Communication between the superior and employees Assignment

Communication between the superior and employees - Assignment Example The superior-subordinate barrier can cause a poor communication in the organization resulting in inefficient production and ineffective performance. By resolving this dilemma, a smooth communication going to be created between superior and subordinates resulting in employee motivation and better performance. In this literature review, the superior-subordinate barrier is going to be discussed along with highlighting different studies from a number of scholars regarding the research topic.Superior-subordinate communication barrier, which is an important part of the relationship between both parties. The communication within the organization means the flow of information upward from employee or downward from the management and how easy is it to transform the information specifically from the subordinates to their superiors. Information could mean a suggestion from the employee, recommendation, complaining and engaging. Having looked at the literature of different studies, observed that many people prefer to maintain relationships rather than expression insensitive truth, described this phenomenon as the hierarchal mum effect, which is the reluctance of an individual to oppose his or her superior opinion for the purpose of maintaining the relationship between them.(Edmondson, 1999; Morrison & Milliken, 2000) suggested that by encouraging employees to speak up and raise improvements ideas it will lead to a successful implement change and a better organizational performance.

Existentialism - God Essay Example for Free

Existentialism God Essay What is the meaning of life. The meaning of our lives, the purpose, and the dreams both dashed and realized, and the expectations forced upon us by others. In other words how do you translate what life is? Translation means to explain in simple terms. What is it supposed to be about? There are different answers for different people at different times in their lives. A persons lifetime is filled with self-examination. Why am I here? What am I doing? Is this as good as it gets? You have a beginning. Youre in the middle, and your story hasnt ended yet. If one would recognize the greatest things we have in life, they would not be asking this question. These great things are faith, hope, and love. Faith is the one that can keep one from asking questions. If God wanted us to know something, then we would know it. In most religions, Christian ones in particular, the question of meaning in life is inextricably wrapped up in a relationship with God. Living in, for, with, and through him. Therefore, how one answers the meaning of life question bears directly the existence of God. Soren Kierkegaard said to be the father of existentialism maintains that there are three basic answers to the question of the meaning of life. He called these stages of life, because he believed that people progressed from one stage to the next. Whether or not that is true, there do seem to be at least three fundamental outlooks on life. One is a life devoted to pleasure. This value perspective can be shown by a person whose only concern is for what they are doing now. They would rather gain from pleasures in life without any regards to how they might affect their future. Another stage is those choosing ethical and moral paths. People who are honest and loyal demonstrate this in their everyday lives. Finally, there is a live religiously. This has been the popular way of life for many of us. It is going to church and practicing your faith Stace argues, the present age has begun to weaken faith in God. The concept of a supernatural person has begun to seem unlikely to many people. The Bible no longer seems as respected for many Catholics. While many people say they believe in God they are beginning question whether faith and God are the answer to the meaning of life. Most of us whether we choose to admit it or not show that material things are what we base our lives around. These ideas are at the heart of existentialism, which is a view of life that says that human beings are the creators of their own sense of meaning or purpose. The most famous existentialist, John Paul Sartre in his books and novels developed several themes that portray existentialism. The first is the notion that existence precedes essence. A legacy of traditional philosophy has been that we have a fixed human nature. Sartre challenged that we have no such set purpose or meaning. Our real meaning or who we are is a result of our decisions. We are what we decide. The second associated concept is the importance of human freedom. Sartre believed that every human being has the freedom to live life as we choose to. He believed that we are often terrified by our freedom, and in fact frequently do not want to take responsibility for our own actions. This attitude Sartre called bad faith. Bad faith is an act of self-deception in which we rationalize our actions as being caused by circumstances instead of being self-caused. Basically blaming others for our own deceptions and mistakes. The third major concept of existentialism is the idea of the Absurd. The philosopher Albert Camus popularized this concept. The concept of the absurd is promoted by atheistic existentialist, such as Sartre and Camus. The similarity between Christian and atheistic existentialist is the significance of human freedom and the belief that we are the makers of our own lives One of the most significant pieces of the decline of religious faith is the continuing awareness that there may not be any purpose in life. Both Albert Camus, and Stace, write from this perspective. They believed that traditional Christians have found security in the belief that their lives are invisibly directed or orchestrated by God. That we have assumed that God has a plan for our life, that things happen for a purpose. But as we experience, if we do, the decline of faith or the reality of God in our lives, we come to realize that perhaps we are more responsible than God is for what happens to us. We begin to realize or suspect that it is we, not God, who is the creator of our lives. We are responsible for who we become. Of course, there are always going to be those people who doubt everything God stands for. For them, the body dies and eternity is darkness, I suppose. The fight is going to be, perhaps even as it has been a battle between those who reject God and the, and those who know that God is real. The soul is ones conscience. Without the acknowledgement of that soul, there is no inner voice that helps guide him in the decisions that he makes. Yet, the soulless atheists still seek to discover the meaning of life, and this is where the battle is fought. They are simply stating that there is no meaning to their lives they have no soul, there can be no meaning. Theists realize life isnt fair. People arent created equal. Atheists believe that until all people actually are equal, life is meaningless, and this is the connection we have to make for them. People are not equal, people will never be equal, and if this equality is the requirement for accepting the meaning of life, then life will always be meaningless. If ambition brings about advantage, those advantages must be neutralized. This is the goal of the atheist. If there is nothing but darkness after life, the goal must be to create heaven on earth. Everyone has questioned their purpose in life for example in his article, My Confession, Leo Tolstoy has gone through his life without ever really questioning the meaning. Then he periodically questioned it until one day he eventually could not picture himself living anymore until he came up with an answer to his questionings. All the things he was thought to be living by no longer made any sense or had any meaning at all to him. He tried to answer his question many different ways, but whichever way he went he kept coming up with a dead end. He first thought the answer must be his family. Although he loved them very much, as humans they are confronted with the same questions he is. They are living this lie right along with him pretending that they have all the answers, or just simply ignoring the questions. He next thought the answer to be in his work. Eventually, coming to the realization that with all of his success in art and poetry he had become distracted. He was using art as a decoy. Without knowing his answers to the meaning of life, it was wrong and useless to depict these lies to others. He soon felt as if life had stopped, and was even contemplating suicide when he came to the realization that faith is present in each one of us and is what makes our lives meaningful. Everyone must believe they have a purpose here, for if they didnt they would not be living at all. For life to have true meaning, that meaning must come external to the individual and be somehow consistent with life as a whole. Christians would argue that only God could grant this. It is the helping hand, which guides us through life with an honest and loving heart. Jesus is the only man to lead a true, meaningful life. His life is really the only life of meaning and it is only through him that we have the opportunity to live meaningful lives. Without accepting this answer, one will have only difficulty for the rest of their lives, especially in answering the question of the meaning of life. If you accept this answer, however life is much simpler, because your search is over. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life? John 14:6. The way the truth and the meaning of life itself. There are scriptural accounts of people claiming to see God, and while a witness is more proof than no witness is, there is no way to scientifically verify these statements. They must be accepted purely on faith. Some say that the existence of humans or planetary balance is proof that God exists. These do not prove He exists. Christians believe God is in control of everything in the universe, and created the same. God created all beings, and every atom in this universe. We know God exists because He says He does. The bible is His word, left for us to read. Psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in Mans search for Meaning that we should not ask what we expect from life, but what life expects from us. He was making the point that people must deal with what daily tasks are put in front of them. Instead of arguing and complaining, we have to take action. Our strength is shown through the soul survival of the hardships we face. Which brings us to the problem philosopher John Hick was facing. In his article, The Problem of Evil he asks the question, if God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil. But evil exists; therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and perfectly loving. The very fact that there is such suffering gives good cause to doubt not only the value of the whole human race, but also the existence of God. A God that can be said to care in the slightest for whats been created, any God who has power over all things, who is anything other than a horrible monster who finds cruel unusual joy in squeezing every last drop of suffering out of them. It would rule out anything even vaguely resembling the God that Christians speak of. A God who deserves our utter hatred not our worship. However, Hick found that although harsh and painful, evil did have purpose in the world. He stated in his article, the finest characteristics of personal life must have a good deal in common with our present world. It must operate according to general and dependable laws: and it must involve real dangers, difficulties, problems, obstacles, and possibilities of pain, failure, sorrow, frustration, and defeat. Without these sufferings, we would not be able to know what happiness and love really was. Evil provides us with the possibility of soul making, and according to free will, we must choose our fate. The Laws of nature must be abided by without them the world could not exist. God may be creating the lesser of the evils. There must be suffering in order for God to give inner strength that compensates for loss, and gives the sufferer inspiration to live faithfully and effectively. What God provides are the resources so we can face the suffering and make something positive come from it. He gives the direction and power to make these resources work. He gives hope and wisdom to find the way past the suffering, and to learn from it. John Paul II gave us an outline of what is believed to be the salvific meaning of suffering. Suffering as he wrote in the Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, cannot be transformed and changed by a grace form outside, but from within? This question of human suffering is not answered directly by God. As man begins to share in the sufferings of Christ, the answer is discovered within in him. Suffering changes and can either increase or decrease, and in those moments Christians become aware of Gods closeness. We are given inner peace and spiritual joy when we suffer generously. When we are suffering we are never alone we are with Christ. With Christ everything has meaning whether its moments of happiness and peace or of pain and suffering. Nothing in life can be fully explained without God. . Look to the bible and Jesus gives us the answer. Love God with your whole heart, mind, body and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do this, you are following all the commandments. Humble yourself and give the praise and glory to our creator. God the Father our creator is love and he loves you very much. God created us to worship him and he deserves all the praise because he is the first and the last. He has no beginning and no end. Just look around and take in all the beauty he has created. Everyone is special and made in the image of God. We are nothing without our creator. Sin will keep us from God for he is pure and perfect. It is hard to let go of pleasure and putting ones self first. However, the key to peace and happiness is to surrender your freewill to God, the author of life, and he will give you complete, happiness, peace, contentment and purity you are looking for. That is what we were created for. God is made evident every day when the sun comes up, and there is still air to breathe, and you made it through the night. One cannot believe that everything we know was created by accident. Things are just too perfect to have happened by chance. Man is too corrupt a creature to have invented the beautiful things in the world, as in faith, hope and love. He allows evil in this world because He wants us to have the opportunity to choose either Him or evil, thereby proving our love for Him. If His were the only game in town, then there would not be a free will conscious choice for Him. It is evident that the meaning of life has to far to complex for any one to fully understand or agree on the same answer. All these ideas of these different philosophers are not necessarily inaccurate, just incomplete. All pieces to a puzzle that one has no way of fully figuring out. No one has seemed to accomplish this yet in life. There are so many obstacles that we face as we try to achieve a higher good. Many of these are based in the fact that we are human beings, and because of that are flawed by the ways of our culture. Things such as self-doubt, worry, ignorance, and the values put into our heads since the day we were born all are roadblocks on our way to a higher level. Also being human beings makes vulnerable to the ways of the world around us, so it is not easy to block these things out of our lives. This life is a stage in which we are to develop our minds, bodies, and souls to their highest potential in preparation for the afterlife. Only God could ever really show anyone true meaning.

