Firing Smoking Employees, - 813 Words

In January 2005 Weyco Inc., company based in Michigan has brought up the issues based on firing employees who smoked. Wyeco Inc., gave their employees few months to quit and obey their new policy and also arranged variety of free programs such as drug therapy and acupuncture, to help employees quit smoking. About 20 of Weyco’s employees successfully quit smoking, for those who have not succeeded were fired. Howard Weyers, the company’s founder, justified the policy as protecting Weyco against high health care costs (Grace, Cohen, Holmes, p.79). In this paper, Weyco’s unjustified discrimination against smoking employees will be argued. I will examine various ethical issues and mainly focusing on the issues of discrimination towards the employees on Weyco’s policy against smokers. I believe that from the beginning, employers are allowed and should be organizing non-smoke workplace environments so that nonsmoking staffs do not encounter increased health risk due to second hand smoke. However the corporation’s right to adjust an employee’s personal health-related practice off work and interfere with their personal life style brings up numerous amounts of ethical issues. I argue that there are different ways to address the non-smoking policy, for example one company could provide a voluntary smoke quitting program and other healthier life programs during recess for the employee’s benefit. I like to say that this method serves as the blameless policy, but the report showed thatShow MoreRelatedEssay Ethical Issuses of Tobacco Companies in The Insider724 Words   |  3 Pagespresident/research chemist of a tobacco company but essentially an employee who was fired yet is still under a non-disclosure clause in a confidentiality agreement with said former company. Secondly the relationship of the company towards its employees regarding its hiring and firing policies, the relationship between the tobacco company with its consumers and the evident issue of justice versus profit making in the tobacco business. Amongst all the ethical issues stated above, the main ethical issue that wouldRead MoreNarrative Report1636 Words   |  7 Pagesthe trainee about the proper timing of the valve and fuel injector, and also the sequence of firing inside the engine cylinders. For a 4-cylinder engine, order of firing was 1-3-2-4.For a 6-cylinder engine, firing was 1-4-2-6-3-5. And for an 8-cylinder, v-type engine, firing was 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. These firing orders were not constant at all engines; it is just only based on the trainee’s experience. Firing orders were variable and based on the manufacturers design in order to minimize vibration. OnRead MoreEssay on Employee Privacy In the Workplace461 Words   |  2 Pagesin the Workplace For many years, there has been an ongoing fight between employers and employees pertaining to employee rights. The main thing that they have fought about is computer and email monitoring. Many employees don’t seen to understand exactly employers do this. Employers monitor email accounts and company computers mainly for two reasons. Reason one is that they don’t want their employees wasting company time for personal use. In most places, that is considered a very good reasonRead MoreA Modern Fable: â€Å"The Catbird Seat† by James Thurber Essay1291 Words   |  6 Pageseven more oppressive and burly. Mr. Fitweiler makes up the post of Special Advisor and hires Ms. Barrows as the newly appointed Special Advisor to return the favor to her. She started infiltrating many departments in the company and firing many workers. Even more employees quit because they couldn’t stand her. This strapping woman is the bigger, stronger, and aggravating character in this modern fable. Mr. Martin is the oppressed and weaker Henny Penny in this fable. Mr. Martin has been working forRead MoreTobacco Liability in Illnesses and Deaths2153 Words   |  9 PagesSmoking has been around for quite some time now, dating back farther than 1492. On October 29, 1492, two of Christopher Columbus’s crew members, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, were the first two Europeans to try smoking tobacco offered to them by the Native Indians (Marcovitz 14). Tobacco companies will lose revenue and may vanish as one of the oldest and wealthiest industries in America because of frivolous liability lawsuits and competition from companies producing other tobacco related productsRead MoreLeadership And Organizational Behavior Of The Restaurants2608 Words   |  11 PagesHanks crawfish, it is originally from Louisiana. Hank’s fulfills customers with genuine Cajun cuisine. Hank’s was established on 2010 when there were very few restaurants. This place is located in 116 60Westheimer Rd, Houston TX 77077. It is a non-smoking place. It is a good place for family dines in, for the customers who like to watch games and also for the people who want to spend their time with loved ones. We have the drawing paper available for the kids to draw when their parents are having dinnerRead Morewage differentials essay2027 Words   |  9 Pagesand many of our main international competitors. Rapid technological change and the pressures of globalization are putting a premium on raising the skills of the workforce and increasing the adaptability of people in work.†¨Ease and cost of hiring and firing workers: Reforms to UK employment laws now make it easier to hire and fire workers - this reduces the costs to the employer of making modifications to the size of their employed labour force. Output and employment can more easily be matched duringRead MoreDrug Testing and Ethics Essay2045 Words   |  9 Pages What about other health-threatening activities, i.e. smoking outside of working hours, unprotected sex, etc. Should employers be able to question or test employees or potential employees about these activities? Both of these scenarios are tricky ones. On the one hand, any employer would want to get drugs out of the workplace. On the other hand you don’t want to invade an employee’s privacy. At the same time some jobs may require employees to conform to a certain standard of behavior both on andRead MoreEssay on DrugEd5 Fall 20121825 Words   |  8 Pagesincreased drug knowledge. social skills. Drug-Free schools. The social influence model grew out of a 1976 paper describing a successful prevention approach aimed at marijuana use. binge drinking. early sexual involvement. cigarette smoking. Which of these is NOT one of the successful components included in the social influence model? making a public commitment not to smoke countering cigarette advertising discussing the penalties for getting caught with cigarettes use of teenRead MoreHuman Resources2344 Words   |  10 PagesHuman resources management 1.1 Definition – process including strategies and policies regarding hiring and developing employees in one organization. Human Resource Management includes communication with all employees at all levels, recruiting the right people and providing training, planning personnel needs, managing wages and salaries, evaluating performance, resolving disputes etc. â€Å"Human Resource Management (HRM) is the function within an organization that focuses on recruitment, management

