Injustice Anywhere

Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere Sabeen Ijaz Ahmed B. B. I. T. (Hons) 4th Year, GIFT University This article won the first prize (Rs. 25,000 cash) in the 2nd Annual All Pakistan Essay Writing Competition held by Quaid-e-Azam Law College. â€Å"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. † These powerful words were penned in a letter from a prison cell of Birmingham Jail in 1963, by one of America's best known advocate of equal rights – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to him, all humans are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in single garment of destiny.Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Hence injustice with one individual of a society can affect the life of other individuals of the society. Before we make society understand the need of justice in this essay lets first talk about what justice really is. Justice is the ideal, morally correct state of things and persons. Justice is action in accordanc e with the requirements of some law. Whether these rules are grounded in human consensus or societal norms, they are supposed to ensure that all members of society receive fair treatment.Justice is distinguished from other ethical standards as required and as, overwhelmingly important: justice can be thought of as distinct from, and more important than, benevolence, charity, mercy, generosity or compassion. All of these things may be valuable, but they are supererogatory rather than required. We need to know more than this: we need to know what justice is, not merely what it is not, and several answers to that problem have been proposed.. Justice is linked, both etymologically and conceptually, to the idea of justification: having and giving decisive reasons for one's beliefs and actions.So, attempts to understand justice are typically attempts to discover the justification – the source or basis – of justice, and therefore to account for (or disprove) its overwhelming importance. Justice becomes more essential for Islamic country like our due to the emphasis of Islamic teachings on justice. As it is said in Quran: â€Å"God enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids indecency and abomination and wickedness. † [Surah Nahl; 16:90] Justice is perhaps the most important of the supreme values of Islam.In fact, it can be said that the main purpose of revelation and the tasks of Prophets (alayhum salam) has been to establish Justice. Thus, one of the early scholars of Islam has said that: â€Å"Where the signs of Justice appear and its face is shown in any way that is where the Law of God and His religion are found. † Justice is the first principle of social life. It can be shown to govern all relations in life: between ruler and ruled, rich and poor, husband and wife, parents and children.In all our dealings, we are required to stand firmly for justice even if it is against our own self and our kith and kin, for lov e too can lead to injustice. â€Å"O you who believe! Be firm in justice as witnesses for God, even in cases against yourselves, your parents or your kin† [Surah Nisa; 4: 135] â€Å"And if you give your word, you must be just, even though it be against your kin, and fulfill the covenant of God. For that is what He has commanded you that you may remember. † [Surah An'am; 6: 152] The fear of committing injustice may even prevent the doing of an act that is otherwise permissible.In fact one of the derived principles of the Shar'iah is that all permissible things are permissible provided that no damage or harm results to others from their practice and that in the event that such damage or harm is -suspected or confirmed, the permissible shall be prohibited to avert such damage or harm. Issues of justice arise in several different spheres and play a significant role in causing, perpetuating, and addressing conflict. Just institutions tend to instill a sense of stability, we ll-being, and satisfaction among society members, while perceived injustices can lead to dissatisfaction, rebellion, or revolution.Each of the different spheres expresses the principles of justice and fairness in its own way, resulting in different types and concepts of justice; distributive, procedural, retributive, and restorative. These types of justice have important implications for socio-economic, political, civil, and criminal justice at both the national and international level. Distributive justice, or economic justice, is concerned with giving all members of society a â€Å"fair share† of the benefits and resources available.Fair allocation of resources, or distributive justice, is crucial to the stability of a society and the well-being of its members. When issues of distributive justice are inadequately addressed and the item to be distributed is highly valued, intractable conflicts frequently result. Procedural justice is concerned with making and implementing de cisions according to fair processes that ensure â€Å"fair treatment. † Rules must be impartially followed and consistently applied in order to generate an unbiased decision. If people believe procedures to be fair, they will be more likely to accept outcomes, even ones that they do not like.Implementing fair procedures is central to many dispute resolution procedures, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication. Retributive justice appeals to the notion of â€Å"just dessert† – the idea that . people deserve to be treated in the same way they treat others. It is a retroactive approach that justifies punishment as a response to past injustice or wrongdoing. The central idea is that the offender has gained unfair advantages through his or her behavior, and that punishment will set this imbalance straight.While it is difficult to give a complete and adequate definition of justice, most observers can recognize clear examples of serious injustice when they arise. Such injustice comes in various forms, wherever the norms of distributive justice, procedural justice, or human rights are violated. Political injustice involves the violation of individual liberties, including the denial of voting rights or due process, infringements on rights to freedom of speech or religion, and inadequate protection from cruel and unusual punishment.Such injustice often stems from unfair procedures, and involves political systems in which some but not others are allowed to have voice and representation in the processes and decisions that affect them. This sort of procedural injustice can contribute to serious social problems as well as political ones. If voting or litigation procedures, for example, are perceived to be unjust, any outcome they produce is liable to be unstable and produce conflict. In addition,; any procedures that are carried out in a biased manner are likely to contribute to problems of religious, ethnic, gender, or race discr imination.When the procedure in question has to do with employment or wages, such issues can lead to serious economic and social problems. The highly-publicized rape case of Mukhtaran Mai, also referred to as Mukhtar Mai or Mukhtaran Bibi, highlights the Pakistani government's shortcomings in dealing with violence against women and its persecution of rape victims. In 2002, Mukhtaran was sentenced to be gang raped by a tribal council in the province of Punjab as punishment for her younger brother's alleged affair with a woman from a powerful clan.After the initial trial, six men were sentenced to death for the gang rape, while eight others were acquitted. However, last June, the Punjab High Court overturned five of the convictions and reduced the sixth to a life sentence. Mukhtaran Mai received donations adding up to $160,000 from New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff' s coverage of the case. Mukhtaran has used the money to open two schools in her village, a shelter for abused w omen and provide her village with an ambulance. When Mukhtaran was invited to the United States to talk about her case, the Pakistani government – fearing hat she would malign the country's image abroad – denied her travel visa to the United States, and placed her under house arrest. Only -fallowing great international attention and pressure was the travel ban lifted. While Pakistan's High Court suspended the acquittals of Mukhtaran's rapists and will be re-examining the case, the government's lassitude in amending the Hudood Ordinances – which place insurmountable obstacles for women to safely and successfully obtain justice in their rape cases – foments an environment in which violence is perpetrated against women with virtual impunity.If women are unable to prove rape under the Hudood law, which requires four adult Muslim males to have witnessed the crime or the confession of the rapist himself, then the victims themselves may be tried for adultery or fornication. Mukhtaran is not the only victim of our political injustice. According to press reports cited by the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, a non-governmental organization, more than 10,000 women are raped every year in Pakistan, although the real figure is thought to be much higher.As in all countries, women are often reluctant to report rape, for social reasons as well as distrust of the judicial process. In Pakistan, there are additional legal barriers to pursuing a rape conviction. The rape law itself, one of the offenses of zina under the Hudood Ordinances, requires either the confession of the perpetrator or the eye-witness testimony of at least four Muslim adult male witnesses to the rape. If she is unable to prove rape, a woman who reports rape to the police is vulnerable to prosecution herself under the Hudood Ordinances for fornication if she is unmarried or adultery if she is married.In addition to these formidable legal barriers to the prosecution of rape, there have been several reports of police involvement in rapes and gang-rapes and of police protection of those accused of rape, particularly when they are from influential families. Women who have been raped are also at risk of â€Å"honor† killings, whereby a male relative kills them because they are thought to have dishonored the family's name in the community by transgressing social norms, which is seen to include having been raped. It has been estimated that on average one thousand â€Å"honor† killings take place each year in Pakistan.Even the Pakistan Government's National Commission on the Status of Women has recommended repeal of the Hudood Ordinances on the grounds that they are discriminatory towards women and not in accordance with Islamic injunctions. They are also contrary to the Convention on the Elimination of ; All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) , to which Pakistan is a party, and to the Constitution of Pakistan, which states at Article 25 tha t â€Å"(1) All citizens are equal before law and are entitled for equal protection of law. (2) There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone. Crimes of honor are a pre-Islamic practice deeply rooted in the tribal societies of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where Upper Dir is located, Balochistan province, as well as those of Sindh and Punjab where they are called â€Å"karo kari†. In these rigidly patriarchal communities, wives, daughters, sisters and mothers are killed for the least sexual indiscretion and upon the slightest suspicion of adultery. Murders in the name of honor fall under the purview of the customary ‘qisas and diyat' law. Riddled with flaws, it makes prosecution extremely difficult.Activists have been urging the government to reform the law but a bill seeking to bolster secular law against honor killings, presented in parliament last year, was defeated as un-Islamic. â€Å"Drastic changes are needed,† Rakshanda Naz, reside nt director of Aurat Foundation told IPS. â€Å"The social mind-set, specially the attitude of the courts, needs to change. Often the courts adopt a lenient view towards an accused on the grounds of â€Å"grave and sudden provocation† which is nowhere in the law,† she added. Sections of the qisas and diyat law work to the advantage of the accused in the trial and appellate stages.Under section 309 of the law, an adult wall (legal heir) of a deceased could use his right of qisas (to forgive the accused). Similarly, under section 310, the offence of murder is made a compoundable offence and any heir of a deceased could forgive an accused by compounding his right of qisas after receiving compensation.. Since in most honor-related murders, either a husband or parents are the heirs of the slain woman and as the murder takes place in connivance with almost all the family members, they prefer to waive their right of qisas and pardon the accused.Each time, the judicial respons e has appeared to violate the basic principles of justice, activists observed. Uzma Mehboob, a women's rights activist, said no FIR was registered in a recent case in a remote hamlet in NWFP's Mardan district where a powerful landowner sprayed his daughter and driver, who had eloped together, with bullets. Economic injustice involves the state's failure to provide individuals with basic necessities of life, such as access to adequate food and housing, and its maintenance of huge discrepancies in wealth.In the most extreme cases of misdistribution, some individuals suffer from poverty while the elite of that society live in relative luxury. Such injustice can stem from unfair hiring procedures, lack of available jobs and education, and insufficient health care. All of these conditions may lead individuals to believe that they have not received a â€Å"fair share† of the benefits and resources available in that society. Many scholars and activists note that in order to truly ad dress injustice internationally, we must strive to understand its underlying causes.These causes have to do with underdevelopment, economic pressures, various social problems, and international conditions. Indeed, the roots of repression, discrimination, and other injustice stem from deeper and more complex political, social, and economic problems. It is only by understanding and ameliorating these root causes and strengthening civil society that we can truly protect human rights. Addressing political injustice is often a matter of developing institutions of fair governance, such as a responsible police force and judiciary. Legislative action and executive decision-making should likewise be held accountable.Such measures are sometimes a matter of reforming state > institutions or revising state constitution. In cases where some groups are excluded from political participation, the state can remedy violations of political rights by promoting political inclusion and empowering subordi nate groups. Public decision-making should respond to the will of the citizens, and members of the society should have the opportunity to participate in the formulation, execution, and monitoring of state policies. In other words, a culture of political involvement and public participation should be fostered.In addition, there are various social structural changes that might give groups more social, economic, and/or political power. This is often accomplished through the strengthening of the economy and civil society in conjunction with democratization efforts. In some cases countries require outside assistance for election monitoring, nation-building programs and the development of governmental infrastructure to make their political system more stable. Addressing systemic economic injustice is often a matter of economic reforms that give groups better access to jobs, health care, and education.In many cases, lack of access to basic services stems from enormous inequalities in resou rce distribution. Redistribution of benefits and resources can thus-‘ be an important component of social structural changes to remedy injustice. There are various institutional and economic development reforms that might be put in place to raise living standards and boost economic growth. In addition, by creating social and economic safety nets, states can eliminate tension and instability caused by unfair resource allocation. A central goal of responding to injustice is paving the way for future peace.Once conflict has ended and policies of oppression have been repealed, society members face the task of rebuilding their society. Many believe that measures aimed at restorative justice are well-suited for this task. Restorative Justice is concerned with healing wounds of victims and repairing harm done to interpersonal relationships and the community. It can play a crucial role in responding to severe human rights violations or cases of genocide. Huge advances are made when go vernments tell the truth about past atrocities carried out by the state. It is thought that true healing equires remembering the atrocities committed, repenting, and forgiving. War crimes inquiries and truth commissions can aid in the process of memory and truth telling and help to make public the extent to which victims have/suffered. One of the tragic examples of restorative injustice in Pakistan is of the incident of taking away Masihs children away from him. According to the law, all parents in Pakistan – including Christian parents such as the Masihs – have the right to raise their children in their own faith. But the law isn't always followed in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.Particularly when it comes to Christians. The girls were taken Jan. 25 by the family's landlady and her husband with police escorts. The couple contended that the children had converted to Islam and should no longer remain in a Christian home. The Masihs maintain that their daughters are s till Christians, no matter what anyone says, and that even if they did convert to Islam, they should stay with their parents. But 14-year-old Nadia, 11-year-old Nyla and 9-year-old Nabila are gone, and it's unclear whether they'll ever be allowed to return home.The city magistrate overseeing the case admits he decided against the Christians not on the basis of law but on public sentiment and a concern that he could have a religious riot on his hands. â€Å"Legally speaking, they should have been given to their parents,† says Kamran? Abdullah Siddiqi, leaning back in a cushioned chair in his office, where two armed policeman sit against a wall. But Siddiqi says if he did that, â€Å"Some crazy person would come and say these are the children of Islam. They'd say we're going to chop you. We're going to shoot you.We're going to – what did the KKK used to say in America? – lynch you. † Article 36 of Pakistan's Constitution promises to safeguard the rights and interests of religious minorities. But human rights organizations say that's not happening. The U. S. State Department agrees, citing a government-fostered â€Å"atmosphere of religious intolerance† that has led to violence against religious minorities. In Pakistan, 97 percent of the population is Muslim; the rest is made up mostly of Christians but also of Hindus, Buddhists and other groups.Partly at the prodding of concerned American Christian groups, the U. S. Congress earlier this month passed legislation requiring the president to take action against nations that engage in a pattern of religious persecution. In the 1980s, the United States gave Pakistan billions of dollars for economic development. But in recent years, concern that Pakistan was developing a nuclear bomb has prompted sanctions, slashing aid to the millions of dollars, most of it for humanitarian, food and counter narcotics efforts.Pakistan's decision to test nuclear weapons in – May – furth er cooled US – Pakistan relations. Pakistan's pattern of religious persecution, documented for years in State Department reports, could lead to further sanctions. This is not the only case, there are still many stories but the need here is not just to highlight the stories but also to make sure these stories end up with the mess they have already poured in our Islamic society. Restoration often becomes a matter of restitution or war reparations.In cases where clear acts of injustice have taken place, some type of compensation package can help to meet the material and emotional needs of victims and remedy the injustice. Repentance can also help to re-establish relationships among the conflicting parties and help them to move toward reconciliation. In some cases, conflicts can end more peacefully when parties acknowledge their guilt and apologize than when formal war crimes adjudication or criminal proceedings are used. In cases of civil war, because the line between offenders and victims can become blurred, a central goal of peace building is to restore the community as a whole.Restoration often becomes tied to the transformation of the relationship between the conflicting parties. However, such restoration cannot take place unless it is supported by wider social conditions and unless the larger community makes restorative processes available. Many note that an adequate response to injustice must involve social structural changes, reconstruction programs to help communities ravaged by conflict, democratization and the creation of institutions of civil society. Only then can the underlying causes of injustice be remedied.Summing up my thesis I would only add that by setting examples of injustice we are actually creating fear in the society to fight for their basic rights. This fear is one of the major causes of our poor economy and this is the vital reason, why we are left behind from other countries. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1)http://www. beyondintractability. org/ essay/address_in justice/ 2)http://www. spectrezine. org/global/Bello. htm 3)Pakistan, G. (2003). Accelerating Economic Growth and Reducing Poverty: The Road Ahead.Islamabad: Government of Pakistan. 4)http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Global_justice 5)http://www. injusticefilm. co. uk/impactofinjustice. htm 1 6)http://www. himalmag. com/2006/may/analysis_3. html 7)http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Justice 8)http://www. pakistanchristianpost. com/newsviewsdetail s. php? newsid=255 9)http://www. wisdomquotes. com/cat_conscience. html 10)http: //prague. usembassy. gov/060117__mlk. html 11)http://www. equalitynow. org/english/urgent/urgent_muk htaranmai en. html

