Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Reaction paper - Essay Example The problem is the historical facts can be questioned due to the circumstances of the last days of World War II. If revisionists want to change the way history is remembered, picking and choosing facts to attack are not an option. To convince the general public, much less experts, Mr. Cole would have to look at Auschwitz as a whole. He focused all of his attention on Auschwitz I. Eye witness accounts (which he totally dismisses) and camp records show that Auschwitz I was not made of solely Jews. Political prisoners and privileged prisoners were housed in this camp. Auschwitz-Birkeneu was the place most eyewitnesses reported gassings. These gas chambers and crematoriums were destroyed as the Germans retreated from the Russians. Mr. Cole only briefly mentioned the destroyed remains and solid proof at this camp. If the goal was to find proof that gas chambers did not exist, why did Mr. Cole not explore this avenue more? The truth lies in the middle. Mr. Cole wants irrefutable proof now about Auschwitz. That is impossible due to the fact Russia controlled the area until the collapse of communism. Why not research the records of the time that do exist? Too many questions linger to conclude that the gas chambers did not

The Influences of Music Essay Example for Free

The Influences of Music Essay According to social statistics (n.d.), 52.17 percent of people listen to music every day and 26.63 percent of people listen to music almost every day. It implies that music plays a vital role in society. Due to human’s creations, such as televisions and radios, which make music be heard more easily. Unsurprisingly, it becomes a huge part of people’s lives. It has a connotation in itself. Therefore, this essay will illustrate that music can influence people in various ways: feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Feelings can be affected by music. For me, rock songs, such as Know Your Enemy by Green day, makes me feel uncomfortable and upset due to its heavy, loud, and fast beat. Besides, according to North, Tarrant, and Hargreaves(2004), listeners who listen to a nonviolent rock song will have lower levels of opposed feelings than listeners who listen to a rock song with aggressive lyrics. Conversely, when I am upset or angry, a pop music, like Live High by Jason Mraz, can change my mood completely. Its smooth voice and soft tone fit perfectly together. And it has such a huge impact on me; it gives me a chill feeling which can help me feel better and get rid of such things. Furthermore, the lyrics of some song can make me smile unexpectedly, such as Happy by Mocca. The song says â€Å"Dont You Give up, Keep Your Chin up, And Be Happy†. It expresses that no matter what happens, just stay strong and be happy. It is such a lovely phrase that can instantly turn my whole world upside down. Music has an impact on thoughts. Muchet (2010) said that a study of 121 Midwestern high school students’ music preference pointed out that 75 percent of girls who like listening to heavy metal music have thought about suicide compared with 35 percent of girls who like listening to other kinds of music. Plus, almost 50 percent of boys who favor heavy metal have considered suicide compared to others who like listening to non-metal music. On the other hands, music can have a positive benefit on thoughts. Some song has meaningful lyrics that can motivate people. For example, the lyrics from Lose Yourself by Eminem: â€Å"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime† It tries to convince people that you had better not let any opportunity slips away by not trying to grab it. This song can truly motivate me and change my thought. I used to think that there are abundant opportunities out there, and I can catch it whenever I want. Then, this song totally changed my thought. Music influences behavior. According to Palmer(2003), researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services found that aggressive behavior is perpetuated from offensive music lyrics and have long-term effects. Sallinger(2005) stated that Richard Paul White, Colorados serial killer, said his action was inspired by the song Ride the lightning by Metallica. In the following lyrics: Guilty as charged But damn it, it aint right There is someone else controlling me Death in the air Strapped in the electric chair This cant be happening to me Who made you God to say Ill take your life from you! This phrase influenced him to commit the crime. Beside, in case of drug addiction, Not an addict by K’s Choice is a good example due to its lyrical content. It says â€Å"Its not a habit, its cool, I feel alive. If you dont have it, youre on the other side. Im not an addict (maybe thats a lie)†. It indicates that using drug is cool and you might be sort of weird if you do not use it. In fact, using drug does not even come close to the word â€Å"cool†. Therefore, it this lyrics might affect people in a poor way that they have to behave like this in order to be cool. To conclude, music has a massive effect on people’s lives. People listen to it almost every day and that gives music a power to be able to influence our lives. People’s moods, thoughts, and behaviors can be affected by the lyrical and tonal content of the song they listen to. It has both advantage and disadvantage, so it depends on which side they choose to perceive.

Gcse English Poetry: Auden compared with Calrke Essay example -- Engli

Gcse English Poetry: Auden compared with Calrke GCSE ENGLISH POETRY The two poems that I will be analysing are ‘Stop all the Clocks’ by W.H. Auden and ‘The Vet’ by Gillian Clarke. My discussion will be based on the theme of the poems and look at how the poets used form and language to help his readers understand and make meaning out of the poem. STOP ALL THE CLOCKS THEME The theme of this poem is about grief. The poet takes his readers through a simple but complex journey that explains the different stages of grief that a person feels when a loved one dies. The poem reveals the emotional upheaval that death can cause. The grief felt is carefully illustrated by the poet in the form and language he uses throughout the poem which has a strict rhyming scheme of AABB throughout the 4 stanzas. FORM AND LANGUAGE The form and language that was used by the poet to describe the feeling and mood of the bereaved was spread throughout. The first stanza simply showed the first stage of grief and that the bereaved is coming to terms with the death of a loved one. For example, he said ‘stop all the clocks’ which signified that he wanted to focus on what had just happened and does not want to forget his love as people do over a period of time. Again he said, ‘cut off the telephone’ meaning he wanted to be alone without communicating to anyone. This is because she wanted to concentrate and grieve on the death of his loved one without people offering their condolences. Then the last line of the stanza, he said, ‘bring out the coffin†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ which suggests that he wanted to start making funeral plans. In the second stanza he wanted to let everyone know that his loved one has died and he mentioned in the fir... ...tcher by saying â€Å"no inter-uterine butchery† because he uses scalpel just as the butcher uses sharp blades to cut open animals when performing on them. The poet compares the Vet to a butcher in the verse because just as the butcher, the Vet uses a scalpel to cut open the cow and bring out the calf and the child basically cannot differentiate between a Vet and a Butcher The last verse is all about the birth of the calf. At this stage the Vet finally brings out the calf from its mother’s womb. The poet describes the cow as a ‘brimming mother’ in the last line of the stanza comparing the female cow to a human mother. This is because when the calf is born the mother cow shows the calf a lot of love and emotion just as the human mother when they give birth to a child. This makes this particular birth more to a human birth and the calf appear more to a child.

Information System Strategic Planning: Strategic Thrust and Market Entry

Planning skills are essential in the business milieu as they play a central role in ensuring achievement of organizational goals and objectives. There are numerous planning strategies which organizations employ in their systems but the two most commonly used are strategic thrust and market entry. Strategic thrust entails statements of strategic measures to be carried out in the planning horizon while market entry strategy entails delivery and distribution of goods and services to a specific market.Statements for strategic thrust ensure that independent activities work in harmony and sufficient energy is concentrated on critical aspects in the market. Its primary objective is to generate an extensive and collective understanding of the strategic measures to be carried out in a span of between three to five years. Strategic thrust focuses mainly on linking business strategy with information technology. Information technology constitutes a vital competitive weapon hence making it essent ial in the realization of competitive edge.Unlike strategic thrust which focuses on strategic information systems, market entry focuses on ensuring that products perform well and are adequately received in new markets. To achieve increased sales and business stability, market entry strategy employs several methods which are inclusive of producing own products, exporting products, forming alliances and franchising. In addition to that, it takes into account numerous factors in evaluating viability of a particular market. Such factors include barriers, competition intensity, government policies, and products and services to be sold.In conclusion, despite the two planning strategies encompassing different approaches, to some extent, they are complimentary. Strategic thrust and market entry can be utilized as offensive or defensive measures intended for specific targets. They can be directed towards suppliers, customers or even competitors with the main objective being attaining and mai ntaining business stability. In addition to that, depending on the resources available, the two can be used simultaneously since they employ approaches which are not contradictory.

