Clustering Techniques in Oodbms (Using Objectstore)

Introduction Performance of a database can be greatly impacted by the manner in which data is loaded. This fact is true regardless of when the data is loaded; whether loaded before the application(s) begin accessing the data, or concurrently while the application(s) are accessing the data. This paper will present various strategies for locating data as it is loaded into the database and detail the performance implications of those strategies. Data Clustering, Working Sets, and Performance With ObejctStore access to persistent data can perform at in-memory speeds.In order to achieve in-memory speeds, one needs cache affinity. Cache affinity is the generic term that describes the degree to which data accessed within a program overlaps with data already retrieved on behalf of a previous request. Effective data clustering allows for better, if not optimal, cache affinity. Data density is defined as the proportion of objects within a given storage block that are accessed by a client durin g some scope of activation. Clustering is a technique to achieve high data density. The working set is defined as the set of database pages a client needs at a given time.ObjectStore is a page-based architecture which performs best when the following goals are met: †¢ Minimize the number of pages transferred between the client and server †¢ Maximize the use of pages already in the cache In order to achieve these goals, the working set of the application should be optimal. The way to achieve an optimal working set is via data clustering. With good data clustering more data can be accessed in fewer pages; thus a high data density rate is obtained. A higher data density results in a smaller working set as well as a better chance of cache affinity. A smaller working set results in fewer page transfers.The following sections in this paper will explain several clustering patterns/techniques for achieving better performance via cache affinity, higher data density and a smaller wo rking set. NOTE: clustering is used in this paper as a concept of locality of reference. The term is not being used to refer to the physical storage unit available in ObjectStore. ObjectStore does present the user with a choice for location of allocations: with the database, within a particular segment, within a particular cluster. For the remainder of this paper, the discussion of cluster is a conceptual one, not the ObjectStore physical one.Database Design Process Database design is one of the most important steps in designing and implementing an ObjectStore application. The following steps are pre-requisites for a database design: 1) Identify key use cases (ones which need to be fast and/or are run frequently) 2) Identify the object(s) used by the use cases called out in step 1 3) Identify the object(s) that are read or updated during the use cases called out in step 1 The focus of clustering efforts should be on the database objects which are used in the high priority use cases identified above.Begin to cluster based on one use case, and then validate with others. The database design strategies which lend themselves to achieving the optimal working set are: †¢ Clustering †¢ Partitioning There are several different types of techniques which result in data being well clustered: †¢ Isolate Index †¢ Pooling †¢ Object Modeling Data Clustering Clustering is a technique used to achieve high data density. Another definition of clustering is a grouping of objects together. If a use case requires objects A, B and C to operate, then those objects should be co-located for optimal data density.If upon loading the database, those objects are physically allocated close to one another, then we say we have clustered those objects. Assume that the size of the three objects combined is less than the size of a physical database page. The clustering leads to high data density because when we fetch the page with object A, we will also get objects B and C. In this particular case, we need just one page transfer to get all objects required for our use case. To accomplish good clustering, one must know the use cases and the objects involved in those use cases.Given that knowledge, the goals of clustering are: †¢ Cluster objects together which are accessed together †¢ Separate (de-cluster, or partition – we will discuss partitioning in detail later in this paper) objects which are never accessed together. This includes separating frequently accessed data from rarely accessed data. Partitioning Partitioning is a strategy to isolate subsets of objects in different physical storage units. By definition, if two objects are in different partitions, they are de-clustered. The two goals of partitioning are to gain isolation and to increase data density.Isolation is desirable when concurrent access is required. The scope of this paper is not intended to cover concurrency. For that reason our discussion of partitioning will be rather brief. Although partitioning is intended for isolating objects, its use can improve data density. This may seem, by definition, to be counter intuitive. Let us use an example to illustrate. Imagine a grocery store. If you were in need of a box of cereal, you would go down the cereal aisle. If the grocer has done his job correctly, the aisle (or some number of shelves in the aisle) will be populated ONLY with boxes of cereal.Because other items have been located in their respective aisles/shelves, the entire cereal aisle is dense with cereal. If the grocer had not done the job correctly, a given section of a shelf might have (for instance) boxes of noodles, cans of vegetables, and bags of chips. In this scenario, the shelf does not have good data density for the goal of obtaining a box of cereal. Recall the definition of data density: the proportion of objects within a given storage block that are accessed by a client during some scope. Our scope is to obtain a box of cereal. Our storage block is the aisle or a shelf. If the shelf in question contains many items other than cereal, then we have poor data density. If, on the other hand, we partition the non-cereal items to be in different aisles, then the cereal aisle would contain only cereal and thus a high data density would Conclusion The way in which data is loaded into the database can have significant impact on the performance of an application. Careful analysis of the use cases for an application should allow key objects to be identified. Once key objects are identified, a clustering strategy can be planned.Several of the techniques presented here can allow for a clustering strategy that will boost performance far beyond any tuning that might be done after the database is loaded and the application delivered. It is often the case that several techniques can be combined; an application need not restrict itself to the use of just one technique. The goal of clustering is to reduce your working set siz e; yield higher data density; and reduce the number of pages which need to be transferred between the application and the ObjectStore server.

Nature and Culture in Wuthering Heights Essay

In Wuthering Heights there is a clear battle between human nature, and the attempt to control it with civilization and culture. The conflict between nature and culture which is a part of the thematic structure of this novel is presented in the relationship between two residences: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange as well as its inhabitants. Wuthering Heights represents the wildness of nature, passion and life, where as Thrushcross Grange stands for a refined way of life, civility and culture. Wild, dark and mysterious appearance of Wuthering Heights is a symbolic of its inhabitants. Heathcliff a distinct member of Earnshaw family symbolizes the wild and natural forces which frequently appear to be amoral and dangerous for society. And Catherine a representative member of Earnshaw family may be a lovely charming girl, however is rarely as civilized as she pretends to be. In her heart she is always that wild girl playing in moors with Heathcliff. On the other hand Thrushcross’s positive and comforting appearance is a symbolic of its inhabitants who grew in a pleasant way of living. The Linton family in contrast to the Earnshaw , are too cultured and refined.Edgar Linton in contrast to Heathcliff is an educated, refined, noble man. In the novel the setting and weather reflect the mood of the characters and their actions.The environment in which they live is another way to understand the conflict between nature and culture in this novel. Wuthering Heights first appears in a stormy ,coldness and dark scene.The Heights have wild, windy moors, and its inhabitants possess the same characteristics. Opposite to this is often the calm, orderly parks of the Grange and its refined inhabitants.Thrushcross Grange is located in the valley with none of the features that appear in Wuthering Heights.The characters at the Heights are more at home outside in the moors, while those at the Grange pass the time with quiet, solitary endeavors such as reading. Wuthering Heights is linked to aggression and violence both through the  stormy weather as well as its inhabitants. Where as Thrushcross embodies comfort and civilization protected against the violence and stormy moors. In this novel Emelie Bronte points out the problems with both wild and egocentric ways which might be natural to human kind, and the extremely secured ways of the elite class of the Victorian world. It is this exciting and thought-provoking theme that sets this novel aside from many other Gothic novels of its time.

Assessment of the Progression of the Withdrawal of Weapons and Military Forces in the World