Comparing: In Paris with You; His Coy Mistress Essay

Both poems are about love – love that has been lost, damaged and tainted. In Paris with You is the bitter tale of a man who tries to move on from a lover that has left the man broken, biting and bleak, his poem is a woeful tale of the breakdown of what was clearly a precious relationship that had soured over time leading the man into a spiral of distress and Paris. The title itself suggests his biting personality In Paris with You – when you initially read it ideas of romance and love fill your mind but upon reading the poem all these thoughts go out the window and you realise the narrator’s vexation towards this person and the negative connotations they carry from the narrator’s point of view. Countering In Paris with You is His Coy Mistress a poem about an age old love that is dominated by lust and fuelled with an intense passion, the poem shows that the narrator’s appetite for lust can turn spiteful and the cruelty shown towards the women in the second stanza indicates the fickle nature of the narrator which is further proved in stanza three. The second poem is different from the first in the sense the narrator seems to have more respect for the woman he compares her to â€Å"rubies† and countless mentions of his adoration and dedication towards her, he complains that her â€Å"coyness† has distanced the two and exaggerates it as he subtly mentions the River Ganges and Humber two different locations which he uses not just to compliment her and her beauty but also to suggest the space they share between them. However this does not hinder his ‘love’ for her as he calls it a â€Å"vegetable love† that â€Å"should grow† which implicates themes of a natural, healthy love that is fresh and genuine, a love that is â€Å"vaster than empires† invoking thoughts of power and might – influential even. Opposing His Coy Mistress is In Paris with You the narrator treats the women like a slave someone who he sees as an object to distract himself from the woman who â€Å"bamboozledà ¢â‚¬  him, he uses nautical imagery such as â€Å"hostage† and â€Å"marooned† to describe his situation which suggests his feeling of confinement and restriction and why he may not want to go sightseeing in Paris because he wants to stay hidden away from the harsh sunlight and cruel world staying secluded in his own private island of misery with only his new ‘lover’ to keep him company. In the second stanza of His Coy Mistress the narrator changes his mood towards the woman changing his love-struck  attitude to one that is enraged and resentful, he spites her by suggesting â€Å"worms shall try that long preserved virginity† simultaneously mocking her chastity and her pride. He shows contempt by repeatedly acting like she is unwanted by all except death because of her â€Å"coyness† he says her â€Å"quaint honour shall turn to dust† to pressure her in a way by suggesting what she is doing now is useless and holds no meaning much like In Paris With You when the narrator repeatedly infers that what they do in Paris is not at all significant and is a band aid – a quick fix for his previous lover. Unlike In Paris with You His Coy Mistress turns remorseful and apologises indirectly by slowly coaxing her to embrace their lust and embrace and empower their love while In Paris with You remains the same unapologetic and laced with innuendos til l the very end.

Autism

Autism Essay Autism Essay 3 An Assessment of Autism Autism is a physical disorder of the brain that causes a lifelong developmental disability. The many different symptoms of autism can occur by themselves or in combination with other conditions such as: mental retardation, blindness, deafness, and epilepsy. Children with autism vary widely in their abilities and behavior. Each symptom may appear differently in each child. Children with autism often show some forms of bizarre, repetitive behavior called stereotyped behavior. Each child with autism is unique, with their own individual range of symptoms and behaviors. Broad areas of similarity have been identified so that it is now possible to make some basic general statements about what children with autism are like as a group. Some symptoms and characteristics are: failure to develop normal socialization, problems in speech, language, and communication, strange relationships to objects and events, unusual responses to sensory stimulation, and progress delays. Autism 4 Scientists do not know why some children have autism. Studies have found that people with autism have differences in the structure of their cerebellums. Research is still unclear to be able to draw conclusions to biological and genetic causes. Scientists have only identified one specific genetic connection with autism. A genetic syndrome called, fragile X syndrome. Fragile X syndrome is a recently discovered form of genetically caused mental retardation. Both sexes are affected by fragile X syndrome, with males usually more seriously affected. Children with fragile X syndrome can have behavior problems such as: hyperactivity, aggression, self-injury, and autistic-like behaviors. Severe language delays and problems are common. Delayed motor development and poor sensory skills are also disabilities associated with fragile X syndrome (Jordan Powell, 1995). In the United States, there are at least 400,000 people with autism, about one-third of them are children. Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities (Harris Weiss, 1998). Autism 5 For reasons researchers don not know, autism occurs about three to four times more frequently in boys than in girls. For children with more severe cognitive limitations, the ratio is closer to two to one. For the group of children with higher cognitive skills, boys are more frequently represented at a rate greater than four to one. Girls, when affected, are more likely to be more seriously affected by symptoms of autism (Quill, 1995, p. 219). To many experts and parents the number of children with autism seems to be increasing at a faster pace than before. In fact, some recent research studies of the occurrence of autism suggest that it is twice as high as previous studies had indicated (Jordan Powell, 1995). Fortunately, the understanding of the needs of children is changing just as is the care applied to the diagnostic process. This is leading to better understanding of the importance of tailoring educational, social, and communication involvement to the needs and strengths of children with autism (Quill, 1995, p. 167). Autism 6 When autism was identified in 1943, it was a disorder that was misinterpreted and puzzled most professionals. Since than, studies have given us understanding into autism as a brain based disorder which children are born with. Though no cure has been found to date to treat children with autism, researchers are on the brink of discovery one (Harris Weiss, 1998). .

