Interracial Marriage Under Apartheid

Officially, there  were no interracial marriages under Apartheid, but in reality, the picture was much more complicated. The Laws Apartheid rested on the separation of races at every level, and preventing interracial sexual relations was an essential piece of that.  The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act from 1949 explicitly prevented white people from marrying people of other races, and the Immorality Acts prevented people of different races from having extra-marital sexual relations. Moreover, the 1950 Group Areas Act prevented people of different races from living in the same neighborhoods, let alone the same house. Yet despite all of this, there were some interracial marriages, though the law did not see them as interracial, and there were other couples who broke the Immorality Acts and were often jailed or fined for it. Unofficial Interracial Marriages Under Apartheid The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act  was one of the first steps in setting up Apartheid,  but the law only criminalized the  solemnization  of mixed marriages, not the marriages themselves.  There were a small number of interracial marriages prior to that law, and while there was not much media coverage given to these people during Apartheid, their marriages were not automatically annulled.   Secondly, the law against mixed marriages did not apply to non-white people, and there were proportionally more interracial marriages between people classified as â€Å"native† (or African) and â€Å"Coloured† or Indian. While there were in effect mixed marriages, the law did not see them as interracial. Racial classification under Apartheid was based not on biology, but on social perception and one’s association. A woman who married a man of another race was, henceforth,  classified as being of his race. Her choice of husband defined her race. The exception to this was if a white man married a woman of another race. Then he took on her race. His choice had marked him, in the eyes of white Apartheid South Africa, as non-white. Thus, the law did not see these as interracial marriages, but there were marriages between people who prior to the passage of these laws had been considered to be of different races. Extra-Marital Interracial Relations Despite the loopholes created by pre-existing mixed marriages and non-white interracial marriages, the Prohibition Against Mixed Marriages and the Immorality Acts were strictly enforced. White people could not marry people of other races, and no interracial couples could engage in extra-marital sexual relations. Nonetheless, intimate and romantic relationships did develop between white and non-white or non-European individuals. For some individuals, the very fact that interracial relations were so taboo made them appealing, and people engaged in interracial sexual relations as a form of social rebellion or for the excitement it offered.  Interracial relations came with serious risks, though. The police followed people who were suspected of engaging in interracial relations. They raided homes in the night and inspected bed sheets and underwear, confiscating anything that they thought showed evidence of interracial relations.  Those found guilty of violating the Immorality Acts faced fines, jail time, and social censure. There were also long-term relationships that had to exist in secret or be camouflaged as other types of relationships. For instance, most domestic workers were African women, and so an interracial couple could camouflage their relations by the man hiring the woman as his maid, but rumors often spread and such couples were also harassed by the police. Any mixed-race children born to the woman would also provide clear evidence of an interracial relationship.   Post-Apartheid Interracial Marriages The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages and Immorality Acts were repealed in the mid-1980s during the loosening of Apartheid. In the initial years, interracial couples still faced significant social discrimination from all races, but interracial relations have become more common as the years pass.  In recent years, couples have reported far fewer social pressures or harassment.

A Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens - 1972 Words

Imagine an ordinary individual who once lived a painstaking life with little to no interest in his existence, yet was able to reach a point of change when drastic situations occurred. Even ordinary humans are capable of changing others as a person. Sydney Carton, one of the main protagonists from the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is written as a tragic hero and protagonist whose good intentions often went to waste as he centered himself in his thoughts and constantly believed that his life was a disappointment. Carton is perceived to be the lonely and bitter type, but has significant qualities that make him a selfless and devoted man. His consideration and regard towards his rival, Charles Darnay, tragically led to his death as Carton sacrificed himself to save Darnay and his love interest, Lucie Manette, who had married Darnay previously. He follows Campbell s Hero Journey as he ventured onto a journey he struggled with and went through a stage of rebirth, which b ecomes known in the belly of the whale. Going through the stages of separation, initiation, and return, based on Campbell s standard path of a hero s adventure, his thoughts and actions prove how his character fits into the path of a tragic hero. Sydney Carton was introduced as an young, intelligent lawyer with an alcoholic problem and found his life to be worthless. In the beginning of the novel, Carton displayed little to no interest in his life and instead, described his melancholy toShow MoreRelatedA Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens1420 Words   |  6 Pageshistory – the best of times and the worst of times. The violence enacted by the citizens of French on their fellow countrymen set a gruesome scene in the cities and country sides of France. Charles Dickens uses a palate of storm, wine, and blood imagery in A Tale of Two Cities to paint exactly how tremendously brutal this period of time was. Dickens use of storm imagery throughout his novel illustrates to the reader the tremulous, fierce, and explosive time period in which the course of events takesRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1024 Words   |  5 PagesAt the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens writes, â€Å"every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other (14).† Throughout the novel, Dickens incorporates the theme of secrets to connect characters and add mystery to the story. The three characters with the significant secrets are Charles Darnay, Alexandre Manette, and Madame Defarge. Darnay, Manette, and Defarge are all of French blood, living in either France or England in the heat of the FrenchRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1704 Words   |  7 PagesA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a novel set during the time of the French Revolution in England and France. The Revolution is a time of great danger and constant change. Dickens’ novel expresses the theme of fate through metaphors in many different ways. These metaphors connect the fates of Dickens’ characters that are intertwined in some way whether they are aware of how they are connected or not. Charles Dickens illustrates to his readers that fate is predetermined as shown throughRead MoreCharles Dickens Tale Of Two Cities1079 Words   |  5 PagesFated Coincidences Charles Dickens was a distinguished writer during the 1800s and was inspired by Thomas Carlyle’s book French Revolution. Dickens was influenced by this book to write his novel Tale of Two Cities. Even though he wrote the book seventy years after the French Revolution, he studied many different books from two wagons from Carlyle which he sent as a joke. Throughout the book Tale of Two Cities, Dickens has a recurring theme of fate. Dickens illustrates that everyone’s lives areRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1831 Words   |  8 Pagesthese horrific acts, there was a revival of French spirit after the Revolution had ended, in the sense that the French are resurging after being an inch from death. In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens shows the reader that the general idea of resurrection can occur at any given point of time. The novel is set in two cities, London and Paris, during the French Revolution. The story begins with Mr. Lorry, an official from Tellson’s Bank in London, and Lucie Manette as they make their way to ParisRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens987 Words   |  4 PagesIn a Tale of Two cities. Dickens juxtapositions suspense and humor in a intricate tale of love and loyalty. The book takes place in the late 18th century, during the french revolution. the book is set in England and France, more specifically London and Paris. These are the two cities that the book centers around. In the city of London, the neighborhood of SoHo, and Paris, the french countryside, and city of Dover. b city houses, palace of Versailles. The house in Paris where the Darnay s stayedRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1363 Words   |  6 PagesTale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities is a 19th century novel that conveys the terror of the French Revolution through the story of the Manette and Darnay family. Charles Dickens intertwined characters throughout the novel to convey the equivocal viewpoint of the citizens throughout England. The ambiguous characters of Charles Darnay, Madame Defarge, and Mr. Carton, work to show both the innocence and savagery of the revolution. Charles Darnay spent the early years of his life as nobilityRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1426 Words   |  6 Pagesanxiety, and misery, the French Revolution was a trying time for all involved, even the characters crafted by Charles Dickens’ imagination. Charles Dickens’ strongly enforces the hardships of this arduous era in his remarkable novel, A Tale of Two Cities, while exhibiting his keen ability to leave hints for the readers, allowing them to predict upcoming events in his skillfully fashioned plot. Dickens utilizes vivid imagery to construct menacing settings. He presents his characters as impulsive to indicateRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1398 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Cruelty is a Result of Hatred Charles Dickens is a very famous novelist, who was born on February 7, 1812, in his home of Portsmouth, England. He was a very dedicated man with a great imagination, and he shows his writing skills in his book A Tale of Two Cities, a historical fiction that focuses on the French Revolution. In this book Dickens uses both atmosphere and imagery to describe how brutal and inhumane men can be to each other. He uses scenes of a man’s need for tyranny, a man’s needRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe famous paradoxical line throughout history, â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  captures the essence of the French Revolution. Charles Dickens, the Victorian age author of A Tale of Two Cities vividly captures the fright and upheaval of the Pre-Revolution time period. By evoking the French Revolution, love is evident throughout all characters in the novel. Love eclipses tyranny, poverty, and all ot her problems that sansculottes in the novel face as love cannot be taken away

