Royal Wedding Media Coverage

Example of a great media coverage The Royal wedding in 2011 Many PR specialists define the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and prince William as the PR event of the year. It is a proof that a well- managed event can resonate for months or even years. It has set the beginning of the reputation building of this new family. As Pagefield's founder and senior partner Mark Gallagher argues, the event not only promoted the young couple, but also gave the monarchy, London and the UK a boost. Before the event, there was an estimated number of 8500 journalists expected to arrive in London from abroad.More than 36 broadcasters, such as BBC, Sky News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Al-Jazeera etc. ; were housed in a special structure, built close to the Westminster Abbey, where the wedding took place. Apart from nearly 2000 guests, 40 broadcast cameras, 12 photographers and 28 reporters from national, international and regional media were expected. More than 100 overseas broadcasting organizations were transmit ting the event. BBC had the biggest broadcasting presence with around 550 people staff at a cost of ? 2 million. The US networks have begun their coverage at 3 a. m. n the west coast. 64% of Americans said that they believe that the event has received too much attention in the media, however 28% of US citizens have admitted that they have followed the wedding very closely. The wedding’s audience has reached 2 billion people worldwide. According to Google, there are over 162 million web pages mentioning the wedding. It was estimated to bring ? 630 million into the economy. All these facts are a proof that the event has received great, or even excessive media ; editorial coverage worldwide and has reached a huge number of people.This has probably turned it into the TV (PR) event of the century. An example of the number of articles that only CNN has concerning the Royal wedding: http://edition. cnn. com/SPECIALS/2011/royal. wedding/ . —————â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ [ 1 ]. http://www. prweek. com/uk/features/1124547/the-power-books-top-5-pr-campaigns-2011/ [ 2 ]. http://www. guardian. co. uk/uk/2011/apr/28/royal-wedding-media-tv-audience [ 3 ]. http://www. guardian. co. uk/news/datablog/2011/apr/29/royal-wedding-numbers-figures

Frankenstein: The Danger of Knowledge Essay

â€Å"It was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being in to the lifeleless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs† (Shelley, 34). Thus begins the horror in Mary Shelley’s well-known gothic, romantic fiction, Frankenstein. This literary work, published in 1818, tells the story of a young scientist who comes upon the secrets to create life. The novel begins with the correspondence of letters between Captain Robert Walton, a young English explorer in pursuit of discovering the Northwest Passage, to his sister Margaret Saville. The first few letter s in the novel recount to Margaret the progress of Walton’s voyage. Upon reaching a plot of impassable ice, Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein upon a slab of ice, and brings him aboard the ship. As Walton nurses the dreadfully weakened Frankenstein back to help, his vigor for seeking success and the unknown leads Frankenstein to relate the story that led to his misfortune. Frankenstein begins relating his story to Walton. He tells Walton about his family and childhood in Geneva. Frankenstein recounts of his love for science and seeking out the causes of things since he was very young. Upon coming upon the works of Cornelius Agrippa, Frankenstein is enraptured with philosophy and the thought of creating life. This love led Frankenstein to attend the University of Ingolstadt, where he studied chemistry and natural philosophy. As his time passed there, Frankenstein became increasingly obsessed with discovering the secret of life. This led to a continual pouring and dedication to that one area, until he at last discovered it. Upon discovering the secr et of life, Frankenstein poured himself into forming a human from old, decaying body parts and brings to life his creation. Though he initially began praising his creation, his joy soon turns to horror at realizing the grotesque, appalling being he created. Frankenstein flees from the creature, and returns to find it gone. As the novel progresses, each of Frankenstein’s loved ones is killed, and he vows himself to seek out the creature and destroy it. The novel shares the story of the incidents that led up to the  creation of the monster and the sad destruction of the innocent affected by one man’s unharnessed passion to seek knowledge no matter the cost. Throughout the novel, Shelley portrays the theme of the danger of knowledge in the characters of Walton, Frankenstein, and the creature. Mankind, since its beginning, has always had a great thirst and craving for knowledge. In Frankenstein, Shelley seems to question the wisdom in such a pursuit and sends a precautionary warning to those who read it. This thirst for knowledge, though it can be a blessing and beneficial, can become a danger ous endeavor. The first character that Shelley introduces that shares this passion for knowledge and the unknown is Robert Walton. At the beginning of the story, Walton begins by writing to his sister and informs her of his yearning to seek out the unknown. Walton expressed to his sister how she cannot imagine the benefit that he would, â€Å"confer on all mankind to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine† (Shelley, 20). This quote exemplifies from Walton’s letter how passionately he sought out after knowledge. After Walton finds Frankenstein and brings him aboard, he explains his pursuit to Frankenstein. Walton expresses that he would sacrifice, â€Å"my fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the furtherance of my enterprise. One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race† (Shelley, 11). This quote foreshadows the dangerous path Walton is treading upon. Once compared to the story of Frankenstein, the reader can understand that the dangerous road Walton was on, could ultimately lead to a similar result as Frankenstein’s. Both men fervently sought knowledge without mind of the end result. Walton and Frankenstein shared a concern only for the present and the fame and knowledge that could be attained now, without considering the possible deadly fruit of their labor. Thankfully, Walton heeded the advice of Frankenstein, and was spared a possible dreadful ending. Unfortunately, Frankenstein had not been given the same warning in advance, and was forced to reap the fruit of his pursuit. The second main character that Shelley introduces that contains a p assion for knowledge and the unknown is Victor  Frankenstein. When Frankenstein is found by Walton, he relates his story to him after perceiving that Walton walks on a similar path as he once did. He expresses his horror in the thought when he cried out, â€Å"Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me,- let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!† (Shelley, 12). Frankenstein wished to save Walton the agony and pain from walking along the stinging road that he had traveled upon. Frankenstein soon begins his narrative of his story and related to Walton how his thirst for knowledge and the unknown had begun while he was yet a young child. He tells of how he became obsessed with natural philosophy and chemistry, and the elixir of life upon entering the University of Ingolstadt. As he knowledge and intelligence grew, so his infatuation with the human frame and discovering the secret to create life. At last, Frankenstein came upon the secret that led him to begin the construction of a creation- a being that he could breathe life into. As he worked, he was blinded to the thought of what may result of thi s creation, and he worked continually. Not for a moment did Frankenstein step back to rationalize what he was creating. He was blinded to all except the thought of success and creating life. As a result, Victor’s creation was formed. As the monster came to life, only then did Victor understand what he created. He abhorred his own creation, and could not lay eyes on it for fear and horror. Frankenstein’s uncontained ideas and thirsts caused him severe pain as his creation destroyed all he treasured. The third and final example in Shelley’s novel that displayed a desire for knowledge was the Frankenstein’s creation- the monster. When the monster was first created, he was as a newborn babe. Unable to distinguish his surroundings and completely defenseless, he wandered around searching for comfort. Like a child, he grew in knowledge as he roamed, and soon was able to distinguish between simple items such as the sun, moon, berries and fire. As the creature continues to learn and fend for himself, he came upon the hovel of the DeLacey family, where he remained for quite some time , observing the family. The monster becomes fascinated by the family, and begins to learn from their example. As he learns, he strived to be able to communicate with them and to share a relationship with someone, such as they had. The more the monster observed the family, the more he longed to be accepted and human. When Safie joins the DeLacey family, they begin teaching  her how to read and speak, and so also do the lessons of the monster begin. As he grew in knowledge, his eyes were opened to understand more and to believe that if the humans were rationalized with, they would come to love him once they realized the kind heart inside of him. Contrary to what he hoped, the monster was rejected by the DeLacey Family, and sought after the creator who brought him into his miserable existence. The monster had sought for the knowledge of love and acceptance, but never found it. He himself states that though he destroyed Frankenstein’s dreams, â€Å"I did not satisfy my own desires. They were for ever ardent and craving; still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned† (Shelley, 165). The monster had sought for the knowledge of love and acceptance by perceiving humans, but realized that he alone would always be separate from that gift. This knowledge and revelation led to his anger and hatred towards mankind and his creator, who also abhorred him. There was no one left to love him, and for that he swore anger and vengeance on his creator who had created him and left him in that state. As the monster grew in knowledge, he grew in bitterness and hatred knowing that all mankind had to offer was exclusively kept from him. His anger came from his rejection and dissatisfaction of knowing that he alone would never be able to experience love, kindness, and sympathy from another fellow human being for as long as he lived. Mary Shelley sent a very clear message through her novel, Frankenstein. She warned that those who seek knowledge and secrets might attain them, but lose everything they treasure and care for in the process. Just as in the case with Victor Frankenstein, sometimes unharnessed thirst for knowledge can lead to a devastating end that not only hurts the person seeking knowledge, but all those around them. Shelley sent a message that, like Walton, one must take the time to sit and consider the cost of their enterprise before it is too late. If they are blinded by their goal, they will not see the cost of their search until they cannot turn back. Shelley’s message was not only for those in the 1800’s, but can be said for those in the twenty-first century. In a time when new discoveries are being made every day, is anyone taking into account the detrimental costs that it may have on those in society? Advancements are being made every day, but so many of them have been used to harm society, more than advance it. Shelley’s warning is one that needs to be taken into consideration even today. If not, who knows how many monsters  and creations will be released into this world.