What are the Benefits of Fair Trade?

What are the Benefits of Fair Trade? According to many authors, food is physiological basic needs of the human being (Blackwell et al, 2006). Nowadays, people are getting interested health, organic and wellbeing food but most people do not know where products come from and how they are made. Basically, fair trade aims is to improve the position of poor and disadvantaged food producers in the third World by helping them to become more advantageously involved in world trade (Jones et al, 2004). Also there are many fair trade retail products in many major supermarkets and independent shops most notably chocolates, fresh fruits, cottons, flowers, teas and coffees. Especially coffee is one of the representative fair trade products. Most coffee has been originated in Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Brazil and India but these centuries are economically poor. For example, if we buy 5pound coffee, coffee farmers get about 2%~5%. Even worse thing is that working condition of many coffee workers on these plantations brings their children to help them but these children and workers are not officially employed, therefore it is not subject to labour protections. Although our coffee consumption has been increasing day by day however the condition of the working environment of coffee farmer has been worse at the same time in the developing countries. The fact that Fair Trade coffee premiums only reach the farmers through cooperatives is an aspect that has not been explored yet, neither in study of co-operatives, nor in studies of Fair Trade (Anna, 2004) The primary intention of this study is to offer critical perspective on the real benefits of the fair trade coffee movement. This paper is to explore insight effective fair trade movement from different authors point of view. Thereafter, this paper will carry out discussions and disagreeing points address to author point of view. First, this study focuses on the impact on the fair trade products. Also, it finds out theories and analyses of the fair trade and fair trade coffee movement. Second, specific things could be divided from the question into four sections which are the social, culture, economic and environment affecting benefits. Moreover, there is fully understanding of what the observed evidence shows. Finally, conclusion with debate of benefits fair trade coffee movement will be discussed. Therefore, it provides the findings of this review of literature for future research and action. What is fair trade? Nicholls (2002) defined that the objective of fair trade is to maximize the return to the supplier rather than the margin of the buyer, within an agreed development structure. Similarly, Bird and Hughes, (2003) believed that fair trade is product specific and developmentally focused. From their point of view, fair trade related with ethical trade and consumption perhaps is the one that could consider as most benefits fair trade movement for food and beverage development. Past rational consumer defined that achieves a maximum of efficiency at a minimum of effort. These days, calling ethical consumption which is that consumers would focus on the satisfaction of products and information of the products is founded by themselves in a market is more important than the past when possession of products were spotlighted in accordance with low prices. This is another goal of achieving fair trade movement. If consumers understanding fair trade knows ethical consumption, it will influence on all food producers in third world as well as developing and achieving the Food and beverage industrys goals. The European Commission (1999) suggests that the objective of fair trade is to ensure that producers receive a price which reflects an adequate return on their input of skill, labour and resources, and a share of the total profit commensurate with their input. As well as all fair trade products are distributed by mainly NGO which is neither non-profit nor profit organization. Historically, fair trade origins in The Netherlands in the mid 1980s, involve the certification of products that are produced, according to what are deemed to be fair trade principles. But Price water house Coopers (2001) suggest that the free trade concept originated in the 1960s in Northern Europe, while Tallontire (2001) argues that fair trade emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. The driving force behind fair trade in the UK was the alternative trade/charity shop axis, perhaps best represented by Oxfam and a host of small, independent traders. (Alexander, 2002)[à ¬Ã‚ ¶Ã…“à ¬Ã‚ ²Ã‹Å"] [à ­Ã…  Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ ¬Ã‚ §Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ] à ­- ¥Ãƒ ªÃ‚ ¸Ã‚ °Ãƒ «Ã‚ ¡Ã…“à ¬Ã… ¡Ã‚ ´ à ­Ã‹Å" Ãƒ «Ã‚ ªÃ¢â‚¬ ¦, à ªÃ‚ ³Ã‚ µÃƒ ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ãƒ «Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ´Ãƒ ¬- ­Ãƒ ¬Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¤Ãƒ ­Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚ ¼_01 (à ­Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã…“à ªÃ‚ µÃ‚ ­Ãƒ ªÃ‚ ³Ã‚ µÃƒ ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ãƒ «Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ´Ãƒ ¬- ­Ãƒ ¬- °Ãƒ ­Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã‚ ©) |à ¬Ã… ¾Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ¬Ã… ¾Ã‚  ullimft The aim here is to provide access to traditional retail distribut ion chains in an attempt to facilitate greater consumer access to fair trade products. According to the fair-trade labeling organizations international (FLO) in 2008, fair trade certified products have been growing on an average of almost 40% per year in the last five years and sales amounted to approximately 2.9 billion euro worldwide (Reykia, 2009). From this result, we can find that fair trade movement has a positive impact to their organization system. A brief description of fair trade coffee. In most countries, coffee is accounts for the largest portion of fair trade items. This kind of coffee is sold in countries that are completely different from the origin where it was produced. A coffee bean is grown up in warm, tropical areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Brazil and India and the most of coffee is consumed in Europe and North America. This probably sounds like developing countries producing inexpensive raw materials that are manufactured and sold as finished goods in developed countries, and generally,  thats what happens with coffee. Large coffee companies buy coffee beans at a low price and produce cocoa and chocolate products to sell at a relatively high price. The price elasticity of demand is also low, with coffee demand dropping only when coffee prices increase significantly (Ponte 2001). This movement is thought to encourage consumers to pay close attention to not  only fair prices and quality of products but also the ethical purchase of bananas, chocolate, coffee, flowers, clothes, shoes, furniture, soccer balls, and so on. What is the motivation behind fair trade? It is suggested that the movement is aimed at deliberately paying a fair price to workers and farmers who produce the goods for both their work and time by means of paying a minimum price to producers regardless of the going price on the world be $1.21, in comparison to  the 70 cents per 500 gram it fetches on the world market. This would make it possible for marginalized producers and workers to move from a position of vulnerability to economic independence and self sufficiency. (FLO, 2002) A present study showed that todays coffee farmers receive around 6 per cent of the value of a pack of coffee sold in a store (Gresser and Tickel 2002). In response, groups of consumers in Europe and the United States developed fair trade organizations to guarantee that farmers of coffee, as well as cacao and tea, would receive fair and consistent prices for their crops. The benefits of fair trade coffee movement. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the international market for fair trade coffee. This has been driver buy a number of different benefits can be divide this into four section. The following discussion with obvious benefits, that accrues at the social influences, culture revival, economic and environmental conservation. Social influences According to Putnam (1995) social capital is a social organisation, such as trust, norms, and networks that improves the efficiency of society by facilitating co-ordinated action The results of fair trade movement are a better standard of living for some farmers and organic coffee made with organically produced coffee bean that consumers dont feel guilty about buying. This is the main benefit of social part. And although fair trade coffee is somewhat more expensive that other coffee and now makes up only 1 percent of coffee sold, the fair trade idea is spreading quickly. First, benefit to the individual producers. Most individual producers are small coffee famers. After started fair trade farms the famers make co-operated this is can get benefit for reduced market prices risk. Moreover the famers cooperative has a good internal financial management system. This mean is fair trade price that is directly goes to individual farmers. Also fair trade guaranteed minimum price and an additional premium. The additional premium is paid into a fund of bank for development project. Fair trade results in more stable incomes and is consequently one of the most important direct benefits that accrue to coffee producers (Raynolds, 2002; Murray et al, 2003) There is one interesting examples of individual famers benefits. Fair trade made to improving childrens education in Guatemala. Cooperative members are able to send their children in higher numbers and a number of associates have children studying at the University levelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Lyon, 2002:30). Secondly, benefit to communities. One of most visible community benefit has the social premium. The Fair Trade social premium has financed the cooperatives technical and other organizational support of coffee producers activities (Douglas et al, 2003). This is related premium fund which is then invested in building schools, clinics, community centres, funding scholarships, paying medical bills and providing low-interest loans. Moreover farmers are learning from each other, with a spread of organic practices to neighbours food production (Jaffee, 2007). Also famers can help and share market knowledge and technical information this is access and get better prices in the conventional market. This benefit developed small farms and furthermore developed countries as well. Finally, fair trade has organizational benefits. Benefits to individuals can flow from being part of a recognised organisation and this recognition can accrue with international support from Fair trade attracting other international agencies (NGOs and donors) (Nelson, Tallontire and Collinson, 2002). For example, fair trade organizations benefit farmers by buying coffee beans or other products from them directly at higher-than-market prices and eliminating middle men such as exporters. Also fair trade organizations encourage farming techniques that are not harmful to the environment or to farm workers, for example, growing coffee bean without chemical pesticides or fertilizers in the shade of rain forest trees. Culture The growth of ethical consumerism over the last 30 years provides the main driver behind the development of a fair trade market in the UK (Burke and Berry, 1974; Strong, 1997). Today, many consumers getting consider themselves ethical consumption this is important goal of fair trade movement. Fletcher (1990) suggested that there has been a move away from the self-focused consumer of the 1970s and acquisitive consumer of the 1980s towards a new focus on values. I think fair trade movement has also moved into the consumer awareness and understanding of fair trade. The other benefit is closer link between consumers and producer. The fair trade movement give to empowers consumers. As consumers, fair trade accreditation gives us the peace of mind of knowing that the producers in question got a fair deal (The five key benefits of Fair trade, 2009). Raising awareness of the fair trade products here is our primary concern since some consumers dont even know what fair trade is all about Economic Economic benefit is most important of fair trade movement because it is directly related to their life. Giovannucci and Koekoek (2003) said the coffee commodity market is driven exclusively by economic factors and, like all commodity markets, does not recognize, much less internalize into its prices, the very real environmental and social costs of production. The main positive impact of economic is guaranteed minimum price this is I can say stable prices. All famers want to increasing incomes it is one of fair trades main objective. Fair trade is reducing intermediaries and get closer between the farmers and the end consumer, farmers earn a larger share of the export price (The five key benefits of Fair trade, 2009). However, fair trade cannot remove risk for small producer. Accordin to Jaffee (2007), while noting that Fair trade farmers are still affected by market fluctuations, also finds positive economic benefits accruing to participants from the guarantee that a fair price is available to them, enabling them to make longer-term investment decisions. Environment Recently, interest in protection of the environment is growing rapidly throughout the world. Fair trade has improved the natural environment. Aranda and Morales (2002) said fair trades organic emphasis has promoted for example improve soil conservation and water management practices as well as the increased consciousness about the importance of conservation in general. Also, fair trade technical team help to make organic coffee for example they supported organic coffee production program, supported in part by fair trade returns and helped reduce soil from erosion. (Perezgrovas and Cervantes, 2002: 19). Recently certain buyers, so-called ethical consumers, think about goods from a societal viewpoint such as human rights or the environment as being important standards for buying and consuming goods. They pay close attention to labor exploitation and environmental damage that occur as a result of producing the goods, and they regard their purchases as a kind of economic behavior conducive to an eco-friendly future society based on fairness and the justification of consumption. The term fair trade, which originated in Europe during the 1950s for the sole purpose of over-coming world poverty, is an organized social movement as a market-based model of international trade that promotes the payment of fair prices, as well as social and environmental standards. I suggest that if they want to keep protect natural environment then producer organize environmental protection management policy. They have to comply with national and international laws of protection (The five key benefits of Fair trade, 2009) Fair trade movement in Starbucks Starbuck is one of the good examples following the fair trade coffee campaign. Global coffee chain Starbucks is also helping to raise awareness of fair trade coffee products.  Starbucks has been selling fair trade coffee beans since 2003 but from January to April sales of the whole beans increased 86.5 percent on-year. In 2007, 9 million kg of fair trade coffee beans which are 16 % of the world trade amount have been bought by Starbucks. Also Starbucks have self- ethical purchase program called C.A.F.E. Practice which tries to guarantee coffee farmers who are not member of the fair trade organization to sell high quality coffee bean with higher prices in order to continue consistent transaction and return enough profits to the farmers (Starbucks, 2007). However, Starbucks was not the first main company of Fair Trade Coffee. One of examples is that Starbucks had used to pay 15 pence for 1 kg coffee and then sold it to consumers up to 130 pounds after a couple of processes so that Starbucks had harsh blame on getting excessive profits from consumers by not to pay enough to farmers. Since 2000, Starbucks has been increasing to buy fair trade coffee afterwards. Why are Kenya, Ethiopia, and Srirangka getting poorer as Starbucks is getting prosperous at the same time? One of the main reasons is that plenty of money have been poured to buy to import foods because it is failed to self- support of foods on the fertile land and they try to produce coffee on the land which is supposed to use for foods instead. Worse fact is that coffee farm makes land useless by consuming all fertility. Coffee consumption in developed countries makes the standardization of these farm product systems and it is a consequence which is made by multinational companies like Starbucks. Human being has started to consume huge amount of coffee without precedent in history, and this happening makes agriculture system standardization as well as Starbucks is a main organization making price of raw material going down. Therefore, Starbucks has to take more responsibility for 95 % of poor farmers than to be proud of purchase 5 % of Fair Trade Coffee. (Starbucks, 2007) It could be unfair to ask profit- making companies which try to maximize profit as much as they can to take responsibility of behaviour however, Starbucks has to at least purchase 50% of Fair Trade Coffee to get rid of the pasts act of barbarity and pay same contribution as its reputation they have to world. Of course, price of coffee sold by Starbuck could be being increased at the same if they would have bought coffee beans from the Fair Trade. Conclusion This paper has showed that the real benefits of fair trade movement. Actually, businessmen do not bring any profits in sales or benefits as they buy coffee beans from the Fair Trade. However, many countries have fair trade organizations and fair trade movement is getting issues. Then, why we need to buy fair trade product? Because it is an act of investing for the social goods noting that the more developed a nations coffee culture becomes, the more likely it is to import fair trade coffee. The main priority is to inform its citizens of what fair trade is and what is necessary to do in order to extend the quantity and improve the quality of products, so conscious consumers are more apt to search for buy fair-trade-based goods. Fair trade movement has numbers of benefits then, if we buy coffee as much as we can coffee famers get lots of profits and their countries are getting strong and rich? The answer is no. What things do consumers do? Drinking less coffee is the way. Why? It would be better to let people in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sriranka produce rice, wheat, and other plants on the fertile land rather than coffee farm by people in developed centuries consuming less coffee. Could it be fair that if someone feels hungry and only produces coffee corps by myself who drink coffee, Cappuccino, and Caramel Macchiato daily? For these fair trade still comes many problems such as slow growth in the fair trade market. For example in Europe, the fair trade marketing campaigns have been underway for nearly a decade in many countries, fair trade coffee sales represent on average 1.2pervent of total coffee sales at the national level (EFTA, 2001). But fair trade movement try to growth of the market for coffee produced and big chain company trade like Starbucks buy more fair trade coffee beans so I guess this problem can figure out. On the other hand, fait trade is a difficult control system, especially to consumers willingness to support third world producers, and the transfers are therefore perhaps not comparable to government or NGO support (Anna, 2004). It may be that futher improvements to the global fair trade system. The fair trade movment has improved in a short time but the range of benefits is getting wider and higher. In a world where consumption is separated from production over incresingly treater space and time, modern consumers experience the processes shaping their livees with growing datachment (Anna, 2004). Also, modern consumers concern natural this mean is they focus about well bing and organic. I belive that this little change is make great result in the future. Fair trade movement is one of the difficult challenge but this is neccesary to economic success the third world. As Appadurai (1996) has persuafively argued, we live in a world characterized by rapid trascontinental trvel and the instaneous trasmission of images and informantion via terevision and the internet. Fair trade, along with a wide range of other global and local movements that have emerged in recent years, has the potential to stimulate this glical collective imagination. (Anna, 2004) Now it is the time when we should seriously question and consider the unknown truth behind the making of brand name goods. For example, where are the products produced? Who made the products? All the workers get paid fairly? Personally,  I make it a rule when buying goods to take few seconds. First to examine the producer, price, and consumer of the goods is one of the ways and Im going to buy what I will buy. Before buying a product, take a few second and ask yourself questions such as, Is this a fair price? Do I consider myself a bad or ethical buyer and consumer? bear in mind that by doing so you may be instrumental in helping the needy around the world climb out of poverty.

