Punishments In History Essays - Torture, Physical Punishments

Punishments In History The common practice of early Americans that seems most alien to me is that of human punishment. During the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, the way people were punished was savage and crucial. Those who punished others for a crime, seemed to take matters in there own hands and give punishments that were truly too harsh compared to the crime committed. One of the areas in which such punishment was greatly visible was in the slave institutes. Masters would treat their slaves as if they were ?animals'. It was crucial to see that the only thing that differed Southern and Northern stores was that those in the south stocked "negro-whips" and "mantraps" in their shelves. Whipping was the popular way of punishing slaves at the time, therefore stores made sure they had that six to seven foot long peace of cowhide, to sale to masters who wished to beat there slaves. This type of whip was not enough, for they began making whips that had a platted wire on the end so that it would hurt more and create more damage to the skin. I was shocked to read that a slave would get brutal whips just for simply taking a drink of water when it was not break time yet. If looked at carefully the slave had committed no crime yet was still whipped by his master. This is no way in which a human should treat another human, since we are suppose to be the intelligent, moralistic species of the world. Whipping is still nice, compared to other ways in which many criminals were punished. At times of great crimes, delinquents were faced with the mutilating punishments of the old penal laws, which included branding, ear cropping, hanging and even occasionally castration and burning alive. Thinking of such punishment is harsh, for I thought that the only things that got castrated were the animals in my grandpas' farm. That is not all, since I can not imaging a live human being burned to death. Making such scenes even more disturbing was that they were held in public areas where many people could gather and watch. In New Haven, Connecticut, around 1810, Charles Fowler, a local historian, recalled seeing the"admiring students a [Yale] college" gathered around to watch petty criminals receive "five or ten lashes...with a rawhide whip." On a day of a hanging near Mount Holly, New Jersey, in the 1820's, the scene was that of a holiday: " around the place in every direction were the assembled multitudes ? some in tents, and by-wagons. This is obscene, for humans got a kick out of seeing other humans get killed. Where has the idea of morality and self-respect gone for these people? Right now you probably just imaging men getting such punishments but that was not the case, for women were often treated in the same type of manor. In a country tavern in Georgia, Margaret Hall summoned the slave chambermaid, but she could not come because the mistress had been whipping her and she was not fit to be seen. The next morning she made her appearance with her face marked in several places by the cuts of the cowskin and her neck handkerchief covered with spots of blood. In my point of view, a woman is not to be treated in such manor, for they are to be respected more than men. It is not that I don't believe that people should be punished for doing things they shouldn't do, but it should be reasonable. I believe in the idea of "Eye for an Eye", for if a person murders another, his/her punishment should be death. But for a person, who simply got into a fight with someone else, death doesn't seem to be a reasonable way of punishing him. Instead he should be given a beaten himself so that he can see what it feels like. People in the past seemed to take things to far and not think about the situation carefully. Thanks to God, the old ways, so startling unfamiliar to the modern reader, gradually fell away. Americans changed their assumptions about what was proper, decent, and normal in everyday life and began to look at life in a different view. Who knows, perhaps our morals, to some future observer, will seem as idiosyncratic and astonishing, as I believe this type of behavior is.

Comets Essays - Astronomy, Solar System, Outer Space, Comets

Comets Essays - Astronomy, Solar System, Outer Space, Comets Comets The first written records of comets date back to nearly 3,000 years ago from China and Europe. The accounts of these comets were believed to be the causes of terrible events that occurred afterwards. In more recent times, however, astronomers have found out what they really are. A comet is basically a mixture of ices, from both water and frozen gases, and dust. They have also been given the names dirty snowballs or icy mud balls. The typical comet is less than 10 kilometers across. They spend most of their time frozen solid in the outer parts of our solar system. Comets are composed of five parts: the nucleus, coma, hydrogen cloud, dust tail, and ion tail. The nucleus is pretty solid and stable, composed mostly of ice and gas with a small amount of dust and other solids. The surface of the nucleus is best described as a black crust. Comet nuclei can range from 1 kilometer to about 50 kilometers across. The black crust on the surface of the nuclei helps the comet to absorb heat, which causes some of the ices under the crust to turn to a gas. Pressure builds up underneath the crust and causes the surface to bubble up in some places. Eventually, the weak spots of the crust break open from the pressure, and the gas shoots outward; astronomers refer this to as a jet. Dust that had been mixed in with the gas is also pushed out, and as more jets appear, a small gas and dust shell forms around the nucleus, and this is called the coma. The coma, also called the head, is a dense cloud of water, carbon dioxide and other gases and comes off of the nucleus. They can be several thousand kilometers in diameter, depending on the comets distance from the sun and the size of the nucleus. The size of the nucleus is important because since large nuclei have a greater surface area facing the sun, which is the side that is the warmest, hence the side where most of the jets are coming from, it means more jets and greater amounts of gas and dust go into the coma. Even though the coma can get to be very large, its size can actually decrease about the time it crosses the orbit of Mars. At this distance the particles that drift out from the sun act as a powerful wind which blows the gas and dust particles away from the nucleus and coma. This is the process, which make s the comets tail. The hydrogen cloud is very large at millions of kilometers in diameter. But it is only a very sparse body of neutral hydrogen. It was discovered from spectroscopy that was carried out by satellites in 1970. Hydrogen was discovered in comets Tago-Sato-Kosaka and Bennett. It is ionized hydrogen that forms the light that goes past the coma. The reason why the hydrogen cloud was not discovered for a long time is because it is not visible from Earth. Atomic hydrogen emits in the ultraviolet, but the ozone layer stops the waves from entering. The hydrogen cloud can only be observed from space, with satellites. The dust tail is usually up to 10 million kilometers long, and is composed of smoke-sized dust particles that come off the nucleus by escaping gases. The dust tail is also the most visible part of a comet to the naked eye. The tail has a potential to be long when it enters the orbit of Earth. The record for the longest tail is the length of the Great Comet of 1843; its tail extended more than 250 million kilometers. The ion tail, known as type I or plasma, is made up of ions. It can be up to 100 million kilometers long and 100,000 kilometers wide. The tail is straight and always is oppo sed to the direction of the Sun. The color of it, through a spectrum, is mostly blue. The reason why the tail is ionized is because of solar wind. Solar wind, which flows at about 400 kilometers per second, is filled with charged particles that are around the solar magnetic field. The gases in the tail are ionized

Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Application - Essay Example My interests lie in the field psychology and I feel that the college’s program will not only provide me a solid foundation but also provide me with the practical application of valuable skills and knowledge that will be important when I graduate and begin my professional career. Upon graduation, I intend to continue with my education and pursue a master’s degree and then eventually a Ph.D. Specifically, I want to attend SUNY Empire State College because of its fine reputation as a top-rated college within the SUNY system and within New York. It has a strong reputation for having high academic standards and its programs and degree programs are accredited. I am very impressed by the flexible class formats and I am attracted to the interactive instructors and professors. The student to professor ratio is another reason why I feel that this university is a good fit for me. In addition, I find the availability of resources for academic assistance unmatched in comparison with other universities and colleges. SUNY Empire State College cannot only benefit me, but I can bring a lot to the university as well. Because I grew up in a difficult background, I can relate to the people I wish to help in my professional career. Through sharing my personal experiences, it will provide insight, inspiration and learning experiences to my peers and colleagues. As a single mother, it has led me to be extremely organized and detail oriented. Having these qualities has set me up for success as a college student and a professional. Throughout my high school career, I had several leadership roles that have made me ready for the next level of education and professional development. I was involved in several leadership positions, one being the secretary of the student body. During this experience, the cabinet of our student body was invited to attend a leadership conference in Washington D.C., where we

Research and informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research and informatics - Essay Example The patient safety technology is transforming the way nurses deliver their care services. The devices are more accurate and less prone to errors that are inherent to human beings. The accuracy guarantees patient safety during medical procedures and treatment (Trossman, 2013). Technology can meet the safety standards set by the institute of medicine, by eliminating errors that are inherent to humans. The concept of â€Å"to err is human† is widely used in medical fields to justify human errors. The concept has multiple weaknesses. It allows health providers to act negligently without any legal implications. In extreme cases, human errors result in the deaths of patients and permanent disability. Use of technology eliminates these errors, increases efficiency and accuracy in medical procedures especially surgical procedures. Evidence shows that technology saves the lives of patients in ways that human efforts alone cannot do (Kleib, Shabe & Allen, 2012). For example, before adoption of extensive application of technology, health providers relied on their senses to detect changes and monitor status of a patient. Use of their senses such as smell, touch, hearing and sight was very subjective and prone to errors. Later on, accurate technology to detect a patient’s physical changes developed (Mitchell, 2011). Policies/guidelines/best practice for patient safety technology and nursing care advocate for building a safer health system by eliminating human errors. The concept of â€Å"to err is human† defines the challenges that hinder improvement of safety in the health care sector. However, technology eliminates these human limitations and develops a new best practice that builds a safe health system. The new system is more accurate, precise, efficient and secure because technology is less prone to errors than people (Thede & Linda, 2012). Another guideline aims at keeping patients safe by transforming the work environment for nurses. The guideline focuses

Terrorism and Human Rights in Kenya Dissertation

Terrorism and Human Rights in Kenya - Dissertation Example This not withstanding, terrorism is gradually emerging to be one major setback to the protection of human rights in Kenya. This situation has created a situation that is best described by Karanja (2003) who states that â€Å"The word terrorism sends a cold chill down the spine of every Kenyan.† Indeed as far as terrorism is concerned, one attack is not small enough to be neglected. This is because acts of terrorism come with so much emotional and psychological traumas; not to talk of physical pain and agony, loss of property and most unfortunately death of human beings. Even as these negative effects of terrorism affect humanity and more specifically residents of Kenya, one other area of concern that has gained so much prominence and come to the table of discussion is the issue of human rights of people in Kenya who suffer in the various events of terrorists attacks. In 1956, 1998 and 2002, Kenya suffered various degrees of terrorist bombings of which Kenya suffered catastroph ic effects. Not quite unusual, Kenya responded to these bombings with counter-terrorism. These counter terrorisms however worsened Kenya’s plight: especially that of ordinary citizens as their human right protection and general security came under threat. It is against this background that this research has been set off to investigate the relationship between terrorism and human rights issues in Kenya. It is against this background that this research has been set off to investigate the relationship between terrorism and human rights issues in Kenya. The research proposal shall critically analyze the evolution of human rights in Kenya, history of terrorism in Kenya,