Diploma 5 health and social care Essay

If any of your personal information changes you must report them to your employer. Some examples of this may be if you move house and your address changes also if you get married and change your name or you change your name for any other reason then you must inform your employer so that the information they have is current and up to date. 3. The procedure that a staff member would follow if they wished to raise a grievance within the work place would be, firstly we have a lady within the company who deals with all grievance’s so you would take your issue to her and grapevines policy states that all concerns must be acknowledged within the first 48 hours it then must be investigated within 5 days and then you will receive a letter within 7 days of the outcome or next steps if appropriate. It also then states that the investigation must be fully concluded within 28 days of the first day the grievance was reported. If you are then unhappy with the outcome then you may appeal the decision within a 7 day period the appeal will then take place with a different manager and their decision at appeal is final with no further right to appeal. 4. The agreed ways of working with my employer around the following topics are as follows Data protection – states that all personal information for service users should be kept securely within the home but the service users should have the right to access any of their personal information at any time. Service users must also be protected when passing through any electronical devices in which refer to the service users through their initials rather than full name. Read more: Describe different working relationships in social care settings  essay Staff personal files must be kept securely within the building and locked away in a cupboard that only the management team have access to. Also any computers that are used for work must be password protected. Grievance that a service user may have- if a service user wishes to make a complaint they can ask a staff member or someone they trust to support them to write an account of what they are making a compliant about they would then give it to the manager or a senior member of the team if they wish to. The home manager would then involve an advocate or social worker if appropriate it would then be dealt with and the service user would then be informed where needed of the outcome. Conflict management- if there is any conflict within the team the manager would hold a meeting with all members involved separately to gather statements of the on goings. They would then try to hold a meeting with all parties together and act as a mediator between them to try to resolve matters informally. If the issues cannot be resolved it would then go to the lady who deals with grievances in which she would contact mentor who would give appropriate advice on actions to take. They could expect the outcome to be heard within 7 days. Anti-discriminatory practice- not to discriminate against anyone, weather this be race, religion, sexuality, gender, transgender, age, disability, ability, we follow and adhere to the equality act 2010 and treat each person as an individual in their own right. Health and safety- to undertake training in manual handling, food hygiene, first aid, coshh, to be aware of your own health and safety, to report any health and safety matters to the manager, to report and remove anything that may be of any danger, to look out for health and safety of the service users we support. Whistleblowing- you can report any matters of concern internally and externally and you can keep your complaint confidential, you have the right to be protected where reasonably possible. Confidentiality- any information about any of the service users should be kept confidential unless it’s in their best interest or safety to disclose information. All staffing information should be kept confidential for example things like supervisions and appraisals. 5. My role contributes to the overall delivery of the service as I manage the day to day running of the service and strive to deliver the best service possible this means that starting from recruiting staff to assuring quality within the service. My job consists of making sure that any new recruits within the team go through the robust recruitment process we have in place, I also monitor the training of the staff making sure all training is up to date and they have all relevant training that they require to be able to carry out their roles. I also supervise the staff and monitor the quality of the service being received. However the upmost importance of my role is to ensure that the highest quality of care is delivered to the individuals we support making sure that their needs are being met. I also write, review and update care plans and risk assessments where needed working together with the individuals we support. I also audit different areas of the service including health and saf ety, medication and parent and client surveys. I also spend time liaising with other professionals this may be social workers, GP’s, community nurses, CLDT. So overall my role contributes to keeping a smooth running of the service making sure a good quality of care is received. 6. A) By following best practice within my role I can influence the quality of the service. I do this by making sure I keep myself up to date with current legislation and training that we are required to adhere to. My role is about setting an example and being a role model for the staff team I manage. By following best practice this helps to keep staff motivated and also means this helps to build good, healthy and professional relationships and trust within the staff team and the individuals we support. By following best practice you are more likely to deliver a high level of care that is expected which means this lays down a good reputation for the company, a well-supported and confident staff team, happy clients and a generally well managed and or ganized service. B) By not carrying out the requirements that are expected in my job role can suggest that this could lead to bad practice and minimum quality. It is also likely that there will be a low morale within the staff team which will lead to a low quality care service being provided. The individuals we support rely on us to support them with their needs and with a poor service being received they will have a lack of trust within the team this could then lead to unsettled behaviors and a lack of stability. It could also affect the company as a whole as the reputation of the company could go down which could result in financial difficulties. 7. Your own practice must be influenced by national factors so that all legislation and rights and regulations are followed. Documents such as occupational standards state that the person must have the correct skills and qualifications to be able to carry out their job role; they must have a full and detailed job description which states what is expected of them. Codes of practice are set out for employer’s responsibilities in the regulation of social care workers. The codes of practice for social care workers are a list of statements that describe the standards of professional conduct required as they go about their daily work. By following these it reflects good practice. Your work must be influenced by legislation and government initiatives as these are laws that we are expected to follow to protect the people we support and also ourselves. We are accountable for our actions so we need to make sure we are skilled for the job to prevent bad practice. 8. Representative bodies that influence my area of work are CQC and the health and safety executive. 9. CQC- The care quality commission’s job is to make sure that all care provided by hospitals, dentists, ambulances, care homes and services in peoples own homes and elsewhere meets national standards of quality and safety. The health and safety executive oversees all aspects of health and safety including environmental health, RIDDOR, COSHH. 10. Three aspects of employment covered by law a re Employment law Disability discrimination act Human rights act 11. Three main features of current employment legislation are To protect the employer and the employee To ensure fair and equal rights, such as abiding by working hours, holidays, maternity rights. The right to a contract of terms and conditions 12. Employment law exists to give protection to both the employer and employee. To ensure that both parties have fair and equal rights. If employment laws didn’t exist you could face bullying and discrimination and you could be sacked at any time for no reason. 13. Sources of information available in relation to employment responsibilities and rights are the contract you have with your employer, staff handbooks, independent unions and citizen’s advice. Winterbourne view is a serious case where by adults with learning disabilities were seriously abused physically and mentally. The abuse consisted of victims being showered in the cold, having mouthwash poured into their eyes, dragged around on the floor, slapped and kicked and restrained under chairs. They were also forced to take their medication as they were pinned down by the staff members. These individuals were tortured and even after the abuse being reported by a nurse who worked within the home the abuse still went un-noticed by the regulator CQC. The public concern was that CQC failed to investigate the case despite being informed of some of the abuse that was being taken place within winterbourne view. The other concerns were that the affect that this case has had on the families themselves who had their children or other family members being taken care of by the so called carers that had been abusing these individuals. The families felt guilty for not recognizing the abuse and being able to do nothing about it. The public lost faith, trust and respect for CQC in this case for failing to investigate the abuse in depth. The families are now speaking out demanding this should not ever happen again. CQC have now said that they have more people and better systems of working that make them stronger they say that they have recruited 229 extra inspectors so that they can check more services more frequently. They are also doing more unannounced inspections on care services. They now have a specialist team in place that deals with whistleblowing to ensure each case is tracked and chased up. This case has now bought to the attention of pretty much everyone as in carers, CQC, families, the general public and people in care themselves that this sort of abuse does actually happen and it has helped to make people recognize signs of abuse it has raised a greater awareness of abuse throughout society. Since the case happening CQC have changed their systems and have taken and investigated hundreds of calls from whistleblowers. It has also made other care providers take a look at their own work force meaning that carers have now been put through more courses and making sure they know the systems of working about reporting abuse. People now have more confidence to speak out as they have seen the effects the abuse has caused for many people.

Breast cancer Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Breast cancer - Assignment Example The researchers observed the mutation 185delAG in 0.9% of Ashkenazim 95% limit in confidence was between 0.4%- 1.8% and there was none in the reference samples. The results led to the determination of the above number (Saunders 14). After a gene test, people are more aware of their fates thus they will tend to protect themselves more. As it is said â€Å"it is better to protection than to cure† in the cases of cancer many will prefer to protect themselves from the causative rather than wait so as to treat the defect later (Halyard 8). Ethically the Jews observed this testing genetic discrimination, there have been a long debate over the issue whereby many Jews think that this is wrong. Religiously Jews thinks that this is wrong genetic testing to them occurs as a mockery to the natural science of God, they believe that no one should tamper with the genetic makeup of a person (Saunders 15). It assists in the pre-symptomatic testing for the developing Huntington’s disease and adult-onset cancers prediction. It also aids in the estimation of the risk in developing Alzheimer’s disease and the adult-onset cancers (Saunders 16). The risk associated is normally associated both emotionally, financially or socially based on the results of the test. People will tend to be angry, anxious, guilty or depressed about their results (Saunders 17). The negative impact associated with genetic testing has lead to the recognition that is increasing. In some instances, genetic testing will lead to tension within family members because the results might reveal a family’s information on another individual related to the one been tested (Halyard 15). Mutation of BRCA2 and other genes might also lead to an inherited cancer of the breast. These genes include, the ATM which repairs damaged DNA, TP53 which aids in the production of a protein known as p53, CHEK2, PTEN, CDH1 and STK11 (Halyard 17). According to research done by scientists and doctors, the Jewish men tend to be

