The Vanishing Bees free essay sample

The Vanishing Bees Kimberly McNeilus Jill Morstad College Writing II May 2, 2012 Bees are an intricate part of today’s society in the form helping to produce foods and also their contribution as insects play a valuable part in nature. There is a place, a southern village of Sichuan, China where bees no longer exist. Farmers meet every April with bamboo sticks and chicken feathers to begin pollination of their crops. This long and labor-intensive process the farmers endure is due to the lack of bees (Benjamin and McCallum, 11). Not only is this disappearance of the honeybees happening in China, but it is also being discovered all around the world. There are more than 20,000 bee species known around the world, with the honeybee being the most common. These important bees are disappearing rapidly (Lynn Hermann, 2011). Honeybees are the most important pollinator on the planet. In North American, a third of fruits, nuts, and vegetables require pollination of the honeybee (Seeley, 3). We will write a custom essay sample on The Vanishing Bees or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The loss of our black-and-yellow pollinators would mean the serious decline of agricultural products, which directly threatens civilization’s food supply. Research has linked several factors to the rapid decline in honeybees; these factors included over use of chemically treated crops, the Colony Collapse Disorder, and environmental factors. Albert Einstein is reputed to have said: â€Å"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left† (Benjamin and McCallum, 7). He was speaking in regard to the symbiotic relationship of all life on the planet, which consists of a huge intertwined ecosystem. Each element plays a certain role that is dependent on many other components that work closely together (Higgins, 2007). Society, unfortunately, knows a very small amount about the importance of the honeybee. Ninety percent of commercial crops worldwide owe their existence to the honeybee pollination. (Benjamin and McCallum, 4). Their understanding of the significance of the honeybee and its value to the world’s ecosystem is a tiny step in the right direction. When a honeybee visits a flower to forage for nectar, some of the flowers pollen rubs off the stamens on to the honeybees body. The bee then moves on to another flower to gather more pollen and further its mission in assisting the hive. The honeybee’s vital role of pollen collection on its body is complemented by the stigma of the flower. Pollination is fundamental because a plant will not develop seeds or fruit if the plant is not pollinated. If the crops are not pollinated, they will fail to produce a harvest. Commercial honeybees have become a recent phenomenon with farmers. Due to the rapid decrease in honeybees originating with pesticides, which kill them off, farmers cannot â€Å"naturally† pollinate their crops (Hubbel, 65). In the state of California, each year by the truckloads, honeybees are transported to various parts of the state for the pollination of the almond crops. Before the rapid decline, farmers would have a difficult time accepting the fact that they would have to hire in beehives. Often they also have to hire beekeepers to assist with the hives. This is also happening rapidly outside of North America. One key influence that contributes to the prompt deterioration of honeybee population is the overuse in chemicals. The use of pesticides, especially insecticides on crops, is known to kill or weaken thousands of honeybee colonies in the US each year. Local bees have been murdered sporadically for decades due to insecticides. However, the NAS report considered it unlikely that this has â€Å"contributed significantly† to the recent decline. The report stated, â€Å"Most pesticide-caused honeybee kills are the result of accidents, careless application, or failure to adhere to label recommendations and warnings (Status of Pollinators in North America, 2006). † It has obviously ignored sub-lethal effects, particularly of new pesticides that may turn out to be one of the most significant factors contributing to the current honeybee deterioration. In order for farmers to keep other â€Å"pests† from destroying their crops, they spray the fields with pesticides. These deadly chemicals are also key elements that reduce and kill insects. Not only are these potent chemicals killing insects, most importantly, they are killing the honeybees (Benjamin and McCallum, 126). A study conducted by Penn State found fungicides in the pollen samples, which became toxic to the bees causing thousands to die (Benjamin and McCallun, 126). Farmers noted that honeybees exposed to the pesticides no longer functioned as a normal bee. Strange behavior accrued. Honeybees can transfer these lethal fungicides, which are chemicals into their honey. This could later lead to these deadly chemicals being consumed by humans causing fatal reactions. The vicious cycle of chemicals continues to hurt not only the honeybee, but also the complex ecosystem of this world. Beekeepers blame the introduction of nicotine-based pesticides such as Imidacloprid (a product that is known to exterminate all pests) as a major contributing factor to the declining bee population (Renae Anderson, 2012). A team of scientists led by the National Institute of Beekeeping in Bologna, Italy, found that pollen obtained from seeds dressed with imidacloprid contains significant levels of the insecticide. These scientists suggested that the polluted pollen was one of the main causes of Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (J. Agric Food Chem, 2005). HCCD occurs with the earth’s continual climate change, and overuse of industrial parks. Later, scientists defined this vanishing act as, Colony Collapse Disorder. For many years, these bees have suffered from this unusual disorder, which is a poorly understood syndrome where worker bees leave their hives and die. The bees simply vanish relatively suddenly. â€Å"They often have little or no dead adults in or near the colonies, leaving behind the queen bee. In cases where the colony appears to be actively collapsing, the workforce seems to be made up of young adult bees. They are often insufficient to feed the brood, but are reluctant to consume provided feed† (Penn State University, 2007). It is very evident, especially to today’s scientists, that harmful toxins are being pumped into this earth’s ecosystem. Fumes and gases are killing the bee population at a rapid rate and extreme measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the earth’s environment as well as the honeybee populations. The increased use of pesticides is a direct reaction to increased numbers of pathogens and diseases. Those factors lead to an even more specific result of monoculture agriculture (a central part of modern food production across the planet) has also been shown to have serious effects for bee populations. Research published in the Public Library of Science Journal found 121 different pesticides in 887 samples of bees. These are bee derivatives such as wax and honey (Rich Morgan, 2011). The pesticides are proven to be terrible for human consumption in food form; it should be no surprise that they are killing the bees. Society needs to rethink how they can better the planet and environment, and demolish the pesticides so that bees are able to naturally pollenate. A key factor of the bees’ decline is by the ingestion of genetically modified seeds, crops, and proteins. The genetic modification of the plant leads to the concurrent genetic modification of the flower pollen. When the flower pollen becomes genetically modified or sterile, the bees will potentially become malnourished and die of illness. This is due to the lack of nutrients and the interruption of the digestive capacity of what they feed on through the summer and over the winter hibernation process. Brittany Amos explains the genetically modified organisms. â€Å"They are (GMO) known as the â€Å"terminator seeds. Governments are presenting the GMOs to be nationwide, which will cause bees to abandon their hives. Frazzled farmers need bees in order to pollinate their crops so they can produce foods to help aid in the economy. â€Å"Economically this will cause inflation, scarcity of agricultural commodities, and ultimately the collapse of North American agriculture†(Lynn Hermann, 2011). â€Å"In 2000, the value of crops pollinated by bees was estimated at $14. 6 billion in the USA alone. Clearly, the existing evidence calls for much fuller investigations on the sub-lethal impacts of GMO crops on bees, such as learning and feeding behavior, and immunity to disease. The potential consequences of pollinator decline on food crops can be staggering, and the impact on biodiversity may be irreversible â€Å"(Conservation Biology, 1998). If there are no honeybees available to help with the process of pollination, the farmer’s crops will not reproduce. In order to aid in reproducing, the bee must be alive. Although it is normal behavior for a honeybee to leave the colony to die, recently, there has been unusual behavior from honeybees. This is happening and becoming an alarming factor for beekeepers across the world. The problem began more than four years ago and has intensified since being discovered. From the years 2006 and 2007, beekeepers noticed almost overnight that beehives were abandoned in 24 states throughout the country. â€Å"Bees have been disappearing inexplicably at an alarming rate, threatening not only their livelihoods but also the production of numerous crops, including California almonds, one of the nation’s most profitable profit â€Å"(Benjamin and McCallum, 10). â€Å"This â€Å"colony collapse disorder† (CCD) is particularly devastating for farmers of fruits and vegetables, as they depend on insect pollinators† (BBC News, 2007). Scientists say a virus is probably responsible for colony collapse disorder, but still the cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD) remains unclear to many researchers. Although scientists are trying to figure out a bee vaccination, medically there is nothing to fight the virus â€Å"(Benjamin and McCallum 250). Colony Collap se Disorder is rapidly killing the bee population. Even though the cause is still unanswered, this will result in a dip in our food economy associated with bees such as honey, nuts and various fruits. Researchers are working with beekeepers and farmers all over the world to try and reverse the damage that CCD has already caused to the honeybees and to crop production. There is still no clear cause(s) of the Colony Collapse Disorder. The CCD Debate Team collectively believes that time is running out for the honeybees and everyone in the bee business needs to diligently work at how to reverse the process before it’s too late. When honeybees disappear it will be a fatal dent in our economy. Another factor contributing to the declining population of the honeybee are environmental factors. Pollution is key in leading to pollinator decline. Pollutants affect plants’ abilities to produce chemicals that attract insects. They also destroy scent trails for bees to pollinate on. These scent trails that once traveled more than 2,000 feet in the 1800’s, now extend less than 600 feet from the plant. â€Å"This is creating complications for pollinators as they search for food â€Å"(Lynn Hermann, 2011). â€Å"There have been cases where these die-offs of bees have been before, but we have never seen it to this level,† said Maryann Frazier, a Pennsylvania State University entomologist. Instead of standing by while our bee population is dying, today’s society should take action and help make our world a healthier place for bees. There are many ways to helping them; building and starting a honeybee hive, using more eco friendly ways of transportation, planting a bee-friendly garden with organic flowers and using more organic products and foods which are free of pesticides. â€Å"The bees are immune-compromised, being stressed somehow†¦Some could be related to the severe weather swings we’ve seen over the past few years. says Diana Cox-Foster, a professor of entomology at Penn State University. Climate chaos and extreme weather is to be a major factor. Air pollution and global warming are also seen as major contributors to the growing issue of the bee colony collapse across the globe. If these bees don’t have flowers to pollinate on, this will cause major issues across the globe. The above factors show that the decline of the honeybee and ot her bees as well are on the rise. We as a society need to be more aware of our environment and our planet. The honeybee is highly underestimated and underappreciated. Humanity daily enjoys the fruits of the labors of the honeybee yet takes them for granted. A large number of people do not realize what bees contribute to our economy. A once natural process of pollination will now result to measures similar to the village of Sichuan in China. A world without bees could mean devastating results for the economy and humans alike across the globe. Cited References Allen-Wardell G, Bernhardt P, Bitner R, et al, The potential consequences of pollinator declines on the conservation of biodiversity and stability of food crop yields. Conservation Biology 1998, 12, 8-17.

