How can the growth of investments in renewable energy to achieve Dissertation

How can the growth of investments in renewable energy to achieve higher energy efficiency levels impact on world oil prices and - Dissertation Example Therefore, this study aims to determine whether or not the increased investment on renewable energy resources could literally affect the movements of the world market prices of oil. Likewise, this study will determine how massive investments made on the development of renewable energy resources can affect the economic growth of OECD countries. Research Method: A one-on-one personal interview with a couple of experts in finance and economics was conducted to know more about the impact of an increased investment in renewable energy on the world market prices of oil and the economic growth of OECD counties. Research Findings: Due to high market demand for oil, increasing the overall investment on renewable energy resources will not trigger the world market price of oil to decrease. Furthermore, the massive investment on renewable energy resources can somehow create a positive impact on the future economic growth of the OECD countries. However, serious considerations should be made befor e investing a large sum of money on a specific project. Conclusion: To increase the socio-economic benefits and return on investments (ROI) of renewable energy projects, this study concludes that strong support coming from the local people, the government, and the developers of renewable energy resources is essential. ... Table of Contents Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................... 2 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 3 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................. 7 1.2 Research Objectives .................................................................................. 7 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................................... 8 1.4 Rationale for Selecting the Research Topic .............................................. 8 1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study .......................................................... 9 2. Literature Review .................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Renewable Energy Resources ................................................................... 10 2.2 Types of Renewable Energy Resources Available in OECD Countries ....................................................................................... 11 2.3 Impact of Renewable Energy Investment on the Economic Growth of OECD Countries ............................................... 18 2.5 Impact of Renewable Energy Resources on Oil Prices ............................. 22 2.6 Reasons that Make it

The Industrial Dispute

The Industrial Dispute Ø INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aim of this essay is to analyze whether boycotts and lockouts are two other anti-impasse weapons used by labour and management. For that we have to get an idea of what is strike and lockouts, and its impact on both management side and labour side. A bargaining impasse occurs when the two sides negotiating an agreement are unable to reach an agreement and become deadlocked. An Impasse is almost invariably mutually harmful, either as a result of direct action which may be taken such as a strike in employment negotiation. Most disputes arise in situations where facts are able to be interpreted in multiple ways, and if parties interpret the facts to their own benefit they may be unable to accept the opposing partys claim as reasonable. They may believe the other side is either bluffing or acting unfairly and deserve to be punished. According to Section 2(k) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 industrial dispute is defined as, Any disputes or differences b etween employers and employers, or between employers and workmen, or between workmen and workmen, which is connected with the employment or non-employment or the terms of employment or with the conditions of labour, of any person. Ø STRIKE A work stoppage undertaken in support of a bargaining position or in protest of some aspect of a previous agreement or proposed agreement between labour and management. Strikes can be divided into two basic types: economic and unfair labor practice. An economic strike seeks to obtain some type of economic benefit for the workers, such as improved wages and hours, or to force recognition of their union. An unfair labor practice strike is called to protest some act of the employer that the employees regard as unfair. Essential requirements for the existence of strike are There must be a concerted refusal; or Refusal under a common understanding of any number of persons who are or have been so employed to continue to work or to accept employment They must stop work for some demands relating to employment, non-employment or the conditions of labour of the workmen Ø EXAMPLE FOR STRIKE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Royal Mail postal workers took strike action over job security and working conditions. They voted three to one in favour of action, with 61,623 out of a total of 80,830 workers who voted saying they wanted to strike. The regions in the UK which have been hardest hit by the postal strikes are London, with a cost to businesses of  £187.1 million, and Scotland with a cost of  £82.5 million. The segments affected generate revenues of  £23 million per day, estimate of cost is  £10 million per strike day adding up to a projected total of  £40 million so far. Ø CAUSE OF THE STRIKE In 2007, the last national postal strike ended after both sides signed a 14-page agreement on pay and changes to working practices. As deals go, the agreement to end the 2007 nationwide postal strike was certainly woolly in parts.There was plenty of opportunity for both sides to disagree on exactly what it meant in practice. At the very least, the tortuous discussions on implementing the agreement have proved that give and take has one attribute very much in short supply. The stated aim of the agreement, which now seems ironic, was to move away from the adversarial relationships that persist in too many parts of the business. As members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are now out on another nationwide strike, that goal seems further away than ever. Walk sequencing machines were to be trialled using computer programmes to produce the sensible delivery round for a postal worker. The 2007 deal set a concrete deadline of the end of January 2008 to agree a framework to deal with the trialling and implementation of all new technology and automation. But two years on, there is still no agreement according to Royal Mail, which says that a framework was twice agreed between negotiators, but each time it was subsequently rejected by the executive committee of the CWU. The union declined to comment. Another clause in the agreement pledged is the early shift payment is ceased in delivery on agreement to pay restructuring. But Royal Mail says that the early shift payment still technically exists, and the company continues to be keen to discuss pay restructuring with the union. So in other words it seems nothing has changed. So the 2007 agreement on modernisation has led to some significant changes in the way Royal Mail staff operate. But with CWU members now out on another nationwide strike, the great prize of replacing confrontation with trust between the two sides, seems as far away as ever. During industrial disputes, sometimes employees use strike as a anti-impasse weapon. The various forms of strike that employees use as weapons when industrial disputes arise are Ø ECONOMIC STRIKE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most of the strikes of workers are directed towards facilities and increase in wage levels. In economic strike, the labourers demand increase in wages, travelling allowance, house rent allowance, dearness allowance and other facilities such as increase in privilege leave and casual leave. A strike is legal if employees are using it to exert economic pressure upon their employer in order to improve the conditions of their employment. In this case, employees are not using the strike as an anti-impasse weapon. STAY-IN STRIKE In this case, workers do not absent themselves from their place of work when they are on strike. They keep control over production facilities. But do not work. Such a strike is also known as pen down or tool down strike. SLOW DOWN STRIKE Employees remain on their jobs under this type of strike. They do not stop work, but restrict the rate of output in an organised manner. They adopt go-slow tactics to put pressure onthe employers. SYMPATHETIC STRIKE. When workers of one unit or industry go on strike in sympathy with workers of another unit or industry who are already on strike, it is called a sympathetic strike. The workers of sugar industry may go on strike in sympathy with their fellow workers of the textile industry who may already be on strike. Picketing. When workers are dissuaded from work by stationing certain men at the factory gates, such a tep is known as picketing. If picketing does not involve any violence, it is perfectly legal. From the above definitions the strike in the form of economic strike and picketing, are not used as anti-impasse weapons by the employees. But the other forms of strike that are discussed above are unwanted and illegal strikes, which in turn are used as an anti-impasse weapon, when industrial disputes arise. Ø LOCKOUTS DEFINITION Industrial action during which an employer withholds work, and denies employees access to the place of work. In effect, it is a strike by the management to compel a settlement to a labor dispute on terms favourable to the employer. When lock out action is taken by several employers in concert, it is called a joint lockout. The Requirements of lockout are Temporary closing of place of employment The element of demand for which the industrial establishment is locked out, must be present The intention to re-open or take the workers back if they accept the demands must exist The employer and employees must be engaged in an industrial process carried on in an institution. Lockout is intended for compelling the employees to accept any terms or conditions- tactic in bargaining. Closure is shutting employment ending bargaining Ø EXAMPLE OF A LOCKOUT AND IMPACTS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roopacherra tea estate in south east Assam has been under lockout for nearly month after the executives abandoned it. Leading to the death of a three-year-old girl, Shivani Kalindi and two workers, Yogendra Kalindi, 22, and Manorama Dev, 60, according the workers panchayat (council). After the death of the girl, workers defied the lockout and began picking and selling leaf to other factories for their survival. The Katlicherra police have registered a case against the absconding tea executives and a fact-finding team has been set up to look into the deaths by the Hailakandi administration. Some food was given by the local administration after a hunger strike by a large group of women workers. Dilip Singh, president of the garden panchayat, claimed that the out-of-work labour force was scavenging for roots and tubers of plants in the absence of food as most women and children in the labour colony were suffering from malnutrition related ailments. Roopacherra tea estate has a 1,400-strong workforce, who have been paid no wages since a lockout was declared on January 19.The reason cited by the management for the lockout was flagrant violation of instructions relating to attendance. Ø IS MANAGEMENT USING LOCKOUT AS ANTI-IMPASSE WEAPON:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Apart from lockouts, the management uses its own methods to counter the workers. Some of the weapons used by the management are: Employers Association. The employers may form their unions to collectively oppose the working class and put pressure on the trade unions. Termination of Service. The employers may terminate the services of those workers who are on strike by blacklisting them. Their lists may be circulated to other employers so as to restrict their chances of getting .The management is using lockout as an anti-impasse weapon for most of the above labour problems, even if the employees are on economic strikes. The management uses this weapon because they are dead-locked and they dont want the employees to gain something out the strike. This is due to the lack of business management at the top level of the industry. However, in a situation where Industrial disputes take place because of indiscipline and violence on the part of the workforce. The management is forced to use the lockouk. Ø STEPS TO AVOID STRIKE AND LOCKOUTS Maintaining Good Industrial Relationship:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To avoid strikes and lockouts an organization must have healthy Industrial relationship. The relationship between Employer and employee or trade unions is called Industrial Relation. Harmonious relationship is necessary for both employers and employees to safeguard the interests of the both the parties of the production. In other words good Industrial Relation means industrial peace which is necessary for better and higher productions. Industrial Relation is a major force which influences the social, political and economic development of a country .Managing industrial relations is a challenging task because it deals with a highly complex, fast developing, ever changing and expanding field. There are certain factors such as composition of working class, work environment, socioeconomic status of the workers and their attitude to work, managements ideology, role of the state, thinking of the community etc which have a considerable bearing on the state of relationship between labour and management. Apart from the primary objective of bringing about sound and healthy relations between employers and employees, Industrial Relation aims at To safeguard the interest of labor and management by securing the highest level of mutual understanding and good-will among all those sections in the industry which participate in the process of production. To avoid industrial conflict or strife and develop harmonious relations, which arean essential factor in the productivity of workers and the industrial progress of a country. To eliminate, as far as is possible and practicable, strikes, lockouts and by providing reasonable wages, improved living and working conditions, said fringe benefits. Improvements in the economic conditions of workers in the existing state of industrial managements and political government. Economic satisfaction of workers: Psychologists recognize that human needs have a certain priority. Need number one is the basic survival need. Much of men conducted are dominated by this need. Man works because he wants to survive. This is all the more for underdeveloped countries where workers are still living under subsistence conditions. Hence economic satisfaction of workers is another important prerequisite for good industrial relations. Off-the-job conditions: An employer employs a whole person rather than certain separate characteristics. A persons traits are all part of one system making up a whole man. His home life is not separable from his work life and his emotional condition is not separate from his physical condition. Hence for good industrial relations it is not enough that the workers factory life alone should be taken care of his off-the-job conditions should also be improved to make the industrial relations better. Enlightened trade unions: The most important condition necessary for good industrial relations is a strong and enlightened labor movement which may help to romote the status of labor without harming the interests of management, Unions should talk of employee contribution and responsibility. Unions should exhort workers to produce more, persuade management to pay more, mobilize public opinion on vital labor issues and help Government to enact progressive labor laws.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Negotiating Skills And Attitudes Of Management And Workers: Both management and workers representation in the area of industrial relations come from a great variety of backgrounds in terms of training, education, experience andattitudes. These varying backgrounds playa major role in shaping the character of industrial relations. Generally speaking, well-trained and experienced negotiators who are motivated by a desire for industrial peace create a bargaining atmosphere conducive to the writing of a just and equitable collective agreement. On the other hand, ignorant, inexperienced and ill-trained persons fail because they do not recognize that collective bargaining is a difficult human activity which deals as much in the emotions of people as in their economic interests. It requires careful preparation and top -notch executive competence. It is not usually accomplishedby some easy trick or gimmick. Parties must have trust and confidence in each other. Ø SETTLEMENT MACHINERIES CONCILIATION : It is a peace making process in an organization. A conciliator contacts both the parties by separate meetings and jointly through joint conference. The parties mayor may not accept his suggestions. ARBITRATION: If the parties are not satisfied with the decision of the conciliation machinery then a third party interference known as Arbitrator is introduced. There are two types of Arbitrations they are Voluntary Arbitration Compulsory Arbitration ADJUDICATION: It is the last remedial step for the settlement of Industrial Disputes. In RSP the disputes are sent to the adjudicative authorities by the appropriate govt. after proper examination and verification such as: Labour courts call the cases mentioned in the schedule of Industrial Dispute Act. Industrial Tribunals call the cases mentioned in schedule of Industrial Dispute Act. The above mentioned characteristics are very important for an organization to avoid any kind of industrial disputes, which leads to the strikes and lockouts, in some cases which even leads to the closure of the organization. It is very difficult to maintain perfect industrial relations. Now many organizations focus and invest huge money to enhance their human resource management team, and it is extremely important for the HR department to work out with the industrial relations with some innovative ideas. And the organization which has a efficient HR policies has a unique competitive advantage over their competitors. Now being a part of the HR team, iam going to explain the ways or procedures that a HR team is going to perform for the better industrial relations to avoid any kind of disputes or impasse, within a particular organization. Progressive HR Management Outlook. There should be progressive outlook of the HR management of each industrial enterprise. It should be conscious of its obligations and responsibilities to the owners of the business, the employees, the consumers and the nation. The HR policies must recognize the rights of workers to organize unions to protect their economic and social interests. Ensure workers Participation in Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The participation of workers in the management of the industrial unit should be encouraged by making effective use of works committees, joint consultation and other methods. This will improve communication between managers and workers, increase productivity and lead to greater effectiveness. Creating a collective bargaining :   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Collective bargaining is process of joint decision making and basically represents a democratic way of life in industry. It is the process of negotiation between firms and workers representatives for the purpose of establishing mutually agreeable conditions of employment. It is a technique adopted by two parties to reach an understanding acceptable to both through the process of discussion and negotiation. The HR department shoule make sure that the collective bargaining agreement with the collective bargsining council has the following mandatory items, Wages Hours of work Incentive pay Overtime Layoff and recall procedures Union security clauses Management rights clauses Grievance procedures Seniority Safety Ø CONCLUSION For this essay it is clear the both management and labor use strikes and lockouts as a anti-impasse weapons according to their situation (not always). In some cases as discussed in the essay both labor and management has used strike and lockouts as a bailout option. This situation will change if the management and the labors have a good relationship and a clear collective bargaining agreement. Thus the organization must concentrate on the HR policies and find ways to properly implement the polices, to gain a strong industrial relations which gets the competitive advantage for the organization. Ø BIBLOGRAPHY A.M. Sharma, Industrial Relation R. Allen and T. Keaveny, 1988, Contemporary Labor Relations, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Sisson, k and storey, j (2000) The Realities of Human Resource Management, open university press http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8296660.stm (10-12-09) http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/co_17062-kelkoo-press-release-strike-costs-40-million.html (10-12-09) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8320025.stm (10-12-09) http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/lockout.html (15-12-09) http://libcom.org/news/article.php/tea-garden-lockout-180206 (09-12-09)

