The Role of Capitalism and the Life of Workers XX Century

Historians and sociologists characterize the second part of the nineteenth century according to significant changes in the social and economic life of workers in the USA. The end of the Civil War affected the lives of millions of African Americans who received the new social status. The development of the Industrial Revolution also influenced the lives of white workers significantly.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Role of Capitalism and the Life of Workers: XX Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From this point, the capitalistic ideals with references to the remnants of the slavery system affected the life at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. In his work Slavery by Another Name, Douglas Blackmon states that the situations of leasing convicts for business and labor in the Southern states is the direct heritage of the slavery system which was not ende d immediately after the Civil War. Melvyn Dubofsky in his work Industrialism and the American Worker discusses the real effects of capitalism and industrialism on workers in the USA operating the convincing data. However, Thomas DiLorenzo’s article â€Å"How Capitalism Enriched the Working Class† supports the idea that capitalism was beneficial for the American workers, and its positive effects can be observed today. Although DiLorenzo is inclined to focus on positive impacts of capitalism and Blackmon provides the realistic evidence to support his claim, Dubofsky’s argument on the role of industrialism in the life of the American worker is more convincing because the author discusses the problem from several perspectives basing on credible data. The principles of capitalism shaped not only the aspects of the people’s economic life but also their social development. In his work, DiLorenzo states that capitalism improved the working and living conditions o f employees in the USA significantly. The author pays attention to the fact that all discussions on the workers’ exploitation by capitalists are only myths (DiLorenzo 93-94). From this perspective, DiLorenzo develops his argument to debunk all the myths and opinions about the terrible conditions of the American workers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. DiLorenzo claims that the workers’ living conditions improved with the development of capitalism and usage of technological innovations. According to the author, machinery and aspects of industrialism contributed to the progress of mass production (DiLorenzo 95-96). Thus, the workers’ productivity increased, and many goods became cheaper and more available for workers.Advertising Looking for critical writing on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, the growth in production influenced the increase of wages. The rise of work ers’ wages was rather steadily during a long period of time, till the start of World War I. Capitalists began to invest into machinery as the real source for intensifying the mass production. As a result, the workweek became shorter, but workers’ productivity increased significantly. Moreover, child labor was not important and actively used anymore because the great amounts of work were made by machines (DiLorenzo). All the mentioned factors influenced the people’s everyday social life because the standard of living also increased. Nevertheless, in his work, DiLorenzo focuses only on those factors which can be discussed as appropriate to support his positive vision of capitalism’s consequences for the lives of workers and low classes of Americans. In spite of the fact the author operates the statistics proposed by Cox and Alm as the evidence to support the claim in his work, a lot of arguments provided by DiLorenzo seem to be rather unconvincing. The prob lem is in interpretation of capitalism’s effects on workers. DiLorenzo is inclined to examine the impacts of capitalism in their progress, concentrating on the role of capitalism for the current working and living conditions of workers (DiLorenzo). However, the comparison of the employees’ working and living conditions typical for the first and second parts of the twentieth century cannot be discussed as the appropriate evidence to conclude about the real situation during the era of the Industrial Revolution. On the one hand, DiLorenzo’s discussion helps understand the process of how capitalism contributed to improving the quality of the workers’ life today. On the other hand, the author is not persuasive in his statement that the workers received better-paying jobs and were fully employed in the early part of the twentieth century because of capitalism’s advantages. Slavery and violence or abusive behaviors against African Americans did not end wi th the Civil War. Blackmon develops the discussion of the real situation in the Southern states after the Civil War, focusing on the aspects of the black labor. According to the author, many African Americans were imprisoned after the Civil War because of impossibility to start the new fair life without any properties (Blackmon).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Role of Capitalism and the Life of Workers: XX Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, businessmen began to use a lot of black prisoners at plants and factories as the cheap workforce in order to decrease the production costs. Blackmon states that the period can be discussed as the new stage in the history of slavery in the USA. The black convicts were sold in a lot of states such Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and the other ones. Capitalists forced them to work, and many African Americans experienced â€Å"animalistic treatmentâ €  (Blackmon 52). Blackmon uses a lot of statistical and historical data to support his argument and accentuate the significant aspect of segregation within the American society after the Civil War. Despite the fact that Blackmon provides the credible evidence to support his ideas and discusses the problem of the black labor in the Southern states in detail, the author’s argument focuses only on one factor of the capitalistic development in the USA. Thus, capitalists used black prisoners as free or cheap workers who actually were treated as slaves. The fact that ‘slavery’ at plants, plantations, and factories of the Southern states developed till the 1950s allows speaking about the negative consequences of capitalism for the employees’ quality of life and working conditions. The working environment was rather unsafe, and workers did not receive the adequate wage for their work. However, Blackmon does not connect the mentioned issues of capitalism with t he effects of industrialization (Blackmon). That is why, the impact of capitalism on workers’ life should be discussed from the larger perspective. During the early years of the twentieth century capitalism and industrialization affected all the aspects of the American workers’ lives. In his work, Dubofsky pays attention to the positive tendencies in the economic development of the country as well as to the negative effects of the processes on workers’ everyday life. Dubofsky states that the situation in the USA and the progress of capitalism was more beneficial for workers comparing with the situation in Europe. Thus, the USA was the real ‘land of plenty’ for many workers (Dubofsky 18-19).Advertising Looking for critical writing on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The country of great opportunities provided many chances for workers to improve their quality of life. Thus, Dubofsky focuses on the statistics on the workers’ wages which increased steadily along with the improvement of living standards (Dubofsky). The author refers to the charts and graphs with the data on the increase of annual earnings and productivity. Dubofsky states that industrialization contributed to making the workweek shorter and to providing workers with more leisure time. In reality, a lot of changes worked only on paper, and workers remained to have only few rights (Dubofsky). The discussion of Dubofsky can be considered as convincing and credible because the author examines the role of capitalism and industrialization in workers’ life from many perspectives. Thus, the rates of wages increased, the workweek became shorter, and machinery improved the aspects of production. However, workers’ annual earnings could not guarantee the improvement of the quality of life, poverty of workers was closely associated with the high rates of unemployment because of industrialization, and the working environments remained to be unsafe with references to usage of new machines (Dubofsky 24-25). Thus, capitalists invested in industrialization and machinery instead of improving the working and living conditions of employees. From this point, Dubofsky’s argument is convincing because the author pays attention to both positive and negative aspects of capitalism and the process of industrialization for the American workers. Industrialization helped intensify the processes of production and make many goods cheaper along with increasing workers’ wages. Nevertheless, the living and workings conditions of employees were not satisfactory. Many people suffered from unemployment as a result of machinery and from exploitation as a result of using the old working patterns. Capitalism changed both the economic and social life in the USA. Work s Cited Blackmon, Douglas. Slavery by Another Name: The Re-enslavement of Black People in America from the Civil War to World War II. USA: Doubleday, 2008. Print. DiLorenzo, Thomas. How Capitalism Saved America: The Untold History of Our Country, from Pilgrims to the Present. USA: Crown Forum, 2004. Print. Dubofsky, Melvyn. Industrialism and the American Worker, 1865-1920. USA: Harlan Davidson, 1996. Print. This critical writing on The Role of Capitalism and the Life of Workers: XX Century was written and submitted by user Kallie Riggs to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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buy custom E-Business essay PepsiCo is an American multinational corporation that formed in 1965 with the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, Inc. and deals with production, marketing, and distribution of beverages and grain based snack foods. PepsiCo has its headquarters in Harrison, New York with its presence in four major divisions (PepsiCo Inc., 2010). In 2009, PepsiCo Americas Foods, which deals in foods and snacks in North and South America, contributed 43% of the total PepsiCo net profit (PepsiCo Inc., 2010).. There is also PepsiCo America Beverages, a division that markets both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages in North and South America. Other divisions include PepsiCo Europe and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa. Globally, the company is the second largest food and beverages company and it operates in more than 200 countries (Marshall, 2010). In 2009, PepsiCo collected total revenue of $43.3 billion, and was rated the largest food and beverages company in North America. Pepsi Corporation distributes a number of brands, the key ones being those that generate annual sales of more than $1 billion each. These brands include Pepsi-Cola, 7Up, Fritos Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Pepsi Max, Quaker Foods, Tropicana Cheetos, Miranda, Ruffles, Aquafina, Tostitos, Sierra Mist, Walkers, and Lays Lipton (UBM, 2010). Amid distribution of the brands, PepsiCo engages in charitable activities and environmental conservation programs like water usage in U.S, India and U.K, packaging and recycling, energy usage as well as pesticide regulation in India to ensure that the environment and the available resources are utilized properly. PepsiCos advancement in ecommerce has been evident, and that is the focus of this report (Romanik, 2007). Changing to ecommerce involves fully understanding the normal offline transactions and applying the principals of electronic funds transfer and electronic data interchange. Ecommerce also includes Internet marketing and inventory management systems through the World Wide Web, especially for virtual items. Changing to ecommerce entails complete overhaul of marketing techniques to accommodate new internet marketing strategies, electronic payments and training of employees to match the new electronic commerce and business. PepsiCos adoption of ecommerce led to the collaboration with Yahoo. In the deal, PepsiCo would promote Yahoo on 1.5 billion soft drinks bottles displayed in 50,000 stores (Business Day, 2000). In return, Yahoo would promote PepsiCo products on Yahoo cobranded site called Pepsistuff.com (Gerstman Meyers, 2002). This promotion started in August 2000 and has since led to advertisement cost minimization due to its ability to reach more people at ago through the website (Business Day, 2000). What does not work, according to Burwick, PepsiCos former marketing manager, is an advertising approach on television that in his view only entertains and moves. However, Burwick notes that internet advertisement on the website provides a platform for interaction, which is a more active experience that is likely to have a more positive impact on sales (Business Day, 2000). This web advertisement that included music sites, banner advertisement and internet sweepstakes and barter arrangement with Yahoo, helped PepsiCo establish loyalty among its customers, greater brand exposure among its consumers under 25 years old and at the same time obtained relevant data that enabled the company respond to customer demands. Pepsi also uses the extranet strategy where customers flash their names and continue the marketing efforts of tweaking websites. Other than its websites, PepsiCo has currently upheld its ecommerce strategy on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, which are social sites that provide interaction opportunities for millions of potential customers around the world. This has helped improve popularity of the corporations 19 major brands in all the four regions, and contributed to the revenue collected in 2009. Marketing the products plays a very important role in the consumer goods companies that consume $40 billion annually on non-internet advertising. Ecommerce in this regard plays a vital role in marketing, distribution, supply chain