Classical Sculpture of the Greeks: a Journal Review.

Article Review; â€Å"What is ‘Classical' Sculpture† by Walter R. Agard Jakob Mattern HUM 2220, prof. Warner Ph. D. Th, 6:00pm-8:45pm Word Count: 1102 The word ‘classic'; used to describe styles of music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and even manufactured consumer goods. If ever there was a period in art or manufacturing that stands out with even balance, subtle dignity, and general excellence, it will most likely be described as classical, which after all, is no easy feat, considering that anything to bear the â€Å"classical† name is decidedly, in some way or another, â€Å"The best of the best. According to Walter R. Agard however, the word has lost some of it's gusto. He states that it is so overused that it no longer describes whether or not something is in-fact excellent, but rather, if a piece fits into a time frame and location that suggests that it most likely is. Just as all cars produced between 1900 and 1972 in America are not necessarily classics, not every piece of art created in the broad history of Greeks should be considered a true classic.Rather, Agard places forth his guidelines and examples of what should classify ancient Greek art, sculpture in particular, as the best of it's time. The details of Agard's argument rest upon the structured guidelines he lays out in the beginning of his article; that to be classical, a Greek sculpture must have: The initial concept of a healthy human form. The synthesis of naturalism and clearly defined, relatively simple design. The amplification of essential planes.Refinement of detail. He also suggests that classical style sculpture took prominence between the years 500 BCE and 420 BCE, thus dismissing some of the earlier geometric style sculpture, as well as the later more expressionistic and complicated Hellenistic sculpture. He states that while some later sculptures may be more magnificent to behold, they are not embodying that which makes something a classic, and that t hey are not fulfilling the nature of the aterials or the monumental purpose of sculpture. Marble is not a soft substance, and thus, the shapes created out of it's dense composure must follow suit, according to Agard. While the presence of fine details are very necessary, he states that the overall action of the piece must be graceful, direct, noble, and strong; the sculpture must follow the ancient Greek adage, â€Å"Know thy self† to be a classic, it must appear just as powerful and eternal as the marble itself.This quality is found in the many sculptures that he analyzes in his article; the weight bearing Hermes, the tower-like Apollo, and the tensioned Heracles all display a living strength that compliment the nature of the marble. Agard also places a great deal of importance on the healthy human form, and the presence of subtle naturalism expressed through fine details. In every piece defined classic by Agard, we find a being that, while possessing a basic and strong geom etric base, is also defined by many smaller details that synthesize simple design with an idealistic human form.The curls in Hermes' beard and hair, the subtle veins and ligaments of the Charioteer's hands and feet, the calm and confident gaze of Apollo, and the bulging muscular details found on the statues of the bow wielding Heracles and the lightning lobbing Zeus all add a life-like element to the otherwise cold geometric shapes, and help to portray each character as a healthy and idealistic human being in both mind and body.For his closing statement, Agard mentions an encounter he once had with a tourist who was frustrated with how â€Å"sure of themselves† the classic Greek statues seem to be. He then refutes that they have the right to do so, simply because of the rich value and dignity confined in their strong and noble bodies, and that it was this spirit that make these statues honest and true classics of the ancient world. As a whole, I do agree with Agard in his vie wpoints and conclusions of what a true classic should consist of.Referring once more to automobiles, it is my view that for a car to be classic it must combine simple design with beautiful details while still fulfilling the function for which it was designed with full effect. With respect to Agard's definitions, the formula of classic sculpture should not be far from such ideals. I thought that Agard's affinity towards the nobility and strength of the designs was well founded, because although a statue is undoubtedly a work of art, it is also a permanent public speaker of a city's people.These strong and idealistic statues may very well have served as an ego-booster for the ancient Greeks; their solid forms and endless wisdom meant to personify the people dwelling in the polis itself. If anything however, it was this ego that catapulted these ancient people to such great heights in terms of sophistication and achievement, so while some later sculptures may have captured more emotion or better expressed the human condition, it was the dignified, strong, and direct sculptures from 500-420 BCE that best embodied the golden age of Greece.There were a few points with which I disagree however. The selection of the Statue of Hermes, firstly. Although it is a good combination of geometric driven balance and fine detail, I felt that over all it was simply not naturalistic enough to be considered a perfect synthesis of the human form and simple design. It is an impressive statue none-the-less, but it seemed a bit rudimentary compared with the other examples, a bit too two dimensional.Another idea with which I don't completely agree is the classification of two dimensional friezes with linear backdrops as the only true classical form of the frieze. Once again, It seemed to me that a frieze with a more shallow appearance did not coincide with some of the other mentioned sculptures bursting with depth and life. While the drapery of the frieze depicting Heracles and Athena was beyond impressive, the naturalism of the characters themselves did not seem to reach the same heights as some of the other pieces.In any matter however, I believe that Agard compiled an excellent definition of what a classic statue should be defined as, what it should personify, and what it's function should be, compared with the common ideal that nearly every statue from ancient Greece should be considered classical. His analysis of each sculpture was extremely thorough, and as a whole, his article gave some insight into what exactly these ancient artisans may have been thinking of when they shaped these masterpieces. Bibliography Agard, Walter R. â€Å"What Is â€Å"Classical† Sculpture? † The Classic Journal, Vol. 49, No. 8 (May, 1954): pp. 341-349. Print.

How Frequent Organisational Changes Affect Employees Essay

Today’s business world is constantly evolving. To keep up with the rapidly shifting environment, companies introduce process changes frequently within their organization to improve performance, and outdo their competition. In this memo, the pros and cons of frequent organizational changes are first investigated. By going through the effectiveness of adopting specific activities and leadership style in communicating changes, we seek to understand employees’ reaction to frequent process changes, and how it affects their work performance and attitude towards the organization. This will allow us to understand if employees learn and get better at change, or does change does irreparable damages. Pros and cons of frequent organizational changes When frequent changes are introduced, employees will grow to be accustomed to changes and eventually view it as a company culture. Therefore, whenever there is a change to be implemented, employees will be less resistance to change and accept the change. Employees will learn that changes are meant to improve their work productivity and effectiveness. Using the example of job rotation (Friedrich and Kabst, 1998) between various departments, employees will get accustomed to learning new skills which aim to increase work productivity and effectiveness. When employees are multi-skilled, job satisfaction and productivity increases and they also better understand how their work affects other employees. Employees would also feel that with more skills and knowledge, they are valuable to the company and this gives them a sense of job security. Once employees accept frequent changes, they are able to learn and use past experience of change to help them cope with stress each time new change is implemented. They can better understand change is necessary and how the change can help them perform better with confidence and increase job satisfaction. One of the frequent changes organization adopts is due to globalization. Introduction of strategy, structure and processes enable employees to become better in managing effects of globalization. In such instances, employees become adaptable and better in managing the effect of globalization. Established frequent changes will also encourage change leaders to constantly look for new ways to communicate and implement changes to employees. They can use employee participation, reward management, training and development and motivation which will help to assist employees learn and get better at change. The above positive effects are expected when employees accept changes, learn from and get better with changes. But in reality, employees are by nature resistant to change, and feel primarily stressful when changes are implemented. If employees are unable to accept change and adapt, stress increases and directly impacts their work performance, mental and physical health, and attitude towards the organization (Poole and Van de Ven, 2004), leading to irreparable damages. Employees mostly fear that if they are unable to adapt, they may lose their job. This increases stress levels and directly lead to poor work performance by the employees and lowers productivity level for the organization. Using the example of process change, such as automation through the use of machinery, organization aims to improve productivity, maintain or improve quality standard, and reduce costs. However, older employees of the organization will be resistance to use the machines and they fear that they would not be able to learn how to operate them. They would feel compelled to learn and usually take more time to learn, leading to poor work performance and lower productivity level. In the event that the older employees lose their job, previous tacit knowledge and work experience within the retrenched employees may be lost and this represents irreparable damage to the company. Stress can also lead to health problems such as hypertension and anxiety. When employees seek frequent medical attention, both short and long periods of absences away from work will further impact the organizations daily operation, resulting in poor work performance and attendance for the employees and decreasing productivity for the organizations. Organizations will not be able to recover the lost time and potential profits lost due to low productivity; these are irreparable damages to the company. In the absence where organization fail to adopt specific steps as per suggested by (Kotter, 2007), employees become less trusting and show less commitment to the company. Employee dissatisfaction would accumulate with frequent process changes being enforced onto them, resulting in lower morale and commitment towards the organization. These employees are likely to leave the company when there are better job opportunities. Organizations must than accept when large number of employees leaves, productivity level will decreases resulting in loss of income and potential profits. Organizational will also take longer time to hire and train new employees. Time lost and cost spent to rehire are irreparable damages to the organization. It can be seen that frequent process changes aims to improve a company. But the end effect is mixed. It depends on employees’ perspective to the change, and their ability to adapt. The main crux lies in how the management implements changes, and communicates to the needs of every employee. Effective Activities and leadership style For employees to learn from and get better at change and experience the benefits we discussed above, the change leader should adopt specific effective activities at the right time to effectively implement change (Kotter, 2007). There are five steps that leaders can consider (Waddell, Cummings & Worley): Motivating Change; creating a vision; developing political support; managing the transition and sustaining the momentum. Firstly, change leader should convince employees that frequent change is necessary through motivation. They can do so by creating a sense of urgency, showing employees how frequent change is a preventive measure rather than a salvation solution when they experience deep levels of hurt. Employees are also less resistance to change when they are motivated by the benefits of change. Secondly, change leaders should create a simple and concise vision to enable employees to visualize the desired outcomes through proper plans and processes. Thirdly, change leader should aim to balance the power among the various departments as it is an instinct for various departments to protect their self-interest and compete with one another for resources and influences Fourthly, change leader should facilitate a smooth transition from the organization’s current state to the desired state through activity planning, commitment planning and management structures. Change leader should have a specific activity plan that has clear instructions, action and timeline. Change leader must be committed to see the transition complete successfully. Lastly, once the changes are in progress, change leaders continue to provide the necessary resources for change. He should also have a support system for his employees in place when they face difficulties during the change. A reward system can be implemented for employees when they have successfully performed the changes that led to the desired outcomes. The reward system will encourage the employees to continue the change. Besides adopting the above five steps, a change leader should display a democratic and participative leadership instead of an autocratic leadership (Lewin, 1967), this will reduce the irreparable damages discuss above and ensure that employees learn from and get better at change. Conclusion In conclusion, employees are by nature resistant to organizational process changes but will eventually grow to be accustomed to changes and view it as a company culture. However, it is recommended that change leaders adopt a democratic leadership together with specific effective activities to effectively communicate frequent process changes. This is likely to reduce the irreparable damages and ensure that employees learn from and get better at change. References Cherry, K. Lewin’s Leadership Styles. Retrieved on 19th September 2012, from http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/leadstyles.htm Dahl, M.S. (2010), Organizational Change and Employee Stress. Friedrich, A., and Kabst, R. (1998). Functional Flexibility: Merely Reacting or Acting Strategically? Gilmore,T., Shea,G., &Useem,M. (1997) Sides effects of corporate transformation. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. Grunberg, L., Moore, S., Greenberg, E.S, &Sikora, P. (2008).The Changing Workplace and Its Effects: A Longitudinal Examination of Employee Responses at a Large Company.The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. Kotter, J.P, (2007) Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. Harvard Business Review Manns,M.L. &Rising,L. (2010). Strategies for Leading through Times of Change: Fourteen Effective Patterns to Ease an Organization through Change. Graziadio Business Review. McDonald, T.N. (2004). Analysis of worker assignment Policies on Production Line Performance Utilizing a multi-skilled workforce. Pascale, R, Millemann, M., Gioja, L.(1997). Changing the Way We Change. Harvard Business Review. Poole,M.S., & Van de Ven. A.H. (2004) Handbook of organizational change and innovation. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Turner, R. &Sternin, L. (2005).Your Company’s Secret Change Agents. Harvard business Review Waddell, D.M, Cummings, T.G. & Worley, C.G. (3rd Edition).Organisation Development &Change.:CENGAGRE Learning Australia Pty Limited.

