Students Should Not Face Mandatory Drug-Tests Essay Example

Students Should Not Face Mandatory Drug-Tests Essay Parents cannot monitor their children the whole time, and not even the school can do this. Sometimes parents and school authorities are surprised upon learning that their children and students are involved in some dangerous activities such as binging and taking drugs. Concerned authorities have come up with programs to prevent this kind of situation. One of these is the mandatory drug-tests at school. Mandatory drug-tests may sound optimistic. But students should not face these mandatory drug-tests because these are against the notion of privacy and these do not effectively deter drug use among students. Substance abuse is a reality that plagues students. Peer pressure added to the curiosity of students to try taking drugs or drinking alcoholic beverages. Past and recent researches on teen substance abuse revealed surprising results. Over the years the number of cases of substance use on drugs such as marijuana, nicotine, and other illicit drugs has been increasing. It was predicted in 1997 that by 2010, the number of teenagers using drugs would increase from 23.6 million in 2000 to 25 million by 2010. Reasons for the surge in drug use were pointed out as, among others, the glamorization of drug use in the media which indicates the normalization of drinking, smoking and drug use. Additionally, there was a significant decline in the perception of the risks associated with drug use by teenagers. The availability of substances such as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol has also contributed to the increase of drug use (Commission on Substance Abuse Among America’s adolescents, 1997). T hese are the reasons that prompted the government to mandate drug testing at schools. The former president Bush has especially set aside budget for drug testing at schools. We will write a custom essay sample on Students Should Not Face Mandatory Drug-Tests specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Students Should Not Face Mandatory Drug-Tests specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Students Should Not Face Mandatory Drug-Tests specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Bush’s Policy During the 2004 State of the Nation address, Bush indicated his desire to expand student drug testing. For the same year, the government has spent $50 billion for anti-drug programs in the federal, state and local levels. Bush, together with John Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, proposed to allot $25 million for the expansion of student drug testing in schools. This proposition stemmed from Bush’s belief that drug testing has indeed reduced the number of drug use among students and teenagers in general. However, experts have reported that due to the small number of schools which participate in the random drug testing, any reduction in drug use among teenagers is not a direct result of drug testing (Martins, 2004). To further his agenda, Bush proposed a $3.7 billion budget for drug treatment. Mandatory Drug-Tests are against Privacy Mandatory drug-testing has further received attention during the Vernonia School District v. Acton Supreme Court decision in 1995. During those times, school sports were seen as having prominent effects and student athletes were admired not just in the school but in the community as well. By 1980s, school authorities have observed an increase in drug use. Those who use drugs became more outspoken about their attraction to the drug culture and became increasingly rude during their classes. Additionally, school authorities noticed that student athletes were leading the drug culture (American Documentary, Inc., 2003). As a response to the growing problem, school authorities offered special classes and presentations, and invited speakers to deter drug use. Even if the school has gone as far as bringing in a dog to detect drugs, the problems did not disappear. Then, district officials have considered issuing a drug testing program aiming to keep student athletes from using drugs and to keep them healthy and safe. The drug testing would require students who wanted to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, to sign a waiver. This was contested by a seventh grade student named James Acton, who, along with his parents, refused to sign the consent form. Without the form, the school denied Acton participation in football. Acton and his family filed suit (American Documentary, Inc., 2003). The Supreme Court decision included the students’ undergoing drug tests if they were to get involved in athletic programs. The decision also gave importance to the rights of students to privacy ( Walker, 2005). However, this is not the case with random drug testing. Under the U.S. Constitution, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Moreover, he is entitled to privacy. But with mandatory drug-testing, these two lessons are undermined. Mandatory drug-testing depicts that a student is assumed as guilty until his drug test result shows that he is clean; it does not give importance to the student’s right to privacy. Additionally, many considered the way the state implemented the drug test as both offensive to personal dignity and destructive of students’ privacy (Martins, 2004). Furthermore, the mandatory drug testing has included non-athletes. Across the United States, debates have risen regarding this action. For instance, a teenager in Oklahoma, a member of the high school choir, refused to take the drug test. Many were asking whether drug testing was going as far as prying into the private lives of students (Trustees of Boston University, 2002). As