management, ordering and delivering of the products to the clients in all the four major regions. This strategy helps PepsiCo eliminate intermediaries in its business since consumers can order products directly. The company can also use banners on top of web pages to convey the information about its products. However, this has been eliciting responses that banners are too small and limit th e amount of information that can be conveyed through them. Besides Pepsistuff.com, PepsiCo also uses its website in providing information to all its customers and potential customers on the available products and the ordering and purchasing procedures as well as the charges involved for deliveries (Gerstman Meyers, 2002). The strategy of e-business is multifarious, is more focused on these internal processes (Romanik, 2007). Its objective is to reduce costs while improving efficiency, as well as reducing costs while improving productivity. E-business includes ecommerce, and both address internal processes and technological infrastructure like application servers, security, databases, and legacy systems. E-commerce and e-business involve generating new value chains amid stakeholders, such as a company like PepsiCo and its clients. Original Business Model Employed By PepsiCo PepsiCo initially used non-internet advertisement that included high impact television spots that were prepared to evoke emotional reaction among its customers, appealing to woe customers to purchase. The company also minimally used PowerPoint presentations of its products to that are flashed on the websites. According to Hill Jones (2008), PepsiCo changed its business model and the manner in which it differentiated its product. Before adoption of the ecommerce initiative, PepsiCo fully depended on five regions that include North America, South America, Europe, and Asia regions (including India) in manufacturing, marketing, and delivering. These activities constituted manual offline transactions (Heinecke, 2011). Any changes to the business model were necessitated by introduction of the e-Business inititive. The marketing, ordering, inventory management strategies, and the payment methods changed to adopt ecommerce methods. These necessitated change in PepsiCos organization structure and reduction of marketing staff and the cost of advertisement reduced by nearly 20% in 2010 (Heinecke, 2011). Through e-business, PepsiCo was able to effectively cut human errors and evade uneconomical duplications of duties that add little or no value to the business. Consequently, this saved the company business time, colossal amounts of resources. The introduction of ecommerce into PepsiCo also improved the speed, accuracy, and efficiency in which processes are carried out in the corporation, leading to increased productivity. E-business guarantees proficiency in communication within PepsiCo and reduces turnaround time in ordering, delivery, and payment of products, as well as fostering faster decision-making process. The networking brought about by the use of Internet services gave PepsiCo an opportunity to easily compare and rate its products against those from its competitors in terms of quality, availability, and pricing. Strategic Components of E-business Planning for the changeover to e-business from the offline business is a strategic component that determines the success of the ecommerce strategy. It involves action plans that include making available the amount of capital required, trained human resource, information technology skills, technology hardware, such as computers and internet connections. This component of e-business dictates the decision on implementation methods and tools used in the changeover, depending on strengths and weaknesses of the business and the opportunities presented by ecommerce according to the vision and mission of the PepsiCo (Cross Miller, 2009). Ecommerce business is an area faced with several risks. Therefore, companies need to understand it well to ensure that they are protected against such risks. PepsiCo faces such risks as well. Some of these risks include loss of merchandise as a result of fraud, misrouting during distribution process to wrong destinations (majorly when the merchants are untrustworthy and untraceable), leading to loss of both goods and money (Cross Miller, 2009). Any businesses adopting ecommerce should ensure that third party merchants are well known, registered, and traceable to curb the loss of customers merchandise and money to potential fraudsters. This is also applicable to the risks of customers disputes of the delivered goods leading to loss of payments. PepsiCo needs to ensure that during ordering, customers provide adequate information to be able to distinguish genuine customers from fraudulent orders. This will reduce the loss money through credit card payments, which poses impacts both on the company and merchants who are forced to pay the bank charges to compensate the losses. Accuracy in processing the transactions remain key to efficient deals to avoid experiencing chargeback costs that also occur when customers dispute the transactions sometimes due to inaccuracy in the amount involved, errors in processing, authorization errors and fraudulent issues. These costs can be avoided if transactions are accurately and efficiently processed. Therefore, this means that the new ecommerce technology should be well understood before the implementation stage takes effect, to be able to seal all the possible loopholes that are likely to give way to losses (Joseph, 2008). Provision of adequate infrastructure system that warns new clients who are not conversant with purchasing on the Internet is important in proving authenticity of the company. These systems should be in a position of protecting clients passwords to sensitive personal information like credit cards to avoid exposure to fraudsters and at the same time authenticate transactions when dealing with fresh cl ients before closing the purchase orders and delivering the products to the customers. Technological components must also be put in place for a company that needs to grow in the modern business environment that is full of competition through the use of high technology machines (Joseph, 2008). The technological platform where e-Business is carried out involves of technologies that have to be tailor-made, tested out and integrated into the business. This component is one of the essential e-business components that include widely approved technological standards and requirements that generate technical procedures and platforms than computers, but can be used to pass information. Technology infrastructure involves reliable Internet connections and adequate machinery, such as computers and browser connections. Technological constituents, such as middleware, are important since they help build broad and complex e-commerce systems. Employee development is strategy that works well for many companies, including PepsiCo. Employees first need to be prepared for the change to avoid unnecessary resistance during the implementation stage. Employee development also involves training workers to be technology compliant and improve their IT skills, which are mandatory in ecommerce having in mind that technology innovation and improvement takes place every time (Shajahan Priyadharshini, 2007). PepsiCo needs to train its clients on how to access information from the companys websites without risking exposing their information to non-deserving people, such as credit card fraudsters. This training can be done through seminars and online information that can be accessed by all existing and potential customers. Many clients are very skeptical when it comes to online purchases due to the widespread Internet fraud and may only be willing to do business with very organized and secure sites. PepsiCo also needs to segment its market during marketing and advertisement of the products. This segmentation can be done in terms of age, social class to provide products that all social groups can afford, and ensuring availability of these products from the distribution stores for the retail customers at all times. Reasons for Success and Of Pepsi Product Differentiation and positioning One reason that has led to the success of Pepsi products is the differentiation of its brannds that have been established and have built customer loyalty in those regions. Product positioning remains vital in building customer loyalty. This can quickly be done through internet marketing, which reaches more people at ago all over the world. Planning and New Technology The companys first strategy involving agreements with Yahoo picked up well and were very successful because of adequate planning, as well as embracing of the new digital technology. Other reasons include adequate planning, employee development, good management kills, infrastructure, and risk management systems. Reasons for Lack of Success and Of Pepsi Fraudulent transactions Fraudulent transactions that have always mired online transactions that make the merchants and clients lose both merchandise and money are the loopholes that have hampered Pepsis success. Thus, they need to be sealed in order to drive businesses to higher levels. Analysis of the PepsiCo Initiative PepsiCo being the second largest food and Beverage Company has very strong financial base, which is enough to implement the ecommerce strategy. Training of employees on the new internet marketing skills, supply chain management, inventory management. Implementation of the ecommerce Technology in PepsiCo involved provision of the computer gadgets and internet connection that to provide necessary platform for the change to e-Business (Shajahan Priyadharshini, 2007). PepsiCo also offered in-house trainings to the staff to be technology compliant ready to execute the ecommerce operations. The major stakeholders of the PepsiCo are the suppliers, customers, government, employees, and the management. The companys consumers need to utilize the ecommerce platform to order and pay for products conveniently, while maintaining and managing internet security risks. The internal control systems that are used to authenticate transactions need to be fully outlined with clear chain of command. The improvement of the technology has also provided good business growth opportunity enhancing PepsiCos strength in the market. The involvement of the society, production of healthy products with low sugar levels favorable for children, guarding them against health and lifestyle related diseases like obesity, diabetes, and the environmental protection projects, gave PepsiCo business advantage over its competitors, such as the Coca-Cola company. PepsiCo does this by converting its product portfolio, forming global initiatives like calorie labeling to increase nutrition education, and backup up programs that promote physical fitness centers (Romanik, 2007). Responsible Electronic Marketing In the ecommerce, PepsiCo has adopted a responsible electronic marketing strategy that teaches children that good eating habits at an earlier age contribute to their future health. PepsiCo adopted a policy in 2009 not to advertise and sell certain products that do not meet specific nutrition level to children under age 12. The policy took effect in 2009 for beverages globally and all snacks and food in the whole world on January 1, 2011. Pepsi plans to stop selling full sugar soft drinks directly to primary and secondary schools across the world by 2012. This policy is to help schools to provide a wider range of low-calorie and nutritious beverages to their students in primary and secondary schools (Ferrell Ferrell, 2010). PepsiCo plans to implement this policy fully by January 1, 2012 and it has announced this interest on the Internet. PepsiCo does not currently sell directly to primary and secondary schools full calorie drinks in Europe, Canada, and a number of countries in the Arabian Peninsula (Ferrell Ferrell, 2010). Currently the use of iPhone has spread to users many including school going children who can easily access the information. For this reason, PepsiCo implements the responsible e-marketing strategy to ensure that information reaches the only relevant people. Reasons for Not Adopting the Ecommerce In as much as technology is acceptable, many online clients have since withdrawn from transacting businesses over the internet due to the widespread internet crimes committed by fraudsters. Many clients have expressed reservations and they prefer offline business transactions to e-business. Bad experience of wrong delivery and erroneous processing of transactions has also contributed to the failure of ecommerce initiative. Pepsi should not just adopt Ecommerce marketing coverage strategy since it focuses on differentiated marketing, they should also consider other aspects that accompany the marketing strategy. Many clients do not have sufficient IT skills that are required in carrying out e-business. This gave the changeover a slow start in some regions, including India, with many insisting on continued offline transaction (Joseph, 2008). Conclusion Ecommerce and e-business have become the order of modern business. Many companies than need to compete have adapted the two innovations. Ecommerce and e-business involve the use of the Internet in the transaction of goods and services from production, order, delivery, marketing, and payment for the purchased goods and services. PepsiCo is one of the companies that have adopted ecommerce for about ten years and have used the new technology in inventory management, supply chain management, Internet marketing and electronic funds transfer. PepsiCo is an international company that deals in beverages and foods snacks in four major regions in North America, South America, Europe and Asia and African markets with a number of products like Pepsi-Cola, 7Up, Fritos Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Pepsi Max, Quaker Foods, Tropicana Cheetos, Miranda, Ruffles, Aquafina, Tostitos, Sierra Mist, Walker's and Lay's Lipton. The company uses the Internet to market and sell these brands. Several strategies ensure all the stakeholders are successfully navigated through the navigation period. These include adequate planning, employee development, good management kills, infrastructure, and risk management systems. Buy custom E-Business essay