Passion And Passion In Antigone - 1401 Words

In the play Antigone, it becomes clear that Antigone is a passionate woman who is willing to go to extreme lengths for her beliefs. The passage that most stood out to me was â€Å"It is noble for me to die doing this. I will lie there with him, loved by the one I love, guilty of the crime of holy reverence† (Lines 63-65). At this point, Antigone is proclaiming her undying love for her brother Polyneices, and her willingness to give him a proper burial at the expense of her life. This passage stood out to me because it shows passion. Passion is defined as an intense desire or enthusiasm to do something. In society today it is hard to find people who are passionate about something. It is even more rare to find someone who is passionate enough†¦show more content†¦This correlation in values makes the impact of Antigone’s words in this passage stand out to me even more. After the class discussions about Antigone’s bravery for standing up for what she believe s in, I realized that is isn’t easy to publicly display one’s beliefs. It made me gain a sense of respect for people who stood up for their beliefs, even if they didn’t match my own. In particular, it made me respect my brother Alex more for standing up for his support of President Trump during the election. I had to lay aside my bias for the Democratic Party and try to listen to Alex’s thoughts. It is extremely hard to talk about what you believe in with other people especially when you know most people aren’t going to agree with you. Our class discussions helped me to relate to Antigone’s struggles to get both Creon and the citizens to understand her reasoning for burying Polynieces. She claimed that dying being loved by the one she loved was more important than any law made by Creon. She would rather die than see injustice being committed and remain both stagnant and silent. I think that especially today it is important to speak up when w e see injustice. We are lucky enough to live in a country with freedom of speech so we should recognize this benefit and use it. Peaceful demonstrations of beliefs to raise awareness to the values you find to be true can be very effective. Another passage that stood out to meShow MoreRelated confant Conflict of Passion and Reason in Sophocles Antigone1457 Words   |  6 PagesConflict of Passion and Reason in Sophocles Antigone Ah Creon! Is there no man left in the world† (Sophocles page #). Greek theatre played a large role in Greece. The citizens were supposed to learn from the mistakes made in tragedies. The citizens should have learned what not to be like as a citizen or person. In Antigone, written by Sophocles, there are two main characters, Antigone and Creon. They are both strong willed and stubborn people. Both being unwilling to change, they both sealRead MoreEssay on Haimons Covert Scheme1021 Words   |  5 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Haimon has a certain tendency to be overlooked in Sophocles’ Antigone. At first he appears to be a minor character, an accessory to the overt conflict occurring between Kreon and Antigone. We see Haimon supporting his father, but soon thereafter in conflict with him. Haimon expresses disregard for the life of his cold bride to be, yet is defined as being driven by lust. Several questions come up: who does Haimon really support, what drives his act ions, and what is hisRead MoreSophocles Antigone By Sophocles967 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy in Antigone Antigone is one of the greatest Greek tragic plays by Sophocles. The play portrays two main characters, Antigone and Creon, who undergo tragedy in the play. Various arguments have been put forth regarding who amongst the two characters is the actual tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. A number of people are for the idea that Creon qualifies since he does possess the real characteristics of what tragedy is all about, while numerous others believe that Antigone is the actual heroRead MoreEssay on Sophocles Antigone1117 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles Antigone Theater played a large role in ancient Greek society. The citizens were meant to learn from the mistakes made in tragedies. They should have learned what not to be like as a citizen or human. In the classic tragedy Antigone, the third and final play in Sophocles ¹s Oedipus Cycle, there are two main characters, Antigone and Creon. They are both strong willed and stubborn peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of Antigone By Sophocles1078 Words   |  5 Pageswas able to portray the ambiguity of our reality. Antigone and Kreon both have valid reasoning and are justified in their views in Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone. Neither is purely good or evil, but are simply two embodiments of contradicting beliefs, each based upon just reasoning. Antigone’s rebellion is based on her love for her brother, an act of emotion and passion. Kreon’s verdict is based upon logic and reason from his position of power. Antigone is a princess of Thebes, and also the bride-to-beRead MoreThe Personal Dilemmas Of Creon Vs. Antigone920 Words   |  4 Pageslovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.† - Stephen King (brainyquotes.com). In Sophocles’ Antigone as well as Anouilh’s version of the play duty versus personal motives is a very significant theme that heavily contributes to the outcome of the character’s actions. The two protagonists, in both plays, Creon and Antigone are aware of the negative consequences of their actions. Creon and Antigone both believe that they are correct within their arguments, regardless of their knowledge of the repercussionsRead MoreSt. Augustine Of Hippo1280 Words   |  6 Pagesthe person. The goal then is to have the mind ruled by reason and not by passions and desires. Someone who is ruled by passion and emotion will make illogical decisions, often leading to harm. There is also a Christian component to this. God’s creation i s perfect, there is no evil in it. Humans make themselves a bit of an exception in creation because they have the free will. We can choose between being ruled by our passions and ruled by reason. In order to further explore this philosophy, we willRead More Pathetic vs Ethical1997 Words   |  8 Pagesof the Situation and Recognition; the Pathetic (where the motive is passion); the Ethical (where the motives are ethical). The fourth kind is the Simple. Antigone is Sophocles Greek tragedy where we