legs and hands. This, along with weakness and spasticity, is one of the hallmark signs of MS. As the disease progresses, many patients suffer from other motor problems associated with the weakness and spasticity. Patients may have trouble with coordination and balance. This may eventually result in paralysis, either partial or full. Another symptom of MS is visual problems. According to Rose et al., patients who show visual problems may do so in a variety of ways. They can range from blurred vision to blindness. These problems are compounded by exposure to heat. In addition, fatigue and stress can also cause the symptoms to worsen. Fatigue is often a unavoidable consequence of the disease. People with MS often spend much of their energy simply trying to control their movements. They have little energy left for other activities. This lack of energy causes further worsening of symptoms which can cause further fatigue. This may leave the patient feeling that any attempt to be active is futile if not counter productive. Inactivity can lead patients to shut themselves off from the world. While the motor symptoms are the most visible, MS patients also exhibit some cognitive problems. The MS Center lists some of the most common problems of cognition as problems of attention and concentration. Patients often have problems concentrating on more than one thing at one time. They are easily distracted, and when they try to get back to the initial activity, they often have to begin over. This distraction can then affect their memory of those things because it may fail to be encoded in memory. If the information actually enters their memory, patients may have problems retrieving information. In addition, they may also have problems with speech.

The Ideal Late 1700 Woman

The Ideal late 1700 Woman Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray were women from the late 1700s who had their own image of the ideal woman. Susanna Rowson’s Charlotte: A Tale of Truth and Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes were written to educate, inform, and to guide women in the right path. Murray and Rowson hoped to change the way women were being seduced by men and the way they were viewed by society and themselves, Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray saw women’s roles in the early United States similar. In the 1700s women had a basic education of reading and writing and most were trained to become mothers and house wives. Women’s job was to take care of the children at home, cook, clean, and do housework; they were kept from the world. They had no say in politics, government, or legal issues unless their husband allowed them to do so behind the scenes. Susanna Rowson’s motive in writing Charlotte was pure, she wrote â€Å"If the following tale should save one hapless fair one from the errors which ruined poor Charlotte, or rescue from impending misery the heart of one anxious parent, I shall feel a much higher gratification in reflecting on this trifling performance, than could possibly result from the applause which might attend he most elegant finished piece of literature whose tendency might deprave the heart or mislead the understanding. † Rowson wrote Charlotte to try to change the way young women were educated. I believe she wanted parents to teach their daughters that they should listen and pay attention to the advice her parents give her, but also to teach them of the consequences can come if they decide to go in their own path instead of what her parents had planned for her. Susanna Rowson apologized for her novel because everyone expected a happy ending but received the opposite. When Charlotte’s father was on his way for her from England, she passed away after she gave birth to her illegitimate daughter Lucy Temple. Many questioned, why did Charlotte have to die? Rowson wrote, â€Å"The mind of the youth eagerly catches at promised pleasure and innocent by nature, it thinks not of the dangers lurking beneath those pleasures, till too late to avoid them. † I believe the reason Rowson did this was to try to teach young women that there are pros and cons in every decision they make. Rowson’s intentions were to guide young women live the ideal life she believed was meant for a women in the late 1700s. Mademoiselle La Rue’s life was one she approved of; she â€Å"had eloped from a onvent with a young officer, and, on coming to England, had lived with several different men in open defiance of all moral and religious duties†. Even though La Rue had been with several men she was strong and never allowed men to stray away from her path. Mademoiselle had never been seduced by a man. Susanna Rowson’s believed in order for a young women to grow up and have the ideal life, she should not only listen to her parents but also do as they say. Women in the 1700s were only given a basic education and trained to be housewives. Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes was written to give women the education they deserved and needed. Murray felt that women were capable of doing more than housework; she believed they could do the same as men if not to be better than them. To prove that women and men were equal and should be getting the same education she questions, â€Å"May not the intellectual powers be ranged under these four heads- imagination, reason, memory, and judgment? † As the Enlighten women she gave evidence to everything she said or wrote. She proved that men and women had the same capability to imagine. She wrote â€Å"but as proofs of a creative faculty, of a lively imagination†, Murray’s evidence that women had an imagination was gossiping. If women didn’t have an imagination how would they be able to come up with such interesting rumors and gossip? Murray goes on to say, â€Å"Are we deficient in reason? We can only reason from what we know, and if an opportunity of acquiring knowledge hath been denied us, the inferiority of our sex cannot fairly be deduced from thence. † She is saying if they teach women physics, psychology, and other subjects besides the basics they can prove they have the same power of reasoning as men. She then proves that women also have the power of memory, because women memorize stories and share them with others. Murray wrote, â€Å"Female would become discreet, their judgment would be invigorated, and their partners for life being circumspectly chosen, an unhappy Hymen would then be as rare as is now the reverse. † She believed if women had the same education as men, women would be not only smart but also better wives. Murray believed that everyone was born equal but society taught them that they were different. To prove that equality is given by nature she questions, â€Å"Will it be said that the judgment of a male of two year old is more sage than that of a female’s of the same age? † She compared two year olds to prove that they are equal until they get to school. Once in school society doesn’t allow women to have the same opportunity to learn. They are automatically put in different schools where they are taught different material. She goes on to say â€Å"How is the one exalted and the other depressed by the contrary modes of education which are adopted! The one is taught to aspire and the other is early confined and limited. Women are limited and that is why they do not have the same knowledge as men do. She believed women should not only get educated on not being seduced by men but also felt that they should have the same education as men. Murray believed women should have the same opportunity as men in society. Women should be able to independently provide for themselves, but due to lack of education they were not allowed to do so. Murray brings religion into her essay when she writes, â€Å"our souls by nature equal to yours; the same breath of God animates, enlivens, and invigorates us†. She proves that men are no different from women when they came into this world. God took the same breath into both men and women so what makes men better? Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray both intended to reach, like Rowson wrote, the â€Å"young and thoughtless of the fair sex†. When she wrote Charlotte: A Tale of Truth, she wanted to protect vulnerable young women from doing the wrong thing. She wrote, â€Å"Oh my dear girls—for to such only am I writing—listen not to the voice of love, unless sanctioned by paternal approbation: be assured, it is now past the days of romance. Rowson felt that women should know some of the basics to protect themself from rakes, and wanted to teach them to marry the right man. She felt as if young women were easily seduced by men. She warns the reader by writing â€Å"In affairs of love, a young heart is never in more danger than when attempted by a handsome young soldier. † For example, Charlotte decided to rebel against her parents and became romantically involved with Montraville, a man her parents disapproved of. Charlotte was a young naive 15 year old girl that got seduced by an attractive man that promised â€Å"the world† to her. He promised to marry her but instead, took her to New York, and then he abandoned her and their unborn child. Charlotte’s fate went bad when she decided to follow her heart instead of her parents. She was seduced and betrayed by the man she fell deeply in love with, this is what Rowson was trying to prevent in the lives of her young readers. In Part II of Judith Sargent Murray’s essay she wrote, â€Å"Praise is sweet to the soul; we are immediately intoxicated by large draughts of flattery, which being plentifully administered, is to the pride of our hearts the most acceptable incenses. In Murray’s essay she writes that women were seduced by men with their intellectuals. She felt that women should be educated on how not to be tempted when a man tried to seduce her. Rowson and Murray both believed that women should be educated on how to avoid falling into temptation and how to save their reputation. In the late 1700’s women were seen as the temptress and p unished for seducing men. But why is it okay that men are allowed to tempt women and get away with it? In Charlotte, Rowson tries to inform everyone that men are the temptress, not women. Charlotte falls for Montraville’s lies and betrayal because she had sympathy for him. Rowson stopped her story to put her input about women being too compassionate, â€Å"when once she has lost sight of the basis on which reputation, honor, everything that should be dear to the female heart, rest, she grows hardened in guilt, will spare no pains to bring ceeds from that diabolical spirit of envy†. Men know that once women start feeling sympathy for someone they drop the wall that they was there to protect them from becoming the fallen woman, Rowson and Murray wanted this to change. Judith Sargent Murray and Susanna Rowson were smart women that wanted young women to be educated. They differed on their opinions on how much education a woman should have. Murray believed that women should have the same education as men, and Rowson believed there was a limit on the amount of education a woman should receive. Both believed that young women should be educated to the extent where they did not fall into temptation and be marked as a temptress. In their stories they gave proof of what they believed should be done and why.