Argument Paper - President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Essay

Argument Paper - President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize - Essay Example The news media has variously spoken in favor of the prize and against it, and ordinary citizens are equally divided. There is little question, however: Barack Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize, as Alfred Nobel envisioned it, is awarded to â€Å"champions of peace† who genuinely contribute to bringing peace to the world (â€Å"A fitting prize† para. 6). During his acceptance speech, Obama commented, â€Å"Throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes† (Schneider para. 7). In other words, Obama himself is apologizing to those who do not think he deserves the prize, saying that he has momentum even if it appears he’s not going anywhere. This is a gracious way to accept this prestigious prize, but might indicate that Obama himself is questioning the motivations of the Nobel Committee, just as detractors have in the press and on the news. One of these detractors has even gone so far as to state, â€Å"Anyone saying the Peace Prize Committee does not have a political agenda needs to consider the timing and nature of these choices more carefully† (Reid-Henry para. 2). The Prize committee’s timing was cut a little close: the nomination was made two weeks after Obama’s inauguration. Not only had Obama had no time to accomplish any of his lofty goals at the time of the award, he had barely put his toothbrush in the White House medicine cabinet at the time of his nomination. As a political slap in the face to the previous administration, the Nobel Committee’s message could not be more clear. The committee is indeed investing its â€Å"extraordinary faith, a belief even, in the powers of politicians to lead and to thereby solve the ills of the world† (Reid-Henry para. 7). The Peace Prize Committee may believe that

Corporate Governance in Russia Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Corporate Governance in Russia - Dissertation Example A total of 74 companies was analysed, 34 companies from LSE, 4 from NYSE and 36 listed on RTS. The sample size was calculated from a Web-based sample size calculator using the following parameters : (1) a margin of error of 7%; (2) a confidence level of 95%; (3) a population size of 5,580; and (4) response distribution of 10%. The population size of 5,580 is the total number of companies listed with the Russian Trading System (297), the New York Stock Exchange (2,317) and the London Stock Exchange (2,966). The minimum recommended sample was 70 but for contingency, this number was increased by 5%, hence the actual sample size used was 74. Companies which were listed with LSE and NYSE are categorised as class listed (CL). These are the companies are listed abroad, numbering 38. The non-class listed companies (NCL) are those companies that are listed only with RTS in Russia. The list of the companies and a screenshot of the output from the Web-based sample size calculator can be found i n the Appendix.... The test is repeated until all the outliers are deleted. Grubbs test works on the principle that with the outliers deleted, data tend to be normally distributed (Thompson and Lowthian, 2011). In this regard, use of Grubbs test requires prudence in estimating normality of the distribution in the dataset. Moreover, the test may not be applied for a small sample size of six or less since repeated iterations alter the chances of detecting outliers (Thompson and Lowthian, 2011). In the case of this research, CL and NCL data sets made the use of the Grubb’s test impossible, because it detected too many outliers, because CL firms tend to be large and well-established, also the specific environment in which firms operate would influence their board characteristics and availability of data. Considering the big information availability difference of the treatment and benchmark populations comparison between those independent samples can be problematic. Log base 10 Further, logarithm was applied on operating revenue and number of employees. The most common description of log or logarithm of a number represents the exponent by which a fixed number, called the base, has to be exponentiated to generate the fixed number (Bland, 2007). For the current research common logarithms (logs to base 10) are useful in a several ways. First of all, they simplify the data output for further calculations. Secondly, log transformation is applicable to data in where the residuals tend to assume bigger values as the values of the dependent variable increases. The danger in this type of scenario is that the error or change in the value of an outcome variable is a percentage and not an absolute value. Hence, similar percentage

