Native son essay

Native son essay Native Son is a book written by Richard Wright which takes place in the asses. The main character in the book is named Bigger Thomas. Bigger Thomas is a young black man living with his family in a small rat infested apartment in a world controlled by white people. Bigger becomes employed as a driver by a rich white family, and after being made extremely uncomfortable and upset, he kills the daughter of the family. He is then forced to run from the police and has to kill his partner, Bessie.Bigger is caught and prosecuted by the police and experiences extreme racial prejudice urine his trial and is sentenced to death. During both his everyday life, and his trial, bigger is the victim of extreme racism. At the very beginning of the book, a large black rat is running around the Thomas family's apartment. Bagger's sister, Vera, is running around screaming while Bigger and his brother corner it and kill it. This foreshadows the Bagger's later flight from the police.Bigger is running and running, but he is helpless to defend himself against the greater force that is the white people. He ends up cornered, captured, and eventually killed, Just like the rat. This seems to be a representation of Bagger's entire life. After killing the rat, Bigger holds it up and scares his sister with it. Bagger's dangling of the rat to scare his sister is similar to the media and court making an example of bigger. Richard Wright makes it seem like Bagger's life is like a prison even before he is arrested.Atone point bigger says â€Å"Goddamned, look! We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we anti. They do things and we can't. It's Just like living' in Wright) His entire life is dictated by white people, so he has basically no freedom. The crowded, rat-infested apartment he lives in is worse than a prison cell. While presenting his case to the court, Max even says that life in prison would be an upgrade for bigger because his livi ng conditions were so poor.The results of Bagger's trial were greatly affected by the fact that the Judge, jurors, and all of the rest of the court was made up of white people. Their racist views made his trial extremely unfair. During the trial, Max says â€Å"He is a black criminal, and as such he comes into this court under a handicap, notwithstanding our pretentious that are all equal before the law. â€Å"(Richard Wright 382) The trial seemed to take place only to satisfy the law rather than to really give Bigger a chance.In addition to this, the media made Bigger out to be a terrible monster and branded him guilty even before the trial. This media portrayal made the public hate Bigger even more until there was always an angry mob waiting to kill Bigger if he wasn't sentenced to death by the court. Throughout the book, Bigger Thomas is ostracizes by the press. Even before he killed Mary Dalton, his life was like a prison. Bigger is always afraid of the white force that contro ls his life. During both his everyday life, and his trial, bigger is the victim of extreme racism and that ends up being the reason he dies.

Ingvar Kampradi: Wealthy Man, Frugal Man, Entrepreneur Extraordinair

Introduction Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish born citizen and founder and former CEO of Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd or better known as IKEA. Kamprad created a one of a kind furniture company that has become the largest furniture store in the world. The uniqueness is because they company specializes in everything being able to be broken down and shipped, â€Å"from furniture to the now famous mobile kitchens- could be packed in flat, stackable boxes (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438)†. His way of running the company is based on creativity, hard work and being frugal in his own life as well as the way he runs his company.So frugal that when employees travel they must share hotel rooms, a policy not carried in any major company. The philosophies that he has developed for IKEA are distinctive and have provided a successful way of being very profitable. Kamprad’s leadership characteristics have made him a very wealthy entrepreneur and admirable person but with a dark past. A pas t that he does not deny but states that he has learned from this and according to some has a message to send to other that carries great wisdom. Issues Addressed Kamprad’s company IKEA has been on the rise along with that his personal problems also increased.Alcoholism, his history of Nazi affiliation, and store openings where people died were his biggest problems. Even during his personal problems he never failed to provide creativity for IKEA and to make sure the company was on the right track. He always found a way to lead his company in the direction to be successful despite his personal life. His appreciation for what it takes to be successful and the knowledge that he realizes â€Å"there are no guarantees to economic success tomorrow apart from hard work (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438). Answering the Questions 1. Kamprad is the manager of IKEA, while he is not the CEO he still continues to run the company. He is always trying to create any new ideas, and develop philosop hies to make the company better for their customers and employees. Kamprad is a leader because: he does not sit around pointing fingers and collecting money, but he is out there working to make IKEA a better company every chance he can. Continuing his innovative efforts so the company can be ne of a kind and cater to the people and through all his personal problems and personal achievements the company was always placed at the top of the list; â€Å"he likes to say that IKEA is his fourth child (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438). † 2. Kamprad encouraged a level of followership that has made IKEA a unique company. This followership that he created makes people want to work for IKEA and create new ideas. His philosophies are exceptional and out of the box; his claims of â€Å"we dare to do it a different way (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438)† Kamprad says about IKEA.The way he created IKEA and the way he makes sure the company draws people into being involved. People not only want to shop at his stores, but they want to be a part of the company anyway they can. 3. Kamprad does not want his employees to be sheep or yes men but effective active followers that are independent critical thinkers. Some of Kamprad’s leadership characteristics are â€Å"directive, supportive, participative and achievement oriented (Nelson and Quick, 2011- 413). According to the leadership grid Kamprad is deep in the 9, 1 quadrant which is â€Å"Authority-Compliance management: efficiency in operations results from arranging conditions of work in such a way that human elements interfere to a minimum degree (Nelson and Quick, 2011- 409). † 4. Leadership of Kamprad †¢Transactional – uses effort for reward because how much effort employees put into the company, means how much reward they or the company will receive. †¢Transformational – motivates his people to work for the prosperity of the company and not just for themselves. His vision about IKEA helps bond his followers/ employees to IKEA. He is charismatic – focusing on creating a message with his philosophies and connecting with his followers emotionally. †¢Authentic – role model towards the people due to his developing ingenuity and philosophies. 5. Key leadership lessons that can be observed by Kamprad’s experiences: a. Creativity & uniqueness b. Hard manual work c. Work hard but work smart d. Delegate less and get more involved, do not be afraid to be different, and listen to my people. Conclusions Ingvar Kamprad developed very young starting his business; selling matches and cards from his bicycle and later expanding his business to elling fish, Christmas decorations and pens and pencils. This small town boy from went on to build a company from a cash reward given to him by his father for doing well in academics, Ingvar Kamprad built a company that generated â€Å"more than $33 billion in revenue and nearly $4 billion in net income in 2011 ( http://topics. bloomberg. com/ingvar-kamprad/). † He was known as a very frugal man that had a dark past but he learned from his past explaining that his Nazi affiliations where the greatest mistake of his life. He said this because while he was not proud of being affiliated with this organization he learned a lot from being part of it.He learned to not waist anything, do not take money for granted and keep in common the one thing all rich people have; which is to leave beneath your means. ? References Bloomberg. Bloomber. com, http://topics. bloomberg. com/ingvar-kamprad/ Global Business leaders. http://www. globalbusinessleaders. org/WebPage/LeaderBio. aspx? leaderCd=l005&levelcd=c03r045 Nelson, D. & Campbell-Quick, J. , (2011). Organizational Behavior: Science, the Real World and You. (7th ed. ). Canada: South-Western Cengage Learning. Pace, Joe. The Workplace: Today and Tomorrow. The Professional Development Series, Book One.

The local ringgit currency(RM)

The local ringgit currency(RM) convert between RM3. 50 to RM4 to foreigners especially U. S dollar. So the cost of living is cheap by American standards. Which attract foreigners to come to our country for holidays. Others convenience facilities include 1. credit card facilities 2. Money changer 3. local and international banks HSBC,CITIBANK, MAYBANK Transportation Malaysia is served by an excellent transport system. Once you are in the country there is always transport available to you to even remote areas. Traveling by road in peninsula Malaysia is popular as it has well- developed network of roads. BY AIR Malaysia offers discount airline such as Air Asia offering cheap flights. Which enables people to travel worldwide. BY ROAD 1. Buses are inexpensive way to travel in Malaysia, bus routes within towns and cities typically charge fares according to the distance covered. 2. Taxi such as Public cab are available 24hours a day to provide transportation convenient to tourist that come for holiday in Malaysia. BY RAIL 1. It is possible to travel by rail within and to Peninsular Malaysia via Thailand and from Singapore. Malayan Railways or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) connects all major towns in the Peninsular. First, Second or Economy Class air-conditioned coaches are available. 2. The northbound Ekspres Langkawi departs nightly from Kuala Lumpur to Arau in Kedah. Arriving in the morning, it then proceeds to Hatyai, Thailand before returning back to Arau in the evening. 3. Senandung Malam is a KL-Butterworth-KL and KL-Singapore-KL sectional nightly service. Sleeping berths are provided in the first and second class coaches. BY SEA. There are several ports of entry in Malaysia, namely Penang, Port Klang, Kuantan, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Coastal ferries sail frequently between Penang and Butterworth, carrying both passengers as well as vehicles from the mainland to the island. Apart from that, there are many ferry/ boat services available for mainland-to-island and island-to-island travel around the country. Nature Malaysia welcomes you with a range of surprises. A tourist visiting this country is never disappointed as the person gets more than expected out of the place. From pristine beaches to intriguing rainforests, Malaysia has it all for you. Cameron Highlands As one of the most visited holiday destinations in Malaysia, Cameron Highlands are known for their natural beauty. This is a hill station that was developed by Britishers in the year 1920s. The place shelters a huge cosmopolitan population comprising Indians, Chinese, other ethnic groups and Malays. Cameron Highlands are known to be a home for waterfalls, extensive forests and trails that lead to these features and others. The destination is also a seta for tea factories. Visitors enjoy being a part of the tea factory trips through the Cameron Highlands. Pulau Tioman Pulau Tioman lies to the eastern coast of Malaysia. This island was rated to be the most beautiful islands in the year 1970 by the TIME magazine. The island is known to represent the paradise with its natural beauty. Pulau Tioman has white coral reefs contrasted with dense forests in the interiors. The months of November till February see a lot of crowd in this part of Malaysia though, the island is deserted for the rest of the year. Perhentian Islands Lying close to the Thai border and towards the northeastern coasts of Malaysia, Perhentian Islands are preferred family holiday destination in the country. The Islands are known for its spectacular beaches that promise to gift you an affordable vacation. The white sandy shores contrasted with the turquoise blue sea forms quite a treat for beach lovers and holiday makers in this part of the country. The Island mainly consists of two islands namely, Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar

Discourse Analyse of the Simpsons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discourse Analyse of the Simpsons - Essay Example 1. Why does everything have to be a movie? 2. The Simpsons has been tooling along for 18 years now as a TV show 3. and genuine cultural institution 4. and even if its quality has dipped in the last few years, 5. it remains ideally consumed in half-hour increments, perhaps with the occasional extra-long episode. 6. The adventures of the titular family 7. and the dozens of eccentric characters who inhabit Springfield are generally fast-paced 8. and densely packed with jokes, 9. with absurd plots that would fall apart 10. if stretched beyond sitcom length. 11. That’s not a flaw; 12. it’s a perfect recipe for a good TV show. 13. But now we have The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length version of the show that has some snazzier animation 14. but otherwise amounts to a decent oversized episode. 15. For dedicated fans, especially those who remain regular viewers in the show’s later years, this will probably be enough.

