MGMT458 U3 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT458 U3 DB - Research Paper Example Harsh economic shifts lead to collapse of numerous businesses; thus, loss of human capital. Tough competition also plays a huge role in human capital retention (Baron, 2007). If the company’s HR cannot devise programs and incentives that maintain their main employees, most likely they will be attracted to performing companies that require their skills. Internally, the compensation policy of a company will either attract or discourage the human capital (Baron, 2007). If the compensation policy and structure do not favor the employees, they are likely to leave and look more benefits from another employer. The relations as designed by the HR department determine the retention of human capital (Baron, 2007). If the HR department is not keen on training their employees on proper relations among the staff, divisions will exist; thus, high levels of staff turnover. The HR department must also ensure that they allow for collective bargaining so as all employees are represented (Baron,

South Africa Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

South Africa - Assignment Example In the marketing strategy, there should be the classification of the various groups who are separated by certain noticeable aspect that are peculiarly looked into for one to cut a niche in meeting every requirement of the targeted group. In doing marketing for their products then, the organization in South Africa has to consider several aspects that create distinction in the targeted groups. Amongst the main aspect that bring about difference in taste and preference that should be paid attention to includes geographic factors, demographic or the socioeconomic factors that considers occupation, age, gender, income, house hold size, and education. There are also the psychographic issues that looked into values, lifestyles, and attitudes. Behavioral segmentation also deals with such issues like degree of loyalty and occasion. One needs to understand South Africa in the context explained above in order to make reasonable influence in the marketing of a product; otherwise, the strategy wi ll not be productive ultimately. Competition In business, competition is obvious and it takes different perspectives, which include pricing strategy, packaging, and availability to the customers. In addition, other initiatives can be taken by the different manufactures that would put them ahead of the pack in galvanizing the available market for the supplementary products. To achieve this, organization needs to put extra efforts in making their products stands out in all aspects that may influence customers to opt for their products. A simple business strategy can be a competitive advantage of one company over the rest and it might make it thrive in a fiercely competitive landscape (Hawkins et al 77). In order for a business to thrive in such business environment, they have to understand the market dynamics the SWOT their main competitors so that a more conclusive approach can be taken in curving the market loyalty. If a business cannot keep with the competitors new approaches, it m ay be at risk of collapsing, the essence of business is to ensure that you cut yourself a niche in the thick of competition through the strategies following research about the market trend and progress. A business has to ensure that they understand what the customers want and that they can produce them and possible dictate what they should have. For a business to remain vibrant, it has to be full of a team that analyzes the needs of the customers and the development of the competitors so the at all the time, they can keep their competitors under checks. Distribution of Product Once the manufacturer produces the goods, they are destined to be conveyed to the final consumers through varieties of means. The choice of the distribution model is one of the most important decisions that a manufacturer should opt for in order for the realization of the expected sales. A legion of factors informs the choice of distribution mode in order to ensure maximum populations are aware of the existenc e of the product. For instance, distribution of a new product in the market may not take the normal channel that are taken by the established products that in most cases assume the conventional chain of good moving down through the whole seller to the retailer and finally to the consumer. Contrary to this, a new product always needs agent that would be paid on the commission, this is because the products needs to e demonstrated and advertised to the customers before

