Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Business Law - Essay Example The local and state courts are active within their restricted domain. A hierarchal trend is evident in which the bottom courts have restricted domain, and the relatively superior court have increasing number of responsibilities and assignments. The court has certain jurisdictions which are based on the nature and the location of the case (Tinsley, 2000). It is advisable, and is per the discreet of the company to file suit against any party for its failure to abide by the norms and regulations, or violation of any agreed or legal document. In this case, where the company B has betrayed company A, and has tried to defy the accepted deal, the company A is therefore entitled to submit its complain to the court. The issues with reference to the social, family, cultural and religious disputes are handled by the civil courts, whereas the cases related to theft, burglary, murder, violence, corruption and fraud are treated by the criminal courts. The given case in which the company A i.e. employer has been betrayed by another company B i.e. call center has little relevance with the criminal activities; therefore the proceedings of the case are expected to be conducted by the civil courts. The ambiguities and malpractices mostly related to the unethical and immoral values are brought under the domain of the civil court. The civil court are considered perfect judicial resort where the justice can be achieved, the proceedings in other courts are difficult to be materialized mainly due to the reason that either the court itself will rule out the application, or the lawyers of the defendants can prove that the criminal courts are not entitled to conduct the proceedings, thus such a case will stand v oid. Contrary, the civil courts can entitle to conduct the proceedings without any legal barrier, therefore company A is authorized to register a case of manipulation of funds, or detachment from the agreed financial deal against company B in the

Ukrainian Immigrant Experience in Canada Essay Example for Free

Ukrainian Immigrant Experience in Canada Essay Soviet Union was suffering dissolution after an abortive coup in Moscow when Ukraine, formerly a European Soviet, emerged as an independent nation on August 24, 1991. Right after coming into existence, the new born nation undertook a strenuous and all-embracing economic, constitutional and political reform. Canada was the first western country to acknowledge Ukraine’s independent status on December 2, 1991. (Luciuk and Bohdan p. 12) Thenceforward Canada has constantly been helping out Ukraine sustain as an independent sovereign nation giving an impetus to close and healthy relations between the two countries. However this close association finds its origins in the past hundred years of Ukranian migration to Canada. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Ukrainian immigration to Canada started about a century ago, when on September 7, 1891, two peasants Ivan Pylypiw and Vasyl Eleniak, arrived at the Canadian metropolis Montreal from their home village Nebyliw in Eastern Galicia. The peasants’ landing was a precursor to an influx of Ukrainian immigrants to Canadian mainland marking the beginning of a step to progress. (Gerus and Rea p. 46) Several crucial factors impelled the Ukrainians to migrate to Canada, the major ones being the national inequalities and social prejudices, malnutrition, and illiteracy. The financial plight of the Ukrainian citizens promised them nothing but a dismal and bleak future. While on the other hand, 19th century Canada, a land of bright horizons offered large scale immigration opportunities. The much needed manpower to build railways in the country, to boost its urban and industrial infrastructure and manage its mines and forests, opened up the panels for Ukrainian peasants. (Luciuk and Bohdan pp. 121-129) The untapped potential of the Canadian land was enough to lure the dismayed and impoverished immigrants. In the hope of better future prospects for their poverty-stricken families, they left behind their home soil and the loved ones to take up precarious load abroad. Most of the peasants brought along few tools and material for them including money in order to start their rehabilitation themselves. However most importantly, they brought along persistent determination to achieve their aims, a sheer devotion to their traditional and cultural values, which thrive even to date. The initial Ukrainian immigrations were largely agrarian because the majority of the Ukrainians were farmers. They established their communities in different Prairie Provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Since the early Ukrainians were from Galicia and Bukovyna, which were wooded areas located in the Carpathian Mountains as compared to the Canadian Prairie Provinces, they settled in the wooded aspen parklands of Alberta. (Luciuk p. 1) THE IMMIGRANT MOVEMENTS: The arrival of the Ukrainian immigrants to Canada can be generally dissevered into three waves each different from the other in several ways depending on the reasons of migration and conditions which prevailed. The earliest group of immigrants belonged to Halychyna or Galicia. They found the northern Parkland area favorable for their settlement, as it ensured three indispensable natural resources. (a) Wood which would serve as a construction material as well as a source of fuel. (b) Water, to provide for animal and human consumption, (c) Arable land for agriculture. The dawn of World War I marked the end of this earliest wave of settlement in which around 125000 Ukrainians established their livelihood in Canada. (Gerus and Rea pp. 52-64) After World War II, the second wave of immigrants arrived between the years 1924 and 1929. This lot of immigrants differed from the previous one in a way that it constituted mostly farm laborers, political expatriates and Ukrainian soldiers who had fought against Poland and Russian communists. This wave comprised almost 225000 Ukrainians. (Lupul p. 75) During 1947 to 1952, arrived the third badge of Ukrainian immigrants including most of those who had been forcefully subjected to slavery in Germany. They had no desire to return to now Soviet-powered Ukraine after the end of war. This group of immigrants was the most skilled of all as it comprised of professionals, musicians and scientists who came probably from the more privileged section of the society. These skilled professionals tended to adjust quickly as they had a better chance of availing the educational and extensive training opportunities as compared to the previous deprived immigrants. (Gerus and Rea p. 69) Finally the most recent surge of Ukrainians to Canada occurred after its declaration of independence in 1991. Relatively smaller in size, this group of immigrants principally chose to populate the urban centres, which sets them apart from their predecessors who tended to inhabit both urban and rural areas. WORLD WAR I: The outbreak of World War I left the Ukrainian immigrants and Bishop Budka (first Ukrainian Bishop in Canada) aghast. As the world-wide international matters took a sharp turn, the Ukrainians also like the other Eastern Europeans confronted great upheavals in the form of increased discrimination. (Kaye p. 83) Not only the immigration suffered a hitch but it also imposed restrictions on the already living Ukrainians in Canada. Since Ukrainian immigrants to Canada mostly came from Galicia, which fell partly under the control of Austrian Empire, they tended to hold Austrian citizenship. For that matter the Ukrainian immigrants were suspected by the Canadian authorities. It was a sheer misfortune that when the heir to the Austrian throne was killed by a Bosnian Serb on June 28, 1914, Bishop Budka issued a letter just a day back exhorting all Ukrainians to abide by the Austrian cause. The following day, Austria raged war on Russia as Serbia was her ally. When Great Britain raged war against Germany, Bishop Budka had to retract his stand and therefore he issued another letter, this time siding for the British stance. But the damage could not be recompensed. The Canadian government translated its suspicions into official policy and declared on August 15, that all foreign enemies residing in Canada were liable to imprisonment, disenfranchisement and deportation. (Kaye p. 186) INTERNMENT CAMPS: The World War 1 changed the local attitudes towards Ukrainian immigrants to a great extent. They had to endure a long struggle through harsh policies of the government and atrocities of the war. The implementation of the War Measures Act (1914) further aggravated the situation, disenfranchising all those settlers who entered Canada after 1902. Those who failed to follow the new orders were sent to internment camps. (Lupul p. 121) Already, the immigrants from Eastern Europe had not been able to immediately blend with the Anglo-Canadian community; much fuel to the fire was added by the World War 1. The anti-foreign sentiment borne out by the war drove an English-speaking delegation to petition the officials for the detainment and exile of all Ukrainians from the province. Consequently a large number of Ukrainians lost their jobs in Canada and were placed in internment camps behind fences. Those Ukrainians who tried to serve in the Canadian forces were regarded as untrustworthy and thus rejected. The Ukrainian internees were subsequently used by the Canadian government to help develop their infrastructure. Through forceful means they were subjected to back-breaking labor for the growth of mining, logging, transportation and agriculture in the country. Grand projects like Banff National Park, logging industry in Northern Ontario and Quebec, steel mills in Central Canada, the mines in Western Canada, Ontario and Nova Scotia were only a few fruitions of the Ukrainian drudgery. Canadian officials found these poor corvees to such an extent that the internment prolonged to two years even after the end of World War I. The horrid situation of the despondent Ukrainian Canadians was finally noticed by the Prime Minister Paul Martin in August, 2005, who referred to internment as a â€Å"dark chapter† in the history of Canada. A pledge of $2. 5 million was declared to recompense for the immigrants. However, to much dismay of the hapless citizenry, neither the promised funds, nor a legal settlement came true by June 2007. (Luciuk and Kordan p. 52) EDUCATIONAL REFORM: After a bleak period of war and subjectivity, the enlightened Ukrainians paved the way to enormous educational activity. There was an upswing of journalistic trend among the contemporary Ukrainians. An Increasing number of teachers and University students took up journalism as the only medium, to inform, direct and guide the befuddled fellow masses. They realized that education was their only weapon to bring about a change and they propagated this notion widely. Manitoba was the first Canadian province to witness a transition. Educational institutes opened in Ukrainian settlements. However the Ukrainian people apprehended that the aims of these academies could be to drive Ukrainian children away from their culture and traditions. They desired their children to be taught by the Ukrainian-speaking teachers rather than English-speaking instructors because of the widely-accepted belief that the English teacher did not always have much reverence for other cultures. Predictably enough, all other languages except English were banned in public schools in Manitoba. Since 1916 to date, ardent Ukrainian Bilingual teachers of Happy Thought School have managed to keep their cultural heritage alive. The more promising growth could be witnessed on the University level at Canadian universities. The fervent efforts of the two non-Ukrainian professors George Simpson of the University of Saskatchewan and Watson Kirkconnell of Acadia University introduced Ukrainian scholarships in the academic convention. (Kaye pp. 92-101) The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta, the Centre for Ukrainian Canadians Studies ( St. Andrews College) at the University of Manitoba and the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Toronto are the most highlighted educational centers. This long-deprived citizenry of immigrants not only recognized the power of education, but also evolved print media as a major source of cultural dissemination. The Ukrainian Canadians produced prolific publications offering a thorough range of genres including popular literature as well as critically acclaimed academic journals in their native language. RACIAL HOSTILITIES: Apart from the social inequalities, the Ukrainian immigrants also had to suffer at the hands of racial discrimination by the Anglo-Canadian denizens. The distinct nature of Ukrainian ways of dressing up, their habits and traditions, language and religion provoked much resentment among the Canadian citizenry. They ridiculed the immigrants largely because they had their own ways prominently different from the British ways and practices.