Week 9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Week 9 - Essay Example This is very critical to the audit process. It has been combined with foundational concepts. However, I think that ethics it should be the only matter dealt with in this chapter. Since independence falls under this heading it should also be included. The importance of independence has been stressed in a number of instances and the lack of it has been blamed for a number of events. In relation to independence an auditor should never be required to give an opinion on his own work. If the same auditors are engaged in setting up internal controls inclusive of information controls they may be pressured by their colleagues against reporting on the discovery of major weakness. The auditor engaged in giving an opinion on how management has carried out their responsibilities and giving an opinion should not be engaged in any other activity with the entity. Therefore the standards need to go further in not allowing any other work whatsoever as it certainly will affect independence. This matter should be ted into threats and safeguards. The best safeguard is to quit. There will therefore be no consideration of some of the other matters which relating to the provision of non-audit services. In relation to quality control issues the additional requirement to include systems that address additional areas is a step in the right direction as all areas of an organization should be monitored as they affect the financial and other aspects and are therefore interrelated. If there is no proper leadership then the system of control will break down since management will be ineffective. In terms of the elimination of requirements already included in AICPA this will leave room for additional requirements to be added later. The additional guidance is important as it addresses the need for technical assistance. However, it might have been beneficial for those who prefer to find as much as possible in one place if the rules were not

Current situation about the issues of animal experimentation from different views