How to reduce smoking in america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How to reduce smoking in america - Essay Example Cigarettes also come with huge financial implications to the smokers and their families; for instance, with a pack of cigarettes costing about 10$ in some areas, a pack per day smokers spent a whopping $3,650 in a year. In this regard, cigarette smoking not only leads to catastrophic health risks, it also comes with huge financial ramifications to the smokers and the American society in general. America should actively reduce smoking for the good of everyone as this is likely to have more benefits to the people such as improved health and financials. This paper will focus on how America can reduce smoking as a health hazard, to improve the health of its citizenry and to make America a better place for future generations. America has been traditionally engaged with the task of merely reducing preventable deaths through cigarette smoking especially in recognition of the fact that it cannot be stopped entirely. So much has been done already, but still there is yet a lot to be achieved i n that new cigarette addicts emerge every day in America. One of the major strategies that can work in America is the controversial cigarettes’ tax hike, which has a high potential of lowering the smoking rates in America. According to a research by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, there was a considerable drop in cigarette sales in 2009 after a 62-cent hike per pack was passed (Hargreaves); if this trend is anything to go by, then it means that a tax hike on cigarettes can have substantial public health benefits. Recently, president Obama’s proposal to affect a 94-cent per pack hike on cigarettes stirred a lot of debate with anti-smoking groups in support of the move against some tax experts and tobacco companies. The tax has been designed as a way of cutting smoking rates and a source of income for educational programmes across America; a cigarette free society would definitely make America a better place to live. The other approach that America should quickly ado pt in order to reduce smoking is to fund tobacco control programs that aim to limit smoking of cigarettes in America. A much disturbing revelation is that many US-state governments have not prioritized the task of reducing cigarette smoking in their expansive programs. According to Reuters, many US-state governments receive huge sums of money from tobacco sales and legal settlements with cigarette makers, but only a little is spent on funding programs that can help people reduce and quit smoking altogether (Gray). Anti-tobacco media campaigns can be another effective way of reducing smoking in America as this will raise awareness on the dangers of cigarettes to the public and the health benefits associated with reduced smoking. For instance, more aggressive approaches such as uncompromising graphic admonition on cigarette packages can be very effective on discouraging cigarette smoking; however, despite that this rule has been implemented in many countries around the world, as has b een maintained in the US federal courts (Daynard). This is largely because it is feared that the advertising may infringe on the manufacturers First Amendment rights thus cigarettes are still tolerated in American societies while the courts hesitate. Cigarette manufacturers would rather safeguard their profits at the expense of the unsuspecting public and as such would want nothing to jeopardize their trade in the

Management of change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

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Control in an Organization Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Control in an Organization - Case Study Example Whisemand and Ferguson (2009) proposed a management style called Agile Organization that expands the perception on police forces. The proponent has taken into account years on experience as a police officer before drawing such strategy. Whisemand and Ferguson maintain that police organizations need to define their values. These are the aspects that give justification to their existence and foundations for all police actions. The next part involves the creation of a vision. The vision serves as the operational backbone and leads the force to their plotted goals. Whisemand and Ferguson contend that the vision has to prepare policemen to changes as well as improve the flexibility of the organization. The size of the police force is important in the success of the entity. Whisemand and Ferguson suggest that â€Å"The Rule of 150† (2009, 288) is the best start. Increasing the number of policemen beyond 150 poses several problems especially in the management aspect. Bureaucracy beco mes an issue when there are several chains and subsections. Lean organizations ensure better lateral movement and improvement communication within the organization. Speed often makes or breaks organizations. The pace in which leaders react to important events related to the police for will determine future success. Decision making is critical and such needs to be carried out seamlessly. For most crime victims, justice starts when the police force does their homework and resolves the cases. Moreover, information dissemination has to speed up to improve overall police work. Alternative approaches to managing police organizations require limitless possibilities. This means ending of boundaries within organizations such as making the operation more efficient and leaving by-the-book styles behind. More important, an entity of meritocracy has to be implemented where promotions are not based on connections or in most cases seniority. Most police entities have fixed goals and plans. Whisema nd and Ferguson proposes a brand of management that stretches these goals. The aim of this scheme is to eliminate rigid views and open an avenue of ideas and useful insight. Despite the complex issues facing police organizations, operations need to be done with simplicity. The method of communication has to be concise and delivered with a sense of clarity. In addition, facts and statistics have to be presented in a manner understandable to all stakeholders. At the end of an operating year, there has to be an evaluation done by the management. This involves an appraisal of decisions made and plans put to action. This ensures that past mistakes are prevented and contingency measures are drafted in the future. Also, continuous improvement has to be a theme well embedded among

Why Most Changes Fail Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why Most Changes Fail - Assignment Example Failure rate remains high because a huge gap prevails between knowing the subject and transferring that knowledge into action. Rick highlights four mistakes that are responsible for these failures. Firstly, knowledge itself cannot lead to support or commitment from the participants. The focus needs to be on how to bring people's commitment on the change process. Secondly, employee engagement is not granted due importance in the right context. The point is that changes are thrust upon people without giving any space to them to influence the very basic idea of change or participate in the plan process. The Gallup's findings are worth contemplating in this context when they say that there is a great disparity with regard to employee engagement between an average and any world-class organization. Its cost has been estimated over $300 billion in terms of lost productivity in the US itself. Thirdly, Fear of change itself prevents employees to participate in change process with dedication b ecause they view the change process as a threat to their existence in the organization. Moreover, fearful employees cannot focus whole heartedly in the change process. Finally, trust is a crucial element while implementing any change process in the organization. That is to say that the leader needs to develop trust in employees while embarking on any change process, if the organization wants to ensure that the change process goes through successfully. ... Apple's retail store management is a classic case of creating employee engagement. The retail stores are founded on the basic tenet – engaged employees create engaged customers (Customer Experience Matters). For creating employee engagement, the Apple has employed 20-year young adults who love Apple products by heart. These young employees are paid above minimum wage with all other fringe benefits including 401K contributions. Even they are offered employee stock options to buy company stocks. Employee engagements in Apple products help create customers engagement in Apple products resulting into a burgeoning sale of all Apple products. It is a fact that Apple stores bring in more money per square foot than any other retailer in the US. While developing employee engagement, organizations cannot rest on old laurels but needs continuous focus based on the current feedbacks. Employee engagement is crucial for overall success of change management process; however, the most crucial part is how to achieve employee engagement that only a few world-class organizations can achieve consistently? It is true that change management process evokes an unknown fear among employees; however, it is equally true that people resist change and this resistance is also due to inertia as a natural tendency. Every change needs conscious action and natural inertia opposes that. Mechanical living means the process that is devoid of conscious efforts. In organizations, usually, a major part of routine daily activities are mechanical in nature that does not require a conscious effort on part of the employees. Changes process forces them to be alive, alert and agile all the time. This is a conflicting situation between natural inertia and need to

H.I.V in the Homeless in San Francisco, CA Essay

H.I.V in the Homeless in San Francisco, CA - Essay Example San Francisco is located within California, USA and is one of the leading regions in HIV prevention amongst other services such as, care, and treatment from the initial stages of the epidemic within the United States. The region is recognized for provision of high quality HIV care that also involves administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Such healthcare services within San Francisco benefits all residents regardless of their financial abilities. San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has considered health of the community as priority since such initiatives are crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality in those living with HIV-infections. However, methods of initiating and administering ART have changed over time. Originally, ART was recommendable only for those who were immune compromised (either a CD4 cell count under 200 cells) (Kushel et al., 2006). However, there has been increase towards CD4 count on which ART was recommendable. This was due to availability of information on the adverse effects of HIV even in the presence of moderate immunodeficiency. This was also because of record decline in ART-related toxicity and pill burden. In the year 2011, there was pronounced evidence of the effect of ART on reduced risk of sexual transmission of HIV. The publication of such information triggered debate over the risks involved in delaying therapy. However, in 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reviewed its policy and advised citizens on recommendations that ART.

Public speaking and democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Public speaking and democracy - Essay Example While one may argue that the importance that is given to demagoguery in a democratic setup subverts the role of an intelligent citizen by tricking him and showing disrespect to the wisdom and trust of an electorate, it is also true that extremely important points are made during speeches that serve to move people to the side of righteous causes and also to rightly channelize the anger of a nation for productive purposes. This has been seen time and again in the history of the United States of America. A successful democracy, America has always placed a great amount of importance on the ability of its public figures to engage in oratory. It is no coincidence that most of the American presidents were excellent orators and could move masses to their point of view time and again and in the process, win their trust and love. The importance that is placed on oratory in a free democracy may also stem from the basic right to speech that citizens are provided with in a democratic nation. The right to express oneself from a public platform in order to communicate one’s views to another person or group remains the highest expression of one’s right to free speech. ... People also share a great interest in the contents of political speeches, with replies and counter-arguments being a part of the discussions that permeate the lives of a modern man in a democratic state. These events are also a site where the political leaders who give speeches are able to demonstrate the strength of the numbers of people that follow their views, apart from being an opportunity to win more followers and thus increase their base of supporters. This would enable them to not only win elections, but also to sustain the trust that people have in them. In many cases, an emotional and moral mandate of the population is necessary before a government undertakes any action of grave importance, something that may have a profound effect on the lives of the people of a country. This may be made possible through a powerful verbal assertion of the reasons that a leader may have for undertaking that particular action. This also demonstrates the effectiveness of public speaking as a tool in a democracy for the purpose of maintaining communication between the holders of executive authority and the electorate. In a democratic nation, public speaking is a tool that political and other leaders may use in order to stay in constant contact with the masses. This may help to impart to the masses the feeling that the state is being looked after in a good manner. This also enables the government in power to block allegations that may be leveled against it by people of differing viewpoints. The act of public speaking, thus, enables a citizen of a democratic country to express dissent that may then be shared by many sections of the society. It may also be used to attract attention to a certain problem that may have otherwise gone unnoticed by the

