Pie Chart

Presentation Notes Cameron, highlighted in blue are things that need to be added to the powerpoint. Slide 1 – Landing Page (Sarah) †¢   UFC graphics Logo Slogan †¢   Consulting Firm Name & Slogan – †¢   Group Members Slide 2 – Background (Sarah) †¢   Ultimate Fighting Championship ® (UFC ®), started in 1993 as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. †¢ In 2001 UFC was purchased by Zuffa and restructured MMA into a highly organized and controlled combat sport †¢ Response to the UFC brand of MMA has been tremendous, resulting in a growing fan base that has developed steadily through the years.Slide 3- Background (Sarah) †¢   UFC is the worldwide benchmark for Fight Entertainment industry †¢   They lead the global mixed martial arts industry with 90% of market share Insert graphic here of MMA market share Slide 4- Market Share (Sarah) Insert PPV Breakdown chart here ADD PIE CHART HERE * UFC has de clined in PPV market share (within the fight entertainment industry) from 57% in 2010 to 51% in 2011. What to say: Slide 2: Background The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was created in 1993 as a medium to display multiple forms of martial arts and classify the most effective fighting style in a real life fight.Mainstream exposure damaged consumer perception of the product due to the violent and â€Å"no-rules† nature of the sport; and as exposure languished, so did profits. The company struggled to gain television exposure and found itself competing with professional wrestling, which is staged fighting, and traditional fighting programming such as boxing and martial arts tournaments. However, by 2003, UFC came under new management who wanted to change the strategic course of the company. Management saw the opportunity to rebrand itself from a sport to a sports entertainment organization categorized as â€Å"fighting†.It installed a new set of rules – elimi nating hair pulling, head butting, groin strikes and other dangerous maneuvers from the matches. Zuffa the parent company of UFC has given consumers an innovative option for fight entertainment. UFC blends the athleticism of boxing and mixed martial arts, the production value and character creation of professional wrestling, along with the drama of reality television into one unique product. Response to UFC has been very successful and fan base has been consistently growing for the past several years.Slide 3: Background The results have been very visible. UFC has now become a billion dollar empire that reaps profits from PPV, merchandise, and live events. It has grown progressively and through acquisitions it has become the industry leader and benchmark in the fight entertainment industry. By 2009, it was estimated that the UFC had captured 90% market share of mixed-martial arts entertainment. Slide 4: Market Share Even though UFC holds the majority of the MMA market share it barely contributes over half when talking about the PPV industry.Like the term â€Å"pay-per-view† suggest, you pay to view an event whether it be a live event or movie. Live events are segmented into more narrow of categories such as concerts, professional sports and college sports. UFC is listed under MMA PPV, which is considered as a fight entertainment, a sub-category of professional sports. In 2010 UFC held strong with having 57% of the market share of PPV in the fight entertainment industry. However one year later in 2011 it dropped to only having 51% of the PPV market share within the fight entertainment industry.

Production vs Operation Management Essay

Production management and operations management are management jargon that needs to be simplified for those who are sitting on the fence or those inside an organization unable to comprehend them clearly. Sometimes it becomes confusing to be talking about production management inside operations management but they are separate and distinct entities in the study of management as ultimately, production is a part of the whole cycle of operations. Read on to clarify the doubts. Operations Management The study of set of activities comprising supervision, planning and designing of business operations in the field of manufacturing of goods and services is termed as operations management. The purpose of operations management is to make certain that the operations of a business are efficient and effective and result in minimum of wastage. Operations management tries to cut down resources involved in operations while at the same time making operations more effective and productive. In fact operations management is more concerned on processes than people or products. Operations management in a nutshell is using physical resources in an optimum manner, converting input into output, so as to supply to the market the desired and finished product. Production Management Production management on the other hand focuses specifically on the production of goods and services and is concentrated upon churning output from input. It is a broad sum of activities that go into turning raw material into final, finished product. One may feel that production management is a subset of operations management, but production management in itself is a broad subject that comprises production planning and control, inventory management, and operations control. Production management includes all management activities spanning selection. Designing, operating, controlling and updating production system. In brief: Operations vs Production Management †¢ Both production management and operations management play an important role in an organization in increasing the efficiency and productivity. †¢ While operations management is focused upon administration, planning and execution of operations involved in production of goods and services and trying to minimize the resources at the same time increasing output, production management is more concerned with input/output and churning out products in the shape of desired finished product.

Compare kennedy and johnson Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare kennedy and johnson - Research Paper Example However, the idealism that sprouted up amongst the enthusiastic American youth during 1960s eventually turned into a large rebellion. Thus, the decade, although started with high hopes, ended with the horrors of division and disappointment. A comparison between the policies of President Kennedy and President Johnson reveals the similarities and differences that led to their popularity with the masses. John F. Kennedy won presidency over Richard Nixon in the year 1960. He assured a new set of domestic reforms called 'New Frontier' for America that would cover reforms not only at home but also the victory in cold war. However, despite successfully creating his image as an intelligent and energetic leader, he faced legislative failures at the outset of his presidency. On the other hand, he managed to be triumphant in the approval of tariff reductions to promote economic growth in the country. He is mostly remembered for his efforts regarding tax cuts in the economic arena. However, his plans to increase federal aid in the field of education, medical care and urban renewal did not get accomplished. He became the president when the cold war was at its height. Thus, foreign policy initiatives occupy the maximum part of his agenda. John Kennedy succeeded in making himself the central focus of the entire nation and that is quite evident from the reaction of American citizens to his cold blooded murder in 1963. Lyndon Johnson followed John F. Kennedy as the US president. The events leading to the assassination of President Kennedy landed him in the white house. His presidency is marked by the expansion in the roles of federal government. He set to complete the unfinished work of President Kennedy’s New Frontier by constructing his own outstanding reform program which was ultimately called the Great Society. He accumulated the largest reform agenda since the time of Roosevelt’s New Deal. He, later on, won the elections of 1964. This indicated that he had no t just inherited White House but he had actually attained it through his policies and hard work. His government took several steps for the creation of social welfare programs in order to eradicate poverty from the American Society. The most prominent program was called as Medicare, aimed to help the elderly with their medical expenses. His policies regarding the revival of the decaying cities and schools, development of mass-transit system and the subsidization of middle-income housing mark the height of his era. In an attempt to ensure racial equality, President Johnson abolished the national origins systems that gave preference to immigrants from northern Europe over those belonging to the other parts of the world apart from Europe. Both, John F. Kennedy and Johnson were extremely skilled politicians. Kennedy, on one hand, appeared polished and well-educated while, Johnson, on the other hand, was brash and straightforward. Kennedy’s reluctance in politics was outweighed by the Johnson’s accomplishments, thereby making President Johnson’ more successful in pushing his policies through the congress. However, the events in Southeast Asia started to eclipse Johnson’s achievements regarding domestic reforms. The funds meant for the war on poverty were, instead, directed towards the war in Vietnam. By the year 1969, President Johnson’s hopes regarding domest

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

Refliction - Essay Example In the class, we discussed these tasks where everyone was asked to express their own opinion. Imperatively, none of our feedbacks were absolutely correct; we discussed our answers extensively and learnt a lot from the exercises. We learned how to construct academic papers, starting with the introduction and then various components in the results and discussion parts. In addition, we learned strategies for planning, drafting, revising, and editing our academic writing through critique group. With the assistance of my professor and my peers, I learned discovered my weaknesses and as a result, I formulated and implemented strategies to avoid them. As a result, my grammar has recorder tremendous achievement as I am able to speak fluently and write correctly structured sentences. My confidence in the language has been beefed up and thus I am now able to engage in conversation and debates that are conducted in correctly spoken English In conclusion, the class was enjoyable and very useful. I am very grateful to Dr. Brisch for all the assistance that he accorded me during my lessons. I am now well equipped to handle any tasks that involve correct grammar and sentencing. Furthermore, I feel more comfortable and ready for writing academic paper. This class has given us the necessary tools and the ability to write and publish in prestigious scientific

Poverty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Poverty - Research Paper Example Half of the world makes up about 3 billion people. Fourteen percent live on only a dollar a day. While eighty percent, live on less then ten dollars a day. This leads to people being hungry, adults and children dying from hunger. Pregnant women give birth to underweight children because of malnutrition. This leads to the death of twenty five thousand people a day. Disease is the number one factor that surrounds the poor. Aids and HIV are the diseases that kill most of the people in the third world countries. At the time, 40 million people are living with Aids and HIV infectious diseases. These infectious diseases mostly occur in countries with very poor economic status. Malaria is also a leading disease in poor nations. These diseases are mostly in Africa. In nations with poor economic statues such as Africa, many may believe it is the actual fault of the Individuals living in these poor nations, but it is not. It is the fault of the nation, region and especially because of international neglect. Many have tried to create strategies to introduce global poverty and by introducing these problems, the world can have a part in helping these poor third world countries where many are dying because of neglect. The United Nations created these groups. These groups include UN Millennium Development group (UNMDG), the Basic Income European Network (BIEN) and the Basic income Guarantee (BIG). The goals of the UN Millennium Development Group (UNMDG) is to stop poverty, send every child to school to get an education, to decrease the rate of child birth, bring about equality, equal global trading system, and preventing the spread of infectious disease such as HIV and Aid which are causing many to die. In this case, people may have security to live with no fear, human rights to live as they wish and in this case the United Nations would be stronger then before and the world can be one, helping each other and looking