Early childhood care and education

Early childhood care and education The purpose of this essay is to first of all analyse the historical and political underpinning of social injustice of early childhood education. Then, I will define cultural identity and demonstrate awareness of the ways in which childrens cultural identities impact in both their access to early care and education and any benefits they may gain from it. Then I will examine my own practice in order to address inequalities there and finally critically evaluate a wide range of research related to this topic. Early childhood care and education has apparently been based on an important topic such as social justice. It has mainly focused on children from poorer backgrounds, and been directed by two theories right from the beginning. The first is that the home is the main environment for care and education of children to occur, this is provided by the parents, siblings, relatives and family friends. The second option is an early years environment where children are taught through forming positive relations and learning experiences which will help them to be good and law abiding members of their society. Nevertheless, because the perception of the poor was that they were not just coping with poverty; they were also thought of as been deprived of their social and cultural aspects of their lives. This instigated the provision of nurseries outside the homes with the view of providing quality care for the children (Bloch, 1987). According to Cater and Goodwin (1994) there are three paradigms which have to be considered when exploring the social, economic and political history of early childhood care and education? These are the inferiority paradigm; the deficit or cultural deprived paradigm; and cultural difference paradigm. The inferiority paradigm is based on speculation that a certain race is genetically and biologically inferior to the white race. The culturally deprived paradigm is composed of racial, cultural, linguistic and socioeconomically diverse people to a white middle-class. The cultural difference paradigm is based on the influence of cultural differences on the lives, experiences and identities of diverse groups in ways that make them very special. All three paradigms have contributed to the preparation and running of the early years curriculum and early childhood policies. The inferiority paradigm was evident in the 18th and 19th century when the curriculum focused on spiritual salvation and moral development during Sunday schools, infant and primary schools where the poor and deprived children attended (Bloch, 1987; Nourot, 2005). This was to mould and shape the children to be law abiding citizens as those in charge of the institutions felt the mothers were failing them in their nurturing. Church missionaries funded crà ¨ches to assist the influx of immigrants from mostly Africa. In addition, Tyack (1974) informs us that these early years settings were run by rich white business men who held a view of certain morals so they used Christianity to glorify the study of values of dead rural traditions. The 1960s saw the war on poverty as a sign of the culturally deprived paradigm. This was because sociologists put forward a suggestion that it was in the best interest of the child to gain experiences at school as the home environment was not conducive. They therefore proposed that educators should create experiences in schools that would counter the effects of deprivation Cater Goodwin, 1994, p. 298). The cultural difference paradigm was picked up on by scientists in the early to mid 20th century. They raised issues to the fact that being of colour does not mean one is mad, but they are aware of the importance of their beliefs that clearly defines their culture. Multicultural education and the means of teaching cultural awareness are examples of cultural difference paradigm. The two actions did awaken practitioners in the field of childcare with regards to the awful treatment the children of colour have endured and that by accepting and bringing together their culture into the curriculum can improve and benefit them in their learning and achieving success (Carter Goodwin, 1994). Consequently, these paradigms have influenced development and how services are offered to children today. Needless to say in the 21st century the effect of childcare though is child- centred, there is still interest on the disadvantaged who need policies to improve their lives, hence the Green Paper Every Child Matters (DfEE, 2003b). This is to ensure every child reaches their full potential by being safe, enjoy and achieve, economical well being, make a positive contribution and being healthy. Furthermore, the introduction of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and Special Educational Needs and Disability Act ( DfEE, 2001) which deals with identification assessment and provision in the early years education settings all of which are expected to have regard to the Code of Practice. Another policy which has swept the UK by storm has been from the influence of Reggio Emilia from Italy and Te Whariki from New Zealand which has had some influence on the Early Years Foundation Stage. More so the Te Whariki as it also a government led initiative intended to work with children of diverse groups. Its take on holistic view of the child and empowerment of the child and family and the fact that the family is at the heart of the well-being of the child has captured the mind of the UK government as they seek ways of improving childcare and education in Britain. Britain is and has always been a multicultural society, which is evident as before it became United Kingdom. The history of slavery confirms that Africans were in Britain before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxon (Fryer, 1984). India was also associated with Britain over 10,000 years (Visram, 1986). Due to mass immigration from many parts of the world children come from diverse backgrounds into nurseries and schools. It is therefore very important that practitioners first of all learn to respect these children and then teach them to respect each other irrespective of disability, gender, skin colour, religion and beliefs or economic background. It is crucial that practitioners see children as part of society because they are vulnerable and need adults to care for them, value and protect them. This can be addressed when early years practitioners work in partnership with parents. The research of Siraj-Blatchford (1996) for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) believe in schools having close contacts with parents. In my previous school, we made home visits before the children start in order to meet with the parents of the prospective child and the rest of the family. This is an opportunity to chat informally and gather information about the child, likes and dislikes in terms of food and things they like to do or not, as well as any medical concerns, dietary requirement and many more. It is also an opportunity to learn about the childs culture and language used at home and to make an initial assessment of what they are capable of. Above all this is the time when the practitioners and parents or carers establish mutual trust and identify any infringing barriers which can upset the childs development. Even though the nursery has an open-door policy for the parents to visit whenever without prior arrangements, if they take the initiative unannounced the teacher in charge gets cross which instantly creates a barrier and it goes against the policy. According to research children learn about their feelings from the way people treat them. If children are treated with love and respect, they gain a positive feeling about themselves and like to please the adults in their environment and work hard to be successful. However, if on the contrary they are treated poorly or know the adults in their environment do not appreciate their presence, they will feel down and have low self esteem and not make any attempt of striving to achieve anything in their lifes but see themselves as failures. This is in relation to my presentation regarding is my setting inclusive of children with social emotional and behaviour difficulties. Before children start nursery or school they have developed a culture in their homes where customs and traditions have been part of their lives so as practitioners we have a duty to know of the various cultures they come from. What is culture? It is about attitudes and values underpinning patterns of tradition and custom which determines everyday aspects of life, such as: role of men and women, bringing up children, language, how we eat, wash and care, furnish homes, religion, dance, music, art, literature, festivals and attitude to death and dying (Griffin, 2008). As culture is of great importance to the children and their families, we can unconsciously or without thinking create problems for the child through ignorance of the exact details regarding maybe their religion and other aspects of their culture. Therefore, we as early years educators have to be aware of the legislations and guidance which set out the framework of our responsibilities. An example is the Race relation Act of 1976 which is aimed to protect people from being discriminated against. Next, is the Childrens Act 1989 and Care Standard 2000 which set out for the registration and inspection of early years provision. The Equality Act 2006 made it illegal to discriminate in providing services based on the ground of religion. Subsequently, the Childcare Act 2006 requires an effective implementation of policies on equal opportunities and how a nursery is advocating diversity and differences. Children have basic human rights which according to Maslows hierarchy of needs are food, water, shelter, love and care, safety and protection. Because children have not got a voice they need other forms of protection as they are vulnerable and unable to ensure those who care for them take the responsibility to keep them safe. Notably the UN Convention specifies the rights of the child with regard to childcare and education that, children have the right to be with their family or those who care best for them, to provide enough food and clean water for their needs, adequate standard of living, health care, to play, kept safe, special care and training, not used as cheap workers or soldiers and to have a right to free education. In order for children to learn and develop well the provision has to adhere to standard 18 of the Guidance to the Standards for the award of Early Years Professionals Status (EYPS) which states that; EYPs commitment is to having strategies in place to meet the needs of all children, advocating for and upholding their rights and actively promoting equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. These are key to improving outcomes for children. In support of children to have admission to a quality provision there has to be equality of opportunity policy in place which will outline the admission criteria. This means opening up the right of entry for every child and their family so that they can make a full contribution in the educational settings. It is therefore important for practitioners and early years workers in every establishment to work according to the principles of equality and inclusive practice; these should be at the focal point of every setting. Seeing that early years workers are responsible for ensuring equal opportunities within their educational settings, it is very important that we support the children in our care to have the need to feel they belong in the nursery, as it is often the first establishment the child joins. Subsequently it is fundamental that the families are made to feel welcomed and to experience a sense of belonging. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) say, All families are important and should be welcomed and valued in all settings. In practice this is evident on entering the main entrance of the school I work at, there are displays of welcome posters in all the languages spoken by the children who attend. There is always a member of staff to greet the children and their parents on arrival; this gives them an opportunity to discuss any concerns or a share interest of their child. Equally during registration the children are encouraged to respond to their names in their first language. Furthermore, the school encourages parents of children in the upper years to befriend the newly arrived through the organization of coffee mornings or after school activities. This is organized by the EAL (English as an additional language) teacher. Due to the diverse and multicultural society we find ourselves in it is important that we all learn to appreciate, understand and respect the different cultures and religions these children and their families bring to the school or nurseries. We need to reflect on the various cultures and a multilingual approach in the environment the children are in. A typical example is that of my school where there are displays on the walls in the hall of flags of the various countries where these children come from. Similarly each child in the school has painted their portrait along the corridor which depicts the diverse nature of children who attend the school of their uniqueness and individuality. Each day of the week has a specific music played as the children enter the class to associate it with which day it is. On every Monday the music played is Disney, Tuesdays is Caribbean, Wednesdays is Classical, Thursdays is Asian and Fridays is African music. Also in the home corner of the nursery are dressing up clothes from different cultures, variety of food from different countries as well as pots and pans, chop sticks, wok, calabash and many more artefacts of other cultures. Children who are Bilingual are supported through the use of Makaton, Pecs and picture time tables, object of reference and use of key words from their first language by staff. The nursery has cookery sessions once every week where by the children are introduced to food from around the world. During the month of the Chinese New Year the children visit the Chinese supermarket to purchase the cooking ingredients required to prepare a stir-fry, which is a type of dish from the Chinese community. In the shop the children get to experience all the different vegetables and fruits that come from China. The school supports the various cultures in the school through celebration of festivals. During the festival seasons the school and nursery participate fully by engaging the children in various projects. Two years ago when we had some children from the Chinese origin in the school, we put on a show of a dragon parade around the school grounds. There was a build up to this occasion as the children made and decorated the dragon. Parents were invited into the school to tell stories about the celebration of the Chinese New Year and support the children with art and craf t, and read a story in Chinese during assembly. Last year all Waddon schools celebrated black history together, with each school choosing an activity to plan and execute. The representatives of my school chose to prepare food with the children to give them the experience of some African dishes. Some of the schools did art and crafts, whilst the others engaged in African dancing. A member of staff read an African folk story to the children during assembly. I was selected along with a colleague as are both from Ghana, to organise the cookery session. It was great fun as the children engaged in the activities with excitement. This took place in the hall because there were more children to accommodate. Nearly half the group were from either from Africa or the Caribbean or of mixed heritage, they felt confident to discuss the dishes which they were familiar with, with their peers. I feel this type of initiative brings everybody in the community together and broadens the childrens horizons as the activity involves hands on. However I fe el that a similar activity should be provided for the other cultures so that the children do not perceive that one culture is more superior to the other. Although the nursery I work at is part of the school, it for children with special educational needs, their abilities vary from physically able to wheel chair users. The children are taught to value each other and those more able bodied are challenged with responsibilities to support the wheel chair users. All the children have access to the same activities however there are differentiated to accommodate the needs of every individual child. During physical education, children who are not mobile will be assisted in floor activities such as bouncing on a ball or gently rocked in a fabric or receive exercise prescribed by Occupational Therapists. According to the Early Years Foundation Stage, Every child is a unique individual with their own characteristics and temperament this relates to a particular child who was expelled from a day nursery he attended prior to coming to us. He was deemed challenging, a danger to himself and his peers. When the other members in my nursery read his report and made a home visit they built up misconceptions that he would be a challenge from the behaviour they saw. However, after making close observation of him I realized what he needed desperately was lots of emotional support. This could be because there was problem at home as well as been told off by practitioners who did not see his needs but just thought he was a liability, not forgetting their attitude toward him may have made him feel insecure and that the only way he knows how to get attention was to be on his worse behaviour. The nursery worked with him to gain back his confidence and self esteem through listening to him, acknowledging his needs and making sense of his gestures and providing him with the right support he needed. In a matter of weeks this child had gained self esteem and now imitating the role of the teacher caring for his less mobile peers. He is now a competent signer as can now make his needs known through that instead of exhibiting negative behaviours. Language is a powerful tool, in order for practitioners to use a language which will rid us of discrimination and prejudices we have to turn to the work of theorists to assists us to reflect on our practices. The work of social justice enables us examine the way we use language and that of our colleagues to bring about fairness in our settings. This will require equal treatment and devotion on the part of every practitioner as well as to be able to reflective on incidences which otherwise could have being tackled better. How would you feel when you have a strong feeling of someone not liking you and whisper remarks to their colleagues about you or make unconscious gesture? Dont we have an ethical obligation to these children? Or think for a moment how they feel? As practitioners we must always strive to show dedication in our roles by promoting social change in using language of fairness and respect then we will be providing a safe environment for the children in our care. Notably Fe nnimore (2005) brings to our attention that language is undoubtedly a very powerful instrument for social justice which is at the hands of every early childhood practitioners. The placement where I am doing my work placement has nearly half the class of black African and Caribbean origin; however the employed staffs do not reflect the community. This does not matter if they are working with the children to reach their full potential. Even though all the children seem to cope, I have noticed the children of colour were missing out on a role model. This is evident as when I am there, some of the children of colour come to me and request to play with me most of the time. Furthermore, I have realized the books and puzzles do not reflect the community either. This is a big surprise as the manager has children of mixed race which should give her incentive to providing the nursery with a wide range of books and wide range of resources. Alternatively, I am impressed with other aspects such as the stock of African drums which was supplied to the nursery through a form of grant. However, to my dismay the staff will not join in play with the children, even though each and everyone have been trained to use the drum. Similarly, I feel that some of the employees are not devoted to the roles as they spend most of their time chatting amongs t themselves. The only interaction I have witnessed is during focus activity, when they have to tick boxes to evident an accomplishment. I do not feel they treat their jobs seriously; instead they treat the nursery as a social environment. According to Vygotsky children learn with the support of an adult or an older child who foster the development of knowledge and ability to interact which will benefits the child. Nevertheless children in the nursery are left on their own to explore by themselves. The only contact these children receive is during activity sessions which are very brief. I have also discovered that these children are not encouraged to take risks during play as they are quickly stopped by the staff. The EYFS on the other hand says that children should be given opportunities to take risks and make mistakes. In order to provide a successful inclusion of children, there has to be an intervention which will take on board the holistic needs of children as well as working in partnership with parents and multi-agencies. Most importantly there has to be adequate training given to the staff, the ratio of children and practitioners has to be considered carefully, enough provision of necessary resources and equipments, but above all everyone willing to commit fully in their roles and to work as a member of a team. Inclusion is possible if we all discard prejudice and embrace everybody irrespective of who they are. Research from the UEA and NCB (2007) and Edward et al (2006) have provided evidence to support that Childrens Trust Pathfinders and Childrens Fund interventions have produced better inclusion of young people with disabilities through fun and safe places to interact, resulting in increased sense of community among the children and young people as well as improved access to schools, mainly for refugee and asylum seeking children and a reduction in children taken into care. The other strategy which is early intervention means when problems are detected in its earlier stage, it is dealt with promptly. This can be related to the child who was expelled because the staff did not work hard in finding what issue he had which made him behave the way he did. But once identified he is one of the loveliest children I have known. In conclusion I have explored the history of multiculturalism in Britain and the research paradigms that have underpinned early childhood education. Equally I have explored practices in my previous employment as to how policies are affecting the settings or not.

Media Violence - Cartoon Violence and Violent Children :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Cartoon Violence and Violent Children With the recent increase in violent crimes committed by children, adults have been looking for answers to what causes children to commit these acts. Researchers have performed formal studies, and other approaches have been taken to answer the question. Their ideas and perceptions have strayed far and wide, looking for a suitable answer; one such answer of the many they have uncovered is television, but especially television geared towards children: cartoons and animation. In recent years, animation has taken a more openly violent twist during the same time period that the unique and varied forms of Japanese animation have come to America; both have raised many parents' eyebrows as articles and media coverage portray both, but especially Japanese animation, in a harsh and unfair light, depicting all series and movies as violent and only fit for mature audiences. The adults' perception of animation varies greatly from the children's perception, as many factors, such as media depictions , personal opinions, and even the standards of cultures, come into play on the decision of what is suitable for younger viewers. While it is not the first medium ever to reproduce violence for entertainment, television has certainly been the most notorious. However, television stations "do not air violence because they want to. They air it because that is what sells. The blame is upon ourselves for the large volume of violence, since they are merely responding to what we want" (Kim). This love for violence has filtered into nearly every television show aired currently. Virtually every television station airs shows, either live action or animated, that involve the characters fighting, arguing, or just acting in a malevolent way towards something or somebody else. The news always carries stories of what crimes have been committed during the day, daytime talk shows and soap operas often involve fighting and conflict, and even children's television is starting to take a more serious, mature twist in its presentations. Shows such as the live action series Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers have been called into que stion because of the numerous fight scenes and injuries that they depict; however, Power Rangers is one show that does provide a message to children at the end, informing them that the fighting is not real and that they should not imitate the Power Rangers. Despite this warning, children do imitate their heroes, hoping to emulate them and be able to stand as strong and powerful as they do.

