The Role of Social Media

Introduction Social media is becoming a major force in the world of business. Human beings have created social networks to exchange ideas, views, concepts, and information (Bradley McDonald 2013). Social media increases the level of interaction among individuals in many societies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social media platforms ensure communities, organisations, and individuals create and share user-generated ideas or content (What Role Can Social Media Play For Your Business Organisation? 2014). Social media continues to change the way people and communities communicate between themselves. The role of social media and internet-based applications in organisations is immeasurable. Many businesses have succeeded because of their continued use of social media. This essay highlights the unique roles of social media in modern organisations. Role of Soci al Media in Contemporary Organisations: Advantages and Disadvantages Many corporations have succeeded because of new technological applications and resources. Companies are using modern technologies to create the best plans and strategies. Information technology (IT) has helped many firms address most of their problems. This approach has increased the level of communication and decision-making. The internet is ‘a powerful invention because it supports many operations and activities in every firm’ (Harris Rae 2009, p. 29). The globe is embracing the use of these modern technologies to provide quality customer services. Leaders and business managers are using new technologies to support their consumers. Every successful company uses new technologies to achieve its goals. Social media is a fundamental area of technology. Social media can take ‘different shapes such as social networks, internet blogs, online forums, wikis, photographs, book-markings, and podcastsâ₠¬â„¢ (Miner, 2007, p. 73). Many people are currently using social media to exchange photos and information. Many societies and agencies are currently using social media to spread new ideas to their audiences (Miner 2007). Mobile devices and cell phones are making social networking possible. Businesses also stand to gain a lot from these modern technologies. The approach will ‘equip employees with skills, opportunities, information, and resources to improve performance’ (Harris Rae 2009, p. 29).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ulrich identifies the best framework to support organisational performance. Businesses are always focusing on the best practices to achieve their goals. Managers can use Ulrich’s framework to make their firms successful. According to this framework, technological innovations can promote human resource (HR) practices (Luthans Yous sef 2007). The organisational process should identify the targeted objectives and goals. A collaborative approach will ensure every HR manager mentors and supports his or her employees (Armstrong 2006). The strategic focus will place the firm on the right path. The approach will also encourage more companies to embrace the use of social media. The above discussion explains how social media empowers both managers and workers. The HR team will also address the challenges affecting every employee in the firm. Scholars have used Strategic Choice Theory to support the use of social media in every business firm. The theory examines every force in the business environment. Social media is a powerful external factor that affects the effectiveness of every firm. Companies should make the best adjustments in order to achieve their potentials. Social media is currently becoming a critical force in every environment. The theory ‘offers three approaches towards adapting every feasible opti on’ (Pearlman Gates 2010, p. 252). Every business should consider the best strategy to become profitable. Strategic Choice Theory encourages leaders to consider every viable approach. The decision depends on the existing factors or forces in the society. The above theories support the use of social media in businesses towards better performances and HR practices. Social media supports many practices in a business. Human Resource Management (HRM) is a critical practice in every firm. HRM seeks to improve the level of business performance by supporting the changing needs of every worker. HR managers ensure every employee gets the best support and remuneration. The department formulates the best systems, strategies, and policies depending on the nature of the organisation (Bradley McDonald 2013). Social media is a critical tool towards better HR practices. HR managers can train, monitor, and recruit new workers using such social media resources.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social media promotes collaboration between employees and HR managers. The practice ensures every worker is contented with his or her working environment. Many HR managers have gained their objectives because of these social networks (Hausman Siekpe 2009). Social media also improves the quality of communication in every firm. Modern technologies ‘allow staff and managers to communicate using video-conferencing, online chats, and social networks’ (Bradley McDonald 2013, p. 63). The practice has helped managers monitor their employees and address the issues affecting their working environments (Bradley McDonald 2013). Social media discourages the formation of organisational hierarchies. Every employee wants to interact with his or her boss. The approach will ensure such employees engage in immediate decision-making processes. Social media p romotes the level of interaction between leaders and their employees. The practice has created new situations in many organisations. Many employees are now able to support their business goals using social media (Harris Rae 2009). The other benefit of social media is the ability to promote marketing. Companies can use mobile networks and social media resources to inform their customers about every new service or product. Such companies will attract more customers and eventually achieve their objectives. Companies can use different platforms such as Facebook.com and Google+ to improve their marketing strategies. Wal-Mart ‘uses social media to inform more consumers about its services’ (Moth, 2013, p. 2). Many companies ‘are now embracing social media to promote their products’ (Taufique Shahriar 2011, p. 18). Social media also encourages and supports electronic commerce (e-commerce). The internet has increased the number of services and goods purchased onli ne. This practice explains why e-commerce is common in many countries (Harris Rae 2009). Companies such as eBay and Amazon.com use social media to inform their customers about every new product.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A large number of companies are using social media networks to achieve their targets. Every customer wants to buy his or her product via the internet. Online business practices are becoming common today than ever before (Taufique Shahriar 2011). The above advantages explain why social media is relevant for every organisation. Social media is a major strength because it promotes business productivity. Social media has reduced the costs incurred by many organisations. Companies can use social media to support their employees. Every HR manager can use social media to empower his or her employees. This situation explains why social media remains critical for many businesses. Marketers and manufacturers can use the internet to communicate with their stakeholders and customers. The customers can provide immediate feedbacks about every service or product. Firms can use social media to identify the best market segments. Online marketing and targeting identifies various customers ‘dep ending on their needs and expectations’ (Kaplan Haenlein 2010, p. 64). Marketers use such segments to market their commodities successfully. Such firms can use ‘consumer behaviours, psychographics, and demographics to market their products’ (Singh 2009, p. 24). Business managers should consider the best strategies in order to place their organisations on the right path. Social media transforms every business practice and decision-making process. This discussion explains why many organisations are embracing the use of various online-based applications. Social media also has its share of weaknesses. According to Pearlman and Gates (2010), social media increases chances of hacking. Hackers can launch virus attacks or commit detrimental frauds. Such malpractices will affect the performance of every firm. Analysts have identified how social media can potentially reduce the level of employee commitment and productivity. Some employees will use social media application s for their personal gains. These employees ‘will become less productive if they are busy chatting with their friends or updating their statuses’ (Taufique Shahriar 2011, p. 16). Hackers can deceive most of these employees using various online traps. Such strategies will eventually result in identify theft or data loss. This practice can have detrimental impacts on the performance of every business. Social media can tarnish the image of an organisation (Norton 2011). Some employees may post new tweets or comments that might affect the company’s image. Wal-Mart Corporation is one of the primary retailers in many parts of the globe. The retailer focuses on the best opportunities and environmental forces in order to attain its business potentials (Pan Li 2011). Wal-Mart uses different social networks such as Facebook.com and Twitter.com to increase its online activities and presence. The HR managers at Wal-Mart use social media to communicate with their workers. T his practice has ‘supported the relationships between the employees and managers at Wal-Mart’ (Moth 2013, p. 2). Conclusion The current use of social networks has become a mandatory practice for many entrepreneurs and firms. Wal-Mart Corporation has remained a leading retailer in many nations across the world. The company also improves its HR practices using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.com. The above discussion explains why companies should use social media to improve their HR practices and business performances. Social media has become a requirement for many corporations. Social media has made Wal-Mart a leading competitor in its industry. Marketers can use social media to increase their sales and profits. According to Abraham (2012), social media increases the level of business profitability. Companies can create dynamic teams using social media applications. Corporations can also use social networks to make accurate and realistic HR decisions. Every business should also evaluate the challenges associated with social media such as hacking and data loss. This practice will improve the level of productivity. Reference List Abraham, S 2012, ‘Development of Employee Engagement Programme on the basis of Employee Satisfaction Survey’, Journal of Economic Development, Management, IT, Finance and Marketing, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 27-37. Armstrong, M 2006, A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, Kogan Page Limited, London. Bradley, A McDonald, M 2013, The Social Organisation: How to Use Social Media to Tap the Collective Genius of Your Customers and Employees, Harvard Business Review Press, Chicago. Harris, L Rae, A 2009, ‘Social networks: the future of marketing for small business’, Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 24-31. Hausman, A Siekpe, J 2009, ‘The effect of web interface features on consumer online purchase intentions’, Journal of Business Research, vol. 62, no. 1, p p. 5-13. Kaplan, A Haenlein, M 2010, ‘Users of the World, Unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media’, Business Horizons, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 59-68. Luthans, F Youssef, C 2007, ‘Emerging Positive Organisational Behavior’, Journal of Management, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 321-349. Miner, J 2007, Organisational Behavior: From theory to Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Moth, D 2013, How Wal-Mart uses Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Web. Norton, C 2011, The Seven deadly disadvantages of Social Media. Web. Pan, B Li, X 2011, ‘The long tail of destination image and online marketing’, Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 132-152. Pearlman, D Gates, A 2010, ‘Hosting business meetings and special events in virtual worlds: A fad or the future’, Journal of Convention Event Tourism, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 247-265. Raymond, A 2011, Fundamentals of human resource management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Singh, K 2009, Organisational Behavior: Text and Cases, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Taufique, K Shahriar, F 2011, ‘Online Social media as a driver of buzz marketing: Who’s riding?’, Annual Conference on Innovations in Business Management, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-23. What Role Can Social Media Play For Your Business Organisation? 2014. Web. This essay on The Role of Social Media was written and submitted by user Cristopher Butler to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

