Hunters in the Snow Character Analysis of Tub Essay

Being a man isn’t always easy, for most of their life they are taught to show no affection and to be tough in almost every situation. The tragedy of machismo is that a man is never quite man enough. â€Å"Hunters in the Snow†, by Tobias Wolff, three hunting buddies, Frank, Tub and Kenny, set out on a hunting trip together as they have done for years. Tub, who is over-weight, self-conscious and a good friend, shows some of his weaknesses, strengths and hardships that are sometimes placed on men in different situations. The protagonist, over-weight, Tub and his two hunting buddies, Frank and Kenny take off early one morning to the snowy mountains for a deer hunt. When they arrive and begin heading to the woods they near a creek so they sit down for a little morning snack. Kenny and Frank almost immediately start to pick on Tub as soon as he pulls out a hard-boiled egg and a stick of celery to eat. Kenny states to Tub, â€Å"‘You still on that diet?’ He winks at Frank. ‘What do you think? You think I like hard-boiled eggs?’† stated Tub (Wolff 30). Tub is in denial about his impulsive eating problem, telling them that it is his glands and tries to hide it from them until Frank confines in him about his 15 year old babysitter love affair he is having on his wife. A person being picked on can only take so much until they usually snap or make an impulsive move, the same way that Tub impulsively eats food. After being picked on Tub felt threatened and made an impulsive move by accident. Kenny starts shooting the fence post, a tree, kills a dog and then turns the rifle at Tub saying, â€Å"’ I hate you.’†(33). Tub in fear shoots from the side, shooting Kenny first. Tub and Frank get Kenny in the truck to take to the hospital 50 miles away. Once Tub and Frank begin to drive Kenny to the hospital Frank begins to confine in Tub about his love affair and even though Frank is in the wrong, Tub understands where Frank is coming and doesn’t judge him and instead tells Frank, â€Å"’Frank, when you’ve got a friend it means you’ve always got someone on your side, no matter what. That’s the way I feel about it’† (39). Despite how manly Tub is supposed to be as a man, the two men have this special bond together and they show it. Tub then tells Frank, ‘†When I said that about my glands, that wasn’t true. The truth is I just shovel it in’† (40). Regardless being made fun of or picked on about Tub’s weight and clumsiness, Tub is yet a good listener and a great friend. Ironically, at the end of the story the two guys, Tub and Frank, are bonding and supporting each other at the diner they stop at to get warmed up before the hospital, even though their other friend Kenny is in the back of the truck dying. Frank tells Kenny, â€Å"’It wouldn’t hurt so much if you just stayed put. Now we’re going to the hospital. Got that? Say it—I’m going to the hospital’† (39). Once they leave the diner and are headed back towards the hospital, Tub turns back to Frank, â€Å"’I just pulled a real boner,† he said. What’s that? I left the directions on the table back there’† (39). A man having to be tough and to show no affection can sometimes take a toll on their physical self being, yet they can also still be somewhat sensitive to others emotions and feelings. In this short story by Tobias Wolff, â€Å"Hunters in the Snow†, Tub shows some situations of strength, weaknesses and hardships men endure as a friend or buddy.

Dementia awareness Essay

The learner can: 1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ 2. Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia 3. Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia. Outcome 2 Understand key features of the theoretical models of dementia The learner can: 1. Outline the medical model of dementia 2. Outline the social model of dementia 3. Explain why dementia should be viewed as a disability. Outcome 3 Know the most common types of dementia and their causes The learner can: 1. List the most common causes of dementia 2. Describe the likely signs and symptoms of the most common causes of dementia 3. Outline the risk factors for the most common causes of dementia 4. Identify prevalence rates for different types of dementia. Outcome 4 Understand factors relating to an individual’s experience of dementia The learner can: 1. Describe how different individuals may experience living with dementia depending on age, type of dementia, and level of ability and disability 2. Outline the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with dementia. SUGGESTED GUIDANCE ANSWERS OUTCOME 1 For a start what does dementia mean? Very simply for such a complex area, it is an illness of the brain. What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia? The word dementia is an umbrella term, which covers all the various dementias including Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the one widely recognized, and accounts for about sixty per cent, of all the dementias. Dementia is a term that is used to describe a collection of symptoms including memory loss, problems with reasoning and communication skills, and a reduction in a person’s abilities and skills in carrying out daily activities such as washing, dressing, cooking and caring for self. Memory loss – this can be one of the first symptoms that people notice. The observations people report include – noticing their loved ones forgetting things that have happened earlier in the day, getting confused about messages and who people are, getting lost whilst out and about, repeating themselves, and appearing not to be paying attention or following conversations. Problems with communication – Some people experience problems with expressing themselves, talking and understanding things. They get confused about words and might use the wrong words for common things and mix words up. Reading and understanding written text can become problematic. There are a number of different types of dementia the most common being Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Fronto temporal dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies. Some people get diagnosed as having mixed dementia; this is when the presentation shows the person to have elements of more than one type of dementia. Dementia is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. This progression will vary from person to person and each person will experience dementia in a different way. Although the person will have some of the above symptoms, the degree to which they affect an individual will vary and not all people will have all of these symptoms. 2. Areas of the brain affected by dementia are shown in the diagram below: [pic] The temporal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia will mean the sufferer will ‘forget’ every day functions, and how to perform them, relatives names and faces, their ‘past’ life, and friends they have known for years. Simple tasks that they used to perform with ease, become difficult to perform, and they have to ‘learn’ how to do them again. Sufferers can forget conversations and instructions, and need to be reminded on a regular basis, and given ‘prompts’ to remind them the topic of conversation, or what they are supposed be doing next for example. The frontal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia can mean that the sufferer is ‘unaware’ that their behaviour is unacceptable, or not the ‘norm’. The sufferer can become agitated very quickly, and suffer from depression. They may be unaware of apparent dangers, and unable to recognise what is ‘acceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’ behaviours. They may have violent outbursts, and exhibit ‘threatening’ behaviour to others. The parietal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia affects language skills. This means that communication skills could be reduced. The person may not be able to ‘find’ the appropriate words to use, or may not understand questions asked of them. They may not relate ‘words’ to the correct ‘objects’ for instance if they pick up a cup, but call it a ‘pot’. 3. Depression, memory problems, and delirium may be mistaken for dementia because these are often the onset symptoms of dementia, and therefore may be mistaken for the start of dementia in the elderly. Some symptoms of dementia are similar to symptoms of some mental health conditions. It is important that a comprehensive assessment is carried out if service users start to display symptoms such as confusion, poor memory or apathy. These could be indicators of dementia, but they could also be symptoms of depression, or other mental health conditions. OUTCOME 2 1. The medical model of dementia is of mental decline. This approach makes it hard to focus on maximising a person’s abilities and improving their quality of life. Putting physical problems and emotional states down to brain damage, the medical model overlooks the social world of people with dementia, and concentrates on the illness, rather than the person. 2. The social model of dementia sees the ‘person’ rather than the illness or disease. It puts the focus on what a person ‘can do’, (positives), instead of focussing on what the person can no longer do (negatives). The social model looks at ways to improve the quality of life, and experiences of dementia, and provide techniques for the dementia sufferer, to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. The social model recognises and includes the individual’s social, recreational, spiritual needs, instead of just their medical or personal care needs.

A study into paraphilias and its effects

A study into paraphilias and its effects Statistics report, At least 1 woman in 7 will be raped in her lifetime. Because only 1 rape in 5 is reported, the true figure is much higher (CDC, 2007; FVPF,2007). Many would consider these women a victim, but could the perpetrator also be suffering from something we as observers have not yet considered, something far worse? Perhaps the mark of true sexual deviations, the compulsive and destructive paraphilias, a sickness at which causes it’s victims guilt, anxiety, or discomfort for one or other participants (Coon, D Mitterer, J, 2009, Chapter 12, â€Å"Introduction to Psychology: Gateway to Mind and Behavior†). Most feel a deep sense of inadequacy, which produces a compulsive need to provide their genitals to the unwilling viewer. Others may fantasize that their target may become aroused by the display. In regard if confronted by an exhibitionist one can assume their goal is to shock and alarm victim, to become upset would only encourage them (Hyde & Delamater, 200 6). Although the scene maybe quite alarming, studies show the exhibitionist is basically harmless. I believe they simply wish to entertain someone, if not themselves, typical thrill seekers. Have you ever heard of the phrase, â€Å"Shoe fetish?† Well now, don’t be alarmed this doesn’t mean you have a sickness, Fetishism are unusually objects or body parts associated with in sexual arousal (http://www.minddisorders.com/Del-Fi/Fetishism.html). Fetishes can pertain to anyone, whether male or female, even you may have a strange fetish. Most common examples being clothing, stuffed animals, breast, legs, bottoms, genitals, and even pets. I once met a man who had a strange thing for women in high heels, the high heels were his fetish. The non sexual object which got him aroused. How about Victoria’s Secret Models, dazzled with in expensive lingerie? This item of clothing is a non sexual object used to spark the scenes of the viewer to want and desire the clothin g. They convince the viewers that having this will make you or your partner become more desirable. We have all heard the saying â€Å"Sex sells,† well it’s true. Does this mean we have a sickness, no. What are symptoms of Fetishism? If you find yourself spending so much time thinking about the fetish that you can not control compulsive urges and or cases become unhealthy, inflicting humiliation or suffering to oneself or partner, it’s best to seek therapy for such extreme. The key is to control the fetish, don’t allow the fetish to control you.

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

Research - Essay Example All these have made networking quicker and involve less strain on the part of participants. However, this comes at a colossal cost to the married and those in committed relationships. There are many glitches that come about as a result of networking in the social media and there’s no denying it, the upsurge of social media has left an utmost significant fingerprint on our society. To begin with, Social networking has an addictive effect which causes negative issues in a relationship. This comes about when a partner spends more time on social media than in the relationship and this ultimately leads to hurt and negative feelings. For example, cell phone owners in a marriage or partnership may feel that their spouse or partner is distracted by their cell phone when they are together. Also, internet users in a committed relationship may have a squabble with their spouse or partner about the time one of them is spending online and those in a committed relationship may get upset at something when they find out that their spouse or partner is doing online. Furthermore, excessive social networking can be a sign of internet addiction. This is an instance when someo ne is constantly online chatting, viewing images, posting personal details and photos or checking for updates from friends. Also, the use of social media in networking can make us lose our warmth; when a couple uses social networking as a means of communication, the warmth that comes about in the physical information will disappear. Also, Social networking can be a path to indefinite. Although not every person will cross the line between just creating friends and being more than friends, due to its easy nature, social media can create a good loophole for infidelity and marital ills. This is made possible due to the prompting and tempting nature of social media. People can post their pictures and other personal details. Thus, a person who is in a relationship, but are constantly