Human Nature: a Contested Concept Essay

Are we inherently good or bad? Are we driven by reason or emotions? Are we selfish or altruistic? Is the human mind malleable or predisposed? These questions are highly contested and the answers to them far from clear. This is due not only to the array of different perspectives on human nature, but also to seemingly contradictory evidence. We need only scratch the surface of history to find confirmation that humankind is capable of incredible cruelty and violence. In Ancient Rome, for example, entertainment was provided by forcing people to fight animals and other human beings – often to the death. If this seems barbaric in the extreme, we thankfully also find tales of tremendous bravery and what would seem to be altruism. Today, unsung heroes risk their lives every day to save those of complete strangers. In short, the picture is a mixed one: â€Å"We seem to be part angel, part demon, part rational, part animal, capable of great glory and great tragedy†. 1 Indeed, the notion that human beings are part angel, part demon echoes Aristotle’s (384-322 BCE) conclusion that he who is content with his solitude must be â€Å"Either a beast or a God†. 2 Whether we are by nature good or bad is a central question in the debate on human nature. Philosophical as well as religious and spiritual traditions have answered the question in different ways. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) believed that humankind is driven by the passions or instincts linked to self-preservation. 3 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), by contrast, argued that human beings are by nature good and that any vices that they may have are attributable to the corrupting influence of society. What makes human beings distinctly â€Å"human† is their capacity for reason. In the Old Testament, humankind is portrayed as created in the image of God and, thus, inherently good. However, both Jews and Christians are in agreement that human beings fell from grace by failing to refrain from eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which left them adrift, alienated from God and in need of salvation. 4 12 NAYEF R. F. AL-RODHAN Another question that recurs in discussions about human nature is whether we are driven by emotions or rational thought. A major concern here is whether reason plays a role in our moral judgements. If so, do we engage in conscious reasoning before pronouncing a judgement or after the fact? David Hume (1711-1776) was the first modern philosopher to argue that we make moral judgements on the basis of emotional responses to situations or scenarios. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) held a different opinion. He argued that we make moral judgements through a process of conscious reasoning. 5 In Kant’s view, the evolution of humanity had followed a progression from being motivated by animal instincts to being driven by reason. For Aristotle, too, human beings are capable of living a â€Å"good† life by employing reason. Plato (427-347 BCE) held that human beings are driven by both passion and reason. How can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory faculties? Those who place greater emphasis on passion and survival instincts, such as fear, greed and sympathy, regard our biological heritage as more important than the environment in which we grow up, whereas those who give greater priority to our capacity for reason tend to attribute greater significance to culture and education or innate capacity – those things in the social world that shape the way we think and behave. Whether we are primarily motivated by basic survival instincts or by the environment is central to conflicting views on the question of free will and determinism. The question of how free humanity is to change its nature appears time and again in discussions. According to John Locke (1632-1704), people are free to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of nature. In this view, nurture is more important than nature in shaping our behaviour. As is mentioned above, Plato occupied the middle ground. While human beings were believed to be the product of their biological heritage, the environment was thought to play a predominant role in influencing behaviour. Existentialists, such as Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) argued that human beings have a radical free will – according to Sartre, â€Å"Man is condemned to be free†. 6 At the other end of the spectrum, Hobbes holds that it is nature that is the driving force. 7 Others would argue, however, that although we may feel as though we are endowed with free will, this is illusory. Proponents of this position argue that because our desires and reactions are not always something that we can control, we cannot be considered truly free. Sigmund Freud’s (1856- EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM 13 1939) theory of pansexuality holds, for instance, that while people may think that they are making conscious choices, they are driven by subconscious motives. 8 Sociobiologists, such as, for example, E. O. Wilson regard human beings as products of evolution. 9 This distinction is important: if we are radically free to choose, we ought to be fully aware of what we are doing. However, if our genetic heritage shapes our mind and behaviour we ought to take this into consideration. 10 How we answer the above questions determines how we answer whether humankind is capable of moral behaviour. In this context, moral behaviour is defined as behaviour consistent with a system of rules of correct conduct. Does true altruism exist or is all altruism based on self-interest? According to Hobbes, human beings are egoists, incapable of acting altruistically. This view would appear to be consistent with situations such as a mugging that takes place in broad daylight where bystanders look on but fail to intervene. This fundamental question has elicited different responses. For Kant, morality is the result of reason. Evolutionary approaches to human psychology and behaviour provide a very different answer. Altruism presents the Darwinian theory of natural selection with a problem, given that this theory is premised on the pressures of competition. Acts of altruism would appear to have no obvious advantage. Prairie dogs, for example, warn others of approaching danger by calling to them, thereby alerting a predator to their own presence and placing themselves at greater risk. 11 How is it possible to watch on television a group of young men being rounded up and summarily shot in the back of the head and take no direct action to bring genocide to a halt? Some sociobiologists, such as Wilson and Frans de Waal, argue that morality has developed from our social instincts. 12 Some evolutionary psychologists, such as Marc Hauser, have gone so far as to argue that human beings have evolved an innate moral instinct. 13 This is interesting because it suggests that some basic moral criteria must be universal across divergent cultures. Yet, it also raises the question of whether, or the extent to which, human beings are deliberating moral agents. 14 1. 1. The Structure and Aims of the Book This book sets out to do two things: first, it strives to reach an understanding of human nature, which ultimately offers the promise of liv- 14 NAYEF R. F. AL-RODHAN ing a â€Å"good† life. Specifically, I ask the following questions: What motivates humankind? What is humankind capable of under certain circumstances? Do human beings possess an innate morality? In so doing, I engage with common points of reference in the debate on human nature. Drawing on insights from philosophy, psychology, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, I put forward a more comprehensive view of human nature. However, discussions of human nature would be incomplete without considering the findings of neuroscience. I therefore use recent research in this rapidly developing field to go beyond the approaches to human nature in the above disciplines. Second, this book explores some of the global and security implications of human nature as I conceive it. The way in which we approach security issues inevitably contains assumptions about what motivates human beings in particular circumstances, and how we attempt to address these issues is circumscribed by those assumptions. It is essential that we get these assumptions right. The cost of getting them wrong is paid in lives. I therefore set out some ways in which we might better facilitate political and moral cooperation, based on our present knowledge of the neuro-psychological impact of our neurochemistry. In order to set the context for my own theory and to give the reader a sense of the main conceptions that influence thinking on the question of what makes us what we are, we begin by exploring some major theories of human nature. The book first sets out the main approaches to human nature. I refer to theories of human nature in a broad sense that includes philosophical, religious and spiritual, psychological and evolutionary approaches. Here, the main contours of the debate on human nature – are human beings good or bad, driven by passion or reason, constrained or radically free, moral or immoral – are addressed in greater detail. I then present my own theory of human nature, which I call â€Å"Emotional Amoral Egoism†. I argue that the human mind is not a tabula rasa, or a clean slate, as Locke suggested. Instead, the human mind is what I call a predisposed tabula rasa, with predilections stemming from its genetic make-up that later will be influenced by the environment. Humankind’s genetic make-up is essentially a code for survival. Survival instincts are emotionally based and neurochemically mediated. I therefore take issue with those who argue that human beings are primarily motivated by reason. This does not, however, mean EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM 15 that we should favour nature over nurture in the nature/nurture debate, or that we should conceive of human beings as prisoners of their passions. Even though we are in part motivated by our basic survival instincts, our environment – which broadly comprises our personal state of affairs, upbringing, education, and societal, cultural and global state of affairs – plays an important role in shaping our psyche and behaviour. Moreover, what distinguishes humankind from other species is our capacity for reason. We are therefore driven by both basic survival instincts and rational thought, although, alas, less frequently by the latter than we might like to imagine. As is indicated, whether human beings are inherently selfish or capable of altruism is hotly contested. In my view, humankind is neither always moral nor always immoral, but can be either at different times. Human nature is governed by general self-interest and affected by genetic predisposition, which implies that there are likely to be limits to our moral sensitivities. In my view, altruism is in the final analysis driven by survival motives that are emotionally based. In this sense, my approach supports Hume’s thesis. Recent neuroscientific findings confirm that we are primarily driven by our emotions rather than reason. Yet, since the human psyche and human behaviour are also the product of the environment, under the right circumstances and with deliberate effort, we are capable of acting morally, beyond the margins of what our genetic coding has primed us for. In addition to considering who we are, I also briefly consider where we are going. Here, I look at how we can and are likely to be able to modify our psychological and physiological profile through biological and technological means. At some point in the future, we may have to deal with â€Å"the line between the human as a product of nature and the human as a fabrication of technology†. 15 Not surprisingly, this has generated heated debate. â€Å"What distinguishes modern technology from all other types, both pre-modern and non-Western, is its exclusive focus on the perfection of technical procedures and processes that had historically been subordinate to technological norms and standards, usually of a moral, political, and religious nature. †16 Will technological advances alter what it means to be human? Box 1 provides a summary of my general theory of human nature, â€Å"Emotional Amoral Egoism,† and briefly outlines some of its universal security implications. 16 NAYEF R. F. AL-RODHAN Box 1 Summary of â€Å"Emotional Amoral Egoism†: A Neurophilosophical Theory of Human Nature and its Universal Security Implications The enduring assumption that human behaviour is governed by innate morality and reason is at odds with the persistence of human deprivation, inequality, injustice, misery, brutality and conflict. In my theory of human nature, which I have termed â€Å"Emotional Amoral Egoism†, I argue that human behaviour is governed primarily by emotional self-interest focused initially on survival and, once achieved, domination. These facets of human nature are a product of genetically coded survival instincts modified by the totality of our environment and expressed as neurochemically-mediated emotions and actions. Reason, reflection and conscious morality are comparatively rare. The human mind is therefore a predisposed tabula rasa, resulting from both an in-built genetic code for survival and the environment. In my view, most human beings are innately neither moral nor immoral but rather amoral. They are driven by emotional self-interest and have the potential to be either moral or immoral, depending on what their self-interest dictates, and will be influenced in their choices by emotions and socio-cultural contexts. Circumstances will determine the survival value of humankind’s moral compass in that being highly moral in an immoral environment may be detrimental to one’s survival and vice versa. Indeed, our neuronal architecture is pre-programmed to seek gratification and â€Å"feel good† regardless of the reason. All apparently altruistic behaviour serves self-interest at some level. This insight has profound implications for the re-ordering of governance mechanisms at all levels with a strong emphasis on the role of society and the global system in maximising the benefits of what I term measured self-interest, while minimising its excesses, because human beings cannot be left to their own devices to do the â€Å"right thing†. Such reform offers the best chance of facilitating political and moral cooperation through the establishment of stringent normative frameworks and governance structures, that best fulfil the potential of human beings to exist and evolve in peace, security, prosperity and possible serenity. Further, humanity must never be complacent about the virtues of human nature. Therefore, everything must be done at all levels to prevent EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM 17 Box 1 continued alienation, inequality, deprivation, fear, injustice, anarchy and the loss of the rule of law. History has shown repeatedly that humankind is capable of unthinkable brutality and injustice. This is often a result of what I call fear(survival)-induced pre-emptive aggression, which may occur no matter how calm the situation appears, although it is not necessarily inevitable. Moreover, where there is injustice that is perceived as posing a threat to survival, humankind will do whatever necessary to survive and be free. In such instances, â€Å"might† (military or otherwise) may not prevail or be the optimal solution. Human nature as we know it is, nevertheless, malleable and â€Å"manageable†. It may be radically modified as a result of advances in bio-, molecular, nano- and computational technologies. It will therefore be essential to establish a clear code of ethics regulating the use of these technologies sooner rather than later. In 5 to 5. 6, I discuss some of the global and security implications of my theory of human nature. This final part of the book first explores how prominent approaches to International Relations (IR) conceive of human nature and then outlines how my own theory may be situated in relation to them. I explain that my proposed general theory of human nature collapses the nature/nurture and free will/constrained dichotomies that tend to characterise the conceptions of human nature that inform major IR theories. I then discuss the relevance of my own conception of human nature to a number of issues: identity construction and globalisation, xenophobia and ethnocentrism, ethnic conflict, moral cosmopolitanism and governance structures. In the era of globalisation, the transnationalisation of production and finance, as well as the development and spread of new technologies, have helped to bring about changes in collective identities and inter-civilisational relations. There is a growing discrepancy between major collective identities and traditional political and cultural boundaries. 17 Since a main driver of human behaviour is ego – understood as that which negotiates between inner needs and social contexts, making humankind require a positive identity and a sense of belonging – this development has a number of implications. If ego may be considered to be a basic human need,18 then cultural disorientation is likely to negatively affect the human condi- 18 NAYEF R. F. AL-RODHAN tion and human security at various levels. While wide-reaching cultural change as part of globalisation is having positive effects in terms of increased exposure to and awareness of other cultures, as well as better access to knowledge, thereby bringing about a greater degree of interconnectedness, the cultural dimension of globalisation is sometimes perceived as generating cultural homogenisation. In the latter case, people may feel that their traditional culture is in danger of being eroded. Since fear is another central and very powerful driver of human behaviour, responses may take the form of intolerance, xenophobia and extremism. It is therefore important to view the needs for belonging and a positive identity as basic human needs, and to develop appropriate policies and institutional structures to ensure that these needs are met. At the state level, for instance, this means promoting an inclusive society that is underpinned by institutions that make effective representation possible. Globalising processes are also affecting and politicising intercivilisational relations. The increased dispersion of people from diverse cultural contexts, instant connectivity due to new technologies, and the existence of economic and political inequalities mean that issues can be transnationalised more easily than in the past. Some issues may be perceived as an act of aggression against collective identities that define themselves as part of a broader civilisation. This can cause inter-civilisational tension and provide ammunition for those who wish to exploit such fears for their own purposes. Changes in the global political and economic environment in the past few decades have also resulted in new waves of migration as people seek employment and greater opportunities outside their home country. In some regions of the world, the presence of newcomers has generated negative reactions from some factions in society. Exposure to negative stereotyping in the mass media, for example, may increase public support for policies targeted at minority groups in societies and for discrimination against them, which may be subtle or involve physical violence. In Europe, migration has been securitised (i. e. , raised to the level of a security issue) since the mid-1980s, when migration became subsumed in a broader security continuum including other issues such as terrorism and transnational organised crime. The securitisation of migration is sometimes accompanied by xenophobia. Those exposed to xenophobia suffer from a reduction in security and do not enjoy a positive identity, at least in terms of the way in which EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM 19 others define them. This means that a basic human need goes unmet, again with potentially avoidable consequences. 19 Understanding the central dimensions of human nature may contribute to responses to migration that do not feed xenophobic reactions in society. Both the environment and our genetic coding are implicated in xenophobic reactions. Evolutionary approaches to human nature would attribute xenophobia to how we evolved from our ancestors. The argument is that human beings, like animals, have a tendency to be hostile towards strangers. Some argue that xenophobia may be something that people have developed to protect themselves against transmittable disease. A stranger might also represent a threat to a place or hierarchy and, therefore, be treated with hostility and suspicion. In both instances, fear of strangers may allow individuals and groups to thrive genetically. While the emphasis here is on genetics, culture is nonetheless recognised as influencing this genetic predisposition. 20 If we are better equipped to comprehend the drivers of human nature, we might also stand a better chance of preventing and alleviating conflict. Ethnic conflict, for example, is often perceived as the result of timeless hatreds. Viewed in this way, there is little that can be done to alleviate its causes. Preventing ethnic conflict from occurring may seem an impossible task. Thus, considering purely biological factors in a narrow way limits the degree of the possible. While humankind may be weighed down by its biological heritage, and we should not dismiss this out of hand, the environment has an important impact on the human psyche and human behaviour. Fortunately, we are capable of influencing the environment and, therefore, conflict. If we recognise that both our genetic predilections and the environment affect how and whether tension degenerates into violent conflict, we may be able to develop policies to prevent this from happening. A better understanding of human nature may also help humankind to promote cooperation and moral behaviour at the global level. For centuries, politics has been shaped by the concept of state sovereignty, and allegiance to the political unit of the state has been shaped by nationalism. Today, however, national borders are more porous and, for many people, allegiances are not limited to the state. Globalisation is creating a â€Å"transnational social space†. 21 Increased human mobility and interconnectedness mean that many people have to negotiate between multiple identities. The global society that is emerging is composed of great diversity and greater inequality, which 20 NAYEF R. F. AL-RODHAN makes mutual recognition and respect imperative. Moreover, international norms have evolved in such a way that requires moral cosmopolitanism, which assumes that individuals belong to a single moral community. Yet, all too often, there appears to be a disparity between the moral principles we have developed and what we actually do. Biologically inherited behavioural traits may play a role in explaining this apparent gap. 22 We need to find a normative arrangement that will better equip us to address together political, socio-economic and cultural issues. One of the difficulties that evolutionary theories highlight is the difficulty that we may have in acting morally towards â€Å"distant others†. This is by no means to suggest that we wish to justify people’s indifference to difference or the challenges to acting altruistically towards others with whom they have no direct contact. Culture may be able to cultivate a more altruistic attitude towards strangers, which is essential if we are to respect the dignity of others. If, as sociobiologists suggest, there may be limits to our moral sensitivities, then it is important to know about this because it will require a deliberate effort to promote moral cosmopolitanism, rather than assuming that we can rely on individuals to behave in an ethical way. We need to find a common basis on which we can cooperate. Since the human brain is quite malleable, public policies and governance structures can influence the human condition and, as a result, the likelihood of insecurity and instability. What kind of governance structure would be required to enable humanity to prosper and to enhance global stability? Since our survival instincts inform a great deal of our behaviour, it is essential that people’s human rights are vigorously upheld. While there is a general consensus that human beings should not be subjected to torture or degrading treatment, basic human rights ought to extend to basic needs such as shelter and food. This means that human security, which is defined as the freedom from want and fear, ought to be promoted at all levels. Political processes and structures should be inclusive. Multilateral institutions, for example, ought to be more representative so that the evolution of the global order is the result of an inclusive and collective effort. Chapter 6 offers some concluding thoughts on the implications of â€Å"Emotional Amoral Egoism† and makes some policy recommendations based on my general theory of human nature and my specific theory of human motivation contained therein. Some may object to the claims that I make in the text. They may, for a variety of reasons (i. e. , upbringing, experience, education) EMOTIONAL AMORAL EGOISM 21 see themselves or others as more rational, or more moral than my conception of human nature allows. However, my theory is intended to apply to the majority of human beings, not the minority. I have also kept the discussion of neuroscientific and philosophical issues general in order to avoid overwhelming the reader with technical detail and nomenclatures.