Political Divorce--Russia essays

Political DivorceRussia essays The former USSR, now called Russia, has abandoned its dreams of a communist utopia in the hopes of becoming a strong capitalist country. But the road is not an easy one. To do this, Russia must abandon the last vestiges of its former regime, and even if they are successful in this, they must also experience the growing pains of a democratic nation, something that most members of the developed world have long ago conquered. The main problem is that most democratic nations evolve into their present stake, while Russia must do it seemingly overnight. It is a near impossible task, but with the proper tools it can be accomplished. Although this former superpower is now in economic, political and social ruin, with economic aid, that is funds and equipment, better technology, and good political advice regarding the governing of the nation and its people, Russia can become a strong member of our global community. Russia is in dire straits in terms of cash. The Russian economy has had to do a complete turnaround, which is very difficult. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, everything was government owned, and made only for need, as opposed to luxury. The Russian government has had to find independent owners/operators for most of its companies, and has been somewhat successful in doing so. Also, Western based companies have used the collapse of the Iron Curtain to explore a new market, which was never available before. This has led to some revenue in tariffs and taxes. The market and the people in Russia are still struggling, however. Over 40% of its citizens are below the poverty line, and although Russia has immense natural resource deposits, such as diamonds and oil, there is not much industry yet to reap the benefits of these untold riches. When the full potential of these resources come about, however, it will be a monumental step towards the revitalization of the Russian economy. R ight now, however, Russia needs most only cold, har...

Framework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Framework - Essay Example This paper reviews and compares the methodologies, recommending the best strategy to develop the system. Analysis Fixit’s Nature of business Fixit TV repairs and video repairs deals with the repair of various electrical and electronic equipment while also selling part of the equipment. The employee base of the enterprise is made up of proprietor, who deals with customers and does most of the repair work, a part-time administrator who deals with the book-keeping and bill payments, and a team of sub-contractors who are brought in as necessary. At present the day-to-day running relies heavily on the proprietor’s memory or is written on a scrap of paper. As indicated, at the moment all procedures are manual, repairs are logged as they arrive, and the equipment and the customer details together the descriptions of the fault are always noted, giving each job a unique job ticket. The ticket has a unique number and contains the customer demographic details, the equipmentâ€℠¢s details and the fault’s description. As a result of the complexities associated with the current procedure, the business through its proprietor seeks to implement a new system to run the business operations. However many question arise in how to develop the system. Questions How can the requirement be captured How can these requirements be conceptualized How can the system design be implemented, tested and debugged How will it be documented? How can the system be integrated, evolved, maintained and finally decommissioned? Comparison Agile development approach and object oriented design have various features which make them significant though distinctively separate. The main distinction is the approach in which the developer employs to realize an end product. The agile development approach involves a set of software development approaches which are founded on incremental and iterative development (Satzinger, Jackson& Burd 2012). On the other hand, object based design is a p rocedure of planning a scheme of relating objects for the reason of resolving a software issue. The primary thing to consider in the assertions is the reality that one encompasses planning while the other employs emergent and incremental development approaches. To begin with agile development approaches, it utilizes some principles and practices which can be glowered upon by various developer who favor planning and implementation of plan as opposed to bind coding. The major setback with this approach is that the design models do not need to model each single detail. The models do not require to be complete and perfect. This implies that an iterative methodology is utilized whereby no specifics are being operated with, instead they are operated on in tandem with the deliverable system. The other challenge relates to the documentation of the end system. With the case of agile development approach, the documentation of the system though essential is not accorded the much desired emphas is as it is the case with object oriented design(Yourdon 1994). Instead, the agile approach focuses on unit tests to form a greater part of the documentation of the design. Now as we develop the system using the agile approaches and procedures guided by spiral or waterfall model, without the presence of