The Glory of Living Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Glory of Living - Essay Example The play questions the models of a family that are held up as the standard in society. Despite having a mother, Lisa is unable to have a normal childhood. The disintegration of the family is complete in the family of Lisa and Clint as the couple seeks to seduce young girls into a lurid kind of death. The sterility of this kind of an existence is repeatedly held up by the author as symbolic of the fact that such forms of life are unsustainable. The playwright, Rebecca Gilman, makes it clear that such instances of sterility do not represent the modes of sterility that were characteristic of ancient civilizations where it was a phase that would be followed by a regeneration. The two children that Clint and Lisa have only serve to heighten the disturbing mood of the play as the presence of a pedophile in the family makes the situation of the children complicated. They are moreover, placed not in the care The play’s pessimism regarding the state of affairs that modern life presents is a very postmodernist one, where it has become impossible for human beings to peel away the layers of life to reveal its true essence. Here, people wander through life; performing functions that they are aware do not possess any meaning. In this sense, the play also addresses existential issues that the modern man faces and has to deal with. The importance of the existential problems that the play poses is demonstrated by the absolute lack of meaning that Lisa, the anti-heroine of the play, puts into her actions. The main aspect of the play, however, remains the fact of the development of children. The life of children whereby they are at the complete mercy of their parent’s actions is demonstrated skillfully by Gilman’s play. The play, right from the scene where Lisa is charmed by Clint into a marriage that would lead her into a much more dissipated life than her mother, to the one where she discloses her dark secrets to the authorities, is a long series of events that displays the problems of a traumatic childhood. This childhood of hers is affected by the fact that her mother was a prostitute. The fact that Clint is a person who comes with a person, who may or may not have been a client of his future mother-in-law, is one of the most disturbing aspects of the play (Gilman). The guilt that Lisa feels at the end of the play is something that stems from the fact that she has not matured emotionally. The actions that she takes at various points in the play have no rational explanation. This fact is also the result of her dissociation from the real world where events follow a more or less rational course. The union of the grotesque and the real in the life of Lisa is another aspect of the play that is interesting and significant, dramatically. The grotesque events that are related in the play are a part of the life of Lisa. They are an everyday reality for her and this results in a disturbing atmosphere in the play. The grotesque becomes the nor m for Lisa when she arranges prey for her husband. The grotesque becoming the norm points to the development of the person. The abnormal childhood that was led by Lisa, where she was deprived of attention on the part of her mother. The negative influences of her husband too, become a reason as to why Lisa becomes what she becomes. The play offers no reason as to why Clint is the way he is, portraying

The relationship between price and Money Supply Research Paper

The relationship between price and Money Supply - Research Paper Example This is done by issuing sufficient monetary instruments when required. The Central banks also help the government in designing the currency of the country, which includes all the unique features. 2. It is involved in regulating and co-coordinating with the government and the stated economic policies of the country. 3. The interest rates are also controlled by the central banks to maintain price stability within the country. It also has to keep a track of the inflation in the market. The Central Banks of all the countries have an effective plan for managing the public debts. They do this through the sales and purchase of government papers such as bonds and securities. 4. The Central Bank is also known as a banker's bank. This means that the commercial banks of the countries are also regulated by the Central banks of the respective country. The Central bank not only regulates them but also provide adequate financial assistance in time of need. 5. The central bank needs to ensure the pr oper functioning of the financial systems within the county. They regulate the banking system within the country and are answerable to the world market (Downes & Vaez-Radeh, 1991). Balance Sheet Analysis The Balance Sheet of Central Banks has the list of all the liabilities and the assets that the Central Bank possesses. It is important to study the balance sheet of the Central banks in order to understand how they implement the monetary policy because the balance sheet reflects the sales, purchase records of the Central Bank and also states the holding. The Central Bank is the in charge for issuing the country's currency and it also posses the power to eliminate the power of the currency. In short, we can say that the balance sheet shows the true picture of the actions of the Central Bank. The balance sheet of a Central Bank focuses on three main components: bankers to commercial banks, Issuing the nations' currency and banker to the government of the country (Jadhav, 2006, p. 246) . The Balance Sheet needs to be analyzed from two viewpoints such as: as an issuer of currency and duty to maintain the price stability and the growth of the economy through attaining the monetary policies of the countries' economy. It is important to know certain important perspectives to understand the balance sheets of the Central banks. Firstly, the central banks are fully government owned. There are very few exceptions, but in that case there are certain restrictions on the share-holding patterns. Secondly, Central banks are the only banker for the government of ever nation. Finally, the Central bank also has to take care of the public debt. It has to always see that the net foreign asset is higher compared to the currency, so as to see that the domestic demand of foreign currency is duly met The monetary base The two components of money supply are monetary base and money multiplier. Monetary base includes the reserves and the outstanding currency of the economy. It comes in th e asset side, in the balance sheet, of the central bank. It links the central banks to the other measures of the money supply. So we can

Organisational Change in the Oticon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organisational Change in the Oticon - Essay Example The above issues regarding creativity appear in all aspects of life including business activities. In the case of Oticon, creativity has been expressed mostly through the initiatives taken by its president, Lars Kolind, who managed to apply an innovative strategy of change in all the company’s sectors within the 10 years that remained in the firm’s presidency. The whole creative management response of Kolind regarding Oticon is presented in Appendix Ia where the most important strategic decisions of Kolind had been summarized in order to create an ‘alternative Creative Management Response Model’ as presented in Appendix I. As shown in Appendix Ia, the main characteristics of change management applied by Kolind were the redefinition of the company’s vision, the creation of the project-based scheme of operation, the enhancement of the trust towards the employees, the development of technology used in all corporate sectors (from the administration depar tment to the production area) and the set of short-term goals rather than the long term plans which were proved to be inadequate for the company’s development in the modern commercial area. On the other hand, the reduction in the number of employees as taken place in the initial phase of change (in fact in the first two years of Kolind’s presidency) was only temporary and the restructuring of the company’s administration, as well as the reassignment of activities, led to the development of company’s performance on a continuous basis. Towards this direction, the enhancement of communication in the internal environment, as well as the promotion of the team work (through the cooperation of groups on a specific project), also supported the effectiveness of the strategy of change applied by Kolind. Every form of metaphor has its particular role in the business strategy (in accordance with the targets set by the organization’s leader) and it can be used along with other tools of strategic management in order to lead to specific results.

Administration Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Administration Law - Case Study Example In civil proceedings the question of what is a sufficient interest is a question of fact and degree taking into account all the circumstances of the case: R. v Inland Revenue Commissioners Ex p National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses Ltd [1982].Where a claimant is not directly affected by the action once the court is satisfied that (s)he is not simply a "meddlesome busybody"1 then it tries to balance the claimant's interest against the public importance of the issues and the remedy sought. The term 'interest' includes any connection between the claimant and the matter to which the claim relates. In R v Secretary of State for the Environment Ex p Rose Theatre Trust Ltd [1990] it was held that a desire to protect an historic site was not sufficient; only an unsuccessful applicant could appeal against a planning decision. Conversely the courts found a sufficient interest when a public spirited citizen sought judicial review of a serious public issue: R. v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ex p Lord Rees-Mogg [1994].The Law Commission disapproved of the decision in the Rose Theatre case recommending that public interest applications be treated as having sufficient interest. ... We are therefore confident that BSS will be able to establish sufficient interest both within the context of vindicating the rule of law and that there is no other responsible challenger of the Home Secretary's decision. Having said this under CPR 54.17 the court has discretion to hear any person, which would allow the BSS to submit evidence on the issue, if not to actually commence the action for judicial review. (b) Generally judicial review is concerned with the lawfulness of the decision making process of public bodies to ensure that powers have not been abused or exceeded. BSS would have to establish that in reaching a decision the Home Secretary had erred in law in this manner. In Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service [1985] (the GCHQ case) Lord Diplock enumerated the categories under which judicial review might be sought: a) Illegality b) Irrationality c) Procedural impropriety or d) Further development on a case by case basis - particularly with regard to the principle of proportionality which will be important under Human Rights and EU administrative law. BSS could attempt to establish that the Home Secretary has acted illegally as he has misunderstood his powers under the law. For example we are told that BB has had two prison sentences each of which exceeded 9 months, and that by paragraph 9 of the Entry to the UK Rules, BB therefore would not normally be allowed admittance to the UK. The purpose of the rule seems to be to unequivocally exclude from this country persons who have been convicted anywhere of a criminal offences exceeding 9 months in duration. This would imply that the Home Secretary does not have discretion in the matter. However, we note that the Home