every American citizen is included in the constitutional right to privacy, attention has been focused on the question whether these mandatory drug tests were in fact illegal searches. Parents, and those who disagree with mandatory drug testing, still believe that even if these tests are permissible searches, these are still invasion of privacy (LaFollette, n.d.). This is also what a supreme court justice expressed regarding an Oklahoma policy in implementing drug testing. Mandatory drug-tests are invasion of privacy. In fact, these drug-tests may steer students, especially those who are at risk of substance abuse, away from extracurricular participation (Gunja, Cox, Rosenbaum, and Appel, 2004). Mandatory Drug Tests do not Deter Drug Use Yamaguchi, Johnston, and O’Malley conducted a research study regarding the effectiveness of mandatory drug tests. The study found out that drug test is â€Å"not a strong predictor of students’ marijuana or other drug use.† The schools are also burdened by the expensiveness of undergoing such drug tests while there were reported cases of false positive results (Walker, 2005). There are some people who believe that drug tests are not helpful in schools whether public or private (The Associated Press, 2006). This reflected in another study which showed that drug testing was not effective in deterring the use of drugs. The largest study showed that drug testing does not have positive effects in the attitudes of students about drugs. Furthermore, the study found out, as mentioned above, that the strongest predictor of drug use is their attitude toward use of drugs and their perceptions of peer use. The results of this study were in agreement with other studies and surveys conducted regarding the effectiveness of mandatory drug testing (Gunja, Cox, Rosenbaum, and Appel, 2004). The study has also compiled several schools and parents who oppose the mandatory drug-tests. One official in a school in Oklahoma reasoned out that the school stopped drug testing because it was not an effective deterrent of drug use and the school was spending too much for it. Another official indicated that drug testing was more of a parental responsibility. It was also noted that parents oppose the mandatory drug-tests because of so many factors such as budgets, loss of focus on education, and the possibility of creating a threatening environment for the children. There were also others who firmly believe that urine-testing, one of the drug-test types, was invasion of privacy. This would only enable students to think that the school is policing them instead of teaching them how to think critically. Some parents have also expressed their concern about the lack of health community participation due to the implementation of mandatory drug testing. The authors of the study have also t aken note that school officials chose not to implement drug testing because of the burden it places on schools and students. Furthermore, officials reasoned out that the mandatory drug testing does not really lead to safer environment for students. Experts have also seen the effects that implementing a mandatory drug testing had on students. One expert argued that the more effective alternative to deter drug use is effective substance abuse prevention programs. Moreover, the drug testing that was originally physicians’ tool in diagnosing and treating substance abuse has been used for non-medical purposes (Gunja, Cox, Rosenbaum, and Appel, 2004). Furthermore, concerned social workers, physicians and child advocates believe that drug testing is not a replacement for other drug prevention programs such as extracurricular activities. Organizations that represent these groups have come forward to oppose drug testing programs in court. Some of these organizations include the National Education Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Public Health Association, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. They stated that drug testing could interfere with other treatment and prevention measures that are more effective than drug testing (Gunja, Cox, Rosenbaum, and Appel, 2004). The study also noted that drug testing cast negative impacts inside the classroom as students are pitted against their teachers who conduct the testing. The relationship between teacher and student is tarnished, and trust is lost as students tend to feel embarrassed and resentful. This would undermine chances for students to solve their problems, especially drug-related ones. Furthermore, the study claimed, according to the results, that drug testing hinders the students’ willingness to participate in extracurricular activities. Drug testing is directly targeting those who want to participate in extracurricular activities. The Tulia Independent School, which faced lawsuits about privacy and confidentiality, observed that the number of students who join after-school activities decreased when the drug testing was implemented. Certain students reported that they would be too embarrassed to be drug-tested, thus many backed out (Gunja, Cox, Rosenbaum, and Appel, 2004). Since the mandatory drug-tests was put to practice, many people, including students, parents, school officials, social workers, and experts, expressed their concerns regarding the effects that the tests have on students and the school. Students should not face mandatory drug-tests because these violate the students’ privacy rights. Furthermore, drug-tests indicate that a student is guilty until proven innocent. Additionally, students should not face mandatory drug-tests because these do not deter the use of drugs. There are other programs that are more effective than drug-tests in deterring drug use.