Chemical Suicide: A Danger to First Responders Essay -- Social Issues,

As a first responder, police officers can often encounter many different cases where an individual is reported to be unconscious inside a vehicle. Usually upon arrival, the officer will try and make contact with the subject to investigate the situation. Often times, the officer will discover that the person has either a medical condition, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just hasn’t gotten enough sleep (Randall, 2011). However, in recent years there has been a growing trend occurring in the United States that is affecting the safety of first responders. In this trend people are releasing chemicals within confined spaces, such as a vehicle, to commit suicide. Chemical suicides are very dangerous to anyone within the vicinity because the fumes are extremely toxic (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Individuals that attempt to rescue a suicidal subject could be putting themselves at risk of exposure, which can cause serious injury or death. Being a first responder, it is imp ortant to understand the increasing threat of chemical suicides and how they are typically performed, the warning signs and proper safety procedures to use, and the treatments to this type of chemical exposure. Chemical suicides are believed to have originated in Japan in 2007, and there have been counts of over 2000 cases having occurred within the country since then (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Slowly, this method of suicide has been steadily increasing in the United States since 2008, where there has been at least 72 known cases documented (Goode, 2011). Of these cases, 2 of them had taken place in 2008, 9 in 2009, 36 in 2010, and at least 27 cases by the middle of 2011 (Scoville, 2011). While these numbers are only a tiny fraction of the amount of suicid... ... 2010). When treating for hydrogen sulfide exposure, nitrite therapy may be included in order to aid recovery (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). If exposure to hydrogen cyanide occurred, then the individual should also be given a specific cyanide antidote kit (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Overall chemical suicides are a threat that is unfortunately expected to continue rising throughout the United States. It is essential to keep training as well as communicating to first responders about the dangers that they impose. Every first responder needs to be made aware of how these suicides are being performed, as well as the warning signs, proper safety procedures, and what treatments to use if encountered. The more that this information is being circulated, the better chance there is at limiting the injuries and deaths associated with this type of second hand chemical exposure.

Irresponsibility in the Great Gatsby

A responsible marriage is when both sides of the relationship take responsibility for their actions, for one another and most importantly are not having affairs with others. When there is lack of responsibility, things are at risk to be destroyed or lost. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald all of the marriages fail to show any signs of responsibility through their actions. We see three main relationships throughout the novel that fail to act in a responsible manner. Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Tom and Myrtle, and Daisy and Gatsby. Daisy and Tom are both extremely irresponsible. Tom's irresponsible persuasion essentially leads to Myrtle's death. Daisy does not take any responsibility for her actions which lead to Gatsby's death. Tom and Daisy Buchanan's irresponsibility in their relationships ultimately leads to death and destruction, for their own relationship and others. Tom and Daisy Buchanan's marriage is full of irresponsibility, on both sides of the marriage. This leads to chaos between them, and destruction of life. We see Daisy's irresponsible actions during the scandal at the Plaza Hotel. When Tom, Daisy and Gatsby have a vivid argument, Daisy reveals that she † never loved him†. Tom, her husband, asks: â€Å"Not at Kapiolani†, to which she replies: â€Å"No† (F. Scott Fitzgerald pg. 132) This shows that Daisy apparently never loved Tom. Daisy is a irresponsible woman, she is saying that she never loved her husband. If that is the case, then why is she married to Tom in the first place? This is extremely irresponsible . In addition Daisy is also showing her feelings for Gatsby in front of her husband. Daisy quietly says to Gatsby â€Å"You look so cool. Their eyes met and they stared at each other, alone in space. â€Å"You always look so cool,† she repeated. She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. (F. Scott Fitzgerald pg. 119). This just proves Daisy's irresponsibility. If she had loved Gatsby so deeply, why is she still married to Tom? Daisy is acting as a irresponsible child. She is switching through lover. Daisy is all talk and she shows no responsibility in taking action. If she were responsible, she would choose a man to be with and respect him. Tom Buchanan is a irresponsible man with absolutely no feelings for others. In addition, he is in two relationships, with Daisy and Myrtle Wilson who lives in the dreadful valley of ashes. Throughout the novel Tom misleads Myrtle into believing that one day he would save her from the valley of ashes. However the truth behind Tom's amour for Myrtle is simply sexual pleasure. Myrtle believes that Tom is her ticket to the upper class. When Myrtle's husband, George Wilson, realizes Myrtle has been sleeping around, however he had a dream to leave the valley of ashes with Myrtle. In order for this to happen, he locks Myrtle up. Myrtle breaks free wanting to be with Tom and not in the pigsty of the valley of ashes. She runs out in the middle of the street, and is killed by Daisy. Nevertheless, Tom is ultimately the reason Myrtles dies, because of his irresponsibility. Tom is the reason for Myrtle's death because he leaves Myrtle hanging and is not in contact as much. Myrtle's hopes and dreams were slipping away and she realizes this. In chapter II we see how Tom persuades Myrtle in believing that he cares about her. Tom wants Nick to meet Myrtle. Tom is inviting Myrtle to come to downtown New York. I want to see you,† said Tom intently. â€Å"Get on the next train. † â€Å"Al right† replies Myrtle. â€Å"I'll meet you by the news stand on the lower level. † (Fitzgerald pg. 26) Tom is being a irresponsible man because he is first of all seeing multiple women at the same time. In addition to this, he knows that George loves his wife and still continues to see his wife. Through Tom br inging Myrtle often downtown New York, he manipulates Myrtle in believing he cares for her. However from Tom's point of view he only sees pleasure. When Tom says he would like Nick to meet Myrtle, he shows signs of ownership and care. Myrtle is astonished that such a successful man would want to be with a woman of her class. â€Å"We're getting off,† he insisted. † â€Å"I want you to meet my girl. † (F. Scott Fitzgerald, pg. 24) Tom's behavior is irresponsible for wanting to be with Myrtle only for pleasure. He treats Myrtle as his property and he misleads her in believing that he loves her. Tom wants Myrtle as his property for sexual pleasure, not as a caring and loving partner, Tom actions are irresponsible in seeing only pleasure, without caring about Myrtle who believes being with Tom is her only way out of the valley of ashes. When Myrtle Buchanan is struck by Gatsby's car, she is immediately killed. Since the car is Gatsby's, one would presume Gatsby is the driver. However Gatsby spills the truth out that Daisy was the one driving. Daisy does not take any responsibility for what she has done. She tells nobody, as if nothing had happened. When George Wilson wants revenge over the killer, Gatsby is the one who takes the blame for Daisy's actions. As a result George murders Gatsby in believing he was the one who killed Myrtle. We know this when Gatsby leaks the secret to the crash. How the devil did it happen? † â€Å"Well, I tried to swing the wheel-â€Å"he broke off and suddenly I guessed the truth. â€Å"Was Daisy driving? † â€Å"Yes,† This shows how careless and extremely irresponsible Daisy truly is. She had killed a woman and had acted as if she did not hurt a fly. In addition Daisy is not being a responsible driver, which ultimately leads to crashing into Myrtle and not taking responsibility for what has happened. Daisy truly expresses her irresponsibility, she had not come to Gatsby's funeral and this is the man who she had apparently loved so deeply. Nick realizes how Daisy had not even sent a letter, flowers or any sort of apology for what had happened: â€Å"I could only remember, without resentment, that Daisy hadn't sent a message or a flower. † (Fitzgerald, pg. 174) Daisy's absence at the funeral of the man who she had apparently loved, proves how irresponsible she is. This means she had not loved him so greatly and she only had a obsession with Gatsby. Daisy again is irresponsible since she should have told Gatsby the truth and not act as if she loved him. Throughout the Great Gatsby, all of the relationships are irresponsible, which leads to death and destruction. Three relationships failed tragically: Tom and Daisy, Myrtle and Tom, and Daisy and Gatsby. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are two wealthy people whose minds flow with no responsibility and only money. This leads to destruction and death. Tom's irresponsibility in persuading Myrtle that he was there to help her eventually leads to her death. Daisy's childish and irresponsible actions eventually result in Gatsby's death. Through Tom and Daisy's shortage of responsibility in their many relationships it ultimately caused death and destruction, both to their relationship and others.

An Essay on the French Movie ”the Intouchables”

Intouchables CAD report by Sascha Peters on this movie played in movietheatre lumiere. General information I went to the French movie Intouchables at Lumiere a couple of days ago. It was directed by the duo Olivier Nakache en Eric Toledano. It is a dramatic comedy, based on a real story. The movie was made in 2011 and the lead actors are Philippe (Francois Cluzet) an Driss (Omar Sy) ContentIn Paris, the upper-class and academic Philippe is a quadriplegic millionaire that is interviewing candidates for the position of his caretaker. Out of the blue, the rude African Driss cuts the line of candidates and brings a document from the Social Security and asks Philippe to sign it to prove that he is seeking a job position to receive his unemployment insurance. Philippe challenges Driss and offers a period of adaptation of one week to him to gain experience helping him.Then Driss would decide whether he would like to stay with him or not. Driss accepts the bet and moves to the mansion, chang ing the boring life of Philippe and his employees. The two develop a remarkable friendship. The most important characters in the movie are Driss and Philippe. Driss is a poor black man from the French ghettos in Paris, the Banlieux. He is into Cool and the Gang and music like that. He feels very responsible for his family and in the end this makes him have to give up his nice life.He is not really open-minded towards art and classical music, but in the end he has made his own painting and sold it to a gallery. Philippe is a very rich, quadriplegic man fond of classical music and art. He has got humour but can also be very serious. His wife has died and he now has a young lady from northern France whom he writes poems and letters to. The goal of the directors was to touch people with the beautiful story, but bring it lightly and in a fun way. The main theme is friendship.