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Accounting - Essay Example A company that has low long term debt can abtain cheaper prices as far as interest rates from lenders. The disadvantage is that the company is leading idle potential opportunities to grow. c) A large cash balance allows a company to obtain interest revenue. A large cash fund gives a firm stability and reduces business risk. A disadvantege is the cost of opportunity of using that cash asset on some other projects that can generate a larger return on investment. 6. The change in methodoly from FIFO to average inventory created a price that is more realistic and better adjuted to market changes. The effects in the accounting books of such a change could be either an understatement or overstanment of the inventory total. 7. a) The mission of the FASB is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information (Fasb, 2009). c) The procurement plan utilizes a framework of the following factors: pervasive of the issue, alternative solutionsk, technical feasability, practical consequence, covergence possibilities, cooperative opportunities, and

Gold and Diamond Mining of Africa Essay Example for Free

Gold and Diamond Mining of Africa Essay * Diamond mining in Africa Ever since the Kimberley diamond strike of 1868, South Africa has been a world leader in diamond production. The primary South African sources of diamonds, including seven large diamond mines around the country, are controlled by the De Beers Consolidated Mines Company. In 2003, De Beers’s operations accounted for 94% of the nations total diamond output of 11,900,000 carats. Nicky Oppenheimer, the current Chairman of DeBeers. * The life of the miners The search for diamonds is not exactly easy. Many miners and diamond diggers in sub-Saharan Africa travel great distances to find work and submit to gruelingly long hours for low wages – or sometimes no wages – in substandard conditions. Child labor has long been a problem in informal diamond mines, especially during times of war. Children have often been exploited to do excavation work because they are small enough to be lowered into small, narrow pits by ropes to dig out sacks of dirt, which is in turn washed by other children in search of diamonds. During Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war, children were often used as soldiers and workers in the rich Koidu diamond mines that funded the country’s rebels. USAID launched the Kono Peace Diamond Alliance in 2002 to try to improve the working conditions in the mines – particularly for children. But it is an uphill battle across Africa to get children who are either family breadwinners, or fending for themselves or conscripted into slave-like labor to stop working and go to school. A child solider in Africa Land is often cleared and vegetated areas dug up to create open pit mines in he rushed search for diamond deposits, leaving them unsuitable for other farming activities. Informal mining in hilly areas also leads to erosion – and, in turn, flooding. The salt, heavy minerals and chemical products from mining equipment can run off into rivers and pollute vital water sources for mining communities and people living downstream. * gold mining in Africa South Africa accounted for 15% of the worlds gold production in 2002 and 12% in 2005, though the nation had produced as much as 30% of world output as recently as 1993. Despite declining production, South Africas gold exports were valued at $3. billion USD in 2005. Almost 50% of the worlds gold reserves are found in South Africa. Barrick Gold Corporation is the largest pure gold miningcompany in the world, with its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and four regional business units (RBUs) located in Australia, Africa, North America and South America. Barrick is currently undertaking mining and exploration projects in Saudi Arabia, Papua New Guinea, the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Australia, Peru, Chile, Russia, South Africa,Pakistan, Colombia, Argentina and Tanzania. For 2008, it produced 7. million ounces of gold at a cash cost of US $443/ounce. As of December 31, 2008 its proven and probable gold mineral reserves stand at 138. 5 million ounces. Peter monk, the wizard of gold mining * The life of gold miners The unknown factor in South Africa is the future of labor costs. The mines employ several hundred thousand miners underground: half the production costs are for wages. Most of the gold miners are members of the black National Union of Mineworkers, which is pressing hard both for political and social reform, and for better wages and working conditions for its members. But the long-delayed beginnings of political reform in South Africa in the late 1980s coincided with a slump in gold prices. The South African gold mines, many of them a century old, were by then the worlds deepest, and were technically very difficult and financially very expensive to operate even in spite of the low wages paid to the miners. The quality of the ore was slowly dropping: the average gold ore now averages less than 5 grams of gold per tonne. Winnie Mandela is on record as saying to black miners, You hold the golden key to our liberation. The moment you stop digging gold and diamonds, that is the moment you will be free. She could not be more wrong. If the gold mines close, the economic disaster will be visited most on the poorer section of society, the blacks. The South African reforms were predicated absolutely on a stable and healthy economy. In 1999, the price of gold dropped to a low point around $250/oz. This was very bad news for South African gold companies, South African gold miners, and the South African government. Gold companies scrambled to reorganize and streamline their operations. By the time the price again reached $290 again in early 2000, the gold industry had changed dramatically, in South Africa and globally. Health problems of gold miners who worked underground include decreased life expectancy; increased frequency of cancer of the trachea, bronchus, lung, stomach, and liver; increased frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), silicosis, and pleural diseases; increased frequency of insect-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever; noise-induced hearing loss; increased prevalence of certain bacterial and viral diseases; and diseases of the blood, skin, and musculoskeletal system. These problems are briefly documented in gold miners from Australia, North America, South America, and Africa. In general, HIV infection or excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption tended to exacerbate existing health problems. Miners who used elemental mercury to amalgamate and extract gold were heavily contaminated with mercury. Among individuals exposed occupationally, concentrations of mercury in their air, fish diet, hair, urine, blood, and other tissues significantly exceeded all criteria proposed by various national and international regulatory agencies for protection of human health.

Definition And Types Of Social Capital

Definition And Types Of Social Capital Social capital is the the aggregate of the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition (Bourdieu 1983: 249). Social capital is defined by its function. It is not a single entity, but a variety of different entities, having two characteristics in common: they all consist of some aspect of a social structure, and they facilitate certain actions of individuals who are within the structure (Coleman 1994: 302). Whereas physical capital refers to physical objects and human capital refers to the properties of individuals, social capital refers to connections among individuals social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them. In that sense social capital is closely related to what some have called civic virtue. The difference is that social capital calls attention to the fact that civic virtue is most powerful when embedded in a sense network of reciprocal social relations. A society of many virtuous but isolated individuals is not necessarily rich in social capital (Putnam 2000: 19). Social capital refers to the institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the quality and quantity of a societys social interactions Social capital is not just the sum of the institutions which underpin a society it is the glue that holds them together (The World Bank 1999). According to John Field, the fundamental of social capital is that relationship matters. It helps people to commit themselves to people in the community. It eventually becomes a shared set of values, virtues and expectation within society as a whole. However, Robert Putman (1993; 2000) is the person who launched social capital which focused on research and policy discussions. The World Bank also chose social capital as a useful organising idea. They argue that increasing evidence shows that social cohesion is critical for societies to prosper economically and for development to be sustainable (The World Bank 1999). In this piece we explore the idea of social capital and the contribution by voluntary clubs to social capital. Types of Social Capital There are three types of social capital: bonding social capital, bridging social capital and linking social capital. Bonding social capital refers to the links between like-minded people, or the reinforcement of homogeneity. (Schuller, Baron, Field, 2000) Bonding Social Capital indicates ties between people in similar situation. It can be your neighbours, friends or even family. (Woolcock 2001: 13-4). Bridging social capital can be referred as building of connections between heterogeneous groups, which are likely to be more fragile, but more likely also to foster social inclusion. (Schuller, Baron, Field, 2000) Bridging social capital covers distant ties of like persons, such as workmates and fast friends. (Woolcock 2001: 13-4) Linking social capital, which reaches out to unlike people in dissimilar situations, such as those who are entirely outside of the community, thus enabling members to leverage a far wider range of resources than are available in the community. (Woolcock 2001: 13-4) The discussion of social capital is credited to three main theorists namely Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman and Robert Putnam. Bourdieu stated that there are three kind of capitals, but for this paper we only look at Social Capital. Bourdieu provides a concise definition of social capital by stating: social capital is the aggregate of the actual or potential resource which is linked to the possession of a durable network of more of less institutionalised relationships of mutual acquaintance or recognition (p. 249). Field and Wynne said that people access other forms of capital through social capital. In sporting circumstances, Bourdieu gives an example of golf clubs where individuals network to facilitate business, a social practice that is not available to all members of a community given the exclusive nature of many golf clubs (Field, 2003; Wynne, 1999). According to Coleman, social capital is not a single body. It is a structure which facilitates certain action, which has positive outcome; otherwise it would not have been possible. Coleman, through his research, found out that the level of school drop-out rate had reduced due to parental investment and family social capital. Coleman, in this context defines social capital as a set of resources that are available in family relation which is important for social development of the child. These resources differ from person to person and an advantage to children to develop their human capital. (Coleman, 1994, cited in Coalter, 2007, p. 541) According to Putman, social capital is not just a public good but is for the public good. Putnam states that, bonding social capital are when people of the same community, with similar values associate together to achieve shared goals. They tend to reinforce restricted identities and are homogenous group. Putman also says that this kind of association have some negative points as they tend to exclude outsiders. Exclusion of outsiders here means that a football club will have a tendency to include supporters and players from a same background. They would try to exclude those who are not from the same background. On the other hand bridging social capital is heterogeneous in nature. Heterogeneity of social connections promotes linkage with different type of people. Bridging social capital however, has the potential to forge connections. People with same as well as from different background can connect within the community or outside the community (Narayan Cassidy, 2001). We can thus see that people who are connected through bridging social capital have a wider range of associates. They also got more opportunities. Therefore Bridging social capital is very important to enhance social inclusion and to develop communitys ability. Sports Volunteers: The Real Active Citizens? Sports Clubs are career for the expression of active citizenship through volunteering. Volunteers are more important than any other thing in a club or a sporting organization (Nichols, et al., 2004). Clubs provide an opportunity which helps the community by contributing to social capital through social interaction (Coalter, 2007; Long, 2008; Weed et al., 2005). The volunteers share their values, a reflection of the society where their expressions of collective values are encouraged, which is a positive contribution towards society. As Coalter (2007) points out the diffuse and contested nature of social capital is central to the social regeneration/social inclusion agenda (p. 159). The volunteers have a potential contribution to rebuild the social capital. Sport England (1999, p8) stresses volunteering as activity which is fundamental to the development of democratic society. It helps in contributing towards their public life and develops their communities. Consequently such policies are as much concerned with the instrumental use of sport for purposes of community development as they are in simply developing sport in the community (Coalter and Allison, 1996). The key policy message here is that the potentially positive benefits of sport are not only to be obtained via participation involvement in the organisation and provision of opportunities for sport and physical recreation can assist in the development of self-esteem and a series of transferable skills a view of volunteering as active citizenship.