Healthy Food Essay

Many ways to define healthy food. Firstly, healthy food consists of all the essential nutrients that your body needs like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, calcium, vitamins etc. Secondly, it is hygienic & doesn’t contain any germs that can harm your body. Thirdly, it should include all sorts of eatables like veggies, fruits, meat, dairy, sweets etc in right proportion. In a nutshell, healthy food keeps your body fit & at its top. Less junk and more home-made stuff. Health food is food considered to be beneficial to health in ways that go beyond a normal healthy diet required forhuman nutrition. Because there is no precise, authoritative definition from regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, different dietary practices can be considered healthy depending on context. Foods considered â€Å"healthy† may be natural foods, organic foods, whole foods, and sometimes vegetarian or dietary supplements. Such products are sold in health food stores or i n the health/organic sections of supermarkets. Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods that give you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, and have energy. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition is important for everyone. When combined with being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight, eating well is an excellent way to help your body stay strong and healthy. If you have a history of breast cancer or are currently undergoing treatment, eating well is especially important for you. What you eat can affect your immune system, your mood, and your energy level. No food or diet can prevent you from getting breast cancer. While researchers are still studying the effects ofeating unhealthy food on breast cancer and recurrence risk, we do know that being overweight is a risk factor for both first-time and recurrent breast cancer. In this section, you can learn how to eat in a way that keeps your body as healthy as it can be. Read on for information about food groups, nutrients, how to create a healthy eating plan, how to figure out portions, and how enjoy your food without overeating. In this section, you can read about: Understanding Food Groups How Your Body Gets Nutrients From Foods What Happens to Food in Your Body? Designing a Healthy Eating Plan Portion Size Enjoying Your Food

Causes of the Peloponnesian War

Causes of the Peloponnesian War Free Online Research Papers According to Thucydides, the cause of the Peloponnesian war was the fear of the growth of the power of Athens throughout the middle of the 5th century BC. The Peloponnesian war was long awaited by Thucydides; in fact there were many reasons and events leading up to the start of military aggression. Resentment and tension between Sparta and Athens began after the Spartans chose not to continue in siege against the Persians but to return home. Nonetheless, the Athenians continued to fight and began to show that they had a strong military and could stand without the Spartans. Because of this many of the smaller city-states on the islands in the Aegean Sea and in northern Greece became Athens allies; thus, they became known as the Delian league. The Athenians were collecting taxes from the other city-states in the Delian league therefore their fleet had become by far the largest and most fearsome navy in the region in conjunction with their infantry advancement. This tax was in exchange for the protection that the Athenian fleet and army provided. One of the Athenian leaders, Pericles, used some of the tax money to rebuild the Athens walls, for defensive purposes, and to offensive military growth. This show of Athenian power frightened the Spartans, and Corinthians as well, who now saw the Athenian growth of power as a threat. Causing tension with the Spartans and Corinthians the Athenian navy came to the aid of the Corcyraeans against the Corinthians. The threatening Athenian strength became more apparent to the Spartans. This happened because Epidamnus became involved in a political struggle where the Democratic Party had taken control of the colony’s government and forced the aristocrats out of power. The aristocrats joined with a cruel, ruthless group and attacked the city and its surrounding areas seeking revenge from the democrats for their actions. Epidamnus began looking for help and sent a request to Corcyra for military involvement. Corcyra refused to help the Epidamnians in their political struggle and consequently they sought for the assistant of Corinth. Nonetheless, the Corinthians sent ships to stop the violence. The Corcyraeans saw the Corinthians interference as disrespectful so they decided to send their own ships to stop the Corinthians. Adding more fuel to the fire, the Corc yraeans made an alliance with Athens who already has their own feud with Corinth for many years. The Corinthian fleet engaged the Corcyraeans and consequently the Corinthians lost the battle. This defeat fueled the Corinthians passion against the Athenians even more. The final event that caused tension leading up to the outbreak of violence in the Peloponnesian War was when Potidaea, a member of the Delian league, rebelled against Athenian control. The city-state built barricades to resist Athenian army occupation which incited rebellion all over in the region in Chalcidice and Bottiaea. The Athenians sent troops into the region by ship, but they were also fighting the Macedonians in the same region and had difficult time suppressing that revolt. When Athens ultimately made a treaty with Perdiccas, the Macedonian leader, they were then turned-on by the Macedonians as they began fighting side-by-side with the Corinthians, who had come to the defense of the Potidaeans. Despite their recent setbacks, the Athenians were able to gain control of most of the region upon the arrival of reinforcements. Corinth called a meeting of the Peloponnesian assembly at Sparta because they saw that their own citizens were now trapped in Potidaea. Almost immediately following this meeting the Peloponnesian decision was to declare war because the complaints against the Athenian Empire were deemed irreconcilable. The Spartan and Peloponnesian demanded that the Athenians withdraw from Potidaea and that all the city-states in northern Greece be given their freedom. Despite the declaration of war, three ambassadors were sent to Athens over the course of winter in attempts to declare peace; however, neither side could come to a resolution. Nonetheless in the summer of 431 BC the Thebans, a member of the Peloponnesian League, attacked Plataea, Athens oldest ally. This drew Athens to Plataea’s defense, which in turn brought the Spartans and Corinthians to the side of their ally which marked the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. Research Papers on Causes of the Peloponnesian WarComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeCapital PunishmentOpen Architechture a white paperThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Erin Brockovich Film Blog Essay Example