Discuss how far you agree with this argument Essay

These all create tension but none of these are in fact the real dramatic climax of ‘The Crucible’. The real dramatic climax of ‘The Crucible’ is when Elizabeth says that Proctor did not commit lechery, which Proctor had already confessed but Elizabeth was un-aware of this. But the build up to this was what really made this scene such a strong climax. After Proctor had confessed, Abigail denied it so Danforth tested Proctor’s judgement when he said, â€Å"In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep- my wife cannot lie. I have paid so much to learn it, sir. † Tension is built up as proctor convinces Danforth that his wife cannot lie, what also creates tension was when Danforth ordered Proctor and Abigail to turn their backs so that when Elizabeth came in she could not look at her husband or Abigail’s face to get a clue of what she must say. When she does come into the room she is asked, â€Å"has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery! † and she replied â€Å"No, sir. † To save her husbands god name. She had lied to Danforth, which made Proctor seem as though he were lying, not only to the high court, but also to god. This was not acceptable in Puritan Salem. The final act of ‘The Crucible’, it is known as the falling point. This means that it is usually where the problems in the play are resolved. This act could be considered more dramatic than Act three, but this is not true. As Act three contains he dramatic climax that made John Proctor worse off than he was at the beginning. It could be argued that this act also has a dramatic climax, when John Proctor confessed to witchcraft. But this was not as dramatic as the climax in Act three because the protagonist was still convicted of witchcraft due to his actions, so this made little or no impact on the final outcome. It soon becomes quite clear that Act four is not about John Proctor being persuaded to confess, but about his close relationship with his dear wife, Elizabeth. With comparison to Act two when John Proctor and Elizabeth had the argument. This Act is much calmer and shows that the Proctor’s can talk in a civil way and are emotionally attracted to each other. In this act Proctor puts his children first when he confesses as he does not want them to have to grow up without a father figure in their life. But soon during the confession Danforth asks for too much when he asks John Proctor to sign the confession. Proctor soon gains his own opinion and realises that once he signs this confession he and his family will not be able to live properly; they will always be under suspicion. John Proctor wishes to die as a martyr and not live the rest of his life in shame so he tries to have his confession removed by testing the nerve of Danforth by taking away the confession and ripping it up. Danforth then tells the marshal to take Proctor away. Elizabeth comes running up to him and cries on his hand, but he says â€Å"Give them no tears! Tears pleasure them! Show honour, show a stony heart and sink them with it! † He then kisses her â€Å"passionately† and goes. Then Danforth says angrily â€Å"Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption! † Therefore, John Proctor dies as a hero, which ends the play very well, as it ends on a proud note. Because John Proctor dies with pride knowing that â€Å"Another judgement awaits us all! † In conclusion, Act three is the dramatic climax of the crucible, as all the tension built up in previous act is all released in this act, which creates a greater climax. Act four is not the dramatic climax because the peak at Act three which was the dramatic climax made sure that it was more dramatic than any other Act. In Act four it was just calming everything down after the climax, but Act four’s climax was minute compared to Act three. Act four ended the play superbly, as Proctor the protagonist did not finish as the enemy but the martyr, and Danforth ended as the enemy.

A Matter of Life and Death, or Did You Hear Someone Knocking

A Matter of Life and Death, or Did You Hear Someone Knocking There is hardly an experience as trivial and as everyday as hearing someone knocking at the door or a doorbell ringing. However, even out of such a common thing, Metcalfe and Game manage to develop a compelling and intriguing idea.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Matter of Life and Death, or Did You Hear Someone Knocking? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In their short story, ‘A knock at the door’, the writers manage to convey an idea that changes, whether they are for better or for worse, are a part and parcel of people’s lives, which means that being open for changes is pretty much living a full life. Taking a closer look at the passage that starts with â€Å"the doorbell prompts drama’s primal question† to â€Å"was never to be completed†1, one can see that there is more in the simple description of choice than meets the eye. At certain point, it might actually seem that the authors not merely hint at the tortures of making a choice, but also make a big metaphor for life as it is, with all its opportunities that come and go, and the threats which these opportunities conceal. The door becomes a gateway for a countless number of events and further options to choose from; the authors make it clear that after the door is open, the person who opened it is bound to take a great amount of responsibilities that come with another acquaintance. â€Å"The visitor could be a beggarman or a thief; it could be Archangel Gabriel, the Angel of Death or a person with good news from lottery office†2. Metcalfe and Game make it clear that, opening the door, one will let the whole palette of life in, thus, changing his/her own pace, which definitely takes guts.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, Metcalfe and Game touch upon the necessity o f solitude, mentioning that, just because of one single visit, the work on Kubla Khan was interrupted to never be continued again. It seems that the authors are not only showing the mechanisms of the binary opposition logics, but are also trying to break free from its realm. Of course, they do convey the message that there are two key options, i.e. either taking the risks and going where the chance will take you, or sitting there twiddling one’s fingers and fearing the burden of responsibilities. However, it seems that Metcalfe and Game do in fact consider the third option, that is, the possibility of lingering and rethinking the choice. Even as the authors speak of the choice being made, they still make it clear that the moment of choice is another stage that leads to a certain self-development: â€Å"The door has become a curtain that will open to reveal the next stage of my life†3. Thus, the bottom line is that whenever hearing a knock at the door, it is better to t ake chances and open it. Despite the fact that changes lead to the most unpredictable results and can turn one’s life completely upside down, they are a much better option than living a life as exciting as a schedule of trains. Showing in a rather graphic way that opportunity knocks, but it does not beg, the authors managed to explain the readers how unpredictable life can be, making it obvious that a good chance is worth taking a risk.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Matter of Life and Death, or Did You Hear Someone Knocking? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Bibliography Metcalfe, A A Game, ‘A knock at the door’ in A Metcalfe A Game (eds.), The  mystery of everyday life, Federation Press, Annandale, AU, 2002. Footnotes 1. A. Metcalfe A Game, ‘A knock at the door’ in A Metcalfe A Game (eds.), The mystery of everyday life, Federation Press, Annandale, AU, 2002, p. 65. 2. A. Me tcalfe A Game, ‘A knock at the door’ in A Metcalfe A Game (eds.), The mystery of everyday life, Federation Press, Annandale, AU, 2002, p. 65. 3. A. Metcalfe A Game, ‘A knock at the door’ in A Metcalfe A Game (eds.), The mystery of everyday life, Federation Press, Annandale, AU, 2002, p. 65.

America Online and Time Warner essays

America Online and Time Warner essays * This case study was prepared based on the material contained in AOL Time Warner by Arthur A. Thompson and John E. Gamble, which was published in Strategic Management:Concepts and Cases/ Arthur A. Thompson, Jr., A.J. Strickland, III. 12th ed. America Online is the worlds most popular online service. Why do more than 12 million people subscribe to AOL? The many reasons include availability, simplicity, and content. It provides subscribers a variety of interactive features electronic mail, Internet access, entertainment, news, sports, weather, financial information, electronic shopping, and more. It greatly increased competition for market share, because almost everything AOL has to offer can be found in some form on the Internet. The increased demand yields opportunities for dramatic growth, but it also causes many difficult, technical, financial, and managerial challenges. The pace of change in fiscal year 1997 had AOL scrambling. AOLs primary market is the home computer user, and that market is still growing. Their new fundamental purpose and passion has been to create a new medium that is easy to use and as accessible as the telephone and television and just as central to the lives of millions of people around the globe. They strive to remain the leader in that medium, improving customers lives by offering value, ease-of-use. With this will cause the merger with Time Warner. What the new decade is looking for. Everyday millions of people go online. Merge: With this will entitle new-economy. Additional new software to keep ahead of the competition. Focus toward the new generation of children. High-speed growth with TV and telephones. Forming new partnerships with electronics. Since the use of the Internet and online services is growing at dramatic rates a...

Editing Essay Service

Editing Essay Service Editing Essay Service Editing Essay Service: Choosing a Proper One It is not a secret that in order to succeed in essay writing and to get the highest grade for your labour, you can do nothing but appeal to any editing essay service and give a proper proofreading to your essay. However, far not all the editing essay services are of the high quality and many of them do not conduct proper proofreading and editing of the text: If you really want to pay for qualified editing essay service and not to come across low-leveled custom essay writing company we recommend you to find out what custom writing company you are going to make use of presupposes under the word editing and how editing essay service is made. If this is a simple correction of grammar mistakes, we do not advise you to make use of such editing essay service, as it will not give you anything good except of spending your money. Editing Is More Than Grammar It is not difficult to correct grammar mistakes and you can cope with this task on your own. If speaking about professional editing essay service, it will not only correct all the existing grammar and lexical mistakes in your essay but also will arrange your essay in a proper way according to the existing requirements from it. You see it is not enough to present a text free of mistakes; if you really want to get A+ grade for your essay writing, you should present cohesive text built up according to all the existing rules and demands from it. That is why before choosing this or that editing essay service, better get to know whether it conducts full editing of your essay or it only corrects the mistakes or otherwise, you will pay for nothing and just waste your time and money. We Can Help You With Any Assignment! If speaking about our editing essay service, it should be mentioned that apart from the simple editing of the text we also conduct deep editing, which includes rewriting paragraphs, which are written in a poor way. After all the mistakes are corrected, we reread your essay one more time, make it be cohesive and logically built one. We are an editing essay service, which really helps students to receive the highest grade. Appeal to our custom writing, make use of our editing essay service and you are certain to win the highest grade for your essay writing. We are waiting for you at our custom writing site in order to give your essay proper editing essay service. Read also: Example of Essay Writing Deforestation Essay Computer Essay Professional Editing Service Online Essay Editing

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9

Leadership - Essay Example Leadership theories are the theories which study different aspects of the leadership and come up with the ideas of what makes a successful leader. Some theories like Contingency theory focuses more on the different situations that affect the leadership while theories like ‘situational theory’ focuses more on the behavior pattern of a leader in a particular situation. However, even though theories help us to understand the behavior and thinking patterns of a leader in his private and public life, it cannot confine the leader in a particular set of behavior patterns. Leaders are leaders because of their boldness, their power and their belief. These are the characters of spirit and not jut mind or body. Leaders are those who go beyond their minds and their bodies and function from their heart. The qualities of decision making, motivating people, understanding their needs and being flexible are very important for being a successful leader. At the same time, the behavior pattern and thinking pattern of a leader is also are very important. History is an evidence that leaders, whether they are political or corporate, have different characters from people who are not leaders. They are dynamic, accept change gracefully, stick to their belief and take risks. They are fighters and do not hesitate to put their life in danger when fighting for the truth. Leadership theories help us to understand the way the leaders function. According to the contingency theory, the success of the leader depends not only on his or her abilities to lead, but also on different external situations and factors. These factors are beyond the control of the leader. The external factors could be the behavior of the people who follow him,