Law of the Sea Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law of the Sea - Case Study Example Territorial waters could be defined to be the territorial waters extending up to 12 nautical mi (22 km) beyond a country's coast which grants it solitary fishing and mining rights in waters limited to 200 nautical mi (370 km) from its coast." (Law of the Sea. 2008). Exclusive economic zones need to be seen in the context of its rights and freedom in relation to other State(s). Any area beyond and adjoining its territorial seas under a specific legal administration made up in this Part under which the rights and jurisdiction of the State seen in relation to the rights and privileges of any other state are a subject matter that is regulated through specific provisions of this Convention. Further, the continental shelf comprises the sea bed and lower soil of the subsoil areas that extends beyond its territorial seas through a natural extension of its land territories. It could also be a distance of 200 nautical miles from which the breadth of the territorial seas is measured, in cases where the outer edge of the margin does not extend up to that distance. (Exclusive Economic Zone. ... (Exclusive Economic Zone: Article 55). Further, the continental shelf comprises the sea bed and lower soil of the subsoil areas that extends beyond its territorial seas through a natural extension of its land territories. It could also be a distance of 200 nautical miles from which the breadth of the territorial seas is measured, in cases where the outer edge of the margin does not extend up to that distance. (Exclusive Economic Zone. Article 76). The above aspects are important since, by virtue of declaring an EEZ, coastal states are able to establish exclusive sovereign rights, albeit respecting rights of other States, in a 200 nautical mile jurisdiction,. This could cover fishing, mining, deep-sea exploration for natural resources, protecting deep-sea life, and other economic activities, and the coastal state has exclusive control and jurisdiction over marine resources and environmental issues occurring in its line of control. (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Overview and Full Text. 2008).The main issue that has arisen is that State A has enlisted the powers available to it under Article 73 of the UN Law of the sea Convention which relates to the enforcement of Rules and Regulations promulgated by the coastal state with regard to the protection of rights over exclusive economic zones of the state. Under this Article, it is well within the powers of a Coastal state to take such steps, including arrest, or internal seizure that may be necessary for the protection of its rights and ensure observation of the provisions of this Convention. (Exclusive Economic Zone). However, it has been categorically stated that should arrest take place, the detained vessel and its crew shall also be immediately released upon

ART, PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGIOUS PRACTICES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART, PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGIOUS PRACTICES - Essay Example In Catholicism, the Gregorian Chants are often used during Mass and other important ritual services. The Chants are some of the oldest notes of music used in religious settings, coming down from the medieval era. In the earlier days, the song was sung as often as nine times a day, though this has changed remarkably with the times. The purpose of the Gregorian Chants is to heighten the spiritual senses of the practitioners, as well as to aid them in becoming closer with their deity. The Chants allow the practitioners to calm down and to focus solely on gaining that closeness with the deity. Dancing in the Oshun Festival of the Yoruba people is more to celebrate their festival than it is to feel more connected to their deities, though dancing does serve both purposes. "Oshun-Lyalode, the Yoruba water spirit of love, marriage and gold is one of the Orixhas that form the famous seven African powers (Jemi-Alade)." As the Oshun Festival celebrates this water spirit of love and marriage, the dancing is more to honor her and the festivities than any other purpose. The dancing allows the practitioners to free their minds and their stresses, letting them to fully engage themselves in the celebrations and be open to the events that are taking place. One thing that the majority of religions and spiritual paths have in common is that they each have some method to connect themselves more with their deities, whether it be dancing, chanting, or something for them to merely look at and involve themselves in, such as the Mandala with the Buddhists. Each method has a means for the followers to feel closer to their deities, thus becoming closer to being

Discuss Nurse Practice Act related to abandonment Essay

Discuss Nurse Practice Act related to abandonment - Essay Example Every state in America has its own version of NPA and there may be differences in the application and interpretation of a law for a specific Nursing Board. However, it is important to note every state does not include the patient abandonment in its version of NPA. Patient abandonment is usually safeguarded through Business and Professions Code, disciplinary actions, Common Law practices and administrative legislation prevalent is a state or country. â€Å"On the other hand, not all laws governing the practice of nursing are found in "the Act" or its' regulations. Legal obligations common to various licensed healthcare professionals will apply to nurses.† (Erickson, p. 1, 2006). There is no concrete definition of abandonment because it can take forms and shapes, which are required to be interpreted within an available legal framework. In some cases, it may occur in denial of extra shift duty or an assigned task. However, nursing is a serious obligation either it is a normal shi ft duty or an extra one. â€Å"Once a nurse has accepted a patient assignment, he or she is accountable for providing competent care to the assigned patients.† (Lewis, p. 118, 2001).

Individual Mindset Challenge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual Mindset Challenge - Assignment Example South Korean film industry emulated most modern production techniques from the U.S learning them from the Hollywood stars to restructure their film industry. Globalization of South Korean is a historical process spreading over centuries and should not be having links with westernization of a particular nation or culture. Globalization has significantly influenced different cultures towards its expansion in the global markets. Globalization can shape the traits of particular nation, community, or people. South Korea benefited much from globalization making the drastic changes from inferior to stable economic country in a very short period. South Korean used globalization to its advantage by increasing the interconnectivity with different countries and people using technology, pop culture, and trade, political and economic relationship. Its acceptance of globalization fostered positive international relations and economic development of the country. Absorption of South Korean culture by neighboring countries such as China, Japan, and Vietnam intensified the Korean adopted pop culture and other cultural platforms. Globalization has influenced South Korean culture including the television programs and film industry enabling South Korean pop culture to penetrate in Europe and North American countries. Korean globalization is termed as the Korean wave, which has been unique by creating unusual growth of local creative industries in neoliberal globalization. Korean creative industries have developed their personal, local cultural products and services making them the most successful contributors to Korean national economy. Korean wave has experienced a significant change with the development of digital technologies and social networking media such as You-Tube, social network sites (SNSs) and Smartphone’s in the 21 century. Local culture of various countries is supported by Korean wave through the digital

Developing an effective strategic human resources plan Research Paper

Developing an effective strategic human resources plan - Research Paper Example ng and guidance along with the consideration for future as to how much work force might be needed in future and in what capacity and what exact department within the respective organization. The report gives details as to the importance of human resource planning in the city. According to the report the overall structure has expanded in a very complex manner, with salaries, the work staff, number of unions in the community, and departments all in a very haphazard and complex manner, thereby each of them need an effective human resource planning strategy in order to enable them working in the due manner desired. With factors like considerable amount about to retire by 2005, strategy needs to be devised in order to create their replacement and fill up for the vacuum that would be created afterwards. The aim behind the entire idea is to create a model community in Canada through the usage of human resource functions. Technology and information system means are adopted for this purpose to facilitate the overall process of community improvement. The idea is to convert the above stated equation into a relationship that serves the needs of the community. The enables and stakeholders in this case are the top heads in form of Mayor, managers, councils, the citizens, the entire scheme of plan, human resources and most importantly

United States Military Recruiting Practices Essay Example for Free

United States Military Recruiting Practices Essay US military navy is the largest in the world with a tonne greater that the next 17 largest combined. US Navy is managed by Department of Navy administration which is a division of the Department of defense. The nine components to the operating forces of the US Navy include Atlantic Fleet, Pacific Fleet, Naval Forces, Central Command, Naval Forces Europe, Naval Network, Naval Special Warfare Command, Navy Reserve, Warfare Command, Operational Test and Evaluation Forces and Military Sealift Command. Fleets in U. S Navy, act as force provider by training and maintaining naval unity. This is subsequently provided to the naval forces component of each Unified Combatant Command (Caton, 1988). The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations are responsible for organizing, recruiting, training and equipping the Navy. Navy Operations are coordinated under the department of the Unified Combatant Commanders. In US military, the recruits are issued with recruiting Service Ribbon at the end of recruitment period. In US military Navy, all the navy Recruits who qualify receive recommendation letter from commanding officer before they are presented with the ribbon. The recruits to are presented with Recruiter badge which is a temporary decoration for Navy recruits and other star awards (Tanter, Selden and Shalom, 2000). The recruitment program in US is usually done annually. There have been cases of irregularities in the military recruitment and especially in the Navy. The US Navy has a record of recruiting thousands of US Navy personnel. The irregularities in US Navy recruitment have increased with 2004-2005 fiscal year recording the highest cases. Many recruiters became aggressive and threatened the D. O. D over the issue in 2005. This led to loss of trust of D. O. D to the public and recruiters. The cases were more than double the existing irregularity cases the time before. However, establishing the recruiters who contributed to the irregularities was hard and hence could not be proved. In the US Navy recruitment program, the recruit has to undergo medical tests which form as the first qualification before proceeding to any other stage. In this stage, the practice is carried out by an independent group, EMS, though the equipment is operated the military service since it’s the major recruiter in US. The results produced by the equipment are then analyzed by a medical doctor who can provide a waiver or suggest disqualification of the individuals based on the physical aspects. The same medical condition can receive different responses in relation to waiver and disqualification. This cannot be explained because it depends with the doctor and recruiter. There are usually permanent and temporary waivers and disqualifications. If one is disqualified permanently then that means that the individual is not medically fit for the recruitment process then or at any other time. This has raised a concern from individuals who receive permanent disqualification yet there is no appeal for that. The US navy recruiters are described as honest, committed and hardworking. However, within the circle there are some who twist the truth in order to sign up a recruit. The existence of recruiters who cheat in recruitment has been attributed greatly by the process by which a recruiter’s productivity is judged. The recruiters are judged by their seniors based on the number of recruits they sign up. Some recruiters who do not want to lose their job therefore are pressurized to adopt unethical practices t ‘make mission’. â€Å"Making mission† is signing up a minimum number of recruits as has been set by the policy. The signing up of unqualified military navy recruits has led to adverse effects in the military force. Violating the recruiting regulations attract heavy punishment if caught. The act of cheating by recruiters will hardly miss in any recruitment program unless the policy of productivity assessment is changed. It’s hard to curb the malpractice because there are usually no witnesses in the recruitment process supervising the individual recruiters hence it become â€Å"he said/I said† type of deal (Crompton, 1969). The issue of recruiters failing to tell the truth to their recruits has contributes to many downfalls evident in the recruitment program. The cost of recruiters failing to say the truth incurs a lot of cost on the government in the Department of Defense. Some of he wrong driving force mitigated by the recruiter. Some recruiters lie to the recruits of the terms and that they would be granted whatever position they apply for. This has led to disillusionment to those recruits who find the profession contrary to the expectation yet they have to serve for eight years. Most of those recruit lead miserable military years before the eight years end if they do not change their attitude (Crompton, 1969). Dishonesty form a main ethical challenge in US military recruiting practices especially the US Navy. The recruiters do not reveal about the risks involved in working as a military navy and the real opportunities available in the force. Hence some recruiters proceed with the process with the wrong expectations due to misrepresentation of some military navy recruiters. There are many cases which indicate the non-adherence to military ethics in the current US military Navy profession. One of those cases is evident in the Iraq war case that the American government had funded in fight against nuclear weapons in Iraq, the US nation despite the fact that the UN Agency had denied the move. According to the military ethics, the military personnel are supposed to adhere to integrity and transparency in their job mission. However, as its evident in the recruitment process carried out by US navy military recruits, its hard to measure integrity and to identify those recruiters who have not adhere to the ethics. The recruits who are taken up during annual recruitment process using the wrong criteria contribute greatly to the downfall of the military credibility and hence their long term goals. The long term goal of US military navy is to provide security to it citizens, to safeguard the borders including the resources. The US resources also include the water mammals and fish. The U. S navy are given training to become expert swimmers and peace restoring citizens are known worldwide of their expertise and their dedication to their state. Military navy officials are known to give up their priorities and pursue the country’s interest irrespective of their opinion about it. The U. S navy military personnel recruited during the recruitment period should become aware of their mission and objectives. The recruits are supposed to obey to whatever orders are given to them despite their opinion about the job to do.