Assessment of the Progression of the Withdrawal of Weapons and Military Forces in the World This is my research paper on disarmament. It contains breifly all the important steps taken in the feild of disarmament till recently. Introduction Prof. Lincoln P. Bloomfield aptly remarked that, A visitor from another, more advanced planet would find many paradoxes on earth, but surely the most extraordinary would be the fantastic destructive potential of nuclear weapons which contrasts starkly with the primitive and near impotent institutions of global peacekeeping. He might marvel that a breed capable of producing the wealth for a 185 billion armory of lethal devices let alone the technology for killing several hundred in a single exchange of weapons had not produced a workable international order capable of regulating such apocalyptic man-made power. . Also no such International Order exists today and the prospects are not encouraging that it will exist within the foreseeable future. Dr. Hambro has also rightly remarked The armament race comes as close to collective insanity as anything in the history of mankind and it is, to my mind, surprising that public opinion is willing to take it. Disarmament has become a more urgent and complicated issue with the rapid development of nuclear weapons capable of mass destruction. Since the explosion of the first atomic bombs in 1945, the previous contention that armaments races were economically inexpedient and led inevitably to war was replaced by the argument that the future use of nuclear weapons in quantity threatened the continued existence of civilization itself. It was understood that war was unnecessary and nations of the world also understood the urgent need to part with these deadly weapons. The League of Nations writes Philip Noel Baker, is the first attempt in history to furnish the international society of nations with the permanent and organic system of international political institutions. This attempt was an outcome of the world war. In the post-World War II period, there were discussions at several levels with a view to the limitation and control of armaments. Efforts ranged from continuous talks at the United Nations to such discussions among nuclear powers from the SALT era to the START era and it still continues What is Disarmament? Disarmament is defined as the act of laying down arms, especially reduction or abolition of a nations military forces and armaments. It is not a new concept. It has been discussed for several centuries even before the formation of League of Nations. The idea of disarmament can be traced from the writings of Sully, William Penn, Rousseau and Kant. But plans for its implementation have failed because no State was willing to pay the price that was required (i.e. to reduce there armaments and military force). The proposal of Russian Czar to Lord Castlereagh of Great Britain in 1816, however, was the first practical attempt to achieve quantitative disarmament. French monarch also made similar proposals in 1831 and on several other occasions, but with no success. The International Peace Conference at Hague in 1899 is the first great landmark in the field of disarmament because it invoked for the specific purpose of limiting armaments by national agreement. Yet another landmark was the treaty of Versailles, which drastically reduced the German armaments. Thus during 19th century and down to the time of the First World War, numerous efforts were made to achieve the limitation and reduction of national armaments by international agreements. Although there had been a great number of discussions, conventions and proposals for disarmament, the ones that claimed success were few. It had been rightly observed by an eminent author: Disarmament efforts have been many, the successive few and limited. There has never been an approach to what Cohen calls effective disarmament. Disarmament and The League of Nations The Covenant of League of Nations was adopted as a part of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It came into existence on January 10 1920 with 18 member states. According to Philip Noel Baker, the League of Nations is the first attempt in history to furnish the international society of nations with the permanent and organic system of international political institutions. This attempt was an outcome of the world war. As the League was adopted just after the world war, the framers selected achievement of widespread disarmament as its fundamental goal. Finally, the Disarmament Conference met on February 2, 1932, in Geneva. The representatives of 61 States, who participated, agreed on necessity of arms limitation, of international supervision of the arms business and of publicity of arms budget. Though the Conference failed in reconciling the French demand for security and German demand for status of equality with other European nations, it proved to be useful in solving some technical problems of the disarmament. It also became evident that the concept of security was of greater than the concept of limiting arms i.e. to say disarmament must follow rather than precede security. However the League of Nations was considered unsuccessful in achieving the concept of widespread disarmament. The efforts of the League failed on multifarious grounds. Some of the reasons of the failure of League in achieving widespread disarmament are as follows: League of Nations was not universal. It was limited to a few nations. It didnt have any effective enforcement body. The Conference for disarmament was held too late under very hostile conditions. The major reason however was that there was no unity between the nations which were members of the League. They were hostile towards each other. The rise of Hitler and the efforts of Germany in re-arming proved that League was a failure in achieving Disarmament and peace. Finally, the League of Nations was dissolved in 1946. Disarmament and The United Nations Inefficiency of the League of Nations led to the Second World War in 1939, which was the most destructive among the two. The result of the Second World War compelled the nations to establish an international organization so that mutual disputes could be resolved peacefully and peace be restored in the world. This lead to the establishment of United Nations Organization in 1945. United Nations was far more effective and efficient in promoting widespread disarmament as compared to League. It also had a greater number of member nations and a better enforcement body. The Charter of the UN provides for the regulation of armaments. The provisions of disarmament in the UN Charter are as follows: The Charter empowers the General Assembly to consider the general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of the peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments. The Assembly can also make recommendation with regard to such principles to the Members of the Security Council. Secondly, it is further provided that in order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion to armaments, the Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee (referred to in Article 47) can formulate plans for regulation of armaments. Thus the Charter aims to provide security along with the regulation of armaments by granting military powers to the U.N under Article 43. However it has to be noted that the special agreements in the Article 43 have not materialized till today. The Military Staff Committee has ceased to function and hence it never dealt in regulation of armaments. Thirdly, in order to enable the U.N. to take urgent military measures, the Charter enjoins the members to hold immediately available national air force contingents, for combined international enforcement action. However the first important step of the U.N in the field of Disarmament was of adopting a resolution on January 24, 1946, which established the U.N. Atomic Energy Commission. The function of this Commission was to regulate and reduce nuclear weapons. On June 24, 1946, United States presented a plan known as the Baruch Plan to the U.N. Atomic Energy Commission. This plan envisaged the establishment by treaty an International Atomic Development Authority which was to own, operate, manage and license all facilities for the production of atomic energy. The aim of the United States by this plan was to establish a control system independent of the Charter and the Atomic Energy Commission, which included inspection and verification of weapons especially nuclear weapons before taking major steps towards Disarmament. But this was opposed by the Soviet Union, which stuck firmly to the original Charter. The Soviet Union insisted for prior outlawing of atomic weapons and reduction of all weapons without effective international control by means of inspection. Consequently, a compromise was made by laying down certain principles, which governed the general regulation and reduction of armam ents. However when the US monopoly of nuclear weapons ended in 1949, Baruch Plan lost its importance. So a need was felt to form a body for regulation of weapons that too mainly nuclear weapons. This need led to the establishment of Disarmament Commission by the 6th General Assembly in 1952. This consolidated the U.N. Atomic Energy Commission and the U.N. Commission for Conventional Armaments. Soviet Union and the Western Allies constituted the five-power sub-committee of Disarmament Commission. Also in October 1956, another body namely International Atomic Energy Agency was established. The Agency aims to seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It comprises of three organs namely General Conference, A Board of Governors and Staff headed by the Director General. The most important and difficult task faced by it is inspection and safeguarding of fissionable materials. The Agency is neither related to U.N. nor is an independent inter-governmental organisation. It has a special status under the aegis of the U.N. Disarmament Efforts from 1960 to 1970 Though 15 years had passed after the establishment of the United Nations, there were no significant or important steps taken for the purpose of Disarmament till 1960. The year 1960 witnessed a turning point in the disarmament debates when there was a thaw in the relation between the two super powers namely United States of America and The Soviet Union. The consequence of this thaw was the signing of four important treaties, which dealt with Disarmament. These treaties were as follows: Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963) On 5th of August 1963, The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), also known as Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) was signed in Moscow by the United States, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Finally 113 Countries became part to it, which included India, Italy etc. However, France and China did not sign this treaty. The treaty required the Parties to prohibit, prevent, and abstaining from carrying out nuclear weapons tests or any other nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, in outer space, under water, or in any other environment, if such explosions cause radioactive debris to be present outside the territorial limits of the State that conducts an explosion. However this treaty does not provide for international verification and it is understood that each party may do so by its own national technical means. Outer Space Treaty (1967) The Legal Subcommittee considered the Outer Space Treaty in 1966 and agreement was reached in the General Assembly in the same year. The Treaty was opened for signature by the three depository Governments (the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) in January 1967, and it entered into force in October 1967. The Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following disarmament principles: States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner. The Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes; States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies. 98 States have ratified, and an additional 27 have signed the Outer Space Treaty The Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (1967) The Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (also known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco) obligates Latin American parties not to acquire or possess nuclear weapons, nor to permit the storage or deployment of nuclear weapons on their territories by other countries. This Treaty was signed on February 14 1967, at a regional meeting of Latin American countries at Tlatelolco, a section of Mexico City. Non Proliferation Treaty (1968) The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also referred to as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), obligates the five acknowledged nuclear-weapon states (the United States, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, France, and China) not to transfer nuclear weapons, other nuclear explosive devices, or their technology to any non-nuclear-weapon state. Non-nuclear-weapon States Parties undertake not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices. They are required also to accept safeguards to detect diversions of nuclear materials from peaceful activities, such as power generation, to the production of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. This must be done in accordance with an individual safeguards agreement, concluded between each non-nuclear-weapon State Party and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Under these agreements, all nuclear materials in peaceful civil facilities under the jurisdiction of the state must be declar ed to the IAEA, whose inspectors have routine access to the facilities for periodic monitoring and inspections. If information from routine inspections is not sufficient to fulfill its responsibilities, the IAEA may consult with the state regarding special inspections within or outside declared facilities. The Treaty was opened for signature on 01 July 1968, and signed on that date by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and 59 other countries. However, India refused to sign this treaty on the ground that it was discriminatory and unequal. Disarmament Decade (1970 -1980) The decade of 1970 was declared by the United Nations as the Disarmament Decade. The U.N. Agency that has been mostly involved with the goal of Disarmament was the 26 Nations U.N. Conference on the Committee on Disarmament. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 1970. It was very heartening to note that the U.Ns Disarmament Decade began auspiciously with the coming into force on 5th March 1970 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The decade also witnessed the signing of a number of treaties. They are as follows: Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof. This treaty was opened for signature at London, Moscow and Washington from 11 February 1971 and it came into force on 18 May 1972. The Treaty read as follows The States Parties to this Treaty undertake not to implant or emplace on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof beyond the outer limit of a sea-bed zone, any nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction as well as structures, launching installations or any other facilities specifically designed for storing, testing or using such weapons. However it has to be noted that the treaty prohibited only the placement and fixation of weapons on the seabed and is silent about mobile launchers and submarines, which are likely to remain a principle means of nuclear warfare. Thus it is evident that treaties dealing with nuclear disarmament that were made by U.S.A and Russia had the aim of preventing the non-nuclear countries from acquiring atomic weapons, rather than to regulating and giving up of their own armaments. Hence India did not sign this treaty, which was one-sided. In-spite of all this limitations, this treaty succeeded from barring nuclear weapons from 70% of the earths surface, which was a significant contribution towards disarmament efforts. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks took place between U.S.A and the Soviet Union on May 1972. The aim of these talks was to find a way for both sides to agree on plans that would limit and perhaps some day reduce their vast nuclear arsenals. However this agreement permitted both the countries to replace existing offensive nuclear missiles with more sophisticated weapons as technological advance permits. Hence it was said by the Chinese Chief Mr. Chiao Kua Hua that Soviet American agreement to limit Strategic Arms be in no way regarded as a step towards nuclear disarmament. On the contrary, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Soviet American arms race. Convention on the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapon and on their Destruction. This convention was drafted by the conference of the committee on Disarmament and was commenced by the General Assembly on December 16 1971. On April 10 1972, it was opened for signature with a special request of the then Secretary General Kurt Waldheim that the convention may be signed and ratified as early as possible. The aim of the treaty was to promote general disarmament and for that purpose, it prohibited development, production and stockpiling of chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons. Geneva Disarmament Conference (1974) It began on 17 April 1974 with 25 nations participating. The aim of this conference was to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons under the ground. It also dealt in making an agreement regarding Chemical Weapons. Special Session of General Assembly on Disarmament (1978) The Special Session on Disarmament was held by the General Assembly from 23rd May to 1st July 1978 at United Nations Headquarters. Before the end of the session, a Final Document consisting of an Introduction, a Declaration, a Programme of Action, and Recommendations concerning the international machinery for disarmament negotiations. Under the Programme of Action, the Assembly set out a series of suggestions for negotiation and in Declaration, which is the part of the Final Document, it urged that the resources released through disarmament be used to promote the well being of all peoples and to improve the economic conditions of developing countries. The main aim of this Session was to strengthen the international disarmament negotiating machinery. Disarmament Efforts after 1980 After 1980, there was a revolution of technology. It affected almost all the fields including the field of armaments. With the development of technology, new types of weapons with immense destructive capacities were invented. Hence it was necessary to promote disarmament and regulate the creation of these armaments. Following are the important developments in the field of disarmament, which took place after 1980. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons that may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (1981) It dealt with the prohibition of very harmful conventional weapons. These included prohibition of weapons that emitted radiation harmful to human body, prohibition and regulation of mines, booby traps, incendiary weapons (weapons that cause fire when used) and blinding laser weapons. Rarotonga Treaty (1985) In 1983, 16 years after the Treaty of Tlatelolco was opened for signature, Australia proposed to establish a nuclear weapon free zone in the South Pacific. As a result of the negotiations between the concerned States, a treaty was signed on August 6, 1985, in the city of Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands, establishing the proposed zone. Treaty on Open Skies (1992) The Treaty on Open Skies entered opened for signature on 24 March 1992, currently has 34 States Parties. The Treaty established a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the entire territory of its participants. The Treaty was designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants, regardless of size, a direct role in gathering information about military forces and activities of concern to them. Treaty on Open Skies is one of the most wide-ranging international efforts to date to promote openness and transparency of military forces and activities. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1995) Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted as a result of the Geneva Conference, which took place in June 1995. This treaty was adopted with the view of removing the shortcomings of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It contained a comprehensive plan to prohibit nuclear tests. However, it was silent on the question regarding the destruction of already existing nuclear stockpiles. However this treaty was flouted by America by developing a super nuclear weapon capable of destroying targets placed under the ground. On the one hand, America has been pressurizing other countries to sign the treaty and on the other hand, it has been developing destructive nuclear weapons. These types of stand taken by America were severely criticized by many countries including India. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (1997) This treaty is also known as Ottawa Treaty and was proposed by Canada. The main aim of the treaty was to destroy all types of Anti Personnel mines. The treaty also required that besides stopping the production and development of mines, a party to the treaty must destroy all the mines in its possession within 4 years. Just a small number of mines are allowed to remain for training (mine-clearance, detection, etc.). India and Disarmament Since Independence, India has consistently pursued the objective of global disarmament based on the principles of universality, non-discrimination and effective compliance. Given the horrific destructive capacity of nuclear weapons, India has always believed that a world free of nuclear weapons would enhance both global security and Indias own national security. Thus India has always advocated that the highest priority be given to nuclear disarmament as a first step towards general and complete disarmament. In 1978, India proposed negotiations for an international convention that would prohibit the use of threat of use of nuclear weapons. This was followed by another initiative in 1982 calling for a nuclear freeze i.e. prohibition on the production of fissile material for weapons, on production of nuclear weapons, and related delivery systems. At the special sessions of the United Nations General Assembly on disarmament, India put forward a number of serious proposals including the 1988 Comprehensive Plan for total elimination of weapons of mass destruction in a phased manner. It was a matter of regret that the proposals made by India along with several other countries did not receive a positive responsive and instead, a limited and distorted non-proliferation agenda, meant above all to perpetuate nuclear weapons was shaped. India didnt sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty because India considered these treaties as discriminatory and unequal. Both of these treaties were put forward by the nuclear power U.S.A, which later flouted these treaties. Thus according to India, these treaties were the ways designed by the nuclear powers to keep away nuclear know-how from non-nuclear states. However India has signed and ratified other treaties and conventions like Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention etc. This shows that India is an active country, which supports and takes actions for the promotion of disarmament. Conclusion Thus to conclude, it can be said that disarmament process is a very difficult one, but is very important in promoting international peace and security. However, complete disarmament can be obtained only if there is no threat to security of a nation or an individual and to achieve this task, there should be a strict and organized international order and absence of terrorist organizations. Unless this is achieved, the concept of disarmament will remain as the monopoly of the powerful nation to suppress other nations. The U.S attack on Iraq is a fresh example of this.

