Reduce External Costs, Improve Products and People's Lives Assignment

Reduce External Costs, Improve Products and Peoples Lives - Assignment ExampleAircon used to consume huge electricity except was understate by inverter technology. The technology can be used in electric stove to minimize its muscularity consumption.b. Standardized induction technology induction cookers atomic number 18 now being introduced in the market where electromagnet to heat iron or steel cookware (Severson). It is still however a little expensive but when demand increases, the product can be produced in scale driving the cost down both in terms of unit cost and energy consumption.c. Prolong product lifecycle simply put, product lifecycle is the lifespan of the product. Product cost can be defrayed when the product cycle is prolonged because its cost is spread all over the years of its use.When these three proposals are introduced into an electric stove, the energy consumption will be significantly lowered and the product will also last lifelong making a lesser ecologic al footprint. The product cost may be increase a little but this can be substantially defrayed by its lower energy cost.Severson, Kim. Is Induction Cooking Ready to Go Mainstream?.The New York Times. The New York Times, 6 Apr. 2010. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.

Corporate social responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Corporate social responsibility - Essay ExampleSome theorists as well as practitioners decipher CSR as a form of corporate compliance with the spirit and the letter of the law or, as a business approach that takes into account the manner in which the organizations activities impacts upon its different stakeholders (Nehme & Wee, 2008129). Pursuant to its legal mandate, CSR is seen as a condition where the corporation acts as a free agent of the state, to the extent that the denotative social objectives are imposed on the corporation by law (Manne & Wallich, 1972, p. 40).On the other hand, more than just compliance with legal mandate, CSR is also cerebration to pertain to the corporations efforts above and beyond regulatory requisites, in effect finding an equilibrium between the needs of stakeholders on one hand, and those of fashioning a profit for the investors in the other (Nehme & Wee, 2008132). CSR is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis (European Commission, in Nehme & Wee, 2008131).CSR, from a market viewpoint, has been identified as a source of competitive advantage, as the company explores ways of approaching and savory with their stakeholders (Corporation and Market Advisory Committee, 2006). CSR is the result, implicit or explicit, of the nature of a firm, its role in society, and its relationships with its internal and external stakeholders (Argandoa and Hoivik, 2009, p. 229).The same activities, it is observed, may be undertaken any(prenominal) theory is adopted, as even community-focused activities may actually be undertaken in the service of corporate interests a form of market development effort. Nevertheless, embarking on these activities which do not directly comprise the companys main business operations are taken to be external manifestations of the companys CSR program. forever since the advent of

Leases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leases - Essay ExampleA notice to the other party of the death or incapacity of the other party should rouse the contract.If the lessee dies while in a rolling tenancy and it is tenancy. Set for a period of six months or more fixed term. In addition, is still valid, the goods will be passed on to the person named in the will. If the tenancy was periodic, the goods will pass on to the husband or wife. However, if the people left in the property have home in right to take the goods, the property owner can recover the property.The property owner has the right to withhold the goods if the tenancy was short hold. The property owner whitethorn do this only at last period lease and give a two months notice. So if the tenancy was joint more than two tenants. They can have the goods back.After the end of the lease, the tenants should take all assets to avoid any further rent liability upon the death of the lessee. The lessors family may sue family members who try to utilise themselves fre e rent. These obligations may come up even if the original lease agreement is void due to

Ancient Science and Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ancient Science and Medicine - Essay ExampleHippocrates was born in 460 B.C. He is also known as the father of spur surgery. His heritage of knowledge and methodology has extended to almost all branches of modern medicine. He stressed his medical practice on observation and the study of gentle body and thus Hippocrates made the new changes in medical science by accepting the rational notions. Before that the base of medical science was spiritual beliefs. But he began the very sophisticated and rational method of observing the human body for diagnosing the diseases. Hippocrates and his school followed the holistic concept combining scientific thought with drug therapy, diet schedules and physical and mental exercise. Hippocrates and other Greek doctors used to believe that a doctor should be kept separate from the buy the farm done by a priest. Thus Apart from prayers and worship of God for curing the diseases he focused on the change in diet, the useful and beneficial drugs. Mai ntaining the balance in the body is the key for good health according to Hippocrates. Hippocrates treatise called On Medicines is the major work in history of the ancient Greek thoughts. It is a key document to study the medicine in early period and so this treatise has influenced many historians of philosophy as it contains the relevance to the 3rd century B.C.Hippocrates invariably believed that while treating the diseases it is essential to consider the whole human body and not just a series of parts. He was the first physician who accurately exposit the diseases. He also described the symptoms of pneumonia and epilepsy in children and stressed upon the natural remedial process like rest, good balanced and proper diet, fresh air and hygiene. He also explained that the seriousness of injury depends upon the individual differences. Some individuals are strong enough to cope with the diseases while some are weak. Hippocrates was the first physician who attacked on the traditional

The Goya Painting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Goya Painting - Essay ExampleThe essay The Goya Painting explores the painting of Goya. Goya has brought more watchfulness to the central figure whereas the other figures are crouched down and small. The last way that Goya brought attention to the central figure is through light and nates. The use of light and shadow is very important in that Goya used bright light to bring the central figure to the viewers attention while the other figures and the building are in shadow pushing them into the background. Light and shadow is also used to get the feeling or message of the painting across to the viewer. In this case, the gunmen are darker and dangerous looking because they are in the shadows more. The feeling is that the gunmen have a dark intent and the man in the light is innocent and does not merit to be in the current circumstance and the light cast on the slaughtered gentleman also creates a feeling that the killing was unnecessary. I feel blue and horrified when viewing Goyas work because the paining gives me a feeling that any armed conflict between anyone is horrifying and unnecessary. It is clear from this painting that Goya is against war, armed conflict, and, in particular, violence. Goya obviously does not care for violence and the death associated with violence the violence of war. This is clear by the feelings this paining portrays and by the depiction of the gunmen as apposed to those on the opposite ramp of the guns. The people being shot at look distraught and innocent as show no reason why they should be.

Criminal law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Criminal law - Essay ExampleThe law that deals with crimes is referred to as illegal law. The shapers and foundations of culpable law are the numerous social standards and conducts even off in different jurisdictions. This definition implies that criminal law seeks to control peoples conducts in society and criminalise actions and omissions that may threaten, spoil and harm others well being, safety, security and rational and physical health1. For people who breach whatever of the laid down criminal laws of a given jurisdiction, the consequences are often commensurate legal punishments such as jail terms. Unlike civil law which focuses on resolution of disputes and compensation, criminal law emphasises punishment for convicted offenders2. Because of the severity of the effects of some convictions on perpetrators, judges endlessly want proof of the intent to commit a crime on the part of a defendant. This intent or guilty mind is referred to as mens rea. indeed mens rea and ac tus reus are the two core requirements that must be present at the same moment for a successful conviction. In other words, a criminal case cannot stand strong if mens rea and actus reus occur at different times, even if sequentially. On the other hand, strict liability refers to the criminal liability faced by a defendant, regardless of mens rea3, i.e. where it is absent. This paper explores the statement that Theft and Fraud are both serious crimes, but they can never be the basis for any type of manslaughter conviction, even if the victim dies.... Taking the offence of criminal damage as contained in class 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971), the actus reus entails the damage or destruction of another persons property5. Thus, the mens rea in this case does not require exceeding an intention to commit criminal damage. In a specific intent crime, a suspects mens rea exceeds the actus reus. This implies that such a defendant had certain ulterior motives in mind. For an illustrati on, in the case of aggravated criminal damage contrary to section 1(2) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, this offence is committed if a defendant damages or destroys a property while all along intending to endanger life6. Examples of basic intent crimes include common law theft, fraud, assault, battery, manslaughter, rape and criminal damage while specific intent crimes are unclear offences, murder and criminal damage with intent to endanger life. The reason theft and fraud cannot form the basis for manslaughter is that the actus reus of the two crimes are not similar to that of manslaughter. For example, the actus reus of theft is the illegal taking, retention and/or using of another persons property. This actus reus is accompanied by the mens rea of permanently intending to deprive the rightful owner the possession or use of a property. That is, if one companionship mistakenly takes the property of another, thus depriving the owner of the use and possession of the property (the a ctus reus), it does not amount to a crime since the former mistakenly takes the property, believing he/she is the rightful owner. However, if he/she realizes the mistake but does not take the earliest opportunity to return it to the rightful owner, it becomes a crime at this point7. There is thus, the fixings of dishonesty in the latter scenario. The