Survey for health research and methodlogy class Essay

Survey for health research and methodlogy class - Essay Example In the U.S., both the medical community and public have shown more interest in different alternative medical practices over the past couple of years. The establishment of an Office of Alternative Medicine by the National Institutes of Health in 1992 was testimony to the growing interest by the U.S. healthcare fraternity in alternative medicines. The Office later noted that therapies that were then considered unconventional had the potential of gaining more acceptance and becoming conventional in the future (Berman, Singh, Lao, Singh, Ferentz & Hartnoll, 1995). Recent studies conducted in the United States of America, Britain, and Australia among other countries reveal that alternative medicines are getting wider acceptance and attention among physicians and members of the public. A study conducted in 1990 by Eisenberg and other researchers, for example, revealed that about 30% of the American population used at least one form or another of complementary therapy (Berman, Singh, Lao, Singh, Ferentz & Hartnoll, 1995). In Britain, the number of people practicing alternative medicine grew 5.6 times more than physicians. Alternative medicines are used in the treatment of various ailments ranging from fevers to aches, pains and cancers. A study published in the European Journal of Cancer in 2000 revealed that out of the 1023 women suffering from breast cancer, roughly 22% had consulted with an alternative medicine practitioner in the previous twelve months (Rees, Feigel, Vickers, Zollman, McGurk & Smith, 2000). The attitudes of physicians and patients toward alternative treatments for cancer have been a subject of great interest for many researchers especially considering the effects of physician attitudes on patients. In her study on the relationship between patients’ use of alternative cancer treatments and physicians reactions toward them, Bourgeault (1996) established that patient –physician