Reading and Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reading and Thought - Essay Example I agree with Macdonald that there is great amount of unexceptional all around us, though he doesn’t take into account the technological world, students and society’s lifestyle today. Modern society has a varied ways of providing information at a close range. This is through the use of laptops, tablets or smartphones. Technology has provided the cyber space that provides to accessibility of abundance of news anywhere both internationally and locally. When thinking of anything or any news accessed through the internet, this defines things that impact positively and negatively to the ethics of the society. This is termed as the globes’ unaffected literary works that can be sort through search engines. This helps in finding internet sources that are most relevant to the topics. For instance, when a prospective car buyer searches the web to find dealers to buy used cars, more than a million results will be found. MacDonald would appreciate the use of search engines since they make internet accessible for useful purposes. The advancement of technology makes access of information easier, and just to the need of the person. Therefore, the nature of the printed ma tter that inundates us daily has a connection to the thought depending on the kid of reading. The thoughts of an individual are directly connected and dependent on the information that the individual reads. The information that someone reads is based on the desires and need that have engulfed at the minds of the individual. Interestingly, the accessibility of the information via internet gives everyone the solution to get his or her needs. In today’s world many vices are considered as part of life. Pornography is becoming a cultural practice and everyone in the world today a brace the norm of watching it. In the click of the worn pornography on the search engines, a myriad of solutions emerge and one can view all sorts of actions

Critical review and application in Dell Company Essay

Critical review and application in Dell Company - Essay Example The company is appointing new board member to add to the executive board. The changes aim is to improve on the performance of the company and open new business opportunities for the company. These changes are to streamline the operation of the company, facilitating strategy execution. The company focal point is their consumers. The market is competitive, and for the company to maintain the lead in service provision consumer needs are a priority (Marshall, 2010). That way the company will make an impact in the market, increasing their share segment. The organization is undergoing changes, and effective transition is crucial to it survival. Change is unavoidable in companies. The managers of a company need to understand the model of change that best fits the organization. To do that they have to define what they want to achieve, the time available for them to achieve, the cost and the impact that the changes will bring on the concerned parties. This calls for proper planning and efficient management of the organization. The models of change are many; thus, the managers have to exercise their intuition and expertise in the selection of the best model (Jones, 2006). Irrespective of the change model that a manager decides to use, there are basic concepts that involve changes. The organization should have excellent communication channels to create consciousness of the projected changes. This is important so that the attitudes of people become receptive to the idea in readiness for the implementation. Empowering people through knowledge creates positivity towards the intended changes. When the people understand the foundation an idea they can create an enabling environment for it to succeed (Jones, 2006). The model of action research examines the change process during implementation and behavior of the participants. It also measures the attitudes held through the change duration. The model’s concern

Shakespeare Macbeth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Shakespeare Macbeth - Essay Example ns, he feels threatened by the number of nobles fleeing Scotland and he again seeks out the words of the witches, wanting reassurance that his reign is secure. This continued reference to witches throughout the play prompts one to learn more about why Shakespeare might have included them, how they were envisioned in his England and how an understanding of them might provide greater understanding of the play itself. According to David Linder (2005), â€Å"Scotland’s witch-hunting had its origins in the marriage of King James to Princess Anne of Denmark.† According to the story, James and Anne were planning to be wed in Scotland, but Anne’s ship was forced to turn back from its voyage because of bad storms which were blamed upon the actions of witches back in Denmark. James then traveled to Scandinavia for the wedding ceremony, which did take place, but, upon the couple’s return voyage to Scotland, bad storms again made the crossing difficult and were again blamed on witches. â€Å"Back in Scotland, the paranoid James authorized torture of suspected witched. Dozens of condemned witches in the North Berwick area were burned at the stake in what would be the largest witch hunt in British history† (Linder, 2005). This illustrates the importance of the witch issue within contemporary English society as James first wrote his Demonology and pursued witches in Scotlan d and then, with his coming to the British throne, brought his ideas of witchcraft to England. Given that the play was written with James in mind, James claimed to be a descendent of Banquo, one should probably expect to find elements of both English witch lore as well as Scottish witch lore within the play. Indeed, there are several elements of both English and Scottish conceptions of witches found throughout the first act of the play. One example of this is the witches’ association with animals found at the very beginning of the play. The first witch says, â€Å"I come, Graymalkin!† (I, i, 8)

Phase 2 Individual Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Phase 2 Individual Project - Assignment Example Main Responsibilities of Each Role End User The role of end users especially in information technology (IT) system based development is much vital as they are considered to be the ultimate users of new software on a daily basis. It is the end-users who are aware of the data present in the legacy systems. The primary responsibility of the end-users is to directly interrelate with different computer workstations or terminals in order to effectively conduct their assigned work. The end-users are quite able to differentiate between the formal description and constraints among others for performing their work along with informal practices. Furthermore, they are able to convey relevant valuable information to the users’ representatives relating with the process. In addition, end-users may require participating in the activities concerning Quality Assurance as well. Most importantly, periodically developing functional departments is also viewed to be the other prime responsibilities of the end users (Damodaran, 1996, pp. 363-377). Business Analyst The primary function of the business analysts is to develop means in order to cultivate confidence and respect from both the IT and the business aspects of the organizations. A business analyst is required to understand the stakeholders, employees and customers and their needs ought to be served effectively. Contextually, the most frequent responsibility of the business analysts has been viewed to resolve various problems concerning with the processes and the functions within the organizations while dealing with legacy system development. Furthermore, business analysts are required to combine various functions in order to utilize effective technologies for developing the overall operational procedures. A business analyst is liable to monitor the new IT system after its full implementation (Hernandez, 2012, pp. 1-4). Team Leader The role of a team leader is extremely crucial relating to the aspect of project management . Accordingly, it is necessary that a team leader is flexible in managing his/her team members for successfully completing a project. It has been ascertained that a team leader should perform his or her tasks based on the situations rather than being rigid in following his/her own managing style. Moreover, team leaders should be capable of motivating and encouraging his/her project team. The team leader should be able to control the behavior of his/her project team and support them while performing their respective tasks. The team leader should also be able to promote healthy affiliation among the team members and promote effective communication in order to smoothly achieve the organizational goals. It is worth mentioning that smooth completion of a project largely depends upon the activities that perform by an efficient team leader (Roman, 2011, pp. 1-5). Skills Necessary for the Respective Positions Skills Necessary for End-Users Concerning with end-users skills, high level compet encies and experience are required for adopting as well as exploiting effectual decisions. Moreover, the end-users must possess proper knowledge, know-how and power in order to shape the improvement in accordance with the needs of the organizations. At the same time, the end-users should have the willingness and enthusiasm during the course of the IT development in order to seek

Digital rights management (only the written part) Essay

Digital rights management (only the written part) - Essay Example This is all great for sharing various works and ideas, publishing content cheaply, etc. but there is a problem here as well, and that is what were going to discuss - the issue of Digital Rights Management or DRM for short, with a focus on music files. One of the consequences of files spreading so easily is that â€Å"intellectual property owners lose control of distribution† (Kumik, 2003) and usually don’t get paid regardless of the time, cost, and effort that may have gone into producing it. The music industry has been particularly affected (Peitz et al, 2005). This puts off many from publishing on the Internet, but as a distribution channel, nothing else can compete, so it is attractive as well. Among end users also, there is an issue of privacy (Feigenbaum et al, 2002). Firstly, let me explain precisely what is DRM. According to Subrmanya (Subramanya, 2006), DRM broadly refers to â€Å"a set of policies, techniques and tools that guide the proper use of digital content†. It is clearly â€Å"rooted in and driven by business interests and legal concerns† as pointed out by William Rosenblatt and others in their book ‘Digital Rights Management: Business and Technology’ (Rosenblatt et al, 20 01). Technology enabled the digital revolution to take place, but many content owners are therefore now eager â€Å"for more intelligent, efficient, and effective management of their content† (Hilts, 2003) as well. If we break down the whole process of content flow from ‘packaging’, through transmission, tracking, and delivery, and of course, redelivery, protection measures can be applied at each stage. Already, we have digital watermarking, the protocols for content syndication, rights expression languages, etc. (Becker et al, 2003) But it is not straightforward because in the fast changing world we live in, implementation is still an obstacle as is the legal side, business models change, and

Kingdom of Heaven Essay Example for Free

Kingdom of Heaven Essay Kingdom of Heaven is about a man named Balian from Ibelin who travels to Jerusalem during the crusades of the 12th century, and there he finds himself as the defender of the city and its people. During this movie Balian’s wife commits suicide and he kills his own brother and runs away from the village. Throughout the film Balian tries to gain forgiveness from his father and redemption. The movie concludes as Balian is joined by his new girlfriend Sibylla, and they pass by the grave of Balians wife, they ride toward a new life together. Kingdom of heaven is a historically accurate movie due to the clothes they wore, modes of transportation and the weapons that they used. To prove that this movie is accurate is that the clothes are similar to what they actually wore in the 12th century Crusades. The types of clothes they used in the movie were thin cloth type shirts, pants and leather sewn shoes. For instance â€Å"The shirt is a simple tunic, probably of lightweight linen or silk.†[†¦] â€Å"The man’s legs should be covered with leg wraps or hosen.†(http://www.threeriver.org/marshal/wm_clothing.shtml). This quote shows what a man would wear in the 12th century. This next quote goes over the type of footwear that would be worn in the 12th century. â€Å"[B]rief overview of 12th Century shoe construction and history.†[†¦] â€Å" They are similar to a soft leather moccasin.† ( http://www.threeriver.org/marshal/shoes_1.shtml). Therefore those quotes prove the similarity between what type of clothes and shoes they used in the movie and the ones from the 12th century. Also the modes of transportation from the Kingdom of Heaven and the 12th century are very similar. They both got around by horseback riding. In the movie the horses were also used in battles as they wore armour and in the crusades they also used horses for battle. For example â€Å" Stallions were often used as war horses in Europe due to their natural aggression and hot-blooded tendencies.†(http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm) This quote proves that they really did use horses as a mode of transportation. This next quote shows that they called the stallions warhorses. â€Å"The Knights themselves used different Middle Ages weapons riding on their warhorses† ( http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-weapons.htm). These quotes prove that back in the 12th century they used horses as transportation and also in battle. Furthermore they show how the Kingdom of Heaven is a historically accurate movie due to the modes of transportation. Lastly the weapons used in Kingdom of Heaven are accurate to what was really used in the Crusades. Some weapons that were used in the movie that were also used in the real Crusades include swords, shields, masks, and body armour. For example, â€Å"[W]eapons were used by the Knights Templar, Teutonic Knights and the Hospitallers to fight in the crusades.†[†¦] â€Å"every knight had spent their whole lives gaining expertise in the use of the lance, swords and daggers.† ( http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-weapons.htm). These quotes prove that the weapons used in the crusades include swords and daggers which were also used in the movie. â€Å"The Medieval period of history was extremely violent.†[†¦] â€Å"Medieval Weapons were used by the religious knights who fought in the Crusades.†( http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/index.htm) This shows that the medieval weapons were in fact used by the knights who fought in the crusades. Therefore the weapons shown in the Kingdom of Heaven are historically accurate. In conclusion Kingdom of Heaven is a Historically accurate movie because the clothes they wore, modes of transportation they used and weapons they used in the movie are similar to what they actually wore and used in the 12th century crusades. The evidence proves that they wore thin cloth type clothing, rode horseback and used swords shields and armour which proves that it is in fact historically accurate. Research proves that the movie is in fact historically accurate because the clothes, transportation and weapons are all generally similar to what was actually used back then in the crusades, such as cloth clothing, horses and swords. Overall, the Kingdom of Heaven gives a good explanation as to what happened in the Crusades of the 12th century and is a very entertaining movie to watch. I recommended this to anyone who is interested in history, battles and the Crusades. Bibliography Beattie, M. M. Brief Overview of 12th Century Clothing. The Barony of Three Rivers. Retrieved November 3rd, 2012, from http://www.threeriver.org/marshal/wm_clothing.shtml Furtado, P. (2005,June 1). Kingdom of Heaven. History Today Kingdom of Heaven (2005) IMDB Movies, TV and Celebrities. Retrieved October 29th, 2012, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320661 MAN OF WAR; Orlando Bloom Plays a Warrior Knight in the Lavish Kingdom of Heaven, a [Pounds Sterling]75 Million Epic about the Crusades. but He Tells Mike Goodridge That His Biggest Battle Is to Be Taken Seriously as a Leading Man. (2005, April 24). The Mail on Sunday (London, England) Mayer, H. E. (1972). The Crusades;. London: Oxford University Press. Medieval Weapons. Medieval Life and Times. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. . Medieval Weapons . Medieval Weapons and Armour. Retrieved October 28th, 2012, from www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm Middle Ages Weapons. Middle Ages. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. . Scott, R. (Director). (2005). Kingdom Of Heaven [Motion picture]. USA: Twentieth Century Fox. Snell, M. Crusades Basics What You Need to Know About the Crusades. Medieval History Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Retrieved November 2nd, 2012, from http://historymedren.about.com/od/crusades/p/crusadesbasics.htm