Iodometric Redox Titration of Vitamin C Tablets

Iodometric Redox Titration of Vitamin C Tablets Introduction Vitamin C is a vital component of a healthy diet which is why, like many others, my father takes vitamin C supplements. However, I noticed that the vitamin C tablets he takes expired in January 2009. These tablets were bought in the USA and developed a light amber tint. Therefore, I wondered whether this would mean that over time, the concentration of vitamin C has decreased. Hence, I researched a scientific method to determine the concentration of vitamin C in order to see whether my father should continue using the expired tablets or rather buy new ones. Chemically known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an organic compound containing of six carbon atoms, of which two can be readily oxidized under aqueous acidic conditions or by air over a longer time period.The method used to measure the concentration of vitamin C is called a reduction oxidation, known as redox, titration. Ascorbic acid reacts with iodine (I2) to create dehydroascorbic acid (C6H8O6) under acidic aqueous conditions:C6H8O6 (aq) + I2 (aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   C6H6O6 (aq) + 2 I(aq) + 2 H+(aq) However, as iodine I2 is not very soluble in water, a complex created by aqueous iodine I2 (aq) and aqueous iodide anion I(aq) through the following reaction must be used.I2 (aq) + I(aq)   à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   I3(aq) I3 is known as triiodide, which is much more soluble in water than iodine. The method used to create the triiodide is the reaction of aqueous iodate IO3(aq) with aqueous iodide I(aq) under acidic aqueous conditions as shown below.Reaction 1:IO3(aq) + 8 I(aq) + 6 H+(aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   3 I3(aq) + 3 H2O (l)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reaction of water soluble starch, being a white solution, with triiodide gives a dark blue complex. This change of colour shows the end of the redox titration.The redox titration is using the reaction of aqueous triiodide I3 (aq) with aqueous ascorbic acid C6H8O6 (aq) to form aqueous dehydroascorbic acid C6H6O6 (aq) and aqueous iodide I(aq ) under acidic aqueous conditions.Reaction 2: C6H8O6 (aq) + I3 (aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   C6H6O6 (aq) + 3 I(aq) + 2 H+(aq)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The method used is an indirect titration, which means it measures the amount of triiodide remaining in the solution after having reacted with the ascorbic acid. Therefore an excess of aqueous triiodide I3 (aq) is needed.The excess aqueous triiodide I3 (aq) is reduced by aqueous thiosulfate S2O32- (aq) to create aqueous iodide I(aq) and aqueous tetrathionate S4O62- (aq) as shown below.Reaction 3:I3 (aq) + 2 S2O32- (aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   3 I (aq) + S4O62- (aq)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As soon as all the triiodide is reduced to iodide, the colour changes from dark blue (the triiodide starch complex is dark blue) to white. The oxidation of ascorbic acid is a 1:1 reaction, meaning 1 mol of ascor bic acid requires 1 mol of triiodide to form 1 mol of dehydroascorbic acid, whereas the oxidation of thiosulfate is a 1:2 reaction, meaning 2 mol of thiosulfate can be oxidized to 1 mol tetrathionate by 1 mol of triiodide, all under acidic conditions in water. Knowing this one can calculate the amount of vitamin C in various tablets as long as all of them are readily soluble in water, meaning, for example, not coated.(CH 212 Quantitative Analysis. 1-2)Research Question What is the effect of the age of vitamin C tablets, expressed by the number of months elapsed after the expiry date, on the concentration in percentage weight of vitamin C in said tablets? Variables Variable Unit Range Method of measurement Independent:Number of months after expiry date of vitamin C Date withmonth, year 01/2009 = 92 months 09/2014 = 24 months 07/2015 = 14 months 04/2018 =  Ã‚   0 months The expiration date of the vitamin C tablet / sachet is written on the outer packaging Dependent: Concentration of vitamin C % weight 0 100% Content of vitamin C in mg per tablet is written on the outer packaging and measured through titration Controlled Variables Unit Possible effect(s) on results Method for control Number of tablets / sachets n/a Wrong weight of vitamin C Counting tablets / sachets Concentration of Sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3 (aq))Potassium iodate (KIO3 (aq)) mol/lmol/l Wrong concentration of vitamin C Titration with (KIO3 (aq)) Analytical scale Concentration of Starch Sodium carbonate Sulphuric acid g/l g/l mol/l No significant impact on dependent variable Analytical scale Analytical scale 50 ml measuring cylinder Concentration of Potassium iodide (KI (aq)) mol/l Wrong concentration of triiodide solution Analytical scale Materials 1 g of soluble starch 8 M (mol/l) sulfuric acid (H2SO4) pure Potassium iodide (KI), 95%, pure, DAB Potassium iodate (KIO3), p. A. EMSURE ® ACS, ISO, Ph Eurpure, DAB Vitamin C (ascorbic acid (C6H8O6))tablets or sachets (it is recommended to use colourless dissolvable products, otherwise the colour change will be difficult to see) Sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (Na2S2O3 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O), 99,5%, pure, DAB Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) 99,5%, pure, DAB Distilled water (H2O) Apparatus One 3 ml  ± 0,01 ml measuring pipette Two 250 ml  ± 5% beakers and two 500 ml  ± 5% beakers One 50 ml  ± 0,08 ml and one 100 ml  ± 0,1 ml measuring cylinder Two 500 ml  ± 0,2 ml volumetric flasks with a cork Three 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks to be used for the titrations One 50 ml  ± 0,1 ml burette with stand and clamp for burette Two funnels, each with a diameter of 9,5 cm It is necessary to clean and rinse all glassware with distilled water beforehand to avoid impurities and contamination of solution used. One electric scale set in grams and preferably to four decimal places g  ± 0,1 mg to allow for maximum accuracy (available scale had two decimal places g  ± 10 mg) One magnetic stirrer, one stirring rod and a mortar with a pestle Small spoons, scalpels and cups, in total 5 of each Rubber gloves and safety glasses as the reactants used can irritate skin and eyes Method Preparation of starch indicator Fill a 250 ml beaker with 100 ml of distilled water, measured with a 50 ml cylinder. Weigh 1 g of soluble starch using the scale and a spoon. Add the starch to the beaker. Using the stirring rod, stir until dissolved. Every day a new solution should be made. Preparation of sodium thiosulfate Use a 100 ml measuring cylinder to fill 450 ml of distilled water into a 500 ml beaker. Weigh 0,05 g of Na2CO3 using the scale, a spoon, and a cup and add to beaker. Weigh 8,7 g of Na2S2O3 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O using the scale, a spoon, and a separate, equally clean small cup. Add to the same beaker. Dissolve the chemicals compounds through swirling the beaker. Once dissolved, pour the solution into a clean 500 ml volumetric flask and add distilled water up to exactly 500 ml. Seal it tightly with the cork. Label the solution as sodium thiosulfate. Keep the flask closed when not in use. Preparation of standard iodate solution Use a 100 ml measuring cylinder to fill 450 ml of distilled water into a 500 ml beaker. Weigh 1,01 g of KIO3 in a small, clean cup using the scale and a clean spoon. Pour the KIO3 into the 450 ml of distilled water. Swirl the beaker until the potassium iodate has completely dissolved. Once dissolved, pour the solution into a clean 500 ml volumetric flask and add distilled water up to exactly 500 ml. Seal it tightly with the cork. Label the solution as potassium iodate. Keep the flask closed when not in use. Standardising the sodium thiosulfate solution Set up the stand and clamp for the 50 ml burette. Fill the closed 50 ml burette with the previously prepared sodium thiosulfate solution using a clean funnel. It is vital that the burette contains precisely 50 ml. Using a 50 ml measuring cylinder pour exactly 50 ml of the KIO3 solution into a clean 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask. Weigh 2 g of KI in a small cup using the scale and a spoon. Place the KI into the flask. Add 5 ml of 8 M H2SO4 into the flask using a 50 ml measuring cylinder. Place the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask onto a magnetic stirrer and begin stirring it. This is to ensure that all the reactants in the solution have reacted to form the triiodide molecule. The solution should have a dark red colour due to the presence of triiodide. Titrate the solution with sodium thiosulfate until the solution has lost most of its red, i.e. a light shade of yellow appears. Using the 3 ml measuring pipette, add 2 ml of the starch indicator to the solution. The starch is only added shortly before the end point of the titration as prior to this, the triiodide starch complex locks onto the triiodide and thus the triiodide might not react with the sodium thiosulfate. Continue titrating the solution until the solution has become colourless. Record the amount of ml of sodium thiosulfate solution used. Repeat the titration three times in order to obtain reliable values, as this titration tells us the exact concentration of sodium thiosulfate, which allows us to determine the amount of triiodide. Titration of ascorbic acid Use a 50 ml measuring cylinder to fill 15 ml of 8 M H2SO4 into a clean 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask used for titration. Using a 100 ml measuring cylinder add 75 ml of distilled water. Grind vitamin C tablets separately and thoroughly with a mortar and pestle. Put them into the flask and stir until fully dissolved. If needed, for example if part of the tablet is not soluble anymore, filter the solution by using a funnel and filter paper. Carefully pour the solution into a clean 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask used for titration. Using a 50 ml measuring cylinder pour 50 ml of KIO3 solution into the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask used for the titration. Weigh 2 g of KI in a small cup using the scale and a spoon. Place the KI into the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask used for the titration. At this point, the solution should develop a dark shade of red due to the presence of triiodide. Swirl the flask to make sure the reaction between triiodide and ascorbic acid has been completed. Set up the stand and clamp for the 50 ml burette. Place the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask used for the titration onto a magnetic stirrer, and begin stirring it. This ensures that the vitamin C has truly completely reacted. Fill the closed 50 ml burette with sodium thiosulfate solution using a clean funnel. Ensure that the burette was cleaned beforehand and remove any excess solution. Begin titrating the triiodide solution with sodium thiosulfate. It should start out being red due to the presence of access triiodide. When the solution changes to a pale yellow, add 2 ml of the starch indicator using a 3 ml measuring pipette. Similar to the previous titration, the starch might hold onto the triiodide and prevent it from reacting with sodium thiosulfate. Continue titrating the solution until it has become colourless. Due to various colourings of the tablets, this might be an off-shade of white. Denote this volume as the end point of the titration. Repeat steps 21-31 for all tablets and sachets available. Each sample of tablets or sachets should be titrated at least five times in order to calculate a representative amount of vitamin C contained in the tablets. It is important to note that the flask containing the vitamin C solution and the magnet of the magnetic stirrer must be washed before each trial to avoid impurities.   (CH 212 Quantitative Analysis. 5-7) Safety Considerations Make sure that safety glasses and gloves are used during the experiment. Appropriate safety clothes must be worn, like laboratory coats with long sleeves. Content of solutions prepared need to be clearly marked with water proof pencils and locked away in laboratory cupboards. Any solution not used anymore needs to be placed it appropriate waste disposal units. Neutralise any acids before disposing of them. Raw DataTable 1 shows the overview of all the samples used in the iodometric redox titrations. Sample ReferenceNumber Expiry date Months till Sep. 2016 Number of tablets/ sachets used Weight of tablet/sachet gstated by manufacturer Vitamin C in mg per tablet/sachet stated by manufacturer Vitamin C USP tablet 1 Jan. 2009 92 11 No value given 500 Heiße Zitrone sachet 2 Sep. 2014 24 1 10 180 Vitamin C Arancia tablet 3 Jul. 2015 14 2à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢4 = 8 4,5 90 Vitamin C Zitrone tablet 4 Apr. 2018 0 10 4 180 Table 1: Samples used in the titrationTable 2 shows the volume of sodium thiosulfate required to titrate 50 ml of potassium iodate. Titration 1 Titration 2 Titration 3 Volume in ml of sodium thiosulfate solution 39,0  ± 0,1 38,6  ± 0,1 38,6  ± 0,1 Table 2: Volume of sodium thiosulfate solution Note: As the percentage uncertainty of titration 1 0,25% and titration 1 and 2 is 0,26%, these uncertainty are not taken into account, as there is very little impact on the results. Table 3 shows the results of all titrations of the vitamin C samples. Sample Number Volume in ml of sodium thiosulfate solution required to titrate remaining triiodide ( ± 0,1) 1 > 50 4,6 3,1 3,9 3,6 3,7 3,4 3,4 3,3 3,6 3,8 2 17,4 3 16,5 19,2 15,3 14,2 4 13,4 14,3 13 13,8 12,4 15,3 14,4 10,6 12,5 11,2 Table 3: Volume of sodium thiosulfate solution in ml used in the titrations It was observed that the colour changed from dark blue to a pale yellow as the sample was titrated due to the reaction of triiodide with thiosulfate. Calculations and Processed Results In order to find the percentage of vitamin C in each sample, one must calculate the exact concentration of sodium thiosulfate used in all titrations. 8,7 g Na2S2O3 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O with molar mass 248,2 g/mol in 500 ml water = 0,070109 mol/l S2O32 Molar ratio of the oxidation of S2O32- is S2O32-:I3 = 2:1 38,73 ml of 0,070109 mol/l S2O32- = 0,002715 mol S2O32- are oxidized by 0,001358 mol I3 Molar ratio of the creation of I3 is IO3: I3 = 1:3 0,001358 mol I3   = 0,000453 mol IO3 in 50 ml = 0,009051 mol/l IO3 Exact concentration of KIO3 = 1,01 g KIO3/500 ml = 0,009439 mol/l IO3 ∠´ Exact concentration of S2O32- is higher by a factor of 0,009439/0,009051 = 1,042911∠´ Exact concentration = 0,070109 à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢ 1,042911 = 0,073117 mol/l S2O32- Table 4 shows the volume and concentration of sodium thiosulfate used. Titration Number ml Na2S2O3used ( ± 0,1) ml Na2S2O3arithmetic average Theoretical concentration Na2S2O3 mol/l Experimental/Exact concentrationNa2S2O3 mol/l 1 39,00 38,73  ± 0,3 2 38,60 0,070109 0,073117 3 38,60 Table 4: Calculation of concentration of sodium thiosulfate Note: As the uncertainty of 38,73 ml  ± 0,3 gives a percentage uncertainty of 0,77%, this uncertainty are not taken into account, as there is very little impact on the results. In knowing both the precise concentration of sodium thiosulfate and the volume needed to titrate the remaining triiodide, one can determine the concentration of vitamin C in each sample as there is an excess of KIO3 present in each titration. Reaction 2: C6H8O6 (aq) + I3 (aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   C6H6O6 (aq) + 3 I(aq) + 2 H+(aq) Molar ratio of I3:C6H8O6 = 1:1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Molar ratio of IO3:I3 = 1:3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Molar ratio of IO3:C6H8O6 = 1:3 ∠´ 50 ml 0,009439 mol/l KIO3 = 0,000472 mol IO3 = 3 times more moles of vitamin C∠´ 0,000472 à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢ 3 = 0,001416 mol vitamin C = 249,4 mg vitamin C Only the first sample had a theoretical maximum content of 500 mg, which is more than the 50 ml of 0,009439 mol/l IO3 solution can oxidize, that means no triiodide should have been left over and therefore the blue starch triiodide complex should not have been formed. However, in each titration a blue colour was visible. Therefore, the method applied was valid for all other titrations, otherwise the weight of the sample should have been reduced. Reaction 3:I3 (aq) + 2 S2O32- (aq) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   3 I (aq) + S4O62- (aq) Molar ratio of I3: S2O32- = 1:2 The arithmetic average of 10 titrations of the first sample is 3,64 ml of 0,073117 mol/l S2O32- used to titrate the remaining I3. 3,64 ml of 0,073117 mol/l S2O32- = 0,000266 mol S2O32- are oxidized by 0,000133 mol I3. After the reaction of 50 ml of 0,009439 mol/l IO3 solution with the vitamin C sample 0,000133 mol I3 were left over. Molar ratio of IO3:I3 = 1:350 ml 0,009439 mol/l IO3= 0,000472 mol IO3 = 0,001416 mol I3 0,001416 mol I3 at the start of the reaction 0,000133 mol I3 found after the reaction = 0,001283 mol reacted with vitamin C Molar ratio of I3:C6H8O6 = 1:10,001283 mol I3 = 0,001283 mol C6H8O6 = 0,001283 mol à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢ 176,1 g/mol = 225,9 mg vitamin C 500 mg vitamin C = 100% and 225,9 mg vitamin C = 45,19% active content. This method is applied to all results. Table 5 shows the results of titrating the four different vitamin C samples. Sample 0,073117 mol/l Na2S2O3 solution in ml used Tablets/ Sachet Vitamin C (mg) Vitamin C Age No. Arithmetic average/Number of titrations Standard deviationÏÆ' No. used in titration Written on packaging Found via titration % found via titration Months expired 1    3,64 / 10 0,41 1 500 226 45,19 92 2 17,40 / 1 1 180 137 76,30 24 3 16,30 / 4 2,15 2    90 144 80,24 14 4 13,09 / 10 1,39 1 180 165 91,72 0 Table 5: Calculated and measured results of titration of Vitamin C samplesMonths expired is the time elapsed between the expiry date and the month of the laboratory work in September 2016. The first titration of sample 1 (see table 3) was an outlier and not considered when calculating the arithmetic average and standard deviation. Only one sachet of sample 2 was available, thus not allowing to calculate average and standard deviation. Graph 1 shows the percentage of Vitamin C found and the age of the tablets and sachet used.Graph 1:Correlation of concentration of Vitamin C versus number of months expired Graph 2 shows that the reliabilty of the result depends on the number of titrations carried out. The variation of the results is two times standard deviation ( ± 2 ÏÆ'). Graph 2: Concentration of vitamin C and error bar of  ± 2 ÏÆ' (sample 2 was only titrated once, thus no standard deviation can be calculated) Assuming that the results are following a normal distribution, 95,4% of the titrations are within the  ± 2 ÏÆ' range as shown above. Thus, the results are accepted for sample 1, 3 and 4. Conclusion and EvaluationThe results show that the vitamin C content decreases over time. This is demonstrated in graph 1, as the slope is -0,048. The coefficient of determination is 0,989, which is close to 1 and therefore shows a strong linear correlation. This means the results clearly demonstrate that as the number of months expired increases, the concentration of vitamin C decreases. These findings are supported by research of the Applied Sciences Department at the Osun State Polytechnic in Iree, Nigeria, published in 2012. (Oyetade 22) High temperature, exposure to air and sunlight accelerate the oxidation of vitamin C. Thus, the oldest sample shows the highest reduction in percentage concentration of vitamin C with 45,19%, less than half. This means that my father should buy new vitamin supplements, and no longer use his old ones, which were sample 1. Strengths: The method of investigation delivers fast results, does not require expensive equipment, and works with chemicals th at are neither very toxic nor extremely harmful to the environment. A clear relationship between the variables was demonstrated and due to relatively low standard deviation, the results are accepted. Weaknesses: Potential errors were detected. Only one sachet of sample 2 was available, thus not meeting the minimum criteria of at least 3 titrations of each sample. It is also possible that not all the triiodide reacted with the sodium thiosulfate (see step 18 in methodology). In terms of method, the equipment used was not precise enough, causing possible systematic errors. Instead of a measuring cylinder a volumetric pipette should have been used as well as a high precision scale  ± 0,1 mg. Not all samples were easily soluble in water and produced a clear and colourless solution, thus the end of titration was difficult to notice, leading to inaccuracies. The thiosulfate and iodate solutions should not have been stored over a long time exposed to uncontrolled temperature and day ligh t. All titrations should either have been done in one day or the titrants should have been stored in a cool and dark place. Works Cited CH 212 Quantitative Analysis. Philadelphia: La Salle University, n.d. PDF Oyetade, O. A., G. O. Oyeleke, B. M. Adegoke, and A. O. Akintunde. Stability Studies on Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) From Different Sources. N.p.: IOSR Journal of Applied Chemistry (IOSR-JAC), Sept.-Oct. 2012. PDF.