Behaviour Self Management Essay Example for Free

Behaviour Self Management EssayBehaviour Self-Management Project to Increase studying Behaviour Behaviour Modification is a technique or approach utilize by demeanoral psychologists to modify a particular behavior and is mostly used in a clinical or educational setting, particularly with those with learning disabilities (Atherton, 2011). Moreover, it in addition considered to be a handling approach, as it substitutes undesirable doingss with sought after ones through the process of positive or negative reinforcement (Gary, 1988).Furthermore, demeanor modification has been used to treat numerous mental problems much(prenominal) as obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), phobias, enuresis, generalised anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and many more. Subsequently, this technique has likewise been used to correct maladaptive behaviours by changing undesirable behaviours such as smoking, overeating, nail biting and others, as it aims to encourage the substitution of good behaviours such as studying, weight loss and etc (ODonohue and Ferguson, 2006).The principles of behaviour modification were introductory developed by B. F Skinner, who had formulated the concept of operant conditioning. Skinner, had developed the concept of positive reinforcement or punishment, whereby behaviours be changed or encouraged through a reward system. Furthermore, the operant conditioning theory also states that for learning to occur, it is burning(prenominal) that the subject is an active participant (Sheldon, 1982).In addition, behaviour modification was also formulated by Ivan Pavlov and is famously known as classical conditioning, as it is merely based on a stimuli-response formula. Besides that, Albert Bandura also contributed to behaviour modification principles, through his theory of social modelling (Baldwin Baldwin, 1981). The theory states that learning occurs as a result of copying or imitating othe r people, and is termed as vicarious learning. Addition on the wholey, the theory also states that external reinforcers are important because it enables learning to occur independently of the reinforcements.Consequently, behaviour modification underlies a number of theoretical positions such that human behaviour shadow easily be influenced by the presentation of consequences and could be strengthened if the behaviour is followed by rewards, as well as insufficient if followed by negative consequences (Guez Allen, 2000). Moreover, human behaviour is not only controlled by internal factors, but is also driven by external factors such as social rewards like praises or gifts.Thus, the principles of behaviour modification is different compared to other techniques in changing behaviours, because it addresses the surrounding factors as well as individual factors that can promote or derail behaviour change. Additionally, behaviour modification has also proved its effectiveness in increas ing students appropriate schoolroom behaviours. A study had employed behaviour modification in two bit grade Negro girls in a demonstration school for the culturally deprived (Wasik, Senn, Welch, Cooper, 1969).Data collected in the study was based on type, duration, and frequency of teachers verbal interactions with the student. The study also had implemented an ABAB design, whereas treatment included positive social reinforcement when appropriate behaviours occurred. Punishment had included the use of timeout from social reinforcements, as these behaviours were contingent on inappropriate attention acquiring behaviours. It was observed that after 25 days, desirable behaviour in the classroom had increased remarkably from 80. % in service line to 99. 20% in treatment and act to remain high even after three months.Therefore, this shows that behaviour modification is an effective method to increase desirable behaviours. Tar lose Behaviour It is essential and important that the tar get behaviour an individual privations to change is operationally defined. The particular behaviour would also require assessment, through collection of the service line data. Furthermore, the behaviour that I want to change is to increase my studying behaviour, which is a behavioral deficit.Ever since I was in school, I was always known to study towards the end of the semester and could generally be considered as last minute studying. Subsequently, I would tend to be easily distracted by external stimuli such as watching movies or serial on the computer, calling up friends and talking for hours as well as easily persuaded to go out. I hasten been known since young to be in truth outgoing, thus whenever friends call and ask me to meet up with them, I am bound to go.Therefore, it usually delays my ability to follow my studying schedule that I have created before the semester starts. Moreover, my main antecedent that unable me to complete my suggested two hours studying per night every weekday is also because I have a tendency to download movies or series on the computer and wasting 4 hours or more watching it. There are also consequences that I face because of my shillyshally to study, because after watching these series, I would only tend to study less than an hour or not at all if I am tired.Consequently, I would cram all the materials during study week and end up being exhausted. This also is a reason as to why I tend to get ill during exam week, because it causes me to have high level of stress and in turn would affect my health. Hence, these are valid reasons as to why I smelling like I need to change my behaviour and start studying more hours as I should so that I would not be emphasise out during exams. Besides that, stress could also cause ulcers and the common cold, which in turn could be a setback to me during exam week as I am prone to get ulcers.Additionally, it would also allow me to focus more to improve my grade ratings to my expectations as I go forth soon complete my undergrad program. Other than that, increasing my studying behaviour would also allow me to get sufficient sleep and rest for the upcoming exam and it would also benefit me in terms of managing my time efficiently. Method Design The design that I have chosen for this particular self management interpret is the ABAB reversal design.This design represents the move to first measure the baseline, the treatment that follows the initial baseline, the introduction of the punt baseline as well as the reintroduction of the treatment again. Additionally, this method of application helps identify the cause of treatment and measure what happens when treatment is removed. Hence, this research design would help establish whether functional relationship exists between the target behaviour and incumbrance.Materials The materials used in this project include a structured diary that is recorded in the computer, behaviour contract, handphone, patch-it notes, p lay cards and reminders. Procedure Additionally, for this particular behaviour modification project, the operational translation is first defined as reading pages from the textbook and underlining as well as understanding sentences in the text and reading notes from the lectures for two hours.Furthermore, the behaviour would be recorded through self monitoring during baseline and treatment period as the behaviour does not occur frequently throughout the day and it only occurs during the period when no one else is around to observe. The observational period is recorded in the natural setting, which is in the study room at my home, and it is where studying behaviour typically occurs.The type of behavioural recording used is the duration recording, whereby studying behaviour is observed for two hours, between 8. 30p. m to 10. 0p. m on weekdays only. Next, in order to increase studying behaviour during weekdays, a generalised conditioned reinforcer, which is the token economy system is used because it reinforces the behaviour and minimises the need to use reactive strategies to deal with setbacks as well as it enables the ability to pair up with a variety of other reinforcers. In addition, the token economy is a playing card with my housemates signature on it, and one card would be given each day, whenever the desired behaviour occurred at least 2 hours a day.Furthermore, the acquired tokens would be eligible to trade with certain privileges and would be forfeited if the behaviour does not meet the expected requirements. Hence, a variety of backup reinforces are used in exchange with the accumulated playing cards on every Friday to determine the type of privileges that would be given and further information is provided in the behavioural contract (Appendix A). Besides that, punishment would be provided if I fail to meet the expected requirement.Additionally, the schedule of reinforcement chosen for this particular project is fixed interval, whereby studying beha viour is reinforced only if it occurs for at least two hours. The behaviour occurrence would also be recorded in the computer, as the behaviour occurs at home in the study room. Besides that, during the treatment period, my friends and housemate have also promised to give me social support and reinforcements. In addition, various types of response and stimulus prompts are also used in this project. Verbal prompts such as reminders to study are used by friends and housemates to evoke the desired behaviour in myself.They will do this by not persuading me to go out with them and reminding me to study instead. Furthermore, environmental prompts are also used in this project such as post its on the mirror, computer in the study room and class accommodate that I carry to class every day, as well as using the hand phone to set alarm to study. In addition, within prompt fading was used in the second treatment period, for response prompts, whereby friends and boyfriend provided less verba l prompts as the week progressed during treatment period.Next, stimulus fading was also used in the second treatment period for environmental prompts, whereby on the first day, removal of alarm clock would be used and for subsequent days, one post its would be removed from either the mirror, computer or class file until the last day of treatment. Results The baseline and treatment data was collected for a period of four weeks and intervention was applied during treatment 1 and treatment 2. judge 1 Studying behaviour in baseline and treatment weeks.Figure 1 shows that during the first baseline, studying behaviour did not occur at all for the first two days, one hour for the third, again none on the quaternate and two hours on the fifth day. Hence, the average studying hours for the first baseline week is 0. 4 hours or 24 minutes. Furthermore, this could be clearly seen in the structured diary attached for the first baseline (Appendix B). Next, intervention took place in the second week, whereby various strategies were used to increase studying behaviour.Results showed that studying behaviour had occurred for two hours for the first and second day, one hour for the third day, two hours for the fourth day, and none on the fifth day. This shows that studying behaviour had increased to an average of 1. 4 hours a day and that there was an increase of 50% from the initial baseline to the treatment period. Moreover, the self management project had returned to baseline on the third week and results showed that studying behaviour had occurred for 2. hours on the first day, one hour on the second, none on the third and fourth and two hours on the fifth day.Thus, the average studying behaviour was 1. 1 hours a day for the second baseline period. Although the average hours were less compared to the treatment period, however, there was definitely an increase compared to the first baseline period, whereby average hours were only 0. 4 hours. Next, intervention was again app lied and the second treatment results showed that studying behaviour occurred for one hour on the first day, 2. hours on the second, two hours on the third, one hour on the fourth, and two hours on the fifth day. Hence, the average studying hours is approximately 1. 7 hours a day. Thus, this also shows that there is an increase of studying behaviour between the second baseline and second treatment period. Besides that, there is also a staggering increase from the initial baseline and second treatment period, that precedes to fluctuate in the second baseline, when intervention was removed.DiscussionThe behaviour modification project to increase studying behaviour was definitely a success because the graphs showed an increase in hours of studying as compared to the baseline data, thus indicating that there us a functional relationship between the target behaviour and the procedure. Furthermore, it is clear that the token economy system was a reader to the success of increasing studyi ng behaviour because once token economy was removed in the second baseline the target behaviour had decreased tremendously.In addition, the target behaviour had increased when the second intervention was applied in the fourth week. Moreover, the use of reinforcements and punishment also helped me to keep myself motivated and determined to pass on the weekly goal that was set. Besides that, the use of within stimulus fading helped me generalise my behaviour to the subsequent weeks ahead, hence I had gradually adjusted myself with get used to having less and less prompts throughout the week.However, there were also some limitations in this project, whereby, the duration of treatment intervention is too short to allow the behaviour to fully adjust and be generalised without the use of prompts. In addition, self monitoring was used during observation of behaviour for the baseline data. Observer may not be trained enough to record her own behaviour, hence data may not be as reliable as compared to having an inter rater observation. Moreover, the death penalty of reinforcement contingency was my housemate, and sometimes the reinforcements were given a day later because she is not around.This has affected the effectiveness of the token as a reinforcing consequence as some deliveries of the token did not occur immediately after the response occurred according to the expected schedule. Furthermore, due to the delay between the response and token, it could have also affected the connection strength of the behaviour. In conclusion, behaviour modification is definitely an effective treatment method to help increase, decrease or develop refreshful behaviours and it is applicable to use in a variety of problematic behaviours.