Research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Research proposal - Essay Example A detailed literature review focusing on the works of Duncan Brown and Michael Armstrong (Paying for Contribution), Michael Armstrong and Murlis, H. (Reward Management) and Michael Armstrong (Employee Rewards). The Human Resources departments of various companies and corporate who are actively working on improving the performance appraisal processes or are preparing proposals to the management on implementing the performance appraisal process Initially a detailed review of the literature available on the topic is conducted. Based on these reviews, a case study is carried out for a company selected. The various aspects of the performance related pay prevalent in the company are discussed. Based on the literature review and the case study, the research objectives are drawn, both from employers’ and the employees’ perspectives. The research objectives will mainly focus on the best practices for performance related pay and also the effects it has on employees, such as productivity, satisfaction level, etc.., In order to conduct a credible research for the objectives that fall under the first category, it is essential to conduct a qualitative research. A questionnaire is prepared based on the research objectives under this category. This questionnaire is then presented a list of employers, HR professionals and experts in the field and an In-Depth interview is conducted. If viable, an in-depth interview will also be conducted with a representative from the HR department of the company that has been discussed in the case study. For the second category, as the research objectives focus on a wider population, it is essential to conduct a quantitative research. A questionnaire is designed based on the research objectives. An appropriate scaling method is used and the dependent and independent variables are fixed based on the objectives. Once the questionnaire is finalized, an online survey is then conducted to a

Finance 426 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finance 426 - Assignment Example However, the value of the dollar in the future could increase if expanded MCI output substitutes for telecom imports. 3. Korean Airline buys five Boeing 747s. As part of the deal, Boeing arranges a loan to KAL for the purchase amount from the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The loan is to be paid back over the next seven years with a two-year grace period. 4. In accordance with the following circumstances, say whether the value of the dollar will appreciate, depreciate or remain the same relative to the Yen by explaining each answer. Suppose the exchange rates are free to vary and that other factors are held constant. Answer: considering the above scenario the rate of wages is comparatively high in U.S from Japan whereas the level of productivity is also low compared with Japan which makes it less attractive for investment purposes. It is considered that a country with a weak economy will have a low value currency so dollar will

To what extent have external forces like the Leapfrog Group influenced Assignment

To what extent have external forces like the Leapfrog Group influenced change in the healthcare environment - Assignment Example This essay discusses that the healthcare sector has over the time undergone immense changes, characterized by improved healthcare systems that aid access and service delivery. These changes have been triggered by various sources, including but not limited to individuals, groups of people, government healthcare evaluators and the society at large. On a more specific ground, external forces have had their contribution to the changes observed in the healthcare environment. One of the identifiable external forces that have influenced change in the healthcare environment is the Leapfrog Group and related external factors. Changes in the healthcare sector have been tailored towards making healthcare accessible and affordable. On the same note, aspects of effective and efficient service delivery systems have been advocated for, formulated and implemented. This has led to the realization of healthcare services that by greater margin meet their primary purposes, among them promoting and uphol ding good health to the larger society. These external factors have been the driving force of change in the healthcare sector of the country. While the government has crucial concerns about healthcare issues, triggering change from within the system has been observed to be slow and inefficient over time. With the presence of Leapfrog Group among other external forces in the healthcare environment, quick, efficient and effective changes in healthcare have been realized. Specifically, evidence-based initiatives have been successfully introduced. On the same note, modern technology-based physician order entries, hospital referrals and ICU staffing has been enhanced and improved through external forces advocacy (Stead &Herbert, 2009). Your sister is entering into the hospital for elective surgery. She asks you how to determine she is safe while in the hospital. What do you tell her and why. Patient’s safety in any hospital is setting is fundamentally defined by patient rights. A patient that knows his or her rights is bound to feel safer in the hands of the caregiver. The most basic point to consider is consent to treatment, and surgery on a more specific ground as it relates to this question. Feeling safe while in the hospital first begins with the patient and then the caregiver’s context comes in. This is because, in order to begin any healthcare procedure, the patient must be willing to undertake the required actions that pertain to the procedure of treatment. This is the first step to determine that the patient is safe while in the hospital. Effectiveness and quality of care is another factor combination that determines how safe a patient is. The two are determined by a number of factors that the patient herself should actively consider in order to create a safe hospital environment for her and the caregiver during treatment, and this in case elective surgery. Speaking up when an unusual scenario arises is crucial to the patient’s safety i n the hospital. The patient should observe the practices of the caregiver so that practices or actions are tailored towards promoting the patient’s welfare. Attention should be paid in the setting up of the elective surgery procedure, so that all required materials and surgical tools are well in place before hand. The caregivers responsible for the elective surgery procedure should give the patient sufficient information about the procedure so that the patient is well informed of what is expected of her. Other safety related issues to check for are the medication procedure, standard of the healthcare facility in the light of Joint Commission’s Standard and patient participation allowed by the caregivers. This information is relevant to the patient since every patient is entitled to quality and safe healthcare. What are some of the downfalls of obtaining

Renting versus Buying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Renting versus Buying - Essay Example a house and actually own it since it is a symbol of one’s identity and association with a place, but this is certainly not possible for everyone given the varying financial conditions and personal limitations. In fact, a vast majority of people in the modern societies have good and valid reasons to rent a house instead of buying one. Owning a house can be a risky business. It requires a lot of investment on the part of the owner and has very less to guarantee that the investment would ultimately prove worth it. If one wants to make money out of the business of property, it is imperative that one waits for as long as the prices of the land and the property rise sufficiently up to promise a handsome profit. In a vast majority of cases, this happens over a long period of time and one has to wait for too long. It requires commitment and devotion. Owning a house is certainly not a wise decision to make if one can not somehow hold on to it for a considerable period of time. It becomes even more disastrous if one had originally decided to get it financed via a bank or any other source of sum. For an individual to sell a house without having to wait for long, who initially made a down payment worth 10% of the total cost, it would be very costly since he/she would be required to part with a considerable percentage in the commissions of the real state. The closing costs to be offered to the seller would be in addition to that. An even lower amount of the down payment would result in an even greater loss to the seller. Such a blow to the seller is large enough to outshine any appreciation gains made over the property over the period of ownership. renting in the present age given the high amount of uncertainty in the political environment all over the world in general and in the third world countries in particular. The emergence of war against the terrorism has destroyed the fundamental political, social and economic status of a lot of countries all over the world. This is