Best Man Wedding Speech -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Best Man Wedding Speech Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen – I'd like to start by saying that what a genuine honor it is to be part of Rick's wedding. Rick certainly is handsome tonight, with his fine rented tux and shoes. On a gala evening such as this, you may find it hard to believe that Rick has not always been so handsome. The truth is, Rick was so ugly at birth, the doctor slapped his mother! The nurses were no more sympathetic, they diapered poor little Rick’s face. The fact is, his parents were so embarrassed of Rick that they borrowed another baby for the baptism ceremony. When little Rick went to school, the situation didn’t improve at all. Yes, it is true that Rick was the teacher’s pet – but that was just because the teacher couldn’t afford a dog! Rick's appearance b... Best Man Wedding Speech -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches Best Man Wedding Speech Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen – I'd like to start by saying that what a genuine honor it is to be part of Rick's wedding. Rick certainly is handsome tonight, with his fine rented tux and shoes. On a gala evening such as this, you may find it hard to believe that Rick has not always been so handsome. The truth is, Rick was so ugly at birth, the doctor slapped his mother! The nurses were no more sympathetic, they diapered poor little Rick’s face. The fact is, his parents were so embarrassed of Rick that they borrowed another baby for the baptism ceremony. When little Rick went to school, the situation didn’t improve at all. Yes, it is true that Rick was the teacher’s pet – but that was just because the teacher couldn’t afford a dog! Rick's appearance b... Best Man Wedding Speech -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches Best Man Wedding Speech Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen – I'd like to start by saying that what a genuine honor it is to be part of Rick's wedding. Rick certainly is handsome tonight, with his fine rented tux and shoes. On a gala evening such as this, you may find it hard to believe that Rick has not always been so handsome. The truth is, Rick was so ugly at birth, the doctor slapped his mother! The nurses were no more sympathetic, they diapered poor little Rick’s face. The fact is, his parents were so embarrassed of Rick that they borrowed another baby for the baptism ceremony. When little Rick went to school, the situation didn’t improve at all. Yes, it is true that Rick was the teacher’s pet – but that was just because the teacher couldn’t afford a dog! Rick's appearance b...

