Executive Summary: Compensation and Benefits

Executive Summary: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the best practices followed by HRM and to acknowledge the importance of compensation and benefit strategies used in organizations all around the world. Compensation and Benefits are used by different organisations globally to attract, motivate and retain their employees. This paper contains a case studies, summary and analysis of academic journals and books to understand the latest trends in compensation and benefits field.The three primary components which are used in designing a strategic compensation plan are listed. During the course of the paper, it discusses how the compensation and benefit strategies can be tailor-made for the different generations joining the workforce, and how these strategies are used in the organisations. Further, this paper highlights four different case studies giving the reader insight on the different ways compensation and benefits schemes were used by organisations in different scenarios.In this present day circumstances, with employees having access to all kinds of information regarding salaries, wages and benefits of other companies it is extremely important for any organization to have a fair and an attractive compensation system in place. Introduction: Employees are the most valuable assets of any organization. The main purpose of human resource management (HRM) is to manage the development and performance of people employed in an organization.Some of the significant tasks of HRM comprise of attracting and retaining employees with the right skills and abilities, match people to the right positions within an organization and to align employee’s goals and objectives with that of the organizations. All these key tasks are directly or indirectly affected by compensation and benefits plan which the human resource management decides. Compensation and benefits redefines value and success in any workplace.An efficient compensation and benefits strategy is seen as an opportunity by organisations to differentiate themself from their competitors, who may otherwise take away talented workforce. Hence, organisations need to know the evolving needs of the working population to make sure they offer the most competitive package. This paper adopts a general approach which may be relevant to number of different organizations or industries and discusses how the new generation workforce is making an impact and forcing organizations to change their traditional compensation strategies.This paper also examines how companies located in different sectors and countries look at compensation and benefits aspect of human resource management, to attract and retain their highly qualified staff. Finally the paper summarizes and analyses few articles related to HR practices in compensation and benefits, and see if they fit into organizations seeking best practice. Compensation and benefit strategies for current generation workforce: Compensation is a major driver in t he success of any organization and it is also true that it is one of the highest expenses for an organization.Therefore, compensation is always under heavy scrutiny by the top executives of a company. Compensation is not only carefully analysed by the management, but also analysed by employees and prospective employees. If properly executed, effective compensation design can improve organizational effectiveness, support human capital requirements of the organization, and motivate the employees to achieve key corporate strategic and financial goals (Ellig, B. R. 2007). Effective compensation and benefits strategy is no easy task, especially with the large organizations and ever-changing demands of the workforce.To construct the most attractive compensation and benefits package, organizations must now tackle the fundamental landscape change in workforce requirements and demands. Employees born in the 60s and 70s (generation X) have ceded place to a new generation of workers (generatio n Y). A flexible approach to compensation and benefits is now required to satisfy the different priorities of these generations. ‘Planning for the future’ has long been the motto governing Generation X’s approach to their careers and so, traditionally, a generous pension provision compensation plan has been the key to attracting workers.But for Generation Y, priorities have changed. For instance, in a research conducted last year, just 4% of 16-24 year olds were attracted to their employer because of their pension contribution, compared to 17% of 45-54 year olds (HR magazine, March 2011). Certainly, younger workers are increasingly questioning the customs and traditions of the workplace and now those same pension plans which were previously considered as synonymous with security, are now regarded as unstable.In present day environment, employees have become much more educated on the possibilities available to them with sources like online salary calculators, indu stry chat rooms and so on (Schneider, B. , & Paul, K. B. 2011). Employees now know more about current market pay levels, new opportunities and how to successfully negotiate compensation packages. Keeping these changes in mind organizations include many other noncash components to the potential cash components to come up with a fair, competitive and an attractive compensation program (Schneider, B. & Paul, K. B. 2011). Employee benefits are indirect forms of compensation provided by the organizations to their workforce as part of an employment relationship. The competition for quality employees in today's market is tough and employers must do more than just offer a fair salary to compete for the best employees. Employees also look forward for a good benefits package; in fact employees have grown accustomed to generous benefits programs, and join an organization expecting them.Employee benefits exist in organizations all around the world and the levels and range of these benefits vary between countries. Some of the benefits companies offer can be like company accommodation, company provided vehicles, health insurance, retirement benefits, easy loans, travel benefits, workplace flexibility, work-time flexibility and so on. (SHRM, 2011) Compensation and Benefit strate gies used in organisations: As per Kevin O’Connell, there are three primary components in a strategic compensation plan. First, building a solid foundation for the plan to understand the business strategy is required.Where the company is now and where is it heading to in the future, what are its short term and long term goals. This will provide the necessary information needed to construct a solid framework for the design of a compensation plan. Second, understanding organizational capabilities and how the role of compensation plays a key role to achieve organizational goals is critical. This will provide an excellent understanding of what positions are the most critical to a company's future success and the various compensation options available to motivate employees to achieve this success.Third, aligning compensation with human capital management initiatives will help develop a plan that allows the company to successfully recruit and retain employees (O'Connell, K. 2007). We will see how different organizations have overcome significant business challenges by re-evaluating and strategically designing new compensation plans. By striking the right balance between organizational goals and employee needs, compensation plans can play a major strategic role in the success of a business. Jamba Juice case: Jamba juice was founded in 1990. It is a leader in blended-to-order fruit smoothies and fruit juices. Source: http://www. jambajuice. com/) Since its inception, it found employee retention as a major problem. It was located in San Francisco bay area and therefore the employees had more options with other employers situated there. A lot of these employers were technology bas ed and offered more generous financial benefits than the food retailer. To tackle this problem, Jamba Juice introduced a compensation plan, called ‘J. U. I. C. E plan’ which allows the general manager to receive a percentage of store’s cash flow depending on their business’s final performance. It allows manages a share in the profits over a period of three years.When the general managers increase the year-to-year sales, money accrues in a retention account, which is payable only in three year cycles. This retention account not only provides short term retention benefits, but also incentives to stay with Jamba. Also, executives at managerial positions are offered stock options. And, when assistant managers are promoted, their general managers also receive a cash award of $ 1000 for their development efforts. In a highly competitive industry Jamba was able to successfully reduce turnover. (Mello Jeffrey, 2011) The MAERSK way:MAERSK not only rewards absolute performance but also focuses significantly on performance relative to peers, says Alex Penvern, Global Head of Group Compensation, Rewards and Executive HR. This had not always been the case. Less than five years ago, rewards in the company were characterised by confidential bonuses, awarded with very little transparency. One of Penvern’s first challenges when he joined MAERSK in 2008 was to create a scalable, measurable and quantifiable compensation and benefits structure that was understandable and could, over time, be rolled out uniformly across the organisation (Source: http://www. aersk. com/Pages/default. aspx). He spoke to CEO’s of each business within the group and focused on the executive compensation structure that focussed on relative distribution. During these conversations, he discussed range of different performance criteria, happening in annual sessions which were a part of the performance management cycle. The outcome was a relative performance distribu tion of the company’s most successful and less effective performers. â€Å"The company believes that our people are motivated by this constant striving to do even better†, says Penvern. You can never rest on your laurels or spend too long patting yourself on the back, because you know how hard everyone else is running. We want people who thrive in this atmosphere†. This is brought in practice and reinforced by a carefully considered distribution of rewards to the highest performers. Since the introduction of the pay-for-performance scheme, fewer very high performers are securing a significantly larger share of the bonus on offer. The highest performers receive nearly double the bonus opportunity that they did few years back but to earn that bonus they need to keep up or stay ahead of their peers or market.While Penvern does underline the value the company creates by this performance culture, he believes that the transparency of its bonus system is just as importa nt. The lesson is clear. Company has to build employee engagement and drive performance both by having a clear and transparent compensation scheme that links pay and performance and by communicating this consistently in order to reinforce and reinstate the belief that pay and performance are linked (Bonic, Davies, Brood, etall, 2011) Design and Engineering group in Delaware:A small to medium design and engineering group in Delaware, employs engineers and designers, most of them who are in their 30’s. Most of the employees were the primary wage earners in their families and have several dependents. This company pays wages that are slightly lower than those of its competitors, but it offers a fully paid insurance program that includes health, pharmacy, dental and eye care coverage for employees and their dependents. By meeting the employees benefit needs the company enjoys very low employee turnover (McConnell, J. 2003 Pg. 235). Mississippi garment manufacturer:A garment manufa cturer in Mississippi pays on a piecework basis. Most piecework plans in garments factory in general must guarantee pay equal to at least the legal minimum wage. In this specific company, new employees receive an hourly wage until they have acquired the skills required to meet performance standards. Then the manufacturer pays them on the basis of the number of pieces they produce in an hour. The company has designed its compensation approach to retain good and productive employees i. e. those who are continuous good performers (McConnell, J. 2003 Pg. 232). Conclusion:Compensation whether i the form of salary or benefits is a key element in both attracting and retaining employees. With careful and logical thinking companies should design a program that will significantly contribute to obtaining and retaining the type of employers who perform best for that company. Compensation professionals play a critical role in enabling organizations to execute their business strategy. The example s in this paper demonstrate how organizations have overcome significant business challenges by redesigning their compensation plans as seen in Jamba and MAERSK.We also have seen how a small company like the garment manufacturer in Mississippi use compensation package to retain highly performing people and do away with low performing people. Some companies like the one in Delaware uses non monetary benefits to keep their workforce happy and content. Compensation and benefits have a negative effect on the company if not properly managed. Collapses of big companies like Enron and Global crossing are examples. These are direct results of managerial behaviour aimed at short term profit maximization.That behaviour is in turn a result of the executive pay structure that measure and reward performance based short-term financial results. Managers are under constant pressure to show the expected / desired results the management wants to see in order to continue to be rewarded generously (Stab ile, 2002). Compensation experts need to be at the focal point where strategy, organizational effectiveness and human capital management congregate. They need to have a clear understanding of the business and organizational issues as well as the future direction of the company.Strategic compensation and benefits design is not a sound bite to impress management. It's the process behind compensation plan design that links and binds strategy, organization effectiveness and human capital together. By balancing organizational, employee and business needs with a company's financial and strategic goals it is possible to develop the right compensation strategy to motivate, reward and sustain high levels of performance. By finding this balance, a company can effectively use compensation to execute and achieve desired business results. References: Bonic, Davies, Brood, etall, (2011). Mercer’s 2011 EMEA Compensation and Benefits Conference * Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends Report, 2012/2013. (cover story). (2013). Pension Benefits, 22(1), 1-2. * Ellig, B. R. (2007). Fashioning an Employee Benefits Philosophy Statement. Benefits ; Compensation Digest, 44(10), 44-48. * Employee Benefits in the United States–March 2012. (2012). Medical Benefits, 29(23), 4-5. * Heshizer, B. (1994). The Impact of Flexible Benefits Plans on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intentions.Benefits Quarterly, 10(4), 84-90. * Lazear, E. P. (1990). Pensions and deferred benefits as strategic compensation. Industrial Relations, 29(2), 263. * MELLO, J. A. (2011). COMPENSATION. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES  (3rd  ed. , pp. 481-515). * McConnell, J. (2003). The Tangible Rewards of Work: Pay and Benefits. Hunting Heads, 223. * O'Connell, K. (2007). The Importance of Strategically Designed Compensation Plans. Benefits & Compensation Digest, 44(9), 20-25. * Poster, C. , & Scannella, J. (2001). Total Rewards in an iDeal World. Benefits Quarterl y, 17(3), 23-28. Rhines, G. M. , & Douglass, W. (2012). Highly Compensated Executives. Journal of Accountancy, 214(4), 50-55. * Schneider, B. , & Paul, K. B. (2011). IN THE COMPANY WE TRUST. HR Magazine, 56(1), 40-43. * SHRM, (2011). 2011 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. EXAMINING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AMONG UNCERTAINITY. * Stabile, S. J. (2002). ENRON, GLOBAL CROSSING, AND BEYOND: IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKERS. St. John's Law Review, 76(4), 815. * Tobias, K. (1991). BENEFITS/COMPENSATION. Journal Of Accountancy, 172(4), 129-132. * Wojcik, J. (2009). Rising to the benefits challenge. Business Insurance, 43(43), 9-12.