The best of intentions Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The best of intentions - Case Study Example If Cynthia offers the job to Steve, the company has a very high chance of losing their customers and if this happens, then it means they will all be out of work. This is a dilemma as Steve is the most qualified candidate and can take their company to the next level but he also prevents the growth of the company in that region where discrimination is still high. Letting him go is the best decision for everyone. If Steve is hired, it means that he cannot carry out his job to avoid losing the customers which simply impedes his growth in the company and the end result either way will be to let him go. It is better to not hire him and give him false hopes but simply let him find a better place without discrimination where he can exercise his potential. I would not take the job for the simple reason that I would be a hidden employee who is not at liberty to meet the customers whom I am supposed to work with. I would not want to be an invisible employee because invisible employees have no room for growth. Growth in nay organization requires being on the limelight showcasing one’s work but since appearing in the limelight will drive away the white customers, and then it is better not to take the job than have regrets years later. Steve should look at his goals and what he wants to achieve in the next several years. If he wants to expand his career and develop, or if he has big dreams for his future, then he should not take the job as the dream and goals will not be achieved. The parties need to sit down and draw of plan on how best Steve can be fruitful to the company while at the same time not anger and drive away their customers if they are to remain in business. The will need to find the best position for Steve in the company, one which will not hinder his development and impede his future growth while still providing his best skills and abilities to the

Why Americans should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles Term Paper - 1

Why Americans should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles - Term Paper Example If current energy usage patterns continue for a few more decades then the ecosystems and environments across the world would be damaged beyond repair, putting at risk the long-term survival of our species. (Borowitz, 1999, p.255) The rest of this essay will elaborate on these points and present the reasons why Americans should embrace alternative fuel vehicles. Beyond concerns about peak-oil and issues of sustaining conventional oil supplies, there is the danger posed by environmental pollution. While manufacturing industries play their part in polluting air, water and soil, the chief contributors are motor vehicles. For example, 90% of the carbon monoxide, 50% of the volatile organic compounds, and 40% of the ozone in metropolitan areas come from motor vehicles. (Meotti, 1995, p.27) With car ownership per-capita in America being one of the highest among advanced economies, there is a urgent need for alternative fuels. There is also the option of attempting to reduce car sales and car usage. But since this outcome is highly unlikely, finding substitute fuels for petroleum-based ones is the more plausible option going forward. Soybean oil is another alternative fuel that holds a lot of promise. When oil prices spiked during the first Gulf War in 1991, American farmers put to use the huge surplus of soybean oil stored in tanks across the country. They said that Soybean oil can be refined into bio-diesel, which can be used by vehicles. Already, by this time, bio-diesel was being manufactured in Europe using rapeseed oil. And by following the same procedure, Soybean oil could also be converted into bio-diesel, which would prove to be a cleaner and eco-friendly energy alternative. (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Experts and business people have now identified bio-diesel as a key player in the alternative fuels market. It also has the advantage of being produced by both small-scale manufacturers as well as large industries. While

Human resource management (Case study) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Human resource management (Case study) - Essay Example It defines the organisation’s behaviour and how it tries to cope with its environment.† More precisely, the MBA Tutorials (2010) defines SHRM as â€Å"the linking of human resources with strategic goals and objectives in order to improve business performance and develop organizational culture that foster innovation and competitive advantage† (par. 1). The key features of SHRM were identified as: (1) some organizing strategies or schemes link individual human resource interventions so that they are ‘mutually supportive’; (2) a great amount of responsibility is transferred down the line for the management of HR; and (3) there is a precise link between overall organization strategy, organization environment, HR policies and practices† (MBA Tutorials, 2010, par. 3) In this regard, the Talent Management at Standard Chartered Bank displays features of SHRM in terms of manifesting the presence of strategies that show â€Å"emphasis on people that has seen HR issues ascend the corporate agenda, with the bank’s declared goal of measurably increasing its leadership capacity by 2011† (Case facts, 2). ... .to introduce certain global standards and tools, (and) to give managers some freedom to decide locally how best to use them† (Case facts, 3).   1.2 Comment on the relevance of this approach in the light of the recent banking crisis? The Talent Management program that is consistent with the SHRM approach is appropriately significant in the light of the recent banking crisis due to its ability to gauge performance of personnel and bank branches regardless of their assigned locations; it has the ability to generate and integrate performance of employees on a global scale. In this regard, the effect of changes in the external environment could immediately be measured in terms of repercussive effects on bank branches worldwide and on how creative managers and respective personnel are in responding to the external pressures. The Talent Management Program of Standard Chartered manifests acknowledged the important roles and functions of HRM opting to implement SHRM in adapting to di verse factors from the external environment and adjusting to the demands of the times. Its ability to assess its effectiveness evolves into encompassing areas of employee development (employee behavior, attitudes and skills), competencies, performance, as these attributes all contribute to the achievement of organizational goals. As Cabrera & Cabrera averred, â€Å"no longer are operational measures of internal efficiency sufficient. HR departments must be able to demonstrate the value of their strategic contributions† (2003, 3) which are most applicable especially during the financial crisis. 1.3 Why is it important to measure the impact of SHRM? What might be included in an evaluation strategy to measure the impact of SHRM in