Lab Report For Experiment 3 Copper Cycle Olanrewaju Oyindamola Free Essays

LAB REPORT FOR EXPERIMENT 3 COPPER CYCLE OLANREWAJU OYINDAMOLA TUESDAY 27TH February 2013 Abstract This experiment is based on copper, to synthesize some copper compound using Copper (II) nitrate solution to obtain copper metal at the end. Changes of copper complexes when various are added and filtering out the precipitate by using Buchner funnel for vacuum filtration . The experiment started with preparation of copper (II) hydroxide and addition of copper oxide then addition of droplets of chloride complex. We will write a custom essay sample on Lab Report For Experiment 3 Copper Cycle Olanrewaju Oyindamola or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then the addition of ammonium complex and the preparation of copper metal. And the vacuum filtration takes place. Introduction Copper is a reddish-orange metal that is used widely in the electronics industry due to its properties of high ductility and conductivity. Results Reagents| Appearance| Volume (or Mass)| Concentration (or Molar Mass)| Cu(NO3)2 (aq)| Light blue solution| 10 ml| 0. 10 M| NaOH (aq)| Clear solution| 20 ml | 2 M| HCl (aq)| Clear solution| 20 drops| 6 M | NH3 (aq)| Clear solution| 7 drops| 6 M| H2SO4 (aq)| Clear solution| 15 ml | 1. M| Zn dust| Silvery substance| 0. 15 g| | ethanol| Clear solution| 5 ml | | Volume of Cu (NO3)2 (aq): 10 ml Concentration of Cu (NO3)2 (aq): 0. 10 M Convert ml to l: 10 / 1000 = 0. 010 liters Using the formulae: concentration = moles / volume 0. 10=moles/0. 010 Moles of Cu (NO3)2 (aq) = 0. 001 moles Mass of empty bottle = 6. 00grams Mass of empty bottle +copper metal =6. 05grams Mass of copper metal recovered after the experiment = 0. 0 50 grams Finding moles of copper: Moles = mass/ Mr = 0. 050 / 63. 55 =0. 00079 moles Volume of Cu (NO3)2 (aq): 10 ml Concentration of Cu (NO3)2 (aq) : 0. 10 M Convert ml to l: 10 / 1000 = 0. 010 liters Using the formulae: concentration = moles / volume 0. 10=moles/0. 010 Moles of Cu (NO3)2 (aq) = 0. 001 moles Mass of empty bottle = 42. 53grams Mass of empty bottle +copper metal =42. 58grams Mass of copper metal recovered after the experiment = 0. 050 grams Finding moles of copper: Moles = mass/ Mr = 0. 05/ 63. 55 =0. 0008 moles Since we have got moles of copper metal and copper nitrate solution we can find the percentage yield of the copper metal obtained from the experiment. yield = actual value / theoretical value * 100% =moles of copper metal obtained/ moles of Cu (NO3)2 (aq) = 0. 0008/0. 001 * 100% =80% Thus the percentage yield of the copper obtained was 80 %. Addition of NaoH solution to Cu (NO3)2 gave a dark blue solution. After boiling the Solution gotten above, I sieved out the water and had CuO(s) left in the Beaker. The addition of HCl (drop wise) to CuO gave a yellowish green solution. When NH4OH solution was added it gave a yellowish green solution. I added 15ml of 1. m H2SO4 to yellowish green solution co I suspect the copper complex to be [Cu (H2O) 6]2+, since it gave a blue-green solution. When zinc dust was added to The solution a shiny reddish brown metal was formed. Discussion It is observed that copper was conserved throughout the experiment. And despite The conservation of copper in the reaction, the percentage recovery of copper is less than 100%. i had 80% of copper recovered from Cu (NO3)2. After pouring out the supernatant some CuO clung to the wall of the beaker. Therefore, the HCl did not dissolve all of the CuO. This unreacted CuO causes a decrease in the mass of Cu recovered. Also, I forgot to scrunch the copper formed before drying. The clumps of copper might contain some water which increases its mass when weighed. It is necessary to synthesize the various compounds one after the other in order to recover copper metal because, it is not possible to get copper metal because it is not possible to get copper directly from Cu (NO3)2. all these phases are needed to be passed through. When zinc is added a zinc hexaquo complex is formed from the bonding of Zn2+ with six molecules of water. The addition of H2SO4 causes the Cu2+ from Cu(OH)2 to combine with water molecules to form [Cu(H2O)6]2+. The Cu(OH)2 is gotten from reaction of CuCl2 with NH3. The percent yield depends on whether certain reactions were completed or not. my percent yield 80% is affected by incomplete reaction of CuO with HCl. During the decomposition of Cu (OH) 2, some Cu might have been lost in heat form. Also when transferring the copper from the Buchner funnels into the weighing bottle, some copper metal were stuck to the funnel. This would also decrease the percent yield of copper gotten. Conclusion Given the concentration of Cu (NO3)2 and volume as 10. 0ml, the percent recovery of copper gotten from synthesis of copper compounds is 80%. References Cotton Albert; Wilkinson ,Geoffrey ;murillo,carlos;bochmann,Manfred. advanced inorganic chemistry,6th Ed; John Wiley and sons ltd:Canada,pp868-869 How to cite Lab Report For Experiment 3 Copper Cycle Olanrewaju Oyindamola, Essay examples

RIP Tupac Amaur Shakur (1971

RIP Tupac Amaur Shakur (1971-1996) Essay Bury me smilin, with Gs in my pocket, have a party a myfuneral, let every rapper rock it, let tha hoes that I usta knowfrom way before kiss me from my head to my toe.. tell all mypeople Im a Ridah, nobody cries when we die, we outlaws, let meride.-Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)His name was Tupac Amaru Shakur he was born on June 16, 1971he was twenty-five years old when he was killed In las Vegas,Nevada On 10 13, 1996 He measured 5 7 tall and weighed 165lbs. He was a rapper/actor. He was talented when he put his mindto something. Some would say like to dance with death. 2Pac was arapper/actor who recorded numerous records a played head roles ina few movies. He sold more then ten million records and mademillions from his movies this is a man that was born intoviolence and went the opposite direction by doing everythingeverything his parents didnt do. 2Pac attended art school in thestudied of sensitive poetry. He was shot out side the Tysonfight by a thought to be east coast rival. A white Cadillacrolled up on the side of the car that he was celebrating in andfired 13 rounds at him while he had his whole upper body out ofthe skylight window. Some people think that this might be a typeprotective custody or a publicity stunt.

Outta Here by esmee free essay sample

YouTube sensation Esmee Denters has huge shoes to fill. She was the first artist signed to Justin Timberlakes Tennman Record label. Now it is time for Esmee to show the world what she has on her debut album Outta Here. Will Esmee prove she is as talented as her mentor? The first single is the title track Outta Here The song is a collaboration between Justin Timberlake and Polow Da Don. The song is a solid way to introduce Esmee to the masses. The track is catchy and features a strong chorus. Casanova is a duet between Esmee and Justin Timberlake. The track was a collaborative effort between Danja and Justin Timberlake. The song just does not live up to expectations. The song comes off as slightly even cheesy. Bigger than the World leaked as a Justin Timberlake demo earlier this year. The song is produced and written by The Ys. We will write a custom essay sample on Outta Here by esmee or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The track lacks the impact of Justin Timberlakes original demo however it works. StarGate and Justin Timberlake work together on Love Dealer. The song features a brief cameo from Justin Timberlake. The track features an interesting concept and sounds nothing like StarGates previous work. Victim is a collaboration between Esmee and Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic. The song is good and has the potential to be possibly another international chart topper from Ryan. Gravity has the feel of a more upbeat version of Rihannas Rehab and Justin Timberlakes What Goes Around. The song sounds shockingly similar yet it will probably be successful due to this as it is a solid track. One of the better tracks off of Outta Here is the very soulful The First Thing. The track sounds almost completely foreign to the rest of the album. The song just works on so many levels. Just Cant Have You is written by Johnta Austin and produced by StarGate. The track is more typical of what you expect from StarGate. The track might not be the most unique but it works. Getting Over You is another solid mid to up-tempo track. The song is just very sonically interesting as there are so many changes found throughout the track.

Using Can and Be Able to to Speak About Abilities

Using Can and Be Able to to Speak About Abilities Can and Be able to are both used to speak about abilities, and the possibility of doing something. Can and Be able to are known as modal verbs in English. Here are some examples of can and be able to used to speak about abilities. Can for Abilities She can play tennis.They could speak English at a very young age.Peter can type 100 words per minute. Be Able to for Abilities My sister is able to run a marathon.The students were able to get an A on the test.We will be able to attend the class next semester. Here are examples of the two forms to speak about possibilities. Can for Possibilities Can you come to the party next week?Do you think he can help with my homework?Peter told me he could pick you up at the airport. Be Able to for Possibilities We werent able to get tickets to the concert.Shell be able to study for the test tomorrow.Jack wont be able to come for another three days. Listed below are examples and explanations for can/could/be able to for ability and permission in the past, present. and future. Examples Usage He can play tennis well.She is able to speak five languages.They can come on Friday.Jack will be able to come next week. Use can or be able to to express an ability or possibilityNOTE: The future of be able to is will be able to He could swim when he was five. Could in the past means the general ability to do something. They were able to get tickets for the concert.I was able to finish before 6.I couldnt come last night, sorry. OR I wasnt able to come last night, sorry. IMPORTANT: If someone was in the position to do something, or managed to do something, we use was/were able to instead of couldIn the negative, wasnt able to OR couldnt are both correct. Note: Can is also often used to ask for permission, as well as may: Can I come with you? May I come with you? Practice Can/Be Able To Practice can and be able to with this role play. Once youve finished, make up some of your own dialogues and practice with a classmate or a friend.   Peter: Hi Janet. Can you help me for a moment?Janet: Sure, whats up? Peter: Im not able to understand this math problem.  Janet: Really. I think I can help, but Im not that good at math. Peter: You were able to all the problems last semester, werent you?Janet: Yes, thats right, but I cant do everything. Let me see.   Peter: Here you go.Janet: Interesting, are you sure youre not able to do this? Peter: Yes, thats why Im asking for help!Janet: OK. After I explain this, youll be able to do without any problems. Peter: Great. So whats the answer?!Janet: Dont be in a hurry. Can I have a few minutes to think? Peter: Of course you can. Sorry.  Janet: No problem.

Benefits and limitations of strategic management

Benefits and limitations of strategic management The overall objective of any strategy is to ensure long-term survival. Strategic management is the process determined by specific persons to establish and implement the integrated concept that has already been described.† (Philip, Roland, & Nils, 2008, p.14). Strategic management emphasizes the strategic positioning and operating system efficiency, and it is generally regarded as the modern enterprise’s success. Each company will take appropriate strategies based on external environment and internal resources. After the implementation of these strategies, some will become potential benefits, while some will be the limitation to restrict development of enterprises instead of promoting. In the report, Tiger Airways Australia was chosen as the object of study. Tiger Airways Australia, a Singapore based subsidiary of Tiger Aviation, is a low cost airline currently servicing the Australian domestic market. Tiger Airways Australia commenced operations on 24 November 2007 as a domestic airline from its principal base at Melbourne, Victoria. Tiger made different strategies to enter the aviation in Australia to gain market share and win customers. Tiger have to face competition from Virgin Blue and Jetstar. The report discussed its strategies and the potential benefits and limitations can be analyzed in such different ways. The understanding of strategic management Strategy and strategic management have long been viewed as the concept and process that link an organization and its competitive environment. The traditional approaches to strategic management are in keeping with Newton’s mechanistic model of the universe and Fayol’s view of the management function. (Thomas, Marius, & Sven, 2006, p.68). The existing strategic management system -including defined purpose (vision, mission, objectives, etc.), organizational structure, planning processes, measurement practices, core competency focus, human resource management, culture norms, and evalua tion and reward systems – is more a source of organizational inertia than a proactive force for dynamic change (Thomas et al., 2006, p.73). Strategic management is necessary to position the firm a way that will assure its long-term survival in a competitive environment. (Paul, Ken, & John, 2004, p.3). Innovation always point to the reformulation of the strategies of a firm, therefore, strategic management is also about innovation. (Manikant ,2008, p.235) Components of strategic management process The various components of the strategic management process are including strategic planning strategy process, strategic decisions, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy change. The planning, balancing and positioning approaches to strategic management can be grouped as outward-in approaches, i.e. first analyzing the external environment and then analyzing and competitively gearing the internal environment. (Thomas et al., 2006, p.71). The strategic management pr ocess is the full set of commitments, decisions, and actions required for a firm to achieve strategic competitiveness and earn above-average returns. (Michael, R, & Robert, 2009, p.6) Tiger Airways Australia was chosen as the object of study. Australian market continued to be attractive for existing operators based on strong economic growth. Economic growth would benefit to development of the aviation industry (â€Å"Australia in brief†, n.d., 2008).And Tiger chose appropriate time to enter Australian aviation market. From the external transactions, Tiger gains the support of the state, has a very strong financial support and makes good use of economic forces. It took low-cost strategy. The potential benefits and limitations are analyzed as following through the implementation of internal and external strategic management. The ultimate goal of strategy is to create value for the firm, while the role of strategy analysis is to identify and exploit the sources of this value. (G rant, 2010, p.63)