Rachel Nickell The Investigation of Colin Stagg

Rachel Nickell The Investigation of Colin Stagg In July 1992, Rachel Nickell was attacked and murdered, her throat was cut, and she was stabbed 49 times then sexually assaulted. The sensitivity and cruelty of this case from the beginning, police faced pressure from the public and media to solve it. The investigation was carried out by Scotland Yard officers of the Metropolitan Police. After collecting evidence from a crime scene, there was no DNA found, which means that there was no forensic evidence to link any suspect with the crime scene (Evans 1992). The Metropolitan Police reached for help and advice from Paul Britton, a criminal psychologist, as profiling is mostly used in those cases where police have just a few clues (Britton 1997). It uses combination of psychological processes and theories with investigation to create offender profiling, geographical analysis of the crime location and offender, advises on interaction with media and providing interview strategies (Stelfox 2009). The work of Paul Britton can be criticised on the basic grounds, as it looked like he was leading the investigation or had too much powers form investigators instead of just offering the help to investigators to profile unknown suspect. Paul Britton was accused of breaching the British Psychological Societys code of conduct when he helped the Metropolitan Police detectives to design and conduct the operation Ezdell, a honey trap (Morris 2002). Paul Britton gave a detail description of a suspect and directed the investigation to Colin Stagg. However, the main aim of profiling is not to provide information for the police about who exactly committed a specific crime as mention earlier, but to make predictions and suggestions about the most probable characteristics, social and psychological assessment of the offender (Ainsworth 2001, Holmes and Holmes 1996). Paul Brittons work and involvement in this case can be criticised according to Gudjonssons statement, that criminal psychologists tend to work on probabilities, suggestions and predictions, whereas police operate in terms of quilt or innocence, it is like a black and white scenario. It also means that the person labelled a suspect, Britton provided profile of Colin Stagg labelled as a potential suspect, will be presumed guilty until proven innocent (Gudjonsson 1992). Honey-trap: The Metropolitan Police carried out the covert operation just to see if Stagg will eliminate or incriminate himself. An undercover police woman from the Metropolitan Polices Special Operation Group played role of covert human intelligence source (CHIS). She had to establish and maintain a relationship with Stagg to collect information about his sexual and violent fantasies (Stelfox 2009). Due to his psychological profile of a murderer he was supposed to confess and revel his deepest secrets (Roberts and Zuckerman 2004). In his letters he talked about violent fantasies and over the phone described that he enjoyed hurting people. During the covert operation Stagg never admitted to murdering Rachel Nickell. However, Britton was confident about Staggs guilt and received an advice from Crown Prosecution Services lawyers. Once again Brittons role went beyond making predictions and suggestions about most possible characteristics of the suspect (Ainsworth 2001, Holmes and Holmes 1996). He leaded the investigation. Police also believed that those evidences would be sufficient in court and guarantee conviction, after consultation with Britton. Colin Stagg was arrested and charged with Rachel Nickells murder in August 1993 (Evans 1992 and Cohen 1999). The case of Colin Stagg was seen as a textbook example of the unethical use of profiling and the abuse of powers (Turvey 2008 and Ormerod 1999), because the investigation was concentrated on finding the suspect and then constructing the investigation instead of investigating the crime scene and conducting investigation. In the other words, thats an example of a case construction to charge the suspect (Maguire and Norris 1992). However, the entire and sophisticated psychological trap was created by Britton. Stagg was manipulated, entrapped, enticed and promised an affair with a beautiful woman only if he would confess. Simply speaking, the aim of the operation was to trick Stagg into confession. Brittons way of constructing the covert operation, hints during the interview and analysing his reactions were unethical (Cohen 1999, Evans 1992 and Morris 2002). Also an undercover operation was seen as misconceived and the Metropolitan Police tried to incriminate a suspect by deceptive and unprofessional conduct to receive a confession, entrapment and profiling evidence were excluded and the case was withdrew by the prosecution (Ainsworth 2001, Cohen 1999, Evans 1992 and Johnson 2006). Arrest and interviewing: An introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 determined many illegal activities of British detectives and introduced basics changes in approaching and interviewing suspect in the interview room. It is necessary to remember that inappropriate interviewing techniques may result that a genuinely innocent person will make a confession (Ainsworth 2001 and Cherryman, Bull and Vrij 2002). In Colin Staggs case, Paul Britton, gave specific advice to the police about the best way to conduct an interview with a suspect and how to approach him. Those advices were concentrated on the way how to persuade a suspect to confess. Staggs interview lasted for three days and during the interrogation suspects behaviour was contradictory and sometimes confusing. According to Britton, his denials were suggestive his basic intelligence level, it did not go through his mind that the suspect may be innocent (Ainsworth 2001). Stagg was detained in custody for interviewing for three days, however a suspect cannot be detained in the custody for longer than 24h without being charged, or it can be extended to 36h with the authority of police superintendent. If there is not enough evidence to charge the suspect, he/she need to be released on bail. According to those three scenarios, Staggs detentions in custody would be unlawful, but in case of murder charges, a suspect may be refused release and remain in the custody until the trail (Home Office 2010). Trial, conviction and eventual acquittal: There was no forensic evidence linking Colin Stagg with a crime scene, witness said to the police that saw him or a man very like him on the day of Rachel Nickells murder that seems to be enough for the Metropolitan Police to tag Stagg as a suspect. The Metropolitan Police officers were under high pressure from the media and public to get a conviction and tend to misused powers of the science of criminal profiling. They examined and rejected 547 suspects but still have no idea who killed Rachel Nickell. Undercover female police officer tried to get Stagg to confess to Rachel Nickells murder, by encouraging Stagg to talk about his sexual and violent fantasies, promising to have sexual intercourse with him if his was the one who killed Rachel Nickell. Months of undercover work produced nothing, Stagg never admitted to murdering and stabbing to death Rachel Nickell. The police decided to make an arrest and charge Colin Stagg with a murder based on the intelligence collected during the undercover operation. Prosecution withdrew the case and Stagg was acquitted in 1994 (Ainsworth 2001, Cohen 1999). Cold case review and new suspect: In 2002, the Scotland Yard police used their cold case review team to have another look at the Rachel Nickell killing. Officers analysed witness statements, checked files for potential suspects and search for a connection between other crimes. They also compared Rachel Nickells injuries with other victims and contacted Forensic Science Service about new methods of DNA matching techniques (Tendler 2007). Latest techniques were used to take microscopic particles of victims DNA from the clothing and tested them in the laboratory to produce a match. The match did not belong to victims partner or son. Sample was helpful to eliminate some of the suspects, but was insufficient to provide identification (Leppard 2007). In 2006, the Scotland Yard team interview convicted sex killers in Bradmoor Hospital. Robert Napper was interviewed was interviewed three times by the murder squad. Year later, Nappel was charged with Rachel Nickells murder and he pleaded not guilty (ONeill 2007). In 2008 Robert Nappel was found guilty of manslaughter of Rachel Nickell on the grounds of diminished responsibility (Leppard 2007 and Dodd 2007). Robert Nappel and series police errors: Robert Nappel was also known as Plumstead Ripper, was suspected of up to 40 violent raped, but has never admitted to them. Police started their gross errors in judgment in 1989 where they failed to deal with Nappels mother claim who reported that Nappel admitted to raping a woman (Casciani 2010). Police officers could have arrest him before he assaulted and murdered more woman, but instead just ignored the claim (News London 2010). He was eliminated as a suspect from Rachel Nickells murder because he was not often in that area of London. However, Metropolitan Police did not checked Nappels past and current activities or involvement. In fact he knew the area well because he was attending for the psychiatric treatment in the nearby clinic. That was another mistake made by police which could save womens life. There were few situations where Metropolitan Police officers did not joined the dots and saw Napper as a suspect. He was asked twice to give a blood sample for examinations in 1992, after phone calls from neighbours that Napper looks like a wanted rapist. Every time, Napper failed to turn up and after few weeks he was eliminated from the suspects because his height did not fit the description. After few months he was arrested for stalking a woman from the local police station. The police searched his flat and found pistol, ammunition, information about how to restrain someone, maps of London, and his private diary which included addressed of previous victims. If the police would link Nappels belongings found in the flat with Rachel Nickells murder, other local murders, then Nappel hopefully would be arrested quicker. Nappels victims were restrained, their addressed were in his personal diary and he also knew how to commune to their houses. However, Napper was only given short custodial sentence and during the trial, references about his mental state were made. No further actions were taken and he walked free from the police again. Year later, he attacked innocent women again, raped and stabbed her to death. After 6 months his finger prints were found in victims flat, but according to Britton and his perfect policing skills, the scenario was different and he was free again. In 1999 he was arrested for the above murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The Metropolitan Police failed to stop Nappel from committing terrible killing many times as shown above and he remained free for years. That was an example of catalogue bad decisions and major errors that allowed Nappel to murder innocent women. The police did not link few dots together to see overall picture of paranoid schizophrenics actions (BBC News 2008, Dodd 2007, Leppard 2007, Laville 2008, Laville, Siddique, Percival and Sturcke 2008 and Sinclair 2010). The Independent Police Complains Commission (IPCC) IPCC released a report in June 2010 about the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to handling the Rachel Nickells murder. Their actions were described as catalogue of bas decisions which allowed Napper to kill his victims. Police failed to react when Nappels mother called to report that her son raped a girl, he simply continued to walk freely on the street s and pick new victims. They missed serious and clearly visible opportunities to question and arrest real killer, committed dreadful mistakes that resulted in innocent women being murdered and several women suffered violent sexual attacks (Holden 2010 and Maynard 2010). References: Ainsworth, P. B. (2001) Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis, Willan Publishing BBC News (2008) Man admits Rachel Nickell killing, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7783796.stm (accessed on 17/10/2010) Britton, P. (1997) The Jigsaw Men, Banton Press Casciani, D. (2010) Analysis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10216328 (accessed on 17/10/2010) Cohen, N. (1999) Cruel Britannia: Reports of sinister and preposterous, Verso Cherryman, J, Bull, R. and Vrij, A. (2002) How police officers view confession: Is there still a confession culture?, Paper presented to the 10th European Conference of Psychology and Law, Limassol, Cyprus, 12-14th April Dodd, V. (2007) Man charged with murder of Rachel Nickell 15 years ago after new investigation of case, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/29/ukcrime.vikramdodd (accessed on 17/10/2010) Evans, C. (1992) A question of evidence: The Casebook of great forensic controversies, from Napoleon to O.J, John Wiley and Sons Gudjonsson, G. H. (1992) The Psychology of Interrogations, Confessions and Testimony, Wiley Holden, M. (2010) IPCC says police must apologise over Nickell murder, http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6521OH20100603?pageNumber=2 (accessed on 03/11/2010) Holmes, R. M. And Holmes, S. T. (1996) Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool, Sage Home Office, (2010) Police: Custody, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/powers/custody (accessed on 03/11/2010) Johnson, B. (2006) Colin Stagg shows why trial by judge, not by media, is right, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/3625868/Colin-Stagg-shows-why-trial-by-judge-not-by-media-is-right.html (accessed on 16/10/2010) Laville, S. (2008) Nickell case: Missed clues allowed Napper to kill again, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/18/robert-napper-clues (accessed on 17/10/2010) Laville, S, Siddique, H, Percival, J. And Sturcke, J. (2008) Rachel Nickell killing: Serial rapist Robert Napper pleads quilty, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/18/rachel-nickell-robert-napper-murder-guilty (accessed on 17/10/2010) Leppard, D. (2007) Met to charge Robert Napper for Rachel Nickell murder, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2890944.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Maguire, M. And Norris, C. (1992) the conduct and supervision of criminal investigations, RCCJ Research Study 5, London: HMSO Maynard, K. (2010) Its too late to bring misconduct proceedings for the police failure to apprehend Robert Napper before he murdered Rachel Nickell and others, http://www.hickmanandrose.co.uk/Press-Releases/3-june-2010-its-too-late-to-bring-misconduct-proceedings-for-the-police-failure-to-apprehend-robert-napper-before-he-murdered-rachel-nickell-and-others.html (accessed on 03/11/2010) Morris, S. (2002) Honey trap case collapse, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/oct/31/ukcrime.stevenmorris (accessed on 16/10/2010) News London (2010) Police errors led to Rachel Nickell killing, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10216328 (accessed 17/10/2010) ONeill, S. (2007) Robert Napper charged with Rachel Nickell murder after DNA breakthrough, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2961956.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Ormerod, D. (1999) Criminal Profiling: trial by judge and jury, not by criminal psychologist, in Carter, D. And Alison, L. (eds.) Interviewing and Deception, Ashgate Publishing Roberts, P. and Zuckerman, A. (2004) Criminal Evidence, Oxford: Oxford University Press Sinclair. L, (2010) Police failures led to Rachel Nickell murder, http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Rachel-Nickell-Catalogue-Of-Errors-by-Metropolitan-Police-Led-To-Murder-Says-IPCC-Report/Article/201006115642717?f=rss, (accessed on 17/10/2010) Stelfox, P. (2009) Criminal Investigation: An introduction to principles and practice, Willan Publishing Tendler, S. (2007) DNA errors led to murder case review, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1421333.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Tong, S, Bryant, R. P. And Horvath, M. (2009) Understanding Criminal Investigation,Wiley-Backwell Turvey, B. E. (2008), Criminal Profiling: An introduction to behavioural Evidence Analysis, Third Edition, Elsevier