Critical Discussion of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR)

Critical Discussion of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) Corporate Social Responsibility Defined Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is when a corporation exceeds statutory business standards (Johnson and Scholes 2008). CSR policies are relevant because they state what a company intends to achieve, in addition, to its statutory obligations. A corporation has to comply with legal standards such as employment contracts. However, a company can exceed those principles if it chooses to pay a living wage rather than the minimum wage (Bloomer 2014). Introduction to the Critical Discussion The discussion will examine a traditional criticism of corporate social responsibility through the work of Friedman. This is a view which proponents of CSR will need to refute. The essay will then discuss how social and environmental responsibility can be reconciled, with profitability, using the work of Porter. The example of Hewlett Packard is discussed at length. This is because its policies emphasise how a multi-national company can achieve both environmental and social responsibility together with corporate profitability. The work of Handy is then considered. This argues that companies should have corporate objectives which are broader than just profitability and consider the purpose of the business. Friedmans View of Corporate Social Responsibility Friedmans view is a non-interventionist or laissez-faire vision of commerce. In his view business should aim to earn money while complying with the basic rules of the society such as paying taxes (Friedman 1970:1). It assumes that consumers are sovereign and are able to significantly influence corporate decision-making. This view of commercial organisations underplays the significance of consumer market failure. It is assumed that consumers can take their business elsewhere as Friedman believed that consumers can transfer their business to other producers (Friedman 1970). However, this is not possible if the consumer is unable to pay for another competitor firms products. This is the case if a consumer were unable to pay for the safety features, offered by a car manufacturer such as Volvo, as discussed below. To summarise, socially responsible polices, can be seen as unrealistic if consumers are unwilling to pay for them. Friedman argued that socially responsible business policies, such as promoting equality, can harm company performance. For example, Ben and Jerrys adopted a payment scheme where the highest paid employee could only earn no more than five times the income of the lowest paid firm employee (Barney and Hesterly 2010:7). This payment scheme made it difficult to recruit senior managerial talent to make sure that the company grew and remained profitable (Barney and Hesterly 2010). A More Progressive View of Corporate Social Responsibility There is an increasingly an expectation that companies will contribute to society to a greater extent than when Friedman was writing in the early 1970s. Companies operate in a social environment as well as an economic environment (Grant 2008). A firms ability to survive depends upon its acceptability among consumers who give the firm social legitimacy (Grant 2008:446). Examples of social awareness, such as a demand for safer cars, suggest that companies are wise to respond to consumer concerns (Grant 2008).Corporations have come under increasing pressure to contribute to the societies in which they operate and to adopt more socially responsible business practices (Christodoulou and Patel 2013:467). The corporate setting of voluntary objectives can be seen as an adequate response to the needs of society. Companies can set voluntary standards: to reduce the extent to which their actions cause negative externalities or side-effects (Barney and Hesterly 2010). For example, if a car manufacturer builds a car with a large number of safety features which more than comply with legal requirements. Volvo has promoted the benefits of a relatively safe car which adds value that the customer is willing to pay a premium for (Thompson and Martin 2005:95). However, this approach can also be seen as merely serving a premium segment of the market, rather than being particularly socially responsible. In this case, Volvo is taking a marketing position which conforms to sales objectives while offering better safety to the motorist (Johnson and Scholes 2008). Corporate social responsibility is only conforming to financial requirements. Porters View on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Environment The concept of CSR is useful as it can help reconcile the financial needs of business with say the safety needs of society. Porter argues that it is a mistake for business to see environmental legislation as a threat to be resisted (Porter and van de Linde 1995). Rather, socially responsible businesses can view regulation in a positive manner; that environmental regulation can be built upon to utilise resources more effectively. It is argued, that there are costs incurred with the elimination of environmental problems but that these are outweighed by the benefits, including financial savings and improvements to product quality (Thompson and Martin 2005). Therefore, it is possible for corporations to be socially responsible without compromising the financial status of the organisation. Porters argument is useful. It has allowed thoughtful companies, such as Hewlett Packard, to reconcile investment in environmental initiatives with corporate profitability. The Hewlett Packard Report Hewlett Packard has a strong reputation in terms of corporate social responsibility (thecro.com 2010). The companys CSR policies are detailed and indicate a high level of social responsibility. For example, the company presents environmental information, in a proactive manner, with evidence of wanting to improve recycling programmes. It aims to improve environmental programs to reduce the waste from its production operations (Hewlett Packard 2011). Through these environmental initiatives, the company can help reduce business costs. Hewlett Packards CSR report discusses how it aims to extract value from products which are at the end of their product life (Hewlett Packard 2011). An example is the companys commitment to re-manufacture its printer cartridges so that they can be used again. The company is attempting to promote a strong corporate responsibility through proactive environmental investment. Hewlett Packard has demonstrated strong social responsibility policies. This suggests that such policies can be implemented on a large scale. The company has provided a significant amount of disclosure on a wide range of corporate areas from the environment to human resource management. The detail provided by Hewlett Packard is superior to other companies given that online trade publications have viewed Hewlett Packards performance favourably (thecro.com 2013). Given that Hewlett Packard was assessed favourably then the information provided, in its CSR report, can be interpreted as thorough and accurate. The company attempts to improve the wider business community with measures to develop its external supply chain. The company aims for strong standards of behaviour outside the companys core business. This suggests that it is attempting to improve working relationships with its component suppliers (Hewlett Packard 2011). Hewlett Packards CSR document conveys that the company is enabling social responsibility to be addressed. The company suggests that it has a grievance procedure so that different stakeholders can report social or ethical problems to senior management (Hewlett Packard 2011). The company is clearly investing in a responsible approach as it describes legal observance as an absolute minimum which it expects of different stakeholders (Hewlett Packard 2011:82). They argue that their decision making achieves better employment standards, than laws in the different countries in which the company operates (Hewlett Packard 2011). Concerns over Hewlett Packards Stated Policies Hewlett Packard attempts to make the company accountable, to external industry scrutiny. Procedures have been outlined which should make sure that ethical labour standards are achieved (Hewlett Packard 2011). The concern