The Iliad by Homer and The Aeneid by Virgil Essay

The Iliad by Homer and The Aeneid by Virgil - Essay Example Honor takes on different roles within each book. In The Iliad, Greek hero Achilles is ruled by personal honor. The concept is used in an individualistic manner. Achilles strives forth in his heroic efforts to be remembered throughout the ages. In Book IX, Odysseus tells Achilles that he can achieve personal honor and glory by saving the Achaians. Honor in The Aeneid is not individualistic. The Roman hero Aeneas is bound in honor to his duties of state and to the people. His exploits are done for his countrymen and for the Republic. In Book II, he recounts their tale to Dido, although reluctantly. Aeneas describes their story as a "sad remembrance" and that "I will restrain my tears and briefly tell, What in our last and fatal night befell" (26). In Book XII of The Aeneid, Aeneas displays honor by agreeing to single combat to save the lives of many. Aeneas fights Turnus, in hopes of ending the battle and returning peace to the Latins and Laurentum. Aeneas will also win the hand of Lavinia in marriage. Aeneas wounds Turnus, then slays him. Thus the war meets its end and the epic therefore ends. In Book XXII of The Iliad, Achilles instance of honor is quite different. Achilles fights in single combat against Hektor. Hektor is not a willing participant and only agrees after he is promised assistance from Athena. Achilles casts his spear first but misses. Hektor hits the center of Achilles shield with his spear. Achilles wins by stabbing Hektor in the throat. After dragging the dead body behind a horse for 9 days, he is humbled by Hektor's parents pleas. He returns the body, with thoughts of his own father on his mind. Honorable intentions have impacted the lives of many in these epic stories. Fate has a hand in affecting events as well. Fate in these stories involves two parts. There are laws that govern mens lives: human mortality and the afterlife. It is believed that there is a period of limbo in which the souls of the recently deceased pass through if left unburied. Another part of fate is the view that the outcome of certain events cannot be changed by man or God(s). In The Aeneid, Aeneas' journey is predestined and unalterable to Italy. The unification of the Trojans and the Latins is another predestined event, causing the formation of a new race. Human mortality and the afterlife are shown when Aeneas is taken to Hades to visit his father. In Book VI, Aeneas sees Deiphobus who is not as he was in life: "Whose face and limbs were one continued wound: Dishonest, with lopp'd arms, the youth appears, Spoil'd of his nose, and shorten'd of his ears" (135). In The Iliad, there is an unalterable predestined occurrence. Hekuba has a dream and foretells of the fall of Troy. In this dream, her son Paris will be the cause. Achilles is also predestined to die during the Trojan war, since he is mortal. His death was delayed somewhat by the fact that his mother dipped him in the river Styx. Human mortality and the afterlife are exemplified when Patroclos' spirit returns. In Book XXIII, he reminds Achilles that until he is buried he must wander the earth. This happenstance also supports the concept of the period of limbo souls await if left unburied. With fate often times comes strife. For Greeks, life is based on strife. If strife was avoided, then life was avoided. For Romans, strife is part of fulfilling a destiny. The trials test a leader, who himself does not often see the

Poem Literary Exploration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Poem Literary Exploration - Essay Example The phrases that indicate feelings of regret were: â€Å"What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?† (Hayden, n.d., par. 3). This simply means that from the perspective of the narrator (the speaker), there was a sorry feeling that the good intentions and actions expressed by the hardworking father was not returned by family members who manifested actions such as â€Å"no one ever thanked him† (Hayden, n.d., par. 1) and â€Å"speaking indifferently to him† (Hayden, n.d., par. 3). The personal situation that was shown in the poem was a simple description of a typical Sunday during winter when the father gets up early in the morning to chop wood needed to warm the house. The tone was sad and melancholic as indicated by the feelings of regret exemplified by the use of the following words: cold, cracked hands, ached, austere, and lonely. From this central idea, one would realize that regret is a common human experience that happens in every possible scenario involving human relationships: in the family, with peers or teachers in school, with community members, and with other people where interpersonal relationships have been exchanged. . I could empathize with the speaker as I am also guilty of not having much appreciated the good deeds, support, and love shown to me by my parents and loved ones. Most of the time, simple situations like having been served a good meal by my mother, being provided with the financial support by my father or the assistance in househo ld chores by siblings pass by without proper acknowledgement or saying â€Å"thank you†. In situations when I am given the opportunity to look back at simple tasks, I realize that I share the same sentiments expressed by the speaker in the poem. Upon further analysis, the poem could be considered containing free verses where there was no clear rhythmic pattern. The numbers of lines per paragraph were also different: 5 lines for the first and third paragraphs and 4 lines for the second paragraph. On the other hand, there was no rhythmic pattern since the syllabications per line were diverse, as counted: 11-9-6-10-9 for the first paragraph; 11-7-8-10 for the second; and 9-7-8-8-10 for the third. The only pattern manifested in this poem was the repetition of words (cold) and the paralleling of ideas (indifference, lack of appreciation, chronic angers). The sound in the poem provided emphasis on the message being relayed. The recurrence of consonant sounds was clearer: blueback c old; cracked hands; cold splintering, breaking; chronic. There was a level of irony that was shown from the situation illustration by the words: â€Å"Speaking indifferently to him who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well† (Hayden, n.d., par. 3). Also, the message that the father has to do all the hard work and chores for fear of facing the chronic angers in the house further presents a situational irony in terms of expecting worse to happen despite the good deeds being done. As I get to reflect on the theme and the message relayed, there is this pain of regret one felt for not having duly appreciated and acknowledged all the support and hard work that parents have done for their children, in general. Children have tendencies to take for granted that it is the obligation of parents to

Employability and Personal Development Assignment - 1

Employability and Personal Development - Assignment Example The employee, if works efficiently under a concrete and esteemed employer, can expect promotions, pay increases and a decent pension to retire with. Traditionally, a career would comprise of similar jobs, like a cook, food caterer, and a hotel chef. An experience of jobs as diverse as a doctor, a designer, and a cook would not traditionally constitute of a career. The traditional theme also emphasizes on a career as a profession, which is perceived to belong to a higher socio-economic standard and gives greater independence. As such, lawyers and doctors fall as examples of traditional careers. The limitations of traditional careers, namely downscaling of the workforce by firms, declining mutual loyalty between the employers and the employed and rising job security evolved the nature of careers over the decades that help individuals adjust to the rising uncertainties of the working environment. Most common of this contemporary or modern perspective of careers is boundaryless careers. They operate beyond the hierarchical, social and industrial parameters, and are not linked to a central employment setting, and have a good degree of inter-organizational mobility. This is hence followed by people focusing on a global career. This is in contrast to a traditional career, which is highly immobile and where a single career path and organizational setting has to be adhered to. Also, a modern career requires individuals to be highly self-responsible in their career choices and determine career goals based o personal value, which is contrary to traditional careers where organization determines the career path to be followed. This evolutional in career opportunities mean that I have a wider range of choices available in modern careers with greater autonomy, despite employing the similar skills as could have been applied in a traditional career.

Positive Effects of Physical Activity and Sports on Child Development Research Paper

Positive Effects of Physical Activity and Sports on Child Development - Research Paper Example But how much activity is enough and what is the minimal level of activity that is needed to remain healthy, active and fit? Many guidelines have been proposed during the years, and the most commonly minimal stated amount of time that children should spend outdoors is 30 minutes (Janssen and LeBlanc, 2010, pp1). Guidelines recommend that the levels of physical activity should be increased gradually to almost 90 minutes per day (Janssen and LeBlanc, 2010, pp1). These guidelines and others have been formulated keeping in mind the minimal requirements of physical activity needed for the proper development of children. The level of activity differs from age to age; therefore even in children the time for their optimal physical development may differ. Following these guidelines may prevent some of the problems of sedentary lifestyle that are already emerging in children. In the United States approximately 45% of the boys and 32% of the girls participate in youth activities and sports in 20 01 (Cooper, 2010, pp 8). Although these rates seem healthy, they are not, for the rest of the children may not be taking part in sports at all, or may be doing so at a very minimal level. While one can see the positive benefits of physical activity on the children who do undergo it, there is need to identify what effects do not having any physical activity lead to (Cooper, 2010, pp 1). An important point to remember is that all individuals, regardless of their age and gender, need to undergo daily physical activity and exercise to lead healthy lives and prevent themselves from different ailments. Another consideration is why there is a difference between the levels of activities carried out by boys and girls. There is need to remove the sociocultural perceptions that boys play rough sports while girls stay at home and play with dolls. Physical activity is as important for girls as for boys (Cooper, 2010, pp 4). Studies show that children of both genders may have different motivation to carry out physical activity, and may perceive its results differently (Cooper, 2010, pp 4). However, a sad development in this matter is that physical activity has been substantially reduced or either almost eliminated in many schools across United States. This may aggravate the already worsening situation of sedentary lifestyles among children. The reasons stated for this cut are high costs and more emphasis on academic performances. This may be one of the most convincing reasons why the current generations of children are displaying adult related illnesses at very young ages. Obesity is increasing among children, which is taking a form of an epidemic now. The percentages of schools providing physical education have dropped to 3.8% for elementary schools, 7.9% for middle schools and 2.1% for high schools respectively (Active Education, 2007, pp 2). This means that these children are unlikely to be carrying out any physical activity outside of school premises either, since schoo ls provide the most fertile location to carry out sports. The impact on the children physically and mentally is evidenced through many epidemiological studies. But there is also no significant improvement in the academic scores of children when they are not undertaking physical activity (Active Education, 2007, pp 3). Combined survey results from the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia showed that academic performa