Current situation about the issues of animal experimentation from different views Abstract This objective of this research paper is mainly to better understand the current situation about the issues of animal experimentation from different views. Online articles, journals, encyclopedia and books were used for reference in this research paper. In essence, this research paper generally touches on the pros and cons of animal experimentation. Supporters of animal testing claim that this helps the development of important drugs and treatments which in turn saves millions of valuable human lives. Additionally, animal testing is employed to save human lives because human lives are more valuable than animal lives. Valuable knowledge can be obtained through animal experimentation to study the effects of a substance. This work will contribute to people who are interested to know more about animal testing and future research of similar topic. Animal Testing 1.0 Introduction The Greeks believed that animals were a lesser form of life because animals could not think like humans did. Furthermore, this thought was continued by Christians who claimed that animals were less significant because they had no soul (Vivisection, 2002). Animal testing is the use of live animals for research in order to better understand the effect of certain substances towards human health. This application has been widely carried out in many industries. Numerous animals have been used for animal testing, such as guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and mice. The issue of animal testing has become a worldwide focus these days due to arguments brought up by those who are against animal experimentation. Unquestionably, the practice of animal experimentation has increased tremendously compared to the past. According to Shandilya (2008), it is estimated that 20 million animals are used for animal experimentation yearly for the purpose of medicine and for testing other products. Findings from studies indicate that less than 10 percent of pure psychological researches use animals as test subjects, which do not include animal subjects used for cross-over medical experimentation ( American Psychological Association, n.d., cited in Harding, L. , 2001). However, there are some who state that animal experiments are cruel and immoral, besides violating an animals rights. This has caused many individuals to agree with the movements of anti-vivisection organisations due to brutal treatment towards animals. Although there are laws regarding animal testing enforcing the reduction in the use of animals for vivisection, opponents of animal experimenting are still debating about the subject of legalizing it. If we view this subject from a broader perspective, it can be seen that animal testing should be legalized as it aids scientist in the discoveries of new drugs and treatments to make health and medicine better, human life is more precious than that of an animal, and it is the most precise way to find out the effects of substances on a living organism. This research paper will explain why animal testing should be legalized. Research findings are confined to the United States of America, since the subject of animal testing is highly debated there and the progress of this issue in the US is relative to other countries. 2.0 Body of Report 2.1 Animal testing helps in the development of drugs and treatments. Currently, humans are often exposed to various diseases which are life threatening, which includes existing diseases or new forms of diseases due to mutations and changes in the environment. Hence, researchers are working hard in finding cures for all these illnesses. From here, it can be seen that animal testing is essential in the sustenance of human health. Animals will be used to study the effect of newly invented drugs, whether it will help in curing the disease. Speaking of the positive outcomes of animal testing, this includes the development of new medicine and treatments. Derbyshire (2004) mentioned that many medical advances utilized animal testing; including production of insulin which was developed using dogs, and cyclosporine, a potent anti-rejection drug developed using primates. Besides this, discoveries of various vaccines have evolved through animal experimentation. From here, it can be seen that animal testing can guide us to discoveries of new knowledge about living organisms. Many drugs have been invented to fulfill the aim of remedying diseases. However, the side effects of newly invented drugs remain unknown. Therefore, animal testing allows the evaluation of the danger of drugs before being used upon humans which will greatly reduce the risk before any human based trials are carried out ( About Animal Testing, n.d.). Drugs that are tested safe can then be used to save millions of valuable human lives. The future of medical science still relies on animal testing, and this clearly shows a need in legalizing animal testing. There are some people who claim that the effects of drugs tested on animals may not be the same to humans. Arthritis drug Vioxx, which caused 140 000 heart attacks and strokes in United States of America, was withdrawn from the global market even though it appeared to be safe when tested in animals (Archibald, 2004). However, scientists have proven that animals are extremely alike to humans and experiments done on them would produce similar results obtained through future human experiments ( About Animal Testing, n.d.). Hence, carrying out animal testing on drugs would improve the quality of human life indirectly. Therefore, to sum it all up, animal testing should be legalized because it assists researchers in medical treatments besides drugs discovery, improves health and medicine and is able to test the safety of drugs. Alternatives of animal testing are not as plausible as they are not as accurate as the results obtained from tests conducted upon animals. Hence, animal testing should be encouraged instead of being suppressed. 2.2 The importance of human lives is given priority over animal lives. Differences existing between humans and animals cause animals to receive treatments which are different and unequal although both of them are alive. As animals differ from humans as they do not have conscience, they are considered inferior to humans when it comes to the value of life. Seeing that the lives of humans are viewed as more valuable than animal lives, animals will have to be sacrificed in animal experimentation. The pros and cons of animal testing were debated with both sides being able to produce solid reasons for their stands. From the view of sentiency, it is mentioned that all living things are morally equivalent. However, the lives of humans are superior over the lives of animals (Garner, 2005). Authorities have to make a choice between the welfare of humans and the welfare of animals. Which one is more important, the life of a human or the life of an animal? As Archibald (2004) points out, most people are willing to sacrifice the lives of animal in animal testing to save human lives. Even though human welfare is the main concern, the welfare of an animal is still taken into account by minimizing the suffering of animals when conducting animal experimentations. The Animal Welfare Act had been formed and reviewed constantly to protect animals and decrease the number of vivisections carried out (Monamy, 2000). Every experiment involving the usage of animals is normally administered with anesthesia . In conjunction with this, the experiments will not be repeated or animals used will be euthanized when brutal treatment is involved. Animal testing can be accepted as it allows the improvement of human life quality without the suffering of animals (Garner, 2005). Those who are against animal testing argued that animals have the right to live peacefully. Animal testing is regarded as unkind treatment towards animals as it violates animal rights as their lives are valuable as well (Le Fanu, 2003). Nevertheless, their arguments are weak because animals lack the sense of judgment, and therefore are not subjected to moral claims and animal rights (Cohen, 1986). Hence, they cannot be compared with human life. As long as the animal is experimented upon without pain, the welfare of the animal is not violated. Therefore, it is acceptable to legalize the activity of animal testing as human life should be prioritized. Although there are many who are against animal experimentation, the points asserted are not strong enough to discontinue the activity of animal testing. Supporters of animal testing affirm that animals should not have equal rights with humans as both of these cannot be compared. Animals lack the sense of judgment, thus human lives always come first before animal lives. Animals are considered to be protected as long as animals receive minimum amount of suffering. So animal testing should be legalized in order to save more human lives. 2.3 Animal testing is helpful for studying the effects of substances. Many new chemical substances are produced every year to meet the demand of the global market such as in agriculture, medicine and cosmetic products. The credits should be given to animal testing. The effect of that particular substance has been studied to produce countless helpful products. This can increase the longevity of humans besides improving the human standard of living. By conducting experiments on animals, the researcher can gain invaluable information from the living specimen. Winston (2006) mentioned that 70% of the Nobel prizes for physiology or medicine are contributed from animal testing. Hence, it is clearly shown that by performing researches on animals by studying the effects of a substance can bring a huge impact upon the world. The discovery of knowledge will be delayed or remain undiscovered if animal testing is not carried out. As stated by Le Fanu (2003), primates offer the best experimental models as they have 99% similarity in genes with humans. Animal testing can be carried out on primates to ensure the safety of some drugs before being tested on humans. The chance for both organisms exhibiting the same effect is high due to the similarity of their genes. This in turn can reduce the risks faced by humans when commencing the trials. Hence, animals are good tools for learning the effects of various substances. In spite of this, people who are in opposition to animal testing argue that it must not be legalized just because animal experimentation leads to medical breakthroughs and the outcome is more rewarding. This statement is insufficient to justify the drawbacks of animal testing (Derbyshire, 2004). On the other hand, it is proven that the beneficial outcome outweighs its drawbacks, so it is rational to legalize the activity of animal testing. Without studying the effects of substances using animal testing, most of the major vaccines against disease like polio, rubella and hepatitis B used today would not exist (Derbyshire, 2004). New drugs undergo in vitro research, computer modeling and animal testing before being tested on humans. Thus, every step is vital in this process of studying the effects before a drug is introduced into the market. In short, the effects of a substance can be study by carrying out animal testing which can provide invaluable information besides the anatomy of some animals are similar to humans. Even though animal experimentation its disadvantages, there are still many benefits that can gain by carrying out animal testing. Thus, legalization of animal testing must be accepted. Moreover, it can be a good tool for education and research purposes. 3.0 Recommendation Normally, the usage of animals for animal testing delineated as cruelty towards animals and should not be legalized. However, it is impossible to ban the practice of animal experimentation due to the benefits brought by animal research towards mankind. Animal testing is a noble action to sustain the welfare of humans. Since the practice of animal testing cannot be stopped, the welfare of animals can only be protected by another approach. The principle of Three Rs, that is refinement, reduction and replacement can be practiced. The researchers are pledged to reduce the number of animals used when performing a research. To use the least number of resources to obtain the fastest results, researchers have the tendency of using a smaller number of animals during their research. This is an act that showed the willingness of mankind to reduce the cruelty towards the animals. Besides this, scientists were asked to lessen the degree of suffering of the animal. This can be attained by exclude some needless harmful actions involving the animals. Lastly, alternative methods should be used whenever possible to replace the usage of animal testing (Derbyshire, 2006). For instance, the welfare of animals can be secured by doing so. The practice of animal experimentation should compromise between the welfare of humans and animals so that harmony can be achieved. Animal experimentation still can be practiced, and the laws should be strictly enforced so that it is not violated by irresponsible people. 4.0 Conclusion Due to the increased usage of animal testing, the issue of animal experimentation is getting highly debated and remains relentless. After examining several points, it has revealed that animal testing should be legalized as it helps in the progress of medicine and health, human life is more valuable than animal life, and helps to learn the outcome of a substance on a living organism. Day by day, anti-vivisectionists try to rule out animal testing by looking at this issue from the animals point of view. Concurrently, supporters of animal experimentation were able to refute their arguments, by claiming the welfare of humans should always come first before animals. They viewed the subject of animal testing from a broader perspective and the long term advantages that come from animal experimentation. Life is never perfect, some sacrifices have to make to achieve success for a better future. Nonetheless, animal research should be carried out as its advantages are more significant than the disadvantages. Bibliography About Animal Testing, (n.d.), Using Animals for Testing: Pros Versus Cons? viewed 27th March 2010, d http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/using-animals-testing-pros-versus-cons.html Archibald,K. (2004), Animal Testing: Science or Fiction? viewed 5 February 2010, http://gan.ca/lifestyle/animal+testing/articles+on+animal+research/index.en.html Cohen, C., (1986) †¦ Students Paper: †¦ C., (1986) The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research, The New England Journal of Medicine 315, no. 14. 