is that ethical objectives could be difficult to implement. There does not appear to be a specific example of how this guidance statement could be delivered in practice. However, there is a well structured diagram which outlines how the company will provide a governance structure so that the company can comply with ethical challenges (Hewlett Packard 2011:82). Some of Hewlett Packards environmental statements can be interpreted as platitudes. The company claims that that it wants to conserve more resources than it consumes (Hewlett Packard 2011). The concern is that it is easy to provide such statements. However, it is more difficult to assess how they are going to conserve more than they consume. This is because environmentally acceptable re-manufacturing programmes will still require energy consumption despite the conservation of the materials. Hewlett Packard may have worse polices, in practice, than those conveyed by its report. This is because suppliers could be forced to comply with the companys standards. There are power relationships between dominant multi-national companies, such as Hewlett Packard, and their suppliers (Locke et. al. 2012). The international sourcing of computer components has left suppliers vulnerable to the dominant buying policies at Hewlett Packard (Wetherly et. al. 2011). These power relationships will tend to be overlooked, in corporate social responsibility reports, because companies will want to portray themselves in a favourable light. Corporate social responsibility policies have been criticised. The development of CSR policies have been difficult to implement for many firms (Birchall and Cook 2006). However, these criticisms should, generally, not be directed at Hewlett Packard due to the level of detail contained in its CSR report. Arguably, they have made an honest corporate attempt to contribute to society (Porter and Kramer 2002). The report goes beyond the legal compliance advocated by Friedman. The detail provided is of a superior standard when compared to a minimum level of legal compliance. The Business and Ethical Concepts of Handy The work of Handy, arguably, goes beyond the corporate responsibility work of writers such as Porter. This is because Handy emphasises the importance of mission statements and the purpose of the organisation. Handy argues that the purpose of a business . . . is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That something becomes the real justification for the business (Sage Publications 2015:15). Handy argues that a firms profit should be the means to a larger end (Sage Publications 2015). There are companies which adhere to a deeper purpose than merely profit. Tradecraft, in the UK, would be a good example as the companys purpose is to operate life-changing development projects (Traidcraft 2015). However, Traidcraft operates in a niche area of the retail market where affluent consumers, who are willing to pay higher prices, contribute to international development. Therefore Handys ideas may have limited application to businesses throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. However, his ideas are useful where they can be applied. Tradecrafts mission moves beyond immediate stakeholders, such as owners and clearly considers the needs of the broader society (Dess et. al. 2010). The company is an excellent example of a company which incorporates social and environmental, as well as financial factors, into its decision making (Dess et. al. 2010). The challenge for proponents of social responsibility is that many retailers only undertake social and environmental policies which do not damage their sales and profits. Many retailers will concentrate on environmental responsibility in their stores, where they can achieve resource efficiency targets (Jones et. al. 2009). Many retailers social responsibilities are guided by what they can achieve within their financial imperatives (Jones et. al. 2009). However, such corporate policies could lead to accusations of greenwashing. In other words, that the retailers commitment to the environment is limited and that social responsibility reports can play a public relations role rather than a social responsibility role. Many firms are engaging in greenwashing to mislead consumers about the extent of their environmental activities (Delmas and Burbano 2011). Conclusion There is evidence of improvements to companies social responsibility polices. This is because firms have realised that it is financially prudent to use environment resources wisely. It is also necessary for business to be sustainable and to invest in good employment practices and proper labour standards. However, there is a concern that corporate social responsibility is limited by what the consumer is willing, or able, to pay for more ethical approaches. There are few examples of businesses which are willing to adopt socially responsible policies which affect their profitability. Ben and Jerrys is one example before its takeover by Unilever. References Barney, J. and Hesterly, W., (2010), Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, Third Edition, Boston: Prentice Hall Burchell, J. and Cook, J. (2006), Confronting the corporate citizen: Shaping the discourse of corporate social responsibility, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 26, No. 3/4, 2006, p. 121-137 Bloomer, E. (2014), Local action on health inequalities: Health inequalities and the living wage, Public Health England. Retrieved from  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357407/Review6_Living_wage_health_inequalities.pdf Christodoulou, I and Patel, Z. (2013), Strategic Perspectives, Westminster Business School, University of Westminster, New York: McGraw Hill Dess, G., Lumpkin G. and Eisner, A. (2010), Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantages, Fourth Edition, Boston: McGraw Hill Delmas, M. and Burbano, V. (2011), The Drivers of Greenwashing, UCLA, California Management Review. Retrieved from  http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/media/files/Delmas-Burbano-CMR-2011-gd-ldh.pdf Friedman, M. (1970), The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits, The New York Times Magazine, September 13, 1970. Retrieved from  http://www.umich.edu/~thecore/doc/Friedman.pdf Grant, R. (2008), Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Sixth Edition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Hewlett Packard, (2011), HP 2011 Global Citizenship Report. Retrieved from  http://www8.hp.com/us/en/pdf/hp_fy11_gcr_tcm_245_1357670.pdf Johnson G. and Scholes, K., (2008), Exploring Corporate Strategy: Eighth Edition, Harlow: Pearson Education Jones, P., Comfort, D. and Hillier, D. (2009), Marketing Sustainable Consumption within Stores: A Case Study of the UKs Leading Food Retailers, Sustainability 2009, 1, 815-826. Retrieved from  http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/1/4/815 Locke, R, Distelhorst ,G., Pal, T. and Hiram M. S., Production Goes Global, Standards Stay Local: Private Labor Regulation in the Global Electronics Industry, Retrieved from  http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1978908 Porter, M. and Kramer M., (2002), The Competitive Advantage of Corporate Philanthropy, Harvard Business Review, December 2002. , Retrieved from  http://www.expert2business.com/itson/Porter%20HBR%20Corporate%20philantropy.pdf Porter, M. and van de Linde, C. (1995), Towards a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship, The Journal Of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 9, No. 4. Retrieved from  http://www.conservationeducation.org/uploads/6/2/0/1/6201942/porter_-_environment__competitiveness_1995.pdf Sage Publications (2014), What is CSR. Retrieved from  http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/34698_Chapter1.pdf Thecro.com, (2010), CRs 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2010. Retrieved from  http://www.thecro.com/files/CR100Best.pdf Thompson, J. and Martin, F. (2005), Strategic Management: Awareness and Change, Fifth Edition, London: Thomson Learning Traidcraft, (2015), Traidcraft: Fighting Poverty Through Trade. Retrieved from  http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/ Wetherly, P. and Otter, D. (2011), The Business Environment: Themes and Issues, Second Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press