Microeconomics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Microeconomics - Term Paper Example However, since the buying and selling is common to all participants of economy, therefore microeconomics plays an important role in determining the supply and demand of goods. As this factor is responsible for price fixation of goods and services, the change in supply vs. demand position can lead to change in price. As resources become limited, microeconomics tries to analyze the relationship between market conditions, product prices, as well as the market mechanism which establishes this relationship. Such mechanism has a great role to play in the allocation of resources, in such scenario. Therefore, microeconomics has a significant role in determining the conditions required for a perfect competition. It also studies the conditions which may have led to market failure, when results are not produced efficiently. However, microeconomics can only establish the theoretical conditions, while actually market behavior may be different, sometimes. Accordingly, studies in this field of econ omy would include decision making ability under uncertain market condition. It also includes the study of market, which may not follow any pattern. This term paper would discuss about the principles of microeconomics, along with its fundamentals, in the following pages. Principles of microeconomics As there is a great relationship between a household and economy; Greek ancestors have correctly named the manager of a household as ‘economy’. Looking at the wider scenario, the household is an economic entity within a larger society. The society must ensure the allocation of funds and jobs to different members, while managing the available limited resources. Therefore the decisions need to be taken, keeping in view certain fundamentals, which are considered as the principles of microeconomics, which help people in making their decisions. Supply and demand In economic terms, demand means willingness, need and ability to purchase certain goods or services. However, desire to purchase may meet the requirement of willingness, but same only cannot generate demand. The purchaser must be able to pay for the specific good or service. The payment method can vary, as sellers except cash, credit cards, deferred payment or lease payments, nowadays. The capacity to purchase the good determines the ability for generating the demand. Readiness to purchase the good, right now, comes after the above two requirements of demand have been met. Once the immediate purchase willingness is confirmed the demand gets generated. (beggs 1) Supply relates to the available quantity of a particular good or service at a point in time, in a particular location. Supply would primarily comprise of two elements. One is the quantity of goods produced by a firm, while other is the combined quantity of same goods produced and offered for sale by different firms, involved in manufacture and trading of that particular item. However, total availability of such goods in market refers to the su pply of the same. Supply would relate with the profit to be generated by offering such goods for sale. As companies prefer to sell their products at maximum profit level, this would determine the quantity and quality of goods that the firm can offer at any particular point. Maximum profit is calculated, based on the cost inputs, production costs, marketing costs and other variables. Therefore, all these factors would ultimately determine the supply position a

Compare, contrast and evaluate two theories of the distribution of Essay

Compare, contrast and evaluate two theories of the distribution of power in modern states - Essay Example The theory further establishes the point of view that Bourgeoisie are referred to as the class which rules, this means that they control the capitalist society in an indirect manner, such activities are evident in nations such as United Kingdom and other government institutions such as the cabinet, army police, criminal justice system, media and industries that have been nationalized. The early theory of the 19th century proposed by Marx was quite consistent with the era of 19th century because during that period aristocrats were dominating the society, there was limited amount of adult suffrage, voice of the labor was weak due to weak trade unions and parties that represented the workers did not exist (BRACKETT, 2010, p.85). Due to this scenario the working class had little to no say in the decision making process. During the 20th century, theories proposed by Marx started loosing its ground because scenario changed and trade unions gained power, universal suffrage had been initiate d and parties supporting the working class were formed (CAMPBELL, 2011, p. XVII). During the 20th century, the importance of the managers was realized, owners had lost control over organization’s decision making process and the aristocratic class had lost power and the way the political power was distributed was easy to understand under the light of Democratic pluralist theory (BLOKLAND, 2011). Still during the period 1960s, certain ideas proposed by Marx were present and his theory was once again revived in society by Miliband who tried to make Marx’s theory of ruling class acceptable during the period of 1960s (GAMBLE, 1999, p.178). Miliband stated that the theories proposed by Marx of capitalism have not died and are still witness able in the era of 19th Century and the theories of democratic pluralism and post capitalism were not correct and were not consistent with the 19th century (BRACKETT, 2010, p.85). According to this Marxists the capitalist class might have lost its power but is not out of the race for power, they have lost a little bit of power to the trade unions and workers party but still have more power than these two groups. He further went on to state that a particular state is controlled and governed by several elites within the society such as the civil service, military, judicial and the political elites but the way these elites were making decisions clearly reflected that they were highly influenced by the ruling class and were clearly making decisions in accordance to the decision making style of the ruling class. Miliband further states that the capitalist class is still the one who rule the decision making process and they do so by joining the government and making decisions and policies that benefits the business community and they are located in those positions of the government that have ample amount of authority. The capitalist classes are those who have gained education from top most universities such as Oxford and C ambridge universities and have been taught in a manner that is in favor of capitalism, due to this they make decisions that favor capitalism (WEBSTER, 2007, p.118). Miliband further