Describing and Applying victimization theory Research Paper

Describing and Applying victimization theory - Research Paper Example Cohen and Felson proposed Routine Activity Theory of Victimization and mainly focused on predatory crime. Crime is described in this theory as an act of taking or damaging property belonging to another person. Crime, as perceived in this theory, posits three characteristics; a motivated offender, target, and absence of guardianship. For any crime to occur, the motivated offender must make contact with the victim or the target. Other intervening variables include the absence of persons or conditions that could intervene between the two (Wilcox, 2010). In this theory, the first variable-the motivated offender- is given. According to proponents of this theory, proper understanding of crime must focus on other elements other than the motivation of the offender. Cohen and Felson use the example of increasing levels of disposable income in the early 1960 due to increased number of couples working. The need for leisure creates the need for families to buy electronics and other household appliances. These developments increased chances for burglary as most people never stayed at home to guard these appliances Wilcox, 2010). Theories of victimization have been applied in a number situations such as sex crime, stalking, and property crime among others. The underlying principle in the examples listed is that the offender and the victim must be within the same physical area to produce an elevated risk of victimization. In the wake of the current technological development especially in the use of the internet, the elements of crime in the Lifestyle-routine theory such as guardianship, proximity to potential offenders and exposure creates endless opportunities for cyberspace victimization. The approach adopted by this theory is that physical interaction increases opportunities for victimization in space and time. The cyberspace victimization, however, do not require the offender and the victim to interact physically in space and time. The application of

Fish Cheeks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fish Cheeks - Essay Example Amy Tan also demonstrates the power of culture and the need to be acceptable. She wanted a slim American nose, and she was terribly embarrassed by her family's distinctively Chinese ways. This is because she grew up in America and had been immersed in its culture, and has come to believe, at least subconsciously, that the American way is the "correct" way. The essay provides us with an honest depiction of the author's youthful self. The story dwells on the ever present clutch of cultural norms and the pressure of "acceptability". I felt invited to consider how the totality of her life was like back then, when she so desired to be American and fit in, while the unfortunate truth was that she was trapped with her "unmannered" family, who became a source of embarrassment to her. The Chinese idea of table manners is burping after a meal to show appreciation. "At the end of the meal my father leaned back and belched loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking. "It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests. The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp. I was stunned into silence the rest of the night." This is totally at odds with the American idea of polite discreteness. She found that her favorite dishes were becoming a source of her embarrassment in front of Robert, particularly when her father "poked his chopsticks just below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear. " We can imagine the story having been told in a frenzied and excited manner the reflects how Amy felt back then, but she is reflective and calm throughout the story. She looks back at these events and simply tells the story without implying that she still has leftover emotions from these episodes. She was embarrassed, but not anymore (a bit regretful perhaps). Amy tells us that she has learned from this experience. The reader is rewarded with a little moral, and a little irony at the end. "You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame." her mother had told her. Now Tan is perfectly honest about her family's "Chineseness," which she used to perceives as shortcomings. We get the idea that she now has a more mature and accepting attitude towards her family. She now realizes that during that Christmas dinner, perhaps the only person who did not act honestly was

Quality Standards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Quality Standards - Essay Example The paper further provides a comparative analysis of the strategies adopted by the department before and after the abolishment of the CAAs. Introduction According to Cote (2009), the Quality Assurance (QA) systems used by the Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Services (FRS) have traditionally been developed from several important commitments and principles outlined by the government with regards to public services. The framework for QA is based primarily on developing long-term policies and strategies that deliver tangible outcomes without focusing solely on short-term issues. The quality of service provided is measured with respect to the satisfaction levels among citizens and whether they full all their requirements. As such, QA procedures and systems used by the Nottinghamshire FRS do not give any special preference towards providers. Improving efficiency and providing quicker services without any room for mediocrity are also other parameters that have been given due importance by the QA systems (Odpm, 2009). As the subsequent paragraphs will demonstrate, the Nottinghamshire FRS also realizes the crucial role of technology in its operations and has made some important investments to include technological developments within its internal workflows. From an economic perspective, Nottinghamshire has faced two major challenges over the preceding decade. PAC (2009) says that the region faces a low level of innovation and income levels when compared on a national scale which has resulted in fewer jobs within the private sector. Between 2008 and 2009, the local economy faced the greatest challenge from the financial crisis and global recession. This has increased unemployment and has affected several industrial sectors within Nottinghamshire. In this scenario, the public sector has emerged as a major provider of jobs in the country. In the case of the Nottinghamshire FRS, the situation presents a challenge in terms of providing quality service to citizens, planning for future expenses more carefully and creating more jobs within the existing financial constraints (Wilkinson, 2010). Another issue that faces the region is the rapidly aging population, which is expected to double by 2025 (Hessami, 2009). These demographic trends have prompted a long-term challenge to the Nottinghamshire FRS when planning future services. The FRS notes that elderly people are prone to depend more on rescue services then other age classes. Besides, the pressure from a larger elderly population, enhanced by age-related health problems and pensioner poverty, is only likely to increase their dependence on the FRS. The department has been working towards improving its response times in such cases and is contemplating several educational programs to instruct elderly people on the danger of dwelling fires, which have been noted as primary causes of mishaps among people aged above 80 (National UK Fire Statistics, 2009). This paper provides a discussion of the agency’s quality assessment performance before and after the abolition of the Comprehensive area assessments (CAA) introduced in 2009. Methodology The

The Reasons Why Abortion Should Not Be Legalized Essay

The Reasons Why Abortion Should Not Be Legalized - Essay Example Some countries recognize abortion, while in others, it is deemed illegal. In any case, abortion is a controversial topic because it is regarded as a serious moral issue. As such, this argumentative paper seeks to critique an op-ed paper by Anton which is entitled, â€Å"Abortion Should Be Legal†. Antoni argues that the choice to have an abortion or not should be left to the women concerned. However, he also suggested that abortion should be illegal. The author of this paper’s stand is to make abortion illegal except for unusual circumstances which will be discussed in this paper. This paper will start by summarising the points made in this op-ed paper. The second part seeks to critique why abortion should not be legalised. A synthesis of the whole discussion will be carried out at the end of the paper in order to articulate the position taken by this writer. According to the Antoni’s op-ed article entitled â€Å"Abortion Should be Legal†, there are differe nt reasons why women should be given the opportunity to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Mandy Warton supports Antoni’s view of free choice to abort (6) and suggests that abortion should be seen as the last resort for women to gain control of their lives after horrific situations leading to their pregnancies. In some cases, pregnancy is a result of incest or rape. It is advocated that the woman should have a choice of terminating the pregnancy in such a situation. ... In some circumstances, pregnancy may be terminated if it endangers the life of the fetus or the mother, and the author shares this view. It may not be a noble idea to have a deformed child as he or she may not enjoy the life of a normal human being. In some instances, if the life of the mother is endangered as a result of the pregnancy, it can be terminated to avoid death. However, in most instances, pregnancies are not a result of accident or crime. Teen pregnancies in particular are very common in different societies. In America, it is estimated that more than one million teenagers get pregnant each year (Gutman 2). According to the information obtained from this website, Teen pregnancy rates in USA, the US has the highest number of teen pregnancies in the industrialized world. Whilst there are about 750,000 teen pregnancies reported annually, about eight out of ten of these pregnancies are not planned (http://www.livestrong.com/article/12504-teen-pregnancy-rates-usa/). It can ther efore be strongly argued that abortion is not a solution to unwanted pregnancies. The root cause of unwanted pregnancies should be addressed, which brings the author to the suggestion that abortion should not be legalized in these cases. It can also be seen that the trend of increased teen pregnancies is similar in many other countries where youths in particular get involved in sexual activities without properly considering the consequences. According to statistics given above, it is unimaginable that close to a million lives can be terminated through abortion as a result of reckless behavior by the teenagers. Carelessness is the main root cause of teen pregnancies given that some of them have misguided conceptions that