Mexican Immigrants in the United States Essay Example for Free

Mexican Immigrants in the United States Essay Abstract Choosing to focus on the Mexican Immigrant in the United States workplace will help to develop an understanding of how organizational decisions insure the acceptance and inclusion of the group with those of the organization’s in-group creating a unified work environment. Chao and Willaby (2007) theorized that everyone had their own vision of how the world works and acting upon it based on what they have perceived as being true; sometimes the visions of others are difficult to understand or accept, which can cause strife and alienation in the workplace. According to Adu-Febiri (2006) the responsibility of transformational leadership is to raise employee awareness; thus, beginning the journey for an all-inclusive and unified work environment. Mei and Russ (2007) identified that management’s objective should be to help organizational employees to establish a foundation of developing the core and cultural competencies that are critical to developing effective methods for advocating change and cultural blending. The results of this essay and the completion of employee interviews will help to heighten areas of self-actualization and ethnic and linguistic competencies of the author and all cultural groups she will be accountable. Mexican Immigrants in the United States Workplace Introduction Chao and Willaby (2007) advised that everyone had their own vision of how the world works and that everyone performs according to their perception of the right way to live as a part of that world. Greenwood (2007) contends there are differing perceptions of how the world operates creates complex challenges when working to blend differing beliefs toward a unified environment. The following literature review focuses on raising the level of diversity consciousness as it relates to Mexican immigrants in the workplace. Deaux, Reid, Martin, and Bikmen (2006) identified that the Hispanic sociohistorical perspective provided significant information reflecting an independent group that is dedicated to their families and struggling to survive in an environment that often resents them being in the workplace. Parrado and Kandel (2010) contend the Hispanic group is one of the fastest growing minority groups that has magnified the supply of low-skilled workers. The author also identified the group’s struggle with linguistic challenges as being what prevented many from achieving educational needs, which exacerbates the group’s equality in the workplace. Trends in Workplace Diversity Globalization, technology, and increased mobile ability have created diverse ethnic and linguistic challenges felt around the globe. Greenwood (2008) contended that some of the Hispanic group chose to move to the United States in pursuit of a higher quality of life; others made their decisions based on a lower cost of living and others came only to make an income that could be sent back to their homeland to take care of family left behind. Whatever the reason for the influx challenges to achieving unity in the workplace begin at the onset and will become more complex in nature as the number of ethnic and linguistic minorities continue to grow. The qualitative study performed by deCastro, Fujishiro, Sweitzer, and Oliva, (2006) theorized the negative workplace experiences of minority groups were inclusive of linguistic barriers, poor and unsafe working conditions, illegal methods of pay, work related injuries, and, finally, a consistent loss of jobs. Adu-Febiri (2006) theorized that workplace environments require the creation of opportunities for inclusion of all associated with the organization that matriculates all toward a true multicultural identity. Impact of Global Economy deCastro, et al (2006) provided that the impacts of a global economy are far reaching and have served to change the very fabric of cultural beliefs and community structures. The authors explain that many of the in-migrants see the expanding economies as a new and promising dimension of prosperity; while many of the native group believes it to be the portent of doom. For better and worse, everyone will have to learn about and from one another. Rizvi (2009) theorized the impact of a global economy as being realized in everyday activities such as processes at work, cultural interrelationships, capital, information exchanges, food and goods, and ideas. The global economy changed the dynamics of doing business with the enhancement of technology, communication, politics, and immigration. Adu-Febiri’s (2006) contentions of the global environment included the potential for cultural erosion due to a lack of human factor competency. As employment globalization grows so do the challenges for maintaining ethnic cultural norms in a manner that creates workplace inclusion. Chao and Willaby (2007) echoed Adu-Febiri’s thoughts when they asserted the globalization has created the challenge of the hiring of immigrants around the world; the authors maintain, â€Å"†¦has no geographic, political, or cultural bounds† (Chao and Willaby, p. 32, 2007). The authors further identified challenges of minority ethnic and linguistic groups have been to hold onto their cultural and linguistic makeup: Globalization has encouraged many to dress the way the other dresses and eat what the other eats, the result being a cultural homogenization process and the subtle emotions of ethnic cultural shame within groups. Chao and Willaby (2007) explained that reducing and ultimately eliminating the impact of cultural homogenization, the overt and more subtle forms of discrimination, ethnic and linguistic bias requires the expansion of diversity consciousness in the form of implicit cognitive awareness of management and employees. Discrimination Practices Carr-Ruffino (2005) explained that challenges to ensuring discrimination does not exist in the workplace requires a thorough understanding of the context it occurs, which requires high levels of self-awareness and a significant understanding of all ethnic groups in the workplace. Findler, Wind, and Mor Barak (2007) asserted that the ever growing challenge of diversity has worked to create demands that organizations determine and implement methods for effectively coping with workforce diversity. A number of theoretical viewpoints and studies identify common threads that include perceptions of inclusion or exclusion, fairness, social and organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and the overall sense of well-being. Another study performed by Krings and Olivares (2007) questioned the impact of ethnicity, job type, bias, and the commitment to interview discrimination practices from the employer perspective. The study resolved there was a higher potential for bias and discriminatory practices when there was a lack of diversity consciousness. Echautegui-de- Jesus, et al (2006) explained that working alongside an ethnic and gender group the native group perceives as being different from themselves creates challenges arising from imbalanced group powers. The Rubini, Moscatelli, Albarello, and Palmonari (2006) study compared the discriminatory effects of group power and social identification as it relates to linguistic discrimination. The study found higher levels of discriminatory practices were present when in-group participants responded in more positive way to other in-group members than they did with those considered the outside group. Another study completed by Echautegui-de-Jesus, Hughes, Johnston, and Hyun (2006) examined the effects of the employee’s psychological sense of well-being and job satisfaction as it relates to employee performance. Echautegui-de- Jesus, et al (2006) identified that minority groups often perceive themselves as being threatened with the loss of their interpretation of the world; the result being the loss of ability to achieve a sense of belonging, which brings into focus Robinson’s (2008) contention that identifying discriminatory practices often relies on perceptions of contentions of discrimination of the receiver. The need for higher levels of understanding diversity and the relationship between achieving a sense of well-being will be critical to the Hispanic group’s continued growth as a part of a global world. The studies and theoretical viewpoints reviewed provided a deeper insight to potential discriminatory practices arising from the diversification of the workplace. Ruane (2010) elucidated that as globalized employment continues to evolve and grow, talent pools will increase in a way that greatly enhances an organization’s ability to do business anywhere in the world. Taking advantage of the globalized potential requires management and employees raise the bar on diversity consciousness to create a sense of well-being for everyone in the workplace environment. Accommodating Diversity Ruane (2010) identified the need for accommodating diversity in the workplace and that it required training, strategies, and methods for managing diversity that created equality and a sense of well-being for everyone involved with working environment. A critical step toward identifying the level and expanding needs of diversity consciousness requires the identification of attitudes and implemented plans that will maintain and increase the common ground between all related to the workplace. The study performed by Greenwood (2008) stipulated the more a workplace environment diversifies the more difficult it would become for employees to maintain the sense of being a part of a unified work environment, which necessitates high levels of commitment to diversity practices on a consistent basis. Ruane (2010) theorized the importance of willingly and openly creating opportunities of inclusion begins with creating opportunity for shared diversity experiences that will increase diversity consciousness over time. The Nielsen and Fehmidah study (2009) identified the relationship between transformational leadership and the employees’ sense of well-being. Understanding that creating an effective diversity oriented work environment will help to ensure workers’ job satisfaction, inclusiveness, and sense of well-being continues to grow is not difficult; however, establishing strong leadership that is committed to ensuring prior underrepresented groups, such as the Mexican group requires strong diversity skill sets. Nielson and Munir’s (2009) article argued that the multifaceted workforce environment of the United States requires transformational management, laws ensuring equitable equality, and strong diversity training practices: Practices that encompass the perceived challenges of a Hispanic workforce. Most can agree the only way to manage diversity is to plan for it. Effects of Cultures in the Workplace Greenwood (2008) rationalized the world’s workplace environment is consistently changing and with each change comes different cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and ethnic groups; the objective is to welcome and support each group equally so as to create a new unified environment. Robinson (2008) provided that efforts to blend diverse cultures can have both negative and positive effects on operations, interrelationships, productivity, and the future growth of the company. Understanding differences between groups is a critical first step toward understanding how to make diverse cultures work together. The interviewing of three separate organizations helped to provide a better understanding of how both negative and positive effects of differing cultures can affect organizational outcomes. Greenwood (2008) explicated that cultural diversity affected each member of a work group; he also identified that challenges arising from linguistic barriers, differing work ethics, communication misunderstandings, and group power imbalances represented major trials to diversity. de Castro, Fujishiro, Sweitzer, and Oliva (2006) explained that diversity challenges require the commitment of management to ensure the positive effects outweigh the potential negative effects. Each of the three organizations interviewed believed strongly that it is only by creating flexible and inclusive work environments that organizations can reap the benefits of diversity in the workplace. Organizations that have planned for diversity understand that the right employee and management diversity planning and training will open the tap for contributions resulting from the perceptions of a multicultural workforce that is focused on one objective; the health and growth of the organization and the communities being served (Gabe Hooper, Personal Communication, January 20, 2011). Employer Attitudes The three organizations interviewed for the review work in the service delivery areas of healthcare. Each organization is focused on providing care and services to the communities under their care. The three interviewees chosen for the project presented diversity attitudes that were similar in their perceptions of cultural diversity. Each offered a definition of diversity that relates to being anything and everything associated with human life inclusive of the way an individual thinks, feels, dresses, communicates, and behaves. Each considered the value of diversity consciousness as being a critical component to the continued success of the organizations. However, each of the interviewees offered differing perspectives for overcoming culture challenges and the elimination of bias and discriminatory perceptions of all concerned. Some of the differences in perspectives are due to a noted lack of diversity within the organization; some of the differences are due to a lack of prior experience dealing with multicultural groups within the workplace. Appalachian Community Services (ACS) of western North Carolina offers strict protocols for agency professionals and support staff to ensure agency service delivery eliminates the potential for bias, prejudicial and any other discriminatory practices. Gabe Hooper the Program Manager for ACS was open to allowing a review and discussion of agency published agency policies as it relates to diversity initiatives of the organization. The agency policy offers stipulations inclusive of 1) a working environment that promotes dignity and respect, 2) the commitment to diversity and equality, good management practices that make sense, 3) the commitment to monitor and review on an annual basis, and 4) promises to address all forms of misconduct as defined in the organization’s code of ethics manual. After reviewing the agency standards for diversity management Mr. Hooper was asked why the agency did not seem to have a diverse base of employees within the agency. Mr. Hooper explained that ACS was largely a non-profit organization requiring high levels of professional credentialing to even be employed with the agency and that eliminated a number of the minority populace. Another reason provided was the fact the organization was based in rural environment, which does not lend well to the procuring and retaining of high quality and diverse professionals. Mr. Hooper stated, â€Å"The organization holds what comes their way and whether or not it balances diversity initiatives is secondary† (Gabe Hooper, Program Manager, Personal Communication, January 20, 2011). ACS professionals participate with one another and with their communities to create a strong sense of inclusion and well-being; the agency participates and supports community group histories and cultural celebrations. Hooper identified that everything experienced represents a new knowledge and it is brought into the work environment. ACS requires ongoing and consistent training for diversity related challenges that are becoming a part of the changing landscape; however, the organization has been unsuccessful with attracting minority groups to the organization. ACS has and enforces strong diversity protocols that are designed to ensure clients of the agency are not subjected to any forms of bias, prejudicial, or any other discriminatory practices and these same protocols are intended to serve the organization as the workplace culture evolves (Gabe Hooper, Program Manager, Personal Communication, January 20, 2011). Harris Regional Hospital offered by far the most culturally diverse workforce reviewed