Oroonko or the Royal Slave Essay

Oroonko or the Royal Slave tells a story about the life of a man captured and sold into slavery and some of the adventures his life encompassed. Oroonko was the grandson to the King of Coramantien. He possessed a very rare and unique magnificence that all admired. Oroonko was brought up learning and living the life of an honorable soldier and prince. He was well educated and well-liked far and wide by all who knew him. Oroonko became acquainted and quickly fell in love with his mentor’s daughter, Imoinda. They soon decided to be joined as husband and wife. According to the customs of their time, Oroonko’s grandfather, the King of Coramantien, was to be allowed the opportunity to bless the union before anything became official. The king had heard of Imoinda’s beauty and instead of blessing their union, the king took Imoinda for himself. This very greatly disgraced Oroonko. With the passing of time, the love Oroonko held in his heart for Imoinda did not fade. He desperately wanted to be with Imoinda and was eventually afforded the chance. The jealous and ever-suspicious king discovered Imoinda and Oroonko together and became very angry. The penalty for treasonous acts, as this was most certainly considered, was death. Oroonko was able to escape, but Imoinda was not. The king, unable to put such a beauty as Imoinda to death, instead sold her to a slave trader to be shipped off to America to become a slave. Death would have been preferable to Imoinda and she begged for it, but the king wanted nothing to do with her any longer. Selling Imoinda into slavery was kept an absolute secret from Oroonko. The king knew if Oroonko ever learned what had really happened to Imoinda, his rage would be unequaled. And so it was assumed by all that Imoinda was, in fact, put to death for her treachery. At this point, the king felt it necessary to make his peace with Oroonko. He realized and wanted to repent of the disgrace he brought upon his grandson. He also felt extremely guilty about his decision to sell Imoinda into slavery, but again, that was not widely known. Oroonko conceded no revenge would be taken on his part against the king. Time passed and in the course of this time Oroonko became a highly decorated and popular war general and hero. Forever longing in his heart for Imoinda, Oroonko resigned to live the life he was born to live – the life of a nobleman. It was to happen after a particularly successful battle, Oroonko came home to a celebration. At this celebration, there was a ship’s captain who was familiar to Oroonko and they spent some time together. Oroonko was aware that this particular captain was a slave trader, but had no reason to distrust him or hold animosity against him. Unjustly so, as it would turn out, since this captain deceived Oroonko into a tour of his ship and then shackled him to the ship and set sail for America to be sold into slavery. The captain continued in his deception while on the voyage and convinced Oroonko that he and his men would be let go at the next port. Oroonko had not encountered dishonesty as was present in the heart of the captain before, so he suspected nothing and trusted the captain to keep his word. When they arrived on land, Oroonko and his men were at once sold to the highest bidder and sent off to be slaves. Oroonko worked for a short while and then heard of a woman of great beauty who was also a slave. He soon found Imoinda and they were married. Oroonko lived as a slave, but was restless to regain his freedom. He frequently spoke to his owner and pleaded for this and was put off time and again for one reason or another. He was given promise after promise or release to no avail. Oroonko soon realized exactly how dishonorable the slave owners were. With only a little effort, Oroonko called together the slaves from all around and when they had gathered, he convinced them they were being treated unfairly and should leave their cruel and uncaring owners to find a better life somewhere else. With his eloquence and affirming manner, Oroonko was able to sway them that even the evils of the wilderness could be overcome with enough conviction and team work. Regardless of the hardships facing a journey of such proportion, losing your life fighting was more honorable than being treated like animals. Unfortunately, the revolt did not take the slaves far. Their trail was easily discovered and it was not long before they were caught and surrendered. The terms of the surrender Oroonko struck with the slave owners who had caught them included fairness and avoidance of retribution or retaliation against the group who had attempted escape. However, disregarding the word given at the surrender, the slave owners marched their slaves back to their respective plantations and they were all punished. Oroonko, however, was taken to a post, tied securely, and severely lashed. There was barely any life left in him when the evil slave owners were finished. Oroonko made up his mind that he would one day seek revenge against such untrustworthy, wicked, and dishonorable men. While the end of the story tells that this plan was not brought to fruition, Oroonko left this world a legend. He held his honor to his dying breath. The story of Oroonko is an excellent anti-slavery argument. Through the story, the reader is allowed a glimpse of a man who could have very easily been from any race or station in life. Oroonko was well educated. He was taken in and taught by the best of the best. Many slave owners, in those days, believed slaves were nothing but unintelligent, low-life heathens, but Oroonko was none of these. Oroonko may not have believed in the same religion or faith as the slave owners, but his beliefs were just as important and essential as theirs. The slave owners judged without considering the differences that existed between their very unique cultures. For example, Oroonko and Imoinda came from a country where wives were expected to give honor to their husbands. Imoinda pleaded with Oroonko to take her life as an alternative to living without him by her side. She considered being killed by someone so noble as Oroonko was far superior than living as a slave. The slave owners and white men would not and did not understand this logic. By their standards, Oroonko was a vile and murderous heathen. Slavery abruptly stole men, women, and children from their place of origin and flung them into a life of degradation and submission. They were required to work for little to nothing by way of payment and treated as no better than dogs. Oroonko spoke of them being whipped at the end of the day. It made no difference if you had done well or poorly, all slaves were whipped. The â€Å"gods† these slave owners prayed to and had faith in was a puzzling deity to Oroonko. His faith in his gods was built on very different standards, and Oroonko believed so strongly in these gods, there was no questioning how others should be treated and how one should conduct themselves in all situations. Everyone deserved to be treated with honor and respect. The faith of the slave owners came into question several times. Oroonko was unable to understand how these people could on any level of decency treat anyone the way the slaves were treated. While it remained unsaid, Oroonko must have certainly felt as though all were created different, but equal. Not all slave owners were cruel in their treatment of slaves. Oroonko befriended several compassionate men along the way. The narrator of the novel happened to be one of these men. While remaining benevolent in spirit, these men did own slaves and were hesitant, if not downright unwilling, to grant them their freedom. None of the men and women sold into slavery deserved the life they were forced to lead. The white men who bought them did not consider the lives they left behind. These were real people with real lives and real customs and real traditions. The religion practiced – on whatever level – by the white slave owners was not the only way to believe. The simple belief they held that they were right did not by any means make that a truth. The Negroes held their own beliefs, and right or wrong according to someone else’s standards, they had every right to believe however they chose. Oroonko was a prince and more than likely more educated than many of the slave owner’s themselves, and yet was treated with contempt and disrespect. With his breeding and the instruction he had received, Oroonko knew in his head and in his heart that treating anyone in such a manner was unreasonable and outrageous. In the end, despite the best efforts of the slave owners, Oroonko died as he had lived with his honor and dignity.