Improve own performance in a business environment Essay

1.1 – The purpose and benefits of continuously improving performance at work is important to enhance your career, moving up the organization that you are working in or getting a new job with the new founded skills. Also means that you have great pride in your work and before more efficient. Once you have improved in one thing there will always be something else you can improve on. Having monthly or yearly reviews in your workspace allows you to note down what you are good at and what you need to work on, allowing you to set goals for you to work at. 1.2 – The purpose and benefits of encouraging and accepting feedback from others is important to improve oneself in your work. When you gain feedback from others it enables you to have an outlook on what you are doing correct and what you are doing wrong. If you just go by your own feedback you will never work to your best ability because you wont criticize yourself. Take notice of feedback in all its forms – put all feedback in a curiosity frame: ask yourself how you can use it to avoid failures, or to repeat successes. Feedback can be both formal and informal in nature. For example, formal feedback can be in a meeting and informal feedback can be between colleagues asking how you were or how you did the last assignment. Ignoring feedback means you will just continue to do the same thing in the same way without improving on the way you are doing it. 1.3 – Learning and development can improve your own work, benefit organizations and identify career options by succeeding in workplace training courses, college based courses, private training courses and on the job training, such as shadowing a colleague. These courses may ask for a fee but they are always worth doing. It allows you to learn new skills or try out skills that you have not yet used. Team building exercises are always good if you work alone because it puts you in a different environment, it tests you to see how you would cope. You will gain leadership from these experiences but will also learn how to follow someone other than yourself. This will not only improve your work life but will always show through your work. You will become independent but also know to ask for help or feedback on your work. 1.4 – Possible progression routes for your career would be either moving up in your career for example into management. Or it could be moving to another department you in your work space. This means that you will have to meet new people, use new skills and progress as you would when doing a course. Another progression route would be to change your career completely. You may be doing a job you like but there may always be something you would love to do. Searching on behalf of this dream, you can find courses to do, research how to do it, become an independent company. This will further your career and be useful for future job roles. 1.5 – Possible development opportunities are increasing the skills to do the job at hand or a future job that you are trying to get. Some of the ways to do this are shadowing a colleague, reading articles and journals. Taking notes on new things will help with this. Experience with a new skill, such as meeting new clients. This type of skill you can do at home in front of a mirror or just ask someone to help and let them be the client. The possibilities are endless but being prepared will always be the first thing to remember when you want to develop.

Benefits of Internet and Social Media to Students Essay

Internet and social media is student best friend. They provide needed materials within a short span of time. They allow interactions among student to be easy and convenient. Most of the times are when students get required information from the internet and this helps them in their studies. Since plagiarism is not allowed in their work, there is online plagiarism checker which verifies zero percentage plagiarism before the work is forwarded for marking. Internet benefits are more than its demerits, although parents and guardians are always opposed to the idea of their children being exposed to internet materials, it reaches a point where they cannot control it anymore. Being in college exposes one to various mediums of communication. One of them is the internet social media. It is efficient and reliable, onset of social groups such as Facebook and twitter helps students to interact with their fellow friends. see more:social topics for speech Education is also passed through these media; there has been a lot of idea exchange in the internet today. Almost everything can be confirmed in the internet regardless to its sensitivity and significance, plagiarism software are also available in the internet today. They help reduce cases of copying directly from the internet. Important education matters can also be passed from one student to another; this is usually very fast as compared to word of mouth or other written documents. Internet provides leisure activities to the students, they engage in games and other plays that help them relax their minds. This is one way of ensuring academic progress among student in universities and colleges. There is also online learning which have been adopted by many students and colleges, it’s a convenient way of studying and hence it has been embraced by many students with positive attitude. Despite internet being misused by few individuals, its benefits cannot be measured to any other data source. Its effective and reliable way of obtaining information.

Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Part 2 - Essay Example Initially after Lyndon was elected, he did not pay much attention to Vietnam but soon started claiming that they would fight communism in North Vietnam. He started sending in more and more troops to fight on air but soon sent even the marines to fight on the ground. From 1965, the marine troops were increased to around 200,000 and they continued to fight the North Vietnamese. The war escalated because the North was refusing to stop the fight against the South, which the American government was supporting. Therefore, more troops were needed to curb the north and destabilize them completely. Bush’s doctrine was on preventing war against those countries threatening America or who harm America. This happened after the September 11 attack by terrorists. This was different from the doctrines of Monroe, Roosevelt and Truman because their doctrines were based on threats and instilling fear but never action or a preventative

Business Etiquette and Elevator Pitch Activities Essay

Business Etiquette and Elevator Pitch Activities - Essay Example However, if the elevator pitch is a failure, the conversation will die just as the elevator ride stops. Successful business people are always prepared with their elevator pitch speech because they know that one missed shot will cost them quite a lot. (Mike Gunderloy, 2004). In the chosen airline industry, the concept of elevator pitch is very important. All employees of an airline serves as the company’s ambassadors because whatever they will communicate through their actions and words would actually help people create a positive or negative image of the airline in their minds (Chris Westfall, 2012). If a flight attendant does not treat a customer in a friendly and polite manner, it is likely that he will never travel with the same airline ever in his life and might also used the ‘word of mouth’ to discourage others. A flight attendant must always be prepared for an elevator pitch speech because every day or so he is interacting with people who are really interested in knowing about their experience, skills and association with the airline company. If a flight attendant is unable to communicate the elevator pitch speech to the other person, it is likely that his skills will be doubted because a flight attendant is assumed to be very confident, quick and rational. The elevator pitch speech of a flight attendant has to be very interesting, catchy and memorable. He first needs to identify his goal so that he knows where he is directing all his efforts. A very important step in the creation of an effective pitch is that you need to be aware of what you do, what kind of soft skills you possess and what you have learned from all the years you have served in the airline as a flight attendant. Once this step is accomplished, you need to select exactly what part of the identified information could be shared. This will help you define yourself in a