International Tourism Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Tourism Management - Essay Example In this concept, the definition of tourism helps to identify all the basic elements associated with the term tourism. The conceptual definition of tourism demonstrates the multi-faceted as well as the multi disciplinary characteristics of tourism. The technical definition of tourism clearly represents what one can understand from the word tourist and what is tourism industry. Technical definition helps to specify the different factors which help to recognize a set of people as traveler, as well as grouping different organization as a part of tourism sector. (Inkson and Minnaert, 2012, p.15). 2. Definition of Tourism: According to Inkson and Minnaert (2012), the movement of the people to different places outside their normal place of work or residence, various kinds of activities which they perform while staying on those places and different facilities developed by several organization as well as the concerned governing authority of that particular place is known as tourism. (Inkson a nd Minnaert, 2012, p.16). There are three basic elements associated with the tourism. These are dynamic element, destination element and consequential element. Dynamic Element: It is associated with the demand for and different types of tourism. According to their views, these forms are subject to change. Destination Element: It is associated with the tourist as well as the characteristics of them. ... (Inkson and Minnaert, 2012, p. 17). 3. Types of Tourism System: There are different kinds of tourism industry present in the tourism system. These are aviation industry, railways industry, tour and travel operators, hotel industry etc. In the tourism system, all these industries are interrelated with one another. With the development of science and technology, as the time moves on the tourism system also started to develop as well. The main focus of this paper is to discuss about different factors associated with the tourism industry, the growth in this industry in last 10 years with the continuous development in the technology and communication sector. Apart from that, a detail discussion will be done with the focus on aviation industry, its growth , development that happen to this sector due to technological and communication improvement and role played by the aviation sector in the overall growth of the tourism industry. 4. Aviation and Tourism: Transport is an indispensable part of tourism, providing the very important link between the tourist generating areas and destinations. Good convenience, which is determined by the transport services provided, is a basic condition for the expansion of any tourist destination. Moreover, the transport industry can be a main beneficiary of tourism because of the extra passenger demand that may be generated. Aviation is a progressively more important mode of transportation for tourism markets. At the same time geography has meant that, in modern times, air travel has always been the central mode for long distance travel and as much global tourism moves towards deregulation, and more specifically with the emergence of the low cost carrier

Managing and Leading Quality Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Managing and Leading Quality Services - Essay Example The policy that selected to audit is ‘Promoting Positive Behaviour’. My workplace caters for children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) and these children often display a range of extremely inappropriate behaviours such as spitting, hitting, kicking and throwing. Both in terms of individuals and as part of such an establishment, we have a duty of care and a responsibility to ensure the safety of the children as well as the staff members. With this in requirement mind it is clear to me that it would be appropriate to audit our current policy of ‘Promoting Positive Behaviour’. This is a generic policy published by the local authority and it does not take into account the varying needs of children whom my organization serves. There are some issues arising from the absence of a clear policy or guidelines on how to promote positive behaviour imbedded into the practice of my establishment. The Rationale, Justification and Purposes: Rationale: Proper discipline i s a mandatory prerequisite for facilitating good learning. No matter the nature or extent of indiscipline, it is an obstacle to both teaching as well as learning. At the organisation, I think that every child has a right to access the best education which can be offered in partnership among school, community and the parents. The organisation’s Positive Behavior Policy forms part of â€Å"Safeguarding Policy Portfolio† (Promoting Positive Behavior n.d.) and exhibits our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all students. Thus, our organization needs to focus on reliable, strong and fair management of learner behavior to establish a safe, congenial and purposeful atmosphere in which every child may develop his or her complete potential. Providing such a high quality learning atmosphere is a significant precondition for learners to attain the maximum possible levels of achievement. â€Å"Parents, teachers, and students work together to create an environment that is s afe and supportive and that promotes learning. It encourages children to think and learn actively and to be hopeful, trusting, loving and healthy† (Positive Behavior Policies and Procedures 2010, p. 2). Every child will also be asked to conform to the principles and rules of the school and parents will be kept educated so that they can support and encourage the use of system. The policy for promoting positive behavior is mainly based on encouragement through recognition of the positive aspects in children. This, in turn, will inspire them to mould their behavior appropriately. Also, when other children observe such encouragement, it will motivate them to imitate such behavior. The policies of the organization must reflect the policies and guidelines of the present local authority and government. At the same time, as procedures symbolize an accomplishment of policy and must evolve over time as new apparatus emerge, new processes will be planned, and the risks connected with an area modified in response to changes in the external or internal environment. Justification: There have been numerous initiatives and investigations in the UK over the last several years with regard to promoting and encouraging positive approaches to behavior and actions. Schools report that their chief concern relates to low level interruption although there are some schools and students that experience severe problems. â€Å"The school needs to be confident that its policies and practices in relation to behavior are positive and

Impact of the Affordable Care Act Essay Example for Free

Impact of the Affordable Care Act Essay The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama early in 2010. The ACA was introduced into law to help provide access to affordable and quality health insurance to more Americans than ever before. The goal was to reduce health care cost for individuals and government. It has allowed more adults to be eligible for Medicaid by increasing income eligibility to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). (Milstead, 2013) However, by ruling of the Supreme Court in June of 2012, states had the option to implement the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income adults. As of January 2014, North Carolina (NC) was one of the states that chose not to implement the expansion of Medicaid making the eligibility for Medicaid for low-income adults very limited. How does this affect the population, economy, cost, and quality of health care? North Carolina’s Right to Refuse According to Knickman and Kovner (2011, p. 110), â€Å"the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives states the primary responsibility for public health. Medicaid is administered and overseen by each state but governed by various federal guidelines with the federal government contributing 50%-78% of its costs. (2011) After long debate and review of advantages and disadvantages to implementing the new laws, the North Carolina’s government elected not to adopt the new legislation. Caroll (2013) indicated the decision was based on NC’s current Medicaid system, indicating that is was broken and needing to be revised. There was concern the ACA would cause an increase in taxpayer’s contribution due to the long term costs. As of September 2014, there are 21 states that are following North Carolina’s decision not to adopt the new health care reform. This would leave millions of Americans that would be eligible for Medicaid under the ACA without access to health care.  (StateReforum, 2014) Impact on the Population One of the initiatives of the ACA was to provide more than 32 million uninsured Americans with insurance coverage. This was to be done by increasing the FPL to 138 percent and lifting or altering certain limitations for eligibility to Medicaid. This meant that all Americans whose income was at or below the FPL would be eligible for Medicaid. For example, an unemployed, single, 26-year-old male without any other income would be eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid would no longer be limited to specific categories such as the disabled, children and their parents, or pregnant women whose income was below the FPL. North Carolina’s current Medicaid program â€Å"eligibility for non-disabled adults is limited to parents with incomes below 43% of poverty, or about $10,000 a year for a family of four, and adults without dependent children remain ineligible regardless of their income† (How Will the Uninsured, 2014). Currently, there are over 319,000 uninsured adults in NC that are not eligible for Medicaid, by the current NC guidelines, which would be eligible under the Affordable Care Act. This can lead to increased health care costs and weighs heavily on the economy. Who is to take up the slack? Economic Effects of Doing Nothing Dorgan (2009), Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, indicates that the current health care system in NC has â€Å"led to higher health care costs, reduced access to care, and inconsistent quality of care†. The Gross Domestic Product in 2013 for North Carolina, based on millions of dollars spent, was $471,365 million, an increase of over $50,000 million since 2010. (Department of Labor and Workforce, 2013) In 2013, North Carolina’s State Auditor Beth Wood indicated that the state’s Medicaid program had gone over budget for the past three years, costing taxpayers about $1.2 billion. (Hoban, 2013) This leaves businesses and the working population to cover health care costs by paying higher taxes. With unemployment soaring over the last decade, and North Carolina having one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States (Hoban, 2013), less is paid into taxes. This leads to less to cover health care costs. The Affordable Care Act was implemented to decrease the costs of health care for all Americans. According to the White House website (2014) â€Å"the Congressional Budget Office found that health  insurance reform will reduce the deficit by $210 billion in this decade and by more than $1 trillion over the following 10 years. A family of four would save as much as $2,300 on their premiums in 2014 compared to what they would have paid without reform†. Will the decreased costs affect the quality of care being provided? Quality of Care The implementation of the ACA will require a higher standard for quality of care. The ACA promotes the use of accountable care organizations (ACO), which is a type of managed care that includes at least primary physicians, specialists, and hospitals that would be held accountable for the quality of care provided. (Kovener and Knickman, 2011, p. 196) The ACA works to move away from a fee-for-service approach to an accountable care organization (ACO) model that would incorporate a coordinated approach to provide high quality of care. This type of system rewards physicians and health care facilities through how they are paid for the quality of care they provide. The ACA reforms the way health care is delivered to the population by â€Å"creating high-performing organizations of physicians and hospitals that use systems of care and information technology to prevent illness, improve access to care, improve safety, and coordinate services† (What is an Accountable Care, 2011) making them more accountable for the care they provide. Incentives are provided to physicians and healthcare organizations that have shown they can provide quality care and improve patient satisfaction. Ethical Implications How can the government provide quality health care to so many without sacrificing the rights of a few? The ACA was enacted to help provide health care to more adults between the ages of 19-64 years of age that otherwise would not have access to or afford health care. According to Sorrell (2012), Americans want a health care system that will provide quality care, have freedom of choice, be affordable, and allow the costs to be shared among all. There is worry the ACO will lead to cost-shifting. Medicare and Medicaid pay much less for reimbursement for health care treatment. To re-coop their costs, hospitals and health care providers participate in the unethical practice of shifting these losses to patients with insurance by charging more for the same services. Insurance companies then shift these  costs to members by increasing their premiums and out-of-pocket costs. With such an increase in the number of people eligible for Medicaid, providers will be receiving much less for the services they provide. Another concern is for the Americans that do not qualify for Medicaid. Income levels can qualify some for decrease in premiums for health insurance from private companies. However, there will be those that do not qualify in either category and do not have access to health insurance through their employer and cannot afford the high premiums of private insurance. The new health reform requires those that do not have some type of health insurance to have to pay penalties for not having insurance. Conclusion The Affordable Care Act was developed to provide health care to an additional 32 million Americans with the goal of reducing health care costs. Even though there are millions that will now have access to health care, there will be millions that do not qualify for the programs and will remain uninsured. There is much concern and debate the ACA with hurt the economy, increase health care costs, and add to the United States’ deficit. North Carolina, along with 21 other states, have chosen not to adopt the new law and either continue with current guidelines or choose to restructure their current health care policies. Concerns also arise about causing a decrease in quality of health care provided. The development of ACO’s through the ACA implies that quality of health care will be improved. However, there is question that ACO’s will lead to cost-shifting to re-coop lost costs from the influx of American’s now eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. References Caroll, B. (2013). North Carolina Thumbs its Nose at Obamacare. Retrieved from http://watchdogwire.com/northcarolina/2013/02/12/north-carolina-thumbs-its-nose-at-obamacare/ Dorgan, B. (2009). Health Care Reform: The Cost of Doing Nothing in North Carolina. Democratic Policy Committee. Retrieved from http://www.dpc.senate.gov/docs/states-fs-111-1-87/nc.pdf Hoban, R. (April, 2013). Cost of Care: How ‘Broken’ is NC Medicaid?. North Carolina Health News. Retrieved from http://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2013/04/15/how-broken-is-nc-medicaid/