Conagra Foods Essay Example for Free

Conagra feeds EssayConAgra Foods Inc. is one of the largest food companies in the United States operating in such segments as Consumer Foods (66%) and Commercial Foods (34%) which atomic number 18 split up into three significant business operations segments agricultural harvests, packaged foods and refrigerated foods (Table 1). Table 1. Net gross gross sales (in gazillions USD) 20102009%increase/decrease Consumer Foods 8,002 7,979-%.Commercial Foods 4,077 4,447(8)% Total12,07912,426(3)% cum annual Report 2010 Consumer Foods The Consumer Foods segment includes stigmatiseed, insular label and customized food products, which argon sold in various sell and foodservice channels. The products include a variety of categories, such as meals, entrees, condiments, sides, snacks, and desserts across frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable temperature classes.The Companys major brands include Alexia, ACT II, Banquet, Blue Bonnet, Chef Boyardee, DAVID, Egg Beaters, Healthy option , Hebrew National, Hunts, Marie C wholeenders, Orville Redenbachers, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, bit Pack, Swiss Miss, Van Camps and Wesson. As of July 22, 2010, it had 39 domestic manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.As of July 22, 2010, it also had four global manufacturing facilities in Canada and Mexico (one 50% owned) and one in Arroyo Dulce, Argentina. Commercial Foods The Commercial Foods segment supplies frozen potato, sweet potato and other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. The products are sold under brands, such as ConAgra Mills, Lamb Weston, and Spicetec Flavors Seasoning.As of July 22, 2010, it had 41 domestic production facilities in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Ne braska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and capital letter one international production facility in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and Qingdao, China one manufacturing facility in Taber, Canada one 50% owned manufacturing facility in each of Colorado, Minnesota, Washington and the United Kingdom one 67% owned manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico, and three 50% owned manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands.Company is mainly engaged in operations in the United States which count for more than 90% of total income (Table 2). ConAgra Foods Inc. owns approximately 50 brands (Table 3). Table 2. Pre-tax income from inveterate operations (in millions USD) 201020092008 United States1,040. 3872. 1631. 9 abroad 66. 6 64. 3 69. 6 Total1,106. 9936. 4701. 5 Source yearbook Report 2010 Vision and mission The vision of the fellowship set by current chief executive officer Gary Rodkin is One company. One refinement. Making the food you love. It reflects the overall companys s cheme to make food people want in their lives every twenty-four hours. The mission is reflected in companys profile Preparing great food, being a hefty partner to our customers and thinking about all of the people who make love our food and the difference it makes in their lives fuels our passion making the food you love. Goals Like every public-held company listed on NYSE (ConAgra Foods Inc. has ticker CAG) ConAgra Foods Inc. aims to increase earnings per share.The goal of the company is to achieve long-term growth through supply chain productiveness, operational efficiency, innovation, selling, marketing and sustainability of great brands . Increase in supply chain productivity and operational efficiency lets the company to reduce its manufacturing, finance, administrative, transportation costs. Innovation and marketing orientation enhances the business processes and expands profit margins.Figure 1. Formula for growth Source Annual Report 2010 ConAgra Foods Inc. persists under three principles while achieving its strategic goal simplicity, collaboration and accountability. Using their resources rationally, nourishing employees and creating positive image within the community are the objectives which run low the company to be good for you, good for the community, good for the people . Strategic priorities The company focuses on the following business product groups. In each strategic group ConAgra Foods Inc. possesses significant manufacturing and innovation capabilities. Figure 2. Strategic priorities.Source Annual Report 2010 Strategy ConAgra Foods is focused on growing sales, expanding profit margins, and improving returns on capital over time. To that end, the company has significantly changed its portfolio of businesses over a number of years, focusing on branded, value-added opportunities, while divesting commodity-based and lower-margin businesses. Acquisitions Company was founded in 1919 as Nebraska con straightforwardated Mills and in 2000 chan ged its name to ConAgra Foods Inc. Acquisitions are the major part of ConAgras system.The company implemented horizontal and vertical integration strategy after sustaining solid background in flour-milling operations and feed and bird segment. The time and the trends in the food industry were crucial to the strategic acquisitions of the company. In 1970-1980s when home and industrial refrigerators became functional for the consumers and packing techniques developed , which meant that now meat and vegetables will not spoil, ConAgra entered the frozen foods market with the acquisition of Banquet Foods in 1980 and other companies in the meat and poultry segment (Armour Foods, Beatrice Foods, Hebrew National Foods, etc.).In 1980-1990s when the welfare of American citizens began to improve and people began to value time the food that was easy to cook (which means basically just heat and serve) was highly demanded and ConAgras strategic move was highly appreciated by the investors in the breed market. The declivity price of CAG tripled from 10$ in 1990 to 30$ in 1998. The total amount of acquired brands approximated 30 by the year 2000 (Hunts, La Choy, Wesson, ACT II, Chef Boyardee, etc. ) and company changed its name to ConAgra Foods Inc.to reflect its growing usance as a food products manufacturer rather than just the food ingredients supplier.In the beginning of the twenty first century and nowadays when the society became more concerned about their health ConAgra Foods Inc. implemented several strategic acquisitions of such companies as Alexia Foods Inc. (natural and organic foods company) in 2007, Elan Nutrition in 2010 and others. The purchases that company makes reflect our acquisition strategyfind businesses that are great fits and enable us to grow by filling a need within our portfolio or endowment us an adjacent category expansion. Figure 3. The acquisitions strategy helped ConAgra Foods Inc. to ConAgra Foods Inc. divests the businesses which are either too complex to integrate with the core businesses or did not achieve a profit margin greater than the benchmark margin rate. In 2009 the company sold Pemmican (beef jerky business), in 2008 it sold Knotts Berry acquire operations and others. Mostly, the divestitures are low-margin (commodity-based) businesses. Marketing and distribution Almost every American household has a number of ConAgra Foods brand-named products in their refrigerators.The ability to acquire well-known(a) and customer-loved brands had secured for ConAgra just position. Some of the acquired brands such as Peter Pan and Chef Boyardee had longer history than ConAgra and were so much identifiable in the consumer market that it makes no sense to throw out the brand of ConAgra. Even though the company has so many brands in their arsenal many people go int know what ConAgra does. And many consumers dont identify ConAgra as the owner of the brand-named products that they buy.ConAgra is aimed to the better u nderstanding needs of their customers. The health-conscious consumers (whose number is growing) chose nutritious and low-fat food. For increasing nutrition in its products company launched the program on sodium reduction and positions itself as a safe food manufacturer . In 2008 the company launched the program online startmakingchoices. com for people who are concerned with the healthy mode of life. The website has several tests and tips on how to keep your life healthier.Also company designs packaging with the full information to help consumers improve their diet. Taste, health, nutrition, convenience, sustainability and, of course, value are just whatever of the issues American shoppers are now confront with every time they go to a supermarket and theyre demanding to know more. For the purpose of better serving its customers and help consumers with their choice ConAgra Foods Inc. launched Food News Today with Phil Lempert, a leading consumer trend analyst and Supermarket Guru .ConAgra Foods Inc. aimed to develop and improve their private labeling strategy. One of the most successful brands that company has, Healthy Choice, has retail sales of about 1 billion dollars. This label is licensed to other companies for use on their products. Company announced the Gold Store initiative in 2006, which focuses on driving growth by optimizing in-store conditions in three fundamental areas distribution, shelving, and placement next to the companion products.As part of a plan ConAgras sales efforts are shifting from a strategy that relied heavily on short-term price discounts and couponing in order to push out sales volume to consumers to a strategy that relies more on ways to draw in consumers. The new strategy hopes to provide a more balanced mix of trade spending, consumer advertising, and product innovation than the company had in the past. Even though ConAgra Foods Inc. owns distribution and transportation businesses like J. M. Swank, most of companys transporta tion equipment, distribution centers and storage facilities are being run by third parties.