Company's Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Company's Changes - Essay Example Organizational change can be defined as a conscious effort on the part of the management of change agents of an organization to keep a constant watch on the environmental forces of an organization to audit their impact and influence on the business concerned and to find out actions programs through strategies to maintain the balance between the two different forces. The present study has been conducted in lieu to analyze the various forces influencing the change within an organization; the various factors causing hindrances in the process of change and looks to propose an action plan through which the organization can identify and overcome the forces against change and implement the process of change to achieve the desired organizational objective (McMillan, 2008, p.108). System theory is a particular concept that was initiated from economics, biology and engineering. These aspects used to explore several significant laws and principles, which can be comprehensively, implemented acro ss several organization systems (Burke, 2010, p.61). .On the other hand, complexity theory can be defined as the assessment of diversity or the heterogeneity and several external and internal environment factors, such as customers, departments, socio-politics, suppliers and technology. Most importantly, the complexity organization change theory used to focus on the micro-level parts in a complex organizational system. This theory can be applied after the overall outcome and engagement behaviour. In terms of the specific multinational organization basis on the case study, it is feasible that several operational, marketing and human resource problems are affecting the business performance of the organization. It is feasible from the case study that, the organization is tending to expand their business in retails. Moreover, the organization is focusing on the customer development aspect as they are tending to enter in the global retailing sector (Bell, 2008, p.22). Therefore, it is nec essary for an organization to develop an effective marketing strategy. Moreover, the organization needs to implement effective HR policy n order to provide effective business output. It is feasible from the case study that, the organization is suffering from several problems, such as in adequate establishment of marketing and support activities, lack of flatter and virtual organizational hierarchy and poor HR policy. In order to overcome these issues, the multinational organization needs to implement organizational change in order to achieve the business objective. The major objective of the study is to propose an organizational change process strategy and idea for the specific multinational organization in order to overcome those problematic issues. Moreover, as the organization is tending to enter in the retailing business and trying to establish customer development process in their global business process, therefore, an effective organizational change process is importantly requ ired. Challenges Experienced By Company’s Management and Critical analysis Organizational change is critical to the success of an organization. However there is very little doubt over the fact organizational change is usually inflected by various external and internal challenges. The organization discussed in the present context of the study is also not an exception when it comes to dealing with challenges (Buchanan and Huczynski, 2010, p. 221). One of the major problems faced by the organization is of over capacity. Over capacity is a phenomenon in which

Water Supply Jacksonville Florida Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Water Supply Jacksonville Florida - Essay Example In the year 2014, the Florida department of environmental protection performed a detailed assessment of the water system for potential contaminants (Jacksonville Electric Authority, 2014). The potential contaminants are the major grid with 49 sources and the Ponce de Leon grid with three sources. However, further studies on the potential pollutants portrayed a lower to moderate rate of susceptibility. The water in the region is hard water. The question is what is hard water? Affirmatively water can be described as hard water if it contains high levels of minerals that are dissolved. The minerals are such as magnesium and calcium. However, hard water does not pose a health risk, on the contrary, calcium and magnesium is important to human health (Jacksonville Electric Authority, 2014). Most individuals use the magnesium as antacids or common supplements. Hard water may leave spots on utensils; however, this can be removed by use of vinegar. Conclusively the water supply in Florida is safe for the health of the residents. Considerably the hard water in the region does not pose any health implications. Nevertheless, the spots it leaves on utensils can be removed by use of vinegar.

Financial Performance of BAE Systems Plc Research Paper

Financial Performance of BAE Systems Plc - Research Paper Example In addition, historical figures are also reviewed to assess the change and strength of the current results. This paper will review and summarize the financial performance of one of the world's renowned manufacturer of defense systems BAE Systems Plc by making use of financial ratio analysis. To better evaluate the financial performance of BAE, its financial ratios are compared with another competitor within the same industry. Cobham Plc was chosen to be compared with BAE. Finally, outlook in the future of BAE will forecasted based on available information. The threats of terrorism have significantly boost defense systems spending especially for countries like United States. After the September 11 tragedy which shocked the global business environment becomes a grim reminder for nations to improve their defense systems. BAE Systems Plc (BAE) traces its origin to the 7.7 billion merger of Marconi Electronic Systems which is the defense electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company Plc and British Aerospace which specializes in the manufacture of aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems. Out of these prestigious business organizations, its establishment in 1999 equipped with a unique competitive advantage which enables it to position itself as the third largest global defence company and sixth largest US defense company employing 97, 500 highly skilled people. Financial ratio analysis is ... rigin to the 7.7 billion merger of Marconi Electronic Systems which is the defense electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company Plc and British Aerospace which specializes in the manufacture of aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems. Out of these prestigious business organizations, its establishment in 1999 equipped with a unique competitive advantage which enables it to position itself as the third largest global defence company and sixth largest US defense company employing 97, 500 highly skilled people. 2. Financial Ratio Analysis Financial ratio analysis is an essential tool to assess the financial health of a business entity. It enables a financial analyst to highlight specific measures and compare it with the performance of similar business enterprises within the same industry. This tool is currently utilized by business managers, investors, creditors, suppliers, and other decision makers in order to determine the financial performance and well being of a business organisation. Financial ratios are grouped into four broad categories, each showing a different aspect of a company's financial performance. These are profitability ratios, financial leverage ratios, liquidity/solvency ratios, and efficiency ratios. In order to get a deeper insight of BAE's financial performance, its computed financial ratios will be benchmarked with its competitor's Cobham Plc. The rationale of choosing these two business organizations is simple. It should be noted that both of them are regarded as important players in the global defense industry. Being in the same line of business and the same industry, it is right to assume that BAE and Cobham Plc both face the same challenges and opportunities in the sector under consideration. This assumption

Able Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Able Corporation - Essay Example Strategy choice and implementation are the primary determinants of strategy success. The analysis of strategy performance over time provides important diagnostic inputs into the development of strategy choice concepts. The early discussion highlights the importance of matching the strategy choice with the conditions of the environment and the organization's skills and resources. The long-term importance of selecting a sound initial strategy has research support. In order to define the identity of Able Corporation, it is important to take into account the nature of business and market strategies. Research suggests marketing strategy should be conceptualized and investigated within the context of the organizational mission. Most marketing strategy frameworks address the role of organizational mission but few empirical investigations actually take mission into account. Perception of market needs does not mean that an opportunity exists for any particular company (Fill, 1999). Available opportunities must be related to the particular company's resources, including its personnel, financial, and physical resources. Profitable courses of action vary with individual corporate postures and goals. The overwhelming majority of innovative opportunities will be rejected. But it is necessary to screen the many to find the few that do relate to the resources and the mission of the company (Johnson and Scholes, 1998). This function of innovation relates to specifying the company's innovative opportunity by identifying the various practical alternatives that exist to remedy the discovered dysfunctioning. This is a job in which the technician can assume a major responsibility. An analysis of total company operations and methods in the light of market opportunities is helpful in sifting the opportunities to arrive at the few that are most relevant and profitable for the company's current situation (Doyle and Stern, 2006). Because of different organizational goals and missions, each organizational type defines a unique strategic situation. The first group was labeled "mom and pop shops." These firms are extremely small and possess little marketing expertise or resources. The second group are stable, high-payoff companies. These enterprises have achieved some success and may have acquired substantial marketing expertise within a limited market. Such firms have no aspirations for future growth. A third group is composed of growth-oriented small firms. These are new ventures with a mission defined by aggressive growth (Johnson and Scholes, 1998). In order to prioritize the implementation steps, it is important to analyze a current market situation and take into account possible changes and market fluctuations. The extent to which a marketing strategy should be modified over time is an important strategy choice issue. Successful enterprises select and retain a strategy on a continuing basis. This issue has critical implications for the new enterprise, particularly when entering a new product-market where the lack of experience in the market provides little or no direction concerning strategy choice. Entrepreneurship research also provides insight into two important marketing strategy options: strategic alliances and product diversification. Small firms are also utilizing collaborative marketing strategies. In an empirical study of entrepreneurial high-technology firms, small firms at a competitive disadvantage with rivals in their industry were likely to utilize joint ventures or other cooperative strategies to launch new prod ucts (Doyle and Stern,