Women and Politics In Venezuela :: essays research papers

Women and Politics in Venezuela Women in every country all over the world are discriminated against when it comes to politics. There are many reasons for this discrimination and most of the reasons are a result of men being in control. Politicians are â€Å"supposed† to aggressive and argumentative. Some men and women do not see women as having these qualities but instead have the qualities of nurture and compromise. Time is a barrier for women because they do not have the time to participate in politics. The women use their time to do housework, take care of children and probably have a full time job. Politics and running for any kind of office takes money and as a generality women do not have most of the money. Religion is a big impact on whether women are allowed in politics are not. In most religions, women are seen as beneath men. These religions cross over into political and social life, hindering the chance of women to participate in politics. In Venezuela, the women have a hard time being in pol itics for the same reasons. The highest office that can be obtained in Venezuela is the presidency. â€Å"The president is elected by a plurality vote with direct and universal suffrage. The term of office is 6 years, and a president may be re-elected to a single consecutive term. The president appoints the vice president. He decides the size and composition of the cabinet and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the National Assembly. The Constitutuion of Venezuela also allows for three additional branches of the federal government--the judicial, citizen, and electoral branches.† (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. The justices are appointed by the National Assembly and serve 12-year terms. The judicial branch also consists of lower courts, including district courts, municipal courts, and courts of first instance. â€Å" (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The citizens branch consists of three components--the prosecutor general ("fiscal general"), the "defender of the people" or ombudsman, and the comptroller general. The holders of these offices, in addition to fulfilling their specific functions, also act collectively as the "Republican Moral Council" to challenge before the Supreme Tribunal actions they believe are illegal, particularly those which violate the Constitution. The holders of the "citizen power" offices are selected for terms of 7 years by the National Assembly.† (Politics of Venezuela) â€Å"The "Electoral Power," otherwise known as the National Electoral Council, is responsible for organizing elections at all levels.

Plato’s View of Justice in the Republic Essay

Having lived an extraordinarily long life (for his time), with no consistent doctrine of belief, it has become customary to divide Plato’s writings chronologically into three periods, Early, Middle and Late. The Republic, a collection of ten books, is thought to have been written after Phaedo during the ‘middle-period’ of Plato’s life. It is during this period that Plato’s philosophy becomes his own rather than a commentary on Socrates beliefs and sayings. It is important to remember that Plato’s time was an age of constant upheaval and it is this air of upheaval and constant change that led him to focus on his societies’ failings and to put forward a structured society that puts his view of justice into practice. The main theme of The Republic is to define justice and other virtues and to put forward an idea for a Utopian city-state based on his beliefs on justice and virtue to show how these ideals could be implemented. The text takes the form of a dramatised discourse between certain characters of differing backgrounds and beliefs. The use of a dramatised debate is a useful way to demonstrate the way Plato (whose ideas are represented by the character of Socrates) would handle his sceptics. It also serves to show the development of his thought through discussion and to sceptic-proof his argument by foreseeing potential counter arguments. Plato starts demonstrating his definition by taking some popular conceptions of what justice means and whether it is better to live a just life. In book one the debate starts with a statement made by Cephalus, an old, retired self-made manufacturer. Cephalus puts forward the view that as people grow older they become more aware of religious teachings regarding retribution in the afterlife for living an unjust life and therefore monitor they’re own behaviour, in the past and present: ‘And when he finds that the sum of his transgressions is great he will many a time like a child start up in his sleep for fear, and he is filled with dark forebodings.’ He is saying that idea of justice is something that is merely a doctrine enforced by the unproven premise of damnation. If fear of an unproven afterlife is the reasoning for living a just life then the argument for justice is weak and reliant on blind faith. If an individual does not believe in ‘Hades’ or Hell then what stops him from acting unjustly? Continuing on Cephalus states ‘Wealth can do a lot to save from having to cheat or deceive someone against our will and from having to depart for that other place in fear because we owe a sacrifice to a god or money to a person’. By this Cephalus means that by having ample wealth he never had the need to be unjust to anyone. He could afford to appease the Gods with sacrifice and to keep his debts paid. This first presented description of justice is flawed. Socrates gives the following example to prove this: Suppose that a friend when in his right mind has deposited arms with me and he asks for them when he is not in his right mind, ought I to give them back to him? No one would say that I ought or that I should be right in doing so, any more than they would say that I ought always to speak the truth to one who is in his condition.’ Socrates, by Cephalus’s definition just living, was acting in a just way when he returned weapons to a maniacal friend (paying his debts). The modern day equivalent of this scenario is the United Nations returning a previously confiscated nuclear weapon to an insane and potentially violent state in full knowledge that it will be used to wreak havoc (injustice). This demonstrates that Cephalus’s popular description of justice is weak and potentially unjust! Later in book 1, When Socrates criticizes Polemarchus’ idea that man should spite his enemies, Thrasymachus puts his view forward; ‘Since the established rule is surely stronger, anyone who reasons correctly will conclude that the just is the same everywhere, namely the advantage of the  stronger’ . Using this idea Thrasymachus has declared that justice is the preserve of the strong and powerful. Justice is whatever the powerful dictate to the masses. He then goes on to state that it is the duty of the poor to rise up and take what they can from the rich. Socrates refutes all these ideas. He believes that the poor should accept the true justice that is imposed on them by the government. This is an idea that is crucial to the utopia he will later describe. Thrasymachus demonstrates a sophistic belief that injustice is more profitable to the individual than justice. By restating his belief that only the powerful have control over justice and successfully canvassing for a general consensus that rulers are fallible he shows that justice (as administered by the powerful) is ‘harmful to the one who obeys and serves’ . This in itself makes a certain degree of sense since in our own modern times we consistently see examples of ‘justice’ (as administered by the powerful) being non-beneficial to the weak and subservient. The most recently highlighted example would be the recent focus on Taliban-governed Afghanistan. Justice to the population of a Taliban controlled region meant harsh punishments and draconian, puritanical laws. This is what by European standards would be called unjust. If Thrasymachus had stopped his argument at this point then he would have contributed an important element to the definition of justice that we assume in our use of the word today, that which is morally correct. However as Thrasymachus is from a sophistic background (i.e. teacher of economics and rhetoric with especially capitalistic, profit driven motivations) he continues into a less popular (by modern standards) potential consequence of his argument, injustice is more profitable than justice. Through clever debate and reasoning with Thrasymachus, Plato (through his ‘mouthpiece’ character, Socrates) arises at the following conclusion: ‘Apparently, then, injustice has the power, first, to make whatever it arises in-whether it is a city, a family, an army, or anything else-incapable of achieving anything as a unit, because of civil wars and differences it  creates, and second, it makes that unit an enemy to itself and to what is in every way its opposite, namely justice.’ This statement shows the Sophist’s argument to be a contradiction. It is impossible for a belief to be profitable if it simply leads to dissent amongst the parties seeking profit. It is impossible for injustice to serve anyone if it is an enemy to itself. Plato points out that for a collective of individuals to act out injustice and all profit from the act there must originally be some sort of justice present to prevent them all betraying each other, an ‘honour amongst thieves’ of sorts. The argument for injustice does not end with book one and returns briefly early in book two. At the end of book one Plato is no longer refuting suggestions on the nature of justice and is no speaking in a pro-active, positive manner. He begins to start to build his own ideas of justice. He believes justice to be more profitable than injustice describing the comparison like so; ‘a just person is happy and an unjust one is wretched’ . This conclusion is reached in the p receding lines when Thrasymachus to agrees that justice is a virtue of the soul and therefore that a soul cannot perform well if its particular virtue is faulty. There is another important argument that Plato addresses in book two, where Glaucon, the youth, returns to Thrasymachus’s argument with an amendment. Glaucon asserts that it is profitable for the individual to pretend to be just but live their life in an unjust manner. The idea behind this being that the individual can appear to have the virtue of justice to others without having to be burdened with the responsibilities and constraints of living a just life. To consider all of these arguments and how they are presented would take many theses and, although relevant to this essay topic, I must move on to Plato’s own decisions of what justice is and their implementation in his polis due to space and time constraints. Plato has argued that living justly is much more superior to living unjustly because justice breeds happiness and contentment. The next step for Plato, to state and demonstrate his own positive views on justice and why it is ‘profitable’, is to describe a city-state, a polis, which is an ideal Utopia where all citizens live in harmonious eudemonia. By using the macrocosm of  the state he will show how justice can be implemented in the individual. Plato believes in the immortality of the soul (a consequence of nous ) and its division into three parts, which in turn are affected by ordering powers. The three parts of the soul are the spiritual, dedicated to the devotion of honour, the rational, dedicated to reason and logical thought and the appetitive, the basic appetites of the human soul such as sex, acquisitions, praise etc. which must be controlled. This is a fiercely rational and, I would argue, flawed break down of the human character. It takes no account for the emotional aspect of mankind and it is this inhuman and extremely rational view of humanity that would lead to the immediate failure of the polis if it wherever established due to some of the constraints placed on the citizens of the polis as will be seen later on. The virtues (aretai) of the soul that Plato describes in book four are wisdom (sophia), courage (andreia), temperance (sophrosyne) and justice (dikaiosyne). It is this idea of the soul that Plato will use in to socially structure the polis . The aim of this city is to make the soul is happy because all three parts of it are moderated, doing their own jobs and nothing else. This relates to Plato’s view of justice in the following manner. To Plato justice and injustice where to the body what health and disease are in the body. This is a beautiful analogy and is very similar to basic facets of Chinese medicine were disturbance in the mind is viewed as a pivotal cause for ill physical health, one wonders were oriental factors an influence on Plato or vice versa at this time. This correlation of classical Greek and ancient Chinese science is especially apparent in 444d of The Republic when ‘Health is defined as the establishment of an order by nature among the parts of the body; disease as a disturbance of the natural order of rule and subordination among the parts (444d)’ . This reading of Plato by Voeglin makes more sense in the context of the polis, as the disease of injustice is the divisor of peoples and the cause of discontent in society. The polis must be designed in such away that contentment is valued at a premium and corruption and vice made unnecessary and irrelevant. This has parallels with the medieval belief in The Great Chain Of Being. The Great Chain Of Being was a description of the balance of power and harmony in the world that probably was inspired by Augustinian and Platonic thought. At the  top of the chain was God who was linked to the King who was linked to his Aristocracy. If any part of a the chain was broken then the natural order of the world was disrupted. An example of how this was believed to manifest would be the mysterious change of calm weather to storms and supernatural occurrences in Shakespeare’s Macbeth following the usurping of Duncan. By usurping the legitimate ruler the chain was broken and chaos and disorder in the natural world ensued. Such is the occurrence of injustice in the Polis that the natural harmony will fall apart. I will now summarise the structure of the polis and hopefully answer how the distinctive roles of State and the individual maintain a just society. The state is divided into three classes, a producer class, a guardian (military/police) class and a ruling class. Later, Plato creates a new ruling class out of the guardians and calls the military/police class auxiliaries and this new ruling class guardians. The main point of this is to have each class fulfilling a need in the city and not ‘usurping’ any other person/classes role. Again there are similarities with the great chain of being. Everybody minds their own business and keeps to the plan and eudemonia will be intact. The city is based on various natural needs and recognises that harmony starts with the satisfying of life requirements. This idea is a nearly to a throw back to Cephalus who does not act in an unjust way because he wants for nothing. The development of a citizen starts with education. Students are thought a wide range of subjects from the academic to physical. Children are taught philosophy so that there ‘will be established within them, as in a polis, a politea’ . In other words they will have the same balanced wisdom and discipline governing their souls in life with the eudemonia of the state as a living example for the individual. The education also decided what class and profession the child would fit into. Classes could be transcended as children showed an aptitude for different and subjects abilities. Once an individual was placed in his/her class they remained in it for the duration of their lives. This has distinct parallels with the education system of Ireland were an aptitude in school for the academic can raise points for a place in a college that would further train you for a position of relatively  more power than the ‘producer class’. The most apt at philosophy and reason were sidelined for the upper two classes and had their education furthered accordingly. This begs the question of what would happen if the polis were sacked and all the ruling class slain. How could the polis recover from such an event if the lower classes are conditioned and brain-washed into believing that all they can ever be or do is be the sheep at the bottom of the chain of command? Procreation was also a stage-mannered affair. Parents deemed fit to ‘marry’ (or mate) were coupled off by what they believed to be random selection. In fact, the couples were selected for their eugenic qualities and paired off like horses on a stud. Children are taken from their parents at birth. The knowledge of their parent’s identity is never revealed to them nor is the child’s identity revealed to their parents. This anonymity was meant to promote equality between young and older generations. The child, being in full knowledge that it is from a foster family, would not be subject to family pride and would have no particular loyalties to any family as its siblings and parents would be unknown. Every elder could be addressed as father or mother as every peer could be addressed as brother or sister. With no bias towards any particular individual the harmony of the polis is further maintained. As mentioned earlier, Plato’s great failure from a modern standpoint is his inability to account for emotional aspects in the polis. The idea of splitting families was doomed to failure in that likenesses between siblings and parents would be impossible to disguise and some people could find out their relatives in this way. However, it could be argued that the psychological effect of not knowing ones natural family could be a non-issue after generations of people living in this way. The eugenic selection of partners makes a sense of sorts as families with undesirable inherited characteristics could be prevented from passing them on and those with desirable ones could be encouraged to mate. This is reminiscent of a quasi-nazi formula for the Aryan race of Third Reich. If one looks closer  one can see Plato using injustice to keep justice by lying about the random selection of couples. Due to the constraints of time and space I will have to conclude at this point by summarising the above. Plato essentially defines justice in the state as the three classes staying strictly to their individual roles in order to maintain a balance of responsibilities for the greater good of all. The state does this by ruling of over every aspect of an individual’s life from birth and plotting their destiny with the greater good of the polis to mind. It does this through education, censorship and rigorous controls. Only those with a high knowledge of wisdom (philosophy) are fit to rule as they have enough knowledge to know that justice is best for all as it is an essential virtue of the soul (dikaiosyne). Injustice is considered ignorance, as someone with a lot of wisdom could not possibly see injustice as profitable to anyone. The justice in the soul is described as the virtues (aretai) controlling the appetitive parts of the soul. In this post world war two and post ‘Brave New World’ time, it is easy to take The Republic as a strange Nazi/Taliban-esque tyrannical state on a first glance. As a state the polis would most definitely have failed. As macrocosm for justice in the individual it is unsurpassed. Its influence to this day was evident recently when it was voted best philosophical work ever by readers of the web page http://www.philosophers.co.uk. Whilst it has certain ideas that maybe questioned against the standards of modern western Europeans, it will certainly provide insight and debate on many philosophical issues for many years.