Relational Approach to Counselling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Relational Approach to Counselling - Essay Example But for whatever the need for counselling is, it is extremely important that the counsellor at the hem of the process follows strict principles and guidelines in order to achieved success. The kind of principles to follow in a particular counselling session is largely dependant on the counselling approach used by the counsellor. Among the several counselling approaches, the relational approach is one approach that comes with a lot of principles and conditions that cannot be overlooked in the course of any counselling session. The use of relational approach to counselling has very influential impact on the counselee and even the counsellor. The relational approach also has its own weaknesses and therefore needs a lot care and professionalism in its use. Overview of Relational Approach to Counselling Relational approach to counselling is seen in the perspective of Mearns and Cooper (2005) as a person centred or individual centred technique towards counselling whereby the counselee is g iven a lot of attention and prominence by the counsellor. In relational approach to counselling, the counselee is seen as an impactful stakeholder in the counselling session. ... In this direction, Page (1999) explains that relational centred counselling has been tried and proven in research has been found to be a valid therapy that draws upon current developments in not just psychoanalytic but also in psychodynamic and humanistic theories. This confirms the notion by Erskine Moursand & Trautman (1999) that relational approach to counselling goes beyond empathy to include actual participation by the client rather than an assumption of what he or she is going through. With relational approach to counselling, the client is brought closer through contact; such that by the end of the entire experience, there becomes a relationship developed between the counsellor and the counselee. Different perspectives of Relational Approach to counselling – the UK and USA Origins In both the United States and United Kingdom, relational approach to counselling is held in highest esteem. In both parts of the perspectives, relational or person-centred counselling started i n the 1950s and 1960s. The little difference is that in the United States of America, relational approach was started as an integral factor of human potential movement that was firmly rooted on the principles of psychotherapy (Mann, 1997). Ever since, relational approach to counselling in the United States of America has followed that perspective whereby not just counsellors back and advocate concentration on the counselee but also involved other psychology experts. In the United States of America, counsellors believe that each individual; including the counselee or the client has potential to achieve success and any changes they want in their life. Because of this perspective, the client is given much room to operate during

Enron and Arthur Anderson Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enron and Arthur Anderson - Research Paper Example In 1986, Enron moved its headquarters to Houston from Omaha. In 1990, Kenneth Lay was joined at Enron by Jeffery Skilling, his former consultant. Later, Jeffery Skilling would become the chief operating officer of the company (Fusaro and Miller 12). Andrew Fastow is Enron’s chief financial officer. Sherron Watkins is Enron’s vice president of corporate development. Jeffrey Skilling is the president of the corporation and Kenneth Lay is Enron’s chairperson (Eichenwald 5). Andrew Fastow is more than a minor actor in the Enron saga. He develops discrete business entities that are not manifested in the chief financial statements of the company. It is Andrew Fastow who creates the complicated web of off-balance sheet corporations that permit Enron to conceal its authentic financial situation from shareholders (Eichenwald 31). In addition, through the dealings of the chief financial officer, the company is involved in a large number of offshore associations, a financial issue, and concealed more than $1 billion dollars in liability through some of these companies. It is this complicated plan that causes its collapse. Sherron Watkins is perceived by numerous people as the whistleblower that has assisted in revealing the Enron saga. Sherron Watkins blows the whistle by warning the Kenneth Lay, Enron’s chairperson of the tremendous financial indiscretions in accounting reports (Eichenwald 32). Nevertheless, she has been critiqued for failing to speak up overtly earlier about her fear, as her memorandum does not get to the people until five months later. Jeffrey Skilling is presumed to be careless and does not pose an intention of harming stakeholders but does not take the necessary precautions to protect them. The corporation adopts market to market accounting during Jeffrey Skilling’s leadership. This strategy predicts future earnings from any business will be given an explanation for by approximating their

Facebook and Privacy Essay Example for Free

Facebook and Privacy Essay Objective Summary: Ex-Apple Engineer, Peter Warden, has collected public fan page data from 215 million Facebook pages, revealing current trends, such as ‘God’ being the number one most popular fan page among Facebook users in the Southern U.S., whereas ‘Barack Obama’ featured heavily for San Francisco users, and ‘Starbucks’ was number one in Idaho. Warden plans to release this data to the academic community because he sees great potential in the data that can be extracted from these sites. This process is called data harvesting. The article suggests future academic work in this area is likely to occu impacting on peoples privacy. (FACTS 100 words) Response: The ETHICAL issue central to this article is privacy and control. On one hand, Warden claims his intentions are altruistic (helpful to others) and that the data he is making visible here is a matter of public discourse. However, the FACTS are that individual users who are generating this data have neither been consulted about the data collection nor have they given permission for Warden to use it. Clearly Warden does not VALUE others peoples privacy as much as he WANTS (emotion) to create the website. The argument could be made that once a user ‘becomes a fan’ of a page on Facebook or, indeed, publishes any content to the internet, that information becomes public. User who have deployed privacy settings to carefully maintain a strong sense of control over their profiles, however, might well feel very ANGRY about this use of their data. Facebook can harvest that data (and does, for targeted advertising purposes) because they have a commitment to those advertisers (emotion )and engineers like Warden can develop data-trawling engines to collect accessible information across a massive dataset. The LAW needs to be much clearer about the rights of consumers, companies and advertisers in these situations. As Facebook is presumably bound by its own set of critically considered ETHICAL guidelines, these are neverthess underpinned by commercial VALUES and a vested interest (emotion) in keeping the data of its users from competitors. Warden claims to be operating under his own set of ethics that privilege (value) the furthering of knowledge. The issue then shifts to the academic community. Warden contends that one of his central motivations for collecting this data was so that he could share it with the academic community. Although this claim may be true, most (if not, all) Universities have clear ETHICAL guidelines for research that explicitly VALUE and therefore require consent from participants. If none of the users gave consent for their data to be collected in this way, this in effect denies them a sense of AGENCY. Thus, academically, this data is tainted. While its implications are important the trends it makes visible are crucial to understanding the localised structures of social network sites like Facebook. Personally, I would believe people should be able to tick a box that gives consent for the use of their personal material. I do not believe, either, that it should be one of those boxes you are obliged to tick before being able to use a site: that removes my personal AGENCY and I VALUE this very much. It should be up to me to decide whether other people get my data. If this sort of system was in place, everyone would know the FACTS, everyone would understand what is going on and no one would feel (emotion) betrayed or exposed unfairly.