Fear Of Violent Crime Geography Essay

Fear Of Violent Crime Geography Essay As a concept ‘fear of crime has caused much academic discussion since it was first developed as a school of thought in the 1960s. Even though interest in fear of crime has gone though peaks and troughs since its arrival in the social sciences, it has undoubtedly found its way into governmental thinking and subsequent policies (Lee Farrall 2008). There are those who claim that fear of crime is a larger problem than crime itself and this is largely due to anxieties over violent crimes such as sexual assault which is particularly salient (Warr 1995). The public are informed that official rates of crime are falling hence this appears to substantiate the claim that public fears are disproportionate to reality or even ‘irrational (Skogan 1987). For example, the latest British Crime Survey (BCS) undertaken by the Home Office (2009) revealed that peoples fear of violent crime in the UK out-weighs their chances of victimization. However a finding from the same survey showed that all regions in the UK experienced a reduction in the proportion of people with a ‘high level of worry about violent crime between 2001-2 and 2008-9 (Home Office 2009). Source: BCS, Home Office (2009) Percentage of people with high level of worry about violent crime, 2001-2 and 2008-9 There have been many disputes as to how to define fear of violent crime and as such, official statistics are subject to criticism. Lewis and Salem (1981) claim that emotional feelings alone define fear of crime whereas other scholars place emphasis on cognitive judgments or behaviours (Garland 2001). There are also mixed findings on the connections between socio-demographic factors and fears of violence. Differential fears of violent crime have been strongly attributed to factors such as age, sex, race, locality, personal experience and media consumption (Clemente Kleiman 1977). It has been posited that further research on the fear of crime ‘must be focussed spatially and socially upon particular populations (Weaver 2008: 4). This dissertation will investigate the often cited connections between fear of violent crime and locality focussing on the University of Nottingham student population. It will explore the impact these fears have on their use of public space and highlight any constraints on activities or opportunities as a consequence of behavioural modifications. Nottingham: safe for students? The City of Nottinghams violent crime rates are higher than the UK average. However, recorded violence in Nottingham against the person has decreased from a rate of 34.5 per 1000 in 2006/07 to 29.79 rates per 1000 in 2008/09 (Home Office 2009). As a consequence perhaps, headlines in the media portraying Nottingham as being notorious for gun crime or as being an ‘Assassination City (Sewell 2007) have decreased. Nevertheless the mass media continue to label Nottingham as being a hotbed of violence. It has been argued that Nottingham is ‘a victim of its own success (Tiesdell 1998). This can be attributed to the number of bars and clubs the city possesses, promoting a vibrant but volatile night-life. In 2008 Nottingham City Council announced that the city was an Alcohol Disorder Zone (ADZ). This declaration was met with disbelief and anger amongst the local press and the University of Nottingham. It was argued that the City Council had shot itself in the foot again. In 2002, the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire gave his opinion that the city was out of control; he referred to the frequency of violence and in particular, the use of firearms. ‘The City Council agreed with him before it quickly back-tracked, but it was too late, Nottingham acquired a reputation as a number-one crime city. The impact was stunning, with The University of Nottingham, one of the best in the country, losing approximately a third of student applicants (MC Report 2008). Avoidance actions can have negative impacts on cities. For example, avoidance behaviours can lead to significant financial costs as the ‘Nottingham Safer Cities Project (NSCP) discovered. The project conducted a public survey; the findings from which illustrated that a significant number of city residents usually avoided the city centre after dark. The project calculated that this avoidance strategy led to the loss of  £12 million in turnover and 442 job opportunities in Nottinghams central business district during the 6 months of the study (Beck Willis 1995). Though outdated the project indicates the importance of investigating fear of violence amongst Nottinghams university population as they are widely regarded to be a vital contributer to the citys income and infrastructure (Beck Willis 1995). Advancement of the Aims and Objectives AIMS  · To discover whether fear of violent crime amongst university students in Nottingham is dependent on a) gender b) place of domicile residence c) mass media consumption d) personal victimization  · To discover how university students react to fear of violent crime and how this shapes their use of public space in Nottingham Nottingham has higher levels of reported violent crime than the national average and is widely regarded amongst the mass media as being a particularly violent place. Furthermore students aged 16-24 years of age, statistically, are one of the most likely groups to fall victim to violent crime (Home Office 2009). Despite these findings, a thorough review of the previous literature showed that there are very few journal articles investigating fears of violence amongst university students and none were focussed on the city of Nottingham. Extensive research on gender as a correlate of fear pays most attention to the fear gap between men and women. Fear of sexual assault is often given as the main reason for differential levels of fear (Balkin 1979) and as a result mens fears are neglected (Goodey 1997). This dissertation will compare the fears of both male and female students whilst focussing on violent crimes. Most academics agree that being a victim of sexual assault leads to intensified fears (Box et al 1988). However, there are mixed findings on the impact personal victimization of other violent crimes has on the individual. Some scholars argue that all physical assaults and muggings lead to greater fear of crime (Tulloch et al 1998) whilst others argue that they actually reduce fears (Sparks et al 1977). These inconsistent findings show that there is room for further research into the effects of violent victimization on public fears, which this dissertation aims to do. Social scientists, on the whole, accept that fear of violent crime is place-dependent and as such; how individuals relate to ideas of place and community is an important indicator of fears (Girling et al 2000). However, studies in the UK examining the relationships between fear of violence and familiarity with place of residence are lacking. This dissertation will investigate the impact familiarity of place has on fears by comparing the fear index of students whose domicile residence is in Nottingham to those who lived somewhere else prior to attending University of Nottingham. The mass media provide the public with much of their information. This information is often distorted through ‘popular tabloids which tend to sensationalise crime. It has been argued that the media cause fears of violent crime to increase (Gunter 1987) but findings are mixed. First year students, many being new to the city, will be an interesting focus group as many of them would have received much of their knowledge about ‘Assassination City through the media. As aforementioned, modifications of behaviour in response to fears can have a significant impact on a citys income hence research in this area (the second main aim) could arguably be important for future policy initiatives attracting more students to Nottingham. There may also be wider social consequences for individual students with high levels of fear as it could limit opportunities, ultimately affecting well-being. OBJECTIVES 1. To review existing literature to acquire an understanding of the different theories and views on fear of violent crime 2. To conduct quantitative surveys on male and female University of Nottingham first year students followed by statistical analysis to determine the relationship between fear of violent crime and the following variables: a) gender b) place of domicile residence c) mass media d) personal victimization 3. To conduct group discussions with first year Geography and Law students at the University of Nottingham to gain a more thorough insight into their fear of violent crime and whether it effects their use of public space in Nottingham Fear of Violence: Academic discussion Gender Research into the thorny issue of gender and fear of violent crime has found that women are much more fearful of violent crime than men yet women are less likely to be victims (Hale 1996). This fear amongst women was primarily viewed as being irrational by some scholars as womens high levels of fear do not equate to actual risk of victimization (Clemente and Kleiman 1977). It is widely acknowledged, however, that women have different experiences in public spaces than men. The BCS shows that young men are at greatest risk of victimisation for overall violence, although women are more likely to experience domestic violence and sexual assault (Home Office 2009). ‘In public, fear of rape is a cardinal fear for women (Riger et al 1994: 78) and is widely acknowledged as being the greatest factor leading to ‘men and women sharing a consensus that females are much more fearful than males (Sutton Farrall 2008: 15). The shadow of sexual assault hypothesis (Ferraro 1996) states tha t womens fear of sexual assault shadows their fear of other types of crime, particularly violent crime. This dissertation aims to uncover the influence all violent crime has on female and male university students. The gendered stereotypes of ‘fearless male/fearful female (Goodey 1997) are challenged by academics who suggest that men are socialised in society to be less fearful than women hence men have a tendency to minimise and hide their fears. This recent theory of the ‘Socially Desirable Responding (Farrall et al 2009) has important implications for research findings as it has been suggested that men are more likely to under-report their concerns in order to fit the hegemonic masculine ideal (Goodey 1997). This could be to such an extent that when this was taken into account, mens fear outstripped womens (Sutton Farrall 2005). This is in contrast to the view that women report higher fears because they are physically weaker than men and may have rape foremost in their minds when answering questions about violent crime (Stanko 1990). It has been posited that fear declines with age amongst girls and to a greater extent, boys. Young boys are relatively open about their fears yet as they mature their fears are somewhat ‘downplayed as normative adult identities are adopted (Goodey 1997: 402). This dissertation compares female fears of violent crime with the ‘neglected arena of male fears (Goodey 1997: 52) focussing on first year university students who are in a liminal stage of neither being viewed by wider society as children nor adults. First Year University Students and the Fear of Violent Crime First year University students, being young adults, are often stereotyped as ‘strong, fearless and are often construed as the offender rather than the victim (Tulloch 2000: 452). However a comprehensive report by Tulloch et al (1998) found that young adults are more fearful of crime than previously recognised. In addition statistical analysis has indicated that they have the greatest fear of violent crime when compared to other age groups (Ferraro 1995). These fears are arguably justified by The British Crime Survey (Home Office 2009) which asserted that reflecting their younger age profile, students (8.6%) had a higher than average risk of being a victim of violent crime throughout the year 2008/09. The BCS claim this is likely to be related to lifestyle. For example, people who visited nightclubs more than once a week in the month prior to interview had a higher risk of violent crime (12.4%) than those who had visited nightclubs or discos less than once a week on average (6.6 %) or not at all (2.5%). First year university students or ‘Freshers do not fit into one clearly defined category or stereotype. Some see university students as belonging to a ‘problem population inducing moral panics through binge drinking and yobbish behaviour. ‘As city centres are perceived to be dangerous, they are given over to gangs of revellers and drunkards after dark (Trench et al 1992). Others see students as law abiding citizens who are likely to be victims of violent crime at the hands of excluded local youths who, like students are demonized through the media. Place of Domicile Residence and Fear of Violent Crime ‘Perception of community has a strong influence on subjective estimates of being a victim of violent crime (Jackson 2004) Literature on fear of crime has shown that it is an absorbent topic bound up in how individuals relate to ideas of place and community (Farrall et al 2009). In a recent study Farrall et al (2009) use in-depth qualitative interviews to explore the connections people make when talking about crime, their environment and community. The study suggested that at the root of fear of crime is public unease about the health of local neighbourhood order and concerns about social decline and community fragmentation. They concluded that public perceptions of crime are strongly linked to objective and subjective assessments of community, environment and change. It was also acknowledged that this can have varying degrees of significance for respondents ‘depending on a participants own circumstances or history (Farrall et al 2009: 137). Due to university students varied experiences and histories they will be an interesting population to explore. There is a sufficient gap in research on dimensions of place and fear of violent crime; there are few place-based studies that have considered relationships between fear of crime and familiarity with place of residence. Nevertheless, an example of one such study in Washington DC found that the percentage of a residents life spent in the same neighbourhood was associated with a decrease in fear of violent crime (Roman Chalfin 2008). Mass media consumption and fear of Violent Crime ‘It is widely recognised that crime stories and discussions about ‘law and order are the staple diet of the written press (Sparks 1992). The mass media provide a major source of our knowledge. As such there is much academic debate as to what extent media in the UK influences individual fear of violent crime. Academics such as Jewkes (2004) have argued that that the mass media harbours the power to instil fear in the public by the way in which it presents crime. Such arguments fit the ‘Hypodermic Syringe Model which focuses on the mass media representation of crime and how that representation is perceived by the public. It is argued that ‘the media inject values, ideas and information directly into the passive reader or viewer (Jewkes 2004: 9). The information