America is a violent society essays

America is a violent society essays Undoubtedly, America is a violent society. Each year in America there are 11 127 firearm homicides. Compared to other countries this is an extremely large amount of guns. Why is it that there are so many deaths due to firearms in America than in any other country? We will explore possible reasons why America is such a violent society to answer this question. Somehow people in America have brainwashed themselves into believing that owning a gun enhances safety. America has the highest rate of firearm ownership than any other country. With about 200 million guns its a gun crazy country . But why is it that if guns enhance safety there are more and more deaths due to firearms than any other country? If guns ensure safety then there should be fewer deaths. Owning a gun doesnt guarantee safety. Its an illusion. Almost half of American households own firearms. They have these firearms because they believe these potentially fatal weapons provide safety for their families and themselves. A very large proportion of the gun related deaths in America are due to people mistaking family members for burglars. This is not safety. Firearms in America are very easily accessed. In the documentary, bowling for columbine, Michael Moore has shown simply and effectively how easily guns and ammunition can be accessed in America. In America you can open a bank account and as a bonus you get a free gun. They offer you a wide choice of guns when you open up an account. The bank is also an authorized federal arms dealer. Michael Moore discovered this gun offer in the local newspaper that showed a gun across the top with the heading More bang for your buck . After receiving his gun Michael then went to the local barber-shop for a haircut, where he purchased hassle-free bullets. The two boys from the columbine shooting, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris bought their guns from a gun show and their bullets ...