Mondavi Corporation

Mondavi Corporation The Robert Mondavi Corporation Today the forces of globalization and consolidation are face to face with the wine industry. The old world producers: France, Spain, and Italy, continue to dominate the market while the new world producers such as the US, Argentina, Australia, Chile, and South Africa have been making inroads into the global and increasingly competitive wine market. The Robert Mondavi Corporation has produced some of the most respected wine labels around the world, gaining a reputation of superior quality. Mondavi is known throughout the world for its quality wines, but the percentage of international sales for the company is actually relatively small. In 1994, only 6 % of the company's $200 million sales were made outside of the United States. However, international operations represent a significant opportunity for the company to grow, especially in countries with markets that do not yet drink significant amounts of wine, for example Asian countries.20131117-OSEC-JC-00 03The company also has excellent opportunities in working with some of the new wine producing countries such as South Africa and Argentina. I believe that the key factor to success is to develop an internal commitment to an international relations program and support it with adequate resources.The Robert Mondavi Corporation has not dedicated a large staff to international development. I urge Mondavi to establish an international division structure creating a division designated to handle all of international operations. This structure takes a great deal of the burden off the chief executive officer, Michael Mondavi, and designates the head of the international division to coordinate and monitor all overseas activities. The vice-president of international operations reports directly to Mr. Mondavi regarding all international matters and this ensures that the international focus receives top management attention. This arrangement is good for the Mondavi Corporation because it is...

Sociology in a Global Perspective Essay Example

Sociology in a Global Perspective Essay Example Sociology in a Global Perspective Paper Sociology in a Global Perspective Paper Multiculturalism In the united States Sociology in a Global Perspective Multiculturalism In the United States Introduction Multiculturalism refers to the conservancy of diverse values or ethnic identities in an amalgamated society as a nation. It is a view that different cultures in the society deserve equal treatment and intellectual concern. Multiculturalism became a dominant force in the US between 1970 1980 when different cultures explored their self-identities. Is the United States of America a multicultural country? Why or why not? Multiculturalism In the united States exists but It Is not reflected clearly In he federal level. Most of its features manifests strongly in the rural and urban areas. This is because of the existence of numerous immigrants who have made their way to the united States. Over years, the legal immigrants have been encouraged bounded on the existing laws. The laws set limits which permit the assimilation of the new immigrants. In the absence of such laws, the society will most likely fracture causing desalination of the Nation. The Immigrants who made their way to America several years ago had the desire to be Americans. Over years. The immigrants have disguised themselves with unique goals. Why multiculturalism is a controversial issue for some people Multiculturalism is one of the most controversial issues in the US today. For instance, in the education sector a controversy arose between 2009 and 2010 in Texas when the curriculum committee was making changes to the curriculum. The changes were made at the expense of the minority populations. The move Juxtaposed Lincoln and Jefferson Inaugural address on a rejection of calls to Incorporate more Hispanic personalities regardless of their high population (Symposium on American Studies in the Asia-Pacific Region et al. 1996). Multiculturalism a controversial issue in the United States because it has become a threat to liberalism, an ideology, that is meant to provide solutions to ethnic diversities in the United States. It is important to note that Multiculturalism have for many years threatened unity In the united States because of the human rights castles that have continually proved to cause disunity among different cultures. The greatest challenge in dealing with Multiculturalism is the existence of different cultures which continue to insist on ethnicity as an important tool in shaping political ligaments and interests. Those In support of Multiculturalism insist that by allowing free membership in the societal culture with unique identities, language and history, pride and self-realization would be achieved. Some controversial ideas suggest the need to multiculturalism because of the feeling that liberalism alone offer insufficient protection AT Uninominal call Tireless wanly consequently teenager ten excellence AT minority cultures. In addition, it inhibits the ability of individuals within the minority groups to make decisions that are good for their survival as a community. Furthermore, the small cultures feel that multiculturalism will provide them with special recognition and rights that will help them overcome assimilation forces which will wipe out their identities and well-being individuals derive from being members of a cultural group (Schmidt, 1997). One of the most controversial issues surrounding multiculturalism is the attempt of the new immigrants bringing in new cultures and ways into the US. Social functionalism and multiculturalism Functionalism contends that a culture functions based on systems that work as an entity. The Functionalist model defines a society as unwavering and labels the several lolls which maintain societal stability. Functionalism is based on social structures that are responsible for solidity as well as instability. It further asserts that a country social structure continuously attempt to uphold social equilibrium among all members of the society. It is important to note that a firm society is the most fundamental above all upon which all elements that support and maintain stability should incorporate in the functionality aspect. It is a macro-level archetype which describes extensive processes and enormous- scale of social systems; it does not depend on the individual behaviors. Social conflict and multiculturalism Conflict theories assert that the class arrangements define a society where groups compete for resources. Such resources are mostly held by capitalists. The Conflict paradigm explains racism, ageism, social economic inequality and sexism in a manner which can best be comprehended (Soviet Rumbled, 2000). Conflict is principally concerned with inequalities which exist based on the numerous aspects of dominant eminence of race or ethnicity, ageism, femininity, stage of development, belief, capability or incapacity, and social-economic status. The colonization aspect is nerve-racking which forces us to contend to the standards and customs of the society (Rubin, 2009). Symbolic interaction and multiculturalism Symbolic Integrations perceive the world as a collection of relationships and in what way larger matters affect individuals. Conflicts are part and parcel of the social function. They interrelate through shifting patterns in the social functions within the paradigms (Ritz et al. , 2009). In addition, Symbolic Interactions define a society as a composition of trivial groups of entities interrelating on the basis of numerous aspects that people understand their innumerable cultural ciphers, for instance, spoken communication, written language, and non-verbal dialect. Every interaction among people in a society comes as a result of shared understanding of the various cultural symbols. Since social construction is idiosyncratic in nature, disparity is also idiosyncratic which means it is based on individual interpretation. Conclusion In summary, Multiculturalism is an aspect that relates various communities composed of a wide myriad of cultures. Such interactions provide opportunities where cultural differences unearth leading to multiculturalism. Multiculturalism perspective recognizes cultural variety in the United States stimulating identical standing and respect for various cultural traditions and practices (Bunker Ratter, 2005).

The Environmental Costs of Cotton

The Environmental Costs of Cotton Chances are that on any given day we wear some clothing items made of cotton, or sleep in cotton sheets, yet few of us know how it is grown, or what are  the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation. Where Is Cotton Grown? Cotton is a fiber grown on a plant of the Gossypium genus, which once harvested can be cleaned and spun into fabrics used most commonly for linens and clothing. Needing sunshine, abundant water, and relatively frost-free winters, cotton is grown in a surprising variety of location with diverse climates, including  Australia, Argentina, West Africa, and Uzbekistan. However, the largest producers of cotton are China, India, and the United States. Both Asian countries produce the most, mostly for their domestic markets, and the US is the largest exporter of cotton with about 10 million bales a year. In the United States cotton production is mostly concentrated in an area called the Cotton Belt, stretching from the lower Mississippi River through an arc spanning the lowlands of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Irrigation allows additional acreage in the Texas Panhandle, in southern Arizona, and in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Chemical Warfare Globally, 35 million hectares of cotton are under cultivation. To control the numerous pests feeding on the cotton plant  farmers have long relied on heavy application of insecticides, which leads to the pollution of surface and groundwater. In developing countries cotton growers use a full half of the pesticides used in agriculture. Recent advancements in technology, including the ability to modify the cotton plant’s genetic material, have made cotton toxic to some of its pest. This reduced but did not eliminate the need for insecticides. Farm workers, particularly where the labor is less mechanized, continue to be exposed to harmful chemicals. Competing weeds are another threat to cotton production; generally tilling practices and herbicides are used to knock back weeds. A large number of farmers have adopted genetically modified cotton seeds that include a gene protecting it from the herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup). That way, the fields can be sprayed with the herbicide when the plant is young, easily eliminating competition from weeds.   Naturally, glyphosate ends up in the environment, and our knowledge of its effects on soil health, aquatic life, and wildlife is far from complete. Another issue is the emergence of glyphosate resistant weeds. This is an especially important concern for those farmers interested in following no-till practices, which normally help preserve the soil structure and reduce erosion. Reliance on glyphosate resistance makes it more difficult to control weeds without turning the soil. Especially problematic in the southeast US is Palmer’s amaranth pigweed, a fast growing glyphosate resistant weed. Synthetic Fertilizers Conventionally grown cotton requires the heavy use of synthetic fertilizers. Such concentrated application means much of it ends up in waterways, creating one of the worst nutrient pollution problems globally, upending aquatic communities and leading to dead zones starved of oxygen and devoid of aquatic life. In addition, synthetic fertilizers contribute an important quantity of greenhouse gases during their production and use. Heavy Irrigation In many regions rainfall is insufficient to grow cotton but the deficit can be made up by irrigating the fields with water from nearby rivers or from wells. Wherever it comes from, the water withdrawals can be so massive that they diminish river flows significantly and deplete groundwater. Two thirds of India’s cotton production is irrigated with groundwater. In the United States, western cotton farmers too rely on irrigation. Obviously, one could question the appropriateness of growing a non-food crop in arid portions of California and Arizona during the current multi-year drought. In the Texas Panhandle, cotton fields are irrigated by pumping water from the Ogallala Aquifer. Spanning eight states from South Dakota to Texas, this vast underground sea of ancient water is being drained for agriculture far faster than it can recharge. In northwest Texas, Ogallala groundwater levels have dropped over 8 feet between 2004 and 2014. Perhaps the most dramatic overuse of irrigation water is visible in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, where the Aral Sea declined in surface area by 85%. Livelihoods, wildlife habitats, and fish populations have been decimated. To make matters worse the now dry salt and pesticide residues are blown away from the former fields and lake bed, increasing the frequency of miscarriages and malformations among the 4 million people who live downwind. Another negative consequence of heavy irrigation is soil salination. When fields are repeatedly flooded with irrigation water, salt becomes concentrated near the surface. Plants can no longer grow on these soils and agriculture has to be abandoned. Salination has happened on a large scale in much of the former cotton fields of Uzbekistan. Are There Environmentally Friendly Alternatives? To grow environmentally friendlier cotton, a first step must be to reduce the use of dangerous  pesticides. This can be achieved through different means. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an established, effective method of fighting pests which results in a net reduction in pesticides used. According to the World Wildlife Fund, using IPM saved some of India’s cotton farmers 60 to 80% in pesticide use.  Genetically-modified cotton can also help reduce pesticide application, but with many caveats.   In its simplest form growing cotton in a  sustainable manner  means planting it where rainfall is sufficient, avoiding irrigation altogether. In areas with marginal irrigation needs, drip irrigation offers important water savings. Organic farming takes into consideration all aspects of cotton production, leading to much reduced environmental impacts and better health outcomes for the farm workers and the surrounding community.  A well-recognized organic certification program helps consumers making smart choices, and protects them from greenwashing. One such third-party certification organization is  the Global Organic Textile Standards. Sources World Wildlife Fund. 2013. Cleaner, Greener Cotton: Impacts and Better Management Practices.