An Open-Minded University :: Argumentative Culture Diversity Essays

An Open-Minded University Colleges and Universities have long played a role in emphasizing a common past or history, which, we as Americans must certainly all share. Our culture has certainly been dominated by viewpoints of those who have written about it, those in the media, and more specifically, those in power. As a society we are all quite aware of the fact that those in power and, therefore, those who have shaped a large part of our society are made up of a majority of white, male, upper class citizens. Yet, as our society is constantly changing, growing and becoming enriched with a diverse people from all over the world who do not share experiences, culture, skin color or even values, we must ask ourselves how productive we are when we teach the culture of the few to the faces of the majority? I, therefore, feel that not only should it be the responsibility of all colleges and universities to teach a wide variety of diverse cultures that encompass the people who make up our society, but it should also b e their duty. America was made by the people and for the people. "People" is the key word we must remember and take notice of. Who is it that makes up our "people", and how can they be represented in our history, our educational institutions and in our society? By understanding the people that encompass the true America and incorporating a knowledge and respect of all cultures we will be more productive as a society and, more importantly, better able to communicate, relate and build relationships, which will enrich our individual lives. The article by Bell Hooks entitled, "Keeping Close To Home: Class and Education" seemed to touch on the issue of incorporating an education that encompasses a variety of people in a profound way. Recognizing the unique perspectives that can be drawn from a diverse people will, eventually, change the once valued American attitude that we must all assimilate to one voice, one common outlook, one moral and educational perspective. In knowing one's past, by naming it and then taking ownership of the past, and by learning about other people's past from an objective point of view we are expanding our sense of history. More than that, we are actively incorporating all different people into our every day lives. Obviously, a greater sense of cultural awareness is not always as easily attainable as we might hope.