Mean People essays

Mean People essays After rolling out of bed (twenty-five min be for I have to be in school) I jump into the shower. After my shower I do my hair. My whole head is shaved except for one strip of hair going down the middle of my head so I can gel up a six-inch mohawk. I put on a pair of pants that cover my shoes, which Ive had for two years, and throw on my favorite System of A Down shirt. I have my nails painted black and I wear black eye liner. And be for I run out the door I put a spiked dog caller around my neck, and chains on my jeans. Thats me, I dont do it for attention, its my style. Why should anyone else care what I look like? But they do, to them I am a freak. They let me know this everyday. One of these days Im not just going to keep walking and act as if I didnt hear them. One of these days Ill speak up. {Monday: 7:20A.M. Ludlow High School} Either I have really good hearing or everyone just says things load enough for me to hear them. Hey Ashlee why is that kid Chris so weird? I mean doesnt he know that he looks ridiculous? Asked Andrea. I dont know, I dont think he cares. But Im telling you if I looked like that I would definitely care. Replied Ashlee. Uhg I just dont understand why people even bother talking about me. If they dont like the way I look just dont bother with me. I obviously know what I look like. FREAK! Hey why dont you put on some lipstick too considering you already have eye liner on! Yelled Mark, the caption of the soccer team. Yeah, what are you waiting for your master to come and take you for a walk? You know Im not going to lie thats a nice dog caller, I think I have the same one for my dog! Shouted Jeff, one of the 90% of preps in my school. Yeah well at least my cloths arent skin tight, and maybe if you didnt have a soccer ball ...

Profile of Serial Killer Richard Angelo

Profile of Serial Killer Richard Angelo Richard Angelo was 26 years old when he went to work at Good Samaritan Hospital on Long Island in New York. He had a background of doing good things for people as a former Eagle Scout and volunteer fireman. He also had an out-of-control desire to be recognized as a hero. Background and Early Life Born on August 29, 1962, in West Islip, New York, Richard Angelo was the only child of  Joseph and Alice Angelo. The Angelos worked in  the educational sector - Joseph was a high school guidance counselor and Alice taught home economics. Richards childhood years were unremarkable. Neighbors described him as a nice boy with nice parents. After graduating in 1980 from St. John the Baptist Catholic High School, Angelo attended the State University of Stony Brook for two years. He was then accepted into a two-year nursing program at the State University at Farmingdale. Described as a quiet student who kept to himself, Angelo excelled in his studies and made the deans honor list each semester. He graduated in good standing in 1985. First Hospital Job Angelos first job as a registered nurse was in the burn unit at the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow. He stayed there a year, then took a position at Brunswick Hospital in Amityville, Long Island. He left that position to move to Florida with his parents, but returned to Long Island alone, three months later, and began working at Good Samaritan Hospital. Playing Hero Richard Angelo quickly established himself as a highly competent and well-trained nurse. His calm demeanor was well fitted for the high stress of working the graveyard shift in an intensive care unit. He gained the trust of the doctors and other hospital personnel, but that wasnt enough for him. Unable to achieve the level of praise he desired in life, Angelo came up with a plan where he would inject drugs into patients at the hospital, bringing them to a near-death state. He would then show his heroic capabilities by helping to save his victims, impressing the doctors, co-workers and the patients with his expertise. For many, Angelos plan fell deathly short, and several patients died before he was able to intervene and save them from his deadly injections. Working from 11 pm to 7 am put Angelo into the perfect position to continue to work on his feeling of inadequacy, so much so that during his relatively short time at the Good Samaritan, there were 37 Code-Blue emergencies during his shift. Only 12 of the 37 patients lived to talk about their near death experience. Something to Feel Better Angelo, apparently not swayed by his inability to keep his victims alive, continued injecting patients with a combination of the paralyzing drugs, Pavulon and Anectine, sometimes telling the patient that he was giving them something which would make them feel better. Soon after administering the deadly cocktail, the patients would begin to feel numb and their breathing would become constricted as did their ability to communicate to nurses and doctors. Few could survive the deadly attack. Then on October 11, 1987, Angelo came under suspicion after one of his victims, Gerolamo Kucich, managed to use the call button for assistance after receiving an injection from Angelo. One of the nurses responding to his call for help took a urine sample and had it analyzed. The test proved positive for containing the drugs, Pavulon and Anectine, neither of which had been prescribed to Kucich. The following day Angelos locker and home were searched and police found vials of both drugs and Angelo was arrested. The bodies of several of the suspected victims were exhumed and tested for the deadly drugs. The test proved positive for the drugs on ten of the dead patients. Taped Confession Angelo eventually confessed to authorities, telling them during a taped interview, I wanted to create a situation where I would cause the patient to have some respiratory distress or some problem, and through my intervention or suggested intervention or whatever, come out looking like I knew what I was doing. I had no confidence in myself. I felt very inadequate. He was charged with multiple counts of second-degree murder. Multiple Personalities? His lawyers fought to prove that Angelo suffered from dissociative identity disorder, which meant he was able to disassociate himself completely from the crimes he committed and was unable to realize the risk of what he had done to the patients. In other words, he had multiple personalities which he could move in and out of, unaware of the actions of the other personality. The lawyers fought to prove this theory by introducing polygraph exams which Angelo had passed during questioning about the murdered patients, however, the judge did not allow the polygraph evidence into the court. Sentenced to 61 Years Angelo was convicted of two counts of depraved indifference murder (second-degree murder), one count of second-degree manslaughter, one count of criminally negligent homicide and six counts of assault with respect to five of the patients and was sentenced to 61 years to life.

International Company in Management or Business Case Study

International Company in Management or Business - Case Study Example The adoption of a formal training will enable the management of the company to assess if employees are accomplishing desired results and establish what training and development requirements can help employees to attain desirable output. This paper explores the need for formal training by looking Samsung Company, a multinational manufacturer of phones, laptops, televisions and many other items. Samsung Company has its headquarters in South Korea in Samsung town, Seoul (Samsung, 2015, p. 1). Samsung conducts training for its employees to build more effective, efficient and highly motivated workforce to enable them to remain competitive and harness the best out of them. Through its training, programs, the company has a ready pool of professionals to fill up the vacancies created in new markets and those left by old employees. Samsung Company (http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/) has a training program called career growth, which enables it to conduct formal professional training and development to its employees in order to improve their performance and boost the company’s productivity. The company’s career growth program is mainly made up of five basic components: New Employee Gate Program, Leadership Program, Next-Gen Program, Professional Training and Global Capacity Development. New Employee Gate Program welcomes new employees to the company and gives them self-satisfaction of being part of a successful company. Leadership Program aims at developing instills potential leaders with crucial leadership skills to enable them to execute organizational duties efficiently at every management hierarchy of the company. Next-Gen Leader Development Program aims at finding talented individuals within the organization and training them as regional experts and future technology leaders.