Philosophy of Existentialism :: Papers

Philosophy of Existentialism From what I understand reading Jean-Paul Sartre's work the Existentialism is philosophy that places emphasis on individual existence, subjectivism, and freedom of making choice. According to Sartre, Existentialism is philosophy that states that "if God does not exist, there is at least one being in whom existence precedes essence." It seems that Sartre's theory rests on this thesis that 'existence precedes essence' and therefore it should be basis for any further discussion or understanding of this philosophy. To prove this Sartre uses example of man or human being, he says that man first exist, where he is nothing, and then afterwards he defines himself, where he himself will have made what he will be. So if I understand this correctly this means that you need to have existence in order to have essence, so there is no predetermined 'true' thing, it has to already exist in order to become what it is. Therefore man is fully in charge of creating himself as a person, and creating his own future. Subjectivity is also important to Existentialism, and by subjectivity Sartre means that while choosing his own self, man also chooses all man. And he states this idea in this citation "to choose to be this or that is to affirm at the same time the value of what we choose, because we can never choose evil. We always choose the good, and nothing can be good for us without being good for all." I'm not sure if I can agree with this, because knowing myself, sometimes I consciously make decisions that I know are not good for everyone. But what I think Sartre is trying to say is that those passionate choices and actions that every individual makes, are influencing choices and actions of others. Third and last thing that makes up my definition of the Existentialism is freedom of choice. "The boy was faced with the choice of leaving for England joining the Free French forces-that is, leaving his mother behind-or remaining with his mother and helping her to carry on. He was fully aware that the woman lived only for him and that his going off-and perhaps his death-would plunge her into despair, whereas every effort he made toward going off and fighting was an uncertain move which might run aground and prove completely useless.