Organic Food †Good for you, Good for the environment Essay

Organic food has quickly gained popularity over the years. What started as a trendy method that celebrities adopted has expanded mainstream and can be found in any thriving metropolis as well as many smaller towns and cities. Organic food refers to any type of produce or meat product that has not be treated with additional chemical preservatives when it is grown and therefore is considered to be of benefit to those that choose organic produce. Yet there are those that have not jumped on the organic bandwagon as they have reservations towards this option. We will examine both sides of the argument so as to analyze and finally decode the language that is organic food and come to the clear conclusion that organic food should be an investment we make for proper nutrition and health. Understanding Organic Food One of the most basic human needs is food. We need to feed our bodies with food in order to do any of the daily tasks that we may embark on. This need used to be supplied with food that was wholesome and pure. Our ancestors ate the fruit of their labor which was food that was grown in their farms or in local surrounding areas. We have come a long way from this with the expansion and growth of not only the population but also the technology that speeds up the 2 packaging and assembly of some of the larger chains which supply millions of households with food. Our food no longer is home grown; little do we know where in fact it comes from and for that matter what is being added to our food to give it color, taste and preserve its freshness. Organic farmers are looking to close the gap between the supplier and the ultimate consumer. By buying organic produce we go back to a simpler time where we knew where our food came from and what agricultural methods the farmer used to cultivate the food we put in our mouth. Critique Skeptics and critics of the organic food movement question if buying organic produce is worth it. They believe that organic food is costly compared to commercial and industrial produced food. It can cost a consumer anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars to purchase organic products vs. commercial products. This is due to the methods that organic farmers use when they grow their produce such as crop rotation which is a method that organic farmers use to maximize the soil and land they have by alternating the type of crop they grow. This method leads to less amount of one type of product being produced and also less variety or produce being only available in particular time periods or seasons. It also means that farmer will use less of the soil and less land. This can be a big disadvantage as in the United States alone 140 hectares of farmlands have been lost in the last 30 years to make room for non-agricultural purposes such as building urban cities and highways (Cunningham & Cunningham 2010 pg. 201) therefore it may seem to some that all the land given for the purpose of agriculture should be used and even exploited for maximum profit options. Another disadvantage that organic products have is their shelf life. Because no preservatives are used to keep the product fresh, organic products must be consumed within a very short time frame, which can be a big inconvenience to the consumer on a strict budget 3 looking to really expand the freshness of their products without the need to buy a large amount of groceries every few days. If we look at the economic disadvantage that buying organic food has we can see why some people are still skeptical of trying or buying organic products. With the economy still trying to recover from a period of recession and the job market being scarce, people have become savvy shoppers and want to stretch their dollars. While buying commercial products may seem like the best option when saving money, there are other ways to save and still enjoy the benefits that come from buying organic produce. When it comes to matters of health and giving your body the best nutrients, it is important to learn the facts and really analyze the options before making such an important decision. Benefits There is no denying the benefits that buying organic produce has over the conventional method and while the arguments for those opposing organic produce are valid they do not give the consumer the various methods and options they have when choosing organic products and thus it is up to the consumer to study and analyze the progress that organic farmers and retailers have taken in an effort to make organic produce more cost effective as well as various methods that can be taken to naturally preserve the freshness of the produce. Like all things when demand is high cost normally goes down, however because organic produce requires special labor, the cost of buying organic produce is also higher than the conventional method. A recent head-to-head comparison done by a group of Colby College students in 2011 was conducted surveying various commonly purchased products, comparing the prices of both non-organic and organic products and it was concluded that organic products can have a mark-up of up to 117% compared to non-organic products. According to these studies 4 organic carrots cost $1. 51/lb. while non-organic carrots cost $. 77/lb. , a difference of +96% for the consumer buying organic carrots over non-organic. (White Pillsbury, Melissa 2013). While the actual price may vary by location, it is true that organic products do cost more than their non-organic counterpart. One way to offset the cost of buying organic produce is to shop directly from the farmer. By doing this, the consumer not only can ensure that they are buying organic products, they also save money as the farmer will sell directly to the consumer and not have to spend extra money on packaging or transportation costs when selling to wholesaler. Farmers markets are growing in size and vary from city to city. If the consumer lives in an area where the resources for organic produce are scarce or they lack the time to visit a farmers market, they also have the option to subscribe to a monthly at home delivery service usually offered directly from a local farm such as Farm Fresh To You (www. farmfreshtoyou. com ) or Full Circle (www. fullcircle. com ) . These are at home delivery programs that work directly with a local farm which offer the convenience of having the products delivered to your front door, they also take the guess work off what products to buy. Each box of produce delivered weekly or bi-weekly depending on the type of membership you have signed up for, has a variety of hand-picked produce that is both fresh and in season. Another argument that is commonly brought up when discussing organic foods is that organic products lack preservatives that keep it fresh. Once again, a very valid point however, if the consumer were to investigate a little further, they would learn that farmers are great resources to look in to for special tips on how to naturally preserve food without the need for chemical preservatives. Some tips might be as simple as the storage of the produce. One such example is to keep commonly used fruits such as apples and grapes refrigerated at 32-36 degrees Fahrenheit (FarmFreshToYou. com) and away from vegetables to avoid ripening too early. Other methods 5 that have been successful in prolonging the freshness of organic produce are canning, drying, or freezing. These are also at home methods that the consumer can learn that will lock in the flavor and freshness of the produce at the time of purchase thus saving the consumer money. There are many food movements that have come and gone, some being too extreme to be adapted and adhered to permanently; the organic movement has proven not to be just another fad. Buying certified organic foods is the way to go because it helps the environment thanks to the type of natural soil the farmers use when cultivating such crops and also keeps agriculture growing. Organic farmers may seem like the winners in this deal due to the high cost of organic goods but in reality buying organic foods will be extremely beneficial for our health and wellbeing. References Associated Press. Not Quite Pesticide Free. Environment. 2002; 44:5-6 Costenbader, Carol W. The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest. North Adams, MA: Storey, 2002. Print. Cunningham, W. P. , & Cunningham, M. A. (2010). Environmental Science: A Global Concern. New York, NY: Mcgraw-Hill â€Å"National Rural Ecology Centre. † National Rural Ecology Centre RSS. N. p. , 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. â€Å"Storage & Use Tips. † Storage & Use Tips. Farm Fresh To You, n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. White Pillsbury, Melissa. â€Å"Price Differences: Organic Versus Non-Organic; Store Versus Farmers’ Market. † Price Differences: Organic Versus Non-Organic; Store Versus Farmers’ Market. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, 2013. Web. 12.