Life Cycle Assessment of Natural Rubber Wellies

Life Cycle Assessment of Natural Rubber Wellies LCA Boundaries and Assumptions: A hypothetical situation was created to symbolize a likely life cycle for a pair of Joules brand rubber boots. Therefore, Thailand was chosen as a source of natural rubber as one of the worlds largest producers. China was chosen as the Joules company website clearly states their products are handmade in China. I contacted the company to see if they could give me information on the location of their manufacturing facility but they could not divulge this. Transportation distances are based on locations of busy forts, shipment through the Suez Canal, and appropriate distances from major ports to smaller retailers within the UK. Another assumption is that these boots are made of 100% natural leather with chemical inputs rather than a mix of synthetic and natural rubber to make the life cycle less complex. Greenhouse gases are considered for processing facilities and transportation but not the footprints of the construction of these facilities and equipment. Also, it is assumed the boots are not recycled or reused and instead, immediately disposed of in a landfill. The working conditions of factory workers in the manufacturing of this product are not specific to the creation of this particular project but the industry overall and facts concerning the presence of rubber in landfills pertains to all forms of rubber (dominated by tires). Step 1: Rubber plantation growth and latex extraction Description of step The sap of the rubber tree, or Hevea brasiliensis, known as latex is tapped by diagonally cutting across the trees bark and allowing the sap to drain (Peeples, 2016). The maturity time for a rubber tree is seven years (Yujie et al., 2012). About 300 ml of latex sap can be harvested from one rubber tree each day (Anjitha, 2013). Over 90% of the worlds rubber plantations are found in Southeast Asia (Gamaralalage, Sawai, and Nunours, 2016; Rubber Manufacturers Association, n.d.). Thailand and Indonesia each produce about one third of annual global rubber production (Ives, 2013). Southeast Asia is only home to 1.5% of historically valuable areas for growth of rubber trees but currently produces 97% of the worlds natural rubber resources (Ahrends et al., 2015). planting in sub optimal regions does lead to crop failures Environmental Impacts Climate Topsoil erosion on monoculture plantations à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   decreased soil carbon sequestration (Ives, 2013). Climate Change likely to lead to unpredictable weather patterns and monsoon periods à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   increasing vulnerability of plantations Large-scale plantation failures in Southern China were linked to drought and/or unexpectedly cold winters in 2008, 2010, and 2013 (Ahrends et al., 2015). Indonesia has faced periods of drought and forest fires that have negatively affected the industry (Suwannakji, 2015). Water Large amounts of fertilizers and herbicides used on rubber plantations à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   eutrophication of local rivers with increase in nitrogen and phosphorus contributions (Gamaralalage, Sawai, and Nunoura, 2016). Terrestrial Ecosystems and Animals Rubber plantations increasingly planted on steeper hillsides à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   monsoon season occurs à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   washout of topsoil, altered pH levels of streams, eutrophication (Kaiyoorawong and Yangdee, 2006) Asian Development Bank reported that in the Xishuangbanna region of China each hectare of rubber plantation loses an estimated 22.5 tons of soil per year (Ives, 2013). Loss of Biodiversity Many rain forests converted to monoculture plantations (Liu et al., 2006; Li et al., 2007) Yunnan Province in China, known for great emergence of rubber industry is also home worlds most northern tropical forests, one fifth of Chinas mammals, and one third of its birds (Ives, 2013). Loss of forest land cover linked to loss of habitat for species In the Yunnan Province of China, plantations are destroying habitats of the Asian elephant and white-checked gibbons (Ives, 2013). Loss of protected environmental lands From 2005 to 2010, more than 610 square km of protected areas were converted to plantation in Southeast Asia (Ahrends et al., 2015). Harm to aquatic environments Eutrophication in water bodies leads to large-scale algal blooms which die and consume all of the available dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments as they decompose, leading to the collapse of ecosystems and die-off. Human Health and Societal Impacts Workers on plantations have no knowledge of the market and are controlled by the landowners that employ them. Price fluctuations can have very fast and damaging effects on tapping communities (Ahrends et al., 2015). Long work hours combined with a lack of autonomy lead to less life satisfaction. Chinese landowners and companies have begun buying up land on the Malay Peninsula. This means profit from sap no longer stays within local communities (Ahrends et al., 2015). Plays into long-term tension in which richer China and Thailand have a tendency to exploite the poorer Laos and Myanmar for resources (Sturgeon, 2013). Deforestation and local environmental change are linked to the harm of local ethnic communities, notably in China (Liu et al., 2006). Increase in malaria cases on plantations plantations provide breeding habitats for mosquitoes including latex-collecting cups and water storage containers (Tangena et al., 2016). In Thailand and Indonesia, 30-40% of all malaria cases annually are linked to farmers and those associated with the agricultural industry (Bhumiratana et al., 2013). Health issues failing eyesight for tappers who generally work through the night in SEA with limited light, eye and skin irritation and respiratory issues from spraying chemicals without protection, and inadequate rest (Kaiyoorawong and Yangdee, 2006). Step 2: Transport of sap barrels to processor facility Huge tanks on pick-up trucks transport sap to processing facilities not far from plantations (Chaiear, 2010). Environmental Impacts Climate considerations for greenhouse gases created from the burning of fossil fuels, notably carbon dioxide Air release of particulate matter, nitrous oxides, etc. that contribute to air pollution Human Health and Societal Impacts Often the people who own the processing facility also own the plantations as one dominated supply chain in which workers have little decision making power. Trade unions have struggled in some countries because companies will just lay off tons of workers to break them up (Kaiyoorawong and Yangdee, 2006). Vehicles used are often old and unsafe from a lack of proper maintenance. A lack of proper infrastructure and safe roadways from plantation to processing facility can increase the risk of fatal car accidents. Step 3: Processing and production of rubber sheets Description of steps: Coagulation collected latex for trees is put into larger tanks and formic acid is added à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   latex is allowed to coagulate (takes about 12 hours), product known as coagulum à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   coagulum is squeezed through a series of rolls to drive out water, product is soft solid slabs (Anjitha, 2013) Smoking Pressed coagulum is draped over wooden frames and smoked in smokehouses à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   several days to dry, result is known as ribbed smoked sheets Can also be done by drying coagulum outside in sun, product is air dried sheets and are better grade (Anjitha, 2013) Environmental Impacts Air There is a lot of particulate matter generated particularly in the smoking stage. Particulate matter can affect growth of nearby plantations and cause human respiratory issues (Anjitha, 2013). Water Water pollution from coagulation process which is very acidic and contains high levels of nitrogen and ammonia (Edirisinghe, 2014). Issues associated with eutrophication and additional potential for groundwater contamination can be considered for this step. Terrestrial Ecosystems Smoking stage requires the burning of a lot of local wood exacerbates the threat of deforestation and loss of biodiversity Human Health and Societal Impacts Low hygiene in production facilities no gloves worn in chemical coagulation treatment (Gamaralalage, Sawai, and Nunoura, 2016). Facilities are likely not cleaned routinely and potential hazards are likely not cleared often. Dizziness among workers from daily exposure to ammonia (Gamaralalage, Sawai, and Nunoura, 2016). Debate about economic gain vs. environmental detriment Some community members in Yunnan Province of China acknowledged environmental harm but said they needed and appreciated the economic gain from the rubber industry (Ives, 2013). The average middle class factory worker in Indonesia makes $8.60 per day and $6.70 in Vietnam (Jiaxong and Yangon, 2015). Very low wages and very dangerous conditions for other careers Another study of the garment industry found the hourly wages for factory workers to be; $0.13 per hour in Bangladesh, $0.26 per hour in Vietnam, and $0.44 per hour in China (Powell and Skarbek, 2004) These have likely risen since 2004 but the proportions still likely remain similar Step 4: Transport of sheets to Chinese manufacturer Ten of the busiest ports in the world are in China with Shanghai being the busiest (Jiaxing and Yangon, 2015). choice for this exercise Environmental Impacts Climate Greenhouse gas emissions need to be considered However, maritime shipping is the worlds most carbon-efficient form of transporting goods (Helms, 2013). Air The largest 15 ships in the world emit as much nitrogen oxide and Sulphur oxide as the worlds 760 million cars. There are few regulations for smoke stack emissions on these ships (Helms, 2013). Human Health and Societal Impacts Price at port dominated by China who control demand for rubber as the worlds largest manufacturer and user (Kaiyoorawong and Yangdee, 2006). Often those working on shipping vessels work long hours and spend many days away from home. This career would make it difficult to have a healthfully functioning family. Step 5: Manufacturing, final product assembly, and packaging Description of steps: Compound mixing Chemicals additive liquid mixture including fillers, vulcanization activators, and accelerators are added to rubber (Anjitha, 2013). There are typically between five and twenty additives in most rubbers one example is carbon black which is used as a reinforcing filler (Forrest, 2015). Shaping consists of 4 main processes Extrusion, Calendaring, Coating, Molding Consists of very large machines used to clean rubber, chop it into pellets, pressurize it, and form it into new sheets under high pressure resulting forms of rubber are specific to industry needs and product dimensions (Anjitha, 2013) Vulcanization Process that allows additives to react with rubber to give it its stiffer, stronger, heat and cold tolerant characteristics subject to very high temperatures (Anjitha, 2013) Liners for boots are spun from polyester yarn A machine spins the form (Guney, 2013) Liner and inner rubber form are formed outer rubber pieces are applied (Nicholson, 2011) several steps and product checks here Company labels applied (Guney, 2013) Packaging with cardboard outer box and paper interior packaging (Guney, 2013) Handmade likely means exterior rubber and sole placement is done by hand but machines still provide greater efficiency at each step (Nicholson, 2013) Environmental Impacts Air There is a terrible odor associated with rubber processing associated with ammonia and other, potentially toxic, compounds (Ives, 2013). Over 30 different potentially harmful chemicals have been found in rubber processing fumes include highly volatile hydrocarbons, amines, aldehydes, aerosols, etc. (Forrest, 2015). Although the Joules company claims to be handmade, it is almost guaranteed that many steps of the production process are partially mechanized. This means all of the machines are powered by fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases when burned (Also linked to climate) Climate Large amount of VOCs created in aforementioned manufacturing processes (Anjitha, 2013). Ozone depleting substances have been found in coatings and adhesives used in some factories (Anjitha, 2013). Other gases produced from the rubber industry include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and carbon monoxide (Akrill et al., 2002). Water Industry produces effluents that are not properly treated in many situations and released directly into surrounding environments à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   groundwater pollution (Hamid et al., 2016) potential impacts to aquatic environments and collapse of communities similar to those mentioned above Ex: Sri Lanka small operations on the island contribute a majority of rubber do not have access to adequate water treatment facilities