Using Maps with American Literature as Informational Texts

Using Maps with American Literature as Informational Texts Teachers of American literature in middle or high school classrooms have the opportunity to select from a little over  400 years of writing by American authors. Because each author offers a different perspective on the American experience, teachers may also choose to provide the geographic context that influenced each of the authors taught in a curriculum. In American literature, geography is often central to an authors narrative.   Representing the geography of where an author was born, raised, educated, or wrote can be done on a map, and the creation of such a map involves the discipline of cartography. Cartography or Map Making The International Cartographic Association (ICA)  defines cartography: Cartography is the discipline dealing with the conception, production, dissemination and study of maps. Cartography is also about representation – the map. This means that cartography is the whole process of mapping. The  structural models  of cartography  can be used to  describe the process of mapping for an  academic discipline. Supporting the use of maps in the study of literature to better understand how geography has informed or influenced an author is made in an  argument made by  Sà ©bastien Caquard and William Cartwright in their 2014  article  Narrative Cartography: From Mapping Stories to the Narrative of Maps and Mapping  Ã‚  published in  The Cartographic Journal. The article explains how  the potential of maps to both decipher and tell stories is virtually unlimited. Teachers may use maps that help students better comprehend how the geography of America may influence authors and their literature. Their description of narrative cartography is an aim,  to shed light on some of the facets of the rich and complex relationships between maps and narratives. Influence of Geography on American Authors Studying the  geography that influenced the authors of American literature can mean using some of the lenses of social sciences such as  economics,  political science,  human  geography,  demography,   psychology  or  sociology. Teachers may spend time in class and provide the cultural geography background of the authors who penned the most traditional selections of literature in high school  such as Nathanial Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men.   In each of  these selections, as in most American literature,  the  context of an authors  community,  culture, and relationships is  tied to specific time and location. For example, the geography of colonial settlements is seen in the  first pieces of American literature, beginning with a  1608 memoir by Captain John Smith, English explorer and  leader of Jamestown (Virginia). The explorers accounts are combined in a piece  titled  Ã‚  A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Noate as Hath Happened in Virginia.   In this recounting, consider by many to be wildly exaggerated, Smith describes  the story of  Pocahontas saving his life from the hand of Powhatan.   More recently, the 2016 winner of the Pulitzer Prize  Ã‚  for fiction  was written by  Viet Thanh Nguyen  who  was born in Vietnam and raised in America. His story  The Sympathizer  is described as, A layered immigrant tale told in the wry, confessional voice of a man of two minds- and two countries, Vietnam and the United States. In this award-winning narrative, the contrast of these two cultural geographies is central to the story. The American Writers Museum: Digital Literary Maps There are a number of different digital  map resources available to teachers with Internet access  to use in providing students background information. Should teachers want to give  students an opportunity to research American authors, a good starting place might be the American Writers Museum,  A National Museum Celebrating American Writers. The museum already has a digital presence, with their physical offices scheduled to open in Chicago in 2017. The mission of the  American Writers Museum is to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives. One featured page on the museums  website is a Literary America  map  that features  American writers from all over the country.  Visitors can  click on a states icon to see what literary landmarks are located there   such as author homes and museums, book festivals, literary archives,  or even an authors final resting places.   This Literary America  map will help students meet several of the goals of the new American Writers Museum which are to: Educate the public about American writers – past and present;Engage visitors to the Museum in exploring the many exciting worlds created by the spoken and written word;Enrich and deepen appreciation for good writing in all its forms;Inspire visitors  to discover, or rediscover, a love of reading and writing. Teachers should know that the digital Literary America map on the museums website is interactive, and there are links to multiple other websites. For example, by clicking on New York State icon, students could choose to be connected to an obituary on the New York Public Librarys website for  J.D. Salinger,  author of Catcher in the Rye. Another click on the New York State icon could  take students to  a news story about the 343 boxes  containing the  personal papers and documents of the poet  Maya Angelou  that were acquired  by the  Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This acquisition was featured in an article in the NY Times, Schomburg Center in Harlem Acquires Maya Angelou Archive  and there are links to many of these documents. There are links on the Pennsylvania state icon to museums dedicated to authors born in the state. For example, students can choose between Edgar Allan Poe National Historical SitePearl S. Buck HouseZane Grey Museum Similarly, a click on the Texas state icon offers students an opportunity to digitally visit three museums dedicated to the American short story author, William S. Porter, who wrote under the pen name O.Henry: O. Henry HouseO. Henry MuseumWilliam Sidney Porter, O. Henry Museum The State of  California offers multiple sites for students to explore on American authors who had a presence in the state: Eugene O’Neill National Historic SiteJack London State Historic ParkJohn Muir National Historic SiteNational Steinbeck CenterRobinson Jeffers Tor House FoundationThe Beat MuseumWill Rogers Ranch Additional Literary Author Map Collections 1. At the Clark Library (University of Michigan Library) there are a number of literary maps  for students to view.  One such  literary map was drawn by  Charles Hook Heffelfinger (1956).  This map lists the last names of many American writers along with their principal works within the state in which the book takes place. The description of the map states: As with many literary maps, while many of the works included may have been commercial successes at the time of the map’s publication in 1956, not all of them are still acclaimed today. Some classics are included, however, such as  Gone With the Wind  by Margaret Mitchell and  The Last of the Mohicans  by James Fenimore Cooper. These maps can be shared as a projection in class, or students can follow the link themselves. 2. The Library of Congress  offers an online collection  of maps titled, Language of the Land: Journeys Into Literary America. According to the website:   The inspiration for this exhibition was the Library of Congresss collection of literary mapsmaps that acknowledge the contributions of authors to a specific state or region as well as those that depict the geographical locations in works of fiction or fantasy.   This exhibition includes the  1949  Booklovers Map  published by R.R. Bowker of New York which  features important points of interest across America’s historical, cultural, and literary landscape at the time. There are many different maps in this online  collection, and the promotional description for the exhibition reads: From Robert Frosts New England farms to John Steinbecks California valleys to Eudora Weltys Mississippi Delta, American authors have shaped our view of Americas regional landscapes in all their astonishing variety. They have created unforgettable characters, inseparably identified with the territory they inhabit. Author Maps AreInformational Texts Maps can be used as informational texts in the English Language Arts classroom as part of the key shifts educators can use in order to  integrate the Common Core State Standards.  These key shifts of the  Common Core  state that: Students must be immersed in information about the world around them if they are to develop the strong general knowledge and vocabulary they need to become successful readers and be prepared for college, career, and life. Informational texts play an important part in building students’ content knowledge. English teachers can use  maps as informational texts to build student background knowledge and improve comprehension. The use of maps as informational texts  could be covered under the following standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.7  Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.7  Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a persons life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.7  Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem. Conclusion Letting students explore American authors in their geographic and historic context through cartography, or mapmaking, can help their comprehension of American literature. The visual representation of the geography that contributed to a work of literature is best represented by a map. The use of maps   in the English classroom  can also help students develop an appreciation of Americas literary geography while increasing their familiarity with the  visual language of maps for other content areas.

Avian influenza Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Avian influenza - Essay Example The swine flu epidemic of 2009 made things look worse. Efforts since then had been consistently attempting to be ever-ready for an influenza epidemic through improving global surveillance and response capacity. The H5N1 avian flu virus was highly pathogenic and had caused disease widely in wild birds and poultry (CDC, 2009). It caused 408 human cases by February 2009. Guidance for testing of suspected human cases infected with pathological avian flu with H5N1 influenza virus were provided. Enhanced surveillance by local and national health care services was to continue. Cases were to be notified to the local and national authorities immediately a presumptive diagnosis is made. Follow-up of cases was a necessity. In the US, information had to be transferred to the CDC (CDC, 2009). Guidelines for diagnosis Testing and reporting guidelines had been established by the CDC. A person diagnosed presumptively with avian flu had to be hospitalized because it could end fatally. Another require ment for hospitalization was that the temperature of the patient would be equal to or more than 38Â °C. The patient could have any other respiratory illness like pneumonia or acute or severe respiratory illness (CDC, 2009). ... The infection was spread through droplet infection when in close contact. Procedure for diagnosis Clinicians needed to notify the local and higher authorities when a person was to be diagnosed using laboratory tests. Specific guidelines were also followed for the clinicians who performed the specimen collection and testing. Protective equipment for the clinicians was to be strictly used to prevent any contamination of the body parts with the suspected or confirmed person with H5N1 virus and when entering the room where aerosol generating procedures have been used where such a patient was lying in (CDC, 2009). The respiratory protector (N-95) filtering face mask, goggles, face shield, latex gloves, gown and head covering were all included (CDC, 2009). In the absence of a particulate respirator, other certified respirators like the NIOSH-certified N-, R-, or P-class respirators could be used. The aerosol-generating procedures could be done only with the N-95 respirator or powered air p urifying respirators (CDC, 2009). Bronchoalveolar lavage was a high-risk aerosol generating procedure which required excellent protection. If the clinician had a beard, a loose-fitting respirator could be used. The virus could be detected from the bronchoalveolar lavage, oropharyngeal swabs, or endotracheal aspirate as these specimens usually had the virus. The nasopharyngeal swab contained lesser virus so lower respiratory specimen should be taken (CDC, 2009). However nasopharyngeal swabs sufficed for detection of influenza viruses A and B. If most virus count needed to be isolated, multiple respiratory specimens from the same patient could be taken on other days too. The

Hedging an Equity Portfolio Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hedging an Equity Portfolio - Coursework Example Zero cost collars can be defined as a strategy which is created by buying a put and selling a call in the same underlying security so that the strike price of the call gives rise to the exact amount of profit to negate the loss in the put option, so that the underlying scenario leads to neither loss nor gain. This action or strategy is mostly used by the bullish traders or investors who anticipate always a rise or a hike in value of the underlying securities and thus the investors want to protect their position by offsetting the excessive rise in prices by putting a collar or a ceiling and simultaneously creating a put to offset the hike in prices leading to profit. The zero cost strategy is mostly carried out using LEAPS options. The profit of the zero cost collars can be calculated by using the formulae- Purchase price of the shares – strike price of the call whereas the minimum loss can be a stock price at the beginning- strike price of put-/+ net credit or debit on trade.T he zero cost collar can be used to protect the investors investment effectively since utilizing this strategy we can mitigate the losses completely and even if the investor is a bullish trader then the zero collar strategy can be used to even reduce the amount of price hike or value hike in the case of the afore mentioned underlying securities. We have taken the date on 3/7/2014. Thus we have shown the strike price, sale price of the call and sell price of put of FTSE 100 index.