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for approximately 18% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2010 . ConAgra combines hard data from retailers with its own qualitative research. Gary Rodkin is on a quest to find what he calls the big, singular insight that will drive behavior change. . He is using theories about buying habitsbacked by $399 million a year in advertising, marketing and in-store promotionsto convince grocery stores to provide ample shelves for its 45 consumer brands Leadership.Charles M. Harper The wizard Charles M. Harper who led the company from 1974 to 1993 is well-known for launching acquisitions strategy and founding Healthy Choice brand. During his tenure at ConAgra, the company expanded its business operations from flour-milling business to frozen foods, poultry, prepared seafood, fertilizers and the sales rose from $636 million in 1974 to $9 billion in 19 87. The main reason for making decisions on acquisitions strategy were cyclical profits that company faced in agricultural segment.Mike Harper decided to diversify the company from basic products to packaged goods. His main priority was to acquire companies while they were in their fine-tune cycle and he restructured the companies and refocused their marketing strategies. He reintroduced the brands which were highly recognizable by consumers and refocused the product lines. In 1988 Harper boasted that ConAgra was probably the only food products company to move into across the entire food chain. In the early 1990s ConAgra expanded at a rate of about 3-5 acquisitions and joint ventures a year, becoming the attraction in the frozen goods industry . During his tenure the P/E ratio of the company was at all times high which means the price of stock was rising faster than the earnings per share or in other words, the investors were overoptimistic about the future of the company. (Figur e 4) Figure 4. P/E ratio of ConAgra Foods Inc. Bruce Rhode In 1998 Bruce Rhode was named a CEO of ConAgra and his first steps were to reduce costs by large amount.He instituted Operation Overdrive restructuring program, closing several production plants and storage facilities and clipping the workforce by seven thousand employees. The estimated savings from Operation Overdrive were approximately $600 million a year . The other problem that Bruce Rhode faced was soaked decentralization of the company. Some of the food- treat and meat-packing companies, which operated under one brand name of ConAgra, purchased the products from the competitors rather than other ConAgras branches.The same uncoordinated actions were in marketing when representatives from several ConAgra divisions, all selling similar products, visited the same restaurants and groceries. Bruce Rhode emphasized team-approach to solve these problems. At the beginning of 2000s many retail grocery stores would like to promo te their own brands in foods processing and packaging segment and that was another problem for Bruce Rhode to solve. He concentrated on product development and marketing, working closely with grocery stores to create displays of ConAgra products.Bruce Rhode continued acquisitions strategy of his predecessors acquiring more brand names in packaged food segment (International Home Foods in 2000) to increase gross sales of the company and he divided company into ten principal operating units ConAgra Foodservice Company ConAgra Grocery Products Companies ConAgra Frozen Prepared Foods ConAgra Dairy Case Companies ConAgra Refrigerated Prepared Foods ConAgra Meat Companies ConAgra bird Company ConAgra Food Ingredients United Agri Products Companies ConAgra Trade Group.The early years of his tenure coincided with the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-1998 when the investors were cautious about the US domestic markets and the stock price fell significantly (Figure 4). Figure 4. Daily stock pri ces for ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) since 1978 to 2010. Source google. com/finance Gary Rodkin Gary Rodkin, the former CEO of PepsiCo Beverages and Foods of North America division, replaced Bruce Rhode as CEO of ConAgra Foods Inc. in 2005 and began reorganization trying to create one centralized consolidated company that consists of more than 500 subdivisions.As a result of refocusing its portfolio of businesses ConAgra Foods Inc. divested Butterball, Armour, Eckrich and others. Gary Rodkin, while continuing acquisitions strategy, transformed the company into a more unified operating company . With the changes of the new CEO many analysts were concerned that he would try to create ConAgra brand instead of coordinating many different brands. However, during his interview to SmartMoney (Wall Street Journal) in 2010 he said . There is no product named ConAgra. So instead, we say, consumers make the brands relevant. We do need investors to better understand this company.But on the consume r side, we really dont think the juice is worth the squeeze. Performance Internal organization ConAgra Foods Inc. operates in a low-margin industry thus effectively managing its costs is the priority in achieving strategic competitiveness (Figure 6). Focusing on cost reduction the company could go along 1. 1 billion USD through supply chain rationalization initiatives, the relocation of a divisional headquarters from Irvine, California to Naperville, Illinois, the centralization of shared services, salaried head count reductions and other cost-reduction initiatives . Figure 6. Heres how the $4.19 you pay for a frozen dinner like one from Healthy Choice breaks down. ConAgra makes 55 cents. Source Forbes. com . Shopping drag in Psychology by Helen Coster. 08. 19. 09 For the fiscal 2010 year ConAgra Foods Inc. announced net sales of 12,079 million USD with the operating profit of 1,652 USD (Table 4). Table 4. Financial Highlights for the fiscal 2010 year Source Annual Report 2010 .. Heightened competition, weak demand and inflation hampered food processor ConAgras fiscal first quarter, leading it to cut its outlook, though the maker of Healthy Choice and Orville Redenbachers brand foods increased its dividend.. . The company also decreased its earnings per share outlook from 8-10% growth to 5-7%. External environment ConAgra Foods Inc. is focused on value-added brand companies and private labeling in the food industry where it make outs with such giants as Kraft Foods, Heinz, Nestle, etc. .. We experience intense competition for sales of our principal products in our major markets. Our products compete with widely advertised, well-known, branded products, as well as private label and customized products. Some of our competitors are larger and have greater resources than we have.We compete primarily on the basis of quality, value, customer service, brand recognition, and brand loyalty. From the next figure it can be inferred that even though ConAgra Foods, In c. operates better than overall US industries, it yet underperforms the leading companies in food sector. Figure 5. 10-year comparison of ConAgra Foods Inc. , SP 500, SP 500 Packaged Foods Index. Source Annual Report 2010 In the Processed and Packaged Goods industry companies operate under very narrow margins (Figure 6) and for that reason severe price competition after the financial crisis influences heavily the profits of ConAgra Foods Inc.Also, the retailers implement backward integration strategy and take away profits from famous brand companies since the consumers are losing interest in the brand-named products. Even though the there are some good discussion about the industry that the consumers are very conscious about the money and they eat-out less than before the crisis the competition in the industry makes it difficult for analysts to predict slick future for the food companies. In the Figure we can see that the general projections for the industry are either buy or hol d rather than strong buy.Figure 7. Analysts recommendation about the industry and ConAgra Foods Inc. Source wikinvest. com Zacks Investment Research, November 24, 2010.Bibliographies 1. Amanda Quick, Company profiles for students, (Thomson Gale, 1999) 2. bigcharts. com 3. ConAgra Foods Inc. Annual Report 2010 4. ConAgra Foods Inc. Corporate Responsibility Report 2010 5. conagrafoods. com 6. forbes. com 7. google. com/finance 8. http//www. hbs. edu 9. referenceforbusiness. com 10. wikinvest. com 11. wsj. com.