Human Trafficking In Cambodia Criminology Essay

Human Trafficking In Cambodia Criminology Essay Human trafficking is considered as one of the most problematic issues in today worlds society. Since this problem happens throughout the world, it is necessary to deal with it globally. For ASEAN level, human trafficking is one of the transnational crimes that take place across national borders or take place within one country but their consequences significantly affect another country. Likewise, Cambodia also faces with this kind of serious crime as a transit, origin, and recipient nation. I.1 Types of human trafficking There are many types of human trafficking. One of them is the forced labor. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), forced labor is a work or service exacted from a person under threat or penalty which includes penal sanctions and the loss of rights and freedom. Another type is sexual exploitation. In this type of trafficking, traffickers resort to deception in terms of recruitment particularly through the promising of well-paid jobs, yet victims who have been abroad are locked in apartments with their passports confiscated by traffickers who coerce them to work in prostitution. Victims are promised that they will get freedom only after earning for the cost of their purchase price as well as their travel and visa costs. Other type of human trafficking is organ removal, and the victims of such trafficking mostly are children. The children are removed their organ for the purpose of begging and peddling (selling small equipment, flowers and cigarettes). Besides these, f orced marriage also considered as one type of human trafficking. The practice of forced marriage occurs on a significant scale today. In Cambodian society, especially in rural areas we can see that parents always forced their daughter to marry to foreigner on the hope of improving their living condition. Unfortunately, their daughter somehow exploited by foreigner as domestic workers or sex slaves. Last but not least, illegal adoption of children is also another form of human trafficking since it involves the selling and buying children or baby illegally between parents and buyers. In this kind of trafficking, due to unclear family plan or unwanted pregnancy, parents often sell their kids to buyers for the purpose of adoption as they are poor. This is also kind of human trafficking since it is not legally recognized. After being aware of all types of human trafficking, it is also important to know who the trafficker and the trafficked are. Traffickers are recruiters, transporters or exploiters. However, mostly women play a role during the recruitment and exploitation process. For instance, she might be the one who go to contact the victim directly. Then, male trafficker is the transporters and managers during the exploitation process within the trafficking network. For the trafficked person, adult women are mostly known as victims followed by children. Plus, men are victims of human trafficking as well. II. Current situation Victims of human trafficking in Cambodia particularly men, women, and children are trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation in Thailand, Malaysia, Macao, and Taiwan.  Ã‚  Specifically, men are trafficked for forced labor in the agriculture, fishing, and construction industries while women are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor in factories or as domestic servants.  For instance, they might be serving as house keeper and maid for looking after their bosss child. Furthermore, it is not surprisingly that children are being trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor such as begging, flower selling and so on. As the transition, Cambodia is a transit country for human trafficking from Vietnam to Thailand; and as the destination, Cambodia is a destination country for victims of sexual exploitation from Vietnam and China especially, women and children. In fact, internal trafficking in Cambodia is considered to be predominantly for the purpose of commercial s exual exploitation basically in urban and tourist areas, including to Phnom Penh and to Sihanouk Ville. Increasingly, young women are being recruited to work in karaoke, beer garden, bar, club and so on. These women are employed as a job in a restaurant or as a waitress in an entertainment place. Even though they are often not physically forced to have sex with clients, the women still face with sexual harassment committed by their customer while they work. Besides this, currently trafficking in children, particularly very young children and children who are disabling are also recruited to sell stuffs which in clued newspaper and flowers on the streets. A small number are recruited for work in other sectors, such as domestic work or in restaurants. Trafficking from Cambodia also takes place for the purpose of labor exploitation in a number of industries, including construction and so on. What is more, Cambodian men are being trafficked to work in Thailands fishing industry suffer fr om long working hours, dangerous working conditions and physical abuse. III. Causes and Effects of human trafficking in Cambodia Human trafficking in Cambodia is caused by many factors. One of the most important causes of human trafficking is poverty. Poverty is an important factor which has increased women and childrens vulnerability to human traffickers particularly the poor and unemployed since they have will to join or they are level of awareness on the dangers associated with human trafficking is low. Poverty again is considered as the main root behind their decisions that make they decide to migrate for work. In addition to poverty, the lack of education and unemployment there are also significant social and culture factors that contribute to human trafficking. For instance, culture norms that perpetuate a lack of respect women increase the likelihood of them being exploited. Similarly, the perception of children as wage earners also increases the likelihood of them being trafficked. Moreover, the low level of education, family debt, agriculture failure, lack of land and off-season work were pushing peop le to the big cities or other countries as the men go into construction, women into services and prostitution. Last but definitely not least, broken families, disaster, uneven economic development, lack of border controls, socio-economic imbalance between the rural and urban areas, increased tourism, unsafe migration are also significant contributing factors to human trafficking. After getting to know the roots of human trafficking, it is also important to understand its effects. In fact, human trafficking has many consequences. First, the spread of HIV/AIDS is one of the consequences of human trafficking. For instance, many victims of human trafficking are physically and sexually abused. Trafficked women are often not in a position of negotiate safe sex, or lack access to education about HIV/AIDS. Therefore, they can transmit the disease to the next customers. That is the reason that HIV/AIDS can spread from one person to another person easily. The victims not only suffer from HIV/AIDS, but also often suffer from stigmatization by their communities. Moreover, many are treated as criminals by officials in countries of transit and destination due to their irregular status in the country, and their status as illegal workers or sex workers. What is more, human trafficking is generating the violation of human right. As we know that the victims are forced to do th e prostitute and other kind of exploitations. In this case, there will be a human right violation concern. IV. Solutions of Cambodian Government In fact, The Royal Government of Cambodia does not stand still without taking any actions. For this reason, the government has implemented several mechanisms. The first mechanism is the prosecution. It is making some many significant efforts; for example, the government created a national anti-trafficking task force to improve the interagency response to trafficking and coordination with civil society, increased law enforcement action against traffickers and complicit officials, and undertook prevention activities. Besides this, in February 2008, Cambodias new Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation was declared wisely and went into effect immediately. This law provides enforcement authorities and the power of investigate all forms of trafficking, and it is also a powerful tool in efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers and make them face with strict punishments. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) reported 53 trafficking cases from April 2007 t o March 2008, thirty-five cases were sex trafficking involving 60 victims and 11 were labor trafficking cases involving 106 victims. The MOI reported that 65 traffickers were arrested during the reporting period. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted 52 trafficking offenders. The MOI Department of Anti-Trafficking and Juvenile Protection reported 52 cases, involving 65 trafficking offenders. There is also a figure that we get from non-state actors such as NGOs. For instance, NGOs reported 19 labor trafficking cases. In February 2008, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the Ministry of Commerce to annul business licenses for marriage agencies, calling that kind of business is also a form of human trafficking. Another mechanism of combating human trafficking in Cambodia is the protection. The Royal Government of Cambodia improved its efforts in providing protection to victims of trafficking while continuing to rely on NGOs and international organizations. Victims are not treated as crim inals. For instance, the victims are provided with education or skill in order to make them have jobs to support their living. For foreign victims, they are provided temporary residence in shelters, education, and counseling services while they are waiting for repatriation. Last but definitely not least mechanism is the prevention. The Royal Government of Cambodia demonstrated concrete efforts to prevent trafficking. In April 2007, the government established a National Task Force (NTF) comprising 11 government ministries, three government agencies, and more than 200 international and local NGOs. The NTF has an oversight mechanism known as the High Level Working Group, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. This illustrated that this is the first time that we have such coordinated anti-trafficking efforts across government ministries and agencies, and also civil society. In coordination with civil society, the NTF launched a nationwide anti-trafficking campaig n using positive messages incorporating Khmer values and cultural traditions to inspire Cambodians to take action against human trafficking. The campaign emphasized trafficking as a national priority and launched a national dialogue on trafficking via public forums across Cambodia. More interestingly, Cambodia also has international cooperation in combating human trafficking. V. Conclusion I would recommend Cambodian government continue the implementation of the anti-trafficking mechanisms and provide law enforcement mechanisms to government officials on the new law. Moreover, significantly improve the number of prosecutions, convictions, and punishments of trafficking persons. What is more, the government should continue to enhance cooperation and collaboration with civil society under the direction of the National Task Force. Last but definitely not least, government of Cambodia should increase efforts to prosecute sex tourists and those facilitating commercial sexual exploitation of children. In addition to that, here is also another general recommendation such as protect the rights of victims. According to the UN principle on Human Rights which states that the human rights of trafficked persons shall be at the center of all efforts to prevent and combat trafficking and to protect, assist and provide redress to victims., the needs and rights of victims should be con sidered at every stage in proceedings. Furthermore, in order to prevent and protect successfully, the demand of customers should be reduced since the demand reduction must be linked to the prevention and protection. Another recommendation is the establishing of policies. The complexities of the trafficking problem require efforts by relevant entities at the local, national, regional, and international levels. Therefore, it is vitally to form partnership with intergovernmental organizations, governments, NGOs, international organizations, communities and families confronted with trafficking.