Diabetes, Minority Status, and the African American and Hispanic American Communities :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Diabetes, Minority Status, and the African American and Hispanic American Communities In March of 2003, a bill known as the "Minority Population Diabetes Prevention and Control Act of 2003" was introduced to Congress, and then referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. According to this bill's findings, "minority populations, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians, have the highest incidence of diabetes and the highest complications of the disease" (1). The alarming rate at which the incidence of diabetes is affecting African American and Hispanic American communities has led the government, health care professionals, clinics, and other organizations to begin to question the process by which information and treatment is being accessed by members of these communities. Diabetes mellitus is defined as "a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose, which result from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both" (2). There are two types of diabetes, one that "occurs when the body produces little or no insulin, and that typically affects children and young adults," and the other, which "typically develops in adults, and occurs when the body does not use insulin effectively", types II diabetes being the most common (3). According to the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics, "the number of Americans with diabetes in the year 2000 was 17 million or 6.2 percent of the population, as compared to 15.7 million (5.9 percent) in 1998" (4). However, and on average, Hispanic Americans and African Americans are almost twice as likely to have diabetes in comparison to white Americans. In addition, African Americans and Hispanic Americans show a higher incidence of suffering from diabetes related complications including but not limited to eye and kidney disease, amputations, heart disease, heart stroke etc (5). Various factors are said to increase the chances of developing type II diabetes. These factors fall under two categories-genetics and medical/lifestyle risk factors, which include impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetes, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, obesity and physical activity (6). Although studies have shied away from making direct correlations between obesity/physical activity and the susceptibility of developing type II diabetes, researchers suspect, however, that a lack of exercise and obesity, as well as other unidentifiable factors, may be contributing to the high diabetes rates in African American and Hispanic American communities. The NHANES III survey indicated that "50 percent of African American men/65 percent of Mexican American men, and 67 percent of African American women/74 percent of Mexican American women participated in little or no exercise" (7).

Evaluate the effectiveness of the various ways in which participation and democracy could be strengthened in the UK?