see a woman as the main character. Antigone is part of the â€Å"saga of Thebes† that deals with Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus. Produced around 442 B.C., we see the children of Oedipus deal with what fate has brought them. Antigone deals with the conflict of her burying her brother which would be inRead MoreEssay on The Evil Character Medea in Euripides Medea585 Words   |  3 Pagesferociously loves and makes sacrifices for. They have two children together: Antigone and Ismeme. In Jasons quest for the golden fleece, Medea assists him in multiple ways. One of the things she does to help their cause is bring about the death of her own brother. Certainly this is a woman who would sacrifice anything for her husband. Weigel records the fierceness of Medeas passion in his critique: As a woman of passion, Medea is wholly committed to Jason as the object of her emotional life, whetherRead MoreThe Conflict Of Rebellion By Anouilh s Antigone1380 Words   |  6 Pages Rebellion stems from oppression, while the potency it has to change norms varies from context. In Anouilh’s Antigone, the protagonist fights against a ruler to create change. The main idea evoked through the play is that rebellion is an ideology rather than a set of physical actions, and like all ideologies, naturally spreads through society. Antigone rebels for herself, but never completes her goal. Her rebellion affects others, like Haemon and Ismene, changing their perceptions and actions. Additionally

Local Business Project Paper Free Essays

string(296) " It is noteworthy that he considered it prefer able to remain a partnership rather than an LLC, a limited liability company, or a corporation b cause he felt keeping it as a partnership was more beneficial, due to lower taxes, than the t radioed for less liability at this point in the business\." Trends: young children people are looking for a healthier desserts teenagers people are looking for less expensive desserts implies young adults 4 Commencement of the Business â€Å"l didn’t even like frozen yogurt. † When most people hear this quote, they wow old not think it sets the stage for a successful frozen yogurt restaurant. However, alt cough Mackey, the owner of Yogurts, said this, the restaurant is more successful than ever under his ownership. We will write a custom essay sample on Local Business Project Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most people think of a lively environment and healthy food when they hear the e words â€Å"frozen yogurt restaurant. Mackey and his family think on a much deeper level than j just this for their mission, vision, and objectives. Mackey says he wants people to think of the line e â€Å"proud immunity us porter† when one thinks of Yogurts. He and his family like to s purport the community in every way they can, and have a positive impact on the surround inning area. He told us that recently, his restaurant held a fundraiser for Carmela Elementary and g eve them 20% of the profits they earned that day. Mackey and his family had numerous reasons for opening Yogurts. Although t hey had never operated in the frozen yogurt industry, they had multiple interesting id ease and reasons to open this restaurant. Interestingly enough, Mackey and his family owned 5 Us byway restaurants before purchasing Yogurts. This gave them enough interest and experience in the food industry to be motivated to diversify their ownership. They ended up selling one Of the Subway restaurants to invest in Yogurts because they wanted more freedom in operate ions and the ability to have fun and be creative. They invested in Yogurts at the end of May as a FAA mill. Originally, a doctor and a relative of the doctor owned the restaurant. Mackey was interest deed in purchasing Yogurts from them because he wanted to diversify his portfolio. At the time, h e only owned Subway restaurants in the Fishers and Ageist area. He was motivated to open Yogurts because he knew his family would be able to run it in a relaxed atmosphere and not have to follow franchise regulations. Mackey balanced the risks and rewards of the frozen yogurt Indus try and ultimately decided to purchase Yogurts due to the opportune location. The ultimate pull factor that encouraged Mackey and his family to purchase You gurus is its prime location. It is located off of Meridian and Carmela Drive, which encomia sees a large amount of traffic. Yogurts is visible from Carmela Drive, and is located next to other businesses that draw in lots of customers, which ultimately helps them make money. This is analyzed in rater depth later on. Along with the location, the amount of space also once raged Mackey and his family to sign on the dotted line. The amount of square feet in Yogurts ma ekes it the largest frozen yogurt restaurant in the area. This allows Mackey to use the space in a creative and family friendly way, with multiple lager tables and a play area for children that include sees a whiteboard for the kids to draw on. The setup also allows them to play sporting events on the main T -V. In order to entertain all the dads while blasting popular hit songs through the CE ailing speakers to create a partially atmosphere. The location exhilarated Mackey because it NV loves more than just traffic; it encompasses a felicitous location in central Carmela mixed with t heir opportune target market. Statements Vision: To be the most profitable frozen yogurt shop in the state while being a been Lent supporter to the community. 6 Mission Statement: For our company to sell the most frozen yogurt out Of any ice cream or yogurt shop in the city of Carmela each year by offering the highest quality and diverse selection of flavors and toppings. Slogan: For the health of it Yogurts did not have a vision statement so we decided to create one for them The vision statement is measurable and achievable in that we firmly believe that Yogurts is a SSI generic business. Between the group members, we have combined ate at many differ .NET frozen yogurt shops in which none have been superior to Yogurts. Between the quality of the Eire product, wide array of choices, and atmosphere of the venue, Yogurts differentiates itself FRR mom other individual frozen yogurt shops and even franchised ones. Not only does it strive to be a successful enterprise, but Yogurts exceedingly values its role in the community. The stats moment was based off the idea of receiving but then giving back. Being a business, the universal g AOL is to make a profit, but to Yogurt it is to then take their profits, turn around, and make an impact in the community. This vision statement provides the owners and employees a goal to strive for. Yogurts also did not have a mission statement, so we created one for them t hat was all encompassing to the company, and one that would motivate owners and me peoples to reach this competitive goal each year. It