Psychological Motives for Becoming a Terrorist Essay Example for Free

Psychological Motives for Becoming a Terrorist Essay Introduction Suicide bombing, a major terror strategy of terrorists is, if not the most, one of the most gruesome acts anybody can commit. It is outright crazy and stupid. One must be beside the normal to be entertaining such a thought in mind. Ironically, fanatics who have committed and attempted suicide bombings in the past, were deemed normal until the day when the execution of their ultimate plans were made public whether foiled or completed. People who are afflicted with mental disorder may, as other people, travel for the same reasons – vacation, visiting friends or relatives, business, recreation, and sometimes for religious or spiritual focus (Miller Zarcone, 1968). Others indeed may travel for reasons other than the normal – for reasons triggered by malformed mental state such as the men who carried out the 911 attack of the Twin Towers in New York. Along the 911 attack, suicide bombing through aircraft came to prominence resulting in the stirring of the awareness among the international public of the fact that the regular traveler might not be that â€Å"regular† anyway. It is probable that some of them are driven by excessive anger or motivated by utopic hope as taught in the communities wherein they have pledged their life allegiance (Silke, 2003). Just a few months ago, upon the return of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to her home country, 124 were killed and 320 plus got injured as a result of another suicide bombing. The bomber threw grenades among crowds of people and afterwards blasted himself to death (CNN update, Oct.18, 2007). It’s difficult to think of sensible reasons why a sane person (if that person was ever considered sane by his colleagues) has committed such an act in the first place. To spend and expend one’s self for a noble cause is commendable only if they benefit people outside one’s own community. It’s never an ideal to advance a religion’s cause at the expense of the lives of other people. A suicide bomber is demented in that even in the logic of religion, all religions presupposed a benevolent god who is both powerful and loving. There must be distortions somewhere within the suicide bomber’s mind to have associated the act of delivering a bomb and acts of piety. Rationale of the argument ~Understanding mental health The majority of theories and models of human behavior fall into one of two basic categories: internal perspective and external perspective. The internal perspective considers the factors inside the person to understand behavior. People who subscribe to this view understand behavior as psychodynamically oriented. Behavior is explained in terms of the thoughts, feelings, past experiences and needs of the individual. The internal processes of thinking, feeling, perceiving and judging lead people to act in specific ways. This internal perspective implies that people are best understood from the inside and that people’s behavior is best interpreted after understanding their thoughts and feelings (Jourad, 1963). The other category of theories takes an external perspective. This focuses on factors outside the person to understand behavior. External events, consequences of behavior, environmental forces to which a person is subject, are emphasized by this external perspective. A person’s history, value system, feelings and thoughts are not very important in interpreting actions and behavior. Kurt Lewin for instance considered both perspectives in saying that behavior is a function of both the person and the environment (Tiffin, McCormick, 1958). Man is a social being and as such his personality is viewed from the society and culture where he belongs. A society represents a geographical aggregate and has boundaries, similar government or a group of persons in meaningful interaction and engaged in social relationship. Personality is the individualizing traits of man which constitute his singularity and differentiate him from any other human being. The three determinants of personality: 1] biological heritage which has direct influence on the development of personality. This includes musculature, the nervous system, and the glands; 2] E.Q. factor describes qualities like understanding one’s feelings, empathy for the feelings of others, and the â€Å"regulation of emotion in a way that enhances living (Gibbs, 1995);† 3] environmental factors. Taking everything normal, environment plays an important role in personality development. Environmental factors are cultural environment, social environment, home and family, culture, status and role and social agent. Many of men’s pronounced stirred-up state of mind such as fear, anger, disgust, and contempt, have posed the question, why? What has caused such a reaction? What has brought a change to his/her behavior? What is the frustration that has brought about such behavior? In the world of a suicide bomber, he/she contemplates on various input or stimuli from the world he/she evolves in. There are frustrations of every form and even without these, his/her psyche or mental state functions on the basis of anything he/she receives (actively or passively) from the milieu. Life’s problems are numerous and as long as one is alive and kicking he will always be faced with problems, be they big or small. Such problems stir-up one’s emotions or feelings which maybe pleasant or unpleasant. Physiological problems, environmental problems, personal deficiencies and psychological concerns bring on a variety of responses; some predictable, others are not. Disorganization of family life, disintegration of personality brought about by depression, great personal suffering, any of these may take any person beyond the limits of his tolerance. Man is born in a social environment surrounded by cultural norms and values. He is faced with cultural taboos and acceptable social behavior. Numerous environmental factors come to the fore which may or may not be easily overcome. One of the most difficult problems in this area is one’s cultural dos and don’ts. Environmental frustrations cannot be avoided, for there are always certain factors in a person’s growth and achievement. Psychological or internal problems are the most difficult to resolve as they are within the inner feelings of a person. One may not be able to detect his/her concerns/anxieties through his /her overt behavior. It may only be inferred from what his/her inner thoughts and feelings are but will not know what caused such a feeling. Psychological concerns of various forms represent a more serious threat to the personality of the individual than do environmental pressures. If severe enough, they may create considerable emotional tension with accompanying behavior disorders. Reacting to pressures and other concerns such as frustration varies from person to person because of their personality differences. These reactions maybe defensive, neurotic or psychotic. Most people are sympathetic to people who develop physical ailments, but regard an individual with mental disorder as â€Å"crazy.† At this juncture, does a suicide bomber then be considered a person with a mental disorder or deemed as â€Å"crazy?† definitions of mental health vary considerably. Freud when asked what he thought a normal, healthy person should do well replied â€Å"love and work.† Karl Menninger’s (1956) definition is quite similar to Freud’s. He states: â€Å"Let us define mental health as the adjustment of human beings to the world and each other with a maximum of effectiveness and happiness. Not just efficiency, or just contentment, or the grace of obeying the rules of the game cheerfully. It is all together. It is the ability to maintain an even temper and happy disposition. This, I think,   is a healthy mind.† When we therefore, try to define mental health, we have in mind the adjustment process which an individual brings into force when he is faced with a problem situation. Adjustment is defined as an individual’s manner of reacting or responding adequately to a perceived problem. From the standpoint of mental health, adjustment refers to a happy and socially acceptable response to life’s situations. Mental health therefore, is the ability of the individual to function effectively and happily as a person in one’s expected role in a group and in the society in general. It is a condition of the whole personality and is not merely a condition of the â€Å"mind† as is often supposed. It is an out-growth of one’s total life and is promoted or hindered by day-to-day experience, not only by major crises as some assume (McCllelland et al, 1973). Mental health is the capacity to live harmoniously in a changing environment; to face and solve one’s problems in a realistic manner; to accept the inevitable, and to understand and accept one’s own shortcomings as well as the shortcomings of others. In this sense, people who develop and encourage Jihad or any â€Å"terroristic† ideas and brainwash others to do the same, are seen people who do have unrealistic way of looking at life and their experiences. They are commonly classified as people having delusions of grandeur among others. This term refers to people who experience a bloated sense of importance or missions and oftentimes associated with corresponding persecution complexes (Jourad, 1963). They therefore harbor also a sense of anxiety that some people are out there to cut off their goals and obstruct their missions. Their resolve to deliver their target aims is even stronger the reason for their methodical and systematic way of doing things. Since they cannot accept that they must co-exist with people whose beliefs radically differ from theirs, they accept the notion that annihilation is a solution and dying a martyr’s death to ensure this goal is the ultimate sacrifice. This kind of mindset comes only from a frame of thinking that has been exposed only to a few options; in fact, only very narrow options. That option is the radical Islamic alternative and nothing else. When living in this world, co-existence is not just something that is talked about inside the halls of the academe: co-existence signifies a mindset that is healthy as well and free from disorders. Mental health is a matter of degree. There is no hard and fast line that separates health from illness. It is not a simple matter to divide the population into two distinct groups-those who should be institutionalized and those who should not be. Many of us at one time or another exhibit traits and pattern of behavior which if, accentuated and continuous, would necessitate psychiatric care (Jourad, 1963). Though radical a thought this may seem, and naturally sounds unrealistic, the ideal place is to set monitoring and evaluation of mental hygiene at some point in time. How to do this is going to be a big issue, expectedly. However, terrorism and the likes of suicide bombing can probably be controlled in some ironic way: by referring to them as idiosyncratic, delusional or even possessing mental disorders. Another way of classifying them is through the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM) classification system; these people are versions of psychopaths or psychotics; because the symptoms are there and they cannot function normally among any general population. ~Towards developing a Strategy or Intervention Since the argument of this paper stands on looking at the acts of a suicide bomber as acts emanating from someone with mental illness, it follows that approaches to its reduction or elimination be provided or examined as well. There are three ways of looking at developing and establishing a strategy or intervention: the preventive, therapeutic, and the curative Kolb et al, 1974). There are subtleties that engulf these three but it is good to explore these dimensions. The preventive approach is based on the principles that the best way to ensure a well-adjusted individual is to surround him with environmental influences that will enable him to develop his full potentialities, to obtain emotional stability, and achieve personal and social adequacy. The therapeutic aspect is concerned with the attempt to correct minor behavioral adjustments through the various counseling and techniques of psychotherapy, or adjust to the social/or physical environment of the person in order to help him obtain the amount of emotional security and self-confidence necessary. The curative approach is sometimes called â€Å"preventive psychiatry† and is concerned with the detection and correction of serious but curative but behavioral maladjustments. Although this is the work of a trained clinician or psychiatrist, it is helpful for the layman to have at least a fundamental knowledge of the major types of behavioral maladjustments in order that he/she may have a basis in determining behavioral maladjustments that need the attention of competent specialists. It is therefore necessary, on a serious note, that public awareness on the nature of mental illness on a scope such as that of the course taken by the suicide bombers, coupled with detection of signs and symptoms by neighboring homes and those in the community, help diminish the threat. There are of course other paths or strategies to follow, but why not take all that is available to ensure our security (Kolb et al, 1974). References: 1. CNN, Breaking News, October 18, 2007. www.cnn.com 2. Gibbs, Nancy. 1995. â€Å"EQ Factor† Time International, October. 3. Gordon, Harvey, Mike Kingham, Tony Goodwin. Air travel by passengers with mental disorder. Psychiatric Bulletin (2004) 28:295-297. The Royal College of Psychiatrists. 4. Jourad, Sydney, 1963. Personal Adjustment. 2nd Ed. New York: MacMillan Company. 5. Kolb, David Ralph K. Schwitzgebel. 1974. Changing Human Behavior: Principles of Planned Intervention. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 6. McCllelland, David C. R.S. Steele. 1973. Human Motivation: A Book of Readings. Morristown, New Jersey, General Learning Press. 7. Menninger, Karl in Taylor, David, 2003. The concept of mental health in children. European Child Adolescent Psychiatry. Steinkopff. Volume 12, Number 3. Pp.107-113. 8. Miller, W. B. Zarcone, V. (1968) Psychiatric behaviour disorders at an international airport. Archives of Environmental Health, 17, 360 -365. 9. Silke, A. (2003). The psychology of suicide terrorism. In Terrorists, Victims and Society (ed. A. Silke), pp. 93 -108. Chichester: Wiley. 10. Tiffin, Joseph and Ernest McCormick J. 1958. Industrial psychology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.