An interpretive study of the failure of SMEs in the kingdom of the Essay

An interpretive study of the failure of SMEs in the kingdom of the Saudi Arabia - Essay Example Findings indicate that that main problems impacting growth and success of SMEs in the KSA are regulatory difficulties, credit and funding options, human capital, marketing and operational factors. Human capital (resource management), regulatory constraints and credit/funding options appear to be the main factors impacting SME success and growth in the KSA. Data released by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry reveals that approximately 96% of Saudi businesses employ below 100 workers (Hertog, 2010). According to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 95% of commercially registered businesses in the KSA are owned by SMEs and 71% of industrial businesses are SMEs (Hertog, 2010). Moreover, Hertog (2010) reports that SMEs account for 28% of the KSA’s overall economic activities. 7 The latest figures release demonstrate that as of 2008, there were over 700,000 SMEs actively in business in the SDI primarily owned by a sole proprietor. A further breakdown demonstrated that 47% of the KSA’s SMEs were attached to commercial and hotel industries; 27% were attached to construction; 12% were engaged in social services; and 8% were involved in â€Å"sundry other sectors† (Hertog, 2010, p. 17). Be that as it may, SMEs in the KSA only contribute to about 10% of the employment rate in the KSA and only contribute 14% of the entire production in industries and 8% â€Å"of the value of industrial goods exported† (Hertog, 2010, p.19). 7 Despite the growing interests in SMEs in the KSA, all indications are that SMEs have faced significant challenges in moving forward successfully and economically. SMEs in the KSA are said to have difficulties in terms of funding and credit; the function in a business climat that is decidedly â€Å"unfriendly†; they face regulatory challenges; and they operate â€Å"without the availability of basic statistics and data needed to ensure sound business decisions† (Bundagji, 2005, p. 1). It is

Diversity Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diversity Paper - Essay Example The supportive personality is more introverted and team-oriented. They are supportive and helpful and thrive in interpersonal relationships. The cautious personality is also reserved and seeks consistency, value and is task-oriented. Their primary focus is on being accurate and correct in their assessments (Rohm, 2004). In addition to these underlying personality traits, many other factors play a role in determining a person’s personality and behavior such as gender, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation. Studies have shown, not surprisingly, that boys are quicker to openly display their temper than are girls. This is because girls are taught from a young age that angry displays are inappropriate and proper control of their emotions is a societal expectation for which they are rewarded. Socially acceptable behavior for girls includes being soft of voice at all times while vocal, outward displays of anger are intolerable. They are taught not to cause hurt feelings or be the cause of another’s anger. Gender stereotypes which are taught from a very early age reinforce to girls the importance of avoiding conflicts and to always act pleasantly, especially in a social setting. Females are expected to be attractive. The less physically attractive she is, the more the girl must take on a subservient role. Girls are also taught to manipulate a situation for their own benefit, but not to control it by being overbearing. There are those examples of girls who actively discard this stereot ype by rebelling against it often by means of intimidating those girls who fall under the ‘normal’ stereotype of which they are rebelling against. The abuse of sex, alcohol and drugs are common aspects of this rebellion. Males who adhere to society’s typical stereotype for suitable behavior and appearance believe they are masters of their own universe. If males are athletic and good-looking, they assume and society confirms that they are

Strategic Management Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Strategic Management Practice - Assignment Example In the year 2012, Sony reported to its shareholders that the company experienced a substantial loss of over 67 billion Yen (Sony 2012). The year prior, in 2011, Sony had achieved another staggering loss of nearly 200 billion Yen which is a product of an inability to achieve revenue growth in a very saturated global competitive market with such companies as Samsung, Sharp, Sanyo and many other electronics producers. Sony, no longer sustaining a market position as pioneering and innovative company, faces substantial strategic problems in achieving growth and capturing the interests of very diverse global demographics to select Sony consumer electronics over that of competing product offerings. This report analyses the current competitive position of Sony Corporation, focusing on the specific strategic issues facing the firm, the goals the organisation should be constructing based on analysed market conditions, recommends strategic direction for the firm, and describes a performance management system that should be viable for developing the recommended strategy. To address the firm’s main issues, there are several models that can assist in conducting a thorough analysis of Sony. The company, due to its inability to innovate revolutionary products and competitive presence worldwide in the consumer electronics industry, has been unable to achieve competitive advantage. Barney (1991) provides the VRIO model, a strategy analysis that explores four dimensions of firm activity, these being rarity, value, inimitability and internal firm organisation. Value in this model is the extent to which a company has the capability of exploiting opportunities and to insulate itself from various competitive threats (Barney and Hesterly 2006). Value is measured on whether a firm’s total capital expenditures or labour investments are less expensive than the

Pest Analysis Essay Example for Free

Pest Analysis Essay Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis and describes a framework of macroenvironmental factors used in the environmental scanning component of strategic management. It is a part of the external analysis when conducting a strategic analysis or doing market research and gives a certain overview of the different macroenvironmental factors that the company has to take into consideration. It is a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position, potential and direction for operations. The growing importance of environmental or ecological factors in the first decade of the 21st century have given rise to green business and encouraged widespread use of an updated version of the PEST framework.   analysis systematically considers Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors. Contents * 1 History * 2 Overvier. New York: Macmillan.. , who discusses ‘ETPS’ a mnemonic for the four sectors of what he calls his taxonomy of the business environment: Economic, Technical, Political, and Social. Sometime after this initial publication, Arnold Brown for the Institute of Life Insurance reorganized it as   as a way to organise the results of his environmental scanning. Over time by academics and others in business it was modified yet again to become a so-called analysis (the Social, Technical, Economic, Political, and Ecological taxonomies).

Reflection on Teamwork and Gender

Reflection on Teamwork and Gender Introduction As the only male in a group of four female working on a presentation, the learning experience gained reflectively looking back was invaluable. How I got on in the working process while engaged in the completion of this presentation represented a process of understanding the difference in dynamics of working within a group situation whereby my initial impressions of the progress being made differed from the manner in which each individual approached the situation. The following will offer a reflection on this situation. At first, I felt as if I was the only one actively engaged on the project, gauging that the others were being flippant in their approach. Tavris and Wade (1984, pp. 71-73) offered some insight into this as they advise that men are more aggressive than women. They point to the example that this difference is detectable as early as age three when children start playing with one another (Tavris and Wade, 1984, pp. 71-73). Their analogy stated that little boys from the start show more physical aggression, play aggressive, have fantasy aggression and utilize verbal aggression (Tavris and Wade, 1984, pp. 71-73). This, they point to is the male aspect of winning, which means getting started earlier and taking over (Tavris and Wade, 1984, pp. 71-73). Fay and Tokarczyk (1993, pp. 78-79) developed my understanding further in adding that women approach work in a different manner, as they are more social beings. Dale and Lynne Spender (1986, p. 32) dismiss the mythical talkativeness of women ind icating that in mixed sex conversations that women only talked ten to twenty percent of the time gauging their situation. They added that women, after feeling comfortable in a group setting will then set about the task at hand, however, they have privately thought about the problem and have definitive ideas and approaches to discuss when that time arrives (Spender and Spender, 1986, pp. 34-35). Lunneborg (1990, p. 21) offered the following insight to this start of the project situation that I seemingly was so preoccupied with. She states that women tend to spend time gathering and thinking more about the information aspects in singular fashion, gauging the situation against their own personal skills and formulating approaches as they consider what they either know or have gleaned from other members of the group (Lunneborg, 1990, pp. 23-28). These dynamics helped me to understand that my learning style was simply too male oriented to at first take in the significances of how women approach problems and solutions. I learned that the first thing I should have done was approach the first session as an introduction to my co-workers, asking for inputs on how to set about the presentation as a group process, instead of feeling that I was the only contributor. Novarra (1980, p. 51) advised me that women manage in a less academic fashion. They, women, are â€Å"†¦ accessible, unstuffy, informal, direct in getting to the point, spontaneous, averse to wrangling, sympathetic and not long winded or pompous†. Nickles and Ascroft (1981, pp. 206-207) referred to the foregoing style as ‘beta’. They, women, utilize power for the good of the group as opposed to the individual, and that good management represents sensitivity in the creation of a work environment that fosters growth and learning (Nickles and Ascroft. 1981, pp. 206-207). They offered additional insight in that ‘Beta’ power cares more about the quality of work life and uses flexible schedules, job sharing and the decentralization of authority (Nickles and Ascroft. 1981, pp. 206-207). Leaders are not needed at the top of the hierarchy in making decisions, as it is a shared process. Howe (1975, pp. 127-171) advised me that women are more democratic, egalitarian and cooperative. In working with men, or in this case a male, women tend to slow things down to create a pace that reflects thinking and sharing. She added that women have an alternative view of power that is based upon sisterhood, and that in a group situation the usual first steps in the process entail an informal discussion as the parties get to know one another for later interaction as opposed to the male method of the big dog taking over and letting other things fall into place. As I saw the collective approach take hold later in the process, the understanding I gained after the fact made me better understand the dynamics of working with women and how my initial impressions were male based. The difficulty I felt I had in maintaining group focus was my male approach as opposed to the reflective and group sharing approach women utilize to address working situations, which are similar in context to their approach of problems in any form. Conclusion The apprehension I experienced in working with a group of four females taught me that there are differing ways in which the approach to a working situation can be handled. As the only male member I thrust myself into thinking into feeling that I needed to take charge, even though I held back on that action. Upon reflection, that was a wise choice as the group dynamics later showed me that the work at hand was being handled, but in a different manner than I was accustomed to. The lack of individual conflicts, the overall courteousness of the group, and the process of producing the piece was an enjoyable and productive session. My feelings of getting a late start did not account for the accelerated pace of development as a team whereby ideas, solutions and contributions flowed naturally without power struggles, thus shortening the time frame to get things accomplished. In retrospect the entire experience enabled me to take away from the process a new set of techniques and understandings with respect to group dynamics that was not just applicable to women, but groups of any gender composition. My concerns regarding being the only male in the group were facets of my own imagination as the females did not and were not focused on gender differences, they were focused on meshing the group into a cohesive unit, whereby the synergy would be greater than the parts. Bibliography Fay, E., Tokarczyk, M. (1993) Working Class Women in the Academy. University of Massachusetts Press Howe, F. (1975) Women and the power to change. McGraw Hill Lunneborg, P. (1990) Women Changing Work. Bergin and Garvey Nickles, E., Ashcroft, L. (1981) The coming matriarchy. Seaview Books Novarra, V. (1980) Women’s Work, men’s work. Praeger Spender, D., Spender, L. (1986) Scribbling sisters. Camden Press Tavris, C., Wade, C. (1984) The longest war: Sex Differences in perspective. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Air Pollution :: Papers