Current legislations, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people Essay Example for Free

Current legislations, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of infantren and young people EssayIdentify the sure legislations, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people including e-safety. statute law covering child protection can be divided into two main categories civil law and wrong law. The Children and Young Persons make a motion 1933 This is an older piece of legislation of which some parts are still in forced today. It includes a list of offences against children, these are referred to as Schedule One offences.The Children Act 1989 The current child protection system is based on the Children Act 1989. The introduction of this hazard was intended to be the closely compressive and far reaching reform in child law in parliamentary history. The main aim of this law is to ensure that the welfare of a child is always considered as the most important factor when making any decisions ab forth the upbringing of a child. The act as well as considers the thought and feelings of the child in a situation and bases decisions on whether the outcome would be better or worse for the child.It introduced the concept of parental responsibility. Two guidance documents are available to suffice professionals to identify children that may be at risks and the steps to take to help prevent this occurring. These documents are intended to be used with The Children Act 1989. The first is called, counseling on interagency cooperation under the Children Act 1989, which was first published in 1991. The second which was published in 2000 was titled The Framework for the assessment of children in need and their families. infra are listed the variations of the policy throughout the UK. Safeguarding children working together under the Children Act 2004 This is the current guidance for Wales. The Children Order 1995 Northern Ireland. The Children Act 1995 Scotland. The United Nations Conventio n on the Rights of the Child 1989 This includes the right for a child to be protected from iniquity, the right to express their views and rescue them listen to and the right to care and services for disabled children or children living away from home.The Human Rights Act 1998 This protects the rights of all human beings, in the eyes of the law children are seen as human beings and therefore the Human Rights act covers their rights as well. The Education Act 2002 This was introduced to ensure that a schools governing body and LEA make arrangements for the safeguarding and welfare of children. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 This expands on the Children Act 1989 by including domestic violence in the definition of harm. The Children Act 2004 This new act didnt replace or amend the Children Act 1989, instead it set out the process for integrating services to children.Further acts that followed the 2004 Children Act include The Children and Adoption Act 2006, Children and Youn g Persons Act 2008, The Boarders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. Legislation to protect children from adults that pose a risk. The 1997 Sex Offenders Act Requires sex offenders to have their names and addresses added to the sex offenders register. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 This was introduced to update the legislation relating to offences against children.It included the offences of grooming, abuse of position of trust and trafficking. Further policies include The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. E-Safety A Schools e-Safety Policy reflects the importance it places on the safe use of entropy systems and electronic communications. e-Safety encompasses not only net technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology.It highlights the need to educate c hildren and young people about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology. * E-Safety concerns safeguarding children and young people in the digital world. * E-Safety emphasises learning to understand and use new technologies in a positive way. * E-Safety is less about restriction and more about education about the risks as well as the benefits so we can feel confident online. * E-Safety is concerned with supporting children and young people to develop safer online behaviours both in and out of school.The Internet is an unmanaged, open communications channel. The World Wide Web, email, blogs and social networks all transmit information using the Internets communication infrastructure internationally at low cost. Anyone can send messages, discuss ideas and publish material with little restriction. These features of the Internet make it an invaluable resource used by millions of people every day. Some of the material on the Internet is published for an ad ult audience and can include violent and adult content. Information on weapons, crime and racism may also be unsuitable for children and young people to access.Pupils need to develop critical skills to evaluate online material and learn that publishing personal information could compromise their security and that of others. Schools have a duty of care to enable pupils to use on-line systems safely. Schools need to protect themselves from legal challenge and ensure that module work within the boundaries of professional behaviour. The law is catching up with Internet developments for example it is an offence to store images showing child abuse and to use email, textual matter or instant messaging (IM) to groom children.Schools can help protect themselves by making it clear to pupils, staff and visitors that the use of school equipment for inappropriate reasons is unauthorized and ensure an Acceptable Use Policy is in place. E-Safety training is an essential element of staff induct ion and part of an on-going CPD programme. However, schools should be aware that a disavowal is not sufficient to protect a school from a claim of personal injury and the school needs to ensure that all reasonable actions have been taken and measures put in place to protect users. Legally an educational institutions e-safety policy ties into multiple laws and legislation.

Audio spotlight Device

Audio spotlight DeviceAbstractA directional source of phone move created using a parametric array, sometimes called an speech sound spotlight, generates a heavy(p) broadcast that is a good deal narrower than the sound beam generated by a conventional source. It is a very recent technology that creates focused beams of sound similar to light beams coming out of a flashlight. By shining sound to one location, particular listeners plenty be targeted with sound without others nearby audience it. It uses a combination of non-linear acoustics and some fancy mathematics. But it is real and is fine to knock the socks of any conventional loud speaker unit. This acoustic device comprises a speaker that fires inaudible ultrasound pulses with very minor(ip) wavelength which act in a manner very similar to that of a narrow column. The ultra sound beam acts as an airborne speaker and as the beam moves done the air gradual distortion takes place in a predictable way receivable to the p roperty of non-linearity of air. Joseph Pompeis Holosonic Research Labs invented the Audio Spotlight that is made of a sound processor, an amplifier and the transducer.The targeted or directed audio technology is going to a huge mercenary market in entertainment and consumer electronics and technology developers atomic number 18 scrambling to tap in to the market. Audio spot light technology sack up do many miracles in various fields like Private messaging system, Home theatre audio system, Navy and military applications, museum displays, ventriloquist systems etc .Thus audio spotlighting helps us to control where sound comes from and where it goesI. mental homeAudio spotlight is a very recent technology that creates focused beams of sound similar to light beams. By shining sound to one location, specific listeners stub be targeted with sound without other nearby hearing it, i.e. to focus sound into a passing directional beam.The audio spotlight uses ultrasonic push to create extremely narrow beam of sound that behave like beam of light. Audio spotlighting exploits the property of non-linearity of air. When inaudible ultrasound pulses are fired into the air, it impromptu converts the inaudible ultrasound into audible sound tones. like audible sound ultrasound waves, get distorted as they hold up through air. The ultrasound waves are breaked into lower frequency, i.e. audible sound waves. so these ultrasound waves can travel along a narrow path, people to left or right of a target remain silence.II. System RequirementA. Hardware RequirementA transducer(speaker).An amplifier.Coax cable.III. ArchitectureThe ultrasound has wavelengths alone a few millimeters long, which are much smaller than the source, and consequently travel in an extremely narrow beam.Of course, the ultrasound, which contains frequencies far outside our range of hearing, is completely inaudible. But as the ultrasonic beam travels through the air, the inherent properties of the air cau se the ultrasound to distort (change shape) in a predictable way. This distortion gives rise to frequency components in the audible band, which can be accurately predicted, and therefore precisely controlled. By generating the correct ultrasonic signal, we can create, within the air itself, essentially any sound desired.Note that the source of sound is not the physical device you see, but the invisible beam of ultrasound, which can be many meters long. This new sound source, while invisible, is very large compared to the audio wavelengths its generating. So the resulting audio is now extremely directional, just like a beam of light.Often incorrectly attributed to so-called Tartini tones, the technique of using high-frequency waves to generate low-frequency signals was in fact pioneered by physicists and mathematicians developing techniques for underwater sonar over forty years ago.Through a combination of careful mathematical analysis and engineer insight, the Audio Spotlight sound system has become the very first, and still the only, truly directional audio system which generates low-distortion, high quality sound in a reliable, professional package.IV. System DescriptionThe Audio Spotlighting Device consists of a round shaped disc which consists of a transducer, an amplifier and coax cables.Transducer is very discreet, at only 1/2 thick. The transducer comes in two standard sizes 18 round or 24 hexagonal. The height of the audio spotlight is produced using sublimation printable lycra , this lycra cover can be printed to look like anything that we can take a digital picture of, making integration into an existing display or patronage show environment even easier. this lycra cover can be produced with an elastic edge so that it is easily interchangeable. The transducer emits an ultrasound beam.The transducers are driven by small ultrasound amplifiers. The amplifier receives the input signal from a standard audio source such as a computer, CD player or DVD p layer. The amplifier can currently push the sound signal through the cable 110 long. The amplifier runs on standard 110v or 220v power and is very easily adaptable to European or Asian version of electrical power.Coax cables are used to connect amplifiers to transducers.V. TypesA. Direct AudioB. Projected AudioDirected audio can direct sound at a specific target, creating a contained area of listening space which is called Direct audio.Protected audio can ricochet can bounce of a sound object, creating an audio image. This audio image gives the illusion of a loudspeaker, which the listener perceives as the source of sound, which is called projected audio.VI. Advantages1. We can here sounds like music, speeches etc even disturbing others.2. Army is using this technology which can be very advantageous to security.3. Creates highly focused beam of sound.4. Portable.VII. DisadvantagesIts highly costly.It can be misused by enemies.Both speaker and amplifier are separate.Maintenance is h igh. VII. Future ScopeAudio Spotlighting really put sound where you essential it and will be A REAL BOON TO THE FUTURE.VIII. ConclusionIt can be concluded that sound can be forced to make travel in one direction by using the technology audio spotlighting. We can here sounds like music, speeches even disturbing others.References1. B.PREMLET ,Engineering physics2. D. Meyer. Computer dissimulation of Loudspeaker Directivity, J. Audio Eng. Soc3. Houghton Mifflin Company,2006 The American heritage Dictionary of English language,4. J. Eargle, Loudspeaker Handbook, Chapman and Hall, New York5. J. Proakis and D. Manolakis, Digital portend Processing, Principles, Algorithms, and Applications6. M. Yoneyama and J. Fujimoto. The audio spotlight An application of nonlinear fundamental interaction of sound waves to a new type of loudspeaker design, J. Acoustical Society of America7. P. Hong, IMTC, Georgia Institute of Technology8. T. Chen, Guest Editor. The Past, Present, and Future of Audio S ignal Processing, IEEE Signal Processing Magazine.9. Universal physics.10. W.F Dryvestegn J. Garas personal sound, J. Audio eng society.11. http//www.holosonic.com/ Audio Spotlight Add sound and preserve the quiet.html12. http//www.spie.org.13. http//www.imtc.gatech.edu/projects/archives/multimedia/AudioSpotlight.pdf14. http//www.howstuffworks.com.15. http//www.abcNEWS.com.16. http//www.howstuffworks.com17. http//www.abcNEWS.com18. http//www.holosonic.com19. http//www.skads.org20. http//www.AudioSpotlights.com /audio_spotlight_case_study.html21. http//www.holosonics.com/ audio_spotlight_case_study.html22. http//www.audiospotlights.com/directional_sound_intro.html23. http//www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=37624. http//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? deed=Audio_Spotlightredirect=no25. http//www.techalone.com.26. http//www.holosonics.com/brochure/Audio_Spotlight-Museums.pdf27. http//www.holosonics.com/brochure/Audio_Spotlight-libraries.pdf28. http//ieeexplore.iee e.org/search/freesearchresult.jsp?history=yesqueryText=(audio+spotlighting)imageField.x=26imageField.y=829. www.sciam.com