that the ‘popular media ‘inject into the public is often distorted as they tend to sensationalise crime by following the rule that ‘if it bleeds it leads. They pay privileged attention to some crimes at the expense of others, often violent crimes at the expense of non-violent (Keating 2002). ‘In Britain, readers of tabloid newspapers which have more sensational crime coverage reported higher levels of fear than readers of broadsheet papers, whose crime coverage is less predominant and less dramatic (Grabosky 1995). By exaggerating the risks of violent crimes the media may orchestrate ‘moral panics or ‘media panics (Cohen 1972). These moral panics often correspond to BCS statistics. The popular press use one statistical area such as Nottingham and distort the truth by sensationalising the factual data using terminology such as ‘epidemic, which in turn, may lead to moral panics. Although there is some basic truth to what the media are presenting to the public, it usually becomes dramatised to the point of disconnection from the truth. This may lead to a ‘deviancy amplification spiral (Cohen 1972) inferring that the area is particularly dangerous. Another consequence for such localities is that, once the decline begins, the community becomes part of the media generated folklore on crime and rare events such as firearm offences seem to be commonplace (Keating 2002). Fear of violent crime levels can also be rationalised by using Post-Modernist approaches. Hall et al (1978: 46) suggest that the public are interested in the mass media representation of crime, especially violent crime, as ‘violence represents a basic violation of the person. The public are therefore more affected by violent crimes, as they worry for their own safety. The BCS (Home Office 2009) statistics show that the number of violent crimes is decreasing annually, but this data is not yet reflected by public opinion. The ‘Hypodermic Syringe Theory, ‘Moral Panic Theory and Post-Modernist approaches have been widely criticised by researchers who have found the causal relationship between media and fear of violent crime to be at best, inconclusive. One key finding from Tulloch et al (1998) stated that the media are not as influential as previously thought. It has been suggested that the media alone can not cause fear of crime but ‘they can address fears, play upon them, exploit or reassure them (Sparks 1992: 155). Behavioural Responses to Fear of Violent Crime A review of the quantitative evidence to date illustrates that the findings for a causal relationship between fear of violent crime and modification of behaviour are somewhat inconsistent (Foster Giles-Corti 2008). Numerous studies exhibit that people often avoid actions which they view as being dangerous such as travelling on public transport or going out after dark (Box et al 1988). On the contrary an important finding from Tulloch et al (1998) found that even though young adults are more fearful of violent crime than any other age group, they still go out at night and use public transport. Episodes of being afraid of violent crime are often short lived. For example, one may become fearful if they hear footsteps behind them when walking down a dark alley. Farrall et al (2009) describe these fears as ‘experiental. Experiental fears are short-lived episodic experiences that are in response to external direct stimuli bound up in details of time and place. It has been argued, however, that although there may be heightened awareness in situations whereby one perceives there to be a potential threat of violence, this does not necessarily lead to outright fear but a calculated set of behavioural responses (Garland 2001). By conducting in-depth interviews, Farrall et al (2009) found that many participants believed it was their responsibility to protect themselves from violent crime and that precautionary behaviour is a necessary part of every day life. Some modified their behaviour, avoided certain places at certain times and purchased security equipment. It has been suggested that fear of violence is not always detrimental to an individuals well-being. Some degree of fear might be healthy in certain situations as it creates a natural defence against crime. When there is a perceived risk of actual violence, a certain amount of fear might actually be beneficial. Experiental fears of violent crime stimulate ‘responsiblization which leads to precautionary behaviours, makes people feel safer and ultimately lowers the risk of victimization. This has been described as ‘functional fear (Jackson Gray 2009). This ‘functional fear can be illustrated in the ‘Health Belief Model (Rosensto ck 1974). This model has been applied by social scientists to explain why some people change their behaviour to combat violent crime (Hammig Moranetz 2000). The model asserts that individuals who fear being a victim of violence will change their lifestyle habits if they believe that altering certain behaviours will enhance their overall well-being. ‘For women, crime is a considerable reason as to why they do not go out after dark at night (Crawford et al 1990: 49). As aforementioned, social scientists have indicated that gender is one of the strongest predictors of fear of violence; women are more fearful of violent crime than men. Some scholars such as Warr (1985) and Ferraro (1995) have suggested that this differential ‘irrational fear among females is mostly due to their fear of sexual victimization. As a result of this fear women restrict their lives in private and public spaces due to the perceived threat of criminal victimization (Gilchrist et al 1998). Findings from Warr (1985) substantiate this claim revealing that 40% of women do not go out at night compared with 9% of men. This indicates that fear of violent crime could have real consequences for female university students, limiting their use of public space and restricting them from fulfilling numerous opportunities in Nottingham. However, findings from studies can vary depending on the different behaviours that are measured. For example, a study in the US which investigated yo ung male preventive behaviours against violent victimization found that 27% of respondents reported practicing preventive behaviours against violent crime regularly (Hammig Morinetz 2000). Existing studies therefore do not provide concrete evidence for a strong relationship between fear of violent crime and modifications of behaviour. Victimization and the ‘Irrational Fear of Violent Crime Tulloch et al (1998) found that peoples fear of violent crime depends on personal experience and that an individuals fear of violence is likely to be heightened if the individual has been victimized. However, past research on the issue has been surprisingly inconclusive. In a review of the research, DuBow et al (1979) concludes that there has been no convincing evidence that victimization increases ones fear of violent crime. In a more recent study using qualitative analysis, Farrall et al (2009) reach a similar conclusion that many who had experienced violence didnt admit to amplified levels of fear. Furthermore, they found differential levels of fear between ‘isolated and ‘repeat victims with the latter reporting greater fears. Skogan (1987) claims that due to the lack of a strong relationship between fear and direct experience of violent crime, some peoples fears such as womens has been branded ‘irrational. ‘Interest in the ‘irrationality of high levels of fear of violent crime was fuelled by the weak correspondence of many survey measures of fear of crime to peoples self reported victimization experiences (Skogan 1987: 112). Rifai (1982: 193) denotes that fear of crime is ‘irrational simply because many people dont do much about it; ‘There is usually little behavioural change that is reflected in what could be termed crime preventative or victimization preventative behaviour (Rifai 1982: 193). As previously discussed, however, findings on behavioural changes are mixed and inconclusive. Violent crime does not impact on all members of society in the same way. A controversial argument put forward by Rifai (1982) stated that victimization and fear are not strongly linked because most crimes and a large proportion of violent crimes are trivial in their consequences hence they arent fear provoking. ‘A number of case studies have suggested that in most occurrences of victimization there is little effect on the daily lives of the victims (Rifai 1982: 199). The experience of victimization can serve to dispel some of the myths and anxieties about what becoming a victim of crime might feel like. The latest BCS statistics for 2008/09 indicate that, continuing a similar pattern to previous years, assault without injury accounted for the largest proportion (40%) of all violent incidents (British Crime Survey 2009). Perhaps then, Sparks et al (1977) are justified in arguing that victimization by assault reduces fear. They explained a negative correlation between victimizati on and fear by hypothesising that people ‘fear the worst before they have any direct experience with crime, but when they are victimized and are physically unharmed, their anxieties may be alleviated. Furthermore, it has been suggested by Skogan (1987) that the exclusion of non-victims from most of the literature has left unanswered the question of to what extent victims differ from comparable non-victims as a result of that experience. For this reason my dissertation will compare the fears of both ‘victims and ‘non-victims of violent crime. Summary of Literature The literature I have reviewed covers the most relevant concepts on the fear of violent crime put forward by influential academics who have worked within the realms of this discourse. One may argue that due to the sheer abundance of research that has been advanced by leading scholars, a relatively minute project such as mine based on Nottingham university students would prove insignificant. It could also be suggested that the field has been exhausted hence there isnt any room for further research. Yet it is recognised by the majority of academics that there is always room for further exploration. This is particularly true for investigating the fear of crime as many findings are inconsistent or inconclusive. Girling et al (2000: 136) describe fear of crime as ‘a topic that never quite stays still and submits itself for dispassionate examination. My dissertation is therefore relevant as it is a contemporary investigation into an ever-changing topic that focuses on a previously ne glected group, university students, in the unexplored context of Nottingham. Methodology Overview There is much debate within the social sciences as to what ‘fear of violent crime actually means and how it should be measured. For example, numerous academics such as Hale (1996) believe it is primarily based on emotions i.e. actually feeling fearful. Other researchers criticise the emotional aspect of ‘fear and maintain that other aspects are more important such as what an individual ‘actually does to combat perceived threats of violence (Garland 2001). Alternatively, cognition i.e. what people perceive to be the risk of victimization has also been measured in previous studies. My research has investigated the complex relationships between the emotional, behavioural and cognitive aspects discussed. By acknowledging all three elements, fear of violent crime will be measured more accurately (Weaver 2008). Data collection involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. Primarily, only fixed surveys (Farrall et al 1997) were going to be used as it would generate a large quantity of results for analysis. However, this method used alone has come under much criticism. It has been argued by leading academics such as Girling et al (2000) and Pain (2000) that the ‘tick-box survey is too blunt an instrument on its own to gain understanding of public fear of crime. Taking this into consideration, it was decided that fixed surveys would be used to cover a large sample of the first year student population in Nottingham. Focus groups would then be used to carefully uncover fears, behaviours and cognitive judgements that arguably do not become evident from analysing questionnaire results. A self-completion, closed ‘tick-box survey was assembled and distributed to first year students studying a wide range of academic courses at the University of Nottingham. Once surveys had been completed and returned, face-to-face discussion groups or ‘focus groups with first year Geography and Law students were then conducted. Collecting quantitative data from the surveys prior to the group discussions enabled the latter to delve deeper into students fears of violence and uncover any behavioural responses that could not be explained in the closed tick-box surveys. Some survey questions have a tendency to elicit socially desirable responses (Farrall et al 2009). These are answers that dont necessarily reflect the respondents real feelings but ‘the one which they feel best fits the image of themselves; the image which they wish to show to the person interviewing (Farrall et al 2009: 146). As aforementioned, men are particularly likely to give socially desirable responses. Sutton and Farrall (2005) make this point in a review of previous quantitative data on fear of crime. They suggest that when answering survey questions aimed at measuring fear of crime, men often suppress the extent of their anxieties. This may have implications for survey results. Furthermore, ‘it is not uncommon for people under the researchers gaze to feel self conscious or threatened (Flowerdew and Martin 1997: 129). For these reasons, questionnaires were not conducted face to face but were handed out and returned within a week to a ‘pigeon hole in the Uni versity of Nottingham main reception. Sampling Methods Focussing on first year students at the University of Nottingham placed constraints on possible sampling techniques. The dissertation, ideally, would have an equal number of female and male respondents, and an equal number of students whose domicile residence was in Nottingham and elsewhere. In the pilot test a quota sampling method was adopted. This sampling method was conducted at the University of Nottingham ‘freshers fair. This method encountered problems. Firstly, the survey did not result in a 100% response rate. Secondly, it proved almost impossible to find an equal number of respondents whose domicile residence was in Nottingham as those that werent. The final decision was to use cluster sampling. Cluster sampling was used as it was deemed to be an appropriate and realistic method of surveying first year university students. Study participants were thus recruited through the University of Nottingham. Questionnaires were distributed to the university, with permission, wh ich then handed them out to first year students for completion. As such, all participants met the study requirements. 200 surveys were distributed, 124 of which were returned projecting a 62% response rate. First year geography and law students were recruited for the focus groups by administering voluntary sign up sheets to the University of Nottingham which were then placed in the Geography and Law buildings of the university. Ethical Issue