Building a Portfolio for Retirement Essay -- Economics

Building a Portfolio for Retirement â€Å"According to a survey conducted by the Savings Education Council last year, 24% of all workers were not confident that they were prepared to retire comfortably.† Upon retirement we would like to maintain a certain level of income and lifestyle such as that established in the prime of our earning career. Through proper planning this goal can be achieved. I am going to establish the need for investments/ savings through the life-cycle model of consumption. I will then walk through standard retirement plans showing that additional funding will likely be needed for the upper-middle class, leading to stock and bond investments, risk tolerance of an individual investor, how that affects diversity and rates of return. On average Americans save approximately 5% of their earnings. This is the lowest among industrialized countries; Japan saves on average 24%, they are the highest savers. The US saves so little in part because of the availability and ease of credit, the financial system; as well as an effective Social Security system. However, the US is changing, to depend on today’s Social Security for tomorrow alone is a risky venture to say the least. Throughout one’s career their earning levels will fluctuate; the highest level of earnings is most likely achieved around middle age or mid-career. It is at this time most Americans begin to think about retirement and savings. The life-cycle model of consumption indicates that we desire a constant level of consumption throughout our lifetime. We, therefore, will go into debt when we are young, repaying the debt and begin saving in middle age, and dissave in retirement. While I personally believe that savin... ...o fund banks in the big picture of money. My 95-year-old Grandfather has successfully funded his retirement through CDs, a pension, and Social Security. To this day he still invest in CDs and his net worth is six figures. In large, most investors do not want to do the research in selecting stocks, bonds, and money market accounts for their portfolio themselves; at the prime of their career they may not have the time either. A managed fund is an appealing option. A managed fund may cost slightly more, there are management fees involved, typically not more than 2%. Picking a fund lessens the workload, pick a well know fund such as Janis, Fidelity, USAA, Templeton, Putnam, etc. If you have the money, pay someone; an investment fund manager who will take into account who you are. The name on the fund you choose is not so important as they type of fund you choose.

Violence and Sport :: essays research papers

Violence and Sports The lone man to be charged with a felony in the incident was Bryant Jackson. He was the man Oakland County Police (OCPD) say threw a chair into the crowd during the fight. He was charged with felonious batter, according to the OCPD and various wire reports. No, this is not just some random fight that occurred, this was an arrest at a recent National Basketball Association game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. This violence is something that is starting to occur more and more. It seems to be a common theme, and one that does not even obtain a double-take, sports and violence the two seem to go hand-in-hand. Professional athletes such as Latrell Sprewell, Todd Bertuzzi, and Ron Artest have made common names for themselves with the violence they have endured in their respective sports. Some sports are violent by nature. Boxing is the obvious example, where physical attack is the point of the exercise. There has been much debate over the sport with many calling for its abolition. Other sports, such as wrestling and the martial arts, also involve one-on-one unarmed combat. These forms of "violence" are within the rules of the sport and the possibility of injury is well known by participants. Then there is a range of contact sports, particularly the football codes, where there is punishing body contact within the rules but also the scope for borderline or unintentional "violence" such as late tackles, high tackles and tackles on players without the ball. These tactics can be, and are also, used intentionally. However, the use of video replays over recent years has made these tactics more risky for the perpetrators, especially in professional sports where suspension can lead to a significant loss of income. As we enter the year the beginning stages of 2005, one has to wonder if this violence is going to continue or if the leagues, sports and the people themselves will start to gain some kind of control and realize this is sprot and such violence cannot continue. The fans are even getting themselves invovled. One factor in the increase in violence among fans is an emotional disconnection from their own lives. They have difficulty empathizing with others' pain. Some of this is caused by watching violence on television and computer screens. If you watch the reaction of the first base umpire and the second baseman of the Chicago White Sox in the incident you mentioned, you can see that they watch the violent event and don't get involved. Violence and Sport :: essays research papers Violence and Sports The lone man to be charged with a felony in the incident was Bryant Jackson. He was the man Oakland County Police (OCPD) say threw a chair into the crowd during the fight. He was charged with felonious batter, according to the OCPD and various wire reports. No, this is not just some random fight that occurred, this was an arrest at a recent National Basketball Association game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. This violence is something that is starting to occur more and more. It seems to be a common theme, and one that does not even obtain a double-take, sports and violence the two seem to go hand-in-hand. Professional athletes such as Latrell Sprewell, Todd Bertuzzi, and Ron Artest have made common names for themselves with the violence they have endured in their respective sports. Some sports are violent by nature. Boxing is the obvious example, where physical attack is the point of the exercise. There has been much debate over the sport with many calling for its abolition. Other sports, such as wrestling and the martial arts, also involve one-on-one unarmed combat. These forms of "violence" are within the rules of the sport and the possibility of injury is well known by participants. Then there is a range of contact sports, particularly the football codes, where there is punishing body contact within the rules but also the scope for borderline or unintentional "violence" such as late tackles, high tackles and tackles on players without the ball. These tactics can be, and are also, used intentionally. However, the use of video replays over recent years has made these tactics more risky for the perpetrators, especially in professional sports where suspension can lead to a significant loss of income. As we enter the year the beginning stages of 2005, one has to wonder if this violence is going to continue or if the leagues, sports and the people themselves will start to gain some kind of control and realize this is sprot and such violence cannot continue. The fans are even getting themselves invovled. One factor in the increase in violence among fans is an emotional disconnection from their own lives. They have difficulty empathizing with others' pain. Some of this is caused by watching violence on television and computer screens. If you watch the reaction of the first base umpire and the second baseman of the Chicago White Sox in the incident you mentioned, you can see that they watch the violent event and don't get involved.

Positive Regard Essay

Unconditional Positive Regard is a central concept in the theories of Carl R. Rogers, both for psychotherapy and for interpersonal relations. A universal need for positive regard by others appears at about the same time a person begins to experience awareness of self (Rogers, 1959). In therapy, UPR is a quality of the therapist’s experience toward the client (p. 239). Rogers’ writing sheds light on various aspects of this construct: Unconditional One experiencing UPR holds ‘no conditions of acceptance . . . It is at the opposite pole from a selective evaluating attitude.’ (p. 225) Positive One offers ‘warm acceptance . . . a â€Å"prizing† of the person, as Dewey has used that term . . . It means a caring for the client . . . ’ (p. 225). Regard One regards ‘each aspect of the client’s experience as being part of that client . . . It means a caring for the client, but not in a possessive way or in such a way as simply to satisfy the therapist’s own needs. It means caring for the client as a separate person, with permission to have his [or her] own feelings, his [or her] own experiences.’ (p. 225) Theoretically, the importance of UPR lies in its power to build up or restore the recipient’s unconditional positive self-regard. Unconditional positive regard requires that a person be warm and accepting even when another person has done something questionable. While most parents attempt to give their children unconditional love, few grant their children unconditional positive regard. Many therapists advocate giving their clients unconditional positive regard as part of the therapeutic process. UPR is most notably associated with person-centered therapy, or Rogerian therapy. Carl Rogers (1951) viewed the child as having two basic needs: positive regard from other people and self-worth. How we think about ourselves, our feelings of self-worth are of fundamental importance both to psychological health and to the likelihood that we can achieve goals and ambitions in life and achieve self-actualization. Self-worth may be seen as a continuum from very high to very low. For Carl Rogers (1959) a person who has high self-worth, that is, has confidence and positive feelings about him or her self, faces challenges in life, accepts failure and unhappiness at times, and is open with people. A person with low self-worth may avoid challenges in life, not accept that life can be painful and unhappy at times, and will be defensive and guarded with other people. Rogers believed feelings of self-worth developed in early childhood and were formed from the interaction of the child with the mother and father. As a child grows older, interactions with significant others will affect feelings of self-worth. Rogers believed that we need to be regarded positively by others; we need to feel valued, respected, treated with affection and loved. Positive regard is to do with how other people evaluate and judge us in social interaction. Rogers made a distinction between unconditional positive regard and conditional positive regard. Unconditional positive regard is where parents, significant others (and the humanist therapist) accepts and loves the person for what he or she is. Positive regard is not withdrawn if the person does something wrong or makes a mistake. The consequences of unconditional positive regard are that the person feels free to try things out and make mistakes, even though this may lead to getting it worse at times. People who are able to self-actualize are more likely to have received unconditional positive regard from others, especially their parents in childhood. Conditional positive regard is where positive regard, praise and approval, depend upon the child, for example, behaving in ways that the parents think correct. Hence the child is not loved for the person he or she is, but on condition that he or she behaves only in ways approved by the parent(s). At the extreme, a person who constantly seeks approval from other people is likely only to have experienced conditional positive regard as a child. How Unconditional Positive Regard Works in TherapyRogers believed that it was essential for therapists to show unconditional positive regard to their clients. He also suggested that individuals who don’t have this type of acceptance from people in their life can eventually come to hold negative beliefs about themselves. The demonstration of UPR from a therapist can encourage people to share their thoughts, feelings, and actions without fear of offending the therapist. A therapist might simply ask a client to expand on why he or she behaved in a particular manner, rather than condemning the person’s action or inquiring as to how the other person might have felt. Some therapists believe that UPR can serve as a temporary substitute for parental love that may help clients gain confidence to explore their issues. This belief is heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud and is not popular among contemporary mental health professionals. Through providing unconditional positive regard, humanistic therapists seek to help their clients accept and take responsibility for themselves. Humanistic psychologists believe that by showing the client unconditional positive regard and acceptance, the therapist is providing the best possible conditions for personal growth to the client. David G. Myers says the following in his Psychology: Eighth Edition in Modules: People also nurture our growth by being accepting—by offering us what Rogers called unconditional positive regard. This is an attitude of grace, an attitude that values us even knowing our failings. It is a profound relief to drop our pretenses, confess our worst feelings, and discover that we are still accepted. In a good marriage, a close family, or an intimate friendship, we are free to be spontaneous without fearing the loss of others’ esteem. Drawbacks of Unconditional Positive Regard UPR can be especially problematic in couples counseling, where couples often desire a referee who will tell them when they are doing something detrimental to the relationship. When clients feel that UPR in therapy is contrived, it may backfire. For example, some people want a therapist to tell them when they are doing something wrong, to bring awareness to the behavior. UPR can be difficult for a therapist to sustain, particularly when a person is making negative or unhealthy choices on a recurring basis. Consequently, many therapists attempt to strike a balance by remaining positive, upbeat, and nonjudgmental while at the same time pointing out when a person’s actions are harmful to himself or herself or to others.