à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   disgusting odor of water linked to effluent discharge, decreased water quality (Gamaralalage, Sawai, and Nunoura, 2016). Lead has also been found in dangerous amounts in effluent discharge (Akrill et al., 2002). Human Health and Societal Impacts The machines and knives used in extrusion pose occupational hazards for workers whose hands can get trapped when machines get clogged (Hamid et al., 2016). Very loud machines throughout the final processing stages can cause ear drum damage for workers who are not given proper means for ear protection (Akrill et al., 2016). Many negative health effects found: (Anjitha, 2013; Akrill et al., 2002; Ke and Shunzhang, 2002; Chaiear, 2010) Deaths from bladder, stomach, lung, and other cancer in rubber industry- companies claim it is difficult to link to specific chemicals or worker roles, but black carbon, for example, known to be carcinogenic Benzene exposure linked specifically to leukemia in electronics manufacturers benzene also used in rubber manufacturing (Blanding and White, 2015) Skin rashes and other irritation Adverse respiratory effects including chest tightness, shortness of breath, chronic cough, etc Birth defects were also experienced in women pregnant during their work in the rubber industry. The negative health effects of the rubber industry were first studied back in the 1950s (Uchida et al., 1993). The issues are still not being effectively dealt with. The Chinese government often underreports workplace-related accidents and illnesses. Companies attempt to use whatever loopholes available to avoid paying workers compensation and one-time settlements are commonly pushed. The Chinese healthcare system is also inefficient and workers are caught in a complex web (Blanding and White, 2015). Work place accidents are common due to the mishandling of highly volatile and flammable components à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   freqent explosions and associated health impacts and fatalities (Hamid et al., 2016; Chaiear, 2010). Total vision loss for some workers was reported in a massive rubber production zone. The most likely cause was black carbon exposure (Hamid et al., 2016). Increasing suicide rates in Chinas manufacturing industry linked to long work hours and repetitive nature of work (Smyth et al., 2013). One study for hours worked for migrant workers in China showed 40% worked 40-60 hours per week, 25% working 70 hours per week and 7% working more than 70 hours. The mean was 55.5 hours per week (Feng et al., 2002). Many migrant workers are also not part of the workers compensation system in China allowing companies to exploit them and not be held responsible at health for paying medical bills, lost wages, etc. (Blanding and White, 2015). Rationale for products not being handmade in the UK Chinas factories are far cheaper than in other rich nations. Many workers get paid right at the minimum wage which is about one quarter of that in the US. Many companies are moving farther inland in China for even cheaper wages in previously poor rural areas (Jiaxing and Yangon, 2015). Also, studies have found multinational companies offer higher wages and a better standard of living than domestic subcontractors would offer. Therefore, many view the system as important for a better lifestyle (Powell and Skarbek, 2004). Step 6: Transport of final product to port Environmental Impacts similar to Step 2 but the distances traveled are likely longer putting more stress on people are work many long hours away from home Step 7: Shipment of product to the UK Environmental Impacts similar to step 4, assuming freight is coming through the Port of Felixstowe, the UKs largest port (World Shipping council, 2017) Step 8: Transport to UK seller facility Environmental Impacts similar to step 2 and 6 Step 9: Product use Environmental Impacts not very relevant when in the use of the consumer other than considering that people needed to drive to the store or have products delivered from online by truck the previous greenhouse gas emissions and air polluters are also included here (I chose not to include treatments and additional waterproofing coatings sometimes added, but they can contain chemicals potentially leading to air and water pollution.) Human Health and Societal Impacts Company marketing makes one think that the product is handmade by a UK company, but upon further examination it is obvious the product was made in China. After contacting the company, I know it is very difficult to know the origins of any of the natural resources or where the product is actually manufactured. Also, the marketing of Joules attempts to market to rural communities in terms or durability and will show farms in adds, but also market to more posh urban consumers with bright colors, patterns, and bows in designs. Joules has fewer products marketed on their site than many other brands and so want to appear as a timeless brand. However, they still advertise new lines and products differ by year. This is still breeding a consumption culture of needing the new and different design rather than keeping the boots for an extended lifetime. Step 10: Disposal Description of step Although rubber boots could be reused and can have a potentially long lifetime with one consumer, we are skipping directly to disposal in a landfill. There are over 200 million waste tires in the US alone taken to landfills each year. Rubber only makes up less than 8% of total US landfill composition (Clark, 2013). There is also waste from all of the other production processes that is also likely transported to landfills or not disposed of the most environmentally conscious way. For example, the cardboard and paper packaging could be recycled, but for this case, I will assume the consumer fails to do so. Undesirable rubber sheets due to insect accumulation or products made incorrectly likely go to landfills as well, piling up as workplace hazards in factories before disposal. However, this is the consumer usually does not consider. Environmental Impacts Water Natural rubber would be biodegradable before treating but additives and layers apply make this unlikely in landfills. Chemical additives can leach out of improperly sealed landfills à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   water pollution (Clark, 2013) Climate Natural rubber in landfills, if able to biodegrade will still contribute to methane creation within landfills. Human Health and Societal Impacts Countries like the UK with very limited land area need to make tough decisions as a society about how to ethically and efficiently deal with issues of waste. Therefore, in this way each consumer is affected. References Ahrends, A., Hollingsworth, P. M., Ziegler, A. D., Fox, J. M., Chen, H., Su, Y., and Xu, J. (2015) Current trends of rubber plantation expansion may threaten biodiversity and livelihoods. Global Environmental Change, 34, 48-58. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.06.002. Akrill, P., Cocker, J. and Dixon, S. (2002) Occupational exposure in the rubber manufacturing industry. IARC, 134: 265-269. Anjitha, G. (2013) Rubber and environment. Sri Lanka Insitute of Information, Technology. Academia.edu. from http://www.academia.edu/6391326/Rubber_and_environment [12.2.17] Bhumiratana, A., Sorosjinda-Nunthawarasilp, P., Kaewwaen, W., Maneekan, P., and Pimnon, S. (2013) Malaria-associated rubber plantations in Thailand. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 11(1), 37-50. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.allegheny.edu:2048/10.1016/j.tmaid.2012.11.002. Blanding, M., and White, H. (2015) How China is screwing over its poisoned factory workers. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2015/04/inside-chinese-factories/#slide-3 [5.3.17]. Chaiear, N. (2010) Update on health and safety in the rubber industries. GB: Ismithers Rapra. Clark, T. (2013) Advancements in rubber disposal: Biodegradation and the environment. ENSO Plastics, LLC. International Latex Conference 2013. ://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140501222120-11496812-advancements-in-rubber-disposal-biodegradation-and-the-environment [27.2.17] Edirisinghe, J. C. (2014) Taxing the pollution: A case for reducing the environmental impacts of rubber production in Sri Lanka. Journal of South Asian Development, 9(1), 71-90. doi:10.1177/0973174113520585. Forrest, M. (2015) The composition and nature of vulcanisation fumes in the rubber industry A technical review. Progress in Rubber, Plastics and Recycling Technology, 31(4), 219-264. Gamaralalage, D., Sawai, O., and Nunoura, T. (2016) Effectiveness of available wastewater treatment facilities in rubber production industries in sri lanka.International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 7(12), 940-945. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.allegheny.edu:2048/10.18178/ijesd.2016.7.12.908. Guney, I. (2013) How its made: rubber boots. Discovery Channel. Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuSWAMxdcHg [25.2.17]. Hamid, A., Saeed, I., Akhtar, S., and Ahmad, S. R. (2016) Environmental profile of a rubber industry. Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 15(3), 957-961. Helms, J. (2013) Worlds 15 biggest ships create more pollution than all the cars in the world. Industry Tap News. http://www.industrytap.com/worlds-15-biggest-ships-create-more-pollution-than-all-the-cars-in-the-world/8182 [28.2.17]. Ives, M. (2013) The rise of rubber takes toll on forests of southwest china. Yale Environment 360 (E360). http://e360.yale.edu/features/the_rise_of_rubber_takes_toll_on_forests_of_southwest_china [12.2.17]. Jiaxing and Yangon. (2015) The future of factory Asia: A tightening grip. The Economist. http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21646180-rising-chinese-wages-will-only-strengthen-asias-hold-manufacturing-tightening-grip [26.2.17]. Kaiyoorawong, S. and Yangdee, B. (2006) Rights of rubber farmers in Thailand under free trade. Project for Ecological Awareness Building. http://wrm.org.uy/oldsite/countries/Thailand/Rights_of_rubber_farmers_in_Thailand.pdf [27.2.17] Ke, L., and Shunzhang, Y. (2002) Mortality in a Chinese rubber factory: A prospective cohort study. Journal of Occupational Health, 44(2), 76-82. doi:10.1539/joh.44.76. Li, H., Aide, T. M., Ma, Y., Liu, W., Cao, M. (2007) Demand for rubber is causing the loss of high diversity rain forest in SW China. Biodiversity and Conservation, 16(6), 1731-1745. doi:10.1007/s10531-006-9052-7. Liu, W., Hu, H., Ma, Y., Li, H. (2006). Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of increasing rubber plantations in Menglun Township, southwest China. Mountain Research and Development, 26(3), 245-248,250-253. Nicholson, J. (2011) Boot assembly operations. Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nDuWIp3K0 [25.2.17]. Peeples, L. (2016) The origin of rubber boots. Scientific American. The Sciences Online. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/origin-rubber-boots-amazonian-indians-goodyear/ [25.2.17]. Powell, B. and Skarbek, D. (2004) Sweatshops and third world living standards: are the jobs worth the sweat? The Independent Institute. http://www.independent.org/publications/working_papers/article.asp?id=1369 [5.3.17]. Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). (n.d.). Rubber faqs. RMA online. https://rma.org/about-rma/rubber-faqs/ [12.2.17]. Smyth, R., Qian, X., Nielsen, I., and Kaempfer, I. (2013) Working hours in supply chain Chinese and Thai factories: Evidence from the fair labor associations Soccer project. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 51(2), 382-408. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8543.2011.00881.x. Sturgeon, J. C. (2013) Cross-border rubber cultivation between China and Laos: Regionalization by Akha and Tai rubber farmers: Cross-border rubber cultivation. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 34(1), 70-85. doi:10.1111/sjtg.12014. Suwannakij, S. (2015) Too much rubber, too few tires leaves tappers in a sticky place. Bloomberg Markets. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-29/too-much-rubber-too-few-tires-leaves-tappers-in-a-sticky-place [26.2.17]. Tangena, J. A., Thammavong, P., Wilson, A. L., Brey, P. T., and Lindsay, S. W. (2016) Risk and control of mosquito-borne diseases in southeast Asian rubber plantations. Trends in Parasitology, 32(5), 402-415. doi:10.1016/j.pt.2016.01.009. Uchida, Y., Nakatsuka, H., Ukai, H., Watanabe, T., Liu, Y. T., Huang, M. Y., and Ikeda, M. (1993) Symptoms and signs in workers exposed predominantly to xylenes. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 64(8), 597-605. World Shipping Council. (2017) About the industry: top 50 world container ports. World Shipping Council. http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/global-trade/top-50-world-container-ports [28.2.17]. Yujie, Z., Jusheng, J., Zongbo, P., Qunhui, W., and Daiqun, X. (2012) Ecosystem management in the natural rubber industry. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 3(3), 230-235. doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2012.03.005.