Constructivism and Teaching English Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Constructivism and Teaching English - Assignment Example Although constructivism might provide a model of knowing and learning that has important implications for classroom practices, it does not translate neatly into a set of pedagogical practices. The implementation of the constructivist approach is still worth discussion and clarification. This paper will highlight challenges associated with implementing constructivism in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Much writing has been done about theories of constructivism and the connection to superior learning results; however, there is no "consolidated" discussion of the foundations, results, and practical issues of constructivism. According to Marlowe and Page (1998), even when teachers recognise the value of and want to use constructivist approaches in their classrooms, their efforts often produce less than what they expected. There have been attempts to make constructivism operational so that classroom teachers can more rapidly apply constructivist theory to practice. The pr oblem is that the application of constructivism in classrooms is "neither widespread nor systematic". Constructivist propositions can seem fairly simple but hundreds of observations of and questions from pre-service and in ¬ service teachers over the past 10 years show that they are not. Teachers and administrators who already work with constructivist reform initiatives need guidelines to help with the implementation. Moreover, development of a constructivist view of learning as a basis for instruction implies fundamental changes.

Mitchell v Glasgow City Council Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 24

Mitchell v Glasgow City Council Case - Essay Example Unfortunate facts are common with most of the leading cases, especially based on the delict law. This is particularly true as seen in Mitchell v Glasgow City Council case. James Mitchell is a tenant under the housing local authority has a neighbor by the name Drummond James. Drummond becomes an antisocial neighbor, who ends up a total threat to Mr. Mitchell James. In December 1994, a conflict arose between Mitchell and Drummond due to issues of noise. At this point, Drummond went ahead to bang Mr., Mitchells door using an iron bar and also had the windows of the house smashed. This was the beginning of Mitchell’s horror with Drummond, who openly insulted him and at the same time issued threats to have him dead. James Mitchell suffered an attack from James Drummond. Mitchell suffered injuries that were severe enough to cause his death. The verbal abuses went on for a period of 6 Â ½ years. (ROBERT, 2009). He later killed him in 2001. It is at this point that the council of Glasgow took an initiative to have eviction proceeds against Drummond. Just before, the assault, Drummond got a summon from the council. It was then that he went back and committed the crime which took away Mitchell's life. Mitchell’s daughter together with her mum, Mitchell’s wife filed a case against the Glasgow council for negligence that resulted in the loss of Mr. Mitchell. The law does not impose a duty that is positive to have someone protect other people; and duty to have a person prevented from any form of harm emanating from any form of criminality on the basis of foreseeing its possibility. On the contrary, the harm that is foreseen is in it is not weighty enough to have the duty of care imposition. Therefore, this acted in the disfavor of Mitchell’s family. Ratio refers to reasons given to arrive at a certain decision. They offer a binding precedent that is to say that the courts under in terms of the hierarchy structure, have to follow the same in case a similar case arises and the same presented to them.

Questionairre Design Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Questionairre Design - Coursework Example Minimum sample size for the questionnaire is 1000 customers. Every fifth customer enters in the store will be asked to attempt the survey. Any individual regardless of the color, creed, cast or religion may attempt this questionnaire. However, customers aged 18 years or older, who spend  £500 in a month purchasing in the local stores or buying on the internet, are being asked to participate. We hope to gather the responses of at least 1000 people. XYZ Supermarket appreciates your participation in the questionnaire in which you will be asked questions about your buying habits, preferred ways or medium of shopping and your experience with XYZ supermarket. Due to the fact that, traditionally there is a low turn out on the web, it is decided to make this questionnaire available on the cash and service counters. It is important to understand that your participation is voluntary. The information or data collected through this questionnaire will remain confidential and will be used for the company’s internal use only. You may quit at any time if not comfortable with the questions asked. If the respondent, respondent’s friend or any household member works for the XYZ Supermarket, they should not attempt to answer the questionnaire. The following set of statements is given to assess the personality behavioral patterns. Remember there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer. Please check the most appropriate box you see fit for yourself. Below are some statements reflecting people’s attitudes toward the Internet. Please select the answer that best describes you personally. Please answer the questions, even if you don’t use the Internet, according to your perceived

English - Huckleberry Finn Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

English - Huckleberry Finn - Research Paper Example Huck outcome of his adventures is he finally owns a lot of money which he puts in the bank for safety purposes. Huck used to live with a widow called Miss Watson who was a kind but oppressive woman. They were staying together with Miss Watson sister after he was adoption (Twain 109). The start of the book depicts Huck sadness with the new life after his adoption. The level of cleanliness, mannerisms, attendance of both school and the church, does not thrill him. However, he perseveres after his friend challenges him to stay respectable if he wants to join Tom new gang. Huck lives a comfortable life until the reemergence of his drunken father who surfaces in town and claims a share of Huck money. The neighboring judge ,but a new judge who comes to their town believes in Hucks biological fathers’ right and goes to an extent of accommodating him in his home with a view of reforming him. He does all these so as to give custodial rights to Huck father; the judge fails as Pap, Hucks father revert to his past unethical behavior. He stays in town for some months distressing his son as he has already learned reading and tolerance of the widow habit to transform him into a better person. Outraged by Pap’s behavior, the widow orders him to keep away from her residence. This results in Pap kidnapping Huck and puts him across the riverbanks in a small cabin. The father locks Huck in the cabin and goes to drink and thereafter beats him mercilessly when he comes back home drunk. Huck escapes after the confinement and aggressive daily beatings. He accomplishes to escape to freedom after slaughtering a pig and spreading blood in the cabin in the pretext of his death. He hid on a highland found at the heart of Mississippi river as he watches people from the town search for his corpse. He meets Jim, who is a slave of Miss Watson, a few days later on the island. He has chosen to escape listening to the widow conversation on her intention to sell her to another planta tion near the river. He is afraid of inhumane treatment in the other plantation and separation from his family. They join forces despite Huck conviction on the moral obligation of offering his help to a fugitive slave (Twain 145). During one of their camping expedition in the island, they come across a dead man with bullet shots. They find him inside a house on a raft as they try capturing it with an aim of looting the house. Jim prohibits Huck from having a glimpse of the face of the dead man. They are forced to move out of the island after Hucks gets information that another man suspects that Jim stays in the highland. The man justifies his statement by stressing the smoke that emanates from the island. They proceed to the states that condone slavery up the river. On their way to St. Loise, they come into contact with robbers on a ruined steamboat. They finally escape with the thieves’ loot. One night, both Huck and Jim, meet a group of young men in search of fugitive slave s. Huck lie to the group by informing them that his father is suffering in the raft infected with small pox. The men offer Huck money and disappear as they are afraid of the infectious disease. Their raft is hit by a steam boat, and the two of them are alienated. He finds himself in Grangerford’s family. The elopement of a Grangerford daughter elopes with Shepherdson son resulting to a gun cross fire that leads to the murder of numerous

Promoting Physical Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Promoting Physical Activity - Essay Example On the contrary, research shows that a child whose physical activity is increased significantly performs better than children who spend more time learning in classrooms. Their scores and grades in standardized tests are impressively higher even with less classroom learning periods. A recorded 61.5% of children 9-13 years old d not participate in physical activities outside of school, while 22.6% do not engage in any physical activity during free time; with this data it is more important that teachers classroom teaching style should inject games and other activity that would require physical movement so that at the end of the day, if you add the time spent in games, the time would amount to 30 minutes, which is the minimal amount of time that children should spend in physical activities. Every school should take steps towards safeguarding child’s health through the promotion of physical activities similar to what the parents, teachers, and students association in Michigan did by promoting physical education opportunities – skip rope, biking, jumping, basketball, classroom games, and the likes – within the curriculum to positively impact the child’s mental, emotional, social, and physical growth ("Promoting of Quality Physical Educati on" 2004). Throughout childhood and high school I was very active in sports. I took dance lessons all throughout elementary school, and was a cheerleader and lacrosse player in high school. My parents and coaches were always very supportive, and urged that the most important thing was going out and enjoying ourselves. Dance classes such as ballet were much more structured, while playing lacrosse taught me the importance of working as a team to work towards a common goal. I think these experiences were very important, as it allowed me to form many lasting friendships, participate in a social