The decline in political participation in the UK over recent years, particularly the continuous decrease in forms of partisan aligned involvement in formal processes and initiations of democracy, such as general elections, has prompted a range of new proposals aimed at tackling political disengagement. The effectiveness of these various methods by which participation and democracy in the UK can be strengthened will be evaluated and examined in this essay. One method proposed in response to political disengagement is to increase the frequency of available polling stations, thereby increasing the proximity between the polling stations and people’s homes, as well as the variety of locations, including places such as shopping centres, which are frequently visited by the public on a daily basis. By doing this, it would provide more people with the opportunity to go and cast their votes, by making available a more practical and easy option, particularly for those on a tight and busy schedule. Furthermore, since people have long hours during the working week, or have long commutes that disincentivise going to a polling station, recommendations such as weekend voting could also increase the number of potential voters, by offering them more time to vote, and at a time when they would likely be less tired and more amenable to the idea of going to their local voting booth. Another option is to allow votes to be taken anywhere, if all polling stations have an online connection to a central register. The advantage of this, aside from increasing the practicality of voting, is that, with the vote being recorded on a computerised register, multiple votes from the same elector can be prevented. However, by increasing the availability of polling stations, the cost of administration also needs to be taken into account, especially if doing this will not have a profound effect, in which case it may not be worth the money and effort, which would be used elsewhere. Also, the difficulty in estimating the security of a system of voting with a central computerised register is another thing that must be considered. Furthermore, other suggestions to combat a lack of political participation include ways of making voting appear more appealing to the public. One way would be to designate Election Day to a special public holiday, thereby making the nature of the event seem more exciting, as well as garnering interest in politics and perhaps less apathy. However, those against such an idea, argue that a public holiday precisely for elections would cause a halt in the economy and day-to-day business, since many would not be working and instead by engaging in more leisurely activities. It therefore may not be worth holding a public holiday for elections given the inconveniences incurred, particularly since it may not necessarily guarantee a surge in the numbers voting. The other way by which voting could be made more attractive is by including a ‘none of the above’ option on ballot papers, since one more option and thereby another viewpoint is also considered in such a formal political process. Those who, whatever reason, do not politically align themselves with any particular party are also given a chance to express their opinions. Although, even though this may generate an increase in the number of people turning up at polling booths, one would not be wrong to query whether many would actually bother in making the journey and waiting in line just to express their disapproval of all that was on offer. Furthermore, the inclusion of such an option, despite possibly raising turnout figures, actually encourages political abstention, since their vote carries no relevance to the aim of the process, which is to use public votes to determine which constituent holds majority consent. Also recommended as a way of increasing participation in democratic processes in the UK, is the introduction of compulsory voting. Time aims to increase the election turnout with obligatory ballot casting, so to say that failure to appear at a polling station on Election Day would be made legally punishable, such as through a small fine, like the current Australian system. Proponents argue that an increased turnout with this method would make the majority party or coalition that forms the government appear more legitimate and therefore have a positive domino effect on society. It would also lead to an increase in political awareness and education because, once people are compelled, it is logical that they would make a greater effort to cast an informed vote. Moreover, an increase in politically aware citizens with a wealth of knowledge could imply an increase in levels of active participation in other form of political life. Furthermore, it ensures that public responsibility is not shirked, as well as creating an enhanced sense of community. In addition, compulsory voting can be said to reduce the role of money in campaigns, as well as counteracting negative campaigning by some political parties, since there is little to be gained from sly tactics aimed purely and persuading opposition voters to stay at home. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that this method also has significant drawbacks, namely the limit on freedom, which is widely seen as a constitutional right. The right to vote can also contain the right not to vote and be apolitical and opponents of this method argue that, just because one does not vote for a particular political party, does not mean they are apathetic or lack political knowledge and insight, but are merely unconvinced with the political candidates or discouraged from voting due to a lack of trust in politicians, only heightened by the recent string of expenses scandals. Furthermore, some people believe that if a voter’s will if to stay at home, then the turnout must reflect this and such a system would hide rather than solve the problem, allowing the government to ignore important implementing measures to actually tackle the root causes of voter disengagement. Additionally, asides from an increased probability in ‘donkey voting’, whereby people would hastily cast an uninformed vote, with a bias in favour of the top candidate on the ballot, many have argued that such a system would not guarantee absolute co-operation and would only serve to cause complications, increased anger at the government and give rise to other problems. Another way which has been proposed as a means of reducing political disengagement is incentive voting, where people will be given an ‘incentive’ to vote. The three main ways of rewarding people for voting are: a flat rate payment, perhaps ?5 to ?10 for each voter; a national lottery with a very exclusive number of large prizes, generally cash; a constituency-based lottery, in which one particular voter from each constituency wines a substantial prize, probably in relation to the size of the electorate. Proponents of incentive voting argue that these methods of rewarding are good because, giving people money for getting involved as opposed to demanding participation provides a generally more pleasant and positive aura around the whole voting process. Furthermore, such a tactic would not stigmatise non-voters, instead working on the premise that if one chooses note to vote, it is their own personal loss. On the other hand, many believe that casting a ballot for pure personal gain, which is essentially what incentive voting can be seen to promote, is arguably worse than complete non-involvement. Also, incentive voting could lead to an increase in ill-considered votes, especially for those at the top of the ballot paper, as one is more likely turn up and hastily cast their vote, if they know that they will possibly gain cash prize. Furthermore, since no such concept of shoe leather cost, as there would be under a fines system, people have no reason to cast an informed and proper vote. Another argument against this system is that it is disproportionally attractive to the poor, who would value the incentive offer more than their richer counterparts. In addition, such a system would not work on all citizens who at present are generally politically disengaged, because many of the rich would not feel it necessary to turn up and neither would those who find the prospect of gambling unattractive. Therefore, many feel that the success of such a method is questionable in actually attracting a considerable number of voters, whatever their background, as well as the great levels of cost involved and difficulty of organisation. Additionally, some have pushed for postal voting to become more typical, alongside the option of visiting polling booths. By enabling people to cast a vote via the post makes voting easier and more practical, thereby increasing voter engagement and making it more widespread, particularly since it provides greater opportunities for elderly or disabled people, who cannot easily access a polling station, to vote. Also, the popularity of postal voting is apparent in statistics taken from a recent poll conducted after the all-postal pilots in the 2003 elections, with 67% agreeing that this is an improvement and only 5% who expressed discontent with the system. Furthermore, at the 2005 general election, 12. 1% of the UK electorate voted by post, three times greater than that in 2001. This growing trend in postal voting shows public support and consensus of the system, illustrating that it really could be a viable option in tackling political disengagement. While there are benefits to postal voting, the negatives to the system are also significant. Firstly, there is also a reliance on the postal service to make sure the votes do not get lost; if they were to be misplaced before they could be counted it could have a significant effect on the outcome of the election and render the process ineffective in the eyes of the public. Furthermore, postal voting does not act as a solution to all factors of non-voting; it will not make the electorate any more informed or likely to participate in voting, or reconnect the politically disengaged, only the idle and lazy who are unwilling to make the journey to the polling booths. Also, many have argued that it is difficult to be certain that the person casting the vote is actually the person the vote is registered to and impossible to guarantee that the vote was cast secretly and not under duress. Therefore, given the widespread evidence of fraud and inherent risks of security and secrecy that cannot realistically be overcome, at least not anytime soon, many are firmly against postal voting becoming more widely used. Furthermore, with the UK being at the forefront of technological advancement, E-voting is widely seen as the potential next step in the modernisation of political participation through voting. This system of voting incorporates modern technology through text, the internet, as well as via digital television. Even at polling stations, touch screen voting machines and electronic scanners could be used to speed up the process. This would greatly encourage participation amongst the young, which at present are the group least likely to vote, and technologically savvy, as well as appealing to the general public because of the diminished shoe-leather costs compared to going to a polling station. Those who are for E-voting argue that online voting would provide better links about the vote and information on how votes should be based, thereby giving the public more political knowledge, thus leading to informed decisions. The increase in political awareness from such a system can also be seen as a way of inspiring participation in other fields of politics. Furthermore, since all votes are logged in electronically, proponents argue that the counting process is more or less instant and thereby quicker and more efficient. Although, E-voting has a potential to increase the number of voters, there is also a very high potential for fraud. For example, resourceful hackers, and not the registered voters, could possibly determine the outcome, particularly since the act of conducting an election on the internet may be seen as a challenge to some hackers. Furthermore, it is debatable whether the high levels of security demanded have yet been reached and there is also no definite way of ensuring that the vote was cast in secret and without undue pressure. Those opposed to E-voting have also argued the lack of success in causing a considerable increase to turnout in E-voting pilots. Some people, including political parties such as the Liberal Democrats, argue that political disengagement, particularly amongst younger people, can be addressed by lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. Politicians, such as Nick Clegg, have argued that if at 16 you are legally able to leave home, begin a family, be in full time employment, join the army and therefore die for your country; and make important decisions about your future, then you should be given the right to vote. Aside from some believing this to be the correct and moral thing to do, giving 16-17 year olds the right to vote means you are providing them with full citizen rights and in having these rights they will feel more respected and exercise their right to vote. Denying them the vote would give them – and society as a whole – the impression that the government sees their views as invalid and that voting is not the way to express their opinions. However, some are opposed to this, not only because it is unconventional and questionable that the UK is ready for such a historic change to our political and democratic system, but also because not all youths are equally as passionate about politics and given the vote, would use it. Therefore some argue that this idea would not work to significantly increase general participation. Nevertheless, given that, with citizenship education, youth engagement campaigns, 24-hours news and high-speed interactive media, we in the UK have the most politically aware generation ever, many see lowering the voting age as a worthy enough step to take. Furthermore, proponents for lowering the voting age argue that the benefits would extend to other forms of political participation. This is because youths will have the opportunity to access a wealth of political knowledge and thereby may be motivated to be politically active in other ways, such as joining both official government and independent organisations. Additionally, some have argued for the government to make direct democracy more prominent, such as by holding referendums on key political issues more frequently than in the past. The agreed referendum on the voting system for general elections in the UK in April 2011 is an example of the actions that the government is taking to get more of the public politically involved. Proponents of greater opportunities for direct democracy argue that political engagement is encouraged through public knowledge that they have a direct say in the decision making process and could very well influence the outcome of important decisions. Thus, prompting more to care and increase their political awareness and involvement and be less apathetic. In conclusion the methods examined can all, to some extent, be described as strengthening participation in the UK. Methods involving an increased availability of voting locations, as well as other enabling other voting, such as E-voting and via post, are all practical solutions to general apathy and laziness when it comes to voting in elections in the UK. Such methods do not however address all sections of society, namely the indefinitely apolitical. Furthermore, scheme such as compulsory voting and incentive voting, although increasing election turnout figures on paper, cannot be seen as representing a genuine desire to be politically active and again, the additional voters drawn from such schemes are, for the most part, not very likely to engage in other forms of political participation. In addition, although the notion for making Election Day a public holiday may seem an appealing solution, it is debatable such a scheme could work. And the opportunity cost to the economy will be another factor for politicians to consider. Also apparent when examine the proposed schemes is the prospective monetary cost of implementing them, particularly the incentive voting and E-voting, which includes the high costs of technology. Another issue to be addressed is whether or not it is sensible to lower the voting age to 16, given that much of the younger tier of voters (18-25) who are able to vote, are the least likely group to do so. Furthermore, on the topic of referendums increasing involvement in democratic processes is dubious, since turnout in general, has not been particularly strong. Therefore, all the methods vary in their effectiveness of strengthening public participation in political and democratic procedures. Even though every approach does, to some degree, increase engagement, they all have costs, whether in relation to practicality or money, which need to be considered.