865-69 †¦ http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing †¦ no rights. The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research The New England Journal of Medicine 315, no. 14 (October 2 †¦ †¦ . 865-69, viewed 28th March 2010, http://people. †¦ Students Paper: †¦ http://people.ucalgary.ca/~powlesla/personal/hunting/rights/cohen.txt Derbyshire,S. †¦ http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing †¦ http://www.ucalgary.ca/~powlesla/personal/hunting/rights/cohen.txt Carl Cohen †¦ †¦ Derbyshire,S., (2004) Vivisection: Put human welfare first viewed 5 February 2010, †¦ Students Paper: †¦ February 2010, http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/printable/2468 †¦ http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing †¦ medical purposes. http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/43 †¦ †¦ /printable/2468 Derbyshire, S. , (2006) Tha hard arguments about vivisection viewed 5 February 2010, †¦ Students Paper: †¦ February 2010, http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/printable/223 †¦ http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing †¦ medical purposes. http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/43 †¦ †¦ /printable/223/ Garner,R. , (2005) Animal Ethics, pp129-130, Polity Press, UK Harding, Lauri R.. Animal Experimentation. Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Feb. 2010 . Le Fanu, J. , (2003) Vivisections underdoing-Why animal experiments cannot help humans. Monamy,V. , (2000) Animal Experimentation: A guide to the Issues, pp29-34, Cambridge University Press, UK. Shandilya, R. (2008) Animal Testing Pros viewed 9 February 2010 †¦ Students Paper: †¦ February 2010 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/animal-testing-pros.html Vivisection. UXL †¦ http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing †¦ better understood. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/animal-testing-pros.html [13] [ /en †¦ †¦ Vivisection. UXL Encyclopedia of Science. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Feb. 2010 . Winston,R. , (2006) The shame of our silence viewed 27 February 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/may/31/animalwelfare.highereducation 2% http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Animal_testing 1% http://socyberty.com/issues/why-animals-cannot-have-rights/ 1% http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080703061440AA4Sdcf 1% http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Vegetarianism 1% http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080703161238AAuxnzy 1% http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080701091210AAbNKPp 0% http://smartgirlpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/07/king-for-country-of-no-substance.html 0% http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/01/tax_meat_1.php 0% http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3438100671.html 0% http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3438100672.html 0% http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CA552.htm 0% http://smartgirlpolitics.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html Abstract This objective of this research paper is mainly to better understand the current situation about the issues of animal experimentation from different views. Online articles, journals, encyclopedia and books were used for reference in this research paper. In essence, this research paper generally touches on the pros and cons of animal experimentation. Supporters of animal testing claim that this helps the development of important drugs and treatments which in turn saves millions of valuable human lives. Additionally, animal testing is employed to save human lives because human lives are more valuable than animal lives. Valuable knowledge can be obtained through animal experimentation to study the effects of a substance. This work will contribute to people who are interested to know more about animal testing and future research of similar topic. ContentsPagesIntroduction1-2Body of Report Animal testing helps in the development of drugs and treatments. The importance of human lives is given priority over animal lives. Animal testing is helpful for studying the effects of substances. 3-4 5-6 7-8Recommendation9Conclusion10Bibliography11-12 Animal Testing 1.0 Introduction The Greeks believed that animals were a lesser form of life because animals could not think like humans did. Furthermore, this thought was continued by Christians who claimed that animals were less significant because they had no soul (Vivisection, 2002). Animal testing is the use of live animals for research in order to better understand the effect of certain substances towards human health. This application has been widely carried out in many industries. Numerous animals have been used for animal testing, such as guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and mice. The issue of animal testing has become a worldwide focus these days due to arguments brought up by those who are against animal experimentation. Unquestionably, the practice of animal experimentation has increased tremendously compared to the past. According to Shandilya (2008), it is estimated that 20 million animals are used for animal experimentation yearly for the purpose of medicine and for testing other products. Findings from studies indicate that less than 10 percent of pure psychological researches use animals as test subjects, which do not include animal subjects used for cross-over medical experimentation ( American Psychological Association, n.d., cited in Harding, L. , 2001). However, there are some who state that animal experiments are cruel and immoral, besides violating an animals rights. This has caused many individuals to agree with the movements of anti-vivisection organisations due to brutal treatment towards animals. Although there are laws regarding animal testing enforcing the reduction in the use of animals for vivisection, opponents of animal experimenting are still debating about the subject of legalizing it. If we view this subject from a broader perspective, it can be seen that animal testing should be legalized as it aids scientist in the discoveries of new drugs and treatments to make health and medicine better, human life is more precious than that of an animal, and it is the most precise way to find out the effects of substances on a living organism. This research paper will explain why animal testing should be legalized. Research findings are confined to the United States of America, since the subject of animal testing is highly debated there and the progress of this issue in the US is relative to other countries. 2.0 Body of Report 2.1 Animal testing helps in the development of drugs and treatments. Currently, humans are often exposed to various diseases which are life threatening, which includes existing diseases or new forms of diseases due to mutations and changes in the environment. Hence, researchers are working hard in finding cures for all these illnesses. From here, it can be seen that animal testing is essential in the sustenance of human health. Animals will be used to study the effect of newly invented drugs, whether it will help in curing the disease. Speaking of the positive outcomes of animal testing, this includes the development of new medicine and treatments. Derbyshire (2004) mentioned that many medical advances utilized animal testing; including production of insulin which was developed using dogs, and cyclosporine, a potent anti-rejection drug developed using primates. Besides this, discoveries of various vaccines have evolved through animal experimentation. From here, it can be seen that animal testing can guide us to discoveries of new knowledge about living organisms. Many drugs have been invented to fulfill the aim of remedying diseases. However, the side effects of newly invented drugs remain unknown. Therefore, animal testing allows the evaluation of the danger of drugs before being used upon humans which will greatly reduce the risk before any human based trials are carried out ( About Animal Testing, n.d.). Drugs that are tested safe can then be used to save millions of valuable human lives. The future of medical science still relies on animal testing, and this clearly shows a need in legalizing animal testing. There are some people who claim that the effects of drugs tested on animals may not be the same to humans. Arthritis drug Vioxx, which caused 140 000 heart attacks and strokes in United States of America, was withdrawn from the global market even though it appeared to be safe when tested in animals (Archibald, 2004). However, scientists have proven that animals are extremely alike to humans and experiments done on them would produce similar results obtained through future human experiments ( About Animal Testing, n.d.). Hence, carrying out animal testing on drugs would improve the quality of human life indirectly. Therefore, to sum it all up, animal testing should be legalized because it assists researchers in medical treatments besides drugs discovery, improves health and medicine and is able to test the safety of drugs. Alternatives of animal testing are not as plausible as they are not as accurate as the results obtained from tests conducted upon animals. Hence, animal testing should be encouraged instead of being suppressed. 2.2 The importance of human lives is given priority over animal lives. Differences existing between humans and animals cause animals to receive treatments which are different and unequal although both of them are alive. As animals differ from humans as they do not have conscience, they are considered inferior to humans when it comes to the value of life. Seeing that the lives of humans are viewed as more valuable than animal lives, animals will have to be sacrificed in animal experimentation. The pros and cons of animal testing were debated with both sides being able to produce solid reasons for their stands. From the view of sentiency, it is mentioned that all living things are morally equivalent. However, the lives of humans are superior over the lives of animals (Garner, 2005). Authorities have to make a choice between the welfare of humans and the welfare of animals. Which one is more important, the life of a human or the life of an animal? As Archibald (2004) points out, most people are willing to sacrifice the lives of animal in animal testing to save human lives. Even though human welfare is the main concern, the welfare of an animal is still taken into account by minimizing the suffering of animals when conducting animal experimentations. The Animal Welfare Act had been formed and reviewed constantly to protect animals and decrease the number of vivisections carried out (Monamy, 2000). Every experiment involving the usage of animals is normally administered with anesthesia . In conjunction with this, the experiments will not be repeated or animals used will be euthanized when brutal treatment is involved. Animal testing can be accepted as it allows the improvement of human life quality without the suffering of animals (Garner, 2005). Those who are against animal testing argued that animals have the right to live peacefully. Animal testing is regarded as unkind treatment towards animals as it violates animal rights as their lives are valuable as well (Le Fanu, 2003). Nevertheless, their arguments are weak because animals lack the sense of judgment, and therefore are not subjected to moral claims and animal rights (Cohen, 1986). Hence, they cannot be compared with human life. As long as the animal is experimented upon without pain, the welfare of the animal is not violated. Therefore, it is acceptable to legalize the activity of animal testing as human life should be prioritized. Although there are many who are against animal experimentation, the points asserted are not strong enough to discontinue the activity of animal testing. Supporters of animal testing affirm that animals should not have equal rights with humans as both of these cannot be compared. Animals lack the sense of judgment, thus human lives always come first before animal lives. Animals are considered to be protected as long as animals receive minimum amount of suffering. So animal testing should be legalized in order to save more human lives. 2.3 Animal testing is helpful for studying the effects of substances. Many new chemical substances are produced every year to meet the demand of the global market such as in agriculture, medicine and cosmetic products. The credits should be given to animal testing. The effect of that particular substance has been studied to produce countless helpful products. This can increase the longevity of humans besides improving the human standard of living. By conducting experiments on animals, the researcher can gain invaluable information from the living specimen. Winston (2006) mentioned that 70% of the Nobel prizes for physiology or medicine are contributed from animal testing. Hence, it is clearly shown that by performing researches on animals by studying the effects of a substance can bring a huge impact upon the world. The discovery of knowledge will be delayed or remain undiscovered if animal testing is not carried out. As stated by Le Fanu (2003), primates offer the best experimental models as they have 99% similarity in genes with humans. Animal testing can be carried out on primates to ensure the safety of some drugs before being tested on humans. The chance for both organisms exhibiting the same effect is high due to the similarity of their genes. This in turn can reduce the risks faced by humans when commencing the trials. Hence, animals are good tools for learning the effects of various substances. In spite of this, people who are in opposition to animal testing argue that it must not be legalized just because animal experimentation leads to medical breakthroughs and the outcome is more rewarding. This statement is insufficient to justify the drawbacks of animal testing (Derbyshire, 2004). On the other hand, it is proven that the beneficial outcome outweighs its drawbacks, so it is rational to legalize the activity of animal testing. Without studying the effects of substances using animal testing, most of the major vaccines against disease like polio, rubella and hepatitis B used today would not exist (Derbyshire, 2004). New drugs undergo in vitro research, computer modeling and animal testing before being tested on humans. Thus, every step is vital in this process of studying the effects before a drug is introduced into the market. In short, the effects of a substance can be study by carrying out animal testing which can provide invaluable information besides the anatomy of some animals are similar to humans