The Cost Of The War On Drugs Philosophy Essay

The Cost Of The contend On Drugs Philosophy EssayThe War on Drugs was decl atomic number 18d on June 17, 1971 by President Nixon, claiming at a press conference that medicates and their abuse are, public enemy number one in the United States (Frontline). Since that time, the War on Drugs has gone on to become the longest and most costly war in Ameri go off history (Duke 15). The ever change magnitude expenditures, perceived infringement of constitutional rights, misinformation campaigns, imprisonments, and the seeming futility of the whole endeavor are leading many to question whether the War on Drugs is justifiable.This war is being waged against a concept and non an enemy, which guarantees unlimited funding and an unlimited time period with which to fight it. Not only is it unethical for the government to specify what chemicals citizens heap and rout outnot buttocks into their own bodies, the massive resources funneled into this futile operation would grrustly benefit other areas of tender society. 87 million people over the age of twelve rent used illegal medicates, qualification this war on a concept virtually a war against the citizens of the United States (Cole, par. 14). The majority of resources devoted to the war on medicates are for right enforcement purposes, ignoring the underlying problems of addiction within the consumer culture in which we live. In the quarrel of Thomas Jefferson, If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be a sorry state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny (Shulgin 28).Jack Cole is a retired new-fangled Jersey state police lieutenant who spent nearly fourteen years working as a narcotics officer. Over the course of his career, Jack evolved from a true believer in the War on Drugs into the co-founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition or LEAP. LEAP, as the name states, is an organization consisting of former police officers, judges , district attorneys, retired DEA, etc., who tap for medicine legalization (Cole, par. 1).Jack believes the War on Drugs is unjustly destroying millions of Americans lives every year and that the war it egotism is primarily responsible for many of the dose and dose relate societal problems (par. 2). For example, by declaring certain do drugss illegal one creates a black market and artificially inflates the price of these inherently non valuable products. Where there is demand there will be supply, especially for a ridiculous profit margin much(prenominal) as 17,000%, as Jack states (par. 7). These lettuce fund illegal organizations, such as Al Qaeda and organized crime, as well as contribute to local violence as seen in gang disputes over drug peddling territory (par. 7,20).Mr. Cole cites several compelling statistics. Tobacco kills 430,000 Americans per year, Alcohol 110,000, and all illegal drugs combined kill less than 12,000 people per year (par. 9). The US government sp ends 69 billion dollars per year in the War on Drugs and arrests 1.6 million on non-violent drug offenses (par. 9). Mr. Cole raises the valid question as to whether these monetary and human expenses are justified in combating illegal drugs while approximately 540,000 deaths are attributed yearly to legal alcohol and tobacco consumption (par. 9).A diagnose question in considering the war on drugs is that of how much freedom an individual should comport. John Stuart Mill addressed this question in his seminal work On Liberty. Mill was of the persuasion that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is to sustain harm to others. His own good, whether physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant (LaFollette 290). By this definition, the notion of victimless crime is moot. With no victim, there is no crime. This is a major point of contention among many because humans do not live thei r lives in a vacuum, virtually every action affects someone else in some way.Another important aspect to consider is the notion of harm. Who exactly is being harmed by drug use? If it is the drug exploiter that is harmed, according to mill views we have no right to prevent a rational human being from performing this action, even if the action itself is irrational. If there is sufficient evidence that drug use instantly harms others, that is a justifiable reason to prohibit societys actions. Many in favor of prohibition cite many ways in which drug use harms others, such as drug use increases crime, child abuse, spousal neglect, accidents, and non-productiveness. The problem though, is that drug use does not directly cause these harms, rather it increases the seek of these harms. Rape and murder are always wrong because they always harm someone else by definition. Drug use is more slippery, not every user harms others and no user always harms others. We must decide if the likelih ood of a few users to sometimes harm others is justifiable reason to ban all drug use. This is much like the decision we have already made concerning the risk of gun ownership.James Q. Wilson is an academic political scientist and President Nixons appointed chairman for the guinea pig Advisory Council for Drug Abuse Prevention (NACDAP), the forerunner to the modern DEA. Wilson is a firm supporter of the drug war, arguing that the expenses that would be incurred from legalization far outperform any expense of the current drug war (297). He claims that the notion of drug use being a victimless crime is absurd, that society is not, nor ever has been, unruffled of autonomous beings (297). In his view, drug use is wrong because it demoralizes people, is contrary to human goodness, and degrades society as a whole (297). Wilson is combining a form of cost-benefit abstract utilitarianism with his evaluation of the virtues of drug use.A counter to this point of view is seen in the writin gs of Thomas Szasz, a professor of psychiatry at the State University of in the altogether York. Szasz thinks that when the Declaration of Independence states all men, meaning rational adults, are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, this includes the liberty to self medicate with drugs (White 279). His view is reminiscent of Mills statement that Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign (LaFollette 290). The factors of addiction and danger are thought to have no bearing on the argument, that self harm is not a justifiable liberty limiting principle (White 279). Freedom is and always will be more valuable than natural rubber. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, Those who can give up essential liberty to attain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety (ushistory.org).Speaking of liberty limiting principles, Szasz is speaking from a standpoint of the harm principle, or the idea that law may only rightly restrict an individuals actions if they directly harm another (Mackinnon 233). As mentioned previously, this originated with J.S. Mill. There are other liberty limiting principles to consider though, such as the loving harm principle which claims that the law may prevent an individuals actions if they do harm to society itself (234). In a free market society, anything that erodes competition may be justly outlawed. This may part provide reason for declaring marijuana illegal due to the fact that the top ten drug companies account for more than 50% of Fortune 500 profits and according to Dr. Claudia Jensen, a breast cancer specialist, 80% of prescription drugs could be replaced by cannabis (American Drug War). This would seriously erode the market because cannabis can be grown virtually anywhere as is seen today with its cultivation in areas ranging from backyards to bedroom closets.Another way in which drugs may violate the social harm principle is in their alleged degradation of the family. William J. Bennett, a former drug czar under the Bush Sr. administration, states that not only do drugs harm the users, but also hurt parents, they destroy families, they ruin friendships (Bender 52). If family structure is deemed to be an integral part of societal well being, this argument could stand up under the societal harm principle. There is a risk of committing the post hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy if sufficient evidence of drug use directly harming the family unit is not produced.Viewing the subject of drugs through a deontological lens produces different ideas altogether on the subject. Firstly, the use of drugs for recreational purposes may very well be breaking Kants imperative not to use oneself as a means to an end. Second, the highest purpose of a human is to be a rational being and anything that impairs this force must be inherently bad. Intoxication muddies ones ability to consider situations rationally, hampering ones ability to make a proper moral choice. One c ould also argue that drug use leading to addiction robs an individual of their autonomy, overriding their free will with a drive for consumption at all costs. Also, in relation to Kants saying of universalizability, one could without contradiction will it to be a universal law that nobody injects heroin. I think this principle becomes a bit less fall out when considering substances such as marijuana though.Virtue ethics are most famously associated with Aristotle and provide a refreshing perspective in relation to drug usage and its legislature. By not focusing on the act itself or the assumed consequences of the action, virtue ethics focuses on the character of the agent. Aristotle also does not distinguish between morality and politics because the two are intertwined (Christie 56). Politics are meant to populate society with citizens of good character (56). By employing the golden mean as mentioned in Aristotles Nichomachean Ethics, we can hope to arrive at a balance between tw o extremes. Additionally, Aristotle also takes into account contextual factors such as our willingness to do the right thing, to the right person, at the right time, and with the right sources.The two poles of our current situation in regard to drug usage are absolute prohibition and complete legalization. The associated virtues of these positions could be conservancy and liberalism. I think a strategy of legalization and control would best fit the situation as a golden mean. plunder condoning drug use be a virtue though? It is virtuous to promote virtue and vicious to promote vice. Through prohibition we are greatly contributing to empires built on vice and adding to the already ample surplus of human suffering in the world. Maybe it is not condoning drug use, but having forgiveness for the suffering of others and seeking to minimize that suffering.In conclusion, after conducting my research I am still of the opinion that the War on Drugs is ethically wrong. I have learned many disturbing things involved with the prohibition of chemical substances. Prisons are being privatized, which is good for expense optimization but creates a profit motive to incarcerate people (American Drug War). Their stock is sold on wall highroad based on how many people are in throw away (American Drug War). Almost half a million people are in prison or jail due to drug offenses (drugwarfacts.org). The private companies can also use inmates as private property to do work or produce goods the company profits from, which sounds a bit like bondage to me (American Drug War). The number of marijuana arrests is greater than the number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, meaning that if it were to be legalized, many powerful organizations would lose a great mete out of money (skeptically.org). Many drugs were banned originally due to reasons of racism, empire building, and fear (Hooked). The CIA is alleged to have started the L.A. crack epidemic of the 1980s to finance Nicar aguan Contra efforts, with more or less compelling evidence (Webb). Money seems to control everything. The Partnership for a Drug Free Americas biggest funders were alcohol and tobacco companies until they were exposed, now they only accept from prescription drug manufacturers (Males par. 9). Marijuana is in the same DEA plan as heroin, PCP, and methamphetamine, which is asinine (justice.gov). Cocaine is not physically addictive nor is MDMA (Eldredge 13). No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose (23). Alcohol withdrawal is on par with heroin, and both are awful (15).Drugs do not consume people, people consume drugs and sometimes allow them to take over. A peyote cactus, which has existed on this earth far longer than humans, is not an inherently bad thing yet it is a schedule I offense to grow one in your front yard. I do not think that drugs should be sold from vending machines on the street corner, but under prohibition they virtually are, except not from vending machines. By declaring these substances illegal we are ceding any amount of control we susceptibility be able to exert over a wide range of powerful and potentially dangerous chemicals. People will consume whether society says they can or not, in ever more innovative and industrious ways. The current era of synthetic drugs capable of being manufactured in a seat is due in part to prohibition of less harmful substances. It is cheaper and easier to make your own supply with stuff you bought from Walgreens and Home Depot. Seeking altered states of consciousness seems inhering in the human psyche. Our current efforts with this war against drugs have only served to amplify the negative effects drugs have on society.Legalization and control, much like we do with alcohol and tobacco, seems to me to be the golden mean of this situation. I do not think people should use heroin, but I also do not think I have a right to force them not to in the privacy of their own home nor that we are helping anyo ne by making it illegal. We should stop this madness now, there is an almost infinite variety of substances that exist now or are mere potentialities that will inebriate a human being. We are seeing this across America today with the rise in popularity of incense that has been sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid agonist and sold for $20 a gram. We are like Don Quixote battling an enemy that does not exist while the real enemy is inside ourselves. If we devoted as many resources as we funnel into the drug war toward education, research, and endeavors to better understand ourselves and the world that surrounds us, society would without a doubt have a better tomorrow.