Essay --

The documentary titled Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat is a documentary shedding some light on the growing trend of America and its expanding waistlines. The documentary is geared to unmask the epidemic of obesity in our country. The film sheds some light to our society is how our society is fixated with living and unhealthy lifestyle. The film goes on to inform you on how bad the situation really is, where two-thirds of the American population qualifies as obese or overweight. The documentary tried to uncover the root and causes of how this epidemic came to be and how it can be reversed. This documentary shows great examples on how obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic as important as terrorism according to Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. He stated, â€Å"Obesity is a terror within. It destroys our society from within†¦.† If we don’t take responsibility and change our horrible eating patter we are going to be doomed. One of the main reasons for obesity other than the lack of a healthy diet is the modernization of our world. In the years when our parents... Essay -- The documentary titled Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat is a documentary shedding some light on the growing trend of America and its expanding waistlines. The documentary is geared to unmask the epidemic of obesity in our country. The film sheds some light to our society is how our society is fixated with living and unhealthy lifestyle. The film goes on to inform you on how bad the situation really is, where two-thirds of the American population qualifies as obese or overweight. The documentary tried to uncover the root and causes of how this epidemic came to be and how it can be reversed. This documentary shows great examples on how obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic as important as terrorism according to Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. He stated, â€Å"Obesity is a terror within. It destroys our society from within†¦.† If we don’t take responsibility and change our horrible eating patter we are going to be doomed. One of the main reasons for obesity other than the lack of a healthy diet is the modernization of our world. In the years when our parents...

Political Correctness Has Gone Too Far Essay -- History Censorship Arg

Political Correctness has Gone Too Far The â€Å"Politically Correct† movement’s purpose is to bring historically condescending terms, offensive music and art, and controversial educational content to an end and replace them with more positive and less-offending references. Offensive and demoralizing efforts are wrong, but the censorship and deletion of words and phrases that do not contain the intention to demoralize are taking political correctness too far. Politically correct (or â€Å"PC†) antics have created a social decline that is growing worse with each generation, specifically regarding areas of art, education, language, and our right to freedom of speech; the degradation they have brought to the American psyche has even led to name-changing. The PC mindset has also discouraged artistic expression. Imagine being to be so sensitive about offending people that we let the art we create be determined by the offended. New art would be restricted and old art would be censored. The creative ability would be limited to what is considered acceptable by everyone. We would be like the fool who tries to please everyone. How would music and art exist if the free reign of creativity ended? If art and music continue to face influential restrictions on content, then the quality of art will fall into artistic mediocrity. PC policies have also compromised the accuracy of educational content in textbooks. Material close to being offensive is removed or adjusted to satisfy the super-sensitive or to avoid any unforeseen complaints. For example, American Indians can't be depicted with long braids, in rural settings, or on reservations, even though many American Indians do have long braids and live in rural settings or on reservations. If the depictions of our historical figures are incorrect, then the new PC textbooks should ensure their historical accuracy and footnote each change appropriately. In addition, if the information is correct but is being altered to satisfy sensitive groups, it should be changed back, regardless of the offending potential. How far could this evolve? Will we continue to erase provocative and controversial details of our history? It â€Å"dumbs down† our textbooks, leaving them bland and far less interesting. This effort to cleanse our history is wrong and it is killing our education efforts/system today. We are becoming more aware of the sen... ...n the January 1993 Library Journal, makes a similar suggestion: "Ultimately, however, we hope we use language that is more sensitive without enforcing strident political correctness or orthodoxy." We, as a society, are so concerned about avoiding confrontations that we are going overboard changing non-offensive names. The attempt to avoid possible protests of sensitive pressure groups by sanitizing our language is, in my opinion, censorship. Changing a man’s career name from trashman to custodial engineer is an example that is justifiable and is why political correctness was brought about. It is the oversensitive effort to numb out historical content, which is neither offensive nor demeaning, which leads me to believe that political correctness has gone too far and needs to be stopped. Bibliography Fialkoff, Francine. "The Word Police." Library Journal 118 (1993):25. S.I. Hayakawa and Alan R Hayakawa, Words with Built-in Judgments. Language Awareness, Readings for College Writers. Ed. Paul Escholz, Alfred Rosa, Virginia Clark. Bedfort/St. Martin’s: Boston, New York, 2004. 229-234 Wikipedia the Free Online Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowman 2004

The Henry Wiggen Novels of Mark Harris Essay -- Southpaw Drum Seamstit

The Henry Wiggen Novels of Mark Harris  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   There can be no question that sport and athletes seem to be considered less than worthy subjects for writers of serious fiction, an odd fact considering how deeply ingrained in North American culture sport is, and how obviously and passionately North Americans care about it as participants and spectators. In this society of diverse peoples of greatly varying interests, tastes, and beliefs, no experience is as universal as playing or watching sports, and so it is simply perplexing how little adult fiction is written on the subject, not to mention how lightly regarded that little which is written seems to be. It should all be quite to the contrary; that our fascination and familiarity with sport makes it a most advantageous subject for the skilled writer of fiction is amply demonstrated by Mark Harris. In his novels The Southpaw (1953), Bang The Drum Slowly (1956), A Ticket For A Seamstitch (1957), and It Looked Like For Ever (1979), Harris chronicles the life of Henry "Author" Wiggen, a great major-league baseball star. Featuring memorable characters and deft storytelling, these books explore the experience of aging, learning, and living in time, with baseball as their backdrop. Henry's first-person narrative is the most important element of these stories. Through it he recounts the events of his life, his experiences with others, his accomplishments and troubles. The great achievement of this narrative voice is how effortlessly it reveals Henry's limited education while simultaneously demonstrating his quick intelligence, all in an entertaining and convincing fashion. Henry introduces himself by introducing his home-town of Perkinsville, New York, whereupon his woeful g... ...ause they are so well written. The expertly devised narrative voice, easy humour, compelling characterization, and thoughtful, even philosophical storytelling combine to create a series of books which compare favourably to many included on the Modern Library's recent list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century, which seems not to contain a single novel set in the world of sport. It is a curious prejudice, this apparent lack of respect for literature concerned with sport, to which these novels represent a pointed and hearty rebuke. Works Cited Harris, Mark. A Ticket For A Seamstitch. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984. ---. Bang The Drum Slowly. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984. ---. It Looked Like Forever. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1989. ---. The Southpaw. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.   

Chinese Food Essay

Chinese food has a long history with more than 5,000 years. Different area has different kind of cooking. Also, different style of cooking has different characteristic. Chinese food covers a lot of the delicious tastes from all over the country. First, Cantonese cuisine is delicious and attractive, which is always my favorite style of dishes. Cantonese cuisine’s characteristic is sweet, original and light. It lays importance on the food’s high freshness. (About) You can see there are many living fish which will be killed and made of a dish when the customer requires. Besides, Cantonese cuisine has many kinds of food, like shumai. Shumai is filled with primarily of pork, black mushroom, green onion and ginger with seasonings of Chinese rice wine. (Wikipedia) It tastes very delicious with a salt and smooth taste. It seems like the word â€Å"mouthfeel† was invented for it. It is the typical and traditional food for Cantonese. Every time I go to Cantonese restaurant, Shumai is the dishes that I will choose automatically. Also, Shumai is always the apotheosis of Cantonese cuisine in my mind. Second, Sichuan cuisine has a long history. Sichuan cuisine has a really long history and it can be dated back to the period of Qin Dynasty. (Wikipedia) Nowadays, Sichuan cuisine has been famous for all over the world. And Sichuan restaurants exist in many areas in the world. Even President Obama also enjoys this kind of delicious food. (Z&Y restaurant) Sichuan cuisine mainly uses soy sauce, vinegar and sauce. Without these relishes, the taste of Sichuan cuisine will degrade. Besides, the style of Sichuan cuisine is fresh and simple. (Wikipedia) For me, Sichuan cuisine is always spicy and stimulating. The dishes are simple, but they can give me a sense of enjoyment and comfort. Sichuan cuisine has a really long history and now is famous all over the world. Third, besides Chinese food’s tasty, it is also good for body constitution. I have ever seen many court play on TV that many emperors would let his cooks to make medicine diet. Also, sometimes my parents will add some traditional Chinese medicine into the soup. Although I don’t have foodie tendencies, I grew up loving this kind of soup. Nowadays, many new dietary therapy cuisines are created, with good taste and effect. By eating medicine diet, I grow up healthily and strongly. In conclusion, Chinese food covers many kinds of delicious food. And it is the wisdom of Chinese people. I am really proud of it. In the future, I believe that Chinese food will go on a new stage and can be appreciated by people all over the world. Reference Wikipedia. (n. d. ). Shumai. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Shumai#Serving About. (n. d. ). Cantonese cuisine. Retrieved November 19, 2012 from http://chinesefood. about. com/od/cantonesecuisine/p/profile. htm Z&Y restaurant. (n. d. ). Chef Han. Retrieved November 19, 2012 from http://www. zandyrestaurant. com/en/index. html Wikipedia. (n. d. ). Diet therapy. Retrieved November 19, 2012 from http://zh. wikipedia. org/wiki/%E8%97%A5%E8%86%B3.