Psychotherapy and Group Essay

The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy†. Moreno developed a specific and highly structured form of group therapy known as  Psychodrama. Another recent development is the theory and method of group psychotherapy based on an integration of systems thinking is Yvonne Agazarian’s â€Å"systems-Centered† approach (SCT), which sees groups functioning within the principles of system dynamics. Her method of â€Å"functional subgrouping† introduces a method of organizing group communication so it is less likely to react counterproductively to differences. SCT also emphasizes the need to recognize the phases of group development and the defenses related to each phase in order to best make sense and influence group dynamics. Furthermore the psychoanalytic concept of the unconscious was extended with a recognition of a group unconscious, in which the unconscious processes of group members could be acted out in the form of irrational processes in group sessions. Foulkes developed the model known as  Group Analysis  and the  Institute of Group Analysis, while Bion was influential in the development of group therapy at the  Tavistock Clinic. Bion has been criticised, by Yalom,  for his technical approach which had an exclusive focus on analysis of whole-group processes to the exclusion of any exploration of individual group members’ issues. Despite this, his recognition of group defences in the â€Å"Basic Assumption Group†, has been highly influential. Universality The recognition of shared experiences and feelings among group members and that these may be widespread or universal human concerns, serves to remove a group member’s sense of isolation, validate their experiences, and raise self-esteem Altruism The group is a place where members can help each other, and the experience of being able to give something to another person can lift the member’s self esteem and help develop more adaptive coping styles and interpersonal skills. Instillation of hope In a mixed group that has members at various stages of development or recovery, a member can be inspired and encouraged by another member who has overcome the problems with which they are still struggling. Imparting information While this is not strictly speaking a psychotherapeutic process, members often report that it has been very helpful to learn factual information from other members in the group. For example, about their treatment or about access to services. Corrective recapitulation of the primary family experience Members often  unconsciously  identify the group therapist and other group members with their own parents and siblings in a process that is a form of  transference  specific to group psychotherapy. The therapist’s interpretations can help group members gain understanding of the impact of childhood experiences on their personality, and they may learn to avoid unconsciously repeating unhelpful past interactive patterns in present-day relationships. Development of socializing techniques The group setting provides a safe and supportive environment for members to take risks by extending their repertoire of interpersonal behaviour and improving their social skills Imitative behaviour One way in which group members can develop social skills is through a  modeling  process, observing and imitating the therapist and other group members. For example, sharing personal feelings, showing concern, and supporting others. Cohesiveness It has been suggested  that this is the primary therapeutic factor from which all others flow. A cohesive group is one in which all members feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, and validation. Existential factors Learning that one has to take responsibility for one’s own life and the consequences of one’s decisions. Catharsis Experience of relief from emotional distress through the free and uninhibited expression of emotion. When members tell their story to a supportive audience, they can obtain relief from chronic feelings of shame and guilt. Interpersonal learning Group members achieve a greater level of  self-awareness  through the process of interacting with others in the group, who give feedback on the member’s behaviour and impact on others. Self-understanding This factor overlaps with interpersonal learning but refers to the achievement of greater levels of insight into the genesis of one’s problems and the unconscious motivations that underlie one’s behaviour. Settings Group therapy can form part of the therapeutic  milieu  of a psychiatric in-patient unit  or ambulatory psychiatric  Partial hospitalization  (also known as Day Hospital treatment)  In addition to classical â€Å"talking† therapy, group therapy in an institutional setting can also include group-based  expressive therapies  such as  drama therapy,  psychodrama,  art therapy, and non-verbal types of therapy such as  music therapy. Group psychotherapy is a key component of  Milieu Therapy  in a  Therapeutic Community. The total environment or milieu is regarded as the medium of therapy, all interactions and activities regarded as potentially therapeutic and are subject to exploration and interpretation, and are explored in daily or weekly community meetings A form of group therapy has been reported to be effective in psychotic adolescents and recovering addicts. Projective psychotherapy  uses an outside text such as a novel or motion picture to provide a â€Å"stable  delusion† for the former cohort and a safe focus for repressed and suppressed emotions or thoughts in the latter. Patient groups read a novel or collectively view a film. They then participate collectively in the discussion of plot, character motivation and author motivation. In the case of films, sound track, cinematography and background are also discussed and processed. Under the guidance of the therapist, defense mechanisms are bypassed by the use of signifiers and semiotic processes. The focus remains on the text rather than on personal issues. [16]  It was popularized in the science fiction novel,  Red Orc’s Rage. Group therapy is now often utilized in private practice settings (Gardenswartz, 2009, Los Angeles, CA). Good outcomes have also been demonstrated for this form of group therapy.

Killing Us Softly a film review essays

Killing Us Softly a film review essays One of the films that struck me the most was Killing Us Softly, the documentary on how advertising and the whole media in general can basically run this entire world. Sounds a bit drastic, but I really believe that this statement is true because of the many horrible incidents that happen throughout the world today. The documentary effectively demonstrated how easy it is for advertising to send across many different hidden meanings that can cause tremendous effects like bulimia, rapes, murders, disrespect towards women and vise versa, and several other things like making a weak minded person go crazy. For example, if for decades all the media has been showing is women who barely weigh 110 lbs, dont you think every girl who weighs over 130 lbs is going to try to do the impossible to try to fit into what society thinks is the norm only because the media has planted it into our subconscious minds without us even noticing it. Another example that is extremely disturbing to even hear about is the J B Ramsey case. Obviously the person who committed this crime was a Bergen Pines basket case, but I think that if the media wasnt so big on showing 6 yr olds as beautiful models dressed up to look provocative, these pedophiles wouldnt get much of a chance to view such pageants. The more exposure we g et of something, the more acceptable it becomes in our society whether its wrong or right. Personally Ive realized that, the media brought about even my style of dressing. If you see a commercial on TV or in a magazine for a shirt you thought looked good, wouldnt you buy it? I know I would. I guess thats my problem. Killing Us Softly relates to several other works studied in the course. For example, in The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter the media basically controlled every American society by turning women into the reciprocal of what they were used to...

Differences and Similarities turning into One person despite of being Two Essays

Differences and Similarities turning into One person despite of being Two Essays Differences and Similarities turning into One person despite of being Two Essay Differences and Similarities turning into One person despite of being Two Essay Question: Phillotson says that Sue and Jude `seem to be one individual split in two. What does he intend by this? Phillotson’s statement that Sue and Jude seems to be one individual split in two was because of the cousins’ life. Their immense similarity with each other particularly when it comes to their ends was more like of merely one person’s end. Their individual individuality and the same belief drove them into being with each other therefore they are more associated with their characters and individuality. From the first portion of the narrative. we must understand and recognize at the same clip that Jude was a small child and his cousin Sue was of the same age besides or younger of a few old ages. His dream of traveling into college nevertheless was his ultimate end in life which was all of a sudden trapped when Arabella. his girlfriend said that she was pregnant. Believing that he must make the right thing despite of Arabella being a non ideal married woman. he married her. Afterwards. he asked her sing the gestation and she said that she erroneously figured out her state of affairs which made Jude more suffering. Losing his opportunity of traveling into the university. he even thought of killing himself and upon waking up one forenoon. he found out a note from his married woman who was out of his sight stating that she will travel to Australia with her parents. Jude became happy and when to the topographic point he wanted to travel and at that place he tried to happen a occupation and upon happening a occupation. he tried to happen Sue. When he saw her. he decided and told to himself that he must non fall in love with her because they were cousins but as clip goes by. he learned to therefore when she decided to go forth. he asked her why and arranged her to be a pupil instructor helping Phillotson. Later on in the narrative. Sue and Phillotson got married and Jude was saddened by this fact but possibly they are someway destined to be with each other. The hubby of Sue allowed her to go forth therefore she moved in Jude’s house and the two lived together as their divorce were all good with their several spouses. Jude subsequently on found out from Arabella that they have a boy therefore she gave it to him and along with Sue and Jude’s two kids. they lived together but it was acquiring hard for them to prolong their life and without an flat of their ain. Jude decided to happen lodging house. They shortly found one but Jude must go forth individually with his household. One dark Sue together with Arabella and Jude’s boy went out to happen an flat and was saddened by the fact that there was none and the male child was pissed off when he found out that Sue is pregnant once more. The forenoon came and Sue went to Jude and on when they went back place. they found the kids hanging in the cupboard. Although they tried to resuscitate them. it was impossible. In the terminal. the two decided to travel back to their several spouses and believing that they were cursed. they separated ways. Jude died in the terminal. In the fortunes which happened in the history of the lives of both Sue and Jude. we have to understand that they were truly the same except that Sue was a miss and Jude was a male child. Despite of their differences. what happened in their life brings them so much closer to each other despite of the fact that they one time lived together. The calamity they experienced merely shows that they were so individual of neither bad nor good destiny therefore we have to take it into history that likely the fortunes and the cases they both have in common were merely happenstances but it is besides in high respect that these fortunes happened when they were still together. As a kid. these cousins were both fond of analyzing and as they grow up. both tried their best to come in in a university. Both of them were non happy with their matrimony therefore they somehow committed criminal conversation but they did non halt merely from being the same in those footings. A month after the divorce of Arabella and Jude was granted. Phillotson and Sue’s divorce followed. At the terminal of the narrative. both were taken back by their divorced half therefore they were reunited and got married once more. Upon cognizing the sum-up. one can find that even in the start. the two have qualities which are extremely similar with one another. Although their attitude was non compared nor contrasted. their ends and their life experiences seem to be the same. Their destiny which brought them together possibly was a large ground why Phillotson was able to state those words. It is undeniable that they were of the same destiny that even in the terminal of the narrative. both of them suffered the same manner therefore they thought they were being punished because of their relationship. Their life experiences which brought them together was the same thing which make people understand that they were so a individual individual split into one by fortunes and experiences. Plants Cited Hardy. Thomas. Jude the Obscure. 1895

A Centenarian is Probably Not a Centurion

A Centenarian is Probably Not a Centurion A Centenarian is Probably Not a Centurion A Centenarian is Probably Not a Centurion By Maeve Maddox A reader was startled when a television announcer misused the word centurion: Perhaps one of your columns could cover the meanings of â€Å"centurion† and â€Å"centenarian.† A news anchor on KTTC-TV, Rochester, Minn., just announced â€Å"There is a new centurion in Clear Lake, Iowa.† (This â€Å"new centurion† is a woman celebrating her 100th birthday. A centenarian centurion?) I was amused, but assumed that the anchor’s error was unique and that I wouldn’t be able to find enough material to write a post on this misuse. My assumption was that any English speaker who has read a book or watched a movie set in ancient Roman times, or who has a superficial acquaintance with the New Testament knows the historical meaning of centurion. I was wrong. The use of centurion in the place of centenarian is widespread in discussions of longevity on the Web. Here are just three examples: In this article we take lessons from the centurion communities of the world to gain priceless insight into how we too can live the longest. In Okinawa, where the life expectancy is the highest on earth, 803 of 920 centurions who were alive as of September 2011 were women. Daisy McFadden, a longtime resident of New York, will celebrate her 100th birthday this November. Still active, she believes her eating habits have greatly contributed to her longevity, as do most centurions. I found an article in a Canadian publication in which the writer acknowledges that centenarian is the word usually used to describe a person who has reached the age of one hundred, but seems to think that centurion is a better word to describe a centenarian who remains in good health: There are more than 4,600 Canadians now 100 or older. Estimates are that the United States might have a million people 100 or older by 2050. If those estimates are accurate, 43 years from now, many of those Boomers you see every day will be the new centurions, which strikes me as a better way to describe centenarians. Just as 60 is the new 50 today, 100 will be the new 90! Note: Joseph Wambaugh titled one of his novels The New Centurions. As it is about the lives of Los Angeles policemen, I don’t get the connection. Neither did Wambaugh’s British publishers, apparently. In the UK, the book was published as Precinct 45: Los Angeles Police. Centurion and centenarian are among several English words derived from the Latin word for one hundred: centum. In the ancient Roman army, a centurion was the officer in charge of a century, a unit originally comprised of 100 men. In the context of cricket, centurion refers to a player who has scored 100 runs (a century): Surrey teenager Dominic Sibley becomes youngest double centurion in County Championship history Dominic Sibley swapped school books for record books by becoming the youngest batsman in County Championship history to score a double century. This is a valid extension of meaning in a modern context. Using centurion to replace centenarian is unnecessary. Centenarian already exists with the meaning â€Å"a person who has reached the age of one hundred.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in S34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better WriterOne Scissor?