and diversity was represented at all levels of the organization. Janet Millsaps, Vice President of Human Resources explained the hospital’s objective for being ‘the place to work’ in western North Carolina. To fulfill the hospital’s objective requires the valuing, utilizing, and recognizing the unique potential of everyone working for the hospital. Millsaps explained that every new employee, no matter the position or department, is required to attend diversity-training sessions prior to stepping into their assigned positions and to attend annual seminars as they are presented. Finally, all employees must read and sign an agreement to uphold the organization’s code of ethics, which includes a number of diversity professional conduct requirements. The objective of the hospital is to achieve a 90 percent consumer success rating from each employee that serves that consumer. Diversity consciousness represents the biggest challenge to the hospital and it is taken very seriously. All employees are encouraged to share in community celebrations whether from the perspective of the resident Cherokee, Mexican immigrants, or any other group; employees are expected to share and respect each other’s cultural beliefs as well. Harris Regional takes a great deal of pride in their commitment to all staff members and encourages each one to share and promote ideas and concepts that will serve to unite the hospital with the communities it serves (Janet Millsaps, VP, Personal Communication, February 01, 2011). The third and final interview performed was conducted with the Hospice House Foundation of WNC, Inc. Michele Alderson, President defines the objective of the Hospice House as being to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place, for the right patient, and on their terms. Alderson explains the development of a diversity-sensitive organization as being a part of the groundwork that is critical to being an accepted help facility in any community. Mrs. Alderson believes overcoming diversity challenges in western North Carolina represents a tougher obstacle than in other areas of the country. The diversity of her workforce is currently limited to three or four multicultural subgroups inclusive of Cherokee, Mexican, African American, and Caucasian groups that outnumber the other organizational groups. Hospice House encourages all of their employees to learn from one another and the clients they serve. Alderson also explained there is no official diversity training program in place to raise the organization’s diversity consciousness; however, the organization does have formal written codes of ethics that include organizational directives for ensuring equal treatment and respect for all employees of Hospice. Contribution of Policies and Procedures Each of the three organizations interviewed offered formal written policies and procedures’ for guiding their respective organizations toward a balanced multicultural environment. ACS enforces their guidelines, encourages their employees to collaborate with the communities being served, and provides continuing diversity education; however, the organization’s management has been unsuccessful with creating opportunities for hiring multicultural staff and professionals due to the rural environment being served. The Hospice House Foundation of WNC has formal policies put into place but those policies do not seem to function as a part of the organization’s processes, nor was there a lot of organizational diversity noted at the time of the interview. The organization does not offer ongoing diversity training to their employees or professional staff members; however, the organization is supportive of community event attendance. Finally, Hospice House does not have any initiatives for creating a balanced multicultural workforce, which would make the environment more difficult for the smaller subgroups as the environment changes. Again, Harris Regional Hospital was the most thorough and impressive organization interviewed as it relates to diversity sensitivity. The hospital’s commitment to diversity and individual needs is readily evident. The hospital’s staff is encouraged to not only acknowledge and respect the needs of one another they are provided critical training to accomplish organizational objectives. All staff is encouraged to share knowledge and to create opportunities for inclusion that brings with it a strong sense of well-being; the employees spoken with confirmed they liked working with the hospital. Real-Life Practices and Recommended Practices Each of the organizations interviewed reflected a level of understanding for the needs of diverse employee populations and the needs of multicultural communities. Each of the professionals interviewed understood the relationship between work place environments and employee satisfaction. Each of the interviewees expressed their organizations had the commitment levels necessary to ensuring employee inclusion and the elimination of power group struggles. Adu-Febiri (2006) revealed that creating shared experiences and maintaining the balance of unity in the workplace as being a significant component to achieving a well-blended work environment. Not one of the organizations has a plan that will help workers overcome linguistic barriers. Rizvi (2009) identified one of the more critical needs of minority groups were programs and training modules designed to help with eliminating linguistic barriers in the work environment. Harris Regional was the only organization that believes they were up to the challenge of globalization and the evolving impacts of ethnicity. ACS and Hospice House of WNC have put the right policies and procedures in place but have not created the initiatives to attract minority groups to the workplace, which also infers the organizational leadership is not in a position to offer transformational skills that would unify all employees (Ruane, 2010). Harris Regional has already experienced challenges arising from perceptions of discrimination and worked to resolve struggles relating to power groups. ACS and Hospice House are relying on the formal policies that were put in place at the time they opened operations, which means the leadership has not had the opportunity to see if what was established works in real-life practice. Robinson (2008) contended that without having experienced diversity the potential for implied segregation will be high as the organizations expand and new groups come seeking employment; both organizations agreed this would be a potential event with their organizations. Harris Regional has been afforded the opportunity to actively recruit multicultural groups; the other two organizations claim they have not had applicants apply for available positions and both agreed they had not pursued any recruiting initiatives. Harris Regional Hospital reflects transformational leadership and they are committed to high levels of minority representation, subgroup retention, staff skill development, and the inclusion of everyone as a unified group, which is in line with the thoughts presented in an article published by Dreachslin (2007). ACS and Hospice Home of WNC have only begun the journey toward achieving objectives of diversity consciousness but both organizations are committed to learning and welcoming the new workplace trends. Myths and Stereotypes of the Mexican Group. Nielson and Munir (2009) recognized that the opening of dialogue in the workplace that addresses cultural myths and stereotyping challenges can be difficult and complex as many do not even realize their part in promulgating myths and stereotyping. Much research inclusive of Nielson and Munir (2009) identify that cultural myths and stereotyping have been a part of the world likely since the beginnings of the human race and that myth and stereotyping is alive and well in the United States. People believe and then attribute that belief by applying it generally. An individual that bites into a bad apple offers the potential for creating myths that all apples are bad rather than taking the time to sort through each one. The Mexican group has not been an exception to stereotyping and myths. Aaracho and Spodek (2007) identified that many have perceived the Mexican American father as being cold, distant and the authoritarian, which often translates into an unwillingness to be an active participant with a community or even with their own children. The stereotype of being a cold, distant, and unforgiving individual can give way to stereotyping that all the male portion of the group is interested in what they might gain in the workplace environment rather than what they can give. The authors, Aaracho and Spodek (2007) also identified that women of the Mexican group are portrayed as being quiet, submissive, and dedicated to their husbands, which creates even further myths and stereotyping as it relates to the potential of the Mexican women’s abilities in the workplace environment. Mulholland (2007) identified challenges arising from the myth that the entire Mexican group was uneducated and thereby, qualified for only the most rudimentary jobs, which represented the jobs no one else wanted. Krings and Olivares (2007) noted there were higher levels of stereotyping when Mexican applicants applied for positions that required linguistic skills. Language, accents, and body language represents the foundation of all cultures and it represents self-identification. Bernstein’s (2007) thoughts provided that Mexican Americans have been made to feel their communication style is incorrect and somehow lacking; the group has been stereotyped by others believing the differences in language integrity means the group is less intelligent. Schwartz, Domenech, Field, Santiago-Rivera, and Arredondo (2010) identified the challenges of minority professionals entering the workforce without sufficient linguistic competency as having attributed to stereotyping and myths of cultural groups. Bernstein (2007) revealed that many of the in-groups were quick to point out the Mexican groups were in the United States to earn monies, send them home to be put toward economic security needs in Mexico, and returning themselves when enough had been earned. Introducing these types of myths and stereotypes creates challenges to the group in the workplace because it gives momentum to even more harmful forms of stereotyping; a minority group entering the workplace environment where myth and stereotyping is present and unchecked will be all but forced to suffer the consequences of belief systems they had nothing to do with creating. Effects of Stereotyping and Cultural Myths The effects of stereotyping and cultural myths can cripple the working environment. McDonald (2010) described the stereotyping and cultural myth challenges to minority groups as being representative of a cycle. First, the stereotypes and myths begin with the unknown and this is often followed by competition between groups; most often, the competition is in the perspective of an in-group rather than the minority group. The next step occurs as conflicts between groups arise and this is followed even deeper rooted and malignant stereotyping and myths. McDonald (2010) contended people learn and apply attributes to what they perceive and this represents only one of less dangerous effects of stereotyping and myth. The Mexican American populace struggles with becoming a part of the mainstream environment, whether in the workplace or at home. Aberson and Gaffney (2009) revealed that the struggles of minority groups can find its root in the forced isolation caused by stereotyping and cultural myths they feel has been made their self-image. The articles presented by Mulholland (2007) and Wolfe, Cohen, Kirchner, Montoya, and Insko (2009) agree that the effects of stereotyping do not stop with the Mexican American adults it is funneled down through children via their parents, which infers the damaging effects continue through the generations of Mexican American group. Bernstein (2007) pronounced that failing to address and education all cultural groups within the workplace will result in deeply seeded divisions between the workforce; between group competition that will cause anger and frustration for all involved, and it will continue growing and expanding until the minority group has been squeezed out of the environment entirely. Exposing and Discrediting Myths and Stereotypes. Carr-Ruffino (2005) provided that exposing and discrediting cultural myths and stereotyping require that everyone be listening and hearing one another. MacDonald (2010) identified that people achieved their understanding by believing their perceptions and that it influenced the way they think and behave thereafter. Individuals helped to realize how important it is to recognize the beginnings and nuances of cultural myths and stereotyping are more likely to change attitudes and behaviors in a way that compliments the whole rather than individual groups. Wolf, et al (2009) provided that a critical step to creating a unified workplace environment required tools and methods that will help everyone to learn to critically interpret different cultures, uncover embedded ideologies, and learn to become socially responsible employees and citizens. Schwartz, et al (2010) articulated the critical need for getting everyone to question the deeper meanings of all cultural groups within the workplace will enhance knowledge that will provide the potential for critical thought; thus, bringing awareness of individual beliefs and value systems that can be blended with others. Sarach and Spodek (2007) revealed the need for organizations to create shared experiences between groups supports acculturation and assimilation processes that are critical to creating a unified environment dedicated not only to the good of the organization but to the good of one another. Transformational leadership is also critical to safeguarding initiatives to expose and discrediting myths and stereotyping. Schwartz, et al (2010) identified that leadership that is positioned to help overcome cultural linguistic challenges such as the Mexican American that can speak English but cannot write it is able to overcome it without being subjected to the stereotyping that hinders self-esteem will help level the playing field between groups. Creating multicultural teams in a workshop that is designated as support groups is another method of bringing differing groups together to achieve a truer and more just understanding of one another. The objective of bringing everyone together in a workshop should be to make certain no one is alienated; it is also not about identifying the one committing a wrong he or she does not even realize as being done or said. The workshop is a great environment for working together to grow cultural awareness, agree on methods and strategies for overcoming the challenges, and unify to eliminate the harmful effects of cultural myths and stereotyping. A workshop is for getting to know one another, learning about differences, and asking questions about perceptions received. Debunking cultural myths and stereotyping requires a long-term commitment from the leadership and all employees of the organization to one another and it begins with implemented learning strategies. Conclusion As previously identified globalization and new technologies have created opportunities for connecting differing cultural groups from all over the world; the Mexican immigrant is no exception. Aberson and Gaffney (2009) identified the Mexican cultural group as being one of the fastest growing cultural groups in the United States. The authors also identified the group is being consistently challenged by some that wish the group to maintain a social stratification level that is far below that of an in-group in the workplace. Chao and Willaby (2007) provided that bringing unknown cultural groups into the work environment can serve to alienate those of the minority groups from those of the in-group; some of the exhibited behaviors have included everything from forced segregation to critically malignant forms of discrimination that can contribute to group elimination. Mei and Russ (2007) identified that the establishment and upholding of organizational policies that have been designed to protect immigran