English - Huckleberry Finn Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

English - Huckleberry Finn - Research Paper Example Huck outcome of his adventures is he finally owns a lot of money which he puts in the bank for safety purposes. Huck used to live with a widow called Miss Watson who was a kind but oppressive woman. They were staying together with Miss Watson sister after he was adoption (Twain 109). The start of the book depicts Huck sadness with the new life after his adoption. The level of cleanliness, mannerisms, attendance of both school and the church, does not thrill him. However, he perseveres after his friend challenges him to stay respectable if he wants to join Tom new gang. Huck lives a comfortable life until the reemergence of his drunken father who surfaces in town and claims a share of Huck money. The neighboring judge ,but a new judge who comes to their town believes in Hucks biological fathers’ right and goes to an extent of accommodating him in his home with a view of reforming him. He does all these so as to give custodial rights to Huck father; the judge fails as Pap, Hucks father revert to his past unethical behavior. He stays in town for some months distressing his son as he has already learned reading and tolerance of the widow habit to transform him into a better person. Outraged by Pap’s behavior, the widow orders him to keep away from her residence. This results in Pap kidnapping Huck and puts him across the riverbanks in a small cabin. The father locks Huck in the cabin and goes to drink and thereafter beats him mercilessly when he comes back home drunk. Huck escapes after the confinement and aggressive daily beatings. He accomplishes to escape to freedom after slaughtering a pig and spreading blood in the cabin in the pretext of his death. He hid on a highland found at the heart of Mississippi river as he watches people from the town search for his corpse. He meets Jim, who is a slave of Miss Watson, a few days later on the island. He has chosen to escape listening to the widow conversation on her intention to sell her to another planta tion near the river. He is afraid of inhumane treatment in the other plantation and separation from his family. They join forces despite Huck conviction on the moral obligation of offering his help to a fugitive slave (Twain 145). During one of their camping expedition in the island, they come across a dead man with bullet shots. They find him inside a house on a raft as they try capturing it with an aim of looting the house. Jim prohibits Huck from having a glimpse of the face of the dead man. They are forced to move out of the island after Hucks gets information that another man suspects that Jim stays in the highland. The man justifies his statement by stressing the smoke that emanates from the island. They proceed to the states that condone slavery up the river. On their way to St. Loise, they come into contact with robbers on a ruined steamboat. They finally escape with the thieves’ loot. One night, both Huck and Jim, meet a group of young men in search of fugitive slave s. Huck lie to the group by informing them that his father is suffering in the raft infected with small pox. The men offer Huck money and disappear as they are afraid of the infectious disease. Their raft is hit by a steam boat, and the two of them are alienated. He finds himself in Grangerford’s family. The elopement of a Grangerford daughter elopes with Shepherdson son resulting to a gun cross fire that leads to the murder of numerous

Messy People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Messy People - Essay Example Interestingly, I usually feel that I can normally do extraordinary things compared to my organized friends. Friends and classmates have always complained to me to slightly minimize my level of messiness but I still believe that I am in the right truck. I feel that messiness makes life very easy because it does not require seriousness in almost every element. Nevertheless, I have also had several praises from my other friends for being unique, hardworking and intelligent. Because I do not normally clear my table before I start working because I treat it as a waste of time, I normally do things and achieve my targets very fast. I do not normally pan for the clothes I wear or even rigidly plan for what to do the next day in the office since anything new or emergency may crop up. I have been criticized by a friend whom I think is extremely organized. Organized people tend to be more efficient and always act and think more logically compared to the messy people. Also, organized people kno w exactly what they are doing and what their next step should be. Organized people usually plan for everything they do and have very minimal chances of making mistakes. This really wastes a lot of time. It may be right that getting organized is a waste of time and therefore an individual who is naturally messy should not waste time in trying to get organized. Organizing especially data or any other important information in a particular place may be a bit risky as it covers an inner chaos and insecurity. Additionally, sorting and organizing things in an orderly way may greatly waste a lot of time. I may be able to do a lot of work by utilizing time that would have been wasted in doing organization. I do not have to take longer time trying to do filling or even finding a piece of information from a file. Nonetheless it should be noted that messiness does not mean being disorganized (Freedman Web). I tend to think that planning and scheduling events as it is done by my extremely organi zed friend is a sign of rigidity in the way he does his work. I think that it is still logical to schedule events by the hour as this creates room for surprises. Blending flexibility in organizing work gives a room to plan around every curve that may appear ahead. However, Messy people may easily make mistake and are increasingly inefficient. I believe that messiness should not be extreme as this may be dangerous in some instances. On the other hand, a very messy individual may not be as productive as moderately messy or organized individuals because they may not take things seriously (Freedman Web I have noted that messiness should have a limit especially when I consider state of another friend of mine. In most cases, the friend has to search for valuable materials from accumulated garbage which also occupies a very large space in his table. Not once has he ever complained about missing possessions which he later realizes that mixed with trash. Moreover, he normally looks out of co ntrol both personally and professionally. He seems lazy and ignorant or rather very forgetful. I suggested to him that he should organize himself and set reminders otherwise his messiness may turn up to be a serious and dangerous mess. Hanging around him especially in his room may be very boring and hazardous. There may be small pins on the floor that constantly injure him or even stepping on some crucial documents or gadgets (Freedman

Women in Vietnam Essay Example for Free

Women in Vietnam Essay In Vietnam, women were encouraged to serve within the government and other sectors within the state. Unlike in other countries where women are stereotyped as being weak, in Vietnam, it was different. (Insun, p47-p56) Women were treated as equals. They were given the same positions as those ones of women and were given the same respect. Women were especially encouraged to take up the jobs which were believed to be a man’s reserve. They went out of their way to serve their country as humanitarians, entertainers, military dependents, USAID, civilian nurses, in military, as correspondents and in special services. (Insun, p78-p80) There were a good number of women in Vietnam who served as professionals in the field of medicine, teaching, law, professional nurses, controllers of air traffic, language and intelligence specialists, photographers, physical therapists, aerial reconnaissance, legal officers, security officers and administrative positions. Civilian women in Vietnam also served in the Red Cross, journalists, humanitarian organizations and as flight attendants. They were also leaders in the churches. (Chen, p78) Despite the fact that these women were active then, they kept a low profile. Today, nobody can tell who these women are. This is because they don’t show off and have camouflaged. Women made very noble contributions towards the wars in Vietnam. They fought alongside men and did everything men did and they in fact did it a better. (Insun, p34-p67) It has been said that if the country of Vietnam must heal, women must come forward to reveal their involvements and experiences in the war. Unfortunately, they have not been recognized and acknowledged as significant in the history of Vietnam. The situation has been worsened by their silence and the pain and struggles kept deep within them. Women do not believe that they deserve the same recognition and respect like that given to men. (Woodside, p678) Women in special services were mostly under the army. These armies as well as civilians were under the employees’ defense department. The departments that were served by women were related to recreation and morale and included the bases of the Army in the states. (Song, p456) Most of the divisions were also related to works of arts and crafts, service clubs, libraries, movies, sports and entertainment. These women administered special programs, for example, ‘Rest’ as well as the program relating to recreation. The reason why women were entrusted with these positions was their warm hearted nature. They were icon of hope to the whole of Vietnam; they had a role of encouraging men and giving them morale during wars. They ensured that the homes did not fall apart despite their involvements in other services. Women were good volunteers in these services and they had the welfare of the country and the people in mind. It was not a burden to serve their country since they could see the big picture. (Taylor, p267) As librarians, women gave magazines, books and newspapers to the soldiers. The books served as sources of the correspondent courses they were taking and also for leisure. Most of their wonderful memories were hopping flights, clubs, time shared with friends as well as the loved ones. However, there were still some enmities created during the early days. Women fought wars along the beautiful coastline and peaceful villages and rice fields. These areas were My Lai, Chu Lai, the Que Son Valley, A Shau, Da Nang, Phu Bai and hue. Women witnessed the demise of thousands five bases as well as landing zones. (Woodside, p567) At the military, women served with pride. They knew that their efforts were for a worthy cause. They knew that their victory was a victory for all. During the women’s anniversary, they gathered their past and present achievements. There were at least one thousand and two hundred soldiers selected from the women population and served as band leaders and translators, clerks and typists. (Insun, p78)