Erin Brockovich Film Blog Essay Example Erin Brockovich Film Blog Paper Erin Brockovich Film Blog Paper Essay Topic: Blog Facts, plot and theme Erin Broccoli is unemployed woman, who is divorced twice with three children, one of them being an Infant. When Erin Is Injured In a car accident she decides to sue the doctor who hit her. She hires the lawyer Deed Massy to represent her in her case. Deed assures her that they will win the case. However, they end up losing the case. After the case Erin tries to get aloud of her lawyer upset at the loss of the case but Deed Ignores her. To Deeds surprise one day upon his arrival to his office he sees Erin In there. After some guilt tripping Erin convinces Deed to hire her as a file clerk at his office. Soon after Erin meets George, her new neighbor. Her kids absolutely love George. George helps Erin take care of her children while she Is gone at work. One day while doing her Job Erin comes across a case the people of Hellene, ca have against the company Pacific Gas and Electric. Erin asks Deed if she can help with the case and he agrees. She then makes a trip to Hinkler to further investigate. There she meets Donna and Peter Jensen who are very ill. They believe their Illness Is a result of the chemical used at the PEG plant, chromium 6. Erin does further research and finds out that PEG was ordered to clean up the chromium from the ground water. When Erin returns to the office Deed fires her because he was unsure of what she was really doing. Deed decides to rehire Erin after a professor at UCLA that Erin had contacted Informs him that the levels of chromium could be responsible for the cancer that the Jensen have. Soon after others in the area come forward with wondering if their troubles could also be a result of the chromium in the area. Deed and Erin decide to start a class action lawsuit against PEG to help the people affected by the actions of PEG. The two work tirelessly to find more people for their case. Erin begins to strain her relationship with her kids and George due to the large amount of time she is spending working on the case. Deed eventually hires Kurt Potter, who is an expert in toxic cases. Kurt convinces Deed and Erin to speed up the process that the best course of action would be to take the case to arbitration. Deed holds a meeting with the people of Hinkler trying to convince them that this is the best way to go to get their settlement money. One night Erin meets a man Charles Embryo, a man who used to work at the plant ND whose cousin Just died from cancer after working at the water-cooling tower. Charles then Informs Erin that while employed at the plant, he was Instructed to destroy a lot of documents, some of which had to do with water tests in the area. Charles gives Erin with information from document that he did not destroy. Erin and Deed then give Kurt the Information, the signatures of the six hundred a thirty-four plaintiffs and the some convicting memos from the PEG office of the Hellene plant. In the end the judge ruled that PEG would have to pay the victims a total three endured and thirty-three million dollars to the victims and Deed gives Erin a check for I think the main theme of the film Erin Broomstick is perseverance. Throughout the whole movie Erin is very determined to help the people of Hinkler get Justice. If Erin had not been so motivated the people would have never been compensated for the terrible injustice that was bestowed on them. The movie demonstrates that through hard work and willpower even the tasks that seem impossible are possible. Characters Erin Broomstick- The main character of the movie. She is a twice-divorced mother of three. Erin is the reason that the case against PEG is pursued in the first place. She is a very strong and outspoken woman. Throughout the movie she tirelessly fights to provide her family with financial stability and bring Justice to the people of Hinkler. Deed Masers- He is first Reins lawyer that loses her case and the reluctantly hires Erin to work at his law firm as a file clerk. He is a very smart man. In the end rewards Erin greatly for her hard efforts. George Reins new neighbor that ends up being her love interest in the movie. He is a very nice and caring individual. He helps take care of Reins children while she is out working constantly. Donna and Peter Jensen- Both sick with cancer from the chromium poisoning. They were the first people she talked to in Hinkler and the reason Erin began her to further investigation. Received 3 million in compensation from the case in the end. Charles Embryo- At first Erin thinks he is kind of a creepy guy. However he ends up being the man that provides evidence to resolve the case. His cousin died of cancer after working at cooling towers of the plant. He is an ex-PEGE employee that was instructed to destroy documents but kept some of them. The documents end up proving that the PEGE plant in San Francisco knew was going on. Kurt Potter- Is an expert on toxic cases. Joins Deed and Erin to help win the case. He provides Deed with much needed money to help fund the case. Convinces them to change the case to arbitration to help speed up the settlement. Assumptions and what I would like to know a. PEGE knew that the chromium was hazardous to the people but kept quiet to save money. B. Deed was reluctant at first to take the case because he did not think much of Erin in the beginning. C. Why did no one question the reason that so many people in he area were dying from cancer? . Did the Doctors not find it odd that so many people were getting tumors and other types of cancer? E. Why did George spend so much of his time helping Erin with her kids? Resolutions 1. PEGE should have brought attention the problem with Chromium when it was known and fixed the problem. Enlightened Egoism- Take a long range perspective and allow for th e well-being of others, although always with their own interest in mind. Under this theory PEGE would have made the problem known when they discovered not because it was necessarily the right action to take but to avoid a large casuist against them later on. Costs The expense of taking the right precautions to ensure safe disposal Cleaning up the area that had been affected by the time they noticed it Money that may have to paid Possible lawsuits of the damage it had cause by the time the problem was realized if it was know from the beginning Would not have faced charges from the EPA for improperly managing waste. Could have avoided a class action lawsuit against the company from the people of Hinkler Impacts People of Hinkler would not have gotten sick and died from the chromium poisoning The area would not have been tainted with the chromium Erin Broomstick would not have had the chance to help these people 2. Do exactly as they did and try to cover up the effects of the chromium was having on the people in Hinkler. Ethical Egoism Defines right or acceptable behavior in terms of its consequences for the individual. Egoist believe they should make they decision that maximizes their own self-interest. The 333 million dollar settlement to the victims affected by the chromium Arbitration costs Legal costs Legalities Class action lawsuit against them from the people of Hinkler and the workers. EPA violations Many people lost their lives and got sick as a result Pain and suffering cause by the death, sickness and miscarriages. Area is contaminated 3. Do away with the use of chromium and find a safer chemical to use in its place. Utilitarian Theory Defines right or acceptable behavior as that which provides the greatest good to the greatest number of people. By getting a newer and safe chemical substitute PEGE would have been looking out for all the people in the area by making it safer to live and work there Costs Money to research a better chemical It may have been more expensive to use a different chemical The money to implement the new chemical Avoid lawsuits from all the people affected by chromium Provide a safer environment for the workers and the people in Hinkler People in the area would be able have a normal life free from disease A better future for the area Been seen as a environmentally responsible company Final Recommendation My final recommendation would be resolution 1, enlighten egoism. They should have way. If PEGE would have done this they could have saved many people a lot of despair, avoided a huge lawsuit, and kept a lot of people from getting deathly ill.

4 overrated recruiting concepts you need to ditch this year

4 overrated recruiting concepts you need to ditch this year Attention HR professionals: As 2018 continues to unfold, you’re undoubtedly focused on achieving your staffing and recruiting goals for the year, which likely means plenty of advanced planning and strategy sessions, all designed to help you and your company hit its predetermined targets.For successful companies, this is beyond important- it’s an absolutely essential business function. According to an article by Empxtrack, the recruitment and selection process is one of the most important of all HR functions and has a great impact on the revenue growth and profit margins of a company as compared to other tasks such as retention,  onboarding, leadership development, and managing talent.Effective recruiting requires careful planning- from the first steps to the last- under the watchful eye of a seasoned HR professional or team with business savvy, a deep knowledge of their company’s core needs, and an ability to plan for short-term and long-term growth and success .Strategic recruiting also requires a thorough understanding of what concepts don’t work or have become outdated to the point of irrelevance and belong in the HR recycling bin. The truth is, in today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, concepts that may have once been proven sound may no longer hold up today. It’s the job of all HR professionals to stay on top of current trends, shifts, and forces that help shape the face of modern recruitment- or else they risk becoming outdated and irrelevant.That said, there is a prevailing conventional wisdom in the world of recruiting that helps determine which recruiting concepts should be embraced and which are overrated and should be left behind. LinkedIn recently published an article on recruiting concepts that should likely be reconsidered or shuttered for good. Use the following information to help you and your company strategize effectively.hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});1. Culture fit is critical.We’re all aware of the omnipresence of â€Å"culture fit† and its perceived value in companies across industries. In fact, some organizations rank perceived culture fit at the very top of their determination criteria when making key hiring decisions. But what are we really getting here? Is a company that prides itself on having employees who are an excellent cultural fit denying itself a level of healthy diversity that could really help move the needle? Think about it, do game changing ideas that truly disrupt the status quo always come from those who fit neatly into the corporate mold, or do they often come from those oddball outliers with enough creative and perceptual distance to really effect change?Savvy, forward-thinking HR professionals know better when they weigh the value of culture fit, and recognize potential talent who may not fit the traditional corporate mold but who could potentially offer their organizations something far more v aluable- a fresh new way of approaching their business.2. The reference check is essential.The traditional HR process of performing a reference check on potential candidates is as old (and as time-consuming) as it gets, and if we stop and really take a close look at it, we may realize that it’s likely not worth the effort. Why? Because what the process really involves is reaching out (often, many times before getting a response) to a carefully curated list of individuals who have undoubtedly been told to expect a call from you, and who will invariably provide a glowing review of the candidate in question and go on and on about how they’re absolutely the ideal candidate in every conceivable way.Admittedly, there may be some value in some instances to performing this time-tested HR ritual, but if you’re waiting for a candidate to provide a reference that will offer a completely honest, unbiased, and critical review of a candidate, don’t hold your breath bec ause it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. Does this sound to you like an effective way to really get to evaluate a potential new employee?3. Traditional interviews are everything.It’s almost inconceivable to imagine a hiring process- at any company or for any position- that does not include some aspect of what we commonly refer to as a traditional interview, in which a meeting (often several) takes place between a potential candidate and the hiring personnel of a company and an exchange of pleasantries, questions, answers, and conversation takes place as each side evaluates the other for consideration.However, you might be shocked to learn that the level of correlation between how a candidate fares on an interview and how they do on the job is shockingly low. According to LinkedIn’s article:â€Å"Candidate interviews have been the single most important tool for recruiters since forever, but that doesn’t mean they’re all that great.  Googleâ⠂¬â„¢s Laszlo Bock spilled the beans in 2013 that their analytics showed that interviews were totally useless: ‘We looked at tens of thousands of interviews, and everyone who had done the interviews and what they scored the candidate, and how that person ultimately performed in their job. We found zero relationship.’†4. Purpose does not replace perks.It’s true, the idea of working for a company with a brand identity, mission, and purpose that resonates with potential candidates can really be an attractive and compelling notion- and many HR professionals work hard to cultivate and maintain their organization’s culture and brand identity and communicate them to prospective employees- but it does not completely replace the tried and true employee perks that lie at the heart of an individual’s decision regarding whether or not to sign on the dotted line when a job offer is made.Sure, your organization’s volunteer efforts, charitable pursuit s, dedication to the environment and desire to make positive and lasting change in the world will be of interest to candidates, but if it isn’t matched by competitive salaries, benefits packages, and employee perks, then don’t be surprised if the individuals you’re hoping to bring on board decide to take their talents elsewhere.There you have it- some overrated recruiting concepts that may have worked well in the past but may no longer hold water as we move through 2018. If you’re using any of these as part your professional recruitment strategy, consider making a change.