Golden Rule and Environmentalism :: Environment Ecology Ecological Essays

Golden Rule and Environmentalism Intelligence, humor, simplicity, common sense, lack of philosophical jargon, perspective, wit, answer to questions. In the style of a popular scientist, not a philosopher, Stephen Jay Gould announces his view of an appropriate environmental ethic following the simple, but forever elegant, golden rule. "If we all treated others as we wish to be treated ourselves, then decency and stability would have to prevail"(216), he states. In the spirit of Karen Warren, Gould's perspective on environmentalism 'feels right' to me, as I can connect with acts of respect and benevolence towards humans and can easily extend that feeling to the rest of the earth (especially on a personal level where I see the golden rule as the basis for my religious beliefs). However, upon closer examination, I find the suggestion to 'just follow the golden rule' as an environmental ethic problematic when examined in a practical, non-idealized light. Harkening back to the problems encountered in previous discussions of biocentric and ecocentric ethics, I am troubled by the potential outcomes of an environmental ethic such as this. In searching for a practical example with which to apply the golden rule ethic, let's examine Martin Kreiger's example of what to do in the case of Niagara Falls. Kreiger discusses three options for managing the Falls which were devised by the International Joint Commission Fallscape committee: 1) converting the falls into a monument, i.e. spending money and resources to keep the falls the way they are now; 2) making the falls an event, i.e. allowing the falls to continue to evolve, monitoring for rockfalls, and 'selling' their occurrence to the public to watch; 3) treating the falls as a show, i.e. giving a director complete power and discretion over the amount of water flowing at a given time, the size of the pool, and the amount of debris, along with lights and music, of course. Where would the golden rule ethic lead us in deciding the appropriate action for Niagara Falls? The first question in trying to apply this ethic is, who determines how "we" would want to be treated so that it can be determined how Niagara Falls would want to be treated? Should 'the public', as Kreiger thinks, have the say in what happens to Niagara, and therefore, decide its fate? I don't think that the public is in an appropriate position to decide the fate of this, or many other, environmental entities.

Pearl Harbor – Address to the Nation

In the United States back in 1941, the nation was already under stress. The nation survived the baby boom, but also just suffered the â€Å"Great Depression† which led American’s to being on their toes. The United States thirty-second president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was elected for a third term in 1940. After a horrible decade; the Great Depression, Baby Boom, the Race Riots in Chicago and the Holocaust occurring in Germany, the United States was very permissive. In the year 1941, President Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act, which in turn allows the United States to aid allies in military supplies.On December 7th, 1941 a horrible even took place on Pearl Harbor, which is the Naval Base for the U. S. Pacific Fleet, which is located on southern coast of Oahu, Hawaii. The Japanese suddenly attacked the United States. On that cold December 7th day in 1941, Pearl Harbor was at it’s usual pace. From flying aircrafts to sailing military ships. Then the Japanese aircr aft planes launched bombers and torpedoes on Pearl Harbor. There were three separate waves executed for conquer against Pearl Harbor. Although the attack was unexpected at that time. All the facts were presented in a timely manner.In which the actions of the US military when they stopped shipments of airplanes, machine tools, parts, and aviation gasoline from China. The Japanese saw this as a hostile act. After the attacks from the Japanese the rises in fatalities was devastating to the Americans. About 2,402 military personnel were killed, 57 civilians killed, 1,247 military wounded, and 35 civilians wounded. This was the start of World War II. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt performed a speech to the American’s that he was called Pearl Harbor Address To the Nation, given on December 8th, 1941.This announcement was published in the United States under the watchful eye of the President, his cabinet members and the people of congress. The potential audie nce for this argument is the people of America. This is because one the attack occurred on US soil, two it would affect everyone as a whole nation, and three many people were involved in the military. FDR first gave a speech to Congress to declare war with Japan, and then later presented the speech with Congress by his side.

Bone and Steroid-induced Osteoporosis Essays

Bone and Steroid-induced Osteoporosis Essays Bone and Steroid-induced Osteoporosis Essay Bone and Steroid-induced Osteoporosis Essay A disease of long duration is a chronic disease. Osteoporosis is considered chronic and this paper will discuss what it means, what the risk factors and who is affected, this paper will address the symptoms to look out for and when to go to the doctor. Nutrition and what proper exercise can do to help prevent or slow down the progression caused by osteoporosis, and then the paper will list prevention and treatment options. May is osteoporosis month and this encourages free screenings for those who may have chances for osteoporosis! A disease that affects the bones and causes the bones to become porous and brittle is called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis threatens any bone in the body. Hips and spines can be the ones that are the ones that can leave a person bedridden and handicapped. Fractures in the hips will most likely heal at a much slower rate and the vertebral can collapse, causing the person to have pain while walking. The risk factors are bones break more easier and take longer to heal, problems with bones as a child, such as osteogenesis imperfect (OI), a genetic bone disorder. That means the person is born without protein or the ability to make any protein. OI then becomes the brittle bone disease that is seen in many children who have broken their bones multiple times without any real explanation. Another thing to look out for is the possibility of having a pathologic fracture (PF). That occurs when the bone is too thin. Other risk factors are smoking, excessive drinking, someone who is taking steroids, small frame, physical inactivity, and a poor diet with low calcium intake or lack of, elderly who live in institutions with little or no movement and not adequate source of calcium, and even post menopause. When it comes to ethnicity, Asians and Caucasians are more at risk and woman more than men are also at risk. When a woman is going through menopause, her estrogen levels are low. Immunosuppressive medication can trigger osteoporosis, which is a drug given to a transplant patient. This is to decrease the chance of the new transplant of being rejected by the body. The drug can be given to treat skin diseases, such as psoriasis. Other factors, thyroid medications that are taken in an excess of at least months can make someone susceptible to the body losing bone mass or density. If someone suffers from a fracture, that may require a hospital stay and for the doctors to run further test, to see how far the disease has progress and what treatment to use. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the stage of the osteoporosis. Back pain; lose of height over a period of time, fractures in the wrist, hip and spine areas. Although, as mentioned before, osteoporosis can affect any bone. Nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infections (UTI) can be seen in children, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage are other symptoms seen. There are two stages of osteoporosis, Type I and Type II. Type I is only in post-menopausal women, only because of a deficiency of estrogen. Type II show up both in men and women, but more prominent in woman, which is due to aging and a defiency of calcium throughout the years. Osteoporosis is thought to be caused by many factors. Aging is a big factor our bones and how fast they heal after an injury can determine the strength of the bones. The less calcium and minerals the bones have the greater chance for weakening bones that support our internal structure. Bones are continually changing and our old bones are replaced by new bones, that process is called â€Å"bone turnover†. That process can take anywhere from two to three months. Osteoblasts are the cells that make the new bone and Osteoclast are the cells that break the bone down. A healthy diet and adequate exercise can prove to be very beneficial to those affected or have a chance of being affected with osteoporosis. Vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato and squash are just a few. Oatmeal, honey, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, beans, raisins, peanut butter, salmon and other fishes, and according to foodandlife. com (2008), the article states that the skin and fat should be left on the fish. The reason is that the Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA fat) raises the high-density lipoprotein (HDLs) levels. EPA is considered part of the Omega 3 Fish Oils that should be taken as a form or treatment. Furthermore, other vitamins to take are Calcium and Vitamin D. Vitamin D taken with calcium supplements which is an inexpensive treatment that helps reduce the risk of fractures by strengthen the body mass. The key is to remember that it is not the amount of calcium that is taken, but how much the bones absorb. There are foods to avoid, such as: some milk products like 1% and 2%, red meat, which can cause some calcium lose, foods with high butter fat and animal fats, so do not choose meat that have less than 96% fat, salt and sugar also cause the bone to lose bone mass, and alcohol can keep the bones from absorbing the calcium that is so needs. Exercise keeps the body moving and keeps the body strong. Weight exercise are beneficial by the mean of when the body feels the stress of the weight, the bones then start to repair by making new and stronger bones. Treating the stages of osteoporosis can be done by hormone treatments (HT) such as patches, creams, and even a vaginal ring. All three of these treatments are estrogen, which can be bought over-the-counter (OTC). The vaginal ring, well that must be discussed with a primary physician or a specialist. Prescription drugs that are out there to help slow the bone loss and at the same time increase the bone density over time. Bisphonates is a prescribed drug that is like estrogen; it inhibits the bone loss and preserves bone mass. It also increases the density to reduce the fractures that be found in hips and spines. That drug is very beneficial to men and children or those who have been steroid-induced osteoporosis. Boniva ® which can be both oral and intravenous (IV) is advertised on television and even has a celebrity endorser, Sally Fields. However, as with any drug out there, a person must ask his or her doctor what is going to work best for them. That person needs to understand what the side effects are and what the long term affects are, as well. A person, who may not know if they are at risk for osteoporosis, should seek a medical profession and ask what the factors are and see what comes from that visit. There are also test to be done to see what you bone mineral density (BMD) is. This test will look at which category you may fall in. There are three, normal density, low density and osteoporosis. From there, the doctor will take you on a journey of what can be done of anything. Normal density usually does not require any medical assistance. Again, the person must seek all answers to their questions and research everything that they possibly can. In conclusion, this paper has addressed many aspects of what osteoporosis. By what types there are and what symptoms to look for. Discussed who is affected. It discussed how proper nutrition and exercise can be beneficial before, during and after osteoporosis, and also listed some ideas of what treatments that is out there. Osteoporosis does not have to be painful. There are so many new drugs and treatments that are out there so ease the discomforts.