incorporates the â€Å"who†, Yogurts, the â€Å"what†, sell the most frozen yogurt compared to their competitors, and the â€Å"how’, offering high quality an d diverse selection f flavors and toppings. The mission statement is specific, measurable, attain able, relevant, and time specific as well. The mission statement galvanism Yogurts to transcend t he other frozen yogurt stores in Carmela and be superlative in comparison to them in all facets 7 Merits of Small and Large Business Yogurts was originally started and owned by someone else, but Mackey Burch eased all of the equity, thereby becoming the new owner. After doing so, he converted the e business into a partnership, splitting the equity amongst his family members in the idea that eventually it will continue on as a family business. It is noteworthy that he considered it prefer able to remain a partnership rather than an LLC, a limited liability company, or a corporation b cause he felt keeping it as a partnership was more beneficial, due to lower taxes, than the t radioed for less liability at this point in the business. This, however, would likely only be the ca SE for a small business. In the united States, a small business is a business that employs less than 500 people, and in a company like Yogurts, it would have to expand significantly to do that. It I s easier to remain a partnership as a small business, with smaller market and employee number , and avoid liability claims than it would be for a larger business. Another merit of a small business s is that they can be more flexible to the market demands than a large one could. This is a com pension for being in fewer markets, because they can more fully utilize their current one. This is where a local store knows to carry a specific item that the local Walter would not even co insider. Often times, smaller business will provide far superior products in comparison to lard egger ones. The famous Linton Burger chain, for example, pride themselves on superior quail y by remaining a small business and keeping its supply chains short. In contrast, the benefits to being a large business are quite obvious. As a large r business, there is a huge amount of name recognition. There are undoubtedly few Poe peel in the civilized 8 world that are unfamiliar with companies such as Collate, Disney, or Google . Currently, Yogurts is not a well recognized business compared to the latter, however, the eye hold their own against the different frozen yogurt franchises such as Woozy and Orange Leaf. In addition, securing funds is significantly easier as a large business, as banks consider NV sting in them to be almost a sure thing. People are also more willing to leave their current jobs for a large business for this same reason: security. This aspect of a large business does c relate to Yogurts in that the owners have trouble finding employees that are not teenagers beck cause of their size. When scheduling the work hours for their employees, a large majority of the m can only work late a night or on the weekends because Monday through Friday they attend s school. Yogurts being categorized as a small business, makes it less attractive for people out o f college to apply to work their. Business Objectives Yogurts has many valuable objectives as a business, however the owners Spec official emphasized their operational goals. Mackey said he likes to challenge his ample eyes to work very efficiently. He encourages them to keep up with him while he works one of two registers, or while he restocks food and cuts fresh fruit. This helps employees feel like he s on the same level as him, not just a figurehead above them, and it also helps them learn to word k at a faster pace. This operational goal has proven to be successful for Yogurts, and has led the m to introduce new technology to their employees. A strategic objective of Yogurts, is to franchise the company. Since Mackey and family have worked with franchises for a long time, they know that they will b e able to use their 9 acquired skills in the frozen yogurt industry as well. Multiple people outfits e have asked Mackey to open up Yogurts restaurants in their respective states. A few exam less include Florida, Ohio, and Illinois. This positive feedback from customers and other b equines owners has encouraged Mackey to turn Yogurts into a franchise and illustrates that the You gurus business model is now a proven proof of concept in the market. This goal would not ha eve come about if it were not for his successful environment, yearning for feedback, and profession anally trained employees. Role of the Business Functions Human Resources does not have its own department in Yogurts since they on lye have 71 0 employees at a time. The owners of Yogurts directly interview and hire the Eire employees who need to be able to do maintenance and work the register. The owners alls o value an employee who is social and able to create small talk with the customers. They want their customers to feel welcomed, and to be assisted when needed, so therefore, t e owners take into consideration how cordial and outgoing an applier is when determining if that person should be hired or not. The owners personally train and work with their employees so the at they are as efficient as possible, and they directly deal with any issues that a worker may I impose, however, this is rare with the people that they employ. The finance and accounts aspect is also completed by the owners. As stated b before, the owners have a sufficient amount of personal money between them due to the e money that they had acquired from their Subways. The upper management of Yogurts is very organized as well, so all of their expenses are recorded and paid for on time. Financially speaking g, between their 10 personal money from the selling of one of their Subways, they were able to RA sis enough capital to fund the business and then take the money they made to reinvest back nit o the company in order for it to be financially independent. Frozen yogurt is an exceedingly popular product that grosses billions of dollar s of revenue each year while generating mass amounts of profit across the world. According to IBIS World, through 2008201 3, annually growth of the industry has been 21%. The SE facts substantiate that the frozen yogurt industry has an increasing market of new, loyal customers to support the frozen yogurt shops such as Yogurts. To capture the attention of these new customers, the marketing department for Yogurts (also the owners) use social media such as twitter and faceable to inform their followers about current deals or changes to the company that are being implemented. The owners do not believe in marketing in the newspaper because they hypothesize that it is a dying form of communication and would not be worth the money to attract their target market through. Who never advertising in the store or out of the store, they like to make them colorful and bright so t hat it catches the eye and encompasses the whole ideological feel of frozen yogurt. Overall, the marketing â€Å"department† could be stronger by finding new, ingenious ways to spread the word about Yogurts that could be seen or heard by a conglomerate group of people that lie eve in the area. Possible ideas could be a local commercial, or they could effortlessly advertise e through banners/ signs at high school sports events (like they have at Off the Wall Sports) or at different middle schools. 