Factors Affecting the Quality of Selection Decision

Factors Affecting the Quality of Selection Decision Introduction Managers are charged with the responsibility of undertaking various managerial roles which include planning, controlling, organizing, directing and staffing. Through staffing, an organization is able to have the right workforce. According to Deb (2007, p.165), the success of an organization is dependent on the quality of its employees.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Factors Affecting the Quality of Selection Decision specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To achieve this, human resource managers are required to undertake comprehensive staffing by considering all the necessary processes. One of these processes is selection which involves choosing candidates who are fit or most suitable to undertake a certain job in the organization (Berman, Bowman West, 2010, p.110). Therefore, for a firm to succeed, the candidates selected must portray a high degree of competence. Currently, the selection process is increasi ngly becoming sophisticated. As a result, employers are adopting testing techniques in addition to interviews in an effort to enhance reliability of the selection decision. However, the selection process and quality of selection decisions is influenced by a number of factors. Despite this, human resource managers are required to ensure that the selection process is effective by integrating the concepts of validity and reliability. For example, in making the selection decision, employers are required to take into account equality and diversity when compiling the shortlist. By short-listing, a firm is able to identify candidates who closely fit the desired personnel (Elearn Limited, 2007, p.73). However, some inconsistencies might arise during the short-listing process leading to a decline in the validity of the selection process. Factors affecting the quality of selection decision There are a number of factors which influence the quality of the selection decision. The first factor is the type of personnel which the organization is searching from the labor market. In their selection process, human resource managers must ensure that they select the right candidates for the right job. According to Elearn Limited (2007, p.32), this plays a vital role in the long term success of a firm irrespective of its size and sector. In addition, this aids in avoiding misplacing candidates (Moore, 2007, p.109). For example, if a firm is seeking a candidate to fill a post in the managerial position, the selection process is likely to be very comprehensive compared to when it is looking for an individual to fill a subordinate position. This arises from the fact that the manager will be required to make decisions on diverse circumstances.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, the source of human resource coupled with the method used in contacting the candidat es also affects the selection decision. For example, if the firm recruited by advertising, there is a high probability that selection process will be comprehensive. On the other hand other forms of recruitment such as campus recruitment take minimal time (Elearn Limited, 2009, p.1995). Thirdly, the other factor which influences the selection process is the number of candidates who have applied for the job. Personal experience and observation My experience and observation from the selection exercise is that the type of personnel being sought is a key factor that influences the selection process and decision making. This is due to the fact that it influences the personnel selected determines whether the selection process was successful or not. If the position being filled requires more responsibility, then the selection process becomes more complex. This means that the selection strategy varies depending on the nature of the job. One of the ways through which a firm can achieve this i s by undertaking a qualitative analysis on candidates. The analysis should be aimed at evaluating the characteristics and qualities of the personnel required to do the job. During the selection process, a firm should ensure that it establishes a balance between personnel and job requirement. Some of the issues which should be considered include the candidates’ experience, personality orientation and his or her qualification. According to Lundy and Cowling (1996, p.230), it is vital for human resource managers to have sufficient knowledge in order to determine the type of selection instrument to use. As a result, managers should make an effective decision on the type of tools to use when evaluating the candidates’ appropriateness for the job. This is due to the fact that the tools used have an effect on its effectiveness. That is, it determines whether reliability and validity will be attained. Reliability of the instrument used forms the foundation of attaining validit y. When using tests to select the candidates, the human resource manager must ensure that the instrument being used is error free. Depending on the type of personnel being sought, it is important to used different test instruments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Factors Affecting the Quality of Selection Decision specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The resultant effect is that the reliability of the selection process is enhanced (Gatewood, Feild Barrick, 2008, p. 503). In addition, the instrument being used to select the personnel should be linked with the variables of the candidate and that of the job. Use of comprehensive selection tools such as interviews aids in making effective selection decisions. The resultant effect is that job performance is improved. Colleges and universities form a significant source of labor especially for entry level professions (Jakckson Mathis, 2008, p.208). However, there are a numbe r of factors which can influence college selection. For example, college selections may be expensive. This arises from the fact that the organization might not necessarily require employees with degrees to fill such positions. The resultant effect is that the firm may select candidates who require to be paid at a high rate. Additionally, the firm may experience a high rate of turnover. This is due to the fact that the selected candidates might leave the job in the event that they find it not sufficiently challenging (Mathis Jackson, 2008, p. 208). This means that the reliability of college recruitment is minimal. Additionally, in the event that there is a high supply in the labor market, it is prudent for a firm to consider recruiting from unsolicited resumes. This is due to the fact that it makes the selection process to be cost effective in addition to increasing the probability of shortlisting candidates who are highly qualified. When a firm selects candidates by advertising, th ere is a high probability that the unqualified will also apply for the job. This tends to create a burden for the human resource manager. The resultant effect is that reliability of the selection process is reduced since the firm has to review a large number of resumes (Bohlander Snell, 2010, p.191). If a large number of candidates have applied, a firm is forced to adopt a more comprehensive selection decision. To achieve this, human resource managers should use different filtering points so as to reduce the number of candidates. In the filtering process, the human resource manager examines all the applicants in order to eliminate non-contenders.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These include all the candidates who are unqualified. All the candidates who meet the listed criteria should be short listed. This gives a firm an opportunity to have a large number of candidates to choose from. The resultant effect is that the probability of the firm selecting the most appropriate personnel is increased. During this process, the prospective candidate is acquainted with all the necessary information regarding the firm and the job. On the other hand, the firm obtains information regarding the candidates, skills, experience, education qualification, and salary expectations. This process aids in determining whether the candidate is worthwhile. Candidates who meet the requirements successfully are forwarded to the selection team. These candidates are shortlisted for consideration. The initial interview is conducted so as to further eliminate some candidates. The remaining candidates are further interviewed so as to make a final decision. Conclusion The selection process confirmed the formal knowledge I have acquired on the factors which affect the selection process and decision making. These include the type of candidate being sought, the source of candidates and the number of candidates to be selected. From my observation, it is paramount for human resource managers to consider these factors. This is due to the fact that they affect the reliability and validity of the selection decision adopted hence determining the success or failure of the selection process. Reference List Berman, E., Bowman, J. West, J., 2010. Human resource management in public  service: paradoxes, processes and problems. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Bohlander, G. Snell, S., 2010. Managing human resources. Mason: South Western Cengage Learning. Deb, T., 2007. Strategic approach to human resource management. New York: Atlantic Publishers. Elearn Limited. 2007. Management extra. Oxford; Elsevier. Elearn Limited. 2009. Recruitment and selection. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Gatew ood, R., Feild, H. Barrick, M., 2008. Human resource selection. Mason, Ohio: Thomson. Lundy, O. Cowling, A., 1996. Strategic human resource management. New York: Routledge. Mathis, R. Jackson, H., 2008. Human resource management. Mason: Thomson Southwestern. Moore, R., 2007. Selecting the right manufacturing improvement tools: what tool?  When? Burlington, MA: Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann.