Process of natural and sexual selection

Process of natural and sexual selection Explain, with examples, how the process of natural selection and sexual selection are thought to have contributed to modern-day behaviour.â€Å"Evolution: The gradual process by which species develop from earlier forms† (Clegg, 2007, p 107). For thousands of years lay people have argued about how the world has evolved. For example, did it evolve from god or some other supernatural source? Evolution is a miraculous process and refers to the fabrication and development of life on earth and establishes the formation of modern man. The two major processes of evolution will be explained in this essay: natural selection and sexual selection. Furthermore, examining how and why these processes have contributed to modern- day human behaviour. In 1858, British naturalist Charles R. Darwin finished his theory of evolution, also known as Darwins theory. Darwins theory states that all species evolved from either many or few common ancestors or descendants under circumstances of natural selection. A species is a population of organisms that reproduce and have offspring that have modifications from the species that lived before them. Natural selection is a process that is based on three assumptions. Firstly, organisms, â€Å"physical and behavioural characteristics which enable survival (and the genes which code for these) are passed onto descendants† (Clegg, 2007, p 121). Secondly, the modification is then acquired through the genes. Furthermore, thirdly the limitation of food for each species, competition is formed in which all livings beings must compete for the supply of food, water, space, and other resources. Individual plants and animals whose adaptations of suited best for a certain environment tend to have an advantage in the competition for survival. Species with this advantage tend to leave a larger number of offspring than the less fortunate species. As a result, the species that is best adapted to its environment increases from generation to generation. Organisms struggle for the necessities of life if there is competition for resources. The species that is best adapted to survive will succeed and others become extinct. The term â€Å"fitness† (Clegg, 2007, p 121)refers to certain characteristics being successful within their environment and being passed down to each generation, but the conditions for the reproduction must be correct. It is measured by reproductive success. Adaption is the result of the process of natural selection. Adaptions are the behaviours that have been acquired through evolutionary processes to ensure their survival in this generation and to every generation after them. Inherited characteristics of an organism also occur through adaption. Individual human behaviour is genetically predisposed or influenced by environmental factors such as personal experiences and culture. Adaption has contributed to many modern day behaviours. For example, in western society humans, â€Å"have pleasure in eating sweet and fatty foods† (Clegg, 2007, p 123). These types of food are often high in calories and often undigested sugar turns to fat when not exercising. In the generations before the behaviour of modern society, these types of food would enable the fittest to survive. Hereditary traits cause some people to behave and respond differently from one another. For example, and individual who has high temperament. This trait of being high tempered is very difficult to remove from a persons behaviour since this is already incorporated in the genes from conception. A person who has a high and fast learning ability could respond immediately to situations and instructions, hence attainment of the goal is made easy. Baron-Cohen argued that, â€Å"Theory of mind, is of central importance of modern human behaviour† (as cited in Clegg, 2007, p 133). It involves the ability to understand the thoughts and intentions of others. Theory of mind is innate, something that has evolved in humans. In children with autism, they lack theory of mind empirical investigations such as the Maxi test prove this (Clegg, 2007, p 136). Autism is a quite recent discovery. It is argued that genetic mutations are responsible for this (Rudy, 2009) although mutations serve no purpose in evolution. However, if it were to be advantageous to modern day human behaviour and the evolution of mankind more cases will be discovered and autism will evolve. Sexual Selection is a theory proposed by Charles Darwin. Darwin felt natural selection alone was unable to explain the non-competitive adaptions, for example the tail of a peacock (Wikipedia, 2007). The mechanism attempts to explain that certain evolutionary traits can be explained by inherited behavioural and psychsical charecteristics. There are two contests known as intrasexual and intersexual selection. Intrasexual selection involves males passing on competitveness through there genes, for example large antlers. Wheras, intersexual selection involves either sex choosing a partner that has a inherited charactersitc for example intelligence. The beard of the modern day male is a result of sexual selection. Other differences in the modern day man include different races. Sexual selection would account for thease because natural selection could not account for this (Wikipedia, 2007). Parental investmet is a term that was originated by Trivers (Clegg, 2007). It means that the male or female that invests the most in their offspring to ensure their survival. Trivers argued that the sex that invests the most in their offspring will be more selective when choosing their partner. Males tend to be with many females where as females look for quality when choosing a partner. Buss argues that this theory has contributed to modern day behaviour today. For exmple, women who prefer rich men and have a good job and career can provide excellent investment for their offspring. On the other hand men prefer beautiful young women who are the best investment for their offspring (Dubuc, 2007). The brain, is an important factor in sexual slection. The social brain hypothesis argues that in order to solve difficualt social problems the brain gets bigger (Clegg, 2007). The modern day human brain is bigger than that of the prehistoric ape, 3 times bigger, suggesting that there are advantages to having a bigger brain (Clegg, 2007). Evolutionary adaption suggests that humans have evolved the way they have and, humans brains have evolved to be bigger than their ancestors because of the need to deal with more complex social situations and complex societies. In conclusion, natural selection tends to focus on the degree of adaption and mutation for survival. Whereas sexual selection is more concerned with the mate choice and how sexually desired traits have in fact speeded up the process of how humans have evolved. Both processes have contributed to modern day behaviour and both processes prove Darwins phrase that â€Å"only the fittest survive†. References Clegg, H. (2007). Evolutionary Psychology. In D. Miell, A. Pheonix, K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp.105-166). Milton Keynes: The Open University. Dubuc, B. (2002) Tool Module: Sexual Selection and the Theory of Parental Investment Retrieved November 1st 2009 from http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/capsules/outil_bleu11.html Rudy, L. J. (2009). Genetic autism and spontaneous mutation. Retrieved November 8th 2009 from http://autism.about.com/od/causesofautism/a/newmutations.htm Wikipedia (2007) Sexual Selection. Retrieved November 1st 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_selection

Colonial Democracy? Essay -- essays research papers

Did democracy exist in the colonies during the eighteenth century before the American Revolution? Democracy is rule by the people, simply put. This on a large scale is nearly impossible. How could all the people of America, then or now, or even of a decent size town today all come together to vote on issues. We today have a representative Democracy, which in itself is a logistical compromise on a true democracy. In analyzing the government they had in the colonies and comparing it to the â€Å"Democracy† that we have today there are enough similarities that I would have to call the form of colonial government Democratic.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the colonies, not everyone was allowed to vote this was certainly not democratic, but the criteria to be able to vote weren’t very extensive. The only real requirement was the owning of land. This today we might see as a hard thing to obtain. In those days land was very cheap. To make it even easier to obtain, laborers were paid well. This gave immigrants the ability to earn enough money to buy land in a short time, and farm it on their own. This also is the reason labor was in high demand, so many of the labors bought their own land and moved off to it. Labor was in short supply for this reason, and thus laborers were paid well. More than ninety percent of the people were farmers, most of who owned their own land. All these people would be able to vote.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If you were to compare the percentage of thos...

Comparing the Three Statues of David Essay -- Donatello Michelangelo

Comparing the Three Statues of David The pieces of art I will be comparing and contrasting are the three statues of David, by Donatello (Donato di Niccolà ² di Betto Bardi), Michelangelo (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni), and Bernini (Gian Lorenzo Bernini). The statues are modeled after the biblical David, who was destined to become the second king of Israel. Also most famously known as the slayer of the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone and a sling. The sculptures are all based on the same biblical hero, but differ from one another. Each David is unique in its own certain way. A good deal is known about Donatello's life and career, but little is known about his character. Donatello was born in Florence, Italy in 1386 and died in 1466; he was never married and had no children. He was a master of sculpture in bronze and marble and is considered to be one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artists of his time. The first sculpture is of Donatello?s David, 1425-1430. Its material is bronze and stands 5? 2  ¼? and is currently located at Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. The sculpture is a nude and is contrapposto. The scene being depicted is after the clash with Goliath. Donatello?s statue of David was the first large scale, free-standing nude statue of the Renaissance. The sculpture helps to strike a balance between classicism and the realism by presenting a very real image of a boy in the form of a classical nude figure. Although Donatello was inspir...

How Does Othello Rate? Essay -- GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Othello

How Does Othello Rate?  Ã‚        Ã‚   Is this the best, the second-best, the worst of William Shakespeare’s tragedies? Where does it place in the lineup? Let’s consider where it deserves to be and why in this essay.    The play is so quotable; consider Desdemona’s opening lines before the Council of Venice: â€Å"My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty,† or Othello’s last words: â€Å"Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.† Could the continuing reputation of Othello be attributed to the quotable â€Å"ultimate form† in which the Bard of Avon expressed his ideas? Robert B. Heilman says in â€Å"The Role We Give Shakespeare†:    If we use the word â€Å"support,† however, we do name a way in which Shakespeare serves. It is the way of venerable texts whose authenticity has impressed itself on the human imagination: he has said many things in what seems an ultimate form, and he is a fountainhead of quotation and universal center of allusion. â€Å"A rose by any other name† comes to the mouth as readily as â€Å"Pride goeth before a fall,† and seems no less wise. A quotable line is one that has shed its context and taken on independent life. Very significantly, Shakespeare scenes and character relationships have also taken on independent life and have provided basic formulations upon which other writers rely. (24-25).    Francis Ferguson in â€Å"Two Worldviews Echo Each Other† ranks the play Othello quite high among the Bard’s tragedies:    Othello, written in 1604, is one of the masterpieces of Shakespeare’s â€Å"tragic period.† In splendor of language, and in the sheer power of the story, it belongs with the greatest. But some of its admirers find it too savage. . . .(131)    The Bard’s presentation of emotions, character, of good a... ...othing.† Essays on Shakespeare. Ed. Gerald Chapman. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.    Heilman, Robert B. â€Å"The Role We Give Shakespeare.† Essays on Shakespeare. Ed. Gerald Chapman. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.    Levin, Harry. General Introduction. The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Introduction to The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. N. p.: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1957.      