11 All in all, there is not a long, complex process to their operations. They buy the e frozen yogurt from another company and then stock the machines themselves. Cuts mores come In through the front doors and are directed to the yogurt machines through a p sage blocked off by a four foot wall. On their way in, overhead are large, flatterers T. V. S that expel main the process of how to assemble their customized product along with other important inform action such as the suggested flavor combination of the week. The employees station themselves behind the register surrounded by the topping bars. This layout gives the employees a 360 degree e workable space to assist customers by offering samples and answering questions while at the same time manning the register. The owners also manage inventory. They track and formulate statistics of which flavors and toppings are popular so that they know the quantity to order of each item as precaution to not waste product or understood themselves. The Four Business Sectors Yogurts uses resources from the primary and secondary sectors, and combines them into a tertiary business. Because Yogurts does not personally make their frozen yogurt with their own recipes, it an therefore be considered a retail business in the tertiary sector. Yogurts has two main 12 providers that they purchase their frozen yogurt from. They buy their yogurt by the quart, and then process it through their machines. In this way, they act as a secondary b equines due to the machine processing of their frozen yogurt. However, Yogurts provides a seen/ICC e to its customers so it is therefore mostly involved in the tertiary sector. The Six Core Concepts Change is evident in the history of Yogurts. They transitioned owners and have e been flourishing ever since. Not only this, but Yogurts has adapted in order to rest nod to competition, and to differentiate themselves. How to cite Local Business Project Paper, Papers

Brandon Hill My Personal Art Collection Essay Example For Students

Brandon Hill: My Personal Art Collection Essay Enclosed in my portfolio are some of my favorite and most detailed works. I chose these eight pieces, because I feel that they are the best representation of my abilities in art. Because drawing is the area in which I excel most, I have selected mostly works that display my skill in this. In addition to choosing works that demonstrate this ability, I also wanted to include my most unique pieces. All of the works are different either in color, style, mood, or subject matter. When others view my artwork, I want them to form their own ideas and interpretations on the mood and feeling of each piece. It is very interesting to me to see the way peoples minds work when they interpret a piece of art. How someone looks at art depends on the creativity and skill of the piece. I want people to recognize my hard work and also have their own personal interpretation of each individual piece. Art has become a very important part of my life. Although it requires countless hours and dedication, I think it is worth all the time and effort that I put forth. I cannot think of any other feeling that compares to creating something truly original and that will be yours forever. Nothing makes me feel more satisfied with myself than experimenting with art. Through art, I am able to continually astonish others, and myself with what I am capable of. The drive and motivation I have towards my artistic pursuits is what has made me realize that it is something that I want to pursue in my future as a possible career. In closing, any helpful insight that my viewers could provide about my artwork would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reviewing my portfolio, and hopefully you will enjoy reviewing it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Sustainable Urbanisation Challenges that Paralyze the Development of Rural Communities

Introduction The challenges of urbanisation are no longer something that urban dwellers have to contend with alone. In the contemporary society, communities living in rural areas can feel the effects of urbanisation as well.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sustainable Urbanisation Challenges that Paralyze the Development of Rural Communities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The scarcity of clean fresh water is just one example of how the urban population is exploiting natural resources, resulting in the destruction of the ecological balance of both urban and rural areas. As environmentalist would readily tell, the rising demand for water is among the major reasons responsible for the scarcity of the commodity. This is especially because the increasing urban population is demanding more water for drinking, and general sanitation requirements, while the rural population requires huge supplies of water for farming-related requirements, and human settlement development (Eric et al, 2010, p. 1; Gleitsmann, Kroma and Steenhuis, 2007; Sanusi, 2010, p.1). Today, the renewable supply of water is no longer guaranteed since the unquenchable demand for the commodity may soon outstrip nature’s capacity to replenish water sources. According to Power (2008, p.1), â€Å"fresh water is the ultimate renewable resource.† However, humankind is using and polluting water faster that the hydrologic cycle is able to replenish the resource. The water situation is even worse with the unpredictable weather conditions, which have seen to crops failing, groundwater disappearing, and rivers trickling much less with each passing year. The situation is so bad that some rivers that used to drain to the sea no longer do so (Power, 2008, p.1). Unfortunately, the water crisis is replicated in all the world’s six continents. This paper will specifically evaluate how water scarcity has affected com munities in Kinshasa, Congo and Colleambally, Australia. The author was encouraged by the FOP group members to pursue this communication project on the belief that it would make a significant contribution to existing knowledge on water management. Sustainable urbanisation challenges: Kinshasa, Congo Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo is today an example of what most cities have had to contend with in the pursuit of sustainable urban development. Tucked in one of Africa’s resource-rich countries, Kinshasa has experienced an extraordinary urban growth, which has led to urban housing deficit, increased demand for water, electricity, and basic services such as roads, hospitals, and schools (Eric, Shuoyo Qin, 2010, p.242). The extent of urbanisation’s effect on water does not just end with its increased use; rather, Eric et al. (2010, p. 242) note that the expansion of informal settlements around Kinshasa is being done on riverbeds and forests a reas, something that complicates the water situation even further.