Motivational Interviewing in a Multicultural Setting

Motivational Interviewing in a Multicultural Setting Motivational Interviewing in a Multicultural Setting Lawrence, Massachusetts is a city rich in cultural diversity and heritage. The Latino population alone boasts seventy three percent and continues to grow (Brown et al, 2013). This brings unique challenges to the therapeutic setting that relate directly to Latino cultural values. There are also challenges that Latinos face that are correlated to substance use. Literature states that Latinos are more likely to binge drink and use drugs more heavily (Franklin Markarian, 2005). Lawrence also has a very young Latino population, resulting in the highest proportion of the population being under five and eighteen years old in Massachusetts (Jaysane Center, 2002). This is imperative to note in a city that reports a high level of substance use among youth. Of many of the challenges that Latino’s face with substance use, they are one-third less likely to enter residential treatment in the state of Massachusetts (Caroll et al, 2009). This illustrates a community that has a great need fo r substance use treatment, yet is currently having that need unmet. As a social work intern, I will have the opportunity to practice with Latino clients and families within my community through in home therapy services. Therefore is vital, as a social worker, to better know the Latino clientele within Lawrence and the distinct factors that might set them apart from other clients within therapeutic settings. Latinos in Therapeutic Settings Latinos represent a very diverse group each having a unique history of social, political, and economic factors that have caused their migration into the United States, or their families migration. This diversity continues to manifest across ethnicity, race, generations, language, but especially nationality. Many Latinos identify first and foremost by their country of origin and will often differentiate, â€Å"I am Puerto Rican† over the official â€Å"I am Latino†. However, though individuals hold this diversity ascribed to their subgroup, many Latinos share core cultural values that are based on mutual experiences such as migration history, access to education and employment, as well as socioeconomic status. Due to acculturation and other psychosocial stressors, language, and poverty, Latinos may be particularly vulnerable within treatment and treatment organizations (Caroll et al, 2009). These shared experiences can impact communication styles such as the willingness to disclose sensitive information which in turn impacts the clinical setting as traditional therapy models often assume direct disclosure from the client. This creates a dysfunctional environment in which Latino clients, ones that do not follow Westernized norms, risk finding therapy to be invasive and opposing with their core cultural values. Therefore it is vital for social workers to consider cultural differences within the clinical setting. Mental health services among foreign-born, monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinos remains low when compared with bilingual Latinos born in the United States (Anez et al, 2008). This is because mental health providers are challenged to develop cultural and Spanish friendly services that will effectively address the needs of a diverse Latino community. Substance Use Factors Substance use is a significant problem among Latinos, who represent the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. However, treatment-related disparities have been identified as being relevant to Latinos. Specific factors that have been identified as contributing to these disparities include the following: cultural and language barriers, poverty, stigma, the lack of bilingual and bicultural staff, and the lack of treatments that are receptive to Latinos’ needs (Anez et al, 2008). The necessity for trained professionals who have the ability and empathy work with the distinct needs of Latinos is great within the therapeutic process. These noted discrepancies are of great concern because it is well documented that Latinos â€Å"†¦ have increased morbidity and mortality rates, high incidences of suicide, school dropout, alcohol use, illicit substance use, and HIV infection (Anez et al, 2008).† Regardless of an apparent need for mental health services very few members of the Latino community actually seek professional help. It appears that these services are not considered to be a primary source of support. In fact, fewer than one in eleven Latinos contact mental health specialists, and often seek services from a primary care provider first (Anez et al, 2008). This illustrates a client group that is currently at an unmet need for alcohol and drug use treatment. Latino clients might have a reason; clients frequently complain that they feel abused, intimidated, and harassed by non-minority personnel (Sue, 2006). Latinos as a group are largely marginalized within greater society; it does not help to do so within the therapeutic setting. Many social work theories originate from a monocultural standpoint, when social workers unconsciously inflict these standards without regard for other cultures, they may be engaging in cultural oppression (Sue, 2006). Social workers must enter the therapeutic setting aware of their own prejudices in order to learn and grow from them. Latino Youth in Therapy Lawrence reports a high level of substance use among youth. In 2002, a survey was conducted within the city which collected the responses of 2,206 high school students resulting in respondents revealing that the majority of substances used are alcohol (52.9 percent), inhalants (39 percent), cigarettes (25.2 percent), and marijuana(19.9 percent) ( Jaysane Center, 2002). The reported substance use rates among Lawrence youth can increase the risk of dropping out of school for many, as the drop-out rate of high school within the city has been very high in current years. Rates as much as fifty percent of high school classes dropping out between their freshmen and senior years have been reported ( Jaysane Center, 2002). There have been a number of factors attributed to the drug use of Latino youth. For example, the role of the family has been identified as being the most important component of addiction treatment for the client. It has been shown that parent’s attitudes, and the u se of drugs, play a key role in the drug use behavior of twelve-seventeen year old Latino youth ( Franklin Markarian, 2005). Adolescents in particular have a potential ambivalence when it comes to quitting substances. However Latino youth also share an additional cultural ambivalence attributed with the Latino identity. Motivational Interviewing in a Multicultural Setting Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centred counselling approach that uses certain techniques in order to produce motivation to change among ambivalent clients (Miller and Rollnick, 2013). Latinos can be considered ambivalent clients as a result of cultural and systemic factors that are experienced collectively as a group. Ambivalence in this sense can be defined as needing to make a change, but seeing little to no reason to do so (Miller and Rollnick, 2013). MI has been found to be highly effective in the treatment of substance use disorders. However, many Latino’s do not seek needed treatment for substance use. There have been a number of cultural values that have been reported to affect the therapeutic relationship to varying degrees; the three most prominent being personalismo (personal relationships), respeto (respect), and confianza (trust) (Anez et al, 2008). MI is a therapeutic model based upon respect and trust as it is a collaboration which honors the clientâ €™s experiences and individual perspectives. Latinos have also been reported to work towards engaging in pleasant conversational exchanges, and to avoid unpleasant ones, often trying to avoid conflict. MI permits the integration of these cultural values within the therapeutic setting, as it also avoids argumentation within the therapeutic relationship. This method differs from other more challenging styles that might advise a client about changes that need to be made, instead MI creates a more cooperative therapeutic setting where the Latino client’s internal motivation is drawn out and explored. This means that the counselor is not leading sessions or dictating the client in anyway. Instead the counselor’s role is to guide the client, listen to the client, and offer knowledge when needed. This method is ideal when working within the Latino community, especially when most therapeutic approaches have shown to cross with their core identity. Clients are experts on th emselves; no professional can know them better than they know themselves (Miller and Rollnick, 2013). If the counselor has the ability to show the Latino client their support of the clients personal expertise, it can create a positive relationship and rapport within the therapeutic setting, and in turn creates a catalyst for change. Motivational Enhancement Therapy Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) has been proven to help individuals resolve ambivalence around engaging in treatment as well as stopping substance use. The approach persuades change quickly through motivational methods. Research found on MET methods suggests that its effects depend on the type of drug used by participants as well as on the goal of the intervention. For example, MET has been used successfully with people who are addicted to alcohol and who want to reduce their problem drinking (Caroll et al, 2009). Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) such as this have also been identified as being particularly effective methods when working with Latino adolescents who have substance use disorders, in fact, â€Å"Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) have been identified as particularly promising for use in efforts to reduce or eliminate adolescent [alcohol and other drug] use problems (Cordaro, 2012)†. The client-counselor relationship and the counselor’s ab ility to engage with the Latino adolescent, has also been found to be a key factor within the motivational therapeutic setting. First impressions count as the initial therapy session appears to be significantly correlated to the client’s dropout from the intervention (Cordaro, 2012). In summary, the ability for the counselor to build rapport with the client from the first session is one of the most important factors when working with the Latino community, in particular with youth. Client Approach This coming fall I will begin an internship providing in-home therapy services with Lahey Behavioral Health in Lawrence, Massachusetts. I will unquestionably have the opportunity to work with Latino clients and families within the community. When working in family systems, I might come across a situation in which a client within that system might have a substance use issue that needs to be addressed. When addressing the substance use issue with either an adult or an adolescent, the first impression and rapport is extremely important during the initial session, as it has been shown to be linked to successful client engagement. My focus for motivational interviewing would rely on building a positive and strong relationship with my Latino clients so as to build enough trust to persuade towards change talk. It is important for me to note that Latino clients hold an admiration for older adult’s that is attributed to the life experience and a general perception that their wisdom hol ds significant value, younger generations are taught to respect their elders and greet adults with a courteous â€Å"Senor† or â€Å"Senora† (Anez et al, 2008). Pretending my client is significantly older than I am I would approach therapy in the following way. First I would begin by asking the client how they would like to be addressed, this would provide the client the ability to structure a conversation around names or nicknames that their friends or family call them, or possible formal titles such as â€Å"Senor† or â€Å"Senorita†. It is also important for me as to be able to address the client respectfully, and to take a careful note of pronunciation. I would structure questions around cultural values, such as being a buena genta (likeable person), family values, respect, trust, and personal relationships (Anez et al, 2008). . In terms of being a likeable person, I could structure a question such as, â€Å"How important is it for you to be viewed a s someone who is likeable?† this shows me the importance that the person holds on their image and how others view them. I would also be interested in knowing how the client interacts in interpersonal relationships outside of therapy; this can be achieved by asking, â€Å"When you are first getting to know someone, what helps you feel comfortable?† or â€Å"What does it take for you to develop trust with someone?†. This can help me gain an understanding of the client’s strengths, stressors and coping mechanisms. I would also ask, â€Å"How do you handle conflict?† or â€Å"â€Å"Can you tell me about a moment when your trust was broken?† This can give me an understanding of how the client handles and copes with hard situations, or if the client has a resistance to talking about hard situations within a therapeutic setting. I would further ask the client what their expectations of trust are within our therapeutic setting, summarizing the sessi on with a shared agreement using the values of trust put forward by the client. This shows the client that I value trust and the client as an expert. Over the course of many sessions I would continue to understand the client’s value system as well as where they stand in terms of change talk. Open-ended value questions would give me an insight into what really matters to the client. I would ask the client what they value the most in life, which can sometimes help to be a motivation for change. This can especially be motivating if the client values their family, a child, being employed or having an education. Once the client has reached the point of talking about their values, I would spend time using a number scale in order to help guide conversation around where my client is in terms of changing, making sure to have all documents used with the client translated if fits the clients need. The clients identified goal during this time might be to reduce the amount of the substance used. Once a goal has been identified and set with the client, I would continue to guide the client into conversation with questions such as how life was like before drug use; questions about the future, as well as what advantages and disadvantages are in terms of their current drug use patterns. I would summarize that session with a collaborative treatment plan that the client feels is realistic for them, and will continue to check up on how the client is doing with the treatment plan during each following session, making additional adjustments along the way and talking about the process. Summary The community of Lawrence, Massachusetts is home to a large proportion of Latinos and the population continues to grow, bringing with them unique challenges especially pertaining substance use and therapy. Latinos drink and use drugs more heavily, a trait that often cascades to younger generations. Latino clients are in need of substance use help, however they are less likely to enter treatment, leaving the need largely unmet. As a social work intern, who will be conducting in-home therapy for families within the city of Lawrence, it is my responsibility to ensure that the cultural values of my clients are integrated into the therapeutic setting. As a Latina social worker, clients might not be as resistant to my therapeutic methods as they might to a non-Latino social worker. As a Latina, I understand and share many core cultural values with Latino clients. Because of this, I might have the ability to build a stronger rapport, one that is essential during the beginning stages of the client-counselor relationship. However, I do not speak fluent Spanish. In fact I only have the ability to speak a limited amount of words, and a few phrases. This largely limits my ability to work with clients who are predominantly in Spanish speaking households, as I am not bilingual. There is also the possibility that I might be looked down upon because I do not speak Spanish, as if I have betrayed my culture and heritage. It is important for me to be aware that these opinions exist, and to notice that they might come up during counseling sessions. If they do I would do my best to redirect the questions back onto my client in a calm and collected manner. In general, MI is the best approach when working with Latino clients as it has been proven to work with ambivalent clients as well as clients with substance use disorders. MI also fosters an environment that is inclusive towards the cultural values of Latinos, and fosters the collaborative therapeutic process between the client an d counselor. When the cultural values of the Latino community are taken into consideration, it fosters change, and retains client engagement within therapy. References Aà ±ez, L. M., Silva, M. A., Paris Jr., M., Bedregal, L. E. (2008). Engaging Latinos Through the Integration of Cultural Values and Motivational Interviewing Principles.Professional Psychology: Research Practice,39(2), 153-159. Brown, N., Chesbro, T., Lee, D. H., Puza, H. (2013). Lawrence, Massachusetts Greenway Plan. University of Massacusetts, 1-50. Carroll, K. M., Martino, S., Ball, S. A., Nich, C., Frankforter, T., Anez, L. M., et al. (2009). A Multisite Randomized Effectiveness Trial of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Spanish-Speaking Substance Users.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,77(5), 993-999. Cordaro, M., Tubman, J. G., Wagner, E. F., Morris, S. L. (2012). Treatment Process Predictors of Program Completion or Dropout Among Minority Adolescents Enrolled in a Brief Motivational Substance Abuse Intervention.Journal of Child Adolescent Substance Abuse,21(1), 51-68. Franklin, J., Markarian, M. (2005). Substance Abuse in Minority Populations.Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders, 321-339. Jaysane, A. P., Center, M. P. (2002). The Community Context of Health in Lawrence, Massachusetts.Lawrence, MA: Merrimack College. Miller, W. R., Rollnick, S. (2013). The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing.Motivational Interviewing:Helping People Change(3rd ed., ). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Sue, D. W. (2006). Principles and Assumptions of Multicultural Social Work Practice.Multicultural Social Work Practice. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Zoecon Corporation - Strike Roach Ender :: Case Study, solution

To:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Executive, Zoecon Corporation From:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Date:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thursday, February 17, 2005 Subject:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strike Roach Ender Introduction Projected Industry Consumers  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Professional Projected Growth Rate of 10% annually  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Projected growth rate of 8% annually Projected sales of $4.4 million   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Projected sales of $2.7 billion Flea IGR Introduction – Similar Scenario †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Great success of introduction of flea IGR PRECOR into PCO, veterinary and pet store markets. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1980 Zoecon broke into the supermarket segment by selling the PRECOR ingredient to it’s competitor dCon †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In early 1983 Flea Ender (using PRECOR) was introduced to supermarkets by Zoecon – 11 % of the market was captured by late 1983 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Flea Ender’s success attributed to a second 3rd party competitor S.C. Johnson †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By 1985 Strike Flea Ender had captured 18% of the flea pesticide market and continues to achieve it’s profit objective Consumer Test Market Analysis Zoecon’s introduction of the Strike Roach Ender has captured a substantial portion of the test area household market segment. As seen in Table A the brand was recognized by over half of the households in the market and 6 %,( 70,200 households) of those households purchased the brand, resulting in a profit of $ 247,180.40. Though repeat purchases were also high at 30% (21,060 households) the profit generated was not enough to sustain a revenue in the trial market. Zoecon ended the market in a net loss of $$1,230,819.40. Figures are further broken down in Table A. Contribution margins were also high for Strike Roach Ender. Aerosol Strike had a contribution margin of 55.1% and fogger had an even higher margin of 57% as seen in Table B. Table C projects the break even analysis in both units and dollars as a basis for further projections. As seen in Table C substantially larger sales are required to break even. Industry Market Analysis Using the techniques from the test market estimates of market share and projected sales for the 19 city (80% of trial insecticide volume) are made for the introduction of Strike Roach Ender into the household market. I also chose to increase the advertising budget by 20% which increased costs to upwards of $12 million. This further drove the net loss to a final projection of $6,844,476 as seen in Table D. Much like the test market Contribution margins were also high for Strike Roach Ender. Aerosol and fogger Strike had a contribution margin exceeding 50% as seen in Table E. Table F projects the break even analysis in both units and dollars as a basis for further projections.

Hamlet Feminist Criticism

This lack of prior knowledge of her being allows the reader to question the importance of her history. The question of the importance of her life is delegated and her current presence Is the only one that matters for the existence of the play. This shows the negative portrayal already to be brought about because of her underdeveloped, backbreaking. Sometimes words are needed in defense, for no words can be Just as negative. â€Å"Frailty; thy name Is woman. Is one of the most impacting quotes In the whole play.It directly states of the nature in which the feminine world is to be perceived. Woman, according to the time, were supposed to be mentally unstable, and fully dependent on their male spouse. This was no better exemplified than In Hamlet. Aphelia, after having taken orders from her father her whole life, his death made her go mad. She was then no longer able to function, ultimately resulting in her death. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, quickly re-married to be supported by her lat e husband's brother. This shows her weakness to be successful without a partner and lack of self- assurance.Aphelion's specific death, that by drowning, can be linked directly with being a woman. â€Å"In his discussion of the ‘Aphelia complex,' the phenomenology's Gaston Bachelor traces the symbolic connections between women, water, and death. Drowning, he suggests, becomes the truly friendly death In the dramas of literature and life, one which is a beautiful immersion and submersion in the female element. Water is the profound and organic symbol of the liquid woman whose eyes are so easily drowned in tears, as her body is the repository of blood, amniotic fluid, and milk. Aphelion's brother Alerts states that he has once again became man after crying tears. Tears which are liquid, liquid being feminine, and friendly being weakness. The idea of women being signs of sexuality has been present for thousands of years. Aphelia is especially known for this, being a woman constan tly entangled within flowers and white linens. The scene In which Aphelia becomes mad, passing out flowers to those around can be contrived as symbolism for, â€Å"deflowering† herself.She publicly has humiliated herself, her family, and the female name for her actions. It was Montreal Day numerous critics now teeny Delved Tanat It was snapper's anger against women for making his characters act in these ways. An interesting aspect of some of the criticism on Aphelion's behavior has to do with those who act out the plays, themselves. Earlier renditions, when females were not as welcome on the stage, men played Aphelia and tended to react with more emotions to make Aphelia seem even weaker not only mentally but also in a physical aspect.When portrayed by a female, the pity and fragility were still present, Just not in the mocking demeanor as when portrayed by men. In other places, Aphelion's lines were shortened and censored because many did not believe in her place in the play at all. As time went on however, she is portrayed as childlike and frail in contrast to mad and dangerous. Hamlet's negative portrayal of women can be linked to many historical beliefs, but the examples are certain. The reader's lack of prior knowledge concerning Aphelia allows one to question the importance of her history.Woman, according to the time in which Hamlet was written, were supposed to be mentally unstable and fully dependent on their male spouse; Gertrude and Aphelia were prime example's of this phenomenon. Aphelion's specific death, that by drowning, can be linked directly with being a woman for water's liquidity. The idea of a woman being a sign of sexuality has been a common thought for thousands of years, this showing the ability for the plays modern day relevance.