A Dolls House as a Naturalistic Play

Henrik Ibsen was a nineteenth century playwright who is known for his great depiction of social reality. Ibsen was born in Norway; however he worked in different countries to earn a living. His plays are the most frequently performed after the ones of Shakespeare. One of his most popular plays, which we have studied as a part of the â€Å"Modern Drama† class, is called A Doll’s House. The following essay will try to demonstrate with detailed explanations and references to the play that its content is a Naturalistic one. First of all, we will define what Naturalism is. Secondly, we will look at how the definition applies to A Doll’s House. Thirdly, we will compare it with another play: The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. Naturalism is often based on the theory of evolution of Charles Darwin. Naturalist authors frequently want to show how people are predestined to live a certain way as they are prisoners of the social hierarchies created by men. John Rahn points out this affirmation in his article on Naturalism: â€Å"The dominant theme of Naturalist literature is that persons are fated to whatever station in life their heredity, environment, and social conditions prepare them for. The power of primitive emotions to negate human reason was also a recurring element.† (Rahn, 2011) Naturalism is a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific ideologies of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings. It focuses not only on the characters, but on the way they react to unusual situations. Naturalists try to recreate human nature through fiction that is to say that the novel or play is a creation through observation of humans living in society. Some have criticized Naturalists to only show a pessimistic side of human nature. In Ibsen’s A Doll’s House we can easily conclude that the content is Naturalistic by, first, looking at the monologues and dialogues. For example, the way Nora speaks when she addresses Torvald is different than when she speaks with other characters. The fact that, in the 1880s, men were considered dominant and had power over their wife is a sign that it is the way a women would behaved towards her husband; she would have been respectful and always at his service. The author of A Doll’s House was concerned with the way women were treated back in his days: â€Å"Ibsens concerns about the position of women in society are brought to life in A Dolls House. He believed that women had a right to develop their own individuality, but in reality, their role was often self-sacrificial.† (Unknown, 2014) Women were not treated as equals with men, either in relation to their husbands or society, as is clear from Torvalds horror of his employees thinking he has been influenced in a decision about Krogstads job by his wife. However, when Nora speaks with Krogstad, she does not use the same tone and she is a lot more straightforward responding to his accusations. Since Krogstad is Torvald’s employee, Nora feels more inclined to not take him seriously and to argue. Even though Krogstad is a man, Nora is on top of him in the social hierarchy since her husband has power over Krogstad. Depending on the epoch, words and behaviour have more or less power. This also depends on who is reading the text. In the case of A Doll’s House we can understand from the way Nora acts, that her behaviour might not be well perceived by a 1880s audience, however in the present era her behaviour would not be as shocking. Still, the way Nora acts in whatever period in history is part of the human nature that wants to be free. As for the other characters, Torvald is a banker whose vanity will lead to his downfall and cause him to lose the love of his life. Dr. Rank is the only character that treats Nora as an intelligent human being, however he wants something in return (her love) which makes Nora more reticent to share her flaw with him. Mrs. Linden is a tragic figure at first since she is a widow and women did not usually work during the 1880s, but she gets hired at the bank and starts a new life with Krogstad. All of these characteristics are typical to a Naturalistic play because everyone stands where he/she belongs according to the social conventions of the time. If we compare Ibsen’s A Doll’s House to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard we can notice the similarities through the patterns of the Naturalist movement. As mentioned earlier: â€Å"The dominant theme of Naturalist literature is that persons are fated to whatever station in life their heredity, environment, and social conditions prepare them for. †(Rhan , 2011) In A Doll’s House, Nora is fated for the almost unique reason that she is a woman in a particular time in history, which makes her role as a mother and wife the most sacred thing for a woman at that time and deprives her of the freedom that man have. In The Cherry Orchard, the people of the Bourgeoisie are fated to become useless since capitalism is taking over and businesses are now richer than they are and can afford to buy lands and earn power through their possessions. In both plays there is a peripeteia also called â€Å"reversal† which is typical to Naturalistic drama. In A Doll’s House the peripeteia occurs when Nora decides to leave her husband to learn about herself, Torvald ends up alone not understanding what happened and at the same time Krogstad and Mrs. Linden decide to get back together to help one another through . In The Cherry Orchard the peripeteia is plain to understand as the Bourgeois culture comes to an end while a serf takes over the land since he has climbed the echelons and became a businessman. To continue, in A Doll’s House there is the character of Nora that is in some way a proto-feminist character and that was pretty revolutionary back in the days for a woman to quit everything and become autonomous. In The Cherry Orchard, that revolutionary character would be Trofimov whose idealistic convictions make him an interesting character to reflect upon. Naturalistic playwrights want the audience to see human nature through their eyes and make them rethink what is normally considered as right or wrong. These often â€Å"avant-garde† characters are there to make the audience react to their monologues and reflect upon what they have heard. Finally, we can notice that the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen is a Naturalistic play from the definition that is given of Naturalism. By looking at the dialogues and monologues we can recognize that everyone is at their place, there are no inverted roles, the social hierarchy is respected and humans are being humans. In comparison to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, we can identify similarities from the typical unfolding of a Naturalistic play as the character are predestined to remain where life has put them, but also because of the typical â€Å"reversal† (peripeteia) that occurs in both plays. The intention of Naturalist playwright is regularly to make their audiences look at themselves in the mirror and realize the flaws of human nature.

Discription of three habitats Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discription of three habitats - Essay Example lowing water and since it transports rocks and sediments downstream, sand, rock and woody debris are seen at the banks and toward the end of the river. Vegetation at the banks appears deep rooted, since it remains anchored even as water flows by. Unlike in a river, where water is constantly flowing, a swamp is a wetland area where water partially or completely submerges vegetation for the greater part of the year. Swamp water flows at a slow rate and it actually seems stagnant. The edges of a swamp are covered with sedges or reeds, which look like long straw grass. The elevated areas within a swamp, which are drier than the watered areas, have trees. The land seems marshy in the relatively dry areas. A lake is basically defined as a body of freshwater surrounded by land. This implies that the lake is characterized by open water. A lake has suspended organisms like plankton. On its banks, where there is sedimentation of sand or soil and organic matter accumulation, there are floating but rooted aquatic plants like smartweeds and water lilies. These floating plants provide support and food for many herbivores that live around the