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The destructions of forests lead to less rainfall and extended drought periods. Consequently, the rain-reliant agriculture in the country suffers. In addition, the urban population’s invasion of wetlands and riverbanks block the natural waterways, thus causing upstream floods when the rains eventually fall (Eric et al., 2010, p.242). Considering the effect that urbanisation in Kinshasa has had on the bigger ecology of the Congo, it is little wonder that international organizations are focusing on improving the basic infrastructure in the city, and other similar cities in the larger Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, Eric et al. (2010, p. 244) observe that the World Bank, UNDP, UNFPA, and UN-Habitat are among agencies that seek to develop urban infrastructure ta rgeting the enhancement of water supply, water drainage, sewerage and urban roadways in the region. The overall objective of such initiatives is to ensure that Kinshasa’s water supply is safe, and that urban settlement does not create conditions for floods, gullies, soil-erosion, and landslides for the agricultural land in the rural areas. Sustainable urbanisation challenges: Coleambally, Australia Opened in 1968, Coleambally is arguably the newest town in New South Wales, Australia. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), the town, which is located at the fringes of the Coleambally irrigation area, had 658 people in the 2006 census. With the prevailing scarcity of water, Coleambally has to suffer water shortages, and this has had negative effects on the irrigation fields. Notably, even a city with a small population like Coleambally has to face water use restrictions as two-thirds of the area’s water supply is directed to agriculture (Power, 2008, p. 7). When water use priorities between human sustenance and agriculture have to be made however, the latter always takes a backseat. This in turn affects agriculture because as Power (2008, p.8) observes, â€Å"The economics of food production have always been based on the ready access to cheap water.† In Coleambally, the limited water supply is not an entirely new concept. As Power (2008, p.8) observes, farmers in the irrigation sector in the area now realize the need to grow more crops for every drop of irrigation water spilt. Moreover, farmers in the area are ready to check for leakages, seepages and faulty meters, which have in the past contributed to a significant amount of water loss. Provision of water in recent years The world has about 360 quintillion gallons of water, which â€Å"evaporates, coalesces in clouds, falls as rain, seeps into the earth and emerges in springs to feed rivers and lakes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( Power, 2008, p. 1). Unfortunately, 3 percent of the worldâ₠¬â„¢s water is fit for human use.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sustainable Urbanisation Challenges that Paralyze the Development of Rural Communities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The remaining percentage is salty water found in the oceans hence rendering it useless to humankind. According to Gleitsmann et al. (2007, p.5), rain and groundwater have acted as the primary water sources for most people. In the arid and semi-arid areas, sources such as boreholes, wells, and streams are considered vital water sources (Sanusi (2010, p.8). Notably urban development is partly to blame for the water scarcity as aquifers, rivers, dams and lakes are drying up because of the increased water demand from the largely urban water requirements. Specifically, Power (2008, p. 1) notes that urban areas have â€Å"more homes, more businesses, more water-intensive products and processes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and all these coul d simply surpass the water supply available in the world. Infrastructure and its relation to the water problems Proper planning and implementation of infrastructure projects affect the management of water resources in both urban and rural areas. In Indonesia for example, Guggenheim (2010, p. 23) notes that a contractor’s ignorance to design requirements for the construction of culverts made farmers on both sides lose their crops. Guggenheim (2010, p.23) observes that the road created a barrier in the natural waterways, which led to floods on one side, and drought on the other. If the culverts were in place however, the water would have flowed from one side of the road to the other, thus creating suitable conditions for the crops to grow. In Kinshasa, the situation is not much different. In fact, Kinshasa could be much worse considering that the city’s infrastructure lacks bridges, sewers, and water mains that can support the more than 10 million people (Eric et al., 20 10, p. 246). The lack of such facilities makes rainwater turn the city into a flood zone. Even worse is the fact that the rainwater that drains into rivers from the city is useless for human because it is infiltrated with different kinds of urban waste. Problems and Challenges Facing Rural Areas Seeing that water supply is at the essence of everyone existence, the main problem comes up because quite a significant number of the world’s population does not play any role in water conservation or proper management. Most people carelessly use water without knowing the impact that their actions have on the sustainability of the resource. It is for such reasons that Eric et al., (2010, p.1); Guggenheim (2008, p.4); and Sanusi (2010, p.1) cite the lack of individual and community participation in sustainable water management as the biggest challenges facing the sustainable provision of clean water.