Globalization in Sub-Saharan Africa Essay Example for Free

Globalization in Sub-Saharan Africa Essay ABSTRACT It is factual that globalization began before the industrial revolution was existent in the colonial period and continues to be a major influence on how governments worldwide operate. When analyzing the effects of globalization, a common controversial debate is whether globalization has maimed the society or has brought significant benefit. The African society is used severally by anti-globalists to defend their views. This paper explores the negative dynamics of globalization in Sub-saharan Africa e.g. undermining of state sovereignty and hastening of environmental degradation of the continent. However, it does not suggest that globalization is entirely bad nor does it say that globalization is the only cause of Africa’s problems. It proposes some measures that can be considered when globalizing the African market so that this negative effects can be minimized. INTRODUCTION The nations of the world have synchronized their trading goods and services, financial markets, Ideologies, innovations and cultures through globalization. The free flow market policy adopted by many countries has led to significantly positive outcomes in the broader African region for example, creating new job ventures and advancements in technology. However, globalization has also cast a dark shadow on some sectors of the African economy , an issue that this paper will put into perspective with a particular case study on the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some proposed consequences of globalization addressed here include increased conflicts in the area, erosion of state sovereignty, imbalance in the ecosystem and income inequality. Sub-Saharan Africa is a term used to refer to all of Africa except the Northern region. Most of their economies are agricultural based and are not as stable as those in the Western world. The average income in sub-Saharan Africa is below the poverty line level. Nevertheless, this region enjoys a large comparative advantage on raw resources in the extractive industries for example minerals and oil. The demand for these minerals can perhaps explain why immediately before the great recession in 2008,there was the 27% increase in FDI; the highest ever seen(Jaja:3).Foreign companies can obtain these minerals at a very low cost in some African countries and reap huge marginal benefits. Some of the avenues they use to get them are questionable as is the case with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Congo Zaire) is a central African nation that borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its neighbouring countries include Central African Republic Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola and Tanzania (the two are separated by Lake Tanganyika).It is the second largest nation by area with over 65 million people. It was a Belgian colony and gained independence in June 1960. DRCongo has the most variety in biodiversity in Africa and enviable amounts of rare natural resources such as diamond, copper, gold, cobalt, timber and coltan. With its resources one would expect that such a country would be awash with prime economic developments, projects to exploit all agricultural potential and high standards of living. On the contrary, most of the civilians in DRC live in poverty and have not benefited from the rich well of resources they have. They are victims of years of civil war, propelled by power- hungry, conniving national leaders and part of the international community. A sneak peak into the colonial history of DRCongo reveals that the exploitation of the minerals for self-intrests is not a recent phenomena. POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DRC In the late 1800s, King Leopold of Belgium acquired full rights of ownership of the Congo territory at the Conference of Berlin. He governed it like private property and the area experienced some developments. However, this came at the expense of the local people because they were treated as slaves and could not reap any fruits from their labour. Intense pressure from the international community on the Belgian parliament led to the reclaiming of the Congo region from the king’s hands. It was renamed The Belgian Congo state from 1908. There was significant economic growth at the time but the indigenous people were on the losing end again, exploited and enslaved. The fight for independence was won on June 1960 with Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president. Lumumba would later be fired and Joseph Mobutu, chief of staff of the new army, aimed to ‘restore’ the relationship between the two leaders with the help of the USA and Belgium governments. In January 1961, Katanga forces and Belgian troops executed Patrice. The Katanga succession ended in 1963 with the help of UN forces. There were several governments afterwards; the most notable one being that of Mobutu Sese Seko. His ‘career’ as president began in 1971. He was largely dictatorial; for example he revoked the powers of the legislature, fired the prime minister and conducted an election where he was the only candidate. Funds were mismanaged, state cooperations collapsed and the country was in debt. He renamed the country several times but officially used Congo-Zaire. Note that he had several billions of US dollars in a Swiss Bank account and still had favour with the USA government. It is believed that he even had a world bank official as a personal assistant. This in turn gave him â€Å"confidential information about granting aid to Zaire†. (Reno 1998:152) In 1994, the DRC was a refuge for the many Rwandese Hutus fleeing the Rwandan genocide. Refugee camps a few kilometers from the border with Rwanda were planning zones for attacks into Rwanda. Mobutu cheered them on. However in 1996, Rwandan led forces backed by Uganda and the The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire, led by Laurent Kabila, advanced into Kinshasa to close down Hutu camps in Eastern DRC.As a result, Mobutu’s government was overthrown when he was away and Laurent Desire Kabila was declared president. Kabila’s leadership was no different from his predecessor’s. Conflict between his government and rebel groups ensued in August 1998 because Kabila saw the Rwandese rebels as threat to his government. The Ugandan group, led by Congolese warlord John Pierre Bemba, formed the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, joined the Rwandese and together they terrorized the citizens and the government .Kabila requested for military assistance from the international community but they hesitantly supported him since they did not know him enough to trust him. In 1999, the rebels and the government signed a peace accord and six other countries were witnesses. A new constitution was promulgated in May 2005 and in 2006 the first free and fair elections were held. Tension increased just before elections and the government, backed by the UN, disarmed all non- governmental factions to keep the nation stable. The trail of this civil war commonly equated to Africa’s first world war has left a trail of death, despair and pain amongst the people with over 5 million dead, several displaced, and thousands of women and children raped. It is interesting to question the ability of the rebel groups to oust governments sequentially. Could someone be funding them? Are there some hidden interests? The minerals in the DRC, and coltan in particular, are treasured gems in the technological era. When raw, coltan, which is composed of columbium and tantalum, looks like black mud or sand. It is used to produce capacitors. Capacitors are used to conduct electrical charge in high tech equipment for example cellular phones, computers and some jet engines. The DRC has the world’s largest reserves of the mineral. Four fifths of the world’s supply of coltan is in Africa and DRC has eighty percent of it. In the late 1900s,the sales of tantalum increased by three hundred percent. This time period coincided with the times of civil war in the DRC.As Dena Montague states in her article, â€Å"Stolen Goods: Coltan and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo†, international cooperations such as Banro-resources cooperation, Finconcorde and Raremet imported DRC coltan via Rwanda for use in Asia, Europe and US A. In response to UN accusations of involvement in illegal trading H.C Stark, one of the largest producers of capacitors commented that they only purchase raw materials from established companies. However, established companies were indeed involved in illegally obtaining goods from DRC. Investors restructured deals in support of Desire Kabila instead of Mobutu in 1996.This was a violation of the constitution which stated â€Å"The soil and subsoil belong to the state-prospecting, exploration and exploitation requires permits from Ministry of Mines and Energy.