Knowledge Workers and the Brooklyn Bridge 8 Essay

Knowledge Workers and the Brooklyn Bridge 8 - Essay Example engineers, namely Washington Robeling and those who worked with him, that were mainly concerned with design aspects such as knowledge of gradient, impact of erosion by water over time, angles for rafters and columns and related information. Designing and construction of a bridge requires a basic knowledge and comprehension of the many aspects constituting â€Å"optimum structural and mechanical performance.† (Fertis, xiii). In the case of a highway bridge, dynamic and vibration analysis that needs to be carried out requires knowledge of the basic properties of the materials and cables that are used to build the bridge. Such knowledge of material properties is then used in performing the static and dynamic analysis, in developing a bridge design that is safe as well as functional. The static and dynamic analysis will involve calculations to determine both static and dynamic deformations of the bridge, together with its frequencies of vibration. This will also involve conclusions to be drawn on how long the bridge span should be in order to ensure that its rigidity is maintained in a safe design. Hence a knowledge worker working on the design and construction of the bridge in Robeling’s day would also have required a basic knowledge of statics, mechanics and structural mechanics. A knowledge worker would thus need to be acquainted with basic engineering concepts in designing of bridges. Communication in those days when the Brooklyn Bridge was first built centered around personal contact, hence these were restricted to light signals and Robelais passing on his communications through his wife. As a result, workers had to possess communication skills in interacting with members of their teams, most of whom were likely to have been drawn from the same local area of New York and largely comprising immigrants. But the kind of communication systems being used in the present day is also different from those existing during the time of Robelais. Knowledge workers may

The Boreal Forest Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Boreal Forest - Case Study Example This case study analyzes the current status of boreal forest with reference to the biodiversity restoration. A restoration gap analysis of the forest was carried out, based on the ecological characteristics of the historic reference state. This gap analysis put forward a method for viewing the forest degradation and measuring its deviation with reference to its state (Kaufmann, 2003). It was found in the case study that the ecological characteristics in the study areas are relatively higher than rest of the region, mainly due to the recent logging that took place in the region that greatly affected the area of study. However when compared to the reference state of boreal forest, the area has definitely lost some of its important ecological qualities because of early human activities. In order to be successful there is a need of developing strategies in order to restore the degraded region of the forest, and landscape level approaches should also be implemented. The restoration of the ecological qualities will not just be based on the reserves but also on production forests. In such kinds of forest the management strategies are adapted to the normal functioning of ecosystem. Considering the aspects of restoration and its management while planning and formation of reserves will help in ensuring the goals related to the long term species conservation are met (Angels tam, 2000). It was concluded in the case study that restoration ecology is of great importance for the conservation of species on landscape level in existing as well as managed forest reserves. It is necessary that in the commercial forests, management should be adapted for the natural functioning of the ecosystem to every possible extent. Management and restoration strategies must also be incorporated in the formation and planning of reserves for increasing the effectiveness of long term goals associated with species

Urban Regeneration in the East of Manchester Essay

Urban Regeneration in the East of Manchester - Essay Example Introduction According to Cochrane (2006), urban regeneration is an important precondition for restructuring a local economy and to eliminate all forms of social exclusion. Many cities and towns all over the world face numerous issues and challenges in devising effective strategies and policies that can enhance and sustain economic development besides achieving better correlation between people’s needs and the opportunities generated due to this economic development. The evolution of electronic era has introduced an additional dimension into this complexity. There is a clear increase in the scope and speed of the changes required while there is also a need for new approaches to identify and mitigate all potential risks that may arise due to these dynamic processes. History After years of post-industrial era decline, the city of Manchester, especially the eastern parts, has witnessed some renewed economic growth which has been growing steadily alongside social issues like poverty and unemployment. Hebbert (2009) says that Manchester has the highest incidence of child poverty across the United Kingdom (UK) and stands at the third position in the list of cities with multiple deprivations. The fact that East Manchester has been experiencing rapid economic growth together with social degradation is threatening its long-term sustainability and economic growth. The Manchester City Council has identified ways such as investment in business opportunities, infrastructure development and home constructions to overcome this contrasting discrepancy. Carley (2007) says that the council also plans to utilize Information and Communication technologies (ICT) as part of its economic development framework to enhance the skills and competencies of local citizens and reduce unemployment. Most of these efforts have been based on a prior analysis of the local needs and aspirations of specific areas and a clear mapping between requirements and opportunities. One of the best examples of the City Council’s efforts in the urban regeneration of East Mancheste

A portfolio about Yue Minjun (an artist), and discussing the meaning Essay

A portfolio about Yue Minjun (an artist), and discussing the meaning of the work, it's form, its context, its qualities - Essay Example He began as a struggling artist in the 1990s as a member of the artistic community at Yuan Ming Yuan in the outskirts of Beijing away from the penetrating eyes of political persecution. When the community broke up, Mingjun shifted to Tongxian, where he flourished, along with other artists. The reason for his success can be attributed by what is known as "cynical realism" in post modernist art. Almost all his works so far, without exception, have contained self-portraits which from a distance look like they are bursting with mirth. But once one sees the gaping blackness of their mouths and eyes closed tightly shut, almost rolling in apparent hilarity in sad, desperate contexts, one realizes that the laughter could be a laughter of absurdity, of cynicism and of critical political commentary. The laughter has been a hallmark of Mingjun's work, making it instantly recognizable, and it has been interpreted variously by different people at disparate points of time. But the artist himself sees his laughing self-portrait as a part of his evolution from the despair of his past, where reality was so very different from his idea of ideal existence. In his opinion, sometimes the only reaction left in the face of utter despair is laughter. The laughter also comes in part from the Chinese tradition of the Laughing Buddha, whose permanent expression is that of laughter, and who is addit

Western Civilization of the French Revolution Essay

Western Civilization of the French Revolution - Essay Example It essentially detailed his life, including capture, slavery, brutality, and eventual literacy. It was created in the United Kingdom. It is useful to historians because it provides a first-hand account of slavery, something that is relatively hard to come by, as so few were literate. The French Revolution was one of the most turbulent times in western history – it involved mass uprisings, huge reversals in power and wealth, and had one of the strangest endings: the rise of Napoleon. The development of one of the world’s most famous late emperors is a strange ending to a democratic revolution. Some argue that Napoleon largely upheld revolutionary values during his reign – and indeed there are some ways this was true, such as installing a civil code of laws to replace the whims of rulers, aristocrats and so forth and would eventually be a major influence in many countries around the world. However, this and similar achievements cannot overshadow the fact that the fundamentals of the revolution were populist, and an emperorship is anything but. If the spirit of the revolution was enshrined in the phrase â€Å"Libertà ©, Égalità ©, Fraternità ©,† then it is clear Napoleon did not live up to those standards. As mentioned previously, it is tempting to argue that Napoleon upheld many aspects of the revolution. Certainly his reign was nothing like as terrible to the French populace as that of the monarchs that proceeded the revolution: the economy was largely stabilized, wealth was less concentrated in the hands of the wealthy than previously and so forth. His Civil Code embodied many of the features present in the declaration of the rights of man,1 especially in imagining the rule of law as the prime mechanism of power, replacing the absolute control held by previous monarchs. While these achievements should be

Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 29

Response - Essay Example In the university entry tests many students fail to get in because the quota system only picks out the best ones in each province. Chris Buckley seems to be a bit biased in his report by comparing only Henan with big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. The two major cities had started to progress far earlier than any other cities and gave rise to major educational hubs so comparing a countryside to a major urban development that began years ago seems to come out as a very one sided undertone. There are other provinces and cities in China where education might be on equal levels with the two urban areas mentioned. There is no denying the fact that inequality does persist in China because the government officials tend to focus more on the urban areas than on the rural ones but keeping in mind the geography of the land it is hard to focus on any issue without keeping in mind the background of the country and the phases that it went through to attain the position in the world it enjoys today. The federal government does have the tendency to lose sight of the issues of the sort because there is so much more to focus o n in China but the regional government should not only put Henan in the spotlight of the educational injustice rather put in every other province that faces the problem of quota system educational place allotment. There needs to be a proper report that not only focuses on the province of Henan during gaokao but also other provinces that feel deprived of equal education opportunities. In conclusion, the writer does remain firm on the ground that many Chinese students prefer going abroad for education because the gaokao system makes it hard for them to get in good universities and attain an educational degree of good standards but then again, the news report only talked about Henan when it could have talked about other provinces that feel neglected in the backdrop of the article.