Discuss the pessimism that Golding and Garland present in the novels :: English Literature

Discuss the pessimism that Golding and Garland present in the novels Lord of the Flies and The Beach. Show how both writers have a pessimistic attitude to human nature. Discuss the pessimism that Golding and Garland present in the novels Lord of the Flies and The Beach. Show how both writers have a pessimistic attitude to human nature. Lord of the Flies was written in 1954, a time when commercialisation was not an issue and media hype only had subtle effects on society. The Beach was written in 1996, American globalisation had begun and the media played a massive part in society. The different times affect the novels in different ways. For example the technological jargon language used in The Beach is very different to the Standard English used in Lord of the Flies. Both novels are similar in some ways yet different in others, although either way they always have hints of pessimism. One of the ways the novels are different is genre. The Beach at first seems to be travel writing, so the reader expects to learn about the journey and culture of the back-packing land of Bangkok, yet the main character Richard travels to an isolated island, where there is a lot of different cultures and races and no one shares the same value systems, traditions, customs or beliefs so the genre seems shift slightly. With Lord of the Flies it’s apparent at first that Golding may have been influenced by the novels Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and R. M. Ballantyne’s Coral Island. All are castaway’s novels. There is a reference to Coral Island the officer who finds the boys nods â€Å"Jolly good show. Like the Coral Island.† Golding wrote Lord of the Flies in 1954 after the war as a realist answer to The Coral Island. In the 20th century book we find the same two characters, Jack and Ralph both stranded on an uninhabited island without adult supervision. Their reaction to freedom and the unknown is absolutely different from Ballantyne's two young adventurers. Instead of bringing civilization, they create chaos, terror and death. The different reaction Golding’s characters illustrate a novel for the more mature reader as an adventure novel, which confounds the reader’s first expectations. The most obvious resemblance between the novels is the setting and isolation. Although at first glance the islands seem idyllic, both writers plant seeds of evil, within the description of the paradise so cracks can be seen. In Lord of the Flies personification is used to describe the ideal setting â€Å"palm fronds would whisper,† this creates a sense of calm. Again the image of beauty is shown through the use of a metaphor to

Leadership Theories and Styles Essay

Know thyself Assuming that no one wants to work on a job that he or she dislikes, a person must have a clear understanding of what path she or he should follow in his or her business life. However, to choose a career is a tricky business, if the chosen career is one that does not suit the person, then their personality is likely to become confused which will lead to unhappiness and a feeling of being burned out. Settling down with the right career can be as central to your happiness as choosing the right person in a relationship. Nevertheless, with any relationship, there is no right or wrong answers, therefore self-assessments can help to find a career that fits his or her personality because everyone is different, and every situation is unique. Self-assessments are tools to help a person to gain a better understand of one’s personality, to increase the chances of becoming successful as well as a better person. According to the scores of the Self-Assessment of Prentice Hall, I am very charismatic, people oriented, well balanced in my trust towards others and I am seen as a trustworthy person. I can also use some improvement on my disciplinary skills as well as on my skills regarding building a leading team. Leadership The interest in leadership has increased during the early part of the twentieth century. Early leadership theories focused on what qualities distinguished leaders and followers, while subsequent theories looked at other variables such as situational factors and skill level. There are several different approaches and theories behind a leader’s behavior, following are some of which describe respective strengths and weakness as the case might be:†¢Traits: Can be consistent with our perception of what leaders are, but this theory ignores the situational context of leadership. †¢Style: What leaders do and how they act, but there is no clear relationship between style and performance outcomes. †¢Situational: The effectiveness of a leader depends on successfully diagnosing where subordinates are on the development continuum and adapting their leadership style as necessary. †¢Contingency: Matching leaders to appropriate situations, however this theory does not explain why individuals are more effective in some situations than others; it also, does not explain what to do if there is a mismatch between the leader and the situation one faces. †¢Path-goal: Uses research on motivation to get organizational goals accomplished. †¢Transformational leadership: Involves values, ethics, goals and long-term goals, but this theory is seen as a personality trait rather than behavior that people can learn. We see that leadership and its theories have been defined in many different ways, but there is no correct definition of how a leader must behave or how a leader can cover all possible situations; what really matters is how useful the definition is for increasing our understanding of effective leadership. Equilibrium should exist in any environment; a balance of behavior and attitude, and the leader should lead by example and moderation. Studies show that â€Å"subordinates perceived their supervisor’s behavior primarily in terms of two broadly defined categories labeled â€Å"consideration† and â€Å"initiating structure† (Yukl, 2006, p. 51), and as suggested by the Fleishman and Harris study, â€Å"subordinates are usually more satisfied with a leader who is at least moderately considerate† (Yukl, 2006, p. 52). Successful and effective leadership â€Å"depends in part on how well a manager resolves role conflicts, copes with demands, recognizes opportunities, and overcomes constraints† (Yukl, 2006, p. 13) but â€Å"the main aim of leadership behavior, however, is to influence organizational members’ actions because it is through the behavior of the members that organizations’ goals are  attained† (Kanungo, 2001). My StyleI agree with Fiedler when he states the â€Å"better the leader-member relations, the more highly structured the job, and the stronger the position power, the more control the leader has† (Robbins & Judge, 2007., p. 410). A leader’s behavior must adjust to reflect the task structure and â€Å"major situational variables include the characteristics of followers, the nature of the work performed by the leader’s unit, the type of organization, and the nature of the external environment† (Yukl, 2006, p. 14). These thoughts make me relate to the situational theory to lead and manage a group, however my style of leadership fits into the participative leadership, where managers will use more group supervision rather than individual supervision. This style suggests that team meetings are there to help facilitate everyone’s cooperation, and the manager’s role is to provide guidance and support toward problem solving. However, use of participation does not imply abdication of responsibilities, and the manager will still be responsible for all decisions and its consecutive results. â€Å"A Participative Leader, rather than taking autocratic decisions, seeks to involve other people in the process, possibly including subordinates, peers, superiors and other stakeholders. Often, however, as it is within the managers’ whim to give or deny control to his or her subordinates, most participative activity is within the immediate team† (Straker,  ¶ 2). Jobs that would fit well my styleI work for Apollo Group in the Information Technology (IT) department, as a Technical Support specialist, and currently do not hold a leadership position. If I have the chance to select a leadership position it would still be in the same area, yet managing projects and groups, where I could both, interact with people, which is one of my strongest skills and as well as work in an area where I do possess a large knowledge. Because I also believe in leading by example, I consider that more than asking or to assign a task, and as a leader can many times show how the work can be done and the rewards for the  dedication and self-motivation you put into the work. In that approach, some of the meetings known in my company as a â€Å"One x One† which would be used to emphasize how the person can improve, to get more knowledge or to further his career within the team or company, instead of the sole pursuit of correcting behavior. I also think that you can keep a good and healthy environment when you see in your leader the disposition to keep moving forward with an open approach, even when the situation is stressful. Projects, when used right, are considered motivating and helpful in order to keep people engaged. In this scenario, I would choose people who are willing to embrace new experiences quite often and, who, would accept the changes and innovations of the technological field, which by its own nature is a constant. What for me is the great part of this process, is that people can manage themselves once you set clear goals and can keep up with metrics, allowing each individual to have more freedom in the work environment. I could focus on â€Å"organizing, supporting and developing the people† (Luis,  ¶ 15) in the leader’s team position, without forgetting, or also balancing with another style which I need to improve, which is a more task oriented leader. References Luis, M. J. (). Leadership styles Using the right one for your situation. Mind Tools. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2007.). Organizational Behavior. : Prentice Hall. Rabindra N Kanungo. (2001). Ethical values of transactional and transformational leaders. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 18(4), 257-265. Retrieved May 25, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 109746613). Straker, D. (). Participative Leadership. Changing Minds.org . Retrieved from http://changingminds.orgYukl, G. (2006). Leadership in Organizations (6th ed.). : Pearson Prentice Hall.