Antidepressants and Peritoneal Dyalisis Essay examples -- Health, Trea

Antidepressants and PD Medically based treatments are commonly used in treating depression in PD patients. It is suggested that when choosing the correct antidepressant medication, the major symptom should be of focus. For example, if an anxious patient presents with sleep difficulties, a sedative antidepressant should be prescribed. However, it is noted that with the progression of PD, antidepressant should be monitored as some have negative effects with the course of PD (ex. psychomotor retardation in the case of the sedative antidepressant) (Reichmann et al., 2009). Tricyclic antidepressants are commonly used with patients presenting exclusively with major depression, but little research has been done with PD patients and should be used with caution (Reichmann et al., 2009). A Cochrane review conducted in 2003 found only three randomized control trials of 106 depressed patients diagnosed with PD and the researchers concluded that there was limited data to support the effectiveness of antidepress ants (Ghazi-Noori, Chung, Deane, Rickards & Clarke, 2003). Further research is warranted on the effects of medications used to treat anti-parkinsonism symptoms in tandem with drugs used to treat depression. The most common antidepressant used with PD is selective serontonic re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), and interestingly, very little research has been conducted on its use and long term treatment (Reichmann et al., 2009). Treatment of depression for PD patients There is a lack of research literature on psychotherapy treatment of depression with PD patients (Veazey, Cook, Stanley, Lai & Kunik, 2009); this may be due to feasibility of long term research with this population as well as sample being unable to come to treatment... ...omplex as that found within the literature on depression and anxiety in PD. Research has linked cortical Lewy bodies and has shown cholinergic deficiency linked to cognitive impairments (Kandiah et al., 2009). Early diagnosis of dementia in a PD patient is important as effect treatments are available (Dujardin, Dubois, Tison, Durif, Bourdeix, Pere et al., 2010). Successful treatment using cholinesterase inhibitors rivastigmine and less successful with dopamine therapy have been found (Davie, 2008; Leroi, Collins & Marsh, 2006). Dementia with Lewy bodies differs from PD with dementia in that the latter has greater cell loss found in the substantia nigra and the former has greater cortical beta-amyloid deposition. Dementia with Lewy body patients is less responsive to dopamine treatment and it can intensify cognitive confusion and hallucinations (Davie, 2008).

Free Essays - Use of Excessiveness in Twelfth Night :: Twelfth Night essays

Use of Excessiveness in Twelfth Night There are many methods to catching an audience's attention. Shakespeare for example, uses the method of excessiveness in his characters. Proof of this is shown in various forms throughout the novel, beginning with Orsino's obsessed love of Olivia. Then followed by Olivia's mourning for her long lost brother, and then her sudden change in interest. As well as thirdly, Viola's attitude of excess towards Orsino, we can see the method used for yet another time. The first Act jumps quickly into this form of excessiveness, drawing the reader into the novel, and gives personality to the characters. The thought of somebody being in love with another, whom they have never met, and never spoken to, is pure insanity. This man is clearly infatuated with this woman to " an excess." He is a perfect example of excess, since he is the first to mention it, and shows it rather clearly in his actions towards Olivia. He sends her messengers, thinks about her all the time, and every move he makes, is somehow related to her, although she has no idea who he is. Olivia herself, is another prime example of excess. Olivia shows it in two main ways starting with the mourning of her brother and father's death. Mourning, on a whole is a good normal thing, but in excess, (in this case, 7 years), is too much. She needs to move on with her life, and go on and do things, but she doesn't realize this until the spotting of Viola/Cesario, which brings me to her second way. Olivia becomes excessive over her/him, sending her messenger out to fetch him, just so she can see her/him again. Our third of many examples of excess in this act, is Viola's love for Orsino. Instead of leaving the country she was brought to and go back home like any other person, she disguises as an eunuch, so she can work for him. She would do anything to make him happy, even help him get Olivia's love, just for him to notice her. I think that, qualifies for excessiveness in this play. As you can tell, Shakespeare used many examples of excess in his writing, from the very start of the first scene.

Digestion

The food that is ingested needs to go through several processes in the body before it is assimilated into the body. These processes occur in the alimentary tract which is a long structure beginning from the mouth to the anus. There are also other important chemicals, hormones and digestive juices which are involved in this whole process. These are found in specific portions of the tract and each food is digested or broken down in specific region. Therefore, the breakdown of food is either mechanical or chemically carried out.The end result is the division of the food into very small components or sizes that can pass through into the cells (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004). Everyone has at one time embarked on a journey in their lifetime. In addition to this, you hope to have a smooth trip and reach your destination safely. Herbert the hamburger has prepared to go through a very long and tortuous journey of his life. Everything is in place and he only hopes to have a safe trip. The main purpose of this trip is to deliver very vital documents that are needed to a company known as Body Builders.If these documents do not reach their destination, the company dies. These documents includes; Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Minerals. The journey begins in the mouth where Herbert goes through some rough machines known as the teeth. This breaks it down into small forms through mastication. The document known as carbohydrate starts to be processed in the mouth and it involves a good friend known as saliva who is the boss in this department. Saliva does this with the help of amylase. This breaks it down into simple forms. From the mouth, permission is anted to move to the next level.To do this, Herbert is rolled into a bolus by the tongue and thrown at the back of the mouth. The epiglottis prevents Herbert from going through the trachea which is a wrong route. Herbert moves down in a smooth wave known as peristalsis into the esophagus until it reaches the gate of another de partment known as the stomach. This gate is known as the cardiac sphincter (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004). In the stomach, enzymes are also involved in the digestion process. Protein digesting enzymes are known as proteases. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.The bonds existing between them are broken down by hydrochloric acid from gastric wall. This is followed by breakdown of amino acids by the enzyme pepsin (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004). The food enters the small intestines through the pyloric sphincter. In the small intestine, pancrease produces amylase which further breaks carbohydrates to lactose, sucrose and maltose. These are broken down by lactase, sucrase and maltase enzymes respectively. These three are converted to an important form known as glucose which is absorbed via the villi on the walls of the intestines and finally find its way into blood circulation.Glucose is necessary for cell metabolism and function. However, the amount of glucose is regulated b y the liver with the help of hormones. Too much glucose (hyperglycemia) is transformed into glycogen and stored in the liver through the help of insulin. In cases where glucose levels are low in the blood (hypoglycemia), the reverse happens i. e. conversion of glycogen to glucose with the help of the hormone glucagon. In cases where there is no glycogen, the hormone glucagons initiate formation of glucose from amino acids or fats.This process is known as gluconeogenesis (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004). The digestion of fats is with the help of enzymes known as lipases. Fats are complex molecules and should be turned into small molecules. This happens with the help of lipase enzyme from the pancrease and the end result is glycerol and fatty acid molecules. In addition to this process, bile from liver enters through the bile duct and emulsifies the fat. This makes it easy for the enzyme (lipase) to break down the fats starting from the surface. Storage of the bile usually occurs in the gall bladder.The body absorbs fats through the villi that cover the small intestines. The structure of the villus is such that it has capillaries and lacteals (lymph vessels). Fatty acids and glycerol enter into the lacteals into lymphatic system and finally bloodstream. Fatty acids find its way into adipose cells for storage or as source of energy (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004). Protein digestion also continues in the small intestines in duodenum. The pancrease produces protease enzyme namely trypsin. In addition, chymotrypsin is also secreted. It works in a similar manner as pepsin.The end result of breakdown of protein by trypsin is amino acids. This is done through hydrolysis with insertion of water molecule between the bonds of amino acids. This helps in separation of the bonds that hold the amino acids together. The amino acids can thus pass through the intestinal wall into bloodstream. Their importance is in the repair of structures of the body. The waste products and undige sted material move to the large intestines where water is re-absorbed. From there, it moves to the cecum and out through the anus (Insel, Turner and Ross, 2004).