Air pollution occurs when wastes dirty the air. People produce most of the wastes that cause air pollution. Such wastes can be in the form of gases or particles of solid or liquid substance. These substances result chiefly from burning fuel to power motor vehicles. Industrial processes and the burning of garbage also contribute to air pollution. natural pollutants include dust, soil particles and naturally occurring gases. The rapid growth of population and industry and the increased use of automobiles and airplanes, have made air pollution a serious problem. the air we breathe has become so filled with pollutants that it can cause health problems. Polluted air also harms plants, animals, building materials and fabrics. In addition, it causes damage by altering the earth's atmosphere. Chief sources of air pollution  · Forms of transportation,such as automobiles, airplanes, ships and trains are the leading source of air pollution of the industrial nations. The major pollutants produced by these sources are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons(compounds of carbon and hydrogen), and nitrogen oxides(compounds of nitrogen and oxygen). Nitrogen oxides can react in the presence of sunlight to produce a form of oxygen called ozone(O3). Ozone is the chief component of photo-chemical smog, which is a common form of air pollution.  · Fuel combustion used for heating or cooling in factories contributes significantly to air pollution. Electric power plants that burn coal or oil also release pollutants into the atmosphere. The major pollutants from these sources are nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides(compounds of sulphur and oxygen), and carbon dioxide.  · Industrial processes produce a wide range of pollutants. Oil refineries discharge ammonia, hydrocarbons,organic acids and sulfur oxides. Metal smelting plants give off large amounts of sulfur oxides and particles containing lead and other metals. Plants that produce plastic foam are a major source of chlorofluorocarbons(CFC's),compounds of chlorine,fluorine and carbon.  · Burning of solid wastes often creates a very visible form of air pollution-thick,black smoke. The burning of garbage, leaves and other

The Titanic Was an Avoidable Tragedy Essay -- World History

Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater – For movie buffs in the 1990s, when you heard someone talking about â€Å"Jack and Rose,† you would probably think Titanic. You would think about the Love and Mystery, Excitement and Suspense. You might hear comments like: â€Å"What a great movie† or â€Å"Oh, it’s just a movie†¦ It wasn’t really that bad.† The latter people would be correct: it was worse. The Titanic was so much more than a movie could ever depict. Death, destruction, terror, sadness: those were the emotions for the people aboard the Titanic. The disaster that is Titanic could have easily been avoided, and the needless loss of life would have been spared, if just minor changes in planning were taken heed of at the beginning of the voyage. Yes, the Titanic had a tragic ending, but life on the ship was far from tragic –until the crash that is. Titanic and her sister ships, Olympia and Britannica, were considered some of the most exquisite ships in the world. The Titanic was called the â€Å"Ship of dreams,† for it was the most elegant of the ships. On Wednesday, March 31, 1909, the keel was laid and construction quickly began soon thereafter. The ship took almost a year and a half to build and was 882 feet 9 inches long, 94 feet wide and 100 feet high to the bridge level. The final cost reached an astounding  £1,500,000 or approximately $7,500,000. Why did Titanic sink you might ask? Had it not been nicknamed the unsinkable ship? Yes it had; however, it was not the only ship called â€Å"unsinkable.† â€Å"Most ships were called unsinkable because they had watertight compartments to limit flooding in case of an accident.† This was also somewhat to excite the people that a new ship was arriving and to also make them feel safer if they decided t... ...thers were afraid since third class passengers were last in line for the very few boats left, they might try to overtake some for themselves and thus put even more people’s lives in danger. With gates locked and everyone gone, they had no way to escape, and, thus, their â€Å"cabin to America† became their watery grave. April 15, 1912-- that day will forever be remembered by many people all over the world. It is sad to look back almost one hundred years ago and think, â€Å"Wow, that really happened, all the people who died really shouldn’t have.† All the needless loss of life is a sad, sad thought. Bibliography Spitz, D.J. Investigation of Bodies in Water. In Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guideline for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigations, 4th ed. Ed. W.U. & Spitz, D.J. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 2006. The Titanic Was an Avoidable Tragedy Essay -- World History Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater – For movie buffs in the 1990s, when you heard someone talking about â€Å"Jack and Rose,† you would probably think Titanic. You would think about the Love and Mystery, Excitement and Suspense. You might hear comments like: â€Å"What a great movie† or â€Å"Oh, it’s just a movie†¦ It wasn’t really that bad.† The latter people would be correct: it was worse. The Titanic was so much more than a movie could ever depict. Death, destruction, terror, sadness: those were the emotions for the people aboard the Titanic. The disaster that is Titanic could have easily been avoided, and the needless loss of life would have been spared, if just minor changes in planning were taken heed of at the beginning of the voyage. Yes, the Titanic had a tragic ending, but life on the ship was far from tragic –until the crash that is. Titanic and her sister ships, Olympia and Britannica, were considered some of the most exquisite ships in the world. The Titanic was called the â€Å"Ship of dreams,† for it was the most elegant of the ships. On Wednesday, March 31, 1909, the keel was laid and construction quickly began soon thereafter. The ship took almost a year and a half to build and was 882 feet 9 inches long, 94 feet wide and 100 feet high to the bridge level. The final cost reached an astounding  £1,500,000 or approximately $7,500,000. Why did Titanic sink you might ask? Had it not been nicknamed the unsinkable ship? Yes it had; however, it was not the only ship called â€Å"unsinkable.† â€Å"Most ships were called unsinkable because they had watertight compartments to limit flooding in case of an accident.† This was also somewhat to excite the people that a new ship was arriving and to also make them feel safer if they decided t... ...thers were afraid since third class passengers were last in line for the very few boats left, they might try to overtake some for themselves and thus put even more people’s lives in danger. With gates locked and everyone gone, they had no way to escape, and, thus, their â€Å"cabin to America† became their watery grave. April 15, 1912-- that day will forever be remembered by many people all over the world. It is sad to look back almost one hundred years ago and think, â€Å"Wow, that really happened, all the people who died really shouldn’t have.† All the needless loss of life is a sad, sad thought. Bibliography Spitz, D.J. Investigation of Bodies in Water. In Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guideline for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigations, 4th ed. Ed. W.U. & Spitz, D.J. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 2006.

The Power of Goal Setting Essay -- Organization Personal

The Power of Goal Setting Too many of us treat goal setting the same way. We dream about what we want to do, but we don't have a plan to carry out that dream. A mapped out goal is superior to a dream. You must have a plan. Dreams are merely thoughts or ideas, but, we need more than to simply scribble down some ideas on a piece of paper. Our goals need to be concise and focused. We must set both long-term and short-term goals, so for each short-term goal accomplished the long-term goals will seem easier to attain. As an example, a short-term goal for student of the University could be to accomplish each weekly assignment on time and to achieve significant working relationships with our other classmates. Short-term goals can easily be forgotten with hectic lives and tasks delayed because we obtain the "I'll do it tomorrow" attitude. Stay focused on the issues at hand, and completing assignments will become second nature. Daily to-do lists is a productive way to accomplish short term goals, but complete the list prior to any recreational activities, eventually, find recreation in...