† Local militia backed by Ugandan and Rwandese forces got supplies in form of food, money and military equipment in exchange for smuggled goods. The militia men took stronghold of areas with huge deposits of gold and coltan e.g. Bukavu, Lubumbashi and Mayi. Gold was exported through Uganda and into United Arab Emirates. It was difficult to trace from there. It is worth noting that between 1995 and 2006,gold was one of Uganda’s main exports. Additionally, Uganda had GDP growth rate of 6% per annum in 1999 yet the average GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa was about 2.5%in the same time. These trade revenues undermined the power of the central Congolese government because the Ugandan economy gained more from D.R. Congo’s resources more than the DRC’s economy did. The fact that the international community was in one way or another involved in increasing conflict in the DRC is undeniable. If the corporate investors were genuinely trading with DRC to improve the state of the country, they would have questioned the legitimacy of the DRC based enterprises and suppliers. Another simultaneous consequence of the years of instability was an imbalance in the ecosystem. Wildlife products such as elephant tusks and animal skin were and are still very marketable globally. They were sold or bartered in exchange of food, ammunition and other goods. With a nation in strife, this meant that there were neither environmental regulations nor expensive wildlife products. In the 1990s, there were increased rates of elephant poaching and habitat encroachment in the forest areas of Kahuzi Beiga National Park. Statistics by the UN reveal that in the area of Garamba Park, north eastern DRC, 4000 out of 12000 elephants were killed between 1995 and 1999.[61]The area was controlled by Ugandan troops and Sudanese rebels. This created a human-animal conflict. The militia fed on wild meat when on their missions. Wild meat was also the only easily available food source for the displaced persons. Rebel leaders disarmed the guards in national parks, thus they were unable to patrol the forested areas. Local conservationists also raised the alarm on the decreasing numbers of the bonobo monkeys; famed for language learning abilities when in captivity and complex social behavi or in the wild(Gretchen Vogel).Another result of the clash between man and animal as suggested in the article â€Å"Effects of War and Civil Strife on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats†, was the spread of human monkey pox and bubonic plague. The people were exposed to more diseases other than water- borne and tropical diseases. With lack of adequate healthcare and restricted movements, the people’s lives were at risk too. The flora and soil were not spared either. The people burned the vegetation and cut trees to get timber and to create room for living and farming. Due to the uncertainty they were in, it is unlikely that their methods of farming were conservative e.g. overharvesting and thus leading to soil erosion. Timber, which is a fundamental raw material for the building industry, was cheaply available to local and international traders thus they found the political situation in the DRCongo very favourable to their activities. Globalization of trade and financial commodities in the world has a general pattern where most of the trade and investments are dominated by a few nations. They make policies that work to their advantage, a fact clearly outlined by Joseph E. Stilitzp in his article â€Å"Globalism Dis contents†. Agriculture, which is the backbone of many African countries, is sometimes left out in some of the import tariff reliefs given internationally on account of globalization. Some regional agreements also exercise some form of discriminatory trade towards agricultural products. Additionally, globalization has led to liquidity of funds due to free financial markets. This means that capital investments can quickly be converted to cash. African states are become vulnerable to liquidity perhaps because of several sectors of the economy that need quick monetary solutions and overreliance on foreign loans as Stiglitzp highlights. One probable outcome from this phenomena in the period of conflict in the D.R.C would be that the rich political leaders in the country became richer and richer whereas the common people sunk deeper into poverty. It is likely that the agricultural sector was neglected(and this is where the people economy was/is based)and the mining industry prioritized. Middlemen from some countries traded weapons and money, with the rebel groups and some political elite, for coltan and other minerals. It is also likely that some foreign companies were given full ownership rights of some mines after giving the leaders of the time were given some money. The Congolese will indeed find it hard to trust their leaders again. The harsh reality right now is that so many families are focused on the primary needs of fending for their families so the idea of demanding for their rights is would sound unpractical. The fragility of this state can be traced to the days of state formation and the nature of subsequent governments. If the leaders who came into power prioritized the formation of a strong army and building of the nation, then we would perhaps tell a different story. This region and several others in Sub-saharan Africa have faced a humanitarian,environmental and political turmoil for too long. To avoid a repeat of the civil war situation and its consequent effects, specific codes of conduct that promote economic and political stability should be considered in the globalization aspect. Foreign investments into Africa require strict policies and an end of the bargain that considers the welfare of the people e. g a company that wants to invest must contribute directly or indirectly towards building a hospital, school or social hall. This will be effective in ensuring that the transition between a globalized market and the previous one involves the whole society in all dimensions of life. This can only happen with government system that is dedicated to building a brighter future for these great nations. The effective building of DRCongo’s economy will involve Congo’s immediate neighbors, the whole of Africa and the world. Conservationists should develop programs in war torn areas so that resource conflicts do not arise in the future. Global gatherings that address environmental issues should also prioritize the critical environmental crisis the Democratic Republic of Congo and in other areas affected by similar or even worse conditions. REFERENCES Globalization, Culture and the Great Disruption: An Assessment International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences February 2012, Vol. 2, No. 2 Dena Montague, Stolen Goods: Coltan and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, SAIS Review 22.1 (2002) 103-118 Joseph P. Dudley1,*, Joshua R. Ginsberg2, Andrew J. Plumptre2, John A. Hart2, Liliana C. Campos3Conservation Biology Volume pages 319–329, April 2002 Effects of War and Civil Strife on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats Alan Cowell, Letter from Britain: Lack of African Dream Lets a Nightmare Prevail by The International Herald Tribune, 2 August 2006 Stiglitz Joseph.Globalism Discontents Conflict in Congo Threatens Bonobos and Rare Gorillas * Gretchen Vogel Science 31 March 2000: 287 (5462), 2386-2387. [DOI:10.1126/science.287.5462.2386] Report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2002. Reno, William. 1998. Warlord Politics and African States. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner.(preface of the book)

education Essay -- essays research papers

Learning is the act or experience of one that learns knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study, modification of a behavioral tendency by experience (as exposure to conditioning). Education is one of the most important tools that a society possesses. The right implementation of this tool is one of the greatest ways of assuring the quality of life within a society. The ability to better ourselves, is one of the strongest inherit abilities of the human race. Without the consistent development of the human race, life would be nothing more than survival. At its most basic level of definition, education is nothing more than the teaching of ideas. The early stages of schooling instill more attitude and social skills than knowledge. The younger stages of a person's life are usually the most definable years of their lives. As the age and skill level of the student increases, more education is based upon the interest of the student. Education has its downfalls. Students are only taught what society sees fit to teach them. This ideology has an astound effect when used as controlling propaganda. If a society doesn't want students to learn about a certain period of history, then it is not taught. Children might hear stories or tales from elders, but the majority is left in ignorance. In the United States, education is a tool to succeed in life. The quality of education that a student receives depends upon many issues. One of the biggest differences in education is between publi...