International China

International China Free Online Research Papers China is a market almost every company, whether domestic or a multinational, wants to conquer. With more than one billion people potentially waiting to be customers, and an economy that is currently fourth largest in the world (at US$1.97 trillion), businessmen worldwide are beginning to recognize what a powerhouse this former sleeping giant is. For the past two decades, Chinese leaders have realized that China can no longer shut itself off from the world. For it to prosper, it must adapt to the free-market economies of the other countries it wants to do business with. After the death of one of the most powerful leaders of china, Mao Tse Tung, the country, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, set to modernize itself and loosen some of the restrictions communism has brought about to the country. At present, the People’s Republic of China has a socialist government. China is the one of largest country in East Asia with an area of 9.6 million square kilometers and 1.3 billion people living in the country (CIIC, 2007). The country’s central government is seated at its capital, Beijing. Aside from this, the country’s population is growing at a rate of 5.87 per year despite their one-child policy. At the moment, the population is slightly skewed favoring 51.5 percent towards the male gender compared to 48.5 percent of female. Majority of the population is composed of those who can be part of the productive workforce (ages 15-64 years) at almost 71 percent. Most of the Chinese live near the eastern coast of the country, near the most fertile and accessible lands. This is the area of the Yangtze Delta, Sichuan and the counties and cities along this coast (Heilig, 1999). Ninety percent of Chinese live in around here, which is roughly 30 percent of the total land area of the country. This area is quite dense at 354 people per square kilometer (Heilig, 1999). This is also the most industrialized area in the country. China is bounded by the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea and the South China Sea on its eastern side. The rest of the country is bounded by the following countries counterclockwise starting from the north east: North Korea, Russia, and Mongolia. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Laos and Vietnam (CIA, 2007). It is the fourth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada and the United States (CIA, 2007). Depending on what part of China one is at, the terrain can be mountainous, dessert, flat and swampy, hilly or fertile. It can either be very hot, like in the Gobi Dessert, tropical like in the southeast or extremely cold like in the mountains of the Himalayas. China is rich in natural resources. The CIA, in its fact book, cites that China has coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium and hydropower potential from its rivers. Unfortunately, the country is visited by typhoons or what Americans would call a hurricane, leaving damages in its wake. Aside from this, areas near the country’s major rivers also cause flooding and the country is also vulnerable to tsunamis, earthquakes and droughts (CIA, 2007). Majority of the people are literate, with Mandarin as the official language, although several dialects are also used, like Cantonese and Shanghais (CIA, 2007). However, because of China’s exposure to the outside world, some Chinese are beginning to learn English. In doing business with any country, it is important to learn about their culture and society. This is to ensure better understanding and avoid embarrassing situations of unknowingly insulting the host country and jeopardize Chinese culture has rich traditions dating from thousands of years ago. Until the last century, China has been ruled by dynasties. However, China has undergone several changes in its political structure from democratic to communism to socialism at present. The Chinese have moved forward and dress similarly to most westerners and reserve their traditional dress for celebrations and special events (Premier Star Co., 2007). Red is considered a lucky color for Chinese. The Chinese also place a high regard for a person’s credibility, image and honor, which is close to their concept of â€Å"face† (Premier Star Co., 2007). The chinaunique.com website advises that the concept of â€Å"face† is ingrained in their culture so they are careful not it insult, embarrass, shame or demean a person. Causing embarrassment to a business associate may result to severed business times. Maintaining his â€Å"face† may be crucial in conducting a deal. Training or acculturation to this concept begins at a very young age. People are taught how important their image to the outside world or â€Å"face† is. In responding to strangers on survey and interviews, responses are likely to be influenced by the respondent’s perception of how it will make him or her look, or their â€Å"face†. Other ways of obtaining information would have to be done. Aside from altering the usual method of how market research is done, trying to get responses from Chinese counterparts, like in process improvement, should also be done creatively in such a way that the concept of â€Å"face† is taken into consideration and respondents are encouraged to help improve the process. An example of how this can be circumnavigated is requesting for information on how to improve production presented in such a way that the team perceives that honesty is needed in order for the group to save face. This concept is also prevalent in most Asian cultures so a foreigner must be familiar with the concept and respect it in order to successfully negotiate and do business with them. The Chinese also believe in the concept of extended families. The family is a strong unit in China, with children either living with or nearby their parents. The influence of family can also be seen in personal and business decisions. Again, in doing business with the Chinese, familial ties need to be considered as well. Most modern conveniences and appliances that Americans are used to are still rare in most Chinese households like washing machines, dryers and telephones (Premier Star Co., 2007). City dwellers, of course have more appliances than those that live at rural areas. This presents an opportunity for many foreign companies who have managed to penetrate the Chinese market. China has been touted an economic miracle – rising from civil war and the Cultural Revolution for most of the second half of the twentieth century. Since then, any rise or fluctuation in the country’s economic activities has had great repercussions throughout the world. China, as it is known now, was established in 1949 as a communist government, with the Soviet Union’s recognition (Chinavoc, 2002). However, it only became stable when the civil war ended and most of the nationalists fled to nearby Taiwan and set their own government. Up to now, China does not recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan and considers it as a province. After the civil war, the communist government under Mao Tse Tung set to rebuild their country with their â€Å"Great Leap Forward† program to gain economic and technical development at a fast pace (Chinavoc, 2002). People were sent to communes to work at factories, mines and other establishments. They were supposed to be self-sufficient units. After a few years of trying to recover in the early 1960s, Mao tried to retake control of the country by initiating the Cultural Revolution in 1966, with the thinking that capitalist thought was creeping into the country’s policies. This led to intellectuals being sent to the communes to teach them the value of working for the party’s benefit all the time. After Mao’s death in 1976, reformists led by Deng Xiaoping slowly gained control of the Communist party leadership and were able to start instituting their reforms (Chinavoc, 2002). However, despite the effects that the Cultural Revolution wrought to the country, Mao was still recognized for his efforts to unite China. Deng Xiaoping gained leadership and started giving more freedom to people in the communes in terms of deciding what to produce. The government policy turned from prioritizing politics to economics (Chinavoc, 2002), the start of the Four Modernizations: industry, agriculture, science and technology. His leadership saw the rise of what the Chinese call the â€Å"Second Revolution†. However, while there were more freedoms in the economy, political freedom is not yet as well developed as international human rights groups would like to be. There have been calls for the Chinese government to free political prisoners and administer reforms for freedom of speech, which, ironically, is part of the ratified 1982 constitution. China is yet to strengthen its business regulation and banking systems although analysts are confident that the country will eventually fix these issues. In the meantime, nearby autonomous regions like Hong Kong is providing their own help in terms of having a model for similar institutions. China politics, however, remain as a single-party system up to now. REFERENCES Central Intelligence Agency (2007) The World Fact book: China. Cia.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from, https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/ch.htmlChina Internet Information Center (CIIC). (2007) China: Quick Facts. China.org.cn. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from, china.org.cn/e-changshi/index.htm China Internet Network Information Center (2007) CNNIC Released the 19th Statistical Survey Report on Internet Development in China. Cnnic.net. Retrieved March 25, 2007 from, cnnic.net.cn/html/Dir/2007/02/05/4432.htm Chinavoc. (2002) Chinese modern time history, The People’s Republic of China. Chinavoc.com. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from, chinavoc.com/history/peoplerepublic.htm Research Papers on International ChinaDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraPETSTEL analysis of IndiaQuebec and CanadaWhere Wild and West MeetAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Sociology Understanding a Diverse Society essayEssay Writing Service