Western Civilization of the French Revolution Essay

Western Civilization of the French Revolution - Essay Example It essentially detailed his life, including capture, slavery, brutality, and eventual literacy. It was created in the United Kingdom. It is useful to historians because it provides a first-hand account of slavery, something that is relatively hard to come by, as so few were literate. The French Revolution was one of the most turbulent times in western history – it involved mass uprisings, huge reversals in power and wealth, and had one of the strangest endings: the rise of Napoleon. The development of one of the world’s most famous late emperors is a strange ending to a democratic revolution. Some argue that Napoleon largely upheld revolutionary values during his reign – and indeed there are some ways this was true, such as installing a civil code of laws to replace the whims of rulers, aristocrats and so forth and would eventually be a major influence in many countries around the world. However, this and similar achievements cannot overshadow the fact that the fundamentals of the revolution were populist, and an emperorship is anything but. If the spirit of the revolution was enshrined in the phrase â€Å"Libertà ©, Égalità ©, Fraternità ©,† then it is clear Napoleon did not live up to those standards. As mentioned previously, it is tempting to argue that Napoleon upheld many aspects of the revolution. Certainly his reign was nothing like as terrible to the French populace as that of the monarchs that proceeded the revolution: the economy was largely stabilized, wealth was less concentrated in the hands of the wealthy than previously and so forth. His Civil Code embodied many of the features present in the declaration of the rights of man,1 especially in imagining the rule of law as the prime mechanism of power, replacing the absolute control held by previous monarchs. While these achievements should be

The Importance of Being on Time Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Being on Time Essay Time is a reality of life that is utterly inescapable. Like God, it is omnipresent as no matter what a person does; time will always run out for things to be done and tasks to be finished. The factory worker in a tire factory will always have to make sure that he reaches the production quota set by management, lest he be fired from the company. The lawyer will have to ensure that he finishes the entire research of the pleading in a civil rights case, lest he be scolded by the judge and compromise the case of his client. The student will have to wake up early, lest he be late for school and earn the ire of the school administrators for tardiness. The investment banker of Morgan Stanley will lose his clients to other investment banks if he misses the train for canoodling with his wife before leaving home. In all of these examples, a major contributing factor for all of their actions is being on time. However, like God, time is also one of the most underestimated things in life, taken for granted as though it is never important. This paper aims to justify the importance of being on time as part of the daily life of persons and even society. There are three reasons why being on time is important – efficiency and productivity, (missed) opportunities, and cordial respect to peers and superiors. Efficiency and Productivity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being on time is actually an economic decision which is based on the concept of maximization of scarce resources in the least possible amount of time. In a given time frame for production, an hour for example, being late for a few minutes is already tantamount to a lessening of the production output for an entire hour because those few minutes of lateness were spent on idle work unrelated to the production at hand, such as being in transit. For example, if a female textile worker in China arrived five minutes late as production of Ralph Lauren shirts starts factory-wide, her lateness may delay the entire assembly line of production, especially when the female worker occupies a specialized and indispensable function in the assembly line, such a quality control officer that inspects each and every shirt that is produced by the factory. As a result of the delay in the operations due to a single person’s lateness, the profits and production for the day of the company might decrease in comparison to days when the factory worker arrives on time or prior to the start of production. In this example, the simple lateness of a person compromised the operations of the entire company, resulting to less efficiency and productivity leading to fewer profits. Another example of such lack of efficiency and productivity is in the classroom setting, especially in the universities when professors can invoke academic freedom on the way they choose to teach, to the extent that such freedom is used as the paramount excuse for their lateness or even absence in lectures. If the lecture on constitutional law, for instance, aims to cover the entire concept and jurisprudence of the due process clause for the day, the lateness of the professor of around fifteen minutes for a two-hour class already short-changes the students of his class because instead of covering the entire planned lecture, the professor might either reschedule the latter part on another day, or lecture so fast to finish everything to the prejudice of the full comprehension of students of the lecture. More so, such lateness also takes its toll on the resources of the university as a good fifteen minutes is devoted not for academic learning but idly waiting for the professor to arrive. Multiply this to the number of professors who are frequently late and the number of times that these professors are actually late, it could stretch on for hours on end that the school’s resources are wasted. In both cases, lateness instead of being on time lessens efficiency and productivity not only of the single late person but the other interacting parties as well. (Missed) Opportunities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On a lighter note, being on time can determine the making or unmaking of a person, a group and even a people. The best example for this would be meeting deadlines for term papers and thesis in all academic levels. Many brilliant men and women have failed to graduate with honors or even failed to graduate at all for the simple reason that they failed to submit their papers on time. This does not speak simply of the final deadline but includes the submission of piece-meal parts of researches for the assessment of the professors and teachers as a delay even of the first part of a research or its draft can lead to cumulative consequences in the end, to the extent that many students would resort to procrastination through plagiarism, among many other things. On the other hand, being on time does not simply including arriving at the expected time but also pertains to being at the exact historical moment when destiny knocks on one’s door, as lateness and even early birds can jeopardize the seizing of opportunities for a person, a group or a people. Had the American liberation forces been late or too early when they set foot on Normandy, the history of the world might have been entirely different. Crudely too, if the geeky boy-next-door in a physics class delayed for another day the admission of love to his pretty classmate, the girl of his dreams might have soon gone steady with the high school jock. The point of this part is very fundamental – being on time, in the ways enumerated above, presents people with opportunities which they might soon miss or lose if they came even just a bit late or came a little too early. Cordial Respect to Peers and Superiors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, being on time gives the impression of cordial respect to peers and superiors to the extent that their time spent with the person on time is laden with trust, confidence and respect. It includes not only personal relationships but professional relationships as well, especially in sealing contracts and negotiating better terms for the company one represents. For example, the other party to a multi-billion dollar contract would more likely have better rapport and confidence to a person who comes flawlessly on time with all the documents prepared rather than a person late for the same corporate meeting because a person on time tacitly accords good faith and cordial relations to the other party by simply being on time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In all of these, the three reasons above suffice to convincingly prove the importance of being on time, not only in simple social-anecdotal terms but also insofar as presenting the economic side of being on time. In the ultimate analysis, there actually no need to problematize and even embark on such a discourse on the importance of being on time. Such a trait should already be inherent in men and women who value people other than themselves. While lateness per se is really hard to eradicate especially when excuses are valid, lateness should be more of a very strict exception rather than a general rule, especially among young people who usually do otherwise. Be on time, and things will definitely get better in the long run, in all aspect of a person’s life.