Romanticism And Realism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Romanticism And Realism - Assignment Example Therefore, even though not necessary or fundamental to Romanticism, but so extensive as to be normative, was a sturdy solid belief and awareness in the significance of nature. It later on, â€Å"allowed it to push painting about out of the focus of art.† Romanticism, for a time, dominated art, particularly in France during the later periods of the 1700s and the early 1800s. Then, at about the middle of the nineteenth century, the effect of many societal dynamisms caused artistic palate to change from idealistic romanticism to realism, starting in France in the 1850s. Realism in France emerged subsequent to the 1848 Revolution. These realists put themselves straight against romanticism. The emotional and exaggerated qualities of Romanticism began to break up European art. (S. Decline of Romanticism: End of the Century, Turn of the Century. Akadà ©miai Kiadà ³, 1970, p. 1) After a time of a loosened form of the expression and depiction of subjects in art, there was a tightening that occurred. At large, realists concentrated more on ordinary, run-of-the-mill characters, situations, places, problems, and objects, all in a "true-to-life" method or approach in depicting it. Realists discarded exaggerated or melodramatic portrayal or depiction of emotion, grand subjects, in favor of commonplace motifs or themes. After a time, artists like Monet and others started to feel that actual realism did not truly present the creative nature of the emotion. They grew exhausted of producing art for the rich and desired something much more. Simplicity substituted technique and method. Thus, they showed the impression of the scene, allowing the realism to be interpreted by the viewer. This movement that arose from Realism is known as Impressionism. Realism during the 1800s also supported an art movement called Naturalism, as a response to the exaggerated representations of themes in Romanticism. Indeed, Romanticism and realism were

Global Environmental Issues Essay Example for Free

Global Environmental Issues Essay Global environmental issues, such as climatic change, global warming, pollution, species extinction and destruction of tropical rain forests hold unique place among other major international problems as it is one area that has transformative, comprehensive and long term impact on the future of entire world. For over a decade now the subject of these issues have become the common platform for intellectuals citizens, scientists, social organizations, and political and economic leaders from different parts of world to converge, assess and determine the possible ways to contain and mitigate its threat, that poses an unprecedented risk to the functioning and perhaps very survival of humanity. Climatic change, rain forest destruction and global warming are all interrelated issues, borne from same cause of increase in population and consumption. The empirical instances of these problems have been already factually corroborated in late in 1980s and early 1990s (Paterson, 1996). The years since 1987 started to show the veracity of these predictions as global average annual temperature soared higher every passing year and 1998 became the warmest year in the recorded years. More ominously, the second and third most warmest years in recorded history were 1995 and 1993, confirming to scientists, environmentalists and people that the rise in global temperature was not a sudden phenomena, or an aberration, but a systematic process that would compound in the absence of any effective policy and action (Johansen, 2002). Meanwhile, the destruction of Amazon and African rain forests have further compounded the problem, causing the environmental conditions to deteriorate more rapidly. Issues of climatic change and global warming have assumed international proportion as people have started to realized that the warming is a consequence of the largely unstructured paradigm of development, consumption, and growth followed over past 200 years, a problem that has been deeply embedded in the socio-cultural and economic system of the world (Uzawa, 2003). Despite the fact that there are many people over the world who would readily associate United States as the whole sole perpetrator of emission of greenhouse gases and global warming, United States has been among the leading campaigners to instituting policy change and corrective actions on the most comprehensive and global level to tackle the problem. The threats arising from global warming are bound to affect US’ economic and public interests with same intensity as they would affect that of any other country (Fleagle, 1994). Changing sea-level, intensification of storms, and climatic change have presented real threats for the United States and it is pressed for a domestic as well international solution (Uzawa, 2003). The problems with US are that its complex economic interests, industrial structure and societal framework doesn’t allow it to implement any drastic measures that may force a possible economic collapse (Victor, 2001). Under these strenuous complications, the US government is trying to come up with a policy for large scale institutional change and economic streamlining that aims to incorporate environmental costs as part of the economy and the society.

Schizophrenia and the Brain Essay -- Mental Health, Diseases

Over the last few decades Schizophrenia has become embedded in mainstream vernacular as any behavior or emotional response that is out of touch with reality. However even with its popularity heightened through movies and headline news stories, schizophrenia is still one of the most enigmatic and least understood disorders of the brain. With current research focused on the role of neurobiology and functioning on a cellular level, investigative analysis has merited new innovations towards its source, however a single organic cause for the disorder still eludes scientists. Although the foundation of the affliction is still unknown, its effects are well documented and over the next few pages will show the changes in the brain as the disease develops, and how those alterations impact the rest of the body and alter various other functions throughout the viscera. The term Schizophrenia was first coined in 1911 by Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Eugen Bleuler and translates from the original Greek as schizo (split) and phrene (mind), making a literal translation of split-mind, in reference to the disjointed thinking of those with the disease (Johnstone, 1994). Although the term was first used in the early twentieth century, according to scholars a ‘madness’ was described in The Ebers Papyrus, a collection of ancient Egyptian medical papers dating back to 1550 BC, which accurately depicts some of schizophrenia’s symptoms (Johnstone, 1994). With its possible documentation over three millennia ago and its symptoms documented in a myriad of medical journals throughout history, the disorder itself is very rare. Those who are at the highest risk of manifestation are offspring whose parents are both schizophrenic, although even at this rate the risk o... ...hrenia is unique disorder that affects the brain in many ways, yet manifests itself differently from person to person. As there is no tangible rubric for how the disorder will impact the person, it can be a difficult illness to treat. Its effects on the brain, from enlarged ventricles to a decline in dendrite spines, shows the major impact the illness can have on living a normal life. Although the disorder afflicts just over fifty-eight million people worldwide it is still devastating to those who are affected and while the medical community makes leaps and bounds in understanding the disease, a cure is still far from the horizon. With psychology grant money from universities being invested predominantly in neuropsychology, perhaps sometime in the near future scientists will be able to fully understand this illness and find a successful and permanent cure for it.