Kants Deontology

IntroductionThe word Deon is a Greek word and it means duty. According to the deontological theory actions are wrong or right in themselves, quite distant from their effect. In this theory certain actions are allowed or prevented by the argument that each of the action is either right or wrong in accordance with the ethical obligations. So those who believe in using a deontological theory would bring in consideration the basic rights and duties of groups or individuals and act according to their moral duties.Immanuel Kant the great philosopher, who had lived in the 18th century, proposed the work which is used for the reference of deontology. According to him each individual has got self-respect and dignity in inheritance. He believes that no one has right to treat others in a negative way for his own means.Kantian DeontologyKant argues that only good will is completely good rather than the happiness, pleasure or something else. Those who perform bad deeds are never happy and pleased The thing which is in accordance with and acts for the sake of duty is good will. Kant seems to suggest that only those actions have moral worth which is performed for the sake of duty. He determines the moral value of one’s deeds by the reluctance towards his sake of duty means greater one is disinclined towards the sake of duty, more the moral worth of action. Thus moral duty is independent of and comes before the concept of goodnessThe good will does not need any qualification for being good, thus it is good on its own. . Kant does not believe in the idea of being willed well because of the result being produced by it For Kant a person is accountable for only those things that are under his control. Even though what we will for our deeds is within the power of us but the results of our acts are not. In the same way even if less positive consequences are produced by the actions of a person of good will, he deserves praise.Kant suggests that good will is only acted solely b y the right intention. The intention of good will is for the sake of duty. The different intentions for actions are either acting out of self-interest or for the sake of duty or acting through inclination. For understanding the difference among the different intentions for the actions being performed, relate this to the corporate world example of a salesman at any organization whose customers are very satisfied and he has goodwill. (Karl, 1982)This is because he has never been dishonest to his customers and clients, since he has never overcharged to those customers and clients who are inexperienced. Now there can be three reasons for him to be honest. Firstly he treats honestly just because of an intense competition in his organization. He thinks that if he would be truly honest with his customers, they would not go to his competitors and would therefore prefer to do business with him as a result he would be awarded by the organization. So in this he is honest just because of self-i nterest and not for the duty and for Kant this act is not the moral act because it is performed for the sake of self-interest rather than the duty.Another reason for him to be honest is due to an inclination. This means that he derives pleasure from his honesty which has come naturally to him and according to Kant such kind of actions which are performed due to inclination, are also immoral. This is because the inclination is entirely unreliable and irrational, and is followed because of its caprice not because of its reason. These same feelings from which we are inspired and perform kind acts may also inspire us to perform the unkind and cruel acts. That is why inclination is unreliable. (Karl, 1982)Thus according to Kant, the person who acts honestly because he thinks that it is his duty regardless of his inclinations to perform those functions, that is a person of goodwill  So those who are generous but nature but help the poor just because of their internal feeling of being pi ty are not behaving morally, rather than those being stingy and help for the sake of duty. The later ones are acting morally For Kant the need of acting out of respect for universal law is duty. The person who acts establishes the moral and ethical value.The basic moral principle according to Kant is the Categorical Imperative an imperative is just an obligation or command. The concept of a categorical imperative is different from that of hypothetical imperative and can be better and can be understood in its contrast. A hypothetical imperative involves those actions which are performed in order to accomplish various goals But it does not involves those actions whom one does not care for achieving the goals. .The main distinction of categorical imperative is that it only emphasizes how to act irrespective of the result or goal one may achieve  Ã‚   Kant believes that a categorical imperative is where, when there is a fundamental principle of morality. This is because the ethical an d moral causes dominate the other reasons and causes.   For example an organization has a self interested reason to cheat its customers by making lower quality products but if morality is grounded in a categorical imperative, then it’s moral.But if morality is grounded in a categorical imperative than the moral cause against cheating the customers dominates the self interested cause. . The formulations of Kant’s Categorical Imperative are that we should always treat ourselves and others at ends not for your means of our ends. Maxim is a principle on which we act willingly. Kant holds that perform only those maxims which always will to be a universal law. (Howard, 1995)These formulations are used by Kant for different expressive ways for same basic principle of respect and value for others They are not synonymous but can be used for expressing the same in that each formulation helps one to perform in the same manner. The first formulation holds that persons should be treated as beings that have intrinsic value means they have got value which is independent of their worth for any purpose.It rejects the idea of using a person for one’s own purpose. But it tells us that one should never use a person merely as a means to your own ends. This means that if someone is willing to do our work than that is acceptable but if he is forced that is unethical so we should not deceive others in doing our will. Categorical Imperative forbids compulsion and deception. In compulsion or deceiving others, we violate their will and disrupt their autonomy.The second formulation permits to perform only those actions whose maxim can become a universal law of nature. One acting on maxim requires the test of universalization so that everyone can act on it. It is not necessary that a certain maxim should always be a universal law but it must have to be applied on a universal basis, only that is morally permissible. This can be related to the corporate work world in the way that if an employee working in an organization deceives everyone by cheating his employer and by not performing his functions well thinking that what he is doing, is right.If his motives are good then he passes the first test of deontology, but if he applies all his above discussed actions on a universal basis that everyone would start cheating then would this cheating work? Of course not, for the reason that cheating depends on deception. People would not be deceived if they are expected to be cheated. So for Kant and his Categorical Imperative cheating is morally wrong. So it is must to decide that maxim can be applied on a universal scale. If it can then the action is deemed to be good, if it cannot then the action is deemed to be morally bad.Corporations have highly formalized decision-making structures since they are social groups and they have to keep in concern the benefits of the people present in their internal as well as external environment and have a strong influ ence on the faiths and decisions and beliefs of the persons who are members of the large-scale corporation. So according to Kant corporate intentions cannot be reduced to the individual members’ aggregate decisions. In fact, all the decisions must be applied on universal basis which are morally acceptable. Thus the individuals have the power to change the course of the corporate character by retaining their ability, provided that sufficient number agrees on that change which is required. (Howard, 1995)ReferencesAmeriks, Karl. (1982) Kant's Theory of Mind: An Analysis of the Paralogisms of Pure Reason. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Caygill, Howard. (1995) A Kant Dictionary. Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Mass., USA: Blackwell Reference. ISBN 0-631-17534-2, ISBN 0-631-17535-0

Spice Chart

Mature common Woman: Firm of heart strong beautiful brave like a man Bad woman: Thin tottering weak unfriendly The Weaver: Concern Hi her thread skilled a blender of colors Bad Weaver: Silly foolish unskilled unobservant Physician knows the herbs conducts examination professional trustworthy mutates Women spent 30 to 40 hours a week into preparing basic foods Political Leaders/ Elites: Herman Cortes the Spanish captain who first entered the city reported the â€Å"the stone masonry and the woodwork are equally good; they could not be better anywhere. † Vernal Ditz del Castillo admired the Aztec city so much rods could hardly explain Toppling- Tolled leader and apparently a priest dedicated to the god Quadruplicate who later became confused with the god himself in the legends Toppling a religious reformer who was involved in a struggle for priestly or political power with another faction. When he lost him and his followers went into exile they promised to come back on the same date on the cyclical calendar Anesthetically was a leading Aztec king of the 15th century.State Structure: Political units claimed authority on the basis of their military power and their injections to Tolled cultures Aztec distrusted by everyone however they were seen as good use due to their fighting skills. This made them attractive as mercenaries or allies. Mowers death or death while taking prisoners for the sacrificial knife, was the end to a nobles life and ensured eternity in the highest heaven a reward also promised to women who died in childbirth Subjects were forced to pay tribute, surrender lands, and sometimes do military service for the growing Aztec empire Mexican had become a stratified society under the authority of a supreme ruler Greatly expanded into an enormous cult in which the military class played a central role as suppliers Of war captives to be used as sacrificial victims.Aztec state was dominated by a king who represented civil power and served as a repres entative of the gods on earth Human sacrifice and conquest was united with the political power of the ruler and the nobility Banners, cloaks, and other insignia marked off the military ranks Military was organized by ranks based on experience and success in taking captives Military virtues where linked to the cult of sacrifice and infused the whole society Nobility broke free from their old calculi and wend private lands Long distant merchants formed a sort of calculi with patron gods, privileges and internal divisions; served as spies or agents of Aztec military The state controlled the use and distribution of many commodities and redistributed the vast amounts of tribute received from subordinate peoples Tribute levels were assigned on whether the subject people accepted Aztec rule or fought against it Tribute payments where things such as food , slaves, and sacrificial victims, served political and economic ends 1 20,000 mantles of cotton cloth alone were collected as rebut each year and sent to Authentication Aztec divided into seven Calculi, or clans, a form of organization that they later expanded and adapted to their imperial position. -Included neighbors, allies, and dependents Wars/Revolutions: â€Å"flower wars† could be staged in which both sides could obtain captives for sacrifice Diplomacy: Treaties: Courts, Law: Feeding the great population of Authentication and the Aztec confederation in general depended on traditional forms of agriculture. Lands conquered peoples often were appropriated, and food sometimes was demanded as tribute. Nationalism:Human sacrifice, long a part of Micronesian religion, greatly expanded into an enormous cult in which the military class played a central role as suppliers of war captives to be used as sacrificial victims. Interaction- Geography: Lakes contained cities Rise of lakes made it impossible to continue an irrigated system Disease: Patterns of Settlement: Migration: Migrated to the shores of Lake Texaco C hemic migrants came from the northwest and various groups of sedentary farmers Aztec domination expanded from the Etruscan frontier about a hundred miles north Of present day Mexico city Technology: Canoes which allowed transportation Many bridges at intervals Wood work They built artificial floating islands about 17 feet long and 1 00 to 330 feet wide Millard- a machine that grinded helped female have more spare time helped trade Demography: 1. Million to 25 million people 20 million people excluding the Maya areas Aztec were a group of about a 10,000 people Culture- Religions: Micronesian Belief Systems: Aztec where tough warriors and fanatical followers of their gods Human sacrifice Aztec would settle when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a repent in its beak Mexican people who served gods Micronesian religion believed in human sacrifice Gods of rain, fire, water, corn, the sky, and the Sun 128 deities Each deity had a male and female form Believed gods might have diffe rent manifestations similar to avatars of the Hindu deities Certain gods were thought to be the patrons of specific cities, ethnic groups, or occupations Festivals and ceremonies that involved feasting and dancing along with penance and sacrifice God of Fertility called Tallow God of the Rain Coach Gods and Goddesses of water, maize, and fertility Creator deities – gods and goddesses who created the universe Hydrochloric was the old sun god and saw him as a warrior in the day and in order to live he needed the human blood Human hearts and blood sustained the gods Believed the world had been destroyed four times before and we would be destroyed again Food was offered as tribute Philosophies and ideologies: fatalism in Aztec thought and a premonition that eventually the sacrifices would be insufficient and the gods would again bring catastrophe.