Spanish-Speaking Groups in the United States Essay Example for Free

Spanish-Speaking Groups in the United States Essay This research paper will identify the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions or statuses of Columbian Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Rican Americans living in the United States.| Cultural Interests of Spanish-Speaking Groups in the United States Cultural interests of Columbian Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Rican Americans that live in the United States of America are the focus because of the diversity and controversy that surrounds them. The United States grouped all the Spanish-speaking people that originate from Latin America, Central America, or South America together as one ethnic group referred to as Hispanics or Latinos. Cultural interests identified for each of these four groups will consist of their own group’s linguistics, political status, social status, economic status, religious status, and familial conventions. The first Hispanic group we will explore is Columbian Americans. Sturner (2012), â€Å"Spanish is the language of most Colombian-American households in the United States, where it serves as perhaps the surest means of preserving traditions† (Colombian Americans). Columbians do not believe they will remain in the United States because of the immigration restrictions, therefore Columbian Americans traditionally devote themselves to politics in Columbia, and most do not become very involved with American politics (Sturner, 2012). Columbian Americans pursued professional careers and took employment as laborers, factory workers, domestic servants, and opened small businesses (Sturner, 2012). According to Sturner (2012), In the mid-1990’s Colombian Americans had one of the highest average incomes among Latinos and many prospered in business, especially in in ventures in Miami related to trade with Latin America† (Colombian Americans). Socially, they develop strong ties with other  Latinos through informal networks because they share a commonality of Spanish-language media, which provides news, entertainment, and music from Latin America (Sturner, 2012). The Catholic church provides crucial support to Latin Americans throughout the United States and religious ceremonies are closely tied to important customs and traditions, such as compadrazgo (Sturner, 2012). Preservation has been assured in recent years as parishes have added Spanish-language services (Sturner, 2012). Columbian immigrants preserve their family traditions as a focal concern against pressures encountered in American society (Sturner, 2012). Their traditional roles are that the husband is the wage earner, the wife is the homemaker, and the children are taught to obey their parents and respect authority (Sturner, 2012). The second Hispanic group we will explore is Cuban Americans. Those born in the United States tend to be English Speakers and have less facility with Spanish, while those born abroad have greater facility with Spanish and more than half have some English ability as well (Buffington, 2012). Cuban American communities are well assimilated in the United Sta tes and have significant political influence because of their size (Buffington, 2012). Buffington (2012), Cuban Americans are reputed to being conservative politically and to vote overwhelmingly for the Republican Party Elections† (Cuban Americans). The most important political organization for them is the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) because it is regarded as the representative of the Cuban American community (Buffington, 2012). Economically Cuban Americans closely resemble the total U.S. population and they have greater economic security than other Hispanic groups (Buffington, 2012). They are highly educated and a moderate percentage of their population has completed college or graduate schooling (Buffington, 2012). Most Cuban Americans report and perceive a non-discriminatory relationship with White Americans (Buffington, 2012). Cuban Americans overwhelmingly identify themselves as Roman Catholics, however a small percentage are some form of Protestantism, and one-quarter of native-born Cuban Americans say they either have no preference or have another religious affiliation (Buffington, 2012). Most Cuban American families have inherited the American way of life, which is significantly different from the tradition al Cuban family in many ways (Buffington, 2012). Compadres or grandparents are less likely to play significant roles of  Cuban American children and Cuban American women are more likely to have greater authority in the family because of joining the workforce to contribute to the household income for security and independence of the family (Buffington, 2012). The third Hispanic group we will explore is Mexican Americans. Spanish has remained their primary language of all Mexicans in the Southwestern United States. It became necessary for workers and students to become proficient in English to continue to work and get an education. The Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations (PASSO) and Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) were created to articulate ethnic political goals (Englekirk Marin, 2012). Unhappy with both the Democratic and Republican parties in 1970, Mexican Americans created an alternative political party called La Raza Unida (LRU), which had remarkable success (Englekirk Marin, 2012). Traditionally the voting patterns of Mexican Americans have been Democratic at the presidential level. The majority of Hispanic-owned businesses existing in the United States are controlled by Mexican Americans, and this has contributed to the growth of the Mexican American middle class. Englekirk and Marin (2012), Despite the diversification in employment into sectors of the national economy, wages have remained low for most members of the Mexican American community† (Mexican Americans). Englekirk and Marin (2012), â€Å"Following the Mexican-American War, increasing violence perpetrated by Anglo Americans made Mexicans and Mexican Americans intensely aware of their subordinate status within the American Southwest† (Mexican Americans). Mexican Americans created a variety of social and political organizations that promoted ethnic solidarity to attempt to cope with their second-class status. The majority of the Mexican American population is of the Catholic faith with a small percentage that converted to Protestantism and other faiths. In the traditional Mexican American family their extended family and closest friends are just as much a part of their family as their immediate family because of a system of mutual dependence and respect for elders that creates a close-knit family unit. The last Hispanic group we will explore is Puerto Ricans. Proper Castilian Spanish is the native language of Puerto Ricans. Green (2012), Although English is taught to most elementary school children in Puerto Rican public schools, Spanish remains the primary language on the island of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican  Americans). There is a substantially higher rate of voter participation among Puerto Ricans on the island than on the U.S. ma inland. There is political cynicism among the Puerto Ricans because of the lack of opportunity and education for the migrated population, but the Puerto Rican population can be a major political force when organized (Green, 2012). Some problems such as crime, drug-abuse, poor educational opportunities, unemployment, and the breakdown of the Puerto Rican family structure have caused them to be overall, the most economically disadvantaged Latino group in the United States (Green, 2012). Puerto Rican American social assimilation has been one of great success mixed with serious problems (Green, 2012). Green (2012), Because many Puerto Ricans are of mixed Spanish and African descent, they have had to endure the same sort of racial discrimination often experienced by African Americans† (Puerto Rican Americans). Most Puerto Ricans are Catholic, but dominance has been declining and the presence of many various form of Protestants has been increasing (Green, 2012). Among the Puerto Rican Catholics, a small minority actively practice some version of Santeria (Green, 2012). Green (2012), Puerto Rican family and community dynamics have an extensive Spanish influence and still tend to reflect the intensely patriarchal social organization of European Spanish culture† (Puerto Rican Americans). Both men and women have strong roles in childbearing and place a high value on educating their children. Since we have explored these four races, we can clearly understand the similarities and differences between them. They have been grouped together regardless of their origin because they share the Spanish language. We can be sure that Columbian Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Rican Americans make up a very diverse ethnic group. Each race is unique in their cultural traditions about family and religious beliefs. Their economics, social status, and political views we explored are only a very small reflection of who they are and how they live their lives in the United States. References Buffington, S. (2012). Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved from http://everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Cuban-Americans.html Englekirk, A. Marin, M. (2012). Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved from http://everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Mexican -Americans.html Green, D. (2012). Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved from http://everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Puerto-Rican-Americans.html Schaefer, R. T. (2006). Racial and Ethnic Groups (sixth ed.). Retrieved from University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Sturner, P. (2012). Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved from http://everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Colombian-Americans.html

Social Classes Of The 19th Century Sociology Essay

Social Classes Of The 19th Century Sociology Essay What would it be like to live in a world where everyone is put into separate groups based on nothing more than gender, what family you were born into and how much money you make (Victorian England: An Introduction 3-4)? Theories of social class were not fully recognized until the nineteenth century from that point forward the idea of social classes has been discussed by many famous philosophers and theorists (Social Class 1). In England, long before the Victorian Age, Aethelberht set down a code of laws known today as social class (United Kingdom 1). In many parts of the world throughout history social classes have been commonly broken down into three groups, but in the British Empire of 1814 there were as many as eight (Jane Austens World 1-2). Social groups were usually divided by race and stereotypical by gender (Turpin 1). One of the most common means of dividing people into social class is financial income (Scott 2). All social groupings regardless of location and era are based to some degree upon gender, kinship and economic status. The history of social class in England began before England was even a country when Aethelberht reigned over the Anglo-Saxons (United Kingdom 1). He set down a code of laws where the most important bond was kinship; every freeman depended on his kin for protection (United Kingdom 1). Since then philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau further elaborated on the idea by discussing the issues of social inequality and stratification (Social Class 1). These ideas were later passed on to Henri de Saint-Simon, who put forth the argument that a states form of government corresponds to the system of economic production (Social Class 1). Later his successors introduced the theory of the proletariat, or working class, as a major political force, which greatly influenced the development of Karl Marxs theory of class, which has dominated later discussions of the topic (Social Class 1). Social class has been divided into three different groups in many countries and governments throughout history (Victorian England: An Introduction 3). Those three are usually upper, middle and lower or working class (Victorian England: An Introduction 2). The upper class in the Victorian Age were the royalty, lords spiritual and temporal and great officers of state many of whom did not work and received most of their wealth from there inheritance (Victorian England: An Introduction 4 and Jane Austens world 1). Middle class men did most of the white collar work such as business, commerce, and politics they were paid monthly or annually (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). Now, last and unfortunately least, the lower class men and women did the physical labor and were paid daily or weekly wages (Victorian England: An Introduction 3). Men and women were also separated in society (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). The women were assigned the private sphere and the men were assign ed the public sphere of business and commerce (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). A majority of the time there are three social groups but some have found there to be up to eight specific groups in England during the nineteenth century (Jane Austens World 1-2). There were the highest orders which are put into the generic upper class of royalty and the rich, the second class which seems to be a mix between the upper and the middle class in that they are prestigious but not of royal blood (Jane Austens World 1). Also the third class which contained the doctors, clergy and merchants which can be put into the middle class, the fourth class consists of many of the same people as the third class just on a lesser scale (Jane Austens World 1). Fifth class is where the shopkeepers were placed along with the publicans and people with miscellaneous occupations (Jane Austens World 1). The sixth class is where the lower or working class of people are found (Jane Austens World 2). Members of this class included working mechanics, artists, craftsmen and farmers or agricultural l aborers (Jane Austens World). The people that were in the seventh group were either a paupers, vagrants, gypsies and criminals (Jane Austens World 2). The army and the navy had their own social class, which includes officers, soldiers, marines and pensioners (Jane Austens World 2). Economic status also played a big part in the development of the social classes because of the economy the people were grouped by their income (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). The upper class or aristocrats usually had about 30,000 pounds of annual income, which is around 41,000 dollars in America (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). Bankers and merchants made around 10,000 pounds a year while the middle class including doctors made anywhere from 300 to 800 (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). Head teachers, journalists and shopkeepers who were considered to be lower class at this point in time only made 150 to 300 pounds per year (Victorian England: An Introduction 4)! Skilled workers and domestic staff made even less than the teachers with only 40-75 pounds a year and soldiers scraped the bottom of the barrel with a grand total of 25 pounds annually and that rounds out the list (Victorian England: An Introduction 4). From the late eighteenth century, class has been seen as the key to understanding modern society (Scott 1). This idea went virtually unchallenged, despite the fact that people have been arguing what defines it ever since it was introduced, until the last third of the twentieth century (Scott 1). Challenges to the class system have grown even stronger due to the fact that some have argued that social class was made extinct by the postmodern social process (Scott 1). Nevertheless some have interpreted social class to be a powerful and active variable today but a common factor is found in both sides of this argument (Turpin 1 and Scott 1). Both agree that the social class analysis is not thorough enough and that it should be based on more specific things than just money and gender (Scott 1 and Turpin 1). Apparently the social system wasnt perfect then and it isnt perfect now because it is a futile human attempt to categorize people by trivial earthly possessions (Turpin 2). So what would it be like to live in a world where everyone is put into separate groups based on nothing more than gender, what family you were born into and how much money you make (Victorian England: An Introduction 3-4)? Other than the obvious, like technology and entertainment, the same way it was in the Victorian Era, everyone would be separated into groups by things that dont necessarily matter and that wouldnt change until someone questioned it (Victorian England: An Introduction 3-4 and Scott 1).