People Who Are Making a Difference in the World

PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD Thurday 12/03/09 1. I’m Bob Doughty. 2. And I’m Barbara Klein with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Today we tell about five individuals around the world who are making a difference. They are making the world a better place by helping people in special ways. 1. Our first individual who is making a difference is a refugee from Burma. Thousands of people flee Burma each year to escape poverty, oppression and civil war. Many of them choose to stay in Thailand. Cynthia Maung is a Burmese doctor who operates a small public health center near the Thai border with Burma.She is making a difference in her community by providing services that are not available to most people in this area. 2. Many people are waiting at the public health center. Mothers and their children wait in line to get vaccines to protect them against diseases. In another line, parents with newborn babies wait for documents that show their babies were born i n Thailand. The documents take the place of birth certificates. Thai officials do not recognize these people because they are refugees. But Doctor Cynthia Maung does. 1.Doctor Cynthia, as she is called, fled Burma in nineteen eighty-eight after a military campaign against people who demonstrated for democracy and justice. She says she joined with the demonstrators. She says people started disappearing or fleeing to the border when Burma’s military seized power. She decided to settle near the border to work for political change. 2. In a small building, Cynthia Maung started performing operations and helping women give birth. She cleaned her instruments in a rice cooker. She also trained young volunteer health workers.Today, those workers treat people for landmine injuries and many diseases. Her health care center receives donations of money from non-governmental organizations and foreign governments, including the United States. 1. Doctor Cynthia makes a little money go a long way. Each year, one hundred fifty thousand people come for treatment. Those who can, pay less than one dollar. 2. Doctor Cynthia lives next to the health center. She says the workers there do not only treat diseases. They also educate young people who go back and support health activities in their communities.For example, the center trains volunteer health workers who go back to work in the ethnic Karen and other areas of Burma. Some of the volunteers are former patients who are now helping others. Doctor Cynthia says young people should be taught not to feel like victims. Instead, she says, they should see themselves as people who can change and improve their situation. 1. Theary Seng is a human rights activist working to heal her country, Cambodia. As a child, she lived through the rule of the Khmer Rouge during the nineteen seventies.During four years in power, the Khmer Rouge was responsible for the deaths of at least one million, five hundred thousand Cambodians. Theary Sengâ €™s parents were among those killed. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, she escaped to Thailand and then went to the United States. She attended law school and became a lawyer. 1. Now, Theary Seng is back in Cambodia, supporting human rights as the head of the Center for Social Development. She is a critic of corruption and abuse wherever it exists — in Cambodia and around the world.At a recent demonstration in Phnom Penh, she attempted to leave flowers to honor those killed in the civil war in the Darfur area of Sudan. But Cambodian government officials prevented her from doing so. 2. Theary Seng takes a special interest in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. The court is starting to take legal action against former Khmer Rouge leaders for their crimes. She serves as an official representative for the victims. 1. She also has a television show. It seeks to find the country’s next generation of young leaders.Theary Seng says her work is not to do anything big but to be a com mon citizen in her homeland where she suffered in the past. THEARY SENG: â€Å"And now, I’m taking that suffering, and shaping it into hope, and trying to work with individuals who had not the time and space to heal that I’ve had. † 1. William Saydee is making a difference in his country, Liberia. In Monrovia, the capital, the sound of typing mixes with the sound of cars in the street. Mister Saydee is a clergyman and former accountant. (SOUND) He now works as a typist and teacher. He is teaching unemployed Liberians how to type.The students do not pay him anything. One of the students is Isaiah Thomas. He says he is learning to type because he wants to work for an international company. 2. William Saydee says he wants to help young people gain a skill to succeed. He says it is the best he can do to help Liberia re-build after years of civil war. Mister Saydee earns money by typing contracts and other documents, like resumes. A resume is a list of a personâ€⠄¢s education and work experience. It can be useful when a person is looking for a job. (MUSIC) 1. Comic book artist Robert Walker is making a difference in New York City.He uses his art to help people understand the disease AIDS. Many children and even adults in the United States enjoy reading comic books. Superheroes in comic books have unusual abilities. They use their abilities to help people and save the world. Like most superheroes, Mister Walker’s characters have special powers. For example, one superhero can see in the dark. One can lift more than three hundred tons. Another can come back from the dead. Also, like most superheroes, his characters have to deal with trouble. These superheroes all have H. I. V. , the virus that causes AIDS.Mister Walker says some members of his family died of AIDS when he was a child. That gave him the idea to create a comic book called â€Å"O Men. † It includes nine characters living with H. I. V. The characters are men and wome n who represent different races and socio-economic groups. They also were infected with the virus in different ways. Mister Walker says he wanted to fight depressing images connected with the disease. ROBERT WALKER: â€Å"It’s not a black disease. It’s not a white disease. It’s not a gay disease. It’s a disease of humanity that lacks awareness. † 1.Gerry Gladston is the co-owner of Midtown Comics in New York City. He says many comic books have important political, social and educational messages. Mister Walker spoke to many H. I. V. and AIDS organizations in researching his comic book. He says he wanted to make the stories realistic as well as factual. 2. Yohannes Gebregiorgis is an Ethiopian-American who returned to the land of his birth to make a difference. Yohannes, as he is known, became an American citizen many years ago. But he gave up his life as a children’s librarian in San Francisco, California.Yohannes says he was concerned that Ethiopian children had no books. He said most schools in Ethiopia do not have libraries. There are almost no children’s books in any of Ethiopia’s many languages. So Yohannes started the Donkey Mobile Library to provide children with their first books. His group brings books to children who have none. YOHANNES GEBREGIORGIS: â€Å"Most kids we have noticed holding a book upside down. We have taken pictures of those kids. But later on we find out that those kids learn how to use the book, how to flip the pages and to look at the pictures and then gradually to read the stories in the book. 1. More donkey mobile libraries are planned, with money from groups in the United States. Donated English-language books have begun arriving in Ethiopia. Also, Yohannes has established a publishing company to produce books in languages that local children can read. His first book was published in three languages. It is a re-telling of an old folk story about, what do you think? A boy a nd his favorite animal — a donkey! 2. In the beginning, children came to the mobile library mainly because of the donkeys. But Yohannes discovered that what really excited the children was the books.He dreams about taking his donkey mobile libraries to more Ethiopian towns and villages. After all, there are millions of other children who want to learn to read. 1. This program was written by VOA correspondents and adapted by Shelley Gollust. Our producer was Mario Ritter. I’m Bob Doughty. 2. And I’m Barbara Klein. You can download audio and read scripts on our Web site, voaspecialenglish. com. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. http://blog. 360. yahoo. com/blog-Z3b93Sw5dKiGLDSLftiVYk1BXzLWCwAr3Q–;_ylt=AkizEO6ZhqbgHK3F3A9hoyK0AOJ3? cq=1