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, Sanusi (2010, p.22) note that the low use of technology in water supply systems hinder the provision of clean and safe water to rural populations. Overall, governments are supposed to be the custodians of the citizenry’s welfare. However, they in some cases fail to play their rightful roles. In Kinshasa for example, poor city planning (which is the responsibility of government departments) has compromised urban development and by extension compounded the water problem in the rural areas. Solutions If the water management problems and challenges facing rural areas are to be managed, the urbanisation challenges that lead to them must be addressed. Specifically, in cities like Kinshasa, all stakeholders must work together to formulate and implement sustainable urban policies. Specifically, urban planning should be done in a manner that will uphold the integrity of waterways and other natural resources. As Eric et al. (2010, p. 249) aptly note, planning is essential for sustainable land use. The use of information technology is also a probable solution, which can provide affected stakeholders with efficient ways of obtaining, transmitting, storing, and retrieving relevant data (Eric et al., 2008, p.249). A case in point is the use of computer technology in Coleambally irrigation farms to monitor the water flow, temperatures, and water salinity in the paddy fields (Power, 2008, p. 9). The active involvement of all stakeholders should also count as a viable solution (Eric et al., 2010, p. 249). This is especially essential because sustainable water use concerns all people. As such, every person should be sensitized about the dire water shortage situation that the world is facing, and encouraged to use the resource in the most conservative manner possible. Conclusion There is little doubt that some of the water problems experienced in both the urban and rural areas can be overcome with proper planning and engineering solutions. By aping what Coleamba lly’s approach to planning 21st century urban areas, both developing and developed countries can preserve waterbeds, aquifers and natural freshwater bodies, while encouraging their respective populations to adopt sustainable water usage systems. After all, the world is now more than any other time in the past hard-pressed by the twin realities of a drier climate, and increased water demands. References Australian Bureau of statistics (2007) 2006 census quick stats: Coleambally (L) (Urban centre/ locality). Web. Eric M. M.N., Shouyu, C. and Qin, Z. (2010) Sustainable urbanisation’s challenge in democratic republic of Congo, Journal of Sustainable Development, 3 (2), 242-254. Gleitsmann, B, A., Kroma, M. A., and Steenhuis, T. (2007) Analysis of a rural water supply project in three communities in Mali: Participation and sustainability. Natural Resources Forum, 31, 142–150. Guggenheim, S. (2008) Crises and contradictions: understanding the origins of a community de velopment project in Indonesia. Web. Power, M. (2008) Peak water: Aquifers and rivers are running dry. How three regions are coping. Wired Magazine, 16 (05), 1-11. Sanusi, Y. A. (2010) Water, sanitation, and human development in urban fringe settlements in Nigeria. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, 8 (17), 1-17. This research paper on Sustainable Urbanisation Challenges that Paralyze the Development of Rural Communities was written and submitted by user Uriah R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

10 Essay Topics on History What Is Known About Aztec Culture

10 Essay Topics on History What Is Known About Aztec Culture The Aztecs are undoubtedly one of the most unusual cultures that ever existed. For centuries people have been thinking with horrified fascination about these people that combined complicated social structure, educational system and impressive scientific and cultural development with human sacrifice on massive scale, cannibalism and constant wars of conquest. Here are some Aztec culture facts that can make an awesome essay. Human Sacrifice Was the Basis of Aztec Culture and Religion Probably the first thing everybody thinks hearing about the Aztecs is human sacrifice – and for a good reason. All pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures practiced it to this or that extent, but the Aztecs took it to a completely new level. Gods Sacrificed Themselves for Humans’ Sake According to Aztec mythology, gods sacrificed their lives to sustain the fading sun and save humankind, and this made humans indebted to them for all eternity. Moreover, the sacrifice of gods was not a single act, but more of a continuous process, which required constant reenactment. The power of gods kept the sun alive, and to give gods this power, they had to give them blood and hearts, which were considered to be fragments of the sun’s heat. The Purpose of Wars Was to Get More Captives Aztecs divided time into 52-year cycles and fearfully ended the end of each – if the gods didn’t receive enough sacrifices throughout the cycle, the sun would go out and the world would end. The main reason for Flower Wars the Aztecs constantly waged on their neighbors was to provide enough captives to fill the sacrifice quota. Even Aztec war strategy and tactics were mainly devised to wound and capture rather than kill as many enemies as possible. The Aztecs Sacrificed 20 000 People per Year Human sacrifice was an extremely important part of everyday life in Aztec society – it was carried out during each of their many festivals and for special occasions and was accompanied by elaborate rituals and done by various methods according to which god it was intended for. The most popular method was the extraction of the heart, but victims were often burned, flayed, drowned, starved and decapitated. Afterwards priests would often wear their skins (they were considered holy relics and symbolized rebirth) and cannibalize their corpses. And there were a lot of them – during the opening ceremony of one particularly big temple, as reported in their codices, they slaughtered between 10,000 and 80,400 people in the course of four days, while normally settling for about 20,000 per year. The Aztecs Capital Was among the Biggest Cities of Europe Despite their extremely warlike nature and penchant for torture and human sacrifice, the Aztecs were far from being uncultured, which probably made them a great deal more disturbing and frightening. At the zenith of its glory their capital, Tenochtitlan, housed between 200,000 and 300,000 people, by far eclipsing most European cities of the time, with possible exceptions of Constantinople and Venice. The Aztecs Were the First to Introduce Universal Education The Aztecs were also probably the first nation in the world to ever establish the system of universal mandatory education – it took place before the age of 14 and was carried out by parents under supervision of authorities. Among other things, children had to learn the so-called â€Å"sayings of the old† – a collection of statements that embodied the Aztec ideals and conditioned them for future service. After 14 children attended more advanced schools, divided into two types: the ones dedicated to theoretical sciences like astronomy, writing, mathematics etc., and the ones dealing with military and practical education. All Aztecs Were Warriors Aztec civilization was based on domination over the surrounding peoples and aggressive expansion, and the Aztecs themselves were a nation of warriors from the outset. Being