P5 SCI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

P5 SCI - Essay Example In the last part of the 20th century, modern investigations have led to the evidence of sea-floor spreading or the diversion of ocean floor from the mod-ocean ridges. Under geometric continental reconstructions evidence, Wegener proposed that the coastline geography of the continents on either side of the Atlantic Ocean have pattern and can be fitted back together like a jigsaw puzzle. Example of which are the coastlines of western Africa and eastern South America (Rogers, 2008). In addition, Wegener reiterated it is the end of the submerged continental shelf that marks the line of the originally joined continents and not the coastline-fit misconception. Geological match and continuity of structure evidence explained how there are similar rock types, succession of strata or igneous bodies which have unique characteristics were found on either side of the ocean. This evidence was observed in the similarities of the rock strata and geological structures of the Appalachian and Caledonian mountain belts of eastern USA and northwestern Europe, as well as the Precambrian rocks and geological structures similarity observed between South America and Africa (Rogers, 2008). The third evidence is the climate, sediment and mismatch of sedimentary deposits, which explained that the nature and style of rock weathering and erosion varies among Earth climate belts. This explained why sand dunes are formed in hot, dry desserts, cool and sandstone succession in tropical swamps and river deltas, and boulder clay deposits and U-shaped valleys in ice sheets and glaciers areas (Rogers, 2008). The modern evidence gathered during the latter part of the 20th century, which has made the continental drift theory acceptable, is the sea-floor spreading evidence. Modern geologists had explained the inaccessible ocean floor in Wegener’s theory and discovered stri ped patterns of magnetic

It is going to be report format Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

It is going to be report format - Essay Example In Joe’s case, a partnership relationship usually existed between him and his sister: they used to buy tickets together and discuss the possibility of using their shares of the ticket. According to Beyer G.W. and Petrini J. â€Å"If a taxpayer purchased a lottery ticket with the intent and understanding that the proceeds would be shared with others, the courts have treated the proceeds of the ticket as income to all the recipients rather than as income to just the purchaser.†1 However, on that particular week, Joe’s stepsister did not contribute to the purchase of the ticket and the partnership relationship between the two of them stopped at that moment. It is possible to talk about an intention of sharing the profit in the past weeks, when Joe’s stepsister contributed to the lottery ticket’s purchase, which explains Joe’s intention to share the prize. Joe was the only person who bought the ticket and it is clear that under these circumstance s the intention of sharing the possible profit did not exist. ... on that particular week, Joe was the only buyer of the lottery ticket 3. the fact that his stepsister did not contribute to the purchase of the winning lottery ticket may serve as proof in Joe’s favour to show that on that week he did not buy the ticket with the intention of sharing the prize with his stepsister I would advise Joe not to worry about having to share the prize with his stepsister. Word count: 481 words b) I believe that Lawrence & Co can be held liable for inducing Joe to conclude the contract by creating a false representation on the capacity of the premises. According to Richards P. (217) â€Å"A misrepresentation may be defined†¦ as a false statement of fact that induces another to enter into a contract.†2 It is obvious that Lawrence & Co has made a false statement regarding its premises in order to induce Joe to enter into a contract with it. Even though at the beginning of the negotiations Tim actually believed that the premises were big enough to fit 25 of Joe’s courier vans, the fact that the premises were actually smaller than believed was discovered by Tim during the negotiation process. The disclosure of this discovery at that moment would have stopped the negotiation process and lead to a lost deal for Tim’s business. Therefore, Tim voluntarily hid the discovered fact, believing that there will be no legal consequences against him. Moreover, the belief that all 25 courier vans will fit into the premises was practically the reason that convinced Joe to sign the contract. In the case of Derry v Peek3 the House of Lords concluded that â€Å"Fraud is established where it is proved that a false statement is made: (a)

The Nursing Shortage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Nursing Shortage - Essay Example The nursing shortage problem is made worse through poor retention strategies of healthcare institutions. Taken as a whole, nursing professionals expressed better job and career satisfaction than professionals from several of the other fields. Finally, the average age of RN’s is on the rise. Moving on to the action required for easing the pressure on RN’s and preventing the shortage of RN’s in the long run, the authors recommend finding the means to eliminate the poor workplace environment for nurses; take measures to improve the contributions made by nursing to patient safety and quality of care of patients; maintain a long term perspective in all these aspects; take steps to enhance the capacity of nursing education programs; and accept that the nursing work force can change for the better. In conclusion the authors suggest that complacency on the issue of nursing shortage should be avoided, and that nursing professionals can be assured of the recognition of soc iety for their contributions, which would lead to society taking measures for improvement in work related issues of RN’s. ... act on nursing, the changes required, and the transformational leadership that is required for leading the requisite changes in the profession of nursing. Nursing is an embattled profession in the U.S.A. fighting the battle of nursing shortage. Yet, the policy solutions that have been set forth do not provide any positive feeling. In the opinion of the author this may be due to the negative nursing affectivity with which the problems faced by nursing is perceived. What is required is to perceive the requirement for nursing professional as a consequence of the generational changes that are occurring in American society. and the opportunity that it presents for nursing. An opportunity has been presented to nursing, but by living in the past of complaining about the shortage of nurses, and crying for more nurses, nursing is missing the boat. Nursing leadership needs to recognize that there have been changes in the health delivery systems that have enhanced the complexity in the health d elivery system. Consequently nursing has to change accordingly by arming itself with better expertise and competencies. This is the transformation thinking that is required in nursing leadership. The challenge can be met only by thinking out of the box, so that the profession is transformed into one capable of meeting the diverse and complex needs of society. These diverse and complex needs include on one side profit of shareholders and return on investment on one side and cost considerations for the healthcare service users on the other hand. In conclusion the author opines that inculcating humanistic values with a focus on patient well-being is the need in the modern healthcare system. Nursing in collaboration with the medical profession is in a position to balance cost effectiveness with

Laws of Gay Marriage Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Laws of Gay Marriage - Term Paper Example Homosexuality has been practiced by the ancient Romans and Greek people. Although there is a lot of subjectivity about gay marriages in those cultures, as homosexual people have not been provided with as much freedom and liberty to get married until recently, yet literature review suggests that the practice of homosexuality has always been there. Even the term â€Å"homosexuality† was not used before 1869 (McKinnon 1). Ancient Romans and Greeks considered homosexuality a normal practice. Many Greek philosophers including Aristotle, Plato and Socrates had male sexual partners. â€Å"It was common practice for a male to take on a young boy as his lover until he reached maturity where he would, in turn, take on another young boy as his lover† (McKinnon 1). Similarly, there exist accounts of the Native Americans in the literature of the North Americans, who had adopted the â€Å"Berdache† lifestyle in which people of one gender used to dress like people of the opposi te gender, and dated people from the same gender. The reason this practice did not become much stigmatized was that the couples were apparently heterosexuals. Homosexuality has been condemned by a lot of religions. A review of various religious scriptures suggests that homosexuality has been abhorred. Some religious scriptures have mentioned very strict punishments for people indulging in this act. Particularly, the Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Judaism as well as Islam have condemned the act of homosexuality. In the Bible and Quran, there is a detailed discussion of a nation known as â€Å"the people of Lut† who were indulged in the practice of homosexuality. Prophet Lut (P.B.U.H.) warned the people not to do it, but the people would not listen. Quran describes homosexuality as a practice that crosses the limits of God Almighty. Quran quotes Prophet Lut (P.B.U.H.) in these words, â€Å"Doa ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds† (Qur'an 7:80-81 cited in â€Å"Isla m and Homosexuality†).