Financial Performance of BAE Systems Plc Research Paper

Financial Performance of BAE Systems Plc - Research Paper Example In addition, historical figures are also reviewed to assess the change and strength of the current results. This paper will review and summarize the financial performance of one of the world's renowned manufacturer of defense systems BAE Systems Plc by making use of financial ratio analysis. To better evaluate the financial performance of BAE, its financial ratios are compared with another competitor within the same industry. Cobham Plc was chosen to be compared with BAE. Finally, outlook in the future of BAE will forecasted based on available information. The threats of terrorism have significantly boost defense systems spending especially for countries like United States. After the September 11 tragedy which shocked the global business environment becomes a grim reminder for nations to improve their defense systems. BAE Systems Plc (BAE) traces its origin to the 7.7 billion merger of Marconi Electronic Systems which is the defense electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company Plc and British Aerospace which specializes in the manufacture of aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems. Out of these prestigious business organizations, its establishment in 1999 equipped with a unique competitive advantage which enables it to position itself as the third largest global defence company and sixth largest US defense company employing 97, 500 highly skilled people. Financial ratio analysis is ... rigin to the 7.7 billion merger of Marconi Electronic Systems which is the defense electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company Plc and British Aerospace which specializes in the manufacture of aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems. Out of these prestigious business organizations, its establishment in 1999 equipped with a unique competitive advantage which enables it to position itself as the third largest global defence company and sixth largest US defense company employing 97, 500 highly skilled people. 2. Financial Ratio Analysis Financial ratio analysis is an essential tool to assess the financial health of a business entity. It enables a financial analyst to highlight specific measures and compare it with the performance of similar business enterprises within the same industry. This tool is currently utilized by business managers, investors, creditors, suppliers, and other decision makers in order to determine the financial performance and well being of a business organisation. Financial ratios are grouped into four broad categories, each showing a different aspect of a company's financial performance. These are profitability ratios, financial leverage ratios, liquidity/solvency ratios, and efficiency ratios. In order to get a deeper insight of BAE's financial performance, its computed financial ratios will be benchmarked with its competitor's Cobham Plc. The rationale of choosing these two business organizations is simple. It should be noted that both of them are regarded as important players in the global defense industry. Being in the same line of business and the same industry, it is right to assume that BAE and Cobham Plc both face the same challenges and opportunities in the sector under consideration. This assumption

Public Law in the UK Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Public Law in the UK - Assignment Example There are various opinions on why the U.K does not have a written constitution. Some observers feel that the U.K does not have a codified constitution because it has been politically stable for too long. The royal families in other European countries like France and Germany have had to step down and draw up constitutions as a result of a revolt by the masses. In contrast, Great Britain never faced any revolt or rebellion against the crown during the 19th century. Instead, it has transformed itself into a democracy over the years. [Nigel Morris,2008] In the process of drafting a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities outlining citizens' rights and codifying the political system last year, Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Justice remarked that "The constitution of the United Kingdom exists in hearts and minds and habits as much as it does in law." This statement provides a good enough reason as to why there is no codified constitution on the U.K. He also points out that the passing of this Bill could bring U.K in line with the most progressive democracies in the world. [Nigel Morris,2008]. Morris, however, argues in favor of a written constitution stating that British democracy is in a crisis as citizens eye politicians with cynicism and the turnout in general elections has been falling over the years. This could be due to a lack of interest on the part of citizens as there is no written code of law stating their rights and responsibilities. The true essence of a democracy is the manner in which its elections are held. Since democracy is the rule by representatives of the people, a larger voter turnout could mean an active interest on the part of citizens in the affairs of the State. An alarming trend has been observed in the turnout in elections in Britain in recent times. Each time, the number of voters keeps decreasing from the previous one. Other than the general elections in 2001, where the turnout was 59.2%, only a miserable 23% of the population of U.K voted in the European elections in 1999. This was the lowest turnout among all European countries. The following table shows the voter turnout over time in British elections. While the turnout in local elections saw regular fluctuations between 1979 to 1992, it seemed to follow a downtrend from 1992 onwards. The General Elections saw a marginal decline in turnout from 1979 to 1983, though it was a respectable 75% till 1992, after which it appears to have declined to 70% in 1997 and crashed to below 60% in 2001. Similarly, while the turnout in bye-election was almost 55% in 1979, it had declined to almost 40% in 2001.

Sherlock Cannot be Taken Seriously in Brazil Essay Example for Free

Sherlock Cannot be Taken Seriously in Brazil Essay Amelia Simpson’s introduction to Detective Fiction from Latin America argues that Latin American culture, including its citizens’ pervasive distrust of law and authority, has inhibited its authors from creating a large body of original detective novels. Though these detective works are quite popular with Latinos, the novels must usually be set in countries with strong democratic values and justice systems for them to seem authentic. The people of Brazil, Cuba and other autocratic countries, where authority is feared from birth and laws and police are harsh tools of oppression, are skeptical of fair, justice-minded detectives thwarting criminals. If a detective novel follows the traditional, rigid, classical form, it will seem unrealistic to Latinos. The more contemporary â€Å"hard-boiled† detective novel, with its harsher portrayal of societies that are deeply flawed and teeming with injustice and evil, is a much better fit into the world view of Latin Americans. Within these increasingly popular works, imperfect societies and behaviors can be revealed, examined and utilized within the detective novel template. The classical detective genre, with its â€Å"reassuring view of society,† its â€Å"detached, gentlemanly† sleuths, and its clear, fair delineation between good and evil begs skepticism from Latin American readers who find those concepts foreign and unrealistic. These oppressed citizens of â€Å"predatory hegemonies† can only accept the democratic precepts of law and order and justice when the classical detective work is set in a plausible setting like America. These relatively simple, predictable, rigid â€Å"whodunits† have been read and enjoyed by Latino masses, but ironically, Latino authors have not reflexively rushed to quench the market for more classical detective novels. The evolution of the classical version to the â€Å"hard-boiled† detective novel that often â€Å"reveals a corrupt and violent society,† is more logically embraced by Latin American mystery readers. The â€Å"hard-boiled† model incorporates â€Å"distrust of institutions and its view of crime as all-pervasive. † If viewed as a continuum, the classical version is simple and predictable while the hard-boiled is chaotic and more difficult to predict. The classical version uses traditional, stable values of fair justice, while the â€Å"hard-boiled† relies on environments filled with turmoil and corruption. The classical genre is rigid, and it’s accepted that â€Å"laws are laws. † Therefore, boundaries are abundant, and good is expected to prevail over evil. Conversely, the â€Å"hard-boiled† version removes most societal boundaries and its setting is likely to be â€Å"a model of skepticism and failure, of a lost utopia. † This harsh worldview melds more realistically into the somewhat bleak, dictatorial environment that many Latinos encounter from birth. Thus, Latinos are predisposed to accept the more contemporary, â€Å"hard-boiled,† detective novel. Feelings and portrayals of optimism versus pessimism also set the classical detective genre apart from the â€Å"hard-boiled† type. America, with its history of freedom and stability and its strong sense of law and order, provides a stable, hopeful environment for the gentlemanly detective. He is free to ply his trade, systematically and fairly plodding to a just resolution of the crime. A predictable, step-by step, picture can be portrayed with a â€Å"mechanistic crime-to-solution sequence. † On the other hand, Latin Americans are better able to grasp the â€Å"hard-boiled† genre where chaos, evil, oppression and injustice thrive. For many Latinos, â€Å"the law is feared and, whenever possible, violated. † They live in a police state and they â€Å"breathe and sweat repression. † This way of life, with fear and suspicion as mainstays, allows â€Å"hard-boiled† detective authors to insert hazier motives for oppressed perpetrators who may become criminals out of necessity. The dark, pessimistic â€Å"triumph of the criminal over society’s laws† can seem natural in a hard-boiled work, but would certainly not fit in the classical detective novel template that relies on optimism, justice and sure punishment for the criminal who is pursued and captured by the persistent, reasonable sleuth. The advent of the â€Å"hard-boiled† detective novel seems to open the field for Latin American authors to give their countrymen the mysteries that they enjoy and desire. This change has not come quickly. As recently as 1983 the Brazilian author, Correa, observed that â€Å"Brazilian detective literature†¦with its own, national characteristics, doesn’t exist. † In the same vein, it took more than half a century for the 1929 â€Å"hard-boiled† novel, The Maltese Falcon, to become the best-selling detective novel of 1984 in Brazil. The conservative, rigid classic has finally given way to the contemporary detective novels with their critical societal views that play realistically and believably in Latin America. Sherlock Holmes, while somewhat entertaining and quite competent, is a relic who cannot fit into the world view of Latin Americans. This classical detective has his limitations and his setting must have boundaries of law and order and benevolent justice. But Latinos can readily embrace and believe flawed, even malevolent sleuths who track criminals in settings where lawlessness and evil are the norm. Thus, Latin American authors have much more latitude and potential for success with their native audiences when they compose â€Å"hard-boiled† detective novels. This multi-faceted, contemporary detective genre allows societal flaws to be acknowledged and exploited for the entertainment and intrigue of Latin American readers.