Obscenity And Vulgarity To Be Eschewed Media Essay

Obscenity And Vulgarity To Be Eschewed Media Essay The advancement of science and growth of modern technology and information has made things very easy to circulate and communicate to the entire world. We today easily get information of earthquakes or landslide happening in any part of the world with the help of satellite. To make this world a compact place and connecting everyone with fast and easy medium the media has placed a very crucial role. There were days when passing of news took day and days and now with just a click the entire news reaches the world in seconds. With the media becoming globalised the content of the news which is been circulated has become much vulnerable. When the audience of whole world at large is approached if becomes obvious that at times western country approached could hurt the sentiments of people of eastern country and vice versa. To avoid differences regulations must be formed to regulate which content would be suitable for display for a particular group of audience. Obscenity is one such ingredien t which prohibits content from being screened or displayed. Obscenity can be in common terms be called mind pollution, a social problem which is been affecting our society at large. Obscenity can be defined as any photograph, figure, picture, write up, video or a public act which corrupts the minds and appeals to the prurient interests or which is not acceptable with social moral standards would be called obscene and vulgar. Off late, the media has played a major role in promoting obscenity by way of semi-nude ads, video-graphy, news in the form of soft-porn and much more. They are certainly putting at stake the values of an entire generation just for a little more circulation, readership, viewership and a little more money. Obscenity is affecting us, our children, the various facets of a society, heres how: Women and children are the worst hit by the growth and exposure to obscenity. There is a direct link between the violence being shown in media and the actual  act of violence against women. The cases of molestation,sexual harassment  and rape are on the rise contributing to this is the constant bombardment of sex, nudity and violence in the media. Obscenity is also leading to the young generations growing interest in indulging in sexual activities, further causing problems such as  premarital sex, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and much more. Future threats of an open show of obscenity could be as harmful as the loss of ethics in the coming generations. In a country where marriage is considered a pure bond and sex serves a valuable purpose of sharing love and purity, obscenity is getting this bond a new meaning of an animal act, for the purpose of fulfilling ones sexual needs the female body becoming a mere object. FORUM AGAINST OBSCENITY OBSCENITY : A FORM OF MIND POLLUTION  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earth pollution is bad. Water and Noise pollution is worse. Air pollution is still worse. But the worst of all is Mind Pollution. It corrupts the most valuable trait of Human Species : It corrupts THINKING. One of the most common forms of Mind Pollution observed today is OBSCENITY WHY MOVEMENT AGAINST OBSCENITY  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In last few years, a large Section of the Media and particularly the Leading ones have taken liberty to flout all Norms related to Obscenity. A systemic overdose of Nudity and Vulgarity is being forced into the brain of  Ã‚  common Viewer through News Papers, Television, Films, Magazines, Hoardings, and Posters.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their purpose is to use a cheap short cut to catch attention and thus beat competition. They want to make quick money by selling their real matter mixed with so called HOT STUFF.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The long term effect of this bombardment of sex and nudity is resulting in corrupting the Thought Process because thoughts are bound to come according to what you see, read and hear.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The psychologists all over the world are cautioning that exposure to Media violence and sex, have damaging impact on the children and minors and youth.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Common man and Parents of young children are worried, they feel helpless and frustrated. Their Right of bringing up their children in a Mind Pollution Free Atmosphere is snatched away.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This Long lasting damage cannot be checked individually. It needs a Mass Movement.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This restlessness has evolved into a large number of NGOs and individuals coming together in the form of this  FORUM AGAINST OBSCENITY HOW DO YOU DEFINE OBSCENITY o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Any picture, photograph, Figure, article, write up, etc. or a Public Act which depraves or corrupts the mind and which appeals to the prurient interests or which is against the acceptable social moral standards would be called obscene and vulgar. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The condition in which you would feel ashamed to see your mother or wife or daughter, is obscene. THE PRESENT SCENARIO o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Television Channels are full of adult contents. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The films and Serials show detailed rapes and sex sequences. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Music videos have half naked girls dancing, making suggestive gestures, almost performing pornography. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Newspapers like Mid-Day, Mumbai Mirror, Bombay Times etc are full of photographs of half or almost naked actresses and models. Kamasutra is printed. Sex Experts are guiding and solving difficulties being faced in Premarital Sex. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The News Channels shamelessly show pornography and uncensored scenes of Adult films in the name of News. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The posters of the films are made from those scenes, which are deleted by the censor board. The posters of films and hoardings of advertisements are so vulgar that it is difficult for women to walk with their heads up on the road. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a direct link between the violence being shown in media and the actual act of violence against women. The cases of molestation, sexual harassment and rape are on the rise due to this constant bombardment of sex, nudity and violence in the media. In Mumbai there have been instances of 12 and 13 year old boys raping 9 year old girl, copying the act from television. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Premarital Sex and Extramarital Sex is fast growing and is gaining Social Acceptance in the new Generation. WHAT ARE THE FUTURE THREATS o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage as an Institution is under threat. Like in West, the cases of Divorce are increasing. The Indian Culture of a Life Long Vow of faithful marital life is likely to get eroded. The Foundation of FAMILY is being dynamited. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sex, instead of a serving a valuable purpose of maintaining intimacy and bond of Love between husband and wife, may get reduced to a sheer Animal Act. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teenagers and minors are indulging in sexual activities due to constant hammering of adult content in the media. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The body of a woman has become an object of entertainment and  Ã‚  a mere commodity to draw peoples attention. WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Article 19 of the constitution does guarantee freedom of speech and expression. However it clearly states that this freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions. Among various grounds of restriction, social moral standards and decency are also included. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Indian Penal Code 292 states that any obscene and vulgar act, video, audio, poster, printed material displayed in public are punishable offence. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Indecent Representation of Women [prohibition] Act 1986, states that depiction of the figure, body, or any part of a womans body, which is denigrating women or likely to corrupt Public Morality is a punishable offence. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cable Television Network Act clearly mentions that 24 hours NO ADULT programme can be shown on television. [The criteria for the Adult content is the same as followed by the Censor Board] ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING OBSCENITY o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The freedom of Expression is a Fundamental Right Our answer- In a civilized society no freedom can be ABSOLUTE or UNLIMITED. The freedom of Expression as per Law is subject to reasonable restrictions, including the ground of social moral norms and standards. Had this been a free for all right then our Laws would not declare  indecent representation of women, obscenity and vulgarity   in public as a punishable offence. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obscenity is a subjective issue. It is in the eyes of the Beholder. Our answer- One of the signs of primitive man getting civilized was that he started wearing Leafs and Barks of Trees. It has been a long gradual process of human civilization. If today so called liberals are advocating nudity in the name of liberalization then they are taking us back to the primitive man and primitive civilization. Keeping the society in mind, whatever generally is not acceptable in the society is called obscene, for example: wearing a bikini in the beach is normal but wearing it in a public place is objectionable and obscene. Having sex in closed rooms is normal, but doing it in public, even by legally married couple is objectionable. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sex Education is a good thing which is being imparted indirectly by these Our answer   The vulgar and suggestive Displays instigate their unripe mind to indulge in sex. They get wrong notions about Sex Act. Education needs to be given scientifically in a class room. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This amounts to Moral Policing Our Answer: Can there be an Expiry Date to Morality !! Our Laws do make a mention of Morality as a basis. WHAT ARE THE PLANS OF FORUM AGAINST OBSCENITY o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To create Mass Awareness on this subject o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To initiate Legal Action against Violators through specific Complaint and through Public Interest  Ã‚  Litigation o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social Boycott   and Public protest against Violators through Articles, Morcha, Dharna etc o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To catalyze similar Movements in all parts of the Country o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To garner Support of Right minded and Like Minded Media o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To approach Associations / Federations of Media for making guidelines for their Members and for ensuring it o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To study the existing Laws and point out the need to change it, through Amendment / Addition. To take up the issue of Amendments   with Govt. WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is time that We as concerned and responsible citizens raise our voice to stop this sex, violence and vulgarity in media including Television, Newspapers, Films and posters of films. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is time that we raise our voice against this shameless display of womans body and her commodification in the name of entertainment, against the shameless and blatant violations of Laws, making the society unsafe for our Future Generation. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Please join hands in this fight against vulgarity and violence in media. Express your support by writing to us. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lodge Complaint against Cases of Obscenity wherever you see. Attach a photo of the Obscene matter with details of location, date etc. The Complaint has to be lodged with Deputy Commissioner of Police, Enforcement, Office of Commissioner of Police,  Ã‚  Opp.  Ã‚  Crawford Market, Mumbai 400 001 o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Write to Hon. Minister, Information and Broadcasting, Hon. Chief minister, Hon. Home Minister, Director General of Police ( DGP ) and Commissioner of Police, asserting your Right to live and bring up your children in an atmosphere free of Obscenity and Violence. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Write to Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ministry at Shastri Bhavan,  New Delhi  , and demand that no Adult content should be shown at any time on the television. Demand that all Private TV Channels be converted to Pay Channels so that you can see the channels of your choice only and prevent undesirable channels in your home. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mark copy of all above to us at address below o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discuss this common Cause with your Family, Friends, and Society and create awareness and a sense of responsibility to do something. Convert this Movement into an all India Movement of Crores of well meaning Citizens. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organize and Join the Protest Rallies / Morchas wherever possible. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Communicate with those indulging in Obscenity and make efforts to convince them to desist from Obscenity o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boycott  Ã‚  those Media and News Papers which promote Nudity. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contribute financially towards the campaigns by the Forum.