Sister essays

Sister essays In the play called Antigone it was about how Antigone wanted to give her brother a proper burial but her uncle Creon would not allow it. Antigone went against his will and buried him anyways. When Creon found out he sentenced her to death and her sister Ismene wanted to die with her. Creon did not want to kill Ismene because even though she said she helped Antigone he she was lying. When he killed Antigone his son killed himself because he wanted to marry her. Then Creons wife killed herself because her son died. In the end he was left alone. What drew my attention to the play the most was the love Antigone and Ismene had for each other and the relationship they shared. In the beginning of the play Antigone came to Ismene and ask her to help give there brother a proper barrel she said no because that will be going against Creons will. Antigone let her know that no matter what she was going to give her brother a proper barrel and if she didnt want to help then she would hate her. When Antigone was caught and sentenced to death her sister came to her side even through all of the arguing they had been through. When Antigone and Ismene were arguing about barring there brother it reminded me of my sister and I when we would argue and sometimes even tell each other that we hate one another. Then whenever one of us has a problem we know that we can count on the other to come through for us just like Ismene did for Antigone when she was caught for going against Creon rules. I believe that Antigone and Ismene role in the play was meant to show the relationship between two sisters. I also believe that Antigones role was meant to show the love that Antigone had for her brother. ...

5 Types of Phrasal Adjectives That Require Hyphens

5 Types of Phrasal Adjectives That Require Hyphens 5 Types of Phrasal Adjectives That Require Hyphens 5 Types of Phrasal Adjectives That Require Hyphens By Mark Nichol Hyphens, for the most part, have been relieved of their duty to connect prefixes to root words (though many people persist in unnecessarily hyphenating such terms as nonprofit). The primary function of the hyphen now is to indicate the interdependence of words that modify a noun, and many writers remain confused about or ignorant of their application in phrasal adjectives. The following sentences illustrate the types of errors that often occur. 1. That’s a totally played out joke we’ve seen a million times before. Unless two or more words that modify a noun constitute a standing phrase (such as â€Å"real estate† in â€Å"My sister is a real estate agent†), those words should be linked with one or more hyphens: â€Å"That’s a totally played-out joke we’ve seen a million times before.† (This strategy eliminates the possibility that readers will be confused about the meaning of the sentence, asking themselves, â€Å"How is an out joke played?†) 2. Police are seeking stun-gun wielding bandits who robbed beer from a convenience store. When one of the elements of a phrasal adjective itself is an open compound, as in â€Å"stun gun† here, writers sometimes correctly link the words in that compound but neglect to include one between that noun turned adjective and the adjective itself, an omission rectified here: â€Å"Police are seeking stun-gun-wielding bandits who robbed beer from a convenience store.† (Again, this form clarifies that the last two words in the phrase â€Å"stun-gun-wielding bandits† do not constitute a noun phrase; the sentence is not about the stun-gun subtype of a criminal called a wielding bandit.) 3. During this time, he started developing his man of action persona. Phrasal adjectives of the noun-preposition-noun form follow the same rule: â€Å"During this time, he started developing his man-of-action persona.† (This style compartmentalizes â€Å"man of action† into a single idea to aid in quick comprehension.) 4. He was signed to a $10 million a year contract. When a reference to a large amount of money modifies a noun, the number and the order of magnitude are not hyphenated (â€Å"$10 million contract†). However, the value â€Å"$10 million† is part of a phrasal adjective here, so it and the other two elements (a and year) must be linked: â€Å"He was signed to a $10 million-a-year contract.† 5. His resurrection came with unintended consequences, as is always the case in this sort of it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature morality tale. When an extended phrasal adjective that consists of a stock statement, as above, is not formatted as a modifying phrase, it cannot easily be identified as such until the reader reaches the end of the sentence, creating a significant obstacle to narrative flow. So that the sentence need not be reread for comprehension, unify the entire phrase: â€Å"His resurrection came with unintended consequences, as is always the case in this sort of it’s-not-nice-to-fool-Mother-Nature morality tale.† In this case, however, because the phrasal adjective consists of a quoted saying, it is easier on the eye to simply frame the statement in quotation marks: â€Å"His resurrection came with unintended consequences, as is always the case in this sort of ‘It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature’ morality tale. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Meaning of "To a T"Peace of Mind and A Piece of One's MindQuiet or Quite?