First Person Ranks First: John Mccain a War Point of View

Is it more important to focus on the bigger picture in War? Doing so would be to neglect the 58,000 soldiers who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is often seen as an unclear part of our history in the United States. This conflict in some Americans minds was a war of ethics, a war of right and wrong. The United States entered the war in order to try to prevent the continuous slaughter of Southern Vietnamese people. What we can learn is what lies in the stories of the different people who were involved in the war. The killing of the Southern Vietnamese posed an ethical problem for the United States. The U. S. saw it necessary to become involved. The masses involved male or female were sons, daughters, parents, spouses, and friends to others. What is important in this war is for us is to understand the experiences of the opposing citizens and soldiers involved. We more often than not overlook the personal experiences and aspects of the people involved in the war. In John McCain’s Faith of My Fathers and Nguyen Qui Duc’s La Fin d’un Cauchemar we are able to see the experiences of an American (McCain) and a Vietnamese family. Understanding these people’s points of view can be the most important lesson learned. Ones perception of the Vietnam War is often and easily skewed by outside sources such as media and movies. The personal accounts of the people who were actually involved in the war allow us the right to a better understanding. The two opposing perspectives in these narratives help their readers appreciate the gravity of the circumstances for the people involved. The torture, violence, and separation that these narratives revisit help us better understand the Vietnam War. In the excerpt from Faith of Our Fathers, John McCain retells his account of the Vietnam War while he was a prisoner of war. McCain’s narrative shows its audience a different side of the war. John McCain was a naval aviator in the Vietnam War. He flew in 23 bombing missions over North Vietnam. Preceding his twenty-third mission he was shot down, captured, and was tortured as a prisoner of war for five and a half years. (Kennedy, 2002, p. 249) Throughout the course of these years he was brutalized and beaten physically and mentally. Senator McCain’s experience under the insurgence of his captors cultivated his opinion of the unjust implications of torture. â€Å"Vietnam ignored its obligations to mistreat the Americans they held prisoner, claiming that we were engaged in an unlawful war against them and thus not entitled to the protections of the Geneva Conventions. † (McCain, 1999, p. 376) McCain’s narrative told from his first person point view provides its audience with a soldier’s perspective. In Faith of Our Fathers personalizes the Vietnam War with his experiences as a POW. The soldiers in McCain’s narrative act as a model example of a United States Soldier in Vietnam. â€Å"I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (McCain, 1999, p. 376) John McCain exemplified these traits from the United States Code of Conduct for American Prisoners of War. His story stands as a representation of the courage that the soldiers carried during the war. The horrifying description of torture dealt to both McCain and his fellow compatriots’ shows the inhumanity that went on. The account of Lance Sijan, a Captain in the Air Force, is particularly compelling to the audience. He was shot down in Vietnam sustaining several injuries. Shortly after, he was captured by Viet Cong. â€Å"Interrogated several times, he refused to say anything. He was savagely beaten for his silence†¦and struck with a bamboo club. † (McCain, 1999, p. 383) Despite the continued abuse that was placed on Sijan he refused to surrender his loyalty to his country. The way he and many other soldiers conducted themselves in spite of these conditions shows a different side of the war. A side that varies from the common perception of a Vietnam soldier as being abnormal and deranged. These soldiers were dedicated to their purpose and their country. John McCain’s atypical narrative stems a better understanding of the Vietnam War for our generation. Much like and much different than Faith of Our Fathers, La Fin d’un Cauchemar by Nguyen Qui Duc shows a different side of the Vietnam War that generates a different respect and understanding for the war itself. In La Fin d’un Cauchemar tells the story of a Vietnamese family, more importantly, the Vietnamese father and how his imprisonment in North Vietnam has an affect on the family. Duc’s father was imprisoned for over 12 years. During this period of time Nguyen’s family struggled in the communist lead society. La Fin d’un Cauchemar shows the experiences of a Vietnamese family in the light of what was going on around them. The Duc family stands representative of struggling Vietnamese families during the Vietnam War. Nguyen’s family was burdened with oppression, illness, and an imprisoned father. After two years of not knowing the well-being or whereabouts of her father, Nguyen’s mother received a letter with the information that her husband was alive and imprisoned in a North Vietnamese POW camp. Nguyen’s mother â€Å"†¦fought for two months to get a permit to visit [her] father, and then wait just as long to get train tickets on the black market. † (Duc, 1994, p. 419) The communist government of Vietnam dictated her family’s every move. The Vietnamese were severely oppressed. Following Nguyen’s mothers visitation of her father, the family was weighed down by illness and discontent. Nguyen’s mother spent time and money visiting her father and in doing so injured herself. Nguyen’s mothers’ ankle injury became infected and at the same time her sister was dieing of kidney failure. Nguyen’s family was encumbered with problems. Nguyen Qui Duc’s narrative shows us an alternative side to the war. One that didn’t deal with soldiers or battle. Duc’s rarely narrated point of view places the reader in the perspective of the Vietnamese civilian. Our opinions are often distorted by outside sources. Outlets like movies skew our understanding of issues like the Vietnam War. Michael Medved (2005) a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, author of 10 books, and film critic says that â€Å"It is far more common in contemporary war films, regardless of the conflict being depicted, for the three elements of the classic war movie to be turned on their heads. U. S. troops are more likely than not to be portrayed as sick, warped, and demented-in any case, very different from normal Americans. † (Medved, 2005, p. 53) Movies, a major source for our generation’s knowledge and familiarity of the Vietnam War, lack credibility and prove to be inconsistent. Duc’s story is one not even touched upon in movies. Most often movies are filmed through the eyes of the American soldiers. The perspective of the Vietnamese people is never witnessed. Individual first person accounts provide us with a concrete perspective of insiders that movies cannot. These two Vietnam narratives display different perspectives of the Vietnam War. One being the point of view of an American soldier and the other being a Vietnamese family. The personal experiences of these characters help us to understand the war itself. Our generation can learn from these experiences by reading and acknowledging the first hand retellings of Vietnam. These narratives offer a real perspective of the Vietnam War, much different from that of the twisted and glamorized Hollywood angle. First person Vietnam narratives are the most insightful and dignified pieces of historical context we can obtain. While is necessary to recognize the bigger scheme of things it is important to understand the perspectives of the individuals involved on both sides, in order to put the Vietnam War itself in perspective. Reference Kennedy, C (2002). Profiles in Courage for Our Time. New York: Hyperion Books. McCain J. & Salter M. 2006) Preface from Faith of My Fathers. In K. Ratcliffe (Ed. ), Critical Literacies (3rd ed. , p 374-387) Boston: Pearson Custom. (Reprinted from Faith of My Fathers, (1999), Random House, Inc. Copyright 1999 by John McCain. ) Medved, M. , (2005). They don’t make war movies like they used to. USA Today, 134, 52-55. Nguyen Qui Du’c. (2006). La Fin d’un Cauchemar. In K. Ratcliffe (Ed. ), Critical Literacies (3rd ed. , p 418-425) Boston: Pearson Custom. (Reprinted from Where the Ashes are: The Odyssey of a Vietnamese Family (1994), by Permission of the Author)

Discrimination in Labor

In the case of Sarah Crone vs. United Parcel Service, Inc. , decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the court decided against the complainant, and held that there was lack of evidence to show that the employer was discriminatory in not considering her for the promotion. In said case Crone, a dispatcher of the employer corporation wanted to be promoted to the dispatcher supervisor position, when the said position became available.However, she was not promoted because the Department Manager and the Division Manager feared she might not be able to deal with confrontations, which are necessarily attached to the supervisory position. For Crone, this ground was discriminatory on account of sex. According to the court, Crone was unable to show that the company’s reason was a mere pretext to cover up its discriminatory purpose. (Crone v. UPS, Inc. , 2002).The issue of discrimination can indeed be raised in this case, considering that it initially appears that Crone was not considered for promotion merely because of some trait that the managers ascribed to her on account of her being a woman. It should be noted that discrimination exists where distinctions are made, â€Å"in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. (Dictionary. com). Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws prohibit all sorts of discriminatory practices of employers, which include making â€Å"employment decisions based on stereotypes or assumptions about the abilities, traits, or performance of individuals of a certain sex, race, age, religion, or ethnic group, or individuals with disabilities. † (Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws).These EEO laws, which have been passed in most states, enjoin companies to provide equal employment opportunity to all their employees, without regard to irrelevant characteristics such as age, religion and sex. EEO laws, having been based on the fundamental principle of fairness, urges companies to allow equal opportunity for employees to succeed. (Fair Measures). Following these laws, therefore, the company’s decision to choose another person over Crone falls within the category of employment decisions that should not be tainted with discriminatory considerations.However, it cannot be said that the court’s decision in this case in dismissing the complaint could lead to unlawful excuses for discrimination in other settings, because the ruling was not a statement of a policy favoring the creation of biases against women. The ruling was based on facts. The company was able to substantiate its defense that it was justified in finding Crone unqualified for the position because of her lack of necessary skills to deal with confrontations, which evaluation was supported by an occasion where Crone came close to tears while a driver became confrontational with her.Thus, the court upheld the ruling in Kiel v. Select Artificials, Inc. , 169 F. 3d 1131, 1136 (8th Cir. ) (en banc), cert. denied, 528 U. S. 818 (1999), which said, â€Å"In the absence of any evidence of discriminatory intent, however, it is not the prerogative of the courts or jury to sit in judgment of employers’ management decisions. † (Crone v. UPS, Inc. , 2002). Thus, it would be premature to conclude that this decision veers away from the policy against discrimination, as it is clear that the company’s decision was based on cold facts.This writer believes that the above case does not require elaborate changes in the present EEO structure, as there is no danger of discrimination, provided that the law’s nuances and policy are carefully followed. The law provides for instances that could be considered discrimination. In the absence of sufficient proof of such discrimination, the law is correct in providing equal protection to employers who have the right to man age their business in accordance with their preferences.