Nursing Care for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Nursing Care for Acute Exacerbation of COPD Introduction This essay is focused on the signification of health assessment throughout the nursing process of a scenario of patient (Mr Lee) who diagnosed with acute exacerbation of COPD and express how health assessment and emergency assessment help to plan a suitable nursing care for Mr Lee. Background Firstly, let’s describe of Mr. Lee’s health status. Mr. Lee, aged 70, graduated from high school, retired. He have a son and living with wife and son. He had smoking habit (2 packs / day), but had been quit recently. He also has drinking habit (2 beers per week). He has allergic history of drug – Sulfonamides. For the past history, Mr. Lee had myocardial, hypertension, left-sided heart failure and fractured ankle. He also previously diagnosed with emphysema. Mr. Lee admitted hospital with wheelchair at 23:30 hour on 23 Jan 2014 by complaint of increased cough and laboured breathing at home for past 24 hours. Pain rated 4/10 (10 is being the worst) with cough and mucus sputum. Dyspnoeic breathing, breath sounds heard on the bilateral lung field. Vital signs checked: temperature 37.3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, pulse 90/ min, respiration 22 /min, blood pressure 130/84 mmHg, SpO2: 95% on room air. Urine test results normal. General condition fair and conscious, emotion stable but showed anxious and claim had insomnia. Mr. Lee is obese: BW 84kg, Height 1.6m (BMI 32.8), he also has oedematous on both ankles (size ++). His vision and hearing are normal. Mr. Lee speaks Cantonese with clear communication. Appetite normal with denture which kept by patient, special diet: low sodium 4g should be given to patient. Elimination is normal, bowel pattern usual habit once per day. For the mobility part, Mr. Lee ambulates independently with fairly steady gait. He did not have disability but need to assist the self-care ability. Medical orders At 01:30 of 24 Jan 2014 MO (Dr Chow) went to see Mr. Lee and prescribed some medical orders as below: Prednisolone (steroid, 80mg po daily) improve respiratory function and oxygenation by reduce inflammation. However sever adverse effect may occur by taking oral steroids, such as hypertension, fluid retention, GI upset, anxious etc. Nurse need to assess and close monitor BP, in/out put, emotion and give low sodium diet for patient. Due to Mr. Lee have MI history, Aspirin (Salicylate, 80mg po daily) prescribe for inhibit platelet aggregation avoid MI relapse. Nurse need to assess coagulation function and liver function. Prescription of two bronchodilators: Atrovent (2 puffs t.i.d.) and Ventolin (2 puffs q6hr prn) are for COPD treatment by make bronchial smooth muscle relaxation. Nurse need to assess the technique of inhalation and difficulty breathing. Furosemide (diuretic, 40mg po daily) prescribe for removes the stimulus of sodium, chloride absorption because of Mr. Lee has oedematous on both ankles. This drug causing a profound increase in urine output, Nurse need to assess the in/output balance and electrolyte level. Metoprolol (Beta-blocker, 50mg po daily) causing vasodilation to treat hypertension and prevent heart attack. Nurse need to assess the BP and heart rate before given. Mr. Lee has left-sided heart failure history, MO prescribes Digoxin (cardiac glycoside, 0.125mg po daily) which help maintain normal heart rhythm and improve blood circulation. Nurse need to assess the apical rate make sure >60/min before given. To make sure the above drugs are safety administer to Me. Lee, not only notice the special precautions of each drug state as above and apply three check five right in giving medication, nurse also should give assessment for patients’ health history especially allergy history; general survey such as vital signs q4hr and p.r.n., I/O chart; physical assessment e.g. breathing pattern and follow laboratory results (CXR, CBP, R/LFT, ABG, Urinalysis), assess and detect any abnormal finding before drug given, assess the drug efficacy and side effect after receive drugs. Oxygen therapy Except oral drug, Dr Chow also prescribes oxygen to Mr. Lee with maximum 4L/min to keep pulse oximetryà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ §90%. During administering oxygen, hanging notice near Mr. Lee, let everyone know he is on oxygen therapy and the flow rate. Nurse should be awareness that COPD patients can cause respiratory depression or acidosis (pH Nurse should ensure the setting of oxygen delivery is smooth, on the right type i.e. low-flow devices; and method i.e. nasal cannula or simple mask. Assess and monitor pulse oximetry level and respiratory rate closely. Keep vision observation of presentation of Mr. Lee such as SOB. Follow the medical review and the ABG result which may affect the need and level adjustment of oxygen. Assessment of SOB Base on the chief complain of laboured breathing for Mr. Lee, nurse need to pay more attention on his clinical presentation. If patient suffering short of breath (lack of oxygen and/or excess carbon dioxide in the blood) symptoms include: breathing rate become faster and shallow, tachycardia, unable to speak long sentences, cyanosis, use accessory muscles of respiration. Patient also may have chest pain or getting confused. Besides, nurse can apply assessment tool ‘COLDSPA’ asking the symptoms of SOB as below: Character: Ask Mr. Lee to describe the difficulty breathing. Onset: Ask whether the onset of difficulty breathing is sudden or gradual. Location: Ask have chest pain or not and the manifestation and stationary or moves. Duration: Ask how long the SOB lasts, does it appear when walk or doing activities. Severity: Ask how much it bothers Mr. Lee. Pattern: Ask what cause SOB being better or worse. Associated factors: Ask is there any symptoms occur with it and does it affect patient. Physical assessment also can use to assess SOB includes four parts: Inspection to give observation of skin (shin skin, cyanosis), body weight (fat, oedema), breathing pattern (faster respiratory rate, using accessory muscles), chest wall (barrel chest). Palpation mainly focus on the degree of expansion of chest, COPD patient may symmetrically reduced lung expansion. Percussion which to tap the lung and produced sounds. Different types of sound mean the chest filled with air, fluid or solid. Mr. Lee with SOB may have full of air in the lung, the tapping sound will be hyper resonant. Auscultation is use stethoscope to listen the sound of breathing. Mr. Lee with SOB, the breath sound would be wheeze and crackles. Nursing action on N shift Base on the assessment, the nurse should keep close observation of Mr. Lee clinical presentation, pulse Oximetry and vital sign monitoring. Give Ventolin puff if patient SOB. Set NS block for used. Chart I/O for the fluid balance. Pend investigations such as CXR and blood taking as quick as possible. Important information hand over to A shift nurse The information of Mr. Lees’ health history, general survey and physical assessment and the nurse action done at night shift should be hand over to A shift nurse. Also told the nurse that Mr. Lee dyspnea at night, advise chasing lab results, suggest doctor order sputum test and Peak flow rate checking. Important health problem identification To identify the main problem of Mr. Lee, nurse need to compare the objective and subjective data of the below groups. Oxygen: (subjective data) Mr. Lee complaint dyspnoeic gradually, increase cough with mucus sputum, labored breathing at home 24hours. History of smoking 2 packs/day, quite recently. (Objective data) Mr. Lee diagnosed acute exacerbation of COPD, GC fair, dyspnea at night shift, pulse Oximetry from 95% reduce to 88%, Heart Rate from90/min increase to 110/min and Respirations are difficulty at 30/min with right lower lobe crackles and wheezing bilaterally. Fluid (subjective data) Mr. Lee have denture kept by himself, drink 2beers/week. No complaint of eating and drinking, (Objective data) He is obesity with BMI 32.8 abnormal level , there also oedematous on both ankles. At night Mo prescribe Furosemide (40mg Po QD) and offer special diet (low sodium 4g). His I/O is positive balance, NS block setup and voiding per urinal. Safety of physical and psychological (subjective data) Mr. Lees’ vision and hearing are normal, non disability but pain rated 4/10 (10 is being the worst) with cough. He also claims insomnia. (Objective data) Mr. Lee doesn’t tolerate get up to restroom need to use voiding per urinal. For mobility, he ambulates independently with fairly steady gait but self-care ability need assisted. He has hypertension history BP 130/84, Metoprolol (50mg po daily) prescribed for him. His mental stable but emotion shows anxious. He suffers dyspnea at night with Pulse Oximetry 88%, Fast Heart Rate 110/min and RR 30/min. Comparison with three groups’ data, the most important health problem for Mr. Lee is Gas Exchange, Impaired related to altered oxygen supply and the evidence already showed above. Although Mr. Lee also has excess body fluid and risk of safety problems, but the problem priority should be meet the physical needs of the patient, and then consider other levels of need. Problem of oxygen supply is immediate threat to life may cause dysnea or brain hypoxia etc, and need to take immediate action to solve it. Besides fluid retention is a symptom of acute exacerbations of COPD and anxious is related to the dyspnoeic, so if the Gas Exchange, Impaired solve, the other problems may improve. To improve Mr. Lee’s condition, A shift nurse need to have some essential assessment and measures perform for him. Give general assessment including: monitor vital sign and notice any abnormal reading which directly reflect metabolism, oxygenation and circulatory functions; Monitor O2 saturation where Mr. Lee at risk for desaturation; Assess skin colour and perfusion for development of cyanosis; Communication such as any changes in orientation and behavior. Use IPPA to check lung condition i.e. use accessory muscles, lung sound, expansion of chest, noting any signs and symptoms of SOB or airway resistance, also pay attention to breathing pattern, respiration rhythm and dept can reflex lung function such as decrease lung volume and ventilation. Nurse also can use peak expiratory flow rate to measure airflow obstruction, Follow the lab report of CXR, ABGs etc and note changes. Assess the positioning of Mr. Lee to notice any physical effort on oxygenation. Also assess patients ability to cough effectively to clear airway secretions. Note the quantity, color, and consistency of sputum. After assessments, nurse need to compare with the normal standards, noted any abnormal finding which help to give suitable measures. The measures includes keep continues assessment and monitor which state on above. Positioning of patient, eating and drinking assist avoid dehydration. Medication should be given as prescription and assess any side effect appear. Also use anxiety scale to check the emotion then give psychological care to reduce the anxiety level. The expected outcome in the A shift for Mr. Lee is free of difficulty breathing by showed as maintains pulse oximetryà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ §90%, normal ABGs result and alert responsive, reduce anxious level. However there may occur undesirable situation such as patients condition remain unchanged even become worse. In that way, nurse need to refresh the data and reassessment patient’s health condition to modify the aim and intervention to meet the need of patient. Important information hand over to B shift nurse A shift nurse should hand over the information of Mr. Lees’ health history, general survey and physical assessment, Mr. Lees’ condition in A shift and the nurse action done at A shift. In conclude nursing assessment is a process with planning, purposeful and systematic and run through hold nursing process of Mr. Lee. It helps nurses collect information to master health condition of patient. The assessment provides evidences to nurse analysis, judgment and give proper nursing care, which increase the accuracy of nursing diagnosis and the management, fit the health needs of the patient more specifically.

Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 by J.B. Lippincott Company in Philadelphia & New York. This is the only book that Harper Lee has ever written. It is also one of the best-loved novels in American literature, winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Lee is a very private person who doesn’t grant interviews, although her literary agent says she divides her time between her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama and New York. She also enjoys reading, and her favorite authors are Jane Austen, Charles Lamb, and Robert Louis Stevenson. She has said that her novel about a white southern lawyer defending an innocent black man is not autobiographical. But her father was a lawyer, and the inspiration for the character Atticus Finch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To Kill a Mockingbird is about a young girl named Jean-Louise Finch, who they call Scout, her brother Jeremy, nick-named Jem, and many other characters. Their father Atticus, who is a lawyer, had been given a case to handle and did not have a choice but to receive it and work his best for his client. The case was about an African man, named Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white woman. This case causes many problems that they have to deal with everyday. The entire town turns against them saying that Atticus is a â€Å"nigger-lover.† Even Atticus’ family turned against them, which really hurts Scout, especially when her cousin Francis says â€Å"I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-† (Harper 91).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Racism is a major theme in this story along with growing up. Throughout the story the reader sees how Scout and Jem are afraid of Boo Radley because they think he is a monster and try to tease him. Later in the novel they are no longer afraid of him and no longer interested in teasing him. Another example of their maturity is how they view people. When Scout and Jem see how Tom Robinson is treated just because he is black, they begin to understand the meaning of prejudice. Throughout the trial Scout watched and believed that Tom will be found innocent. Instead he is found guilty. Her disappointment in the verdict makes Scout question the idea of justice. Scout and Jem also think that their dad isn’t like any other fathers in school, but as the book goes on, their attitude towards their father has changed, which is another sign of maturity.