Dangerous Sport

Sports are an indispensable part of human life. However, some are considered to be more dangerous than the others. Because of the dangers those sports can lead to, many people believe they should be banned. In this essay, I will discuss why dangerous sports should not be allowed. Firstly, human life is undoubtedly precious. If somebody, for example, dies of a dangerous sport; his family would be very upset. This is also a loss to the society considering the fact everybody has to spend twelve years on schooling.Next, sports are meant to help people improve their health. For instance, playing table tennis should give you a better level of reflection. Hence, there is no need to have life threatening sports. Moreover, dangerous sports can result in serious injuries. Even though the lives of the people playing this kind of sports can be saved, they still possibly have to suffer from permanent injuries which can make them disabled. Hence, preventing people from this kind of sports can redu ce the chances of permanent injuries from sport related accidents.Finally, a challenging sport needs not be dangerous. It is commonly believed that people like to play dangerous sports because they are considered to be more challenging. However, there are many challenging sports which do not require people to face dangers. To sum up, I would strongly recommend that dangerous sports should be banned from our societies. Because they do not contribute to the development of human life and because of the dangers people could face, safer sports should be considered as the best alternative. Dangerous Sport Sports are an indispensable part of human life. However, some are considered to be more dangerous than the others. Because of the dangers those sports can lead to, many people believe they should be banned. In this essay, I will discuss why dangerous sports should not be allowed. Firstly, human life is undoubtedly precious. If somebody, for example, dies of a dangerous sport; his family would be very upset. This is also a loss to the society considering the fact everybody has to spend twelve years on schooling.Next, sports are meant to help people improve their health. For instance, playing table tennis should give you a better level of reflection. Hence, there is no need to have life threatening sports. Moreover, dangerous sports can result in serious injuries. Even though the lives of the people playing this kind of sports can be saved, they still possibly have to suffer from permanent injuries which can make them disabled. Hence, preventing people from this kind of sports can redu ce the chances of permanent injuries from sport related accidents.Finally, a challenging sport needs not be dangerous. It is commonly believed that people like to play dangerous sports because they are considered to be more challenging. However, there are many challenging sports which do not require people to face dangers. To sum up, I would strongly recommend that dangerous sports should be banned from our societies. Because they do not contribute to the development of human life and because of the dangers people could face, safer sports should be considered as the best alternative.

Family Health Assessment Essay

The emphasis of Gordon’s functional health patterns concentrates on 11 categories which include: health perception/management, nutritional/metabolic, elimination, activity/exercise, cognitive/perceptual, sleep/rest, self perception/self concept, role/relationship, sexuality/reproductive, coping/stress tolerance, and value/beliefs (Nursing Planet, 2013). These series of questions are effective when accumulating data that can be interpreted and diagnoses can be applied for actual, as well as potential issues. Issues are identified, decisions on interventions, education, and promotion of a realistic, as well as a practical lifestyle (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014) can be chosen. Discussion in detail of the interview from the Gouker family assessment follows. They have six daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Gouker have been married for 40 years. Utilizing the 11 functional health patterns by Gordon, a family assessment was completed on the Gouker family. The emphasis of health perception/promotion centers on the individuals’ impression of their wellness and how they govern their health (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014). Due to their age, the Gouker family’s health perception presently revolves around their yearly health examinations and eating healthy. Mr. Gouker is 74 years old and Mrs. Gouker is 68. Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) revealed that only after having experienced weakness did he begin having annual examinations, as he had been healthy his entire life. Mr. Gouker does not take any prescribed medications. Mrs. Gouker participates in yearly examinations and currently has blood work completed every six months due to her chronic diabetes mellitus. Mrs. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) currently takes daily medications for this condition. Since Mrs. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) shops for the family, she stated that they only consume chicken and fish, which is broiled, and scarcely eats beef or pork. She also prepares vegetables with the evening meal. Snacks consist of fresh fruits. The primary meal is dinner, which is eaten together. Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) states that breakfast consists of coffee and rarely has time for lunchtime. Mrs. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) eats breakfast daily which consists of coffee and toast, whereas lunch consists of a salad. Mrs. Gouker has scheduled dentist visits every six months, whereas Mr. Gouker only schedules dental visits every year. According to Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle (2014), elimination pivots around the expulsion of contents in the bowel and bladder, but also includes the skin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gouker prefer to drink water and they frequently urinate. Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 21, 2014) states, that he has multiple bowel movements daily, whereas Mrs. Gouker has daily bowel movements. Mr. and Mrs. Gouker bathe daily. As stated by Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle (2014), activity and exercise concentrates on the patterns pertaining to activity, exercise, recreation, and leisure. Mrs. Gouker is retired and Mr. Gouker owns a business. Mrs. Gouker utilizes the treadmill for walking. Leisure and recreational activities include yearly travel, and attending professional sporting events. The main focus of cognitive and perceptions are patterns seen in regards to cognition, perception, and the senses (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014). Mr. Gouker has an Associate’s degree in business administration, whereas Mrs. Gouker graduated high school. When expressing his views on pain management, Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) stated he rarely experiences pain, but if the situation arises he will take an Aleve. Mrs. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) expressed that she only takes Aleve for pain or discomfort. Mrs. Gouker finds satisfaction in reading and completing crossword puzzles, whereas Mr. Gouker manages the business. The main concept of sleep and rest centers on patterns which give priority to sleep, rest, and relaxation (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014). Mr. Gouker sleeps four to seven hours per night while Mrs. Gouker sleeps seven to eight hours per night. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) state they unwind by watching their favorite television programs or sitting in their rocking chairs on the porch. According to Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle (2014), the focal point of self perception and self concept is on the persons’ viewpoint of themselves which correlate to their self esteem, their self worth, and body appearance. Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) believes that he can accomplish anything he so chooses. He believes that whether a person is a success or failure depends upon your state of mind. Mrs. Gouker perceives herself as a kindhearted woman and views herself as a genuine individual who is helpful to those around her. With regards to body image, Mr. Gouker stands five foot nine inches tall and weighs 175 lbs and is aware that he is overweight. Mrs. Gouker is five foot four inches tall and weighs 182 pounds and perceives herself as slovenly. The focal point of the role and relationship patterns centers on the persons role in the family and the relationship they have with the other family members (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014). Mrs. Gouker cherishes being a mother and wife. Mr. Gouker (personal communication, March 11, 2014) states that he is blessed. He loves being a father and provider to all his children. Both Mrs. and Mrs. Gouker are content with their personal relationships with family and friends. According to Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle (2014), the patterns of sexuality and reproduction center on the individuals’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their sexual style. Mrs. Gouker was modest when speaking of their sexual relationship, yet Mr. Gouker was open. Both parties are content with their sexual relationship and have no complaints concerning sex. The focus of coping and stress tolerance pertains to how the individual detects stress and the techniques utilized when encountering stressful events (Edelman, Zudzma & Mandl, 2014). This family has always used communication skills to rectify any problems. Prayer is utilized and their faith that God’s guidance assists them. Edelman, Zudzma & Mandle (2014) noted that patterns in relation to values and beliefs focus on spiritual beliefs, values, and goals that direct those choices. The Gouker’s are Lutheran and attend services weekly. Upon interview completion of the Gouker family, two wellness and family diagnoses are: Both are at risk for imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements since their individual body mass index (BMI) both exceed 20 percent. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gouker are at risk for body images disturbance. Education for the Gouker’s included the impact of exercise and how this will decrease their body mass index. It is evident that nurses impact the lives of those being cared for regardless of the setting. Education is instrumental is assisting patients and their families to make positive changes in promoting a healthier lifestyle. References Edelman, C. , Kudzma, C. & Mandle, C. L. (2014). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span (8 ed. ). : VitalSource Bookshelf. Nursing Plant. (2013). Functional Health Patterns. Retrieved March 11, 2014 from www. nursingplanet. com/theory/functional_health_patterns. html Appendix 1)Health prevention and health management. a. How do you feel about keeping your regular doctor visits? b. What, as an individual, do you do to support your health? 2)Nutritional and metabolic a. Regarding your dental needs, what are your oral habits? b. What are your nutritional practices like in general? c. What sort of foods do you consistently eat? 3)Elimination a. How do you manage your bladder and bowel habits? b. What do you do to take care of your skin? 4)Activity and exercise a. How do you spend your time off from work? b. When participating in leisure interests, how many hours do you devote on a weekly basis? c. What do you do for getaways? 5)Cognitive and perceptual a. How do you manage pain? b. What exercises do you do participate in to improve your memory? 6)Sleep and rest a. As an individual, how do you relax? b. On average, how many hours do you sleep at night and what are your sleeping patterns like? 7 )Self perception and self concept a. What is your prospective on your self image today? . In regards to your body image, how do you view your body image? 8)Role and relationships a. As an individual within your family, what is your position in the family? b. In your current position within your family, what makes you satisfied or dissatisfied? 9)Sexual and reproduction a. With your current sexual relationship, are both individuals satisfied or unsatisfied? 10) Coping and stress tolerance a. How do you handle stress? b. When managing situations that are stressful, what do you do? 11)Value and beliefs a. What is your religious denomination? b. In regards to your religion, what guides you towards your goals?