A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification Essay

A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification A Final Project Presented to the Faculty of the School of Business In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in Business Administration By Abstract of Thesis A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification By Problem In response to the raising awareness of damage to the environment, a series of standards for environmental management systems called The ISO 14000 was introduced in 1996. It provides guidelines on the ingredients that an environmental management should necessarily posses and also on the supporting technologies. These standards were not so specific as regards to how it should be done rather it more emphasizes on what should be done. ISO 14000 is an environmental management standards designed to guarantee products and services to cover the minimum environmental impact. The ISO 14000 series takes the international standards system to the field of environmental concerns. ISO 14001 focuses on the development and maintenance of an Environmental Management System, within the ISO 14000 series. The ISO 14000 series is of relatively recent origin, having been instituted in 1991. However, it has emerged as a significant force within a short time. The ISO 14000 series is relevant for the world of business, for governments and regulators, for organizations that work not-for-profit and for entities of all types and sizes, wherever they may be. Its universal nature makes it a unique and dominant system for all people who are concerned with pollution, waste and about the consumption of resources that are limited and which cannot be renewed. ISO 14000 promotes professional conduct. Training people and involving them in key processes lie at the heart of the ISO 14000 system. The rigors of certification serve to develop human resources. It can serve to motivate people at all levels of the hierarchy, and to foster team spirit. The ISO 14000 system is not limited to altruism and to noble intentions. It is worth hard cash. ISO 14001 puts great pressure to bear on achieving productivity improvements that translate to valuable cost savings. Major international corporations enjoy impressive profit growth through the ISO 14000 series. All ISO certifications carry the benefits of independent and international recognition. ISO extension in to the field of environmental concerns through the 14000 series brings desirable pressure on companies that produce hazardous substances and which generate enormous amounts of waste. Customers everywhere have the choice to insist on ISO 14000 certifications. Companies may find themselves excluded from significant market segments if they continue to ignore or to avoid ISO 14000. Some organizations may find themselves out of business if they do not secure ISO 14000 certification. Apple leads a galaxy of the world’s most respected enterprises in using ISO 14001 certification as a cornerstone of competitive strategy. Lithium ion battery technology is an example of innovation that a commitment to environmental conservation can present. Solutions inspired by ISO 14001 can have welcome economic benefits, apart from noble achievements in terms of environmental conservation. Reduction in energy consumption is an outstanding example, since power generation can be both expensive as well as polluting. ISO 14000 calls for abiding commitment on the part of all entities that seek certification. The system consumes major portions of employee time. ISO 14000 becomes a major element of cost, though it does produce handsome returns. The ISO 14000 series follows a highly structured implementation procedure. There is comprehensive documentation widely available that any organization can use to enter the system. Most organizations find it expedient to use consultants to guide them through the process. Independent auditors are inevitable. External auditors must be knowledgeable, experienced and accredited. ISO 14000 has important weaknesses. Loss of proprietary information is the most serious risk. Certified companies may find that their defenses have been compromised in the event of litigation. This arises from the documentation and management reviews that are integral to ISO 14000. ISO 14000 leaves organizations free to choose their own goals, priorities and standards. It therefore lends itself to potential abuse by organizations that may push important social concerns to the background, or to prevaricate about deleterious aspects of environmental degradation. Some organizations may not be able to fund the investments in time and money that ISO 14000 requires. The benefits may therefore evade small enterprises. ISO 14000 documentation needs can also duplicate documentation that other systems and some regulations require. Training and audit infrastructure is inadequate for widespread and global application of ISO 14000. Some organizations, especially in remote regions can find themselves excluded though they may wish to enlist. ISO 14000 confines itself to the environment. It does not consider issues of human wellness. There are many community concerns that ISO 14000 does not address. It is not a guarantee of ethical performance of an organization on all fronts. Business interests may be served best if companies were to use ISO 14000 for internal review, without going in for certification or even registration. It would then be an effective tool of risk management without opening the firm to unwelcome public scrutiny. As stated ISO 14000 can prove to be a significant undertaking that can task the resources of any size organization, if the task is undertaken correctly and managed well the benefits will outweigh the costs in many ways, from financial to organizational image. Method The Historical/Case study method is used in this thesis. The study consists of real life cases gathered from, various sources. These cases are evaluated for relevance as well as content. Cases used will be from varying sizes and types of organizations, public and private as well as local and international. Further research analysis by overview of the statistical research methods, selection of the sample and descriptive statistics is also used in this thesis as a corroborative evidence to substantiate the findings of this thesis. Conclusion This study has shown that ISO 14000 certification can tax the resources of organizations, but in the majority of cases the end result has proven that the benefits of certification exceed the costs. The study of the data presented has demonstrated that, for most organizations, not implementing ISO 14000 can be much more costly than implementation. Recently several universities, including the University of Michigan, suspended contracts with Coca Cola on campuses (Dump Coke at U of M, 2005). While several reasons are given for the suspension of contacts at the campuses including human rights violations, specifically mentioned is â€Å"Environmental Devastation† in India. Perception is key for business in today’s global economy, being able to prove environmental responsibility as stewardship on the organizations behalf can result in the loss or gain of business. Table of Contents Chapter No Headings Page No Chapter 1 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY AND INTRODUCTION 6 Statement of the Problem 7 Purpose of the Study 10 Scope of the Study 11 Rationale of the Study 12 Definition of Terms 12. Overview of the Study 17 Chapter 2 REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE 2. 1 Introduction 21 2. 2 The Sustainability Imperative for Environmental Management 23 2. 3 Image Incentives for Environmental Management 25 2. 4 The Lines of Business 30 2. 5 Implemental aspects 31 2. 6 ISO 14000 and Global Trends 31 2. 7 ISO 14001 and Profits 34 2. 8 ISO 14001 and Seasonal Business 37 2. 9 ISO 14001 and Building Projects 39 2. 10 ISO 14001 and Equator Principles 40 2. 11 SME Experience with ISO 14001 41 2. 12 Summary of Benefits of Environmental Management Systems 44 2. 13 What is it? 46 2. 14 Environmental Labeling and ISO 14000 50 2. 15 ISO 14001 for International Corporations 53 2. 16 ISO 14001 in Mergers and Acquisitions 58 2. 17 Detailing Product Life Cycles 58 2. 18 Specific Benefits That Business Can Expect From ISO 63 2. 19 ISO 9000 AND ISO 14000 65 Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY Approach 66 Data Gathering Method 67 Data Base of Study 68 Validity of Data 68 Originality and Limitation of Data 69 Summary 70 Chapter 4 DATA ANALYSIS 4. 1 BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC 71 4. 2 ELI LILLY 72 4. 3 Beyond Compliance by Baxter and Eli Lilly. 74 4. 3. 1 EPA ‘s 33 / 50 program 74. 4. 3. 2 Responsible Care Compliance 75 4. 3. 3 Green Products 75 4. 3. 4 Environment Audits 76 4. 4 An analysis of Environment compliance by Baxter and Lilly. 76 4. 5 Policy Dynamics 76 4. 6 Baxter International Inc and Environment Compliance 77 4. 6. 1 Baxter’s Environment Performance –At a glance. 78 4. 6. 2 Green House Gas Emission 80 4. 63 Reduction in Emissions in Carbon Di Oxide 81 4. 6. 4 Baxter Historical Performance as reported in 1997 81 4. 6. 5 Baxter’s Environment Program through year 2010 81 4. 6. 6 Baxter’s Cost Savings due to Environmental initiatives 82 4. 6. 7 Environment Performance Data of Baxter 83 4. 6. 8 Baxter’s Cost Reduction Data’s 84 4. 6. 9 The Toxic Release Inventory and the 33/50 Program by Baxter and Lilly. 85 4. 7 Baxter and Lilly ISO 14000 -Response 86 4. 8 Blue Scope Steel and ISO 14000 86 4. 9 ISO 14000 & Rockwell Automation, Twinsburg –Ohio 87 4. 10 Plasti Color -Ohio 88 4. 11 Xerox Corporation 88 4. 12 IBM 88 4. 13 Carter Holt Harvey Tissue –New Zealand 89 4. 14 3M Corporation 89 4. 15 Case studies of ISO 14001 Companies 91 4. 16 Coca-Cola 95 4. 17 Research Approach Methodological of Sample Collection 98 4. 18 Methods of Resources 98 4. 19 Description of dependent and Independent variables –Table -1 99 4. 20 Table 2- Entity Type 101 4. 21 Table 3 – Categories of NED 102 4. 22 Table 4-Multiple Regression results for test Of H1 through H 4. 103 Chapter 5 SUMMARY , RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSIONS 105 REFERENCES 118 List of Table and Charts Chapter No Headings Page No Chapter 4 4. 6. 1 Baxter’s Environment Performance –At a glance. 78 4. 6. 2 Green House Gas Emission 80 4. 63 Reduction in Emissions in Carbon Di Oxide 81 4. 6. 6 Baxter’s Cost Savings due to Environmental initiatives 82. 4. 6. 7 Environment Performance Data of Baxter 83 4. 6. 8 Baxter’s Cost Reduction Data’s 84 4. 15 Case studies of ISO 14001 Companies 91 4. 19 Description of dependent and Independent variables –Table -1 99 4. 20 Table 2- Entity Type 101 4. 21 Table 3 – Categories of NED 102 4. 22 Table 4-Multiple Regression results for test Of H1 through H 4. 103 A Business Case for an ISO 14001 Certification A Case Study Chapter 1 Importance of the study and Introduction Several industries are trying very hard to change their public image as environmentally â€Å"unfriendly†. The oil industry with its need to seek more sources, often in wilderness areas, chemical companies which have in the past legally dumped toxic waste, the timber industries and the automotive industry which continues to produce large gas guzzling SUV’s and trucks are all very sensitive to public perception. Perception is very powerful and a company does not want to be perceived as harmful to the environment or not environmentally friendly. Frequency of industrial accidents and media publicities such as the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) highlighted the environmental consequences of unfettered industrialization . Respecting the public concerns; the United States Congress has made several laws stipulating environmental standards and technologies for manufacturing companies. Only after Rio Summit in 1992, the policy makers seem to have acceded the fact that the governmental coercion alone will not bring any success and right incentives must be provided to the industries. In recent years, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched voluntary beyond –compliance programs such as Green Lights, Project XL and 33/50. The ISO 14000 certification system can be used as a tool to not just say that are concerned about the environment, but to show what you have been doing, are doing and will be doing to improve your performance. In doing so you should be able to add to your bottom line, both direct and indirect. As more and more of these companies will seek and obtain the ISO 14000 certification and they require suppliers to do so as well. This study seeks to contribute to the on-going debate within some sections of industry about the economics of ISO 14001. It is known that large corporations invest in registrations, often under duress from social activists. But is there money to be gained by following the system? Can there be purely business reasons for seeking ISO 14001 certification? Can smaller enterprises participate? These are some of the questions that this study seeks to answer. Statement of the Problem The problem; organizations have a need to show environmental stewardship but what is the cost of doing so and how so they justify the cost to management and/or shareholders. Today companies and organizations face many financial challenges and to survive in the global economy they must be fiscally responsible. There is also a need to be considered environmentally responsible and perceived as such. The ISO 14OOO series specifies beyond –compliance management systems . These standards have been sponsored by the International Organization for Standardization, a Geneva -based non governmental organization . ISO 14000 could be viewed as an industrial code of practice that needs to be certified by external auditors. Currently such certification costs about $ 20000 per facility. The cost has acted as a barrier for many financially weak corporations to have the ISO 14000 Certification for their facilities. Recently several universities, including the University of Michigan and New York University, suspended contracts with Coca Cola on campuses (Dump Coke at U of M, 2005). While several reasons are given for the suspension of contacts at the campuses including human rights violations, specifically mentioned is â€Å"Environmental Devastation† in India. Perception is key for business in today’s global economy, being able to prove environmental responsibility and stewardship on the organizations behalf can result in the loss or gain of business. Most companies still have a choice whether to obtain certification or not and the best illustration for this is Baxter International Inc and Eli Lilly , a U. S based multinational Companies , the details are discussed in the Research Analysis chapter in this thesis. However, more and more must obtain certification to maintain their status in the supply chains of other companies. To ensure suppliers are meeting environmental benchmarks, manufacturers such as General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, DaimlerChrysler, IBM, Xerox, Honda Corporation, Toyota are requiring suppliers to be ISO 14001 certified. Generating environmentally damaging emissions and waste is often an indication of an un-optimized production process, and manufacturers that implement ISO 14001 requirements can realize improvements in efficiency and profitability — and retain their positions in OEM supply chains†. (Susan Gilbert-Miller n. d). It is very likely that both public and private demand for environmental responsibility will continue to fuel the shift towards certification as proof of doing so. In the global economy today an ISO 14000 certification could become as important, to show a company’s environmental responsibility, as ISO or QS 9000 is to show a commitment to quality. It may become a prerequisite to doing business with some companies and in more industries as it has in the automotive industry. The direct cost