COPD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

COPD - Essay Example While a serious condition, it is a preventable and treatable condition. The disease progresses irreversibly, thus it is necessary to prevent and manage COPD. The patient in this case of COPD is Maggie, a previous smoker who was diagnosed with mild COPD. In order for Maggie to understand the causes and the management of COPD, she must be informed of the prevalence, risk factors, management and therapeutic option for the disease. The information she will gain will help her to prevent the chances of her disease progressing to a more severe stage, and will help her to understand why she has to take certain medications. Prevalence of COPD In 2000, 2.7 million deaths were attributed to COPD, with majority of the deaths occurring in the Western Pacific Region, China included. In developed and industrialized countries, COPD is to blame for 400,000 deaths (Lopez, et al., 2006). Moreover, in North America 3-4% of adults have COPD. It is estimated that 15-25% of persons forty years old and olde r have stage 1 mild COPD or airflow limitation. Since smoking was identified to be the biggest risk factor in COPD, the prevalence of COPD is much higher in smokers and ex-smokers in the 40 and above age group compared to younger individuals. COPD is also more prevalent in men than women (Lopez, et al., 2006), but this observation could be due to the higher number of male smokers. However, as the number of women smokers increase, so did the number of female deaths attributable to COPD (Ronnenberg, 2010). Risk factors for COPD Smoking cigarettes comprise the most important risk factor for COPD. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 80%-90% cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Frequent exposure to second-and smoke also increases the risk of having COPD. However, not all smokers will develop COPD, suggesting that environmental factors and genetic make-up contribute to its prevalence. As an example, COPD has been observed to be more common in whites despite the high number of smokers in the black population. It has also been shown that one type of emphysema is due to the deficiency of alpha-1-protease inhibitor (also known as alpha-1-antitrypsin, or AAT). This genetic defect affects approximately 70,000 Americans and accounts for 1%-3% of COPD cases (Sandford and Silverman, 2002). Another factor that can increase the risk for COPD is a history of childhood lung diseases, which can result in scarring of lungs and reduction of elasticity of the lungs. Exposure to gases, chemical and dust also increase the risk of COPD, and can lead to worsening of the condition, if an individual already has COPD (Ronnenberg, 2010). A study shows that exposure to wood smoke or charcoal smoke is highly related t the development of COPD. This is a common risk factor in developing countries and in Europe where wood or charcoal is used to fuel wood-based ovens (Orozco-Levi, et al., 2006). Stages of COPD severity The severity of COPD is classified by measuring the lung function level using spirometry. This is the process of measuring the breath of an individual. Among the Pulmonary Function Tests, spirometry is the most common. It measures the lung function by measuring the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Spirometry is helpful in the assessment of COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis (Barreiro and Perillo, 2004). After conducting the initial spirometric test, a bronchodilator is administered. After this, a new round of tests is

Oedipus Rex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Oedipus Rex - Essay Example However, since he was predestined, one can argue that it was meant to happen, thus he was never guilty. As in the play, we see that there is freewill. It could be noted that Oedipus could pass the fight off when he was hit by the chariot instead of killing the man (who happened to be his father) but there was still the factor of predestination. He was meant to kill the King and was meant to marry his mother. There are options in which he can actually escape his fate but can’t because, you can’t escape fate. His sins two greatest sins are killing his father and marrying his mother. In present times, that is called parricide and incest. As far as we are concerned, he was provoked by the man in the chariot so that his actions can be named as defensive, even if he killed his father. The man also did not know that he hit his son and turned aggressive. So even if parricide was done, Oedipus is still innocent because it can be said that he is doing self defense. He is also inn ocent when he married his mother because he did not know that it was his mother! He was adopted and he did not know who his real parents were. If this were to happen these times, it would have to be socially sanctioned too, but not to the point where they would self-mutilate themselves (Oedipus blinding himself) or commit suicide because of humiliation.

Mental health schizophrenia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mental health schizophrenia - Essay Example These patients are usually confused about their medications, their discharge and their rights under the Act. The Act makes it mandatory for a patient to take his or her medication. But according to the Act the patient also has a right to know the type of medication he is on. If a patient is capable of making a sound decision and poses no threat to himself or the people around him, under the influence of a drug or medication, then that person cannot be detained as an involuntary patient. However, in most cases the patient is unaware of this fact and is forced to move into an institution. Hospitals and mental institutions are required to provide an interpreter to foreign patients who have trouble understanding English, so that when the patient’s rights are read to him he understands them properly. Most institutions are not equipped with such facilities and are the least bit bothered with what the patient understands (McCullough, 1992). Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental con dition where the patient is unaware of his environment and has trouble differentiating reality from fiction. The patient also suffers from lack of appropriate emotional response. Schizophrenic patients usually have to be taken care of by someone else as they are unable to perform event the simplest of tasks. Hallucinations and losing touch with reality is one of the major symptoms of schizophrenia. Loss of speech and poor hygiene are also common in schizophrenic patients. In some extreme cases the patient loses his ability to speak and makes no interaction with anyone. Schizophrenia usually strikes a person either in their early childhood or in their early adulthood, when the person is in his late teens or early twenties. Nurse management of schizophrenia A nurse has the ability to asses a mental patient. An interview with the patient shows the nurse all the symptoms the patient possesses. No emotions and inability to conversate properly are the first signs a nurse should look for i n a schizophrenic patient. Isolation and history of attempted suicide or violence lead to the conclusion that the patient might be a danger to himself and others. The nurse should see how much knowledge does a family has regarding schizophrenia, and if they have the ability to emotionally and physically support the patient. A recent survey showed that the trend for hiring nurses to take care of schizophrenic patients is rising. The author also believes that proper education, treatment and proper coping could help reduce the burden of the care provider. Mental health nurses also help the family to learn to live with the patient through family behavioral programs that in the end would contribute positively to the health of the patient. Moreover, the study suggests that for learning the true impact that nurses can have on patients more research must be put into this topic (Macleod et al., 2008). Treatments for the two patients For anxiety disorder the common medications are beta blocke rs, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. The beta blockers are used to help patients control any involuntary movement that may occur. Antidepressants would help the patient cope with the depression that she feels. The antidepressants would put her mind in a state of calmness and counterbalance the effects of

Nursing Care of People with Substance Related Disorder and Dual Case Study

Nursing Care of People with Substance Related Disorder and Dual Diagnosis - Case Study Example Initially he liked drinking with his friends but over past few years, his drinking has become quite escalated to the extent he is alcohol dependent in order to cope with daily cores. His convulsive consumption of alcohol is very pronounced, since he says that normally he takes a couple of beers in the morning and ends in the evening by consuming two or three bottles of wine and some mixers. Joe also appears to be very depressed and hopeless as he explained that he was feeling very low and regrets about having lost the only things that matters to him. Looking at his medical history, he appears to have lost considerable weight, which he explains by saying that he does not like eating, and he lacks appetite most of times due to nausea. It appears that Joe is in need of nursing care of people with substance related disorder and dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis refers to the comorbid condition of a person who is suffering from a substance abuse problem and mental illness (Elder, Evans & Niz ette, 2009). High-risk alcohol consumption is not a problem that affects Joe alone, but it is prevalent in Australia, with about 3200 people dying as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and around 81000 people being hospitalized annually (Australian Government, 2011). Moreover, the Australian community incurred approximately $15.3 billion in 2004/05 from alcohol-related social problems (Australian House of Representatives, 2010). Assessment: Biopsychosocial assessment It involves interview or interviews combined with physical and psychological examinations that are aimed at gathering all the information related to physical, psychological, and social issues that may be affecting problems such as addiction, emotional and personality difficulties (Myers & Salt, 2007). Joe, in his late 20s, appeared to have all signs of a late stage alcoholic developing into alcohol withdrawal. He looked sweaty, eyes dilated and his hands were trembling badly. His blood/alcohol level was at that m oment low. His nose and cheeks were red with tiny spider veins and when asked to extend his hands out in front, they were very tremulous. He looked more of a featherweight person with a distended abdomen. He scored high on the CAGE assessment test and did not have other drug substances in his system. Mental health status assessment Mental health assessment helps a healthcare practitioner to get the overall picture of how well a patient feels emotionally and their ability to think, reason, and remember (Fabricius, Langa & Wilson, 2008). He appears to have a memory lapse, as he cannot remember people close to him - he kept confusing their names. His thinking was relatively slow, and the speech was somehow slurred. It was apparent that he had lost control of his drinking and now his drinking has escalated. He was confused and depressed by his situation. The divorce and custody of his child appear to have added hopelessness and misery to his predicament. For most of the time, he was fee ling guilty and worthless for losing interest in things that were important in his life. His sleeping habit is quite troubled since he has to take alcohol in order to sleep. Substance use history Substance use history helps a doctor to assess dual diagnosis patient history of how they have been abusing substances, for what given timeframe and

Blade runner film analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Blade runner film analysis - Essay Example This complicated multilayer story about life and death failed at the box office and was ridiculed by the critics. The so-called â€Å"critics† sarcastically mocked the film calling it Blade Crawler for its languid and sluggish narrative. They stated that the film is interesting only visually but the plot development leaves much to be desired (the film advertising positioned it primarily as an action thriller). The film is neither an action nor a thriller even. It’s rather a complex futuristic drama noir in style of the dark, black and white 40s, with the powerful semantic overtones. The theme of artificial intelligence, which was used in the film, is fruitful and relevant to the present day. Philip Dick and Ridley Scott tried to figure out when a robot is no longer just a heartless machine, work tool and becomes a personality with senses and feelings. They make us imagine, trough Roy’s horror and despair, what a man can feel suddenly realizing that he is not a ma n and that he is destined to live some few years and disappear for good. This is not the film when you cross your fingers so that humans can win. Having taken up the creative functions of God, people appeared to be unable to be Him to the end and turned into ordinary executioners. This paper will examine the theme of life and death in Blade Runner, its symbolism, the conflict of humans and machines, the only crime of which is the desire to live. Well, it’s 2019. The world has survived the war, decline, extinction of animals; having overcome all the difficulties it reaches the peak of development: journeys to the stars, colonization of alien worlds, high-tech. People became God-like: with the miracle of genetic engineering they create AI - Nexus-6 replicants, whose potential surpasses human both intellectually and physically. But despite the obvious superiority they have the status of slaves – they are miners, prostitutes, members of dangerous expeditions. The theme of the film is in many ways similar to the theme raised by another immortal work - Frankenstein. That is the idea that a man is responsible for his creation and a creation often turns out to be no worse than a man. Prudent people have limited the life cycle of replicants to 4 years only. It’s kind of okay, but it turns out that replicants can think, love, feel. And of course, as common people, replicants absolutely do not want to die. The theme of life and death is the key theme of the film. If replicants have souls, do they deserve death? What is the meaning of life? Ridley Scott’s brother died of cancer shortly before Ridley started filming Blade Runner. Doubtless, it profoundly shocked the director and became one of the reasons why Blade Runner is so soulful and sad. The film is full of philosophical and biblical allusions. So, Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) is positioned as a new Christ. He kisses Tyrell, his â€Å"creator†, and then brutally kills him, referring us to the kiss of Judas (it is noteworthy that Tyrell, like Victor Frankenstein, dies at the hands of his own â€Å"monster†). And the scene where Roy pierces his hand with a nail just to keep life for a few minutes is a direct reference to the sufferings of Christ. So, Roy Batty is both Judas and the Lord. He is the overman obsessed with the search for life. At the end of the movie he is unwilling to kill Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), although he has