Employers and Employees rights :: Business and Management Studies

Employers and Employees rights INTRODUCTION: In this piece of course work I am going to describe, using examples from Shropshire county council, the rights of the employer and its employees. I am also going to explain using examples of how the they resolve the disagreements with its employees over rights of employment or working conditions. Then I am going to evaluate the extent to which Shropshire ensures that a good working relationship exist between the employers and employees. 1. Describe the employer and employee rights of the business you have investigated in detail and give examples. We as employers and employees at Shropshire county council are protected by numerous amount of laws Some of these laws are: Equal pay act 1963 This allows us as employees to get a fair share in pay. This act will enable us to take legal action against Shropshire if we feel and have proof of not getting the right amount of pay that should be permitted. Not only does this act helps us as employees it also helps our employers. The directors of Shropshire county council employ the employers that employ us, so they too are considered to be employees. Race relation act 1976 This act allows us both as employees and employers to be treated fairly. This act has to do with the discrimination against our race or religion. It enables us to take legal actions against Shropshire if we feel and have proof of unfair treatment of our race and religion. Pregnancy and Discrimination act This act is here for both the employees and employers if we are fired or discriminated because of being pregnant. This will allow us to get compensation. If fired this will also allow us to also get our job back at Shropshire. Health and Safety act This is there for both we the employees and our employers. Not only are we protected by this act we are also responsible for the health and safety for the other members of staff. E.g. in the computer rooms we must act responsible for not permitted to smoke in non-smoking areas, if done this could affect other members of staff. 2. State how the business resolves its disagreements with employees in connection with employment and working conditions. When disputes occur at Shropshire the management will try to follow the correct procedure. Wherever possible the issue is dealt with by managers within the council. There are clear procedures to follow, which will be carefully followed. E.g. if a member of staff was discriminated by one of his or her co-workers with proof the staff member could bring it to a union representative

Finding Huck Essay -- essays research papers

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the main character enters a transitional period of his life. This character, Huck Finn, faces many situations forcing him to deal with decisions that carry with them the ability to bring about change. Huck begins searching for an identity which is truly his own. In determining his self image, Huck deals with society and freedom, trying on different identities that do not belong to him, and shaping these new found tributes into an identity which best suits his conscience. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins with Huck under the care of Widow Douglas as "she took me for her son, and allowed that she would civilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time." Huck has become so used to being free that he sees the Widow Douglas' protection solely in terms of confinement. Huck finds this unacceptable because he loses his freedom among "the bars and shackles of civilization." Huck feels that he belongs out under the stars where the community cannot bound him. Huck then faces the return of his drunkard father. When Huck's father comes back to the town, he only intends to steal money from his son.; "I hain't heard nothing but about you being rich. That's why I come. You get me that money tomorrow-I want it." Huck's own father does not feel one bit inclined to treat his son with any respect. Then his father brings him to a log cabin deep in the woods and Huck once again faces confinement. Huck's escape, flig ht, and the changing of his identity are his only release from being in the log cabin. Then after escaping from it all, Huck is left with himself and his freedom. The raft on which Huck and Jim travel demonstrates one of the symbols of freedom in the story. To Huck, the raft seems to be the safest place that brings freedom on which he can grow and experience life. Later in the book when the duke and king enter the scene, the raft is no longer free. The king and the duke rob Huck and Jim of their isolation from society and the real world. The only way Huck can escape from the abuse of his father and society is to rid himself of his known identity. This leads to Huck's first confrontation with the trying on of different identities and the "death" of himsel... ...he story, Huck does not even think blacks are human, but throughout Huck and Jim's journey along the river together, Huck learns otherwise. At one point, Huck even "goes and humbles himself to a nigger" and another time he promises to keep the reason why Jim ran away a secret even though "people would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum." These are some of the many examples throughout the story that show us that Huck really cares for Jim and that he truly changes his views of blacks. Even though Huck knows that black people are not supposed to be respected, Huck cannot go against what he feels is right and gives Jim the respect that he deserves. Throughout this journey, Huck encounters many different situations in which he learns to adapt and react to each in a way that he feels suitable. Huck learns about life and the real world. He then gathers what he has learned and combines it into an identity which suits him. This enables him to create a conscience with which he finds himself comfortable. Huck finding himself really did cause a struggle considering all that he had to put up with in order to do so.

Scarlet Letter And Ministers B :: essays research papers

In every difference there is also some sort of similarity. This is true with anything on earth. This is also obvious in literature. The novel the Scarlet Letter and the short story “The Ministers Black Veil'; are very different, but in every way they’re different they can be shown alike also.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One example of this is the writing style of the two stories. They are different. The obvious difference is the Scarlet Letter is a novel but the “Ministers Black Veil'; is a short story. The stories take place in two completely different places. Also the people portrayed have different roles in society showing that the writing of both is diverse and yet they are the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How? that is the question. Both stories are written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In both of the stories he has a style in which he gives vague descriptions and sets the scene. Then he flows into the story. Also both the stories deal with religion and sin which is from the main character. Also the sin is represented by a piece of cloth and this is very effective and is included in hawthornes writing style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Speaking of Characters that is another difference between the two stories. The most obvious difference is the sex of the characters. The minister being a guy and Hester a female. Also the nature of the Characters sin is different. Hester being an adulteress and the ministers sin being unknown. Also the item used in representation of their sin is different. Hester had the elaborately stitched and extremely colorful and pretty letter where the minister had a veil a plain black veil. The profession of each was different hester being a seamstress the minister being well a minister. And hester came out of this whole thing with a kid the minister didn’t.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In every difference you find a likeness as seen in the characters of the stories.