Sociology Understanding a Diverse Society essayEssay Writing Service Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society essay Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society essayOne of major sociological issues is social inequality. Social inequality occurs when resource distribution in the society varies for different social categories. Social inequality is driven by various patterns of inequality, the most common of them being racial inequality, gender inequality, ethnic inequality, health inequalities, etc. (Andersen and Taylor 325). In the context of globalization, it is even possible to identify global inequality related to unequal development of countries and geographical regions.Sociology seeks to explain social phenomena by developing sociological theories and perspectives. The use of these perspectives allows to understand the roots and consequences of different social phenomena, to assess future evolution of these phenomena and to make predictions regarding social behaviors and social changes. Two prominent sociological perspectives applicable for macro-level analysis of social phenomena are functiona list theory and conflict theory (Carl et al. 74). The purpose of this paper is to consider the issue of gender inequality from the perspective of both theories, to compare and contrast the explanations of gender inequality provided by these theories.Functionalism and conflict theoryFunctionalist theory assumes that all aspects of society are interrelated and each aspect plays its own role in the society (Tischler 268). Furthermore, functionalists state that elements of the society are joined by social consensus and cooperate with the intention to benefit the whole society. It is possible to identify two forms of social solidarity in functionalism: organic and mechanical solidarity (Tischler 270). Mechanical solidarity emerges from common beliefs and values existing in the society. These values and beliefs lead to high social cohesion. At the same time, organic solidarity occurs when people in the society have different values and beliefs, but they are interdependent and linked by so cial institutions (Tischler 270). Close interaction and interdependence forms organic solidarity.From the perspective of functionalism, social interactions are coherent, so that different parts of the society contribute to maintaining social equilibrium. Functionalist theory views the society from the macro perspective and focuses on the social level, perceiving it as a separate level of reality. This theory can be efficiently used to explain the functions and roles of different social groups and institutions, but the weakness of functionalist theory is its poor ability to explain social change, revolutions and conflicts.Conflict theory also focuses on analyzing the macro level of the society, but it represents a totally different approach which contrasts with functionalism. According to conflict theory, the society is in the state of ongoing conflict for scarce resources (Shepard 277). Competition and conflict, according to this theory, are inherent both at the individual level (co mpetition for money, entertainment, etc.) and at the level of social groups and formations, the inequalities between which are used in support of conflict theory (Shepard 278).Key assumptions of conflict theory are the following (Shepard 279): resources in the society are scarce and human relationships are driven by competition for these resources rather than by consensus and cooperation; social inequalities are inherent in the society since social groups strive to increase their rewards and power; conflicts between individuals and social groups initiate social change. Conflict theory states that social changes are more often revolutionary than evolutionary, and that the normal state of the society is ongoing conflict (Shepard 280). This theory explains radical social changes and social inequalities; however, this theory does not explain the balance of societies and gradual changes taking place in stable societies.Gender inequalityGender inequality is one of major social issues both in the American society and in the world. This social issue affects different dimensions such as wealth, access to education, power and prestige, access to occupational opportunities, access to healthcare, etc. In 2013, the United States was rated 22nd in the world according to the level of gender equality (Mooney, Knox and Schacht 313). Gender inequality is expressed in treating women as inferior group in the society: even now women in the United States have lower incomes, are poorer represented in the professions viewed as masculine (e.g. mathematics and statistics, physics, engineering, etc.). American women are more likely to live below the poverty threshold or slightly above it and commonly hold less prestigious jobs compared to men (Mooney, Knox and Schacht 317).Women more often become the victims of violent crimes and sexual abuse, both in the workplace and at home (Mooney, Knox and Schacht 321). In many aspects, social domination of men limits women’s access to socia l resources. At the same time, gender inequality also affects men because of stereotypical vision of success and higher achievement requirements compared to women. Men who choose â€Å"non-masculine† professions are criticized and commonly have reduced access to resources and power. Furthermore, males are expected to be aggressive and not to show vulnerabilities; as a result, suicide rates are 4 times higher among men than among women (Mooney, Knox and Schacht 322). Hence, although gender inequality is slightly reducing over time, this social issue is still one of the major problems affecting the society.Functionalist view of gender inequalityAccording to functionalism, the differences in social functions of men and women were formed in the prehistoric times. Due to biological differences, women had to stay with children, protect them and perform functions that did not require going away from home (Andersen and Taylor 325). Men were responsible for hunting, getting food, prot ecting their tribes from enemies and wild animals, etc. Over time, this division of functions influenced the characteristics of men and women – women became more flexible, more likely to stay at home, less aggressive, while men became physically stronger, more enduring and more aggressive (Andersen and Taylor 327).Functionalists further note that industrialization changed the social roles, so the need for such notable difference between male and female social functions declined. However, according to functionalist theory, social inequality is largely conditioned by the choices that women make in order to meet the demands of family and work.Functionalists also admit that the traditional gender roles are no longer as functional as they were in the pre-industrial society, so the society is moving to a new equilibrium point in which gender differences are less important (Andersen and Taylor 329). According to functionalists, such social phenomena as changes in workforce participa tion, increasing availability of educational and healthcare resources for women, changing notion and role of family in the society, reducing birthrate and reproduction control illustrate the process of social transition to the new equilibrium (Andersen and Taylor 330).Conflict theory view of gender inequalityConflict theory also grounds its analysis in the prehistoric activities of men and women. It is interesting that both conflict theory and functionalism support the view that in the pre-industrial times the society was in balance (Carl et al. 76). However, unlike the assumption of functionalism about inherent social inequality, conflict theory proponents assume that in the times of gathering and hunting, males and females had equal economic rights (Carl et al. 76). Conflict theory assumes that the dominance of males emerged when the society moved to agricultural and then to industrial stage. These changes allowed men to gain control over means and modes of production, while women remained confined to home and children (Carl et al. 79). Men further reinforced their domination by creating laws and social rules limiting the opportunities available to women (Carl et al. 80).Conflict theory explains current changes in the role of women by the influence of world wars (Carl et al. 83): women were forced to enter the labor force as many men were killed. After the situation stabilized, women did not return to their previous way of living as they received more power and started struggling for more resources. According to conflict theory, modern technology and globalization allow women to compete with men for resources, and therefore social inequality is gradually reduced (Carl et al. 85). At the same time, conflict theory emphasizes that existing stereotypes and beliefs were also created due to male domination in order to secure their superior position.ConclusionFunctionalism and conflict theory are two major sociological approaches used for analyzing the society at the macro level. These theories hold different and often contrasting views, which, however, complement each other in the process of studying the society. Gender inequality is one of the key social issues affecting the life of people in the United States and in the whole world. In relation to gender inequality, both theories focus on analyzing the structure of society and its institutions along with their impact on gender inequality. Conflict theory states that male dominance emerged since the transition of the society to agricultural and then industrial modes, and shaped social beliefs and institutions supporting male domination and control of resources. At the same time, functionalist theory assumes that different social characteristics of males and females emerged due to biological differences combined with pre-industrial division of labor and then became less functional due to industrialization. Functionalists state that the society is moving to a new equilibrium with less differ entiated social roles, and view modern social changes as the signs that the society is moving towards the new equilibrium.