Geneva Conventions Essay

Introduction Now we live in relatively peaceful time, but it wasn’t always like that. All those wars were bloody, sometimes even too bloody, so people needed to create some rules. So those rules were created. Four Conventions for One Purpose Not everybody knows that, but there were four treaties, not just one. And even then, they were modified later with three amendment protocols. I will start with a brief overview. First Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field. Second Geneva Convention was adopted in 1906 for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea. Third Geneva Convention was adopted in 1929, and it was related to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Finally, Fourth Geneva Convention was adopted in 1949, and it was related to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. It collected all points of previous one while adding many new points. So, when people say about singular Geneva Convention, they usually mean this one. Later is was modified with two protocols in 1977 when modifications were related to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts and the Pro tection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts. Latest modification was made in 2005 when an Additional Distinctive Emblem was adopted. The Conventions are inextricably linked to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is both the instigator for the inception and enforcer of the articles in these conventions. They changed the world with their aspiration to protect the rights of non-combatants. This quote is a nice example: Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons,  their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall, at all times, be humanely treated, and shall be protected, especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity. Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault. Without prejudice to the provisions relating to their state of health, age and sex, all protected persons shall be treated with the same consideration by the Party to the conflict in whose power they are, without any adverse distinction based, in particular, on race, religion or political opinion. However, the Parties to the conflict may take such measures of control and security in regard to protected persons as may be necessary as a result of the war. — Article 27, Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) The First Geneva Convention The First Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, defines â€Å"the basis on which rest the rules of international law for the protection of the victims of armed conflicts. It was adopted in 1864 and then updated three times. Back then, it was a very critical period for European history, both military and political. Situation in Western Europe was relatively peaceful between the fall of the first Napoleon (the Battle of Waterloo in 1815) and the rise of Napoleon III (Italian campaign of 1859), but when the conflict in the Crimea took place, powers couldn’t maintain peace anymore. Henri Dunant was a man who gave the world idea of creating an international set of laws governing the treatment and care for the wounded and prisoners of war. He witnessed the Battle of Solferino in 1859, fought between Austrian and French-Piedmontese armies in Northern Italy. Around forty thousands of soldiers were wounded and left on the battlefield. The reason for that was a lack of personnel, facilities, and truces to give the soldiers any kind of medical aid. After witnessing all that Dunant decided to act. So, after his return to Geneva Dunant used his membership in the Geneva Society for Public Welfare to urge the calling together of an international conference to create new rules in terms of war. Other things that Henri Dunant did were publishing his account Un Souvenir de Solferino and helping with foundation of the International Committee of  the Red Cross in 1863. So, this new Red Cross Committee started to work, with best regards to help people, living in zones of war. Even if it was said that safeguarding the health and physical well-being of people is primarily the duty and responsibility of a nation they are related to, still understood that it wasn’t enough and in times of war people would need some â€Å"voluntary agencies to supplement†. Obviously it meant creating official agencies to help people on the battlefields in every country. Last thing that was missing was the list of rules to govern activities of the Red Cross Committee itself and any other agencies or companies which were involved. The big date was August 22, 1864. Several European states gathered in Geneva, Switzerland and signed the First Geneva Convention. List of states included: Baden (nowadays being a part of Germany), Belgium, Denmark, France, Hesse (also being a part of Germany nowadays), Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Prussia (part of Germany now), Spain, Switzerland, and Wà ¼rttemberg (which is also a part of today’s Germany). Later, two more countries joined and signed the Convention, which were Norway and Sweden. . The Second Geneva Convention The Second Geneva Convention was adopted to protect the human rights of wounded, sick, and shipwrecked soldiers that were found at sea. This act was made because of the growing number of battle ship fleets being formed and the mass amounts of war occurring at sea. The First Geneva Convention only covered the wars on land and now it covered international battles at sea. This bill extended all rights that a wounded soldier received from the first convention to soldiers at sea and made it illegal to not take in shipwrecked crewmen. The Second Geneva Convention was an important step considering the First World War was soon to come. The Second Geneva Convention was created because of the new threat of large naval fleets. The only difference between the First and Second Geneva Conventions is that the Second calls for the protection of human rights of soldiers that are at sea. Because of the future battles at sea, this plan proved to be highly necessary in order to make sure no cruelties were occurring over the deep blue sea. This plan was effective but did not cover very many scenarios or occurrences. This addition to the First Convention was necessary and without it, there would have been thousands of more casualties during the two World Wars. So, the  Convention was adopted in 1906, right after Russo-Japanese war, and was later updated two times. The actual document contained 63 articles, covering many aspects related to treating people during the wars, both on the land and on the sea. Now let’s look at the most important provisions: * Articles 12 and 18 require all parties to protect and care for the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked. * Article 21 allows appeals to be made to neutral vessels to help collect and care for the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked. The neutral vessels cannot be captured. * Articles 36 and 37 protect religious and medical personnel serving on a combat ship. * Article 22 states that hospital ships cannot be used for any military purpose, and owing to their humanitarian mission, they cannot be attacked or captured. * Article 14 clarifies that although a warship cannot capture a hospital ship’s medical staff, it can hold the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked as prisoners of war. It was adopted by 33 countries, including China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. However, at the same time it was rejected by Great Britain, Japan and Korea. The Third Geneva Convention So, the third one of four conventions was mainly related to prisoners of war and their treatment. According to this Geneva Convention no prisoner of war could be forced to disclose to his captor any information other than his identity (i.e., his name and rank, but not his military unit, home town, or address of relatives). Every prisoner of war was entitled to adequate food and medical care and had the right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels. He was required to observe ordinary military discipline and courtesy, but he could attempt to escape at his own risk. Once recaptured, he was not to be punished for his attempt. Officers were to receive pay either according to the pay scale of their own country or to that of their captor, whichever was less; they could not be required to work. Enlisted men might be required to work for pay, but the nature and location of their work were not to expose them to danger, and in no case could they be required to perform work directly rela ted to military operations. Camps were to be open to inspection by authorized representatives of a neutral power (during World War II, Switzerland and Sweden acted as protecting powers). Article 4  defines who could be called prisoner of war. Article 5 specifies that prisoners of war (as defined in article 4) are protected from the time of their capture until their final repatriation. It also specifies that when there is any doubt whether a combatant belongs to the categories in article 4, they should be treated as such until their status has been determined by a competent tribunal. Article 12 states that prisoners of war are the responsibility of the state not the persons who capture them and that they may not be transferred to a state that is not party to the Convention. Articles 13 to 16 state that prisoners of war must be treated humanely without any adverse discrimination and that their medical needs must be met. The Convention was signed by 47 governments. Chief among the nations that did not adhere to the Geneva Convention of 1929 were Japan and the USSR. Japan, however, gave a qualified promise (1942) to abide by the Geneva rules, and the USSR announced (1941) that it would observe the terms of the Hague Convention of 1907, which did not provide (as does the Geneva Convention) for neutral inspection of prison camps, for the exchange of prisoners’ names, and for correspondence with prisoners. So, that could help to change the situation, including time during World War II. The United States and Great Britain mostly honored the Convention and its rules. At the same time, Germany didn’t treat all prisoners equally. While American and British prisoners got good treatment in Germany, people from Poland got probably the worst possible. The International Red Cross at Geneva tried to collect as much information about prisoners as it could, so situation was under control. The Fourth Geneva Convention The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, also known as The Fourth Geneva Convention, was adopted in 1949. Not only it had many new points, but also points from all previous Geneva Conventions were reviewed and expanded. The actual document consists of four parts: Part I. General Provisions. It includes the basic things, like explanation who is a â€Å"protected person†: Persons protected by the Convention are those who, at a given moment and in any manner whatsoever, find themselves, in case of a conflict or occupation, in the hands of a Party to the conflict or  Occupying Power of which they are not nationals. Document also demands a lawful treatment of: noncombatants, soldiers who laid down their arms, or wounded, unable to continue the fight, combatants. Part II. General Protection of Populations Against Certain Consequences of War. Here text says about protection of civilians. Important thing is that no kind of discrimination by nationality, race, religion, or political views is appropriate. Part III. Status and Treatment of Protected Persons. This part includes many different things about actions on occupied territories, like population transfer, care and education of children, destruction of property, medical services, etc. It also includes topic of collective punishment: Article 33. No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited. Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited. Part IV. Execution of the Convention. This part is almost the same in documents of all four conventions and it says that this part contains â€Å"the formal or diplomatic provisions which it is customary to place at the end of an international Convention to settle the procedure for bringing it into effect are grouped together under this heading†. This time the amount of countries signed was even bigger than before, consisting of 194 countries. However, 16 countries didn’t sign it; those were Aruba, Bouvet Island, Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Heard and Mc Donald Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mayotte, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, National Authority, Reunion Island, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and Tibet. Even if the Convention included almost everything that was needed, later it was updated with 3 protocols added as amendments: Protocol I (1977) relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts Protocol II (1977) relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts Protocol III (2005) relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem. Protocol I So, in 1977 Geneva Convention was updated with two additional protocols added as amendments. It was necessary because since 1949 worldwide weaponry and conditions have changed. Logically, it’s related to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. By the moment Protocol I was  ratified by governments of 170 countries. The actual document consists of 102 articles. Mostly it just rephrases statements from original Geneva Conventions, but it also includes many new interesting things: Articles 51 and 54 outlaw indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations, and destruction of food, water, and other materials needed for survival. Indiscriminate attacks include directly attacking civilian (non-military) targets, but also using technology such as biological weapons, nuclear weapons and land mines, whose scope of destruction cannot be limited. A total war that does not distinguish between civilian and military targets is considered a war crime. Articles 56 and 53 outlaw attacks on dams, dikes, nuclear generating stations, and places of worship. The first three are â€Å"works and installations containing dangerous forces† and may be attacked but only in ways that do not threaten to release the dangerous forces (i.e., it is permissible to attempt to capture them but not to try to destroy them). Articles 76 and 77, 15 and 79 provide special protections for women, children, and civilian medical personnel, and provide measures of protection for journalists. Article 77 forbids conscription of children under age 15 into the armed forces. It does allow, however, for persons under the age of 15 to participate voluntarily. Articles 43 and 44 clarify the military status of members of guerrilla forces. Combatant and prisoner of war status is granted to members of dissident forces when under the command of a central authority. Such combatants cannot conceal their allegiance; they must be recognizable as combatants while preparing for or during an attack. Article 35 bans weapons that â€Å"cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering,† as well as means of warfare that â€Å"cause widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the natural environment.† Article 85 states that it is a war crime to use one of the protective emblems recognized by the Geneva Conventions to deceive the opposing forces (perfidy). Articles 17 and 81 authorize the ICRC, national societies, or other impartial humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to the victims of war. Protocol II While Protocol I was related to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts, Protocol II, also added in 1977, was related to the  protection of non-international armed conflicts. After all those Conventions many rules existed, related to international warfare, but somehow, before the Protocol II was added, nobody thought much about internal conflicts even though many countries had them. So, even since the last Geneva Convention, some delegates wanted to make laws and set a new bar for minimal humanitarian standards in cases when the situation had all the properties and characteristics of war whilst not being an international conflict. Even before the addition of Protocol II Geneva Conventions of 1949 had Article 3 related to non-international conflicts taking place in bounds of a single country. However, it wasn’t enough. Article 3 had only few basic things to protect victims of non-international conflicts, like: * Persons taking no active part in hostilities should be treated humanely (including military persons who have ceased to be active as a result of sickness, injury, or detention). * The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for. Since Article 3 was too brief and didn’t cover many important aspects, many diplomats wanted to clarify it all in a new Protocol and to extend the scope of international law to cover additional humanitarian rights in the context of internal conflicts. However, the debate around this new protocol had two totally different ideas: 1) First said that for victim of a conflict there is no difference if that conflict is international or not, so all the distinction for those people can only be artificial. 2) And another one said that in case of internal conflict international laws should not apply, meaning that country had all rights to do whatever it wants inside its boundaries. As for now, Protocol 3 had been ratified by governments of 165 countries. Even though The United States was among few countries who just signed the protocol with the intention of ratifying it, the International Committee of the Red Cross made an appeal in 1997, saying that a number of the articles contained in both protocols are recognized as rules of customary international law valid for all states, whether or not they have ratified them. Protocol III The third and the last additional protocol of Geneva Conventions was added in 2005. It was devoted to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem. It was really needed in cases of war for soldiers to know who they should not attack. Actually, the emblem itself was established much earlier, during the first Geneva Convention of 1864. It was really needed, because weapons at those times already were quite deadly, and often medics and people of other supporting professions were shot right on the battlefield while trying to help wounded soldiers. So a part of the first Geneva Convention was just right about creating a distinctive emblem for people of those professions. However, it wasn’t easy. The first symbol was just a red cross on the white background, but it looked very similar to the Christian Cross. That was the reason why Muslim nations totally rejected it. But in 1876 the Ottoman Empire introduced another symbol – the Red Crescent, as more neutral and less Christian emblem. After that additional emblems were proposed by the Red Cross Society of Eritrea, such as sun of Persia or the red lion. At the same time Magen David Adom of Israel proposed the Red Shield of David as another alternative emblem. After all, the world needed the new symbol for medics to be: * Neutral and free of religious, cultural or political connotations. Otherwise it would conflict with the whole idea of giving the medical personnel neutral humanitarian status in armed conflicts. * Officially acclaimed. Even if the Red Shield of David was used in some places after Magen David Adom’s efforts, it wasn’t officially acclaimed by the National Societies. And without membership in one of those people were not eligible for certain protections under the Geneva Conventions. Fortunately a comprehensive solution was found at last with the adoption of Protocol III in 2005. For Magen David Adom there was a nice alternative – the Red Crystal, so they should’ve just displayed it in the context of international conflict to have all protection needed. All three emblems are appointed the same legal status, which means they are totally equal. Emblems can have a protective use, as well as an indicative use. Medical and religious personnel may mark themselves, their vehicles, ships and buildings as a sign of their humanitarian mission and protected status under the Geneva Conventions. Members of armed forces can also use it to show that  they are protected by Geneva Conventions. However, the misuse of the emblem may be considered as a war crime. Conclusion Thanks to all these conventions and their protocols, world is safer and more civilized nowadays, even I the times of war. People feel themselves protected, which means better future for all of us! Bibliography Books: Bernett, Angela. The Geneva Convention: The Hidden Origins of the Red Cross. The History Press, Stroud, 2006. Borch, Fred L., and Solis, Gary. Geneva Conventions. Kaplan Publishing, New York City, 2010. Grossman, Dave. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Back Bay Books, New York City, 2009. Byers, Michael. War Law: Understanding International Law and Armed Conflict. Grove Press, New York City, 2007. Web Sites: http://supportgenevaconventions.org/. â€Å"Citizens Interfaith Coalition to Reaffirm and Extend the Geneva Conventions†. Dennis Rivers. 11/11/2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/. â€Å"Geneva Conventions†. Multiple authors. 11/23/2011. http://www.icrc.org/. â€Å"The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols†. International Committee of the Red Cross. 11/12/2011.