Community Project Management – Neighbourhood Statistics

————————————————- Contents Page 2 – Summary, Introduction and Methodology Page 3 – Demographic profile: Page 3- People and health based statistics Page 6 – Employment statistics Page 7 – Education statistics Page 8 – Findings and discussions Page 9 – Recommendations and conclusion Page 10 – References Page 11 – Appendices SummaryA Demographic profile (refer to appendices) of the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighbourhood (refer to appendices for definition) has been done and from this a social need (appendices) in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighbourhood has been highlighted, and an appropriate community project has been implemented to meet the demands of the neighbourhoods social need. IntroductionAs a community development consultant, I have been commissioned on behalf of a coalition of community groups, to highlight a social need in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighbourhood by building a demographical profile from using reliable statistical evidence which gives this information. From the demographical profile the characteristics of the neighbourhood can be indicated and a proposed community project will be put into place to tackle the social need of the neighbourhood.People, health, education and employment statistics have been researched and implemented into the report to build a profile of the problems within the neighbourhood Methodology To find the appropriate statistics and information, in depth research has be done on the neighbourhood statistics website at www. neighbourhood. statistics. gov. uk, from this website statistics on health, education and people can be analysed to give information needed. People based statistics are important to give an indication of the size and population of the neighbourhood; health based statistics indicate the health f the neighbourhood; work statistic s indicates the employment in the area and education statistics gives an indication of the educational achievement in the neighbourhood. Demographical profile This demographic profile covers statistics on the Newcastle under Lyme 006E ST57PE neighborhood. People based statistics Mid-2010 population estimates Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Your area | All People | Count| 1,628| 8,026| Males | Count| 815| 3,980| Females | Count| 813| 4,046| | In total there are 1628 people in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood. 15 of these people are males and 813 of these people are females. Percentage of people in each age band in your neighbourhood, mid-2010 The largest age band is age 25 – 49 followed by 0 – 15 with 16 – 24 and 50 – 64 being the smallest age band. Health based statistics Life expectancy at birth, 2007 – 2009 Males of the neighborhood are expected to live until the age of 75 and females are expected to live until the age of 83. Bo th males and females life expectancy is lower than the national life expectancy. The national life expectancy for males is 78 and females are expected to live until the age of 82.Both males and females of the neighborhood are not expected to live as long as the national percentage. Infant Mortality, 2008 – 2010 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | Deaths at age under 1 year, per 1000 live births | Rate| n/a| 8. 7| 4. 4| | | | There isn’t a measure for infant mortality in my neighborhood however for my area infant mortality is nearly double the rate of the national infant mortality rate. This is a terrible statistic and an indication of bad health in the Newcastle under Lyme area. Children's health In 2007 9. % of newborn babies in Newcastle-under-Lyme local authority weighed below 2500 grams, and were classified as low birth weight. The average for England was 7. 2%. this is an indicator of bad health in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E nieghbourhood. Children's weight, 2010 – 2011 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | Overweight children in reception year | %| n/a| 12. 3| 13. 2| Obese children in reception year | %| n/a| 9. 4| 9. 4| Overweight children in year 6 | %| n/a| 14. 6| 14. 4| Obese children in year 6 | %| n/a| 19. 2| 19. 0| |There is no measure here for children’s weight in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood so these statistics are based on Newcastle under Lyme. The stats show that there isn’t a problem in overweight or obese children in reception year as the percentage is lower than that of the national percentage of overweight children in England and equal to that of obese children in England. However, children’s weight is a problem in Newcastle under Lyme as the percentage of overweight and obese children are both higher than the national percentage. People's health, April 2001Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-unde r-Lyme | England | Good | %| 60. 8| 66. 1| 68. 8| Fairly Good | %| 24. 5| 23. 3| 22. 2| Not Good | %| 14. 7| 10. 6| 9. 0| | The people of the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood in terms of good health are below the national percentage for good health. The people of the neighborhood in terms of fairly good health are higher than the national percentage for fairly good health The people of the neighborhood in terms of not good health are above the national percentage for not good health. There re too many people with bad health and too little people with good health indicating bad health in the neighborhood. Long term illness, April 2001 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | People with a limiting long-term illness | %| 25. 3| 20. 8| 17. 9| People of working age with a limiting long-term illness | %| 22. 0| 15. 5| 13. 3| | The percentage of people in neighborhood with a limiting long term illness is above the national percentage and also the perc entage of people of a working age with a limiting long term illness is above the national percentage.Carers, April 2001 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | People providing unpaid care | %| 10. 0| 11. 6| 9. 9| †¦ of which percentage providing over 50 hours per week | %| 33. 3| 20. 4| 20. 5| | Both of these percentages are higher in the neighborhood than the national percentage and the second statistic is more than 50% higher than national percentage. There are more carers in the neighborhood than the national percentage and there are twice as many people providing over 50hours per week. People claiming health-related benefits, August 2010Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | Incapacity Benefits | %| 12| 8| 7| Carers Allowance | %| 3| 1| 1| Disabled | %| 2| 1| 1| | All 3 of these statistics are higher than the national percentage. Employment based statistics Benefits claimants as percentage of working age po pulation, August 2010 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | Any Key Working Age Benefit | %| 25| 15| 15| Jobseeker's Allowance | %| 5| 3| 4| Incapacity Benefits | %| 12| 8| 7| | | | These neighborhood statistics are higher than the national percentage.This shows that too many people of a working age are out of work. Occupations of all people in employment, April 2001 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | Managers and senior officials | %| 6. 1| 13. 0| 15. 3| Professional occupations | %| 4. 5| 9. 7| 11. 2| Associate professional and technical occupations | %| 8. 1| 11. 6| 13. 8| Administrative and secretarial occupations | %| 10. 1| 11. 2| 13. 4| Skilled trades occupations | %| 17. 7| 14. 1| 11. 6| Personal service occupations | %| 8. 1| 7. 0| 6. 9| Sales and customer service occupations | %| 8. | 8. 0| 7. 7| Process; plant and machine operatives | %| 16. 6| 11. 9| 8. 4| Elementary occupations | %| 20. 6| 13. 4| 1 1. 8| | | | These statistics show that the majority of people in employment in neighborhood are in Elementary occupations. The next largest occupation group is the skilled trades occupation followed by personal service occupations and sales and customer service occupations. All of these occupations in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood are above the national percentage for people of that occupation within a neighborhood.On the other hand the rest of the occupations are lower than the national percentage. Not many people in the neighborhood fall into the top 4 occupations which are the more educated occupations. Either indicating the people are not well educated Education based statistics Key Stage 2 assessments: pupils achieving Level 4 or above, 2010 – 2011 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | English | %| 70| 84| 81| Maths | %| n/a| 80| 80| Reading, writing and maths | %| 48| 69| 67| | | | | | | | |The statistic for maths is not d isplayed however the other 2 statistics that are shown are below the national percentage which indicates the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood is not so good in key stage 2 education At Key Stage 4 it is usual for pupils to take GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) or equivalent qualifications. Pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grade passes, including English and Maths, at GCSE or equivalent, 2010 – 2011 Variable| Measure| Your neighbourhood | Newcastle-under-Lyme | England | All pupils | %| 50| 61| 58| Males | %| 27| 56| 55| Females | %| 67| 67| 62| |In the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood males are significantly below the national average for achieving 5 GCSEs at C or above where as females are above the national average indicating that males are underachieving at key stage 4 Findings The above statistics give a clear demographic profile of the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighborhood. The neighborhoods largest age band (35%) of people in the neighborh ood is between the age of 25 and 49. The health of the neighborhood is poor and particularly the weight of people is not good as many babies are born underweight and a lot of children are overweight or obese.Also a large percentage of people suffer a long term illness. The neighborhood is not a good place for employment 75% of the people are of a working age and only 25% of these are employed so 302. 25 people out of a possible 1221. 25 are employed. The national percentage for unemployment is 15% and this neighborhood is at 25% unemployed the education achievement of the neighborhood is below the national percentage indicating that the schools are not of a good standard. There’s a link between the poor educational achievement and unemployment.If people don’t have qualifications they are less likely to be employed and this is why employment is high Discussion There are many social needs in the Newcastle under Lyme 006E neighbourhood. One particular area of social need that needs addressing for definite is the education sector. In the Newcastle under Lyme area in terms of education, particularly males are underachieving at key stage 4. After carefully assessing the of educational achievement within the neighbourhood it is apparent that this sector is substandard compared to national percentage.At key stage 2, both male and female students are underachieving. Only 70% of the students are achieving level 4 in English compared to the national average of 81%; only 48% of students are achieving a level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths; and in key stage 4 only 27% of male students achieved 5 GCSEs grade C or above which, compared to the national percentage of 55% is very poor. With this information at hand I intend to carry out a community project which will attempt to take steps in order to try to improve this area of social need.John Blanchard explains â€Å"Reasons for underachievement include disruption to family routine, illness, emotional and psychological difficulties, loss or lack of motivation and direction. † (www. teachingexpertise. com accessed online on 05/12/12) The health of the neighbourhood is poor so illness can be seen as a factor which may be causing students to underachieve in education however in this community project, the main focus is on educational achievement.The lack of motivation aspect could be down to the fact that the students do not believe that education is of a benefit to them. The reason students may think this is because to receive a higher education a large amount of money is required to pay tuition fees etc. The nidirect website explains â€Å"Higher education could boost your career prospects and earning potential, while giving you the chance to study into a subject that really interests you – and to get involved in lots of other activities. † (www. nidirect. gov. uk/ accessed online on 05/12/12. Higher education is of great benefit to people and many students ar e missing out on this opportunity because they are aware of high university fees and not as aware of the benefits a university education can give to a person. Referring to the demographic profile of the neighbourhood, not many people of working age are in an educated occupancy this may be down to poor education. If the people of the neighbourhood are educated well then they will have access to better and more jobs. This will also decrease the amount of people unemployed.Recommendations and Conclusion The results show a need to improve educational achievement so that people can go on to study in higher education and make their selves more employable. A project to improve educational achievement will be put into place to so that people can get employed The project will involve the 3 surrounding universities: Staffordshire university: Keele university and MMU Cheshire acting as stakeholders in the project. Also the project will include the higher education funding council for England a s a stakeholder. HEFCE distributes public money for higher education to universities and colleges in England, and ensures that this money is used to deliver the greatest benefit to students and the wider public. † (www. hefce. ac. uk, accessed online on 07/12/12) working with these two organizations the project will be based around school students regularly visiting the universities, around 3 times per year throughout high school. On these visits the school students will be encouraged, motivated and directed to achieve better GCSE results by giving reasons and benefits for a higher education.This will involve Universities selecting students to promote universities, and talk to school students about their experiences at university and the benefits it has given them. The school students will then be aware that the fees are not as much of a hindrance to them as they may have first thought but in fact a minor cost that will benefit them for life. This project will be called Ã¢â‚¬Ë œLearn to live better’ as the aim is to get people educated so that they can get employed and live better It is highly recommended that the project is funded by HEFCE to sustain the school links with universities.If the project isn’t funded for then the project won’t be sustained and unemployment will rise again If education is improved and more students can go on to study in higher education and achieve a degree, these people will have a much better chance of employment and will acquire the knowledge and skills to improve social capital. People having a higher education have a deeper understanding and knowledge of society and from this they become more active e. g. ducated people will get frustrated with problems that arise in the community and because they know how to address these problems and who to talk to about them, problems get dealt with therefore the social capital of the community grows as the people are networking more to better the neighbourhood. â €Å"The nature of the networks within particular place or grouping is, thus, of fundamental importance when making judgments about ‘communities’ – and the extent to which people can flourish within them. Humans are social animals.Connection and interaction both widen and deepen what we can achieve, and makes possible our individual character. It may even emerge as ‘communion† (www. infed. org accessed 05/12/12) seeing the people of a community networking, flourishing and becoming communions will indicate whether the social capital of my community has increased. It’s important to measure capital because this is how it will be known that the project is actually working Once the community begins to develop and a good social capital is achieved, capacity building can then occur.When the neighbourhood has this capacity to perform functions with people and organizations by itself, this is when the community project can be seen as a success. Referenc es Neighbourhood statistics (census 2011) (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. neighbourhood. statistics. gov. uk/dissemination/ John Blanchard (2007) Motivating underachievers: techniques and tactics (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. teachingexpertise. com/articles/motivating-underachievers-techniques-and-tactics-3002 The benefits of higher education (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. idirect. gov. uk/the-benefits-of-higher-education About HEFCE (2012) (online) accessed on 07/12/12 http://www. hefce. ac. uk/about/ Community (2012) (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. infed. org/community/community. htm UNDP (2006) Capacity development practice note (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. gsdrc. org/go/display&type=Document&id=1870 What is capacity building and why is it needed? (2012) (online) accessed on 07/12/12 http://www. councilofnonprofits. rg/capacity-building/what-capacity-building About community development (2012) (online) accessed on 05/12/12 h ttp://www. cdf. org. uk/content/about-cdf/about-community-development What is demography (2012) (online) accessed on 07/12/12 http://www. suda. su. se/docs/What%20is%20Demography. pdf What is a demographic profile (2012) (online) accessed on 07/12/12 http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-a-demographic-profile. htm Neighbourhoods and regeneration – theory, practice, issues (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. infed. rg/community/neighbourhoods_and_regeneration. htm Guide to social capital (online) accessed on 05/12/12 http://www. ons. gov. uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/social-capital-guide/the-social-capital-project/guide-to-social-capital. html Business studies: stakeholders (2012) (online) accessed on 07/12/12 http://www. bbc. co. uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business/environment/stakeholders1. shtml Appendices â€Å"Capacity is the ability of individuals, institutions and societies to perform functions, solve problems and set and achieve objectives in a sustainable mannerà ¢â‚¬  (www. sdrc. org, 2006 accessed online on 05/12/12) Capacity building – â€Å"capacity building refers to activities that improve and enhance a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission and sustain itself over time. † (www. councilofnonprofits. org, 2012 accessed online on 07/12/12) Community development – â€Å"Community development is a set of values and practices which plays a special role in overcoming poverty and disadvantage, knitting society together at the grass roots and deepening democracy† (The community development challenge p. 12). † (www. cdf. org. k, 2012 accessed online on 05/12/12) Demography – â€Å"Demography is the study of human populations – their size, composition and distributio across place – and the process through which populations change. † (www. suda. su. se, 2012 accessed online on 07/12/12) Demographic profile – â€Å"A demographic profile is a business tool that identi fies several characteristics when companies attempt to define a market segment. Common characteristics in the profile include age, sex, income, household size and education† (www. wisegeek. com, 2012 accessed online on 07/12/12) Need – A working definition of need draws on