Competitors and Competitive Rivalry Research Paper

Competitors and Competitive Rivalry - Research Paper Example It sells its products in physical store format along with online stores (Goldberg, â€Å"Why the toy industry isn’t having any fun†). The first company to start a television campaigning. The shop owners provide excellent customers service by catering to individual customer’s needs for all festive occasions. The brand is established since the year 1920 Weakness The company targets pet owners because it specializes in making customized stuff toys for the pet owners (Goldberg, â€Å"Why the toy industry isn’t having any fun†). The company lays emphasis on the manufacturing of core products like greeting cards and other gifting products. Opportunity The threat of substitutes is low for the company because there are few companies who manufacture customized stuff toys for pet owners. ... The company lays special emphasis on the manufacturing of greeting cards and has lost its exclusivity of producing stuff toys. The company has slowly lost its reputation as a leading stuff toymaker. The competition in the toy industry is very intense and the profitability of the company is decided by certain factors like quality of the stuff toys, price and play value. Among the top stuff toy companies Build a Bear and Pillow Pets are expected to maintain its market position and also yield a decent amount of profits even in the current situation (â€Å"Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Competition†). Pillow Pets has not been able to manufacture stuff toys on a large base but Hallmark has been an established stuff toy maker and greeting card manufacture since 1910 (Linders, â€Å"Competitiveness Proofing Toy Related Industry †). Emerging Trends & Future Competition in Stuff Toy Industry The current scenario in the stuff toy industry is weak and the industry has been witnessing decreasing trend in the purchase of the stuff toys and pillows. The US stuff toy industry has been witnessing weak sales and it has currently generated profits of $ 17 billion (â€Å"Annual Sales Data†). The worldwide sales of the stuffed toy have also decreased since 2010; the profits amounted to $83.4 billion in the year 2012 (â€Å"Annual Sales Data†). However, certain series of toys imitated from the popular movies like Skyline series have remained popular among the children and teenagers. The Disney series has also been popular and has gained worldwide popularity. By observing the current trend it has been noticed that the stuff toy industry has been witnessing declining sale and only certain series have been generating huge amount of revenue amidst this economic slowdown. The

What strategies can policy makers employ to promote successful policy Essay

What strategies can policy makers employ to promote successful policy implementation Policies, policy makers and connection with history - Essay Example This process actually involves the translation of the objectives of the policy into the system. It has three basic elements which include creating responsibility or an agency who would handle this new responsibility. Secondly, there needs to be operational rules and guidelines for the policy program and personnel and resources need to be coordinated so that the intent of the policy is achieved. Thesis statement Policy implementation is the next step after adoption of a policy and they make or break the policy. There will be no effect on society if the policy is never implemented; however this is a complex procedure that has many facets and ingredients for success. Policy implementation Policies also have certain intended and unintended effects. Intended effects are those that aim to seek out a positive benefit from a policy and this could also be one of the ways that policies actually avoid the negative effects. That is why there is a standard and policy makers will always compare th eir policy against the standard to see whether it is above or below the par. An example could include the policy the State of California implemented which led to the increase in use of hybrid cars. The Federal Law provided tax cuts worth $1500 as well as special lanes to hybrid vehicles which led to an increase in the use of hybrid cars and this led to a positive effect or an intended effect. The government created an effect by taking an action which was the policy even though the option of ‘high-occupancy vehicle lanes’ is not available for new hybrid vehicles. (Suleiman, 1984) Negative side effects that are not intended are called ‘unintended’ and they are usually because policy making systems are usually complex. They may set the tax rate so high or so low that this deters money from the economy. Therefore the policy implementation fine combs the policy actions so that these unintended effects are taken care of; however it is impossible to remove the ent ire negative effects while implementation. (Yates, 1977) Policy making as aforementioned is the part where the government actually carries out and executes a particular policy that is adopted when it is required by the law or otherwise. The different agencies that are responsible for the respective policy areas come together and are given the formal responsibility for implementing the policy and this is usually the stage when the bill is no longer a bill but becomes a law. Once the government has made a public policy such as a rule, law, edict, statute or any regulation, the policy must be executed and monitored, administered and then it should be forced upon society so that it brings about the change that policy makers desire it to. The agency that is responsible for implementation is given the desired resources and the power to allow the new policy to be implemented smoothly, however this is usually not the case. But why is public policy implemented in the first place? Public poli cies are implemented so that there is some change in the population so that a certain public problem is resolved or at least ameliorated at the very least. The problem will continue to exist until the policy is carried out and once the policy is implemented, it will be evaluated to see if the results that were desired are being obtained and further revision and implantation can take place. Agencies of administration will carry out most of the work of the government and so they have an impact on the citizens of the county and are involved in policy implementa

Summary Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Summary - Research Paper Example The New York Times Media Group: The New York Times Media Group comprises of the New comprises of the New York Times which is a daily and Sunday newspaper media house; the New York Times index which is a print publication and in addition producing and licensing the New York Times Index; the International Herald Tribune which is a daily Newspaper; NYTimes.com; Digital Archive Distribution business that is responsible for licensing electronic archive database to resellers of that information in the professional, business, and library markets (Drexler, 2007). The New York Times Media Group is also responsible and management of the New York Times News Services Division (New York Times (Firm), & In Claiborne 1966) The New England Media Group: This segment of New York Times comprises BostonGlobe.com which is a paid subscription Web site; the Boston Globe which is a daily and Sunday newspaper. Boston.com is also part of the New England Media Group. Boston.com is a regional news and information web site. In addition, the New England Media Group comprises of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette which is a daily and Sunday newspaper and Telegram.com (BYERS, 2012). The New England Media Group sells advertisement through various channels that basically include digital, print, niche magazines, direct marketing and internet radio and events (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2007). The company has started in a strong financial background this 2014. This is because of a strong finish of the year 2013. The New York Times’ operating profit for the 3rd of 2013 before depreciation, severance, and amortization was nearly $40 million. This represents 35% increase from the same year 2012 which was $30 million (Verbeke, 2013). During the same quarter of 2013, the company increased overall revenue by 2% with the continued building of the digital scriber numbers and notable sequential improvement in print advertising revenue trends.

Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Review - Essay Example First, we can see a lot of characters in this movie like Captain Jack Sparrow, William Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Captain Sao Feng, Hector Barbossa, and Davy Jones. Captain Jack Sparrow is the captain of the Black Pearl ship and the most notorious pirate on the ocean. Captain Jack Sparrow has the sense of humor that none of the other pirates have. Also, the Black Pearl is the most famous ship on the ocean, and all of the pirates, as well as many in the Royal Navy, know about this ship because it has the most dangerous pirates in the whole world aboard it. The second main character in the movie was William Turner, the brave blacksmith-turned-pirate in town, who always helped the weak and the poor people when he can. William Turner was the hero in this movie. The third character is Elizabeth Swann, the beautiful governor’s daughter, who ends up marrying William Turner by the end of this film. Elizabeth has helped William out of a lot of situations, and she also saves him from death many times. However, her love for him causes him to die at the end of this film, though a sudden plot twist brings him back. The fourth character is Captain Sao Feng. Sao Feng was the Pirate Lord of the South China Sea until his death during the third film. He was bold man, albeit a bit immoral. He has a very weird body and a scary face that makes you scream when you first see it. The fifth character is Captain Hector Barbossa, who is the Pirate Lord of the Sea. He seemed to have an apple addiction, which was an interesting characteristic for a rum-soaked pirate. Barbossa has a monkey named Jack; this monkey travels with him all the time and seemed to have taken the place of a potential son. The last important character is Davy Jones. Davy Jones was born in Scotland; very little else is known about his youth and childhood. He fell in love with Calypso, the Goddess of the sea, many years ago. It was Calypso

Why was the civil war significant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why was the civil war significant - Essay Example Other than the cause or the objective which originally motivated the pursuit and concretization of the Civil War, one could also look into matters of consequence from which to judge the grounds it is signified by. Pondering on the significance of U.S. Civil War bears the equivalent work of recounting the occurrences which essentially depict the post-war impact and which may be put together and labelled into what has since been known in U.S. History as ‘Reconstruction’ at the height of which could be found the tumultuous state of political affairs which not merely distinguished the philosophy of the Radical Republicans from that of the Democrats but even shaped the fate of the ‘freedmen’, in the process. During the period of Reconstruction (1865 - 1877) particularly with respect to the early years of its commencement by the persistent rule of Congress that was then chiefly composed of the Radicals, the federal government experienced yet another severe case of division between the two dominant political parties. On one hand, the Radical Republicans who had become accustomed to dealing with the issue of slavery conveyed the desire for implementing Reconstruction policies in a manner that would materialize a vision in which â€Å"Equality of opportunity created a more fluid social structure† as exemplified via â€Å"the model of free individuals, competing equally in the labor market and enjoying equal political rights† (Faragher et al, 464). On the contrary, however, Pres. Andrew Johnson who belonged to the Democratic Party contested such visionary scheme by augmenting the powers of civil governments in the South as well as replacing certain military officials with a commanding staff that seemed less likely persuaded in advancing the cause of the blacks especially in matters concerning suffrage (Wheeler et al, 310). Before the Civil War broke out and by the time it took place, factions generally existed between the federal N orth and the confederate South but after the test of martial skills, bloodshed, and the taste of several deaths came another era that would eventually justify whether or not the Civil War deserved to be treated with significance. Apparently, through these factions narrowed within the political domains of the federal government, Reconstruction served as a projection of Civil War or the rebirth of a principle which resembled a test by fire designed to refine and determine whose spirits remained driven and sincere in defending the great original cause. This became evident the moment when the Moderates and the Radicals of Republicans united to form a single huge force in the House of Representatives aimed at impeaching Johnson whom they charged heavily for violating the Tenure of Office Act in spite of the truth that the president’s removal from office was due to his intense opposition toward the policies of Congressional Reconstruction which the Republicans could not afford to t ake any longer (466). Through the victory of the Radical Republicans, Reconstruction Acts triumphed over those of Restoration which Johnson attempted to promulgate during his effective term. Hence, with zeal kept on continuing to promote the core ideals of the Civil War, the Republicans managed to enable the Congressional Reconstruction to establish the Freedmen’s Bureau which, according to the findings of Wheeler and company, â€Å"was given additional federal support to set up schools for African Americans, negotiate labor contracts, and with the military, help monitor elections†