Trends of Internet Health Care

Trends of cyberspace health C beWhat is Internet Health Care?Technology has changed forever the way consumers perceive wellness interest. the lucre is utilized by millions of user to perform daily purport activities such as shopping, bills paying, communication with colleagues or family members, dating, and now wellness care (Bau, 2001). In the past, only physicians were the source and pass onr of health care teaching and services to their long-sufferings (Hesse all, 2005). Also most selective learning pertaining to health was only access codeible in libraries, through medical books.In this new eon of advanced technology, the lucre has become the go to turncock for patient ofs stressing health info as mild as flu symptoms to much serious and life threatening disease as send awaycer. As much as 72% of world-wide-web users seek health information though the internet ( pew 2012). Health seekers utilize this shaft of light to learn more about their condition, see k new treatments, interact with others in the same situation, and entrance answers to questions at any given moment day or night. The internet is allowing its users access to a wealth of information, all that in the concealment of their homes and at less cost. The informed consumers are take a crapting more and more touch in every aspect of their care and they want to actuateicipate in shared decision-making (Sunday, 2000). Internet health information seeking prat help patients be better informed, which can lead to better health outcomes, a better utilization of health service resources, and a stronger physician-patient relationship (Kassier 2000 Murray et al 2003).But, health information on the Internet may be misleading or misinterpreted, compromising health behaviors and health outcomes, or resulting in inappropriate requests for clinical interventions (Eysenbach, Kohler, 2002 Murray et al 2003). To access the full potential of internet as a source of health information, p hysicians need to recognize the potentials of this technology, plot of land being mindful of possible dangers to patients health (Powell all, 2003).What is the cut off?Worldwide about 4.5% of all internet are health equald (Morahan-Martin, 2004). In less than a quarter of century, the internet users grew from 42% to 81% (Fox Rainie 2014). lxx two percent of U.S. adult reported looking for health or medical information online for themselves or for others at least once in the front 12 months (Fox Duggan 2013).The internet not only is a research tool for those seeking information regarding their condition, bit is also a tool diagnosis tool for those searching for answers online. Indeed the 2012 Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project health survey revealed that among the health seekers, 35% were health diagnosers meaning people looking to find answers for specific medical conditions online themselves or relatives might check (Fox Duggan, 2013).Across studies, th e general observation was that higher education directs was powerfully correlated to higher rates of Internet use for health but internet use was not a function of household income (Jansen Spink 2006). Most of the online health seekers (77%) start their search from general search engine resembling Google or through medical web sites (13%) proving some specific health information (Fox Duggan 2013). These results are somewhat inconsistent with a more targeted study by Dickerson, Reinhart, Feeley, Bidani, Rich, Garg Hershey (2004) accessing patients internet behavior in three urban primary care clinics were the majority of the patient (73%) reported starting their search on a medical website.Half of the inquiries are on behalf of a loved one which translates to 39% of the online health seekers commonwealth (Fox Duggan, 2013). Often women (64%) would report searching the net for health information than male (53%) even though they equally access the internet (Fox Duggan, 2013).Why health seekers like the Internet?Seekers of online information always cite tree main reasons for going online. First, the Internet allows them to seek information at any hour second, they can get a wealth of information and finally, they can access the information anonymously (Fox Rainie, 2000).Seekers of online health information are of two kinds those with a diagnosed chronic condition and those without (Dickerson et al., 2004). gibe to studies, they tend to ease up a different approach toward online information seeking. Indeed, multiple studies revealed that people that perceive themselves as being unhealthy tend to be more proactive at seeking online information that will help them get a better instinct of their condition, or to seek for second opinion, or seek advance treatment of their ailment (Fox Rainie,2000 Dickerson et al., 2004) .Most users actually attributed their improve understanding of health issues to the use of internet and some even went further admitting in ternet has force how they manage their health care needs and their choice of a health care professional (Jansen Spink, 2006). The internet is a powerful education tool and a great support to consumer looking to get more involved in their health care and participate in share decision making. Internet improves users understanding of their chronic condition, treatments for their chronic condition, or other symptoms, conditions, or treatments, effects decisions about health or health care or on use of the health care system.Potential benefits of online health informationOnline health information has the potential of improving patients participation in some aspects of their care and their interaction with the care giver (Baker, Wagner, Singer, Bundorf, 2003).Most users go to health sites for research and acknowledgement purposes. Physicians and patient alike use the internet for health information-seeking and communication purposes. Physicians glean the internet to keep up with the latest innovation in their field. It is also a way to connect with colleagues from all other the world as there are no borders restrictions on the World Wide Web. Few use it to eliminate with their caregivers or to buy medicine.Most health seekers seduce been able to get the information they need without reveal personal information. Anonymity is another great benefit offered by the internet. Anyone can go online and look for any symptom or condition without revealing it identity. For extremely shy people or for embarrassing health conditions, the internet is a good alternative to understanding or treating the condition without getting exposed. According to studies galore(postnominal) are using the Web to gather information on behalf of family and friends. Those who are in excellent health oft seek online materials to help someone else those who are in less-than-excellent health are more likely to be hunting for information for themselves (Fox Rainie, 2000). The 2012 Pew health survey reported that about half of the internet health quests are on behalf of a loved one (Fox Duggan, 2012). In addition, Internet has been proven helpful in assisting caregivers in their ability to provide care to cope and support for the person in their care (Fox, Duggan, Purcell 2013). A Pew internet health tracking survey from August to September 2012 revealed that 24% of caregivers (adults ages 18+) surf the net for reviews on prescription drugs, 30% got information , care, and support from people with the same condition, as much as 46% went online for diagnosis, and 72% self-possessed health information online (Fox, Duggan, Purcell 2013)In general, health seekers use the internet to seek information on present or immediate medical condition. It is important to transmission line that in most cases, in person consult with a physician precedes the seeking of online health information. Often, a diagnosis following a doctor visit always urges patients to seek online inform ation in order to better understand their condition. But then again, the decision on when to meet with the physician depends on who the patient is. In general, health seekers looking for information on behalf of a loved one will go online after a doctors visit, while health seekers looking for self will go online before the doctors visit, so that they can actively participate. The Pew health survey reports that 53% of online diagnoses reported their online findings to their physician and 41% had their diagnosis confirmed (Pew, 2012). Those results contradict a study by Diaz et al (2002) conducted on primary internal medical tete-a-tete practice patients who reported that nearly 60% of the patient did not discuss their findings with their physicians.Second opinion seeking health seekers use the internet to get a second opinion.(develop on this)Interactive and E-connecting- (use the article on cancer) there are countless number of online support groups for nearly every disease and condition, with infinite handling topics (Forkner-Dunn, 2003). But just as important as the information exchanged in these e-discussions is the emotional support they provide. Being able to interact with others that can relate to the seeker situation is a coping mechanism. My coping mechanism was to learn as much as I could about my cancer and my treatment, and the most favorable avenue for this was the Internet said Karen Parles a cancer patient. Indeed, patients reported being less stressed about their disease once they are able to communicate with others in similar condition. Karen Parles a lung cancer patient sated because of the sheer numbers of patients online, I was able to find others just like myself, and I no lengthy felt like the only 38- year-old nonsmoker on the planet with lung cancer. This wealth of personal experience and support can be recorded for future reference of patients, clinicians, or health care planners (Forkner-Dunn, 2003).E-monitoring mentioned the in ternet is a tool that can be utilized to monitor patients conditions (Forkner-Dunn 2003). Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity can specially benefit from e-monitoring. Internet can facilitate home management of medical condition via monitoring devices. For instance, monitoring device testing blood glucose level are widely popular among diabetic patients and these devices connected to the internet can ship real time results to patients care giver. Patients can also monitor and transmit their weight via e-scale or access their heart or respiratory rate using e-shirt (Forkner-Dunn, 2003).Internet and physician-patient relationship A study accessing the impact of the internet on physician- patient relationship by Murray et al (2003) found that most physicians agree that patient bringing information to the visit was beneficial to the physician-patient relationship, but negatively bear upon time efficiency. Moreover it had no effect on health the feeling of ca re or the health outcome. Health information on the Internet may make patients better informed, leading to better health outcomes, more appropriate use of health service resources, and a stronger physician-patient relationship (Murray et al. 2003).The internet can have a positive outcome on patients and be the best support they can expect when facing life threatening condition. According to a cancer patient in one study The Internet has impacted my relationship with my oncologists and my surgeon in a very positive way. I would say that the information I learn on the Internet enables me to ask different questions, to affect the agenda, and to feel involved in my care. Online support that I receive from other patients often relieves anxiety and resolves minor issues that I would otherwise raise with my doctors(Penson et al 2002).Negatives and obstacles of internet health informationPrivacy violations Health seekers are scared of what may take a chance to their information online. Th ere is the fear of having their online activities exposed. Anonymity is one of the reasons people get online. To date this is no enforced policies preventing health websites from keeping tract on online users activities and change those data without users content. The absence of enforced policies to guarantee a safe navigation and patients privacy renders the internet unsafe for the most concerned patients. Based on the Pew Research Centers Internet Project telephone survey from July 11-14, of 1,002 adults ages 18 and older, 86% of internet users have tried to use the internet in ways to minimize the visibility of their digital footprints, 55% of internet users have taken steps to hide from specific people or organizations (Rainie et al 2013). specifically 21% of internet users have had an email or social networking account compromised or taken over by someone else without permission. 13% of internet users have experienced trouble in a relationship between them and a family member or a friend because of something the user stick on online.12% of internet users have been stalked or harassed online. 11% of internet users have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security Number, credit card, or bank account information. 6% of internet users have been the victim of an online scam and lost money. 6% of internet users have had their reputation damaged because of something that happened online. 4% of internet users have been led into physical danger because of something that happened online. 1% of internet users have lost a job opportunity or educational opportunity because of something they posted online or someone posted about them (Rainie et al 2013).Inaccurate, incredible and difficult to evaluate few studies to date have been able to access the credibility, and accuracy of online health information. One major problem encounter by health seekers is that most of the information online is too general and outdated (Fox Rainie, 2000, Ric e 2006). Based on forward studies results, internet health seekers find it hard to find what there are searching online, or could not fully comprehend the information, or the information was sweep over or unreadable (Zeng et al. 2004 Berland et al., 2001 ). Health seekers are equally divided when it come to the credibility of the information online (Fox Rainie, 2000). The most common problems mentioned were no new information, information too general, confusing interface/organization, and too much information to process (Rice, 2006).Another obstacle to expansion of online health is inequality. The lack of necessary technology some part of the population is very problematic. Many senior, minority, and lower-income patients will be excluded if online forms of intervention were to be implemented nationwide for lack of access. Previous studies reported (who use the internet). There is a possibility that the expansion of this technology might prove to worsen inequality in the distribu tion and delivery of care rather than ameliorate it (DiMaggio, Hargittai 2001).Previous whole kit and caboodle have also pointed out wide variations in the quality of information available on the Internet. Inaccurate or littlely targeted information can to poor treatment choices. An excess of extraneous, irrelevant, or invalid information can burden health care providers and lead to the provision of efficiently care (Baker, Wagner, Singer, Bundorf, 2003). An assessment of 121 websites on five common health topics to evaluate their credibility reported that only 24% of the sites met more than two-thirds of the published health guidelines for that health topic (Rice, 2006). Berland et al. (2001)also reported that Internet health information has an inadequate coverage of important medical information.Destroy physician- patient relationship the search of information online can lead to unrealistic expectations (Penson et al. 2002). Patients diffusion the internet for information or alternative treatments, getting their hopes up only to have their physician reject it for cause of inaccuracy or irrelevancy may get frustrated put tensions into the patient-physician relationship. Murray et al. (2003) find a correlation between physician refusals to approve inappropriate requests, patients satisfaction, and a lower index of quality particularly in managed care.Physicians sometime feel as patients armed with online information are challenging their authority. This reaction was strongly associated with harms to the physician-patient relationship, quality of care, health outcomes, and time efficiency (Murray et al. 2003).Recommendations Suggestions include kitemarks (seals of approval) for quality Web sites, codes of conduct for development and content of Web sites, market forces, directing users to trusted Web sites, filters, rating instruments for users, and public education in evaluating the quality of online information (Murray et al. 2003)Directing users to trus ted web sites providers can proactive in identifying the best internet health source to direct their patients. Suggested trustworthy organizations by Diaz et al. (2002) are the Health on the Net Foundation (www.HON.ch),the Internet Healthcare Coalition (www.ihealthcoalition.org),and Health Internet Ethics (www.hiethics.org). Past studies show that up to 35% of the internet users do not share their results with physician (Pew, 2014). The main raison being that physician did not ask or did not give the impression of wanting to get involved. Physicians can best assist patients by inquiring about internet usage and by helping in finding reliable source of medical information (Diaz et al. 2002).Provide accurate, credible, Reliable Information web sites aiming at providing internet information should thrive to assure accuracy, credibility, and reliability. Health information provided to patients ought to be useful, up to date, and must provide a list of sources that support the reliabili ty of the information.Privacy HIPPA requirement for health organization using health IT should apply to health information web sites. Patients privacy should be respected and should not be shared without authorization.ConclusionAll major changes always face resistance before people can flying up to the idea and then follow the acceptation phase. Like the universe to telephone in health care more than a century ago, introduction of the internet as a form of health care delivery will take time before it can be viewed as a tool that add value to medical practice.