Spanking should not be allowed

Spanking should not be allowed Spanking has been a method of disciplining children in China for quite some time because it is believed that it is the best approach to educate a child. It involves intentionally inducing temporary pain to the buttocks of a child using the hand (Ferguson 196). There are other forms of spanking where parents use other objects to inflict the pain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Spanking should not be allowed specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this point, it is referred to as corporal punishment that has globally been identified as child abuse. In most countries, child abuse is considered violent because it involves physical punishment that results to pain. As such, both spanking and violence are forms of child abuse because they are administered with the sole aim of inflicting pain to the child (Straus 7). The major difference between spanking and violence is that spanking does not lead to physical injuries as in cas e of aggression. Therefore, the act of spanking children is a method of teaching children to become aggressive and should not be allowed (Straus 7). This paper will discuss the reasons why spanking should not be allowed. Young children learn how to handle conflicts in life through the association with their parents. Research has shown that parents who spank their children affect their conflict resolution behavior because such children become hostile (Taylor 57). For example, I grew up in a family where my mother based her discipline method on spanking. This was normal until I became used to it as a way of life. Every day I would expect to be hit because I liked playing with the neighbors children something my mother had forbidden me from doing. On several occasions I would also do the same to my younger sister when we had been left alone. As if this was not enough, every day I had a fighting case at school because I would strike anybody who appeared junior than me whenever they wron ged me. Ever since, I have solved my issues through cruelty. This proves that children brought up in families that practice spanking became vicious in the future. Therefore, spanking should not be allowed in children. Most parents take spanking as a right because the same was administered to them when they were young. Supporters of the act claim that it enables a child to grow and learn to behave in a proper manner. This is not the case because it does not allow a child to understand why he or she is spanked in the first place (Straus 10).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More My experience when I was a young boy supports the fact that this act does not facilitate learning, but it instills a sense of fear. One day I wanted to touch a stove while my mother was preparing tea in the morning. I had seen her touch the stove several times and I wanted to feel it too. My mother slapped m e immediately as I attempted to do it. Since that day I have never wished to touch the hot stove although I wondered why I was not allowed. As I grew up I learned that the stove was hot and it would have burnt my hand something my mother never told me. Therefore, spanking does not support learning, but it is just an approach to instill fear in children. The major role of parents is to provide protection and nurture their children to become good and responsible individuals in the future. Children take their parents as their role models because they value their parents so much. This routine by parents leads to a situation where a child lowers their self-esteem (Ferguson 196). Most parents do not highlight the reason why they occasionally hit their children. This makes the child wonder why he or she should be taken through this by a person who is supposed to give him or her protection. As a result children develop fear against their parents, which in turn lowers their self esteem. Addi tionally, the value of the parent to his child is considerably reduced because such acts affect the psychological well-being of a child (Taylor 57). In addition, it does not change or improve the behavior of the child. Children do not understand why they are slapped and parents are not bothered to tell their children the truth. Although spanking may be used as a caution, when a child does not understand the mistake there will not be a change in behavior. There are various alternatives to spanking that parents can use. When spanking is spontaneous, the parent should explain the reason for that act to the child immediately. This should be followed by apologies that he or she lost control. The child will understand the mistake and adjust accordingly. Children should also be allowed to learn from experiences because it helps to develop their decision making skills in the future. In conclusion, spanking does not improve the behavior of a child or develop learning. As such, it should not be allowed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Spanking should not be allowed specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ferguson, Chris (2013). Spanking, corporal punishment and negative long-term outcomes: A meta-analytic review of longitudinal studies. Clinical Psychology Review 33.1(2010): 196–208. Print. Straus, Murray. The primordial violeizce: Corporal punishment by parents, cognitizie dezi~dopmenta, nd crime. Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press, 2004. Print. Taylor, Catherine. Mothers spanking of 3-year-old children and subsequent risk of childrens aggressive behavior. Pediatrics 125.5(2010): 57–65. Print.

Free Essays on Harlem V. Ode On A Grecian Urn

written to reveal their true meaning. On the surface, the reader might think this poem is light and airy, when in fact; it is a sad tale of lost chances never to be r... Free Essays on Harlem V. Ode On A Grecian Urn Free Essays on Harlem V. Ode On A Grecian Urn The Death of the Human Spirit in â€Å"Harlem† and â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn† Although Langston Hughes’s â€Å"Harlem† and John Keats’ â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn† were written about 130 years apart and they differ in their structure, they seem to share a similar underlying theme. Both of these poets are trying to convey a feeling of death. They are not talking about a superficial death but rather, a dying on the inside. This is the type of death that robs them of their spirit. To the reader, it is fairly clear to see in Hughes’s â€Å"Harlem† whereas in Keats’ â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn†, the reader has to look beyond the outer layer of the poets words. In Hughes’s extremely short poem, â€Å"Harlem†, the poet asks â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred?† (1). If not for this opening line, the reader might be left wondering what the objects in the poem symbolize. Hughes uses a raisin, a sore, meat, a syrupy sweet, and a load. The â€Å"raisin† represents the plight of the black man in a dominant white society. The black man (raisin) refuses to give in and thus turns into a â€Å"sore†. The â€Å"meat† turned rotten in â€Å"Harlem† symbolizes the fight of the African American in making their place in the world. The â€Å"sweet† represents the satisfaction to be found in an existence full of harmony. The â€Å"load† is the culmination of all of these objects. As time goes by, the burden of the â€Å"load† gets harder and harder to carry. The heavy burden causes the black man to falter and â€Å"sag†. Eventually, the immense pressure causes an explo sion to the reality of the situation that the African Americans face. In order to understand the meaning behind John Keats’ somewhat longer poem, â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn†, the reader has to look past the words written to reveal their true meaning. On the surface, the reader might think this poem is light and airy, when in fact; it is a sad tale of lost chances never to be r...

Battle of Cryslers Farm in the War of 1812

Battle of Crysler's Farm in the War of 1812 Â  The Battle of Cryslers Farm was fought November 11, 1813, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815) and saw an American campaign along the St. Lawrence River halted. In 1813, Secretary of War John Armstrong directed American forces to begin a two-pronged advance against Montreal. While one thrust was to advance down the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario, the other was to move north from Lake Champlain. Commanding the western attack was Major General James Wilkinson. Known as a scoundrel before the war, he had served as an agent of the Spanish government as well as was involved in the conspiracy that saw former Vice President Aaron Burr charged with treason. Preparations As a result of Wilkinsons reputation, the commander on Lake Champlain, Major General Wade Hampton, refused to take orders from him. This led to Armstrong constructing an unwieldy command structure that would see all orders for coordinating the two forces pass through the War Department. Though he possessed around 8,000 men at Sackets Harbor, NY, Wilkinsons force was poorly trained and ill-supplied. Additionally, it lacked experienced officers and was suffering from an outbreak of disease. To the east, Hamptons command consisted of around 4,000 men. Together, the combined force was twice the size of the mobile forces available to the British in Montreal. American Plans Early planning for the campaign called for Wilkinson to capture the key British naval base at Kingston prior to moving on Montreal. Though this would have deprived Commodore Sir Jame Yeos squadron of its primary base, the senior American naval commander on Lake Ontario, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, did not wish to risk his ships in an attack on the town. As a result, Wilkinson intended to make a feint toward Kingston before slipping down the St. Lawrence. Delayed in departing Sackets Harbor due to bad weather, the army final moved out on October 17 using around 300 small craft and bateaux. the American army entered the St. Lawrence on November 1 and reached French Creek three days later. British Response It was at French Creek that the first shots of the campaign were fired when brigs and gunboats led by Commander William Mulcaster attacked the American anchorage before being driven off by artillery fire. Returning to Kingston, Mulcaster informed Major General Francis de Rottenburg of the American advance. Though focused on defending Kingston, Rottenburg dispatched Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Morrison with a Corps of Observation to harry the American rear. Initially consisting of 650 men drawn from the 49th and 89th Regiments, Morrison increased his strength to around 900 by absorbing local garrisons as he advanced. His corps was supported on the river by two schooners and seven gunboats. A Change of Plans On November 6, Wilkinson learned that Hampton had been beaten at Chateauguay on October 26. Though the Americans successfully bypassed a British fort at Prescott the following night, Wilkinson was unsure of how to proceed after receiving the news regarding Hamptons defeat. On November 9, he convened a council of war and met with his officers. The result was an agreement to continue on with the campaign and Brigadier General Jacob Brown was sent ahead with an advance force. Before the main body of the army embarked, Wilkinson was informed that a British force was in pursuit. Halting, he prepared to deal with Morrisons approaching force and established his headquarters at Cooks Tavern on November 10. Pressing hard, Morrisons troops spent that night encamped near Cryslers Farm approximately two miles from the American position. Armies Commanders Americans Major General James WilkinsonBrigadier General John Parker Boyd8,000 men British Lieutenant Colonel James MorrisonCommander William Mulcasterapprox. 900 men Dispositions On the morning of November 11, a series of confused reports led each side to believe that the other was preparing to attack. At Cryslers Farm, Morrison formed the 89th and 49th Regiments in a line with detachments under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson and Captain G.W. Barnes in advance and to the right. These occupied buildings near the river and gully extending north from the shore. A skirmish line of Canadian Voltigeurs and Native American allies occupied a ravine in advance of Pearson as well as a large wood to the north of the British position. Around 10:30 AM, Wilkinson received a report from Brown stating that he had defeated a militia force at Hooples Creek the previous evening and the line of advance was open. As the American boats would shortly need to run Long Sault Rapids, Wilkinson decided to clear his rear before moving forward. Fighting an illness, Wilkinson was not in a condition to lead the attack and his second-in-command, Major General Morgan Lewis, was unavailable. As a result, command of the assault fell to Brigadier General John Parker Boyd. For the assault, he had the brigades of Brigadier Generals Leonard Covington and Robert Swartwout. The Americans Turned Back Forming for battle, Boyd placed Covingtons regiments on the left extending north from the river, while Swartwouts brigade was on the right extending north into the woods. Advancing that afternoon, Colonel Eleazer W. Ripleys 21st US Infantry from Swartwouts brigade drove back the British skirmishers. On the left, Covingtons brigade struggled to deploy due to a ravine on their front. Finally attacking across the field, Covingtons men came under heavy fire from the Pearsons troops. In the course of the fighting, Covington was mortally wounded as was his second-in-command. This led to a breakdown in organization on this part of the field. To the north, Boyd attempted to push troops across the field and around the British left. These efforts failed as they were met by heavy fire from the 49th and 89th. All across the field, the American attack lost momentum and Boyds men began falling back. Having struggled to bring up his artillery, it was not in place until his infantry was retreating. Opening fire, they inflicted losses on the enemy. Seeking to drive off the Americans and capture the guns, Morrisons men began a counterattack across the field. As the 49th neared the American artillery, the 2nd US Dragoons, led by Colonel John Walbach, arrived and in a series of charges bought sufficient time for all but one of Boyds guns to be withdrawn. Aftermath A stunning victory for a much smaller British force, Cryslers Farm saw Morrisons command inflict losses of 102 killed, 237 wounded, and 120 captured on the Americans. His force lost 31 killed, 148 wounded, 13 missing. Though disheartened by the defeat, Wilkinson pressed on and moved through the Long Sault rapids. On November 12, Wilkinson united with Browns advance detachment and a short time later received Colonel Henry Atkinson from Hamptons staff. Atkinson brought word that his superior had retired to Plattsburgh, NY, citing a lack of supplies, rather than move west around Chateauguay and to join Wilkinsons army on the river as originally ordered. Again meeting with his officers, Wilkinson decided to end the campaign and the army went into winter quarters at French Mills, NY. Following a defeat at Lacolle Mills in March 1814, Wilkinson was removed from command by Armstrong.