Population & migration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Population & migration - Essay Example Population increase/explosion in developing countries contributes to problems such as malnutrition and poverty but does not have much negative effects in developed countries as they are well endowed with several resources. On the other hand, population decrease in developing countries can be seen as a blessing as it would boost the capacity of available limited resources and opportunities to cater for the needs of the population, but in highly industrialized countries it will be seen as a curse because of shrinking available workforce. This paper investigates problems of population explosion in India suggesting ways that can be used to control it. According to Webster’s dictionary, population is defined as the whole number of inhabitants or people in a given country whereas population explosion is pyramiding of numbers of a natural population. Population change is mainly influenced by death rate, birth rate and migration. Increase in birth rate and migration increase population whereas increase in death rate reduces population. Thus, population is calculated by subtracting a sum of deaths and emigration from a sum of births and immigration. Effects of population growth in India include increased environmental population, increased unemployment and illiteracy levels and increased depletion of resources. Increased environment pollution has resulted from increased establishment of more factories to satisfy the needs of the people in the country. When the fossil fuels are burnt to generate energy required by the increased factories, green house gases such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere contributing to air pollution and global warming. Also, the factories discharge their industrial wastes into rivers. Equally, the increasing numbers of people exert pressure on the available natural resources; water resources are over-utilized, forest cover

Why was the civil war significant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why was the civil war significant - Essay Example Other than the cause or the objective which originally motivated the pursuit and concretization of the Civil War, one could also look into matters of consequence from which to judge the grounds it is signified by. Pondering on the significance of U.S. Civil War bears the equivalent work of recounting the occurrences which essentially depict the post-war impact and which may be put together and labelled into what has since been known in U.S. History as ‘Reconstruction’ at the height of which could be found the tumultuous state of political affairs which not merely distinguished the philosophy of the Radical Republicans from that of the Democrats but even shaped the fate of the ‘freedmen’, in the process. During the period of Reconstruction (1865 - 1877) particularly with respect to the early years of its commencement by the persistent rule of Congress that was then chiefly composed of the Radicals, the federal government experienced yet another severe case of division between the two dominant political parties. On one hand, the Radical Republicans who had become accustomed to dealing with the issue of slavery conveyed the desire for implementing Reconstruction policies in a manner that would materialize a vision in which â€Å"Equality of opportunity created a more fluid social structure† as exemplified via â€Å"the model of free individuals, competing equally in the labor market and enjoying equal political rights† (Faragher et al, 464). On the contrary, however, Pres. Andrew Johnson who belonged to the Democratic Party contested such visionary scheme by augmenting the powers of civil governments in the South as well as replacing certain military officials with a commanding staff that seemed less likely persuaded in advancing the cause of the blacks especially in matters concerning suffrage (Wheeler et al, 310). Before the Civil War broke out and by the time it took place, factions generally existed between the federal N orth and the confederate South but after the test of martial skills, bloodshed, and the taste of several deaths came another era that would eventually justify whether or not the Civil War deserved to be treated with significance. Apparently, through these factions narrowed within the political domains of the federal government, Reconstruction served as a projection of Civil War or the rebirth of a principle which resembled a test by fire designed to refine and determine whose spirits remained driven and sincere in defending the great original cause. This became evident the moment when the Moderates and the Radicals of Republicans united to form a single huge force in the House of Representatives aimed at impeaching Johnson whom they charged heavily for violating the Tenure of Office Act in spite of the truth that the president’s removal from office was due to his intense opposition toward the policies of Congressional Reconstruction which the Republicans could not afford to t ake any longer (466). Through the victory of the Radical Republicans, Reconstruction Acts triumphed over those of Restoration which Johnson attempted to promulgate during his effective term. Hence, with zeal kept on continuing to promote the core ideals of the Civil War, the Republicans managed to enable the Congressional Reconstruction to establish the Freedmen’s Bureau which, according to the findings of Wheeler and company, â€Å"was given additional federal support to set up schools for African Americans, negotiate labor contracts, and with the military, help monitor elections†

Course reflection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Course reflection - Assignment Example While studying this course, ‘International Food and Beverages’ team work has been so helpful to me. Two heads are better than one. Working in a team always makes work easier. It’s a bond which promotes unity, reliability and support. Team work means a sense of unity, of enthusiasm for common interests and obligations, as developed among a group of people closely associated in a task. The oxford dictionary defines teamwork as the joint action of a group of people, especially when successful and efficient (Annet 2000). Team work has supported my more empowered way of working, it has removed limitations which might have prevented me from doing my job properly, it has Encouraged multi-disciplinary work where teams cut across organizational divides, enhances flexibility and awareness, especially the ability to respond to change and also Promoted the sense of attainment, equity and camaraderie. When managed properly, team work is a better way to work (Weyn, 2002). Despite the benefits of working in a team, it has not been easy. I have encountered different challenges. At times, Members could not feel mutually accountable to one another for the team’s objectives. There was a lack of commitment and effort, conflict between team goals and members’ personal goals, or poor collaboration. Secondly, decision making have been difficult. Team members would be rigidly adhering to their positions during decision making or making repeated arguments rather than introducing new information. Thirdly, poor communication has been another problem. Team members would interrupt or talk over one another. There would be consistent silence from some members during meetings, allusions to problems but failure to formally address them, or false consensus (Jone 2005). From my team work experience, team work can be effectively managed through; first, building trust among team members. If trust is lacking it must