Resistance to Change in Food and Beverage Department

1 Resistance to Change: A Case Study in the Food and Beverage Department 2 Change is common in an organization and is initiated due to the need to survive and adapt to the changing market. As change is a disruption of routines and what people are used to, resistance to change is a common reaction of the change recipients. People resist changes because changes are uncomfortable and require them to adapt to a new way of thinking and doing things. Also, people have trouble envisioning how life will be like after changed; hence, they tend to stick to the unknown rather than embracing the unknown.This essay is going to demonstrate why employees resist change in the hospitality and gaming organization with around 6000 employees and how the change agent can turn their resistance to advantages. The Food and Beverage department (F&B) is undergoing a change in the food safety management initiated by the new F&B director. The director attempts to introduce a new food safety audit scheme with th e objective to raise the food safety standard of the dining outlets. The change recipients, the F&B Kitchen, Service and Stewarding eams, are resisting the change by ignoring the director’s requests and refusing to cooperate with him. The change of food safety management creates disruption in the daily operations of the change recipients. As a result, rather than providing improved services, the number of guests’ complaints and the turnover rate of F&B staff increase drastically one month after the change has started. The process of change is now stuck at its beginning because of the conflicts between the director and the F&B teams. The employees’ reactions and resistance are so great that the change The proposed change, which is ow appears to be impossible to implement. originally of a good intention to upgrade the F&B outlets, is doomed to failure because the change agent – the F&B director – is so engrossed in his plan that he never tries to und erstand the reasons of resistance to his proposed change. 3 When the change was initiated, the change agent employed a consultant to assist in the process of change. The consultant works out a plan of the new food safety practices on what has to be changed and to what extent these things have to be changed.The use of outsider to teach and give comments to the F&B teams on how things should be done gives them an impression that their experience is not valued and their ways of work are not respected. The assumption in the change recipients’ minds is that their new boss thinks they have not been delivering a satisfactory performance in food safety so the director has employed an outsider to look for their wrongdoings. Other than the daily operation of the outlets, the change affects the social relationship among the three F&B teams and the food safety audit team.The use of a stricter audit system means that they have to work harder to comply with the standards. Moreover, failing the food safety audit will result in disciplinary actions, such as issue of warning letters or temporary suspension of work. Therefore, the social relationship among the three teams changes from cooperating with one another into shuffling the blame of food safety standard non-conformance off to one another. In addition, in the past, the F&B teams worked closely with the food safety audit team in upholding the agreed standard.However, because of the fear for failing the higher food safety standard, the F&B teams have become hostile to the audit team and are always trying to argue with the audit team on the result of audit. Another reason of resistance to change is that the director has put too much pressure on his teams in upholding the high standards and meeting the targets of continuous increase in restaurants’ income and reduction in operating cost. These unrealistic objectives lead to a huge workload and pressure and cause the teams overload. 4 Conflicts among the teams e merge, leading to frustrations and anger of the employees and finally, high turnover rate.The shortage of manpower in the restaurants contributes to the unsatisfying customer service and increase in guests’ complaints. Besides, the pressure of the restaurant managers and chefs to fulfill the objectives creates panic and confusion in the operating level. In order to save cost, chefs tend not to maintain the food safety standards that request them to throw away unused food items. On the contrary, the food audit team and the outlet managers demand the This confusion in employees to comply strictly with the food safety standards. peration and food safety practices leads to employees’ frustration, high turnover rate, and, consequently, shortage of labor in the restaurants, especially when the unemployment rate of the economy is so low that it is very easy for the employees to get another job. In addition, the change agent fails to listen to the employees when he is implemen ting the changes. The outlet managers and chefs have already told him that the high food safety standard is unrealistic and impossible to attain. The neglect of the employees’ frustrations has led to the employees’ chronic resistance and persistent hostility towards the change agent.As a result, that particular change and other beneficial changes introduced by the director do not work as planned and are totally rejected by the change recipients. Without the cooperation of the change recipients, the project is in slow progress because they try to fool around with the consultant and the director and refuse to cooperate. As the resistance of change persists, the change appears to fail sooner or later. The main reason of failure is that the change agent perceives the resistance as the â€Å"enemy 5 of change† because of the belief that a change process with only minimal resistance is a good change (Waddell and Amrik, 1998).In fact, resistance, like pain, reflects th at What something is wrong in the process, but not that the change itself is wrong. causes the resistance is how the change is implemented instead of what has to be changed. change. Resistance, when managed carefully, can be used as an advantage to assist In fact, resistance is an important form of feedback, giving the change agent some valuable inputs on what have gone wrong in the implementation of change. Therefore, the director should look into the resistance, try to understand it and use it to refine the change effort.In order to reduce resistance, it is essential to build a guiding coalition with the restaurant managers and chefs. In order to build the coalition, the director should abandon the idea that he is doing the right and proper thing while the change recipients are throwing up unreasonable obstacles or barriers intent on â€Å"doing in† or â€Å"screwing up† the change (Dent and Goldberg, 1999). Furthermore, the change agent should always communicate wit h the change recipients and try to understand the uncertainties and potential problems, caused by the change, faced by change recipients.He should also present his vision and the company goals clearly so that the change recipients can align their objectives with that of the change agent and the company. Moreover, Spreitzer and Quinn state that change agents contribute to the occurrence of what they call â€Å"resistant behaviors and communications† through their own actions and inactions, owing to their own ignorance, incompetence, or mismanagement (1996). The director, instead of trying to understand the difficulties his employees are facing in their operation, uses fear management and exerts pressure on the outlet 6 anagers and chefs to change because he believes that this particular change is good and necessary for the company. However, as Hultman (1979) comments that it is a fallacy to consider the change itself to be inherently good because change can only be evaluated b y its consequences. This belief cannot be proved with any certainty until the change effort has been completed and sufficient time has passed. The change agent should, rather than getting an outsider – the consultant – to initiate the change, elicit participation from the teams and respected their opinions regarding the routines of the restaurants.Besides, the change agent should create a great sense of urgency in that particular change, for example, whether it is government requirement or market driven (Ford et al. 2008). Without explaining the need and urgency of change, the change recipients In fact, the change are unable to relate the change with the objective reality. proposed by the director is driven by the government food safety policy which will be put into practice next year, the highly competitive market and the increase in customers’ demand of high quality food and services.Therefore, there is an urgent need for the company to continuously improve an d meet the demand of the customers in order to maintain profits and market share. It is fairly easy for the change agent to scapegoat the change recipients for the failure of change because of the uncooperative and hostile attitude of the change recipients. However, the change agent should understand that change is a situation that interrupts the normal patterns of organization and calls for participants to enact new patterns. This process involves the interplay of deliberate and emergent processes that can be highly ambiguous (Mintzberg and Waters, 1985).Change is an interruption of normal operation and implies an increase in workload, at least during the period of 7 change implementation. It is not difficult to imagine that the change recipients are reluctant to accept change right at the beginning, especially when they cannot foresee any immediate or long-term benefits. Therefore, the process of change should be carefully planned and well-communicated in order to get the particip ation and support of the change recipients. On the other hand, participations of the change recipients should be valued respectfully.Participation is a feeling on the part of people to be involved in a process but not just being called in to take part in discussions. People are more likely to respond to the way they are customarily treated and whose opinions are respected rather than being asked some carefully calculated questions about their opinions (Lawrence, 1969). The wrong way to elicit participation by overselling the positive and underselling the negative that the change will bring about will be perceived by the change recipients as intentional misrepresentation, injustice and violation of trust between the recipients and the agent (Mintzberg and Waters, 1985).Consequently, the change recipients will be more defensive to change and may even intentionally deliver bad performance in order to prove that the change is a failure. In fact, resistance is a resource that can be full y utilized when it is acknowledged and understood. Change agents have to be aware of the problems caused by change because these problems are constructed from novel, discrepant, or problematic situations that are puzzling, troubling, or uncertain to the participants of change (Weick, 1995).The emergence of problems demonstrates the potential obstacles that These problems, when will be encountered on the way to a successful change. managed carefully, can become advantages that greatly assist the process of change. Resistance is a form of conflict that strengthens and improves not only the quality of 8 decisions, but also the participants’ commitment to the implementation of those decisions (Amason, 1996). Hence, the F&B director should realize that he has to e-introduce the change as the benefits to the department and the company as a whole, and try to regain the trust of the F&B teams by inducing their participation with respect, taking more responsibilities in the occurrence of resistance and empowering the teams in the process of change. As a result, the process of change will be smoother and will ultimately succeed with the emergence of resistance. 9 Bibliography AMASON, A. C. (1996) Distinguishing the effects of functional and dysfunctional conflict on strategic decision making: resolving a paradox for top management teams. Academy of Management Journal, 39, pp. 23-148. BUCHANAN, D. A. and HUCZYNSKI, A. A. (2010) Organizational Behaviour. 7th ed. England: Pearson Education Limited. DENT, E. B. and GOLDBERG, S. G. (1999) Challenging â€Å"resistance to change†. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 35, pp. 25-41. FORD, J. D. et al. (2008) Resistance to change: the rest of the story. Academy of Management Review, 33 (2), pp. 362-377. HULTMAN, K. (1979) The Path of Least Resistance. TX, Denton: Learning Concepts. LAWRENCE, P. R. (1969) How to deal with resistance to change. Harvard Business Review, 1, pp. 49-57. MALTZ, M and BASLER, F. (1997) P ortable Conference on Change Management.Hiam: HRD Press. MINTZBERG, H. and WATERS, J. (1985) Of strategies, deliberate and emergent. Strategic Management Journal, 6, pp. 257-272. PARDO DEL VAL, M. et al. (2003) Resistance to change: a literature review and empirical study. Management Decision, 41 (2), pp. 148-170. SHAPIRO, D. L. , and KIRKMAN, B. L. (1999) Employees’ reaction to the change to work teams: the influence of â€Å"anticipatory† injustice. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 12(1), pp. 51-66. SPREITZER, G. M. and QUINN, R. E. (1996) Empowering middle managers to be transformational leaders. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 32, pp. 37-261. 10 TORMALA, Z. L. , and PETTY, R. E. (2004) Resisting persuasion and attitude certainty: a meta-cognitive analysis. In KNOWLES, E. S. and LINN, J. A. , (eds. ) Resistance and Persuasion. Mahwah , NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp. 65-82. TRADER-LEIGH, K. E. (2002) Case study: identifying resistance in mana ging change. Journal of Organization Change Management, 15(2), pp. 138-155. WADDELL, D. and AMRIK, S. S. (1998) Resistance: a constructive tool for change management. Management Decision, 36 (8), pp. 543-548. WEICK, K. (1995) Sensemaking in Organizations. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