Writing Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Writing Project 2 - Essay Example The text is written in a way to criticize one’s self. Before anyone could call him an idiot or sick he calls himself ill-minded. The context of the song is the over popular rap image of hip hop artists. In today’s world, TV and media has made the youngsters believe that good life is about making money and doing drugs because that is what the superstars do. It is called the celebrity lifestyle. And everyone seem to join that club. It is just a smoke screen and people are wasting their lives, dreaming about that dream that someday they will have lots of money like those superstars they see on TV and then they will have ‘fun’. Hopsin 5 addresses this ‘fun’ in this song and trues to make a mockery of the vision it generates in people’s minds. Asking â€Å"Is that all you think life really is?† (Hopsin 5, 2012). It is very hard to find the subtext in this song. Rap songs are generally very explicit and there are usually not many hidden meanings. The general idea behind a rap song is ‘being real’ and not hypocritical; saying what you mean exactly how you mean it. Hopsin 5 does exactly that. He is trying to wake up his generation who in his opinion are like zombies. Their brain cells are rotting because of drugs and pop culture. At the start of the song Hopsin says this addressing the ‘kids’ he sees on the street. He says he has become a freak for those kids who stare at them. But in fact Hopsin 5 is observing them when they talk about cursing school and dropping out of school. Later in the song he addresses the same issue of dropping out and says that many kids are in school because their parents send them there, it is not their choice. Referring to a gift they have but they don’t appreciate. Hopsin 5 was not as famous as some of the rap superstars like Snoop Dog, Eminem or Jay Z. He starts his song by saying that he doesn’t like rap and shows his disgust. But he raps only b ecause it works, it delivers the message and more importantly he can â€Å"if the shoe fits, wear it". It is very hard to say that Hopsin was a credible figure at the time he released this song and that his image and his personality would have ‘sold’. He calls himself a freak that the kids stare at him, only to make him more difficult to agree with. Pathos of Hopsin 5’s argument is very strong. In fact it is the single most powerful aspect that actually convinces the listeners that what he has to say is the truth. It is the pathos (the emotional appeal) that has got him over 32 million views for his song on YouTube (Hopsin 5, 2012). He puts his heart in the song and its shows. Other than the context, subtext and intertextuality, the video shows him persuasively and even aggressively talking or even ‘rap lecturing’ some ‘kids’ (kids is a just a slang for youngsters, the age group can range from 13-30) who are doing drugs and acting †˜cool’. The song is filled with second person narrative. The word ‘you’ has been used extensively, for each and every listener of the song. And that makes the emotional exorcism even stronger. The listener immediately starts to analyze himself. The target is the kids that are hooked to hip hop and ‘you’ is used to give them the rap lecture. This ‘you’ is the main weapon of the pathos as Hopsin 5 delves into what ‘your’ image of a fantastic life is. He shows ‘you’ the mirror and rephrases the dreams these kids cook up; to sell drugs so they can make them lots of money, and showing their bullet scars as trophies and that it is fun to live life like that. In the song he talks to this girl who is pregnant. He tells him that she is pregnant because it’s her own fault. All that glitters is not gold. If girls go to the

The Entertainment Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Entertainment Industry - Essay Example The art cinema motivates its narratives through being real and authoritative. It shows us the real location of events as well as the real issues that we face daily. In order to change the main character of the movies, it is good to choose a character that has specific goals, well stated and is object oriented. The art of cinema is not concerned with the actions of the characters; instead, they are concerned with the reaction that they will get from people who watch the film. A better way of restructuring the art cinema would be putting emphasis on actors. This makes them feel that the welfare and role they are doing is important not only to the viewers but also to the producers, therefore, ensuring a good working relationship in the production of a movie. In ending some of the stories stated, it would be possible to change them as follows; In the art film â€Å"L’ Avventura† where character by the name Anna is lost and not found, it would be more appropriate to change t he plot and end it in a way that maybe the body is found dead in unknown place or maybe show her happily living with an unknown person. This makes the viewer know what happened to her in the end. In â€Å"a bout de soufflà ©Ã¢â‚¬  was the reason for Patricia’s betrayal of Michel remains unknown, the plot could change in a manner that she writes and leaves a note explaining why she betrayed him. Such changes will make the viewer contended after watching the film since they are fully aware of what happened rather than leaving them in suspense.

The Heart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Heart - Essay Example The arterial supply of the heart is built from the right and left coronary arteries, which arise from the aorta. The cardiac muscle is composed by specialized cells: cardiac myocytes. Kumar et al. (2005) describe five major components in the myocytes: cell membrane (sarcolemma) and T-tubules; sarcoplasmic reticulum; contractile elements; mitochondria; and nucleus. The sarcolemma and T-tubules enable impulse conductions, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum is a calcium reservoir needed for contraction. Mitochondria are crucial components, since they are involved in cardiac contraction by providing a constant supply of ATP to the sarcomeres. Mitochondria are abundant in cardiac tissue, constituting 20% to 40% of cellular volume in energy-demanding zones (Marin-Garcia 2005). Cardiac muscle is composed of sarcomeres, which are the contractile units with an arrangement of thin and thick myofilaments. The myocytes are composed of many parallel myofilaments arrays of sarcomeres in series, which are responsible for the striated appearance (Kumar 2005). Thin filaments are composed of various proteins named actin, tropomyosin, and troponin. Myosin is the thick filament, and possesses the cross-bridges that can attach to the actin. Au (2004) has described the various components of the sarcomere in great detail. Since cross-bridges possess ATPase activity, contraction may be explained as a continuous cycling of cross-bridges. Moreover, cardiac muscle fibers are joined together by junctional complexes called intercalated discs (Dunn 2004), so that the action potential is spread. The role of Calcium Calcium (Ca2+) regulates mechanical contractions and Vandenboom et al. (2005) have shown that "cross-bridge attachment increases thin filament activation dynamically and that this increase is proportional to the level of activation first established by Ca2+"; during membrane depolarization, a small amount of Ca2+ enters through specialized channels, and the influx triggers calcium release of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Intracellular calcium binds to troponin C, which induces activation of the myofilaments and muscle contraction. Relaxation is initiated by dissociation of Ca2+ from troponin C, followed by its reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and removal through sodium/calcium exchangers (Chakraborti et al. 2007). Structure and Function Ventricular muscle contracts during systole and relaxes during diastole. The sarcomere length and sliding mechanism has been described by various researchers (Pollack et al 2005). The Frank-Starling mechanism depicts the relationship between structural components of the heart and its function: shorter sarcomeres have considerable overlap of actin and myosin filaments, reducing its contractile force, whereas longer lengths enhance contractility. In a normal heart, moderate dilation increases the subsequent force of contraction. With progressive dilation, however, there is a point at which effective overlap of filaments is reduced, and the force of contraction is reduced (Kumar 2005). The clinical consequences of

The Importance of Managing Change in the Air Transport Industry Essay

The Importance of Managing Change in the Air Transport Industry - Essay Example The paper suggests the steps that should be taken by the company to ensure success. The first step involves the creation of the ‘big message’. This step is important for Su as it will help her understand what is in for her. This step will make out the main message the individuals are involved in the change need to hear. In this case, Su was the only individual that was affected by this change. This message contains the major reasons for the change that include cost reduction, increased demand for the work force in Edinburg as well as to facilitate her skills and experience. Additionally, it should state the benefits that the organization will get from this change. This message should be done in a concise and clear language and communicated through the appropriate channels. This means that there should be official communication of the message by the human resource management team. Su should demonstrate acceptance of the terms and conditions of the change by signing an off icial agreement statement. It is important to get the support of the management while making this decision and find individuals that are influential within the organization to support this move. It is important to acknowledge that this influence could either be positive or negative and it is imperative to align oneself with the parties that support the decision. At this stage, it is significant to communicate to Su on the benefits that linked with the change. This is the couple with the communication of the benefits that accrue to both entities. There are various examples that should be communicated to her at this stage. First, the individual benefits such as improved flexibility with regards to the job location as well as a more challenging work environment that results in career growth and development. The company benefits should be efficiently communicated to Su including increased benefits from her skills and expertise as well as the benefits associated with having a diverse wor kforce. It can be concluded that the ‘big message’ defines priorities and establishes the tone for the subsequent steps.