Social Work and Looked After Children | Book Review

Social Work and Looked After Children | Book Review Cocker, C. Allain, L. (2008) Social Work and Looked After Children. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. (This is number 8 on the list) The area of looked after children have received considerable attention within the social work and policy discourse over recent years. The book Social Work and Looked After Children by Christine Cocker and Lucille Allain was chosen for this review because it is not just another addition to the discourse, it represents a comprehensive and definitive submission which navigates the system of state care for children from the moment they enter the system until the moments they leave. The area of looked after children is an important aspect of social work, entailing the care of extremely vulnerable young people usually suffering from trauma. Social work students usually approach the area with some level of fear and trepidation and there was a definite absence within the discipline of a comprehensive simple to use guidebook. This book is simple, but not simplistic and addresses the core concepts within the area of looked after children robustly. It addresses complex issues from legislation a nd policy to minority issues, disability, and theoretical debates deftly. While the book was seemingly created for the student practitioner, comprehensive span, research summary tables, bullet point tips and summaries of key frameworks and policies within each areas makes it a must have for any serious student and social work practitioner committed to working with vulnerable children and young people. The book starts by outlining the relevant policies that direct work with looked after children. It offers a comprehensive summary of the history and ethics of working with looked after children and the values which underline the policies. In tandem, it presents a statistical trajectory mapping the number of looked after children in the care system in recent years to set the foundation for the discussions within the book. The second chapter is an excellent accompanying foundation chapter which identifies the main legal frameworks guiding work with looked children e.g. The Children’s Act of 1989 and the Every Child Matters policy document of 2003. Central to the thesis in this chapter, was the emphasis that work with looked after children should attempt to remove labels of exclusion and reinforce the entitlements of the child, according to the United Nations Convention’s Rights of the Child document. The various pathways by which children entered the system was examined and these were considered in relation the existing legal frameworks and how the conditions surrounding their entry into care, should be of vital importance to social workers whose main aim to support the child by understanding the entirety of their cases. The navigation from entry to exit of the care system, highlighted its strengths and weaknesses and in so doing zoomed in on areas where social workers need to be especially alert, for example, in their support and assessments of foster parents and the conditions of residential care homes for vulnerable children. The examination of the child assessment process, presented a chronological and in-depth look at one of the core tools of the social worker. Cocker and Allain focused on the important skills such as observation, reflection and empathy needed by the social worker to deliver best practice meeting the needs of the child and also to build the future client pra ctitioner relationship. The authors emphasized the importance of planning the assessment by studying the child’s files and reflecting on your own judgments regarding the issues emerging before beginning the assessment in order to avoid projecting your own values and stymie the future client relationship or create barriers to getting information which may best support the client. The book considered the importance of communication skills to the social work practitioner and in work with looked after children. It examined the impact of language on culture, the various types of communication patterns both verbal and non-verbal and highlighted how being able to engage the looked after child to participate in their own recovery through expression was central to successful practice. It also highlighted the need for practitioners to recognize that their language is inclusive and does not make the looked after child feel as if they are being controlled. It implores the practitioner to be aware of the power in language and to ensure that the way they communicate does not impart discriminatory undertones about the looked after child’s vulnerable position. While the issue of ethnicity and disability is often examined on the fringes of the mainstream work, this book dedicates two rigorous chapters to both areas. The chapter identified the importance of cultural awareness in working with looked after children especially considering the high numbers of minority children in looked after facilities. Cocker and Allain underline the need for practitioners to be vigilant in ensuring their practice is anti-discriminatory and impressively, they also link communication with ethnic minority looked after children as one are which is usually affected by cultural ignorance. They argue that looked after children from ethnic minorities are usually very aware that are sometimes treated differently because of not only being in care but because of their ethnicity and are therefore very attuned to individuals who are culturally ignorant of their needs. They highlight the dangers this can pose to developing trust within the client practitioner relationship and encourage vigilance in this area. Also considered was how attachment issues must be interrogated within social work assessments and interventions with look after children. The authors acknowledged the debates about using attachment framework with looked after children and acknowledged that while there is a risk of using attachment theory in a deterministic manner with looked after children who are constantly in transition between carers, it can also be useful to build problem solving skills, coping strategies and to build self reliance and resilience. Also addressed were the mental health needs of looked after children and implored social work practitioners to seek out inter-agency collaboration with other specialist for such children. They also address the importance of education in the lives of looked after children and explore the disjointed and inconsistent educational experiences they usually experience. Social work practitioners are encouraged to support the educational experience of looked after children as this can help to improve their self esteem and outlook. Finally, the book looked at the issue of adoption and permanence and discussed how this process can be emotional and confusing for the looked after child. It provides great advice on how to support both adoption parents and the looked after child through the process of change for example in working with them on how to display empathy and how to communicate with the child. In conclusion, there was a need for a comprehensive text on looked after children and as is demonstrated in this review, the areas interrogated by Cocker and Allain in this text, provides a first-rate resource with which to study, debate and get guidelines on current issues within the subject. 1 What is the Most Credible Justification of Punishment? What is the Most Credible Justification of Punishment? What is the Most Credible Justification of Punishment? Punishment has been a part of the human society ever since the beginning of civilization. Throughout the history, wrong doings or wrong acts have simply stood out like sore thumbs, greatly affecting the very emotions of man. These wrongful acts, which have been later termed as crimes, are as noticeable as kind acts but the only difference is that the former harbours condemnation than praise; punishment than reward. Man sees such crimes as condemnable especially those that are heinous such as rape, murder, arson, genocide and other types that puts humanity into shame and the community into disarray. Wrongdoers who have been accused of committing crimes would be brought into trials to give them the chance to defend themselves. However, if they fail to do so, then the hands of justice will strike them down and cast down on them the necessary punishment they deserve according to the legal laws created by the governing bodies. When this happens, people will say that â€Å"justice has bee n served† or that the criminal â€Å"got what he deserves†. Some will feel that the punishment is necessary to avenge the man or the woman who have been seriously wronged by the offender. Other people will see that this type of action is necessary in order for the criminal to realize the sins he has committed. Greek philosophers of the past realized this too early when Socrates stated that â€Å"to serve as a corrective measure that would be of benefit to the criminal by helping him to overcome his evil tendencies† (Patterson, 1985, p.44). There would also be those who will acknowledge punishment because they will see it as something that benefits the whole community or the country. For instance, when a corrupt president is ousted and sentenced with capital punishment, people will rejoice because they will see it as something beneficial not only to a certain individual, but to the whole country as well. These are just some of the common views toward punishment th at can be observed in our everyday lives, from commentaries in newspapers, news on the television and the radio, to simple informal conversation with acquaintances, friends and relatives. It seems that punishment is already deeply embedded within the very core of human civilization and most have accepted this act without question. However, in a philosophical sense, punishment in all its form has many loopholes, problems and questions that need to be resolved. Existing punishment theories such as Consenquentialism and Retributivism have tried to defend the importance of punishment to human society – how it can benefit the society, the victim, and the offender or the criminal. According to Duff, cited in Hart (1968, pp.1-27), â€Å"there are three justificatory issues that must be addressed in order to justify punishment. The first thing that should be asked is the ‘general justifying aim’ of a system of punishment. We should identify what justifies the creation and maintenance of such a system what good does it achieve and what duty does it fulfil. Next is to identify who may properly be punished. It this case, the principles or aims that should determine the allocations of punishments to individuals should be identified†. Finally, the theorists should know the appropriate amount of punishment needed and the factors that would affect the severity a sentence the sentencers should impose. Duff (2004) added that â€Å"philosophers should also know which concrete modes of punishment are appropriate, in general or for particular crimes†. These four main questions should reveal an acceptable justification of punishment. Unfortunately, each type of punishment theory offers a different type of answer to all of those questions. In this sense, the values of one may clash with the other, creating more doubt and confusion than realization. Basically, the Retributist and the Consequentialist or a Retributist-consenquentialist all compete in providing most justifiable explanation of punishment. Among these three, there could be a normative account of punishment that is morally acceptable to society. After all, it is the responsibility of theorists to provide an acceptable explanation of this human act. However, as Duff (2004) stated, â€Å"philosophers must be prepared or must be open to the startling and disturbing possibility that this â€Å"pervasive human practice cannot be justified.† Now, with all these issues at hand, is there a theory that best justifies punishment or is there hardly any? Is there a credible j ustification of punishment? Understanding Punishment and its Purpose To have an understanding of which type of punishment offers the most credible justification of such pervasive human act, we must first have an understanding of the concept of punishment. Punishment is always coined as legal because of it is written in the legislation. Generally, it is defined it as â€Å"†¦first a cultural process and secondly a mechanism of particular institutions, of which criminal law is but one† (Simon, citing from Newman, 1983, pp. 2-3). In a non-general specific account of legal punishment, Hart’s â€Å"five elements of legal punishment† offers an interesting explanation: the involvement of pain or other consequences that are unpleasant; the involvement of an offence against legal rules; an act that is of an actual or supposed offender for his offence; administered intentionally; and finally, only the authorities can impose and administer such an act or in the old clichà © â€Å"nobody is above the law† (Hart, 1968, pp.4-5; Zaibert, 2005, p.225; Gottschalk, 1999, pp.195-196). On the other hand, ideologies such as retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation offer some alternative definition of punishment (Wilson, 1975, pp.6-12; Allen, 1981, p.1; Gottschalk, 1999, pp.195-196; Hoffman, 2002, pp.1-2; Jiang et al, 2007, p.85). The different views basically shape the current application of punishment in today’s world as it encompasses from an individual to a broader cultural belief. Further, these different views have their own justification of punishment. Within the definitions of punishment also come the two types laws specifically mandated for punishment: civil and criminal law. Duff (2004) explains that â€Å"civil law deals in part with wrongs which are non-private in that they are legally and socially declared as wrongs, but at the same time, private in that it is up to the person who was wronged to seek legal redress†. On the other hand, a criminal case refers to a case† between the accused criminal and the whole political community, the state or the people, and the defendant† (Duff, 2004). Nonetheless, Duff (2004) explained that â€Å"it is difficult to distinguish the civil from the criminal law†. The problem is to determine which crimes should be accepted as public and which crimes should be accepted as private ones. Should it be that all crimes are both public and private in a sense that it has wronged both the norm and the individual? Should the crime committed against the society be the ultimate j ustifiable explanation of punishment or should it be more focused on the crime committed against the individual? It can be argued that none of these accounts are credible enough to justify punishment since from every angle, it is also an act that the society detests and it is a horrifying gruesome act if not mandated by law. McDermott (2001, p.403) stated that â€Å"punishment is morally troubling because it almost always causes human suffering†. For instance, throughout the history of punishment in the United States, those who had committed the most severe forms of crimes have suffered in cruel and painful methods such as â€Å"hanging during 1853, the electric chair, the gas chamber, and the latest most humane type of capital punishment, the lethal injection† (Turley, 2008, p.13a). â€Å"Means of punishment have changed over time but the ends have always been the same – bringing pain to the sentenced. Even though the government claims that new forms of punish ment are less painful such as the lethal injection, cases of botched executions are still taking place causing much more pain to the punished† (Turley, 2008, p.13a). Basically, the cries of the society to abolish the death penalty or to lessen the pain that is involved with it also shows that humans can instinctively feel uncomfortable that such acts are nearly as heinous and horrible as the acts