Assess the View That Cults and Sects Are Only Fringe Organisations That Are Inevitably Short Lived and of Little Influence in Contemporary Society Essay

It can be argued that cults and sects are only fringe organisations that are inevitably short lived and of little influence in contemporary society, however some may have views to contrast this idea. A sect is an organization, which usually breaks off from an established religion, which finds itself in disagreement with beliefs and values of wider society and refuses to tolerate the beliefs of others. Although the desire to be a member is voluntary, as oppose to being born into, like religion, sects are rejected by society and claim strong obligation and commitment by its members. A sect is an extremely narrow-minded organisation, which is often led by a charismatic leader. Whereas, in contrast, a cult does not progress from a mainstream religion and does not reject or challenge societal norms. However, as tolerant of other beliefs as they are, they still attract a great deal of negative press, for example brainwashing. Members in a cult are usually more like customers than followers. An example of a cult is Heavens gate, which is a destructive doomsday cult, centered in California. There is a mass of supporting evidence that cults and sects are short lived and insignificant to wider society. Nevertheless, it must be maintained that the matter is complex as there are many sects and cults, which identify themselves differently. There is evidence to support this view of a short-lived nature of sects. This is due to many reasons. World rejecting sects, due to their nature and succeeding societal rejection and stigma of bad press, must be able to compromise with society and becoming a denomination and therefore cease to be a sect, if this is not done then the sect will die out. There is also an argument that sects cannot have a great deal of affect upon society over a long term period as they cannot survive past the charismatic leader’s lifetime and therefore sustain themselves over more than one generation. The American theologian Niebuhr theorises that another reason for transience of sects is that they rarely live past the 1st generation because the 2nd generation usually lacks the belief of the 1st. In this way, their membership dwindles as the 2nd generation chooses to leave the sect and hold other views in wider society. However Wilson disagrees with Neibuhrs view and says that he overates his case and chooses to not pay attention to groups who did preserve a ‘ distinct sectarian stance’. Similarly, evidence proves to discredit the belief that a sect fails to live on past their leader’s death. For example, The Mormons have continued for many generations and also the Amish- however this could be attributed to the protective ‘isolation-like’ in which they live. There is also a possibility that the Moonies surviving is due to the leader preparing for his son to take over his position as the charismatic leader after his death, however this is yet to be seen. Cults have seen a large incline in their number recently and because they are more accepting of wider society and despite receiving bad press, offer a practical solution to peoples’ issues and wishes, seem less likely to die out due to refusal and disapproval. They are also financially rather stable, the Church of Scientology for example has an estimated income of over  £200m per year. This is down to the consumer attitude of cults. There is also a mass of evidence for their importance in society in a sense that audience cults have a mass market of ‘self help therapy’ there are many books available for example, tarot reading, crystals and reflexology regularly appear on the best seller list and often more room is devoted to these books rather than Christianity books themselves. The view that cults are fringe movements is less supported than that for sects. Sects very infrequently continue on as sects but cults such as scientology are not only prosperous but also have a huge celebrity following trend; admired by the public for example Tom Cruise. There is also evidence that sects and cults can be of great influence to society – though it is debatable as to whether or not that is possible today in a society as apparently secular as ours. Weber suggests in his Theodicy of Disprivilege that because they offer a solution to problems: justification and explanation for life and its problems, to marginalised groups such as dropouts or ethnic minorities, world rejecting sects that offer status appeal to people. An example of this is Liberation Theology which was for the poorer people which had great influence upon the priorities of the Catholic Church in Latin America (though it has become more conservative, it continues to represent human rights and democracy). Bruce argues that it is not a religion and is instead a shallow, meaningless thing. Due to the elements of choice it offers, the choice about which bits to believe and whether to take its readings into account, it does not require commitment. This he argues prevents it having religious status. Post Modernists see it as being spiritual shopping: it is part of a consumerist culture. Despite not necessarily being a religion, there is lots of evidence to show that it has influenced society as a whole and, some sociologists would claim, aided secularisation. There is also evidence to show that it is unlikely to be particularly short lived as it fits in so well with our Capitalist, consumerist society and our individualistic values and is so profitable. Therefore, though there is strong evidence to show that sects and cults are ‘fringe organisations’, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that neither are short lived in themselves either through the Sectarian cycle or demand and supply (though sects tend to become denominations) and also to suggest that the influence of sects and cults on society is greater than expected; though the influence of sects and cults is exemplified by older examples and so one cannot be sure as to how successful they will be in today’s society, except in regards to specific sects and cults. In conclusion, the view that cults, sects are fringe organisations that are inevitably short-lived and of little influence in modern-day society, is on the whole not wholly correct but has some strength in that the permanency of all is arguable as is their status as fringe organisations.