Using case law and considering any advantages and disadvantages. to Essay

Using case law and considering any advantages and disadvantages. to what extent does the doctrine of precedent depend on the hierachy of the court - Essay Example The doctrine of stare decisis is not always to be relied upon, for the courts find it necessary to overrule cases which have been hastily decided, or contrary to principle.† (Stare decisis, 2010). The doctrine of precedent is also called as stare decisis, situated at the heart of the English lawful arrangement. It is a lawful rule by which adjudicators are obligated to admiration of the precedents created by previous judgment. This doctrine also refers to the information surrounded by the hierarchical construction of the English magistrates. A judgment made by the superior court will be connected to an inferior court in the hierarchy structure. In broad expressions, this denotes that when adjudicators attempt cases that will make sure to see if a similar circumstance appears before the court. If the precedent is placed by a court of equivalent or superior rank makes a new decision, and then the adjudicator in the current case should pursue or follow the rule of law founded in the previous case attended in the court. â€Å"It is noted that the doctrine of precedent depends for its operation upon the underlying principle that the courts form a hierarchy with each court standin g in a definite position in relation to every other court. The structure of this hierarchy must now be considered for the purposes if the doctrine of precedent. Decisions of the highest courts are binding on lower courts.† (Doctrine of judicial precedent & its hierarchy of court, 2010). In most cases, it is deemed that a decision made by a higher court is a binding precedent, which a lower court cannot overrule. Also, a court should not upset its own precedents unless there is a valid reason to do so. This needs to be motivated by principles from similar and lower courts. Another aspect that needs to be considered is the extent to which equal or higher courts could set legal precedents or

Qualities of a Successful International Marketing Strategy Essay

Qualities of a Successful International Marketing Strategy - Essay Example International marketing strategy is rooted in an investigation of the level of globalisation of different features of the market setting, such as variations and similarities in consumer preferences, culture, socioeconomic standing, technological standards, and so on. Therefore, it is evident that companies aspiring to compete successfully in global markets have to develop a decisive, purposeful, and appropriately designed international marketing strategy that is derived from a comprehensive knowledge of the markets which the organisation is operating in or aiming at. The Three Qualities Global markets are an aggressive environment that demands regular monitoring and assessment. Marketing strategies should be able to adapt to the dynamic nature of global markets. Innovation is an integral success factor, not merely with regard to product and/or service but the entire process of marketing. Value-oriented marketing and financial strategies are all turning out to be vital factors in the execution of a successful international marketing strategy (Doole & Lowe, 2008). Therefore, the mission of international marketing is to guarantee that all global strategies have the strength of comprehensive analysis and knowledge and precise assessment of what is needed to gain the most coveted competitive advantage. There are numerous essential qualities for successful international marketing strategy. But this essay focuses only on three qualities, namely, successful development of recognised local brands, strong brand extensions, and solid customer relations. First, a successful international marketing strategy is able to expand a local brand into a global brand, bringing brand strategy and value to a larger number of countries. The most excellent case in point of an initially national brand that eventually became international is Coca-Cola. In 1902, Coca-Cola decided to go beyond the United States. It was able to penetrate the market of 76 nations by 1929 (Hill & Jones, 2012, p. 286). During the Second World War, the company already has 63 factories across the globe. Its international expansion carried on after the war, motivated partly by the assumption that the U.S. market would sooner or later mature and by the belief that massive prospects for growth rest abroad (Hill & Jones, 2012, p. 286). Until the 1980s, Coca-Cola’s marketing strategy may most appropriately be described as a localisation strategy. Local marketing activities were given a high level of autonomy to handle their own activities. But everything changed when Roberto Goizueta became the company’s chief executive in 1981. He restored focus on the leading brands of Coca-Cola, which were expanded with the launching of Cherry Coke, Diet Coke, and others (Doole & Lowe, 2008, p. 8). His main assumption was that the major dissimilarity between the global markets and the United States was the lower consumption level of the global markets. Goizueta transformed the company into a glo bal one, consolidating much of the marketing operations and management at the company’s head office in Atlanta, placing emphasis on major brands. This wholesale strategy was based on standardisation by, for instance, employing the same marketing strategy across the globe (Hill & Jones, 2012, p. 286). However, this wholesale marketing strategy eventually became