How has the role of the nation-state changed in a globalised society?

Introduction There has been considerable debate about whether globalisation has changed the role of the nation-state. While a somewhat nebulous concept, a nation-state can be defined as a geopolitical entity deriving its legitimacy through the service of a sovereign population or nation (Holton 2011; Croucher 2004). Globalisation can be loosely understood as the increasing political, cultural, and economic interaction of international populations (Al-Rodhan et al. 2006). This essay will look at the changing role of the nation-state in the modern period of globalisation (post-WWII), although there is certainly much to be said about earlier periods. In terms of structure, it will begin by considering economic, political, and cultural changes. This will be juxtaposed by the following section outlining arguments that downplay the relationship between globalisation and the nation-state. It will be concluded that the nation-state has undergone substantial change in the globalised world, but that there remains a great deal of structural continuity. Globalisation has the changed the economic role of the nation-state in several respects. Cerny (1995) suggests an erosion of the ability to provide all three main kinds of public good: regulatory, productive/distributive, and redistributive. One ‘good’ in the first category is a stable currency, the control of which has traditionally fallen within the remit of the national banks or their equivalents. This is still theoretically true, but today foreign governments, organisations, or even individuals can play a critical role because of globalisation. One need only consider Black Wednesday (16 September, 1992) in Britain, when George Soros ‘broke the Bank of England’ by short-selling the pound, or the gradual accumulation of American dollars by China due to the latter’s trade surplus, to see how globalisation has stripped the nation-state of much of its power in terms of controlling currency. In the world o f rapid communication, especially via the internet, the situation has become even more difficult to control (Goksel 2004; Evans 1997; Cerny 1995). In addition, globalisation often means the presence of numerous foreign firms within national borders, which can lead to currency fluctuations as a result of foreign remittances. The rapid transfer of economic instability across borders, as was the case during the global financial crisis (2007-8) or the financial crisis in East Asia (1997-8), shows how the role of the nation-state in maintaining economic order has been eroded more generally (Goksel 2004). It is argued by Strange (1997) and others that the balance of economic power has shifted in favour of multinational corporations (MNCs). They believe this process began in earnest in the 1960s and 1970s because of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the USA, but that it has increased since the 1980s due to the influence of Japanese and Western European FDI. The recent revelation that th e Trans-Pacific Partnership might bring in legislation allowing MNCs to override American national laws, by appealing to an international tribunal, suggests that there might soon be a significant reduction in the economic powers of the nation-state (Carter 2012). It is impossible to speak of the economic effects of globalisation without also discussing the political consequences. The most important forces in this respect are the supranational bodies to which many nation-states now belong, such as the EU (European Union), which regulates the labour markets, industrial organisation, business practices and trade conditions of its member states. Moreover, the majority of member states have relinquished their former currencies in favour of the Euro, which has meant transference of monetary policy over from sovereign national banks to the European Central Bank (ECB) (Goksel 2004). There are a significant number of other trade blocs (customs unions, common markets, monetary unions) across the globe, such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) or the SAARC (South American Association for Regional Cooperation), which operate under similar conditions. These are symptoms and perpetuators of globalisation, all of which represent a diminishment of the economic independence of nation-states. In the 20th century there has been a blossoming of trade blocs, but it should be noted that they go back long before the era of modern globalisation, with the first probably being the 13th-century Hanseatic League (Milner 2002). Large political collectives have had a significant effect on the role of the nation-state in other respects. The state’s role in the globalised world often now includes broader, international objectives focused on sweeping environmental, social, economic or other concerns (Evans 1997). The EU has a budget to which member states must contribute, which further reduces the economic sovereignty of participating nation-states (Wolf 2001; Holton 2011; G oksel 2004). Likewise, groups such as the G7, G8, and G20, which consist of the largest economies in the world, impose new obligations on nation-states, related to issues such as energy consumption, ozone depletion, or acid rain, among others (Goksel 2004). Some of obligations date back many decades, such as the United Nations’ (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1948. The importance of supranational political actors in particular can perhaps best be seen in the security sphere. Historically, the defence of the populous has been one of the central roles of the nation-state, and to certain extent the main justification for its power (Held 1998; Held and McGrew 1998). It is noted by Strange (1997) that this obligation has largely been removed in some cases from the hands of individual nations, which rely instead on multilateral agreements. As Goksel (2004: 2) puts it, ‘Armies are often kept not so much to enforce terr itorial claims or to extend them, but rather to maintain civil order.’ The state’s role in providing defence has been altered in order to allow it to fit into a new system of global defence agreements. The traditional military role of the nation-state, which focused on ‘the acquisition, employment and use of military force to achieve national goals’, has been abandoned in many cases today (Held 1998: 226). In a certain sense this is fitting because there are now many global security concerns, such as terrorism, that require multilateral cooperation in matters of intelligence gathering. This has diminished the traditional role of the nation-state in guiding its own defence policy, but in some cases it has enhanced its position. For example, Hobsbawm (2007: 137) believes that by exaggerating the terrorist threat American has been ‘inventing enemies that legitimise the expansion and use of its global power’. Globalisation has perhaps expanded and diminished the security role of the nation-state, depending on where one looks. In either case, however, there has been change. There is also a cultural argument to be considered. The nation-state has been an important locus of identity for individuals and communities for centuries. How long exactly is a matter of fierce controversy, and this topic has divided IR (international relations) scholars into three dominant schools: the primordialists, the ethnosymbolists (e.g., Smith 1987, 1995, 2009), and the modernists (e.g., Hobsbawn 1990; Anderson 1983; Gellner 1983). In any case, it is argued by modernists such as Hobsbawm (1990) that the nation-state’s role as a cultural and social identifier is gradually being eroded as supranational alternatives emerge. This is supported by the fact that in a globalised society flows of information and ideas are rapid, unpredictable, and unrestricted by national boundaries. Platforms such as the internet, for example, are the great facilit ators of new forms of indentify that chip away at the traditional position of the nation-state (Hobsbawm 1990). It is not universally accepted, however, that the role of the nation-state has changed in the globalised world. There has been particular criticism of the idea that globalisation might lead to the ‘end of the nation-state’ or otherwise drastically diminish its role, arguments synonymous with the modernist school of International Relations (e.g., Evans 1997; Strange 1997; Ohmae 1995; Hobsbawm 1990; Gellner 1983). Holton (2011) argues that nation-states are still the most important of the actors in the global sphere, despite the influence of supranational organisations. For Holton, it is simply the case that the role of the nation-state has to be reframed in global terms. He does, however, acknowledge that some have experienced a curtailment of their economic and political role through a lack of bargaining power, as the cases of the budgetary crisis in EU member states, such as Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spain, reveal. Hirst and Thompson (1996) do not believe that any trend towards a more globalised world (something they are sceptical of in the first place) has had a significant impact on the nation-state. They note that while decisions are often passed on to multinational bodies, it falls to individual countries to make decisions within this framework. One might argue, however, that arguments such as this underestimate the independence of self-contained, highly secretive governing bodies such as the European Commission. Hirst and Thompson (1996) are particularly critical of the suggestion that globalisation has diminished the role of the nation-state, contending instead that the enhanced ‘possibilities of national and international governance’ have actually strengthened it. Gilpin (2000) takes a similar line, arguing that many of the changes in the role of the nation-state cannot be attributed to increasing globalisation. Rather, they are part of a pattern dating back to before WWI when the Gold Standard was in place. Indeed, the Gold Standard is a relic of the pre-globalisation world, yet it stripped the state of currency control nearly to the same extent as modern monetary unions (Gilpin 2000). Through this lens, the ‘state may be reverting to its 19th-century role in the economy’, which suggests that many of the changes seen today would be equally operative in the ‘pre-globalisation’ world. Goksel (2004) argues that although globalisation has changed the role of the nation-state, it is important not to view this as something that was guaranteed to happen. In this sense he argues against the ‘deterministic approach’ of scholars such as Strange (1997). This is valid observation with reference to certain elements of globalisation, and it is true that in theory no nation-state is obliged to submit powers to supranational organisations. However, it is not valid wi th regard to issues such as the dissemination of technology, where the role of the state in controlling national information was always going to be diminished as the world become more globalised. Goksel (2004: 11) also points to the fact that in a very basic way the role of the nation-state has remained the same as ‘there are structural obstacles to the withering away of the state. Votes have to be cast somewhere, taxes have to be paid to particular authorities, which can be held accountable for public services such as education and health. Moreover, states continue to create a regulatory environment for their economies.’ Arguments such as these highlight the importance of not overstating the case for globalisation as a force for change. In conclusion, the role of the nation-state has been reformed by the globalised world. There are a few possible exceptions to this, such as the highly insular North Korea, but such cases are anomalies. In economic terms, there has been a tendency either for the state to lose power to supranational bodies, or to have it eroded by global forces largely beyond its control. The same is true of the political sphere, in which nation-states have generally found their freedoms curtailed by wider forces, or in some cases extended due to advantageous positioning within multinational organisations, such as is the case with the United States and the UN. Nevertheless, there has been an element of structural consistency in the role of nation-states insofar as they are still the predominant actors in international politics, and most of the functions of supranational and other bodies rely on them. The nation-state remains indispensible and arguments that suggest its demise are overstated. The boundaries of this debate, however, are far from fixed, as the proposed legislation related to corporations and the Trans-Pacific Partnership demonstrates. 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