Effects Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects Research Paper - Essay Example Arnas (2006) used children in the age 3-8 years bracket with a total of 347 respondents. The study included the parents as well since some respondents were still young to comprehend the questions. Arnas found out that about 50% of the ads viewed by children during their TV exposure are food related. Because of this 40% of the respondents requested their parents to buy the foods shown in the ads and about 9% of them are even insistent. Arnas' concern is that most of these foods are high in fats and sugar which are associated with obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Hitchings and Moynihan (1998) in the other hand used children within the 9-11 age brackets but used limited number of respondents. A total of 44 children across varying social class were involved. Their findings show that a relationship exist (r=0.58) between the type of ads observed by children from TV to the type of foods they eat. The more alarming fact is that most of these foods contain high sugar, fats, salt , and preservatives like crisps, softdrinks, and savoury snacks. The results of the two studies mention... But the result is enough to prove that eating habit of children between 9-11 is related to TV food ads they saw and recalled.. More intensive study with greater number of respondents could have shown higher positive relationship. This effect may not only be associated with food advertisements but also with other products as well. It has shown that the television medium is a good way to educate the viewers and a good means to present new ideas and programs to the target client. These findings can be a good start for private individuals, groups, or government institutions planning to launch programs, projects, or products. Opinion about the implications of the research for parents and society. In the context of parents and the society as a whole, the results of these studies can be both viewed as promising and alarming. They have both advantages and disadvantages. The findings are alarming in the sense that food manufacturers and food marketing firms are aware that the television medium is a good tool to push their products and that they are taking advantage of this potential in order that their products be recognized by their target sector. The worst thing is that several manufacturers are less concerned about the health effects of their product. In all cases, obviously, these ads do not mention negative aspects about consuming their products. Their primary concerns are the increase in sales the ads would bring the company. Since most ads do not include warning on over-consumption, children may think it is fine to eat them as they like thereby jeopardizing their health. The results' implication can be promising if government

The Nursing Shortage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Nursing Shortage - Essay Example The nursing shortage problem is made worse through poor retention strategies of healthcare institutions. Taken as a whole, nursing professionals expressed better job and career satisfaction than professionals from several of the other fields. Finally, the average age of RN’s is on the rise. Moving on to the action required for easing the pressure on RN’s and preventing the shortage of RN’s in the long run, the authors recommend finding the means to eliminate the poor workplace environment for nurses; take measures to improve the contributions made by nursing to patient safety and quality of care of patients; maintain a long term perspective in all these aspects; take steps to enhance the capacity of nursing education programs; and accept that the nursing work force can change for the better. In conclusion the authors suggest that complacency on the issue of nursing shortage should be avoided, and that nursing professionals can be assured of the recognition of soc iety for their contributions, which would lead to society taking measures for improvement in work related issues of RN’s. ... act on nursing, the changes required, and the transformational leadership that is required for leading the requisite changes in the profession of nursing. Nursing is an embattled profession in the U.S.A. fighting the battle of nursing shortage. Yet, the policy solutions that have been set forth do not provide any positive feeling. In the opinion of the author this may be due to the negative nursing affectivity with which the problems faced by nursing is perceived. What is required is to perceive the requirement for nursing professional as a consequence of the generational changes that are occurring in American society. and the opportunity that it presents for nursing. An opportunity has been presented to nursing, but by living in the past of complaining about the shortage of nurses, and crying for more nurses, nursing is missing the boat. Nursing leadership needs to recognize that there have been changes in the health delivery systems that have enhanced the complexity in the health d elivery system. Consequently nursing has to change accordingly by arming itself with better expertise and competencies. This is the transformation thinking that is required in nursing leadership. The challenge can be met only by thinking out of the box, so that the profession is transformed into one capable of meeting the diverse and complex needs of society. These diverse and complex needs include on one side profit of shareholders and return on investment on one side and cost considerations for the healthcare service users on the other hand. In conclusion the author opines that inculcating humanistic values with a focus on patient well-being is the need in the modern healthcare system. Nursing in collaboration with the medical profession is in a position to balance cost effectiveness with

Effects Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects Research Paper - Essay Example Arnas (2006) used children in the age 3-8 years bracket with a total of 347 respondents. The study included the parents as well since some respondents were still young to comprehend the questions. Arnas found out that about 50% of the ads viewed by children during their TV exposure are food related. Because of this 40% of the respondents requested their parents to buy the foods shown in the ads and about 9% of them are even insistent. Arnas' concern is that most of these foods are high in fats and sugar which are associated with obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Hitchings and Moynihan (1998) in the other hand used children within the 9-11 age brackets but used limited number of respondents. A total of 44 children across varying social class were involved. Their findings show that a relationship exist (r=0.58) between the type of ads observed by children from TV to the type of foods they eat. The more alarming fact is that most of these foods contain high sugar, fats, salt , and preservatives like crisps, softdrinks, and savoury snacks. The results of the two studies mention... But the result is enough to prove that eating habit of children between 9-11 is related to TV food ads they saw and recalled.. More intensive study with greater number of respondents could have shown higher positive relationship. This effect may not only be associated with food advertisements but also with other products as well. It has shown that the television medium is a good way to educate the viewers and a good means to present new ideas and programs to the target client. These findings can be a good start for private individuals, groups, or government institutions planning to launch programs, projects, or products. Opinion about the implications of the research for parents and society. In the context of parents and the society as a whole, the results of these studies can be both viewed as promising and alarming. They have both advantages and disadvantages. The findings are alarming in the sense that food manufacturers and food marketing firms are aware that the television medium is a good tool to push their products and that they are taking advantage of this potential in order that their products be recognized by their target sector. The worst thing is that several manufacturers are less concerned about the health effects of their product. In all cases, obviously, these ads do not mention negative aspects about consuming their products. Their primary concerns are the increase in sales the ads would bring the company. Since most ads do not include warning on over-consumption, children may think it is fine to eat them as they like thereby jeopardizing their health. The results' implication can be promising if government

Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Essay Global warming is a pressing problem that is faced not only by a number of communities and a few countries. It is a major problem that is faced by the whole of mankind such that its impacts and effects have tremendous implications that endanger the existence of mankind and even the primary dwelling of the living, the Earth. United States Vice President Albert Gore himself said that global warming will be the greatest environmental challenge in the 21st century. As such, this issue is one that calls for attention, concern and solution. What is Global Warming? Global warming is an increase in global average surface temperature resulting from an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide, methane, and certain other trace gases in the atmosphere (Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 2006). Natural occurring phenomena such as volcanic eruptions are said to contribute to the release of gases that results to global warming. However, human activities and innovations are said to have contributed greatly to the increase of the concentration of the greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane in the Earths atmosphere. These activities include the operation of coal-burning power plants and use of automobiles which become sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone; the use of air-conditioning units and refrigerators that utilize chlorofluorocarbons; deforestation that creates more heat and increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as trees play a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the air; increased cattle production such that methane gas is released from animal waste; and the use of fossil fuels as the burning of fossil fuels is considered the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. Why is Global Warming a Problem? Global warming is a problem because the direct and indirect effects and consequences of the increasing heat in the earth’s atmosphere have diverse and oftentimes dangerous effects that can affect man. Global warming affects the environment, economies, health and well being of man. Its impact is also significantly destructive that it threatens the very existence of mankind and that of the unborn and coming generations.   Global warming has been linked with intensifying hurricanes. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research suggests that hurricanes will only get more powerful and last longer as global warming increases ocean temperatures (Warren, 2006). The increasing global temperature also effects change in the ecosystem such that some species especially those that cannot survive on warm regions may be forced out of their habitats which may possibly lead to their extinction.   Economically, global warming also has its implications such that changes in temperature can lead to several effects on agriculture and hence, affect the livelihood of farmers. These changes include new variations in pest and disease problems; damaged crops at extreme temperatures; and an increased need for ventilation in animal accommodation. As such, more than a third (36%) of around 100 National Farmers Union members in the United Kingdom saw climate change as a threat to livelihoods (Global Warming Fears for, 2005, p. 43). Too much rise in sea level will also affect the densely populated coastal plains by making the areas uninhabitable, creating refugee problems and hampering economic activities. The occurrence of these situations among coastal cities in the world will create potential impacts on world wide trade and economy Global warming also has its health implications. Expanded tropical weather is likely to increase tropical diseases. As such, global warming will accelerate the spread of many diseases and increase instances of mosquito-borne diseases that include malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and viral encephalitis (Johansen, 2002, p. 210). The warming of air temperature also increases the concentration of ozone at ground level. In lower atmosphere, ozone is a harmful pollutant that can damage lung tissue, and can bring about serious problems for those with asthma and other lung diseases. Other effects of global warming are the melting of glaciers which can cause water shortages, loss of habitat, flooding of rivers and the rise of sea level; water scarcity as rise in sea level can contaminate groundwater affecting drinking water and agriculture in coastal zones; Drought and wildfire as warmer temperatures can increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, can worsen drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires. Who is Responsible in Solving this Problem? It has been earlier mentioned that man’s activities and innovations have primarily increased and worsened global warming. As such, man should also be responsible in mitigating this problem. Moreover man has no option such that when he fails to do something to mitigate the situation, the effects of global warming will endanger his very existence. It is therefore best for everyone to act and cooperate in doing something for this global problem. What can be Done? Everyone has his own share that he can contribute to help alleviate the worsening situation. There are numerous ways that can be done to help mitigate global warming. World leaders should acknowledge their crucial responsibilities to the issue of global warming. This is for reason that they can effect great change in the international community. World leaders can strengthen international responses to the risks of global warming. They can cooperate and enter into international treaties and agreements that can help reduce the dangers of the substances that contribute to global warming by banning the production, trade and use of these particular substances. When trading of these substances between countries becomes illegal, their production will eventually decline, bringing to an end their production and thereby prevent further release of substances that contribute to global warming. World leaders can also sanction the countries that fail to meet clean air standards by refusing to engage in international trade with them. With countries cooperating to achieve a common goal in combating global warming, the ill effects of global warming may be alleviated. Politicians among national governments on the other hand, can implement policies that can help reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. They can also support technological alternatives to air- polluting technologies like coal power plants and impose upon power utilities policies and regulations to improve the energy efficiency of power plants and increase the use of renewable energy sources. They can also impose upon their citizens measures such as proper segregation of wastes so as to prevent the burning of materials that contribute to global warming. They can also reward citizens who are innovative enough in coming up with new ways of helping to curb global warming. Policy makers can also promote and support bills that pertain to regulating activities that contribute to global warming. These bills for example may include those that will protect rainforests and more severe punishments for illegal loggers. They can also consider passing legislations such as those that encourage the development of new and alternative technologies that will replace technologies that worsen global warming. Electricity consumers should opt to buying electricity that is generated from renewable sources. They can also help in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere by utilizing lesser energies. They can do this by investing in highly efficient, energy- saving appliances.   Educators can instill in their students the value of protecting the environment, giving their students the necessary knowledge why global warming is a problem and provide them with the necessary skills to help mitigate the situation such as giving them the basic knowledge on the proper waste segregation and waste disposal. Even ordinary citizens can help by engaging in activities that help curb the situation. These activities may include proper disposal of wastes. Planting trees in the backyard can help such that trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas from the air. People can reduce energy utilization by using public transport and car pooling; switching off appliances instead of leaving them on stand by; and patronizing recycled products or doing the practice of reducing, reusing and recycling of waste and other unnecessary materials. More importantly, they can encourage others to have the same conviction in helping to mitigate global warming. Conclusion Global warming is a pressing problem faced not only by a number of communities and a few countries but faced by the whole of mankind. It is a global problem such that its impacts can negatively affect the environment, economy and even the wellbeing and safety of mankind. As such, it is best that man himself should do something to help mitigate the situation. References Global warming. (2006). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved August 12, 2006, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9037044 Global Warming Fears for Crops. (2005, November 30). The Journal (Newcastle, England), p. 43. Retrieved August 12, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5011583331 Johansen, B. E. (2002). The Global Warming Desk Reference. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved August 12, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=101544284 Warren, Luke. (2005, December/2006, January). Global Warming and Hurricanes. Mother Earth News. Retrieved August 12, 2006, from http://www.search.eb.com/magazine/article?query=global%20warmingid=3minGrade=maxGrade=