Terms Modernism and Postmodernism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Terms Modernism and Postmodernism - Essay Example The essay "Terms Modernism and Postmodernism" analyzes modernism and postmodernism and focuses on the theory of Post-Colonialism. There is not a single unanimously agreed definition of modernism and different scholars have defined it differently. Despite the absence of any agreed definition of modernism, all of the definitions of modernism talk about the changes in art, literature, business, and even in the daily lives of individuals because of the industrial revolution and formation of the industrial cities. In academic studies, modernism is a philosophical movement or is a particular perspective of looking at the universe and examining the activities of daily life. Modernism is the movement that shakes off all traditional things including religious belief from individuals’ lives and tries to make everything new. The movement encourages experimentation in every field and, therefore, new perspectives emerge. The effect of the modernism is conspicuous in art and literature as w ell. In literature, the writers reject the traditional method of writing smooth narrative fiction and â€Å"stream of consciousness† emerges as the replacement of the old narrative. The emergence of â€Å"abstract art† and â€Å"diversionist paintings† is the results of modernism. The philosophical movement of modernism starts in late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It is â€Å"a set of ideas†. Post-modernism is also a kind of philosophical movement at the development either scientifically or non- scientifically in every walk of life.

Age of Enlightenment and Candide Voltaire Candide Essay Example for Free

Age of Enlightenment and Candide Voltaire Candide Essay Candide is an outlandishly humorous, far-fetched tale by Voltaire satirizing the optimism espoused by the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment. It is the story An Analysis of Candide, and Voltaires Controversial Convictions voices. yahoo. com/an-analysis-candide-voltaires-controversial-695221. ht? Dec 13, 2007 One of Voltaires premier criticisms in Candide is quite in alignment with Enlightenment teachings: the belief that the church has become How did Voltaire ideas from Candide disagree with spirit of the answers. yahoo.com Society Culture †º Religion Spirituality? Oct 15, 2010 He angered the government but was in the spirit of the Enlightenment. Voltaire, who was an Enlightenment thinker, reflected his concern with the The Age of Enlightenment and Candide ? Aug 18, 2013 How does Voltaire use satire in Candide to teach about the Sep 12, 2012 In what ways does Voltaires Candide reflect Enlightenment values Sep 11, 2010 Candide and the Enlightenment? Jan 2, 2009 More results from answers. yahoo. com Voltaire and Candide University of Idaho www. webpages. uidaho. edu/engl_258/ /voltaire_and_candide. htm? Voltaire (1694-1778) and Candide (1759): Enlightenment Values and Print 258. Is this really The Best of All Possible Worlds Pangloss and his Candide and the Enlightenment A New-Made World WordPress mbroek. wordpress. com/2012/09/21/candide-and-the-enlightenment/? A description for this result is not available because of this sites robots. txt – learn more. Essay on The Enlightenment in Voltaires Candide www. directessays. com/viewpaper/251. html?

QAs on organisational culture and change

QAs on organisational culture and change Enriching Jobs at Standard Decoy – Questions and Answers How did the â€Å"odd Ducks† program enrich the jobs at standard Decoy? The â€Å"Standard Decoy† company in Witchell was famous for making traditional wooden hunting trap since 1927. After taking the charge of his inherited business, Stewart Alcorn, grandson of Cyrus Witchell, wanted to increase the productivity of individual worker which was staying in a monotonous position for ten years. He noticed that most of his employees worked casually with no improvement and they do not feel any enjoyment and enthusiasm in their work. After surveying the whole situation at the company, he started the job rotation technique and appointed some highly eligible workers to guide and help the co –workers for better improvement and to bring a little bit enthusiasm in their work. But, when all are in vain, he eventually noticed that one of the rough cutter whittling some blocks of wood with an ordinary knife in an incorrect process and it looked surprisingly like a duck in an odd way and the paint that he made make it even odder. When the handmade ducks na med as â€Å"Odd Ducks† was prepared for selling, the customers were gladly accepted the odd ducks as fine tuning product of handmade. This program gradually increased the net production and the workers made it even better by applying the company’s tools and materials and thus enriched the jobs at Standard Decoy. What motivated workers to participate in making the odd Ducks? The process of hand making odd ducks was more simpler than before and it was made at any spare time and the cost of production is very low and time saving and also, the workers also got the opportunity to show their skills in making the crafts and brought them home to display on their mantels in spite of the precise amount of income. Managing Stress and Work Life Balance – Questions and Answers What signs of stress was Larry Field exhibiting? The reflection of signs of stress was began to exhibit on Larry Field when he was plan to marry Alice Shiflette, class valedictorian with over confidence of his low paid job as survey crew under a local surveyor, William Loude. But, a year later when their first child was born, Larry was afraid of how to care the baby as Alice was also doing a full time day job as a secretary in a local company and moreover, he himself wasn’t making much money. To reduce his mental stress, he enjoyed playing basketball and spending some times on the softball field with his high school buddies. But, that was not good enough to reduce his stress and that’s why he asked Mr. Loude for promotion and eventually he got the offer and after two months, he was given the post of the crew chief more surprisingly with a jump in salary. But, it was also scared him as he was neither ambitious or curious nor good enough to run the instruments he handled and every morning when he woke up, it made him te rrified. Every night, he was spent with a night mare of insecurity that he was appointed a job which was not suitable for his basic knowledge and moreover, highly educated crew members were appointed as juniors under him. All the time he was so tensed and scared that he was frequently stumble his own words and turned his face red while he was stammering. His co-workers were offended with him as he was addicted to smoking and motivated them to do this. The situation also became tensed at home as Alice have to give up her full time job with a night job to take care the baby and he realised that he had to spend his day at drinking, worrying about the next day and look after his baby at night. How was Larry Field trying to cope with his stress? Larry Field was trying to cope with his stress by playing basketball and spending some times on the softball field with his high school buddies. He was also enjoyed smoking to reduce his work stress. He should overcome his unhealthy situation by searching a job that was suitable for him in all respect rather than engaging himself in stress of addiction and also a consultation with his wife might be lead to a better life. Organizational Culture: How would you describe the organization culture at Plant World? Definition of organization culture is imparting of the flavour of the concepts. The characteristics of organization are to focus on ideology norms, and customs, share values. It is a kind of pattern of basic assumption that discovered or rather developed by group. A winning plant culture is simple and introduces following three areas: Serve the customer Grow the business Develop employees How large can such a company get before it needs to change its culture and structure? By proper leadership and to maintain some following steps can increase plan culture: Three to four guiding principles defines the position of an employee: Sr. Leader has a capability to define in simple terms about the organization. For example a company have a culture marked by mistrust and destructive internal competition but after coming new leadership will change their work culture in Plant to build up a personal relationship and to think about the customer, about their organization etc. Use principle to guide each and every business discussion and discussion going forward: After implement the new guiding principle use those to all business discussion and decision. By build up the principle to all the employees, will grow the employee’s performance and management system: Leader must be aware of that his people and performance management system measured and reward behaviour consistence with guiding principle. Leadership action is a key to improve work culture of a plant. To create a 2-3 leadership development experience which will reinforce behaviours and values consistent with principle and insist all leader to attend : Leader always have a capability to convert the principle into action which only can reinforce to change behaviour other also. Stay the course with patience: If a leader always do lecture in classroom or any meeting that will not help in practical field to change behaviour of employees or others. A proper leader must have capability to convert his word into work. If attendance saw the leadership principles and values that were discussed in classroom or else being lived out in a daily basis in the field will impact their behaviour and improve the cultural side in a plant. Organizational Change and Development Is organizational development appropriate in this situation? Why or why not? Organizational development in the mentioned case is visible in the endeavor of the introduction of the computer in the working pattern or the system of the project that would not only ensure more systematic way of operations but also at the same time the time of the employees will also be more effectively used. However this development could have been more all rounded had the employees been communicated more elaborately regarding the positive effects of the introduction of the computer system. What kind of resistance to change have the employees of the project displayed? The employees of the project had shown considerable amount of negative reaction to the introduction of the computer system. The excerpt clearly reveals the resistance of the employees towards the introduction of the computer. The employees who have been till then acquainted with a working style that was more manual in nature which covered jobs such as mailing, addressing envelopes or work that required typing found it to be rather uncomfortable in getting acclimatized to the use of the computer system in doing in their daily responsibilities. The employees hence were of the opinion that the sue of the computer might could lead to many confusions in their work and many mistakes could be committed in their daily work output if they opted for the use of the computer for their daily work functions. What can Martin Welk do to overcome this resistance? The only way that Welsh can actually overcome the resistance is by training the employees of the project in the use of the computer. Once the employees starts getting a hands on training in the use of the machine that they will be able to resolve all the problems that they had thought would appear in their process of getting converted to the sue of the computer in their daily jobs. Once again, only by using the machine in their day to day work functions that will the employees be able to fully realize the efficiency that could be brought into their working style by the use of the computer.