of certification can range from a few thousand dollars for a small facility to hundreds of thousands for larger companies and millions for international companies. Presenting the business case for certification will be much easier if the benefits and cost reduction are included as part of the presentation. Purpose of the Study There are a number of excellent consulting services and other resources available at a cost, to help companies through the process of achieving certification. The key is the element of cost. In order to receive funds for consulting services or any other resources, you may have to justify your endeavor financially prior receiving any funding. Even if your company is capable of going through the process without any outside resources there are still direct and indirect costs associated with the process, prior to hiring a certification company to conduct an audit. You will have to buy materials, pull people in full time and part time, audit and update records. Training will be required for employees and management. The purpose is to show that the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining an ISO 14000 certification as part of an Environmental Management System, can be exceeded by the benefits of doing so. The benefits are not just monetary, but also how the company is viewed in the public eye as well, which is increasingly important in today’s global economy. Scope of the Study The majority of the top 100 companies in the United States have already achieved ISO 14000 certification. The same trend exists in the European Union. The research will look at what is driving the movement towards certification. It will also look at what is required to become certified and to maintain that certification. This will be done through case studies of companies that have already achieved certification, how it has affected their companies and in what ways. The main focus being that it makes good business sense, and the justification thereof. The study concentrates on the business and profit reasons for ISO 14000 registrations, with tertiary scans of ethical issues and applicability of not-for-profit organizations. The study includes brief descriptions of all phases of the ISO 14001 process, with outlines of the various sections of the manual that is an integral part of the process. Rationale of the Study While a lot companies have already achieved ISO 14000 certification many more have not. One of the biggest factors in failure to achieve or to get the company to attempt certification, especially in small and medium size companies, is that often the appointed SME (subject matter expert) has little knowledge as to what is required. It is a task that is added to their current â€Å"to do† list and they are not given the proper resources or time to conduct a thorough study as to what needs to be done, the resources it will require and what is most important in some cases, R. O. I. (Return On Investment). This study will help to explain what is required, where to look for information and through case studies show that a positive R. O. I. can be achieved through ISO 14000 certification and the maintenance of the certification. Definition of Terms Climate change: An alteration to measured quantities (e. g. precipitation, temperature, radiation, wind and cloudiness) within the climate system that departs significantly from previous average conditions and is seen to endure, bringing about corresponding changes to ecosystems and socio-economic activity. Associated with greenhouse gas emissions, of which fossil fuel combustion and forest decline are contributors. Code of Federal Regulations: United Stated Code of Regulations, commonly referred to as CFR is a publication established by and Act of Congress. It documents all regulations issued by federal administrative agencies that have â€Å"general applicability and legal effect. † Ecological or Environmental sustainability: This entails maintaining an ecosystem an adjacent ecosystem at the same or higher levels as the ecosystem in question to be able to maintain its productivity, adaptability and capacity for renewal. It requires that forest management respects, and builds on, natural processes. EMAS: Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, In Europe the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) was created and many European countries made implementation of EMAS mandatory for many large manufacturing facilities. EMAS and ISO 14001 are not very different; EMAS has two significant elements more than ISO 14001, namely a baseline environmental assessment and a public environmental performance report. Environmental Aspect: An element of an organization’s activities, products or services that can interact with the environment, whether it be in a positive of negative manner. Environmental Impact: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities, products or services. Gap Analysis: One of the initial steps in successful implementation of ISO 14000 is gap analysis. The gap analysis looks at a facility’s written programs, policies, and procedures to see how they compare to the requirements of ISO 14000. Once this analysis is complete a guideline will be established to bring them into compliance to prepare for certification Global Warming: The term Global Warming refers to the observation that the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface is warming, without any implications for the cause or magnitude. This warming is one of many kinds of climate change that the Earth has gone through in the past and will continue to go through in the future. ISO 14000: ISO 14000 is a series of environmental management standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for organizations. The ISO 14000 standards provide a guideline or framework for organizations that need to systematize and improve their environmental management efforts. The ISO 14000 standards are not designed to aid the enforcement of environmental laws and do not regulate the environmental activities of organizations. Adherence to these standards is voluntary. The ISO 14001 standard is the most important standard within the ISO 14000 series. ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of an environmental management system (EMS) for small to large organizations. An EMS is a systemic approach to handling environmental issues within an organization. The ISO 14001 standard is based on the Plan-Check-Do-Review-Improve cycle. The Plan cycle deals with the beginning stages of an organization becoming ISO 14001-compliant. The Check cycle deals with checking and correcting errors. The Do cycle is the implementation and operation of the ISO 14001 standard within an organization. The Review cycle is a review of the entire process by the organization’s top management. And the Improve cycle is a cycle that never ends as an organization continually finds ways to improve their EMS. The entire process can take several months to several years depending on the size of the organization. If an organization is already ISO 9000-certified, the implementation of ISO 14001 does not take as long. When an organization is compliant, they can either register with a third-party registrar or self-declare their compliance. The ISO 14001 standard is the only ISO 14000 standard that allows an organization to be registered. ISO 9000: ISO 9000 is a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), that define, establish, and maintain an effective quality assurance system for manufacturing and service industries. The ISO 9000 standard is the most widely known and has perhaps had the most impact of the 13,000 standards published by the ISO. It serves many different industries and organizations as a guide to quality products, service, and management. Kyoto Protocol: It is a pact agreed on by governments at a United Nations Conference in Kyoto, Japan 1997 to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries by 5. 2 percent of 1990 levels during the five-year period 2008-2012. Eighty-four countries have signed the pact and 40 of have ratified it, according to U. N. data. Only one country, which has an emissions target, Romania, has ratified to date. LCA: Life-Cycle Assessment is a systematic approach used to manage the environmental impacts of products and service systems, and it is applied at several levels. It tracks the entire life cycle of a product from inception to disposal and looks for environmental impact throughout and how that can be reduced. Lean Manufacturing: Lean Manufacturing is an operational strategy oriented toward achieving the shortest possible cycle time by eliminating waste. It is derived from the Toyota Production System and its key thrust is to increase the value-added work by eliminating waste and reducing incidental work. The technique often decreases the time between a customer order and shipment, and it is designed to radically improve profitability, customer satisfaction, throughput time, and employee morale (Lean Manufacturing, n. d). Overview of the Study The study will consider the attributes of ISO 14000 as an Environmental Management System. In this paper the main focus will be to define the quantitative as well as qualitative benefits for employing an EMS, in our case ISO 14000. While ISO 14000 will be the primary focus, other EMS systems will also be discussed as alternatives and for relative comparisons. The procedures for and the costs of implementation will also be looked at as part of the study. In the process case studies will be studied and discussed through the use of Internet searches, relevant case studies and publications as well as personal experience and interviews with others in the field. This study will attempt to provide methods for justification of perusing certification. It will also try to give an overview of the process for obtaining certification from the planning stage, through implementation, certification as well as the follow up and continuous improvement required to maintain certification. The Ethical Rationale for Environmental Management Standards Concern for the environment is one of the hallmarks of social concerns during our times. Awareness has been growing since the last quarter of the 20th century. It has snowballed in to a major force. There are signs that countries and people will become increasingly demanding of all organizations with which to deal, in this respect. Though the first world is more influenced by concern for the environment, developing economies are also dragged in to the vortex of global opinion, as electronic media and desire for market access drive even poorer people to conform to conservation standards. Pollution, use of hazardous substances, non-degradable waste and consumption of limited natural resources are the four principal corners of environmental concerns. Pollution of air and water are most perceptible for lay people, but the effects of landfills can be equally devastating. Pesticides and organic solvents lead a series of chemicals with both acute and chronic effects. Mesothelioma is an example of a consequence of exposure to a hazardous substance, the fatal implications of which can surface after decades. Organochlorine pesticides persist in nature almost indefinitely. People at large have become very concerned about such residues and threats that surround them. Women and children are especially vulnerable. The awareness among the public regarding pollution and hazardous material is of high now-a-days. There was protest in India during January, 2006 against the French government’s decision to send a decommissioned battleship and military air craft carrier† Clemenceau â€Å"allegedly containing toxic wastes to a ship-breaking yard at Alang on the Coast of Gujarat ,in India. Green peace activists claimed the ship was loaded with hundreds of tones of toxic wastes, including 500 tones of asbestos alone and it was a violation of international Basel convention on trade of hazardous materials. Greenpeace activists claimed that â€Å"Clemenceau† is French property containing hazardous waste on ship and can not allowed to dump this hazardous waste in India . Yielding to the pressure , the French Government finally recalled its decision to scrap the ship in India . The concept of supply chains has spurred thoughts about life cycle analysis. Exhaustive labeling requirements have made people more generally aware that an innocuous finished product may involve the use of hazardous substances. Processed foods are common examples of convenience products that may contain harmful ingredients and sources of infection and contamination. This matter also leads to consideration of packaging materials that have been traditionally taken for granted. Consumers are now aware that products made from paper can involve the destruction of forest cover, while plastic has acquired a notorious image for its persistence. This applies to tin and other metals as well. Mercury and other heavy metals in batteries and electronic products are also causes of concern. Clean water has been in acute shortage in many parts of the third world for some time now, but even developed economies have begun to worry about large-scale use of this precious resource, Ground water contamination and depletion of the ozone layer are other matters that engage much popular attention. Large corporations that generate profits are prime targets for pressures to develop environmental management standards. Companies, whose operations transcend national boundaries, have to be especially careful of their environmental footprints. However, government, social service organizations and small business may all affect the environment in serious and indelible ways. Hence it is possible that environmental management programs may become increasingly universal with the passage of time. It may be concluded that there is a strong ethical foundation for environmental concerns. All organizations regardless of their size, nature and location, will be subject to pressures to monitor their environmental impacts, and to find ways of reducing or even eliminating all harmful implications of their transactions. The ethical rationale has a firm linkage with business reasons for ISO 14000 certifications, as there are societal trends that it soon become a pre-requisite for continuing to be in business. Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature 2. 1 Introduction Business survival in today’s global economy is difficult at best. Today business’ look for advantage in every possible area and lean manufacturing programs like Six Sigma with its belts levels to parallel karate, Kaizen, 5S and many others have become not just popular but an integral part of maintaining and doing business. How does an Environmental Management System fit into the â€Å"Lean Culture† of business? That is the question that will be studied in this paper through the review of related literature, case studies, interviews, technical periodicals and Internet sources. An overview of lean manufacturing concepts will be given with the focus on integrating an E. M. S. into a companies existing lean program or as part of the implementation of a lean program. While other Environmental Management Systems will be referenced, I. S. O 14000 case studies and statistics will be used in this study. In the United States and the rest of the world I. S. O. 14000 is a recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems, much the same as ISO 9000 is for quality systems. The literature reviewed in this paper was selected for relevance to either a single topic, Lean Manufacturing, I. S. O. 14000 or the integration of the EMS into the lean manufacturing system and will be reviewed in that order. By the process of lean manufacturing, Toyota, the world greatest manufacturer, consistently makes the highest quality cars with the fewest defects of any competing manufacturer by using fewer man-hours, less on-hand inventory and half the floor space of its competitors.