Decome Et Decorum

â€Å"Heartland† written by Linda Hogan has underlying messages a reader must carefully pay attention to in order to fully understand the poem. Hogan describes â€Å"City Poems† as her analysis of city life and how she appreciates it which can seem complex when reading her poem. She begins the poem describing how rare silence in the city can appear to people, constant traffic from vehicles and voices of people traveling the streets. Then she understands what the â€Å"city poems† other authors write about and how life in the city is constantly surrounded with common images related to city life such as yellow hard hats and beggars.I feel like Hogan feels a connection with city life and she has learned to appreciate it. I think the author identifies â€Å"city poems† as poems about the chaos people endure in the city; that the city may not seem enjoyable to most. The chaos that the city brings can take a toll on a person and can leave them questioning their life. Lines seven to ten describe how people pray and â€Å"feel the heart beat in a handful of nothing† which I interpreted it as meaning that the city can drain people of whatever they have and leave them with nothing.When people have nothing to fall back on, faith holds a powerful connection to people who seek support to help put back the broken pieces of life and by praying, a higher power can bring an answer to their prayers. However, Hogan seems to find the beauty and joy that the city brings and describes it in her poem, â€Å"Heartland†. I think that Hogan enjoys the city life with the detail in lines eleven to seventeen, where she describes construction workers, beggars, pigeons, and peoples’ regurgitation on metal.I interpreted the statement â€Å"human acids etching themselves into metal† as how many people travel to the city to become famous and make a name for themselves which the â€Å"human acid† being written onto the metal represen ts a person â€Å"writing there name in stone†. In stanza three, line twenty, Hogan writes â€Å"listening hard to the underground language† where the â€Å"underground language† refers to the lingo of the streets of the city where people of the city understand one another and can communicate with each other, even if they are not speaking the same anguage. When growing up anywhere, a person picks up certain characteristics of their society. Specifically, when growing up in the city, a person MUST learn the rules (language) of the city to succeed. The â€Å"underground language† is hidden within the city, where â€Å"outsiders† ponder upon conversations on the street, trying to figure what it really means. When Hogan writes â€Å"listening hard† I think she refers to taking