Child Abuse: Social Problem Definition and Analysis Essay -- Child Abus

Social Problem Definition and Analysis INTRO: Child abuse and neglect are a serious problem in the United States. Every day, many children’s well-being and safety are harmed by the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect that their parents and caregivers inflict upon them. DEFINITION: There have been and currently are numerous definitions of what constitutes child abuse and neglect and they vary across time and space. Up until the 1880’s, children were the property of their families and, as such, it was only up to the families to decide how to care for them and whether they would live or die. Today, although it is recognized that parents and caregivers have the right to raise their children according to their own views and beliefs, when those views and beliefs come in conflict with the protection of children from harm or access to basic needs, society has the right to intervene for the welfare of the minors. In the United States, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) provides the most basic and universal definition of child abuse and neglect. Under this definition, abuse is â€Å"any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation† and neglect is â€Å"an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk or serious harm†. Under this definition, a child is anyone under eighteen years old who is not emancipated. Although there is a main federal definition of child abuse and neglect, other more in-depth definitions exist within states that, while having variation within them, also share some commonalities. Within these commonalities, child abuse and maltreatment is separated into 4 categories: physic... ...Child Abuse and Neglect. (2008, April). . Child Welfare Information Gateway. National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp. (n.d.). Web. 21 March 2015. http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics National Network to End Domestic Violence | Family Violence Prevention & Services Act. (n.d.). Web. 18 March 2015. http://www.nnedv.org/policy/issues/fvpsa.html PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: POLICY DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. (2001). . Washington, DC: U.S. Government. PROTECTING CHILDREN, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES: REAUTHORIZING CAPTA. (2008). . Washington, DC: U.S. Government. Summary of Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (CAPTA Reauthorization). (n.d.). Web. 12 March 2015. http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/issues/letters/070103_abuse.asp The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. (2003, June 25). . Children's Bureau.

Nicotine and its Effects on Weight :: Research Papers

Nicotine and its Effects on Weight Introduction Bad breath, yellow teeth, a chronic cough†¦these are some of the disgusting results of smoking cigarettes. Why do people continue to smoke when the effects are so harmful? The typical response from smokers to this question is that they smoke in order to relax and help relieve stress. Unfortunately, the quick fix happens to be an addictive narcotic. Smoking feeds the addiction, but it also feeds the body with about 40 cancer-causing chemicals as well as almost 4,000 other chemicals (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/w8quit-smoke/index.htm). Besides the visible physical effects, smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other lung diseases (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/w8quit-smoke/index.htm). With the first issuance of health warnings on cigarette packages being more than thirty years ago, logically the number of American smokers should have drastically decreased by now. However, polls show that 32 million Americans continue to smoke according to the American Dietetic Association website (http://www.eatright.org/erm/erm011200.html). Those who continue to smoke, despite the health risks, have decided to take chances with their long-term health rather than sacrifice the immediate benefits of a cigarette. Many current smokers say they are afraid to quit their destructive habit for fear of weight gain associated with the cessation of smoking. The added weight, however, poses a much lower health risk than the continuation of smoking. In order to reach equal health risks of smoking just one pack of cigarettes a day, someone would have to be about 125 pounds overweight (http://www.quitsmoking.com/books/nonag/weightgain.htm). Negative Effects on Women Furthermore, the negative effects smoking has on women are especially grim. A site devoted to women and smoking disclose that in the year 2000, women and young girl smokers will have a higher morbidity and mortality rate than that of men. Women smokers have a smaller lung capacity than men, which makes females more vulnerable to the chemicals in cigarette smoke. Also, women smokers have a four times greater chance of developing cervical cancer than non-smokers. Another frightening statistic mentioned in the article says that women who smoked 40 or more cigarettes a day showed a 74% higher risk of developing fatal breast cancer than non-smoking women. Additionally, a woman who smokes has a six-times greater risk of heart attack than men who smoke.

Essay --

Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in his home in Kentucky. He was given the same name as his grandfather and he did not have a middle name. Abraham's parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. He had two other siblings. They were Sarah Grigsby and Thomas Jr, but Thomas Jr. died when he was just a baby. When Abraham was 8 his mother Nancy died of milk sickness at the age 34. His father then remarried to Sarah Bush Lincoln. She had already had 3 children. John, Matilda, and Elizabeth. Abraham really liked Sarah. Abraham's father Thomas was very against slavery. Abraham was very smart man but he was only schooled for about a total of 18 months all together. He was homeschooled by his stepmother Sarah. She taught him how to read and write. He would read when he was at home so that he could get out of doing labor with his father, even though he was very good at using an axe. He even helped his dad make log cabins. Abraham had many different jobs. He was a rail-splitter, a river boatman, and a village postmaster, but none of these jobs satisfied him. At one time he even opened a general store in Salem, but it failed. He even later became a successful lawyer. In 1832 Lincoln ran for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, but he lost. He won the election for State Office in 1934 and was in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834-1842. Abraham served for United States House of Representatives from 1847-1849. When his term was over he moved back to Springfield to practice law. He became a lawyer and a very good one at that. He was given the nickname "Honest Abe" because everyone respected him so much. He joined the Republican side since he was against slavery. Abraham wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. The first draft w... ...n. After it Robert, Thomas, and Mary moved to Chicago and he finished his law studies at the University of Chicago. On September 24, 1868, Robert Lincoln married Mary Eunice Harlan. They had two daughters and one son. Mary "Mamie" Lincoln was born October 15, 1869. Abraham Lincoln II was born August 14, 1873. His nickname was Jack. Jessie Harlan Lincoln was born November 6, 1875. Robert was very worried about his mother. He committed her to a psychiatric hospital in Batavia, Illinois in 1875. Mary didn't like this and wrote letters to numerous people trying to show that she shouldn't have to be hospitalized, but Robert stood by what he thought and even the director of Bellevue told the jury at Mary's trial that she would benefit from treatment. With Mary trying to escape from her sons decision her and Robert never fully reconciled and stayed distant from each other.

Cell Phones: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The prevalence of cell phones in American culture shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone. Cell phone use has risen In the united States from approximately 91,000 users 985 to In 2007 and n 2009 was somewhere In the neighborhood of 280,000,000, which means that approximately 90% of Americans own cell phones. And Americans arena the only ones. According to a February 2010 article on www. Cobwebs. Com, there are approximately 4. 6 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide and that number is expected to surpass five billion by the end of the year.I had to wonder, what are the advantages and disadvantages of 90% of Americans (New York Times, May 13, 2010) and nearly 85% of the world's population using cell phones? I figure there had to be quite a few advantages for so many people to have cell phones, so I asked around. The number one answer I found was the convenience. Peoples' ability to be reached at all times, able to reach others at all times, and how fast communication with others has become. Can't reach someone by phone? Send a text. Text messages are delivered almost Instantaneously and there's no need to eave a message and Walt for a call back anymore.Many others cited having a cell phone In case of emergency. According to Pew Internet, In 2006, 74% of cell phone users reported using their cell phones in emergency situations. While cell phone bills are usually not lower than landlines bills alone, the long distance cost is significantly less for cell phone users. Long distance costs are included in the overall minute usage for most cell phone subscriptions, whereas many landlines providers charge by the minute for long distance calls. As cell phone technology advances, so o the tools available to cell phone users.A growing number of users report using their phones for such things as listening to music, checking email, keeping their daily calendars, making grocery lists, and even keeping track of daily calorie intake. (New York Times, May 13, 2010). There are many organizational tools available on the new generation of â€Å"smart phones† as well as many different navigational tools. GAPS locators In phones are subscribed to by many parents of underage cell phone users. Cell phones can also be used as cameras and video recorders and those photos and ideas are easily emailed to others or uploaded to sites such as Twitter and Faceable.Entertainment is even making the list of advantages to having a cell phone these days. As I mentioned previously, users can listen to music on their cell phones, but it doesn't stop there. Technology has advanced so much that users can now watch television shows and movies on their phones. So it seems I was correct about how many advantages must be out there, but what about the downside? The very first thought I had was about the ban on cell phones in schools and what a huge disruption cell phones must be In the classroom. That issue Is Just part of the larger issue of the widespread distract ion cell phones cause.Everywhere you go you see cell phones In use – In the coffee shop, the movie theater, the grocery store, even church, and while driving. Going back to the cost of cell phones, while heavy long distance users may notice a relief in their long distance landlines. There are costs for air time usage, text message usage, broadband usage, music purchases, games purchases, and app purchases, not to mention the dreaded overage costs. Some cell phone companies charge as much as sixty cents per minute or every minute of air time over your allotted plan.Add that to long contracts and hefty fees for canceling contracts and cell phones become quite an expensive venture. The ever-increasing technology is adding to these costs as well. Newer, smarter phones released every few months are of course attractive to users, but on top of the cost of upgrading phones on a regular basis is the added cost of the service provider's data package. In order to utilize these newer sm art phones, the data package is a requirement and on average costs something like an additional $30 ere month. Aside from financial impact, what about health impact?There seems to be quite a bit of worry over the radio frequency radiation given off by cell phones and cell phone towers. There is much argument about whether or not this sort of radiation is of any real concern, but according to www. Contemporaries. Com, there are many very serious health concerns to think about. There are reports that cell phone use can cause disturbances in sleep and concentration, fatigue, and headache. According to a BBC News report (wry. News. BBC. Co. UK), â€Å"Cell phones image key brain cells and could trigger the early onset of Alchemist's disease †¦Researchers have found that radiation from cell phone handsets damages areas of the brain associated with learning, memory and movement. † Reports linking cell phones to sterility in men, eye tissue damage, and increased chances of depr ession and cancer have also been published. In researching the negative effects of cell phones, I happened across some even more sinister effects. Take â€Å"setting† – â€Å"the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photos, or images via cell phone, computer, or other chital device.These messages, photos, and images are then often being further disseminated through email and internet-based social networking websites well beyond their original intended recipients. † (wry. Mass. Gob) There have been hundreds of reported cases of setting – a handful of those cases involving suicide and/or sex offense criminal charges such as child pornography in the cases involving high school students. According to www. Masc.. Com, 39% of high schools students admit to sending these types of messages and 48% say they've received them.Another very dangerous habit Americans have developed is talking on their cell phone while driving. Muff have four times the risk of being in a crash if you're on the phone while driving. † (www. Unfathomable. Com) What's even scarier are the results of a Car and Driver Magazine study that found testing while driving is much worse than driving while intoxicated. The results of this study showed that unimpaired, it took the test driver . 54 seconds to brake when indicated to do so. Add four feet to that time for legally drunk drivers, thirty six feet for drivers reading email and events feet for drivers reading a text. Http://www. Zinc. Com/id/31 545004/site/ 14081 545). According too report by the National Safety Council, 28% of accidents involve talking or testing on cell phones. I couldn't help but notice that the risks seem to outweigh the benefits considerably, but I also admit that I'm still addicted to my cell phone. There has been their use elsewhere and I think there needs to be much more, although, I'm not certain how feasible that would be to accomplish. At any rate, we all make our own choices and we all need to make smarter choices about our cell phone use.