There are many threats to global food supplies Essay Example for Free

There are many threats to global food supplies Essay The food security is a potential crisis to the world in terms of food supplies and food safety while the global population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050 (Black, 2010). This essay, first of all, willjust focus on the threats to global food supplies from two main aspects: the threats caused by the objective factors in a broad sense, and the challenges attributed to the subjective factors which closely related to the human behavior.After the analysis of the problems, a number of feasible solutions will be suggested with the implications which will be further discussed accordingly. Â  Although population,conditions of technology and economy, and climate changes seem to be correlated with the human beings, they are both factors which cannot be changed by a simple policy or a short-term plan less than a decade. Therefore, in this essay, they are classified into the objective factors challenging the food supplies. As iscommonly known, population booming will directly lead to the severe shortage of land and water which are essential to the food production. Weak conditions in terms of technology and economy accelerate the ‘yield gap’ and aggravate the threat, making the poor area more vulnerable (Godfray, et al, 2010).Also, extreme weather along with the deterioration of global climate will damage the crops. Climate changes including global warming will change the seasonal patterns of pollination for crops which would influence their production (Slaght, 2012). Â   On the other hand, human factors contain more complicated reasons which are different from nations and industries. Generally, several main reasons can be concluded: mismanagement on ecosystems causes the dramatic decline in some species which eventually leads to the reduction of food supply(Slaght, 2012). Along with the regional industrialization, the exportations offruit and vegetables to developed countries displace local staple crops, which indirectly impacts the undeveloped areas suffering further from the malnourishment (Slaght, 2012). Besides, food waste du ring the transportation and processing, retail and home stages comprises a large proportion both in developed and developing countries (Godfray, et al, 2010).