Increase immigration into Canada essays

Increase immigration into Canada essays Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. As we all now we are all gathered here today to debate, argue over a bill concerning an increase in immigration. We may not all be on the same side. But personally I am for increasing immigration and in the following I will explain, my reasons. Since the early 1600s and after the great depression Canada has had many ups and downs concerning immigration. It has had immigrants flea from all different countries from around the world. Some people from other countries have come here for many sorts of reasons. Some came looking for riches like the French during their years. Some others were forced to leave Canada because of war or persecution. During the Industrial Revolution people from Britain 1978 Immigration Act Canada has made rules and objectives regarding immigration. There are 3 class of immigrants, the 2nd class is the Family class which are potential immigrants that have to be closely related to a Canadian citizen. The Refugee class are people who have been forced to leave their country because of war or persecution. The 3rd class is theindependent class which are people admitted on the basis of skills, capital, and jobs available in Canada. The Act also prohibits certain categories of people those are the ones that pose a threat to the society. I think that Immigration in Canada should be increased because it is moral to let people have the freedom to live a life the way they want to. Also because I think that it will be socially accepted and also that an increase in immigration will lead to Canada being seen as a good country. I believe that increasing immigration is something that should be put into action, because every day there are more people wanting to get away from the life that they have know. More people want to have a bette ...

Is the concept of global health useful as a way of conceptualizing Essay

Is the concept of global health useful as a way of conceptualizing contemporary health issues in world politics - Essay Example reats posed by anthrax, environmental damages, crime, human trafficking and terrorism, all come to mind when the term global health is used (Yoube, 2005). Governments and inter-governmental organizations have implemented global health policies and statements indicating that global health has emerged as an important foreign policy issue especially in relation to both national and international security (Labonte and Gagnon, 2010). It would therefore appear that the concept of global health is a useful way of conceptualizing contemporary health issues in world politics. However, Ruger (2008) argues that states have viewed contemporary global health issues as a threat to national security only insofar as it relates to the threat of biochemical weapons. Thus global health initiatives can be ramed in terms of orthodox international relations theory (Ruger, 2008). In this regard, global health is irrelevant as state rivalries take center stage. On the other hand, McInnes and Lee (2013) argue that applying a social constructivist analysis, the concept of global health is useful for conceptualizing contemporary health issues as these issues intricately tie the state to the market and forms an important part of the international political economy. It has also been argued that social constructivism more adequately reflects how states and international organizations view global health. From this perspective global heal th issues are viewed as intricately tied to other state interests that go beyond the potential of biochemical weapons (Forman, Cole, Ooms, and Zwarenstein, 2012). This research study analyses both sides of the argument. In particular this research study analyses whether or not the international relations theory of realism or social constructivism more adequately explain the concept of global health and as such whether or not these concepts of global health are useful for conceptualizing contemporary health issues. This paper is therefore divided into three

Negotiations Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Negotiations - Coursework Example This requires an in-depth research on the various cars available that will suit my preference. After some critical research online I have narrowed down the possibilities and there is particularly one that has interested me the most. It is a Subaru and after some extensive research on Subarus in relation to performance and the general lifespan, it is seemingly the best option for me at the moment. Additionally, the dealer selling the car allows for a trade in and also payment in instalments with a significant down payment depending on the car. Therefore, there seems to be several available options for me from the dealer hence prompting the need to go and check it out and have a further discussion with the dealer regarding the Subaru. After a relatively long talk with the dealer on the available deals regarding the Subaru and also other available cars in the yard, I have decided to buy the new Subaru I had earlier on spotted during my search. In the course of our talk, the dealer presented the current offers available ranging from cash to a trade in to paying in instalments after a down payment. Based on my current financial position the only offers suitable are either a trade in or paying in instalments. In both options I have to part with the Jetta, which is a decision I had already made. If I settle for a trade in the dealer has agreed to give me $8800 for the Jetta and paying in instalments requires me to first pay a down payment of $9400. With the down payment, I will get a loan with some manageable though steep monthly payments. However, with this option I have to settle for a buyer of the Jetta from among those who had been contacting me in order to give the down payment failure to which I will be forced t o take the loan at prime with an increment of 5% interest. From among the earlier calls there is particularly one seemingly good prospect with whom I have agreed to meet for a discussion on the Jetta sale at 1300 hrs. On meeting with the

Separation of Complex Cations of Chromium(III) by Ion Exchange Essay

Separation of Complex Cations of Chromium(III) by Ion Exchange Chromatography - Essay Example Water soluble compounds of Chromium III do not occur naturally and are unstable in the environment (Nriagu & Nieboer, 1988 p68). Different oxides of chromium oxide are also used as pigments. Cation exchange chromatography can be used to separate different chromium III complexes into their pure forms. The most common complexes are chromium III and IV which exist at different ionisation states. Chromium III is a cation and IV is an anion. Chromium VI is toxic to humans (Vincent, 2011 p101). The separation of these complexes is based on their different ionisation states which are the principles behind ion exchange chromatography. The use of UV-Vis as analytical tools is essential in determining the value of 10q of elements. The coupled use of these diagrams and spectroscopic information enables someone to correctly calculate the electromagnetic absorption of metal compounds and how the crystal fields split energy or 10Dq (Kettle, 2008 p69). 3. Chromium solutions are then prepared that will be used throughout the experiment. At this stage, progress should immediately be made towards separation of trans-‑[CrCl2(H2O)4]+, [CrCl(H2O)5]2+ and [Cr(H2O)6]3+ after which their spectrums are measured between wavelengths 350 nm and 750 nm immediately after their collection (Beran, 2010 p200). 4. The final step involves the estimation of relative crystal field strength for Cl- and H2O. Two bands are observed in the region of 350nm and 750nm with the longest wavelength band having energy equal to 10Dq or the octahedral Crystal field splitting energy for the complex ion. Chromium III compounds have bands that are easy to interpret and they exist either in an excited state which has higher energy than the ground state which has less energy but more stable. The values of 10Dq are shown to decrease with the increasing charge of a neighbouring anion and the decreasing number of coordinating anions (Crabtree, 2011

Event Organiser Essay Example for Free

Event Organiser Essay His duties as a project planning and operations manager include development, implementation and maintenance of a detailed plan and posting schedules based on input from team members. He is also responsible for ensuring that assigned projects reach the market on time and driving the completion of project related assignments in accordance with a detailed implementation plan. Event Organiser(Team Leader)  Event organisers are involved in the organisation of events. Event organisers must be able to complete a wide range of activities requiring clear communication and excellent organisational skills and must respond quickly to change, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of an event. Assistant Event Organiser An assistant event organiser does almost everything an event organisers team leader does but he is only there to help him with all the heavy tasks that have been given to him. He supports the Manager and team leader when organising all of the events held at the venue. This role includes reception duties, event organising, research and assisting customers on a daily basis.  Promotions Team Leader  His job is to lead a face to face sales team that generates financial support. He plays a direct role with the event organiser. His main job is to make people aware of the events that are to take place and get them interested to take part in it. He forms teams that will go on the street and send out flyers, pamphlets etc. Makes the media aware of the events. Promotions Helper  He does the job that involves meeting the people face to face and handing them out information such as surveys, events which are to come, asking for donations and charity funds to help their organisation which is made for the people itself. He follows the team leader and reaches his goal.  Clerical Helper(for Project Planning Operations)  This individual will provide administrative support to the manager and the promotions team leader. He does this by creating collateral materials for advertising, sales, press releases, and promotions, managing the purchasing and distribution of office supplies, apparel, and other products, providing general clerical and administrative support and performing other duties as assigned. Organisational chart for the Green team that incorporates the various roles that have been specified in the previous task.  Job Advertisement for an EVENT ORGANISER in a Green Team.  Job Title: Position for an Event Organiser/Planner  Location: Oxford House College Oxford Street  Job Type: Full Time/Part Time/Voluntary  Salary Range: 25000 30000 plus Bonus Incentives  Organization Description  Oxford House College is a Green team that specialises in helping spread awareness about the depletion of our natural resources and help people reduce their carbon emissions, helping people to reduce their wastage and show them different methods where they can be more environmentally friendly. To reach our goals we need exceptional people who are ready to help us and will be rewarded for their efforts while having fun at the same time.Selling sponsorship, stand, exhibition space to potential exhibitors/partners Arranging accommodation for exhibitors and/or delegates  Preparing delegate packs and papers  Creating, implementing and monitoring marketing and PR plans  Liaising with clients and designers to create a brand/look for the event  Co-ordinating with newspapers, tv, radio and other media  Writing press releases or briefs in order to gain maximum exposure for the event  Organising the design and production of tickets, posters, catalogues and sales brochures  Co-ordinating everything on the day of the event to ensure that all runs smoothly  Handling client queries on the day and troubleshooting exhibitor and visitor problems on the day  Overseeing the dismantling and removal of the event, and clearing the venue efficiently.