Hat Task Essay

The population as of 2011 was totaled to 608,453. The majority of this population consisted of people between the ages of 15 and 44 years old. Kent County consist of mostly white persons at 83. 8%. The next larges group consists of African Americans at 10. 3% and Hispanics at 9. 9%. The median household income is $50,801, with 14. 8% of the population being listed below poverty level. The unemployment rate is at 8. 52% (2011, US Census Bureau). It is reported by adults that 13. 6% have not accessed healthcare within the past 12 months. 10. % of adults reported they have no healthcare coverage. It was also discovered that the county only has 29% of what is needed in the dental care community(2011, Michigan Department of Community Health). The second assessment piece is labeled cultural assessment. Once again this was information I collected on a County level. In Kent County there are slightly more females than males, 51% versus 49% respectively. The populations consists predominately of white Christians, while the subgroup is Roman Catholics (2011, Kent County Health Department). Obesity was noted to be on the rise due to lack of physical activity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. More specifically 31. 3% of adults are obese, and Michigan as a whole is the 5th most obese state in the US. 19. 7% of adults reported adequate physical activity with 23. 6% stating they lived a sedentary lifestyle within the past month, and 17. 8% report they consume fruits and vegetables at least 5 times a day (2011, Michigan Department of Health). African Americans voiced distrust among healthcare providers however they did support and agree for a universal healthcare system. Hispanics voiced concern for the lack of translation services due to language barriers and issues surrounding documented legal status and the difficulty this poses to accessing healthcare (2009, Michigan Department of Health). I discovered that in the area there are over 50 parks with various indoor and outdoor activities for all to enjoy. The third assessment piece is entitled neighborhood and community safety. This information was obtained from local agencies. I noted the Health Department and local hospitals are very involved in providing health services, education, and discussions for the community free of charge. The air quality for Kent County is considered poor. We have had at least 7 air pollution days per year due to fine particulate matter and ozone. The water quality in the last 5 years has been excellent. 0. 09% of public water supplies exceeded contamination levels during this time frame (2011, Kent County Health Department). The wild life in the area can cause a potential for disease, and the many surrounding lakes, rivers and streams can cause a potential for drowning. Due to the location of Kent County we risk potential severe weather events. The violent crime rate in the area was 0. 4% significantly lower than the national average. It was also noted that the local police and fire response is at or exceeds standards (2013, Kent County Sheriffs Department). The fourth assessment piece is the disaster assessment and planning status. This information was gathered on a City and County level. The disaster command is headed by the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security loca ted in Grand Rapids. They included the requirements of National Response Plan and NIMS. I discovered they are following all federal regulations by the Department of Homeland Security. 3 County, and other regional collaborations were noted in the planning. The Kent County area is at risk most for these natural disasters; severe winter weather, thunderstorms, tornados, riverine flood, and urban flood. The are is at risk most for these other disasters; electrical failures, communication failure, intentional acts, transportation accidents, and hazardous material. The city and county provide public education through CERT classes, brochures, and coordination with school districts to relay safety information at a young age (2011, Kent County Health Department). From the information obtained above I believe that Kent County Michigan is an overall healthy community. Areas for improvement would be to increase the access to dental care and healthcare for at risk and poor underserved families, to decrease the prevalence of obesity and ensure access to healthful foods, and to establish a plan to deal with language barriers for other populations living within West Michigan. This information that I have obtained and explained above is listed below in my community genogram. The genogram highlights the pertinent information in an easy to view graph with each assessment topic listed. It discusses once again the community as a whole from population and economic status, to the cultural assessment, to the neighborhood and community safety to lastly disaster assessment and planning. It provides an overview of the community as a whole, strengths and weaknesses. The community assessment is how I feel the community is and the areas that are at risk or I feel can be improved upon. Resources: 1. ) 2011. Kent County Michigan. US Census Bureau. Retrieved from http://www. uickfacts. census. gov/qfd/states/26/26081. html 2. 2013. Kent County Michigan. Kent County Health Department. Retrieved from http://www. accesskent. com/emergencymanagement. html 3. 2011. Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. Michigan Department of Community Health. Retrieved from http://www. michigan. gov/brfs 4. 2009. Community Conversation Executive Summary. Michigan Department of Community He alth. Retrieved from http://www. michigan. gov/minorityhealth 5. 2013. Kent County Sheriffs Department. Retrieved from http://www. accesskent. com/lawenforcement/sherrif_emergency. htm

End of Life Essay

According to IOM (2008), the next generation of older adults will be like no other before it. It will be the most educated and diverse group of older adults in the nation’s history. They will set themselves apart from their predecessors by having fewer children, higher divorce rates, and a lower likelihood of living in poverty. But the key distinguishing feature of the next generation of older Americans will be their vast numbers. According to the most recent census numbers, there are now 78 million Americans who were born between 1946 and 1964. By 2030 the youngest members of the baby boom generation will be at least 65, and the number of older adults 65 years and older in the United States is expected to be more than 70 million, or almost double the nearly 37 million older adults alive in 2005. The number of the â€Å"oldest old,† those who are 80 and over, is also expected to nearly double, from 11 million to 20 million (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies [IOM], 2008, p. 29). The United States health care system faces enormous challenges as the baby boomer generation nears retirement age. Current reimbursement policies, workforce practices, and resource allocations all need to be re-evaluated, and redesigned in order to prepare the health care system for meeting the needs of the inevitably growing population of older adults. Areas such as education, training, recruitment, and retention of the health care workforce serving older adults will require remodeling. To accomplish this will require the dedication and allocation of greater financial resources, even at a time when budgets are already be severely stretched. â€Å"The nation is responsible for ensuring that older adults will be cared for by a health care workforce prepared to provide high-quality care. If current Medicare and Medicaid policies and workforce trends continue, the nation will fail to meet this responsibility. Throwing more money into a system that is not designed to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care or to facilitate the development of an appropriate workforce would be a largely wasted effort† (IOM, 2008, p. 1-12). Ethical Standards for Resource Allocation Ethics have a paramount role in solving the complex dilemmas surrounding the aging population and health care. There are several ethical standards I believe should be used in determining resource allocation for the aging population and end of life care. Yet realistically, most are unreasonable with the already limited resources available for health care. Unfortunately difficult decisions need to be made in the allocation of resources. Three primary ethical standards that could realistically improve health care for the aging, which I believe should determine resource allocations are: 1. Autonomy: suggest that individuals have a right to determine what is in their own best interest, though that interest may be limited if exercising that right limits the rights of others. 2. Beneficence: means that clinicians should act completely in the interest of their patients. Compassion; taking positive action to help others; desire to do good; core principle of our patient advocacy. 3. Justice: implies fairness and that all groups have an equal right to clinical services regardless of race, gender, age, income, or any other characteristic (Teutsch & Rechel, 2012, p. 1). It is inevitable that difficult decisions have to be made regarding how health care resources will be allocated for the aging and dying. In my opinion scarce health care resources should be offered as fair as possible (justice), to do the most good for the patient in every situation (beneficence), with respect of the individual human right to have control of what happens to their own body (autonomy). Elderly and end of life patients have a right to care that is dignified and honest. The three ethical standards noted above should be the driving force behind determining health care resource allocations, allowing for quality care delivery, tailored to individual health needs at any stage of â€Å"aging† through the end of life, ensuring protection and satisfaction to such a vulnerable patient population. As stated by Maddox (1998), perhaps the impact of the array of problems, issues, and the myriad difficult decisions that policymakers and managers make may be softened by imaginative and rational strategies to finance, organize, and deliver health care when resources are scarce. Decisions related to scarce resource allocations must be made in consideration of the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and especially justice. Ethical issues related to scarce resource allocation are likely to become increasingly complex in the future. Thus, it is imperative that health care leaders diligently and ethically continue to explore these issues (Maddox, 1998, p. 41). Somehow, while using the three standards noted, we need to reform our health care system to benefit the aging and dying, and adhere to the codes of conduct the best way possible with the limited resources available. If there is a will, there is a way! Ethical Challenges The critically challenging ethical issue of â€Å"aged based health care rationing† is faced when preparing for an adequate health care system that will meet the care needs of the aging and dying. According to AAM (1988), the rationale for a program of health care rationing based on age rests on the assumption that society should allocate its resources efficiently, and that age-based rationing represents the most efficient method of resource allocation. Within this context, it has been argued that since most of the elderly are not in the work force they do not directly benefit society. Although the elderly, it is argued, should be provided with basic necessities and comfort, the greatest portion of health care resources, including expensive medical technologies, are better deployed on younger, more productive segments of the population (American Medical Association [AMA], 1988, p. 1). One tool developed by economist that has been used to measure value of ones life so to speak is known as â€Å"quality adjusted life years or QALY†. It is a widely used measure of health improvement that is used to guide health-care resource allocation decisions. The QALY was originally developed as a measure of health effectiveness for cost-effectiveness analysis, a method intended to aid decision-makers charged with allocating scarce resources across competing health-care program (Kovner & Knickman, 2011, p. 258). Another common term for health care rationing is known as the â€Å"death panel, or Obama Death Council†. This panel is a government agency that would decide who would receive health care and who would not receive health care based on some form of standard implemented by the government. One difficult ethical question posed is, if we do ration health care, who decides how it is rationed, when and why? The advocates of rationing argue that society benefits from the increase in economic productivity that results when medical resources are diverted from an elderly, retired population to those younger members of society who are more likely to be working. As stated by Binstock (200), promoting age-based rationing is detrimental to the elderly because it devalues the status of older people and caters to the values of a youth- oriented culture, a culture in which negative stereotyping based on age is prevalent. One possible consequence of denying health care to elderly persons is what it might do to the quality of life for all of us as we approach the â€Å"too old for health care† category. Societal acceptance of the notion that elderly people are unworthy of having their lives saved could markedly shape our general outlook toward the meaning and value of our lives in old age. At the least it might engender the unnecessarily gloomy prospect that old age should be anticipated and experienced as a stage in which the quality of life is low. The specter of morbidity and decline could be pervasive and over- whelming (Binstock, 2007, p. 8). Other ethical challenges related to the provisions of aging based health care are: 1. Lack of education amongst health care providers in meeting the care needs of the aging and dying as well as providers faced with ethically challenging decisions especially at the end of life. 2. Lack of funds to support the diverse and challenging health needs of the aging, and promotion of comfort when dying, whether it be funds for care, facility placement, or ability to hire enough staff to me the high demands of a large population, and education. 3. Cost effectiveness vs. quality of care vs. quality of life â€Å"In the end, there is no â€Å"solution† to the problem of aging, at least no solution that a civilized society could ever tolerate. Rather, our task is to do the best we can with the world as it is, improving what we can but especially avoiding as much as possible the greatest evils and miseries of living with old age: namely, the temptation of betrayal, the illusion of perpetual youth, the despair of frailty, and the loneliness of aging and dying alone† (Georgetown University, 2005, para. 62). One way or another it is imperative to our aging society that a health care system is developed under the principals of autonomy, beneficence, and justice that will not deliver care based on rationing and determination of ones’ worth, but based on the individual and their health needs that will facilitate optimal aging and peaceful dying. References American Medical Association. (1988). Ethical implications of age-based rationing of health care (I-88). Retrieved from http://www. ama-assn. org/resources/doc/ethics/ceja_bi88. pdf Binstock, R. H. (2007, August). Our aging societies: ethical, moral, and policy challenges. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 12, 3-9. Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com. ezp. waldenulibrary. org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=64fb29eb-cd59-49c6-8750-ad2528de0fba%40sessionmgr110&vid=13&hid=114 Georgetown University. (2005). Taking care: ethical caregiving of our aging society. Retrieved from http://bioethics. georgetown. edu/pcbe/reports/taking_care/chapter1. html Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2008). Retooling for an aging America: building the health care workforce. Retrieved from http://www. fhca. org/members/workforce/retooling. pdf Kovner, PhD, A. R. , & Knickman, PhD, J. R. (2011). Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States (10th ed. , pp. 1-404). New York: Springer Publishing Company. Maddox, P. J. (1998, December). Administrative ethics and the allocation of scarce resources. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 3(3). Retrieved from http://www. nursingworld. org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol31998/No3Dec1998/ScarceResources. html Teutsch, S. , & Rechel, B. (2012). Ethics of resource allocation and rationing medical care in a time of fiscal restraint _ US and Europe. Public Health Reviews, 34(1), 10. Retrieved from http://www. publichealthreviews. eu/upload/pdf_files/11/00_Teutsch. pdf