EU Commission on Auditor Liabilities

EU Commission on Auditor Liabilities Auditors are increasingly finding that they are being targeted by those who feel that they have been wronged by the quality of the financial accounts. Auditors are required to consider the financial accounts that are prepared by the company and to establish whether they believe that they give a true and fair representation of the underlying financial position. By ‘true’ they are looking for whether the transaction actually occurred and by ‘fair’ they are looking to ascertain whether the value of the transaction has been accurately recorded. In the UK, there is a rule that liability for misstatement is joint and several between wrongdoers. This often results in auditors taking a much greater portion of the liability than would seem just. Auditors are often seen to have deep pockets due to their insurance policies and, as such, make more promising targets for those who believe that they have lost out financially due to the inaccuracy of the accounts[1]. Background to the EU Consultation on Auditor Liability There have been widespread concerns over this practice, with many countries operating a more proportional approach where the extent of the blame dictates the extent of the liability. The European Union has shown particular concern over the potential reduction in competition that this lack of capped liability leads to. With the limit level of professional insurance policies playing a huge role in the company’s decision as to which auditor to appoint, this is thought to favour the larger auditors and exclude the smaller players from some of the larger lucrative contracts. It is also thought that this requirement presents such a great barrier to entry for auditor firms that there is a real danger that the audit market is not operating competitively. The EU consultation undertook a study based on four possible options that were available to produce a cap for auditor liability. Firstly, they considered a monetary cap on a Europe wide basis. Secondly, they considered a monetary cap based on the size of the auditor firm. Thirdly, there was an option to produce a monetary cap based on a multiple of the audit fee and finally, they considered the option of member states entering into a policy of proportionate liability, which would require the courts to split the liability based on the level of responsibility for the breach and on a proportional basis. This could either be achieved through statutory provisions or through the contractual provision between the company and the auditor. Upon consultation, the commissioners found that there was overwhelming support for the concept of having a cap on auditor liability, both from inside and outside the auditing profession. The Commission noted that the issue of auditor liability was not a new one, with consideration having been given, in 2001, to whether the extent of the differences between the countries in relation to auditor liability would prevent a single market across Europe. Although, at this stage, the substantial differences across jurisdictions were recognised, they were not thought to be so large that anything had to be done to rectify the position. However, since 2002, the large scale collapse of Arthur Andersen has occurred, bringing the issue of potential liability caps back into the forefront. The Commission initially identified the potential problems that the current auditing regime causes in terms of market stability and competition within the auditing function. Considerable attention was paid to the issue of public interest and the need to have a stable auditing function which can be relied upon to be accurate. For an auditing function to be efficient, the company must be able to select an appropriate auditor for its business needs but still allow it to maintain the independence of the function so that the stakeholders can rely on the statements. It is accepted that auditors will not always be 100% accurate; however, they should be able to be relied upon as this is critical to the overall efficiency of the European capital markets. Concentration of the Audit Market The central importance of the auditing profession is not disputed, with investors relying on the financial statements in order to make investment decisions. However, the magnitude of the risk that auditors are exposed to is becoming increasingly worrying both for the auditors and for the general competitive landscape. Due to the nature of internationally listed companies, there are only four companies that are capable of providing the necessary auditing services. These are refereed to as the ‘Big Four’: Deloitte, KPMG, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Ernst Young. It is not necessarily the expertise that prevents others entering the market, but rather the high level of professional indemnity that is required which is simply not cost effective for smaller firms entering the market. It is recognised that there is little or no chance of a new entrant into the market, yet there is a danger that any one of the four could be forced out of the market, at any point, thus further re ducing the competition in large scale auditing. In reality, international auditing firms are not actually one large firm but are a network of smaller firms that recognise they are not able to manage the level of risk that is required for international auditing. With strict rules relating to auditing firms, it is unlikely that another network will emerge, making the international audit market particularly fragile[2]. Auditors often become the target in cases of insolvency as they are the ones with the resources available to deal with any financial losses due to misstatement. It is this potential redress that offers investors a degree of confidence in the market and, therefore, it is seen as desirable that auditors are held to be liable in situations where they get it wrong. However, it is recognised that the current joint and several approach is simply inefficient and consideration should be given to alternatives. For the auditing profession to be truly efficient, it is necessary for there to be a substantial degree of choice. This is not currently the case and effort should be made to ensure that the auditing options are widened so as to become accessible to other medium sized firms. One of the recognised ways of doing this is to have a liability cap or a proportionate regime so that the deep pocket syndrome does not restrict the choice of auditor to the hands of the big four[3]. Extent of Risk for an Auditor The major barriers for mid sized auditor firms are recognised as being the lack of available indemnity insurance and the large amount of potential risk that is involved when auditing large international firms. Clearly, an auditor has a duty towards the company itself, based on either contract or tort when it has behaved negligently or with wilful misconduct. The vast majority of cases are related to negligence and it is this area of liability that has generated the most interest from the European Commission[4]. Liability is clearly owed to the client itself; however, this has also extended to be liability towards third parties, causing further barriers to entry for mid sized auditing firms. For a third party to bring a claim, it is necessary for there to be a causation link between the act of negligence and the damages suffered by the third party which, although difficult to prove, has resulted in some high profile payouts further jeopardising the chances of mid tier firms entering the international auditing market[5]. At the heart of this widespread liability is the concept of joint and several liability. Under this process, a third party who has a claim against a director can also bring a claim against an auditor who has given an unqualified opinion as to the accuracy of the accounts. In a case of corporate insolvency, the directors rarely have any finances available to pay out third party losses, therefore, encouraging actions against the auditors who are seen to have ample financial backing. It is this high level of risk that the cap on liability is aiming to address. Oppositions to an Auditors’ Liability Cap Despite the overall acceptance of the need to do something to alter the balance of power within the international auditing market, one of the main objections was that placing a limit on liability would give the auditing profession a privileged position in comparison to other professions. A main aim of establishing a cap was to encourage mid sized firms to enter into the market and it is feared that a liability simply would not achieve this aim. Much of the exposure faced is outside of the EU (i.e. in the US)[6] and, therefore, the cap would make little or no difference. Equally, the insurance requirements would remain high. A cap would not make the insurance requirement less; it would simply make it more ascertainable. There are also concerns that the cap would encourage poor performances and weaker audits. From a competitive point of view, those in opposition to the cap were concerned that such a move would reduce the competitive position of European companies in comparison to other international jurisdictions where no such cap exists. Concerns were also raised that a cap on auditors’ liability would be contrary to the overall proposition of better regulation that the EU has been working towards, in recent years[7]. Alternative Options As it is accepted that the main reason for imposing such a cap would be to open up the international auditing market to other mid sized auditing firms; alternatives to a cap on liability were also considered by the EU because of the potentially negative competitive impact of such caps. One of the possible options is to impose a compulsory insurance on audit firms. There is currently an insurance gap where the amount that an insurer is prepared to insure an auditor for is substantially less than the potential liability. Forcing the auditor to take out insurance to cover all losses would not be practicable due to the high level of potential risk. Therefore, the premiums would be prohibitively expensive, particularly for the smaller firms. Alternatives to funding this additional insurance would have to come from investors or the companies themselves. Another approach would be to reduce the potential risk faced by auditors by introducing safe harbours. This would involve carving out certain areas from the potential liability of the auditor such as any external reviewers’ comments on the company or any future plans which have happened after the end of the financial accounting year. However, in doing this, there are fears that the underlying principle of professional judgment would be eroded in favour of formalised approaches to ensuring that as much of the safe harbour carve out could be enjoyed. EU Recommendations On considering all of these factors and a widespread discussion of the pros and cons of the possibility of a cap on auditors’ liability, the EU commission has established a proposal that aims to achieve the middle ground[8]. When considering the four options as stated above (cap for all European audits, cap based on size of audit firm, cap based on the fee and a proportionate regime), the EU Commission concluded that a combination of a proportionate liability and an auditors’ cap on liability would make the foundations of their recommendations. The report advised member states to require a limitation to auditors’ liability to be established either through a statutory cap, a limitation based on proportionality or limitation of liability through the contract between the audit company and the auditor. Proportional liability gained considerable support from the non-auditing respondents to the proposals as it was felt that this would deal with the issue of reliance on auditors’ deep pockets, but would also ensure that the quality of the audit would be maintained. The commission recommended that any member state implementing this approach should not set a specific proportion and should simply set the principle in place to be applied through the judicial processes, where necessary. Unsurprisingly, the auditing profession preferred the concept of a cap on liability, arguing that it would have no long term impact on the quality of the audit and would allow mid sized firms to enter the market. This was not entirely followed by the EU Commission who preferred to suggest a principle of proportionate liability. Based on all arguments, the EU Commission has advised a regime of proportionate liability across all member states. Conclusions The issue of auditors’ liability and how risk is apportioned has been raising concerns on an international level and has, therefore, become the subject of an EU Commission report. Currently, the international auditing market is heavily dominated by the big four accounting firms and several barriers of entry exist to prevent mid sized firms entering the market. Many of the barriers result directly from the fact that auditors are jointly and severally liable for misstatements in the financial accounts. Therefore, due to their deep pockets, auditors are often the main target for those taking actions against struggling companies[9]. Based on this position, the EU Commission looked into the option of establishing a cap on liability (either statutorily or through contractual provisions). After careful consideration of all of the options, it was felt that a principle of proportionality would be the best approach, given all of the issues raised. It was concluded that proportionality would reduce the deep pockets issue, yet would still ensure that the level of quality of auditing work is maintained. This level of proportionality should not be cast in stone and should be established on a case by case basis. It is anticipated that this will provide sufficient security for the smaller auditors to compete on a level playing field with the domain that has traditionally been that of the big four firms. Bibliography Allen, Robert D., Hermanson, Dana R., Kozloski, Thomas M., Ramsay, Robert J., Auditor Risk Assessment: Insights from the Academic Literature, Accounting Horizons, 20, 2006 Clarke, Frank L., Dean, G.W., Oliver, Kyle Gaius, Corporate Collapse: Accounting, Regulatory and Ethical Failure, Cambridge University Press, 2003 Garner, Don E., McKee, David L., McKee, Yosra AbuAmara, Accounting and the Global Economy After Sarbanes-Oxley, M.E. Sharpe, 2008 Hay, David, Davis, David, The Voluntary Choice of an Auditor of Any Level of Quality, Auditing: A Journal of Practice Theory, 23, 2004 Hillison, William, Pacini, Carl, Auditor Reputation and the Insurance Hypothesis: The Information Content of Disclosures of Financial Distress of a Major Accounting Firm, Journal of Managerial Issues, 16, 2004 Pacini, Carl, Hillison, William, Sinason, David, Auditor liability to third parties: an international focus, Managerial Auditing Journal, 15, 8, 2000 Pong, C.K.M., Burnett, S., The implications of merger for market share, audit pricing and non-audit fee income: The case of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Managerial Auditing Journal, 21, 1, 2006 Smith, Roy C., Walter, Ingo, Governing the Modern Corporation: Capital Markets, Corporate Control, and Economic Performance, Oxford University Press US, 2006 Soltani, Bahram, Auditing: An International Approach, Pearson Education, 2007 Footnotes [1] Pong, C.K.M., Burnett, S., The implications of merger for market share, audit pricing and non-audit fee income: The case of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Managerial Auditing Journal, 21, 1, 2006 [2] Clarke, Frank L., Dean, G. W., Oliver, Kyle Gaius, Corporate Collapse: Accounting, Regulatory and Ethical Failure, Cambridge University Press, 2003 [3] Soltani, Bahram Auditing, An International Approach, Pearson Education, 2007 [4] Hillison, William, Pacini, Carl, Auditor Reputation and the Insurance Hypothesis: The Information Content of Disclosures of Financial Distress of a Major Accounting Firm, Journal of Managerial Issues, 16, 2004 [5] Pacini, Carl, Hillison, William, Sinason, David, Auditor liability to third parties: an international focus, Managerial Auditing Journal, 15, 8, 2000 [6] Garner, Don E., McKee, David L., McKee, Yosra AbuAmara, Accounting and the Global Economy After Sarbanes-Oxley, M.E. Sharpe, 2008 [7] Hay, David, Davis, David, The Voluntary Choice of an Auditor of Any Level of Quality, Auditing: A Journal of Practice Theory, 23, 2004 [8] Smith, Roy C., Walter, Ingo, Governing the Modern Corporation: Capital Markets, Corporate Control, and Economic Performance, Oxford University Press US, 2006 [9] Allen, Robert D., Hermanson, Thomas, Dana R., Kozloski, M., Ramsay, Robert J., Auditor Risk Assessment: Insights from the Academic Literature, Accounting Horizons, 20, 2006