International Production and Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Production and Trade - Essay Example The author in the chapter sought to identify the basic features and issues forming the international production and trade structure. While discussing the changes taking place in the production of goods, the author uses the case of Thomas Friedman to explain the post-world war II changes that have taken place. Technology is arguably one of the most significant steps that man has discovered so far. As such, it has revolutionized both the production process and the communication channel. While the internet connects people in a previously un-imaginable way, new products such as cars and clothes go through mass production. Another notable change in the production process is the level of fragmentation and specialization taking place. With the increased level of interdependence between different countries and regions around the world, production methods have spread in all parts of the globe. Statically, the World Bank demonstrated the effects of this growth and increase in production throug h the 2005 world’s gross domestic product, which was approximately $44.3 trillion. Of this, 78% came from the developed countries, while the middle and low income, countries contributed only 22 percent. Five years earlier, the level of production was fives lower as it was in 2005. McGrew, an expert observes that there have been changes in the trends of FDIs, which have subsequently contributed to the capital mobility. In this mobility, firms now migrate from the industrialized countries and set up production plants in less developed countries due to labor issues as well as environmental issues. International trade, which is trade that takes place between different countries, help in the unification of countries. Since trade ties countries together, it generates significant political, economic, as well as social interdependence between countries. As such, many states use it as a means of gathering income, opting to regulate it in an effort to safeguard their interests. The int ernational trade structure, by pulling international leaders, IO and the NGO officials, pulls three perspectives of trade at the same time. Despite their conflicting arguments, these perspectives have contributed to the understanding of the development of trade in the international front. International trade rules came into effect in the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries. Tariffs and quotas existed back then, as there was a restriction of importing intermediate goods. This aimed at protecting local industries from unfair competition. One of the international trade policies launched in the eighteenth century advocated for a laissez-faire type of policies. Proposed by Adman Smith and David Ricardo, the liberal trade policy still applies in the case of the Britain markets. These were the developers of the comparative theory, which advocated for opportunity cost of production. Proponents of opportunity cost theory pointed out that for a country to produce a particular commodity ; it had to forego a particular commodity that was rather expensive to produce. As such, introducing trade restrictions was an unjust way of treating other nations. However, the mercantilists challenge the arguments of comparative advantage, even currently. They argue that states can

Simulation and systems modelling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Simulation and systems modelling - Essay Example It provides an overview of DES, DES adoption challenges, and DES application main areas in manufacturing. The report also represents three selected famous systems appeals for small, medium, and large companies. Finally, the report gives a conclusion and future directions for simulations. First of all, to define simulation, The Oxford English Dictionary describes Simulation as: "The technique of imitating the behaviour of some situation or system (Economic, Mechanical etc.) by means of an analogous model, situation, or apparatus, either to gain information more conveniently or to train personnel." Also, computer simulation methods have developed since the early 1960s. (Holst, 2001) Holst defines discrete event simulation (DES) as "The modeling over time of a system all of whose state changes occur at discrete points in time those points when an event occurs". In discrete event simulation, the operation of a system is represented as a chronological sequence of events. Each event occurs at an instant in time and marks a change of state in the system (Banks et al, 2005) The need for simulation applications in management is increasing. First of all, Simulation is considered to be a powerful decision making tool for managers. Xianglong et al (2001) provided simulation system that can provide the decision-maker a sequential decision-making environment by establishing a virtual reality simulation system. Also, it could be used for experiments planning and results analysis. Semini et al (2006) listed several reasons why a simulation can support manufacturing logistics decision-making: It facilitates understanding of the real system and its behavior. It reveals previously hidden relationships and provides a systematic way to analyze the situation Can facilitate communication and provide a basis for discussions. "What-if" analyses can be carried out, allowing the decision-maker to test the affects of different alternative scenarios without having to make changes in the real system. Also, Simulation applications are used for risk and disaster management for businesses, organizations, or even countries. It could construct useful visualizations of risk, as provided by triangular decompositions and trade risk profiles, and calculating relevant risk measures. For example, it can provide additional

The Importance of Managing Change in the Air Transport Industry Essay

The Importance of Managing Change in the Air Transport Industry - Essay Example The paper suggests the steps that should be taken by the company to ensure success. The first step involves the creation of the ‘big message’. This step is important for Su as it will help her understand what is in for her. This step will make out the main message the individuals are involved in the change need to hear. In this case, Su was the only individual that was affected by this change. This message contains the major reasons for the change that include cost reduction, increased demand for the work force in Edinburg as well as to facilitate her skills and experience. Additionally, it should state the benefits that the organization will get from this change. This message should be done in a concise and clear language and communicated through the appropriate channels. This means that there should be official communication of the message by the human resource management team. Su should demonstrate acceptance of the terms and conditions of the change by signing an off icial agreement statement. It is important to get the support of the management while making this decision and find individuals that are influential within the organization to support this move. It is important to acknowledge that this influence could either be positive or negative and it is imperative to align oneself with the parties that support the decision. At this stage, it is significant to communicate to Su on the benefits that linked with the change. This is the couple with the communication of the benefits that accrue to both entities. There are various examples that should be communicated to her at this stage. First, the individual benefits such as improved flexibility with regards to the job location as well as a more challenging work environment that results in career growth and development. The company benefits should be efficiently communicated to Su including increased benefits from her skills and expertise as well as the benefits associated with having a diverse wor kforce. It can be concluded that the ‘big message’ defines priorities and establishes the tone for the subsequent steps.

Simulation and systems modelling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Simulation and systems modelling - Essay Example It provides an overview of DES, DES adoption challenges, and DES application main areas in manufacturing. The report also represents three selected famous systems appeals for small, medium, and large companies. Finally, the report gives a conclusion and future directions for simulations. First of all, to define simulation, The Oxford English Dictionary describes Simulation as: "The technique of imitating the behaviour of some situation or system (Economic, Mechanical etc.) by means of an analogous model, situation, or apparatus, either to gain information more conveniently or to train personnel." Also, computer simulation methods have developed since the early 1960s. (Holst, 2001) Holst defines discrete event simulation (DES) as "The modeling over time of a system all of whose state changes occur at discrete points in time those points when an event occurs". In discrete event simulation, the operation of a system is represented as a chronological sequence of events. Each event occurs at an instant in time and marks a change of state in the system (Banks et al, 2005) The need for simulation applications in management is increasing. First of all, Simulation is considered to be a powerful decision making tool for managers. Xianglong et al (2001) provided simulation system that can provide the decision-maker a sequential decision-making environment by establishing a virtual reality simulation system. Also, it could be used for experiments planning and results analysis. Semini et al (2006) listed several reasons why a simulation can support manufacturing logistics decision-making: It facilitates understanding of the real system and its behavior. It reveals previously hidden relationships and provides a systematic way to analyze the situation Can facilitate communication and provide a basis for discussions. "What-if" analyses can be carried out, allowing the decision-maker to test the affects of different alternative scenarios without having to make changes in the real system. Also, Simulation applications are used for risk and disaster management for businesses, organizations, or even countries. It could construct useful visualizations of risk, as provided by triangular decompositions and trade risk profiles, and calculating relevant risk measures. For example, it can provide additional

Ge Imagination Breakthrough Essay Example for Free

Ge Imagination Breakthrough Essay Can he hope to change a company whose growth was driven by acquisitions and productivity improvement into an organic growth company dependent on innovation, entrepreneurship and risk taking particularly in such a large complex performance driven corporation? Answer: 2a: Yes, Immelt is relying on ‘technological leadership, commercial excellence and global expansion’ to provide â€Å"unstoppable† opportunities and expand GE’s business base. He wanted to use GE’s size and diversity as sources of strength and to drive growth by investing in places and in ways that others could not easily follow. As a counter effect of 1st Jan 2005 deadline for emission regulations it was predicted that there would be a spike in demand for old products, leaving little market for EVO in 2005. These old models were in ready inventory and with much better discounts. 3c: Continual redefinition of the global EVO product and the failure to make hybrid commercially viable * Initially GE decided to develop EVO country specific during IB meeting but it was not viable because of low requirements. * Recognizing the international constraints the EVO was also developed as a product concept ‘Global Modular Locomotive’. Design developed around set of standard components that could be building to different requirements. * GML also helped GE in reducing the response time in international tender processing, reducing the amount spent in non recurring engineering, and reducing the time between order amp; the sale. * GE was also adaptable to specific international requirements such as Kazakhstan’s condition to transfer the assembly operations to their country. This was a part of GE’s international strategy â€Å"In country, for country†.