Mapping the Issue

Tammy Lin ENGL 1302 051 Brittain 5/11/12 Trimming the Fat of a Growing Problem Obesity is becoming a major problem to many Americans as well as many people around the world. Being the second cause of preventable death in the United States, obesity increases the risk of numerous adverse health problems including breast cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, stroke, and more. Obesity is defined as an excess proportion of total body fat, with a person being considered obese if his or her weight is twenty percent or more above normal body weight.A common way to measure obesity is by calculating the body mass index. An individual is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between twenty five and thirty, while a person is seen as obese if his or her BMI is over thirty. With that said, it has been estimated that sixty million Americans twenty years and older are obese, which makes up thirty percent of the adult population; meanwhile, nine million children and teenagers ages six to nineteen are overweight. The number of overweight and obese Americans has increased since 1960, a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.In this paper I will review three main positions regarding the issue of ways to approach the multiplying rate of obesity. First, there are those who advocate for the implementation of fat taxes. With the administration of taxes on unhealthy foods and drinks, this group believes that it will significantly discourage the consumption of such foods and will, in turn, promote healthy and responsible eating. Second, there are those who remain persistent in maintaining the privacy of one’s decision making concerning food intake.With the expansion of diverse kinds of food production, this group considers an individual’s food preference as unique, exclusive, and personal. Third, there are those who believe that lowering the costs of healthy foods will encourage the purchase of nourishing and health-benefiting foods. They embrace the belief that most people would eat healthier if the food was more affordable. The first position is the support of fat taxes. The people who stand in this position are those who are concerned with America’s public health issue today, especially the issues centering on obesity. Lisa Baertlin recently ublished an article on Reuters, an international news agency headquartered in the UK, entitled â€Å"Battle Lines Drawn over Soda, Junk Food Taxes† in response to the the wide-growing obesity epidemic today, with the proposition that fat taxes could help save individuals their health and money. She claims that taxes could help make up for the at least one hundred and forty seven billion dollars spent on treating diseases related to obesity and fund programs that battle for this issue. According to U. S. lawmakers, soda tax is one of the most probable sources that would most likely be used to tackle healthcare reform.In relativity to the taxing of cigarettes , these people believe that by taxing soda, it would also similarly reduce consumption and its revenue stream; by taxing more than ten percent for beverages, purchases would be cut down by eight to ten percent. According to a recent Thomson Reuters survey included within Baertlin’s article, â€Å"about fifty-eight percent of Americans are willing to bear a tax increase of one percent or more to support healthcare reform† (Baertlin 1), which proves that more than half of American citizens are willing to take a step forward for the promotion of a healthy nation.Writers like Baertlin sympathize with those who are in the center of the public health crisis today, specifically â€Å"overweight adolescents who are starting to suffer problems that used to plague middle-aged adults† (1). Baertlin herself is in favor of administering fat taxes and is certain that levies on fattening foods are an essential factor of any anti-obesity endeavor. The food industry plays a larg e part in the causes of obesity. Most food companies are culpable of false advertisement, which swallows consumers into their too-good-to-be-true trends.Journalist Karlee Weinmann contributed a piece to Business Insider concerning food companies’ false advertisement. In the article â€Å"14 False Advertising Scandals That Cost Brands Millions†, Weinmann states that for companies that cross the line to making false claims, it can cost millions of dollars, while also having to face public negativity. However, even with all this said, will companies modify their marketing policies for the greater good, or will they uphold their profits as far more important than a consumer’s right to know the truth?More than likely, most brands will continue to false advertise their products, which is why these people in this group believe that fat taxes are efficient in lowering consumption of soda and other health-stripping foods. According to Weinmann, â€Å"there’s a bi g difference between pushing the truth and making false claims. Is a product really ‘scientifically proven’, and are ‘results guaranteed’? † (Weinmann 1). Food brands such as Activia yogurt, Splenda, Kashi, and Eclipse gum have been caught with such false advertisement scandals; the more unhealthy the food really is, the more beneficial its company would make it seem.Writers like Weinmann identify with those who have been misled by deceitful food claims made by the companies they trusted. Therefore, supporters of fat taxes are certain that the implementation of fat taxes would solve these complications by creating more awareness and heedfulness when consumers purchase junk foods. The second position is the promotion of health education and that one’s food choice should not be hindered or influenced to reduce obesity. The people who stand in this position believe that an individual should have choices in the items he or she buy, and be guilt-fre e.In the article â€Å"Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Issue† published in International Journal of Preventive Medicine†, writer Amar Kanekar states that the main cause of childhood obesity in today’s public health crisis in both developed and underdeveloped countries is because of the disproportion between the child’s caloric intake and the calories effectively used for growth/development and physical activities. To these people, what we eat is not the sole reason of the cause of obesity; genetic, behavioral, and environmental are all constituents of childhood obesity.Moreover, many health-related risks are present when a child is obese; negative body-image and low self-esteem inevitably result in psychological and social issues. Cardiovascular disease, increased cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure are all possible potential health risks involved and that there is, indeed, â€Å"preventive programs that help regulate obesity by educatin g individuals about healthy nutrition and diseases† (Kanekar 2). According to a report presented from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in the years of 2007-2008, there was an estimation that â€Å"16. % of children and adolescent in the age group of 2-19 years were obese†¦The data collected for the same period shows that the adolescent (age group 12-19 years) obesity has increased from 5. 0 to 18. 1%† (2). By letting people know about health hazards and the importance of physical exercise, the chance of obesity could greatly decrease. Those who are pro-food-choice would side with Kanekar in that they believe there should not be any direct government intervention with food costs, but that there should be a public informing of the effects commonly eaten unhealthy foods would result in.Kanekar, Baertlin, and Weinmann all believe that the prevalence of obesity seen in children and adults is increasing and that some form of action must be done. While th ese writers see and support the benefits of the reduction of junk food intake, Kanekar is more focused on declaring health education, with the hope of lowering BMI and the rate of weight gain. All three authors recognize the importance of lowering consumption of fatty foods, but the position here does not endorse the advocating of fat taxes. The third position is lowering the costs of healthy foods.The people who stand in this position believe that by decreasing the costs of healthful foods sold, there would be a habit shift in the people’s purchases of fatty foods to foods that are much more nutritional. Journalist Katherine Bauer published an article entitled â€Å"Price and Availability Matter† in Room for Debate, a running commentary by outside contributors from The New York Times, where she states the â€Å"lack of access to high quality, reasonably priced fruits and vegetables and other healthful foods has been associated with poorer diets and, in many cases, hi gher risk for obesity.This is especially true among lower-income individuals whose purchasing habits are more sensitive to the cost of food† (Bauer 1). There is strong evidence that shows a clear impact between change in food access and the pricing on one’s purchasing habits. For example, there are programs that decrease the cost of healthier foods, which resulted in the increased purchasing of the healthier foods. Cheaper prices on healthy foods reduce one’s weight, even if the cost of junk foods remains the same price. A news report conducted from the USDA observed the BMI of children and how it changed in correlation to food prices.It was shown that â€Å"if the price of 100% juice decreases 10%, BMIs decreased . 3%. The same process works for lowfat milk (. 35% decrease) and dark, leafy vegetables (. 28% decrease)† (2). Moreover, Bauer identifies with those who receive low-income and struggle with the purchase of healthy foods, and also with those who believe that it is not only the wealthy that ‘deserve’ the most benefits from the healthy aisles in the food market. Bauer’s views is relatively similar with Baertlin, Weinmann, and Kanekar, in that public attitudes towards obesity and obesity policy should be given much more ttention than it is now, but Bauer herself has a different approach in this matter, especially from Kanekar. She believes that health education may not be sufficient enough to cause a significant awareness in individuals that junk foods should no longer be habitually purchased. Instead, she considers the perspective that by lowering healthy foods, there would be an effective overall change in the nation’s weight and BMI and that the idea would more readily fit within one’s budget.Works Cited Page Baertlein, Lisa. â€Å"Battle lines drawn over soda, junk food taxes. † Reuters [Los Angeles] 1 Sept 2009, n. pag. Print. Katherine, Bauer. â€Å"Price and Availability Matter. † New York Times. (2011): 1-2. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. Kanekar, Amar. â€Å"Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Issue. † Int J Prev Med. (2011): 2. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. Weinmann, Karlee. â€Å"14 False Advertising Scandals That Cost Brands Millions. † Business Insider. (2011): 1-2. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. <www. businessinsider. com>.