Most Lethal Sniper in American History Essay

Chris Kyle was a natural born killer from the first time he was handed a gun. Born in Odessa, Texas, he began hunting with his own rifles and shotguns at age eight. After he finished school, he became a professional bronco rider, but his career ended quickly after he injured his arm. After his arm healed he turned to the military for a job, but was turned down because of the pins in his arm. After a few months he received a call and was invited to the training for the Navy SEALS. He ended up becoming a sniper in SEAL Team 3 and served four tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over the four tours of duty, Kyle racked up 255 claimed kills and 160 confirmed kills. His longest successful shot was 2,100 yards or 1.2 miles, just outside Sadr City in 2008. Chivalric Codes were a huge part of a knight’s life, was developed to keep knights in check during a time where laws were difficult to come by. They generally consisted of honoring the church, protecting and serving the people, the lord of the land and the country, being honorable as a person, perseverance, honoring your enemy, protecting women and children, and to protect your fellow knights. Chris Kyle upheld the Code of Chivalry in many ways but in others he did not. These breaks in the code were not always his fault though, because of the radical change in war from the middle ages to now, and the decisions of whether to protect his countrymen or the values of chivalry. Kyle’s first kill was an example of a decision between elements of the code. A woman with a grenade was approaching a group of Marines. Kyle was reluctant to shoot a woman, which is generally against the Rules Of Engagement, and most soldiers’ moral standards. He hesitated before shooting her and saving his troops lives. He said afterward that he was angry at the woman for putting him in that situation. It was the only time he ever killed anyone other than a male enemy. Another way that he strayed from the Code of Chivalry, was that he claims that all of his actions were done out of necessity, not for glory. He constantly repeats that no true hero ever does anything for glory. He says throughout his book that all of his kills were necessary to protect his fellow soldiers. The last way that Chris Kyle broke the code of chivalry was that most of his kills were unfair fights. His training and weapons gave him a huge advantage over his Iraqi adversaries, who were equipped with low-tech equipment and had no training. He often shot enemies from far away in concealed hiding spots, and sometimes in the back. This was a huge infraction in medieval times, but with the advances in warfare and technology, in order to stay alive on the battlefield today you must kill your enemy as soon as possible or he could kill you in an instant. Kyle was not totally against the code of chivalry though, he was a devout Christian, as you would expect as his father was a Sunday school teacher. He justifies his killings by citing that the Commandment is against murder, and killing innocent people not against killing people trying to kill you and your countrymen. Kyle also shows exceptional patriotism and service to his country and the President, our equivalent to a knight’s king. He was awarded two silver stars and five bronze stars with valor, but denies that he ever did anything special to deserve them. He says any soldier would have done the same thing to protect the freedom of America and its people. All in all, Chris Kyle will always be remembered as a hero in the War on Terror, and a modern day testament to the values of chivalry. Although he was not able to uphold all of the values, he did the best he could in the situations he was put in. It is impossible for him to uphold a code as old as that in the changing conditions of war. Many parts are just not feasible to the modern day soldier. With what Kyle was able to accomplish and be able to uphold the standards that he did, Chris Kyle was definitely as chivalrous as he could possibly be. Works Cited Kyle, Chris. American Sniper. N.p.: HarperCollins, n.d. Print. Seidl, Jonathon M. â€Å"This Navy SEAL Sniper Is the ‘Deadliest in U.S. History’ — Can You Guess His Longest Shot?† The Blaze. N.p., 2 Jan. 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. . Smith, Terry. â€Å"What Are the Rules of Engagement With Military Use of Force?† EHow. N.p., 16 Feb. 2012. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. .

Four Contextual Factors

1. Four Contextual Fators Apple have shown an ample example that they have implemented the four contextual factors in the organization which then lead to their organization successfulness. i. Culture – Steve Jobs, the founder of the organization have a clear vision and yet simple that he wants the whole organization to know. â€Å"Bringing the best personal computing, mobile communication, and portable digital music and video experience to consumers, students, educators, businesses, and government agencies through its innovative hardware, software, peripherals, services, and Internet offerings. Steve Jobs. ii. Strategy – Apple Inc. also spends a fair time of training and or re-training its employees on a global scale and comes up with many new devices to not only keep the shareholders happy, but also by braining storming and coming up with new technology so in which Apple Inc. can hire new employees; thus helping the global economy. Apple Inc. understands, as new ventu re grows, there can be a need for more and more administration. (Hisrich, Peters, 2010, p. p. 127) iii.Culture – Team building and team sustaining with repositioning is and can be a gruesome task, however ‘Time heals all wounds unless you pick at them. ’ (Shawn Alexander www. bellaonl ine. com/articles/art11602. asp) Managers worldwide can look at Apple Inc and learn that with any type of conflict; where it is by internal or external nature; can be maintained and or healed if the organization has a team willing to work and learn together if the team is willing to collaborate systematically. v. Enviroment – People believe that the leaders in the organization, especially Steve Jobs are one of the reasons for the organizational success; Human resources are a very important. Apple has been known to be a good employer. Its employees are appreciated and valued. They are provided with a healthy work culture that comes from learning organization, some of them feel that Apple has a wrong human resource strategy as they maintain secrecy.

My nursing theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My nursing theory - Essay Example The primary purpose of the interaction between humans and the environment is adaptation. Humans’ exposure to stressors (stimuli within the environment) triggers the development of coping mechanisms, which enable them to adapt to the changing environment. Each individual has two major subsystems; the regulator and cognator internal processing subsystems, which help them, cope with stimuli from both the external and internal environment. The regulator subsystem functions through the autonomic nervous system (perception and neural pathways, endocrine system) whereby the mechanism prepares individuals for dealing with environmental stimuli. On the other hand, the cognator mechanism comprises of perceptual/information processing, emotions, judgment and learning. The process of perception bridges or connects the two mechanisms. Roy asserts that nursing’s primary goal is to facilitate a patient’s development of health, which she defined as the process of becoming and be ing a whole and integrated person (Roy, 1980). Fundamental to all human beings, is their need to cling to their concept of a Higher Power. For some, acknowledging the existence of an existential being that possesses supernatural powers, which one cannot research quantitatively or qualitatively defines their conceptualization of God (Higher Power). Conversely, others negate the existence of a God, as they instead chose to focus on universal moral principles, which are not culture specific and promote equal and humane treatment of all; for example, they believe that it is wrong to kill or steal as it compromises another person’s quality of life. My personal nursing philosophy is primarily centered on acknowledging the existence of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity influences the differences in individual’s conceptualization of God. As such, it is crucial for nursing professionals to respect each patient’s

A Theme In Human Evolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Theme In Human Evolution - Research Paper Example An exanimation of the fossil records for the hominids can reveal much information on the early forms of the present creatures. The study of human remains did not feature until the nineteenth century when archaeologists realized that the culture and the morphology of early man could be revealed by the remains and the tools that were found buried with these remains (Greene, 11). A comparison between the morphology of the different fossils can be made to provide an insight into the relationships that occur between populations of organisms at different stages in the evolution process. Much information regarding the human culture could be obtained through the study of such remains. It has been noted that by studying the bone morphology of the fossils â€Å"one can understand the nutritional status, diet, disease processes, factors affecting mortality and life expectancy, biological responses to environmental stressors and aging of our ancestors† (Seth, 19). The teeth of animals wil l be related to the kinds of food that they consume. The herbivorous animals feed on vegetation and have many large molar teeth for chewing the fibrous foods. On the other hand, carnivorous animals like lion have large canine teeth that are used for killing and tearing the meat of their prey. The early hominids had the ape-like U-shaped dental arcade whereas the modern, man has a parabolic dental arcade. These early hominids and the modern man have the same dental formula of 2.1.2.3= 32.   This means two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molar teeth on both sides of the upper and lower jaws. However, there is a difference in the teeth structure and size between the early hominids and the modern man. This has been caused by the difference in the kinds of food that have been consumed by man at different stages of evolution. The early hominids were mainly herbivorous and had large molars for chewing the high roughage content foods.

Market failure and what government can do Essay

Market failure and what government can do - Essay Example Market failure is the failure of the market to yield efficient outcomes. Elaborating further, Stiglitz said that there are six situations in which markets are not efficient and these are referred to as market failures that provide a rationale for government activity.The six conditions in which markets fail to lead to efficient outcomes are those in which competition fails, situation in which public goods are involved, market situations in which there are externalities, situations in which markets are incomplete, situations in which information is imperfect, and situations in which there are macroeconomic disturbances (Stiglitz 2000, p. 77-85). For markets to lead to efficiency, markets must be perfectly competitive (Stiglitz 2000, p. 77). This means that there are no constraints for competition to prevail in the market. Examples of situations in which competition does not prevail are those involving monopolies and oligopolies. Monopolies are market situations in which there is only o ne seller while oligopolies are market situations in which there are only few sellers. Both monopolies and oligopolies can charge consumers prices that are higher than those which can prevail in perfectly competitive market settings.1 Public goods are those whose consumption is non-rival and non-excludable as opposed to private goods whose consumption are rival and excludable. Non-rival means consuming the good will not deprive others of the good. Road services or city lighting services, for example, are goods or services that are not deprived to others when an individual consume or use the good or service. They are also non-excludable in consumption because it is costly, feasible, or impractical to exclude others from consuming or using the good or service. In the literature of economics, economists usually use the term pure private goods and pure public goods to refer to pure cases but they recognize that there are goods in-between or public goods that have private goods character istics as well as private goods that have public goods characteristics. Sometimes, these goods are also referred to as mixed goods.2 Externalities refer to effects on third parties other than the consumer or producer of the product. For example, consumer may use gasoline but parties other than the producer or consumer of the product receive the pollution. Externalities can be positive or something good such as the benefits to the environments of a certain car that does not use fossil fuel or it can be negative like that in car that pollutes the environment. Economic literature holds that when markets are competitive, prices almost equals costs and goods are produced at costs. However, because of externalities, markets can lead to situations in which goods may be overproduced or under-produced, depending on their effects to society.3 Incomplete markets refer to situations in which although the cost of providing the good is less than what consumers are willing to pay, the good is not produced just the same (Stiglitz 2000, p. 81). The situation of incomplete markets implies that there are things missing in the market because otherwise the good or service would have been produced if there is nothing that is missing in the market (Stiglitz 2000, p. 81). Incomplete markets can emerge when complementary services are lacking, transaction costs are too high, and the like (Stiglitz 2000, p. 81-82). It is possible that incomplete markets are one of the least studied market situation in the academic literature. The literature on the topic does not seem many. Information asymmetry or imperfection in information is also another cause for market failure to happen. For example, borrowers can know their risks as borrowers but lenders may not know the risks of lending to the borrowers. In another scenario, investors want to invest but they do not know the potential returns and possible risks in investments and, thus, they are constrained from investing. Finally, many scholars i nterpret