Free Essays on American Express

In the Credit Operations Department at American Express, the use of the Internet is significantly foundThe Internet is becoming a big part of normal day-to-day business in Credit Operations as well as American Express. The Internet is providing marketing and advertising to attract new customers. It is also helping to improve our customer service to our cardmembers. Cardmembers can view their charges and statements online. They can also pay their bill through www.americanexpress.com. It allows them a fast and easy way to verify charges, supply their accounts payable with their expense reports, and they can never have the excuse of not receiving their statements. It is available for personal, small business, and corporate cardmembers. It is very useful tool for the credit analyst as well to refer our cardmembers to free service that will provide them with virtually everything they need. It also helps to keep phone volumes down of more cardmembers are using the Internet service r ather than calling simply for their statement and charges. The Internet is planned to have an even bigger role in Credit Operations and American Express company wide. In Credit Operations, a few teams are testing a project with the Internet. This project is allowing cardmembers to receive a credit analyst to help them while online. They correspond to each other and the credit analyst is able to take over the cardmembers computer to show them how to access different areas or to find information. I feel that this could be very helpful for Credit Operations and American Express. I would eliminate the long hold times if more cardmembers were using this service and American Express would become a leader in the technology area of credit cards. It would enhance customer service and help to teach our cardmembers how to become more self-sufficient. They would have the knowledge to find the information on their own rather than having to call in to an 800 numb... Free Essays on American Express Free Essays on American Express In the Credit Operations Department at American Express, the use of the Internet is significantly found The Internet is becoming a big part of normal day-to-day business in Credit Operations as well as American Express. The Internet is providing marketing and advertising to attract new customers. It is also helping to improve our customer service to our cardmembers. Cardmembers can view their charges and statements online. They can also pay their bill through www.americanexpress.com. It allows them a fast and easy way to verify charges, supply their accounts payable with their expense reports, and they can never have the excuse of not receiving their statements. It is available for personal, small business, and corporate cardmembers. It is very useful tool for the credit analyst as well to refer our cardmembers to free service that will provide them with virtually everything they need. It also helps to keep phone volumes down of more cardmembers are using the Internet service rather than calling simply for their statement and charges. The Internet is planned to have an even bigger role in Credit Operations and American Express company wide. In Credit Operations, a few teams are testing a project with the Internet. This project is allowing cardmembers to receive a credit analyst to help them while online. They correspond to each other and the credit analyst is able to take over the cardmembers computer to show them how to access different areas or to find information. I feel that this could be very helpful for Credit Operations and American Express. I would eliminate the long hold times if more cardmembers were using this service and American Express would become a leader in the technology area of credit cards. It would enhance customer service and help to teach our cardmembers how to become more self-sufficient. They would have the knowledge to find the information on their own rather than having to call in to an 800 numb...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises - Essay Example The onset of the disease is most frequent in fourth and fifth decades of life (Luqmani et al., 2006). The aetiology of the disease is not specifically known and has been suggested to be multifactorial. The class II major histocompatibility complex allele HLA-DR4 and related alleles are known to be major genetic risk factors for RA. It has been suggested that RA might be a manifestation of the response to an infectious agent in a genetically susceptible host. Activation of autoimmune mechanisms is the key aetiologic event in sustaining the chronic inflammatory process so characteristic of RA (Scott et al., 2000). The main event in pathophysiology is inflammatory synovitis. Subsequently through a cascade of multiple immune events through mediation of a host of immune cells, the synovial fibroblasts are activated. Added to cartilage degradation, osteoclasts are activated that leads to erosion of bone. The chemokines and cytokines lead to synovitis, cartilage and bone damage, and systemic manifestations of RA (Luqmani et al., 2009). Altman (2008) notes that these immunologic abnormalities arise from various immune complexes, which originate from the inflamed synovial cells that serve as a target for such immune injuries. The plasma cells that are recruited produce antibodies known as rheumatoid factors. These actively contribute to these complexes which ultimately lead to joint destruction. With further inflammation chemotaxis ensues leading to recruitment of macrophage cells with associate vasculitis. Primarily CD4+ lymphocytes infiltrate the synovial cells. These together produce inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, namely tumor necrosis factors, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors, interleukins, and gamma-interferon. These are known inflammatory mediators leading to further joint inflammation and systemic manifestations of the disease. When the disease is chronic, the synovial membrane is very much thickened and is projected into the joint cavity. The synovium is the seat of inflammation, which produce collagenase and stromelysin leading to further degeneration of joint cartilage. Interluekin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha contribute to this process and stimulate osteoclasts, thus leading to bone erosion. Prostaglandins are released. With the maintenance of inflammation, fibrous tissue is deposited within the joint. The synovial tissue appears very much proliferates and highly vascular, leading to pannus which further potentiates release of inflammatory chemokines leading to all round erosion of the joint structures such as cartilage, bone, articular capsule, and the periarticular ligaments. Most of the inflammatory cells are neutrophils. In some patients rheumatoid nodules develop (Altman 2008). Clinical Features Clinically RA presents as chronic polyarthritis of symmetrical synovial joints of hands, wrists, knees, and feet with an insidious onset of fatigue, generalised weakness, and vague musculoskeletal symptoms for weeks or months. Pain, tenderness, and swelling in the affected joints get aggravated with movement. Generalised stiffness of joints noted in the mornings for about duration of greater than 1 hour is invariable. Swelling and tenderness in the joints lead to motion limitation and hence impairment of physical function. These lead to fibrous or bony ankylosis of the joint leading to fixed deformities (Scott et al., 2000).

Group portfolio Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Group portfolio - Research Paper Example However, the organization sticks to its beliefs that successful companies move with the time while still devoting to developing a healthy and dynamic enterprise. One of the core cultural values that Haier group has is the rights and wrongs sense whereby the product users are considered always to be right while the company need to regularly improve itself (Sprague, 2002). The culture acts as the driving force, hence forming value for the customers; the employees work their best to meet the customer’s needs in addition to generating a wide variety of choices that they can choose from. The workforce has a mind-set, whereby, they feel the need to persistently advance themselves, which they perceive to be the only way they can continually refuse, dare and outdo themselves in order to realize their innovative character through change. The organization, in addition, has an adaptive culture that has led to its growth, whereby it maintains its pace with the social growth while maintaining an awareness of any changes occuring in the world. Its innovative character enables the firm to uphold a competitive benefit in the ever-changing market. Tha t is to say, the more radical the world changes the quicker the speed of customer’s variation, hence, the more lasting the inheritance turns out to be (Lin, 2005). In addition, the organization has employed the concept of two spirits, innovation and entrepreneurship, which are considered to be the genes for the company’s consistent culture. The genes ensure that all members of the workforce maintain their value in addition to guiding them in their individual development. It is also mandated for every employee to have the entrepreneurship and innovation spirits. Entrepreneurship is considered to be the spirit of pioneering work in which the company persuades all employees to have it (Yi, Jinsheng and Xian, 2002). They are encouraged to transform from being