Request for Payment

Jan Nikolas Acounting department IKEA Edinburgh United Kingdom 18 March 2012 Juan Trujillo Manager Peter Darby London United Kingdom Dear Juan Trujillo, I am writing to you in the matter of the contract with your company named Peter Darby. I produced for your company three hundred office desks. I has passed two month since the delivery. This order was at very short notice, but we were able to react quickly and deliver .. goods in time. We have yet not receive the payment for this contract. In the terms and conditions of our sales agreement †¦ is clearly stated, that you have to sent .. payment within thirty days of receipt of invoice.Our company is known for their patience and good handling with customers. I have already sent you two reminders, first four weeks after overdue and another four weeks after that. Feel free to check enclosed invoice and copies of the previous reminders. Now the acount is more than eight weeks overdue and I  am asking you politely to set the things straight as fast as possible. I  have constantly waited for the payment and it has affected my work and future contracts with other customers. I  have to warn you that you have already been charged 3% a  month in adition to payment for the late remittance as is stated in our terms and conditions.If we do not close this deal until next month, an interest will be raised to 5% a  month and you will be charged extra fee in ammount of 10% of your debt. I  also intend to take more steps if you keep not responding to our cause but I  honestly hope that taking this deal in front of the court will not be necessary. I  believe this is a  big misunderstanding and we will close this deal in short time. I  thank you   for your cooperation regarding this matter. I  wish you well in your future and I  hope we can continue doing business together, that will be smooth once again. Yours sincerely Martin Zajicek Branch DirectorI am writing to you in the matter of the contract w ith your company named Peter Darby. I had produced for your company three hundred office desks. It has passed two months since the merchandize had been delivered. This order was at very short notice, but we were able to react quickly and deliver the goods in time. We have not received the payment for this contract yet. In the terms and conditions of our sales agreement, there is clearly stated, that you have to send the payment within thirty days of receipt of invoice. Our company is well-known for its patience and respectful handling with the customers.I have already sent you two reminders, first four weeks after the overdue and the other four weeks after that. Feel free to check enclosed invoice and copies of previous reminders. Now the acount is more than eight weeks overdue and I  am asking you politely to set the things straight as fast as possible. I  have constantly waited for the payment and it has disorganized my work and future contracts with other customers. I  have to warn you that you have already been charged 3% a  month in adition to payment for the late remittance as it is stated in our terms and conditions.If we do work this deal out until next month, an interest will be raised to 5% a  month and you will be charged extra fee in ammount of 10% of your debt. I  also intend to take more steps if you keep not responding to our cause but I  honestly hope that taking this deal to the court will not be necessary. I  believe this is a  big misunderstanding and we will deal with it in a short time. I  thank you   for your cooperation regarding this matter. I  wish you will do well in your future and I  hope we can continue doing business together, that will be smooth once again.