Top Ten Characteristics of a Multicultural School Environment

Top Ten Characteristics Of A Multicultural School Environment Not all students are the same so they cannot be taught the same way. Their cultures and experiences the way they learn and respond to schooling. Several cultural factors affect the way students behave in a classroom. Each student is different because of physical and mental abilities, gender, ethnicity, race, language, religion, class, sexual orientation, and age (Gollnick and Chin, p. 6). Multicultural school has different characteristics.I think the most important is the composition of the faculty, administration, and other staff accurately reflects the pluralistic composition of the United States (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7) because this will influence a student’s behavior. The United States has one of the most extensive and diverse educational systems in the world. US population is composed of different races, each with different cultures. I think it would be helpful for a student to study in an environment wherein they value or give respect to different culture. The school environment and the faculty have great impact on student’s development.Because of this, students will be assured that they will not be discriminated. US has a federal legislation for elementary and secondary schools, No Child Left Behind, requires standardized testing of students to determine how effective a school is in helping students to learn (Gollnick and Chin, p. 12). A school is an institution where students learn the value of respecting others, if the faculty, staff and school administration lacks this, and then it can be hard for students with different culture to study and interact with others at school.Second is that the school curriculum incorporates the contributions of many cultural groups and integrates multiple perspectives throughout it (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7). Some people check on a school’s curriculum before they decide on what school they will go. It is important that the school gives val ue to the contributions of many cultural groups. I rank differences in academic achievement levels disappear between males and females, dominant and oppressed group members, and upper-middle-class and low-income students (Gollnick and Chin, p. ) as third because it is also important that students achievement will not be based on their gender, social group or race instead of their knowledge and abilities. With the persistence of racism, poverty, unemployment, and inequality in major social systems such as education, many persons have found it difficult to reconcile daily realities with the publicized egalitarianism that characterizes the public rhetoric (Gollnick and Chin, p. 36).In a multicultural school, students should not experience this, instead, they should experience equality no matter what race, culture, gender or social groups they are involved with. The faculty, administrators, and other staff see themselves as learners enhanced and changed by understanding, affirming, and reflecting cultural diversity (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7). The faculty, administrators, and other staff should be open for changes. They should learn on how to interact on different cultures. They should not be one-sided and be open for some changes because it is a part of life.Teachers and administrators are able to deal with questions of race, inter group relations, and controversial realities on an objective, frank, and professional basis (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7). States and school districts expect new teachers to have proficiencies related to multicultural education by the time they finish a teacher education program (Gollnick and Chin, p. 13). This means, since a teacher is one of the foundation in education, they should be the one to have the skill or proficiency to handle multicultural students.They should use professionalism in dealing with every student no matter what culture they possess. They should be proficient and unbiased in addressing issues raised by students, howeve r making sure that they answer it based on truth. Students are able to use their own cultural resources and voices to develop new skills and to critically explore subject matter (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7). I rank this as seventh because I believed that school is a place where a person develops his own knowledge and skills. The language in which students are taught is one of the most significant issues for schools.Many Americans have become concerned about how best to educate students who are new to the English language and to American culture. As children of all ages and from dozens of language backgrounds seek an education, most schools have adopted some variety of bilingual instruction. Students are taught in their native language until their knowledge of English improves, which is often accomplished through an English as a Second Language program. Cultural differences are treated as differences, rather than as deficiencies that must be addressed in compensatory programs (Gollnick and Chin, p. ). A multicultural school should be fair in giving compensatory benefits for students with different culture. Having different culture should not be a factor in receiving benefits that every student should receive. Instructional materials are free of biases, omissions, and stereotypes (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7). Instructional materials are important in teaching, because these are visualization of what the teacher is teaching. These should be free of biases or stereotyping. Students learn to recognize and confront inequities in school and society (Gollnick and Chin, p. 7).In an environment where there is no discrimination or prejudice, a student will learn how to recognize and confront inequities either in school or society. A multicultural school must teach student on how to address different discrimination. I put this on last because I think discrimination or inequity starts within us. A person must first learn to recognize and confront it inequalities by himself, in ca n be taught on school but experience is a best teacher. BIBLIOGRAPHY Gollnick, Donna M. Chinn, Philip C. 2006. â€Å"Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society. † Seventh Edition. Prentice-Hall/Merrill.