initially a small and insignificant migratory tribe, the Aztecs managed to conquer almost the entire Mesoamerican region in a little more than a century, and warfare occupied one of the central positions in their lifestyle and social arrangement. Aztec empire had a relatively small standing army for its size – only the members of elite warrior societies which were extremely hard to get into, served as full-time military forces. However, military training was an integral part of basic education, and every male Aztec was prepared to the role of a soldier since childhood. Therefore, during military campaigns large numbers of warriors were drafted from commoners. They Took Prisoners to Climb the Social Ladder Warfare was also the only way for a man of low birth to improve his station in life – through showing bravery on the field of battle and, in particular, through capturing enemy warriors alive for the further use as sacrifices. After taking four prisoners, one was accepted into one of elite warrior societies, like Eagle and Jaguar warriors. Taking six prisoners and more led to the greatest possible honor – to be accepted into the most prestigious society, Cuachicqueh, or the Shorn Ones (called so because they shaved their heads except for one braid over the left ear), who served as elite shock troops and swore to kill any of their number who makes a step back during a battle. The Aztecs Used Cacao Beans as Currency Trade was an important component of Aztec everyday life: their merchants travelled all across Mesoamerica and beyond and were united into exclusive guilds, and every large settlement had regular market days on which all kinds of merchandise exchanged hands. Basic currency for all transactions was cacao beans which had to be exported from lowlands. They were used mostly for small purchases; for large transactions the Aztecs used standardized lengths of cotton cloth of varying quality and value (from 65 to 300 beans). The Aztecs Had Some Rather Unusual Laws Aztec empire had a code of laws that regulated everyday life and meted out punishments. However, by our standards these regulations and punishments sometimes look rather bizarre. For example, death penalty (usually through strangulation) was common for serious crimes, which included murder, theft and public drunkenness (unless you were over 70 years old). The most usual punishment for less serious offences was to have your house demolished. These included, for example, petit larceny and wearing of clothes too lavish for your social status. The Aztecs will undoubtedly continue to intrigue us for many years to come. Fortunately, the body of evidence telling us about them is rather large compared with other Mesoamerican cultures, which means that you will have a lot of material for your history essay! References: A. Caso, The Aztecs, People of the Sun (tr. 1958, repr. 1967). Berdan, Frances F., Richard E. Blanton, Elizabeth H. Boone, Mary G. Hodge, Michael E. Smith and Emily Umberger (1996) Aztec Imperial Strategies. Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC. Brumfiel, Elizabeth M. (1998) Huitzilopochtlis Conquest: Aztec Ideology in the Archaeological Record. Cambridge Archaeological Journal. Durn, Fray Diego (1964) The Aztecs: The History of the Indians of New Spain. Translated by Fernando Horcasitas and Doris Heyden. Orion Press, New York. Kellogg, Susan (1995) Law and the Transformation of Aztec Culture, 1500-1700. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Leà ³n-Portilla, Miguel (1963) Aztec Thought and Culture: A Study of the Ancient Nhuatl Mind. Univ. Oklahoma Press, Norman. Smith, Michael E. (2003) The Aztecs. 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford.

Issues in Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Issues in Financial Reporting - Essay Example According to the article, the off–balance sheet financing and pension fund accounting disclose only net liability and asset which lean to misrepresent the balance sheet and create confusion for the investor. Finally there is an issue of electronic accounting. The article states that traditional financial reporting system must move to electronic database format for making analysis easy and correct. Stage 2: Substantive Issues Credit Crisis In the year 2008, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) took a series of steps towards resolving the problem of credit crisis. IASB has identified the need to concentrate on new market development to simplify the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). IASB mainly targeted the proposal of Financial Stability Forum (FSF). IASB directly observed the development of US accounting standards to avoid pointless contradiction in accounting in IFRS and GAAP (IASB, 2008). IASB has assigned the following steps: 1. Fair Value Me asurement: IASB has drafted guidelines on fair value measurement of financial instrument in market that are not active anymore. In the process of fair cost measurement IASB has formed a panel which includes expert advisors who will examine the fair cost measurement application. The expert advisors are selected according to practical experience of current market environment. The panel formed by IASB helps to review the valuation process. IASB requested the panel to judge the probable development to the regulation on ‘valuation and disclosure of financial instruments’ but in the mean time not to disclose the aptness of fair value as an approach to evaluate a particular type of financial instruments (IFRS Foundation, 2008). 2. Disclosure of Financial Instrument: IASB worked directly with FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) to formulate a common approach which was related to the issue of valuation of financial asset and liability. IAS 32 provides guidelines of the d isclosure about financial instrument, including information of fair cost are shown below: I. The financial asset should be disclosed at fair cost through profit or loss and must be shown separately (Ellis, 2007). II. The financial liability should be considered at amortized cost. In case of loan, the liability must disclose the maximum exposure to credit risk of any loan taken, or similar exposure to credit risk. Liability should disclose the amount of change in fair value of any associated credit or related instrument that has happened during the period when the loan was designated (Ellis, 2007). III. Financial instrument also disclose held–to–maturity investments, available– for – sale financial assets and receivables (Ellis, 2007). 3. Reclassify Financial Instrument: IASB has identified the need to scrutinise the accounting principles of IFRS for financial instruments. IASB has published a report which reflects on the possible alteration of IAS 39 stan dards (IASB, 2008). In the year 2008, IASB published a discussion paper which reflexes public statements about reducing complexity in