Strategies to Reduced Diabetes Appointments

Strategies to Reduced Diabetes Appointments 1 Introduction The aim of this project is to reduce the number of appointments that those on the diabetes register need to attend by offering a â€Å"one stop shop† for both retinal screening and diabetic review. The surgery I work in is demographically situated in one of the most deprived areas in the UK and typically the patients attending are those who make poor lifestyle choices and fail to attend appointments, they may be classed as hard to reach, homeless and vulnerable patients with complex needs. Aims and Objectives My intention was to improve on the number of diabetic patients attending their appointment for retinal screening and for their annual diabetic review in order to capture them and integrate them into local services for diabetes care. Objectives involved improving communication with the diabetic retinal screening service, an audit and inspection of available rooms at the GP surgery to allow for retinal screening to be performed at the surgery, and the development of a patient letter and protocol to promote a consistent approach for patients to be recalled and reviewed. This change in practice would enable the surgery’s hard to reach and vulnerable patients to attend for one appointment where they could receive their retinal screening and their diabetic review at the same appointment. Background Information The most serious complication affecting the eye for people with diabetes is the development of diabetic retinopathy. A delicate network of blood vessels supplies the retina with blood. Diabetes affects these tiny blood vessels of the eye and if they become blocked or leak then the retina, and possibly the vision can be affected. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) estimate that forty percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 20 per cent with type 2 diabetes will develop some sort of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy progresses with time but may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced and close to affecting the person’s sight. The duration of diabetes is the most important factor that predicts whether a person develops diabetic retinopathy as well as poor glycaemic control. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS 1998) and the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT 1993) showed that improved glycaemic control reduced the development and progression of retinopathy. This demonstrates that glycaemic control is significant in reducing a person’s risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and by combining the retinal screening with the diabetic review, it was anticipated that improved glycaemic control could be discussed at an appropriate time as most people would consider maintaining their eyesight as significant. A study by Jones, Hepburn, Man, Ridout and Gable (2011) demonstrated that diabetes care in the community is not always flexible enough to accommodate the needs of vulnerable people with complex needs however, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complications are often avoidable through adequate care and therefore there has been an increase in programmes to improve the quality of routine care received by people with T2DM (Stribbling 2013). The importance of targeting non-attenders is significant in order to attempt to reduce complications. Diabetes is associated cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, as well as small vessel disease that can result in blindness and renal failure (Fowler 2008). Good glycaemic management reduces the risks of complications, why is why it is important to make every effort to reach the non-attenders (Thomas 2012). Socio-economic deprivation is one of the main reasons people are unable to attend appointments for health care. Deprivation is strongly associated with the development of diabetes and the complications associated with it. People on a low income may not be able to access public transport, they may not class their own health as priority and those who have substance misuse issues may use their money to buy illicit drugs instead of using the money to buy healthier food or for getting to and from appointments. Research by Mitchell, Malone and Doebbeling (2009) demonstrated that individuals with substance misuse disorders and mental health problems were significantly less likely to receive retinal screening or foot sensory examination even though those with a mental disorder had significantly more out-patient visits. This researched concluded that there was strong evidence to support inequalities in medical care for those people with a mental health problem or a substance misuse disorder even though the nature of these diagnoses increased the risk of them developing T2DM and complications from it. In consideration of the practice population where I work, there are a high proportion of people with mental health issues, drug misusers and a few homeless people. I also work in a deprived area which alerts me to acknowledging the problems these people face on a day to day basis and realising that health is not top of their daily agenda. It has highlighted that the evidence is present to facilitate a change in practice to allow for improved access to health care and to perform as many health assessments as possible in one session. Overview of audit The audit undertaken earlier in the year was performed by analysing the number of people with diabetes attending appointments for annual retinal screening (see appendix 1). I then divided the results down further to encompass age groups and gender. The middle age range had the highest number of non-attenders and more males than females failed to attend their appointment. The number of people attending for retinal screening was considerably higher than anticipated, and in comparison to those attending for other areas of their diabetes care, which identified an opportunity in modifying appointments. The audit highlighted that patient’s rank their eyesight as very important compared to other aspects of their diabetes review and I considered how I could change this behaviour and allow for the patients diabetic review to be performed at the same time as retinal screening. This recognised that there needs to be a more robust system in place as this type of complication can only be detected by a detailed examination of the eye at attendance of the retinal screening programme. Attendance issues may be improved upon by combining appointments and therefore, in conclusion, communication between departments needs to be more effective ensuring that diabetic patients can be recalled for both review and screening and a protocol for patients who do not attend needs implementing. Action plan My initial action was to ensure that the diabetes register at the practice was up to date and that all patients over the age of twelve years had been referred to the screening service. I performed this audit by reviewing the diabetic register on Systmone including any new patients and systematically checking through the patients computerised notes to establish whether referrals had indeed been made and read coded onto the computer. For patients who had not been referred for retinal screening, a referral form was completed and faxed over to the screening service. Local diabetic eye screening services need to be informed of everyone who is newly diagnosed as well as those people with diabetes who have moved into the area or changed GP practice. Once this was complete, I contacted the retinal screening service via email to ask whether it would be a feasible option for them to batch appoint several of the surgeries patients together on the same morning or afternoon to allow for sufficient patients to make it cost effective for a full session. The retinal screening took place at a different GP surgery and I therefore needed to contact the practice manager to request permission for the use of a room in order to be able to review the patients at the same time as the retinal screening appointment. This would mean I would have to travel and see patients at the other surgery and it was recognised that both cost effectiveness and productiveness would be improved by consulting with several patients within one session. Unfortunately, rooms were very limited at the other surgery and therefore this option was taken out of the equation as it was not possible to agree a solution. I reconsidered the idea and emailed the screening service again to ask the standards and measurements needed for a room for retinal screening. I was informed that the room needed to be at least three metres in length with a desk and two chairs, a computer, and access to an electricity supply to extend to the car park where the screening van would be located. My surgery often hires vacant rooms out to other services and therefore, I discussed this with the centre manager who approved an inspection by the retinal screening service to establish whether the surgery had a suitable room. This was arranged for the screening service to attend the surgery and review all of the available rooms. Two gentlemen from the screening service attended the surgery together with the screening vehicle to inspect the rooms available and to establish whether it would be feasible to park, connect to an electrical supply and be allocated a suitable room for screening purposes. They were shown around the majority of the rooms within the surgery and decided that one of the rooms at the front of the building was suitable; the screening van could be parked at the front of the building allowing suitable access to an electrical point. We therefore had an agreement with the retinal screening service for them to perform the screening procedure within the patient’s own surgery. It was agreed that a nominated person from the retinal screening service would send, via email, a list of patients whom they were inviting for screening, directly to the practice, six weeks in advance of the appointment. This would allow time for the practice to invite the patients to attend for any blood tests needed prior to their diabetic review. The surgery would then send a letter to each patient informing them that their diabetic review would be performed immediately after their retinal screening. For the appointment system to be robust, an educational session was delivered to other nurses and reception staff to inform them of the change in practice and the reasons behind this change. This was to attempt to engage all staff to work effectively in this process and to discuss any problems or ideas. Appointment length for the diabetes review was agreed to be thirty minute duration. There was a discussion featuring the implication for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) figures, and consequently monetary reward for the practice, and that retinal screening is an annual procedure. Patients are sent a leaflet regarding screening with their retinopathy screening appointment. Following this, a prototype patient letter was devised for the practice to allow for consistency in appointing patients. The letter included the patient’s appointment time and date for their retinal screening and their diabetic review. The letter also advised patients of the risks of complications from diabetes and the importance of attendance. The letter was produced (see appendix 2) and this was evaluated and discussed at the next patient participation group which is only small but includes one person with diabetes. Following approval of the appointment letter, a protocol (see appendix 3) was formulated to encompass all stages of the appointment process and ensure consistency. Results The educational session took place and was attended by the practice nurses, reception and administration staff within the surgery. This was performed by discussion to allow for interaction of all staff members. The GP was unable to attend and this was discussed with her at another time. Feedback was positive and it was judged by the staff members to facilitate an improvement in patient care and improvement in appointment attendance. No problems were foreseen although it was recognised that if a patient failed to attend, it was mean a large portion of clinic time had been wasted. This time could be used to attempt to contact the patient by telephone to discuss diabetes care if necessary via a telephone consultation. The â€Å"one stop shop† was perceived as a significant initiative in improving appointment attendance by the patient participation group. It was seen as something that would benefit patients rather than benefitting the surgery. As a representative group of patients, they highly recommended the implementation of the change in practice. This was seen as a successful challenge within the practice considering our patient population. At the time of writing, I am awaiting the initial list of patients from the retinal screening service in order to be able to appoint people into this new project. Discussion Equality of access should be a priority for all NHS services (DoH 2008). Vulnerable people with complex needs should still be entitled to quality health care as it is these patients who may lack the knowledge, skills and support to manage their condition (Thomas (2012). Reflecting on the patients I care for, there is a high incidence of vulnerable people, substance misusers, and homeless, those on a low income or out of work, mental health and learning disability issues. These are often hard to target patients who repeatedly fail to attend appointments. The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) rewards surgeries for achieving set outcomes for diabetes however surgeries such as the one where I am employed, often miss out on vital funds. This is not through the absence of working extremely hard to reach the targets but through patients not attending their appointments. Deprivation is strongly associated with the risk of developing diabetes and its complications. Diabetes UK (2006) reported that people living in derived areas were two and a half times more likely to develop type two diabetes. This was further reported by Diabetes UK (2009) who added that people in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to develop complications of diabetes compared to those in the least deprived areas. Around 500 people a year experience loss of vision due to diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy at a level where it could be registered as a disability (Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) 2014). Diabetic patients are also at risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma. Diabetes UK (2013) in their mission statement declare the key points are Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of sight loss in the working age population All people with any type of diabetes are at risk of developing retinopathy. Those most at risk are those who have had diabetes for a long time and/or who have poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme aims to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes by the early detection and treatment Screening is offered annually to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over A study by Waqar, Bullen, Chant, Salman, Vaidya and Ling (2009) into the cost implications of non-attendance at a retinal screening programme demonstrated an association between non-attendance and socioeconomic deprivation. The study divided the results down further into first and second did not attend (DNA) appointments. They discovered that sending out repeat reminders to patients resulted in a significant reduction in non-attendance rates. In the area where the study was performed on a total of 22,651 people, they declared the total cost by lost earnings from missed appointments to be almost eighty thousand pounds. Therefore failure of attendance at retinal screening appointments impacts enormously on Trust budgets. Having the knowledge that DNA rates increase within areas of deprivation indicates that people in these areas need different ways of encouraging them to attend appointments. This group of patients needs targeting more aggressively and may need further reminders of their appointments. My vision for the patients that are registered with my practice is one that will encourage attendance by providing a service that will encompass the majority of components needed for a full diabetic review within one session. My feelings are that this will improve patient attendance as the patients will not have to attend multiple appointments or visit another surgery for their retinal screening. This will reduce time constraints and patients expenses should they need to use public or private transport. People leading chaotic lives tend to focus their day very differently to others and by generating one appointment instead of two may support these people to make an effort to attend one session. I consider the strength of this change in practice focuses on the idea of only one appointment. This appears to be confirmed by the reaction of other members of staff and the patient participation group. I remain optimistic that this will improve patient attendance and therefore patient care and improved health outcomes with a reduction in complication rates. The ability for retinal screening to be performed at my practice was paramount to this change in practice and continuing effective communication between the surgery and the retinal screening service must be maintained. I do not feel there is a particular weakness with the method, however the only drawback I can foresee is that if patients continue to DNA the new appointment then it will lead to a large amount of wasted appointment time. I anticipate that the audit next year will highlight an increase in uptake of appointments. If attendance for retinal screening remains at the level that occurred during the audit, this should reflect upon the attendance for diabetic reviews also. If successful, this may be a model of care that other practices may wish to replicate should they have available facilities at their surgery to accommodate the retinal screening service. Student number DDNL04004