Examine the relevance of unitarism to contemporary

This essay looks to analyze the relevancy of unitarism to modern-day apprehensions of the employment relationship. This will foreground the implicit in premises associated with unitarism, sing the influence of both power and cognition within the employment relationship, and inquiry whether both factors play a portion within the unitarism position. Lastly it will reason by sketching the figure of elements associated with the employment relationship and whether the unitarism position bases an apprehension of the employment relationship between employer and employees. There are legion premises of the unitarism position within the workplace. Harmonizing to Huczynski and Buchanan ( 2001 ) the unitarism frame of mention is â€Å"a position on struggle which regards direction and employee involvements as coincident and which therefore respects ( organizational ) struggle as harmful and to be avoided† . Salamon ( 1992 ) believes the administration exists in good harmoniousness and all struggle is unneeded and exceeding. However there are deductions in following the unitarism attack, the term struggle is expressed as if there is dissatisfaction from the employees with differences in which direction is perceived when transporting out an unreasonable activity. Another deduction is trade brotherhoods are regarded as an invasion and are seeking to vie with direction to derive trueness from the employees, of which the unitarism perspective disfavors. The unitarism construct can be seen as an attack to command the employees, and the psychological contr act is an illustration of this, which stems from the unitarism position. Harmonizing to Gill ( 2007 ) Personal computer literature is frequently based on the unitarism position. Fox ( 1966 ) argues the unitarism position, is found among directors and is regarded as a ‘management political orientation ‘ . Therefore foregrounding the unitarism position as an of import theoretical tool to analyze employee attitudes and perceptual experiences of direction in an organizational context. Unitarism is another tool in which administrations use to command the working environment, which tends to disregard struggle as it does non believe it exists. The unitarism frame of mention affected the employment relationship in 19th century, nevertheless in today ‘s society this is seen as an political orientation as suggested by Fox ( 1966 ) . Harmonizing to Blyton and Turnbull ( 1998 ) the term industrial dealingss will necessitate to alter its focal point to 'employment dealingss ‘ , looking at how the employment relationship operates in pattern. There is an premise that one time there has been an understanding with the employment contract, the employment relationship should be free of struggle, and employees should accept and understand the authorization the administration has in the best involvements of all. However, this premise can be seen to be wrong as it assumes that one size fits all, where as surveies such as Purcell and Hutchinson ( 2007 ) show this non to be the case.From this position point I would reason that the focal point draws off from the administration as a whole and looks at persons, hence conveying in the paradigm of the psychological contract. The Personal computer believes that when the person ( employee ) enters into an understanding with the administration and director, and the person has agreed to this understanding there should be no struggle. This brings in an component of integrity within the administration as all are holding as persons to the administration. With this fond regard to the administr ation and its intents the ideal result from come ining into this understanding is commitment/engagement to the administration. The Personal computer construct is emphasised on managerialism, unitarism, neo-liberal and a societal exchange which is utilised by direction to pull off public presentation. The Personal computer communicates its outlooks and serves a political involvement to direction. Even though the Personal computer does non recognize struggle, it does recognize misdemeanor when it is breached ; which comes back to the component of control exerted by the employer. There are other signifiers of positions administrations adopt, one of the most normally used is the pluralist attack. Marchington and Parker ( 1990 ) argues that there are cardinal differences between the two positions ( unitarism and pluralism ) they are the ‘management ‘s credence and acknowledgment of brotherhoods ‘ , ‘their views about direction privileges ‘ and 'employee engagement ‘ , and in the ‘perceived legitimacy of and reactions to conflict at work ‘ . Therefore as unitarism position disfavors trade brotherhoods, the paradigm of occupation ordinance has more relevancy to the pluralist position as it accepts there is struggle and institutionalises it. The occupation ordinance paradigm allows for directors to hold power and processes ordinance to make order, which regulates power between the employer and employee. This paradigm has an component of objectiveness, as once more it is direction that exert power. However with trade brotherhoods assisting to commit struggle it hence allows corporate bargaining to take topographic point. Harmonizing to Kaufman ( 2008 ) the IR field has made a displacement towards a narrower paradigm of which consisted of trade brotherhoods, corporate bargaining and labour-management dealingss over the past few decennaries. There is an issue of equality which needs to be addressed in the employment relationship. The employment relationship is non equal as the employer is in the place of power, by utilizing the cognition of the work force and pull stringsing them by the usage of linguistic communication they use in the working environment to derive control. As suggested by Foucault, administrations change linguistic communication in order to rule the work force. However, Foucault ( 1980 ) besides believed that cognition is an built-in portion of power and can non be separated. â€Å"It is non possible for power to be exercised without cognition, it is impossible for cognition non to breed power† ( Foucault, 1980: p52 ) . I agree with Foucault ‘s statement in how power can non be enforced without cognition, as if it did there would be terrible effects to the administration and employees. As suggested by Townley ( 1993 ) â€Å"Power is the desire to cognize. Power is non negative ; on the con trary, it is creative† . From this statement it suggests that power is non a negative, but can be utilised to acquire the best out of cognition. Again this relates to the unitarism position as it exerts power, in order to command cognition within the workplace and in society in general. In decision the unitarism position contains premises that if it controls the working environment so there will be no struggle, nevertheless as discussed earlier this is non the instance. The employment relationship is non equal and the employer places themselves in power by utilizing linguistic communication to command the work force. As discussed power and cognition can non run as separate entities therefore they both play a portion within the unitarism position. The employment relationship is besides complex as it is the context within which interaction between employees and employers are conducted either separately or jointly ( Rose, 2004 ) .