How do nurses in acute mental health ward minimize and manage patient Essay

How do nurses in acute mental health ward minimize and manage patient aggression and violence - Essay Example This should lead up to production of a comprehensive report. Findings: It is the hope of the researcher that the study will reveal the most common management measures and the most effective. The findings should be applicable in acute mental care wards to prevent violence among patients or any forms of aggression. The expected outcome is a reduction in aggression, especially that which is directed toward nurses in these wards and hence improve on their safety. Aggressive behavior in the acute mental health ward is a major concern in under mental healthcare. Turnbull and Patterson (2009) in their work, point out that nurses working in mental healthcare facilities often find themselves falling victim to assault at the ward, with at least one out ten being physically assaulted. The situation is dire. Healthcare providers in this setting are therefore tasked with finding means to manage this violence. Because of this, there has been focus around ways in which nurses in acute mental healthcare wards can minimize and manage patient aggression and violence (Chou, Lui and Mao 2002).This paper seeks to address the management of aggression and violence in mental care ward. There has been increasing attention towards violence in the mental health ward, given the escalation in the population of violent patients. These attacks, Anderson and West (2011) argue, are a reality and concern, much as the victims often think of them as a natural part of their jobs that cannot be avoided. The effects can be devastating. This fact forms the basis for this paper. The PICO model, as discussed by Davies (2011) will be employed in formulation of the research question that underpins the argument of this paper. This model is preferable to the SPICE model since it forms the basis for formulation of questions in studies that have qualitative elements mainly (Krueger, 2003), which is the nature of the study in this case, qualitative.

Compare great depression with the last recession of 2008-2009 Term Paper

Compare great depression with the last recession of 2008-2009 - Term Paper Example Its impact hit the world for a long period that would see governments elect new leaders for several terms before it came to an end. Most of the African countries were still under colonial leadership and hence their independence came after the depression. It is estimated to have begun in October 1929, in United States, stretching across the next decade until 1939 (â€Å"The great depression,† thinkquest.org). At the beginning of the depression, Herbert Hoover was the president in United States, but transitions led to Franklin Roosevelt becoming his successor, while the country struggled to recover its economy. The end of the depression marked the beginning of World War II, where the United States appeared to be the chief creditor and source of funds for the war. The European nations were the most indebted to the United States; Germany and Great Britain suffered the most with regard to how their economies were devastated, as they struggled to pay war reparations, what they owed the United States, and change the weak state of their nations. The commonly referred 2008/2009 recession was termed as the worst so far since the postwar period. Precisely, its origin can be traced back in the United States after December 2007, in the emerging issues of the housing market; the economies linked with the United States had to experience the economic shock afterwards till the approximated time of its ending in June 2009 (EPI stateofworkingamerica.org). Majority of nations worldwide are in the better stages of recovery, and some have actually succeeded to overcome the tragedy. The global economy had shown progress before the recession, as most developing countries were working hard enough to raise their economies, since they had acquired development funds and support from the developed nations. Although the depression period was shorter, most developing nations were hit hard due to their linked economies and investments with developed nations. According to Cross, Canada stands out as the only G7 country that has entirely pulled out of the crisis compared to the rest six (statcan.gc.ca). In the United States, the recovery is yet to end though the economy’s progress is encouraging the citizens concerning their future. As for the European nations, the Euro zone crisis continues to affect their economies and industries to date. Most of their powerful nations like Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain are thriving on rescue program funds by the European bank and IMF (Raman ibtimes.com). Cause of the crisis: The great depression had earlier been preceded by another depression six months earlier, though its impacts were not severe. Great recession was initiated by the collapse of stock values in the New York stock exchange in October 1929; investors saw a quick and great loss in their shareholdings that after the next 3 years, the stock prices had reduced by 20% of their value in 1929 (â€Å"About the great,† illinois.edu). Before the decline o f the stock prices, New York stock value had increased, which encouraged massive number of investors to purchase more stock, in the hope that it would pay back with much profits when the future stock prices raise. However, the stock prices expressed variation in a very short period before drastically dropping. The value of assets downturn did not spare financial institutions that