Dehydration of Methylcyclohexanol Essay

A common Sophomore Organic Chemistry laboratory experiment that has great potential for further research is the acid catalyzed dehydration of simple alcohols. The classic dehydration of 2-methylcyclohexanol experiment that was introduced in Journal of Chemical Education in 1967 Taber(1967)JCE:44,p620. The rather simple procedure of distilling an alcohol with an aqueous acid has spawned several investigations that have resulted in formal journal articles. At the same time, the experiment has retained its popularity in the Sophomore Organic Chemistry laboratory curriculum. In one line of inquiry it has been observed that a mixture of 2-methylcyclohexanol diastereomers gives rise to a mixture of three isomeric alkenes Todd(1994)JCE:71,p440; Feigenbaum(1987) JCE:64, p273; Cawley (1997) JCE:74l, p102. Explaining the presence of the three alkene products requires an intense synthesis of information communicated in a typical SOC textbook. The continued popularity of this experiment is corroborated by the observation that Googling the phrase â€Å"Dehydration of 2-Methylcyclohexanol† on January 13th, 2008 returned no less than 20 hits for online student handouts and/or guides for this SOC laboratory experiment. Moreover, this experiment provides fertile ground for experimentation and innovation that has not yet been fully explored. At Dominican University, the SOC students performed this experiment during the Fall 2007 semester with not only the dehydration of 2-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 153087) but also the 4-methyl (Aldrich 153095) and 3-methyl (Aldrich 139734) positional isomers. The reaction products were submitted to GC-FID analysis. As predicted from the Journal of Chemical Education articles, three methylcyclohexene products were observed. Their relative abundance measured by peak height was 80, 16, and 4%. The alkene products represented by these peaks apparently correspond to 1-methycyclehexene, 3-methycyclehexene, and methylenecyclohexane respectively. [pic] The dehydration of 4-methylcyclohexanol produce two products, that can be distinguished by our current GC column, at 90 and 10% with retention times that match 3-methycyclehexene and 1-methycyclehexene respectively. My current theory is that the retention times 3 and 4-methycyclohexene could not be distinguished with GC column and temperature program. However, there is still the issue of how 1-methycyclehexene is produced from 4-methylcyclohexanol. [pic] The dehydration of 3-methylcyclohexanol yields two products, that can be distinguished by our current GC column, at 80 and 20% with retention times that match 3-methylcyclohexene and 1-methycyclehexene respectively. [pic] Samples of 1-methyl and 3-methyl cyclohexenes purchased from Aldrich chemical confirmed two of compound assignments for the dehydration of 2-methylcyclohexanol. Obviously, it remains to separate the 3 and 4-methylcyclohexene by GC. There are several advantages of studying the dehydration of methylcyclohexanols in the first semester of Organic Chemistry: 1) The experiment involves reactions that are typically studied during first semester: E1, E2, and the 1,2-hydride shift. It is a time-tested protocol that has been run in hundreds of labs by thousands of students. 2) Analysis of the experiment involves the understanding of all three mechanisms mentioned previously and how they may compete with each other. In other words, it is a simple experiment that demands a rather involved interpretation of results. 3) It shows that textbooks â€Å"rules† such as the Zaitzev’s rule in this case, are not necessarily rules as such, but rather astute observations of general trends that can vary experimentally depending on the reactant and the reaction conditions. 4) Analytically, we are observing/measuring the presence of 3 known methylcyclohexene and methylenecyclohexane products that can be separated and detected by Gas Chromatography. I believe that the product mixtures can also be analyzed by NMR. 5) The reaction lends itself to an inquiry format that involves the study different reactants and reaction conditions on the ratio of products. In fact, this experiment, in my opinion, is an ideal candidate for a multi-institution collaborative study that combines and interprets student data. want to pursue point #5 further by first grappling with the current literature concerning the â€Å"Evelyn Effect.† The JCE article by David Todd, â€Å"The Dehydration of 2-Methylcyclohexanol Revisited: The Evelyn Effect† observes a kinetic effect that can be explained by proposing that in a mixture of cis/trans 2-Methylcyclohexanol the cis isomer reacts much faster than the trans isomer to give predominately 1-methylcyclohexene. The formation of 1-methylcyclohexene from cis-2-methylcyclohexanol would involve an â€Å"E2-like† anti-elimination of proton and the protonated alcohol. The dehydration of the trans isomer would go through a E1 mechanism that requires the formation of a carbocation before elimination of a proton. A follow-up study by Cawley and Linder: â€Å"The Acid Catalyzed Dehydration of an Isomeric 2-Methylcyclohexanol Mixture† involves a detailed kinetic study. Students began with a 36.6/63.4 cis/trans mixture of 2-methylcyclohexanol with a cyclohexanol impurity (% impurity was not reported). They performed thy typical reaction+distillation and collected fractions at 4, 8, 16, 24, and 28 minutes. They also collected a 0.1 mL volume of the sample of the reaction mixture at each of these time intervals. These fractions were analyzed by 1H NMR and GC for composition. The cis/trans rate constants for the dehydration of reaction were determined to be 8.4/1.0 – much less than 30/1 ratio reported in 1931 by Vavon and Barbier. An intriguing study! It would be very interesting to have the raw (student) data on this one. Very little is said about the product ratios in the distillate fractions, they just report that they obtained 2.1% methylenecyclohexane and not the 4% previously reported. The dehydration of methylcyclohexanols provides a fecund problem to explore. The key is to develop methods to determine the distribution of alkene products in terms of % total alkenes. There are four possible positional isomers: I. methylenecyclohexane (Aldrich, Acros, 1192-37-6); II. racemic 3-methyl-1-cyclohexene (Acros, 591-48-0); III. 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene (Aldrich, Acros 591-49-1) IV. racemic 4-methyl-1-cyclohexene (Aldrich, Acros 591-47-9). Two of the alkene positional isomers contain an asymmetric carbon. The obvious place to start is by studying how the alcohol structure affects the product distribution of alkenes. There are 5 positional isomers of methylcyclohexanol: I. cyclohexanemethanol (Aldrich 100-49-2); II. 1-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 590-67-0); III. racemic cis&trans 2-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 583-59-5) IV. racemic cis&trans 3-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 591-23-1) V. cis&trans 4-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 589-91-3). Three of the alcohols are present in cis and trans diastereomer pairs: cis 2-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 7445-70-1) trans 2-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 7445-52-9) cis 3-methylcyclohexanol (5454-79-5) trans 3-methylcyclohexanol (7443-55-2) cis 4-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 7731-28-4) trans 4-methylcyclohexanol (Aldrich 7731-28-4). In addition there are 4 entaniomer pairs among the alcohol starting materials. Most of them are commercially available, for a price. [pic] Besides the structure of the alcohol, what other variables may be explored? 1) One variable for this reaction that could be investigated is the nature of the catalytic acid. Aqueous acids, such as the 85% H3PO4 typically used for this experiment, contain some water which is also product of the reaction. I may also add that, the amount of acid is not always in catalytic proportion to the substrate. In my current protocol 0.075 moles of acid is used to dehydrate 0.2 moles of alcohol. Non-aqueous acids may give different results. Acidic resins are an interesting substitute for aqueous acids. For example, John Ludeman and Kurt Field of Bradley University presented a poster at the 2006 ACS Great Lakes Regional Meeting on the use of Dowex 50WX2-100, Amberlite IRC-50S, and Amberlyst 15, for the dehydration of alcohols. 2) Another variable would be the reaction conditions. In the current paradigm, the alkene is distilled away from the reaction mixture. Presumably, it is being distilled away as it is formed. An ad-hoc observation is that students seem to get somewhat different product ratios if they distill is carefully or if they â€Å"crank up the heat† and distill it quicker. What if the reaction mixture was refluxed to equilibrium before distillation? Would we see more thermodynamic products? 3) Reaction conditions could be changed in other ways too. Microwave irradiation is currently being explored as an alternative to heating reactions. Possibly, sonication could also be performed on the alcohol. 4) Another avenue to explore may be different strategies to push the reaction towards the products other than distilling off the alkene. For example, removing water with molecular sieves may be tried. The last installment of this series will explore the logistics of â€Å"dehydration of methylcycohexanols† as a collaborative experiments. The most straightforward collaboration would be to perform the â€Å"dehydration of methylcycohexanols† experiment in the same way and compare the relative yield of alkenes as measured by GC from different starting alcohols. Comparisons could be made with past data or concurrently collected data from different institutions. This may be seem fairly straightforward, but there will most likely be discrepancies that could will need to be explored. One aspect to make note of would be the source and composition of the methylcyclohexanols used a starting materials. Sigma-Aldrich has †¢ 1-methylcyclohexanol #M38214; †¢ 2-methylcyclohexanol #66320, #215295, #178829, #24113, & #153087, †¢ 3-methylcyclohexanol #139734; †¢ 4-methylcyclohexanol #66360, #104183, #104191, & #153095; †¢ as well as just plain methylcyclohexanol #66370. An experimental variable that is hard to control is rate of heating. Students who crank up the hot plate to get done quickly (even though they were told not to) may get different results than those students who go slowly and maintain an even temperature. Different GC columns and methods may also give results that need to be corroborated.

Australia Ripples the Waters as It Relaxes Cross-Media and Foreign Essay

Australia Ripples the Waters as It Relaxes Cross-Media and Foreign Ownership Laws - Essay Example That pithy exchange from the past captures the essence of the present-day debate in Australia triggered by the government announcement of plans to deregulate media after 20 years of controls on foreign ownership and cross-media transactions. The Morley-Jones clash of views between the public service and business orientation of media deferred to old UK conditions, but the same hairsplitting still rings true today and continues to reverberate throughout the world as economic opportunities diminish and competition for scarce resources tighten up. Since almost all sectors of national economies have been served up for foreign interests in the universal drive to generate much-needed foreign investment, governments in many parts of the world, both developed and underdeveloped, are fixing their attention on the media industry as the last remaining enticement for foreign investors. As Australian Sen. Ron Walker puts it: "Media has become the last major industry begging for reform to bring it to the 21st century."2 By inference, the senator is batting for a new scheme that would keep Australian media in step with the times by allowing foreign investment into the arena. Australia is veering towards that exact direction, with the reforms on foreign media ownership and cross-media transactions programmed to take effect in 20073. ... This merger is called cross-media ownership in industry parlance. In the interim, the government conducts a nationwide multi-sector consultation in a desire to accommodate every viewpoint in the reform framework and thus hammer out a final policy that is acceptable to all. The more strident objections, as expected, come from the vanguards of press freedom and the citizens' rights to the widest sources of news and information brought to them without the biases of big business. Big businesses the media firms will indeed become if the set of current restrictions are pulled out. Thus, the debate now raging in Australia's media landscape centers on the basic question: Are the economic benefits promised by the entry of foreign media and liberalization of cross-media rules enough to justify placing at risk the spirit of competition and independence of media This essay weighs the pros and cons of the issue, ranging the Australian media reform plan against that of other countries exhibiting the same inclinations, if only to see which models it can use to improve a framework that would appeal to the cross-section of Australian society. II. Foreign Ownership of Media Under the Australian media reform plan, regulations on media ownership will be relaxed as they involve both Australian citizens and foreigners. All existing restrictions on foreign ownership and control of media will be abolished as well as relevant barriers contained in both the 1992 Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and the Foreign Investment Policy under the 1975 Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act (FATA)4. Limits on simultaneous ownership of

Spain and its unemployment problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Spain and its unemployment problems - Essay Example Causes of high unemployment rates in Spain There have been high reported incidences of unemployment throughout the entire region of the European Union and Spain being among the countries highly affected by the issue. According to data collected by the economics ministry, the rate of unemployment varies among the countries in European Union. For example, it indicated that by then, the rate of unemployment in Luxembourg was 13%, while the rate of unemployment in Spain was 24%. Therefore, there must be different internal factors in Spain, which contributes to the increase of unemployment rates.These factors include; Spain faces high rates of unemployment due to Real Wage Unemployment. This is a dis-equilibrium unemployment, which happens when the required real wages for a given jobs are above the market clearing level. This type of unemployment in Spain results from trade unions and other wages boards. Secondly, Spain records high rates of unemployment because of demand deficient unempl oyment, which lowers the demand for both the goods and services produced within the country. Economic recession experienced in Spain contributes to this problem as they results into many companies closing up their businesses hence putting off workers. Thirdly, Spain has high rates of unemployment rates resulting from frictional unemployment. This type of unemployment occurs when people change jobs. It can also occur when fresh graduates from universities take a lot of time while in search of an appropriate job that has attractive wages hence being among the unemployed. Finally, incidences of unemployment are high in Spain due low quality and poorly designed... Unemployment refers to an economic indicator that measures the persons who are willing and capable of working but they cannot due to inadequate jobs. According to the report released by the Economy minister in Spain, the country is experiencing high rates of recession, which will result into an increase in the unemployment rates. The rate of unemployment in the country has highly increased to 25%; hence, negatively affecting its financial status. In Spain, the rate of unemployment is elevated amidst women than men. This is because in 2012, the total unemployed men accounts for 23.60% as women accounts for 24.60% (Dobre& Adriana 184). The rate of unemployment is very high among the youths, which shows the difficulties that young people encounter in search of jobs. Spain has also recorded an inflation rate of 1.9 %. Since 2002 up to 2012, the highest inflation rate was 5.3 % recorded in July 2008 while the lowest was 1.4% recorded in July 2009 (Osuna 43). Therefore, it is important for Spain’s government to introduce control bank monetary policy in order to maintain price stability so that the inflation rates can be below and close to 2% as increase in inflation rate increases the rate of unemployment in a given state (Osuna 43).As a means of solving the issue of unemployment in Spain, the government should ensure that it fosters economic growth because it highly generates more jobs. This means that the legislative authorities should study their economic process and introduce impetus to the economy including buying debts from agencies for them to hire.