Traffic Problem

Interstate 80, seen here in Berkeley, California, is a freeway with many lanes and heavy traffic. Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel. Traffic laws are the laws which govern traffic and regulate vehicles, while rules of the road are both the laws and the informal rules that may have developed over time to facilitate the orderly and timely flow of traffic. Organized traffic generally has well-established priorities, lanes, right-of-way, and traffic control at intersections.Traffic is formally organized in many jurisdictions, with marked lanes, junctions, intersections, interchanges, traffic signals, or signs. Traffic is often classified by type: heavy motor vehicle (e.g., car, truck); other vehicle (e.g., moped, bicycle); and pedestrian. Different classes may share speed limits and easement, or may be segregated. Some jurisdictions may have very detailed and complex rules of the road while others rely more on drivers' common sense and willingness to cooperate. Organization typically produces a better combination of travel safety and efficiency.Events which disrupt the flow and may cause traffic to degenerate into a disorganized mess include: road construction, collisions and debris in the roadway. On particularly busy freeways, a minor disruption may persist in a phenomenon known as traffic waves. A complete breakdown of organization may result in traffic congestion andgridlock. Simulations of organized traffic frequently involve queuing theory, stochastic processes and equations of mathematical physics applied totraffic flow. Traffic in English is taken from the Arabic word taraffaqa, which means to walk along slowly together.Contents1 Rules of the road 1.1 Directionality 1.2 Traffic regulations 2 Organized traffic 2.1 Priority (right of way) 2.1.1 Uncontrolled traffic 2.2 Turning 2.2.1 Intersections 2.2.2 P edestrian crossings 2.3 Level crossings 2.4 Speed limits 2.5 Overtaking 2.5.1 Lanes 2.6 One-way roadways 2.6.1 High-speed roads 2.6.2 One-way streets 3 Congested traffic 3.1 Rush hour 4 Congestion mitigation 4.1 Rush hour policies 4.2 Pre-emption 4.3 Intelligent transportation systems 5 Future of congestion mitigation 6 See also 7 References 8 External links 9 Further reading Rules of the road[edit]Traffic controller in Chicago, Michigan AvenueTraffic control in Rome, Italy. This traffic control podium can retract back to road level when not in use. Rules of the road and driving etiquette are the general practices and procedures that road users are required to follow. These rules usually apply to all road users, though they are of special importance to motorists and cyclists. These rules govern interactions between vehicles and with pedestrians. The basic traffic rules are defined by aninternational treaty under the authority of the United Nations, the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.Not all countries are signatory to the convention and, even among signatories, local variations in practice may be found. There are also unwritten local rules of the road, which are generally understood by local drivers. As a general rule, drivers are  expected to avoid a collision with another vehicle and pedestrians, regardless of whether or not the applicable rules of the road allow them to be where they happen to be.In addition to the rules applicable by default, traffic signs and traffic lights must be obeyed, and instructions may be given by a police officer, either routinely (on a busy crossing instead of traffic lights) or as road traffic control around a construction zone, accident, or other road disruption. These rules should be distinguished from the mechanical procedures required to operate one's vehicle. Seedriving. DirectionalityMain articles: Bidirectional traffic and right- and left-hand traffic Traffic going in opposite directions should be separated in s uch a way that they do not block each other's way. The most basic rule is whether to use the left or right side of the road. Traffic regulationsSee also: Category:Rules of the roadIn many countries, the rules of the road are codified, setting out the legal requirements and punishments for breaking them. In the United Kingdom, the rules are set out in the Highway Code, which includes obligations but also advice on how to drive sensibly and safely. In the United States, traffic laws are regulated by the states and municipalities through their respective traffic codes. Most of these are based at least in part on the Uniform Vehicle Code, but there are variations from state to state. In states such as Florida, traffic law and criminal law are separate, therefore, unless someone flees a scene of an accident, commits vehicular homicide or manslaughter, they are only guilty of a minor traffic offense. However, states such as South Carolina have completely criminalized their traffic law, so , for example, you are guilty of a misdemeanor simply for travelling 5 miles over the speed limit.Organized trafficPriority (right of way)[edit] See also: Right-of-way (disambiguation) Vehicles often come into conflict with other vehicles and pedestrians because their intended courses of travel intersect, and thus interfere with each other's routes. The general principle that establishes who has the right to  go first is called â€Å"right of way†, or â€Å"priority†. It establishes who has the right to use the conflicting part of the road and who has to wait until the other does so. Signs, signals, markings and other features are often used to make priority explicit. Some signs, such as the stop sign, are nearly universal.When there are no signs or markings, different rules are observed depending on the location. These default priority rules differ between countries, and may even vary within countries. Trends toward uniformity are exemplified at an international lev el by the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which prescribes standardized traffic control devices (signs, signals, and markings) for establishing the right of way where necessary. Crosswalks (or pedestrian crossings) are common in populated areas, and may indicate that pedestrians have priority over vehicular traffic. In most modern cities, the traffic signal is used to establish the right of way on the busy roads.Its primary purpose is to give each road a duration of time in which its traffic may use the intersection in an organized way. The intervals of time assigned for each road may be adjusted to take into account factors such as difference in volume of traffic, the needs of pedestrians, or other traffic signals. Pedestrian crossings may be located near other traffic control devices; if they are not also regulated in some way, vehicles must give priority to them when in use. Traffic on a public road usually has priority over other traffic such as traffic emerging fro m private access; rail crossings and drawbridgesare typical exceptions.Uncontrolled trafficUncontrolled traffic comes in the absence of lane markings and traffic control signals. On roads without marked lanes, drivers tend to keep to the appropriate side if the road is wide enough. Drivers frequently overtake others. Obstructions are common. Intersections have no signals or signage, and a particular road at a busy intersection may be dominant – that is, its traffic flows – until a break in traffic, at which time the dominance shifts to the other road where vehicles are queued. At the intersection of two perpendicular roads, a traffic jam may result if four vehicles face each other side-on.Traffic ProblemsTraffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on cardrivers and use this money to make public transport better. This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure. One of t he first benefits of such a measure is that the heavy taxes would discourage car owners from using their cars because it would become very expensive to drive. This would mean that they would begin to make use of public transport instead, thus reducing traffic problems and pollution as well. Another benefit would be that much more use would be made of public transport if it was improved. It is often the case that public transport in cities is very poor.For example, we often see old buses and trains that people would rather not use. High taxes would generate enough money to make the necessary changes. Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to such a solution. First and foremost, this would be a heavy burden on the car drivers. At present, taxes are already high for a lot of people, and so further taxes would only mean less money at the end of the month for most people who may have no choice but to drive every day. In addition, this type of tax would likely be set at a fixed amount. This wo uld mean that it would hit those with less money harder, whilst the rich could likely afford it. It is therefore not a fair tax. To conclude, this solution is worth considering to improve the current situation, but there are advantages and disadvantages of introducing such a policy.Traffic managementCreating a travel planOne of the most effective ways to ease traffic congestion at schools is to reduce the number of cars coming and going from your school. Boards of trustees can encourage students and staff to walk, cycle, take public transport, ride the school bus, participate in a walking school bus or car pool to school. Another way to manage traffic is to prepare a travel plan for traffic movement in and around the school, parking and pedestrians. Developing a travel plan with your community will get people thinking about alternative options for getting to and from school.Complete the Traffic management checklist [Word; 92kb] before preparing the travel plan. Guidance on developin g a travel plan is available at: NZ Transport Agency – provides a guide for developing school travel plans and organising a walking school bus Safe Kids New Zealand – has resources for educators about keeping kids safe including child pedestrian safety NZPolice – has a School Road SafetyEducation programme which teaches young people road safety skills. Check with your local council as they often have information about safety on the road. For example, Auckland Transport has information about road safety, walking and cycling, and encouraging students to use alternative transportation; Christchurch City Council has a programme called Safe Routes to Schools which investigates road safety issues in school communities and develops strategies to encourage safe and active travel to school. Improving traffic movement through the schoolA good system for dropping off and picking up students will help manage traffic around and through the school. The system will depend upon the school, for example, if the school is located in an urban area with busy streets, coordinating traffic in and out of the school during peak times is critical, otherwise drivers are tempted to park illegally in the surrounding neighbourhood. Illegal practices include double parking and parking on yellow lines, across driveways, and near crossings. Many drivers justify this behaviour because they are only parked for a short time and they usually stay with the car. However, this practice is irritating for neighbours and unsafe for other road users. Traffic movement checklistA good traffic system through the school includes: car traffic flows in a clearly marked oneway direction pedestrian access points located separately from car access points the bus bay is separated from car and pedestrian access points an off-street drop-off/pick-up zone staff station at key points to manage traffic flow car access separate from the car park. If your school does not have land available to creat e an on-site drop-off/pick-up zone, you can contact the local council and ask for a dedicated kerbside access area on an adjacent street, if there are traffic issues. An example of an efficient traffic systemOther ideas for improving the flow of traffic include: staggering start and finish times for different year groups having staff to manage drop-offs and pick-ups at peak times will encourage  cars to move along and not park. Paying for work to improve traffic systemsBoards can use Five Year Agreement (5YA) funding for work to improve traffic systems on their school site. Work needs to be planned in the 10 Year Property Plan (10YPP), and budgeted within the available 5YA funding. Car parkingBoards of trustees should have a parking policy about who can use the car parks on the school site. The policy will usually provide for staff and some visitors' car parks. It is likely that there are not enough parks for students at a secondary school, which can create congestion in the neigh bourhood. Schools can to talk to their local council, including parking enforcement officers familiar with the area, for ideas about managing the school’s parking issues. New car parksThe need for new or upgraded car parks may be triggered by new teaching spaces for roll growth space. In the new teaching spaces budget, boards are given a site works allowance for each roll growth classroom to pay for new car parks. The Ministry does not have a policy on the number of car parks schools should have, but local councils may have requirements in their District Plans that kick in when the school applies for building consent for a roll growth room or other type of project.The council may require a traffic impact assessment. If the costs of new parks exceed the site works allowance, either because of the number required by the council or their cost, then additional funding will be considered. If the board wants car parks in excess of the council requirement, this must be funded throug h 5YA.Special events – parkingSpecial events can cause parking problems. Ideas to manage these problems include: encouraging people to walk, car pool or use public transport opening up some of the grounds, such as playing fields or tennis courts, to provide extra parking arranging the use of nearby parking facilities  arranging the use of remote parking facilities and provide shuttles to the event employing staff to direct traffic.Traffic impact assessments When a school applies for a building consent for a new building project the council may ask for a traffic impact assessment. The council will want to know if the proposed project will generate extra traffic and a need for additional parking, and how the school intends to manage the changes in traffic or parking. For larger projects, the council may require a professionally-prepared traffic impact assessment with an engineer’s report. Ask your council for names of companies who carry out these assessments or search the internet for traffic assessment consultants.Traffic requirements vary depending on what the council has in their district plan. Some councils may require more parking spaces to be provided and some may have traffic requirements depending on the educational use, breaking them down by primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Other councils may have more general requirements. Schools will have to convince the council they are managing parking and traffic flows – having a good travel plan and traffic system will help. Boards should ensure their school community are not causing traffic and parking problems for neighbours because those neighbours may object to a school’s building consent application. Traffic management checklistThe following checklist will be helpful: before starting the travel plan for use by the professional consultant hired to prepare a traffic impact assessment – the assessment should address these issues as a minimum and providing this information will reduce the time and therefore cost of a consultant.

Advantages of Strategic Intent Thinking Essay

Introduction Though strategic intent thinking and strategic planning aim at one thing, they are quite different from one another. The former involves development and application of high-level and unique business strategies with the aim of attaining competitive advantage for the firm. Strategic intent helps firms to focus on new capabilities to tap future opportunities. The notion is internally focused and has serious implications on how a business competes. The process is characterized by broad and long-term target, and relates sense of urgency as well as lengthens attention.   The major purpose of strategic intent is to help organizations share a common intention in order survive business competition and adapt to changes in the business world. Strategic planning is defined by (Miztberg, 1994) as an analysis of business operations. The analysis involves breaking business goals into manageable parts, designing how steps are implemented and estimating the anticipated outcomes of each goal. According to this definition, the process elaborate goals and strategies that already exist. Strategic planning supports strategies that have been developed through strategic thinking. The two processes aims at raising the performance of the firm. However, they have significant differences. Strategic intent thinking is intent focused. It allows managers and all other stakeholders to commit themselves for as long as a certain strategy works. When applied to Costco Company, it can be noted that Costco employees are well  Ã‚   paid, which eliminates workers turnover. This means that the employees at Costco are motivated to ensure strategy works no matter the time it takes. Strategic intent thinking takes into consideration the past, the present and the future, unlike strategic planning which considers the future only. This means that strategy should not be driven by the future intent alone. The gap between today and tomorrow is very important when devising a business strategy. In addition to this, strategic intent think is responsive to business opportunities. This means that managers who employ this system of thinking are able to identify future opportunities and prepare to take them. Costco seems to employ this strategy. The company managers anticipate its sales to rise by 2017 because of the increased use of the internet. Internet continues to create new demand for goods and services. This means that Costco must revise its goals and missions to tap the demand being created by the use of the internet. According to( DeGeus ,1988) the traditional view of strategy emphasizes on the degree to which a business fits between current opportunities and existing resources while strategic intent brings misfit between ambitions and resources.   He further argues that the process requires a number of people who should understand their organization’s work. This way, they will be able to think strategically and work towards achieving organizational goals. Back to our case study, it can be noted that Costco understands that a business does not operate in vacuum.   With this in mind, Costco strives to conserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is one way of cutting down operational costs, and can help the company achieve a competitive advantage. On the other hand, Costco pays its employees more salary than the industry average. This way, Costco is able to operate at serene environment, which has no disruptions such as strikes. References DeGeus, A. P. (1988, March/April). Planning as learning. Harvard Business Review, 70-74. Mintzberg, H. (1994). The fall and rise of strategic planning. Harvard Business Review, 107-114.