Educating Rita

New experiences often occur in the transition of coming ‘into the world’. People in society learn to experience growth and cope with change in the world and themselves. Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, demonstrates different pathways between the two protagonists, Frank and Rita and there coming ‘into the world’ journey. In the play Willy Russell uses visual techniques such as: positioning, colouring, facial expression, and symbols. The use of these techniques has allowed the composer to portray a better understanding of the play Educating Rita and how it represents the message of coming ‘into the world’. write an essay quickly One of the main themes in Educating Rita is change. Rita want’s to move into a different world from where she grew up in. At the beginning of the play the audience comes to understand Rita changes her name from Susanne to Rita. This is significant as it shows an indication that she wants to transform herself, leaving her past behind her. Frank however becomes uncomfortable with the idea of being the mechanism of Rita’s change. The theme change is represented in the positioning of the two protagonists as it signifies both Frank and Rita as ‘coming into the world. The positioning of the characters shows Frank standing over Rita, distinctively reflecting the authority of Frank as he is the professor and the enthusiasm of Rita, as she is getting an education she is finding herself â€Å"See I don’t wanna a baby yet. See, I wanna discover myself first†. (Act one Pg. 12) This shows Rita coming ‘into the world’ as her transition of becoming educated helps her discover herself. Frank however has many questions, â€Å"what can I teach you? † (Act one Pg. 3) This displays Frank without authority as he is asking Rita what she wants to learn, meaning that even though Frank is educated it does not mean he has all the answers. The colouring of the visual text also expose the theme of change reveals a sense of coming ‘into the world’ as it shows Rita wearing blue, a bright coloured shirt, which shows the passion for her education. This relates to her experiences ‘coming into the world’ as Rita has experienced life without an education and is now becoming educated through help and knowledge of her professor Frank, she has come to terms with changing the outside you also need to change the inside. But if you want to change y’ have to do it from the inside, don’t y’? Know, like I’m doin’†. (Act one Pg. 11 This shows Rita wanting to change. Frank however is wearing a formal suit, dark and professional colours which demonstrate to the audience that the image being portrayed is different to what his personality is. This is also showing that although Frank is dressed professionally he is still a drunk. Frank is teaching because he has to not because he wants to. This shows how his passion is not there. Frank does not experience a positive change throughout the play. He becomes less sober and more ‘pig headed’ â€Å" Rita: Do y’ need the money? Frank: I do as a matter of fact†. (Act one Pg. 4). Franks therefor is depicting that he is teaching Rita for the money, although Rita knows this she does not pay mind to it as she is getting an education she is happy. This shows both Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Another theme that is relevant and used throughout the play to demonstrate ‘into the world’ is Social change. Rita feels as though she is socially disadvantaged as she is not educated with her working class neighbourhood. Her whole ego for an education was when her husband Denny, wanted to have a baby and she was looking for â€Å"a better way of livin’ me life. The use of facial expression is used in the visual text to portray feeling and a sense of understanding. Rita looking up at Frank shows her wanting him to understand how much she wants an education. This shows Rita maturing as a working class citizen. † Rita: But I had a choice. I chose me. Because of what youâ €™d given me I had a choice†. ( Act two Pg. 72) This quote shows Rita’s transition of coming ‘into the world. Franks facial expression is less enthusiastic. It shows him holding a book, portraying that Frank wants Rita to learn herself, backing up the play when he says he does not want to be the mould to Rita’s change. Although Frank understands Rita wants an education he does not understand why she wants one now. â€Å"Frank: But I don’t know what I want to tell you, Rita, I don’t know what I want to teach you. What you already have is valuable. † (Scene 1 Pg. 48). This shows Frank’s confusion towards Rita. Choices and consequences is another theme used in the play Educating Rita to show the transition of Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Rita’s motivation is to achieve a direction in which she wants her life to follow. Rita’s main choice of an education is so she can make more informed choices. Frank is also having to make choices too. Rita decides for Frank that he is teaching her and that he is to return â€Å"next week†. Frank feels as though he has forced Rita into losing her touch with parts of herself which were unique and precious. Frank’s life is unsatisfying for him but unlike Rita he choses to do nothing about it. It is this choice he makes into him being sent to Australia at the end of the play. The use of symbols used in the visual text is used to demonstrate an understanding of the world around the two protagonists, Frank and Rita. The window is set behind the two characters but is significant as it is referred to a lot in the play. Rita always looking out of the window to the educated class of people sitting on the grass gives a certainty of her need to escape and to become educated. Frank however won’t give up drinking. He always has an alcoholic drink with him this shows he has a problem. Although Rita uses the window to escape, Frank uses it as a deception. He does not want to change he is satisfied with how he is. Frank does not accept change from choices that have been made. â€Å"Frank: No you’ve found a different song, that’s all- and on your lips it’s shrill and hollow and tuneless†. (Act two. Pg. 9) This quote showing the audience that Frank still has not changed from his morbid character at the beginning of the play till’ now. The visual text reveals Rita as an enthusiastic student who wants an education to change her life and her past choices. The text also reveals Frank of his consequences. Frank not being able to stay sober does not allow him to experience change throughout the transition of coming ‘into the world’, to his fullest potential. ‘Into the world’ discusses change and experiences throughout one’s life.. The play Educating Rita mostly supports this. Educating Rita New experiences often occur in the transition of coming ‘into the world’. People in society learn to experience growth and cope with change in the world and themselves. Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, demonstrates different pathways between the two protagonists, Frank and Rita and there coming ‘into the world’ journey. In the play Willy Russell uses visual techniques such as: positioning, colouring, facial expression, and symbols. The use of these techniques has allowed the composer to portray a better understanding of the play Educating Rita and how it represents the message of coming ‘into the world’. write an essay quickly One of the main themes in Educating Rita is change. Rita want’s to move into a different world from where she grew up in. At the beginning of the play the audience comes to understand Rita changes her name from Susanne to Rita. This is significant as it shows an indication that she wants to transform herself, leaving her past behind her. Frank however becomes uncomfortable with the idea of being the mechanism of Rita’s change. The theme change is represented in the positioning of the two protagonists as it signifies both Frank and Rita as ‘coming into the world. The positioning of the characters shows Frank standing over Rita, distinctively reflecting the authority of Frank as he is the professor and the enthusiasm of Rita, as she is getting an education she is finding herself â€Å"See I don’t wanna a baby yet. See, I wanna discover myself first†. (Act one Pg. 12) This shows Rita coming ‘into the world’ as her transition of becoming educated helps her discover herself. Frank however has many questions, â€Å"what can I teach you? † (Act one Pg. 3) This displays Frank without authority as he is asking Rita what she wants to learn, meaning that even though Frank is educated it does not mean he has all the answers. The colouring of the visual text also expose the theme of change reveals a sense of coming ‘into the world’ as it shows Rita wearing blue, a bright coloured shirt, which shows the passion for her education. This relates to her experiences ‘coming into the world’ as Rita has experienced life without an education and is now becoming educated through help and knowledge of her professor Frank, she has come to terms with changing the outside you also need to change the inside. But if you want to change y’ have to do it from the inside, don’t y’? Know, like I’m doin’†. (Act one Pg. 11 This shows Rita wanting to change. Frank however is wearing a formal suit, dark and professional colours which demonstrate to the audience that the image being portrayed is different to what his personality is. This is also showing that although Frank is dressed professionally he is still a drunk. Frank is teaching because he has to not because he wants to. This shows how his passion is not there. Frank does not experience a positive change throughout the play. He becomes less sober and more ‘pig headed’ â€Å" Rita: Do y’ need the money? Frank: I do as a matter of fact†. (Act one Pg. 4). Franks therefor is depicting that he is teaching Rita for the money, although Rita knows this she does not pay mind to it as she is getting an education she is happy. This shows both Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Another theme that is relevant and used throughout the play to demonstrate ‘into the world’ is Social change. Rita feels as though she is socially disadvantaged as she is not educated with her working class neighbourhood. Her whole ego for an education was when her husband Denny, wanted to have a baby and she was looking for â€Å"a better way of livin’ me life. The use of facial expression is used in the visual text to portray feeling and a sense of understanding. Rita looking up at Frank shows her wanting him to understand how much she wants an education. This shows Rita maturing as a working class citizen. † Rita: But I had a choice. I chose me. Because of what youâ €™d given me I had a choice†. ( Act two Pg. 72) This quote shows Rita’s transition of coming ‘into the world. Franks facial expression is less enthusiastic. It shows him holding a book, portraying that Frank wants Rita to learn herself, backing up the play when he says he does not want to be the mould to Rita’s change. Although Frank understands Rita wants an education he does not understand why she wants one now. â€Å"Frank: But I don’t know what I want to tell you, Rita, I don’t know what I want to teach you. What you already have is valuable. † (Scene 1 Pg. 48). This shows Frank’s confusion towards Rita. Choices and consequences is another theme used in the play Educating Rita to show the transition of Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Rita’s motivation is to achieve a direction in which she wants her life to follow. Rita’s main choice of an education is so she can make more informed choices. Frank is also having to make choices too. Rita decides for Frank that he is teaching her and that he is to return â€Å"next week†. Frank feels as though he has forced Rita into losing her touch with parts of herself which were unique and precious. Frank’s life is unsatisfying for him but unlike Rita he choses to do nothing about it. It is this choice he makes into him being sent to Australia at the end of the play. The use of symbols used in the visual text is used to demonstrate an understanding of the world around the two protagonists, Frank and Rita. The window is set behind the two characters but is significant as it is referred to a lot in the play. Rita always looking out of the window to the educated class of people sitting on the grass gives a certainty of her need to escape and to become educated. Frank however won’t give up drinking. He always has an alcoholic drink with him this shows he has a problem. Although Rita uses the window to escape, Frank uses it as a deception. He does not want to change he is satisfied with how he is. Frank does not accept change from choices that have been made. â€Å"Frank: No you’ve found a different song, that’s all- and on your lips it’s shrill and hollow and tuneless†. (Act two. Pg. 9) This quote showing the audience that Frank still has not changed from his morbid character at the beginning of the play till’ now. The visual text reveals Rita as an enthusiastic student who wants an education to change her life and her past choices. The text also reveals Frank of his consequences. Frank not being able to stay sober does not allow him to experience change throughout the transition of coming ‘into the world’, to his fullest potential. ‘Into the world’ discusses change and experiences throughout one’s life.. The play Educating Rita mostly supports this. Educating Rita New experiences often occur in the transition of coming ‘into the world’. People in society learn to experience growth and cope with change in the world and themselves. Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, demonstrates different pathways between the two protagonists, Frank and Rita and there coming ‘into the world’ journey. In the play Willy Russell uses visual techniques such as: positioning, colouring, facial expression, and symbols. The use of these techniques has allowed the composer to portray a better understanding of the play Educating Rita and how it represents the message of coming ‘into the world’. write an essay quickly One of the main themes in Educating Rita is change. Rita want’s to move into a different world from where she grew up in. At the beginning of the play the audience comes to understand Rita changes her name from Susanne to Rita. This is significant as it shows an indication that she wants to transform herself, leaving her past behind her. Frank however becomes uncomfortable with the idea of being the mechanism of Rita’s change. The theme change is represented in the positioning of the two protagonists as it signifies both Frank and Rita as ‘coming into the world. The positioning of the characters shows Frank standing over Rita, distinctively reflecting the authority of Frank as he is the professor and the enthusiasm of Rita, as she is getting an education she is finding herself â€Å"See I don’t wanna a baby yet. See, I wanna discover myself first†. (Act one Pg. 12) This shows Rita coming ‘into the world’ as her transition of becoming educated helps her discover herself. Frank however has many questions, â€Å"what can I teach you? † (Act one Pg. 3) This displays Frank without authority as he is asking Rita what she wants to learn, meaning that even though Frank is educated it does not mean he has all the answers. The colouring of the visual text also expose the theme of change reveals a sense of coming ‘into the world’ as it shows Rita wearing blue, a bright coloured shirt, which shows the passion for her education. This relates to her experiences ‘coming into the world’ as Rita has experienced life without an education and is now becoming educated through help and knowledge of her professor Frank, she has come to terms with changing the outside you also need to change the inside. But if you want to change y’ have to do it from the inside, don’t y’? Know, like I’m doin’†. (Act one Pg. 11 This shows Rita wanting to change. Frank however is wearing a formal suit, dark and professional colours which demonstrate to the audience that the image being portrayed is different to what his personality is. This is also showing that although Frank is dressed professionally he is still a drunk. Frank is teaching because he has to not because he wants to. This shows how his passion is not there. Frank does not experience a positive change throughout the play. He becomes less sober and more ‘pig headed’ â€Å" Rita: Do y’ need the money? Frank: I do as a matter of fact†. (Act one Pg. 4). Franks therefor is depicting that he is teaching Rita for the money, although Rita knows this she does not pay mind to it as she is getting an education she is happy. This shows both Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Another theme that is relevant and used throughout the play to demonstrate ‘into the world’ is Social change. Rita feels as though she is socially disadvantaged as she is not educated with her working class neighbourhood. Her whole ego for an education was when her husband Denny, wanted to have a baby and she was looking for â€Å"a better way of livin’ me life. The use of facial expression is used in the visual text to portray feeling and a sense of understanding. Rita looking up at Frank shows her wanting him to understand how much she wants an education. This shows Rita maturing as a working class citizen. † Rita: But I had a choice. I chose me. Because of what youâ €™d given me I had a choice†. ( Act two Pg. 72) This quote shows Rita’s transition of coming ‘into the world. Franks facial expression is less enthusiastic. It shows him holding a book, portraying that Frank wants Rita to learn herself, backing up the play when he says he does not want to be the mould to Rita’s change. Although Frank understands Rita wants an education he does not understand why she wants one now. â€Å"Frank: But I don’t know what I want to tell you, Rita, I don’t know what I want to teach you. What you already have is valuable. † (Scene 1 Pg. 48). This shows Frank’s confusion towards Rita. Choices and consequences is another theme used in the play Educating Rita to show the transition of Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Rita’s motivation is to achieve a direction in which she wants her life to follow. Rita’s main choice of an education is so she can make more informed choices. Frank is also having to make choices too. Rita decides for Frank that he is teaching her and that he is to return â€Å"next week†. Frank feels as though he has forced Rita into losing her touch with parts of herself which were unique and precious. Frank’s life is unsatisfying for him but unlike Rita he choses to do nothing about it. It is this choice he makes into him being sent to Australia at the end of the play. The use of symbols used in the visual text is used to demonstrate an understanding of the world around the two protagonists, Frank and Rita. The window is set behind the two characters but is significant as it is referred to a lot in the play. Rita always looking out of the window to the educated class of people sitting on the grass gives a certainty of her need to escape and to become educated. Frank however won’t give up drinking. He always has an alcoholic drink with him this shows he has a problem. Although Rita uses the window to escape, Frank uses it as a deception. He does not want to change he is satisfied with how he is. Frank does not accept change from choices that have been made. â€Å"Frank: No you’ve found a different song, that’s all- and on your lips it’s shrill and hollow and tuneless†. (Act two. Pg. 9) This quote showing the audience that Frank still has not changed from his morbid character at the beginning of the play till’ now. The visual text reveals Rita as an enthusiastic student who wants an education to change her life and her past choices. The text also reveals Frank of his consequences. Frank not being able to stay sober does not allow him to experience change throughout the transition of coming ‘into the world’, to his fullest potential. ‘Into the world’ discusses change and experiences throughout one’s life.. The play Educating Rita mostly supports this.