Security And Confidentiality On The Internet Information Technology Essay

Security And Confidentiality On The Internet Information Technology Essay On 9th of November 2009 The Internet teacher requested 3000 word report related to the FETAC Internet module. This report was to be submitted by 14th of January2010. The topic of the report is Security and Confidentiality on the Internet with reference to cookies, viruses, encryption, digital signatures, firewalls, filtering software and personal privacy. Recommendations were requested. 2. Method of Procedure I found most of the information on the internet. In order to obtain the relevant information, I used Google Search Engine with keywords in English: Internet Security, Privacy on the Internet, Malware, Computer Viruses, Cookies, Firewalls, Filtering Software, Encryption, Digital Signatures, Computer Protection, Threats on the Internet. Keywords in Lithuanian: Privatumas Internete, Saugumas Intenete, Kompiuteriniai Virusai, UgniasienÄ-s, Filtravimo PrgraminÄ- Ä ®ranga, Ã…Â  ifravimas, Skaitmeninis ParaÃ…Â ¡as, Pavojai Internete. Also, some printed sources of information such as books and a periodical press in English and Lithaunian were adopted. Several pages for each topic were checked to confirm that the information was correct and fully understud. That hepled me to make conclusions and to give recommendations. 3. Findings 3.1 Importance of Subject With the progress of affordable technology more of us store more and more of our life in bits and bytes. By the end of 2009 there was more than 1,5 billion Internet users in 260 countries on every continent. The Internet is not a single network, but a vast array of connected networks situated all over the world, easily accessible by personal computers, notebooks, netbooks, smartphones, PDAs, game consoles, advanced TVs, same photo cameras or even kitchen appliances as hi-tech fridges and microwaves in a variety of ways. Today, the Internet uses gateways, routers, broadband connections, Wi-Fi spots and Internet service providers (ISPs) to make itself available at all times. Individuals and organizations worldwide can reach almost any point on the network without regard to national or geographic boundaries or time of day, there is some exceptions regarding to Internet censorship. Nowadays, it become hard to find the business without any connection to the Internet, because of its excellent source of marketing, convenience, high speed, low cost, and almost unlimited possibilities. Institutions of education, hospitals, banks, institutions of public service, providers of mobile service and internet, utility companies and of course our government has our personal information on their computers and they are connected to the Internet. With the birth of Social Networking Sites such as Bebo, Facebook, MySace, Twitter ect., we sharing our pictures, personal details, our thoughts and lives with friends and if we are not careful with everybody on the Internet. Just Facebook on its own has more than 400 million users. Even more, with new generation of Internet- Cloud Computing, individuals and business users are storing less data on their hard drives and more in the cloud- remote servers, operated by giants like Google and Amazon. However, while using the Internet, along with the convenience and speed of access to information come new risks. Among them are the risks that valuable information will be lost, stolen, corrupted, or misused and that the computer systems will be corrupted. If information is recorded electronically and is available on networked computers, it is more vulnerable than if the same information is printed on paper and locked in a file cabinet. Intruders do not need to enter an office or home, and may not even be in the same country. They can steal or tamper with information without touching a piece of paper or a photocopier. They can create new electronic files, run their own programs, and even hide all evidence of their unauthorized activity. So if we are closing and locking the door in our house to prevent criminals gain access to our valuables, we must take care of our house and life in the digital world and use all possible security and privacy on the Internet measures against the threats. WORLD INTERNET USAGE AND POPULATION STATISTICS World Regions Population ( 2009 Est.) Internet Users Dec.31,2000 Internet Users Latest Data Penetration (%Population) Growth 2000-2009 Users %of Table Africa 991,002,342 4,514,400 67,371,700 6.8 % 1,392.4% 3.9 % Asia 3,808,070,503 114,304,000 738,257,230 19.4 % 545.9 % 42.6 % Europe 803,850,858 105,096,093 418,029,796 52.0 % 297.8 % 24.1 % Middle East 202,687,005 3,284,800 57,425,046 28.3 % 1,648.2% 3.3 % North America 340,831,831 108,096,800 252,908,000 74.2 % 134.0 % 14.6 % Latin America/Caribbean 586,662,468 18,068,919 179,031,479 30.5 % 890.8 % 10.3 % Oceania / Australia 34,700,201 7,620,480 20,970,490 60.4 % 175.2 % 1.2 % WORLD TOTAL 6,767,805,208 360,985,492 1,733,993,741 25.6 % 380.3 % 100.0 % Copyright  © 2001 2009, Miniwatts Marketing Group 3.2 Personal Privacy Total privacy does not exist on the Internet, but it is possible to minimize the risks. Most security breaches are not done by technology, but by social engineering. In security, people is the most risky factor of all, yet its the one thing thats often forgotten. A company may setup firewalls, security software, locks and fingerprint scanners, but if they forget to establish and enforce a well designed security policy, they have forgotten the most important part. The easiest way to get a password from someone is just to ask! In more likely situations, an attacker may simply call random people and pretend they are a tech support person trying to fix a problem, and ask for confidential information as part of the diagnostic. Pretexting Pretexting is the way of stealing information by providing just a little bit of known information, and pretending to be someone youre not. Thats how identity thieves can call banks and, after a few tries, by simply providing basic information about the target, get all the data they want. Phishing Phishing is when you receive an email that looks like its from your bank, Paypal, online shop or another secure site you use, and asking you to login to confirm your information. It works in this way: the criminals sets up a website which looks like the genuine one and then sends phishing email to thousands of people, until they find somebody. Then when the person tries to login, his login information is intercepted by the bad guys and used to steal valuable information. Malware Malicious programs, especially Key loggers can record what keys on the keyboard you are pressing when login to secure websites, to obtain your username and password. Often Key loggers are incorporated together with Trojan Viruses, programs which pretends to be useful software i.e. antivirus or computer maintenance programs, to send stolen information to the criminals. Privacy threats on Social Networking Sites Internet users have to be very careful with the private information that they share on the web. Internet is becoming very popular way to communicate with people. Most people who give too much of private information about themselves arent aware about the risks they taking. There are people who can pretend to be your friends, gain information and use this information against you for blackmailing, psychological terror or for access to secure private pages. Conclusions and Recommendations The offenders are always inventing new methods to steal private information. We have to be aware about that, constantly refresh our knowledge about security and existing scam schemes and take all possible security measures by using trusted up to date security software. Never click a link in an email from unknown sender, never download from an untrusted source, and always type in the address of your financial sites to access them. Need to avoid to disclose sensitive information online especially to the people we dont know very well. Also we have to remember that these attacks also can be done offline. Most identity thefts are done by people simply going through rubbish bins and getting confidential data that was thrown out, like a bank statements, invoices, payslips ect. We cant do much to secure our personal data collected and stored by businesses and institutions which can also be stolen or misused, just hope that they will take same good care as we do. 3.3 Cookies What are Cookies? Cookies are a piece of text that a web server sends to web browser and are stored on a users hard disk. Main purpose of cookies is to help prepare customized web pages with our settings, interests, browsing habits. It works in similar way to loyalty cards i.e. if we bought a book in Amazon internet shop, next time when we come back to Amazon first it will offer similar books to our purchase. Cookies do not act maliciously on computer systems. They are text files that can be deleted at any time. Cookies cant be used to spread viruses. But because any personal information that we gave to a web site will be stored in a cookie some people can accept it as a threat to privacy and anonymity. To prevent misuse of information in the cookie if its stolen, information in the cookie is encrypted. How do They Work? When we visit a site that uses cookies, it can ask the browser to place one or more cookies on the visitors hard drive. It will contain our name and password, fill in form i.e. delivery addresses and basically what we do in the page. Next time, when we come back to the site the web browser sends back the cookies that belong to the site and then we will see personalized Web page with our details. Generally cookies help us to save a little bit of time. And we always have possibility to switch it off, however internet shopping web pages requires cookies to accesses them. How Could I Prevent/Manage Cookies? If we want to delete cookies we have to follow these steps: Internet Explorer: Tools /Internet options/Security /Set security level to high or custom level/Cookies/Disable. Mozilla Firefox: Tools/Options/Privacy/Cookies/Uncheck/Allow sites to set cookies Other options are to use designated Cookie Managing software or to use advanced Antivirus programs which also have the option to control cookies, to block cookies that we dont want and save only the cookies that we want. Conclusions and Recommendations I think that cookies are useful because we can get personalized information to read, do not spend time on security questions where it is necessary to enter a password, we dont have to spend time filling up same forms. Cookies do not collect information saved in the computer, it can contain only private data that we give to a website on our own free will. And if we dont want some cookies we are able to remove them from computer when we want. Some websites such as internet banking, e-shops and similar are impossible to use properly without allowing the cookies. 3.4 Viruses What is a Virus? Computer viruses are small malicious program codes, which are designed by using various techniques to hide themselves inside the executable files. Their aim is to replicate, spread between the computers using removable media or network and to interfere with computer operation: slowing down computer, damaging or deleting data, disturbing users and wasting time by showing annoying massages. Virus can be classified by several characteristic: depend on the origin, on the way how they infect computer, on the place where they hide, on the damage that they can cause However, the computer virus is only one type of the malicious software or malware, but majority of computer users referring to all malicious programs (Trojan horses, worms, rootkits, spyware etc.) as the viruses. Type of Virus Different viruses can have many common characteristics and constantly appearing viruses with new specifications or combinations. Resident Virus. Loads the replication module into RAM memory when is executed, after this virus can infect all files that are accessed by user or operating system. If the antivirus program fails to spot the virus in the RAM it can infect all scanned files. FAT Virus. The File Allocation Table is a fundamental element in the system it works like an index, keeping information where is the files stores on the hard disk drive (HDD), which sectors are empty etc. If this vital index is destroyed by virus, it makes impossible for computer to locate files. It also can overwrite the files or entire directories corrupting them permanently. Sometimes the only solution to fix the computer affected by FAT virus is to format hard disk drive. Huge downside of this is that all information on HDD will be permanently erased. Virus of Direct-Action. Sometimes referred as Non-Resident Virus, they are unlike to resident virus, not loading in to RAM memory. They try to infect the programs and cause damage at the moment of execution of infected file. Most of viruses are Resident. Overwriting Virus. Most destructible type of virus, it overwrites the information in the infected files corrupting them permanently. If you dont have the back-up copy of your files its a bad news because the only way to get rid of this type of virus is to delete infected files. Boot Virus. Also known as System Virus. These viruses infect critical section with boot code on hard disk or another bootable media storage that helps to start computer. When the computer starts up and the boot virus is launched, it can take complete control over infected computer and does everything it wants (steal private information, delete system files etc.) Clean bootable antivirus software required to disinfect the system. However depend on the virus this solution is not enough to clean bootable sector. Macro Virus. Macros are micro-programs associated with a file that serve to automate joint complexes of operation. Macro virus expand from applications which use macro, word document (file with extension .doc),Excel (file with extension .xls) data of Access (file with extension .mdb), Power point (file with extension .pps). When we open a file containing a virus of this type of macros are automatically loaded causing the infection. Most applications that use macros have, but many macro viruses easily circumvent this protection. Multipartite Virus.Very advanced type of virus that can perform multiple infections combining different techniques. These viruses are considered very dangerous, for its ability to combine many techniques of infection and harmful effects of their actions. File Virus. Infect programs or executable files (files with extension .ex and .com) when run the infected program, the virus becomes active, producing different effects. The majority of exiting viruses are of this type. Logic Bombs.Neither virus is considered strictly as they do not reproduce. They are not separate programs, but hides in an unmarked segment within another program.They aim to destroy the data on a computer or cause other significant damage on it when certain conditions are met. While this does not happen, no one notices the presence of the logic bomb. Its action can be extremely destructive. Trojan Virus.Trojan arent considered virus, because they dont replicate themselves. Trojans are commonly hidden in the programs that appliers to be useful, but instead opens unauthorized access to users computer. Trojans also can be installed thorough web pages with executable content (ActiveX control), email attachements. The effects of the Trojan can be very dangerous, allowing remote control from other computer (downloading, uploading, modifying or deleting files), installing key loggers and other malware, connecting computer to botnet (sending SPAM messages, perform network DDos attacks). How can computers become infected and what damage can cause? Viruses can infect computers through: Internet (email attachments, infected web pages, downloading infected files) Computer networks Removable Media Drives Virus Symptoms: The computer runs very slow Reduces the available memory The computer shuts down or freeze frequently There are programs which do not work or malfunction There is less free space on your hard disk Computer files disappear Strange messages appear on the screen. Some file are renamed or extended Conclusions and Recommendations Not everything that affects the normal functioning of a computer is a virus. Is very important to have means to detect and disinfect viruses use an antivirus program and update daily (use default settings). Scan all removable disks before use it and scan computer periodically at least once a week. 3.5 Firewall A firewall is a system that protects a computer or computer networks blocking unauthorized network access while permitting authorized communications. Firewall can be implemented in software, hardware or combination of both. Firewall is placed between protected and unprotected networks and acts as a gate to protect network or single computer, by inspecting network traffic, applying rules and allowing or denying connection. Firewall can use different techniques to do so: Packet filter (inspects every information packet passing through the network) Application gateway (applies rules to specific applications such as FTP, Telnet servers.) Circuit-level gateway(applies rules to TCP or UDP connections, when are made there is no further inspection.) Proxy Server (checks all network activity passing through network.) Conclusions and Recommendations Everyone should use a firewall against network intruders to protect computer and private information. Most of the antivirus programs and operating systems have integrated firewall software. Minor disadvantage of firewall, it can slow down Internet traffic and can be tricky for not advanced users to set-up it properly (not blocking traffic for useful programs). 3.6 Filtering Software The filtering software is designed to control what contents are allowed to be accessed on Internet. Often its installed on the computers of educational, government organizations, private companies. Filtering software is commonly used by parents to prevent their children from having access to certain web places unsuitable for minors. It also can be used as the mean of censorship in some countries. How does it work? Nowadays on the market there are many options of filtering software with various techniques and content filtering to prevent from harmful online material. The filtering programs works like that: Address blocking websites containing such content Controlling access times Accepting default address list Possible to establish your own list of addresses Assigning different profiles or different days and times(work, leisure, etc.) Controlling which services can be used at any time and for each user (mail, chat, etc.) Advantages and disadvantages of Filtering Software. Advantage of filtering software is that does not allow minor to access pages of violence, pornography, racism. In a work place it prevents employees of wasting their time and resources for personal proposes (chatting online, social network pages, etc.). Main disadvantage is over-zealous filtering. Par example, in some filters attempts to block the word sex would block words such as Essex and Sussex and etc. Internet censorship in some countries limits freedom of speech for different reasons and that is not a good thing. Some Filtering Software examples. Netnanny, Mobicop, DansGuard, CleanFeed,Web Sence 3.7 Encryption Its a method to convert the characters of a text that can not be understood unless it is read with the corresponding key. Used to protect the integrity of secret information if it is intercepted. Encryption is also used when data is sent via secure intranet (VSPN). Encryption is used for electronic commerce to protect credit card information. How does it work? The keys are the heart of the encryption. The keys are complex mathematical formulas (algorithms) used to encrypt and decrypt information. If someone encrypts a message, only one with the appropriate key can decrypt the message. Algorithms are used to perform a hash function. This process produces a unique MD5 for this message. The MD5 is encrypted with the senders private key resulting in a fingerprint. Conclusions and Recommendations Everyone who has and important or secret information (banks, hospitals, government, universities, e-commerce sites) they have to keep this information in secret from fraudsters. In recent years, it was few cases when portable computers of government organizations with secret information were lost or stolen. Laptops (portable computers) became more and more popular and most of us have some kind of personal information on our computers. So it is very important to have that information encrypted, in case of losing it. 3.8 Digital Signatures A set of data in electronic form attached to or associated with others which are used to identify the signatory, which allows you to check the provenance, authenticity and integrity of messages exchanged over the Internet. There are two types of electronic signatures: basic and advanced. The basic does not guarantee the identity of the signer, neither the veracity of information received since the sending does not ensure that the issuer has made it known to us, while the advanced signature identifies the signer and detect any subsequent change of data that could occur. The digital signature is a specific techology signature and created by the so-called System Asymmetric key cryptography and it works like that : The holder has two keys : public key and private key ,private key is only known to the issuer and is associated to the information you send .while the person who received only know their public key . Two keys are needed and complement each other to get the encrypted message appears as the original . When we want sent private information the information is encrypted by system which use mathematical operations so the information becames encripted ( strange numbers and letters) so the message only can be deciphered by the people who know the instruction and have a public key Conclusions and Recommendations It should be used by the organitations which have an important or secret information as banks, universities, hospitals, etc., these organitations should use digital signatures in order to avoid the risk of fraud .they have to be sure about the authenticy of the sender.