North-west Frontier Province and National Peace Award

Being only sixteen years old did not matter squat to Malala Yousafazi. In a short fourteen years, she has won fame for fighting for peace, womens rights, and humanity. Last year, she won the National Peace award in Pakistan for all her efforts. In 2009—at only the age of 11—she fought Taliban insurgency that tried to take over her village of Swat. She wanted to set up her own political party which would campaign the right of young Pakistani girls to education. This girl—this heroine—was shot by a member of the Taliban, in the head and the neck, and is now in critical condition.The Taliban called her work â€Å"obscenity†. I call it heroism. They tried to silence this girl forever—they tried, and are still trying, to silence the ideas of freedom and rights and equality forever. But they will not win this war, not while human beings like Malala Yousafzai breathe and fight. An army chief called Malala â€Å"an icon of courage and hope†. S he’s more than that, much more. She’s the dawn of a new generation, the leader of a revolution in which humanity and justice prevails over the whole world.Malala, she stand as a role model for every girl in the world, to fight for what we believe in, no matter what the cost. she’ve brought a beautiful gift to the world, and to Pakistan, the gift of belief; belief that things can change. her message does not go unheard just as her own ideas have never gone unspoken. God-willing, we will see she gets back on her feet and go, to advocate for the rights shef deserve, with the power of the world behind her. We will see her reform her country and much more. we Thank her, for the inspiration she gave us all, by being a free-thinker, as much of a warrior as her namesake.The film I saw I recently saw an American movie which had impressed me much with its technical, screenplay and acting excellence. ?Witness? comes from Hollywood and it is an enjoyable crime thriller. ?Am ish? is an old forgotten culture in Pennsylvania. They live secluded with their unchanged 18th Centuary culture away from the modern society. They live a peasant life without any modern gadgets. As Amish boy unconsciously becomes an eyewitness to a murder. Killers belong to the police force and are very powerful.An honest detective takes the responsibility of saving the little boy from the killers and busting the crime. He becomes successful ultimately. The main attraction of the film is the excellent picturisation of ? Amish? culture. Every frame brings out the elegant beauty of a forgotten innocence with a contrast of modern ? organised crime?. A small 5-years old boy, the ? witness? is no natural with his stunning performance. Their faith, clannish loyalty and social discipline are filmed with a visual perfection. No overacting, melodramatic scenes and unrealistic car-chase and fights.The effect of the story strikes our thoughts so forcefully but nowhere the characters overplay t heir emotions. Harrison Ford, as a leading character expresses the pain of knowing the killers in all his tired and agonized looks. Here crime is not glorified. Hard truth of responsible people turning into betrayers is depicted quite efficiently in this movie. I think of it often and imagine the scene clearly. Even if they come to kill me, I will tell them what they are trying to do is wrong, that education is our basic right. † â€Å"I have a new dream . . .I must be a politician to save this country. There are so many crises in our country. I want to remove these crises. † -Malala Yousafzai â€Å"They cannot stop me; I will get my education if it is in home, school or any place. † –Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai is a 16 year old who has been advocating for women’s education in Pakistan since she was 11 when she wrote a pseudonymous blog for the BBC about her experiences living under Taliban rule. The Taliban controls the Swat Valley in Pakista n, and had attempted numerous times to prohibit women and girls from attending school.They have removed signs on school buildings and have even destroyed schools to prevent women from being educated. In her BBC blog, Yousafzai describes having to go to school while the streets echo with gunshots and being forced to stay at home because women were not allowed to attend schools, but studying anyway, even though she was unsure if she would be allowed to take her exams. In 2012 Yousafzai was riding on a bus home from school when she was shot in the neck and head by the Taliban in an assassination attempt.She survived this attack, and has continued to fight for women’s education in Pakistan. In an interview with Jon Stewart on â€Å"The Daily Show† from Oct. 9, 2013, Yousafzai said, â€Å"I used to think that the Talib would come, and he would just kill me. But then I said, ‘If he comes, what would you do Malala? ’ then I would reply to myself, ‘Malala, just take a shoe and hit him. ’ But then I said, ‘If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib.’†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You must not treat others with cruelty and that much harshly, you must fight others, but through peace and through dialogue and through education. Then I said I will tell him how important education is and that ‘I even want education for your children as well. ’ And I will tell him, ‘That’s what I want to tell you, now do what you want,’† Yousafzai said . Despite being personally hunted down by the Taliban for her activism, Yousafzai continues to be wise well beyond her years. In 2011, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and awarded the National Youth Peace Prize.Yousafzai also founded the Malala Education Foundation which assists underprivileged girls attend school. Next time you might consider skipping class because the weather is i nconvenient or you did not finish your homework, just remember all that Yousafzai has done and been through for her education and the education of others. She took a bullet at point blank range because she wanted to learn and wanted others to have the right to learn as well. I think it will be okay if you have wet shoes during class once in a while.

American Comfort Food & Culture

Comfort food, in common parlance, refers not just to the sustenance obtained from edibles, but also to the sense of well-being obtained from eating. In this case, it may be psychological or emotional satisfaction. As defined by YourDictionary. com, comfort food is â€Å"any food eaten not only for its pleasing taste but also for a sense of contentment, nostalgia, etc. that it provides. † The sad reality is, the pleasing taste in most cases does not equate with healthy food. Comfort food, while it provides feelings of soothing warmth and gratification, may have ill effects on the body, and the persons concerned may or may not even realize it.Yet one wonders why people, though aware that certain foodstuffs (like the nicest tasting fries) are unhealthy, still partake of it. Upon closer analysis, one sees that food and diet are inextricably linked to, if not embedded in, evolving society and culture. Take the case of America, where one can witness comfort food in two distinct and interesting dimensions: fastfood that is usually devoid of nutritional quality; and traditional gastronomy handed down by one generation to another, as exemplified by authentic South American cuisine, painstakingly prepared by the matriarch of the household as younger family members look on and assist.Fastfood has become a highly profitable industry and global phenomenon, while home cuisine preparation is becoming a vanishing art. As families become immersed in the vicious cycle or struggle to survive, attain work success or recognition, traditional meal preparations are being replaced by cheap instant meals. â€Å"Saturated fats and meats are displacing grains and fresh vegetables. Mealtimes are shrinking. McDonalds is everywhere. † (Walsh 36). Regular fastfood fare like burgers and fries continually entice young and old alike, in America and other parts of the world.â€Å"The flavors of childhood foods seem to leave an indelible mark, and adults often return to them, witho ut always knowing why. These comfort foods `become a source of pleasure and reassurance, a fact the fast food chains work hard to promote† (Schlosser 123). Huge marketing budgets have been allocated to convince consumers to head for fastfood restaurants with kids and other family members in tow. What people easily take for granted is that as they opt for fastfood meals, â€Å"they consume more calories, less fiber, and more fat† (Schlosser 241).Fats may be categorized as good or bad, and among the most undesirable kind is trans fat found in fastfood staples like french fries. Trans fats contained in hydrogenated cooking oil pose a big risk to heart health, as studies have revealed. â€Å"It serves to justify current efforts to get trans fats out of the American diet† (Boyles, parag. 5). Obesity, fatty liver and heart problems are but some of the dangers of regular fastfood consumption in big servings.Fortunately, helping curb the health decline among America†™s population are medically backed reports and a growing health consciousness that have spawned concerted efforts by consumer groups to ban â€Å"the use of trans freats in restaurant food in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago† (Boyles, parag. 5). This had also generated â€Å"pledges from a growing number of fast-food restaurant chains to make their products trans-fat free† (Boyles, parag. 5). Showing an earnest gesture of support in such initiative or clamor to give consumers healthier food options are fastfood companies like Wendy’s and KFC, to name some.Home-produced food may be the norm in certain societies, and â€Å"it shouldn’t be surprising that the societies that have been most successful at retaining food cultures are the ones that have also resisted the pull of Westernization† (Walsh 39). This is not to say, though, that traditional fare like Southern American cuisine is not laden with calories, sugar and fat. South ern American food with multicultural influences includes deep-fried foods and rich gravy made with pan drippings and leftover coffee (Brant parag. 3).If not taken in moderation, they may pose some undesirable health effects, Economics likewise lays a big role in people’s food options. â€Å"Most Southerners were subsistence farmers who relied upon their on harvests to feed their families† (Brant, parag. 3). Delectable dishes, notably â€Å"big country breakfasts of eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and grits, and supper plates of chicken-fried steak, corn bread and collard greens provided farmers with the fuel to work from sun up to sun down in the scorching heat and humidity of the south† (Boyles, parag. 5).While certain recipes and ingredients of south American cuisine stand out, the myriad, longed-for flavors reflect â€Å"a combination of culinary heritages from around the world† (Brant, parag. 1). In many parts of America and major cities around the world, contributing to the decline of traditional mealtimes are the trappings and offshoots of the modern technology era. There is media, with its powerful influence; and migration from slow-paced rural communities to cities marked by fast-paced lifestyles. â€Å"Not only do these changes add stress for families, but nutritional quality declines as well† (Walsh 38).Cornell University Professor of Nutritional Science Jeffrey Sobal, was quoted by TIME as saying that †parents complain that they make [traditional] dishes, but the kids won’t eat them. They want the things that they see on television† (Walsh 38) and consenting adults acquiesce. Indeed, various interweaving factors shape today’s American food culture and while â€Å"we might – indeed must – clean up the worst of the fastfood excesses, trying to preserve the diets that keep us both culturally and physically healthier, no one pretends we’re ever going to turn back the cl ock entirely† (Walsh 39). It is, after all, the age of convenience products.Further boosting the popularity of fastfood restaurants is the business strategy of focusing not just on product innovations but also in providing a complete customer experience. Hence, McDonalds has its Playland to appeal to tots. Other fastfood restaurants strategically focus on a theme, slogan or attitude to further lure customers, wittingly or unwittingly. All told, fastfood has both an upside and downside, While most present-day comfort foods meld flavor and texture for utterly enticing eating options, consumers will do well to take a moment to determine if these foods are worth the momentary pleasures they provide.As for restaurants who have made a giant step towards offering consumers the healthier route through food alternatives that limit dangerous ingredients, it is high time they sustain their initiatives that will put a country’s burgeoning population down the healthier path. Househ olds that find it difficult to reshape their dietary paths are usually hindered by budgetary limitations. It can be gleaned that inexpensive, time-saving fastfood has fueled the rapid growth of fastfood outlets on a global scale, Individuals with high standards of living, on the other hand, are better able to experiment and widen their food choices.Indeed, given today’s societal trends and the fastfood phenomenon, only time will tell if healthier and tastier alternatives to trans-fat-laden `comfort food’ will see the day. In the meantime, America is seen grappling with diet-related illnesses even as health empowering news updates are gradually holding sway Works Cited Boyles, Salynn. â€Å"Researchers Say Findings Justify Move to Reduce Trans Fat in U. S. Diet. † Emedicinehealth. com. 26 March 2007. 13 August 2008 . Brant, Kelly. â€Å"Southern Comfort. † Allrecipes. com. 13 August 2008 n. â€Å"Comfort food definition. † YourDictionary. com. 13 Au gust 2008 . Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Walsh, Bryan. â€Å"How the World Eats. † TIME June 2-July 2, 2007: 36.