Congo Rainforest Ecosystem

Congo Rainforest Ecosystem Kaili Zhang There is a plethora of research on rainforests ecosystem, but the Congo forest has received little apprehension. By comparing to other tropical forests, this ecosystem remains astoundingly healthy. However, its size has significantly reduced due to the impending degradation. It extends over 13 countries that lie within the equator (CARPE, 2013). This region is a home of developing countries where people rely directly on the forest resources for their survival. For this reason, the habitat receives immense threat with its hardwood and biodiversity slowly degraded. Suffice to say that the healthy state of the forests is due to the conservation measures that focus on managing the resources from the imminent danger of the growing population. It has sophisticated hydrological network with Congo River portraying a huge source of water across West Africa. This ecosystem presents enormous benefits to the balance of ecology and existence of diversity. Location The absolute location of Congo rainforest is 99Â ° North and 79Â ° west. It lies within the equatorial region of central Africa. This ecosystem stretches along the Democratic republic of Congo, Guinea, Equatorial, and Rwanda. This is a stretch along the equator, thus cutting across most of the central African countries. Climate This rainforest does well with ostensibly high precipitation, humidity, and temperature. For that reason, it shows a relatively high rainfall with two seasons of March-June and August-November. It has about 117 raining days annually. In this case, an average of 1800mm of rainfall is received within this ecosystem. The dry season begins in November stretches through to March. Temperatures in this place hits high pitch to support the robust vegetation. Here temperatures show stability throughout the seasons with an average of 15Â °C difference of day and night temperatures. In essence, the region has a range of 20Â °-27Â °C annually. However, regions along the rivers and stream often become cool up to 12Â °C (Abernethy, Coad, Taylor, Lee, Maisels, 2013). On the other hand, the humidity maintains at high levels due to the evergreen vegetation. It is usually ranging at 80-90% degrees. The rivers and the rich vegetation support the hydrological system that maintains the conventional rainfall within the region. With high evapotranspiration, it is obvious that the corresponding precipitation will be high. Apparently, the factual evidence of high temperature is because of its location, which is the equator. Therefore, the sun is always shining in the region for about 12 hours daily. With the healthy vegetation, this energy is retained, thus keeping the ecosystem warm. Weather and its patterns In essence, this region is under the tropical climate classification portrayed by high temperatures and high precipitation. It experiences extreme weather pattern due to the underlying emissions, with significant changes in temperatures. In most cases, Congo Forest has extensive cold day and nights with also more hot days and nights. The emissions seem substantial for these changes. Landforms The areas depict a gorge surrounding a valley. Mount Foungouti running in the far south rises above 930 meters with its northern raise being 650 meters. The areas show a sedimentary rock with sand and gravel evident across the forest. However, the top soils are usually replenished due to frequent runoffs that remove organic matter. In the lowlands, the soils are rich of humus from the decaying plants and animals. In this area the soils presents aluminum oxides and iron. Evidently, the region is a low-lying basin that shows little tectonic activities. Most of the geologic activities have ceased for years showing that the area is stable. The heavy rainfall mainly orchestrates erosion and weathering. This is the major agent of erosion; however, the closely compacted vegetation detains its effect. Therefore, the soils in this region are still young showing less vegetation, but high organic processes. Drainage pattern The Congo basin demonstrates a Mosaic drainage pattern in that its tributaries arise within a circular form within the ecosystem. River Congo is a central component of hydrology for this ecosystem. It is the second largest river globally for its volume. It has a mosaic structure of rivers with its tributaries converging at the far west to form the Congo River. It has a discharge of 40,000 m3/s causing great erosion through abrasion, scouring, and lifting earth along its course. In this case, the river shall have enormous deposits in form of alluvial compounds downstream and into the Atlantic Ocean. During the raining season, flooding occurs in the region since the R. Congo bursts its bank at this time spreading to the neighboring villages. In the quest to avoid excessive drainage, the region has invested in structural techniques. Along the rivers, there are dykes that help in reducing the velocity of water. Consequently, gibbons and erection of rock walls along the riverbanks come out as the popular structural ways of mitigating flooding. Biome The ecosystem is a tropical forest with relatively high temperatures, rainfall, and humidity. With high rainfall and huge pile of litter, decomposition is slow making the soils devoid of nutrients. The ecology inhabits vast biodiversity with over 10000 species of plants with 30% endemic to this region. Consecutively, it houses endangered wildlife like elephants, bonobo, mountain gorillas, and the chimpanzees (Turvey, 2012). In addition, the ecosystem has decomposers like earthworms, bacteria, mushroom, banana slug, and fungus. The dominant autotrophs come out as the Caesalpiniacae trees, papyrus, Cyperaceae, Okoume trees, and Echnochloa (Chamber Roberts, 2014). Ecosystem characteristics and services Congo rainforest is one of the tropical ecosystems that have high primary production. Therefore, it has a profound ability to support diverse organisms from secondary producers to decomposers or scavengers. It has many canopies with tall trees supported by stretching taproots. This prevents underground growth, thus less detritus activities. The different canopies support adverse communities of birds, animals, and butterflies. This ecosystem has diverse services like supporting of the entire ecology. They offer energy due to the vast tree and plant communities that in turn allows for nutrients cycling up the chain among consumers and detritus. It is therefore, a critical place for the storage of food and energy. Moreover, the region offers provision services in form of raw materials like wood, water, minerals, food, medicines, or ornaments. The communities have used certain trees like the bromeliads and Epiphytic orchids as medicines for decades. The other service is their cultural significance as they offer sanctuary for native and traditional religious practices. Finally, this ecosystem demonstrates a crucial place in regulating services. Apparently, it has a huge carbon sink and enhances the purification of air and water. For this reason, the Congo forest is one of the areas of carbon sequestration, thus the regulation of climate. Habitat It is a habitat of diverse populations of endangered and threatened species. The forest is one of the wildest tropical habitats for animals like mountain gorillas and the forest elephants. The canopies houses birds with over 100 species endemic to this habitat. Most of the snake here are only present in this habitat. Certain plants and animal communities tend to be robust over the rest. The okapi, apes, mouse deer, chimpanzee, elephants, and monkeys are the main primary consumers with the leopards, crocodiles, and lions as the secondary consumers. On the other hand, African oak, mahogany, and red cedar, which are broad leaves trees dominate this ecosystem at the higher canopy. Food web This ecosystem portrays an exemplary food web with crocodiles, leopards, and lions on the higher trophic level. The primary production ranges from vegetation to tree fruits. The okapi, apes, and mouse deer supports the secondary consumers. At the lower level of the trophic level are the insects, fungi, and bacteria. The food chain often takes a simple route from the producer right to decomposition. For instance; Tree fruitselephant banana slugs The forest elephant is a relatively smaller than the other African elephant making it fit for the ecological niche. They forage on trees leaves and shrubs. Their skin is difficult for predation and large enough to scare away predators. In essence, they can circumvent under trees due to their small size. This animal is best situated for the tropical rainforest ecosystem, more so its influence in facilitating the germination of African eggplant that has to pass through their duct. In this ecosystem, there is different symbiotic interaction. The bonobo-dialium interaction is one of the positive mutualism within the forest. Dialium tree species are dominant in the region and produce sweet juicy fruits that the Bonobo feeds on. The Bonobo in turn digests the fruits passing the seeds along their guts, thus degrading the hard cuticle and after releasing the seeds in their feces, they are able to germinate. The Bonobo through endozoochory helps Dialium in seed germination and dispersal, thus maintaining their population. On the other hand, a strangler fig is one of the parasites that grow in tree and by reaching up they cover the tree denying them light for photosynthesis later killing them. This is common in the high canopies of Congo forest. Evidently, the human-land interaction comes out as the major threat to the sustainability of this forest. People engage in illegal poaching and encroachment of forest for wood and timber. This has led to the extensive degradation of the forests causing a magnanimous loss of different habitats. Activities such as mining of gold have led to destruction of large tracts of forests within the area. This ecosystem is stable, though it has had numerous anthropogenic threats. However, organizations like WWF and local conservation agencies have ensured that encroachment is minimized and forge to protect endangered species like the bush elephants. The banning of elephant products is a critical step in the preservation of this ecosystem. Works Cited Abernethy, K. A., Coad, L., Taylor, G., Lee, M. E., Maisels, F. (2013). Extent and ecological consequences of hunting in Central African rainforests in the twenty-first century . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Vol. 368, Iss. 1625, 1. CARPE. (2013). The Forests of the Congo Basin. A Preliminary Assessment, 1=39. Chamber, J. Q., Roberts, D. A. (2014). Ecology: Drought in the Congo Basin . Nature, 509 , 36-37. Turvey, M. (2012, November 7 ). The Congo Basin. Retrieved November 22, 2014, from Prezi: https://prezi.com/utopv9ph0a7k/the-congo-basin/

President Reagans Strategic Defense Initiative: In Relation With the Soviet :: Nuclear War

"For the first time humankind has the power to destroy itself." 1 The nuclear age has changed the world, for the good and the bad. Though the bad, is far greater than the good. We sometimes ponder to our selves, "what would happen if we were forced in to a nuclear war ware their are now winners." The way life would be after such an incident would change life as we know it drastically. In the event of a nuclear war with the Soviets we would have lost approximately one hundred and fifty million American lives. 2 The planet would be destroyed to the extent that even thoughts who survived would have no place to live. No Government, or persons, can win a nuclear war and as long as their are nuclear missiles of mass destruction there will always be the risk of someone using them. Once the first missile is unleashed their is no telling were it would stop. Our dealings with the former Soviet Union was based on the French word, detente, that the Russians had defined as a freedom to purchase subversion, aggression and expansionism any were in the world. 3 The soviets have been, up until 1990, the U.S's defacto enemies. There goal was too destroy democracy and imposing communism. 4 This is way it was though to be inevitable for a nuclear war with the soviets. "The dream of a non nuclear world is a great and notable one, how ever for the foreseeable future it is unattainable in actuality and unwise in theory." 5 Because of this harsh the United States is left with a problem; How can we beet this so called inevitability? The answer is: space based defense weapons. The program, brought forth by the Reagan administration, was called the strategic defense Initiative, and some called "Star Wars." 6 Reagan's strategic defense initiative, created in the 80's, was an acceptable for the U.S; it worked to convince the Soviets not only to reduce there nuclear arsenal but to halt any chance for a nuclear attack by the Soviets. " What is the worth of our society as we know it? Right now we hold an entire population hostage." 7 Ever since the 1960's our main defense against the soviets has been the MAD policy, Mutual Assured Destruction. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had enough nuclear weapons at their disposal so that if one fired at the other the one that was being fired at would fire it's missiles at the other too. In other words, they would share the same fate.