Examining Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay

Examining Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay Environment is defined as the set of physical, chemical and biological systems and their relationships with economic, social and cultural factors with direct or indirect, gradual or immediate effect on living beings and human ´s quality of life. Environmental Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or that damage the environment which can come in the form of chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels. Environmental pollution is a problem both in developed and developing countries. Factors such as population growth, industrialization, and urbanization invariably place greater demands on the planet and stretch the use of maximum natural resources. All sectors of our society generate waste: industry, agriculture, mining, transportation, and construction. Among those sources, industry is the primary target of all waste generators because of its quantity and toxicity. Industries release the largest amount of highly toxic waste and we must focus on industrial pollution through pollution prevention programme and projects, need to be closely linked with policy -making process. The very first worldwide environmental concern was initiated at the World Conference on Human and Environment sponsored by the United Nations in Stockholm in 1972. The most visible result of conference was the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for promoting environmental enhancement program around the world. Global economy has reinforced the geographic separation among resource extraction, production and consumption. Hence, those who reap the economic benefits of using natural resources often do not bear the environmental cost. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janerio in June, 1992, focused on these issues. This new awareness led to an international agenda for sustainable development and various non-binding agreements. In fact, we need a balance between technological innovation and environmental enhancement, as well as a balance between economic development and environmental preservation. Agenda 21 is a blueprint for sustainable development into the 21st Century. Its basis was agreed during the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. Six key mechanisms were visualized in Agenda 21 for improved environmental management in the industrial sector: Incorporating environmental considerations in industrial development through proper siting policies and mandatory environmental impact assessments. Increasing efficiency in the production and use of materials, resources and energy. Improving existing pollution abatement technologies and developing new clean technologies, products and processes. Developing and implementing emission and effluent controls and standards. Ratifying multilateral environment agreements (MEA) such as the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Corporate environmental responsibility: The role of business in improving the efficiency of resource use, reducing risks and hazards, minimizing wastes and safeguarding the environment. Environmental problems are also becoming serious in India because of the interacting effects of increasing population density, industrialization and urbanization, and poor environmental management practices. Although environmental protection has always been a part and parcel of Indian Culture as evidenced by the stipulated responsibilities of the State as well as Citizens for the nature and living being in the Constitution of India under Article 48A and 5 1A (g). India is giving highest priority to this subject in its national planning. Environmental management is not, as the phrase could suggest the management of the environment as such, but rather the management of interaction by the modern human societies with, and impact upon the environment. Environmental management is a mixture of science, policy, and socioeconomic applications. It focuses on the solution of the practical problems that humans encounter in cohabitation with nature, exploitation of resources, and production of waste. Environmental laws and policies are based on the realization that the physical surroundings mark the dire necessities of mankind. Over the last few decades, the developing countries have established impressive arrays of policies, legislation and institutions for environmental protection and pollution control. Laws for Environmental Management in India The relevant laws relating to environmental management in India are listed below: The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 as amended in 2000. The Manufacture, Storage and Import or Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 amended in 2000. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. The Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 1994 as amended on May 14, 1994 and April 10, 1997. The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995. The Chemical Accident (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules 1996. The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999. The Fly Ash Notification, 1999. The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. The Batteries (Management and handling) Rules, 2001. The role of environmental law is basically to shield and shelter the resources and preserve the environment. The government has taken initiative, time and again, to look into the environmental matters. Even though, over the past few years, the need to curb the environmental crises has been realized, yet there has not been any concrete step towards it. In this situation it becomes imperative that the people become aware of the environmental issues and know their rights and liabilities relating to the environment. As with all management functions, effective management tools, standards and systems are also required. A large number of tools for assessing environmental impacts are available. Examples include Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), System of Economic and Environmental Accounting (SEEA), Environmental Auditing (EA), Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), a newly-developed decision-making support tool, has been used in many developed and developing countries for predicting and evaluating potential environmental impact of policies, plans, and programs (PPPs), as well as for providing alternatives to avoid, mitigate, or compensate for these impacts. The concept of Strategic Environmental Assessments originated from regional development / land use planning in the developed world. In 1981, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department published the Area-wide Impact Assessment Guidebook. In Europe ,the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the so called Espoo Convention, laid the foundations for the introduction of SEA in 1991. The general objectives of SEA are : 1. Contribute to an environmental and sustainable decision-making process 2. Improve policy, plan and programme quality 3. Strengthen and facilitate projects EIA 4. Foster new means of making decisions. Over the last 15 years, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has become an important policy instrument for national governments, particularly in Europe. The integration of environmental concerns into strategic decision making and policy making has been widely recognized as an essential feature for moving towards more sustainable development in all policy sectors. SEA is a procedural tool with the purpose of integrating environmental aspects in a structured manner into decision making processes. So, the increasing awareness of environmental impact assessment community has recently led to an intensifying debate on the theoretical foundations and the appropriate practical use of SEA. SEA is a framework within which a range of different analytical tools and methods can be applied. Assessment methods can be evaluated from different perspectives depending on the role, purpose and mechanism of assessment. The capability and international experience of the SEA approach makes it a benefit to the industrial sector in developing countries such as India. Three main, interrelated avenues for further development of SEA are Environmental Focus Strengthening existing SEA arrangements and approaches as mechanism for Environmental Sustainability Assessment and assurance Sustainability focus Utilizing SEA as a component or means of integrated assessment of the effects of Policy and Planning proposals in relation to the environmental , social and economic objectives of sustainable development. Convergence Focus Promoting the convergence of SEA within integrated assessment and planning systems for sustainable development. Some common threads run through all the three lines of approach, notably environmental integration, although the relative emphasis shifts in moving from the existing SEA approach to sustainability appraisal or integrated assessment and planning. These routes can be seen as sequential, progressive steps, securing one base before progressing to the next; and the process will take time. In India, the term SEA is not used in official parlance and, therefore, its use is not strictly governed by its many global definitions. Nevertheless, existing institutional mechanisms and EIA process at the country level provide elements of SEA that are being harnessed by decision makers and are increasingly popularizing SEA both as a concept and diagnostic tool for the review of environmental impacts including ecological, economic and social concerns that are integrated in decision making for economic development plans. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is gaining widespread recognition as a tool for integrating environmental considerations in policy, plan, and program development and decision-making. Notwithstanding the potential of SEA to improve higher-order decision processes, there has been very little attention given to integrating SEA with industry planning practices. As a result, the benefits of SEA have yet to be fully realized among industrial proponents. In this work an attempt has been made to look into the application of strategic environmental assessment for industries with the help of case studying and it is seen that SEA is an effective management tool to control industrial pollution not only for developed countries but also for developing countries. If SEA is to meet its potential, as a valuable business tool in addition to its policy role, then SEA must become relevant and responsive to the environmental governance of industry. This requires that SEA should form an integral part of industry planning and decision-making. Organization of dissertation In chapter -1, the introduction of strategic environmental assessment and its application in industry is discussed and organization of dissertation is given. In chapter -2, genesis of strategic environmental assessment is given and its benefits and performance _________________are included. In chapter- 3, a literature review of historical development and Status of SEA in developed and developing countries is presented and its relevance in Indian context is discussed. In chapter-4, the process and methodology of SEA is covered and steps in SEA process, environmental objectives and SEA framework and method are described. In chapter 5, case studies on power industry and auto industry in Shandog Province of China are taken up and various types of problems encountered in SEA are discussed. In chapter -6, results and discussions are included and recommendations for improving SEA system are given. In chapter -7, the conclusion of the study is given and the importance of SEA in future is highlighted. 2.0 SEA: Genesis Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an impact assessment tool that is strategic in nature and has the objective of facilitating environmental integration and the assessment of the opportunities and risks of strategic actions in a sustainable development framework. The strategic action is strongly linked to the formulation of policies, and they are developed in a context of planning and programming procedures. The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is the term used to describe the environmental assessment process for policies, plans, and programmes (PPPs). Moreover, individual projects have not only economic but also environmental, social, and political impacts that can be acceptable when considering an isolated project, but unacceptable when taking into account both the direct and indirect effects of projects, policies, and programmes acting in synergy. SEA provides the framework for the articulation of individual projects in a way that is coherent and respectful with the environmental, social, political, and economic conditions. SEA contributes to a better planning and monitoring process and is a potential tool for decision making, as its more integrated assessment procedures improve the coordination between different impact assessments. SEAs should enable foresight and assist policy makers to design projects that maximize environmental, functional, economical, social, and politica l goals. Objectives of SEA The objectives of strategic environmental assessment are to : Contribute to an environmental and sustainable decision-making process. Improve policy, plan and programme quality. Strengthen and facilitate projects EIA. Foster new means of making decisions. Benefits of SEA The immediate benefits of SEA application can be found in information that assists sound decision-making and in the consequent gains achieved in environmental protection and sustainable development. There are secondary benefits of SEA also as it Provides for a high level of environmental protection. Improves the quality of plan and programme making. Increases the efficiency of decision-making. Facilitates the identification of new opportunities for development. Helps to prevent costly mistakes. Strengthens governance. Facilitates transboundary cooperation. 2.3 SEA in the decision-making hierarchy SEA is recognised as an important decision support tool for integrating environmental considerations along with social and economic considerations into proposed policies, plans and programmes (PPPs). There is a hierarchy of levels in decision making comprising projects, programmes, plans and policies. Figure 2.1 SEA : Up-streaming environmental considerations into the decision- making Hierarchy, (Source OECD, 2006) Logically, policies shape the subsequent plans, programmes and projects that put those policies into practice. Policies are at the top of the decision-making hierarchy. As one moves down the hierarchy from policies to projects, the nature of decision-making changes, as does the nature of environmental assessment needed. Policy-level assessment tends to deal with more flexible proposals and a wider range of scenarios. Project-level assessment usually has well defined and prescribed specifications. Policies, plans and programmes (PPPs) are more strategic as they determine the general direction or approach to be followed towards broad goals. SEA is applied to these more strategic levels. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used on projects that put PPPs into tangible effect. 2.4 SEA and Sustainable Development Truly speaking, Sustainable development is meets the demands of today without destroying the possibilities for the future generations to satisfy their needs. Sustainable development is now a generally accepted vision for any sort of development, but there is a concern over how to achieve such a process. The concept of SEA can contribute to the sustainable development process. Over the last 10 years, SEA has become widely recognized by governments and development stakeholders worldwide as a valuable component of the sustainable development process. SEA, involving the environmental assessment of proposed and existing PPPs and their alternatives, is gaining widespread recognition as a supporting tool for decision making towards achieving sustainable development. The contribution of SEA towards sustainability stems from several points: SEA ensures the consideration of environmental issues from the beginning of the decision-making process. Provides a framework for the chain of actions Contributes to integrated policy making, planning, and programming Can detect potential environmental impacts at an early stage, even before the projects are designed. 2.5 Basic principles of SEA To be influential and help improve policy-making, planning and decision-taking, an SEA should: Establish clear goals. Be integrated with existing policy and planning structures. Be flexible, iterative and customised to context. Analyse the potential effects and risks of the proposed PPP, and its alternatives, against a framework of sustainability objectives, principles and criteria. Provide explicit justification for the selection of preferred options and for the acceptance of significant trade-offs. Identify environmental and other opportunities and constraints. Address the linkages and trade-offs between environmental, social and economic considerations. Involve key stakeholders and encourage public involvement. Include an effective, preferably independent, quality assurance system. Be transparent throughout the process, and communicate the results. Be cost-effective. Encourage formal reviews of the SEA process after completion, and monitor PPP outputs. Build capacity for both undertaking and using SEA. 2.6 EIA and SEA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. EIA is now practiced in more than 100 countries worldwide. Today, EIA is firmly established in the planning process in many of these countries. In 1989, the World Bank ruled that EIA should normally be undertaken for major projects by the borrower country under the Banks supervision. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also made recommendations to member states regarding the establishment of EIA procedures and established goals and principles for EIA. Despite the existence of good EIA guidelines and legislation, environmental degradation continues to be a major concern in developing countries. In many cases, EIA has not been effective due to legislation, organizational capacity, training, environmental information, participation, diffusion of experience, donor policy and political will. EIAs have not been able to provide environmental sustainability assurance (ESA). This failure and the inherent limitations of EIA lead to the consideration of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). It is the proactive assessment of alternatives to proposed or existing PPPs, in the context of a broader vision, set of goals or objectives to assess the likely outcomes of various means to select the best alternative(s) to reach desired ends. 2.7 The fundamental differences between SEA and EIA SEA and EIA are the tools that share a common root impact assessment, but have different assessment foci: strategies for future development with a high level of uncertainty in SEA; proposals and measures, concrete and objective, for the execution of projects in EIA. This difference between SEA and EIA in the object of assessment generates different methodological requirements related to the scale of assessment and to the decision-making process. In table 2.1, some fundamental differences between SEA and EIA are presented which help to corroborate the different methodological approaches that SEA and EIA must have. Table 2.1: Fundamental differences between SEA and EIA Some fundamental differences between SEA and EIA SEA EIA The perspective is strategic and long-term. The perspective is of execution in the short and medium-term. The process is cyclical and continuous. The process is discrete, motivated by concrete Intervention proposals. The purpose is to help build a desirable future; it is not to attempt to know the future. The intervention project has to be known with the suitable level of detail. The definition of what is intended is vague, there is a large amount of uncertainty and the data are always quite insufficient. The definition of what intends to be done is relatively precise and data are reasonably available or can be collected through field Work. Follow-up in SEA is performed through the preparation and development of policies, plans, programmes and Projects. Follow-up in EIA is performed through the construction and implementation of the project. The strategy may never be put into practice given that the actions established in plans and programmes may never be implemented. Projects requiring an EIA are executed, once their environmental feasibility is guaranteed. Figure 2.2 (a) represents the behaviour of an SEA methodology that follows a traditional EIA-based model. The objective is to assess the solutions proposed by a plan or programme and their effects. The solutions proposed in a plan or programme are taken as outcomes, not as means to achieve objectives, and SEA is going to assess the impact of these outcomes on a set of environmental factors. This approach has very limited or even zero capacity to influence the major strategic options. (b) Figure 2.2: (a) EIA-based methodology, (b) Strategic-based methodology (Source -Partidà ¡rio, 2007) Figure 2.2 (b) represents the behaviour of an SEA methodology that follows a strategic-based model the objective is to assess the proposed strategies during a planning and programming process in relation to the manner in which these strategies seek to respond to strategic problems and objectives. In this case, the aim of SEA is to analyse and discuss strategic alternative options that provide a response to the same strategic problems and objectives in an environmentally more integrated and sustainable context. The analysis is centred on how the plan or programme seeks to resolve the development objectives or the problems in an environmental and sustainable way, and not to assess the actions proposed as solutions or outcomes in the plan or programme. This approach increases the opportunity of SEA to facilitate the integration of environmental and sustainability issues in these strategic processes. 2.8 The Evolving Paradigm-from EIA to SEA The stages from EIA to SEA are given in Table 2.8 Table 2.2: Stages from EIA to SEA Paradigm / stage Key characteristics 1st Generation-Project EIA. Includes social, health and other impacts, cumulative effects and biodiversity. 2nd Generation-SEA. Applies to PPPs and legislation. 3rd Generation-towards environmental sustainability assurance (ESA). Use of EIA and SEA to safeguard critical resource and ecological functions and offset residual damage; plus environmental accounting and auditing of natural capital loss and change. Next generation-towards sustainability appraisal (SA). Integrated or full cost assessment of the economic, environmental and social impacts of proposals. 2.9 Strategic Environmental Assessment Performance Criteria A good-quality Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process informs planners, decision makers and affected public on the sustainability of strategic decisions, facilitates the search for the best alternative and ensures a democratic decision making process. This enhances the credibility of decisions and leads to more cost- and time-effective EA at the project level. For this purpose, a good-quality SEA process: Is integrated Ensures an appropriate environmental assessment of all strategic decisions relevant for the achievement of sustainable development Addresses the interrelationships of biophysical, social and economic aspects. Is tiered to policies in relevant sectors and (transboundary) regions and, where appropriate, to project EIA and decision making. Is sustainability-led Facilitates identification of development options and alternative proposals that are more sustainable. Is focused Provides sufficient, reliable and usable information for development planning and decision making. Concentrates on key issues of sustainable development. Is customized to the characteristics of the decision making process. Is cost- and time-effective. Is accountable Is the responsibility of the leading agencies for the strategic decision to be taken. Is carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, impartiality and balance. Is subject to independent checks and verification Documents and justifies how sustainability issues were taken into account in decision making. Is participative Informs and involves interested and affected public and government bodies throughout the decision making process. Explicitly addresses their inputs and concerns in documentation and decision making. Has clear, easily-understood information requirements and ensures sufficient access to all relevant information. Is iterative Ensures availability of the assessment results early enough to influence the decision making process and inspire future planning. Provides sufficient information on the actual impacts of implementing a strategic decision, to judge whether this decision should be amended and to provide a basis for future decisions. 2.10 SEA as a PPP (policies, programmes and plans) formulation tool SEA methodology should emphasize the role of SEA as a PPP formulation tool. It is at the stage of PPP formulation, rather than of appraisal of an already formulated PPP (for instance, green paper stage, review, public consultation) that SEA can be most effective. PPPs go through a complex process of evolution during their development, and SEA has a significant role to play in this, as shown in Fig. 2.3 Figure 2.3: Role of SEA in PPP formulation (Source Therivel, 2000) SEA should start early in PPP formulation and be integrated, preferably as an active intervention in the PPP design process Fig. 2.3 shows SEA as a design tool and not as a document. The preparation of a report is probably the least important part of the SEA. It should be regarded only as documentation of the processes used, and available, where necessary for later review. The real value in SEA is as a creative tool in the cycle of PPP formulation and reformulation. Bailey and Renton (1997) report, from their study of government agencies in Australia, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the majority of responding agencies view policy formulation as the most appropriate point in the decision-making process for the consideration of environmental effects à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This value is derived from the involvement of environmental professionals in PPP formulation and increased environmental awareness amongst decision- makers, which leads to PPP modification where necessary to respond to environmental/ sustainability objectives. SEA also requires that the decision maker be an active participant in the SEA process. Relegation of th e conduct of the SEA to consultants external to the PPP formulation process is unlikely to have the same effect on the outcome as extensive involvement by the proponent who holds the key to PPP modification and the early involvement of the decision-makers themselves. 2.11 Three lines of argumentation and Development of SEA In spite of almost two decades of experience, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) foundations remain unclear to the point that the case for needing an instrument called SEA could be questioned. The aim is to ask what problems SEA was meant to solve, and what needs it was meant to address, by reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of SEA thinking to date. This critical reflection on the foundations of SEA has helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of arguments relating to the concept and approach to SEA. The three lines of argumentation supporting the development of SEA are summarized in table 2.3 Table 2.3 Three lines of argumentation supporting the development of SEA First line of argumentation On strategic The strategic dimension of SEA originally linked to the paucity of environmental type assessments of policies, plans and programmes (PPPs). Second line of argumentation On procedures, methods and tools The framing of SEAs methodological dimension in response to perceived limitations in EIA practice, and the growing emphasis on process versus technique Third line of argumentation On purpose The purpose of SEA and the increased reference to the contribution to sustainable development (Source -Bina Olivia, 2007) The main factors influencing the early development of these lines of argumentation, and their evolution over the last 15 years are highlighted in below Fig. 2.4 Figure 2.4 : Changing concept of SEA First line of argumentation The first line of argumentation has been a decisive influence in slowing the evolution of SEA in response to identified problems with EIA, by claiming that its strategic dimension was the result of the strategic nature of the planning decisions it was assessing, and by oversimplifying the nature of PPPs and of tiering. This has meant that the development of the strategic dimension of SEA, in terms of its role, procedures, methods and tools, was delayed until the late 1990s. Second line of argumentation Second line of argumentation initially focused on technical and procedural problems (symptoms) related to EIA practice. It was not until the late 1990s that the SEA community began to address the caus