3 Justifications for Altering Quotations

3 Justifications for Altering Quotations 3 Justifications for Altering Quotations 3 Justifications for Altering Quotations By Mark Nichol Generally, writers should not change the wording in quotations, but quotations that lack context or that include a gratuitous word or phrase should be repaired, as shown in the following examples. 1. â€Å"Without those tools, she said, ‘It’s as if years ago we had given them a pencil to write the essay and took away the eraser.’† When a partial paraphrase is inserted before a quotation to provide clarity or additional information, lowercase the first letter of the first word of the quotation even if it was originally a complete sentence: â€Å"Without those tools, she said, ‘it’s as if years ago we had given them a pencil to write the essay and took away the eraser.’† 2. â€Å"It [the fire] was both a setback and a great relief,† he later remarked. Avoid introducing a bracketed noun or noun phrase to specify what an ambiguous pronoun refers to in a quote. Instead, use the noun or noun phrase in a paraphrase and omit the pronoun from the partial quotation that follows: â€Å"The fire, he later remarked, ‘was both a setback and a great relief.’† 3. â€Å"I think it’s important to recognize that this issue is not a, quote, distraction,† she added. Omit, without comment, a speaker’s or writer’s use of the word quote (or the phrase â€Å"quote, unquote†) to signal emphasis or skeptical or ironic usage; simply frame the emphasized word or phrase in single quotation marks: â€Å"‘I think it’s important to recognize that this issue is not a â€Å"distraction,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ she added.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly WordsAcronym vs. Initialism15 Names and Descriptions of Effects

Animal Rights (Tom Regan etc)