There Are Several Ways to Check the Status of Your Immigration Case

There Are Several Ways to Check the Status of Your Immigration Case Whether you want to apply for citizenship in the United States, are seeking a green card or work visa, want to bring a family member to the U.S. adopt a child from another country, or you qualify for refugee status, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office offers resources to help navigate the immigration process. After youve filed for your particular situation, you can check your immigration case  status  online, where you can sign up for updates via text or email. You can also find out about your status by phone, or make an appointment to discuss your case with a USCIS official in person.   Online Create an account at  USCIS My Case Status so you can check your status online. Youll need to sign up for either an account for yourself if you are seeking the status of your case, or as a representative of someone else if you are checking on a relative who is in the immigration process. Whether youre applying yourself or for a family member, youll need basic information such as official name, date of birth, address, and the country of citizenship to answer security questions during the registration process. Once youve signed up, you can log in, enter your 13-character application receipt number, and track progress of your case. From your  USCIS account, you can sign up for automatic case status updates via email or text message to a U.S. cell phone number whenever an  update has occurred. By Phone or Mail You can also call and send mail regarding your case status. Call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, follow the voice prompts, and have your application receipt number ready. If you filed an application with your local USCIS Field Office, you can write directly to that office for an update. In your letter, be sure to include: Your name, address, and (if different) your name as it appears on your applicationYour Alien number, or  A-numberYour date of birthThe date and place your application was filedYour application receipt numberA copy of the most recent notice sent to you by the USCIS, if you have received oneThe date and office where you were fingerprinted as well as the location of your interview, if it has taken place or been assigned yet In Person If you want to talk to someone face-to-face about your case status, make an InfoPass appointment  and bring: Your A-numberThe date and place your application was filedYour application receipt numberCopies of any notices sent to you by the USCIS Additional Resources Find out how long it will take to get your visa. You can also look up local processing times for USCIS applications and petitions.USCIS offers a toll-free military help line exclusively for members of the United States military and their immediate families.Looking for Diversity Visa green card lottery results? Starting with DV-2010, diversity visa status information has been available online.

The management issues faced by multinationals in host nations are Essay

The management issues faced by multinationals in host nations are merely a magnified version of issues faced by these enterprises in their home countries - Essay Example Globalization and low barriers to trade propose MNEs unlimited opportunities to expend their businesses overseas. Thus, in host countries they face numerous challenges and threats which have a great impact on their profitability and market position. In many cases, the management issues faced by multinationals in host nations are merely a magnified version of issues faced by these enterprises in their home countries. MNEs are vitally concerned with the environment affecting their interests which encompass employment opportunities (i.e., the availability of jobs); conditions of employment, such as employment stability and the potential for advancement, income and the determinants of income, fringe benefits; and the employer/employee representative structures responsible for negotiation and administration of employment contracts. In many cases, environmental factors which influence the corporation are similar to those of the home country (Mckern 2003). Following Mckern (2003): the traditional view of the international environments in which MNCs operate is based on the opposing forces of national responsiveness and global integration. In the multinational the forces for responsiveness are strong and the integration forces weak, as in packaged goods, household appliances, and beverages" (p. 2). Traditional management practices do not change greatly when... This is explained by the fact that MNEs a magnified version of issues and problems faced by these enterprises in their home countries. Organization structure is one of the examples which prove this statement. Organization structure relates to management decision-making authority and the broader issues of autonomy and control. Of special relevance is the organization of the industrial relations function at the subsidiary level and the question of control in industrial relations management (Budhwar & Debrah 2001). The structures are fairly flat at the smaller subsidiaries, such as New England Drawn Steel, Mt. Pleasant Chemical Co., and Fujitsu America. They become more complex at the larger firms, such as Mitsubishi Aircraft, Murata, and Sanyo Manufacturing. At home country, as company size grows, senior management titles tend to change from manager and director to vice-president and executive director. Also, as the complexity and size of the organizations advance, basic line managemen t structures tend to move from the purely functional. Product line development and the nature of the production process are also seen as important influences on organizational development (Rugman et al 2006). MNEs with a narrow product line and a basically single production process, such as Auburn Steel, are typically organized around distinctive functional units. These structures are the same in their local subsidies around the world. Following Mckern (2003) The complexity of the environment of multi-business corporations implies that organization structures and processes need to respond to the special circumstances of each business and region. This imperative suggests an organizational response that is highly differentiated across the corporation's

Corporate Social Responsibility - Perrier Contamination Crisis Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility - Perrier Contamination Crisis - Essay Example ........................................... 5 2.3 Ethical Nature of Response ..................................................................... 5 3.0 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 6 Reference List ......................................................................................................... 7 1.0 Introduction To put it simply, corporate social responsibility is about an attitude and vision on the part of a company to follow goals and fulfil obligations that are not merely legally or economically binding, but which also aim at achieving the results and objectives that serve the larger interests of the whole society (tutor2u 2012). It is a commitment on the part of the businesses to be subject to many charitable goals that are ethical and moral in their scope, and aid the economic development of the society while improving and positively contributing to the quality of life of the varied stakeholders like the consumers, employees, the communities in which they operate and the society at large (tutor2u 2012). It is a tilt in the business processes envisioned, planned and managed by a company in the direction of having an overall and beneficial impact on the society. Corporate social responsibility is about a duty on the part of the modern day corporations to be aware of and respond favourably towards the emerging concerns and objectives of the society (tutor2u 2012). It aims to balance the shareholders’ interests with the societal concerns. Varied researchers and academicians have proposed various models that the organizations could follow to manage their corporate social responsibility liabilities. Carroll model of Corporate Social Responsibility is one important model in that context. Carroll classified the varied CSR prerogatives and obligations of the corporations as a pyramid (Carroll 1991). Economic responsibilities constitute the first level of the pyra mid (Carroll 1991). It is the duty of all the corporations to strive to be profitable. It is the profitability objective that sustains all the other types of corporate responsibilities and obligations. Legal responsibilities constitute the second level of Carroll’s pyramid (Carroll 1991). Laws are nothing but a formal codification of what the society considers to be right or wrong. It is important for the companies to obey laws and play by the rules. It is the responsibility of the corporations to operate in a manner that respects the national and international laws. For example it is the duty of the companies to look to it that the products manufactured by them are as per the set quality and safety standards. Ethical responsibilities constitute the next level of this pyramid that is related to the moral conscience of a company (Carroll 1991). It is important that the companies act in a way that is considered to be right and just and that does not intends to harm others. For instance, if a company uses its financial power and influence to access the resources in a third world community, say mineral wealth or oil, by forcibly uprooting the inhabitants in that community, it may turn out to be profitable, but is certainly not ethical. Companies must behave in a manner that upholds the norms and considerations valued by the society. Philanthropic responsibilities constitute the top level of Carroll’s CSR pyramid. It is when the corporations take the initiative to contribute their resources for achieving social good and for