The Justice System Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Justice System Looking into criminal justice procedure, many administrations are at work. Starting with the police, to the courts and concluding in corrections. Though all these sectors have different tasks, their combined focus is processing the law. Regardless what the process is called criminal justice will continue to serve with discretion, conviction, and correction. When first presented with the question whether criminal justice is a system, non-system, and network I leaned toward a network. Throughout our discussions, lectures, and readings I felt the process presented itself as a network. Intertwined divisions working for a common goal. Further into my research and help from Webster, I decided that the criminal justice process is a system that is why it is called the criminal justice system and has been so, for many years. This system includes many networks that serve a common purpose, are dependent upon one another, and keep each other in check. Many may try to disagree as Alvine Cohn does in his introduction to Improving Management in Criminal Justice. He stated that "†¦no true system actually exists†¦(it) is a collection of disparate, fragmented services and programs, with many interrelationships, but (has) no†¦direction, philosophy, or mission"(Cohn, 7-8). This could be the farthest from the truth considering the system is always changing to better the process. This philosophy or mission that he speaks of does not have to be written on paper to exist. Though the absence of a clearly explained and comprehendible goal may result in conflict (Cohn, 9), this is inevitable when arguing two different sides. Regardless of what professionals and critics call it, it is "†¦(a) social control mechanism which†¦society calls the justice system"(Jones, 83). This system may differ from other systems, but it still includes the main characteristics of that which a system is defined. A system defined in Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is " †¦an organization forming a network especially for distributing something or serving a common purpose†¦" Using this definition we can include all arguments for the progression of criminal justice as a network since a system comprises many networks. This system has interrelated departments that look to each other to fulfill common goals of prevention and justice. Along with this common goal are common practices. The most ... .... Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, NY. 1983. www.m-w.com/cgi-bon/dictionary. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. March 25, 2001. Bibliography ALDER,F., MUELLER,G.O.W., LAUFER,W.S. Criminal Justice; an introduction. second edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. US. 2000 COHN, Alvin W., WARD, Benjamin. Improving Management in Criminal Justice. Sage Publications. Beverly Hills, CA. 1980. COLE, George F. The American System of Criminal Justice. Wadsworth Publishing Co, Inc. Belmont, CA. 1975. HANCOOK,Barry, SHARP,Paul. Criminal Justice in America; theory, practice, and policy. second edition. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. 2000. JACKSON, Bruce. Law and Disorder; Criminal justice in america. University of Illinois Press. US. 1984. JONES, William, Jr. Criminal Justice Administration. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, NY. 1983 KALINICH, KLOFAS, STOJKOVIC. The Administration and Management of Criminal Justice Organizations. Waveland Press, Inc. Prospect Heights,IL. 1994 www.albany.edu/sourcebook/. section 1. Bureau of Justice Statistics. March 25, 2001. www.m-w.com/cgi-bon/dictionary. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. March 25, 2001.

Essay --

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Fiction Setting: In the early 20s in Long Island and New York # of pages: 180 Diem Ha Setting The Great Gatsby takes place after WWI in Long Island and New York during the early 1920s. There are two main areas in The Great Gatsby, the â€Å"West Egg† and the â€Å"East Egg†. People that are wealthy and are rich live in the â€Å"East Egg† and people with less fortune and are poor live in the â€Å"West Egg†. There is a separation between the rich and the poor. Characters Jay Gatsby- The protagonist in The Great Gatsby is Jay Gatsby. He is called Gatsby throughout the novel. Gatsby grew up poor, but he had always yearned for wealth. Though he wanted to be rich and have money, he had always had his mind on Daisy, a woman he met in Louisville before being stationed in to fight in WWI. Gatsby wants the money and the wealth even more after meeting Daisy. Gatsby began to do all he could to win back Daisy’s heart. Tom Buchanan- The antagonist in The Great Gatsby is Tom Buchanan. He is a very arrogant man and he reeked with wealth. Tom married to Daisy before Gatsby could get to Daisy. Tom was racist and he was a bully towards others. Even though Tom was having an affair himself, with Myrtle, he became viscous when he heard Daisy and Gatsby were having an affair. Nick Carraway- The narrator of this novel, The Great Gatsby, is Nick Carraway. Nick was a young gentleman that grew up in Minnesota. Nick was honest and well educated. He had moved to the West Egg and became friends with Gatsby, his neighbor. He then learned of Gatsby and Daisy’s affair, and he watches their romance. Nick is the cousin of Daisy Buchanan. Daisy Buchanan - Daisy is Nick’s cousin; Tom’s wife; Gatsby’s lover. While in Louisville, Dai... ...t of non-olfactory money" (Fitzgerald, 68). This is an example of imagery because you could imagine the city rising up the river and there is a vivid image. â€Å"His station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains.† (Fitzgerald 39) This is an example of a simile because the author is stating how fast the station wagon went and comparing it, using ‘like’, to a bug. Concluding Diem Ha The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Is wealth really worth it? Does it matter if you are rich or poor? When someone has a great amount of wealth it doesn’t mean that their lives are going perfectly fine. Wealth cannot buy happiness or love. Why go after a dream when your life is going to be ruined just because of dishonesty? When you love someone, you would be willing to do what you can for them. Is it worth it or is it just a waste of time and effort? Diem Ha