Black Leaders Of 20th Century Essay -- essays research papers

     BLACK LEADERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY     In the time after the f any of radical dark reconstruction of the ordinal century, African Americans were being oppressed by rural farming, civil rights, economical advancement and sh arecropping. Booker T. chapiter charged the fight for economical and political adaption with his dream of equal civil rights. Timothy Thomas risk was an influential down(p) journalist that fought for the rights of African Americans through literal resistance. The Lonely Warrior, Ida B. Wells was an communicatory voice against lynching through forth America and fought against the oppression of men and woman everywhere.      Booker T. Washington was one of the last great African American leaders born into slavery. Washington emphasized political means and civil rights along with economic means and self-determination. Washington was the founder of the Tuskegee Normal and the Industrial Institu te in 1881, for the development of skilled trade. The Instituted was the largest self-black supported Institution in America at the time. The school taught the arts of trade, self-determination and economical independence of sharecropping. Washington gave the Atlanta compromise Address in 1895, to disclaim the notion of white supremacy and social equality to the south.      Booker T. Washington sought to influence whites, but sought out the solid programs of economical and educational progress for blacks. Washington was one that thought that speaking out against injustice was self-defeating and should be suppressed. Washington founded the National negro Business League in 1900, helped put a stronghold on substantial black population and did little for black business. As the chief black advisor to President Roosevelt and Taft, Washington devoted much of his time to securing federal jobs and used political power to win over key political figures in the North. He a ided many blacks businesses but also hindered the activities of those who spoke against him. He also helped appoint the first black assistant US Attorney General. some(prenominal) of Washingtons ideas and concepts are still being used today in black communities.     Booker T. Washington was in control of many black newspapers that agreed with his views and opinions.... ...hting for all possible rights. Ida B. Wells kept up her fight for black equality for all African-Americans. Her fight stayed alive for some time until mutual friends such as Washington and Fortune decided to push her out of newspaper journalism for black rights and eventually out of the NAACP.     All three figures that are talked about above are some of the greatest leaders in the fight for African-American rights. Booker T. Washington was a fine leader in (towards starting) the movement to push black equality, however he lacked the courage to be a true leader because he o nly wanted to keep whites pleased. The "Agitator" as Thomas T. Fortune was a great editor of black newspaper, next to Du Bois. Fortune is not all that and a bag of chips. He is a man that lived on privacy behind Washington and his ideas, was just a toy of Washington. "Joan of Arc", Ida B. Wells was the anti-lynching spokeswomen and the true heart and soul behind the fight for black equality in America. She is the only true independent leader out of the above. Wells spoke her mind, which was the truth, and she never looked back even when it was her life that mattered.