Animal rights is a very controversial issue with many different groups of people with differing opinions that want their voices on this issue heard. Many of these groups believe that animals have inherent value and deserve rights, and the majority of people believe this as well, but exactly which rights do they deserve. It is all well and good to say you are an advocate for animal rights, however the real issue here is exactly what rights are they entitled to? I will be evaluating Tom Regans view of animal rights that he sets out in The Case for Animal Rights (1992), in which he calls for an end to the use of animals in scientific experiments and commercial agriculture, and sets out what he believes animals are entitled to. I will also be examining opposing arguments from Carl Cohen (1986), who is very much on the opposite end of the spectrum, and believes that animals deserve no rights whatsoever. In â€Å"The Case for Animal Rights† (1992) Regan argues that all beings of consciousness have what he calls inherent value, which is value to themselves above the value of their usefulness to others. He uses the example of the genius and the retarded child. The value of the usefulness to society differs dramatically in these two individuals, but that does not mean that the life of one is of greater value than the other. You could not morally kill the retarded child in order to save the genius, as this moral theory does not allow for that to happen. All beings of consciousness possess equal inherent value and all have an equal right to be treated with respect and to not be treated in a way that degrades them to simply a thing a resource for others to use. This is what Regan calls the rights view. It denies all tolerability of racial, sexual or social discrimination, and opposes the view that the ends justify the means you cannot justify evil means, that violate an individuals rights, simply by achieving good results. If this moral theory condemns all use of racism, sexism and any other form of discrimination then, of course, it will also condemn speciesism discrimination based on species. Regan does not simply oppose battery hen farming, the conditions of veal farming, the tiny cages used for animals in medical and cosmetic testing and the conservative use of anaesthetics on animals being used for toxicity tests of cosmetics, he opposes the entire doctrine and way we look at animals as a whole. The rights view that Regan holds is abolitionist towards animal testing, for Lab animals are not our tasters; we are not their kings. (Regan 1992) These animals are constantly reduced to their usefulness to others, as they are seen as a renewable resource for us to have our way with and, without the means to object, there is no reason to stop. There is no thought whatsoever to their inherent value and the fact that their living conditions and whether they live or die is important to them. The fact it is important to them means something, according to the rights view. This brings us back to the genius and the retarded child example. If we reduced those two down to their usefulness to others we would have no trouble killing off the retarded child in order to retrieve information that could save the genius life. The problem is not many moral beings would be able to do that. The fact that they can do it to animals is blatant speciesism, which really should be as bad as racism and other forms of discrimination. An animal’s inherent value should be important to us because it is important to them. If we dont respect that then, in the eyes of the rights view, we are as bad as racist mobs lynching an African-American due to the colour of his skin. Regan suggests that the reason animals are perceived to have less value stems from the fact they lack our level of autonomy, reason or intellect. They cant have the same level of inherent value as humans do for those are some of the attributes that make us value human life as a whole. This version of the rights view is even more baseless than saying they have no rights at all, because we arent prepared to make the same call on humans who also lack normal levels of intellect, reason and autonomy. The truth is that those deficient humans, that lack those attributes to a degree, do not hold less value than the rest of us. Their life is still as important to them as our life is to us and we cannot justify saying that this is not the case. All beings who have inherent value have it equally and deserve to be treated as though their inherent value means something for, according to the rights view that I am explaining and evaluating, this is indeed the case. There are, of course, advocates of differing views and philosopher Carl Cohen is one of these advocates. Carl Cohen believes there are two categories that define an organism as a human. These categories pertain to a being’s cogniscience as a legal person and a moral person. There are two types of legal persons: natural and artificial. Natural legal persons refer to you and me any human in the world is a natural legal person. An artificial legal person is a body of men/woman who in the eyes of the law are seen as one e.g. A corporation is seen as one legal entity. Both these types of legal persons have legal responsibilities to uphold the law of the land and are responsible for their own actions. They are also given rights with these responsibilities and come under legal protection. Animals arent seen to have any legal responsibilities and, with no responsibilities, there can be no rights. As such, they cannot come under legal protection, effectively barring them from being classified as a legal person, natural or artificial. A moral person is much the same. They have moral responsibilities to look out for their community, and others around them, and also have the intellect and reason to make autonomous decisions and to object to things they believe are immoral. In agreeing with and putting these responsibilities into practice, they develop moral rights to have their decisions, feelings and value upheld by the communities they are morally responsible for. Animals lack all of these attributes, such as the ability to see right and wrong in their actions, and to be able to recognise their obligations and make a moral decision based on their responsibilities. Cohen himself explicitly states so when he says â€Å"Rights arise, and can be intelligibly defended, only among beings who actually do, or can, make moral claims against one another.† (1986) Humans may be subject to experimentation with their consent a choice they freely made and we, as moral persons, must respect, as they made the choice as a moral person. An animal cannot do this. It is impossible for an animal to give consent or withhold consent and equally as impossible for it to make a moral decision based on moral obligation and sense of right and wrong. It is therefore impossible to call them a moral person. Much like the legal persons classification, they are barred from all moral rights when they cannot comprehend moral obligation, and knowing what is right and wrong. Regan responds to Cohen’s analysis with an accusation of speciesism. Failing to protect the rights of animals due to their lack of moral attributes is exactly like condemning a retarded child for the absence of this same capacity. Using Cohen’s logic, because the retarded child lacks empathy and a sense of moral obligation, they deserve no moral rights at all. In the real world, however, this is quite the opposite. They are, in fact, given more protection as a result. Society provides services and facilities for them to live with fully-functional people, so they may live in a fulfilling manner. It is morally wrong, in modern society’s eyes, to discriminate against them due to their reduced brain function. For this reason, I see Cohens arguments to be, not only antiquated, but not in line with commonly held belief of 21st century society. It was published six years prior to Regans the Case for Animal Rights and, despite the fact that it doesnt seem like a long time, society’s views on animal rights have changed drastically since 1986. The animal rights movement is no longer considered as simply the views of â€Å"hippies† who should not be taken seriously. This movement has garnered a lot of support from the mainstream of society, and many scholars and lawyers have gotten behind it. Regan was one of the key factors in bringing the animal rights issue into the academic limelight, and it has subsequently flourished in the curriculum of many academic institutions, and has the support of senior legal scholars of Harvard Law Alan Dershowitz and Laurence Tribe. 92 out of 180 law schools in the US have now adopted the issue, and even have specific animal rights courses included as compulsory course requirements. The most enthusiastic adopters amongst the academic world are the philosophers, for it brings many deep questions to the surface and causes in us a realization of how cruel society can be, and how hypocritical we can be in our assigning of inherent value. Society has proven to be prone to prejudice and discrimination. As evidenced by the civil rights movement of 1960s America, it can take hundreds of years to achieve a state of equality. Regan’s rights view of â€Å"inherent value†, when viewed in the context of civil rights, has been shown to have immense value to all sectors of society, not only those who are the victims of prejudice. Society selectively applies this rights view to suit themselves. In contrast, Cohen’s rights view of assigning value based on conforming to preset categories of legal and moral personhood, seems to no longer be relevant to 21st century society’s beliefs. Regan himself addresses this view and draws comparisons to how society treats human beings of reduced mental capacity. If society is judged on how it defends those who cannot defend themselves, what justification do we have for failing to protect the welfare and rights of animals. In the time since Cohen published â€Å"The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research† in 1986, scholarship and academic attention on the subject of animal rights has grown immensely. No doubt, as more academics and philosophers add their own thoughts and research into the subject, we can expect to see our understanding of animals rights continue to change. Jonsson, P. 2001. Tracing an animal-rights philosophy. [online] Available at: http://www.csmonitor.com Encyclopedia Britannica. 2013. animal rights. [online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25760 Dershowitz, A. 2004. Rights from wrongs. New York: Basic Books Smith, W. 2010. A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. New York, NY: Encounter Books. Regan, T. 1983. The case for animal rights. Berkeley: University of California Press. Cohen, C. 2012. The case for the use of animals in biomedical research. Arguing About Bioethics, p. 206.

Case Study Suicide Among Adolescents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Study Suicide Among Adolescents - Essay Example At first he seemed upset but more or less normal. Nothing in his behaviour was different than any other young man who had had his heart broken. However, over the weeks that then followed he began to act increasingly strange. He began to sing sad songs to himself and began to drink heavily and use drugs. He drew strange pictures on the walls of his house and even on his clothes. When the new school year began, his behaviour worsened. He began to harass Samantha’s friends, in one case leaving dead flowers on one of their doorsteps, addressed to Samantha. He also began a relationship with a girl he met on the Internet. This girl was effectively a shut-in with no social skills. At times, their relationship gave the appearance of abuse. John began to make threats about killing himself. His friends tried to support him, but increasingly John pushed them away. His behaviour was sporadic. He stopped attending classes and was often drunk in the daytime. He began to steal from his friends. When walking down the street he would sometimes skateboard into traffic. He often described the world as evil and as a joke. John’s father, Herman, came to visit John and try to comfort and support him. He told him that he was loved and tried to get him to open up to him. He tried to talk about what was happening, but John was not responsive. Herman had to go back home to go to work. John appeared increasingly agitated and anxious. He withdrew almost entirely from his friends and roommates and no one knew where he was. A few days later he tried to hang himself. What treatment should be used on John? He is living on a knife’s edge and he needs immediate help. His problems have been unaddressed for too long, in part because he is not being supervised by anyone. Too many of the people who should have a responsibility for him live too far away. That support structure should be addressed. He should be a started on a course of