Economics †Genetically Modified Food Essay

Introduction In this essay, arguments will be presented which agree and disagree with the question that ‘genetically modified crops are the only way to feed the world’. Genetically modified (GM) foods are made from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Examples of genetically modified organisms include animals, plants and bacteria. The genetic makeup of GMOs are further altered by making specific changes to their DNA and this is done by genetic engineering. Developing nations of India and Africa will be explored in their outlooks on the pros and cons of GM crops and will illustrate how this effects demand and supply. The conclusion will provide a statement which reflects the benefits of GM technology but how care must be taken to ensure the highest level of safety to human and environmental health. In support of genetically modified crops Support for the concept that GM crops are the only way to feed the world take this viewpoint for a number of reasons, one which includes that by increasing the production in supply, the demand for foods will be met by those who are currently experiencing food shortages. Food shortages are an ever increasing problem in third-world countries, including India and Africa. A major cause of food-shortages in these countries comes from there rapidly expanding populations. The increasing demand for food puts pressure to produce and provide more. For this reason, third-world countries face several agricultural challenges. Mangala Rai, Secretary of the Indian Department of Agricultural Research and Education, expressed that production food of from less land would be achieved only through the widespread use of GM crops. Mr Rai understands there is resistance to this concept however stresses that it will solve the desperate state India is in. (, September 2007). Although India is reported to be the second largest producer of wheat, in 2006 and 2007 they imported mass amounts of grain to meet the gap between supply and demand. India’s government took action and approved trials in GM cotton crops and this resulted in India surpassing the United States to become the second biggest producer of cotton in 2006 and 2007. (, February 2008). Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bonn in Germany reported results from farm trials conducted in India, that GM cotton crops dramatically increased yields and considerably reduced pesticide use compared with non-GM crops. ( February 2003). After experiencing great success with GM cotton, C. D Mayee, a senior scientist, and chairman for Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board said, ‘India’s first expected GM food crop is brinjal. Field trials of GM brinjal started in August 2007 and is expected to be commercialised by 2009’. ( February 2008). Similar challenges regarding GM crops were experienced with Africa, which we will illustrate next. In 2002 and 2003, many African countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were affected with a major food crisis. Unless food aid worth over US $507 million was distributed, it was estimated that 13 million people would suffer extreme starvation by the end of the year. There was initial concern from these countries to accept GM foods from the World Food Programme (WFP); however these countries (excluding Zambia who decided to its satisfaction that GM food aid was not necessary to meet the needs of Zambia’s population and secured non-GM from other sources) national governments elected to accept the GM grain, agreeing that the most important factor to prioritise was the need to alleviate hunger and this outweighed any other concerns. Clive James, chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, said, ‘India can become self sufficient in food production by use of biotechnology in food crops’. He went on to further say, ‘The biggest risk associated with this technology in India is not using it’. (, February 2008). In support of the distribution and production of GM crops throughout Africa is biotechnologist Dr. Wynand van der Walt ( February 2003). He said the GM function offers opportunities to ensure food security in Africa and that there is no evidence to suggest that it poses a negative threat to human health or the environment. Over 3 billion people on all continents consume foods from GM crops and no proven cases suggest their hazardousness. Dr. Wynand van der Walt (February 2003) stated the following: We have high food prices and high food insecurity. We cannot wait for long term policy discussions. The urgency is now and all of us have an obligation to go out and communicate and counter the misinformation we face every day about GM crops. Graph (a) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from GM crops: [pic] Foods from GM crops are less expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from GM crops is high (S). Against genetically modified crops Those against the argument that GM crops are the only way to feed the world debate this point of view for a multitude of reasons, some which include the potential negative human and environmental impact. Although certain governments from developing countries like India and Africa support and have agreed to accept foods from GM crops as a way to feed their rapidly growing population, passionate anti-GM activists from these same countries strongly oppose its application and have put pressure on political parties to ban GM technology. In 2006, a large informal network representing organisations and individuals from more than 15 states of India was formed called â€Å"Coalition for GM Free India† (. April 2008). Members of this coalition believe that farmers’ science and knowledge, especially with regard to ecological farming, is the only sustainable way forward for farming in India. Their aim is to raise awareness and educate the general public, the media and civil society groups of the destructiveness of GM crops. The Coalition organised a meeting in Hyderabad where over 250 people took part to protest against the use of GM in their food, including farmers and consumers who have directly suffered from the GM cotton crops including those who have experienced huge financial losses, allergies while working in GM cotton crop fields and others who have lost their livestock that grazed on GM cotton crops. There has been a huge outcry from the Indian people to their government to cease GM crop trials. In support of the ban against GM foods in India is leading scientist Dr P M Bhargava (, July 2008). He stated the following: The problem is that no one knows what effect these foods will have on us. In animals, we have a good idea about their possible ill-effects. In science, we collect evidence on the basis of which we make predictions. All our predictions so far are not in favour of GM foods unless they are tested extensively and exhaustively, which they are not today. Experts are crying themselves hoarse; it is for the Indian government to listen. If all our politicians and scientists were committed to their country, not a single GM product would have been permitted in India as of today. I would say that as of today we do not have reasonably conclusive evidence that GM foods are safe. We should therefore exercise the precautionary principle and ban their use unless incontrovertible evidence regarding their long-term safety is obtained, which would take 10 to 25 years. It is a pity that alternatives to GM crops such as integrated pest management and the use of bio-pesticides, which are cheaper and better, and organic agriculture, are being ignored by our government in spite of the enormous evidence in their favour. Objection of accepting GM crops was Zambia of Africa which we will point to next. National government officials (NGOs) of Zambia were sceptical in accepting the GM food-aid from the WFP in their time of famine. Though they did ultimately reject the GM food from WFP, they did not do so before carrying out a thorough investigation. An expert delegation was assigned to travel to the United States and the European Union where they met with the biotechnology industry, government food safety officials, academic scientists and NGOs with an interest in and expertise on GM food safety issues. From these meetings, it was determined that the risks related with the GM maize were greater than Zambia was comfortable with and declined the WFP food-aid. ( October 2004) Although the Zambian government were under enormous pressure to accept GM grain, their stance was supported by several Zambian and regional non-governmental organisations, including Consumers International (CI) and the Zambian Consumer Association (ZACA) which ignited a campaign to press for alternatives food supplies to be made available to the country. In its campaign, CI lobbied the WFP to explore alternatives for supplying Zambia with non-GM grain from countries where such grain was available. There is very little scientific information regarding the long term health risks derived from GM crops and for this reason, many opinions are formed on the ethical stance that GM food implies. Some of these include the dependence on industrialised nations by developing countries, tampering with nature by mixing genes among species, and labelling of GM crops are not mandatory in some countries, including the United States. With so much uncertainly associated to GM crops and with retrospective gained regarding the famine threat to Zambia in 2002 and 2003, CI provided some recommendations including (. October 2004): (i) That the WFP and the U. S. Agency for International Development should immediately stop exerting pressure on affected developing country governments and presenting these countries with a misleading scenario of ‘No Choice. ‘ (ii) That the WFP and all donors should provide real choices (i. e. , sources of non-GM food aid) to any country that rejects or restricts GM food aid. Failure to do so renders the WFP’s long-standing recognition of the â€Å"the right to choose† meaningless. The WFP has a duty to actively seek options for providing non-GM foods that are in fact available to countries that prefer the non-GM alternative. (iii) The WFP should put in place additional mechanisms that enable it to respond appropriately to situations where recipient countries impose restrictions on the acceptance of GM food aid. For example, the preferences of recipient countries should be ascertained in advance of a crisis, so that planning could emphasize making the supply of food sources with different characteristics (e.g. , GM/non-GM) roughly match the expected demand. (iv). Consumer organizations in developing countries should inform themselves on the scientific, economic, trade, ethical and other aspects of the debate over GM foods and crops, so that they may constructively engage with their governments when a national risk analysis on this issue is required. Graph (b) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from non-GM crops: [pic] Foods from non-GM crops are more expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from non-GM crops is low (S). Conclusion The production of food from GM crops certainly proven scientifically that it has the capability of solving many of the worlds food-shortage problems as was illustrated in our examples in the developing nations of India and Africa. However to depend on it as being the only way to feed the world would be hasty, especially as there is little data reporting of its long term affects on the human race and the environment. In saying that, to ignore proven potentially beneficial technology would be a careless. Whilst our advancement in technology is commendable, we must proceed with care to avoid unintentional impairment on human health or the environment. List of References Layton, A, Robinson, T & Tucker, IB 2009, Economics for today, 3rd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria. Environmental Graffiti, ‘GM Crops only way for India to feed itself, says Government’, May 2007, viewed 23 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, The Political Saga of GM Crops in India, 2008, viewed 25 September 2009. Genetically modified crops in India produced greater yields, reduced pesticide use, new study finds, February 2003, viewed 25 September 2009, . Human Genome Project Information, August 2006, viewed 19 September 2009, . International Food Policy Research Institute, Status of Genetically Modified: What is Being Grown and Where, May 2009, viewed 26 September 2009. May-June 2009, ‘Introduction food crisis in the Americas. (REPORT: FOOD CRISIS)’ NACLA Report on the Americas, vol. 42, no. 3, p. 15(1), viewed 18 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics, Gale Document Number: A199854228 Guterman, Lisa, 2000, ‘Scientists leave the lab to defend bioengineered food’ The Chronicle of Higher Education vol. 46, no. 32, p. A29(4), viewed 20 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics. Gale Document Number: A61878337 World Food Programme, 2009, viewed 25 September.