River Journey In Brazil :: essays research papers

Dear Irene, I would first like to thank you, for encouraging me to enter the competition and I could not believe that I won. As soon as they called out my name on the radio, I went running around my house, crazy, jumping up and down on my small bed, which I think I ruined the springs in it. Although it’s a pity you could not come with me, because the fact is that I had a spectacular holiday. There was a variety of choices on where to go, but none of them interests me except for one that I have not tried yet, and that was ‘Rafts and river journeys’ in the Amazon river, Brazil. I have never, in my life, experienced river journeys and I heard it could be a lot of fun and dangerous so I can face my fears. My best friend, Mike, and I went on a first class ticket in Brasilia Airlines that was very comfortable for a six-hour trip. As we landed on the capital of Brazil, Brasilia we didn’t imagine that this city can be strikingly beautiful, and fortunately is a lot better than Jeddah. We then met our raft experts in the airport. They were both female, which was really unexpected, because the experts are usually male, well one of them is called Joila and the other one’s called Lavita, I find Lavita very attractive. She had a tall, fit body, long blonde hair and a face more beautiful than Cindy Crawford. They took us to the city. The city had unspoiled landscapes, different types of antique markets around a distinctive building, there were several skyscrapers in the middle of the city, but that didn’t spoil the scenery, if you were in the middle of the city you would see lime-green mountains at a very long distance. They drove us to their camp, which was far out of the c ity and nearby the Amazon River. The campsite was in a charming location, along the campsite was pale green bushes around the campsite, caravans just beside the entrance was very big because it is used for their office, a small lake can be seen just a few hundred metres beside the camp for us to practice, there is an exotic view if you looked on top of the small hill, it was as if you were on top of the world. Lavita firstly showed us to our small white caravans for us to unpack.

A Life Lived in Scouting Essays -- Personal Narrative Boy Scouts Paper

A Life Lived in Scouting 1986: Introduction to the Mystery After the skits, songs, and cheers, the Camp Director (bearing a white sash embroidered with a red arrow and two bars at each end) came forward. The crowd instantly grew quiet and somber. The wind rustled; the branches swayed and cracked; the lake gently lapped the shore. Sitting with my father, I watched bats flutter above two great fires. In a clear yet reverent tone, the weathered old man invoked the beauty of nature, the mystery of life, and the Great Spirit. In solemn words, he added, â€Å"Each has his own path, let the Scout Oath and Law light that path.† A quiet tenor, the Camp Director began to sing. With intimate familiarity, uniformed men, women, and boys rose adding their voices to his. â€Å"My paddle's keen and bright Flashing with silver Swift as the wild goose flight Dip, dip and swing Dip, dip and swing her back Flashing with silver Follow the wild goose flight Dip, dip and swing† Faces stern, backs straight, heads held high, each waited; and, silence fell. Still seated by my father, I watched the fire of fellowship, bright against the water, cast long shadows across the faces of the crowd— the other stood unlit, no flame lived within it or brought warmth to the people. From the distant shore, a canoe entered the water and silently approached— the paddlers in smooth perfect unison. Mateo, messenger of the Leni-Lenape, stood erect and proud in the stern of the canoe. From a pot of flame, Mateo reached and drew a single arrow. Putting notch to string, Mateo released the arrow and smote the lifeless fire. Flame rose from its depths and the voice of Chief Allowat Sakima boomed across the water, across the fire circle, and echoed forth. â€Å"I am ... ... the last song of the final campfire and invokes the memory of all that have come before in Scouting. It is, to Scouts, a sacred song. The light dimmed still further and as we reached the top of the stairs. We stood together, finished humming, and walked down to the car. We shared our final night of Summer Camp together— two weeks later I went off to Basic and my father died in August of 2000. July 2004 will be my first Summer Camp in six years. â€Å"Scouting may be indefinable but it is palpable; and, it moves men and boys to become better human beings through their journey together.† First Verse of Scout Vespers Softly falls the light of day, While our campfire fades away. Silently each Scout should ask Have I done my daily task? Have I kept my honor bright? Can I guiltless sleep tonight? Have I done and have I dared Everything to be prepared?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome I Essay -- Crib Death SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is a traumatic and tragic disease that affects thousands of babies throughout the world every year. There is no way of explaining the death of a child that has SIDS and there are no real ways of predicting if it could happen to any baby. What makes SIDS even worse is that the source of what exactly may be the cause of it is still unknown. Advanced research in the last 30 years has dramatically reduced the number of deaths. SIDS not only affects the infants but also the families of the infant and it proves to be a very tough and emotional experience for them. So what exactly is SIDS? The term SIDS was finally defined in 1969 as the sudden death of an infant or child, which is unexpected by history and in which a through post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death (Culbertson 3). Basically this is another way of saying that it is not known why these babies die. SIDS is not a new disease contrary to what some people might believe, but it has been happening throughout time, unexplained deaths of babies are even recorded in the bible. SIDS was probably the most neglected disease ever recorded in history of man. It wasn't until recently that major steps were taken to figure out why babies were dying so unexpectedly and what could we do to prevent it from happening. So what exactly causes SIDS and is there anything we can do to prevent it? Well as of right now, the cause of SIDS is unknown. We do not know what causes SIDS and there are no consistent warning signs that might alert us to the risk of it. However, scientists and researchers have discovered many things that might attribute to the causes of SIDS. SIDS almost always occurs at night when the infant is sleeping. A higher incidence of SIDS is seen among premature and low birth weight children. Women who smoke and let their children be exposed to smoke give their children a higher risk of SIDS. Low birth rates among children have a higher chance of getting SIDS. Finally there is a much higher rate of SIDS when infants are placed on their stomach to sleep.(Culbertson, 8-10) One of the biggest recommendations physicians make to new parents today is to let their babies sleep on their back. Putting them on their back greatly decreases the risk of SIDS to their children. These are just some of the things that have been... ...2). Everything we know, all the information that is produced and published is all just a theory because we don't even know what happened and what caused the death. So where do we go from here? What can be done to stop this terrible disease? Who knows. All we can do is sit back and hope someone's 'theory'; is the right one and be thankful that this disease only affects 1-3 infants per thousand born. There are so many questions but not nearly enough answers and until that day we can only do what the experts tell us to do and hopefully the SIDS disease will almost become non-existent. Culbertson, Krous, Bendell, ed. 1988 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Medical Aspects and Psychological Management. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press Bergman, Abraham B. M.D. 1986 The 'Discovery'; of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Lessons in the Practice of Political Medicine. New York: Praeger Publishers Guntheroth, Warren G. M.D. 1989 CRIB DEATH : The Sudden Infant Syndrome Death Second Revised Edition Mount Kisco, New York Futura Publishing Company. Injury Prevention Committee, Canadian Pedrictric Society. Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death. Journal of Pedriactics and Child Death