committed by the criminal. Nonetheless, it can be strongly argued that to detest punishment as much as to detest the crimes committed by the criminal is a selfish act that is against order. Detesting punishment for its moral grounds can be argued as something that is on the side of social disorder rather than order simply because there is no alternative means to instigate order other than punishment. The utilitarian nature is perhaps the most credible justification of punishment since it is not bounded by individual feelings or emotions, but rather by a cluster of feelings and emotion s. Allowing criminals to roam free in the streets may be a moral act of compassion but it does not remove the fact that these criminals are dangerous and there is a very real risk that they may cause further damage to the society. Of course, this characteristic is also evident within the retributivist principle but its aim is more on the individual rather than the â€Å"good of the majority†. Kant stated that â€Å"even though it is not for the good of all, a wrongdoer must still be punished for the benefit of the wronged† (Kant and Hastie, 1790, p.82; Barber, 1994, pp.246-250). For Kant, the moment an individual does an unjust act; â€Å"he already gives himself the right to punished† (Kant and Hastie, 1790, p.82; Barber, 1994, pp.246-250). The Retributivists’ View Retributivism is a theory of punishment that argues â€Å"people should always and only be treated as ends and never as means, and that are the actions of government legitimate only to the degree to which they are consistent with this model of citizenry† (Clear, 1994, pp.8-9). The belief that the state should inflict harm in order to confirm the moral order established by the laws of the state is the purist view of retributivism. â€Å"Retributivism puts more importance on the moral grounds compared to the classic utilitarian view, which more on the political side† (Clear, 1994, pp.8-9). The retributivist believes that â€Å"punishment is necessary because it is simply deserved by the offender† (Walker, 1991, Clear, 1994, pp.8-9). The main theme of this theory is the old clichà © â€Å"eye for an eye†, within which it promotes revenge, just deserts and practices fairness and proportionality. The retributivist belief is the backbone of the levels of punish ment that our society currently has – from the petty illegal parking fine to the severe capital punishment. The theory shows that â€Å"the harshness of punishment should be proportionate to seriousness of the crime† (Hoffman, 2000, p.1). However, if this is the case, then punishment is nothing more than a mere personal vendetta executed with the help of the state. This reasoning basically limits punishment’s benefit to the victim alone. But in contrast to this generalization, Ten (1993, p.43) argued that: â€Å"Retributive punishment is only inflicted on the wrongdoer, whereas revenge is sometimes inflicted on an innocent person close to the revengee, either because this is an easier target or because it is thought that this would hurt the revengee more.† Retributivism has some serious problems that are not evident in some punishment theories like utilitarianism. â€Å"Retributivist has the hard job of explaining why it is more than mere vindictiveness to punish offenders rather than use these seemingly more humane alternatives† (Bennett, 2004, p.325).As Dewey pointed out in his theory of punishment â€Å"when we are concerned with morality, we are concerned with developing the future responsible agency of a person, and thus moral education is the relevant practice involved† (Dewey cited In Shook, 2004, p.69). Retributivism is not concerned with the future responsible agency of the offender because its objective is to end it by inflicting the same amount of damage inflicted on the offended. In this case, critics can strongly argue that retributivist offer a non-credible explanation on why punishment is necessary, both morally and politically. According to its critics, its moral flaw lies in its lack of regard to the huma nity of the offender; while its political flaw lies in its lack of regard for the society at large. However, the stance of this paper is against those views simply because a consequentialist can inflict the same amount of punishment as a retributivist could inflict if the situation grants it. For instance, a state that punishes an angry soldier marching down the street for protest just because it can promote sedition can also have the same weight as punishing an important public figure who has wronged the public in many possible ways. The soldier can be subjected to torture and imprisonment as forms of punishment, and these acts can basically strip off the soldier any possible future possible agency of change since to his belief, the State tells only lies and teaches its beliefs that are a sacrilege to its own (as when corruption and bribery within government is accepted as reality and the norm). In other words, humane is a complex word that is yet to be defined by both the consenqu entialist and the retributivist. What may be humane to another person may not be humane to another and so on. The point is that no matter how some scholars defend the idea of punishment as a mere tool for control, its methods of punishment can be as inhumane as those of the retributivists’. The Complexity of Consequentialism Consenquentialism seems to be just an excuse for those are in power to demonstrate their power without any regards to its citizens. Its first component is that â€Å"an action or institution is right if it maximally achieves whatever are intrinsically good states of affairs while minimizing whatever are intrinsically bad states of affairs† (Katz, 1999, p.64). The other component stresses that â€Å"welfare is the only sort of thing that is intrinsically good† (Katz, 1999, p.64).Thus, this theory claims that â€Å"together and alone, people only act to maximize happiness† (Kunz, 1998, p.10). However, maximizing happiness simply means minimizing those who suffer. In other words, consenquentialism does not aim for the equality of justice but more on the biased side of favouring those flocks of people who think that â€Å"this† is the way to maximize happiness. Aside from being biased, it also puts those in power untouched by this so-called punishment since they can easily reason out that ousting or punishing them will have a negative impact on, say, the economy. Bell (1993, pp.118-122) supports this rationale when he stated that â€Å"consequentialism promotes abuse in power of authority figure because they can easily justify that what is done is for the good of the majority. Basically, these people in power can develop an unsympathetic stance for reformists and revolutionists as it mutes the critique of society and restricts possibilities of action by beginning with the way things and people are†. Further since to consenquentialists’ claims about maximizing happiness, they then refer to digits results that can be statistically tested. However, it seems that statistical tests were not in their favour. It was found that â€Å"the calculation of net social welfare that utilitarianism demands often cannot be equated with the intuitive demands of justice† (Moore, 1999, p.64). Furthermore, it has been argued that â€Å"sometimes; innocence is sacrificed for the general welfare, while the guilty are freed in order to meet what is perceived as â€Å"good for all† â€Å"(Moore, 1999, p.64). Comparison of views in justifying punishment Consenquentialism is far too complex to justify punishment as compared to the simplicity and straightforwardness of retributivism. Because of the larger and more general claim of consenquentialism, it is in a position where it has to prove its claims of maximized happiness through generalized means. However, according to Katz (1999, p.64-69), â€Å"consenquentialists are yet to prove this†. Even the concept of deterrence, a claimed benefit of consenquentialism, has its share of loopholes that are difficult to explain†. In a specific study that tried to prove the impact of deterrence, â€Å"data on state homicide rates were employed and execution rates between 1976 and 1997 were examined across 50 states and the District of Columbia were estimated. The study found that that the death penalty indeed helps (to) deter criminal acts† (Yunker, 2001, p.310). Further, the relationship between deterrence and homicide rates was also criticized because â€Å"only relatively few supportive data exists† (Simson, 2001, pp.306-307). Simson (2001, pp.306-307) stated that â€Å"most case studies failed to emphasize the relationship between the two variables†. Also, Walker (1991, p.52) supports the claims that â€Å"deterrence is unsupported statistically†. On the other hand, retributivistic punishment only limits its case within the offender and the victim. If the victim becomes satisfied after he or she heard or witnessed the punishment of his or her offender, then the goals of retributivism have been achieved. Deterrence is basically not the aim, rather, the restoration of the dignity of the victim by inflicting the same level of punishment to the offender. The individual’s happiness, although not the main cause of happiness of the country as a whole, is a beginning that may produce more ripples of happiness that externally affects others in society. For instance, it may signal the development of a fair and equal justice system where all who have committed serious crimes will be punished no matter how powerful he or she might be. Retributivism also is more ethical because it answers to individual sins and crimes rather than on a questionable and complex common good that consenquentialists claim. It does not disguise itself as justice because it is in fact justice to victim unlike consenquentialism that can be used as a mask to hide the truth or to twist and distort the beliefs of those who are weak. Conclusion On the whole, retributivism is more honest and more transparent than consequentialism since it only concerns giving legal retribution to those who are victimized. However, Retributivism still needs to explain several points, such as â€Å"proving why wrongdoers deserve to suffer† (Shafer-landau, 2000, p.210). Further, it needs to emphasize and justify how the level of punishment metered out to the offender can possibly equal that of the crime inflicted on the victim. For instance, how would a retributivist punish a rapist? â€Å"Sexually violating the rapist may not be a good idea and the retributivist must find another alternative punishment to somehow level it with damaged caused to the victim† (Waldron cited in Shafer-landau, 2000, pp.197). Others might argue that â€Å"the retributivist principle is one that is â€Å"cold-hearted† and has no concern for the welfare of the criminal† (Bennett, 2002). Finally, retributivism has been interpreted as a backw ard belief that has no regard for the common good (Bennett, 2002. p.148). Basically, retributivism receives as nearly as much criticism as the less favoured theory in this paper, consenquentialism. However, the consenquentialist must answer on how it could actually give justice to the victim without inflicting too much punishment on the criminal. There is perhaps no answer to this since the very core of punishment is inflicting pain on the offender as a form of justice for the victim. Considering the welfare of the offender may take away the feeling of satisfaction from a justice-thirsty victim. Consenquentialism seems like a â€Å"wolf in sheep’s clothing† where it pretends to be the better alternative but the reality is it is just as lacking as retributivism. It presents an almost perfect view that happiness may be maximized, but in reality, ends up providing the retribution the victim needs but with less weight or more humane as they claim. Duff (2000) even stated t hat â€Å"the utilitarian principle of maximizing happiness is only a ‘fantasy’ because the consenquentialist should figure out â€Å"how much pleasure, and how much pain, various possible practices and policies are likely to produce  and then somehow add the pleasures, add the pains, and weigh them against each other† The acceptance of the consenquentialist’s method of punishing the innocent for the benefit of good is also morally unacceptable. Again, Duff (2000) explained that â€Å"even if we would, in some extreme situation, recognize that an innocent ‘must’ be punished, we would also realize that this involved a significant moral cost, a significant wrong done to the innocent person, which the utilitarian cannot recognize.† (i.e. that the end justifies the means). They cannot recognize the intrinsic wrong of injustice that is done to an innocent scapegoat for what it is. Ironically, scapegoat can also be considered as an evil ac t given the circumstances, which may promote corruption and disregard for justice. Bibliography Allen, F.A. (1981).The decline of rehabilitative ideal. New Haven: Yale University Press. Barber, K.F. (1994). Individuation and Identity in Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant. Albany State University of New York Press Bell, L.A. (1993). Rethinking Ethics in the Midst of Violence: A Feminist Approach to Freedom. Md. Rowman Littlefield, Lanham. Bennett, C. (2002). The Varieties of Retributive Experience. The Philosophical Quarterly, vol.52, no.207, pp.145-163 Bennett, C. (2004). Punishment. UK: Blackwell Publishing. Clear, T.R. (1994). Harm in American Penology: Offenders, Victims, and Their Communities. University of New York Press, Albany NY. Duff, R. (2000).In Defence of One Type of Retributivism: A Reply to Bagaric and Amarasekara. Available from: [2 [21>0 February, 2008] Duff, A. (2004).Legal Punishment. Available from: [20 February, 2008] Gottschalk, M. (1999). Monkeywrenching as Punishment? CJPR, vol.10, no.2, pp. 193-211 Hart, H. L. A. (1968). Punishment and responsibility. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hoffman, D.E. (2000). Criminal Justice. Cliffs Notes, CA: Foster City. Jiang, S., Lambert, E.G. Wang, J. 2007. Study among College Students Capital Punishment Views in China and the United States: A Preliminary. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, vol.51, no.84 Kant, I. (1790). The Science of Right. W. Hastie (Trans).Raleigh: Alex Catalogue. Katz, L, Moore, S Morse, S. (1999). Foundations of Criminal Law. New York: Oxford University Press. Kunz, G. (1998). The Paradox of Power and Weakness: Levinas and an Alternative Paradigm for Psychology. Albany State University of New York Press McDermott, D. (2001). The Permissibility of Punishment. Law and Philosophy, vol. 20, pp.403–432 Newman, G. (1983). Just and Painful: A Case for the Corporal Punishment of Criminals. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Patterson, C.H. (1975). Plato’sEuthyphro, Apology, Crito Phaedo: Notes. Lincoln: Neb John Wiley Sons, Inc. Shafer-landau, R. (2000). Retributivism and Desert. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, vol.81, pp.189-214 Shook, J. (2004). Dewey’s Rejection of Retributivism and His Moral- Education Theory of Punishment. Journal of Social Philosophy. 35 (1), pp.66-78. Simson, S. (2001). Does Capital Punishment Deter Homicide? A Case Study of Epistemological Objectivity. Metaphilosophy, vol.32, no.3, pp.293-307. Ten, C.L. (1993). Crime and Punishment. In P. Singer (ed) A companion to Ethics. Blackwell Publishing. Turley, A. (2008). The punishmentfits the times. USA Today, 16, Jan, p.13a, Available from: Academic Search Elite [26 February, 2008] Walker, N. (1991). Why Punish? Oxford University Press. Wilson, J.Q. (1975) Thinking about Crime. New York: Basic Books. Yunker, J.A. (2001). A New Statistical Analysis of Capital Punishment Incorporating US Post moratorium data. Social Science Quarterly, vol.82, no.2, pp.287-311. Zaibert, L. (2005). Prolegomenon to a Theory of Punishment. Law, Culture and the Humanities, vol.1, pp.221- 246 Zaibert, L. (2006). Punishment and Revenge. Law and Philosophy, vol.25, pp. 81–118