Managed Care

The article seeks to identify the problems that face managed care organization (MCOs) in contemporary competitive environment which include broad public opinion, competitive realities, need for cost reduction. The article also notes that there has been an increase in health care cost despite the establishment of the managed health care systems implemented through the managed care organizations. Increase in cost remains to be a major concern for patients/consumers. Due to this, patients are ready to switch from one plan to another in which cost difference in premium is as little as $15. 0 per month. The article also claims that there has been concern from the society as far as quality of managed healthcare service is concerned. Such concerns encompass: accessibility, and the verification of what is ‘medically necessary’ including the diagnosis tests and referrals. Other concern is freedom of choice. Additionally, perceived quality which is increasingly valued by contempor ary patients/consumers has been lacking in the managed care organizations. (Entrepreneur 1998). Strategies or techniques are used to solve the problem or address the issue. This article proposes application of institutional theory to MCOs performance as well as strategic planning. Over emphasizing of institutional theory at the expense of strategic planning will not help the managed care organization to survive in the contemporary competitive environment. The article proposes a strategy that will respond and conform to the needs of the patients and the society at large. Being cost efficient and conforming with socially accepted norms will lead to superior performing of MCOs. Thus, a strategy that encompasses technical requirements as well as conforming to needs of the patients/consumers is very critical for success of any MCO. Only emphasizing or dealing with cost issue is not a strategy for long-term MCO superior performance and success. The article also proposes that all MCOs must demonstrate what contemporary consumers/patients and society expects. These expectations include accessibility, freedom of choice, and perceived quality i. e. always provide value for all patients. ( Entrepreneur1998). My conclusions and recommendations It is clear that the establishment of managed care and the managed care organizations have not been a panacea to all problems facing patients/consumers. Instead, what the patients would like to have is more accessibility to health care services, freedom of choice, better services emphasizing on perfect diagnosis tests, reduction in cost of this services as well as flexibility of managed care systems. This is yet to become a reality. To ensure this, responding to consumers/patients needs will be of great importance. This should include training the health care workers on the best way to serve the patients better, and carrying out perfect diagnosis tests before treating the patients. Increase in number of medical practitioners in MCOs so as to ensure accessibility of these services should also be considered. The managed care plans should also employ modern technology that will improve the quality of health care services. This should encompass better disease diagnosing equipments, and establishing better information systems. Reduction of cost is also very imperative. All inefficiencies and wastage should be checked through a well planned compliance system that should work closely with the human resource department. (Harris, J. S. 1994; Morton-Cooper & Bamford 1997; Alexander & Amburgey. 1987) Contribution of the article to helping practicing healthcare managers This article is of great help to many practicing healthcare managers. First, it point out the importance of being market oriented i. e. responding to the needs of the patients/consumers and society at large. Factors that determine patients choice of particular health care provider i. e. accessibility of the service, cost of the service, perceived quality such perfect diagnosis test for appropriate medication and so on are also enlisted. The article also emphasis on need of employing a strategy that ensures adherence to technical requirements, cost reduction, high quality, and also freedom of choice to the patients/consumers. Such insight is of great importance to any practicing health care manager who wants to succeed in this career. Managed Care The article seeks to identify the problems that face managed care organization (MCOs) in contemporary competitive environment which include broad public opinion, competitive realities, need for cost reduction. The article also notes that there has been an increase in health care cost despite the establishment of the managed health care systems implemented through the managed care organizations. Increase in cost remains to be a major concern for patients/consumers. Due to this, patients are ready to switch from one plan to another in which cost difference in premium is as little as $15. 0 per month. The article also claims that there has been concern from the society as far as quality of managed healthcare service is concerned. Such concerns encompass: accessibility, and the verification of what is ‘medically necessary’ including the diagnosis tests and referrals. Other concern is freedom of choice. Additionally, perceived quality which is increasingly valued by contempor ary patients/consumers has been lacking in the managed care organizations. (Entrepreneur 1998). Strategies or techniques are used to solve the problem or address the issue. This article proposes application of institutional theory to MCOs performance as well as strategic planning. Over emphasizing of institutional theory at the expense of strategic planning will not help the managed care organization to survive in the contemporary competitive environment. The article proposes a strategy that will respond and conform to the needs of the patients and the society at large. Being cost efficient and conforming with socially accepted norms will lead to superior performing of MCOs. Thus, a strategy that encompasses technical requirements as well as conforming to needs of the patients/consumers is very critical for success of any MCO. Only emphasizing or dealing with cost issue is not a strategy for long-term MCO superior performance and success. The article also proposes that all MCOs must demonstrate what contemporary consumers/patients and society expects. These expectations include accessibility, freedom of choice, and perceived quality i. e. always provide value for all patients. ( Entrepreneur1998). My conclusions and recommendations It is clear that the establishment of managed care and the managed care organizations have not been a panacea to all problems facing patients/consumers. Instead, what the patients would like to have is more accessibility to health care services, freedom of choice, better services emphasizing on perfect diagnosis tests, reduction in cost of this services as well as flexibility of managed care systems. This is yet to become a reality. To ensure this, responding to consumers/patients needs will be of great importance. This should include training the health care workers on the best way to serve the patients better, and carrying out perfect diagnosis tests before treating the patients. Increase in number of medical practitioners in MCOs so as to ensure accessibility of these services should also be considered. The managed care plans should also employ modern technology that will improve the quality of health care services. This should encompass better disease diagnosing equipments, and establishing better information systems. Reduction of cost is also very imperative. All inefficiencies and wastage should be checked through a well planned compliance system that should work closely with the human resource department. (Harris, J. S. 1994; Morton-Cooper & Bamford 1997; Alexander & Amburgey. 1987) Contribution of the article to helping practicing healthcare managers This article is of great help to many practicing healthcare managers. First, it point out the importance of being market oriented i. e. responding to the needs of the patients/consumers and society at large. Factors that determine patients choice of particular health care provider i. e. accessibility of the service, cost of the service, perceived quality such perfect diagnosis test for appropriate medication and so on are also enlisted. The article also emphasis on need of employing a strategy that ensures adherence to technical requirements, cost reduction, high quality, and also freedom of choice to the patients/consumers. Such insight is of great importance to any practicing health care manager who wants to succeed in this career. Managed Care The article seeks to identify the problems that face managed care organization (MCOs) in contemporary competitive environment which include broad public opinion, competitive realities, need for cost reduction. The article also notes that there has been an increase in health care cost despite the establishment of the managed health care systems implemented through the managed care organizations. Increase in cost remains to be a major concern for patients/consumers. Due to this, patients are ready to switch from one plan to another in which cost difference in premium is as little as $15. 0 per month. The article also claims that there has been concern from the society as far as quality of managed healthcare service is concerned. Such concerns encompass: accessibility, and the verification of what is ‘medically necessary’ including the diagnosis tests and referrals. Other concern is freedom of choice. Additionally, perceived quality which is increasingly valued by contempor ary patients/consumers has been lacking in the managed care organizations. (Entrepreneur 1998). Strategies or techniques are used to solve the problem or address the issue. This article proposes application of institutional theory to MCOs performance as well as strategic planning. Over emphasizing of institutional theory at the expense of strategic planning will not help the managed care organization to survive in the contemporary competitive environment. The article proposes a strategy that will respond and conform to the needs of the patients and the society at large. Being cost efficient and conforming with socially accepted norms will lead to superior performing of MCOs. Thus, a strategy that encompasses technical requirements as well as conforming to needs of the patients/consumers is very critical for success of any MCO. Only emphasizing or dealing with cost issue is not a strategy for long-term MCO superior performance and success. The article also proposes that all MCOs must demonstrate what contemporary consumers/patients and society expects. These expectations include accessibility, freedom of choice, and perceived quality i. e. always provide value for all patients. ( Entrepreneur1998). My conclusions and recommendations It is clear that the establishment of managed care and the managed care organizations have not been a panacea to all problems facing patients/consumers. Instead, what the patients would like to have is more accessibility to health care services, freedom of choice, better services emphasizing on perfect diagnosis tests, reduction in cost of this services as well as flexibility of managed care systems. This is yet to become a reality. To ensure this, responding to consumers/patients needs will be of great importance. This should include training the health care workers on the best way to serve the patients better, and carrying out perfect diagnosis tests before treating the patients. Increase in number of medical practitioners in MCOs so as to ensure accessibility of these services should also be considered. The managed care plans should also employ modern technology that will improve the quality of health care services. This should encompass better disease diagnosing equipments, and establishing better information systems. Reduction of cost is also very imperative. All inefficiencies and wastage should be checked through a well planned compliance system that should work closely with the human resource department. (Harris, J. S. 1994; Morton-Cooper & Bamford 1997; Alexander & Amburgey. 1987) Contribution of the article to helping practicing healthcare managers This article is of great help to many practicing healthcare managers. First, it point out the importance of being market oriented i. e. responding to the needs of the patients/consumers and society at large. Factors that determine patients choice of particular health care provider i. e. accessibility of the service, cost of the service, perceived quality such perfect diagnosis test for appropriate medication and so on are also enlisted. The article also emphasis on need of employing a strategy that ensures adherence to technical requirements, cost reduction, high quality, and also freedom of choice to the patients/consumers. Such insight is of great importance to any practicing health care manager who wants to succeed in this career.