Nursing Shortage Essay

Abstract Compelling evidence suggests that regions of the United States face a nursing and physician shortage that our legislators, health officials, and medical professionals must address. To ensure that quality medical care is not harshly impacted, the hospitals and public health leadership, in general, will need to tackle the nursing shortage with solid long-term solutions. It is no secret that the United States faces a critical nursing shortage, a trend that potentially threatens to undermine quality medical care. One single area of concern does not affect the shortage. In fact, the hospitals, and nursing in particular, are witnessing a combination of problems that range in salary structure, medical economics/cost containment, post-graduate education, and an aging workforce (pending retirements of baby-boomers). The public health industry is not sitting idly by to address the shortage. It is critically reviewing the needs for both existing professions. Definition of Nursing Shortage Nursing shortage is defined as the inadequate number of qualified nurses to meet the projected demand for nursing care within a healthcare setting, where the demand for nurses is greater than the supply. History of Nursing Shortage Historical knowledge is important to analyze the present and prepare for the future. As we can see from the current shortage in America today, we learn that it is not a new problem. However what makes this current nursing shortage situation unique is that the causes are related to a multifaceted range of issues. The current nursing shortage is connected to supply and demand factors, demographic changes, population growth, and fewer students enrolling in nursing schools, RNs who are retiring or leaving the workforce and a growth in the baby boom population who will demand more healthcare services in the near future. These factors are occurring while many nurses are retiring and more jobs are being created. In addition, the nursing shortage is actually a worldwide phenomenon with areas like Western Europe, Australia, Canada and the Philippines facing shortages as well. Economic factors have also contributed to the nursing shortage in the United States. Mark Genovese, spokesperson for the New York State Nurses Association explains, â€Å"For many decades the shortage was cyclical but as the economy tightened and as the insurance industry moved to a managed care model, there was less money in the system and hospitals had less money to work with and tighter budgets.† Budgetary limitations affected the nursing workforce as many nurses began leaving the profession altogether. â€Å"They were forcing RNs to do more with less, handle more patients and work more hours. RNs started to leave the workforce because of the working conditions and fewer RNs entered the system,† explains Mark. Americans are also demanding more quality healthcare services while many RNs are retiring, further exacerbating the problem. The HRSA has stated: â€Å"to meet the projected growth in demand for RN services, the U.S. must graduate approximately 90% more nurses from U.S. nursing programs.† Decreased staffing means that there are fewer nurses to work with patients. This impacts job satisfaction and causes work related stress. In some cases it has led to many nurses leaving the profession altogether. A 2010 study published in Health Services Research found that over 75% of RNs feel that the nursing shortage is a huge problem that affects their quality of work as well as patient care and the amount of time that nurses can spend with individual patients. Another important factor contributing to a lack of nurses is that there is a shortage of nursing school faculty to train a new generation of nurses in colleges and universities. The AACN’s 2008-2009 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing report found that nursing programs in the U.S. did not enroll 49,948 qualified students into their bachelor and graduate degree programs because they did not have an adequate number of faculty, clinical practice sites, teaching space, and were constrained by budgetary limitations. Two thirds of the nursing program respondents reported that a big reason for not accepting students was due to not having enough nurse faculty on hand. The Southern Regional Board of Education conducted a study which found that the nursing faculty shortage in 16 states was caused by vacant faculty positions, retirements, resignations and a shortage of new candidates applying for faculty positions. Shortages like this pose a threat to the availability of nurse education. Defining the Problem For those students interested in careers in healthcare, becoming a nurse right now could be the best decision for you. Currently, the United States is facing a severe nursing shortage. For several reasons, the number of nurses graduating and entering the workforce, and those already in the profession, is not enough to fill the growing demand. Currently, RNs are the largest group of healthcare workers in the US at roughly 2.6 million and that still isn’t enough to meet the need. According to experts, by 2012, there could be around 1.1 million unfilled nursing positions in the United States. In the most basic sense, the current global nursing shortage is simply a widespread and dangerous lack of skilled nurses who are needed to care for individual patients and the population as a whole. The work of the world’s estimated 12 million nurses is not well understood, even by educated members of society. But nursing is a distinct scientific field and autonomous profession whose skilled practitioners save lives and improve patient outcomes every day in a wide variety of settings. In the Truth’s view, the vast gap between what skilled nurses really do and what the public thinks they do is a fundamental factor underlying most of the more immediate apparent causes of the shortage. These causes include nurse short-staffing (due to inadequate pay and long work hours), poor work conditions, the aging nursing workforce, expanded career options for women, nursing’s predominantly female nature, the increasing complexity of health care and care technology, and the rapidly aging populations in developed nations, to name a few. Other causes of the nursing shortage episode include: the aging baby boomer population and lack of employee incentives. There were seventy-six million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 and are now classified the Baby Boomer Generation. As this population reaches retirement age and beyond, they are requiring more medical treatments and nursing home and long term care facilities. This country is also seeing an increase in population in general, projected to grow 18% over the next two decades. With more patients flooding the healthcare system, there simply aren’t enough nurses to meet this growing need. However, those currently employed in the nursing field should be rewarded for being encouraged and motivated to stay in such a questionable field of employment. In light of this nursing shortage, it should be relatively easy to find gainful employment after graduation should you choose to study nursing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 581,000 new Registered Nurse (RN) positions will be created through 2018, which will increase that workforce by an astounding 22%. The BLS also estimates that even as other sectors of our economy continue to suffer, the healthcare sector will only continue to grow. Since the recession began, more than 600,000 positions have been created in the healthcare industry. With so many Americans out of work in other fields, a career in healthcare, specifically in nursing, might be a viable career choice. Literature Review Today, the average age of nursing faculty in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs is 51.5 years and the rate of projected retirements will exceed the rate of re placements. Nurses enter the faculty role later in their careers and typically retire at an earlier age, around 62.5 years. More efforts need to be put into place to encourage those already teaching to remain in their positions even if it is in a limited capacity while future faculty are educated. What factors are present that facilitate the desire for nursing faculty to retire? Kowalski, Dalley, and Weigand (2006) conducted a cross-sectional, randomized study of 129 nurse educators teaching in 61 schools of nursing to find out what personal decisions influenced their retirement plans. With a 37.6% response rate, results reflected that the mean age of planned retirement was 64.4 years. However, the mean age respondents would like to retire was 62.4. Factors influencing retirement included workplace issues, personal and family health, attitudes about retirement, and financial security. One of the most important factors influencing retirement plans was financial security. Faculty members who were financially secure retired earlier. Job satisfaction was another important influencing factor resulting in early retirement. In lieu of the faculty shortage, the authors contend that studies such as this will offer insight into future retirement trends which may help bridge the gap between supply and the demand of nurse educators (Kowalski et al., 2006). From the results of this one study it may be important to consider the needs of the aging faculty by providing healthy, satisfying, and stimulating work environments, appropriate benefits packages, and relaxing mandatory retirement ages. One serious factor contributing to the faculty shortage is financial. Not only are academic salaries much lower than they are for clinical practice and administrative positions of advanced practice nurses, but the cost of securing advanced academic degrees is costly. In 2004, the average salary of a master’s-prepared nurse practitioner in a clinical setting was $80,697 compared to $60,831 for that of a master’s-prepared nursing faculty member (Nevada Nurses Association, 2004). By increasing academic salaries and providing tuition allowances in return for teaching will indeed make teaching a more attractive career choice (Yordy, 2006). Another important factor affecting the faculty shortage is that of job satisfaction, stress, and burnout. To maintain current faculty on the job, more research should be conducted on factors affecting job satisfaction and what works to provide a better environment. Gormley (2003) performed a meta-analysis study on nursing faculty job satisfaction and which factors had the greatest influence using a sample of six studies from 1976 and 1996. Nursing faculty are pressured not only to educate future nurses to provide safe and competent care, but also have many other professional responsibilities, such as publishing, conducting research, writing grants, performing community service, and maintaining their own competencies (Gormley, 2003). These responsibilities combined can become overwhelming and lead to job dissatisfaction especially as the faculty is aging. In Gormley’s study (2003), factors that affected job satisfaction were perception/expectation of the leader’s role in curriculum and instruction, suggesting that the dean’s role has significant effects on faculty’s job satisfaction and role conflict/ambiguity. Shirey (2006) argues that prolonged stress can lead to burn-out in many faculty who then become â€Å"deadwood,† jeopardizing the quality and spirit of the institution. These faculty members can ward off potential new faculty who are even more vulnerable to the stresses of the teaching role. It is imperative that academic institutions pay close attention to the needs of their faculty. Mentoring programs, self-renewal, and organizational engagement are key strategies to prevent burnout (Shirey, 2006). â€Å"A carefully structured and deliberate mentoring program can be an invaluable orientation as schools of nursing seek to provide an academic environment that is conducive to the professional and scholarly development of adjunct faculty members† (Peters & Boylston, 2006, p. 64). One serious factor contributing to the faculty shortage is financial. Not only are academic salaries much lower than they are for clinical practice and administrative positions of advanced practice nurses, but the cost of securing advanced academic degrees is costly. In 2004, the average salary of a master’s-prepared nurse practitioner in a clinical setting was $80,697 compared to $60,831 for that of a master’s-prepared nursing faculty member (Nevada Nurses Association, 2004). By increasing academic salaries and providing tuition allowances in return for teaching will indeed make teaching a more attractive career choice (Yordy, 2006). Program Analysis Possible Solutions For sustained change and assurance of evading the forthcoming shortage, solutions must be developed in several areas: education, health care systems, policy and regulations, and image. This shortage is not exclusively a nursing issue, but will require a collaborative effort among nursing leaders, practitioners, health care executives, government, and the media. Creating Cultures of Retention The American Nurses Association Magnet hospital program has had a proven success in raising the standards of nursing practice and improving patient outcomes. Currently there are 85 organizations that are designated Magnet hospitals. Magnet facilities are characterized by strong administrative support, adequate nurse staffing, strong communication, nurse autonomy, better control, and a vital focus on the patient and their family. A growing body of research indicates that this program is making a positive difference for nurses, patients, and the hospitals as a whole. Research is proving that through this program, nurses are having increased satisfaction as well as increased perceptions of productivity and the quality of care given. Studies also indicate that these facilities have lower incidence of needle stick injuries, lower burn out rates, and double the retention of non-Magnet facilities. By adopting the characteristics of Magnet hospitals, facilities will be able to create a culture of retention that empowers and is respectful of nursing staff. Strengthening the Infrastructure In 2002 the Nursing Reinvestment Act was signed by President Bush to address the problem of our nation’s nursing shortage. This initiative was intended to promote people to enter and remain in nursing careers, thus reducing the growing shortage. The law establishes scholarships, loan repayments, public service announcements, retention grants, career ladders, and grants for nursing faculty. Many statewide initiatives are underway to address this issue as well. In Pennsylvania, six new nursing education initiatives have been announced to address faculty shortage by encouraging current nurses to return to school, earn graduate degrees, and teach the next generation of nurses. Illinois is unveiling a plan to provide faculty scholarships and grants to nursing schools in order to expand student enrollment. California, whose nursing programs currently have wait lists over three years, is trying to expand nursing education through a $90 million initiative.